Unfathomable Senior

“Well then, I’ll guide you all through the process and we’ll start… with Liena.”

“Hey… that’s not fair, senior brother… I’m stronger than her!”

Zhang Liena smirked while glancing at the pouting Huo Qiang. Following his announcement, Zhang Dong transferred everyone to the old Tower of Trials, which boasted a hundred floors. In the past, he and his friends had only managed to clear up to the 50th floor, but now, Zhang Dong intended for them to conquer the entire tower. The place was designed to test system holders, and soon everyone would have one of their own.

With his current administrative powers, he could influence this structure in ways he previously couldn't. He had the ability to adjust the difficulty and even shut everything down if someone was close to dying. This tool was designed to aid his people in achieving greatness in a more natural way, and he fully intended to utilize it. While it was possible for him to artificially raise everyone's understanding, he recognized that such a method would impede their future progress. Gaining insight into their Dao through rigorous training and self-reflection was the only genuine path to reaching the immortal realm.

Fortunately, time was now under his control. People could spend years in this realm, and only a few hours would pass in the outside world and in the higher realm. Interestingly, the higher the realm and the more potent the spiritual energy, the more challenging it was to control time. Training weaker individuals from a lower realm was straightforward, but it became significantly harder after they experienced a cultivation breakthrough. With an immortal’s body, time would not affect them as much, allowing them to peer through the veil.

The place he brought them to looked like a gym building, with a row of seats that some of his family members could occupy. This trial tower was a marvel of pocket dimensions and an amalgamation of architecture. The main area looked like a large five-star hotel while the rooms could lead to places like this or even forest biomes. Zhang Dong turned to Zhang Liena, who was grinning in anticipation.

“Liena, you have exceptional talent and have reached the limits of the nascent soul realm. I believe you are ready to break through to the Dao Foundation realm. Remember, this is not just about strength but also about understanding and embodying a Dao. Choose a Dao that resonates with you, and let it guide you to new heights.”

Liena nodded, her eyes sparkling with determination. She stepped forward, and the air around her seemed to ripple with energy. She closed her eyes, focusing on the innermost essence of her being. After a moment, she opened her eyes, revealing a newfound clarity.

“Then I will choose, the Dao of Wind! ”

She declared and almost instantly, a gust of wind surrounded her, swirling and dancing in response to her will. It was as if the very air acknowledged her choice. Zhang Dong nodded approvingly.

“Well chosen, Liena. Now, let the Dao of Wind be the basis for your Dao Foundation. It is one of the greater Daos and will be perfect for your foundation. Now, relax and focus on this Dao, let it fuel your essence. I will help you.”

As Zhang Dong spoke, a radiant light enveloped Zhang Liena. She closed her eyes, and her body started to undergo a subtle transformation. Her aura expanded, and the wind around her intensified. It was a mesmerizing sight, as if she had become one with the very essence of the Dao she had chosen.

The spectators, including Zhang Jin and the others, watched in awe. They could sense the profound changes occurring within Zhang Liena. It was not just a simple advancement in strength but a deep connection with a fundamental force of nature. The entire gym was filled with wind energy that seemingly danced around producing a gentle warm wind.

After a while, the wind subsided, and Zhang Liena opened her eyes. They gleamed with newfound wisdom and power. She smiled confidently, and the wind that surrounded her responded, creating an ethereal dance. Green energy surrounded the whole place and started blowing in all directions. The nascent soul masters felt suppressed by this energy and were unable to move, it was obvious that she had reached a height above everyone in this chamber.

“I feel... different. Stronger and with more energy…”

Zhang Dong nodded at his wife's words and responded.

“You have successfully stepped into the Dao Foundation realm. Embrace the changes within you and continue to cultivate the Dao of Wind. This is only the beginning of your journey. Thanks to mastering a greater elemental Dao, you will be able to swiftly progress to the next realm.”

“The next realm? What is the next realm?”

“The way towards the immortal realm is paved by mastering multiple paths. After the Dao Foundation realm, you will have access to the Dao Gathering realm, you will achieve it by truly mastering your main Dao and all the lesser paths that it branches away to. Only after pushing it to the very limit will you break through. After that, you will gather more paths, even ones that might be at odds with your current one…”

The revelation left the onlookers in awe, realizing that the path towards immortality was not a straightforward one but a complex web of interconnected Dao. Zhang Liena, now in the Dao Foundation realm, could sense the possibilities opening up before her. Her journey had just begun, and she was determined to explore the depths of the Dao of Wind.

Zhang Dong turned his attention to the others in the room, each of whom was eager to embark on their own path. The atmosphere in the chamber was charged with anticipation as they witnessed the transformation of their fellow cultivator.

“Who’s next?”

Zhang Dong asked, scanning the room and Huo Qiang quickly stepped forward, his eyes were gleaming with determination but mostly anticipation. He could feel the power emanating from Liena who could not control it well. The pressure was truly immense and something that he wished to grasp as well.

“I’ll go next, Senior Brother.”

“I’m not sure if that is a good idea, the idiot might crush out juniors under his flames.”

“You think that I won’t be able to control my power?”

“Yes!”

Zhang Dong started rubbing his chin while looking at the two fighting already. It brought a smile to his face to see them bickering as in the old days. However, now there was a tiny difference as Huo Qiang found himself getting pressed into the floor by his wife.

“Hey, this is unfair!”

“Down where you belong!”

Liena’s cultivation level was now above the nascent soul and she was many times stronger than before. Even without training much, she was able to easily suppress the second strongest man from the United Element’s Sect. He was lucky that Zhang Dong was even stronger, with a little application of his immortal realm the suppressive Qi was gone instantly.

“While I would love for you two to argue more, we don’t have the leisure.”

“Thank you Senior Brother!”

Huo Qiang smirked at Liena, as if claiming victory by securing help from Zhang Dong. This provoked a frown on her face, but after a brief shoulder rub from her husband, she returned to a good mood.

“Good, come Qiang, Choose your Dao and let us start.”

Huo Qiang took a moment to contemplate, but there was just one answer that he could go with.

“I choose the Dao of Fire!”

Flames erupted around him, swirling and dancing in response to his choice. The air crackled with heat, and the temperature in the room soared. Zhang Dong nodded approvingly, recognizing the affinity Huo Qiang had with the Dao of Fire.

“Good choice. Let the flames be the foundation of your Dao. Now, focus on it, let the essence of fire become a part of you.”

As with Liena, a radiant light enveloped Huo Qiang as he closed his eyes in concentration. The flames around him intensified, and the spectators could feel the scorching heat emanating from his presence. The process seemed both intense and beautiful, as if a fusion was taking place between the cultivator and the elemental force he had chosen.

After some time, the flames subsided, and Huo Qiang opened his eyes. They now held a fiery glow, reflecting the profound changes that had occurred within him. The air carried a warm, comforting heat which felt like it could erupt at any moment

“I feel... alive, as if the flames have become a part of my very being.”

Huo Qiang exclaimed as an eruption of flame energy shot out in all directions. Liena pointed out with disdain as what she said came to be true, only thanks to Zhang Dong’s overwhelming might did the onlooking family members not get swallowed up by this bursting inferno.

“See, I said so! The idiot can’t control his flames!”

Zhang Dong nodded.

“Yes, that is true. The elemental Daos have a mind of their own and when not fully mastered can affect the user’s emotions. Fire likes to burn, it’s a very passionate element known for its outbursts.”

Huo Qiang blushed a bit as he was reprimanded by his senior brother. However, his joy outweighed the shame that he was feeling. The boost in power was tremendous and he couldn’t wait to test his newfound power on something or someone. His gaze turned to Liena who was the only person at the same realm as him and Zhang Dong noticed.

“Calm down you two, first meditate on your new realms, you just stepped into them, your foundation is still weak and if you strain it too much, it could break.”

The stern tone from Zhang Dong sobered the atmosphere in the room. Both Liena and Huo Qiang, despite their excitement, understood the importance of consolidating their newfound power. Zhang Dong turned to the rest of the group that was filled with anticipation and eagerness to progress further.

"Who's next?"

He inquired, his gaze sweeping across the room. Several hands shot up, each eager to be the next to undergo the transformative process. This brought a smile onto his face as he pointed onto the next person. It already took half a day to help these two with their new realm and time was of the essence. Only after everyone had progressed further on, could they delve into the trial tower to truly start their new journey.