Chapter 91: I Want It All!
"Both the anomalies in the Bloody Star River and the predicament facing the Starry World are critically important. How could I possibly abandon one to choose the other?"
After hesitating for a time, Joshua quickly made his decision.
—Naturally, I want it all!
Although, on the surface, the anomalies in the Bloody Star River were merely anomalies, far less conspicuous than the crisis in the Starry World, the problem couldn't be viewed that simply.
Joshua could see that, compared to the Starry World where war had already reached a fever pitch, the disturbances involving the Amos Royal Court and the Takur Order in the Bloody Star River seemed relatively minor. But beneath this surface lay another factor: the Starry World still had alliances of numerous other civilizations fighting against Chaos, and the Steel Serpent 'Star' was also present. A stalemate for a while wouldn't be an issue. In contrast, those two exclusionary civilizations in the Bloody Star River—if left un-interfered with, the course of events could never be controlled. Who knew what kind of massive chaos they might stir up?
After all, these two civilizations had been locked in bloody war for ten thousand years, annihilating countless smaller civilizations. If those grudges and madness hadn't dissipated but instead accumulated in the abyss of that star river, gestating something like a 'Hatred Evil God' or 'Madness Evil God'—in short, a super Evil God embryo similar to the 'Death Evil God'—then if they didn't deal with it now, who could withstand it in the future?
Even the Mycroft faction would probably have to flee at that point.
So, since both sides were important, why choose? Definitely go for both!
Having made his decision internally, Joshua continued his journey, returning with the old mage to the route toward the Jetram Star Domain. The warrior didn't find his choice strange at all.
Ordinary people had to make choices because they could only do one thing at a time. Even then, their strength might not be sufficient; they needed to devote themselves wholeheartedly to complete it. But Joshua was different. The reason the strong were called strong was precisely because they could make more choices than ordinary people.
For example, faced with the trolley problem, an ordinary person could only choose to 'switch tracks,' diverting the trolley to run over one person on another track, or 'not switch' or 'do nothing and walk away,' letting the trolley run over the five people on the original track.
But if it were a strong person, the choices were numerous: they could rescue all six people tied to the tracks before the trolley even arrived, even having time to smoke a cigarette during a break; they could stop the trolley with one hand (without harming the trolley or its passengers); they could even grab the person who caused the problem and exchange them with the innocent passersby tied up earlier, breaking the rule setter's rules.
If one's strength reached Joshua's level, they could even instantly grant the people about to be hit invulnerability, making them completely ignore the trolley's impact. Or they could let the people be hit and injured, then resurrect them or heal them completely.
Every strong person could make different choices. Nostradamus could make the trolley enter a portal the moment before impact, then emerge from behind the person being hit. Faina could make one side—either the trolley or the person being hit—completely incorporeal... But regardless, the common point was that they were different from ordinary people. If they wanted to balance things, they could. No matter how bizarre the possibility, they could choose it.
After all, in a transcendent world, if someone trained and adventured arduously for over a decade, finally becoming a strong person, only to be bound by ordinary people's logic—that would be the strangest thing. For instance, if an ordinary person's disciple died, they could only choose to accept it with grace or sink into grief and depression. But Joshua could choose to resurrect them, scold them for half an hour, then throw them into ultimate hellish training for three months, making them wail, 'I'm sorry, Teacher, I'll never dare to die again, aaaah!'
That was the price of dying recklessly.
Of course, the choices of 'Bloody Star River' and 'Starry World' weren't ones ordinary people could participate in either. Even Joshua needed to treat them seriously. If he truly 'split' his power, sending clones of roughly equal strength to both sides, he might very well fail on both fronts. So which side received more power was also a choice that needed consideration... In this regard, Joshua had relative freedom, because he could self-summon, quickly balancing the power on both sides when needed.
As for which side to favor first, that was something to discuss with others first.
"The Seven Gods probably have important matters to attend to and haven't appeared recently. Moreover, their most crucial task is ensuring the safety of the 'Space-Time Hub' and the Jetram Star Domain Star Gate."
In the memory hall of the Jetram Void Base, most of the Legendary experts who could come had arrived. Even those with busy schedules or currently far away participated via clones or projections. The one speaking now was a clone of the Nature Mentor—a small Tree of Life planted in a pot. One could sense that within this seemingly fragile potted plant, powerful spiritual energy was radiating outward.
"Yes, the Seven Gods truly have neither the time nor the spare capacity." Following this, Eagle, represented only by a Holy Light projection, spoke up. This old Pope, permanently stationed in the Mycroft World homeland and only occasionally using the Star Gate to check on the Multiverse Star River, showed a troubled expression: "Barniel, William, and I also have no time. I am responsible for the Mycroft World homeland, while the two of them must maintain and expand the Magic Net servers, and simultaneously upgrade the Psychic Terminals. The tasks are heavy; we have no time."
Barbarossa and Faina said nothing, and indeed didn't need to. They had just arrived from the Joint Assembly meeting and would later need to handle subsequent multi-racial cooperation issues. These matters were entrusted entirely to them, and they were also extremely busy, even having to research and develop related Void Warship weaponry alongside their daily cultivation.
Most other Legendary experts were the same—Sword Saint Ramot had been complaining recently that his participation in space weapon development had greatly slowed his cultivation progress. He hadn't even attended this meeting, currently cultivating in some dead world. The Nature Mentor and the Fishman Sage's biological laboratory had recently achieved considerable results, such as high-yield wheat and rice, chickens with six wings and four legs, slimes that secreted beverages, and earthworms with a rather good, beef-like flavor—no one wanted these two involved in overly dangerous matters. If something happened to them, it would be a crime against the entire civilization.
As for Nostradamus, there was no need to mention him. Setting aside the need to assist Joshua in constructing the Aether Ring World, he was the strongest Space-Time Sorcery user in the entire Mycroft civilization. Usually, only he could cooperate with the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground to handle space-time issues, and he also needed to research space-time network theory. As for the seemingly more idle Western Mountain Psionic Legendary, the Seven Luminaries Council's Legendary Mage, and the recently advanced Sword Saint Brandon, their patrol area covered the entire Origin Star River and the various Mycroft directly-administered territories centered around the Space-Time Hub.
Every Legendary had their own work, guarding regions and research tasks. Even the recently promoted Legendary Paladin Loranda had been running all over the Multiverse Star River with the Demon Lord Besecca, gathering intelligence on various star river abysses while also trying to persuade (physically brainwash) corresponding demon clans to participate in cooperation. Even when Loranda returned to the Void Fortress, what awaited him wasn't rest, but cultivation and research targets related to materials science.
In short, everyone was busy, and most of these tasks couldn't be delayed, couldn't be handed off, and couldn't be set aside. Only Joshua had spare time.
However, rather than saying that due to various coincidences Joshua happened to be the only one with time, leisure, and strength, it was more accurate to say that Joshua's position itself was designed to handle emergencies like the 'Bloody Star River' and 'Starry World Anomalies.' In fact, besides this, Joshua himself held multiple positions. He was currently the 'bad cop' intimidating other civilizations for the entire Mycroft civilization, as well as the Grand Marshal of the Expedition Fleet. On a daily basis, aside from maintaining the 'Exchange System and Restorative Pillar,' he also had to construct various large-scale projects.
Joshua was no more leisurely than others. It was simply because he was stronger that he had more choices. He could bear the above workload while still having the capacity to handle various emergencies.
As for those Demon Lords... other tasks were manageable, but sending a group of demons to the Starry World as reinforcements? Wouldn't they just be blasted as Evil God minions? Similarly, the Demon Lords' strength wasn't sufficient to face the two exclusionary civilizations of the Bloody Star River, and their abyssal chaotic aura was too difficult to conceal.
"Indeed, the conclusion ultimately comes down to one."
After half a discussion, unsurprisingly, Joshua was fully responsible for the related matters.
As for which side to invest significant power in first and which side to merely observe, after everyone's analysis, the result was easily reached.
"According to your account, the Starry World is currently in a stalemate between numerous civilizations and the Evil Gods. If you send a weaker clone there, you likely won't be able to accomplish much."
Old Pope Eagle nodded thoughtfully, his white beard trembling slightly. "Moreover, their battles with the Evil God's minions and the Evil Gods themselves will certainly provide valuable reference for us—so we believe the Starry World should be treated as the 'primary mission.' Send your main body there."
"If possible, break the balance between order and chaos in the Starry World as much as you can—that way, in the future, we'll have an unexpected reinforcement, and one with extensive experience and detailed knowledge of fighting Chaos!"
Joshua nodded in agreement. This aligned with his own thoughts.
Although the anomalies in the Bloody Star River might conceal something very important, reconnaissance wasn't infiltration. There was no need to charge in and eliminate witnesses like a one-man army. Naturally, there was no need for overwhelming strength as a foundation. Sending a concealed clone would be sufficient, perhaps even observing by possessing some machine like in the Siberia World, and then summoning the main body when needed.
After all, the Starry World couldn't be at war forever. There would definitely be a buffer period between two battles—that was the opportunity to balance both sides.
The agenda concluded, the meeting dissolved, and the various Legendary experts dispersed. After bidding farewell to his old friends, Joshua came alone into the void.
He would need to create several construction clones to send to various worlds undergoing large-scale projects. He also needed to return to the Aether World and specifically split off a giant construction clone so that the Seven Gods could continue filling the Ring World template with matter even without him. To be honest, Joshua still had quite a few things to do. Whether it was maintaining the Exchange System or the Restorative Pillar, he needed to create specific 'Information Processing Module Sub-bodies' to handle them.
But these things weren't a big deal. The warrior was in a good mood.
Not only would he handle the tasks of the 'Bloody Star River' and 'Starry World' well, but he wouldn't abandon his other duties either. With Joshua's power, he could simultaneously handle various miscellaneous tasks, construct large-scale—even giant—stellar structures, then go fight in the Starry World and reconnoiter the Bloody Star River. He could do seven or eight things at once and do them flawlessly.
Transcendent beings never make choices—they endure arduous cultivation, battle, fight enemies, and grow stronger, not to leave themselves with regrets or future remorse. They strive to improve themselves with all their might so that when needed, they don't have to 'save' and 'reload' like in a game. They only need one attempt to achieve a 'perfect ending.'
Joshua was born for this—
And that is the essence of the strong.
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