Chapter 277 - Decisions

In this brief moment of rest, Cain took a slight breath. 

His mind rapidly analyzed, 'My overall Soul reserve capacity is at 90%. But just using 70% of this for even just a short breath considerably drained me. I was around 95% before. Like this, I should be able to go on for many rounds as long as I end all rounds very quickly.'

Whether it was Soul energy, Qi or Divine Qi, Spirit energy, Source Law essence, or even Astral energy, all forms of energies have a reserve capacity. 

This would be the energy stamina anyone has when engaging in battle. 

It was a completely different concept from one's bodily stamina. 

As long one's energies reserve capacity hasn't reached absolute zero, they would be able to erupt with some form of strength. 

Even the highest God Galaxies experts followed this standard. 

The limit of reserved capacity varies from person to person. 

Some reserved capacities are far more massive than others, giving them amply more energy to use than others. 

Some people won't be able to erupt with their full strength when their reserve capacity is lowered beyond a certain threshold.

While others could use all of their reserve capacity to erupt with an attack far beyond their normal maximum limit. 

For Cain, he realized long ago he had a unique advantage in this field.

That is, he's able to erupt with 100% full strength no matter his reserved capacity! 

Of course, the lower his reserves capacity is, the greater the drain would be when using 100% full strength. Furthermore, if he accumulates heavy, severe injuries, his combat prowess would considerably fall.

But the fact remains that Cain could unleash a powerful attack at the most unsuspecting moments. 

The reason why? 

Cain wasn't entirely sure. In fact, his whole reserves capacity function is a great mystery to him.

To amplify his combat strength beyond his normal standard, he has a Draconic Lightning aura, the fusion of Qi, Spirit, and Astral energies, his Soul Form, and finally, the Chaos Spirit Force. 

Just any one of these amplifications alone would be a significant drain to even an average genius's reserved capacity. 

Combing them together would be a monstrous drain!

However, Cain experienced several oddities in this field. 

If he were to use any of these amplifications techniques alone, the drain on his reserves capacity would be almost negligible. 

Even two forms of amplification aren't worth mentioning to Cain. 

Only when he fuses three and up does he experience a massive drain. But his massive reserves capacity can still prolong him to fight a lengthy amount of time.

Of course, this was all taking into account that Cain wasn't using an incredibly powerful attack. 

Like the attack he used on the Law Phantom, he is very susceptible to easily draining his reserves capacity at rapid degrees.

Still, the fact remains that the amplification to his combat prowess at low reserves capacity cost is a huge advantage! 

Cain could only vaguely guess this has to do with the Chaotic Emerald fused within his Soul's Core.

After all, he could grasp 20% of Chaos energy with very minimal drain on his Soul energy reserves capacity. 

By this, Cain assumed that the Chaotic Emerald continually evolved his overall reserves capacity, enhancing them to become deep beyond any normal comprehension.

No matter the reason, Cain had already had a picture in his mind of how to handle his proceeding fights. 

All of his thoughts had flashed by within a moment. 

The next moment, he opened his palms, catching two sun Crystal beads and two Crystal Law Cores this time. 

Cain brightly smiles, recognizing that his rewards will naturally increase with the added difficulty of each round. 

Like this, Cain continued to barrel through the Nightmare Realm rounds without any suspense.

His Chaos Spirit Force was a frightening combination that Heavenly energy simply wasn't able to counter. 

He crushed right through the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds.

And it was at the ninth round something strange occurred. 

Cain focused his gaze as three black mass swirls of Heavenly energy gathered before him. 

These swirls of black Heavenly energy took on the appearance of portals that was utterly transparent.

In one of the portals was an excellent sum of sun Crystal beads and Crystal Law Cores. Beyond the resources was the outside world leading to the previous massive mountain range.

In another portal were now three Law phantom. These Law phantoms all exuded far stronger auras than anything Cain faced previously. 

And for the final portal, there was only one young handsome youth standing. 

He had similarly just got done with his round and was contemplating his following choices in front of the black portals. 

Cain slightly curled his brows. "If memory serves right, these are the three choices. The resources will take me back outside, and I will be marked by the Heavenly energy, which will restrict me from coming back here. The second portal is just stronger Law phantoms. And the last one…defeating or killing another genius."

At the end of his sentence, a cold light shined within Cain's eyes. His lips subconsciously curled as killing intent began to emerge from the depths of his Martial Heart.

The Nightmare Realm is indeed regarded as a dangerous quasi-mystic realm because of the Law Phantoms. 

But another precedent danger is the other challengers! 

When reaching the 10th and beyond, each challenger will occasionally get the choice to face another challenger.

Depending on how the battle goes, two outcomes can occur. 

One is that one of the challengers admits defeat and gets permanently sent out of the Nightmare Realm.

When this happens, the winner will receive double the rewards they would have received on that round. 

The second outcome has a lower chance of happening but was far crueler and far more rewarding.

This would be the case where a challenger can actually kill their enemy before they admit defeat! 

If this were to happen, their resource rewards would be enhanced by several degrees. They could also directly obtain their enemies Martial's comprehension!

The enemy Soul's Core will perfectly fuse into the winners Spiritual Sea or the Mental Psyche in Cain's case. 

This method could directly raise one's attainment level in just seconds! It was vastly superior than taking the time to absorb a Crystal Law Core. 

However, rarely would one choose the second method or even fight another challenger in general.

Firstly, for the average genius, it would be a far greater task to defeat another challenger than just a Law Phantom. 

No matter how advanced a Law Phantom is, its Spiritual awareness would always be lower than that of a full-fledged being. 

Furthermore, one must take into consideration the backing of every challenger. 

For smaller scale or second-rate forces, this was a massive issue. 

At their level, their forces all have an equal amount of strength. Casually offending a genius just for minimal gains wouldn't be a wise move for any one of them. 

The only people it was a non-issue for would be Holy Lands on the level of the Ancient Phoenix Sect.

Only they can so casually offend any smaller-scale force without any repercussions. The strength disparity was simply far too extreme to make any waves.

Although, that isn't to say the Ancient Phoenix Sect's genius can reign supreme. They still need to deal with Law Phantoms and consider whether or not they can even beat another challenger in the first place.

After all, no matter how great of a genus they are on the outside, it means little here where everyone is on an even playing field. 

Moreover, the Ancient Phoenix Holy Lands can't causally afford to offend high mid-tier Holy Lands like the Thunderous Sword Sect. 

There wasn't any need to mention how worthless it would be to go against the Huang Dragons. That would only invite them with unnecessary troubles. 

Cain as well had to take these issues into account.

But compared to other challengers, his advantages were far too superior. 

His combat strength can be directly amplified without any issues. And his backing is just faintly superior to the Ancient Phoenix Holy Lands!

As long as he doesn't encounter them or a Holy Land like the Thunderous Sword Sect, Cain had full free reign. 

Thus, when Cain analyzed this challenger, his killing intent brewed like an approaching lightning storm.

'Good thing I study who will be coming here. That robe…he is from the Iron Eagle Sect. They have a unique cultivation manual that follows the Transformation Law path. They are all only humans but can use the power of a Heavenly Rank Bloodline of a Heavenly Eagle beast. Individually, they're certainly not weak. But, it is only your bad luck that you're my option.'

Cain felt zero qualms or moral disturbance over wanting to kill another challenger. Even during the first moments of his journey, he was prepared to kill for his own goals. 

His view on life was pragmatic in general, sometimes bordering on nihilistic. 

And since he returned home, his pragmatic life views were only reinforced by the Huang Dragons' domineering ways. 

One of their domineering ways includes killing when the advantages are clear, and the benefits are great! It is just one of the many ways they rose to become a high-tier Holy Land despite a severe lack of foundation.

Cain unhesitatingly chose the challenger portal with a confident pep in his step. 

The power of space twisted, pulling him towards the other challenger's area. 

The next moment, Cain was within the same area, only dozens of meters apart from the handsome youth.

"Hm?" The young handsome suddenly curled his brows. As right in front of him, the portals had mysteriously vanished. 

And at the same time, he detected a presence suddenly appearing in his area.

'Tch, just who the hell?' The youth promptly became irritable. 

He was Miao Yu, a genius from the Iron Eagle Sect. They are a low-tier Holy Land but still not geniuses on his level can so causally mess with!

Miao Yu confidently snapped back around, wondering just who was the fool that was daring to challenge him. He was fully ready to show his might of a genius. His expression twisted into ruthless disdain.

However, when Miao Yu saw the handsome youth dozens of meters behind him, he completely froze. 

His eyes widen to unparalleled sizes, his pupils shrinking to needle sizes. His throat nearly began to spasm.

The clothes this youth wore could be recognized from miles away. It was practically fear in most of the Thunderous Collision Realm! 

"Sir-Sir Huang Dragon! What an unexpected surprise."

Miao Yu could barely utter his words without sounding hoarse. He couldn't identify which of the Royal descendent Cain was, but this was an existence he couldn't dare to offend.

All he could do was put on a polite smile even when greeting Cain's indifferent face. 

Attempting to press on his momentum, Miao Yu tried to say, "I hope Sir Cain doesn't mind letting me off. I-"

'Swish!' 

Without waiting for his words to finish, Cain already unleashed his Chaos Spirit Force, instantly blasting out a Law essence Sword! 

The Law essence Sword nearly broke the barrier of sound, practically flashing in front of Miao Yu's face like a ghost!