The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1927: Evolving the Samsara Module

All six Chief Councilors nodded in unison, faint smiles gracing their faces. Cain’s proposed guidelines offered a rare balance—ensuring safety and sustainable growth while preserving the harsh, unforgiving nature of cultivation. This balance allowed only the determined and powerful to rise above the masses, preserving the path of ascension and strength.

Of course, there remained much fine print to review—countless details that demanded precision. But each Chief Councilor had access to the [A.I. Chip Module], capable of running an unfathomable number of simulations in seconds. With it, they could construct intricate frameworks of laws and regulations, ensuring that every possibility was accounted for. No potential loophole or conflict would go unaddressed.

"Time is of the essence," Cain said, his voice sharp with urgency. "I want your complete concentration on this task. Once the Everlife Continent is secured, we will make sure the Scarlet Path is embedded into the very foundation of both the Shadowcradle and Endlesslight Continents."

He did not elaborate on why haste was so critical. But he didn’t need to. The Chief Councilor had absolute faith and trust in the Scarlet King, and if he demanded speed, that was what they would give him.

"Other than Minxet and Razputin, the rest of you are dismissed. Begin your tasks immediately," Cain ordered.

The four remaining Chief Councilors bowed respectfully. Although curiosity lingered in their eyes, they knew better than to question the Scarlet King. His word was law.

Minxet and Razputin remained behind for another fifteen minutes. The three stood in solemn silence, as they carried on a secret meeting that no one else was allowed to take part in. Finally, the duo left the cultivation ground and exchanged a brief glance filled with understanding and gravity, before rising into the sky and vanishing into the distance.

Now alone, Cain let out a long sigh. Like everyone else, he longed for rest. His body ached with fatigue, his mind weighed down by the burden of leadership. But rest was a luxury he could not afford. Not yet. With his orders issued and his council set into motion, it was finally time for him to act.

His eyes sharpened, and his figure vanished, reappearing within the Samsara Arsenal Module’s Second Level.

The Soul Enlightenment Mist filled the air, but it no longer held any meaningful effect on him. He had grown too powerful for the mist of the Second Level. Without wasting time, he flashed through space and arrived at the Samsara Sacrificial Ground, standing before the majestic Samsara Flame.

Even now, with all his power, all his accomplishments, and all he had uncovered, Cain couldn’t help but feel reverence as he gazed at the flame. There was something ancient and eternal about it—a primal force untouched by time or decay. But awe would get him nowhere.

He steadied his breath, centering his mind. His determination surged, anchoring him like an unmovable mountain.

"System," he said aloud, "evolve the Samsara Arsenal."

The enemy approaching was cataclysmic—an existential threat—and Cain knew that he needed to unlock the full might of his modules if he wanted to succeed.

A disembodied voice echoed in his mind.

[Vessel has spent 10,000 SDF to evolve the Samsara Arsenal Module.]

Unlike other modules, the Samsara Arsenal was unique. Just SDF was not enough to unlock its evolution.

[To complete the evolution of the Samsara Arsenal Module and gain access to the Third Layer, the Vessel must face the Samsara Trial.]

Cain knew this would happen. That was why he stood before the flame now, unwavering and sent his will into it, making the majestic voice of the Samsara Lord to emerge.

"Congratulations on obtaining the Third Samsara Seed. You are now eligible to undergo the Samsara Trial and gain access to the Third Level of the Arsenal."

A subtle smile crept across Cain’s face. Of course, he had not truly gathered a Samsara Seed. In fact, he had no idea what one even looked like. But thanks to the Absolute Lifeform System, he had bypassed that requirement entirely by exchanging large quantities of SDF.

Unfortunately, that was as far as the SDF could get him. The trial could not be bypassed. He needed to face it alone.

The Samsara Flame glowed brighter, and in the next moment, the voice of the Samsara Lord manifested, deep and resonant, like the pulse of creation itself.

"You have already proven your strength. But strength alone cannot determine your path. A man must also have luck and determination. To ascend to the Third Level, you must pass both the Trial of Destiny and the Trial of Will."

Cain’s eyes narrowed. Just overcome the Trial of Strength the last time pushed him beyond his limits, but now there would be two.

The voice of the Samsara Lord spoke again, its tone grave.

"The Trial of Destiny will determine whether the Samsara Arsenal came to you through luck and fate, or whether its presence is an aberration—a mistake of the cosmos."

Cain frowned. That was a troubling thought. After all, he had not earned the Samsara Arsenal through destiny. In fact, he did not even have the real one, and the one he used was a copy made by the Absolute Life Former System.

There was no time for Cain to try and figure out a way through this trial as the next instant, the Samsara Flame flickered, releasing a pulse of radiant ember that shot forward and slammed into Cain’s forehead. Too fast to react, it penetrated into his Soul Dimension, spreading like a wildfire into every corner of his existence.

The only place the purple flame failed to reach was a hidden dimension where Apex and the gate covered in lightning and flames resided.

The analysis lasted less than a second. The flame returned to its origin in silence.

Cain’s gaze turned to the flame, wondering what judgment it had passed. A moment later, it erupted with raw, blinding energy. A majestic face emerged from the fire, crowned with three radiant eyes—each one brimming with knowledge older than the stars.

Cain had seen this face once before—during the Trial of Strength. This was the Samsara Lord’s mental projection.

But this time, there was a subtle frown on his face.