Cain and Meylin adopted solemn expressions as they gazed at the statue of the Red King floating high in the vision of the Enlightened One's memory. Though formed of stone, the figure radiated such oppressive might that it seemed to transcend comprehension itself. A being who had once stood above cosmic storms, who had bent the laws of cause and effect to his will, and who could pierce into the flow of the universe at a truly granular level.

They could not pierce his mystery. His form remained veiled, a mask obscuring his face, a silence cloaking his presence. And yet one truth struck both of them like lightning—the Red King held the secrets to unlocking the true depth of the Flow.

Cain's voice broke the heavy stillness, taut with hunger and urgency. "How long until the realm opens again?"

The Enlightened One dispersed the soul-forged vision with a wave, the image dissolving into golden light before vanishing. A complicated expression appeared on his face as he turned to Cain. "The last time the Sacred Dimension opened was four hundred and twenty-three thousand million years ago."

Cain and Meylin's eyes twitched.

They already knew the cycle: the Sacred Dimension manifested only once every five hundred million years. By that measure, the next opening would be seventy-seven thousand million years away.

They were not even three centuries old. That number was so incomprehensible that it was laughable. Waiting was impossible. By the time the next opening arrived, they would have already evolved their cultivation to a point where whatever lay inside the realm might not even be of help anymore.

Forcing their way inside? Even less likely. From the aura Cain had glimpsed in the Enlightened One's memory, even Alpha-Omega Overgods might fail to breach such a place. Perhaps the Demon King could do it, but with the Crimson World drowning in multidimensional war, such help would never come.

Disappointment weighed on them both like lead.

But just as failure threatened to settle in, the Enlightened One's smile widened. "Fortunately for the three of us," he said softly, "the Sacred Dimension is opening ahead of schedule."

Cain's head snapped up, eyes blazing with sudden fire. Meylin leaned forward as well, her soul force trembling with anticipation.

Cain's voice cracked with restrained eagerness. "Explain."

The Enlightened One folded his hands behind his back as he carried on with a wide smile. "I have been monitoring the Sacred Dimension for some time. The signs have been growing clearer. Its rhythms have shifted. By my calculations, it will open again in a little more than two years."

Thrill surged through Cain, but a shadow of unease flickered behind his eyes. His expression turned cautious. "Do you know why the sudden change? A place bound by cosmic law should not deviate so easily."

The Enlightened One remains silent for a moment before shaking his head. "The principles governing the Sacred Dimension of the Red King are beyond my understanding. Perhaps the clash between the Ancient One and the Demon King has disrupted the universe's frequencies. Perhaps something older still. Whatever the cause, it works in our favor."

Cain and Meylin exchanged a silent glance before nodding. The Crimson World was already shaken by countless upheavals—wars, clashes of ideologies, the awakening of forgotten powers. It was not impossible that such turbulence had altered the Sacred Realm's cycle.

The Enlightened One continued. "I intend to enter when it opens, to seek deeper truths. If you wish, you may accompany me. But be warned—the realm will not welcome only us. Others will march into its heart. Some may come seeking enlightenment. Others will come for conquest. And many will come to kill."

Excitement in Cain's gaze sharpened into cold focus. Danger was expected. A Sacred Dimension of such a level guarded treasures beyond measure, legacies left behind by the Red King himself. The Ancient One's forces would never allow allies of the Demon King to seize such a prize uncontested.

But Cain was not afraid.

Battles against the powerful were not a burden to him—they were fuel. Every enemy was a stepping stone, every clash a forge to temper his blade sharper. The thought of walking into a crucible filled with mighty adversaries only set his blood alight.

The Enlightened One saw that burning determination and nooked. Though he pursued peace and harmony, he was no fool. He knew the world they lived in. When war could not be avoided, it had to be faced with total resolve.

No half measures.

"I have already prepared a portal," he said, his tone practical. "It leads directly into the Third Realm, where the Sacred Dimension lies hidden. The portal will activate when the barrier between realms weakens, in roughly eight months."

Cain's chest rumbled with restrained laughter. Meylin's lips curved into a smile. Every step had already been planned. All they had to do was follow—and seize what awaited within.

But both of them had lived too long, fought too many battles, to believe such generosity came without price. Even if the Enlightened One was on their side, why would he go so far for them?

They didn't need to voice their doubts. The Enlightened One's perception cut into their hearts with ease.

"I can see your suspicion," he said with quiet honesty. "You wonder why I offer so much help. The reason is simple: mutual growth." Then he turned to the Scarlet King. "Your approach to the Flow is unlike mine. If I walk into the Sacred Dimension alongside you, perhaps your insights will allow me to walk further than in my previous journeys."

Cain and Meylin exchanged another look.

It made sense. The Enlightened One's strength was undeniable and had an Eternal Kingdom, so he was immortal, but even he sought advancement. In the eyes of those at the peak, eternity was not enough without growth. To stagnate was death.

And what better way to break through than by walking beside those whose paths twisted differently, whose perceptions pierced angles your own could not?

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