The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1957: Archdeity-Tier Tribulation Enhancer

Cain did not simply lock himself into meditation this time. Even if he was at his peak, that did not mean he would succeed—after all, he had never forged a Forty-Revolution Flame before. Such a feat was not merely an improvement of his capabilities, but a complete breakthrough in his path as a Tribulation Enhancer.

After ensuring his mind was calm and focused at its absolute peak, he extended his hand. Drawing upon the energy around him, together with the power of the Scarlet Throne, he began to forge a new Revolution Flame.

At first, the process was manageable. It was not difficult for him to forge a Thirty-Nine Revolution Refinement Flame; in fact, he did so faster than when he had faced the Third Trial. But it was from that point onward that the true test began.

Slowly, carefully, the flame began to burn brighter, infused with more energy, each revolution straining his control.

Amon and Bael sharpened their eyes, staring intently at the flame. Their chests tightened with anticipation as they waited, hoping for the arrival of the elusive new color.

Five hours later, however, the awaited change had not yet appeared. Despite the massive amount of energy Cain had poured into the sphere, no new color had emerged. Worse, instability surfaced, the sphere trembling as if on the verge of collapse.

Cain reacted instantly. With a decisive motion, he sent the sphere flashing high into the sky. Moments later, it exploded into a sea of flames above them.

A wave of disappointment crossed the brothers’ faces as they watched the failure. Yet Cain’s eyes reflected no such frustration. His gaze remained sharp, filled with calm wisdom. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and after five hours of meditation, extended his hand once again.

Energy gathered. The flame reignited. Slowly, more and more color emerged within Cain’s grasp. This time, just as the sixth hour neared its end and a new color seemed about to break through, instability returned. Without hesitation, Cain launched the sphere skyward, where it detonated once more.

Another failure.

But this time, Amon and Bael exchanged glances, wide smiles tugging at their lips. They had seen progress. The instability had come later, closer to the threshold of success.

Cain ignored their reactions. He did not allow himself distraction. The sharpness in his eyes remained unbroken. He sank once more into five hours of meditation, drawing on the Crown of Ascension to dissect the process, to identify his errors, and to nurture the insight required to overcome the challenge.

When he raised his hand again, both Amon and Bael leaned forward unconsciously, their gazes fixed on the flame. Neither dared blink.

Hours passed. At last, at the dawn of the seventh hour, a new brilliance surged forth. The flame shimmered—and then burst into a cascade of colors.

A flame of forty revolutions blazed in Cain’s hand.

The brothers almost shouted in unrestrained excitement. Cain had done it. He had succeeded. He had forged the Forty-Revolution Flame.

In that moment, Cain had stepped into the realm of Archdeity-Tier Tribulation Enhancers. The number of such beings in the entire Everstrife Empyrean World could be counted on one hand—and even then, there would still be fingers left unused. Those few who existed were ancient scholars who had devoted their entire lives to the profession, unlike Cain, who had divided his focus with cultivation and battle.

The duo remained silent, reverent as they stared at him. Success was undeniable, yet the challenge was not complete. Forging the flame once was not enough. He had to accomplish it within six hours.

Cain understood this clearly. He stored the flame away, closed his eyes, and allowed his mind to rest for a full day. Yet even upon waking, he did not resume immediately. Instead, he delved into the process within his mind again and again, revisiting every detail, analyzing every fluctuation, and envisioning every possible improvement.

Amon and Bael did not dare utter a single word. If Cain required time, they would wait days, months, even years.

Fortunately, it was not years. After two days of deep meditation and careful introspection, Cain opened his eyes. His hand rose, and once more energy gathered. The flame appeared, colors beginning to emerge one after another.

This time Amon and Bael counted every second, their hearts pounding. At the fifth hour and fifty-fifth minute, their eyes widened. The fortieth color shimmered into existence.

"Yes!"

The Inferno Daemon could not restrain himself, shouting with raw excitement. He had waited millions of years for this moment, and now the key to the Fourth Level was within their grasp.

But almost immediately, he shut his mouth. Cain and Amon had both cast sharp glances at him, and he realized his mistake. His uncontrolled outburst had disrupted Cain’s concentration for a heartbeat, causing the flame to tremble dangerously.

Bael was headstrong, and would never hesitate to kill those who defied him, but he was neither foolish nor arrogant enough to deny fault. He lowered his head in apology, admitting his error, and then remained silent.

Cain did not make things difficult for him. He took a steadying breath, controlled the wavering flame, and then sent it into his Inner Universe before closing his eyes to rest.

After another five hours of recovery, he extended his hand yet again. The flame appeared, and this time the colors grew faster, each revolution arriving sooner than before.

Amon and Bael understood instantly. Cain was no longer content with mere success. He sought excellence. He wanted to drive his limits further, to achieve a higher score—because a better performance meant more credits.

The brothers said nothing. For them, simply reaching the Fourth Ring after countless years was enough. But Cain was the Scarlet King. His ambitions were greater. So they only smiled and waited patiently, not daring to interrupt.

For months, Cain continued. Attempt after attempt, he forged the flame, refining and improving it. Each time, his control grew sharper, his insight deeper, his mastery more complete. Progress was relentless, each step building on the last.

Finally, he stopped. His eyes were clear, sharp as blades, as he gazed at the flame in his hand.

"Three and a half hours," he said quietly. "That is the best I can do. More practice will not change that."

With determination burning in his gaze, Cain turned to the gate. He walked forward, staring directly into the crystallized shadows that loomed before him. The trial awaited.

"For it to be so hard to attain," he murmured, "I hope it proves worthy."