The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1590: How to deal with Reverend Madness

A flash of light coursed through the sky of the Gu World before splitting into hundreds of copies, each scattering in different directions. All of them radiated the same aura, making it nearly impossible, even for a Soul Realm Master, to distinguish the real one from the illusions.

One of these figures slipped into the ocean, its presence vanishing entirely. There was no trace left behind, not even the faintest ripple of its existence, for the individual’s flesh and blood had seamlessly merged with the surrounding water.

Though his approach might have seemed excessive, Cain dared not be careless when dealing with a monster that had managed to survive for half a billion years.

He descended deeper and deeper until he reached the ocean floor. As he landed on the soft sediment, the full might of his Ego Wave spread out from his mind, scanning the vicinity so thoroughly that even the smallest specks of dust hundreds of kilometers away registered in his consciousness. Only when he was absolutely certain that he was both alone and unfollowed did Cain allow himself a moment of respite. Yet, as he relaxed, a heavy frown surfaced on his face.

“Ahhhhh. Why does misfortune follow me wherever I go?” he murmured with a sigh, a complicated smile tugging at his lips.

There had been dozens—perhaps even hundreds—of Gu Contests in the history of the Gu Sect, but it was only this one, the very one he had meddled with, that an Archdeity planned to exploit for rebirth. Even if Cain wished to flee, there was no way to escape, as the Crystal Wall of the Gu World was no ordinary barrier. It not only stopped outsiders from entering but also locked everyone inside until only one Gu Insect remained.

Fortunately for Cain, his willpower had once again condensed into a form of mental power capable of calming his emotions and clearing his mind, allowing him to overcome all the frustration. After a few seconds, the focus returned to his eyes.

Taking a steadying breath, Cain manifested his consciousness inside the Soul Dimension. A small smile tugged at his lips as he gazed upon the colossal, winged demonic snake moving across the dimension with a strength that could eclipse stars. It overflowed with power and majesty, having clearly grown more formidable since its hibernation.

“Leviathan has become much stronger than it was before. I suppose I’ve reached the limit of what I can achieve at Mind Over Soul and will not grow stronger until I take the next step in the Ego Eternal Path of Power,” Cain murmured.

Despite the ordeal he had endured, the only true silver lining was the healing and advancement of his Alter-Ego. Yet if he could not discover a way to handle Reverend Madness, all of these gains would ultimately be in vain as he would die and be devoured by that ancient monster.

He turned to the Sky Sovereign and posed a question. “Do you have any idea how he survived for so long?”

Cain hoped that if he could understand how Reverend Madness had managed to endure through the ages, perhaps he could figure out a method to impede the ancient monster’s rebirth or at least weaken it. The Sky Sovereign was very old and also schemed to achieve his rebirth, so he might offer some precious insight. Unfortunately, the phantom shook his head.

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but whatever that ancient monster did far surpasses my comprehension,” the Sky Sovereign said softly. “I never believed such a thing was even possible. Even if his willpower and soul had reached the Archdeity Rank, surviving beyond a hundred million years would have been a miracle. Half a billion is simply impossible according to my understanding of the universe.”

Trapped in the same predicament, the Sky Sovereign genuinely wished to assist Cain, but he had no clue as to how Reverend Madness had managed to cling to existence for so long, much less how to vanquish him.

Cain nodded in understanding. Reverend Madness was truly insane, orchestrating plans and schemes that others never even considered feasible—and yet, he succeeded in turning them into reality. In that sense, Cain had to admit the creature was impressive and worthy of a twisted kind of respect. Nevertheless, that changed nothing about Cain’s need to eliminate him.

“It’s clear that the key to his rebirth lies in the Gu Insects,” Cain remarked. “He’s using them—their energy and lifeforce—to recreate himself.”

The Sky Sovereign nodded at the assessment and offered his own perspective. “If you destroy the holders of those Gu Insects and then let your own Gu Insect devour the remnants, it should hamper his rebirth. You’ve already done quite a bit in that regard by severely damaging three of the seven main factions, depriving Reverend Madness of at least 20% of the insects.”

Cain acknowledged the suggestion with a slow nod. Undeniably, wiping out the remaining Gu Insects would deal a blow to Reverend Madness. However, a deep frown soon furrowed his brow as he recognized a critical flaw.

“Reverend Madness has a deep connection to the Gu Insects. I’m certain he can sense their presence, maybe even see through their eyes. While I search for the scattered factions, he’ll know exactly where all the Gu Insects are. Worse yet, even if I manage to locate a faction and strike at them, Reverend Madness could arrive at any moment to stab me in the back.”

The Sky Sovereign exhaled a long, weary sigh. Cain was right. Attempting to eliminate all the factions one by one was not a realistic solution. The two remained silent for a few tense moments, each lost in thought, trying to conceive an alternate plan. Suddenly, Apex’s voice echoed throughout the Soul Dimension.

“Instead of battling the factions,” Apex suggested, “use this danger to unify them under your banner. Fight alongside them against Reverend Madness.”

Silence fell over the dimension as Apex’s words sank in. But the quiet did not last for long. Laughter erupted from all three figures—Cain, the Sky Sovereign, and Apex.