Chapter 1792: Chapter 1792

1792: Chapter 1788: The Fated Nemesis 1792: Chapter 1788: The Fated Nemesis “Lin Nu will not let me go, and I won’t let her go either.”

A nemesis that arose out of nowhere, yet Lu Ping’an felt an unusual calmness in his heart.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, he knew this day would eventually come…

The first batch of enemies he encountered in the world of the Extraordinary was from Lin Nu’s realm.

If not for his favorable luck back then, Lin Nu’s forces would have killed him several times over.

Later, when Lu Ping’an grew stronger, the cost-benefit ratio of killing him became too low (God’s Keystone had already been digested, and no valuable loot would drop; low-level Taboo items acquired from his demise were meaningless to deities).

Ultimately, they reconciled in a manner befitting adults (a compromise).

Perhaps, even back then, Lin Nu was waiting for this seed to grow into “a crop” worthy of her harvest.

“What is inevitable will come sooner or later…

Haha, this time the warrant was issued so effortlessly and revoked so carelessly.

It seems certain major figures in the Eastern Country have ill intentions as well.”

Before, as Lu Ping’an watched Eastern Country’s managers strike a balance among the Proper Gods’ churches and guide them into mutual conflicts, he found it rather amusing.

But now, with himself becoming one of the “dogs” and even being deliberately targeted, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

This wasn’t because the higher-ups in the Eastern Country were displeased with Lu Ping’an—quite the opposite.

In fact, Lu Ping’an was an exceedingly rare threefold Proper God (this designation essentially belonged to him).

That is, someone who grew purely through the legitimate line of the Eastern Country, purely through harmless rule-based evolution, and who consistently demonstrated pure loyalty to the Loyalist Faction…

If Lu Ping’an and the Church of the God of Redemption were ever brought to the brink of destruction, the Eastern Country would undoubtedly step in to assist.

Yet, once a pure Loyalist grows to a certain level and steps onto this grand stage, they too must be balanced.

After all, relying on an individual’s loyalty and will for the stability and development of a kingdom is arguably shortsighted on the part of decision-makers…

Even if he is loyal, can all his subordinates be guaranteed to be loyal?

Even if he has always been loyal, can his loyalty in the future be guaranteed?

Even if he remains loyal, can he not be induced, deceived, or even pushed into betrayal?

Thus, a mature decision-maker does not test human nature but instead raises the cost of betrayal from the outset and implements balancing mechanisms.

That’s why every Proper God Church must have enemies…

“Even without all this chaotic political scheming, Lin Nu would not let you go.

She could accommodate a newly ascended ninth-order Quasi-God like Lu Ping’an, but she cannot accept a Broken Quasi-God like Lu Ping’an…”

Lin Nu’s “Forest Land” could originally tolerate the existence of someone like Lu Ping’an, but now, it clearly cannot.

Not only are the two of them of the same origin, but their foundational logic influencing the world is also fundamentally opposed.

Lin Nu represents “Life Forest,” taking the path of laissez-faire governance.

Expressed differently, her philosophy entails that every life has its place: there are kings, servants, slaves, beast kings, livestock, and crops, each fulfilling their roles and duties.

Kings can be replaced, but deities are eternal—a tiered pyramid-like structure of stability.

Lu Ping’an, however, embodies “Life Courtyard,” advocating “equality for all”…

No one can slaughter each other; instead, they enhance their values through trade to evolve and transform themselves.

Everyone has the potential to evolve, with the idea of “social hierarchy” being entirely absent.

In the end, forget about hierarchical structures—even anyone leaving this ecosystem wouldn’t cause any impact.

Lin Nu, however, would never tolerate a life form escaping her Forest Land, as that would equate to a loss for the entire ecosystem.

It can be said that in a pyramid structure, everything ultimately converges at its apex—Lin Nu herself.

Lu Ping’an, on the other hand, becoming a Broken Quasi-God instead of a regular Quasi-God signifies that he is no longer capable of serving as Lin Nu’s “Demigod.”

Yet, on certain levels, the two sides are in agreement—they both represent “environments of life,” they both rely on “gains from life circulation,” and they both pursue “evolution within Forest Lands.”

“Having developed to this point, we share the same origin yet contradict each other, with certain overlaps in rule-based functions.

Perhaps, we are each other’s most valuable nutrition…”

Lu Ping’an’s ascent to this stage wouldn’t have been possible without “World Fragments” and “Chris God’s Foundation” as cornerstone factors.

If paired with “Lin Nu’s Forest Land” as an additional complement…

Such symmetric and supplementary elements suggest the highest degree of mutual absorption, while their areas of conflict provide even greater potential for “filling gaps” and “self-constructing counter-logics”—making them the most valuable supplies.

Just like Chris back in the day, she was a delectable prey for Lin Nu.

But because she strayed too far and became overly extreme, consuming her brought limited enhancements.

Now, Lu Ping’an, as a quasi-Broken Quasi-God, has become the ultimate premium nourishment.

Lin Nu seeks to harvest Lu Ping’an, but why can’t Lu Ping’an harvest Lin Nu in return?

In a sense, what’s happening now is also a kind of reminder…

“From now on, we must be wary of Lin Nu, especially in Outside the Domain…”

It’s likely that both within and outside the domain, Lu Ping’an now has competitors.

For those deities inclined “toward righteousness,” competitions within the domain would probably comply with rules, but outside the domain, the goal would likely be outright elimination of adversaries.

The relative safety within the domain is thanks to the presence of the Eastern Country…

Lu Ping’an’s Trading Land is strategically advantageous—a crushing edge.

Lin Nu, at her core, is merely an ordinary God of Life providing combat power, medicine, and Magic Potions.

For the Eastern Country, which requires mass production of Extraordinary individuals, they would defend Lu Ping’an at all costs.

“Perhaps, they’re already seeing further ahead, kicking Lin Nu out of the Proper God tier altogether, which would save me a lot of trouble…”

Lu Ping’an now has the leverage to tell Lin Nu, “You’re the challenger here.”

Having confirmed a hostile relationship, Lu Ping’an did not stop there.

He started making calls to his old acquaintances—those Quasi-Gods who had once belonged to Lin Nu’s Church—hoping they would adopt a stance of neutrality…

Even if they rejected Lu Ping’an’s gesture of goodwill, their positions would be clarified.

To Lu Ping’an’s relief, most of the Quasi-Gods were quite amicable toward him, and some even went out of their way to declare they wouldn’t side with Lin Nu.

The reason was actually quite simple: the “laissez-faire” model of kings and gods inherently lacked substantial emotional bonds with nominal lords, whereas Lu Ping’an had actually been constantly fighting and working hard.

Two Quasi-Gods even proposed that, as long as the price was right, they were willing to join his forces.

This was an offer Lu Ping’an did not hesitate to accept…

“King Kui and Ugly Rope?

Disgraceful figures among Quasi-Gods, trash of the trash heaps, at best they’re nothing more than Demigods…”

“Should I just reject them?

Their asking prices are pretty steep.”

“Reject Quasi-Gods offering allegiance?

If they’re not weaklings, they’ll join other Quasi-God churches if you turn them down.

Accept them; no price is too high.”

Despite the snark in her tone, she urged Lu Ping’an to take the deal when it really mattered.

She had her reasons to be bitter—during her prime, even as she nearly achieved Ascension, she never attracted a single Quasi-God, relying solely on herself to nurture them—and to no avail.

“Just became a Quasi-God and already facing Divine Wars with seasoned Proper Gods—this is outright bullying newcomers, isn’t it?”

When Lu Ping’an said this, his lips curled into a smile, only to be met with a fierce glare from Chris.

“Back when I was nearing Ascension, Lin Nu never even batted an eyelash at me.

Now you, a mere rookie Quasi-God, are enough to make her lose her mind?

You think that makes you special?

You’re flaunting it in front of me, huh?!”

That night, as Chris glared daggers, Lu Ping’an made sure to retaliate in his own way…