He was born as a blacksmith, but he dominated the world

Chapter 510 What I Really Want to Do
I don't know how long I spent in "A World Like a Painting," maybe a year, maybe ten years, or even longer.

The world may no longer have the concept of time, but that doesn't mean time doesn't exist.

When Jiang Lin heard that the last path had led to the present day, when the vast universe was about to be swallowed by darkness, and at the same time, his own appearance was also being brought about, he had countless things to say.

Because he had heard too many unbelievable things and knew countless secrets of the past and future.

In a sense, he was almost omniscient about the past, present, and future; nothing could be hidden from him anymore.

But the more you know, the more difficult it is to understand at times.

Did my future self actually make so many foolish choices?
Although some of the choices were quite good, many mistakes were still made in the end.

Jiang Lin didn't find this too strange.

Just like when I clashed with those Jianghu forces back then, didn't I also make mistakes?

In order to protect himself, he let Song Houyong die innocently, and he still cannot get over it.

"In life, who hasn't made a few mistakes? If every choice were perfect, there would be no regrets. But then life would probably be meaningless."

Jiang Lin fell silent upon hearing these words, and after a moment he smiled bitterly and said, "You're right, but these are the thoughts of someone who's been there. I haven't experienced that much yet, so naturally I don't want to make any mistakes."

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Lin said, "Now that I know all the choices I made before, what do you think we should do next?"

“You and I are no different. The choices you make are mine,” the other person said.

Jiang Lin certainly understood this principle, but some things cannot be generalized.

After all, his current cultivation level and knowledge are still insufficient.

As mentioned before, knowing and actually experiencing are two completely different things.

Jiang Lin had heard the history of the Great Qian Dynasty told to him many times.

It wasn't until I personally participated in it that I realized how much hardship and danger there was in the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty.

What is called inevitability is not entirely inevitable; it is merely the choice made by those historical figures at that time.

If one makes a different choice in a segment of history, then the history of the Great Qian Dynasty will also change.

This is also why my future self, who has been supporting the vast universe alone for countless millennia, is determined to wait for his appearance.

Because of these unequalities, if we don't tell him all this, the timeline will fall into chaos.

Jiang Lin will likely make the same mistake again in the future, and it will be a long, long time before he can find the right path again through countless attempts to find it.

For these reasons, Jiang Lin hopes that he can give a definite answer in the future.

That's better than making choices based on your limited knowledge.

The two discussed it for a long time, and then countless years passed.

I have to say, my future self is incredibly powerful.

It was supposed to be a verbal discussion, but the level 5 insightful observation skill allowed him to see through everything.

Good, bad, right, wrong—everything is calculated perfectly.

This discussion only came to an end after considering countless possibilities.

Jiang Lin already knew what he needed to do in the future, and he also knew it was time for him to go back.

However, he was still not quite sure how to deal with the giant's divine body.

"Once you get out, someone will naturally help you; she won't let you die."

"Her? Who are you talking about?"

"Master of the Void Observation Dao".

"Guo Jiuxing?"

"No, it's someone from an even more distant past, even before you became the Dao Ancestor."

Jiang Lin was surprised. He had always thought that the Taoist sect and the powerful clans were just unintentional inheritances left behind by him after he became the Taoist Ancestor.

Now it seems that this is not the case.

"The Taoist sect and powerful clans have indeed inherited part of your mantle, and can be considered your successors. But just as the imperial court would plant spies in the homes of powerful clans, are there no people deliberately planted in your lineage?"

Jiang Lin immediately realized that the Void Observation Path was not a true Taoist lineage.

Or rather, the existence of this Taoist sect is not entirely due to itself.

They are another powerful entity, deliberately planted spies.

Using the name of Taoism to do things that shouldn't be done.

"So who exactly is she?" Jiang Lin asked.

However, when faced with this question, the future self did not answer, but instead turned to something mysterious and said: "Perhaps it would be more interesting for you to discover the answer yourself. You wouldn't want to know everything and then make life completely boring, would you?"

Jiang Lin parted his lips slightly, wanting to say that even if it was boring, he didn't want to miss anything.

But judging from the other party's tone, there wasn't much danger involved, so he asked, "You mean that being will help me?"

"It's not him, but the Dao Master of the Void Supervision Dao during your time, the one named Guo Jiuxing."

Jiang Lin understood perfectly well what the Li family was planning to do.

Many things are interconnected; by deducing from each clue, it is easy to uncover the truth.

Jiang Lin hummed in agreement and said, "In that case, I'll be going now. I'll come to see you again if I have the chance."

"I would rather you don't come anymore, otherwise I will be very disappointed. Because only by making the right choice can I stop enduring this torment."

Jiang Lin had no way to refute these words. If he had made a better choice, the future macrocosm would no longer have to be swallowed by darkness.

In this way, my future self will no longer have to endure countless millennia of loneliness.

"I understand. I will do my best during this departure!"

"It's not about doing your best, it's about making sure you do it well."

These words sounded somewhat familiar to Jiang Lin, as if someone had said them before.

He said nothing more and looked again at the figure shrouded in darkness.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Jiang Lin asked.

The figure, dwelling alone in the darkness, spoke after a moment: "Please cherish the people around you for me. That's what I need you to do."

Jiang Lin asked no more questions, only took a deep look at the figure in the darkness, and then decisively released the effects of the fist technique in the human world.

Everything around us is constantly collapsing and disintegrating.

The power of his martial arts in the mortal world has vanished; he is about to return to reality.

I could already vaguely sense the encroachment of a colossal power.

A terrible attack is imminent.

But Jiang Lin was neither afraid nor flustered.

He knew very well that someone would come to his rescue.

Gazing at the fading darkness, Jiang Lin subconsciously waved and said, "I will cherish them."

The figure in the darkness seemed to be moved, and at that moment, golden light shone forth.

Its enormous size could not be concealed even by the boundless darkness.

A sliver of the complete, indestructible golden body was revealed, and even that sliver seemed to force back the surrounding darkness. Through the blur, Jiang Lin saw that weathered, weary, yet hopeful face.

That's my future self.

Now, I must return to reality with this expectation.

What has changed is no longer the past, but the future!

In the next instant, everything collapsed completely.

At the same time, the invasion of the mighty power also disappeared.

To be precise, it didn't disappear, but rather stopped.

Jiang Lin turned his head and saw that the scenery around him was constantly changing.

The giant's enormous hand was already quite close to him, and even the palm lines were clearly visible.

Fingers as large as mountains could crush him with ease.

But now, they have transformed into enormous rune pillars.

Everything in the pit, including the pursuing enemies, vanished like starlight.

Instead, there were layers upon layers of mist and crisscrossing black and white lines.

And then there are those black and white chess pieces, which are quite intimidating.

Jiang Lin arrived at Xujiandao once again.

However, my feelings are completely different now compared to when I first came here.

He saw the figure behind the clouds and mist. He had previously only been amazed by the power of the Dao Master of the Void Observation Dao and his mysterious and unpredictable methods.

But now, Jiang Lin no longer has that idea.

Because he knew that all of this was fake.

Whether it is the Lord of the Void Surveillance Path or the entire Void Surveillance Path, they are merely manifestations of the will of a certain being.

Everything they did was purposeful.

"How could you be so reckless? That place is not a place you can go to casually now. Fortunately, the Star Luo Magic replaced you, otherwise you would have died this time."

The voice of Guo Jiuxing, the leader of the Xujian Dao, entered my ears.

Jiang Lin could hear him, but instead of panicking, he remained calm and composed: "Isn't there still you?"

"I might not necessarily save you; this was just a coincidence."

"A coincidence?" Jiang Lin didn't refute it; he curiously looked around at everything.

Last time I came, I only glanced at it and didn't look at it too closely.

Looking closely now, it becomes clear that everything in the Rune World seems quite extraordinary.

There are too many runes here, far too many for someone at the peak of the Divine Martial Realm to handle.

However, the figure behind the clouds was no longer at the peak of the Divine Martial Realm, but had entered the Dao Martial Realm.

"If all the mountain lords die and their power returns, how strong will you be?" Jiang Lin turned around and asked.

The Daoist Master of the Void Observation Sect did not answer, but his eyes changed slightly.

Seemingly surprised, Jiang Lin smiled and said, "This is no secret. Everyone in the world has guessed that you will become stronger because of the death of the mountain lord. After all, that's what happened to those mountain lords outside."

The Dao Master of the Void Observation Dao nodded slightly and said, "You're right. If they were all dead, I would indeed be very strong. Probably several times stronger than I am now."

"I see." Jiang Lin suddenly said, "Then if you die, and the entity behind you withdraws the power it released, how powerful would it be?"

When this question was asked, the entire Runeworld trembled slightly.

Jiang Lin knew very well that his question had hit the other party's weak point, or rather, the key point.

He took a sudden step forward and said in a deep voice, "I don't know what those mountain lords think, or whether they are truly independent individuals. But someone like you should have your own thoughts."

"Tell me, if you died, how powerful would the entity behind you be? Or, would you be willing to die to make her who she is?"

The figure of the Dao Master of the Void Observation Dao disappeared behind the clouds and then appeared before Jiang Lin for the first time.

He was very tall and looked very imposing.

The doubt in his eyes, and the deep-seated surprise hidden within, clearly revealed his inner turmoil.

Seeing the different expression on the face of the Daoist Master of the Void Observation Sect, Jiang Lin suddenly felt much happier.

He smiled and said again, "Actually, we both understand that nothing is real, and everything can be changed. I am different now, and you will be different in the future."

"What do you want to do?" asked the Daoist Master of the Void Observation Sect.

"What I want to do is very simple: if you don't want to die, but want to be an independent individual, you should truly join forces with me. Instead of sacrificing everything for an existence that you may never have seen or will never see again."

The leader of the Void Observation Sect said, "Why should I listen to you? How could you possibly know what the Void Observation Sect has been planning and doing for so many years?"

“You think I don’t know because you haven’t reached that level yet,” Jiang Lin said. “This time I went out, I learned a lot and saw a lot. So, since you saved me, I want to repay that favor.”

The giant gauntlet poked its head out and tore open a spatial rift.

Jiang Lin didn't leave immediately, but said, "I'll give you time to think it over and figure out what you really want to do. Do you really want to follow in the footsteps of the past and do something that isn't what you truly want to do? Or should we come with you and find a hope that allows us to truly live on forever?"

The power within the runic world is similar to rules, but it hasn't reached that high level.

The spatial rift in the Giant Stream Armor extends 150 miles away.

After saying these words, Jiang Lin did not delay any longer.

He took a step and left the False Observatory.

The Dao Master of the Void Observation Dao looked at the slowly closing spatial rift with a somewhat uncertain gaze.

The leaders of the Void Observation Dao, regardless of the generation, are known for their extreme calmness.

They don't make mistakes, and they don't want to make mistakes.

From the moment he learned of Jiang Lin's existence, the Dao Master of the Void Observation Dao had already decided what he wanted to do.

But now, he felt a little lost.

Was what I thought about before really what I wanted to do?
For some reason, this question made him tremble.

No one understands better than him that thinking and doing are two different things.

Just like Jiang Lin gave up the Nether Sea and the farthest place to choose to come to the back mountain of Xujiandao to find the strange fire.

So-called careful consideration is nothing more than the inevitable result of someone else's planning.

And could I myself have become part of this scheme?
At this moment, Jiang Lin didn't care what the Dao Master of the Void Observation Sect was thinking.

With one step, he left the back mountain of Xujiandao.

The last of the strange flames in his hand ignited, reflecting a joyful smile on his face.

With this, one can melt ore and contribute to what one wants to do in the future.

Thinking about what he had heard before, Jiang Lin felt a little heavy-hearted again.

The road ahead is not going to be easy!

(End of this chapter)