The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1596

Chapter 1596: Mind and Body as One (I)
The shock and confusion etched across the faces of the faction leaders intensified with every passing moment. Lady Azure’s words seemed utterly nonsensical to them.

What possible benefit could she derive by having Reverend Madness remember her assistance if she herself were destined to perish?

What was the point in earning recognition from a being who sought to consume everything, including her? These questions haunted their minds, yet no answers emerged.

Unlike the Soul Realm Masters, Reverend Madness focused on the old Anima, and a flash of understanding crossed his mind.

“I see now, you are a clever one,” he finally spoke, his voice resonating powerfully and filled with profound meaning. “Very well. I shall remember your assistance, little one.”

Upon hearing those words, Lady Azure performed a deep bow, her face overwhelmed by intense gratitude and reverence. Her hands trembled slightly, yet her voice remained unwavering and clear.

“Thank you greatly, oh ancient lord. I pledge myself to you and promise to learn as much as possible from your boundless wisdom.”

Without delay, Lady Azure raised her hand, summoning a glowing dimensional space.

Lucius, Zorcer, Karun, and Olaf’s eyes widened in horror as they realized what she intended.

Their hearts clenched in dread and fury when they saw her pull out the spatial treasure—the very artifact that imprisoned all the Gu Insects from Divine Ascension and Divine Transformation Masters.

This treasure was their lifeline, keeping the monstrous insects contained, sealed away, and preventing Reverend Madness from consuming them.

“No! Azure, stop!” Lucius shouted, his voice hoarse with desperation. But his plea was futile.

With a grim determination, Lady Azure opened the dimensional seal. Instantly, a wave of grotesque, monstrous Gu Insects poured forth, each creature radiating overwhelming vitality after having consumed every ounce of life and energy from their hosts. The air itself seemed tainted by their sinister presence, and everyone recoiled instinctively as the swarm surged forth.

Yet before the insects could spread across the battlefield, Reverend Madness lifted his arm, commanding the attention of all. His action seemed simple, yet its effect was immediate and devastating. The multitude of monstrous Gu Insects abruptly froze mid-air before dissolving into streams of shadowy energy. Like rivers of liquid darkness, they spiraled rapidly into Reverend Madness’s form, merging seamlessly into his body and soul.

The faction leaders watched helplessly, paralyzed by terror, as a massive vortex formed around Reverend Madness. The spiraling shadows contracted steadily, condensing into a terrifying nexus of cosmic might. The vortex shrank smaller and smaller, its power growing increasingly dense until finally, it vanished completely within Reverend Madness.

Silence momentarily settled across the battlefield, broken only by the faint cracking sounds emerging from Reverend Madness’s body, like glass fracturing under immense pressure.

Suddenly, a devastating explosion erupted. A wave of black, psychic energy exploded outward, hurling everyone violently through the air. Lucius, Zorcer, Karun, Olaf, and Lady Azure were thrown far away, struggling to regain control of their battered and bleeding bodies. They recovered quickly, and their gazes immediately turned to the epicenter of the explosion, where billowing waves of darkness and shadow obscured their vision.

From within that swirling darkness emerged an aura more monstrous and oppressive than anything they had ever felt before. It was an aura that transcended mortal limits—an aura of pure, terrifying divinity.

Reverend Madness’s voice thundered across the heavens, triumphant and overflowing with terrible joy. “Hahahahaha! Finally, I have regained my true body!”

His laughter resonated louder than thunder, sending tremors through both the earth and the sky. His newly reborn form emerged from the darkness, towering with majesty and terror.

A towering, muscular physique, armored by intricate, chitinous plates, stood revealed, with dark metallic skin gleaming menacingly beneath it. From Reverend Madness’s back stretched cosmic insectoid appendages, monstrous wings that doubled as pincers, curving outward and shimmering dangerously. These appendages pulsated with terrifying, divine energy, enough to shatter planes.

All onlookers stood frozen, utterly paralyzed by the overwhelming might Reverend Madness radiated. Lucius stared in disbelief, dread settling heavily in his heart, and he couldn’t suppress his whisper, filled with despair and defeat: “Third Realm…”

It was unmistakably clear—Reverend Madness had completed his rebirth, reclaiming his position as a Prima Deity. The monstrous entity flexed his newly regained form, cracking the very fabric of space-time around him.

Only after savoring this newly awakened power did he turn his sinister gaze toward the remaining cultivators. His twisted smile widened cruelly as he slowly raised his trident-like weapon, dark energy pulsating at its tip.

“My rebirth is complete,” he declared with chilling delight, “but that doesn’t mean I’ll pass on a delicious meal.”

Hearing these terrifying words, the cultivators’ fear reached an apex. Under his gaze, they felt reduced to mere livestock, waiting helplessly to be consumed. Despair filled their hearts. Escape was impossible, resistance futile—they had already lost. Their fate seemed sealed.

Reverend Madness gathered power into his trident, readying a strike that would end countless lives.

“RUMBLE!!!”

Suddenly, a deep, resonant rumble shook both earth and sky. Something immensely powerful was approaching the devastated battlefield. The very air seemed charged with an overwhelming presence—one pure, transcendent, and unstoppable.

Reverend Madness frowned, turning sharply toward this mysterious disturbance, as did the terrified cultivators. They all stared in stunned silence at the figure calmly approaching from the distance.

A young man with snow-white hair and nebulous eyes burning brighter than stars walked forward. His very presence forced the world around him into submission. Debris scattered from his path as though frightened, the earth trembling beneath his feet, afraid to impede his journey.

Recognition flashed across countless faces as his name whispered through the minds of everyone present.

“Cain Laurifer.”

On any other occasion, witnessing the arrival of “The Monster” would have filled the hearts of cultivators with dread. But now, many felt an unfamiliar emotion stirring in their chests—hope.

Though no single one of them could ever match Reverend Madness, Cain Laurifer was a being who had defied legends, a man rumored to have once dismembered a Prima Deity.

Lady Azure’s body began to tremble uncontrollably, terror overcoming her once-confident demeanor. She quickly turned toward Reverend Madness, panic-stricken, desperation thick in her voice.

“Kill him!” she shrieked, pointing frantically at Cain. “You must kill him now!”

Under ordinary circumstances, her insolence would have warranted immediate destruction. Yet even Reverend Madness was perplexed, struck by an unfamiliar, unsettling sensation—a lingering dread that Cain could unravel all his carefully laid plans.

He had ascended and reclaimed his power as a Prima Deity, yet the approach of Cain Laurifer filled him with an unsettling apprehension he couldn’t ignore.