The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1992: Feeding the flame

Cain and Leonidas reunited in the skies above Doomslayer Heaven, wide smiles etched across their faces as they exchanged a glance. Both carried space rings heavy with spoils, each brimming with the wicked cultivators captured in their purge. The hunt had been merciless.

Not long after, several Prima Deities of Doomslayer Heaven carefully approached the duo. Their gazes kept drifting toward Cain, curiosity burning behind their composure. How had this young Scarlet King—an outsider to their ranks—managed not only to draw their reclusive leader out of seclusion? More than that, he had somehow compelled Leonidas to mobilize the entire Omega Lord-Tier organization in a grand crusade.

But none dared to voice their questions aloud. Instead, they presented their offerings silently, handing over the space rings containing bound Divine Cultivators steeped in wickedness. Leonidas accepted the rings with a measured nod, signing for the Prima Deities to leave. When they were gone, he turned back toward Cain.

"Will you summon the Scarlet Throne now?" Leonidas asked, eyes glowing with a meaningful light.

Cain’s powers were many, but none so iconic or awe-inspiring as the Scarlet Throne. The throne could capture the souls of Archdeities in their entirety, binding their essence to eternity. Leonidas had seen much in his long life, yet he burned with eagerness to witness the Throne at work.

But Cain shook his head. "These people have a different use." His voice was calm, deliberate. "We will go to the Everlife Continent. Amon and Bael will be waiting for us there. Once we reunite, I will show you the true purpose of the wicked and the damned. Summon your friend as well. When we are finished, it will be time to make our move."

Excitement flared in Leonidas’ molten eyes, his lips curving into a smile. "As you command."

He withdrew a small, parchment-like slip from his space ring. After inscribing a few lines of runes, he let it ignite into a small burst of fire that vanished instantly into the air. "Done," he said simply.

Cain’s eyes narrowed in appreciation. The device was clever—an elegant communication tool far swifter than traditional methods. He gave a short nod, then turned and shot into the sky with Leonidas beside him.

The Scarlet King constantly twisted the fabric of space-time ahead of them, collapsing distance with every stride. Even so, their journey was long. Days passed as they crossed the skies, but finally, the Everlife Continent came into view.

Leonidas’ expression softened with wonder. Once, the name "Everlife" had been spoken in irony. The land had been infamous for its brutality, a continent where life was fleeting and violence the only law. Yet now... now it truly lived up to its name. Cities brimmed with vigor and prosperity. Towns thrummed with laughter and cultivation alike. While battles still raged, they no longer marred the heart of civilization. Instead, conflict was confined to distant wilds, away from innocents.

At last, they descended above the Gu Sect, where Amon and Bael awaited. The brothers straightened as Cain and Leonidas landed. Their eyes widened ever so slightly—not at Cain, but at the figure standing half a step behind him. Leonidas, the oldest Archdeity of the Everstrife Empyrean World, following like a loyal vassal? It seemed impossible. Yet Cain was a man who made impossibilities reality.

They bowed respectfully toward Leonidas, who returned the courtesy with equal gravity.

Cain’s smile widened as his gaze swept over the brothers. He could feel the power radiating from them, sharper and fuller than when he last saw them. Clearly, they had assimilated the inheritances and treasures from the Fifth Circle of the Ouroboros Cult.

"Did you bring what I asked for?" Cain’s voice cut through the air like steel.

Amon and Bael immediately nodded. In their hands appeared several black boxes, each sealed with layers of divine formation. Cain extended his consciousness and swept through the boxes, and what he saw brought a dark gleam to his eyes. Thousands of cultivators writhed within, their auras foul with corruption and wickedness.

While Cain and Leonidas purged Doomslayer Heaven’s territories, the brothers had acted in their own domains after receiving the command through the Scarlet Leviathan. Cain had initially intended for the Sky Sovereign and others to handle such work, hoping they would use it to temper themselves. But with plans accelerating, he had ordered Amon and Bael to take a direct hand. Clearly, they had delivered.

"Excellent," Cain said at last. "Follow me."

With that, he descended into the Gu Sect’s heart, the brothers and Leonidas at his side. At the center of the sect lay a shimmering portal, a gateway carved with crimson runes. Cain strode into it without hesitation, and the others followed.

The moment they emerged on the other side, Leonidas, Amon, and Bael froze in shock.

Before them stretched a realm beyond comprehension. Its matrix was more stable, more solid, than the Everstrife Empyrean World itself. They could feel it in their bones—this was a plane that even the full strikes of Archdeities could not scar.

Their first breaths drew in the Soul Enlightenment Mist. As it seeped into their lungs, awe filled their eyes. Their cognition sharpened. Their understanding expanded. Every breath seemed to peel back the veil of ignorance, revealing truths they had never glimpsed.

"This place..." Leonidas whispered, his voice trembling despite himself.

But their wonder only deepened as Cain led them further into the heart of a colossal castle. There, they beheld a sight so majestic it stole the breath from their chests.

The Samsara Flame.

It danced at the chamber’s center, eternal and unfathomable. It was not mere fire—it was the cycle of existence itself, weaving creation and destruction in a perfect loop. Universes could be unmade in its blaze, and from its ashes, grander ones could be born.

The three Archdeities stood speechless. No inheritance, no treasure of the First Era they had ever heard of compared to this.

Cain’s voice broke the silence, deep and commanding. "Take this," he said, handing a space ring to Leonidas. "Send them into the flame. See for yourself."