Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1720 - 705: Could the Cataclysm Path Actually Be Wrong?
Previously on Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!...
Qiu Tu was genuinely stunned for a moment upon hearing Zhao Ji's words.
'We shouldn't inquire which path walks the right way, but rather which path is correct?'
Zhao Ji's succinct statement carried an astonishing volume of implications.
This was because the former phrasing suggested that one or two of the six 픕Cataclysm Pathsí“ might be flawed.
However, the latter implied that at least half of the six paths could be erroneous.
The revelation was utterly terrifying, almost completely dismantling the established power systems that Qiu Tu was familiar with.
With this realization, Qiu Tu's mind raced, dissecting the information Zhao Ji had unveiled.
Firstly, he could be reasonably certain that the 픕Destructioní“ Cataclysm Path was likely the correct one.
If it weren't, Zhao Ji, having experienced a past life, would not have chosen it.
Secondly, he felt confident that the 픕Path of Lifeí“ was probably a deceptive route.
The reason was that Larilo's separation from Zhao Ji implied she represented Zhao Ji's previous 픕Cataclysm Pathí“.
And after exploring the 픕Heavenly God Battlefieldí“, Zhao Ji had concluded she was on the wrong path, indicating that the 픕Path of Lifeí“ might be the 픕God King Trapí“.
Yet, despite confirming the nature of two Cataclysm Paths, the limited clues available to Qiu Tu made further analysis exceedingly difficult.
Moreover, Qiu Tu struggled to comprehend how fundamental world principles like 픕Cataclysm Pathsí“ could contain deceptions or errors.
Consequently, his gaze turned towards Zhao Ji beside him.
Zhao Ji was seated upright on the nearby sofa, her expression as frigid as an iceberg, exuding an unattainable beauty and an icy demeanor.
Qiu Tu inquired, "Sister Zhao Ji, I find myself a bit bewildered. If they are all Cataclysm Paths, why would some be right and others wrong?"
Zhao Ji regarded him with an indifferent glance, her eyes holding an unfathomable depth.
She posed a question, "Qiu Tu, why do mayflies live for a mere day while humans can live for a century?"
This single question left Qiu Tu speechless.
Zhao Ji continued, "Why can wolves journey a thousand miles for meat, and horses travel a thousand miles for grass, yet humans consume everything?"
A flicker of profound contemplation crossed Qiu Tu's eyes, as though a sudden enlightenment was dawning upon him.
Observing his dawning realization, Zhao Ji made a sweeping gesture towards Qiu Tu, pressing her point further.
"Why are you the Supreme Councilman of the Human Alliance, living in opulence, while among the refugees from Dragon Burying City, orphans go hungry?"
This time, Zhao Ji did not await Qiu Tu's response but provided the answer herself.
Her eyes, filled with an ineffable sense of distance, conveyed her meaning.
"Because... this world was never fair to begin with."
"Fairness... is merely a moral construct of your human kind."
Zhao Ji cast a sideways glance at Qiu Tu, her eyelids lowering slightly as she quietly stated, "Therefore... not all 'Cataclysm Paths' are inherently correct."
"Some paths are fundamentally incapable of reaching their conclusion."
A hint of frustration surfaced on Qiu Tu's face upon hearing Zhao Ji's explanation.
He finally grasped the core of his misconception.
Despite having resided in this world for several years and witnessing numerous manifestations of Supernatural Powers, he had, in his heart, still approached it with a "game" mentality.
If this world were a game, all "professions" (Cataclysm Paths) should, in theory, be balanced.
While their focuses or advantages might differ, the "professions" should uniformly lead to the same ultimate outcome.
This would be the requisite "fairness" within a game, a principle a "game designer" would embed into the world's foundational structure from the outset.
Everything would need to adhere to logic and fundamental rules.
However, he had overlooked the crucial point: if this world were real, then... it would not be bound by logic or fairness.
Why should every path be viable to its end? Nothing in this world had been fair from its inception.
Consequently, the "Cataclysm Paths" should naturally possess inherent disparities in strength and weakness.
Mulling over this, Qiu Tu drew a deep breath, nodding in agreement, and declared, "I understand."
He paused briefly before posing his next questions, "So, which paths are correct, and which are erroneous?"
"And how does one discern their correctness?"
A wistful expression alighted on Zhao Ji's refined face as she considered Qiu Tu's inquiries.
She reflected, stating, "If you require absolute certainty regarding which path is right and which is wrong, I cannot provide that definitively."
"I can venture to say... that Destruction, Order, and Chaos are most likely the correct paths."
"Conversely, Life, Mystery, and Immortality are probably the incorrect paths."
"As for how I ascertain their correctness, the method is rather straightforward."
She gazed at Qiu Tu and then stated, "Because... the 'Divine Kings' presiding over these three specific paths are themselves incapable of discovering the path forward."
Upon hearing Zhao Ji's explanation, Qiu Tu was momentarily taken aback. His thoughts raced as he processed and contemplated the information, remarking,
"So... are you suggesting that all six paths possess the capability to advance to the 'Divine King' realm?"
"Yet, the paths of Life, Mystery, and Immortality are unable to progress any further?"
At this juncture, Qiu Tu continued his inquiry, "But how do they ascertain that further advancement is impossible?"
"To attain the status of a Divine King, is it not a requirement to absorb or subjugate ten gods belonging to the same path?"
"And for an existing Divine King to ascend to a higher level, is it not incumbent upon them to absorb or subjugate Divine Kings of the identical path?"
"At which specific stage are they encountering this insurmountable obstacle?"
In response to Qiu Tu's query, Zhao Ji calmly replied, "They are not impeded at any particular stage."