The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1577

Chapter 1577: Taking down the city
Cain broke through the city’s energy force field with a cold smile, crashing headlong into the sprawling underwater metropolis. The city was teeming with hundreds of thousands of Divine Ascension Masters.

Yet none of them were prepared for what Cain unleashed next.

In that single instant of impact, his immense power converged, resulting in an explosion akin to the detonation of a small sun trapped beneath the ocean.

A dazzling flash of light illuminated the murky depths, turning the turquoise waters into a hellish mix of crimson and gold. Shockwaves of raw force tore through the city, collapsing buildings as if they were made of sand.

In mere heartbeats, entire structures were obliterated—some vaporized on impact, others crumbling like sandcastles under an unimaginable tidal surge of star-infused flames. Spiraling columns of water roared upward, laced with debris and the remnants of those who had been too close to the epicenter.

The four towering spires that served as key energy conduits for the city collapsed as Cain’s destructive power raced across their foundations. Their stony exteriors and intricate runic networks buckled, blasting shards of metal and coral in all directions. The towers fell inward, causing chain reactions of exploding runic arrays and sparks that crackled like lightning across the seabed.

Countless cultivators were caught in this maelstrom. Many were annihilated instantly, their bodies reduced to red mist under the sheer impact force. Those a little farther from the center were blown away, limbs shorn from torsos. Spirals of gore and pulverized organs drifted through the water, painting the ocean floor a macabre tapestry of blood and ruin.

Even the ocean floor itself trembled. An undersea trench formed beneath the city, swallowing entire districts. Boiling currents surged, and the water heaved with the aftermath of that cataclysmic explosion.

Lady Azure and the remaining cultivators coughed up mouthfuls of blood, their faces ashen. The sudden severance of their link to the city’s energy towers had inflicted a brutal backlash on their souls, causing their auras to flicker and weaken dangerously.

Some among them were barely aware of the backlash, still reeling from the horror of seeing their beloved city obliterated in seconds.

“He went all-out in that attack…”

A whisper ran through the survivors. Their expressions turned grim as they realized that even if 20% of the Divine Ascension Masters in the city had somehow survived, the rest were certainly lost to the supernova-like detonation.

Amid the smoldering ruins, hundreds of thousands of Gu Insects floated around, displaced from their masters or flitting aimlessly in the chaotic waters. But as if drawn by a magnetic pull, they began converging toward a single figure.

Emerging from the heart of the devastation, Cain stood drenched in blood. Deep wounds marred his body, evidence of the incredible strain he had put himself through to unleash that cataclysmic blow. Yet his eyes burned with unrelenting fury, making him appear even more monstrous in the eyes of the surviving Divine Transformation and Divine Transcendence Masters.

No one dared approach him. Fear paralyzed them, their minds echoing with the memory of the city’s destruction.

Cain’s gaze didn’t waver; he had no interest in them. His focus locked squarely on Lady Azure. The backlash from the city’s destruction had disrupted her Requiem of the Forgotten, freeing him from the soul nails that had been torturing his mind.

Yet, an odd recognition stirred in his consciousness. He sensed a familiar resonance in Lady Azure’s soul aura.

His grip on the Shooting Star Dragon Halberd tightened. An incredible killing intent flared around him, urging him to capture the old Anima. But he fought the urge, keenly aware that he couldn’t risk another all-out confrontation while so heavily wounded.

Without hesitation, Cain ascended in a blur of motion, exiting the ravaged city’s remains. The water churned in his wake, leaving Lady Azure and her stunned survivors behind.

Lady Azure’s body twitched. Instinct drove her to pursue him, to finish what she started. But she was alone. A glance at the shell-shocked cultivators told her they lacked the will to fight. They were too traumatized by the cataclysm they had just witnessed.

In the end, the old Anima could only watch as Cain’s presence vanished from her senses. A heavy sigh escaped her, betraying her bitterness and defeat.

Cain felt no immediate pursuit. Unable to rely on the [A.I. Chip Module] or his Ego Wave to confirm that he was truly alone, he continued to dash forward until reaching the shore of a new continent.

There, he hastened into the solitary heights of a rugged mountain range, carefully scanning the surroundings. After fifteen minutes of waiting and regulating his breathing, no one approached.

At last, he allowed himself a moment to relax.

Raising his hand, Cain pulled out a shadowy cocoon. Within it lay a beautiful young woman.

He showed no hesitation as he gripped her head, delving into her mind with a soul-search technique. Her memories flowed into his consciousness, layer by layer.

When he was finished, Cain ripped out her Evolution Core, feeding it to his World Tree Sapling. Then he tossed her body into his Luminous Phoenix Heart, absorbing vitality and healing power.

A rush of energy coursed through him, mending some of his crippling injuries, though a somber expression remained on his face.

“That bitch…” A wave of hatred burned in Cain’s eyes as he thought of Lady Azure. The intensity of it made his chest tighten, forcing him to steady his breathing before he could calm down again.

Pushing his rage aside, he focused on further recovery, consuming more of the people he had captured.

Sadly, their numbers were too few. Cain had already slaughtered a large portion of Lady Azure’s top fighters during the expedition in the Sky Sovereign Tomb.

Because of this, even after absorbing the remnants of their souls and bodies, he was far from fully healed.

“At least those cultivators helped repair a good chunk of the damage to my soul force and life force,” Cain mused, examining the multitude of wounds across his skin.

He sighed, shrugging before pulling out a collection of healing treasures gleaned from his fallen enemies.

“I guess I’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way,” he muttered.

One after another, he devoured the panaceas and herbs, feeling their soothing energy stitch together his ravaged flesh and drained spirit.

“Finally acting like a normal person for once,” came the Sky Sovereign’s wry remark, echoing in Cain’s mind.

Cain let out a chuckle but refused to pause in his healing efforts.