Chapter 58：Preemptive Strike

Several more questions followed and, by the end of Mukri's interrogation, Harun had a clear picture of the current world. The consequences of his final deeds were far more dreadful than he imagined. But though he wouldn't gloat at the fall of trillions, Harun wouldn't unjustly blame himself, either.

He didn't ask the clans to leave Dimensional Gaps between the mortal and heavenly worlds, didn't ask them to reach for what didn't belong to them, didn't ask them to slaughter one another as if their lives depended on it, and make the world their casualty.

Seeing how the Heavenly Dream Land's cultivators so easily surrendered to greed and reckless ambitions, Harun realized why the Myriad Devil Palace stood at the summit of the cultivation world.

When abhorrent thoughts ceaselessly thrived, how could the Devil not reign? Even if he didn't possess omnipotent strength, by virtue of its fundamental principles, the cultivation world couldn't escape the Devil's grasp—a matter for another time.

"In terms of sect strength, the Serpent Domain is still the strongest. Then comes the Monster Paradise, the Saint Empress Court and the Slaughter Syndicate formed by the 'diabolic' jail-breakers. The Truth Scrying Grotto's depth is a mystery, and no one dares rank them. Fortunately, I've seen some of the Serpent Emperor's memories. The Truth Scrying Grotto most likely represents an Ancestral-Land-force, and considering my alter ego's words to Nakula, he spent three million years here for a certain someone's sake.

That person isn't the Heaven Warding Emperor, but was important enough that Nakula didn't mind ruining his talent and future prospects to pave the way for them. The Heaven Warding Emperor was Nakula's sworn brother, their bonds thicker than blood. Who could overshadow that link? His master? A woman? Did Nakula need to collect vast quantities of Life Essence to heal, resurrect, or assist that person? Or is there another ploy at play? I'm speculating. None of that matters now."

Harun stopped his conjectures. Silav, Dilnaz, the seven Beast Emperors, all either reached the true Dao Emperor Realm or its equivalent in another path. Nine God-Emperor-level existences competed for the world, and to meet them as equals, the Slaughter Syndicate and Truth Scrying Grotto naturally also possessed their Emperor-tier experts.

Below, cultivators were breaking through bottlenecks, experts multiplying. Even in this little First Range, three Celestial Knights competed for land and resources. Interestingly, Harun once came across one of them. Even as he interrogated Mukri, factions were tossing their promising disciples into Time Chambers—forcing them to grow at the fastest pace possible. The so-called armistice was but a temporary measure to heal and rebuild. Whoever felt ready wouldn't hesitate to break it. Such was the Anarchic Era.

To freely roam throughout these chaotic times, Harun couldn't idle. He had to rise at the fastest pace possible, catch up to and outpace the Holy Lands, then bring the Ten-Thousand Sects War to an end. Heaving a sigh, Harun aimed one index at Mukri.

"Thanks to your cooperation, you've earned the right to live—granted you make a Dao Pledge to protect my sect and clan," Harun said in an uncompromising tone. Mukri expected that much. On the contrary, if Harun claimed that he'd release him free of charge, Mukri wouldn't believe him.

"My lord, I am willing to pledge allegiance to you and become a pillar of your faction! But lord...what's the sect name?" Mukri asked in a zealous but cautious tone and, as if pondering the words, Harun closed his eyes. Indeed, he'd yet to come up with a sect name. But now that the outer sect was taking shape, with one elder and guardian beast holding the fort and the support of a growing Blessed Land, perhaps it was time to name his faction?

Raising his hands, Harun glanced at his fingers, lost in unknown thoughts.

"In the cultivation world, nine often is the highest number. Nine names, each packing enough venom to drown the world. Nine names, Nine Venoms…" Harun's thoughts stopped here, and he shifted his attention back to Mukri.

"Undecided. For now, let's just call you the...second Guardian of the Birusk clan." Harun shrugged, making a speechless Mukri blink at the words.

"So casual." With nearly 2,000 years of delivery tasks, Mukri had met his fair share of nutcases. But in this time and age, those that spoke of sect matters in such a relaxed tone, typically had short lifespans. Believing that Harun must have been in seclusion for the past centuries and only recently emerged, Mukri feared for his future.

"Moohahaha, with Your Excellency as its master, the Birusk clan is destined to dominate all words. But may I ask, where is the first Guardian Beast? As a junior, I should pay my respects and relieve some burdens," Mukri inquired in a cautious tone. Although he didn't have much expectations, if the other Guardian Beast was at least of the Tiger clan, they might yet make it. If not, they had to figure out how to hide this place from cultivators' eyes as soon as possible.

Six-hundred kilometers might be a vast distance for mortal means, but any cultivator of Celestial-level would have no trouble crossing it. The Vermilion Brides Sect Master's cultivation base was at the first-level of the Celestial Knight Realm. Mukri estimated that Harun could at least meet her as an equal. However, what about the hundreds of Celestial-level disciples she commanded?

Once the whole sect gathered and launched an assault, the flames of hell would torch this place. Mukri didn't want to stand among the casualties. But as his fears surged, a serpentine green tattoo gleamed on Harun's back. A sinuous stream of light shot up, condensing the form of a 200 meters tall, clawed serpent in the sky. The serpent's slit eyes locked on Mukri, and he burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! A 200 meters tall World-Devouring Serpent!" By now, Harun had already pulled Mukri out of the swamp, giving him the ability to express himself. The Bull's frantic laughter perplexed the villagers. But thinking that it might just be showing its satisfaction at their discipline, they didn't probe further.

But then it hit, Mukri paused, his lips and hooves trembled, "A World-Devouring Serpent…eh...huh? AAAAAAAARGH!" and Mukri lost his shit. His eyes popped out of their sockets, his tongue lolled out, his brain took a hit, and he collapsed back into the swamp.

Before this scene, the villagers only had one thing to say: "Lord Birusk is mighty! All hail Lord Birusk!"

…

Following Mukri's mental collapse, Harun gathered the villagers to reset the priorities. The existence of a Celestial-Knight-led sect 600 km from here was critical news. They couldn't afford to let trouble knock on their doors and had to strike first.

"Cut down two of our Perfect Spirit Trees into fine timber, harvest the herbs, check the vineyard and speed up the winery building. I will create 50 Spiritual Wood Puppets to handle all manual work so you can focus on the multiplication and cultivation tasks," Harun ordered, and the clansmen got to work. One, however, didn't have that chance, as a surge of Harun's telekinetic force pulled him toward the Spiritual Lord.

"Serhed, I have a task for you," Harun started and pulled out a pouch of 1000 spirit stones. Divine jade wise, Harun didn't have much, relying on his savings from the Imperial Dao Pavilion alone. But thanks to the looting of 2,000 mortal-born celestials and his own savings, Harun possessed over 1.1 billion spirit stones. Just like him, those mortal-born once ruled worlds and controlled colossal resources. In the mortal-needs department, few could compete with them.

Cupping his hands, Serhed, a middle-aged man, received the pouch, but stared at Harun with confusion.

"Before my descent, you were this village's tavern owner. Your knowledge of ale-brewing is fairly decent, and you have experience managing a small tavern. I will grant you the knowledge you lack and send you on a holy mission," Harun said, making Serhed straighten his back with a solemn look.

"Because of this mission, you will spend 15 years away from your relatives, alone in foreign lands. Are you willing?"

"The Spiritual Lord's wish is our command!"

"Well said! Take these 1000 spirit stones and head to the Dark Stone Capital. Trade them for gold coins with an underground dealer, get a permit, and open a tavern. Within 15 years, your tavern must become the number one beverage provider of the Dark Stone Capital, catering to nobles and cultivators alike. Fear not, I will bless you with a protection charm and watch over you from a distance. In 15 years, you will have an accident, break your legs, and let your only nephew inherit your tavern—that means me," Harun explained, and like a carefully trained servant, Serhav didn't flinch.

"For the sake of this holy mission's success, your reputation must be irreproachable and, regardless of how much success you achieve, you cannot dally with women. When I arrive to replace you 15 years from now, you will receive your due rewards." Following those words, Harun transferred the relevant knowledge of winemaking and other necessary info to Serhav, then sent him on his way.

Serhav didn't delay, packed a small travel bag, and left with purposeful strides. Seeing their kin embark on the first holy mission, his relatives couldn't restrain their tears.

Satisfied, Harun pulled the still groggy Mukri toward him and glanced in the direction of the Vermiion Brides' mountain, 600 km from here.

"Attack is the best defense. Apologies, but I will make you close your sect for at least 15 years."