"Welcome, you have finally arrived at the last floor; be proud of your strength!"
"I greet you, elder…"
"Well met!"
A young-looking man with snow-white hair looked at an energetic elder. His name was Zhang Jun, and he had finally managed to arrive at the final level of this trial tower. It had been hard, but he had finally been able to push through and ascend to a realm right before the one that would grant him immortality. Before him stood a man filled with power, someone close to the level that he wanted to ascend to.
"Hey, I'm also here!"
"Oh? Two strong ones? This is indeed a marvelous day~"
"Hey, aren't you acting too happy? We are here to defeat you, old man!"
Zhang Jun wasn't the only one here; his sister was right behind him. Their cultivation levels were almost identical, and they had used their own rivalry to get this far. They had left everyone else in the dust and proven themselves to be the greatest cultivators by eclipsing their own mother and Huo Qiang, who was previously the strongest elder within the sect. Now, both of them stood against this strong elder who seemed to be in a good mood.
"I'll have to apologize, young one. It's just that I don't get many visitors here; it's quite boring to be the strongest. But you two are strong; please show me something good! Don't disappoint this old man…"
The air around the man started to change as his aura intensified. Zhang Jun and Zhang Xiu exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They stepped forward, entering a stance that synchronized their movements. As they unleashed their formidable powers, the atmosphere around them crackled with energy, and the elder's smile widened.
Even though this place was called the 99th floor, it was a whole world in itself. The landscape resembled a paradise or an afterlife, with floating islands scattered everywhere and magnificent-looking beasts roaming around. The entire area constituted a tranquil paradise, almost as vast as an entire continent. There was ample space for them to have a final showdown with a person who was a quasi-immortal being.
The battle that ensued was nothing short of spectacular. The elder demonstrated incredible mastery over his own Dao, effortlessly deflecting the attacks of the siblings. Zhang Jun and Zhang Xiu, in turn, displayed an unprecedented level of coordination and understanding of each other's abilities. It was as if their combined strength formed a harmonious melody, resonating through this vast dimension.
Their attacks, a symphony of power and finesse, clashed with the elder's defenses. The sheer force of the collisions sent shockwaves across the floating islands, disturbing the peaceful scenery of the 99th floor. As the battle intensified, the siblings began to tap into their multiple Daos, drawing upon the unique realms they had crafted within themselves.
They knew that they were different from their father; they were people born in the cultivation world and not ones brought to it like their father. Even though they were his children, they still fell under the limitations of the world. Only thanks to his involvement were they able to come this far and were now in possession of a simplified system. With it, they could keep track of their cultivation, allowing them to germinate their own Dao Seeds like he did.
Yet, they were different; there was a possibility that such a thing wouldn't be possible. Their souls somewhat differed from his, and the Immortals created by the other being also had no Dao Trees within themselves. They both knew about the universe that was being created in their father, but they were not sure how they could recreate it or even if it was possible.
The battle raged on, and the elder, who had been enjoying the spectacle, gradually wore a more serious expression. The siblings' combined strength and synchronization proved to be a formidable challenge but soon enough they started to get pushed back. Their power even when combined was below that of this elder that had reached a stage they were only close to. The only reason they had not suffered a defeat yet was that their opponent didn't want to end it too fast.
Zhang Jun and Zhang Xiu continued to tap into their unique realms, each unleashing aspects of their own Dao. The essence of their individual paths manifested in the form of ethereal dragons, similar to the one that their father used. They were much larger than Bahamut and quite deadly. The one that belonged to Zhang Xiu was pure white and slender, while the one that Jun commanded was golden and ferocious.
"Good, give it your all!"
The elder, sensing the depth of their power, decided to reveal more of his own abilities. With a wave of his hand, the entire environment shifted. The floating islands transformed into colossal projectiles, and the serene beasts evolved into formidable guardians, standing as obstacles in the siblings' path.
"Young ones, you impress me. However, the path to true immortality is fraught with challenges. Let me show you the power of someone who has walked this path for eons."
As the elder spoke, his aura surged, and the very fabric of the world seemed to respond to his command. It was as if he was part of it and that he could command every tiny atom they interacted with. The beasts tossed themselves at them and the floating islands descended at them like meteors.
Zhang Jun and Zhang Xiu, realizing the gravity of the situation, unleashed their full power. The ethereal dragons they summoned roared in response, colliding with the oncoming threats. The golden and white dragons weaved through the chaotic onslaught, destroying the obstacles in their path with ease.
The battle escalated to an unimaginable scale. The elder's control over the environment and the siblings' mastery over their respective Daos clashed in a spectacular display of power. Their dragons suffered major injuries as they were pushed back in the clash between their forces. The old man continued to boast and laugh as he held his own against the onslaught of the two Dao masters. They were being pushed back and their power was wavering, if it continued like this they would surely lose.
Yet, as the battle continued, a realization dawned upon Zhang Jun and Zhang Xiu. The elder wasn't just an adversary; he was a living embodiment of the Dao of this realm. His mastery over the environment was not a mere manipulation but a direct communion with the world itself. The siblings, despite their strength, were outsiders challenging the very essence of the floor they stood upon.
"We need to go above only using our Daos… we need to become them, be one with them and with the worlds that they can create, we need to merge ourselves with the essences we use!"
Even though they kind of knew the theory behind how to ascend, it wasn't an easy feat. Only now, after they saw the quasi-immortal use this realm as if it were his own, did they piece some of the puzzle together. What they needed to do was to become one with the essences that they had been trying to understand for thousands of years. What they were doing was just wielding them like a borrowed tool, one borrowed from the god that created the rules. Now, they needed to recreate these tools themselves and open up a path of their own.
In the midst of the chaotic battle, they began to meditate, focusing on merging their consciousness with the ethereal dragons they had summoned. These two massive beasts were the manifestation of their Dao knowledge. It was an intricate process, requiring them to let go of the idea that they were controlling these powerful beings. Instead, they sought to become one with the dragons, sharing their essence, thoughts, and existence.
The elder, sensing a shift in their approach, watched with keen interest. He could feel the transformation occurring within the siblings, a change that went beyond the external display of power. The very fabric of their beings was undergoing a profound metamorphosis. The golden and white dragons, originally under the siblings' control, started to shimmer and morph. The boundaries between the dragons and the siblings blurred as they immersed themselves in the essence of their Daos. The transformation wasn't merely a visual spectacle; it resonated with the fundamental nature of their existence.
"Ah, attempting to merge with your creations, are you? A bold move, but can you truly become one with the essence of your Dao? What if I don't allow it?"
The elder, still confident in his dominance, chuckled. His power was immense but even he could feel that his opponents were getting stronger with every passing moment. Even though he loved a good fight, his life was still more important. They were meditating before him and in a vulnerable state, he would be a fool to allow his opponents to go beyond his level if it was a process that he could stop.
Soon, he raised his hand, and the floating islands started to transform. They all came together to form two massive swords, with all of his power infused into them. They floated above the siblings, and with one movement, they would pierce through their very being. His grin never left his face as he started moving his hand down, but as his attack was about to take off, he felt something holding him back.
"What?"
"Sorry, but I'll have you be a stepping stone for those two, so just wait there patiently…"
"Who is it? How are you able to do this?"
The elder was confused as his body was stopped before he could start his attack. He couldn't see anyone there and the voice seemed like it was coming from every direction. The power his opponent was exuding was above the two he was facing and even above his quasi-immortal stage.
Slowly but steadily, the siblings' forms started to fade into the shimmering dragons. The golden and white hues blended together, creating a mesmerizing display of intertwined energies. The elder's eyes widened as he sensed the profound change occurring. The battle that had raged across the 99th floor paused for a moment as the very fabric of the world seemed to hold its breath.
"Sorry about this but if you were a father like me, you'd understand… now… farewell."
"Noo… how could…"
An aura of imaginable power descended onto this world and shattered it in an instant. The elder could only watch in horror as the two young cultivators took on a form that was alien to him. His conscience soon faded as he found himself and his world being consumed by the young ones that had reached a state that was far above his own…