Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator-Chapter 321 - 316: The God Walking Among Men

Hearing Yang Jian's somewhat dejected words, Chen Pingchuan withdrew his gaze and looked at him with a serious expression.

"This is just a demonstration, a possible future. The outside world is so corrupt because of old rules and dictators. You cannot create something new without destroying the old. Only by shattering the current, corrupt order can we build a world as beautiful as this one."

"As for how to maintain it, when the roots of the Divine Tree encompass every corner of the planet, a global utopia will be within our grasp."

"By then, I won't need to monitor everyone to ensure they receive fair treatment. I will only need to ensure the Divine Tree itself doesn't undergo any fundamental changes."

"And then, the world will become the one I have always envisioned."

Yang Jian furrowed his brow, deep in thought. He had to admit that the beautiful scene before him was moving, but he still couldn't bring himself to agree with Chen Pingchuan's methods. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Just as Yang Jian was considering how to refute him, several mysterious, black-robed figures emerged from an exit beneath the Divine Tree. Upon seeing the massive King of Black Magic, their eyes filled with envy.

The leader of the group removed his hood, revealing Lan Duoduo, a young man with delicate, feminine features. His eyes now burned with fanaticism and reverence as he addressed Chen Pingchuan with passion.

"Great god, You created this pure land from chaos and nurtured hope with the Divine Tree. It is truly an unparalleled feat!"

"We will follow Your will, carry out Your decrees, and reshape the world!"

As he spoke, the black-robed figures behind him knelt on one knee in unison, shouting together, "We are willing to offer everything for the god's will!"

Chen Pingchuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a majestic and solemn air. "I feel your devotion."

"The world is corrupt. The old system is like shackles, imprisoning all living beings. I will use the Divine Tree as my foundation to shatter it all and reshape the universe."

Watching this scene, Yang Jian grew increasingly concerned. He couldn't help but step forward. "Chen Pingchuan, look at them! Such blind worship—don't you find it terrifying? This so-called beautiful world, built on such a foundation, is unstable and bound to collapse."

Lan Duoduo remained silent, but the man beside him, the Snake of Destruction, Zhu Wu, could not tolerate such an attitude. Glaring at Yang Jian, he gritted his teeth and snarled, "How dare you be disrespectful to the god! You deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Chen Pingchuan raised a hand, silencing the black-robed figures. He then turned to Yang Jian and said slowly, "Yang Jian, your vision is short-sighted. You cannot see the profound meaning behind all this. The world is terminally ill. Only with absolute faith and power can we lead everyone to the correct path."

Yang Jian's brow tightened as he retorted, "But if that absolute power spirals out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable! The beautiful world you speak of is built on manipulating the minds of others. How is that any different from the corrupt dictatorships you criticize?"

Chen Pingchuan let out a cold laugh. "The difference is that everything I do is for the well-being of all humanity, not to satisfy personal desire. The Divine Tree will grant the world fairness and order. When you truly witness a global utopia, you will understand the choice I made today."

The black-robed figures cried out once more, "The god's decision shall not be doubted! A global utopia will be achieved!"

Looking at the fanatical crowd, Yang Jian felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He knew that he couldn't change Chen Pingchuan's mind right now, nor could he persuade these people who worshipped Chen Pingchuan as a Divine Spirit. But he firmly believed in his heart that Chen Pingchuan's path was not the true path to salvation. A storm was quietly brewing.

Chen Pingchuan sensed Yang Jian's defiance and chuckled lightly. "Find them a place to stay. I have other matters to attend to."

He pointed toward the colossal Black Demon One and the Shadow Guards, and after giving his order, he waved his hand. The unstable spatial travel, which should have been on cooldown, surprisingly reactivated, opening another Space Teleportation Gate. With a casual flick of his right hand, Chen Pingchuan pulled Yang Jian through it, and they vanished from the summit of Divine Tree Mountain.

The moment they stepped out of the Space Teleportation Gate, they were greeted by the ruins of Kailing Province. The once-prosperous city was now a ruin. Most of the skyscrapers had collapsed, and the streets were choked with rubble. Twisted, deformed vehicles lay scattered everywhere. The air was thick with the pungent stench of smoke and rot, nearly enough to make one gag.

Yang Jian stared at the devastation, a storm of emotions swirling within him. He remembered when he'd been on missions in Kailing Province. It was a vibrant place where people lived and worked in peace, its streets and alleys filled with laughter. But now, the Black Demon had destroyed it all.

"Is this the world you want?" Yang Jian's voice was mechanical and emotionless, but Chen Pingchuan could feel the rage in the fluctuations of his soul. "Do you realize this happened because of your pet? If not for that creature, Kailing Province wouldn't be in ruins, and all those people wouldn't have died so tragically."

Chen Pingchuan's expression was calm as his gaze swept over the rubble. "This is merely a necessary sacrifice," he said slowly. "The Black Demon's appearance brought destruction, but it was also an opportunity to shatter the old world. Kailing Province's current state is the result of the old order's corruption and inability to resist, not the fault of the Black Demon alone."

"Furthermore, Kailing Province becoming like this was not my instruction. It was all destined by fate."

"Absurd!" Yang Jian couldn't help but interrupt. "Countless innocent lives were lost and families were shattered. How can you brush that off as a mere 'sacrifice'? Your so-called new order has caused such a catastrophe before it's even been established. How can you speak of saving the world?"

"And as for you saying it has nothing to do with you, that it was all fate's arrangement... then let me ask you a question. Without your pet, could a deranged Ji Hongxiu have done all this by herself?"

It wasn't that Yang Jian hadn't thought of stopping them, but Kailing Province was far outside the Celestial Palace's sphere of influence, leaving him powerless to intervene.

Chen Pingchuan frowned slightly, seeming a bit impatient with Yang Jian's failure to understand. "You can't create something new without destroying the old. You're always dwelling on the present pain, unable to see the long-term future. The power of the Divine Tree can restore all of this. Once a global utopia is achieved, these sacrifices will have meaning."

"Even without Black Demon One, another bio-engineered creature would have appeared. In the end, all paths lead to the same destination."

A sense of melancholy washed over Yang Jian as he looked at Chen Pingchuan. "You've been blinded by your own ideals. The fairness and order you believe in are built on the suffering of countless people. While you pursue that illusory future, you are losing the people's hearts and any claim to true justice."

As the two of them stood at an impasse, a commotion suddenly erupted in the distance. A squad of well-equipped tactical soldiers was heading in their direction.