Not surprising, unless you really go at levels like HEH, HT, HC, 7yw, 30yw a few times each, then maybe 0 Ascensions works, but relying mostly on Hex requires (according to my calcs) about 12x 25% AP buffs + the 25% Adv buff to get it all done w/o Asc, where each Asc clears Hex 5 times.
I just tried the skip level superpower to get as far as possible into the new levels, hoping to reach hex earth, then got thoroughly humiliated… surely I must be missing something!
Assume you have 0 SLs left and none on the maps, you clear as many as you have to to unlock phase 3, invest in Skip Levels to level 10, and it gets quicker from there. Clearing levels & gaining AP will be quick b/c +400% AP & nice supporting artifacts.
Insane AcampB, Insane AcacheB, Insane TW will go a long way.
As for Smelt Double, yea assuming that is just fodder.
@L.L. Just SAsc Tutorial -> AD 1045 Advancement: Can SL 1 -> Hardened Old Town Advancement: Can SL 8 -> China Advancement: Can SL 10 + Superpowers SL -> Hex Earth (2 times)