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It has been a week since then, inside of my master’s Inner Realm. Because time can be accelerated, we’ve been able to spend this week resting and then preparing, training, and planning what to do. The final battle was inevitable, and with the forces we’ve amassed thanks to our alliance with the machines, it was now or never, before the Main Mechanical Tree were to reassemble new trees somewhere else and start the process all over again.

Because of this, many of the machines were moved inside the Inner Realm to be taught many things and to cooperate with us in the planning of this large strategy we had in motion, composed of many stages. We were going to do a lot of things, and we couldn’t fail any of them, or that would mean the entire operation becoming a failure.

Zero Three, her twin, and the Mechanical Tree with her had not given us any news of their decision yet, and it seems they won’t participate at all in this battle. It’s fine, though; we were not going to force them.

And about us? We’ve gotten stronger or tried to! We’ve all reached a “bottleneck,” as they say in these cultivation novels, where we’ve reached the limits of our current strength, and we’ve been unable to continue progressing completely.

So, instead of that, we’ve focused on learning new things that could improve our abilities and fighting techniques. I’ve been reading all my skills, checking them, and getting ready to combine them eventually. Whenever something was needed as we fought, I would probably do some skill fusions to adapt.

Wai Tian has been focusing on her Skills and Transformation, the same with Yin Sheng, Fang Shuan, and Zero One, who all could transform in one way or another. They’ve almost completely mastered said skills by now and could use them as a natural part of their existences.

As for me? Due to all the planning and training, I’ve had little time to spar with my masters and adoptive parents, but today was the day, and we didn’t spar, though they helped me get through the bottleneck.

And… failed.

“It seems we’ve reached this stage already, phew…” The Heavenly Empress laughed. “What an incredible disciple you are, Anna.”

“It seems to be the case,” nodded the Heavenly Demon. “We cannot teach you anymore.”

“Eh? B-But I haven’t even grown stronger than…!” I tried to refute.

“No, you’ve grown past our expectations already,” said Mother. “You’ve done too well, perhaps…”

“Now, we can’t guide you anymore,” said Father. “How you develop your abilities, how you grow as a person and as a martial artist, it all depends on you, the paths you take, the decisions you make, and the journeys you take. Your life is now your teacher, Anna.”

“Is that so…” I sighed, feeling frustrated. “I really wanted to learn more from you two…”

“We know you did, my dear,” my mother smiled kindly. “You wanted to extend your stay here even if for a single day, didn’t you? Blame it on yourself for learning so quickly! I’ve never seen someone absorb information and knowledge like you.”

“You’re an incredible student any master would love to teach,” said my father, laughing. “Even the cold me has had his heart warmed by your talent, Anna! You’ve learned from the two paths; you’ve been taught by the purest and the vilest.”

“Now it’s your turn,” said my mother. “To choose a path…”

“So choose,” said my father. “Which path will you take?”

“…”

I remained in silence.

Were they asking me to join either the Orthodox or the Demonic Factions?

That’s…

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

A ridiculous question.

“Hahaha… You asked that while already knowing the answer, right?” I giggled as they nodded.

“Of course,” nodded my mother. “But even then, we needed to ask you.”

“It is how it’s done,” said Father. “So tell us, Anna.”

The two glanced at me in unison, pointing their fans at me.

“What path will you choose?”

Their auras surged, dividing the horizon into two.

One path was covered in blood, filled with darkness, with a moon shining above the skies.

Although it was full of blood and suffering, it had the most freedom.

Another path was made of light, correctness, and duty, with a shining sun above the skies, blinding all wishes of freedom.

Although it was the correct path and the kindest, it was full of duty and responsibility.

Two paths.

One decision.

“I choose none.”

The two looked at me for a second, their auras rapidly retracting.

“Very well.”

The two walked towards me as they patted my shoulders.

“As the one that has forbidden both the path of the righteous and the path of the demon…”

“You’ve become the first to step into a new path.”

They glanced into the horizon.

“What is your path called?”

So dramatic…

But I guess this is an important thing; I can’t just act like this is a joke.

These people have lived their entire lives living through these paths, in this world.

Despite how others could make fun of these tropes, and despite how ridiculous they seem even to me.

There’s a certain, beautiful charm I find about this entire setting, about this worldline, about this world itself…

It’s charming; I don’t know why.

It’s soulful.

So I will play along and believe it.

Because I am the disciple of the two Venerables.

“I will walk my own path,” I said. “I don’t have any name for it yet. But it is a path that doesn’t deny the other two but incorporates them together. I will be free like a demon, but I will also carry out my duties when needed, not because I’m forced, but because that’s what I want to do. I will kill when needed, but I will not spill blood pointlessly. I will be kind, and I shall always give a helping hand to the unfortunate. But that doesn’t mean I will help all and everyone, nor that I will forgive those that don’t deserve my kindness. And I…”

I glanced at the two, who felt so proud for some reason.

“I will save my world… and this one,” I said. “And we will do it together.”

FLAAASH!

The heavens changed, warping around; between the golden and the dark path, a third path emerged, fusing both colors, until a bridge of pink, purple, and blue colors emerged, with countless sparkling golden stars.

“You’ve chosen it.”

“Your path has now a name.”

“A name?”

I walked through the bridge, reaching the heavens.

“The Path of Love.”

Love…

Argh, that’s so corny!

“Because of love, you will fight.”

“Because of love, you will kill.”

“Because of love, you will be kind.”

“Because of love, you may sometimes not forgive.”

“And because of love, you will save the worlds.”

Oh, so that’s it…

“Only Love can encompass all these things together,” said the Heavenly Empress.

“And only Love can surpass the path of the Demon and the path of Orthodoxy,” said the Heavenly Demon.

What a ridiculous emotion.

So this is love, huh?

There’s nothing corny to it.

It’s more like…

Insanity.

FLASH!

The heavens above crowned me, giving me a pink and purple crown made of light and golden stars.

“W-What is this?!” I couldn’t really get it.

“This is the Crown of Heaven,” said my mother.

“You’ve been given it as the third Venerable of this world,” said my father.

“W-What?! I’m a Venerable? I had no idea—Wait, I’m not nearly as strong as you two-”

“You are.”

“You’re strong.”

“Eh?”

“The World has been damaged,” said my mother. “And us too, have grown weaker. Now, you, the combination of our teachings, have reached the same level as us. You are our equal, and therefore, you are a Venerable. Even if you became our equal after we lost a lot of our power, it still counts.”

“That is the law of the world and the heavens, manifesting even within the interior of an Inner Realm, because Inner Realms are nothing but the Fragments of the World,” said Father. “When Immortals die, their bodies and inner realms dissolve into the Heavenly Dao, going back to the pillar of creation. We Immortals and Venerables, are nothing but fragments of this world. We are the living embodiment of its laws.”

“But aren’t I…?”

“You’re different; you will carry with you a tiny fragment of this world,” said Mother. “Within your heart.”

“As long as you live, this world will not perish!” said father.

I felt shocked as the crown generated pink and purple light, fusing with my clothes and creating a beautiful dress.

“We greet the Third Venerable, the Heavenly Princess of Boundless Love.”

“May your Boundless Love bless the stars and the worlds you visit.”

“A-Ahh… T-This is really happening…”

I couldn’t… I couldn’t believe it.

Ding!

[An incredible achievement! You’ve been recognized by the entire World of Bestia and its two Venerables for your incredible growth and your unique Path, being crowned as the Third Venerable between Heaven and Earth!]

Oh my god, even the System was congratulating me?!

I really don’t know what to even say.

This is cringe and awesome at the same time.

Weirdest emotion ever!

[As the {Heavenly Princess of Boundless Love}, your Existence and Story becomes more defined across the Records of the Cosmos.]

[Your Ascension into a Constellation is only one step from being achieved.]

Already?!

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep