Chapter 134: Understanding the Version Spanning Three Years

Hearing Patton's words, Aiwass raised his eyebrows with interest.

"...Transcendence? Do you know what you're talking about?"

The Knight's true identity is likely a reserve soldier in the Light Cavalry Battalion, possibly a student at the Avalon Military Academy.

He came from an orthodox knight family, with at least one direct descendant in his family bearing armor. He also mentioned that he might be promoted to air cavalry... In other words, he had just embarked on the path to transcendence and had not yet completed his first promotion. His griffin ration was a pure-blooded griffin without any discount.

In other words, his family was among the best in the Kingdom of Avalon.

Even if he chooses not to become a transcendent, he can still live a comfortable life.

But such a person...now tells Aiwass that he wants to become a transcendent?

Aiwass's heart moved, and he asked, "Do you know something?"

"I'm serious."

Mr. Knight said seriously, "It wasn't a momentary impulse, nor did I harbor any rebellious thoughts... I just learned a little bit about the forbidden history that carries mysterious power... and then I started wondering, could it be that we've taken the wrong path? Is the path of authority meant to be compatible with the path of transcendence?

If the essence of the path of authoritarianism is similar to strength, then the core of authoritarianism is power. Power is top-down, but it also changes, just as ministers' positions rise and fall. How can those who have no desire to rise take their work seriously?

"—I think that 'power' is the combination of top-down orders and bottom-up promotions."

……interesting.

Aiwass raised his eyebrows.

The Cavaliers were not wrong, they were just a little too advanced.

Avalon was destroyed in the last minor version of the first major version [Glass Steps].

In version 2.0, the players solved the troubles of the Theocracy and gained the friendship and help of the Pope and the Saint; in version 3.0, Xingbi committed suicide and began an unstoppable split; and after defeating the Fallen Angel, Isabel also grew up and gained high prestige among the people. With the help of the new Theocracy, she organized a team to retake Avalon.

After defeating the bandits, traitors, and rebels of the old kingdom, as well as someone who was once a puppet of Xingti but is now independent and has summoned Shadow Tiansi, Isabel defeated Iris's conspiracy, reclaimed the land of Avalon, and completed the restoration of the kingdom.

At that time, a fire burned out the decayed things, and the reborn "Avalon" was renamed Camelot, the Kingdom of Flowers.

Aiwass still remembers the CG after killing the final BOSS Shadow Tiansi in the difficult version 3.4. It was one of the few CGs he did not skip - of course, it was also because he was numb after the fight and was so tired that he lay down to take a break.

On the lifeless land, corrupted by the shadows controlled by Shadow Sky, new buds sprouted, dead trees regained vitality, and flowers bloomed once again. And the half-elf Isabelle, wearing a crown of flowers, still looked young. She wore a white robe, a crown, and held a scepter. Like her grandmother, Queen Sofia, she stood on a vine-wrapped wooden platform in the vibrant city and delivered a speech.

As the founder of the Kingdom of Camelot, Queen Isabella voluntarily gave up some of her royal powers and transferred power to the cabinet and parliament, turning Camelot into a constitutional monarchy.

This would lead to a complete transformation of the entire power system—no longer would knight families be passed down through bloodlines, holding sway over the highest ranks, and knights would no longer be de facto armored nobles. This also meant that the mainstream authoritarian system, centered on "law" and "royal power," which had been stable for over four hundred years since the founding of Avalon, would be shattered, and the restrictions and resistance against other paths would also be lifted.

It was not until then that the extraordinary people on the Path of Authoritarianism realized... that the Path of Authoritarianism and the Path of Transcendence were actually not in conflict at all.

Even the Silver Crown Dragon himself possesses characteristics of the Path of Transcendence; just as the great philosophers of the Path of Wisdom and the twin mirrors of the Path of Beauty also have some characteristics of the Path of Balance.

Since the Nine Pillar Gods, who are high above, are not pure incarnations of the Tao and have their own wills and tendencies, mortals are naturally even more so.

Everyone's experiences, personalities, and talents are different, and few are "divine apostles" who walk a single path. Any two paths have a high potential for integration, and while three paths combined are rare, they do exist.

——In the final analysis, seeking change, progress, and transcendence by rebelling against superiors, and emphasizing the authority of controlling will, mastering power, and leading others can actually be understood as two aspects of "power."

Its essence and core are still authoritarian, and it still contains elements of devotion. Only after adding a little bit of transcendence did the system finally come alive and function normally instead of becoming old and decayed.

Authority, devotion, and transcendence, all in parallel, ultimately reached the three vertices of the Avalon Triangle. Isabel's path to beauty lay just outside these vertices, interfering with neither... like the royal family withdrawing from the core of power, she became the emerald gem at the center of the silvery Avalon Triangle.

This is probably why the Silver Crown Dragon turned a blind eye to the destruction of Avalon.

For him, Avalon was probably no longer the kingdom of knights he had originally intended to build. This fire burned deep into the heart of the Silver Crown Dragon.

So, Patton's understanding was completely correct. Three years later, this became common knowledge and accepted by everyone.

But because his understanding was so advanced, surpassing two major versions...if he said this now, people would just call it crazy and heresy.

Moreover, his ideas actually have no practical basis.

Currently, new classes like the Scholar of Sin and the Ascended Warlock, which are perfectly compatible with the revamped Path of Authority, have yet to be introduced in the Path of Transcendence. The most popular classes in the Path of Transcendence are still the Demonologist and its advanced Demonic Avatar.

Even if you count the demons and spellcasters, there aren't many good ones. Even though Aiwass himself is a transcendent being, he has to admit that the Transcendent Path is the path of evil.

If Mr. Knight, who is upright and not very smart, were to come into contact with the path of transcendence at this time, he would probably be taken advantage of and used to death by those people.

But the knight's ability to think of this proved his true talent—his presence here now was partly motivated by a desire to seize the Holy Lance. Even though he knew he was no match for Aleister, he didn't want to sit there and wait for death. And after meeting Aleister, he didn't beg for mercy or tremble, but simply wanted to ask one more question.

This indomitable spirit, daring to challenge the strong, perfectly aligns with the requirements for advancement to the "Ascending Warlock" class on the Path of Transcendence. It also perfectly complements the melee classes of the Path of Authority.

But taking up this profession is very troublesome. Currently, the Celestial Master who controls the transformation has not yet been brought down by the Tail Ring Ritual, making it extremely difficult for humans to shed their skin.

...Should I give him a chance?

After careful consideration, Aiwass decided to save him instead of destroying him.

He said seriously, "In fact, when you asked this question, you have already stepped halfway onto the path of transcendence.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Humans are the sons of Father Snake and the Eternal Self, a race naturally endowed with adaptability to the Path of Transcendence and the Path of Love. Everyone is insatiable, always striving for better, and always full of desires. This is the essence of human progress."

This is what Shadow Fiend had just said to him, and Aiwass is now learning and applying it immediately.

"But the real question is, have you awakened and embarked on this path? Have you already decided on your career, or is it that 'anything beyond the path' is fine? Or are you simply beginning to doubt the authoritarian path, but haven't yet decided on your next path?

"Have you ever thought about what happens to those who transcend the Dao? Have you ever thought about your family, your clan? Have you ever thought about the conspiracies launched against you, the exploitation of you, and the persecution of your family by those who are also transcendent?"

Aiwass advised earnestly, "If not, my advice is—you can keep this idea, but don't advance to the path of transcendence for the time being.

"At least not in the next few years. Once you're truly on track in your career, if you still have such thoughts, it's not too late to change."

"There are very few transcendents who can navigate all three paths. For most, two paths are their limit. You are still young. Now you want to transcend, but in the future you might want to transition to dedication. Later, you might even want to transition to adaptation, and when you're old, you might want to transition to twilight... If you can leave some room for your future self, it's best not to embark on two paths so soon."

It's almost time anyway, Aiwass thought. In another two years, when the Die Tianshi is torn down, you can become an Ascended Warlock.

Now you haven't even reached the second level of the first path, why are you so anxious about the second path?

This is like when you are playing an online game, before the novice village even opens, you start thinking about adding points and equipment after reaching the maximum level - you can talk about it later.

(End of this chapter)