Chapter 1552: Distraction and infiltration (I)
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.