The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2237: Samsara Runic Set (II)

There was no pity, no mercy, and not even a passing flicker of hesitation in Cain’s eyes as the Samsara Flames consumed one cultivator after another.

Guided by the Flow, he could see directly into the hearts of those he had condemned, and what he witnessed only hardened his resolve. The stain of sin and the rot of boundless depravity clung to every strand of their existence.

Their hatred, cruelty, and corruption were so deeply woven into their essence that even if The Root had never forced his hand, Cain knew he would have eliminated every last one of them the moment he had the chance.

He did not bother to look at their writhing silhouettes or the twisted, mangled emotions that flared as the Samsara Flames devoured them. His attention remained steady, fixed only on the fire itself as the purple blaze continued its work.

The flames consumed incredibly fast—Samsara Flame always did—but the number of captured cultivators was immense, far greater than anything he had yet purified. For half an hour, the chamber was filled with the low, resonant hum of burning soul and dissolving will.

Only when the final echo faded did it happen.

A burst of Fortune exploded into the chamber with such density and purity that even Cain was momentarily taken aback.

It did not merely fill the ceiling—it erupted outward, spreading through the entire castle, saturating every hallway, every chamber, every stone with its blinding radiance.

Cain and Anark were suddenly surrounded by torrents of Fortune, and despite themselves, both gazed upward with wordless awe as the energy washed over them.

The amount of Fortune, the purity of it, the sheer superiority of its quality...it was unlike anything Cain had ever encountered. Yet awe was a luxury he could not afford. Even as he studied the rising tide of luminous power, the Fortune began to split.

A full third transformed into Merit.

Cain drew in a sharp breath and braced himself just as the brilliant purple Merit shot toward him, piercing directly into his Samsara Seal. The Seal pulsed violently, flaring, expanding, and then erupting with such force that Cain felt his entire body lurch. The runes burst outward, racing beneath his skin with reckless, uncontrollable speed.

He gritted his teeth, but it was not nearly enough.

The runes spread through his skin, his muscles, his bones. They wormed through his internal organs, his eyes, his Inner Universe, his Gravastar Singularity, even his soul and Alter-Ego.

The pain was so severe, so absolute, that Cain collapsed instantly, crashing to the floor and convulsing like a fish cast from the water. Every limb shuddered violently as raw agony took hold, stripping him of any semblance of control.

Anark watched with widening eyes. He knew Cain’s will—knew how impossibly hard, tempered, and unyielding it was. For the runes to force Cain to the ground, to reduce him to a shaking, breathless wreck...it was unthinkable. A scene that defied belief.

But the runes did not stop.

They continued spreading, faster and faster, climbing through every layer of Cain’s being until not a single part of him remained untouched. When his entire form was engulfed, the runes began to compress, refining themselves, condensing into sharper, purer symbols.

They evolved rapidly, cycling through stages with terrifying force until, at last, only thin, bright-purple streams of runic lines remained upon his body—alive, shimmering, quiet.

Cain gasped sharply as the final wave of pain broke. His lungs seized. Then he drew in a long, shuddering breath. Cold sweat drenched him, pooling on the stone beneath his palms.

The intensity of the process had been so horrific it pushed him to the brink of blackout more than once, yet every time his mind and soul had dragged him back from the cliff.

After several trembling seconds, Cain managed to sit upright. With slow breaths, he lowered his gaze to the Samsara Runic Set now etched across his body.

The runes were majestic—far beyond anything he had imagined. Their patterns were deep, complex, yet harmonious in a way that almost defied logic. The connections between them formed an endless lattice of power, and at the center of it all, forged directly over his heart, was the new core: a pristine white rose with eighteen petals.

Before Cain could continue his inspection, a vast presence stirred within the purple flames. The voice of the Samsara Lord resonated outward, immense and authoritative, its might flooding the chamber as the recorded message activated.

"Congratulations. You have awakened the Samsara Runic Set. This is a feat worthy of recognition and pride."

Though it was only a recorded voice, Cain detected a genuine note of respect within the Samsara Lord’s tone. Despite the pain still lingering in his limbs, he allowed himself a small smile. The Samsara Lord was the creator of the Neo-Demon Race; praise from such a being carried weight even for someone like him.

He quieted himself and listened.

"You have awakened the Samsara Runic Set. You may now burn ninety-nine percent of your life force, soul, or willpower without permanent damage or backlash. Such wounds will heal naturally with time, or swiftly through divine treasures."

Cain’s smile widened, bright and sharp. As long as even one percent of his life force, soul, or ego remained, he could restore himself to peak condition. It was beyond astonishing—it was liberation.

But the message continued.

"You have awakened the Samsara Immortal Body. You no longer possess vital points. As long as energy is available, you will recover instantly from damage. And as long as a single drop of blood remains—along with your soul and ego—you may return to life."

Shock rippled through Cain’s expression.

To be reborn from a single drop of blood... Such an ability bordered on myth. He understood instantly that the energy required to restore a complete body from so little would be astronomical, likely more than could be harvested from dozens of Primary Worlds. But even so, its potential was undeniable.

The recording pressed on.

"To understand the full range of the Samsara Runic Set and its powers, embed your soul into it, and the knowledge will reveal itself. Once again, congratulations. Continue your efforts. Perhaps one day, we shall meet in The Tower."

Cain’s eyes glowed faintly at those final words. After glimpsing the memories of the Root Ancestor, he knew The Tower that the Samsara Lord was referring to.

"So he is there," Cain murmured softly. "It makes sense. A place like that is worthy of harboring someone at his level."