"Most things are ready… Bob, let us go over the inventory and defenses again, make sure that we are prepared for that Overseer!"
"Affirmative."
Zhang Dong stood within the old sacred ground that marked the beginning of his adventure. This was where his predecessor had ascended, and it was now his turn to take the plunge into the unknown. Over three hundred years had passed since his arrival in this world, and a choice needed to be made. As Bob calculated away, Zhang Dong pondered his options, each with its own merits.
First, he could choose to remain here, living out his life with his family until he succumbed to old age. Currently, there didn't seem to be any danger from the Overseer, which had been dormant since the fall of the Azure Capital. It made sense to believe that for the seven or six hundred years he had left, he could enjoy this world to the fullest.
Zhang Dong, originally named Matt, didn't have any grand aspirations. In a way, he had already achieved what he had hoped for by having a large family and a loving wife. There wasn't really anything more he wished for, and letting things end naturally didn't seem like a bad outcome.
In the world he came from, a person's life expectancy wasn't very high; at most, he could have pushed to a hundred years. Here, he had already lived through three lifetimes and was in his fourth. It wouldn't be bad to go when surrounded by people who cherished him. However, there was one problem - he had become responsible for these people's lives, and he couldn't just let it all end without knowing what was out there.
Zhang Dong found himself inclined towards the second or third option. He could wait until he was close to a thousand years old and then make his move. At that point, he would have nothing to lose and would have lived life to its fullest. However, this option came with a drawback - his aged body would likely be much weaker than it was now.
Zhang Dong had not noticed it for the first three hundred years, but he was beginning to age slowly. By the time he reached five hundred years old, his body would resemble that of a forty-year-old, and by eight hundred, it would be like that of a seventy-year-old. Going up against enemies with a body constrained by aging and lacking vigor would be unwise. So, the last option made the most sense – advancing when his body was at its peak, which was now.
'There is not much more that I can gain from remaining here, everything that I could discover has already made its way into my library, contemplating more Dao is an option but it probably won't help me against what is out there…'
Over the years, Zhang Dong had accumulated an unfathomable number of spirit points, totaling well over trillions. He had used a significant portion of these points to nurture and enhance his cultivation seed, bringing it close to the point of bursting. This process had concluded more than a hundred years ago, but he continued to save up additional points, knowing that whenever he initiated the transformation, it could potentially activate the Overseer.
This is why he found himself in this place - a secret hiding spot known only to him, concealed even from his own family. Over the years, he had diligently uncovered the enigmatic remnants left behind by the previous owner. Now, the moment of decision had at last arrived. The Empire was under the new leadership of his son, Zhang Jun, while his daughter had embarked on a journey of cultivation with a Daoist partner after her brother assumed leadership.
Zhang Dong's decision to step back from his position as the Patriarch was a strategic move. He embraced the role of an ancestral elder, a designation reserved for the most powerful and experienced members of a sect. Ancestral elders often operated discreetly in the background and were called upon in times of crisis. It was a role he had seen during his adventurous youth, and now he found himself a part of it. This change allowed him to enjoy newfound freedom as his input was no longer required in the day-to-day affairs of the sect.
Another individual who had embraced a similar position was Zhang Jin. His grandfather had reached the nascent soul level a bit later in life, which had caused his aging to progress slightly faster. This accelerated aging made it challenging for him to support multiple wives, ultimately leading to his retirement from active leadership to preserve his power and extend his longevity.
However, Zhang Jin was not someone who would easily succumb to the effects of aging. It was expected that he would reach the impressive age of nine hundred, demonstrating his enduring strength and wisdom as an ancestral elder. The combined knowledge and experience of figures like Zhang Dong and Zhang Jin were valuable assets to the sect, ensuring that their legacy would continue to thrive even as they embraced a more behind-the-scenes role.
As the old Golden Emperor, Zhang Dong understood the enduring power of his legacy. His name would live on in history, a symbol of authority and stability that few would dare to challenge. His legend would cast a long shadow, ensuring the safety and prosperity of his sect and empire for many years to come.
He had laid the groundwork for another seven hundred years of stability, during which his sect could thrive without fear of revolt. But even with the best preparations, time was an unstoppable force, and an age of turmoil would eventually arrive. Zhang Dong had taken extensive measures to prepare for such an occasion.
His children were well-prepared to carry on his legacy, and the sect's leadership was poised to endure even in his absence. His vision was to ensure that his sect remained in power until the time came for a new system holder to be chosen.
With his affairs in order and his preparations extensive, there was no reason for hesitation. Zhang Dong was ready to step back, confident that his legacy would endure and his sect would continue to prosper, even in the face of the inevitable challenges brought by the passage of time.
Zhang Dong's desire to see his family, including his children and grandchildren, continue to prosper was a powerful and heartfelt sentiment. His family had grown over the three hundred years, and the bonds he shared with them were deep and meaningful. Moving on from his current role was a difficult decision, and he found himself torn by various worries and uncertainties.
The safety of his loved ones was not a primary concern, as his extensive preparations had already taken that into account. Instead, he was more anxious about the potential consequences of initiating his scheme. He feared that it might bring about unexpected challenges and even lead to death and destruction for those he held dear. It was a heavy burden to carry and if he caused everyone to suffer was his biggest fear.
He had witnessed another world with an Overseer and after its defeat not much had changed. This brought him a measure of comfort as he prepared to make his decision. Even with the automaton's absence, the world wouldn't come to an end. However, this didn't guarantee that external forces wouldn't be drawn to this anomaly. He had no means to check on the world he had left behind and the people he had encountered there. All he could do was hope that they had lived out their lives in peace.
'Scan complete, everything is in order for the mission 'Ascension' '
"I see… so there is nothing holding me back than my own emotions…"
His contemplation was interrupted by a notification sound in his mind. Bob had successfully completed the scan, and everything appeared to be in order. This place would serve as the location where he would attain the immortal stage or something akin to it. He had to consider the likelihood that the seed within him might produce a cultivation realm that deviated from the creator of this world's intentions.
It was highly probable that in the midst of this process, he would face opposition from the Overseer or what was often referred to as the will of the world. Ascending to immortality was seen as defying nature itself, something that shouldn't be achievable. The world adhered to a set of rules, and surpassing a certain life threshold contradicted these established rules. Undoubtedly, there would be forces attempting to prevent him from crossing that threshold, and for that, he had spent centuries preparing.
The path of ascension to the immortal stage was a mysterious and seldom-traveled one. The only individuals who had successfully achieved this level were former system holders, and their journeys were shrouded in secrecy. There were few comprehensive records documenting their experiences, and the accounts that did exist were mostly second or third-hand, often vague and incomplete.
This lack of detailed information left Zhang Dong in a state of uncertainty about what to anticipate on his own journey toward immortality. The one consistent detail that seemed to emerge from the limited accounts was the recurring mention of lightning tribulations. It was said that as cultivators sought to ascend, the heavens themselves would unleash formidable tribulations in an attempt to thwart their progress.
"I didn't think that saying goodbye would be this hard…"
All the preparations were in place, and he had firmly resolved to proceed with this plan, driven by a burning curiosity to explore what lay beyond this world. He couldn't simply live out his life in peace, knowing that the people who depended on him would eventually face destruction. He wondered about the god-like being responsible for it all and the reasons behind the creation of these scenarios for people like him.
In his previous life, he had been a bored gamer with little hope for the future. The same seemed to apply to Wang Long, who, upon closer investigation, appeared to have led a similar lifestyle. This suggested a particular type of person was being targeted for these alternate worlds - individuals who lacked direction in their lives and yearned for fame, glory, and recognition from others. When presented with a fairytale fantasy world like this and a system to handhold them, there was no way of them turning back.
"I guess, I should say my farewells to everyone before going…'
With a subtle motion of his finger, he conjured a teleportation gate and disappeared into it. He felt a sense of responsibility towards the people he had been associated with, believing they deserved a farewell and an explanation about his destination. However, he also hoped they wouldn't attempt to dissuade him, as he wasn't sure if his heart could bear their pleas if they tried to hold him back from his decision…