The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1552

Chapter 1552: Distraction and infiltration (I)
After learning all this, Cain nodded, confidence gleaming in his eyes. If the only barriers preventing him from attaining Mind and Body as One were the Ego Core and Concept Core, then he could indeed reach the Third Realm sooner than he’d ever imagined. Of course, sooner still meant years or even decades, but that would undoubtedly be faster than the timeline required for his Essence Evolution and Astral Rebirth Paths of Power.

“Then we have a deal. I will help you obtain a suitable body and assist you in your rebirth.”

Cain did not bother asking for the Sky Sovereign’s exact definition of a suitable body. His reasoning was simple: he would first focus on achieving Mind and Body as One. Once he commanded that level of power, he could defeat a Prima Master and turn over the body to the Sky Sovereign. No matter how high the man’s standards, it would suffice. Of course, if along the way they discovered a body that the Sky Sovereign deemed acceptable, and if they could seize it with minimal trouble, all the better.

“Excellent. In that case, I’m ready to assist you in every way I can. Tell me what you have in mind, and I will devise the kind of runic formation needed to support you.”

Having witnessed Cain’s intelligence and cunning, the Sky Sovereign had to admit that the young man was terrifying. Rather than propose a plan himself, he opted to see what thoughts and schemes Cain had already formed—and would help in any way possible.

A smile spread across Cain’s face upon hearing the Sky Sovereign’s question. As he began to explain, a deviously scheming light danced in his eyes.

“It’s a straightforward approach. My plan involves distraction and infiltration.”

…

On the day of the Gu Contest, the Gu Sect was bursting with activity as an astonishing number of cultivators arrived in droves—enough to blanket the horizon. Entire armies of warriors, mages, assassins, and more had been dispatched by affiliated forces, each responding to the Gu Sect’s summons.

Most of these arrivals were Apotheosis Masters, their expressions heavy with dread. Each knew they were about to be cast into a world where Peak Divine Transcendence Masters fought with merciless intent. None of them indulged in the fantasy that they were anything more than cannon fodder, yet they had no choice. In the Everstrife Empyrean World, might makes right, and with their meager strength, they lack the power to be safe.

High above, tens of thousands of cultivators soared through the skies, forming dark silhouettes against the sun. Some wore looks of resignation, while others still clung to hope that perhaps they could survive—or even prosper—under the wings of whichever new master would ascend from the Gu Contest. Many of these aerial cultivators were Divine Masters whose superior power allowed them to imagine a fate beyond mere sacrificial pawns.

At the heart of the Gu Sect’s sprawling metropolis stood a massive formation, spanning more than ten kilometers in diameter. This ancient array gleamed with cryptic runes, serving as the portal that would transport participants directly into the Gu World. Its purpose was twofold: ensuring no outsider could meddle in the contest and granting the Gu Sect complete control over each entrant’s fate.

Suspended in midair above this colossal formation, seven figures stood, staring down at the swirling runic patterns with sharp, assessing eyes. Each of the seven radiated a potent aura of power and ambition—they were faction leaders who intended not just to survive the Gu Contest, but to conquer it. Their hearts brimmed with resolve, for they all knew a single truth.

Only one would emerge alive.

Yet that sole survivor could potentially ascend to the Prima Deity Rank, thereby etching their name into history as a towering powerhouse, capable of dominating an entire continent and subjugating countless lives. Even a small chance at such glory drove them forward, eclipsing whatever fear they might have for the deadly struggles ahead.

Still, despite their collective determination, these faction leaders shared one unspoken worry. While they appeared calm, a single name lingered in their minds, casting a shadow over their bold plans.

Cain Laurifer.

Within the Gu Sect, his name had become taboo—whispered in hushed tones. He was the white-haired youth with nebula-like eyes, infamous for outsmarting the Night Prince and Elder Azure, and for battling a Third Realm Master of the sect, nearly crippling her before somehow enlisting a Prima Deity of the Eclipse School to finish the job. No one fully understood how Cain had accomplished these feats, and the uncertainty left them on edge.

If such a man were to join the Gu Contest… Chaos would ensue, and the outcome would become unpredictable at best—cataclysmic at worst.

Fortunately, the Gu Sect’s Patriarchs had declared Cain a traitor, issuing a kill-on-sight order that should, by all logic, prevent him from entering the Gu Contest. The faction leaders clung to this reassurance, hoping it would keep Cain Laurifer at bay.

Above the swirling sea of cultivators, two figures regarded the portal and the masses below with silent tension, The Night Prince and Elder Azure.

They exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions outwardly placid, yet their eyes betraying an internal anxiety.

Neither spoke. They didn’t need to. They both recognized the gravity of the situation and shared the same fear. If Cain Laurifer found a way to infiltrate the Gu Contest, they were as good as dead.

They each possessed considerable power, armies, and reputations. But they knew it wouldn’t matter. The man had even unleashed a Tier 9 Astral Supremacy Star in the middle of the continent and dismembered a Thrid Realm life form. What could they do against someone like that?

In short, Night Prince and Elder Azure recognized their precarious position. If Cain managed to step foot inside the Gu World, they would be isolated from external assistance and forced to face him without any safety net. No matter how confident they were in their powers and subordinates, they knew meeting Cain would be the same as dying.