The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1697

Chapter 1697: Back to the underworld
Cain took a deep breath, savoring the remarkable enhancements to his stats. Yet the thing that truly thrilled him was the new Proto-Law he had forged.

“Tempering Flame.” Merely uttering its name filled Cain’s heart and soul with a sense of boundless power and limitless potential. Unlike the natural Laws that Cain had previously needed to comprehend and harmonize with, the Proto-Law of Tempering Flame was something he himself had to develop and nurture.

It was a demanding path that required tremendous effort and perseverance, yet the power it promised was utterly overwhelming.

Just forging merely one percent of the Proto-Law had allowed Cain to shatter the boundary that separated a mere Inner World from becoming an Inner Universe.

“According to my understanding,” Cain mused thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting profound ambition, “the reason Archdeities of the Essence Evolution Path wield such immense power is precisely because they’ve completed their Proto-Laws, becoming true Forgers of Creation. They wield forces that transcend the universe’s own natural Laws—the very powers that shape reality itself.”

Just thinking about possessing that level of cosmic might made Cain’s blood surge with excitement and anticipation.

Though the intoxicating prospect of such power was tempting, Cain swiftly steadied his emotions. He breathed deeply, regaining composure before merging once more with the soul of Jarkal trapped within the Scarlet Throne.

Cain’s demeanor subtly shifted, becoming fierce, proud, and imposing, precisely matching Jarkal’s original temperament. However, this subtle alteration of personality was of no real significance to Cain.

With controlled determination, Cain concentrated the entirety of his Ego Wave into his Evolution Core, sharply elevating the power of his Essence Evolution Path of Power to the Third Realm.

After consolidating his cultivation, Cain turned his gaze toward the ominous Death Forest within the Samsara Arsenal Module’s Second Level, then surged forward decisively.

It did not take long before Cain encountered powerful Soul Automatons at the peak of the Divine Transcendence Rank. However, he barely acknowledged their existence, swiftly bypassing them and pushing deeper into the treacherous realm.

Soon enough, Soul Automatons at the Early Prima Deity Rank emerged from the shadows, charging forward with murderous intent.

Cain clapped his hands together sharply. Instantly, spears forged from intertwined shadows and blazing flames appeared around him, surging forward violently and unleashing explosive power.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

A series of devastating explosions echoed across the Death Forest as the attacking automatons were blasted backward, several bearing large, smoldering holes in their artificial bodies.

A cold, satisfied smile formed on Cain’s face as he admired the devastating aftermath of his attack.

“Excellent,” he whispered appreciatively. “The power of my Proto-Law significantly enhanced the strength and durability of these constructs, exponentially increasing their destructive capabilities.”

With icy calmness and relentless killing intent, Cain swiftly summoned massive dragons of shadow and fire, obliterating any automatons that managed to survive the initial assault. Without pausing, he advanced deeper into the deadly environment.

For three and a half relentless hours, Cain continued pressing forward. Finally, he found himself locked in combat with Soul Automatons at the pinnacle of the Middle Prima Deity Rank.

Cain’s powers allowed him to engage two of these formidable foes simultaneously, but he soon reached his limit. His summoned constructs inflicted severe damage but ultimately failed to achieve decisive victories. Eventually, the two automatons broke through his defenses and lunged toward him.

At that instant, Cain’s eyes flared with crimson flames. Reverting instantly to his true self, he grasped the Shooting Star Dragon Halberd firmly, channeling immense power into a devastating slash.

The weapon cleaved through both automatons in one decisive stroke, slicing them cleanly in half.

Silence returned to the Death Forest as Cain calmly analyzed the results of the brutal confrontation.

“I can currently deploy around 75 to 80 percent of Jarkal’s original power. My comprehension of the Law of Shadows is rapidly nearing Extreme Law Embodiment, which should provide another small boost,” Cain thoughtfully assessed. “Although not flawless, this should be sufficient to avoid suspicion.”

Satisfied with his capabilities, Cain left the Death Forest. Reassuming his flawless disguise as Jarkal, he exited the Samsara Arsenal Module, reappearing within the cultivation chambers inside the imposing Volcano Tree.

Ensuring no eyes or divine senses tracked his movements, Cain silently departed the city before swiftly sending a detailed and comprehensive intelligence report to Zoro.

By thoroughly consuming Jarkal’s memories, Cain had gained an exceptionally profound understanding of the Endlessdeath Continent, knowing its geography, resources, and hidden dangers as intimately as his own body. Furthermore, he had acquired invaluable knowledge about Divine Sea Heaven’s military tactics, deployments, and hidden traps.

Even though this was merely a cover, Cain’s perfectionist nature meant he approached every task with meticulous dedication. Flying discreetly across the continent, he began silently infecting numerous Divine Cultivators with tiny organisms he called Scarlet Snakes.

These parasites bore some resemblance to Reverend Madness’ Gu Insects, but Cain designed them with a different purpose in mind—they transmitted everything their hosts saw and heard directly back to Cain himself.

Unaware of their condition, countless Divine Cultivators unknowingly became spies embedded within the ranks of Divine Sea Heaven. Over a span of two weeks, Cain worked tirelessly until his extensive espionage network covered nearly every critical region on the Endlessdeath Continent.

“That should satisfy Zoro’s appetite for information,” Cain remarked coldly, eyes glittering with predatory anticipation. “Now I can fully focus on my own objectives.”

A sinister gleam passed through Cain’s eyes as he prepared for his next hunt. Targeting another active Prima Deity of the Divine Sea Heaven army would be dangerously unwise. It could easily expose his dual identity, especially considering that the vigilant white stag Deus Behemoth still harbored deep suspicion toward Jarkal.

“Fortunately,” Cain murmured with cold satisfaction, “while most Prima Deities belonging to Lord Tier Organizations are currently mobilized under Divine Sea Heaven, there remain a few who have yet to join their ranks.”

Cain’s thoughts shifted to another possibility: those hidden in darkness, powerful yet elusive figures lurking in the shadowy underbelly of the Endlessdeath Continent. Unlike their peers, these Prima Deities operated in the underworld, away from sight and the battlefield.