Choice

Lin Tian listened to Harry's words, his heart churning like a stormy sea as he fell into deep thought. His mind drifted back to his previous life—to that monotonous routine of working from eight to six every day, traveling endlessly between three fixed points, with his quality of life never seeing any real improvement. But now, in the fantastical Coiling Dragon World, having reached the Saint Domain, his lifespan had been extended infinitely, as though a door to an entirely new life had opened before him.

A voice quietly rose in his mind. "After finally escaping the dullness of your previous life, why not enjoy this hard-won second life?" The voice was full of temptation, as though painting a tranquil picture of him freely savoring all the world's beauty throughout his long life.

Yet another resolute voice immediately retorted, "Are you truly willing to settle for that? You already achieved nothing in your previous life. In this world full of opportunities and challenges, are you going to repeat the same mistakes? Have you forgotten the hardships you endured in cultivation? Have you forgotten the blazing ambition you felt when you learned that you could cultivate?" The voice struck Lin Tian's heart like a heavy hammer.

The two voices clashed fiercely in his mind, and Lin Tian's expression shifted constantly. At times, he looked as though he longed to enjoy life; at others, his brows furrowed tightly from his inner struggle.

Porter watched Lin Tian's conflict from the side and could not help showing concern. He quietly asked Harry, "Father, Lin Tian is so conflicted. How can I help him?"

Harry gently shook his head, his gaze calm and perceptive. "No one else can help Lin Tian with his current situation. He can only figure it out himself. He is at a crucial point of reflection, one that will determine the direction of his future cultivation, so he must sort through his thoughts on his own. All we can do is clearly explain the pros and cons to him. The rest can only be left to him." As Harry spoke, he let out a soft sigh and silently watched Lin Tian without saying anything more.

Deep in Lin Tian's heart, his desire for cultivation gradually gained the upper hand. He knew that he had already wasted an entire life before. Now that he was in this magnificent world and possessed the ability to cultivate, how could he remain mediocre again? How could he miss out on experiences he had never known in his previous life? He made up his mind to explore this path and let his life bloom with a different kind of brilliance.

But then a new problem arose in his mind. His ultimate goal in cultivation was to transcend the Coiling Dragon universe and become the supreme Hongmeng Controller. But if he chose Internal Deification, would that mean giving up this grand ambition? Lin Tian fell into deep conflict over it.

He carefully considered his own talents. At present, the only one he knew for certain was his affinity for the fire laws. According to the setting of the Coiling Dragon World, when it came to the Rules, only those whose souls took the form of weapons seemed more suited to cultivating the Destruction Rule. His own soul was a ball of flame, clearly failing to meet the requirements for cultivating destruction. Should he gamble on whether he possessed the talent to cultivate the Rules of life, fate, and death? Lin Tian felt utterly helpless.

Still, he recalled Harry's words. When one became a god, the laws of heaven and earth would offer two choices: Internal Deification and External Deification. External Deification indeed had many advantages. For example, in the original Coiling Dragon novel, Lin Lei had fused the four elemental laws of earth, wind, water, and fire, carving out his own glorious path through External Deification. Moreover, External Deification granted an additional Divine Clone, which meant an extra life. But Lin Tian possessed only an affinity for the fire laws. Compared to those with affinities for multiple laws, he had already lost the greatest advantage of External Deification.

And what about Internal Deification? If it had no advantages at all, why would the laws of heaven and earth offer it as one of the choices? Lin Tian believed that Internal Deification must possess certain unknown and unique qualities superior to External Deification. If used well, they might make his cultivation path smoother. But how exactly should he choose? Lin Tian felt incredibly frustrated.

After thinking for a long time, Lin Tian finally opened his eyes. His expression turned solemn as he said firmly to Harry, "Great-Grandfather, I have decided. I will choose the path of Internal Deification."

When Harry heard this, a trace of relief and satisfaction flashed through his eyes. Smiling, he said to Lin Tian, "I am very pleased that you were able to make this decision. In my view, Internal Deification is indeed superior to External Deification in many respects. Take the speed at which one comprehends profound mysteries, for instance. Those who undergo Internal Deification are deeply fused with their own souls and laws, making their comprehension sharper and deeper. Internal Deification also has a greater advantage in strengthening the physical body, allowing cultivators to possess more powerful physiques. Even in terms of strength after becoming a god, those who undergo Internal Deification are usually superior.

Besides, since you have no talent for other laws, the benefit of gaining an extra Divine Clone and another life through External Deification means little to you. However, you have only just entered the Saint Domain and still do not understand many things. It is truly too early to make such a hasty decision now. As you continue cultivating, you should think more and weigh your options carefully." After saying this, Harry instructed Porter to take Lin Tian to the family's library to read some of the secret records preserved by the family.

On the way to the library, Porter quietly reassured Lin Tian, "Lin Tian, you do not need to rush into making a definite decision about Internal Deification and External Deification right now. Generally speaking, those who have just entered the Saint Domain are not told about such matters. You happened to ask today, so Father explained them to you. Even I knew nothing about this before."

Then Porter's expression turned serious as he said earnestly, "Lin Tian, I know you are extraordinarily talented, but as my father said, you have only just entered the Saint Domain, and many things are still unclear to you. There is no need to rush into a decision. My father's words can serve as a reference, but you need not take your earlier choice too seriously. You can decide between Internal Deification and External Deification when you truly stand on the verge of becoming a god."

As they spoke, the two arrived before an ancient and solemn building. Porter pointed at it and said to Lin Tian, "This is the treasury of knowledge passed down through our family. It contains all kinds of secrets that our ancestor painstakingly gathered. Every member of the Leo Family who reaches the Saint Domain is qualified to enter and learn about matters related to cultivation. Go in and take a careful look. I will go find Laun. Once you are done, come to Laun's residence to find me, and I will take you to your newly assigned quarters."

Lin Tian nodded in agreement and slowly entered the Scripture Pavilion with anticipation and reverence. A faint, aged scent filled the pavilion, and its shelves were packed with ancient books and cultivation manuals. Lin Tian gently picked up one of them and began reading, immersing himself in the valuable experiences left behind by Saint Domain predecessors.