Divine Path System

Chapter 1749 1749: Teacher of God Emperor

'This can't go on!'

Thoren was now a cynical, furious and despairing young man. Since joining the army, he was forced to risk his life again and again.

He was slowly progressing in his paths. A mortal level 3, level 4….

But with each battle, he was growing more bleak inside.

Varian wanted to change history. If such experiences were what made God Emperor into a man who's happy to let the universe get destroyed, what if he changed those experiences?

He couldn't directly intervene. But through a lot of experimentation, Varian realized what he could do.

'If Thoren grew up with more optimism and a positive vision for the world, he'd help me against Architect. That would increase our odds.'

So, one day, when Thoren was resting in his dormitory with other soldiers, a voice sounded in his head.

'Thoren, you can change the world. Grow stronger and everything can be changed.'

"W-Who?!" At his words, the other soldiers who were about to sleep glared and the teenage Thoren shut up.

'You don't have to say things out loud. Talk to me with your mind.' Varian said.

'Who are you?'

'I @#$@#' Varian wanted to tell a few things about himself. About Thoren's own future achievements.

But when he tried to speak, the words didn't come out.

There seemed to be a strong momentum by the river of time to prevent any big changes. Varian couldn't go against it.

It didn't allow a lot of information and certainly, particular types of information to be said.

Varian had to change his approach. 'I am a divine cultivator who died. This is my remnant soul.'

Thoren immediately showed disdain. 'Do you take me for a fool? A divine ranker? In this wretched place?'

'How about this?' Varian knew that it was better to let people figure things out themselves to fully convince them.

'Go to the most powerful person you can and ask them to find me. I will keep talking you to in front of that person and they can't detect me.'

Thoren showed a hint of hesitation. The captain was a celestial ranker. The one above him was a…rank 3 celestial?

Celestial rankers were plenty in Jai empire. But his father was stuck at level 7 all his life and never made that leap.

It's common sense that celestial rankers, especially high ranking ones, were walking demigods. And divine rankers were gods themselves.

Could he even ask someone like that to check for a ghost? Would he be safe for asking? And if the ranker did find the ghost, would he be executed in suspicion of harboring this ghost?

'Be brave. Celestial rankers are nothing.' Varian said casually.

Thoren scoffed and drifted off to sleep.

Before every mission, a celestial ranker would interact with them. It's only a matter of time before the ghost got caught.

Would he die then? Perhaps. But could he do anything about it? This ghost wasn't leaving despite his attempts.

*** *** ***

A few weeks later, a rank 3 celestial ranker oversaw a few thousand soldier about to be sent for a distant battle.

"Blood for blood, life for life! Glory to Jai!"

"Glory to Jai!" Thoren shouted, but his voice was shaky.

'See, he couldn't find me even though I'm talking right now. And your captain is just a few steps away from you. Neither could he. Trust me. You'll know more as time comes.'

As they set off on a spaceship, Thoren asked in a shaky mood. 'W-What do you want?'

'An exchange. I will help you grow stronger, but you have to help me save people.'

'Save? Not slaughter a few towns? Or destroy the races that offended you?'

'No, no.' Varian wanted to change God Emperor's mindset before it grew too rigid. Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

'A lot of people are terrible, yes. But it's the system that's broken. If the rules are good, even if there are hiccups here and there, most people will be fine.'

'Rules? We have plenty of rules.' Thoren rolled his eyes.

'Yes. But they aren't enforced. Strength enforces rules, not the paper they're written on. You need to grow strong.'

'Why can't you recover and do it yourself? I don't know if you're a divine ranker, but you're pretty strong.'

'I am weak, as you can see. I can't do much beside talking. My soul is dissipating and I don't even have much time. I will guide you to the best of my abilities.'

'Let's say you're really a divine ranker, if even you can't do it when you're alive, how can I?'

'I can sense your potential. You can do it, boy. You can go far. Farther than you can imagine. And I'll ensure that.'

Thoren didn't buy his promises. But he didn't oppose him either.

So, the young Thoren began a new chapter in his life with an old soul.

*** *** ***

'Congrats, Thoren! You're now a celestial ranker!'

'It's nothing. There's still a long way to go. I can only help a few towns now.'

Two year later, Thoren replied modestly to an enthusiastic Varian.

Varian wasn't really enthusiastic about his celestial rank, but his changed mindset.

Thoren was genuinely helping people! With his power, he saved many orphans and prevented a few towns from being hollowed out.

He was ostracized in the army and sent to dangerous frontlines as a punishment, but he didn't waver.

Varian wasn't worried. History had a momentum of its own. It wouldn't allow major changes.

Several times when he tried to suggest a few things, he couldn't say them out loud.

So, he couldn't give Thoren treasures too precious that'd shake up the timeline nor use his future information to give him a great edge.

Small changes were fine, but history seemed to remain mostly intact.

Thankfully, due to that very momentum, God Emperor couldn't be killed despite the dangers and the future was still mostly the same.

So, Varian didn't have to worry about cause and effect paradoxes.

Their adventures continued.

'Thoren, there is a special flower hidden under ground. It'll help your space path!'

'Thank you, teacher!'

*** *** ***

Many, many years passed.

"Thoren is selected as a prince. From now on, he has the right to participate in the competition for the crown for the greatest prizes of Eden—Throne of Jai and the slivers of space and time.

May the best win!"

Varian watched the celestial rank 9 Thoren in daze as the now grown up man accepted the prince token with ease.

Even though all of this was just a few seconds for his original body, this spark of consciousness did spend a great time here.

So much happened.

Thoren was the epitome of good. He saved too many lives to count. Entire duchies received his graces. Many races were spared due to his kindness.

He's known as the golden prince.

Varian was certain history changed. Because he didn't see any records proclaiming the God Emperor as such in any of present day records.

But there was a small worry. As Thoren was growing stronger, the time link was weakening. Varian couldn't stay forever. But things should be fine by the time he leaves.

All the time he spent proved that Thoren was genuinely trying to save.

'Teacher…'

In the prince chambers, Thoren spoke in a low voice.

'What's up?'

'I can't win the upcoming competition. The lion prince…he's younger than me and is about to catch up.

As the descendant of a former emperor, he has the backing of a quarter of the court.

Even if we are equals, he'll win.

Jai is meritocratic. But not so meritocratic that these noble houses can't influence.

I might not win the throne.'

Varian paused at those words and then realized.

All these years, Varian acted like a moral compass, ensuring Thoren's actions were almost always never for selfish reasons.

Thoren did use violence a lot. But only against enemies and in service of the greater good.

Varian took special care to prevent such proactive killings.

Thoren had the guidance of a divine ranker. While Varian couldn't go too far from Thoren or provide him too rare treasures, he still got good plenty of good treasures.

So, this young god emperor had a moral code.

If there was a fight for precious treasure, sure, Thoren killed.

But…

Lion prince also had a good reputation. While not as caring for the public as Thoren, he genuinely sought to end this war.

He was also trying to solve the interracial conflicts rampant in the Jai empire.

Even more admirably, he seemed to be working on strengthening the central system, weakening the nobles, thus reducing their atrocities on common people.

Lion prince and Golden prince were both talked about positively by the public.

The Lion prince himself publicly praised Thoren on multiple occasions, stating the empire was better off because of him.

'You want to kill him?' Varian asked in a grim voice.

'Yes.' Thoren replied without hesitation.

'But you can work together, isn't that better?'

'Lion prince is indeed kind compared to the barbaric princes. But he still has to appease his backers, the noble families that support him today.

He'll reduce the interracial conflicts one day and even weaken the nobles.

But all that power he amassed will go to his people.

There will be a few very strong families and they'll impose their will.

If he's kind even then, he'll prevent them from doing anything cruel.

But what if this was just a phase of his? Or even worse, a mask to garner support?

What if he turns more cynical, more cruel after becoming an Emperor, like almost every Emperor does?

He'll be a much bigger danger for the empire than other cruel princes.'

'But it didn't happen yet!'

'It could.' Thoren shook his head. 'And it likely will. Teacher, I had terrible thoughts when you found me. If you didn't show me, I don't know how I would've turned out.

And all these years, I can't see anyone like you. Good people are rare. Strong people are also rare. A good, strong person is the rarest.

And all these noble families had emperors from their lineage in the past. None of them ended up being kind.'

Varian disagreed. 'You're acting on hypotheticals.'

'Because I can't wait for him to actually become an emperor and hope it turns out alright. Teacher, you want to save lives. Do you know how many lives are at risk if the wrong person gets the throne?'

Varian had to admit that Thoren was really thinking about the people. But was this the only solution?

'The reality is that as long as he's alive, he'll surpass me and become the crown prince. Teacher, despite your best help and my best efforts, I can't surpass his training speed backed by so many noble families.'

Varian still wanted to see if there's some other way.

But Thoren was adamant.

'I must become the Emperor. Killing him is the only path.'