Chapter 7: "The Last Decision"

After a simple breakfast, Gu Dao sat down the entire morning thinking about what he should do.

The melodious ringtone of his cell phone interrupted his train of thought. It was a call from his classmate, Zhao Fan.

Just as he pressed the answer button, he heard Zhao Fan's nagging tone again. "Hey buddy, where are you? Why didn't you come to school today? You missed an exam."

Gu Dao smiled bitterly. "Well, I'm in big shit right now and I really don't have time for that." He sighed heavily.

Zhao Fan asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen to you, or did you kill someone?"

Gu Dao rolled his eyes. "Nonsense, what are you thinking? Well, it's a little complicated.

"Hey, every problem has a solution. What can even happen?" Zhao Fan said to Gu Dao in a sage-like tone.

Gu Dao almost laughed. "Let's meet at school in the afternoon. I'm coming soon."

"Alright, see you soon." Gu Dao cut the call. He then stood up, picked up his backpack, and walked out of his apartment.

This time, he simply walked along his way, observing his surroundings.

People hurried past, cars zoomed by, and the world continued its endless motion.

As he looked around, Gu Dao couldn't help but reflect on life.

If he rejected the Dao Fruit and chose to simply continue his life on Earth, the end would be predictable.

According to my plan, after finishing high school, I would choose a university—likely something related to the business world. I'd dive into the stock market and cryptocurrency, trying to make a fortune.

If I lost it all, life would become difficult. It would be a relentless grind—working my way back up, never really satisfied, never really free.

Then I would switch to my second plan, 'the scumbag's way', which involved seducing a second-generation rich lady to sponsor me.

With her help, I would eventually build a business empire—or at least, I would live a life of luxury, surrounded by the finest things money could buy.

Either way, I would reach my goal. By whatever means necessary.

What would follow would be a life of debauchery and fleeting pleasures, indulging in whatever I wanted for a few years.

I would find a good woman to marry, raise children, and wait for the inevitable—death. A simple life. A "happy ending."

Gu Dao looked up at the sky and laughed. People stared at him, as though they were seeing a lunatic.

Gu Dao smiled kindly at them, then he looked far away.

Is that all there is?

His eyes shifted as he watched the world move around him—the people rushing by, the cars honking in the distance, the never-ending hum of life.

Everyone trapped in a cycle, caught in the web of their own daily routines. The cycle of birth, struggle, and death. How many of them would truly escape it?

Boring. Too short.

On the other hand, there was the Dao Fruit—immortality within his grasp. The thing that billions of beings across the universe dream of. A gift beyond all value.

But what did it truly offer? Eternal life. Not just the slow, tedious grind of mortal existence, but a life that transcended time itself.

Immortal. Indestructible. Eternal.

The Dao Fruit could grant him that power. And yet, his thoughts drifted back to the stories he had read in novels. According to them, the higher your cultivation realm, the longer your lifespan would be.

But in the early stages of cultivation, who could afford to waste time? Time was a luxury he couldn't afford. Without immortality, one would always be chasing after opportunities, taking dangerous risks, struggling to survive.

Without it, the fear of time running out would always linger over his head.

But with the Dao Fruit…

He would be free. Free to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. Immortal from the beginning, with an eternity to shape his destiny. No more risk, no more fear.

Time itself would bend to his will. With immortality, he could watch the rise and fall of civilizations, the shifting tides of history. He could learn everything, see everything, experience everything. He could be the master of his own fate.

Gu Dao stood there, letting the idea wash over him like a warm tide.

He could hear the distant hum of the city around him, but his thoughts had drifted far beyond the ordinary.

The simple life he once thought he wanted felt so small now. So mundane. So... limited.

And yet, wasn't it?

He looked at the people rushing by—rushing toward their own mundane destinations. The city was full of them. Ordinary souls, bound by their own dreams and desires.

They were chasing something, but what was it really? What was the point? The world would carry on, with or without them. Time would keep moving forward.

But for Gu Dao, the chance to become an immortal was within his reach. A chance to transcend this small, fleeting existence and become something greater than the rest.

There was no more running from it. No more hiding from what he truly wanted. He wanted the Dao Fruit. He wanted to be immortal, to carve his path across the vast expanse of time.

Gu Dao smiled wildly. His thoughts were clearer now than they had ever been.

The world of mortals, with all its struggles and fleeting pleasures, was beneath him.

He felt a surge of energy rising from deep within him, his confidence growing with each passing moment. The weight of his decision no longer felt heavy, but freeing.

With the Dao Fruit, he could escape this endless cycle of birth, struggle, and death. No longer would he be bound by the constraints of mortality.

No longer would he be forced to live within the narrow confines of a human lifespan.

He could be free to live forever, to explore, to grow, to shape his existence.

The world stretched out before him—endless and full of possibilities. And with the Dao Fruit in his grasp, he could walk that path without fear.

No more limits. No more death.

Gu Dao's heart pounded in his chest as the decision finally clicked into place. He stood up straighter, a fire burning in his eyes.

This was the moment he had been waiting for. The moment when everything changed.

This Emperor Dao Fruit, I want it.

His footsteps were steady and sure as he walked down the street.

The world around him faded, becoming nothing more than a blur of color and sound. He had already made his choice, and nothing could stop him now.

The future was his to shape.

The immortality he sought was within reach.

And with that, Gu Dao embraced his destiny, walking toward a new life—a life beyond the ordinary, beyond the limits of mortal existence.

Soon, Gu Dao reached the school. As always, the campus was filled with the usual noise—students chatting in small groups, some rushing to their next classes, others lazily lingering around.

The scent of books and ink mixed with the distant aroma of street food wafting in from outside the school gates.

The occasional burst of laughter and the rhythmic sound of basketballs bouncing on the court added to the lively atmosphere.

He glanced around, his eyes sweeping over the familiar scene. Rows of cherry blossom trees lined the walkways, their petals fluttering gently in the breeze, creating a picturesque contrast to the towering buildings of the school.

Nearby, a group of students were gathered around a bulletin board, discussing the latest exam results, while others sat under the shade, scrolling through their phones.

His gaze soon landed on a group of familiar figures—Zhao Fan, Lin Yue, and a few others, chatting animatedly under a large tree near the cafeteria.

However, this time, among them stood a striking figure—the class monitor. Chen Xinyue .

Chen Xinyue was the kind of girl who effortlessly drew attention wherever she went.

She is the classic campus belle—graceful, intelligent, and effortlessly charming.

With long, silky black hair cascading down her back and bright eyes that carried a hint of aloofness, she had an air of confidence.

Dressed in the standard school uniform, she still managed to make it look elegant, her crisp white blouse and pleated skirt highlighting her slender figure.

Even I had a slight interest in her—but that was all.

Although Lin Yue once mentioned that Su Wan had glanced at me a few times, and even if she did harbor some interest, such a relationship would never last.

From what I knew, she was not just any rich second-generation but one of the top elites.

Her family background was formidable, and their strict upbringing left little room for personal choice.

To put it simply, I—a penniless Bastard—was not worthy of her. Even if, by some absurd twist of fate, we ended up together, I would not let it continue.

Why? Because it would only invite endless trouble—mockery, disdain, and suppression from her admirers, her family, and anyone else who believed status defined worth.

Such dramatic struggles were best left to the so-called protagonists of schoolyard novels, those who like to be looked down upon, only to counterattack and slap their enemies in the face and looked cool.

As for me? I had neither the patience nor the interest.

Especially now, with the Dao Fruit in my grasp and the path of cultivation before me, such trivial entanglements were not worthy consideration.

My goal today was simple: meet with my classmates, find a way to borrow money—silver or gold if possible.

Gold and silver held value in any world, and if I was to embark on this path, even the smallest advantage could make a difference.

Zhao Fan, spotting Gu Dao from a distance, waved enthusiastically. "Hey, Gu! Over here!"

Gu Dao sighed inwardly but walked over nonetheless.

He could already tell that whatever conversation they were having before his arrival was about to shift toward him.

Zhao Fan hooked his arm around Gu Dao's neck, grinning. "What's up, buddy? Why didn't you come this morning?"

Lin Yue crossed his arms and nodded. "That's right, you missed two exams. The teachers were asking about you."

Gu Dao shrugged. "Had some things to take care of."

Zhao Fan clicked his tongue. "Skipping exams like this, you've got guts."

Before Gu Dao could reply, a soft yet clear voice interrupted.

"Gu Dao, are you alright?"

It was Chen Xinyue, the class monitor. She looked at him with a calm, unreadable expression. "If you need anything, let me know."

Gu Dao was slightly surprised but quickly regained his composure. He smiled faintly. "Thanks, but I'm fine."

Chen Xinyue nodded lightly and didn't press further, returning to her conversation with the others.

Gu Dao watched his friends laughing, their voices blending into the familiar, chaotic rhythm of school life.

Zhao Fan was joking around, Lin Yue was rolling his eyes, Liu Feng who was talking nonsense with the girls around, and even the usually serious Chen Xinyue had a faint smile on her lips as she listened.

It was an ordinary scene, yet something about it felt strangely distant.

He had never been the sentimental type—friendship, to him, was more about convenience than deep emotional ties.

But at this moment, as he stood on the edge of something entirely unknown, he felt an odd feeling of sadness and not quite sadness it a little complicated.

It wasn't regret, nor was it longing, but rather a quiet awareness that this was the last time he would ever be part of the group.

The path he was about to take would sever him from all of this. These conversations, these people—everything would soon become a vague memory, an echo of a life he once lived.

It wasn't sadness exactly, but a kind of emptiness, a realization that he was stepping into a world where things like friendship, school, and youthful nonsense had no place.

Zhao Fan slapped him on the back, grinning. "What's with that look? You're acting like you're about to die or something."

The others chuckled, shaking their heads at Gu Dao's unusual silence.

Gu Dao glanced at Zhao Fan, momentarily speechless. After a brief pause, he smirked faintly. "I'll definitely live longer than you."

Zhao Fan raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

But Gu Dao didn't answer. Instead, he looked around at his friends one last time, his smile deepening slightly. "This is the last time we'll meet."

The group was momentarily stunned, unsure whether he was joking or being serious. Zhao Fan scoffed. "Stop with the nonsense. You sound like you're going off to some distant land."

Gu Dao merely chuckled and didn't say anything more.

The others also started asking one after another.

"Are you really serious?"

Chen Xinyue, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke. She gazed at Gu Dao, noticing that he didn't seem to be joking. "Where are you going?"

Gu Dao smiled bitterly. How could he possibly explain?

"It's quite complicated," he said with a sigh. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "How about this? Tomorrow, we don't have school. Let's meet at Qingfeng Park, and I'll tell you everything."

His voice was light, but deep down, he knew—tomorrow would be a farewell day.

...