Chapter 1964: Serpent of Infinity

Cain could not help but glance at his hand—not at the supernova phenomenon he had generated, but at the rune glowing faintly on the back of it.

"A phenomenon that embodies the majesty of life and death."

As he repeated the words that formed the very core of the trial, Cain’s eyes glowed with focus and determination. Slowly, he allowed the brilliant supernova phenomenon to fade. In its place, he simply triggered the Samsara Seal, summoning a small purple ember that flickered in his palm. With steady resolve, he extended his hand and sent the ember into the Diastole Gate.

Amon and Bael were utterly shocked by Cain’s actions. They barely had time to perceive the purple ember, and even then, they could not imagine how something so small could possibly represent the grandeur and majesty of life and death. To their eyes, it seemed almost absurd.

But before either of them could voice their doubts, the Diastole Gate erupted.

It glowed with such radiant brilliance that it blinded them, releasing a might so intense it shook the entire stronghold, a fortress larger than an Empyrean’s continent!

It took several moments before the eyes of the Archdeities adjusted, but even then, their awe and shock only deepened. The radiance did not fade quickly like before.

With the phenomena created by Bael and Amon, the light had lasted only a few seconds, spreading briefly over the surroundings. But the single ember of the Samsara Seal had transformed the entire gate into something else altogether—it blazed like a newborn sun, illuminating the whole dimension with impossible brilliance.

The brothers turned to Cain, eyes wide with disbelief, their faces etched with awe. They were truly stunned by what had just unfolded. The truth was that even Cain himself was surprised. He knew the Samsara Seal was extraordinary, but the radiance the gate displayed made one thing abundantly clear: the rune’s nature belonged to the Alpha–Omega Overgod Tier, perhaps even touching the very peak of the Third Realm.

For five long minutes the Diastole Gate continued to blaze, its light unwavering, majestic, and absolute. When at last the brilliance began to waver, silence fell. The trio glanced at one another, each wondering what would come next.

Then, at last, the ancient voice returned.

"Congratulations on surpassing the Diastole Gate Trial! The phenomenon you have evoked, embodying the majesty of life and death, stands at a level that matches our Ancestor himself! You have earned the grade—Serpent of Infinity!"

Cain’s lips curved into a wide smile. The grade of Serpent of Infinity was clearly something that stood beyond even the Ouroboros Grade.

Just as the trio began to wonder how many credits they would get, the voice echoed once more, announcing something unlike the rewards of the previous gates.

"You have gained access to the Sacred Sanctum of the Serpent of Infinity—the holy cultivation ground of the Ancestor and his bloodline. Your companions may access one of the sacred zones of the Inner Sanctum."

Credits were no longer of much use within the Fifth Ring, the very heart of the Ouroboros Cult. Here, only access to certain sacred areas held true value. Within those areas, treasures of immeasurable power undoubtedly awaited them.

The next moment, the Diastole Gate opened fully, its passage wide and unyielding. With sharp gazes and guarded minds, the trio stepped forward into the core of the cult.

The Fifth Ring of the Ouroboros Cult manifested before them as a boundless expanse where life and death intertwined endlessly. The environment itself embodied duality—garden and graveyard, paradise and underworld fused into one.

To the left, a colossal forest stretched endlessly. Its trees grew with branches of ivory bone, yet bloomed with radiant flowers of living blood. Each blossom pulsed with vitality even as the skeletal branches reminded them of decay.

To the right, a vast river flowed in two layers. Its surface shimmered with luminous water that glowed like moonlight, while beneath it ran a darker current, shadowy ichor carrying the essence of death. The two flows intertwined yet never merged, an eternal reflection of balance.

And right ahead stood a citadel of bone and crystal. Its spires reached into the void, gleaming with a strange, sacred light.

The air itself felt intoxicating. Every breath was like inhaling a powerful elixir that nourished both body and soul. It was a cultivator’s heaven, a place where progress came as naturally as breathing.

Yet none of them lowered their guard. Danger lurked as surely as opportunity. Whatever had triggered Cain’s senses back at the Fourth Gate could very well dwell here in this sacred land.

With caution, the trio advanced together through the Fifth Ring, taking in its wonders.

All around them were sacred cultivation zones, each radiating immense energy. Even those near the outer perimeter carried the weight of Peak Archdeities, enough to provide immense aid to any one of them. But as they ventured closer to the Inner Sanctum, the aura of these zones grew overwhelming.

Here were places that could empower even Alpha–Omega Overgods, their very essence infused with laws that resonated with creation and destruction alike.

There were many such sacred zones in the Inner Sanctum, but two stood above all the rest.

Amon’s eyes were drawn to a massive building. Floating above it were ancient inscriptions, symbols of death so profound that even a single glimpse nearly caused the Godslayer Human to black out. The sheer intensity of the deathly aura threatened to unravel his very spirit.

Bael, on the other hand, was entranced by a majestic waterfall. Its waters cascaded endlessly, carrying within them the core essence of life itself. The vitality within that current was so pure, so absolute, that Bael almost could not believe such a thing could exist.

Yet despite their awe, neither brother allowed themselves to be distracted for long. They stayed at Cain’s side.

Their journey through the Fifth Ring finally brought them to the greatest structure of all—a massive cathedral at the very heart of the stronghold. Its towers loomed impossibly high, radiating power so immense that even Amon and Bael felt as though they were standing at the threshold of a supreme god’s dwelling.

From within the cathedral, vast forces surged like tidal waves, flowing endlessly through the structure. It was clear that this place was the Sacred Sanctum, the ultimate treasure that the Diastole Gate had granted access only to Cain.