Defiance of the Fall

This was something he had already decided on earlier . He wouldn’t start slaughtering people indiscriminately in pursuit of power , and he would stop the moment the fight was over . Besides , he had already killed the leader and his two generals , and those three alone were worth far more Cosmic Energy compared to the remaining army combined .

The whole town was completely desolate in less than ten minutes , and the usual process of integrating the area into a part of Port Atwood began . A group of professionals from Port Atwood immediately streamed out of the Teleportation Array less than 30 minutes after it was built . His people had become experts at quickly and efficiently integrating conquered incursions , from emancipating slaves to sniffing out all valuables in the area .

Zac sat down , as usual , to go over the battle and recuperate . He didn’t have any major gains from the battle just as he expected , but it did allow him to become slightly more accustomed to his improved Dao and skills , including the Dao of Sharpness he didn't really get to showcase against the Golems .

The power of his Seed of Sharpness was amazing by this point , and his very presence was dangerous to people who had yet Evolved . Small cuts would appear on their bodies , quickly accumulating to the point that they started to get seriously hurt . Even the weaker of the evolved were slightly affected by the Dao Field , and while he wasn’t able to draw blood it looked like their concentration was impacted by the constant scratching of invisible blades .

Zac himself only waited out the 8-hour time limit while resting , and pondering on the results of the battle . The most interesting thing was the upgraded version of Profane Seal] . The additional structures made him look forward to how the skill would look when he reached the peak . Would it create a whole fortress with an impenetrable wall?

The only unfortunate aspect of the skill was that he wasn't able to infuse it with a Dao , which caused the chain's effect on strong opponents to be pretty limited . The Demon Lord had directly rebuffed them with a fiery aura , and the Cyborg simply disintegrated them with its aura . Perhaps the chains would have lasted longer if he could have infused them with the Dao of Hardness .

Perhaps the skill was the same as Deforestation] . It was a skill given by an Epic class , and maybe those had higher requirements on the Dao to be used , and perhaps he was even expected to have formed a Fragment from Sanctuary and Hardness by this point if going by the class archetype . But he was dragged out of his musings before reaching a conclusion as Verana walked toward him .

Your strength is getting pretty shocking , - Verana said as she sat down next to him . - I am starting to wonder if our presence is even needed when you take down these Incursions . You are becoming an army unto your own . -

I still need people to stabilize the situation outside the cage , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - It seems the seal is far weaker from the outside . Besides , it’s good training for the future elites of Port Atwood . -

Still , it makes me expectant for the future . It is not often you get to see the ascent of a true powerhouse , - Verana sighed .

Zac’s initially smiled , but suddenly looked over at the Beast Master with suspicion .

Okay , what do you want? - Zac asked .

Tylia told me about the Beast Crystals after we closed the Golem Incursion , - Verana said with a roll of her eyes as she sat down in front of him .

I’m sorry , there’s only so many in my hands , - Zac said . - And we have quite a few beasts in Port Atwood as well . -

I am guessing you have gotten your hands on a mine though , - Verana said . - More crystals will grow . -

Zac didn’t deny that , as it was pretty obvious he wouldn’t just find one high-grade Beast Crystal randomly lying in a corner of the Underworld .

You should know that we never planned on staying on your planet for a hundred years , but here we are . Our reserves will not last that long . We’d like to buy a share in the mine itself to secure supply , - the Tal-Eladar said , finally putting the cards on the table .

It’s not impossible , - Zac slowly said . - But do you even have the Nexus Coins for such a transaction? -

Not yet , but I hope you’ll remember your words in a year or two , - Verana smiled as she stood up .

Zac sighed when he realized that she wasn’t interested in paying up now , but rather only wanted to sound out the possibility . It was the better option of her , of course , since it wouldn’t do her much good to spend all her current wealth on a completely stripped mine .

He didn’t know how quickly Beast Crystals grew , but he couldn’t imagine it was too fast . It would probably take years before new low-grade crystals sprouted . But he needed the money now , so he had no choice but to be a bit shameless .

A few years is so long , and my memory isn’t what it once was , - Zac coughed as he stood up .

Verana stopped in her tracks and looked back at him with an even stare .

I guess you have some means to strengthen your memory , no? Perhaps if I paid a bit up-front? - she said with a flat tone , and Zac could feel his ears heating up a bit . - How much? -

Oh , not much . One billion would do , - Zac said with a smile .

A BILLION?! - Verana roared , making Lulu who was sleeping in her arms jump up in fright . - ARE YOU CRAZY? -

The two entered a fierce negotiation from there , but it was clear that Verana really needed the crystals . Unfortunately , she was truly unable to fork out so much money , but Zac walked away with another 500 million Nexus Coins in the end , with the additional promise that the Tal-Eladar would assist in teaching Beast Mastery at the Atwood Academy .

Those nexus coins were likely a large part of the combined wealth the Tal-Eladar had scrounged up in the Underworld , but they fell into the hands of Zac in the end . It wasn't as much as his other sources of Nexus Coins , but it would give him a bit more breathing room when he visited the Tower of Eternity .

Zac returned to Port Atwood after having completed his mission and changed back to his human form after he arrived at his compound . He didn't reach level 74 , but he felt he was over half-way there . He would likely just need to close two or three more Incursions to reach level 75 .

Kenzie was actually in her courtyard when Zac looked for her , and her eyes were peeled at an extremely intricate blueprint .

What are you doing? - Zac asked with interest as he walked over .

He immediately saw the blueprint was of the house she was building in the academy , but there were a ton of fractals and lines that Zac couldn't understand at all .

Jeeves and I are looking over the schematic , to make sure we don't miss anything , - Kenzie said , her eyes a bit bloodshot .

Are you ok? - Zac asked with some worry . - It's okay to take a breather and rest . It will help you avoid mistakes as well . -

Jeeves doesn't make mistakes even when I'm tired , - Kenzie smiled . - Besides , everyone is pushing themselves to save our planet . I can't laze about . -

So how's it going? - Zac asked , knowing he wouldn't be able to get her to rest .

It's pretty much done , - Kenzie said . - I will just need a day of testing the arrays and the energy flows to make sure no one made a mistake while setting everything up . -

One day? - Zac said , his eyes lighting up . - That's great . -

Have you decided on who will join us? -

Not completely , - Zac admitted . - Only the inner layer . How many do you think would be able to sit in the outer layers? -

I think we could fit 30 people or so? If I make the area any larger I can't reliably contain the energies , - Kenzie said after thinking it over .

Can you ask Alyn , Joanna , and Ilvere to nominate 9 people each? I also want to offer spots to Ryan , Lyla , and Ibtep if we can reach him . -

The insectoid had joined Nonet and was currently fighting the Undead Empire along with the Zhix hordes . The communications were sporadic , but he knew that they were still alive two weeks ago at least , and that hive Kundevi was part of a roving squad that had split off from the main Zhix army to hunt the smaller hordes .

That , unfortunately , meant that Zac currently had no means to contact him , and he also couldn't hold up the activation of the funnel for them . It would be up to fate if they could join .

What about Thea and the others? - Kenzie asked . - Shouldn't we invite them too? -

. . . No , - Zac finally said . - I want to use this opportunity solely for people of Port Atwood . That means that Verana and the Tal-Eladar won't join either . -

It took a lot of deliberation , but Zac had eventually arrived at the conscious decision to not invite anyone that wasn’t part of his force . That included both Billy and Thea who he trusted , but who were ultimately allies in charge of their own forces . The same went for Verana . She was a trading partner , not an actual member of Port Atwood . The Tal-Eladar had been helpful lately , but it was essentially a business transaction since they gained something every time they joined him in battle .

Keeping it all for themselves might be selfish , but Zac and Ogras had risked their lives for the opportunity and they wanted to keep all the benefits for themselves . Truthfully , if they could keep all the Origin Dao for just the two of them , they would probably have done so since that would have the greatest impact in the fight against the invaders and the Dominators .

But since that was impossible they could only use the spillover to create more powerhouses in Port Atwood . Kenzie didn't look too pleased about his decision , but she didn't contradict him in the end .

I will enter meditation for a day to solidify my Dao , - Zac said as he stood up to leave . - I'll see you tomorrow . -

Zac did just what he said he would do and entered his courtyard . His goal for tomorrow was to finally form a Dao Fragment , and he hoped to increase his chances of succeeding if he could find a direction to take the first step . He closed off all outside interference before he took out Verun's Bite] . His eyes wandered over the axe over and over , trying to glean any type of truth or inspiration from its form or by how it felt in his hands .

Just what was the Dao of the Axe?

Chapter 375 - Free Lunch

It was 4 pm the next day when the crystal in Zac’s lap vibrated , indicating that his sister or Ogras was trying to contact him .

Everything is ready , - Kenzie’s voice emerged from the crystal after he picked it up . - We couldn’t get a hold of Ibtep , but everyone else is here . -

Ask Alyn if she wants to try . I’m on my way , - Zac said as he stood up . - Can you bring the prayer mat from the cave? -

It's already here . -

Zac had spent the better part of a day picturing the Dao of the Axe , or at least the part of the Dao that represented his path . He still did not know if his conclusions were correct , but he was simply out of time and would have to roll the dice .

He walked over to the Academy in quick steps and found that everyone apart from Ogras was waiting outside . There were also 50 Demon Soldiers and 30 Valkyries who stood ready to guard the structure against any interruptions . Alyn stood there as well , though he was not sure if it was because she was there to oversee the event or to join it .

Alyn was the back-up he decided to fill Ibtep’s spot in case he couldn’t be reached . She was not really a core part of his fighting force , but she had contributed a lot to Port Atwood in her own way . He also thought that if Alyn’s accomplishments in the Dao increased , then she would also be able to teach the students more efficiently .

Finally we’re doing this , - Ogras’ voice drifted over , but the usually lazy tone contained an undeniable hint of excitement this time .

The demon sported a new small scar on his left cheek , but other than that he seemed fine even though he had fought an undead general the other day .

Let’s hope we got this right , otherwise this will turn into a tragedy , - Zac wryly smiled as he looked across the people who would participate .

All of them belonged to the absolute peak of Port Atwood’s forces . The only exception was a motley mix of youngsters who looked a bit nervous . It was the students that Alyn had recommended , seedlings with potential to become powerhouses under his banner .

If something happened to all of them , including himself , then both Port Atwood and Earth was finished .

So maudlin , - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes . - It’s just a bunch of Origin Dao , what can go wrong? -

Famous last words , - Zac snorted , though he felt the demon had a point .

Let’s head inside and I will explain things , - Zac said as he looked over the group before entering the circular building .

Zac only took a few steps before he froze for a second , looking with some shock at what his sister had created . The walls were covered in a dense pattern of inscriptions , reaching pretty much from floor to ceiling . Even the stone floor and ceiling contained inscribed lines that went in circles around the outer layer he stood in .

Kenzie truly hadn’t been slacking off .

The group was led into the central chamber where the first group would meditate on the Dao when the Dao funnel was cracked open .

The Dao funnel was placed on an altar in the middle of the room , and the altar itself was covered in fractals as well . According to Kenzie the platform had the same effect as the spatial disturbance arrays he had used to block out the usage of teleporters . It was likely that it was these kinds of altars , albeit far more advanced versions , the Undead Empire used to block out the teleporters in the area surrounding his forces .

Whether such a thing would be needed or not wasn’t sure , but Kenzie added it as a precaution . They simply knew too little about Origin Dao , and Brazla hadn’t been helpful no matter how much Kenzie had begged or cajoled .

Their best guess was that Origin Dao was a mysterious energy that existed in the air around them , just like Cosmic Energy , but that it was impossible for people at their level to detect . It seeped into their souls from exposure , and absorbing the Origin Dao strengthened people’s connection to the Dao .

Kenzie was afraid that the energy would dissipate too quickly , perhaps through leaving into other planes of existence . So she had prepared an array to seal space itself , in addition to the arrays that would hopefully keep the Origin Dao consigned to the room they were in .

The inner chamber wasn’t actually sealed off , but it rather had an open layout with eight vaulted arches that provided vision to those who would sit outside . Even the inner chamber was separated into two rows , meaning that the group would be split into three priorities .

The innermost row was just two seats , one on each side of the altar . Just behind the seats was a line of fractals forming a circle around the seats and the altar , along with two small glass cylinders covered in fractals . Each of the glass pillars was roughly half a meter high and placed next to the two seats . Finally there were four large fractals on the floor tiles , one on each side of the innermost seats .

Crack any of those pillars and all the restrictive arrays and the altar will be destroyed immediately , which would hopefully let the Origin Dao dissipate quickly , - Kenzie explained when she saw Zac’s gaze . - It’s like a panic button . -

What if I only want to release the Origin Dao toward the next layer? - Zac asked .

See the fractals that are placed next to your seats? - Kenzie asked . - They are shortcuts to the energy pathways that feed Cosmic Energy to the two sealing arrays . If you disrupt the pathway the array will lose its power in a second or two , allowing the Origin Dao to spread . It doesn't matter what order you crush them , so just destroy one to open up the second layer , and two to open up the third . -

So just punch the tile or something? - Zac asked , receiving a nod in confirmation .

Zac asked a few more questions about the details of the arrays before he turned toward the group still waiting behind them . Even the demons were wide-eyed as they looked around , clearly confused and slightly apprehensive about the dense inscriptions covering almost every surface around them .

I know that most of you don’t know why you have been summoned here , - Zac said , drawing everyone’s attention . - It’s because Ogras and I are ready to present you with a unique opportunity to become stronger . -

No one would say no to a power-up , and people’s eyes lit up in anticipation . Only a few of the more experienced demons kept their cool demeanor , clearly understanding that nothing came for free or without risks . They immediately understood from the building they stood in that this wasn't a simple bestowment of some treasures .

You should all know about Salvation and his deeds by now , - Zac started to explain . - The Integration turned him insane , and he killed hundreds of thousands of people , turning them into puppets . Ogras and I killed him after an intense fight . -

What you don’t know is that Salvation had a mysterious treasure on his body , something that he had stolen from the Inheritance site of the Great Redeemer , - Zac continued pointing at the golden fractal on the altar . - The purpose of this item was to steal Origin Dao . -

I’m sorry , what’s Origin Dao? - Mr . Trang spoke up , and Zac noticed there was a noticeable hint of confusion on the faces of most people .

Only then did Zac realize that the knowledge of Origin Dao hadn’t been spread through Port Atwood . It was something that not even Ogras knew the word for before Brazla explained the concept , so it was no wonder that not even the demon soldiers had heard of it either . They only knew that people improved Dao Seeds easier on newly integrated planets for some reason .

Before the System came there was no magic in your world , - Ogras spoke up to explain . - But now you gain levels and Dao seeds . This is partly because of Cosmic Energy . But the second half is Origin Dao . It’s a unique energy that can be found on newly integrated planets for a short time , an energy that connects your world to the great truths of the Universe . -

Origin Dao is why people on newly integrated planets gain insights into the Dao far quicker than the rest of the universe . You should have heard of how hard it was from the Demon soldiers back on their home planet , - Zac said , drawing a few nods .

In any case . This item contains the stolen Origin Dao of all of Salvation’s victims . And we intend to crack this thing open and release the Origin Dao into this building , - Ogras explained , unable to completely hide his impatience .

What will happen when you do? - Mr . Trang asked hesitantly .

No idea , - Zac frankly said , drawing confused looks . - Ideally we would have liked to study this for years before attempting this , but we are running out of time . Threats loom in all directions , and we aren’t strong enough as things stand . I will take this risk in order to become stronger , to protect our planet . -

We hope that the massive amounts of stored Origin Dao will forcibly put us into a prolonged state of epiphany , drastically improving our insights into the Dao , - Ogras explained . - But we might be way off base . Perhaps nothing will happen . Perhaps we will be turned into idiots . -

There is no such thing as a free lunch , - Mr . Trang muttered , drawing confused looks from the demons .

Exactly , - Zac said . - This is an opportunity , but there are also real risks involved . I will not force anyone to undergo this experiment , everyone here is free to leave . -

Low discussions spread across the hall , as people talked about the situation with their close friends . But eventually the discussions died down , and not a single person chose to leave . Zac nodded in satisfaction , happy that the seedlings that Alyn had picked out had the guts to brave danger . It would be impossible to become a powerhouse otherwise .

Good , prepare your mental states and ponder on the direction you want to evolve your Dao Seeds . Your results will most likely be more impressive if you have a plan in mind before we start , - Zac said .

After Zac explained the situation Kenzie took the floor , explaining the intricacies of the array and how it worked . Zac had been a bit worried that people would be offended by being placed in different tiers around the Funnel , but no one even raised a brow after learning about it . Perhaps they knew the value of the thing they were being offered , and that the leaders could make the most use of it .

Everyone quickly got into position and started to stabilize their mental state while Kenzie did a final test-run of the arrays . The building had already been sealed from the outside world with an extremely strong defensive array .

Since it only covered a small building rather than a whole town its shielding was extremely formidable , and even Zac would probably need some time to crack it open . The array also isolated any sounds , so there would be no disturbances from the outside world while the people meditated .

Zac looked around the inner chamber as he waited for everything to begin . Only thirteen people sat in the room , with the third group sitting at fixed positions outside the arches . Ogras and Zac were the two in the innermost layer , as they were the two top tier powerhouses of Port Atwood and also the ones who had secured the item .

Zac had initially wanted to put his sister there as well , but she had staunchly refused , instead opting to sit at the second layer . With her were the two demon generals , Emily , Sap Trang , and finally the three strongest demons and Valkyries respectively . Mr . Trang was obviously the weakest person in the room , and not technically one of the elites .

But the old fisherman had been with Zac almost from the start , and he had performed above all expectations in every endeavor so far . This was the chance for him to go from a normal elite to a powerhouse without having to solely rely on his scary pet .

Zac knew that Mr . Trang still hadn’t been able to improve his race to E-Grade due to his age , but the old man looked at least 15 years younger compared to when he first arrived thanks to the continuous medicine baths he was taking . He would probably have no problem living for a few more decades as things stood , and Zac hoped he would find a solution for his predicament by that time .

Zac already sat on the second of the two prayer mats he owned . The other mat ultimately went to Ogras , even though Zac felt apologetic for his sister . But things were dire , and they needed to push their two strongest as much as possible for the coming fights .

It was also a distinct possibility that she would receive some assistance of her own through her AI , making the prayer mat superfluous .

You guys ready? - Kenzie asked after having confirmed that the arrays were activated and that everything worked as it should .

We’re ready , - Zac nodded as he took a deep steadying breath . - Do your thing . -

Chapter 376 - Impressions

As I’ve said , I have no guarantees this will work , - Kenzie muttered as she turned toward the golden funnel .

She took out a small inscription tool and started to add new lines to the funnel . Odd undulations started to appear in the room within seconds , and Zac looked around with wonder . He had never taken any hallucinogenic drugs in his life , but he believed that what he experienced right now might be a bit similar . The world felt as though it was alive , and everything pulsed with life and mystery . He quickly took out his last Dao Treasure so he would be ready to boost his experience .

Here we go , - Kenzie said , though Zac felt he heard the voice from far away .

A small snap echoed in the room the next seconds , and Zac’s all senses were completely overloaded by impressions and scenes he couldn’t understand or decipher . If the magical sense of oneness with the universe earlier was a subdued whisper , then what he currently experienced was an unrelenting storm that threatened to rip him to shreds .

It was at that moment Zac realized that they might be in over their heads . Zac’s vision was flooded by colors and shapes that shouldn’t exist , and he heard whispers that threatened to drive him insane .

The energy they unleashed was far beyond what he had expected , and he felt like a small boat in the middle of the ocean during a terrifying storm . He was on the brink of succumbing , and he spotted his sister toppling over as she tried to get back to her spot . Ogras was already bleeding out of his nose , and he had actually cut himself on the leg with a small knife as his eyes were completely bloodshot .

Too… Strong , - he croaked , and Zac understood .

The density was just too much , it was not something that people at their level could handle . If they didn’t dilute the Origin Dao they would die or have their minds broken . It took all of Zac’s willpower , but he managed to slam down on the restriction in a bid to release the Origin Dao to a wider area .

A second later Zac could finally take a breather , but he was still teetering on the brink of collapse as he looked around , trying to see what was really going on through the hallucinations . Just the quick look around made him forget what he wanted to do , as it felt that each hallucination contained a mystery that could elevate his understanding of the universe .

Steady your minds and close your eyes . Focus on your own Dao , - Ogras growled , which allowed Zac to snap out of it long enough to push the Dao Treasure into his mouth and swallow it .

The surroundings kept getting more abstruse , and Zac got the notion that he would be able to grasp myriad Dao just by looking at the plaster on the wall or a spot melted wax on a candle . The fractals on the wall kept squirming , and Zac believed they tried to spell out divine secrets for him . Everything was calling out to his very soul , but he quickly closed his eyes as well to resist the temptations .

He knew it was the effect of the Origin Dao , that the enigmatic energy was exposing the truths of everything in nature . But just because there were truths to find didn’t mean he should delve into them . It would cause chaos to his cultivation system if he got a bunch of new Dao Seeds at this juncture .

He instead used his whole being to focus on the concept of the axe , basing his meditation on the fractal axe in his body . It was still split between the two Daos , and it radiated an immense pressure since Zac reached peak Dao with both his seeds . The groans and shuffling from the people around him soon drifted away as he closed in on himself and his whole being focused on the Dao of the Axe .

Unfortunately , he wasn’t shielded from the chaotic energies around him just because he closed his eyes and focused his mind . The madness crept into his body through each and every one of his cells , making him feel as though he could topple any moment . Zac did everything in his power to ignore the whispers that kept trying to lead him astray , believing they were hints to various Daos in the multiverse .

Luckily a warmth spread from his stomach after a bit , and calming tendrils moved through his body and silenced the chaos to a certain extent . It was the Dao Treasure , and it allowed him to refocus on the Axe with unprecedented clarity .

Space and time no longer held no meaning as his mind was overwhelmed by the endless profundity of the axe . The fractal axe he envisioned kept growing in his mind and Zac started to sense one scene after another play the weapon itself .

He saw scenes of himself , swinging his axe in one desperate struggle after another . He kept pushing forward , and his prey kept getting more dangerous . He saw himself desperately struggling to cause a lethal wound against a barghest , where he was forced to use the environment to his advantage to survive . He could almost taste the blood as his hatchet made its way into the spine of the beast .

Beasts , cultivators , invaders , and even armies entered his vision , only to be bisected and conquered . Everything in the world was fleeting , and the only truth was the weapon he held in his hand . Whoever stood in his path would be crushed by the towering force of his swing , whatever tried to resist would be cut by the gleaming edge .

The scenes kept flashing through his mind , and something started to crystalize . It was the path of the Axe that he had arrived at yesterday . It was a path of indomitability and furious offense , one that gave up on the flexibility of the sword or the speed of the rapiers in favor of monstrous power and momentum .

Nothing could hamper the progress of his axe . All defenses would get crushed , all obstacles cut in two . The axe was the truth that would allow him to walk to the end of the path , and also the tool of slaughter that would keep those around him safe . But before his epiphany could mature into something real , the visions started to change and he felt himself getting dragged inside .

Zac was no longer looking in on his deed from outside , now it was suddenly him getting killed , and he felt himself dying one indignant death after another . He could see himself as the aggressor , and he looked up only to peer into his own wooden face and two pitch-black eyes that held no emotion or succor as the Zac in the vision swung his axe down .

He was the merchant only following orders , his heads getting cut off in one swift motion . He was the mink defending its mountain , only to get slain . He was a tiger , a cultivator , a zombie , one being after another with their own dreams and aspirations .

But those dreams turned to dust with the arrival of that sharp edge . His resistance was futile against the towering weight of the weapon soaring toward him . Zac died a thousand deaths , and he felt his soul was getting wounded each time .

Soon enough it wasn’t even himself who killed , but he rather saw visions men and women getting forced to their knees , and their whole vision was filled with a finger that moved toward their forehead . Pain that Zac never had experienced before rippled through his body as his soul was dragged out of his body in the visions .

The visions became increasingly chaotic as time passed , showing a jumbled mess of scenes that were unfamiliar to him . But as the scenes kept appearing he felt an increasing amount of anger and hatred filling his body . It was different from the Splinter , it was more open and direct . But even though Zac could see it coming he couldn’t avoid his mind getting corrupted , and the destructive thoughts were eroding his soul .

But his resilience wouldn’t let him falter or give up , so he forcibly lived through the discordant visions of death and destruction as he searched for that feeling that he lost just before . He needed to get back to the axe , the truth that he almost grasped before his mind was led astray .

He felt he was on the cusp of success before things turned dark , and he only needed to regain it . But the constant flurry of visions took their toll , and Zac was starting to lose track of what was going on . Everything felt muddled as the thousands of impressions threatened to destroy his sense of self .

But some hidden spark inside his mind suddenly ignited his cognizance for one final burst , and he managed to grasp hold of the feeling once more , finally putting an end to the endless visions . The visions finally stilled , and he found himself in outer space , facing the huge fractal that was formed as an axe .

In the far distance in the deepest space were two lights radiating boundless power . It was the very same stars as the one he saw during the Dao Impartment , though this time they felt far more distant . It was no surprise , as he had the help of a C-Grade powerhouse to connect to those stars last time .

But he had another type of help this time . It felt like he was full of a boundless power that allowed him to create a tendril of his own , one that reached for the distant stars just as they reached for him . It was the Origin Dao that empowered him to reach further than he would have been able to on his own , effectively creating a bridge to the Grand Dao .

The tendrils finally connected , and Zac felt a surge of endless knowledge enter his mind . His whole soul , which was already wrung dry from the onslaught of visions , shuddered from the impact , but he held on .

He first didn’t know what he was waiting for , but he soon had his answer . As knowledge crammed itself into his brain the fractal started to grow in front of him . He instinctively reached toward it as he absorbed additional truths from the stars . The axe released a keening echo the moment Zac’s intangible hand touched it , and the lines that made up its body started to twist and writhe with blinding speed , rearranging themselves after some unknown blueprint .

The outer shape of the enormous fractal was the same , but the lines had reformed to no longer possess two separate sides . The axe looked far more complete now , with one completely integrated pathway . The weapon radiated an immense power , and Zac sensed both his earlier Dao seeds in the mix .

Everything from the emotional heaviness to the most recent indomitable will to cut through everything was accounted for , but there were many additions that he hadn’t recognized before . The snippets of truth were all meshed together into a perfect whole , and they together made up the Dao of the Axe .

He knew he had done it , he had upgraded his two Dao Seeds into a Fragment . If he was physically there he would have breathed out in relief .

The two stars in the distance receded after Zac had managed to upgrade the fractal in front of him , and the large axe started to dissipate as well . He realized that this epiphany was over and willed himself to exit his mysterious state . The deed was done , and this step guaranteed that his classes would at least be able to upgrade his class immediately . He was pretty sure that he had passed the - achievement’ part with flying colors , anyway .

But Zac didn't even have had time to celebrate the success of his advancement before a shocking sight entered his vision when he opened his eyes . His experience hadn’t been smooth , but Zac had initially chalked it up to the difficulty of forming a Dao Fragment .

The insight needed for that was on a higher level than upgrading a seed , and Zac guessed that would take a greater toll on his body . This was something he had already discussed with Ogras earlier , and the demon had agreed . But reality proved different .

He didn't know how long his meditative state had actually lasted , but the house was still under the full effect of the Origin Dao . Zac felt he had a bit greater resistance against the hallucinations now , and the brief moment of clarity allowed him to witness the state of everyone else in the building .

Something was terribly wrong with the energy they had released .

Chapter 377 - Risk and Reward

It was clearly not only Zac who had struggled tremendously to withstand the onslaught of impressions unleashed by the Dao Funnel . Everyone had various degrees of struggle written on their faces , with most in the building even shaking as they had their eyes shut tight as they strained to endure .

Zac’s mind churned as he resisted the constant lure of the truths of the universe , and he tried to make his sluggish mind find a way to lessen everyone’s burden . He finally remembered the plan from earlier , and he slammed down at a second stone disk next to him , immediately cracking it .

But his addled mind soon realized that someone had already opened up the Origin Dao to the third layer , and when his eyes reached the people sitting outside the arches he realized they were even worse off than those sitting inside .

The Origin Dao might be like the Cosmic Water ; Great in small quantities , but it could quickly become a dangerous poison if you indulged in too much of it . Perhaps someone like the Great Redeemer would be able to absorb it all , but he was at Peak D-Grade and he was perhaps planning on absorbing it over decades .

What they were doing right now might be equivalent to jumping into the Nexus Water-pond to take a bath . The only difference being that it was their souls that would take the hit rather than their bodies getting blasted to pieces from absorbing too much energy . That wasn’t the only problem though , even if it might be part of the reason almost everyone seemed to have one foot in the grave .

Something was assaulting the people stuck in meditative poses . They were pitch-black specters , reminiscent of those poor souls who had been corrupted by the splinter in the Eastern Trigram sect . Perhaps they were just another set of hallucinations brought by the massive surge of Origin Dao , but Zac felt a huge amount of resentment coming from the ghosts , which was completely different from the enigmatic and almost addictive feeling that came from the other hallucinations .

The ghosts weren't attacking anyone , it rather looked like they were praying to or even begging for mercy . Others held their translucent head in their hands , radiating hopelessness . Zac's thoughts immediately went to the visions he was forced to endure while he formed his Dao Fragment . Was this the souls of those that Salvation killed?

They flocked around most people , though Zac noted with relief that his sister was completely spared . The same went for Ogras and Janos , while a few more were less crowded as well . His sister had somehow managed to make her way back to her spot in the second layer , and he realized that it was her who had cracked open the array , releasing the Origin Dao to the outer layer .

He couldn't confirm that the ghosts were actually harming anyone since they never touched anyone , but he did note that those that were more crowded seemed to be struggling more . A lot of them were bleeding out of their noses and ears , looking like they had suffered some type of hemorrhage .

But what was even worse was that he saw indistinct silver fractals appearing on the foreheads of those who struggled the most , and even in his currently muddled state he had no problem remembering where he had seen that particular design before . It was the same fractal that shone on Salvation’s forehead , though his tattoo was far more intricate than the nascent inscriptions on the people around him .

Was the funnel trying to convert everyone around it , turning them into raving lunatics like Salvation himself?

Worry gripped Zac’s heart he and arduously got up to his feet in his eagerness to help everyone . But what should he do? Everyone was in an extremely fragile state , likely fighting a desperate battle with their souls on the line . Dragging everyone outside might have the opposite reaction of what he hoped , as it might cause a disturbance that made them lose focus and destroy their minds .

His eyes darted to the crystal pillar next to him , but he eventually looked away from that as well . The soldiers stationed outside had standing orders to quickly evacuate everyone in case the arrays were deactivated , and that would be the same as him dragging people outside himself .

He needed to do something by himself , but he was in no condition to start swinging his axe around in the building . Not that he thought he could actually destroy any of the ghosts with Verun's Bite] . But he did possess one weapon that seemed effective against the dead , so he released his Dao field for Dao of Trees , hoping it would bring some vitality to everyone while it drove the ghosts away .

His soul was already battered and bruised , feeling like when he had overtaxed his mental energy during a fight , but he persisted in using it when he saw many people regain some color on their faces . Even the silvery fractal that had appeared on a few foreheads had started to dissipate slightly .

Best yet was that the ghosts started to fall apart , releasing soundless wails as they turned into motes of dust .

The Seed of Trees worked wonders , so he kept his Dao Field going for as long as he could . But his vision started swimming after only 30 seconds , and he was forced to stop . At least everyone looked noticeably better by that point , and Zac could only pray that the extra energy would allow everyone to beat the side-effects of the Dao Funnel on their own .

He believed that as long as they managed to improve their Dao Seeds the corruption would be pushed away by the pure energies of the Daos , just like when he condensed his fragment . The moment the two Stars appeared all the discordant visions had been pushed aside , allowing him to finish his meditation in peace .

This was all he could do , as his mind was starting to tear and distort once more from the beckoning visions and intrusive whispers . He sat down at the mat again , which helped a little bit with the chaos in his mind . He closed his eyes and desperately focused on the small space that he created when he managed to form a Dao Seed from his own effort .

He needed to turn calamity into an opportunity once more since the funnel obviously wasn’t out of Origin Dao just yet . It was either that or flee from this place , taking the winnings before losing everything . But Zac wouldn't stop now that he had come this far . This was a unique opportunity , and he couldn't leave his people behind in any case .

His first instinct was to go for his second fragment since both Trees and Sanctuary were at the peak by now . But he reluctantly had to give up on that idea . Forming the first Fragment had been extremely exhausting , and his condition was exacerbated by providing a respite to those around him . He wasn’t confident in forming another Fragment as things stood .

Besides , there was the issue of balance . He was afraid that if he formed a Life-attuned Fragment while his Dao Seeds of Rot and Hardness were still only at High mastery , then his evolution of Undying Bulwark might become messed up . It was a safer option to work on his two final Dao Seeds instead , even if the benefits might be worse .

He desperately closed his eyes again to shut out the hallucinations , and this time he focused on the Seed of Rot , going over all aspects of rot and putrefaction he could . Rot was the seed that he felt was furthest from upgrading , whereas Hardness still had the residual boost of his Dao Vision and recent battles with extremely sturdy foes like the Battleroach King and the Cyborg . Even the imperviousness of the environment in the Underworld had given him some inspiration .

Zac quickly slipped into a deep meditate state again , his mind diving toward that empty universe where only the Dao existed . But just like last time his ascent was intercepted by an onslaught of visions .

Various scenes where he killed his foes with the help of the Seed of Rot started to flash by his eyes . This time the fights almost exclusively took place in the Underworld against the Roaches and the invaders . But just as he expected the visions turned on him soon enough , and he soon found himself the subject of an endless cycle of rotting away before everything just turned into a chaotic blur .

But the vision felt far less real now , like a weak mimicry of the terrifying experience he endured the last time . His hypothesis had been correct . Part of the trouble had come from forming a Fragment under these weird conditions . Upgrading a normal Seed might prove a deadly challenge for others , but Zac had long gotten used to this sort of struggle due to the Splinter stuck in his head .

Both his body and soul were stronger the usual as well , something that he had realized long ago . This had only been further improved by the unknown energy that continuously seeped out from the Splinter of Oblivion . Even though upgrading his Seed was easier it was still a draining task . It was like the Origin Dao from the funnel was a reservoir of tainted water , and he had to manually siphon out all the poison before he could drink it .

Time passed as Zac worked with everything he had to complete his goal . He didn’t know how long it took until the funnel was completely drained of energy . After improving Rot he didn’t even dare open his eyes again since his mind felt extremely fragile after enduring another round of visions . He didn’t trust himself to not go astray if he looked upon the various hallucinations that the Origin Dao brought on , and could only keep focusing on his Daos .

But with risks also came rewards . Not only had he gained the Dao Fragment that he hoped for , but he even managed to push his final two Seeds to Peak mastery . In fact , after being forced into those cycles of death and despair he felt he had gained more than just the final mastery of the respective Seed , and that forming a Fragment related to death on his own wasn’t impossible .

He only needed some sort of spark of inspiration to bring enough momentum . Zac was elated by the amazing results of the funnel . He had been happy if he just got the fragment and nothing else , but he got so much more than that .

Luckily the effect of the Dao Funnel seemed to have subsided by the time Zac managed to upgrade his Seed of Hardness as well , which was lucky since he wasn't sure what he would do if he had no Dao Seed to focus on . Pained groans could be heard from all directions as people arduously got to their feet .

Zac slowly opened his bleary eyes , taking in the surroundings for the first time since he unleashed his Dao Field . All the ghosts were gone , as were the tempting hallucinations in the building . However , his eyes were drawn to the dense fractals inscribed into the walls , and he even forgot to check on those around him .

Don't look at the walls , - Kenzie tiredly said , dragging Zac out of his reverie . - The Origin Dao changed the fractals somehow . They contain the Dao now . -

Zac quickly looked away , since he was in no condition to keep pondering on the Dao . But horror flooded his heart when the first things he saw were the unmoving bodies on the floor .

A prickling sensation entered Void's head , prompting him to look far into the distance . He even forgot about the half-dead anointed he held by its throat , or the hundreds of unmoving Zhix warriors strewn across the royal chamber .

So they actually managed to open it , - Void muttered , some delight filling his heart .

The change in fate made him lose interest in interrogating the miscreation in his hand , and he cracked its huge neck before throwing the oversized Zhix to the side like a piece of garbage . He had wondered if those humans would ever figure out what they held in their possession , but he had underestimated them .

Less than a month had passed since they got their hands on the Funnel , but they had already managed to release the seeds stored inside . Void had feared that it would take them years , but perhaps having enslaved a couple of alien forces worked in that man's favor . He had even considered throwing out a hint about the Funnel when he met the Super Brother-Man , but in the end he opted against it , afraid that it would increase their vigilance .

Do you think it will work? - the curious voice of Inevitability asked from the side .

Void looked over at his child , sighing at the sight of her face full of revelry . What would their Lord think of such a bloodthirsty subordinate? Slaughter was just a means to an end , not something to base one's cultivation around . That path was a dead end , where you were no better than a beast . He knew he would have to educate her better going forward .

But such a small detail couldn't dampen the sense of victory in his heart .

It is too early to tell , - Void said with a small smile as he once again looked in the direction of Mr . Atwood's small island kingdom .

Our lord is not so easily denied . It's always good to have a back-up plan . -

Chapter 378 - Fallout

There were unmoving bodies in not only the outer layer , but even in the inner one where his core people were seated . Just a glance around indicated that over a third of those who entered the building were lying on the ground right now .

His sister looked tired but otherwise fine , and she was currently walking around trying to help others with the help of Janos . The illusionist seemed to be mostly fine , though it was always a bit hard to tell with that man . Perhaps he had an easier time resisting the mental corruption due to having Wisdom as his main attribute .

Zac grimaced when he saw Emily shakily helping Joanna to her feet , both of them looked ready to keel over from the simple action . Next to Joanna one of the Valkyries lay unmoving in a pool of bood , and her bloodstained eyes were blankly staring into the beyond .

Don’t blame yourself . This is what it is to be a cultivator ; braving death for a chance at greatness , - a hoarse voice echoed from behind , and Zac slowly turned over to see Ogras . - Besides , not all of them are dead . Some are just in a coma . -

The demon was pale as a sheet and his hand was visibly trembling . There was even blood running down his nose and from one of his ears .

Are you okay? - Zac asked with a frown .

I’ll need to rest for a day or two , - Ogras said without hesitation as he ate a healing pill . - Did you… Did you see a lot of visions as well? -

Scenes of me killing people and dying . Even scenes of complete strangers . It was a chaotic mess that happened over and over , - Zac nodded .

What’s going on , - Ogras muttered as his bloodshot eyes turned to the funnel . - It shouldn’t be like this… Unless? -

Unless what? - Zac asked .

Resentment , - the demon concluded . - The Origin Dao was dragged out of that lunatic’s victims at their time of death , and perhaps their resentment and other negative feelings came with and tainted the Origin Dao . Perhaps that was even the plan . The gathered resentment of a whole planet would contain shocking power . -

Zac nodded in agreement , though this wasn’t the time to discuss the topic . He instead started walking around the people to check on their condition . He also opened up the array to let the doctors enter , giving strict instructions for everyone to not look at the walls and avoid loud noises . A few , like Ryan , were still in a meditative pose and couldn’t be disturbed , but Zac felt that those were out of harm’s way .

They should have passed the trial and are currently reaping the rewards , - Ogras agreed as he followed Zac's eyes . - They should be out of it soon enough . -

Those who still were in the middle of their epiphanies woke up one after another , and after 30 minutes everyone was awake . It was at that time they finally could make a proper tally , and Zac once again felt his insides churning with regret even though he remembered Ogras’ words .

Only the lone Valkyrie had passed away in the second layer , but another one was in a coma . The same went for one of the Demons and Mr . Trang . Six people in the outer layer passed away from the experience , all dying from a brain hemorrhage . Another 8 people were in comas , caused by their minds getting overtaxed .

The doctors planned on moving the unconscious , but Zac stopped them for a second as he arduously walked around to check each one of them . There was an extremely strong correlation between the amount of ghosts people were surrounded by , and the severity of their condition .

Those who had teetered on the brink of collapse when Zac tried to intervene were those who now lay dead on the ground . Also , most of those who were now in a coma were the same people who sported the silver fractals in their foreheads . Sap Trang was the only exception , and Zac guessed that the reason of his unconsciousness was rather his advanced age .

The fractals were thankfully all gone now , but that fact didn’t allow Zac to breathe easy . The Great Redeemer was an expert in Karma and seeing his people sporting his marks felt like trouble waiting to happen . He made a mental note of the appearance of everyone who had been marked before he allowed the people to be carried away .

He did also give the order to one of the Valkyries stationed outside to place a secret guard on those people , and to keep a watch out for any suspicious behavior . The woman looked confused , as a few of those who were carried away were her own fellow Valkyries , but she quickly accepted the order and brought a few people along .

Zac shook his head as he walked back into the Dao House , and only then did he start to feel some happiness about the results . The atmosphere was subdued due to those that had fallen , but many of the remaining people were discussing their enormous gains with low voices .

At least it seemed that those who made it through did reap amazing rewards , taking multiple steps forward with their Dao at once . He really wanted to check with his sister how she had done , since she seemed to have been the best at handling the side-effects of the Funnel . But he first gave Ogras a look and the demon shuffled over to talk in private .

Zac recounted what he encountered the brief instant he woke up , how the ghosts had appeared , and the silver fractals that shone on some people's foreheads .

Did I have a fractal? - Ogras asked . - Or anyone that’s still here? -

No , you just looked to be in extreme pain , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - And I don’t think anyone conscious right now had any fractals , but I was only awake for less than a minute . Oh , Mr . Trang is in a coma now , but he didn’t have a fractal . -

It might just be a phenomenon that indicated that they were failing against the onslaught of resentment . The puppets were created when Salvation touched their foreheads , placing a fractal there . But salvation is not here , so the fractals might just be a shadow reflecting the ghost’s last moment alive , - the demon mused .

Of course , there is also the risk that those people now possess some latent problem , - Ogras muttered with a ruthless gleam in his eyes . - It's lucky you managed to wake up and notice the anomaly . What if we have created ten new beacons that will lead that old bastard to Earth? Perhaps… It would be best if they never woke up from their current condition . -

Out of the question , - Zac said without hesitation . - We can’t just kill them . I caused this , so I will figure something out . -

Then what’s your plan? - the demon asked skeptically .

We monitor them , for now , to see if they act out of the ordinary . The Abbot once shared his Karmic vision with me , and it allowed me to see the Karmic Links of the Dominators and the beacon . Perhaps there is a treasure or pill that will allow me to do the same thing for a short while , - Zac said . - That way I'd be able to tell if they have formed a connection to the Redeemer . -

Besides , even if they are beacons their link should be far weaker compared to the Dominators' , so we only need to make sure they’re not transmitting anything after dealing with Void’s Disciple and the other two , - Zac added .

Fair enough , I guess it’s worth pursuing other venues first . So what do you think? - Ogras acceded , changing the topic . - Are you ready for the tower? If we leave now we’ll have a bit over two weeks before your deadline . -

There is no stress , - Zac finally said after some consideration . - I want to gain the two last levels for my other class . -

You can still gain experience inside the tower , - Ogras said . - Or you’ll probably be able to buy a pill that gives a level for an F-Grade warrior when we get there . They’re not very rare . -

I know , but I want to gain the levels beforehand in case the skill quests can’t be completed inside the tower , - Zac explained . - I want both my classes to be at their best before entering the tower . You know I won’t get a second chance like you . -

Ogras sighed and nodded .

How is your human class? Need help with your second quest before we go? - the demon said .

Zac froze for a second before his eyes widened . He had completely forgotten because of the hectic events just now , but he had actually completed his second class quest! Zac quickly scoured through his body and found a new fractal firmly placed on his back .

The quest was Dao-related , I just finished it , - Zac admitted .

Oh? What type of skill is it? - Ogras asked with curiosity .

No idea , - Zac shrugged . - I will try it out before we leave . -

Keep me posted , no secrets in the tower , - Ogras smiled . - It will affect our teamwork . -

Zac just threw the demon a contemptuous look . Ogras had tried to pry out all of Zac’s secrets since day one , and it was shocking how many of them he had actually figured out if you looked back on it . But Zac wouldn’t give him a complete understanding of his strengths and weaknesses .

I think I will be good to go in an hour or two , will you join me or will you stay behind for a bit? - Zac asked as he looked over at the pale-faced demon .

Monster siblings , - Ogras muttered . - The rest of us had our minds turned to putty but the two of you are fine . -

Zac could only wryly smile as he looked over at his sister who had been helping everyone in the building since he woke up . She was healthy enough that she was able to emit a soothing field made from her Dao , which helped people around her recuperate faster .

He initially thought that the reason he was mostly fine after that event was the fact that the splinter in his mind had made his soul sturdier , but perhaps that wasn’t the only thing he had going for him . Unless Jeeves could somehow help Kenzie block out the visions it might be due to their ancestry .

Having a big-shot mom came with all kinds of perks it seemed .

I need to solidify my gains , - Zac said as he stood up with a grunt . - Can you look after things here? -

It’s fine , - the demon nodded . - I’ll stick around here for a few days before heading out to play with the zombies . When do we leave? -

In five days , - Zac eventually decided .

But there was something he needed to do before leaving the Academy . He walked over to Alyn who had bloodshot eyes as she sat on a chair with a Divine crystal in her hand .

I’m sorry , - Zac sighed as he sat down next to her . - This thing exceeded my expectations . -

Such is cultivation , - Alyn said , but her eyes darted over to the corpses that were lined up not far away .

The bodies that Alyn looked at were the seedlings that she had recommended . Out of the 10 youths , four were in a coma and another three were dead . Only three were still conscious , but they were barely better than the unconscious ones . Only one , a young man looking just a bit older than Emily , managed to stand on his own , whereas the other two seemed to have wounded souls .

It would be a devastating blow to the group of talents that had been slated for grooming if they were forced to take extreme measures because of the silver fractals . Would only three out of the ten youths walk away from this encounter alive in the end?

The results for the group of seedlings were the worst , whereas the demons were best off . They only lost one person , with another three in a coma . Zac could only assume that their accumulated experiences had hardened their minds , allowing them to more effectively resist the resentment .

Do they have families? If so make sure they’re taken care of , - Zac said with a heavy heart .

They were all orphans , which is one reason I chose them , - Alyn with a small shake of her head . - They had no attachments left to their countries or families , which would allow them to work wholeheartedly for Port Atwood . -

Then provide them with a proper funeral at least , - Zac said as he closed his eyes , a wave of tiredness washing over him . - Do what you can for the others . I’m afraid I can’t stay here , there’s too much to do . -

Don’t worry . Everyone understood the risk , and also the burden you carry . Just look forward and keep walking , - Alyn sighed .

Chapter 379 - Fragment of the Axe

Zac felt bad about leaving while people were still barely able to get to their feet , but he followed Alyn's advice . He lastly went over to check in on his sister , and he was relieved to see that she was fine as well . In fact , she might be even better off than himself as she was still able to spread her Dao in the area around the Dao House .

Only then did he return to his courtyard with brisk steps . He felt a bit muddled the whole way back , as though he was dreaming . Zac knew he had warned everyone of the dangers involved , but he truly hadn't expected anyone to get hurt , much less get killed . He could only endeavor to etch this lesson in his heart so that something like this would not repeat itself .

The arrays around his place flitted to life as he sat down on a padded mat with a sigh . He wanted to immediately go over his gains , but a wave of exhaustion hit him the moment he sat down , and he immediately fell into a dreamless slumber .

Zac opened his eyes again , only to see that four hours had passed in the blink of an eye . The nap had made him feel noticeably better , with only a small headache remaining . He hadn’t felt comfortable going over his gains while his people lay dead right in front of him , but he couldn’t wait any longer and opened up his Dao Screen .

Dao

Stage

Effect

Fragment of the Axe

Early

All attributes +10 , Strength +110 , Dexterity + 80 , Endurance +15 . Effectiveness of Strength +5% .

Seed of Trees

Peak

Endurance +20 , Vitality +90 , Intelligence +5 , Wisdom +5 .

Seed pf Hardness

Peak

Endurance +100 , Wisdom +20 .

Seed of Sanctuary

Peak

Endurance +50 , Intelligence +20 , Wisdom +50 .

Seed of Rot

Peak

Endurance +5 , Vitality +45 Intelligence +25 , Wisdom +45 .

Zac slowly read through the changes , but he was truthfully a bit disappointed with the result . Fusing two Dao seeds into a fragment had only increased the total attributes gained from 240 to 275 . He knew that he had attained almost no - new - insight compared to upgrading a single Dao seed , but he had still thought that he would get more when evolving from a Seed to a Fragment .

Of course , he had to remember that if things progressed the way it did with a seed , where the number of attributes given doubled every time it progressed , it would still rack up to a lot . A Fragment would end up giving 2 200 attribute points at a peak mastery , which was a huge number even in the E-Grade .

He hadn't gained a Title by forming a Fragment either , something he had pretty much thought was a done deal . Then again , if there was a 'first in world'-title like all his other Progenitor titles , then it had likely already gone to Abbot Everlasting Peace . And the general reward for gaining a Dao Fragment might simply be the fact he now had access to Epic classes .

The good part was that he actually gained all attributes from the Fragment , which meant that his luck got boosted as well . And if the pattern kept going as it did with the seeds , then he might end up with a huge boost to Luck by the time the seeds reached Peak . However , if he was being honest with himself he hoped that he wouldn't gain any more Luck from his Dao Seeds .

One of his unique advantages was his huge pool of Luck , where he had almost ten times the amount compared to most people . It had allowed him to survive countless dangers , and often turn the tables on his enemies . That advantage would quickly get eroded if one had an easy-to-access source of the special attribute .

He also got a boost of effectiveness for his main Strength , and that in of itself might turn into a tremendous boost if the number kept increasing as the Fragment evolved . What if he got a 25% boost or something at the peak? The value from that was far higher than static increases , especially with his already large number of High-Tiered Titles .

Then again , he knew that the true benefit of a Dao Fragment wasn’t the attributes it awarded . It was just a bonus that the System tacked on . The true benefit came from the huge boost in fighting power . That was doubly true for someone like Zac who was a bit lacking in his control department and who could only use one Dao at the time .

The Seed of Hardness hadn’t provided any surprises , even though he had tried to skew the results in his favor . When he pondered on the final upgrade he focused on the rebounding effect of hardness . He imagined creating a body so sturdy that people hurt themselves when they attacked him and thought that he might get some strength that way .

But it still simply doubled down on the Endurance , pushing his highest attribute to even more ridiculous heights . Luckily he had still a lot of room for improvement before he hit his limit . He had already asked Ogras about it recently , and it turned out that the next limit usually lay around 2500 attribute points for humanoids .

But it also meant that he would have to evolve his race as quickly as possible since he was already halfway there . It was only a matter of time before he reached 2 500 Endurance with the increased gains in E-Grade .

The Seed of Rot had a surprising change in the attributes it provided , but not overly so . Alea had been on his mind a lot lately , and the way she fought had influenced his insights . He already knew that Alea’s highest attribute was Intelligence , closely followed by Vitality , and that was reflected by the gains in his Seed of Rot .

He was especially happy with the extra 45 points in Vitality since the Tower was a 100-day climb . Having a great regenerative ability would be a huge boon . If he could cut down his rest-time to a third , then he would have a lot more time to spend on the harder floors at the top of the tower . He soon closed the Dao menu and opened his skill menu next to take a look at his new Skill .

Hatchetman's Spirit - Proficiency : Early . Oneness with nature . Upgradeable .

He wasn't sure what oneness with nature meant , but he guessed it was some sort of boosting skill . He knew that Ogras received the skill that turned him into a winged shadow demon was something he got at level 75 , and he hoped he got something similar .

Even though he was a bit tempted to activate it right now he chose to wait until he visited Mystic Island . Even if he had a hint of what the skill entailed he couldn’t be sure , and he didn’t want to accidentally blow up his courtyard .

There was one final thing that he wanted to do before heading out , and he eagerly walked over toward the Nexus Node . He had kept himself in check all this time , but now that he possessed a Dao Fragment he couldn’t stop himself from checking out his options to evolve .

He had already confirmed from multiple people that he could simply skip evolving even if he activated the Node . Zac walked over to the huge hovering crystal with eagerness in his eyes , but his face fell after touching the crystal to begin the process .

There was no response .

He kept trying to activate his the Node to display his choices , but no matter how many times he tried there was simply nothing available for him . He swapped through the other systems , such as the skill shop , to see if the crystal was on the fritz , but it worked just fine . It was hard to believe , but it looked like Zac truly wasn’t able to evolve at this point even if he wanted to .

Zac couldn’t believe that there was not a single option for him to evolve even after having gained the Fragment of the Axe . Hatchetman was only Rare , and he had already gained the prerequisite Dao for an Epic class . He had a slew of titles and accomplishment under his belt as well , and it felt ludicrous that the system wouldn’t deem him worthy after all he had done .

Swallowing his burgeoning anger he rapidly tried to think of any reason why he could be stuck like this , and he could only imagine there being two reasons . The first was his skills . Only two of his skills had reached the peak , while the rest were between Early and High mastery . Not even Axe Mastery was at peak proficiency , which might mean that the System didn’t consider him ready to evolve .

The other possibility was that some issues had arisen due to his special situation . His duplicity Core was still F-Grade , which meant it wasn’t good enough to accommodate E-Grade classes . This was something that had worried him for some time , but no matter where he looked into the matter he couldn’t find any clues .

Or perhaps he needed to evolve both classes at the same time , which was impossible since his other side was only at level 73?

Zac’s eyes lit up with hope at the idea as he left the building housing the Nexus Node . He couldn’t do anything about the issues of his skills or his Duplicity Core in the short run , but he could easily grind levels with his Undying Bulwark class .

He quickly headed over to Tul’Sarath , the town the Tir’Emarel Clan founded before their Incursion ended . The town felt a bit desolate since a large contingent of people left along with the former slaves being freed . But by now there were quite a few humans and a couple of Ishiate who walked the streets as Zac arrived .

Some had chosen to stay behind after getting liberated , and even more had returned over the past weeks . Life outside was extremely chaotic and dangerous , and many chose to work for the aliens rather than getting eaten by some beasts . Zac shook his head at the irony as he entered Verana’s mansion .

I hear something big took place in Port Atwood , - Verana said with a light voice from her seat in a garden when she saw Zac being led over by a maid .

Nothing too major , - Zac said . - I found a trinket containing stored Origin Dao , and we released it . -

It’s good to see you are fine , - she said with a staid demeanor . - What brings you over today? -

I am planning to hit a couple of more Incursions over the next days , I could use your support , - Zac said .

Unfortunately we’re not able to help this time around , - Verana said without hesitation . - My people are exhausted , and I fear another round of battle will cause too many casualties for us to bear . If we keep fighting with this intensity there will be no Tal-Eladar left on this planet in a hundred years . We need to rest and recoup before we can discuss joint battles again . -

Zac silently looked at Verana in an effort to figure out her thoughts , and she returned the stare in kind . It was pretty obvious she was angry with him and refused to help out as payback , even if that meant losing out on staking a claim on another Incursion’s resources .

Remember , you asked us to stay behind as a trading partner , not as part of your army , - Verana added , ending the prolonged silence .

Zac slowly nodded in agreement .

It’s fine . But don’t forget why you , in particular , chose to stay behind . Are you already tired of moving forward? - Zac said as he turned to leave .

Verana didn’t answer , and only silently watched him leave .

Not having the help of the Tal-Eladar was a bit of a setback , especially now that all the elites of his force were down for the count for the time being . The only reason he hadn't needed to order his Army to completely retreat was the fact that their lines were bolstered by the huge army of the Underworld Council .

Only nine councilors were currently on the surface , with four staying behind to keep the situation in the Underworld stable . But those nine were enough to stabilize the battlefield , perhaps even more than his three demon generals .

Besides , perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that the Tal-Eladar refused to help him this time around . He had used Hunger] while fighting alongside the beastmasters , as only two of them knew of the true identity of Mr . Black .

Now that they weren’t around he could freely use Verun’s Bite] to fight , allowing him to take full advantage of his new Fragment . He was pretty sure that the Fragment would still work when using a sword , but the effect would be greatly diminished .

He did consider bringing a couple of the demon soldiers or Valkyries along , but he eventually decided against that as well . There would be a lot of casualties if he brought soldiers without powerful generals to hold down the fort , and all of them needed to rest for a couple of days .

Eventually , he arrived at the most logical conclusion . He would go back to his roots and close a couple of incursions on his own . He got everything ready before he headed over to Westfort as Mr . Black . He needed someone to guide him to the hidden outposts next to the incursions so he commandeered one of the Marshalls who worked for the intelligence department .

Just 30 minutes later the scenery was flashing past him as he utilized Loamwalker] to run through the wilderness .

Chapter 380 - Coastal Incursion

Not being encumbered with a group of soldiers had its own advantages . Zac could move with over twice the speed he usually did when his elite squad joined him for battle , and it only took him a bit over 8 hours before he reached his destination .

It was an incursion manned with extremely ugly aliens . There was an image attached to the intelligence report , and Zac felt like they looked like humanoid toads who had injected themselves with super-charged steroids to grow oversized muscles .

Their heads were large enough for them to fit a human head in their mouths , and they sat straight at their torsos without a neck . They had two sets of large murky-green eyes , but no ears or noses . They also had four arms , with the second set being slightly smaller and extending from slightly above their thick hips .

Judging by their stocky builds Zac would have thought them leaning toward Strength-based classes like himself , but he learned that they also had quite a few water-based mages . The incursion was placed by the shore , and they had caused massive tsunamis to drown the people of the close-by settlements .

There was also an unconfirmed report that the frogmen were adept at illusionary skills since there was one thing that set this incursion apart from most others . There was no Incursion pillar to showcase their position , and the general guess was that these frogmen had hidden it somehow in a bid to stay under the radar .

These invaders were quite brutal , but Zac had held off on targeting this place until now because they had already killed everyone close-by and it didn’t look like they were expanding their territory . The Marshalls were guessing that they were busy with something underwater , as their class-choices and appearance indicated an amphibian nature .

It quickly became obvious to Zac as he crept closer to the Incursion that they mainly lived on land , even if they might be comfortable in the water as well . A sprawling town right on the shoreline spread out , and Zac saw some frogmen walk back and forth along the streets .

Interestingly enough the town didn’t have any physical wall , but a wide moat had been dug to encompass the town , turning it into an artificial island . There was only one bridge , and it looked like they could lift it like a drawbridge if needed .

Walls were technically not needed in a world with arrays , but a proper wall kept out weaker beasts without wasting any Nexus Crystals . Walls were so easy to construct now that people had both Cosmos Sacks to transport material and superhuman strength , so almost all settlements that Zac had visited would sport defenses that would make any medieval lord proud .

The fact that there was no wall only made Zac more confident that there was an array protecting the town , but he couldn't sense it even after spying on the town for over twenty minutes . Of course , that didn't mean it wasn't there . The invaders had killed pretty much all humans in the vicinity , so perhaps they didn't bother keeping it active to reduce their running costs . However , any force strong enough to receive a chance to helm an Incursion would at least have the smarts to protect their encampment .

His hunch that the place wasn’t as unguarded as it seemed was soon confirmed as the large head of a frogman suddenly appeared in the middle of the artificial river , before it once again submerging under the depth . They actually had guards staying underwater .

Zac wasn’t sure how to best attack the town . Taking out a ship and entering from the ocean would be playing straight into their strength , but just walking up to the bridge felt like walking into a trap .

Unfortunately he had no skills for infiltration in either of his classes , so he decided to get as close as possible while using the natural covers at hand . He crept along in the high grass , but soon enough he couldn't get any closer without stepping on open land . Since Zac had no way to hide any longer he immediately accelerated to a full-out sprint as he ran straight toward the closest section of the moat .

He had eventually decided to go straight in , and the ground cracked beneath him as he barreled forward like an enraged bull . It only took a second for screams and warning sounds started to blast across the town , but Zac wasn’t deterred as a storm of miasma was released from him as he activated Fields of Despair] before jumping across the river .

A blast of water suddenly surrounded him as the water in the moat rose with shocking speed , and Zac’s brows rose when he noticed that the water had somehow stolen all his momentum mid-jump . The water surged around him as he started to feel a huge pressure bearing down on every part of his body . Luckily he didn’t need to breathe in his current form , saving him from drowning due to the trap .

He had been wrong about his assumption that these people didn’t have a wall . It was only that it was made out of water rather than stone or wood . The whole moat had risen over ten meters and the water stayed in the air , defying all gravity .

Sharp stabs of pain erupted across Zac’s body as the nearby guards launched ranged attacks on him while he was stuck in place . Something was off with the water as well , as no matter how much he flailed his arms and legs to swim out he was still stuck in place . The liquid was somehow enchanted , and it truly was a bane for most land-based cultivators .

Of course , it was not that Zac was completely helpless inside the block of water . Since he couldn’t swim out he would simply have to cut his way out . His arm swelled with power as he kept infusing it with miasma , and he noticed that he was able to cram a lot more energy into his muscles since his latest boost to his Endurance .

The water started to shudder and twist from the huge concentration of power , and Zac finally unleashed a mighty vertical swing that contained a force that shouldn’t belong to someone who still hadn’t even evolved to E-Grade . The wall of water in the area was completely ripped to shreds from the immense force , and Zac fell down to the exposed riverbed .

The water wall was temporarily dispersed , though another huge gout of water headed straight toward him . It was only barely that Zac managed to jump inside the town in time , avoiding getting trapped once again .

However , he made for quite the sorry figure as he crawled up on dry land . He was completely caked in mud , and there was even a crab that angrily ran along his shoulder . That was fine with Zac , as his embarrassing display had emboldened the frogmen to launch a direct assault on him .

Over a hundred warriors rushed toward him , and Zac sensed a surprising amount of power from the warrior in the lead . The frogman held a large golden trident that Zac immediately could tell was a Spirit Tool , and he also wielded two aquamarine crystals in his second set of hands . The two crystals suddenly lit up with a lustrous shine as he approached .

Zac immediately sensed danger approaching from behind , and he instinctively threw himself forward , barely avoiding a block of ice the size of a truck slamming into the ground where he just stood . The attack caused a huge shockwave , throwing Zac another few steps forward . The moment he landed his foot stomped into the ground , and Zac disappeared from sight .

It was Profane Seal] that Zac activated now that he finally had his target in sight . He had held back on both unleashing his Dao Fragment and his more impressive skills since he was afraid that the incident with the Flame Golems would repeat itself . He wanted to close the incursion as quickly as possible , but he also needed to gain the last two levels .

And now that his prey was caught it was finally time to put his Dao of the Axe to the test .

The towers of Profane Seal] immediately trapped the whole army , and a terrifying aura spread out as Zac unleashed his Dao Field to cover the entire cage . His attributes might not have undergone a huge change by forming a Fragment , but his Dao Field had received a shocking transformation .

The frogmen caught within his aura were no longer harassed by a constant stream of small cuts , they were now receiving huge gaping wounds from nowhere . Energy started streaming into his body almost immediately , as there were unlucky frogmen who received fatal cuts from his Dao Field , their throats getting slit open without any warning .

The number of kills quickly slowed down as shields of water quickly covered the warriors which blocked out most of the power of his Dao Fragment . Unfortunately for the frogmen the nightmare had only started , and the spectral chains started to dance through their life , punching straight through the walls of water with only minimal resistance .

The macabre scene of corpses getting strung along like Zac was making a necklace repeated itself , but Zac’s attention was on the leader .

Storms of ice rampaged outside the cage as a hailstorm had formed in no time . It was no doubt the frogman leader who utilized those two crystals to attack Profane Seal] from outside . The power contained in the barrage was impressive , likely because he had such a huge amount of water readily available from the ocean .

However , the Seal had already been upgraded to middle mastery , and it would take some time for the storm to break down the sturdy towers . And Zac reckoned a minute should be all he needed as he pushed toward the froglord , his right arm already swelling from Unholy Strike] .

The frogman seemed to sense the danger from Zac's approach , and a huge swirl of energy quickly gathered around him as he swelled up to three times his original size . Living streams of water surged around him as a liquid armor formed on his body . The transformation made him look like a god of the ocean , and it became especially poignant when the frogman's trident started to crackle with extremely potent lightning .

The invader pointed his trident straight at Zac , and one of the crystals suddenly started to spew out a rampant stream of water that possessed such speed that Zac didn't even have time to summon Immutable Bulwark] . Worse yet , the froglord had crammed the stream with enough electricity to run a small town , and the barrage made Zac's whole body spasm painfully . A spectral ghost appeared to stab the frogman in his chest , but the water armor effortlessly absorbed the strike .

The ground cracked beneath his feet as Zac forcibly resisted getting washed away , but the stream of water seemed endless . He considered activating his Bulwark-skill to redirect the blast , but he instead decided to simply use his axe instead . Rampant energies made the water churn as Zac swung his axe down with all his might .

He had no skill to add range to the attack itself , so he could only use his Dao and his Strength in hopes to create an extended shockwave . The moment he imbued his axe with his newly acquired fragment it felt like he had ability to cut all creation in half , and his axe ripped down through the torrent of water with undeniable momentum .

For a moment it felt like time had stopped , but the illusion only lasted for a fraction of a second . There was an unmistakable feeling that Zac had cut something more than just the water even though his eyes couldn't make sense of the intuition . It did feel like he had unquestionably cut apart space in front of him , and that the space in front of him was actually two separate pieces even now .

But at the same time everything looked the same , making Zac wonder if his mind was just making things up in its belief that the Fragment should create a larger spectacle . Zac had learned to trust his guts by now though and he truly believed that something had changed even if he couldn't see any conclusive proof .

Thankfully there was a reaction to his swing soon enough as the torrent of water stopped slamming into him , allowing Zac to once again see his opponent . Zac's eyes turned to the hulking form pointing his trident at him , ready to meet its second attack . However , the frogman stood completely frozen , and a huge surge of energy entered his body the next moment .

Zac’s eyes widened in surprise as the body of the frogman fell apart into two pieces , and the enormous cut looked so smooth that one could think that he had used a laser from the technocrat’s armory . Zac still couldn't figure out exactly what happened , but one thing was abundantly clear ; the froglord was as dead as dead can be .

Was that it?

Zac had expected the frog to have a water clone , or do something to avoid the fatal blow , but it simply died where it stood from a single swing empowered by his Dao Fragment . It had emitted such a mighty aura , was it all bluster? Or was the difference of power brought by the Dao Fragment simply that huge?

The fight from there on out went without suspense . The moment the leader fell the barrage of ice from outside stopped , ending any hope of escape for the remaining soldiers . The area was blanketed in dark corrosive clouds and deathly mists , and wails could constantly be heard from within . Just a minute later it the clamor gave way to a deathly silence , with only Zac walking out from one of the gates before Profane Seal] dissipated .

It was at this point the remaining invaders usually fled toward the Nexus Hub in a bid to escape earth , but Zac looked on with confusion as he saw the remaining frogmen streaming into the ocean . Most had already fled , and the town was pretty much desolate by the point that he exited .

Had the invaders chosen to stay on , hiding in the oceans until they could enact revenge?

Chapter 381 - Options

Zac’s confusion only grew when he couldn't find the Nexus Hub even after entering the town , and he realized he needed some answers . Zac quickly ran after the fleeing frogman and jumped into the ocean himself , but even with his superior attributes he had a hard time catching up with them . They were simply better suited to move quickly underwater with the help of their four arms and huge webbed feet .

The hunt went on for almost twenty minutes , and the frogmen fled in a straight line while harassing Zac with various attacks to keep him at bay . He tried to respond in kind , but he wasn’t really used to fighting underwater . It added a whole new dimension to the battle , as the targets were not only noticeably faster , but they could freely move in essentially any direction .

His undead class was also extremely bad at this type of fighting as it both lacked movement skills and ranged attacks . His acquired skill Winds of Decay] could reluctantly be classified as ranged , but he was unable to use it underwater . The only thing he had going for him was that he didn't need to breathe , so he could keep paddling forward as to not let his prey out of his sight .

Zac considered swapping to his other class to start launching fractal blades at the frogmen , but he soon stopped in his tracks when he realized what was going on . Not far ahead a sprawling underwater town stretched out , and the frogmen fled toward a square in the middle . There were still some frogmen in the square , cramming toward the center to touch the enormous crystal placed there .

A cursory glance proved that the place was already mostly evacuated though , probably since the frogmen had plenty of time to leave . Zac had to admit it was a pretty ingenious way to protect their people . The town on the shore was just a decoy or an outpost , while their real base was far out to see .

The Nexus Hub was actually underwater , which probably explained why there was no pillar to be seen at the surface . The pillar had already been deactivated by now since he had defeated the leader of the incursion , but he noticed that there was an uncharacteristic haze above the water . Perhaps the mist was created by an array in a bid by the frogmen to hide the true seat of their power .

The frogmen that he had followed were actually streaming toward the Nexus Hub rather than some hideout in the ocean , and Zac allowed them to exit now that he knew that they didn't plan on staying on earth . He was more interested in checking out the underwater town , since it was the first time seeing something like this .

Some of the structures were completely submerged in water , but other sections of the town were enveloped by enormous water bubbles , making them habitable by humans as well . Zac felt a place like this would make a decent hidden base , as long as they could figure out how to actually make sure that the pockets of water didn’t disappear .

He was also extremely eager to get a hold of this kind of technology , as it might allow him to expand his kingdom to the waters as well . He was sure there were all kinds of valuables hiding in the depths around his islands , but he didn't have a way to properly extract them until now . If he could create mobile air bubbles he'd be able to send people to scout the ocean floor from everything from mines to rare Spirit Herbs .

Things progressed the usual manner from there on out as a troop of people emerged from the Teleportation Array Zac set up within one of the larger air bubbles . Exploring an underwater town would bring its own set of difficulties , but Zac would let others figure that out as he left through the teleportation array to pick up Jonas , the guide from the Marshall Clan .

The following days were just a storm of blood and steel as Zac moved through the continent of Pangea like a walking calamity . Between his unbreakable defense and the terrifying might of his Dao Fragment , nothing could hinder his path . One incursion after another was shut down as Zac wasted no time . He would have plenty of time to rest in the tower , so now was the time for action .

Jonas Marshall who was forced to guide - Mr . Black’ looked more and more horrified as the days passed , and he didn’t even dare to speak up or look in Zac’s direction after he had closed three Incursions in less than two days .

Zac didn’t care though , as the only thing on his mind was to crush all lingering threats to Earth before he left , or at least those he could handle now . He only returned to Port Atwood after four days of relentless battle , but his hard work had paid off . He had closed every single Incursion on his list .

As far as Zac and the Marshall Clan could tell there were currently only 5 Incursions left on Earth after Zac's rampage , or 7 if you included the Demons and Tal-Eladar . One was the Church of Everlasting Dao , and another was the Undead Empire .

The final three incursions were invaders who had been unlucky enough to be placed next to the Undead Empire itself , and they were all currently embroiled in battle with the undead hordes . They probably didn’t fight to help Earth , but rather to prolong their stay so that they could extract more resources from Earth .

No matter their reasons they could still be counted as reluctant allies against the Lich King , so Zac left them alone even though he had the ability to close them down as well . Shutting down all those Incursions had given him a tremendous boost to his confidence , something that he had slightly lacked since encountering the Cyborg . A Dao Fragment provided a far larger boost to his fighting power than upgrading his skills ever could .

But most importantly he had reached his goal ; he had finally reached level 75 with his Undying Bulwark Class . He had been forced to head over to Mystic Island and grind the final stretch for a few hours after closing the last Incursion on his list , but he actually made it . He sat down to catch his breath the moment he entered his courtyard , and he opened up his menu before changing back to his human form .

Name

Zachary Atwood

Level

75

Class

F-Epic] Undying Bulwark

Race

E] Draugr

Alignment

Earth] Port Atwood - Lord

Titles

Born for Carnage , Ultimate Reaper , Luck of the Draw , Giantsbane , Disciple of David , Overpowered , Slayer of Leviathans , Adventurer , Demon Slayer I , Full of Class , Rarified Being , Trailblazer , Child of Dao , The Big 500 , Planetary Aegis , One Against Many , Butcher , Progenitor Hegemon , Duplicity Core , Apex Hunter , Heaven's Chosen , Scion of Dao , Omnidextrous , Eastern Trigram Hunt - 1st , Tyrannic Force , Achievement Hunter , The First Step , Promising Specialist

Limited Titles

Frontrunner

Dao

Fragment of the Axe - Early , Seed of Trees - Peak , Seed of Hardness - Peak , Seed of Sanctuary - Peak , Seed of Rot - Peak

Core

F] Duplicity

Strength

798 Increase : 60% . Efficiency : 147%]

Dexterity

400 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 140%]

Endurance

1175 Increase : 65% . Efficiency : 140%]

Vitality

567 Increase : 50% . Efficiency : 140%]

Intelligence

218 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 140%]

Wisdom

313 Increase : 45% . Efficiency : 140%]

Luck

165 Increase : 65% . Efficiency : 140%]

Free Points

19

Nexus Coins

F] 871 111 618

He had once again been given 20 attribute points rather than 2 from reaching peak F-Grade , one of which was taken by his class . Zac only briefly hesitated before he threw everything into Strength , pushing him one step closer to his goal of getting 1 000 in that attribute before he Evolved .

He had also gained a hefty amount of Nexus Coins , even excluding the 500 million he got from Verana earlier . But that wasn’t what truly interested him at this moment , and he quickly opened up his quest menu to have a look at his new quests .

Vanguard of Undeath (Class) : Obtain a defensive Dao Fragment . Reward : Vanguard of Undeath skill . (0/1)

Undying Legion (Class) : Gather the resentment by vanquishing 500 000 foes Reward : Undying Legion skill . (500 000/500 000) COMPLETE .

There were two new class quests as expected , but he felt a surge of elation when he saw that one of them was actually already completed . The moment he focused on the quest it immediately disappeared from the list , forming a fractal around his right wrist .

After the moment of happiness passed Zac started to frown in consternation though . The quest had been to kill 500 000 things , something he had long accomplished between the beast hordes , all the zombies , and his grinding during the Hunt . But what did - gather the resentment’ mean? Was he carrying around a bunch of resentment unknowingly?

He remembered the horrible scenes elicited by the Dao Funnel , and he started to worry that he might be setting himself up for disaster if he didn’t cleanse the resentment somehow . Perhaps it was something like Karma . He was bound to kill a lot more beings than most due to not being able to cultivate , and this was potentially a hidden danger that he needed to watch out for .

Dealing with resentment was outside of his expertise , and he made a mental note of having Kenzie ask Brazla about it . The two of them had a far better relationship , and the chance of the annoying Tool Spirit divulging information was a lot higher if she was the one asking .

He held off on activating Undying Legion] in Port Atwood , and instead focused on Vanguard of Undeath] . The second class quest wasn’t surprising at all , as it essentially mirrored the one for Hatchetman’s Spirit] . Luckily it didn’t demand him to reach Middle mastery of a Dao Fragment due to being a quest for an Epic class , but the quest did present another problem .

He had already decided to walk his own path , forgoing fusing Sanctuary with Hardness to instead entering the path of Life and Death . Would his fragments still be considered Defensive? Yrial mentioned Fragment of the Corpse when they spoke , and that didn’t sound much like a Defensive Dao . It rather seemed to be on the path of death , or perhaps puppetry or control . But his Seed of Trees was at least considered defensive for his last quest , and hopefully that trend would continue .

In either case , the skill would have to wait since he hadn’t gained any inspiration that would allow him to fuse either of his two remaining fragments . He could only put his hopes on some opportunity presenting itself in the Tower or the Base Town .

Since he was done with everything he needed to do he swapped back to his human form , but he didn’t immediately leave to find Ogras or his sister . He rather headed over to the Nexus Node once more , hoping to get a better result this time . His heart was pounding in his chest as he touched the large crystal once more .

E-Rare] Fallen Groveskeeper (The grove fell , but you took on its torment . ) // E-Epic] Undying Warlord (Unstoppable . Undeniable . Unmatched . )

E-Rare] Mountain’s Ward (Defender of the mountain ; stout and unyielding . ) // E-Epic] Curse of Nature (All can be corrupted , even life itself . )

It was like a huge weight was lifted from his chest when he saw that there were actual options available for him to pick this time around . It meant that it was the level of his Undying Bulwark-class that had been holding him back , rather than the Duplicity core or something else .

Of course , he still felt he would need to put some priority in upgrading the Specialty core since having an F-grade core when he proceeded to E-Grade might result in unanticipated issues . For example , his Duplicity core was unique , giving him a full set of attributes for his second class . What if he needed to upgrade his Core for that to continue? He could stand to lose a huge amount of attribute points if it worked like that .

Zac carefully read through the classes and their descriptions , before he quickly removed his hand from the Nexus Node to avoid any mishaps or bouts of impulsivity . But he didn’t walk away , but he rather stood frozen in place as he looked into the distance with some loss and confusion .

He had to admit that he was extremely disappointed with his options . He had expected there to be at least one Arcane class to pick considering his insane amount of attribute points , titles , and achievements . But he didn’t even have two Epic Classes to fall back on , with his human form still being relegated to a Rare class .

Was this some sort of punishment from the System for his heritage? He had already speculated the System had it out for him before , but was it actually true? Or was he still lacking in other departments to the point that he couldn’t even get two Epic classes? Only after a few minutes did he manage to steady his mind and go over the facts .

The situation was disappointing , but Zac believed he had gained a few clues as to how the System would handle his dual classes . The most obvious thing was that it didn’t let him independently pick his two classes , but they rather came in pairs . It meant that his idea of only evolving one class and returning to the Tower that way was out .

The combined class evolution provided a few more clues as well . The most striking thing was the fact that his Fragment of the Axe could not be used as a prerequisite to evolve both his classes .

His struggles were clearly far from over .

Chapter 382 - Enforced Balance

There was no doubt in Zac’s mind that the System had decided that his two class upgrades could not both use the same Daos as a base for its upgrade path . This was by far the most likely reason why he was provided two different options for epic classes for his Undying Bulwark class , but none for his Hatchetman class .

He already knew that the evolution of Undying Bulwark would have to be at least Epic Rarity , which in turn required at least one Dao Fragment to upgrade . That’s why the Fragment of the Axe was - used up’ to provide an option to upgrade his Draugr-Class first .

This forced his Hatchetman to rely on his remaining Dao Seeds for options in what direction to evolve in . The fact that neither Fallen Groveskeeper nor Mountain’s Ward seemed to have any obvious connection to axes was another strong indicator that his theory was correct .

He could also make a decent guess about which Daos were used for which class choices .

Zac guessed that Undying Warlord used his Fragment of the Axe together with the Dao Seeds he got from Undying Bulwark . It would still likely be a class geared toward leading Undead armies , but with a more offensive component added .

That left the seeds of Rot and Trees for Hatchetman , creating the - Fallen Groveskeeper’ class . It also felt like he had the accomplishments for such a class . He had literally created a - fallen grove’ on his property , the hidden valley where corrupted Tree of Ascension stood .

The Curse of Nature seemed to have incorporated Rot and Trees with the Fragment of the Axe instead , leaving hardness to create the Mountain’s Ward in conjunction with his nature-aspected skills . There were a few more possible combinations of Dao Seeds , but Zac guessed he lacked other qualifications to get other class choices .

It did leave him a bit confused about what sort of connection Curse of Nature had with the Fragment of the Axe . Would it be some sort of class that caused corruption and curses with the swing of his axe? He did have a mental component baked into his Axe Fragment come to think of it , the mental heaviness .

What Zac didn’t know was if the System split up everything between his two paths , not only Daos . For example , did the System take half of his accomplishments to evolve Hatcheman , and the other half to evolve Undying Bulwark? It was much harder to figure out what the rules were on something intangible like accomplishments .

Luckily he had some extra merit in the bank from closing the Technocrat incursion , which would hopefully help him out a bit if he found himself lacking in the future . There were also more accomplishments to be had in the Tower of Eternity before he had to pick a class .

Perhaps his current situation was a way for the System to enforce some balance . Having two classes was an almost disgusting advantage , and it was fair enough that he would have to work twice as hard to Evolve both of them to high-quality classes . But it also begged the question of whether he should maintain his goal of getting as high rarities as possible .

He was so far beyond everyone else on Earth , and he had advantages that would make most people in the multiverse green with envy . Yet he hadn’t even managed to get any options to upgrade his classes’ rarity after all he had accomplished . That proved the difficulties surrounding the highest rarities , and he was once again reminded of Alyn’s exhortations of not biting off more than one could chew .

But at the same time , he couldn’t stop himself from being drawn toward the concept of an Arcane class . What was the point of cultivation if not becoming as powerful as possible in order to protect those around you? His classes and the opportunities they provided were a large reason he could defeat even those that possessed equal or even higher attributes than him .

Besides , if he got stuck when evolving to D-Grade in the future he could always head out to adventure and find new opportunities to make up for what he lacked . This time he was pretty much forced to quickly evolve to meet the threats on Earth , but Zac wouldn't be as rushed for time after dealing with the Incursions and the Dominators .

He would have 100 years to slowly and steadily progress , allowing him to push both his Skills and his Daos to the peak before attempting to form his Cultivator's Core .

His options for classes weren’t exactly what he had wished for , but they gave him a good hint in what direction to work in . He felt that his optimal choice was to focus on a Fragment of Death next , or at least some subordinate Dao to the Dao of Death . That way he could use his Fragment of the Axe to upgrade Hatchetman , and the Death-attuned Dao Fragment to upgrade Undying bulwark .

Best of all would certainly be if he could get both fragments , which might at even give him the chance at one Arcane class and one Epic , but he couldn’t be too greedy .

As for the specific classes he was presented , he didn’t analyze them too deeply apart from figuring out why he could choose them . His options would probably change completely the moment he gained another fragment , making it premature to plan his cultivation around the classes he saw now .

He quickly left his private domain to head over to the Thayer Consortia . It was time to finish his preparations .

The brave general returns! - the Sky Gnome said as he handed over a Cosmos Sack . - I bet your name will be used to scare unruly children after the invaders return home . I’ve never heard of anyone singlehandedly closing multiple incursions in one week . -

The Sky Gnome had already prepared a long list of items that Zac would need , containing everything from a wide array of Attuned Crystals to provisions to last for almost a year . Ogras had said that anything could happen inside the Tower , so he had prepared for every contingency he could think of .

Half of them fled the moment it became apparent that I would be able to singlehandedly breach their defensive arrays , - Zac said with a wry smile as he accepted the sack . - The leaders usually fled first , leaving mostly the slaves and non-combat classes to cover their escape . I simply stood and watched for the most part . -

It’s good to have some benevolence , but don’t be complacent when you arrive at the Tower of Eternity , - Calrin said with a serious face . - You will be mixing with all kinds of people , some from terrifying forces , and not everyone will share your kind-hearted mindset . Keep your head down and focus on your task . -

I will be careful , - Zac smiled . - About that money? -

The sky gnome looked a bit queasy , but he transferred over almost 4 billion nexus coins without complaint . It was the combined worth of the sales of his Beast Crystals , along with his accumulated dividends from all the profits the Thayer Consortia had accumulated since the Beast Waves .

Here , take this as well , - Calrin said as he took off a ring from one of his fingers . - It’s something the Thayer Progenitor found during his travels . He sto… discovered this from an ancient gravesite , and it has extremely impressive defensive properties . It can only be used once every year though , so only activate it if you’re all out of options . -

Zac wasn’t too surprised that the Thayer ancestor was a hobbyist grave robber in addition to a merchant after having met his descendants . He gratefully accepted the ring , since one could never have too many aces in a place like the Tower of Eternity .

Thank you , I appreciate it , - Zac said as he put the ring on his right hand .

When are you leaving? - Calrin asked curiously .

In a few hours . I just need to deal with a few matters first , - Zac answered after some thought . - Can you find Ogras to make sure he’s ready as well? -

I’ll find him , he has requested some items as well , - Calrin nodded . - Good luck . And remember , a great leader always has time to earn some money on the side . Keep your eye peeled for good trades! -

There were a few more things to take care of , and the first was to head over to the battlefront . There were a couple of people he needed to speak with , and he began with the Marshall Clan rather than visiting his own army . He was leaving for a while so he felt he should touch base with Thea first .

It had been over a month since they last spoke in person , though he got regular updates on her activities and her army’s situation . He headed over to the battlefront with the help of a Marshall Liaison residing in Port Atwood and was quickly led toward the command tent of the Marshall's allied army .

The army was far larger than Zac had thought , with tents almost reaching the horizon . There had to be at least half a million people in the camp , and Zac didn't understand where she had gotten so many people . But it was good that she had found help against the threat , and he put aside the question as he entered the tent .

There was a middle-aged man who gave off a military vibe standing by a large map , and Thea stood next to him looking slightly troubled . Something had changed about her since he saw her last . She felt harder , and a bit colder compared to before . But Zac wasn’t surprised as war had that effect . He could imagine it was especially demoralizing to be forced to face zombies that were once your people .

The fact that she stayed in a constant cloud of miasma didn’t help either . He had seen the effect the death-attuned energy had on people personally . Zac himself was fine since he could simply cram any errant miasma into his Duplicity core , but others weren’t so lucky . They would first become broody and grim , until they were finally transformed into true zombies .

He could still remember the scene where the poor adventurer finally lost control over the accumulated miasma in his body . And the following scene where his former companions ripped him to pieces to get a hold of his Zombie Core . But Zac could tell that the people he passed in the camp was far from reaching that state , which was a small relief at least .

Long time no see , - Zac said with a small smile as he walked up toward the table .

Indeed . I hear your people have closed the final incursions? - Thea said as she looked up from the table . - Are you preparing to assault the Dead Zone? How can we help? -

Not quite , - Zac sighed . - I need more preparation . -

Every day of delay costs us ten thousand lives , - Thea said with a frown . - And there’s also the issue of the array . -

Port Atwood had immediately sent an update regarding everything they’ve learned about the array the moment Zac turned back , so the Marshall Clan and the Sino-Indian Alliance long knew about it .

We still have a few weeks before the array can activate , especially now that we’ve gotten reinforcements from the Underworld , - Zac said , feeling a bit startled about Thea’s strong reaction .

He knew he had gotten a bit side-tracked with the Underworld and rescuing his army , but the fact remained that he was pretty much on schedule . They had discussed a timeline of up to two months to close all the incursions on the surface , and Zac had completed the task well within those parameters .

At the same time he could understand her sentiment . It was her people , many even from her own family , that kept dying in their continuous effort to keep the zombie horde at bay . He had heard that Thea almost lived out on the battlefield , taking on as much as she could so that as few of her people as possible would die .

It might have felt extremely frustrating to suddenly see Zac’s progress stop after only closing a handful of the incursions on the surface . It was only last week he resumed his work , closing the remaining ones in quick succession . That made the three weeks in-between look particularly suspicious .

But even then things couldn’t be rushed .

We have to be careful about the Undead Empire . They are far beyond any other incursion in power . We need to do everything in our power to improve our odds while we still can , only attacking when we have confidence in success , - Zac said , trying to underscore the importance of taking their time to power up .

I understand , - Thea sighed .

The two kept discussing the war for twenty minutes or so until Zac needed to leave .

Ten days to two weeks . I will launch an all-out assault within that time . I hope I can count on your assistance , - Zac said as he left , leaving the two Marshall Clan members silently looking at his back .

What do you think? - Thea asked as she watched Zac disappear out of sight .

I think he speaks the truth , he doesn’t feel like the scheming type . He needs to do something before evolving , - Mark said after some thought . - All our research does point that evolving to E-Grade is a quick process though , even if you have a high-rarity class . I would guess he has been holding off in order to get a better class . Our liaison mentioned some large event took place at their Academy the other day . -

A better class… - Thea mumbled , some light dimming in her eyes . - But he’s been level 75 for over a month by now while Earth is dying . So it’s for himself in the end… Was I wrong about him? -

Chapter 383 - Final Hours

The meeting with Thea was surprisingly tense , but Zac guessed it wasn’t anything too surprising considering how her last month had been . It was obvious that she was both physically and spiritually exhausted after fighting the zombies for so long . He could only shrug off the uncomfortable feelings as he proceeded with the things on his list .

He visited his settlements one after another to see whether there was anything that required his attention . Luckily things were running quite smooth so far . The former Incursions had vast swathes of unclaimed land around them , and there hadn’t been a single dispute over territory so far . Not that anyone would dare encroach on his domain .

Next he headed over to the Atwood Army , which once again was embroiled in a protracted war against the second undead horde . The soldiers looked at him with awe as he stepped toward the frontline , and he saw Ilvere hurry over from the distance .

Is there something wrong? - the demon asked with confusion since he hadn’t been forewarned about Zac’s arrival .

I’m leaving in a bit , - Zac said after making sure no one else was within earshot . - I thought I could thin the herd a bit for you guys before that . Do you know a good sector to strike? -

The general’s eyes lit up and he immediately started to think of a plan .

I’d stay away from the innermost core , even if I were you . The young master mentioned that there is an extremely strong array in there , he barely got out before it closed in around him . There are a few places we call command clumps in the inner area though . They’re far into the horde , but not so far as you enter the array of Unholy Beacons , - the demon eventually said .

Zac nodded as he had heard Ogras mention it earlier as well . It was the same reason that Thea hadn’t dared another assassination attempt . It was pretty much impossible to head into the core unless you were ready to risk it all in taking the General down , and Zac wasn’t ready to reveal all his cards before fighting the Lich King .

Command clumps? - Zac asked curiously , focusing on what he could help with at the moment .

Clumps with highly intelligent zombies that commands the rest of them . They’re what stopping the stupid ones from simply walking off into the woods . We generally try to find and kill solitary leaders like that to fracture the horde one piece at a time , - the demon said .

Won’t I cause a stampede if I kill a command clump then? - Zac asked skeptically .

The clump is surrounded by the strongest zombies . If you kill them as well only the rabble will remain , - Ilvere said . - We will be able to handle the weaker ones now that we have the underworld army to help . -

How have things been working out with the Council so far? - Zac asked .

The Underworld Council was the last thing he needed to check in on before returning to Port Atwood . The Atwood Army relied on the strength of the Councilors to keep the Undead General in check . Now that Alea was out of commission only Janos and Ilvere remained . Both had gotten a decent power-up from the Dao Funnel , but they also had a much lower starting point compared to the Undead Empire .

They alone weren't a strong enough deterrent , but with ten councilors to help out , even the undead General would have to think twice before moving out .

They are competent fighters , - Ilvere said with approval . - Much better than the rabble of the Sino-Indian Alliance . But they are also holding back , and they appear to have sent out quite a few scouting parties toward the wilderness . -

They’re no doubt looking for places to set up proper towns , - Zac said , before changing topic . - By the way , how’s your progress on Cyclic Strike] coming along? -

I’ve mastered it , thanks to the opportunity you and the young master presented , - Ilvere said with some pride . - I managed to push both my Daos to Peak mastery . Everything went extremely smoothly after that . As soon as my soul healed I tried it out , and it almost came naturally , as though the two Daos wanted to form a cycle on their own accord . -

The mouth of Zac started to twitch with some annoyance since he couldn’t say that he had enjoyed the same success the past days . He had renewed his efforts of mastering Cyclic Strike] now that both his Seed of Trees and Rot were at peak mastery . But his control hadn’t really improved at all , and he wasn’t even halfway to being able to activate the skill properly , let alone using it in a fight .

Was this the result of having 0 affinity with the Daos? Was he forced to stay a dumb brute who had to smash his head against every trial that came his way? Was the path of the refined cultivator forever out of his grasp?

He had the demon display the strike a few times , and Zac had to admit that its might was a bit shocking . It almost felt like the large metal ball was infused with a Dao Fragment rather than two Dao Seeds as it shot out in the direction that Ilvere targeted , and the power was enormous for someone at Ilvere’s level .

Yrial had said that the attack was nothing much , but was he simply saying that from the perspective of a C-Grade hegemon? Cyclic Strike] was not too important for Zac who already possessed a real Dao Fragment by now , but what if he managed to form the Life/Death Fragments? How powerful would the skill be if it was powered by Fragments rather than Seeds?

Zac kept having Ilvere repeat the strike over and over , and he asked all kinds of questions to make sense of why the demon mastered the skill so effortlessly . He asked about everything from how he controlled his Mental Energy to even minor details like how he breathed during the infusion .

Zac was determined to learn the skill during his stay in the Tower . If he couldn’t manage that much in 100 days he might as well jump into a well and stay there out of shame .

He didn’t immediately find out any solution to his inability to combine his two Daos , but he did get a few clues on how to act going forward . It was all he could do for now , and he returned to the subject of thinning out the zombie horde .

It quickly became apparent that they would need the assistance of the Underworld Council if Zac started rampaging inside the horde , so Zac set off to the nearby , and much larger , camp belonging to the Council . He was immediately showed inside a command tent with great courtesy , and he spotted a few familiar faces there .

I barely see any of the molemen around? - Zac asked with confusion after going through the customary greetings . - I thought they’d jump at the opportunity to see the sky again after all this time . -

Old habits die hard , - Lararia , one of the molemen councilors , said . - We have lived beneath the surface for thousands of years . The darkness and stone have become part of us . Not all are ready to leave their sanctuary just yet , or perhaps ever . -

I see , - Zac slowly nodded , understanding their feeling .

The concept of - home’ was something built into one’s wiring , and Zac had felt slightly oppressed the whole time he spent down in the tunnels . Coming back to the surface was like he could suddenly breathe again , so he could understand how the opposite held true for the molemen . Perhaps his dreams of creating large underwater towns would end up as a pipe dream unless he could find some amphibious races to join his force .

So what brings you here today? - another councilor asked .

I will be busy taking care of a few unavoidable matters for a bit over a week , - Zac explained . - So was planning on thinning the horde a bit before I leave . I was hoping I could count on your cooperation . -

No problem . These undead have proven a great whetstone for our armies , - Lararia said without hesitation . - We don’t mind getting our blades wet some more . -

Zac nodded in thanks and immediately set out after ironing out the details of his assault . Ilvere had already prepared his people , so Zac didn't go back to the Atwood camp . He put on the amulet he got from Ogras back then and flashed straight into the huge sea of zombies , and he found himself mostly unencumbered .

The both good and somewhat frustrating thing about the zombie horde was that it wasn’t tightly clumped . It allowed Zac to simply walk between the millions of undead who were just milling around , but it drastically decreased the lethality of any area attacks aimed to take out a lot of them in one go . It was nothing like the tightly cramped zombie hordes you could see in the movies where they were crammed together like sardines .

He couldn’t be sure whether it was the efficacy of the amulet , or if the general had already decided to not meet Zac’s head-on , but Zac managed to find the clump without much hassle and unleashed the first two stages of Deforestation] , causing a huge swathe of scorched corpses .

Just as Ilvere warned chaos immediately ensued , but Zac stayed on for another hour to rip apart the larger clumps of Zombies with his fractal blades . However , even if he wanted to take this opportunity to get more accustomed to his Fragment of the Axe he chose to not display it here , and he also refrained from using Hatchetman's Spirit] and his Undying Bulwark class .

He wanted to keep his aces hidden for the final clash in the Dead Zone in a few weeks .

Between the coordinated efforts of Zac , his army , and the Underworld Council a week’s worth of zombies were felled in the span of a few hours . Zac wanted to do more , but he needed to get going . He could only pray that his small help on the frontline would give his people a breather and delay the terraforming a day or two .

He returned to Port Atwood and gave some instructions to Adran and Abby , and he also took the opportunity to plunder the town coffers of another 800 million nexus coins . The money came from a mix of taxes and sales of Nexus Crystals , along with some plundered wealth from the underworld .

His final destination was the secluded valley between the mountain , and Zac was happy to see that Calrin already had accomplished his task . Alea’s crystal coffin was shrouded in a green mist that seeped out from a grate next to her , and even the poisoned Tree of Ascension seemed to benefit from the Amanita's mist .

Zac didn't say anything as he looked down at Alea who seemed to simply sleep in her crystal encasing . She neither looked better or worse compared to when he saw her last , which Zac guessed was the best he could hope for . A tired sigh escaped from his lips as he lightly touched the coffin before he left .

He had finally crossed off everything on his list , allowing him to head to the Tower of Eternity with a clear mind . For the people of Port Atwood he would only be gone for 10 days at the most , but for him it would be over a hundred days . He didn’t want to carry a nagging feeling that he had missed something for such a long time .

He finally returned to his compound and found both Emily and Kenzie in his sister’s courtyard . The three had a dinner where the two seemed to compete in bragging of who had the greatest gains from the Dao House . Zac was relieved to hear that both of them were doing good , and it seemed that everyone had already woken up from their comas by now .

There was still the issue of latent dangers , but at least it seemed like a possibility that people’s souls had simply been overtaxed after being forced to ponder on the Dao too intensely . Luckily even those who had fallen unconscious had made great gains , and there were now over 15 people from Port Atwood on the Dao Ladder .

His sister had even managed to crash into the 6th position , while Joanna just missed the top ten at 11th . Emily , who had chosen to use her real name for the ladder , was currently in the 87th position . She would likely have been a lot further ahead if it wasn’t for her late start .

It felt good to have a relaxed meal , but Zac knew he couldn’t put things off any longer . He finally headed toward his courtyard to meet up with Ogras , with the two girls following behind .

The demon already stood ready , but no one else was there to see them off . Only a very select number of people knew that Zac was about to leave Earth for a bit as Zac was afraid someone would use his absence to cause damage to Port Atwood or his people . He wanted to use his identity as a deterrent even when he wasn’t around .

He took one last look in his Cosmos Sacks to make sure that he hadn't missed anything , before nodding at the demon .

Stay safe , both of you , - Kenzie said . - And you know… See if you can find any news of her? -

I will , - Zac said with a smile as he crushed the token while placing his hand on Ogras’ shoulder . - Take care of things while I am gone , ok? -

He looked at his sister for ten seconds as the space around them started to shudder and twist until the System swallowed the two to send them on their way .

Chapter 384 - Apparitions

Zac had expected to be stuck in darkness for a prolonged duration , but the two appeared almost immediately some distance away from the base of an enormous set of stairs . Transportation that the System provided itself sure was different Zac reckoned as he looked around to get his bearings .

People kept appearing around him as well , most of them looking quite young . Some looked around in confusion and wonder just like himself , while others immediately started to ascend the steps after orienting themselves . Zac's eyes followed the stairs until his eyes finally reached the crest .

Holy crap , - Zac muttered as his eyes tried to compute was in front of him .

Pretty impressive , yeah? - Ogras echoed as he looked up at the Tower of Eternity in wonder .

They were currently standing at what seemed to be an endless square , as there was nothing in all directions apart from the people who kept appearing out of thin air . This whole space seemed to be made solely for one thing ; the Tower of Eternity . Its name was truly apt as it really towered into space itself , breaking all logic and convention .

The tower itself was a pristine white and completely without adornments as far as Zac could tell from this distance . There were no windows and no decor , and it didn’t get any thinner at the top . It essentially looked like a massive tube made from marble , but Zac had trouble getting any sense of its actual size . He could only confirm that it spanned at least a couple of kilometers in width .

As for its height , it was impossible to tell .

The tower itself didn’t look very impressive apart from its mindboggling size , but that wasn’t the only magical thing about it . Mysterious lights trailed along its massive surface , causing a beautiful spectacle that stirred something in Zac's soul . It was like a subdued but never-ending firework show that brightened up the sky .

It reminded Zac a bit of the gaudy display of his own Towers of Myriad Dao , but there was a vast difference in their essence . The lights that Brazla conjured around the Dao Repository felt empty and pretentious , but it was completely different with the radiance around the Tower of Eternity .

It was as though the lights were communicating the Grand Dao itself , and Zac’s mind shuddered slightly when he watched them . Zac finally understood that the original Brazla had tried to imitate the Tower of Eternity when he created his Dao Repository , but only managed to project a cheap copy .

Zac had a feeling that if he observed the lights for a few months it wouldn’t be impossible to gain a completely new Dao Seed . The sight made Zac better understand why almost everyone stayed for the full year inside the Base Town if they could . Just living next to the tower itself was a precious opportunity .

But the divine lights suddenly disappeared and were instead replaced by an impossibly large snake that coiled around the tower . It was majestic beyond comprehension , and Zac couldn’t stop gaping like a fool as he watched it stretch its scaled head toward the sky .

The snake actually had a horn on its head , and Zac could barely distinguish some sort of fractals covering it but it was too far to discern any details . It was a shame , as he felt that the inscriptions on the horn contained shocking insights into the Dao .

Everyone around them had stopped what they were doing as well and looked at the snake with rapt attention . A few people even seemed to have been struck by an epiphany as they quickly closed their eyes , delight clear on their faces . The mythological beast only appeared for a minute or so before it dissipated , and was once again replaced by the mysterious light .

A flood dragon , - Ogras muttered . - I think that is the 38th level? Pretty auspicious to see a sign the moment we arrive . -

What do you mean? - Zac asked curiously , finally taking his eyes off the tower in the distance . - I thought there were only 9 floors? -

Well , each floor has nine subfloors , each a world in of itself , so most people simply count it as there being 81 levels , - Ogras explained . - The 38th level means that someone has completed the first four floors and another two levels before exiting . -

Apparitions appear when people pass specific floors , and there are a few rules to it , - the demon added . - It essentially showcases that a powerhouse just completed his climb in the tower . -

Aren’t there always powerhouses undertaking the trial? - Zac asked with confusion . - Wouldn’t people get blinded by constant apparitions , especially if the time inside the tower is accelerated . -

Zac heard a few snorts from around him and noticed that a few cultivators looked at him like he had a hole in his head . He even heard someone mutter - country bumpkin’ under his breath , no doubt talking about him . Even Ogras looked over at Zac with exasperation .

Don’t underestimate the difficulty of the Tower of Eternity , especially the 36th floor and beyond . I only barely made it past the 27th because my grandpa spent a good chunk of his life savings on me gaining a good score , - Ogras whispered .

But still , - Zac said .

If you stay here for a year you might see one of the apparitions between the 36th and 40th levels a few times a week , so it’s nothing too exciting , - a voice drifted over and Zac looked over to see a young man with a bow strapped to his back smiling in their direction . - But the others are pretty rare . -

Oh? - Zac said with interest .

This is my second time here . Last time I saw the apparitions for the 45th level ten times during the year I stayed here , which meant someone passed the 5th floor . The last level of each floor represents a huge spike in difficulty , so it’s a tremendous achievement , - the man explained .

Zac looked at the man with some confusion before he understood what he meant . The tower of eternity possessed 9 true floors , each of which had 9 subfloors . That meant that the 45th level was the final subfloor of the 5th floor , and the next true floor ended at the 54th level .

I also was lucky enough to see an apparition for the 52nd floor , - the man said , seemingly enjoying Zac’s attention .

And for higher floors like 54th and beyond? - Zac asked with interest .

No , that’s something that you might only see by chance . It doesn’t even happen once every ten years , - the bowman said with a shake of his head . - But you never know . One of my family’s ancestors had the fortune of witnessing the apparition for the 63rd floor , that's a grand occasion taking place only once every few millennia . -

Zac’s brows rose in surprise when he learned of the details . Apparitions above the 54th level happened every decade or so , but the 63rd was once every couple of thousands of years? That was over a hundred times more difficult from the time it took . Then what about the 72nd level? The young ranger seemed to understand Zac's thoughts , and he was obviously happy to showcase his expertise .

You’re wondering about the higher tiers , right? The last time an apparition for the 63rd level appeared was around 4600 years ago now . It was actually a loose cultivator called Parvan Beradan , though most know him as Lord Beradan now that he’s become a C-Grade Lord . As for the 72nd level? - the young man said , pausing for dramatic effect .

That was the Eveningtide Asura . -

Both Zac and Ogras blankly looked at the young man after his grand proclamation , neither of them ever having heard that name before . The ranger seemed a bit embarrassed about the lack of reaction , and he coughed while scratching his chin . But just as he was about to explain the origin of the so-called Asura , an attendant stepped up to his side .

Young Master , your reception is waiting , - the young girl next to him discreetly said .

The man gave a start before he sighed with annoyance .

Anyway! - he said as he started to move away from Zac and Ogras . - Witnessing those top apparitions is an opportunity that one can hope for , but never control . If you need to stock up on goods or intelligence before you try your luck in the tower , remember to visit the Trentach Society! -

After that the ranger started ascending the stairs with rapid steps , and a retinue of ten people quickly followed behind . Only then did Zac realize that the people around him were all elites that completed a quest for the tokens . But even elites who qualified to get a token were only assistants to that guy , so they might just have met a bigshot .

Zac’s eyes followed their figures as they pushed forward , and he realized that the endless stairs simply led up to a vast plateau that the tower itself stood on . The plateau itself was crafted from some black stone , and Zac guessed it was a few kilometers in height . The only reason it didn’t feel so massive was since its size was dwarfed by the tower itself .

Well , let’s go , - Ogras said with a shrug . - And remember to keep a low profile . There’s no law and no restrictions here , and anyone can be a true monster . -

That guy told us to visit his store . Do people live here permanently? - Zac asked as the two started to walk up the stairs .

The steps were hundreds of meters wide , so it wasn’t cramped in the slightest even though quite a few people were appearing on the platform .

Rydel and I were the only ones who had gone to the Tower in my family among those who entered the Incursion , and no one had gone for well over a decade before us , - Ogras said . - But some forces are so big that they always have some people here . Maintaining a compound or a business here is a show of strength since it proves that the force is flourishing with young talents . -

So any place up there is controlled by some real powerful families? - Zac asked with a whistle .

Not all , - Ogras corrected him . - The top forces control the structures closest to the entrance of the towers . But most buildings don't have a permanent owner , especially at the outer parts of the town . Anyone could live or set up a temporary business there if they want , and close it down when they leave this place . -

The two kept walking and soon enough they reached the summit of the plateau . A sprawling town full of palaces and luxuriant compounds entered his eyes , and it felt extremely bustling . The architecture was extremely varied as well , making Zac believe that the System had simply stolen a bunch of large mansions from different parts of the multiverse .

There was no way that there was a single society that had created all these buildings . But even though the mansions and storefronts varied in both style and size it all seemed to blend perfectly into some sort of cultural melting-pot . It also wasn't cramped at all , with the streets being over a hundred meters wide .

Even though there were dozens of people ascending the stairs at any moment , the enormous town didn't seem to have any trouble swallowing them all . Some walked in certain directions with purpose , while others simply chose to meander around . The new arrivals were walking along both in groups or alone , and Zac was shocked to see some of the creatures .

The cultivators they passed came in all shapes and forms , including quite a few Humans . Zac already knew that humans were one of the most populous races in the multiverse , but yet it was a bit mindblowing to see all these humans who were probably from all corners of the universe .

It was a far cry from how many believed that Earth might be the only planet housing life back in the day .

Still , humans were only a somewhat large minority in the mix of people around . Zac couldn’t help look over at a dour contingent of undead warriors silently walking toward the center of the town , all of them releasing dense clouds of miasma to avoid the Cosmic Energy in the environment .

Most cultivators took a wide berth around them , some out of fear and others not wanting to get sullied by the death-attuned energy . There were also enormous golems , flying pixies only as large as a hand , and all kinds of other odd beings .

There was one thing that essentially looked like a flying disco ball , and it slowly flew forward with a low hum . There were also a couple of Stargazers as well , and when Zac accidentally looked into their cosmic eye he couldn’t help but twitch a bit as his mind got a small shock .

He remembered that these guys almost always used mental classes , and just looking into one's eye was to ask for trouble even if they weren't hostile . Abby was different since she was an administrator without any combat capabilities .

Zac also noted with some interest that the groups of cultivators were more diverse than he had expected . He had thought he might stick out by traveling together with a demon , but he realized that was an unnecessary worry . At least a third of all groups were comprised of a mix of races , so they weren’t exactly unique .

But even though all these diverse groups of people were put on the same street it was all surprisingly harmonious . There should be quite a few grudges between races , especially with the System’s instigation , but people seemed to get along just fine .

Of course , Zac believed that this serenity was only the surface of the Base Town .

Chapter 385 - Protect Your Wallet

It’s pretty quiet , I thought things would get rowdier if there were no laws , - Zac said with a low volume to Ogras as they walked down the seemingly endless road leading toward the tower .

Everyone here is an elite of their force , bringing hidden aces to climb as far as possible in the tower . Only a real mouthbreather would risk their lives against enemies of unknown power for no reason . This might be the only chance they have to come here , most people are only concerned to gain strength before evolving , - the demon responded . - Of course , there are always some who were just born without a brain . -

Zac followed Ogras’ gaze and saw a scene where three burly beastkin cultivators seemingly had bumped into a group of hooded beings that were shorter than a meter in height . Even Calrin was slightly taller than the diminutive cultivators who covered their appearance . The beastmen towered above them like giants and they seemed to be rearing for a fight .

Look where you walk you little shits , - one of the beastmen growled as it threw a forceful kick . - You puny things should scurry in the sewers like the other rats . -

Zac could sense that the power of the beastman wasn’t too bad , and his kick was even imbued with some Dao seed that was at least middle stage . But the kick was forcibly stopped by the small hand of the leading hooded cultivator .

A shockwave erupted from the clash , but Zac noted with interest that its power was quickly swallowed by the atmosphere , and not even those standing within 5 meters were affected apart from a small flutter of their clothes . If such a collision took place on Earth it would have been able to topple trees over twenty meters away .

The beastman seemed shocked how effortlessly the little cultivator stopped his kick , and he hurriedly took out a large axe with some fear in his eyes . However , before he even had time to swing the group of hooded cultivators disappeared , only to reappear again at the same spot a second later . As for the three beastmen ; they stood frozen for a second before their bodies started to fall apart into neatly separated chunks .

Zac looked at the beastmen , knowing they were deader than dead . He had barely been able to see what the hooded creatures did , but he realized they were actually some sort of small beastkin that all focused on Dexterity . They hadn’t used weapon when dissecting their bulkier brethren , but rather a set of sharp claws on their furry hands .

The people in the surroundings didn’t care in the slightest that a murder had taken place just in front of them . Not even the other beastman in the area lifted a brow when seeing their kin get slain . They rather looked down at the killed beastmen like they were idiots , and Zac had to agree . You would have to be extremely powerful or extremely stupid to harass people in a place like this .

Interestingly enough the blood and the bodies of the killed cultivators turned into motes of light that soon enough dissipated , and only the cosmos sacks were left behind . One of the hooded cultivators snatched them up before the group walked away without a care , walking toward the inner parts of the city .

Some people come here without a real understanding of the world , thinking they’re unbeatable , - Ogras snorted with a shake of his head . - Let’s go . -

Weren't those small guys supposed to be suppressed or something? - Zac asked curiously as he took a last look at the beastmen .

The larger ones attacked first , so whatever happened next was counted as Self Defense by the Ruthless Heavens , - Ogras smiled . - So remember , if you want to kill someone try to make them hit you first , even if it's just a shove . Then you can kill them without any repercussions . This is another reason why there's so little fighting . -

Even if you win , as long as you hit first you will still get hunted down , right? - Zac confirmed .

Right , - Ogras nodded as he kept walking . - There is an exception though , but it doesn't relate to us . You can simply follow the rule to not hit first and we'll be fine . -

Where are we heading? - Zac asked as he walked along .

You said we only have ten days here at most , so we better make the most of it , - Ogras said . - First off , let’s get something to eat . I haven’t had a decent meal since I arrived at your godforsaken planet . -

Zac stopped in his tracks and gave the demon an even stare , making Ogras roll his eyes in exasperation .

We need to get a feel of the current situation here . Listening in on the discussion at a tavern is a good way to get some of the latest gossip of the area , - the demon snorted . - It might allow us to save a lot of money to learn what we need to know . Information brokers are pretty damn expensive . -

Zac reluctantly agreed with Ogras even if he felt the urge to start running back and forth to complete all his various goals of coming here . There was so much to do , with helping Alea and learning more about his Specialty Core being the top priorities before entering the Tower itself . So it was with some reluctance he let the demon drag him to a decently sized open-air restaurant roughly halfway between the stairs and the tower .

This is roughly the halfway point , - Ogras said as they walked inside the huge courtyard of the restaurant . - The buildings from here on out generally have permanent owners . Of course , if you feel the need you can always take a building by force . But there is no point in us doing that even if we have the strength to do so . -

It was completely packed , but the two luckily managed to get a table in the back . Almost the moment the two sat down a golem arrived and gave them each a crystal containing the menu . Zac curiously looked at the waiter , but it stood unmoving until the demon placed a round of orders for the two . Only then did it slightly bow before wordlessly walking away .

…It’s a puppet? - Zac finally asked as he looked at the dozens of golems walking around between the tables .

Yes . Only elites can come here , so most businesses use puppets or arrays rather than living personnel . I hear that the elite stores right by the tower entrance have living waiters , but that’s not the kind of place we can freely enter , - Ogras muttered .

Why not? - Zac asked , not understanding why they couldn't shop where they wanted .

This version of the tower is low-tiered , but the strongest forces here are still Peak C-Grade . Getting involved with those kinds of people before we have some sort of backing won’t end well , - Ogras explained . - Besides , most of the top tier establishments require referrals or things like that . -

Isn't the point of coming here making a connection with those kinds of forces? - Zac asked skeptically .

No , - Ogras said with a shake of his head . - It's better to look for a weaker force in my opinion . A strong Early C-Grade or weak Middle C-Grade force might be best . They will be strong enough to rebuff that old goat , but not so strong that we'll be forced into a situation we can't dig ourselves out of . -

Zac slowly nodded , feeling it made sense . Yrial had full confidence in killing a Peak D-Grade powerhouse even if he was just a soul fragment . It went to show what a huge difference it was between D-Grade and C-Grade . A live C-Grade Hegemon would probably have no problem dealing with The Great Redeemer even if he was stuck in the early stages .

Besides , those peak forces are millions of years old . What elites haven't they seen before? There's no guarantee they'd bother recruiting you even if you passed the 6th floor , - Ogras added after a thought . - Even if you're a monster in human skin you're still a mortal . -

Zac ignored the demon's insult as he suddenly realized something odd about what the demon said earlier .

This version? - Zac asked with confusion .

The tower services the whole multiverse , how could all the young elites fit in this small town? - Ogras snorted . - There are innumerable Base Towns where elites of the same sector gather . -

Sort of like the incursion forces? - Zac mumbled , remembering that only forces in the same star sector got the opportunity to invade earth .

Yes , though the area for who gets teleported here is a lot larger , - Ogras shrugged . - At least I saw more forces I didn’t recognize than ones I knew last time . Its scope is quite large . -

So , the forces we're looking to ally with are locals? - Zac asked . - Are they staying here or further inside the town? -

Yes they are , but we'll deal with all that after you’ve proven your worth by summoning a top tier apparition in the sky , - Ogras shrugged . - For now we’ll be treated like garbage if we go there , and might even get ourselves killed . Remember , those places likely have a bunch of treasures that aren’t suppressed like in the tower . -

Zac nodded in agreement . He also felt it was no point to sound out strong backers before he had proven himself in the tower . That way he wouldn't need to divulge any of his titles or attributes . He could simply point to the apparition he created with his tower run , and it would vouch for his power .

There were a lot more things Zac wanted to ask about now that he had a better understanding of what sort of place they had arrived at , but just as he was about to ask another question he noticed a squirrely human look in their direction . He was a pure human just like Zac and looked to be somewhere in his thirties .

It wasn't anything too surprising , but most people looked quite young . Looking a bit older could be a sign that they weren't very powerful and had been stuck at F-Grade for a few decades . But it could also mean that he was someone like Zac himself , someone who only evolved his race a bit later than normal .

Some might spend a decade or two perfecting their Daos or gathering achievements , as not all could have direct access to Origin Dao like Zac and Ogras did . So looking even older than Zac was a bit out of the norm , but not unseen . There were even a few people looking middle-aged in the area , though those were likely people who had been stuck on a bottleneck for most of their lives .

When the man noticed Zac’s stare he immediately started to walk over to their table . Zac frowned slightly , afraid that trouble had already found them for some reason . Was that man someone from one of the incursions that he had closed? But Zac didn't sense any danger from the man , and he gave a weak smile when he arrived .

I am sorry . It seems quite crowded here today . Would you mind if I imposed on the two young masters? I am Galau of Clan Beroria by the way , from the Allbright Empire , - he said .

Zac’s brows rose when he heard of the all too familiar empire , and he immediately indicated for the man to sit down . What were the chances of meeting a countryman of Average and Greatest? He had been thinking of the Allbright Empire often since meeting those two , mainly because he had a standing invitation of Greatest .

It might just have been an offering made out of politeness , but if Zac actually showed up at their doorstep Greatest would hopefully at least be able to arrange something that would help him in his cultivation . Such a powerhouse no doubt had a large network of connections , and he might even be able to introduce Zac to a force that could keep The Great Redeemer at bay .

Greatest was also someone who already knew of his Specialty core but hadn't made any attempts to snatch it , which was Zac's biggest fear in dealing with the powerhouses of the multiverse . He even went so far as to give him his bracer , which was something that he still wore every day to maintain his secrecy .

I’m Zac , - Zac simply said , not explaining his origins any further . - This is Ogras . -

Nice to meet you , I’ll order a round as thanks for your hospitality . Have you been here long? - Galau asked .

We haven’t entered the Tower yet , if that’s what you’re asking , - Ogras snorted .

No , no , I am just making conversation , - Galau said with some embarrassment . - I have been frequenting this restaurant for a few months , but it is the first time I see the two young sirs . But I can already tell you're two people destined for greatness . -

Zac and Ogras gave each other a weird look before the demon leaned over .

Protect your wallet and your butt , - the demon muttered with a guarded expression .

Chapter 386 - Galau

I am sorry , I am flattered but I am interested in the fairer sex , - Ogras said without waiting for Galau to speak up again . - As for this guy , I’m not sure? I think he’s converted to ascetic cultivation for some reason . -

Galau blankly looked at Ogras for a few seconds , obviously unable to compute what the demon was talking about .

What? No! I like . . I like the ladies as well , - Galau stammered . - I was just making conversation . I have been here for so long and it simply gets a bit tedious after a while , so I like making new friends . -

Oh , how long have you been here? - Zac asked with interest .

He knew that Ogras hinted at the fact that Galau might be a scammer , but Zac didn’t care . He was interested in learning more about the Allbright Empire , and they were in need of information . If this guy had been here for a while he surely had a general sense of the situation .

I only have a month before I need to leave this place , - the man sighed . - It’s a shame . There are not many places where so many forces can gather and display their wares . Interesting treasures and techniques keep appearing in the auction houses . -

Zac could only shake his head with a wry smile . There was nothing to gain by comparing oneself to others . This man seemed to have taken his visit to the Tower as an opportunity to relax and do some shopping , while Zac was here to fight for the future of his planet . But someone like this could be quite useful as well .

So you’re knowledgeable about the shops in the Base Town? - Zac asked curiously .

I have gained some understanding of what’s available , except what’s in stock in the top tier firms , - Galau nodded .

How are the auction schedules? Are there any interesting ones coming up? - Ogras immediately asked with a twinkle in his eyes .

Interesting Auctions? - Galau thoughtfully repeated . - I hear that a main branch member of the Talovor Trappings arrived a week ago , they are holding an auction of their wares in three days . -

What kind of wares? - Ogras asked .

Mainly wearable treasures . Rings , Amulets , bracelets . That family consists of both craftsmen and traders , and they almost only sell their own wares . Their specialty is defensive treasures , so I expect the auction will turn quite heated , - Galau dutifully explained .

Zac nodded in understanding . Ogras had already explained that defensive treasures and arrays were suppressed in the Tower , but not completely . Having a great defensive treasure could still save your life or allow you to reach a higher floor . It was no wonder that such things would be in high demand at a place like this .

Normally Zac wouldn’t mind spending some of his money on defensive treasures to supplement those he had , but he was hesitant to spend too much money until he managed to get his hands on his top priority items ; medicine for Alea and a shield .

Do these Talovor sell shields as well? - he probed .

Like physical ones? - Galau asked with surprise . - No . They focus on consumable and rechargeable defensive treasures . For a shield you would either have to find a blacksmith outside of this place or hope that one appears at the general auctions . The System gives them out sometimes as quest rewards to people who don't want them , and they sell them here to make some money . -

Zac only sighed in understanding , not too surprised about what Galau said . It was essentially the same as what Calrin had mentioned before . Most good shields were custom-made since they were so expensive .

Anything else? - Ogras probed .

Let’s see… - Galau muttered as his brows furrowed . - The Naspheyi clan holds a weekly auction , the next one is tomorrow evening . The quality of the auction can vary a lot , but it’s never too bad . Sometimes amazing items appear as well . Visiting cultivators usually go to them to sell off items they don’t need in order to gather money for other treasures before attempting the climb . There are a few more places like this , but Naspheyi is generally the most reputable among those open to the public . -

Zac shot a look at Ogras , only to see the demon’s eyes glazing over . Zac finally remembered that attending auctions was one of Ogras' favorite pastimes back in the day , and he sighed with exasperation . The demon was supposed to be helping with information gathering , but he was daydreaming about going on a shopping spree .

Have you heard of Trentach Society? - Zac asked , remembering the man they met by the stairs .

Trentach? It’s a high-grade general store , - the youth said . - They carry almost everything , but they do not really stand out in any department . Trentach is actually a cooperative venture between eight allied clans who run the store together . None of the clans can be considered a supreme force , but their combined might is nothing to scoff at . -

How do you define the grade of the stores? - Zac asked curiously .

By how close you are to the tower . It’s graded the same as most things , from low to peak . Of course , the grade of a business doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the wares . But it is usually indicative of quality , - Galau explained . - This restaurant could barely be considered medium grade , for example , but their food is above average . -

I am looking for top tier healing treasures , do you know where I could find that? - Zac asked as he kicked the demon under the table to wake him up from his dreams of auctions .

Healing treasures? - Galau repeated with some confusion . - You can get them at any pill shop , they are everywhere . Or do you mean something specific? -

I am looking for something that can heal a fractured soul , - Zac explained , not opting to lie .

There were likely various pills with soul-mending capabilities in the pill shops , but an extraordinary treasure was needed to heal a fractured soul . It wasn’t as simple as a soul wound .

I’m sorry , such treasures are not readily available in even the higher-tiered Pill stores . But I’ve seen things that might work crop up every now and then in the auctions , - Galau said before hesitating . - Of course , there’s always the Zethaya Pill House by the tower entrance , but… -

But what? - Zac asked with a frown .

They are an alchemist family and likely one of the three wealthiest clans among those who control shops by the entrance . They are extremely powerful , but more importantly , they have a vast network of connections , - Ogras spoke up for the first time in a while .

So they have pills for healing souls? - Zac asked . - Then what’s the problem? -

If any shop has it , then it’s that place . But their shop is invitation-only , just like all peak grade stores , - Galau explained . - You can’t just enter at will . There are always people desperate for their pills , but the Zethaya turn them all away . -

Zac frowned , but Ogras nudged him to not keep pressing the issue . He knew he shouldn't make too big a row at a place like this . Besides , these Zethaya people might invite him if he performs impressively enough in the tower . It should be in their interest to form some ties with promising cultivators while they're still young and weak .

We might as well head to the auction tomorrow , - Ogras shrugged . - Even if they don’t have what we need , we might still be able to find some clues . -

Zac nodded in agreement .

Let’s look around today , and we’ll head to the auction tomorrow , - Zac agreed .

Oh , if the two gentlemen are amenable , let me host you tomorrow! I have been awarded a bronze membership due to my regular visits , so you can join me at my table rather than sitting crammed in the back , - Galau enthusiastically said .

Zac looked over with some hesitation at Ogras , who seemed to be a bit confused as well . Why was this guy so helpful to two complete strangers? The universe was seldom so benign . Galau seemed to understand their skepticism , and hurriedly spoke up again .

I promise , I just wish to be a good host . How about this , I will simply meet you outside the venue before it starts tomorrow . There's no way that I could do anything suspicious right in front of the Nespheyi Clan's doors , no? - he hurriedly said . - Besides , going to the auction as a bronze member has various perks , such as additional information on the items for sale , and complimentary liquor . -

Deal , - Ogras said without hesitation .

Excellent! - Galau exclaimed as he raised a glass of some unknown alcohol . - For new friendships . -

The dinner lasted for another hour where Ogras and Zac interrogated Galau for as much information as they could before they split up for the day . Galau initially wanted to accompany them as they walked around Base Town , but the two excused themselves , citing that they needed to get their bearings .

What do you think? - Zac asked as his eyes followed Galau who scurried away after paying the tab in full .

A bored young master who wants to pretend to be a commoner for a day? - Ogras ventured . - In either case , we'll figure it out sooner or later . Between my looks , smarts , charms , and your sturdy body I'm sure we can handle any scheme that guy has planned . So let's just let him pay for our food and drinks . -

Zac snorted in response , but he didn't contradict the demon . He didn't sense any malice from the guy , so he would let things play themselves out . The two spent the next couple of hours looking around in the shops , gathering snippets of intelligence everywhere . It quickly became apparent that Galau had been pretty much accurate in all the information he shared during the dinner .

They found nothing that would help Alea’s condition in the normal stores , even when they went to the upscale establishments in the inner city . Those places had pills that would help with a wounded soul , but not a fractured one , and the two quickly confirmed that their best bet was hoping that someone would put up an item for auction at one of the major houses .

Only when it started to get dark did they decide to find some place to stay . Zac wanted to simply find some empty building in the outer rim , but the demon staunchly refused , citing hours lost every day just walking back and forth to the slums . He wanted to rent a place as far inside as possible , preferably in the inner sector .

Eventually , the two settled on a hotel that covered a huge area at the edge between the middle and the inner zones . It was essentially a gated community where every guest rented their own smaller mansion with its own gardens and arrays . It was extremely tranquil and a perfect spot to meditate during the nights .

What impressed Zac the most was that it actually had a spatial array covering the whole compound , just like the Ayr Hive . The size of the place was at least three times larger when they entered , and the two rented a small mansion for the price of 250 000 Nexus Coins a Day .

It was a steep price , but it was nothing uncommon in this place . Luckily they only planned to stay for ten days . Otherwise just the lodging would have turned into a real sunk cost . According to Galau the buildings starting in the middle of the Base Town came with those arrays from the beginning . They were not something that the owners controlled . That was one of the reasons the inner buildings were so contested .

They contained the best spatial arrays , providing extremely luxurious accommodations to whoever controlled the place . But that wasn’t the most important reason that forces wanted to claim structures as close to the tower as possible . The Cosmic Energy was denser closer to the tower , and Galau said there was even some Origin Dao in the core sector .

Origin Dao was nothing special for Zac or even Ogras by this point , as they came from a newly integrated planet . But for people coming from an established force it might be what would allow them to push their Dao Seeds or Dao Fragments to the next step before entering the Tower .

Some buildings even possessed temporal arrays , though those were only used for business purposes as it was impossible to cultivate inside those structures . The auction houses were a prime example of that . There were a lot of treasures to auction off , but people did not want to spend half a day of their limited time in the Base Town to visit it .

With the help of the arrays they would spend less than an hour in real-time , while still not missing out on the action . Zac couldn’t understand why the System would bother to set things up like this , but he soon understood the motivation . It wanted to create conflict .

As long as there were good lodgings and bad lodgings there would always be covert and overt competition for the best spots .

Chapter 387 - The Naspheyi Clan

It wasn't without reason that Zac believed that the difference in the quality of the lodgings would cause friction . He had already witnessed an attempted take-over of a shop with a decent location at a crossroads with a lot of foot traffic . It was a group of Purple humanoids that tried to snatch it from a group of Golems that reminded Zac of the proprietor of the Merit Exchange .

An intense battle ensued , but the humanoids were eventually forced to give up on their takeover after the shop owner took out an amazing offensive artifact . However , that wasn’t the end of it . Multiple forces assaulted the humanoids the moment that they started to flee . Apparently they would have been safe if their attempt succeeded , but now that they gave up they became fair game .

It was a world where the powerful lived and ate well , while the weak could just look on from the distance . There was no such thing as equality .

The two mainly meditated during the night as they knew that they had almost no chance to evolve their Daos within the Tower itself . The atmosphere in their borrowed garden was quite nice though , and it allowed Zac to freely gaze upon the ever-changing lights surrounding the tower . Unfortunately he didn't gain anything that would allow him to form his second Fragment , but he still had a few days to go .

Zac and Ogras had already decided to enter the tower toward the end of their visit . They could accomplish most of their goals anonymously right now as they didn't know what would happen after climbing the tower . Ogras wasn't completely sure , but he guessed that the current Zac should be able to reach at least the 5th floor , something that was pretty rare all things considered .

It might not sound like much climbing only five out of 9 floors , but that was something that only happened a few times a year among the elites of thousands of planets , and everyone succeeding would cause a certain amount of spectacle . That would ideally result in making connections with stronger forces , but it might also put a target on his back .

So they would only allocate one day after the Tower itself to find a backer , and endeavor to finish most of their purchases before .

The auction they were going to attend didn't take place until the evening , so Zac and Ogras took the time to continue their exploration . Ogras wanted to spend another day 'gathering information' at restaurants , but they instead headed to a reputable information broker in the Inner Zone on Zac's insistence .

There were a lot of things that he needed to know , such as the requirements for Specialty Cores and Arcane classes . Zac had already asked the demon next to him , but he had no idea . Ogras had only gotten annoyed by the questions since they were simply a form of humblebragging in his opinion .

The information merchant was run by a sect rather than a Clan , and they were called Seed of Jnana . Zac was pretty surprised to hear that the sect was actually populated by monks , and it made him think of Abbot Everlasting Peace . Was Lord 84th perhaps someone from this sect? It was a strong C-Grade force according to rumors , and splitting off into a 100 000 incarnations might be the Clan Ancestor's bid at breaking through to B-Rank .

None of the monks were present in the store though , so Zac couldn't make any comparisons to the chubby powerhouse's appearance . They were instead met by a puppet who led them to a private room , and Zac was happy to hear that they did indeed carry the information he was looking for .

A short introduction of Arcane Classes only cost 10 million , probably since it was general knowledge among the more powerful factions . Zac immediately paid for it , and the puppet engraved the knowledge onto a blank Crystal . The puppet didn't immediately give a quote for information about specialty cores though .

Specific or general knowledge? - The puppet asked with a lifeless voice .

General , - Zac answered after some hesitation .

He was currently needed general information about Specialty Cores , as his information was a few snippets of rumors from various sources . Besides , even if this place had information on Duplicity Cores there was no guarantee that it would be relevant for his mutated version .

245 Million Nexus Coins , - the puppet said .

What's included in the report? - Zac said , whinging a bit at the price .

The puppet opened a screen , and a short presentation was included . A decent list of common cores was included , as was a general guide in matching various types of classes with cores . It mentioned there was a long list of successful combinations to prove the theories . But most importantly there were was a general guide in nurturing and evolving cores .

Zac could only bite the bullet and cough up the money since he didn't even know what to look for in his goal of upgrading his core as things stood right now . There was quite a lot of information in the second crystal he bought , but he breathed out in relief when he skimmed to the part about evolving .

He breathed out in relief when he read that Specialty Cores could only be upgraded to a higher rank after one had upgraded one's Class . But at the same time it said that the strength of cores was limited , so they would quickly become too weak to provide any assistance unless you kept them at the same rank as your class .

Zac also had the puppet list all the specific cores it had intelligence on , and he was both relieved and disappointed that there was nothing on the Duplicity core . He wasn't sure if he could handle the cost of a specific knowledge packet if a general one cost that much .

Hopefully , that would mean that the core would still be usable at the start of E-Grade , allowing him to put the matter aside until he dealt with the Undead Empire .

The Naspheyi Auction House was a grand structure three quarters in from the edge of the plateau , placing itself somewhere between the middle and the inner cone . It reminded Zac a bit of the Hagia Sophia , with four grand ornamental towers in the corners and an enormous dome atop the main structure .

When the two approached they saw people streaming toward the Auction House even though it didn’t start until an hour later . Some were perhaps there to enter an item into the auction last minute , but most likely just wanted good seats .

Zac and Ogras weren’t really interested in entering this early , especially since time moved quicker inside . If they entered now they’d be forced to wait half a day before the auction started . So they instead planned to walk around the area to see if they could find anything interesting .

A lot of people were taking advantage of the large draw of the auction house and held impromptu auctions of their own treasures , shouting on top of their lungs to advertise their wares . Some did it because the Auction house didn’t find the treasures precious enough , others were probably unwilling to pay the 10% commission .

Of course , there were a lot of scammers as well , wanting to take advantage of inexperienced people .

Zac and Ogras barely had time to make the rounds before they saw a familiar figure wave at them from the distance , some excitement apparent on his face . Unsurprisingly it was Galau , and it even looked like he had been on the lookout for their arrival .

Just what is this guy’s deal? - Zac mumbled with some bemusement . - Is he lonely? -

I think he is looking for an expert , but he’s running out of time , - Ogras said with a half-smile .

An expert for what? -

Someone to help him reach a higher floor than what he would be able to reach himself , - Ogras said . - Strong people often do that for payment . -

So like what you’re expecting me to do for you , but without pay? - Zac snorted .

Our situation is different . What’re a few floors between friends? - Ogras said as he shot Zac a toothy grin .

If it’s something common there should be a market for it , no? Most people wouldn’t turn down free money if they were strong enough , - Zac said , even thinking if it was possible for himself to make some money on the side .

My guess? He seems to enjoy the auctions , and he has already spent the money that was meant for a carry , - Ogras shrugged . - So now he’s looking for some strong-looking hillbilly’s to do it on the cheap . -

It’s also possible that he’s offended someone , and no one wants to stick their neck out just for some extra income . So he’s forced to skulk around new arrivals in a circumspect manner , looking for someone who could take him up . We are probably not the first people he has approached if that's the case . -

So we should distance ourselves from him? - Zac asked . - We already have enough on our plates as it is , no need to take on additional problems . -

No need , if my guess is true he’s desperate , and he’ll be far more helpful than even an information merchant . If we get confronted later we can simply proclaim ignorance and simply point to the fact that we just arrived , - Ogras smiled . - For now let's enjoy his Bronze Ticket and free liquor . -

Zac sighed , but he eventually complied with Ogras’ idea . It was not even certain what the demon speculated was correct , and if he started to act on every little suspicion it would become impossible to get anything done . It was just as possible that the guy was simply lonely after staying here for months and wanted to make new friends .

Wait , - Zac suddenly said . - You said that your Grandpa spent a huge amount of money for you to climb to the third floor? Did you simply pay someone to carry you? -

Of course , - Ogras snorted . - I was only level 54 at the time . What do you think , that I would rush inside there on my own? I had only just formed my first Dao Seed at that point . -

So it wasn’t actually with your own power you got to the third floor , - Zac snorted . - That wasn’t how you made it sound before . -

I would be able to conquer the third floor with my own prowess by now , so what does it matter , - Ogras muttered , looking a bit glum . Clearly this was a bit of a sore topic for the proud demon .

After I’ve provided you with all kinds of opportunities , Zac lampooned in his mind , but he didn’t bring it up . No one had worked harder for Port Atwood than Ogras , after all .

In the end the two decided to head over to Galau , who excitedly led them around the area full of hawkers displaying their wares . The two didn’t really find any great deals , but Zac bought a decent number of Divine Crystals from a Golem who sold them for 10% cheaper than what Calrin charged .

Ogras also bought a slab of metal , which was apparently complementary to what his black spear was made from . Perhaps he wanted to have some of the material on hand in case he found someone that could upgrade it or even turn it into a proper Spirit Tool .

But neither was ready to buy any valuable treasures outside since they didn’t possess as discerning an eye as Calrin . Galau seemed somewhat proficient at inspecting treasures , but the two wouldn’t put their trust and wallets in the hands of someone they just met .

Soon enough the trio entered the massive Auction Center , and Galau kept trying to make a good impression as he immediately forked out the 200 000 Nexus Coin entrance fee for both of them . Zac was surprised when he heard the price , and he couldn’t help but look around at the sea of people entering the building .

The Naspheyi Clan held an auction like this every week , and according to Galau they also held a few major auctions a year that were even grander . On top of that they took a 10% commission on every sale that took place , though that fee could probably be negotiated down . He couldn’t imagine just how rich these guys were .

Of course , most of the entrance fee probably went into keeping the Temporal array active during the auction . The System set them up , but they still required crystals to run . But he wouldn't be surprised if the Clan still made billions of Nexus Coins every week .

The Naspheyi is an ancient martial clan whose ancestor is reported to be Mid or High C-Grade . Their family members generally use spears , - Galau explained when Zac probed about their heritage .

It’s not a mercantile clan? - Zac asked with interest .

Most huge clans would have some businesses to provide the resources for cultivation . To be a cultivator is to be forced into poverty , always scrambling for resources , - Galau said . - But they are mainly a martial clan . This auction house is one of their main sources of income , and they are pretty ruthless with anyone trying to take it away from them . -

Zac nodded and looked around the venue . It was simply enormous inside , and he realized this place was just more than an Auction venue . There were multiple restaurants and bars , and Zac’s eyes widened when he saw that there was even a brothel .

And just as Zac feared the shadows around the demon started to twist as the demon unhesitantly teleported away a second later .

Chapter 388 - Toxicity

Zac desperately tried to grab onto the demon before it was too late , but Ogras had clearly learnt from his failure during the auction held by the New World Government . Zac didn't exactly know what happened , but he somehow missed the demon , instead grabbing right behind where he stood . He couldn't be sure , but it felt like Ogras had somehow influenced him to slightly misjudge his position .

Was it the Dao Seed that the demon had gained recently?

Ogras had let it slip in conversation a few times , where he mentioned Dao Seeds as plurals rather than singular . Zac learned of it after they did their respective Inheritances . Perhaps The Umbra provided Ogras with a similar Dao Impartment that Zac himself enjoyed .

Galau looked a bit confused at the exchange , but he didn't comment on it . He instead continued to explain how the auction was handled .

The Naspheyi will only divulge what items will be put to auction within the current segment for bronze members , - Galau explained . - If you don’t see anything that tempts you , you can visit one of the other establishments inside to relax until the next segment starts . But the items in the final segment will not be divulged at all , as they want to maintain maximum participation for the top treasures . -

Zac nodded in understanding , feeling that these guys really knew how to do business . Such a setup would stop people from leaving early , and most people would still spend money even if they didn’t find anything to buy . And people would perhaps become more willing to fork out some real money if they had been plied with alcohol for a few hours before the final section .

The two walked around the enormous lobby for a while as there still was some time . Suddenly the shadows shuddered and Ogras reappeared , looking like he had just experienced a crushing defeat .

Bunch of Puppets , don’t know what I expected , - Ogras muttered with a constipated look .

Zac snorted in derision as the three entered the auction hall , loath to make a comment . A quick glance indicated that there were actually fewer seats than he had expected . He guessed that there were roughly 3-4000 seats in total , with roughly two-thirds being cramped cinema seats in the back .

The group didn't have to use those though thanks to Galau and were instead shown to a table some distance from the scene . The table was luckily equipped with a decent-sized screen that would show the items , allowing them to take a good look at all everything .

Zac immediately started to go through the catalog of items that would appear to see if there was anything of use to them . He was surprised to note that quite a few items were listed as unknown items , only describing what they looked like . It seemed quite possible to make a few good deals if your eyes were discerning enough .

Ogras wasn’t nearly as curious , and he only took a quick glance at the catalogue .

It's just the opening segment , - Ogras said with disinterest as he indicated a puppet to bring a bottle of liquor . - Those weapons in the start are pretty good . They are there to create some excitement , but the rest is just slightly better than things you can buy in the shops . -

Don’t get too drunk , - Zac warned . - We’re not here to mess around . -

Not much else to do here when the brothel is full of automatons , - Ogras scoffed as he started to look around .

Well , not many who have the ability to get their hands on a Tower token would be willing to work as a… courtesan . Likewise , those types of classes are generally considered non-combat , which precludes entry to the Tower of Eternity , - Galau coughed with some embarrassment . - But I am sure that a handsome man like you would be able to find a paramour in one of the bars . -

Ogras only snorted in response as he kept observing the other guests . Zac himself only shook his head with a smile , already having heard the demon complain about the lack of brothels in Port Atwood on multiple occasions .

When it was around ten minutes before the auction started the area above their heads was starting to fill up with floating platforms of varying size . On top of them sat groups of people who mostly looked quite impressive , or at least wealthy .

That’s the VIP platforms , the higher it floats generally mean the higher status of its occupant , - Galau said with a hushed tone , probably afraid to draw the attention of the bigshots upstairs .

Zac shot a glance above , not really caring about the special treatment . It was not like it mattered where he sat as long as he could buy the items he needed .

The auction started soon enough , and Zac was impressed with the quality of the items presented . All kinds of items were sold off in rapid succession , ranging from pills to arrays to weapons . There were some raw materials as well , but Zac noticed that most items were ready to use , and things that might help when climbing the tower .

However , there was nothing that Zac couldn’t do without , so he never placed a single bid . Most items went for between 5 and 15 million Nexus coins , which meant they were decent items , but nothing rare . It was a bit disappointing , but Zac knew the items would get increasingly impressive as the auction went on .

How are the prices? - Zac asked to the more experienced Ogras .

The starting bids are slightly below what you would usually pay for the items outside this dimension , but they usually end up a tad more expensive , - the demon said after some consideration . - It looks like items that will prove helpful in the tower has a slightly higher premium at around 50% to 80% . -

Zac nodded , realizing that Calrin had been spot on with his estimation . This place truly was a money-making machine for the established forces , where they allowed to earn far more money on their products compared to the outside .

Ogras placed a few bids for fun , but he got quickly bored when he realized that the process was completely anonymous where you placed your bid through an array on the table .

What’s with the secrecy? - Ogras muttered with annoyance . - Takes the fun out of the bidding process . -

Open bidding caused a bit too much chaos in the end , - Galau said with a wry smile . - A few strong people suppressed the prices of any items they wanted . So the Naspheyi clan finally installed arrays in the table to allow anonymous bidding for everyone’s safety . Of course , anyone is still able to bid openly if they so wish . -

Zac nodded in agreement , feeling it was for the best . It would help normal people from becoming targets of the powerful factions , and lessen the risk of getting robbed afterward since the items would be exchanged anonymously after each section .

It did make his own back-up idea of robbing the treasures he needed almost impossible though , so he could only hope the items he was looking for wouldn’t end up too expensive .

Hours passed as the event proceeded , and Zac started to become a bit bored . He hadn’t placed a single bet so far , not daring to waste his limited money before he found what he needed . He did learn quite a bit by the Auctioneer’s explanations about the various treasures , and the day gave him a lot better understanding of what drove the value of treasures .

When it came to Spirit Tools there were generally two factors that decided its value . The first factor was the material the item was created from . Different materials and combinations had different potential it seemed . Some weapons couldn’t be upgraded very far due to poor quality of the core material , whereas others had greater potential .

It was the same as with most people . Very few had the capability to reach the peak of cultivation . Their constitution simply wouldn’t allow it unless they managed to remold their bodies through some extreme fortuitous encounter .

Zac had already somewhat instinctively picked up on this difference when he gathered a couple of Spirit Tools earlier , but he couldn’t explain it better than the fact that a few of them were better than others .

There were a lot of Spirit Tools for sale on the auction , and it was standard for the auctioneer to explain what the item’s core materials were , and its guaranteed evolution . The weapons who could evolve further were tens of times more expensive than those with a limited progression path .

The other thing that could have a large impact on an item was whether it was attuned . It seemed to work just like with crystals , where there were normal Nexus Crystals , but also items like Flame Crystals and Divine Crystals . A weapon with a popular attunement was usually many times more expensive than one without .

After figuring these things out he had a bit disheartening realization about his own weapon , Verun’s Bite] . It was a weapon that he got from the Merit shop during his beast wave quest , and he knew by now that it wasn’t some top tier item . The weapon had no attunement , and Zac realized its materials were nothing too special either after seeing all the Spirit Tools on display .

However , it was a weapon he had grown extremely accustomed to , and he was loath to give it up for something else unless absolutely necessary . He also had a feeling that Verun had its own points of uniqueness due to the fact that the Tool Spirit could actually appear and fight . The auctioneer had never mentioned such a thing when presenting all these weapons , and she was clearly working hard on the up-sell .

It made Zac believe that the mysterious stone he fed to Verun all back when it was still F-Grade was an extremely precious item . It was his luck that no one on Earth could figure out what it was , which allowed Zac to get it for a fraction of its true value . That thing alone might be what would allow him to evolve Verun to even greater heights in the future .

Besides , it was not like the more common weapons couldn’t be upgraded . They just needed their own fortuitous encounters , just like cultivators did . So even if Verun was common , so what? It just put his axe on the same level as himself , a mortal .

It was only at the second to last section of the auction that Zac started to see things he was interested in on the list . The final 5 items were still obscured , but the 7th weapon was actually listed as a - One-of-a-kind - Shield . There were also multiple pills that would give large boosts to both improving race and opening Nodes .

Zac eagerly waited as the auctioneer sold off one item after another , until she finally arrived at one item that Zac was interested in .

Next item might not be helpful during your stay inside the Tower of Eternity , but it is a must-have for when you return home triumphantly . It is the Treasure Blood Pill] that will complete up to 15% of the Race upgrade for a general humanoid cultivator . It will even purify your blood , reducing the pill toxicity in your veins by a noticeable degree , - the young Auctioneer said with a smile as she presented a crystalline vial .

Pill Toxicity? What is that? - Zac asked with a frown .

Galau gave Zac a befuddled look , as though Zac asked what air was , but he still quickly answered .

Most pills contain small amounts of impurities that the body is unable to break down . The more pills you eat the more it accumulates . The problem is that it is very hard to notice that there is a problem before it’s too late . You won’t lose any attribute points , but it might cause your Cosmic Energy to become a bit sluggish . But most importantly ; it might affect your attempts at forming a Cultivation Core negatively , - the man said with a hushed voice .

Eating too many pills will essentially end your path of cultivation unless you deal with the crap , - Ogras added .

Are all pills like this? - Zac asked with a frown . - Even healing pills? -

No , its just pills that improve your Dao , Race , or Levels that has this effect as far as I know , - Galau said with a shake of his head .

What about natural treasures? - Zac asked .

They’re borne by nature , so there’s no residual toxicity , - Galau said . - Instead they are often poisonous , and still require getting turned into pill before they can be used . -

So this pill is pretty good , even reducing the toxicity rather than increasing it? - Zac asked .

Galau looked back and forth before he leaned over and whispered .

It’s a sales trick , - he said as quietly as possible . - Remember what she said? It removes toxicity from your blood , but she never said anything about removing it from the body . -

Zac’s eyes widened in understanding , feeling it was a bit lucky to have the experienced youngster to explain the pitfalls . If it wasn’t for his warning he would have unhesitantly bought this thing after learning about pill toxicity , perhaps ready to buy it at a huge premium .

Just from hearing Galau’s explanation he realized that Pill Toxicity would become another barrier for his future cultivation . He would be far more reliant on pills compared to normal cultivators , since the only other way for him to crack open nodes was to risk his body by forcing them open .

But now he learned that even the safer path was fraught with hidden danger . What if he managed to get all the way to peak E-Grade only to discover that his body had accumulated too much toxicity?

Chapter 389 - Dreams

Is there any way to cleanse the toxicity for real? - Zac asked .

There are various means , like certain Natural Treasures . There are even arrays that will slowly purify the body . Most alchemy clans are researching ways to reduce pill toxicity in their bodies almost as ardently as they are researching new recipes , - Galau said .

The biography of Galvarion that Zac read in the Marshall Library immediately popped into his mind after hearing Galau's explanation . That mortal had stayed at the peak of E-Grade for over a century before finally forming his core . Was this related to pill toxicity perhaps?

Zac eventually spent 130 million Nexus Coins on a pill that would push forward his Race by a decent amount , pill toxicity or not . Most of the herbs gathered in Port Atwood was geared toward gaining E-Grade Race , and wouldn’t really assist him in reaching D-Grade . And that was something that he had to get done sooner or later , as he would quickly approach the Attribute limit otherwise .

He also spent 100 million on a pill that was guaranteed to break open a node beneath level 80 , and another 120 million for a pill with a similar effect . Hearing about the Pill Toxicity made him a bit worried , but he would simply have to find a way to deal with this later . Surviving the Undead Incursion and the Dominators was simply more important in the short run .

Ogras finally bought an item as well , which apparently was a treasure that was known to strengthen the psychic bond between a cultivator and his contracted spirit . It was no doubt bought with the purpose of getting a better handle of the mysterious creature that lived in his shadows , and Zac could glean that the situation was less than ideal since the demon spent over 300 million on it .

Zac was happy that the demon found an opportunity to get a handle on his parasite , but his mind couldn't help returning to the advertised shield that was listed . For some reason there was no detailed description like those Zac read for the Spirit Tools , and he didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing .