A lone man drifted through the vastness of space, his eyes closed as he sought to silence the various voices within. Emerging victorious from a prolonged struggle with an unknown foe, he now contemplated the future of his existence. Despite appearances of success, a price had been paid.

“There are so many of them... It still feels strange.”

His mind, which had started as that of a regular human, was in disarray. His Dao Tree had evolved into something he could only describe as a multiversal tree. As he floated through the expansive cosmos, it continued to produce more and more fruits. Each of these fruits represented another universe with almost boundless possibilities. The primary one, created first and residing at the core, marked the central point of this expanding multiverse.

Zhang Dong opened his eyes, revealing a gaze that seemed to pierce through the fabric of space and time. He could sense the vitality of each universe, the countless lives within them, and the interconnected threads that bound them together. As the newly ascended multiversal being, he had become the overseer of a vast cosmic tapestry.

Yet, amid this grandeur, he couldn't forget the sacrifice made to achieve this status. The godly being, once a twisted manifestation of arrogance and power, had been absorbed into Zhang Dong's multiversal tree. Now, a part of him, it served as a cautionary tale of what not to become. However, there was a need for him to take a step forward; the battle was over, but this wasn't the end of his journey. Everything and everyone now directly depended on his existence.

With a single thought, he could wipe them all out, but he hoped such a drastic measure would never be necessary. But just like it was possible for him, there could come a day when a new multiversal being finally emerged. He did not wish to restrain others but there was a possibility that a new evil being could be eventually created. Then there was also this vast expanse he was occupying, it was created by something or someone and with his newfound power he became aware of beings outside of it.

“I’m not alone… but it seems that they aren’t able to enter this place… It’s like I’m in a lower realm and they are in another higher realm…”

He gave out a sigh of disappointment as the cycle seemed to continue anew. Even after becoming a god that could create life and live forever, there were still places above him that he could perhaps visit.

“Well, not like I have aspirations to become the God Emperor of all multiversal beings…”

After chuckling about his lack of godly aspirations, he descended onto one of the nearby planets. With a simple wave of his finger, he adjusted the positions of celestial bodies to create ideal living conditions for carbon-based lifeforms. Although he didn't need such conditions for his own survival, he felt the need to create a new home for himself. As someone with roots on Earth, his goal was to fashion a similar planet.

“And he said… Let there be light… huh? Who am I even talking to?”

The new planet didn’t take long to be created, as he had already honed his skills within his previous universe. The barren rock, barely taking on a spherical form, soon transformed into a lush planet adorned with various colorful plants. Although no living beings populated the area yet, he envisioned this place as his new base of operations. With a snap of his fingers, he brought over a few guests, teleporting them from the older universe to float above the ground.

“Husband?”

“Father?”

“Is that you Dong’er?”

“Haha, I’m alive?”

He started laughing as the armada that had been just battling with the sun space monster appeared before him. Everyone was here and in good health, even though many of them had gotten injured and even perished during the battle, they could be brought back.

“Yes you are Qiang and so is everyone else.”

Even as a godly being, he had limitations and rules to adhere to. While he could bring back people who took part in the final battle, this wasn't the case for everyone. If someone's soul was destroyed, there was no way of bringing them back. At most, he could recreate a replica with the same memories, but they wouldn't truly be the exact same person - just a being with the same memories and personality.

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Huo Qiang had perished during the fight along with many others from the United Element Sect or the many system holders that had taken part in the last siege. However, their souls had not been destroyed so it was easy enough for the new goldy being to restore them to their previous forms even if some were immortal beings.

“I truly thought I was a goner but then in one moment we were all here, what is this place Dong’er?”

“Oh not sure, just a planet I made, it doesn’t have a name yet … and no, don’t even think about giving it my name…”

He responded in a cheerful manner, and everyone released a sigh of relief. Finding themselves in this place, comfortably conversing with their leader, meant that he had emerged victorious in the battle against their main foe. Everything was finally over, and many of them couldn't believe it. They had spent countless millennia preparing for this occasion, watching many of their people grow old and pass away. Nevertheless, they persevered and saw their task through to the end, allowing them to finally find rest.

“Did we really win?”

“We did, it’s over.”

Zhang Liena approached her husband along with her two children. She started out slow, but soon her steps quickened, and she bolted in his direction. Zhang Dong opened his arms, and his wife rushed into a warm embrace. Tears of joy streamed down her face, but before she could look into her husband's eyes, more people came running. Both his children enveloped him in a big hug, and soon others like Zhang Jin and Huo Qiang joined in. Relief flowed freely as the weight of the long, arduous battle finally lifted from their shoulders. The once-dead space, now filled with vibrant life, served as a backdrop to their reunion.

As the celebrations continued, Zhang Dong couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The sacrifices made and the struggles faced had led to this moment of triumph and the creation of a new beginning. He looked around at the diverse group of individuals who had fought alongside him - warriors, cultivators, mages, and beings from various other realms that he was now the master of, an issue that needed to be eventually addressed. However, this was not the time for pondering, instead they needed to celebrate.

“So, you’ve ascended into godhood? Should I start calling you with a title, like Great Dong? or maybe something grander like Celestial Emperor of all? Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?”

“How about you don’t…”

A cheerful feast had commenced, and for Zhang Dong, it was quite easy to conjure up tasty treats for everyone with just a wiggle of his finger. Although he didn't have much practice with this new realm of his, the power felt overwhelming. It was possible that within the realms he now towered over, he was omniscient and omnipresent. He felt a strange connection to the worlds around him, as if they were just an extension of his being.

“Hey, give that back!”

“Why should I? I grabbed it first, there are other spirit chicken wings there.”

“But I want that one!”

“No chance.”

His profound contemplations were interrupted by his children, who were fighting over a piece of chicken meat he had produced. Despite the appealing appearance of the chicken wing, he could easily create more. The two were also cultivators at the Immortal realm and didn't actually need to eat food. Since they embarked on the plan, the two had been competing with each other. Although they were at their strongest when working together, in moments of low stakes, they constantly bickered over the simplest things.

“They are almost as old as us, they should really act their age…”

“Hah, it’s better if they remain like that forever.”

Zhang Dong replied to his wife as both of them looked at their children. The lively banter and laughter of his family and friends filled the air, creating an atmosphere of warmth and joy. Amidst the festivities after many long hours of celebration, Zhang Jin approached his grandson who was trying to position his drunk wife in a more respectful position.

“She never could hold the immortal grade spirits too well.”

“She’s just tired, everyone probably is.”

Both of them glanced at the drunk immortals and others who were in various states of celebration. The universe-shattering battle was now over, but life still went on. Another day would soon come, and all of them would now need to find something new to keep them busy. For Zhang Dong, the responsibility of overseeing this vast creation weighed on his shoulders, but the newfound power and wisdom he had gained during the battle gave him the confidence to face the challenges ahead.

“I never imagined my journey would lead me to this point”

“Hah, none of us did but we all believed in you. So then, Celestial Emperor what will you do next? This world is at your fingertips.”

“What will I do next? I’m not sure, perhaps I should take a vacation, how does a million years sound?”

“Sounds good!”

Both of them laughed while gazing at the night sky, sparkling with the radiance of countless stars. Even as they conversed, new worlds were being born, and some old ones were nearing their end. A never-ending cycle of life and death unfolded. Zhang Dong had no idea if all of this would last forever; there were still things he didn't understand or fully grasp. However, with so many good friends on his side, there was nothing to worry about. The multiverse was now his canvas, and he intended to paint it with a gentle harmonious stroke.

‘This still isn’t everything, there are things beyond this, perhaps an omniverse but… I’ll tackle what is beyond on another day…’

He smiled to himself while reminiscing about his roots; the man he once was had undergone a transformation. While this might have marked the end of his journey, it didn't mean that there weren’t many other stories left to be told…