Chapter 152 - If Only You'd Asked

Barring entities of transcendent powers, no one can conquer a world, much less a Landverse, by giving precedence to innocent lives. Harun's considerations for those he harmed might seem praiseworthy to the righteous masses, but in the top experts' eyes, it made no sense. The System set Harun on a path of sheer carnage. Yet even without it, the Omniverse didn't lack in hegemonic powerhouses eager to hunt him down, eager to revive or erase the tiniest trace of Golden Cicada. Devils, Seers, Refiners, Saints and Tyrants, driven by frantic zeal or self-serving objectives, how many would put him at an impasse? Said otherwise, if not for the System pushing him on this vicious course early, Harun would be long dead and this…wasn't even the worse part. 

The Myriad Devil Palace's top brass aside, only the Serpent Totem knew that, from the start, the Sovereign Pupils belonged to Golden Cicada. The belief that the Serpent Emperor, or Lord Revelation whom he later became, was the only owner of those eyes convinced many that by finding the Sovereign Pupils, they'd find Revelation as well—a half correct statement. 

Due to the unique structure of their souls, only the Holy One, Golden Cicada and their reincarnations can bear the Sovereign Pupils. At the same time, they can freely transfer it to one another. Using this unknown fact, Lord Revelation enacted a con which he hoped would, in the worst-case scenario, keep his master safe. Harun didn't know of this, and perhaps for now it didn't matter. But even as a "perfectly" logical being, there are some things he'd never budge from.

The Plague Overlord lived for Jiyan, meat, wine and poison crafting—in that order. Stealing fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters—tearing entire families apart just to secure his position, would do his mental health no good. And even if he didn't care now, when he recovered from his tribulation damages, who knows what'd happen to him?

"I have done much evil in my life—humiliated and slaughtered the Golden Cicada sect and Erdewan clan to the last despite knowing full-well that some owed me nothing. Though I've confronted my sins through the Suffering stage, I can never erase the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e I felt when I forced those two factions to starve or dance to death. Hardened by centuries of ferocious conflict, I've long lost my innocence and can resort to plenty of treacherous plots to save my neck. 

But dear totem, the difference between cleverness and insanity is…a bottom line. No matter how insidious his actions might be, a bottom line allows a clever man to never stray from his original intent, and stay clear-headed. Madness on the other hand has no limits, and before you know it you're building concentration camps to dispose of or rewire those that oppose you. 

Today it is the Plague Worshiping Cult. Tomorrow, it is the Omniverse's Blight. Past a certain point, you can not redeem yourself. I do not wish to become Dilnaz, to pursue power with such convictions that I'd let what truly matters slip out of my grasp. And though he's no longer of this world, I'd like to remain a man my father would be proud to call his son. But thanks to you, I'm forced to play a very dangerous game," taking a pause, Harun pointed one finger at the purple orb displaying the mutants' fight and actions. 

"The Landgraves served Dolma with their heart and soul. They lived for the bitch, but that didn't stop them from making moves she disapproved of. What gave you the confidence that those mutants' vision of my best interest is…my best interest? You think that not attacking cultivators connected to me solves all problems? How naïve. What about potential subordinates, potential disciples, potential allies? 

Do you recall my connections to the Monster Paradise? Recall that the Fox Emperor fought Dilnaz for my homeworld and saved many, despite the widespread belief that I am either dead or gone? When his children, grandchildren or fellow white foxes get mauled to pieces by the hordes you unleashed; when the world realizes—and it will—that this is our work, I'm sure he will rethink his position. For crying out loud, you've alienated me from all the reliable souls to unleash bigotry…on a f.u.c.k.i.n.g Landverse." With every word he spoke, Harun felt that the whole debacle got increasingly more ridiculous. 

Having since then done his homework, he knew that not only did the Fox Emperor shelter many of his homeworld's people, but the whole Monster Paradise waged an anti-propaganda campaign to preserve his name. Granted, they didn't succeed; the attempt showed where they stood on the matter. Grateful, powerful allies were about to get killed en masse by "his servants." Afterward, what could he possibly negotiate? 

"Pointless words. What other solution do you have?" Unfortunately, the Serpent Totem's considerations were simpler. It didn't care for how many corpse piles it built so long as it ensured its master's safety. But surprisingly, Harun smiled at the words and swaggered toward his totem. "Surprise, surprise. I did have a plan. A plan delayed by my predicament, yes. But a plan all the same!" Harun shrugged, visibly torn between helplessness and amus.e.m.e.nt. 

"You did?" Confused by Harun's words, the Serpent Totem squinted his eyes at him, and asked in a high-pitched, suspicious tone. 

"True I didn't expect to fall into a coma, but if you'd just asked for directives, if you just shared your plan, I could have given you a logical alternative and let you handle it.

First, many of those involved in this conflict have an Inviolable Destiny—making Divination useless. Second, who cares about Xerzan's animosity when we have a near-endless supply of Spiritual Incense? We could have rewritten what happened here, and he'd be none the wiser. Third, we could have used our World Association branch to contact the Monster Paradise, strengthening our ties through boons only I can give.

You need more? No problem. How about breaking through to the Monstrous Realm and taking my faction to the Monstrous Vessel World? How about transforming the First Range into a Theocratic Dominion to make our barrier virtually unbreakable?

So many options. Constructive, progressive methods, all available. I'm no longer a helpless plaguebringer being chased by Gods. But because extremists like you employ simple solutions for the hardest problems, everything has gone to shit. Now I have to—somehow—clean up the mess you started. But don't worry, it will be fine. After all, I'm a clever c.u.n.t. We will work this shit out," With a fake smile and faker enthusiasm, Harun patted the totem's scaled body. But if the Serpent Totem now realized that, in his attempt to protect his master from all harm, he'd undermined Harun's authority and plans, it still believed that the Salvation Worms were a hundred time more reliable than the Monstrous Beasts…or anyone else for that matter.

Different standpoints, different visions. But when the contradicting view came from inside, for how long could that work out?

…

Meanwhile, through divine channels, Xerzan's raging battle with the mutants spread to the higher Ranges, leading scores of Heavenly God and Empyrean-Monarch-level factions to take note of the new scourge. After alerting their superiors in Heaven, those factions came to a similar conclusion. 

"We have been at peace for too long. This is a Heaven-given opportunity to shift blame, abolish the peace treaty, and unleash the flames of war."