Chapter 1734: Crimsonsky Continent

The Crimsonsky Continent was one of the largest landmasses in the entire Everstrife Empyrean World, and undoubtedly one of the most brutal. True to its name, the skies above the continent were perpetually stained with hues of crimson—like blood smeared across the heavens, as if the firmament itself had wept for the endless violence beneath.

Unlike most continents, where Lord-Tier organizations struggled for dominance while holding back the full extent of their might, the Crimsonsky Continent was a realm where all caution was abandoned.

Clashes between Prima Deities were a common occurrence, and no one was spared from the tide of bloodshed. This wasn’t due to disorganization or lawlessness—it was intentional. The ArchDeity who ruled over this land encouraged such chaos, actively instigating conflict for reasons known only to him.

He never gave a clear explanation, and none of the Prima Deities dared to ask. In the absence of truth, rumors grew like wildfire. Some whispered of a grand experiment. Others believed the ArchDeity fed on war itself. None could say for sure.

On the continent’s periphery stood a vast, storm-wreathed city, where every building constantly discharged arcs of lightning. This was the headquarters of the Fiend Lightning Heart Sect, a demonic organization whose path to power was paved with slaughter and soul consumption. Here, strength was cultivated through the devouring of others—spirit, flesh, and all.

The sect’s leader was a young-looking man named Armand. He had short black hair, a devilish charm, and a beauty that masked his brutality. Of course, “young” was relative—Armand had lived for over eight hundred thousand years.

At the heart of the sect, Armand stood inside a massive cauldron. Surrounding him were hundreds of thousands of corrupted souls, writhing and screaming, slowly consumed by the lightning surging from his body. That energy nurtured both his Inner Universe and his soul, bringing him closer to a breakthrough.

A wide, satisfied smile spread across his face.

“Soon, I’ll reach the Middle Prima Deity Rank—and before even hitting the million-year mark. That means my chances of reaching Peak Rank… or even ArchDeity… are real.”

But just as his thoughts drifted toward grandeur and ascension, a hand appeared from nowhere, grabbing him by the neck and hoisting him into the air like a rag doll.

Armand’s eyes widened in pure shock and terror. He hadn’t sensed the attacker at all—not a ripple of energy, not a shadow of intent. And yet he was already being choked.

Even in the grip of horror, he wasn’t about to submit. He began to gather the full might of his cultivation to retaliate.

But then… the enemy’s right eye glowed.

In the blink of an eye, Armand’s world changed.

Everything around him shifted into a realm of black and white, where a dark moon loomed overhead like the eye of an ancient god. Time slowed. Pain surged. Mental clarity shattered. Before he could even scream, his ego collapsed beneath the weight of the psychic onslaught.

When the vision ended, Armand’s eyes were empty, the light of will and resistance utterly gone.

Cain showed no mercy.

With practiced efficiency, he ripped out Armand’s Inner Universe and fed it directly to the World Tree, fueling its growth. Then, he summoned the Scarlet Throne, and with a single wave, he devoured the man’s soul, mind, and ego—claiming all that Armand had been.

Just before the gates of the throne closed, Cain turned his attention to the cauldron. With another gesture, he pulled in the corrupted souls that had surrounded Armand.

Unlike the Prima Deity, these ordinary souls weren’t forced into perpetual torment. Cain allowed them to assimilate peacefully into the throne’s essence, their consciousness fading into silence.

With the task complete, Cain’s eyes began to glow as he infused his Ego Wave into Armand’s corpse. The dead body stirred. Its eyes flickered with faint life.

Even in the Crimsonsky Continent—where death and killing were as common as breathing—Cain saw no reason to draw unnecessary attention. He was, after all, hiding from an ArchDeity. By preserving Armand’s appearance, no suspicions would be raised.

With the illusion complete, Cain vanished and returned to the Second Level of the Samsara Arsenal Module.

Within the module, he inhaled deeply, letting the Soul Enlightenment Mist enter his lungs and sharpen his mind. Then, without delay, he turned his focus to the Law of Lightning.

Three days passed.

By the end of the third day, Cain’s eyes opened, filled with realization.

He had found the Chaos before the Law of Lightning, and from that primal force, he created a new Chaos Seed.

“Lightning is not just destruction,” Cain whispered. “It is a refiner, a shaper of divine metals, an awakener of dormant power. It tempers the weak and strengthens the strong.”

As he spoke, the insight coalesced, and his body trembled with the resonance of realization.

“Proto-Law of Thunderforged Vessel.”

An ocean of energy surged from his Inner World, crystallizing into a fifth Proto Law. The Proto Law infused every aspect of his being—his Inner World, energy pools, flesh, and blood. His muscles grew stronger, denser, more refined. His bones buzzed with kinetic potential.

A thrilled, wicked smile curved Cain’s lips.

He now possessed all five elemental Proto Laws necessary to complete the Worldcell Ascension Method—and more importantly, to shield his existence from the gaze of Divine Calamity.

With no time to waste, Cain returned to the cultivation abode hidden within the Fiend Lightning Heart Sect. One final glance at the resurrected corpse of Armand assured him that no suspicions would be raised.

Then, he left.

Without alerting a single soul, he exited the sect’s stronghold and made his way toward a massive volcanic mountain range near the continent’s southern shore.

Cain stood still for a moment, gazing at the jagged mountains and the thick plumes of smoke that rose from the chasms. The sky above was an eerie crimson, the earth beneath him scorched black, and the ocean in the distance shimmered with strange bioluminescent hues.

He breathed in the heat, the ash, the power.

Then, with a wave of his hand, Lord of Conquest Leviathan manifested beside him, the draconic-serpent Alter-Ego coiling through the sky like a storm.

Its enormous maw opened.

And from it, a person fell to the ground.