The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1950: Baptism Grounds of the Three-Headed Snake

"It seems the two of you benefited right from the start."

A faintly amused expression crossed Cain’s face as he heard the part about the potion of companionship. He glanced at the brothers, who responded with awkward, almost sheepish smiles. He was not about to make an issue of it — if things went as planned, they would soon be fighting side by side. If they grew stronger, all the better.

The next moment, the Gate of Germination opened with a low, resonant hum, finally granting the trio access to the territory of the Ouroboros Sect. Cain wasted no time and stepped forward.

Before him stretched a vast garden-city under a dim green aurora. Terraced fields of pale grass rippled in an unseen breeze. Orchards bloomed from bone-white pergolas. Canals of shimmering water flowed uphill, defying gravity as if the laws of the world had no place here, and the only thing that mattered was the will of the one who forged this place.

The First Ring of the Ouroboros Cult was a divine garden, a realm of abundance and harmony. The air itself brimmed with energy — not merely invigorating his body, but nurturing his very soul, slowly mending the damage he had inflicted upon himself by burning life, soul, and will during the battle with Azazel.

"Just the first ring alone is a divine cultivation realm," Cain thought, awe threading through his mind. Better than the Divine Calamity’s Heaven... better even than the Divine Sea’s blessed grounds.

Once again, the ancient might of the Ouroboros Sect impressed him. Yet that awe was tinged with unease. For such a force to have fallen... what calamity had been great enough to end them?

"Scarlet King," Amon said, drawing Cain back from his thoughts. "My brother and I will use our credits in the gardens. I propose we meet at the entrance to the next level in a month."

As he spoke, Amon sent a stream of psychic power toward Cain. "Inside is everything we know about the rings and their treasures. I hope it serves you well."

Cain caught the psychic message and absorbed the knowledge within, nodding once. "A month, then."

The brothers bowed slightly in respect before heading off to spend their credits.

"They’re going to the Apothecary Gardens," Cain mused, recalling from Amon’s memories that the place overflowed with rare herbs. With five thousand credits, they could acquire plenty. But as he sifted through the knowledge Amon had shared, something else caught his attention — something far more enticing than bulk purchases of herbs.

He rose into the air, flying above the terraces toward his chosen destination. As he traveled, his gaze wandered over the intricate web of growth-runes etched into the very land. They were the reason the gardens thrived without caretakers, why the soil’s vitality and the structures’ integrity had endured untold ages without decay.

"System," Cain asked, "can you use the A.I. Chip Module to record these runes for forging later?"

The Absolute Lifeform System responded at once, scanning the patterns with mechanical precision.

[Runic complexity surpasses the current capacity of the A.I. Chip Module.]

Cain sighed, though he had expected as much. "For a formation to remain this powerful and last this long... it must be beyond even the Arch Deity rank."

He let the matter drop, continuing toward his destination until he arrived.

Before him rose a mountain of staggering majesty. At its peak stood three colossal trees, each overwhelming in presence and beauty, their crowns piercing the green-lit sky.

The first tree radiated the raw might of the Laws of the Universe, steeped in the power of the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Its aura promised the ability to nurture the Inner Universe within a cultivator, granting immense growth.

The second was wreathed in majestic starlight — as though thousands of stars had descended to weave themselves into its branches. This one pulsed with vital and physical power of unprecedented magnitude, its light washing over the soul like an ocean of constellations.

The last was unlike either of its siblings — a colossal mass of psychic force interwoven with the primordial Concepts themselves, its every leaf shimmering with the weight of creation.

The three stood in deliberate formation, their massive trunks arching and curving until each terminated in a great serpent-like head. At the center, where their auras met, lay a small natural dais bathed in the blended radiance of all three.

There were many wonders scattered throughout the First Ring, but according to Amon’s memories, none equaled this place. None, however, were as costly.

Cain stepped forward, but before he could approach further, the same ancient voice that had greeted him at the gate spoke once again.

"Welcome to the Baptism Grounds of the Three-Headed Snake. Access fee: 1,000 credits. Additional fee: 100 credits per extra day."

Cain’s eyes narrowed slightly. Just the entry cost alone demanded everything Amon and Bael had earned combined. If he stayed here for a month, the total would surpass four thousand credits.

It was an immense expenditure. Yet Cain did not have the luxury of a slow, peaceful path. He had no way of knowing when his next clash with Azazel would come. Growth — fast, decisive, overwhelming growth — was paramount.

And this place radiated exactly the kind of power he needed.

Taking a deep breath, Cain nodded. The unseen barrier that had barred his way dissolved, and the oppressive auras of the three titanic trees surged over him like a tidal wave.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the heart of the formation, directly beneath the convergence of the three serpentine crowns. The light here was unlike anything he had ever felt — warm yet sharp, nurturing yet piercing, as if it could strip away weakness and lay bare the pure essence of his being.

Settling cross-legged upon the dais, Cain closed his eyes. The blended energies of the three trees poured into him like rivers into an endless sea. Every breath drew in more power; every heartbeat seemed to echo with the rhythm of creation itself.