“Bob… are you in there?”

“... Assuming control of the autonomous overseer puppet designation number 52384… “

“I guess I got my answer, is everything proceeding well? Or do we have to move on to plan C?”

“Processing, please wait…”

“How reassuring…”

Zhang Dong gave out a big sigh while moving his neck away from the sharp blade-like arm. His blood was staining the appendage but luckily it had not reached his jugular. As Bob assumed control of the autonomous Overseer puppet, a wave of relief washed over Zhang Dong. He knew that their mission was teetering on a razor's edge, and the completion of the data transfer was their only hope for survival. The Overseer puppet, now under Bob's influence, stood frozen in place as if awaiting new orders.

One thing that remained unfrozen was the environment surrounding them. With the puppet's influence no longer at play, time resumed its course. The entire landscape in this hidden underground area had been ravaged, and during their battle, even the ceiling above them was crumbling. It wouldn't be long before the entire place would collapse, but in a moment like this, such concerns no longer held importance. The Overseer that had haunted his dreams was vanquished, and now it was becoming integrated into his own system.

“Is it safe? I can’t hold on for much longer…”

While he was gazing at his system window, excruciating pain coursed through his entire body. Even though the Overseer had ceased its assault, the internal transformation continued relentlessly. The white seed within him sought to sprout and expand, and he had been tirelessly suppressing it. Waiting any longer might risk his body's integrity. Fortunately, a faint chime and the appearance of a new tab provided him with some relief.

The system he had been granted had evolved in tandem with his own development. When it was no longer able to supply him with spiritual energy through the act of killing others, it adapted by offering faction rewards. It appeared to be deeply intertwined with the very essence of the system holder, and it appeared to be in a state of constant evolution to cater to the user's requirements. Whenever he conceived a sensible addition to the system, it would respond by providing him with something akin to his idea. It was almost as if his very existence was shaping it, and the system was adjusting itself to suggest a potential new path forward.

While he was cautious about becoming overly dependent on his system, it had been instrumental in providing him with answers and guiding him to this pivotal juncture. In the past, he had harbored concerns that excessive reliance on it might be his Achilles' heel, but he now recognized that it could also be his greatest asset.

He had a strong suspicion that the entity that granted him this system could potentially revoke it at any moment, a belief that had held true in the past. Nevertheless, in the present, it seemed likely that the system had become an integral part of his very essence and was no longer a power that could be taken away by an external force. It had transformed into something entirely unique, and perhaps it held the key to liberating not only himself but also everyone else from these enigmatic predicaments.

This tool had been bestowed upon him by some form of supreme being, and it was plausible that it held a concealed Dao or truth that could steer him in his forthcoming pursuits. If he could unravel its secrets regarding the manipulation of reality through spiritual energy, he might ascend to the level of this mystical entity. Nevertheless, before such a transformation could occur, he had to enter this new realm and avert the impending threat of the sprouting white seed that could potentially end his life.

With a renewed sense of urgency, he swiftly navigated through the new tab that displayed the Overseer. The puppet was depicted as a new servant, with the potential for augmentation and monitoring through the system. However, most of the options remained non-clickable at the moment, as his AI was still in the process of relocating the old data. Once the hostile takeover was completed, he issued Bob the command to archive all the knowledge possessed by this puppet while erasing any elements that could facilitate its escape or exploitation by external forces.

This entity had likely been operational across multiple system holder cycles. It held the potential to furnish him with numerous insights into what he might encounter in the upper realm, a term often employed by cultivators to describe the immortal realm. It was a widely acknowledged concept and a common theme in many fictional works he had come across in the past. Now, he was poised to ascend to this realm as well, and with a measure of fortune, he might even attain a feat greater than mere immortal ascension.

Zhang Dong felt the strain on his body increasing. The white seed within him was on the verge of sprouting, and the pain was becoming unbearable. He needed to complete his ascension process and he needed to do it now. Without hesitating anymore he went down into the lotus position with the Overseer puppet still standing in front of him. Even though it still had its arm raised it was not a problem anymore.

He delved deep into his own soul, tapping into the ancient formations that still lingered within the vicinity. An array of symbols and runes drew near and encircled him as he initiated a genuine breakthrough. The seed within his dantian, devoid of any resistance, finally began to germinate and transformed into a burgeoning sproutling that continued to expand and grow in size. It grew and grew, becoming larger within his very being.

As the symbols and runes danced around him, the air seemed to crackle with a newfound energy, and a sense of profound serenity washed over him. He had spent years studying the ancient arts, mastering the lost knowledge of the ancestors, and now, at this moment, he was witnessing the culmination of all his efforts.

The burgeoning sproutling within his dantian was a manifestation of his inner power, a power that had lain dormant for far too long. It pulsed with an otherworldly light, and as it grew, it sent ripples of power surging through his body. He felt a connection to the very earth beneath him, as if the roots of the world itself were intertwining with his spirit.

All at once, everything began to quake as a torrent of white energy erupted from his body, enveloping everything in its vicinity and coalescing into a colossal pillar of light. This pillar ascended, piercing through the crumbling ceiling and forcefully pushing aside any obstacles in its path. It traveled vast distances, ultimately reaching the heavens and encountering what appeared to be an imperceptible barrier, barring passage to what lay beyond.

The heavens were rending asunder, and even those at great distances could sense and witness this peculiar phenomenon unfolding. Every cultivator in this world felt an enigmatic power resonating with them, and all living beings within this realm of existence could perceive that something momentous was unfolding. As one, they all shifted their gaze toward the radiant pillar of light, which bathed everything in its illuminating glow.

However, the heavens that had been previously illuminated started to darken, engulfing the whole world in a deep dark veil of night. Lightning strikes surged forth to strike the pillar of light, each increasing in power and magnitude.

The lightning strikes clashed against the colossal pillar of light, causing a cacophony of thunderous booms that reverberated throughout the land. It was as though the very elements were rebelling against this transcendent ascension. Zhang Dong, deep in his meditative state, didn’t remain oblivious to the chaos that was unfolding around him. With each hit of the lightning, he could feel pain rush through his soul, the heavens were sending down tribulations to halt his progress just as he had anticipated.

With steady determination, Zhang Dong continued to meditate and channel his inner power. The pain from the lightning strikes was excruciating, but he refused to be deterred. He knew that this was a crucial moment in his journey, a make-or-break point that would determine whether he could ascend to the upper realm or be consumed by the power within.

As the lightning strikes intensified, the pillar of light grew more resplendent, and Zhang Dong's body began to undergo a profound transformation. His skin glowed with an ethereal radiance, and his eyes shimmered with newfound wisdom. It was as though he was becoming a being of pure energy, transcending the limitations of his mortal form.

The battle between the pillar of light and the celestial tribulations raged on, with each lightning strike becoming more powerful and relentless. It was a test of endurance, a test of will, and Zhang Dong was determined to prevail. On the outside, the landscape was changing and everything within a hundred kilometers was being destroyed by the tribulation lightning that was trying to destroy him.

A multitude of onlookers gathered outside, their expressions awash with sheer horror as they bore witness to this apocalyptic spectacle. Ancestral-level cultivators abandoned their cultivation chambers, drawn by the irresistible allure of the phenomenon that was unfolding. It had become evident to all in attendance that a new immortal was in the process of ascending.

The entire world plunged into darkness, with the distant pillar of light becoming the sole beacon in the obsidian void. The thunder and lightning continued their relentless assault, sending shockwaves reverberating throughout the entire empire. In the wake of this chaos, cataclysmic events unfolded one after another. Floods caught some cities off guard, while dormant volcanoes, silent for millennia, erupted, spewing molten lava across the land.

Amidst the chaos, as the world seemed on the brink of collapse, Zhang Dong remained resolute. He continued to meditate, his body now a luminous silhouette within the colossal pillar of light. The power within him surged, and he could feel the white seed in his dantian undergoing a profound transformation. It was no longer a mere seed; it had grown into a radiant tree, its branches reaching out to the heavens.

As the heavenly tribulations intensified, Zhang Dong's connection to the world deepened. He felt the heartbeat of the earth beneath him and the whispers of the wind. It was as though he had become one with the very fabric of the universe, a conduit for the energy of creation itself…