The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1558: One vs tens of thousands

A vast contingent departed from the Freezing Peak, comprising a formidable assembly of cultivators. At a glance, it was apparent that the force contained tens of thousands of Apotheosis Masters, over three hundred Divine Ascension Masters, fifty Divine Transformation Masters, and ten Divine Transcend Masters—two of those at Late Divine Transcend and one at the Peak Divine Transcend level. By any standard, this was a tremendous army. One might assume such a gathering intended to besiege an enemy stronghold, but their objective proved far more puzzling.

At the head of the battalion stood Dominguez, a Peak Divine Transcend Master from the Abyssal Clan. He was one of Core Elder Karun’s most trusted subordinates, known for both his strength and reliability. His obsidian skin glistened with a faint glow of Star Power, and the solemn light in his eyes betrayed his burden. Instead of a mission to conquer or pillage, Dominguez had been tasked with an investigation.

The problem at hand was simple yet deeply unsettling: for the past two months, anyone from Core Elder Karun’s faction who left the Freezing Peak had failed to return. Under normal circumstances, losing a few cultivators to wandering enemies or other hazards would be no surprise, given the Gu World was essentially a battlefield. Every faction targeted every other faction, and the mortalities were staggering. Yet, no survivors returning was too suspicious to ignore. It pointed toward something far more sinister.

With no concrete information and no intact communication channels—since messages never made it back—the only remaining option was for Dominguez and his legion to visit the regions where their missing comrades were supposed to have gone and search for clues.

As it turned out, they didn’t have to search long. Roughly three hours after emerging from the fortress, the very cause of all their troubles revealed himself.

High in the sky, some thousands of meters ahead, a single figure manifested—a young man with white hair and nebula-like eyes. He stood as though perched on thin air, arms at his sides, his gaze direct yet disturbingly calm. There was no disguise, and his aura and soul force flared openly. Even from this distance, it was obvious who he was.

“Cain Laurifer!”

The cry tore through the battalion like a shockwave, provoking a ripple of horror. Despite their numbers—tens of thousands strong—and the significant boost provided by their own Gu Insects, every soldier in that legion felt a tight knot of fear.

They knew well the legends of the Monster: a Soul Master rumored to have held his ground against a Prima Deity, dismembering her in battle. Worse, stories told of him triggering the release of a Tier 9 Astral Supremacy Star in the middle of the Everlife Continent. The fact that he alone stood in their path—completely unafraid—only made the sense of dread more profound.

Their first instinct was to run. But before anyone could take so much as a single step backward, Cain’s voice resonated across the silent air.

“The first one who tries to run,” he said, “I assure you, no matter how this ends, you will die.”

Those simple words struck the battalion like a lance. People exchanged frantic glances, hearts pounding. If any of them fled, that individual would definitely become Cain’s primary target. And since no one felt altruistic enough to draw his wrath upon themselves, nobody moved.

Standing at the forefront of the legion, Dominguez felt his teeth clench. He tried to reach out with spiritual communication for Core Elder Karun or anyone back at the fortress but quickly realized an unknown force was jamming the signal. They were well and truly cut off.

A tremor of fear slid down Dominguez’s spine. However, at that moment, a flare of resolute determination ignited in his eyes. He recognized that inaction was just as much a death sentence as retreat. With a thunderous shout, he rallied the troops.

“If we run, we die! If we do nothing, we die! But if we fight, our fate will be in the hands of destiny!”

His voice boomed across the assembled cultivators. He wanted to shatter the terror that had locked their hearts in paralysis. Indeed, if there was no chance to escape, fighting at least provided a sliver of hope.

“We’ve heard all kinds of legends about this man, but that’s all they are—stories! Unless you’ve seen it with your own eyes, who’s to say they’re true? Let’s break those fairy tales and show what we can do with fire and steel!”

A spark of courage began to flicker in the hearts of the cultivators. Though they knew the name Cain Laurifer struck fear across the Everlife Continent, the rumors surrounding him had grown so grandiose that many believed them exaggerated. Perhaps his feats were overblown. Perhaps he was merely lucky. Perhaps they, in large numbers, could overwhelm him.

Dominguez saw the subtle shift in the legion’s mindset. Their battle spirit was rising, and he needed to act quickly before hesitation could creep back in. Thrusting out an armored arm, he bellowed new orders.

“Essence Evolution Masters, charge your strongest spells! Pour everything you have into this! Our lives depend on it!”

Instantly, the Essence Evolution Masters within the battalion erupted with roaring auras, channeling the power of their Gu Insects to magnify their techniques. Soon, tens of thousands of spells took shape in the sky, forming a glimmering tapestry of raw energy that converged on Cain’s solitary figure.

Most of these spells came from Apotheosis Masters, who, under normal circumstances, would hardly scratch a Divine Transcend Master with their attacks. But tens of thousands of blasts, beams, and elemental surges directed at a single target could not be dismissed. Enough mosquito bites could pose trouble, even for a giant.

From where Dominguez stood, the situation looked promising. An ocean of swirling light and flames flooded the air, their combined might forging a cataclysmic wave. Even a formidable Divine Transcend Master would be blown to pieces under the full brunt of such an onslaught.

And yet, Cain did not budge.

He stood perfectly still, eyes serene, a faint smile edging onto his lips. Instead of dodging or erecting a barrier of defensive energy, he closed his eyes, stretched out his arms, and accepted the combined might of the battalion’s assault head-on.

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!”