The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1956: The Fourth Gate

It did not take long for Cain to reach his hall, a massive building whose size and presence gave it an aura of solemn authority. As he stepped inside, what greeted him was not weapons or treasures, but row upon row of ancient books.

This place was a library, and not a small one. It contained thousands upon thousands of tomes, scrolls, and manuals—techniques, cultivation methods, and even entire cultivation paths.

Unfortunately, none of these books contained techniques beyond the Peak Prime Deity Rank. That was the reason Amon and Bael had shown no interest in this place. To them, it was a hall filled with useless knowledge.

To tell the truth, Cain also did not see much value here for himself. In his memories, he already carried techniques of the Prime Deity level and beyond. For his personal cultivation, this library offered little.

The reason he came here was different. He came for his people—especially for those who were not meant for the battlefield.

Cultivation was not a single straight road that led only through combat. There were myriad paths that could be taken, many of them unorthodox, and not all of them required the endless cycle of blood and war. Some cultivation techniques focused on professions, crafts, or intellectual pursuits, allowing cultivators to advance far in ways that had nothing to do with wielding blades or controlling destructive power.

Cain had already addressed this need to a certain extent through the Codex of Infinite Pathways, which guided people at the Soul Realm toward suitable paths. Yet the Codex’s usefulness was limited. Once cultivators advanced toward the Third Realm, the Codex could not provide enough support. This library, however, contained precisely the type of knowledge that could help those who wished to walk unorthodox paths to continue growing.

Without hesitation, Cain split his mind into hundreds of streams, each one scanning, reading, and analyzing the books. His spiritual perception allowed him to digest knowledge at tremendous speed, yet he remained cautious. Credits had to be preserved, and he had no idea what kind of treasures or opportunities might appear within the Fourth Ring.

He moved carefully through the entire library, taking his time to weigh what would truly be useful. After thorough searching, Cain selected fifteen books. Each contained valuable information on professions and obscure cultivation paths—alchemy, forging, formation work, medicine, and other specializations often overlooked by orthodox cultivators.

The best part was that unorthodox books were not expensive. Few people valued them. In the end, Cain spent only five hundred credits for all fifteen.

Once the purchase was complete, he sent the books into his Inner Universe, where the Absolute Lifeform System would scan and copy them.

With that done, Cain rose into the air and flew forward to the Fourth Gate.

Amon and Bael were already waiting for him. As Cain landed, he saw the expressions on their faces. Their eyes were fixed on the gate ahead, filled with complex emotions—longing, expectation, and unease.

They desired deeply to reach the next level. They were certain that beyond this gate lay wonders and opportunities powerful enough to help them advance to greater heights. But if they failed here, the price would be immense. They would have to wait hundreds of thousands of years before they could try again. Even if they could live for millions of years, that span was suffocating.

Cain could sense the solemn aura surrounding the brothers. The truth was that he felt the same way.

The Third Gate had already pushed him to his limits. The Crown of Ascendance had improved his talent and perception, but it was not a miraculous solution that made him instantly greater. He still had to rely on his own efforts, and the Fourth Gate’s trial might easily surpass him. If he underestimated it, failure was certain.

”Allow me to go first, so you can understand the trial that you would face,” Amon said, breaking the heavy silence.

Cain nodded. The logic was sound. A cultivator could only face a trial once. If Cain went first and failed, all would be lost. Better to let Amon test the trial, so that Cain would at least know what to expect. Even if Amon failed, he could still accompany Cain afterward.

With steady steps, Amon approached the Fourth Gate.

The gate itself was unlike the others they had seen before. It appeared to be forged of crystallized shadows, its surface shimmering with translucent darkness that shifted like living night. As Amon drew closer, the gate trembled, and his reflection appeared upon it, mirroring his every movement.

Amon was not surprised. He had seen this effect before and did not waste time with ceremony. He immediately projected his consciousness into the gate.

”Welcome to the Portico of Witness,” a deep voice echoed. ”Choose the field in which you wish to face the trial. The higher your score, the greater the amount of credits you will receive.”

Without hesitation, Amon declared: ”Trial of Tribulation Enhancement.”

At once, the gate glowed. A sphere of energy appeared, radiating intense power. Then the instructions of the trial resounded.

”Trial accepted. Forge a Forty-Revolution Flame in less than six hours. The faster the forge, the higher the score. The timer begins when you touch the provided energy.”

The moment the words were spoken, all three—Cain, Amon, and Bael—grew solemn.

Forging a Forty-Revolution Flame was an immense task, one that demanded the skills of an Archdeity-level Tribulation Enhancer. To succeed on the first attempt was already difficult beyond measure, something even most Archdeity Enhancers would fail to achieve. To complete it within six hours? That was nearly impossible.

The brothers exchanged glances. They were certain that not a single Tribulation Enhancer in the Everstrife Empyrean World could perform such a feat. Their thoughts inevitably turned toward Cain, and their eyes shone with unspoken questions. Was this task hopeless?

Cain was immensely talented, there was no doubt. One day, he might well achieve such a feat. But could he do it now? That was the question pressing on all of them.

A sharp light flickered in Cain’s eyes. He lowered himself to the ground, adopting a meditative position, and closed his eyes.

There were no words of arrogance, no boasts of confidence. He chose silence, deciding to let his actions alone demonstrate his conviction.

Amon and Bael exchanged a look, then nodded softly. They understood his decision.

There was no point in wasting energy. Amon dismissed the trial immediately, stepping back. Together, the Godslayer Human and the Inferno Daemon waited patiently before the Fourth Gate, the weight of the coming challenge heavy on their shoulders.