The silence lingered after Andrew finished explaining the nature of the Eternal Body.
William remained thoughtful.
The path ahead had become clearer.
Yet another question had emerged.
Where should he go now?
He possessed no sect.
No family.
No academy.
No organization behind him.
He was, perhaps, the most sought-after cultivator in existence.
Andrew seemed to read his thoughts.
"It is time."
William turned toward him.
"Time for what?"
Andrew smiled.
"To choose your future."
With a wave of his hand, countless jade slips appeared before William, floating in orderly rows.
Every slip carried the insignia of a different force.
Ancient families.
Supreme sects.
The greatest academies.
Independent alliances.
Even organizations that normally refused outsiders had sent invitations.
William stared at the enormous collection.
"...All of these?"
Andrew chuckled.
"Only a portion."
"The rest are still arriving."
The woman beside them laughed softly.
"I've never seen every major power compete for a single person."
Andrew nodded.
"I have."
"When the previous Eternal Body successors appeared."
He looked back at William.
"The difference is..."
"...your offers are considerably more generous."
William slowly picked up one of the jade slips.
Before opening it, Andrew spoke again.
"Before you decide..."
"You should first understand the difference between the three great types of powers."
William nodded.
"I'm listening."
Andrew raised three fingers.
"Families."
"Sects."
"Academies."
"They all produce powerful cultivators."
"But their essence is completely different."
He raised the first finger.
"Great Cultivation Families."
"They invest everything into bloodlines."
"They provide unimaginable resources."
"Techniques."
"Territories."
"Political influence."
"Endless wealth."
He paused briefly.
"But nothing comes without a price."
William quietly listened.
Andrew continued.
"If you join a great family..."
"...you do not truly remain an outsider."
"Eventually they will encourage you to marry into their bloodline."
"Your wife becomes part of the family."
"Your children become members of that family from birth."
"Your descendants strengthen that family's future."
"They are investing in your lineage."
"They are not simply recruiting a cultivator."
William understood immediately.
"So they don't merely want me..."
"They want every generation after me."
Andrew nodded.
"Exactly."
He raised his second finger.
"Sects."
"Their philosophy is different."
"They care less about blood."
"And more about inheritance."
"They offer considerably more personal freedom."
"You may marry."
"You may travel."
"You may establish your own branch."
"You may even leave temporarily."
"However..."
"They compensate for that freedom with discipline."
"Their internal hierarchy is extremely strict."
"Their rules are countless."
"Their traditions are absolute."
"If you break them..."
"...punishment follows."
William slightly frowned.
"So..."
"More freedom."
"But stricter order."
Andrew smiled.
"A fair summary."
Finally, he raised his third finger.
"Academies."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"They are neither families nor sects."
"Their purpose is singular."
"To gather geniuses."
"To cultivate them."
"And to allow them to compete."
"They interfere very little with your personal life."
"They rarely care where you come from."
"They care only about one thing."
"Whether you continue growing."
William nodded.
"So they offer the greatest freedom."
Andrew laughed.
"Freedom..."
"...comes with its own obligations."
"The greatest academies expect constant participation."
"Lectures."
"Research."
"Exchange."
"Exploration."
"Competitions."
"You become part of an environment that never stops moving."
He smiled.
"And unlike sects..."
"You cannot simply ignore everyone around you."
Andrew waved his hand.
The jade slips began arranging themselves into separate groups.
"Now..."
"Listen to the offers."
The first group floated forward.
"Several Great Families have proposed marriage."
William blinked.
"...Marriage?"
Andrew nodded without changing his expression.
"They wish for you to marry one of their daughters."
"If you accept..."
"They will grant you every cultivation resource you could possibly request."
"Entire treasure vaults."
"Forbidden inheritances."
"Private cultivation realms."
"They are even willing to appoint you as the future Patriarch."
William looked surprised.
Andrew continued.
"They also guarantee the future of every one of your descendants."
"Your children."
"Your grandchildren."
"Your bloodline."
"They will all inherit the family's protection."
The woman smiled teasingly.
"Some of those daughters are considered the greatest beauties in the Upper Worlds."
William ignored the comment entirely.
The second group moved forward.
"These are the offers from the Great Sects."
"They are willing to appoint you as their Crown Successor."
"The future leader."
"You would immediately gain unrestricted access to nearly every cultivation resource."
"Unlike ordinary disciples..."
"You would not be expected to complete routine missions."
"Nor follow the obligations imposed upon common members."
"You would possess authority second only to the Sect Master himself."
William quietly examined the offers.
The third group floated closer.
"The Great Academies."
Andrew's expression became noticeably lighter.
"Their requests are almost amusing."
William looked at him curiously.
"They ask for only one thing."
"Your enrollment."
"Nothing more."
"They promise unlimited cultivation resources."
"Research opportunities."
"Authority."
"Private training grounds."
"Access to every library."
"Every experimental realm."
"They ask for no political loyalty."
"No marriage."
"No succession."
"No military service."
William narrowed his eyes.
"There must be a condition."
Andrew smiled.
"There is."
"The Monthly Challenge."
William remained silent.
Andrew explained.
"Every student must participate in at least one challenge each month."
"It is an absolute rule."
"No exceptions."
"The strongest academy in existence has followed that principle since its creation."
William slowly nodded.
Finally...
the last group appeared.
"These offers are..."
"...slightly different."
Andrew picked up one jade slip.
"They ask for exactly the same commitments."
"But if you refuse..."
"They request only one promise."
William looked confused.
"What promise?"
Andrew answered calmly.
"That you will never join one of their enemies."
William raised an eyebrow.
"So they are willing to gain nothing..."
"...as long as others gain nothing as well."
Andrew laughed.
"Politics."
"The oldest cultivation technique in existence."
Silence returned.
William stood before hundreds of invitations.
Every one of them could change his future.
Andrew and the woman patiently waited.
Minutes passed.
William said nothing.
He carefully considered every possibility.
A family offered stability.
A sect offer authority.
An academy offered freedom.
Every option possessed undeniable advantages.
Yet...
he finally raised his head.
Andrew and the woman instinctively focused their attention on him.
William slowly opened his mouth.
"I Choose ..."