Chapter 4

With three choices laid before him, the decision proved surprisingly clear for our mc.

He declared his choice with unwavering determination, the echo of his decision resounding in his mind only as he was not able to speak at the moment.

Suddenly, an elderly man with a cross-shaped scar etched into his bald head materialized, initially bewildered by his sudden appearance.

His confusion deepened as he heard a voice resonating within his mind.

"Help. Help me," the voice pleaded, and the old man's body responded as if guided by unseen forces.

He sank to his knees, his hands instinctively reaching out to cradle the wounded young man before him.

A crimson blaze erupted from his palms, enveloping the injured figure.

With focused resolve, he channeled his spiritual energy, his hands becoming conduits for a healing power beyond comprehension.

In mere moments, the young man, once on death's doorstep, was now brimming with the vitality of life.

Another minute passed, and the young man stood tall, inhaling deeply before erupting into wild laughter amidst the expanse of nature.

He had only dared to dream of stepping into the shoes of a protagonist from a xianxia novel, and now, beyond belief, he found himself embodying just that after succumbing to exhaustion and death.

His laughter echoed for another five minutes until an unexpected twist interrupted his glee.

"Who are you, boy? And what have you done with me?" the old man demanded, his body still not fully under his control as he remained hunched on the ground from his recent healing efforts.

Our protagonist glanced at the old man briefly before consulting his op system for some information.

'Are my summons entirely loyal to me?' he inquired within the confines of his mind.

'Affirmative, host. You possess full control over them, to the extent of even erasing them from existence at your command. However, be wary, as once they perish, they cannot be summoned again,' the system responded.

'So, my summons can die also,' our protagonist pondered in secret and yet the op system knew his thoughts.

'Affirmative, host,' the system confirmed.

'And how strong are they? Are they at their peak, or will their power diminish with age?' Our protagonist pressed on with his inquiry.

'Your summons will remain at their peak strength and will not weaken with age. However, their strength will also become the shackles that limits them; they cannot grow stronger or advance to a higher realm,' the system replied.

'I see. And how can I acquire more summoning chances?' Our protagonist posed one of the most crucial question.

'You can gain summoning chances by altering the plot of the fictional world you inhabit, host,' the system supplied.

'Fictional world? But isn't this a xianxia realm?' Our protagonist became perplexed. Initially, he believed himself to be in a xianxia world, given his memories of living in a secluded village.

The elders of his village knew of beings with godlike abilities beyond their borders, yet they themselves possessed none, opting to hide from the world's troubles and yearn for perpetual peace.

Alas, peace was a luxury reserved for the strong. Today, his village lay razed to the ground, its inhabitants wiped out to the last man, woman, and child. Not even the pets survived the slaughter. 

He was likely the sole survivor from that sorrowful village, at least in body.

'Negative, host. This is a world you know all too well,' the system replied, stirring the curiosity of our now overwhelmingly powerful protagonist.

'Care to give me some spoilers?' Our protagonist smiled. Mysteries were not his favorite thing.

'Negative, host. Explore the world at your leisure. You now have the means to do just that with your summon at your beck and call,' the system said.

'Okay,' our protagonist took a deep breath and finally turned his attention to the old man at his feet.

It appeared that his summons could intuitively discern his desires, as the old man did not interrupt him while he conversed with his helpful female system.

"Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Tell me, what is the last thing you remember before coming here?" Our protagonist asked in a solemn voice.