Choice

Lin Tian listened to Harry's words, his mind churning like a storm-tossed sea as he sank into deep contemplation. His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to his past life—the monotonous, nine-to-six routine, the three-point line of home, work, and sleep, a life that had never seen any real improvement in quality. Now, standing in this fantastical Coiling Dragon World, having already reached the Saint Domain, his lifespan stretched infinitely, as if a door had opened to an entirely new way of living.

A voice whispered in his mind: "You've finally escaped the dullness of your past life—why not just enjoy this hard-won second chance?" The voice was seductive, painting a picture of leisurely comfort, savoring all the beauty of the world across this long journey of life.

Yet another, resolute voice immediately countered: "Are you truly willing to settle for that? Your past life was already mediocre—are you going to repeat the same mistake in this world full of opportunities and challenges? Have you forgotten the hardships you endured in cultivation, the burning ambition that ignited in your heart when you learned you could cultivate?" This voice struck like a heavy hammer, pounding against Lin Tian's heart.

The two voices clashed fiercely in his mind, and Lin Tian's expression shifted constantly—sometimes showing a longing for pleasure, sometimes furrowing his brows in inner struggle.

Porter, watching Lin Tian's turmoil from the side, grew worried and asked Harry softly, "Father, Lin Tian is so conflicted—how can I help him?"

Harry shook his head slightly, his gaze steady and perceptive, and said slowly, "Lin Tian's current state—no one else can help him. He has to figure it out on his own. He's at a critical juncture of thought, one that will determine the direction of his future cultivation, so he must sort through his own mind. All we can do is clearly lay out the pros and cons for him; the rest must be left to himself." Harry sighed softly as he spoke, silently watching Lin Tian without adding anything more.

Deep within Lin Tian's heart, the desire for cultivation gradually gained the upper hand. He knew well that he had wasted his past life. Now, in this magnificent world, possessing the ability to cultivate—how could he be mediocre again? How could he miss out on the wondrous experiences he had never had before? He resolved to try, to explore, to let his life bloom with a different brilliance.

But then, a new dilemma surged into his mind. His ultimate goal in cultivation was to transcend this Coiling Dragon universe and become the supreme Hongmeng Controller. Yet if he chose to become a god internally, would that mean abandoning this grand ambition? Lin Tian fell into deep conflict over this.

He carefully considered his talent situation. For now, the only clear talent he had was in the laws of fire. According to the Coiling Dragon World's setting, when it came to rule-based talents, it seemed only those whose souls existed in the form of weapons were more suited to cultivating the rules of destruction. His soul was a ball of flame, clearly not fitting the conditions for destruction-rule cultivation. So, should he gamble on whether he had talent for the rules of life, fate, or death? Lin Tian felt utterly helpless.

Still, he recalled Harry's words: at the moment of becoming a god, the laws of the universe would present two options—internal godhood or external godhood. External godhood indeed had many advantages. For instance, in the original Coiling Dragon story, Lin Lei had forged his own brilliant path by fusing the four laws of earth, wind, water, and fire through external godhood. Not only that, but external godhood also granted an extra divine clone, meaning an extra life. But Lin Tian only had talent in the laws of fire. Compared to those with multi-law talent, he had already lost the greatest advantage of external godhood.

And internal godhood? If it had no advantages, why would the laws of the universe offer it as an option? Lin Tian firmly believed that internal godhood must have some unique, unknown benefits over external godhood—benefits that, if properly leveraged, could make his cultivation path smoother. But how to choose? Lin Tian's heart churned with irritation.

After pondering for a long time, Lin Tian finally opened his eyes, his expression turning serious, and said to Harry in a firm tone, "Great-grandfather, I've made my decision. I choose the path of internal godhood."

Hearing this, a glimmer of relief and satisfaction flashed in Harry's eyes. He smiled at Lin Tian and said, "I'm very glad you've made this decision. In my view, internal godhood is indeed superior to external godhood in many ways. Take the speed of comprehending profound mysteries—those who become gods internally, deeply fused with their own soul and the laws, often perceive them more keenly and profoundly. In terms of physical body enhancement, internal godhood also holds an advantage, granting the cultivator a more powerful physique. Even in terms of strength after becoming a god, internal godhood usually comes out ahead.

"Besides, you have no other law talents. The benefit of external godhood—multiple divine clones and an extra life—means little to you. However, you've only just stepped into the Saint Domain and don't yet understand many things. Making a hasty decision now is truly premature. As you continue cultivating, you should think more and weigh your options." After speaking, Harry instructed Porter to take Lin Tian to the family's library to read some of the secret records kept by the clan.

On the way to the library, Porter gently reassured Lin Tian: "Lin Tian, regarding the choice between internal and external godhood, there's no need for you to rush into a clear decision right now. Generally, people who have just become Saints aren't told about these things. It just so happened that you asked today, so Father explained it to you. Even I knew nothing about this before."

Then Porter's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly, "Lin Tian, I know you're exceptionally talented, but as my father said, you've only just become a Saint. Many things are still unclear—there's no need to rush into a decision. Take Father's words as a reference. Don't take the decision you made earlier too seriously. You can settle the choice between internal and external godhood when you're truly facing the moment of becoming a god."

As they spoke, the two arrived before an ancient, solemn building. Porter pointed at it and said to Lin Tian, "This is our family's treasure trove of inherited knowledge, housing all kinds of secrets that our ancestor painstakingly gathered. Every member of the Leo Family who reaches the Saint Domain is qualified to enter here and learn about cultivation-related matters. Go in and take a good look. I'll go find Laun. When you're done, come to Laun's residence to find me, and I'll take you to your newly assigned quarters."

Lin Tian nodded in agreement and, with anticipation and reverence, slowly walked into the Scripture Pavilion. A faint, aged scent filled the air inside. Bookshelves were lined with all sorts of ancient texts and cultivation manuals. Lin Tian gently picked up one and began to leaf through it, immersing himself in the precious experiences left behind by the Saints of the past.