The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 355 Genetic Tournament (I)

Krane immediately noticed the tense atmosphere between Cain and the old man. Moving quickly, he positioned himself in front of Cain and bowed.

"Lord, I am thrilled to see you have emerged. The Crown Prince has been inquiring about you; we should inform him of your condition."

As soon as the Crown Prince's name was mentioned, everyone adopted a cautious demeanor towards Cain. Michael Goldsoul was among the Empire's most influential and powerful figures. Opposing him was a move only a fool would consider.

Even though they were all interested in Cain and how he remained inside the Tower of Stars for so long, no one was willing to offend the Crown Prince to satisfy their curiosity.

Cain perceived the shift in attitudes and simply nodded to Krane, signaling him to rise. He then proceeded to the teleportation formation. This time, no one dared to obstruct him.

Casting a final glance at the old man who had presumed to command him, Cain stepped into the teleportation formation, departing the area with Krane.

Whispers erupted among the bystanders, speculating about the young man's identity while also sending mocking glances toward the old man.

An unseemly expression appeared on the elder's face. He had tried to assert his dominance but only succeeded in making a fool of himself and might have drawn the animosity of a young genius.

Cain wasn't one to dwell on such trivialities and just stared at the old man before leaving to make sure he remembered the face of this one in case they crossed paths in the future.

Upon reaching the main plaza, Cain turned to Krane, who immediately briefed him on everything that had happened since he set foot inside the Tower of Stars.

While initially everything seemed unremarkable, Cain was taken aback to learn that the Golden Emperor had intervened, delaying the Genetic Tournament for an entire month.

Cain did not attempt to understand the motivations of someone atop the Godslayer Humankind Empire, so he just silently thanked the Golden Emperor.

"I need a place to rest."

Although Cain's body and soul were in good condition, his mind required relaxation. He could walk and talk without a problem, but there was immense pressure on his brain due to the ocean of knowledge he had been exposed to.

"The Crown Prince has lent us a villa for our stay until the Genetic Coder Tournament."

Krane had been proactive, securing a comfortable location for Cain.

After a moment of contemplation, Cain nodded in agreement. The Crown Prince had assisted him before, and lending a modest villa was minor compared to the privilege of entering the Three Towers of Adam.

The pair utilized another teleportation formation and soon found themselves within a great castle staffed with individuals ready to cater to their needs. However, Cain's only desire was rest. He promptly retreated to his quarters for a night of deep sleep.

Upon awakening, Cain's priority was to organize the knowledge and insights imprinted upon his soul by the Tower of Stars. Yet, another issue weighed on his mind.

"Apex, what's happening with my soul?"

Speaking solemnly to the System Spirit, Cain felt Apex would have the answers. Actually, his instincts suggested that Apex was the reason behind the strange behavior of his soul.

Apex remained silent briefly before responding, "I hesitated to tell you initially to avoid distraction and to ensure you didn't underestimate the importance of your soul force. However, the truth cannot be hidden any longer."

After uttering those words, the golden humanoid inside Cain's soul sea waved his hand, teleporting the Astral Blood Beast's Soul Core to the center of the dimension.

Cain's eyes widened as he observed a shining sphere enveloped in chains, radiating spiritual energy into his soul sea. His face turned white as he saw how a foreign soul force fused with his'.

Although his knowledge about the soul was limited, he understood the dangers of merging a different soul force with yours. In the best case, he would develop a split personality, and in the worst, a severe case of psychosis and schizophrenia.

However, after taking a moment to see things more clearly, Cain noticed how the new soul force was empty of any form of ego or will, which would avoid any problem.

Apex gave Cain a moment to adapt before explaining things.

"This is the condensed soul force of the Astral Blood Beast. The creature attempted to invade your soul. Still, I managed to harness the Absolute Life Form System's full power to contain it. Now, it's enhancing your soul. This is why your blood-type skill is so potent and how you endured the Tower of Stars for fifteen days."

A smile emerged on Cain's face. The soul, the essence of an individual, was notoriously challenging to enhance. Now, he not only had a direct source but also seemed to possess a defense against spiritual assaults.

"Hmph, brat, don't get cocky. I had to use the system's full power to protect you from the Astral Blood Beast's possession. If it were to happen again, who knows what might transpire."

Apex quickly discerned Cain's thoughts and promptly countered them. He didn't want the young man to become complacent or undervalue the importance of mental defenses, which is why he had stretched the truth about the difficulty of managing the Astral Blood Beast.

If Apex were to say that it took less than a second to take care of the Astral Blood Beast's soul invasion, Cain might unconsciously neglect the importance of his soul defenses. After all, why would he need to worry if there was an unshakable shield protecting his soul?

Cain's expression darkened, and he immediately nodded in understanding. The soul was both precious and fragile and demanded constant vigilance, so he must never lower his guard.

After grasping the essence behind the recent alterations, Cain could finally concentrate on his cultivation and the experiences in the Tower of Stars.

"Realm of Stellar Synthesis."

His Sonic Blade Fusion Cultivation Technique referenced this realm, but only after navigating the Tower of Stars did he begin to fathom a fraction of it.

'A cultivator first comprehends the birth and demise of stars, the primal architects of existence. Like colossal nuclear reactors, stars undergo nuclear fusion at their cores. This fusion of lighter elements, mainly hydrogen and helium, begets heavier elements. Understanding stellar nucleosynthesis aids a cultivator in grasping the elemental creation process.'

Following hours of meditation, this was the epiphany Cain achieved. He only had to close his eyes to recall the sensation of merging with a meteor, becoming a supernova, and initiating the birth of new stars.

While this knowledge would be instrumental in his future cultivation, it wouldn't enhance Cain's current battle power.

The Realm of Stellar Synthesis comprised the Understanding Stage and the Harnessing Stage. Cain had just scratched the surface of Understanding, and even if he could consolidate that knowledge, his current physique was not prepared to wield that power.

It was akin to owning a computer equipped with state-of-the-art software but restrained by hardware that couldn't fully showcase its capabilities.

'After achieving the Wave King Rank, my body's cellular composition will be capable of harnessing the Realm of Stellar Synthesis's power. Until then, my focus during the Wave Champion Rank is to reinforce my foundation as robustly as possible.

If everything goes well, I might reach the Harnessing Stage in the Early Wave King Rank.'

Pondering his next move, Cain dispatched a message to Krane.

"Secure ten tons of Golden Level Metals."

Cain's Blood Rebirth was reaching the peak of the Golden Stage. Once that happened, he could evolve his Biometal Herculean Technique to the golden level, attaining a body as resilient as a Golden Wave Artifact.

"Immediately, Lord." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

Krane responded instantly, allowing Cain to resume his tasks. He procured a high-quality wave crystal, the blood apple, and the starry gem containing knowledge on Genetic Coding.

The Genetic Coder Tournament would commence in fewer than twenty days, and he was ready to display the full might of his abilities.

Cain divided his focus into three areas: honing his cultivation foundation, fortifying his body, and deepening his insights into Genetic Coding.

Twenty days might appear extensive, but for Cain, they passed in a flash. Before he knew it, the Genetic Coder Tournament was upon them. Adorning his noble attire, he exited the villa with Krane.

The pair arrived at the main plaza and used the teleportation formation to access the Genetic Coding Association's grounds, where the tournament would be held.

Unlike his initial appearance, Cain's presence now captivated many young Genetic Coders. His reputation had burgeoned, especially within the Genetic Coder Association. He was the first Honorary Grandmaster of the association in ages, all the more remarkable since he was not even seventeen.

Cain didn't pay much attention and simply walked toward the teleportation formation that transported him and Krane into the Genetic Evolution Cube. As soon as the duo appeared, they noticed that the cube's center now boasted a grand platform with improved Genetic Chambers.