Defiance of the Fall

Kurtz was shocked by the display of force since he knew that Havan's effective Strenght was over 17 , 000 if including his Cultivation Manual . Just how strong was Arcaz Black to completely overpower him like that?

Kurtz was about to help out , but his defensive barriers were suddenly covered in blue flames , and he felt a great sense of danger that forced him to quickly swap position with an array clone . It was just in time as well as a wraith had appeared from the darkness , cutting straight through the substitute with a ruthless swing .

He didn't even have a chance to restart his attempt to assist his companions before the chains all shot toward him with unerring accuracy , completely ignoring the clones . Suddenly , a lance of poison appeared out of a black shroud , and Kurz instinctively activated his life-saving talisman .

The lance was clearly Fathela's Misery's Edge] , one of his strongest skills . Why was Fathela attacking him? Had he made a deal with the Draugr somehow? Kurtz's thoughts were thrown into disarray , but the spear full of pestilence dissipated before it could even reach the thick barrier .

'He displaced my skillsomehow!' Fathela exclaimed in Kurtz's mind , and he slowly nodded in understanding .

Meanwhile , Havan was taking the brunt of the damage as Arcaz black was completely brutalizing him with his axe . He only used two of his chains for support , leaving others to constantly harass Fathela , who also had been forced to take out over ten wraiths that kept popping up to attack Kurz's clones .

Three gristly wounds were already covering Havan's body , yet Kurtz found himself unable to provide any real help . Any time he tried to form a sigil in his mind , something was interrupting him . It felt like he was being suffocated by the chains around him , even if he hadn't even been caught .

He’s too powerful , drink the elixir!’ Havan exclaimed as he threw out a handful of ancient talismans , causing a massive eruption of rapidly spreading ice .

Havan scrambled to create some distance while he downed his vial , and both Kurtz and Fathela quickly followed suit .

It was a concoction made by the Technocrat Thaumaturges , and therefore considered banned contraband . But this was no time to worry about such things . Kurtz felt his body burn as his mind exploded with power . He would be bedridden for a month after this , but it was worth it as long as they managed to take this guy out .

However , just as their auras grew , so did the Draugr . Not only in aura , but even his physique . A shield had appeared in his free hand as a thick black armor covered his five-meter body . He looked like a true juggernaut , and Kurtz suddenly felt his perception bend a bit as the dark knight crushed the restrictive ice .

Three of his doppelgangers were suddenly ripped apart , but Kurtz didn't care as his mind was filled with bloodlust .

The world turned fuzzy as an eruption of mental energy pushed both chains and wraiths away . Kurtz savored the feeling of power as the Whisperer of the Depths] was finally allowed to be activated , and a twenty-meter avatar appeared behind his back . Each of his twenty hands formed a sigil of purgation , and the intricate fractal in the sky soon broke apart and was replaced by the Sigil of the Depths .

Fathela grew to his ultimate form as well , a five-meter reaper whose dripping toxins were so powerful that space itself corroded , while Havan looked like an apostle of a Sword Saint as four black wings appeared on his back . The Draugr Lord had firmly taken command of the tempo since the beginning , but he finally found himself greatly restrained by the supremely powerful suppression of Whisperer of the Depths] .

He had been pushed down to his knees as his hand moved toward his head , no doubt assailed by an endless number of illusions . But the Draugr displayed a shocking resilience as he started to push back himself back to his feet , and Kurtz felt his grip steadily weakening . Just how strong was this man's willpower?

'He . . . Breaking through , ' Kurtz exhorted through the mental link , his mind sluggish from the taboo brew .

Thankfully , both Fathela and Havan understood his meaning , and the whole valley shook as they unleashed their power to the fullest , taking advantage of the rapidly closing window of opportunity . The two shot toward Arcaz in a deathly pincer attack , but a sense of wrongness filled Kurtz's heart as he suddenly sensed a terrifying aura erupt from the Draugr's body .

It was death beyond death , destruction of utmost finality , a phenomenon that had no place appearing in an E-grade trial . Cracks appeared on the helmet of the hulking Draugr as waves of primal destruction emanated from his body . The courage gained from the berserking concoction was instantly quenched , but they all knew they couldn't stop at this juncture .

This was the key to Hegemony , the final crossroads that would decide their fate . Ascension or death .

Pestilence converged with Judgement , and it looked like the Draugr feared Pestilence the most . Every single chain moved to bind the incoming reaper , but Kurtz knew such a measure wouldn't hold Fathela for long in his current state . However , his eyes widened in horror as the Draugr narrowly avoided the spear of poison as he slammed a small sphere into Fathela's chest .

A series of barriers appeared behind the Draugr at the same time as the chains moved to intercept , but Havan destroyed them all to deliver an attack filled with all the force he could muster . Kurtz saw how the terrifying sword radiance created a rift in space itself , but his eyes were trained on Fathela , or rather the large space of nothingness where his chest should be .

He was gone , irrevocably so . Kurtz could sense the destruction of a soul all the way from here , and even his own mind had been damaged from gazing upon that thing . Even odder , he felt his memories fragment and fall apart , and he felt them slip through his fingers to never be seen again .

One of them had fallen , and they hadn't managed to accomplish the task . Havan's attack was powerful enough to slay a half-step Hegemon , but that didn't help when the strike actually missed . The Draugr had managed to delay the strike just long enough with his barriers to move out of the way , his right leg dodging the strike with only a centimeter to spare .

Havan reacted instantaneously though and stabbed Trailblazer] into the Draugr's chest with a lightning-quick jab . That should have been the end , but Kurtz felt like he had gone mad as he suddenly saw the sword embedded in the Draugr's body turn into black ichor . A Spirit Tool had simply disappeared , or been turned into something else?

How was that possible?

Kurtz couldn't comprehend what was going on , and Havan looked even more shellshocked after having his old companion disappear like that . The waters churned , and Kurtz was beset with grief upon realizing that he was the last one still standing of his squad . He turned to run , but he wasn't surprised to find the young lord suddenly appearing right in front of him .

There hadn't even been the slightest energy fluctuation when the Draugr teleported , but Kurtz didn't care about that mystery . The Draugr lordling clearly had an array of terrifying means that some frontier cultivators couldn't comprehend . They should have known better , but greed makes fools out of men .

Kurtz smiled with a mix of desolation and release as the darkness welcomed him .

Chapter 724 : Profiteering

Zac grunted as he looked down at the deep wound in his chest and swallowed one of the Dawn-series healing pills along with a soldier pill . A large ball of hard-to-expel Dao was lodged in the wound , but there was not much he could do about it at the moment because it was time to go . He turned his gaze inward and toward the brand , and with a push of Dao he completed his preparations and crushed it in one fell swoop .

Seven days had passed since he was branded , and he had been attacked 11 times . Two of those ambushes Zac had escaped from , four groups had been relieved of their Spatial Treasures before being knocked out and hidden a few meters beneath the soil , and five battles had ended with unilateral annihilation .

He had made a fortune over the past days from looting Cosmos Sacks , including everything from rare herbs to a small mountain of Twilight Fruits . There was , unfortunately , no treasure at the same grade as the Life-Death pearls , but he still had formed three mountains of assorted loot . Even if he didn't manage to unlock the manuals , the accumulated value still had to be around 20 to 30 D-grade Nexus Coins .

That wasn't really much to the current him , but he knew that he couldn't turn his nose away from making money like this . He was burning his 'inheritance' left and right , without any proper channels to recuperate what he spent . Every little thing counted .

But the real gain had been the great progress he had made on his combat stance . It was rapidly evolving into something real , where he could already incorporate most of his skills without missing a beat . In contrast , his Evolutionary Stance was still only a basic technique so far that didn't make use of any of his Skills .

His Contribution Points and Ladder Position had made a significant jump as well , though most of it came from gaining 25 , 000 points for evolving his Death-Attuned Dao Fragment . With his other sources of points , he already surpassed most cultivators who had entered with a Dao Branch and only got the 50 , 000 points to start off with .

Arcaz Black – Contribution : 81 , 167 Rank : 2 , 541 . Value : 500-750

His points were a bit inflated because of the mothertree and the other two locations he helped destroy , but it honestly wasn't empty strength any longer . Zac knew he was still far from the top tier-powerhouses , but he was confident that he could soundly defeat anyone without a Dao Branch by this point .

He even felt like Yanub Mettleleaf wasn’t an insurmountable enemy by this point , as long as they met in the deeper parts of the Mystic Realm . After all , he had evolved both Coffin and Axe since they fought , which should make it a lot easier to deal with his powerful regeneration .

But more than anything , the ladder showed just how hard it was to form Dao Branches in the E-grade . Catheya had already said that it required not only extraordinary affinity , but also valuable opportunities , but only now was the point starting to come across . Eleven million , most of them the best of the best in the Twilight Harbor , yet there were probably less than ten thousand people inside the trial with a Dao Branch .

It was clear that taking that step was exponentially harder compared to forming a Dao Fragment in the E-grade . Seeing such a grim situation , he was once more pretty happy with his weird constitution . The bottlenecks were starting to grow more and more palpable for those around him .

Forming a Cultivator's Core without the stability provided by a Dao Branch was extremely difficult from what he'd gathered , so the ladder was a poignant reminder of just how few of the trial takers would ever reach Hegemony . Meanwhile , he only needed to make sure he had enough treasures to eat and enough enemies to fight to keep progressing .

After testing things out over the past days , he could confirm that the lethality of Deathmark] especially had taken a huge step forward from the Dao upgrade . The passive shroud alone was dangerous to the average peak E-grade cultivators , and it was almost game over if they got branded by a mark .

The amount of putrefaction that flooded into their bodies was simply too overwhelming , which was only compounded by the Twilight Energy that was already messing with people's constitutions .

Better yet , Zac had not met a single cultivator who had managed to erase the brand within three seconds , which was a lot of time to be subject to the extremely potent toxins . He had also gotten a lot more adept at instructing his wraiths to better integrate them with his Inexorable Stance . They were still a bit simpleminded , but it would probably get better as soon as he managed to upgrade the skill .

So far any skill evolutions it had eluded him , but he felt he should be getting close based on his experience with Blighted Cut] .

However , even with his recent powerups , the last four battles had been pretty rough . Two of them he had immediately fled from upon seeing the strength of the party , though he had left them with a small parting gift ; a hundred offensive talismans flung in their direction . Activating them all cost almost three-quarters of his Miasma , but the eruption had been a sight to behold .

The party that attacked him twelve hours ago had been pretty impressive as well . It had been four cultivators from the Yon’Dai Family , one of the thirteen factions on the Twilight Council . They had all been at a power level that surpassed his own , and they both had E-grade Skills and a War array to empower each other .

If not for the advantage he was given by the Twilight Energy , he would have been in big trouble against that quartet . He had still been forced to use up all three of his healing brands mid-battle , along with most of his Void Energy from Force of the Void] . Thankfully , the Void Beast organ allowed him to recover the hidden energy storage within a few hours .

Things had obviously gotten even more pressed in the last battle . The trio of Revenants were decent opponents , and Zac had only planned on robbing them after continuing the duel for a while longer . But things changed because of two reasons ; first , that brew that had pushed their strength to a level that surpassed his own while also shaking off most of the effect of the Twilight Energy .

There was no room to hold back in a situation like that .

Secondly , his hidden advance array had warned him that a large group was approaching the Valley , perhaps even one of the two armies he had already escaped from once . He had been forced to go all out , using the energy from both his remnants in short succession . One of the methods had even been something he had thought up on the spot .

Warning bells had gone off the moment the sword entered his body , and he knew that a storm of chaotic energies would rip his innards to pieces unless he did something . So he had instinctively forced the Creation Energy into the sword , not even bothering with having some specific goal in mind . Zac had sensed the insipient Tool Spirit being drowned in Creation , falling apart along with the weapon itself .

However , the cost for that attack had been steep ; he had once more lost some of his longevity .

It looked like the only safe way for him to use the Creation Energy was to use the Mark of Creation . Anything else would drain him of his life force , no matter if it was to heal himself or unleash bursts of wild Creation . It was maybe lucky that he hadn't really found any way to use the hidden Oblivion Energy in his soul . Perhaps it had a similarly sinister price to be activated freely .

There was at least some good news as well . It was the first time he used Annihilation Sphere for real since he evolved his Soul , and he could pretty much confirm what he sensed when he was cornered by that Corpselord Hegemon after the Auction . His control over the process had improved considerably thanks to his empowered Mental Energy . Forming the sphere wasn’t really a matter of chance any longer , and he didn’t feel he was at risk of accidentally annihilating a body part or two unless something unexpected happened .

He was also able to control the amount of stored Oblivion Energy he expelled , though there seemed to be a minimum amount of energy required to reach a critical mass and form an Annihilation Sphere . He had lost roughly a third of his stores , but he didn't feel too bad about it . He would have needed to expel some of the energy soon enough anyway , to alleviate the mental corruption that came with keeping it all inside .

The gains were plenty , but it was time to go . The next group would arrive in less than ten minutes , and Zac had no plans to stay around when they arrived . Miasma surged through his body as he started channeling Abyssal Phase] , and he flew into the thin crack he had already discovered . A series of loud explosions erupted behind him , as the Talismans he had triggered blew half the valley to kingdom come .

That chaotic eruption should both mask any lingering energies from his fight , while also making it impossible to figure out where he had gone . Half a minute later he had passed through half a mountain peak , at which point he stopped and returned to his corporeal form . Zac looked around for any threats before he activated his Specialty Core as the robes on his body changed their design to suit his human side .

Color returned to his eyes and face a few seconds later , and he took off his shoes before he set off again , following the current toward what he hoped was the outer parts of the mountain range .

There was no way to know whether he had missed something , but he felt he had covered all his bases . His signal should have disappeared in that valley , and he was now tens of thousands of meters away , looking like a human instead . Even if anyone encountered him , they shouldn’t be able to tell he and Arcaz Black were one and the same .

Clattering sounds echoed out in the distance , and Zac cracked his neck as he took out Verun’s Bite] again . He had mostly fought in his Undead Form for almost half a year by now , and it was time to go at it as a human for a while . After all , he couldn’t simply let the insights he gained back in the Big Axe Coliseum fade away as he focused on other aspects of his cultivation .

His vision was suddenly blocked as a two-meter large critter appeared seemingly out of nowhere . It was a Hollowtongue , the beast after which the mountains were named . A stinger shot straight toward Zac’s heart , but he was already on the move as Verun’s Bite] ripped through the waters .

Zac himself pivoted his body before he pounced with his axe , almost like a beast biting down at his target . Green blood spread through the waters as the axe embedded itself in the odd critter's head , but he felt a burning pain on his left shoulder . He had underestimated just how agile that tongue was , and he had failed to completely avoid it as he went in for the kill .

A fiery tsunami of supercondensed Twilight Energy flooded his veins , and the sensation almost made him see double for a moment . Zac had already activated Innate Ward] , but it was no use now that the stinger had already pierced his skin . It did however block out the blood that spread around him , which by itself seemed highly toxic .

He felt his veins constrict , but his Fragment of the Bodhi quickly came to the rescue as it brought waves of warmth through his body . The toxin was weakened , at which point Void Heart] pounced . Purity of the Void] helped against poisons to some degree , but it was already dealing with pill toxins and the Twilight Energy itself .

A moment later the situation was back under control , except for a red bump where the stinger had pierced his skin .

The pain was thankfully far from lethal , but he knew that the blood spreading through the tunnel might attract trouble . He pushed his body down to the surface of the tunnel and flashed away with Loamwalker] , only appearing a few hundred meters away . It was a weakness of his movement skill in the waters ; he actually had to touch the ground to activate the skill .

He could still do his - double jump - in the middle of water though , but it would have to be preceded by a normal step on the ocean bed .

The clattering sounds grew ever louder as he continued , and Zac knew he had chanced upon a hive . Sure enough , he encountered one Hollowtongue after another until he reached the mouth of a large submerged cavern . It was as large as a lake , and there were hundreds of Hollowtongues swimming about or resting on the cave wall or stalagmites .

Zac looked at the scene for a few seconds , considering what to do next . Most of the beasts didn't provide any Contribution Points , but there was one that did ; a five-meter mutated version that was given a wide berth of the others . It radiated a powerful aura , far beyond the normal late-stage Hollowtongue . It had to hold a late Dao Fragment at least as well since it was actually worth 183 Contribution Points .

The points were a welcome addition , but Zac was more interested in the challenge . A den full of peak E-grade beasts and a powerful alpha seemed like a good place to continue forging his path . He had made good strides on his Inexorable Stance style so far , and now it was time to start consolidating his Evolutionary Stance .

Zac estimated it would take between 40 to 60 days to reach the edge of the Twilight Chasm after he exited this mountain range , and he hoped to have shored up his skills before reaching that point . This place made a great starting point , so Zac swallowed an antidote pill preemptively before he shot into the den .

Only an hour later did he leave the subterranean lake , covered in scars and pumped full of dangerous amounts of Twilight Energy . Above his head was a small cloud of energy he had been forced to release after killing all those critters . The battles over the past days were more than enough to push his next node to the precipice of breaking open , at which point he had started to release all the energy instead of aiming for another level .

Forcing open a node just a few days after opening five of them felt a bit too foolhardy even for him .

Zac made his way through the underground tunnels , following the general direction of one of his compasses , this one an upgraded version he had looted two days ago . It was time to leave the Hollowtongue Mountains .

Leaving such a wake of death and destruction behind filled him with mixed emotions , but this was ultimately how the road to supremacy looked . If he ever wanted a shot at catching up to Leandra , he needed to be ruthless both against himself and against others . At least he had only targeted the kind of groups who were the same , people who were ready to hunt down people for their loot .

Perhaps he had even left the Hollowtongue Mountains safer by eradicating these squads for those who just wanted to search for treasures in peace . He knew that he was ultimately just making excuses for himself , but he believed it was fine as long as his Dao Heart was clear as he walked down his path .

You've got to do what you've got to do to stay sane in the Multiverse .

Zac soon emerged from the cave , and he quickly set out toward what should be the outlet of the mountain range , on the opposite side of where he entered . He had slowly made his way across the Hollowtongue Mountains between his fights during the past week , and he estimated that he should be able to leave within half a day . However , he suddenly felt a presence far ahead , prompting him to stop in his tracks .

It was a squad of eight people , which would be a chore to take out even for him . However , they made no move toward him , and they had clearly exposed themselves intentionally .

Excuse us! - one of the men shouted , and Zac frowned as he took out an escape talisman just in case .

Please wait! We mean you no harm! We are looking for a Draugr Imperial named Arcaz Black , - the first man said with a small bow , which made Zac take a second look at the group with confusion . - We are paying well for information and assistance! -

Zac blankly looked at the group for a few seconds before he waved the leader over with a crooked smile . Why let an opportunity to make both connections and some money slip through his fingers .

And who knew more about Arcaz Black's activities than he did?

Chapter 725 : Information Exchange

The group of cultivators was too far away for their bounties to show up , but Zac saw the leader’s bounty as he got closer ; 250-500 . That was essentially the average of those who managed to reach the Hollowtongue Mountains from what Zac had seen , making the members of the group footsoldiers .

The man hesitated a bit when he saw Zac’s own value , but he still approached a bit further before he stopped .

You’re looking for that crazy Draugr? - Zac asked skeptically . - Sounds like a good way to get yourselves killed . -

We dare not target him ourselves . Many have already fallen , we know that . We are simply looking for him on the orders of Auride Serveris of the Radiant Temple , - the leader explained .

Oh? - Zac exclaimed curiously , and he suddenly remembered one of the fights in the past week .

It was one of the two groups he had fled from . He had suddenly stumbled upon a group of over twenty cultivators , four of whom wore robes that seemed to be related to the Radiant Temple . One of the warriors had emitted a very intense aura , and a massive two-handed sword circled his head .

The small army hadn’t actually made a move on him , but Zac didn’t dare take any chances because of the number of people and the strength of their leaders . He had chucked one of his pre-made talisman balls to set a whole valley on fire while he fled with Abyssal Phase] . Now it looked like that man was looking for revenge .

He is currently at the 1 , 533rd spot on the trial , a future powerhouse of the Temple . He is paying handsomely for both clues and tracking marks , - the leader continued when Zac didn’t immediately speak up .

That rank might not sound too impressive compared to the rankers , but Zac knew it represented real strength . It was noticeably higher than his own , and Zac had definitely sensed a powerful weapon-related Dao emanating from that leader's body , which made sense considering the massive sword .

I got two of those crystals and some second-hand information , - Zac slowly nodded . - What is the young Lord willing to pay for that? I am only interested in treasures and Twilight Fruits . -

10 Twilight Fruits per crystal , - the man said .

Even if the signal has gone out? - Zac asked with a raised brow .

We don’t know what the young master is planning , - the cultivator shrugged . - We can pay five for second-hand information if it's useful . -

I got close to the signal three days ago , to see if an opportunity would present itself , - Zac sighed . - But a massive explosion suddenly erupted . Judging by the energy signatures he should be an Array Master who had set up a trap . The force was much too strong for it to be an attack . Just half a minute after the explosion , the man was over ten thousand meters away . I guess he has high-quality escape talismans to move that quick in the mountains . If you want to trap him , you need to do something to block those kinds of arrays . -

The man’s face got a bit weird when Zac described the event where his leader got blasted to kingdom come , but he slowly nodded and took out a normal jute sack and filled it with twenty-five Twilight Fruits . Zac in turn threw over two of the crystals he had snatched the past days , somewhat regretting he couldn’t divulge he actually had 16 of them .

The two groups left in their own direction soon after , with Zac heading toward the outer reaches of the mountains . The 25 Twilight Fruits was a nice enough bonus , though just a fraction of the almost 600 he had robbed over the past days . What was more important was the information he got from the trade ; the Radiant Temple-leader had some method to track him .

Zac scanned his body over and over with Spiritual Anchor] over the next ten minutes , but there was really nothing left behind . His second-best guess was that the sword cultivator had some method to reverse-engineer the Revenge Array so that one of these tracking crystals could instead track the other crystals . If that was the case , his location would be lit up considering how many he carried .

It didn’t hurt to be careful , so Zac took a circuitous route the next few hours and dumped one crystal after another into various powerful currents , allowing them to be dragged back into the depths of the mountain range . With that dealt with , he had washed his hands off the whole situation . Something was brewing in the Hollowtongue Mountains , and he wanted no part of it .

He kept going through the winding paths for another two days , at which point he finally reached the exit . The towering peaks were eventually replaced with jagged boulders , who in turn were replaced by a mostly flat seabed covered with corals and seagrass .

Zac didn’t encounter anything of interest over the next week except the occasional plant he found with the help of Forester's Constitution] . It was obvious he was moving through the same paths as others had traveled before him on the way to the inner layer of the Trial . Any of the real treasures in this area , if there ever were any , had long been harvested by those who had rushed here .

Eventually , the topography started to change a bit as Zac found the ocean depths slowly decrease until it was just a few hundred meters . At the same time , the ambient energy was steadily increasing as Zac spotted a vast forest in the distance . The trees weren’t of as grotesque proportions as the cork trees over at Cork Island , but they more than made up for it in number .

The forest line stretched across the horizon , blocking his whole field of vision as they reached from the ocean floor all the way to above the surface . Zac didn't immediately enter , but he rather took out his missives , trying to figure out which forest he was dealing with . There were over a dozen sprawling forests in the Twilight Ocean , and a few would be dangerous to enter even for him .

Some were the homes to massive schools of fish or other beasts , and the hordes were so numerous that even he would find himself harried to death if he wasn't careful . There was not much to go by though , and Zac found himself at an impasse where he wasn't sure whether he was better of passing straight through to save time , or to spend a week or two going around .

Suddenly , a lone figure emerged from the forest line in the distance , swimming straight toward him . It was clearly a cultivator rather than a local beast , and Zac looked over with a small frown that only relaxed when she stopped over a thousand meters away from him . The woman sent out a crystal , and it sped through the waters toward him . Zac looked at it suspiciously , considering whether he should destroy it or not , but he soon realized what it was and accepted it .

Are you interested in a trade? - the unknown cultivator asked through the communication crystal .

A trade for what? - Zac asked curiously .

Judging from your trajectory , I think you took the Life Pulse on the way here , and we could both benefit from updating our mappers as well , - she said . - I have also traded and killed until my Ocean Chart] has reached 2 . 33% completion . I have traveled in the outskirts of this forest for a while as well , and I have valuable information . -

Zac gave it some thought , and he agreed . There was a small risk of giving up good information and getting false information in turn , but the mappers were smart enough to differentiate with first-hand accounts and bought information .

I can do that . My map is 2 . 46% , - Zac answered as he engraved a copy on one of his spare mappers .

Of course , this copy was slightly altered to not make his path in the Hollowtongue Mountains completely clear . It also didn’t display the location of the valley with the Life-Death Pearls , or the disjointed external data containing the Volcano and its surrounding features .

The stranger did the same , and Zac smiled with satisfaction when he saw how his mapper almost doubled . This cultivator had followed another current here and traveled roughly two weeks through the edge of the forest before she reached this place . Part of it covered the Life Pulse though , and Zac guessed she had traded with someone taking a similar route as himself .

He quickly scanned the contents , and he slightly sighed after seeing none of the spots that held the Remnants were marked down . He had handed over the task of finding the spots to Catheya , but it would obviously be even better if he managed to find them himself .

Is there anything of note happening where you came from? - the voice asked .

The mothertree on Cork Island fell just after I got there , even with Yanub Mettleleaf trying to stop it . It was a real mess , - Zac said . - The undead were involved I think . There was also a manhunt for some Draugr called Arcaz Black back in the Hollowtongue Mountains where I just came from , led by the Radiant Temple . The guy is apparently filthy rich , but he survived for a week before disappearing . -

Zac had already started using his own exploits to make some money , and he saw no reason to stop now . Besides , he had been pretty isolated so far and didn’t have much else to contribute .

There were unusual clashes along the Silverwind Stream as well , - the woman sighed . - A squad of elites from the Havarok Empire annihilated a mysterious unit of wandering cultivators . Those cultivators were unknown , but they displayed shocking power . The grandson of a Havarok Marquis actually fell . -

Do you know what they were fighting about? - Zac asked .

It was on the second major stop of the Silverwind Stream ; the Gem Grotto . It sounded like the wandering cultivators tried to blow the whole thing up for some reason , - the woman said . - The empires are up to something , best to stay out of their way . -

The Gem Grotto was a somewhat popular destination for the lower-tier cultivators , and it was a bit like Divine Grotto he had contaminated . It was essentially a Nexus Crystal Mine like his own mine back home , except it was full of Twilight Crystals . Those crystals were pretty useless for cultivators , but they turned into either Miasma Crystals or Divine Crystals when taken back out , making the cave a steady but limited source of wealth .

Destroying the whole cave truly made no good sense ; it was like setting a mountain of money on fire . The purpose had to be related to his own mission , proving once more that he was just one of many squads involved in this mess . At least he wouldn't be involved any longer as soon as he rid himself of that weird egg .

Which forest is this? - Zac asked next .

It should be the Greengrove Archipelago , - the woman said as she took out a four-meter eel from her spatial ring . - This should at least be a Greengrove Eel , and I caught it inside this forest . The appearance of the canopies above surface matches as well . -

The two kept sharing some information for a few minutes , but there was ultimately only so much to cover . Both were going at it alone , which meant they could only keep to the edge of the big events and more dangerous spots .

Your map was superior , so I’ll give you an additional piece of information . There is a temporary settlement on top of one of the canopies roughly two days from here . I never dared enter myself , but I looked at it from the distance for half a day . People did both come and go , apparently without issue , - the woman said , and she disappeared a moment later .

Zac was pleasantly surprised at the news . Temporary settlements often appeared in trials like this since it was a convenient way for the powerhouses to make some money . Some top tier expert set up shop , using their name and prowess as a guarantee of safety . People could go there to socialize , trade , and exchange intelligence .

However , Zac could also understand why the woman ultimately never entered . There was always a risk of getting robbed or killed when entering a place like that , and that risk only increased when you were a lone warrior without any background to rely on . Furthermore , this supposed Dao Trial had a clear slaughter-component , which made things even sketchier .

Still , Zac ultimately chose to head for the encampment .

One of the main benefits of the place was the communal maps . Everyone entering would usually have to contribute their own map in addition to an entry fee , or at least be able to sell a copy of their mapper . That led to the communal map being the combined effort of dozens , perhaps hundreds , of warriors .

The current goal was to get to the Twilight Chasm as quickly as possible , to get rid of the egg and search for treasures before his soul oceans got saturated by the Twilight Energy . The best way to do that was to find one of the streams entering the chasm . It could save a month of travel time , and he had already looted seven submersibles from his battles in the Hollowtongue Mountains .

Updating the map to a communal one might even add some information on the places related to the Remnants .

So Zac entered the Greengrove Archipelago , but he didn’t even get further than a hundred meters before he was assaulted by an eel just like the one the woman showcased . It shot out from a hole in one of the towering trees reaching above the surface .

Zac knew that this was a domain of the beasts , so he already had Verun’s Bite] ready at hand , and a swirl of leaves passed among the trees , completely overwhelming the late E-grade eel . It released sea of lightning across the area , but Zac’s Endurance and Innate Ward] was enough to mollify the effect until the beast died .

However , Zac swore in annoyance when he saw a dozen more eels shoot out from the surrounding trees , probably called over by the lightning domain . A huge leaf appeared in front of his blade , and it immediately gained a golden luster before a radiant wave flew out , quickly followed by one of pure death .

Life and death formed the signature demarcation of Rapturous Divide] , but Zac’s eyes widened in alarm as the scar just kept growing as it continued forward . One Tree after another toppled as the Twilight Energy in the surroundings were reduced to their base components , pushing the lethality of the skill to unprecedented levels .

The madness only lasted for less than a second though before the radiant domain of Arcadia was ripped apart by the Twilight Energy , cutting the skill short . Still , that was more than enough as all the eels had been split before they even had a chance to unleash their domain or move out of the way .

The same was true for the trees , where many had lost a twenty-meter section of their trunks . However , they still hovered in the air , as though they didn’t need their roots to survive . Zac knew it was just because of their canopies above the surface though . They were pushed together so densely that they essentially formed proper islands made out of leaves . The trees that weren’t cut apart propped up those that were .

Zac quickly looted the battlefield before he moved on . It was lucky he decided to test out the skill before using it in a real battle . It’s effect was definitely strong , but it worked a bit differently compared to normally thanks to the Twilight Energy . It was more chaotic , with hundreds of demarcations forming a thick band of destruction , instead of one clean line .

Its lethality was pretty impressive , but it was also ripped apart by the surroundings itself . So if someone managed to defend for just half a second , the attack would be rendered useless by the Twilight Ocean .

It was worthy trade in Zac's opinion , and he continued to temper himself beneath the Greengrove Archipelago for half a day , fighting the various beasts that made the waters their home . The eels were the largest population , and Zac had soon killed hundreds of them , and it felt like his whole body was electrified by this point .

However , Zac suddenly felt a pang of dangers as a sea of lightning started to approach , and he quickly hid inside a hollow trunk as he activated an illusion array . It first looked like a natural calamity coming closer , but Zac could eventually discern a monstrosity if an eel in the center . It stretched over one hundred meters , and the movement of the beast caused crackling sounds that echoed through the forest .

It was covered in an armor of lightning as well , and it emitted a dense killing intent . Even worse , it looked like it was looking for something . Or someone . Was it angry that its children had been killed over the past day and come to find the culprit?

Zac wasn't in any mood to fight this thing at all . This big bastard was completely different to the mutated Hollowtongue he had fought with relative ease the other day . This was definitely a proper Beast King going by the aura , the equivalent of a Hegemon . These things were rare , but they definitely existed inside the Twilight Ascent .

They were supposedly mainly living inside the Twilight Chasm , but some kings could appear this deep in the trial . Part of Zac wanted to test his mettle , but this didn't feel like the time or place . This big guy didn't seem like a pushover , and even if he defeated him , who knew what kind of attention it would draw and what aces he would be forced to burn .

Thankfully , the beast didn't discover Zac's hiding spot , and it soon left in the direction of where Zac had killed the smaller eels . Zac decided to not stay beneath the surface in case it came back though . It was time to finally head above water after months of traveling on the ocean floor .

Chapter 726 : Ventus Kalavan

Zac swam out of his hideout after making sure the King Eel was gone and he swiftly followed the tree trunk until he reached the canopy . It was extremely dense , to the point that Zac eventually had to cut a path through the shrubbery , making a 30-meter tunnel until he reached the other side of the tree crowns .

He left the muted world of the ocean depths behind as he was greeted by distant bird cries and a breath of fresh air .

It was a welcome change after having mostly inhaled the weird waters of the Twilight Ocean , only occasionally finding a dry cave where the air was stale . Zac looked around , and he had to admit the scene was a bit novel . The sky in the Greengrove Archipelago was completely blocked when looking at it from the ocean floor , but above the surface , there were thousands of islands made by the Greengrove Trees' canopies bunching together .

Meanwhile , the Twilight Ocean formed shallow seas and rivers between the islands , where shoals of small fish swam about . These rivers weren't actually connected to the ocean below , and he would have to cut through the densely bunched leaves to get back to the proper ocean . It was a bit weird to know he wasn't standing on land , but rather in a tree crown , as Zac could barely tell the islands weren’t natural .

The ground was essentially a solid mix of leaves and soil that had drifted over from somewhere , and some branches of the Greengrove trees had continued to grow above the 'ground' , turning into miniature trees of their own that reached a height of around ten meters .

Animal calls were coming from all directions , mostly that of birds who perhaps used the archipelago as a stopping point while traversing the vast ocean . None of the tree crowns grew more than five or six meters above the water surface , but Zac guessed the intermittent islands with the massive trunks beneath the surface had a calming effect on this part of the ocean , acting as natural wave breakers .

The low altitude of the islands made Zac’s life easy as well since he instantly spotted a marker a few islands over . It almost looked like an incursion , except that it didn’t contain any strong presence . There was also a line on top , simply saying - Temporary Settlement . - It looked like whoever had set this place up , had come prepared .

It was no wonder someone had decided to put up a temporary settlement in this place . Most people were ultimately more comfortable staying above-water , but powerful storms usually raged above the surface , especially this deep into the Mystic Realm . Those storms could be even more lethal than the currents that passed through the waters , which was why most people simply stayed closer to the ocean bed .

Zac observed the surroundings for over an hour from the cover of his tunnel , but there was very little activity . He did spot two groups of cultivators surreptitiously moving toward the beacon , but there were no outbursts of energy indicating battles taking place . Only then did Zac start to make his way forward as well , swapping between using Loamwalker] across the moats and swimming across the shallow seas .

A few hours later he reached his destination , an unusually large island . It was over five times the normal size of the surrounding islands , and it actually rose almost twenty meters above the surface . The Twilight Energy was actually denser than normal as well , making Zac wonder why the powerhouse had chosen this place to set up camp in such a weird spot .

Welcome , 25 Twilight Fruits to enter , - a guard said , and Zac’s brows rose when he looked at the dozens of people inside .

He had hoped the entry fee to be in Nexus Coins or Nexus Crystals , but it looked like he was being too optimistic . There weren’t too many people who went this deep into the Mystic Realm , but with people coming and going , the base had to make a few hundred Twilight Fruits a day . Even if it was shared among the workers , it was still a massive haul .

That much? - Zac couldn’t help but ask .

Well , you can stay up to a week for that price , - the guard shrugged . - And with the leader’s purification array , it’s definitely worth it . The chance to expel all the accumulated gunk from your body in return for a few thousand E-grade Nexus Coins? -

Fine , - Zac grunted and handed over the entrance fee , along with a few extra to the guard . - Any tips you have to share? -

Alea was still happily eating any Twilight Fruits that he threw her way , but he still had a few hundred left after his rampage in the mountains . A small bribe to create some goodwill wasn’t too expensive in exchange for getting some information .

Thank you . Only one rule to follow . Don’t cause a ruckus and don’t exert too much energy . Otherwise , everyone here will attack you , - the guard said .

Why would people attack me just from exerting some energy? - Zac asked .

Well , this place has a guardian beast , - the man grinned . - No one wants you to wake it up . -

What? - Zac repeated with confusion .

You saw how big this island is . It’s not a coincidence . This town is sitting right on top of the den a Raksha Shrimp King , - the man explained . - That’s why there’s the rule about limiting energy outbursts . No one wants to wake the slumbering beast below . -

There’s a beast king right below us?! - Zac exclaimed , keeping his voice low even though the clamor of the town . - That’s impossible . -

You can go below if you want to check things out yourself , - the man shrugged . - A few have . But you should know that everyone will attack you if you return with a bunch of shrimp underlings in tow . Better turn you into an offering than let the beasts come over . -

That… is something else , - Zac eventually sighed . - The big boss of this place is pretty smart . Who is it? -

His name is Ventus Kalavan , - the guard said .

Not a local? - Zac asked with a small frown , not recognizing the name .

No , but he’s not a stuck-up bastard like some of the Imperials . He’s from the Radiant Temple , and he actually seems to have a few invites , - the man said with longing in his eyes .

Zac could understand the man’s desire . Many natives of Twilight Harbor had a complicated relationship with the foreign factions . They partly despised them because of how they came to the Zervereth Sector and robbed it of most of its top-tier cultivation resources . But they also dreamed of being discovered , to be taken to the supreme cultivation havens that B-grade factions no doubt possessed . A simple word from this Ventus Kalavan could completely change the trajectory of someone’s life .

Having invites also gave some indication of the standing of this Kalavan guy . Catheya only had one token to the Undead Empire , and that was mostly because of her master . The Radiant Temple was notoriously picky as well , so having multiple invites meant that he must hold significant status among the younger generations .

Still , it made him a bit hesitant hearing there was another Radiant Temple elite in this area , apart from the guy who had made his haunt in the Hollowtongue Mountains . Was it a coincidence , or was it something more?

Do you know what ranking the young master has? - Zac asked hesitantly .

No idea , - the guard sighed . - His contribution value is actually 0 , but his strength can’t be too low . There was a raid a week ago and ten people attacked . They were powerful , but the young master appeared and simply ripped them apart like they were trash . -

Zac nodded in understanding . It was a shame that the ladder only appeared once a month , and it only showed the top 100 . He wasn’t on the list , so he could be anything a powerhouse that was just short of entering the ladder , to someone at rock bottom . Of course , he could also be someone completely uninterested in the Trial since his Daos didn’t seem to be related to Life or Death .

He might instead be targeting the Fate-Plucking ladder considering the entrance fee . It didn’t matter much to Zac though . He was in a new persona known to no one at the moment , and the struggles between the big shots were far beyond him . He was more interested in gathering information and updating his Ocean Chart] .

The latter was easy as there was a building specifically designed for that very purpose , and Zac immediately headed over after saying his thanks to the guard . However , he stopped again after just taking a few steps as over 80% of the Twilight Energy around him was suddenly replaced by Cosmic Energy .

The effect was the same as Catheya's array , but it looked like it spanned the whole settlement . The settlement might only be a walled compound , a square , and some temporary structures thrown up , but the cost to purify such a large area had to be pretty extravagant . This Ventus Calavan was clearly burning massive amounts of Nexus Coins to harvest more Twilight Fruits .

How do you perform trades here? - Zac asked as he entered the store designated to update your mapper .

We do straight trades of completion for free , with 0 . 2% margin . You can also buy 1% completion for 8 Twilight Fruits . We also sell a complete copy for 40 Twilight Fruits . -

What rate are you currently at? - Zac asked .

8 . 84% , - the shopkeeper said with some pride . - Including 1 . 3% that’s deeper than this current depth . Buying the full copy is definitely a good deal . -

Zac whistled , actually a bit impressed . It wasn't too different from Zac's own Ocean Chart] that was currently at 3 . 47% after the trade the other day , but there were only so many routes that led to the Greengrove Archipelago this early in the trial . For them to fill up almost a tenth of the trial in just over 4 months was no small feat .

As for whether the full price was a good deal or not , Zac wasn’t so certain . Part of the completion probably contained the Life Pulse Route , along with early sections of the trial that were of no use for Zac .

Still , he wasn’t lacking fruits , and he would keep getting more as time passed . Zac ultimately doubted Alea was truly insatiable , just like how Verun only wanted a limited amount of blood from each type of source .

I’ll just take a copy , - Zac muttered and handed over another 40 Twilight Fruits . - Your boss must be making money left and right . -

My granny always said my face would bring great fortune , and I guess it’s true , - a smooth and melodic voice emerged from the entrance , and Zac turned over to see a man standing in the entrance .

Boss! - the attendant hurriedly said as he stood up a bit straighter , which prompted Zac to make a double-take .

If the Tal-Eladar were elf-like creatures with jagged teeth and some other bestial features , then Ventus Kalavan looked like a proper high elf . Zac had never seen that kind of species in the Base Town or while traveling the Zecia sector , making him believe it was either a regional race or one that simply wasn’t represented in Zecia . After all , while humans were everywhere , many other races were not .

Ventus had half a head to Zac’s height , but Zac wouldn’t be surprised if the elf only weighed two-thirds of what he did . Zac’s whole frame had become a brutish bulk of chiseled muscles , while Ventus was extremely lean , though in a refined rather than emaciated way . He didn’t give off the aura of a warrior at all , but rather of a scholar .

That impression was only increased since he was actually holding a weird instrument in his hand , something resembling an abacus . But instead of wooden balls on rods , there were hundreds of small stone beads hovering in an array without anything keeping them in place . It was clearly something valuable as it emitted an aura that surpassed Zac's own weapons .

It was not necessarily higher quality , but it was definitely higher grade than his own Spirit Tools . The odd appearance of the Spirit Tool and the gentle appearance of the elf wasn't enough for Zac to put his guard down . He had already heard the warning from the sentry , and his instincts told him that this man was extremely powerful , no matter if his appearance and aura were almost that of a non-combat class .

Zac wasn’t exactly sure how to deal with the sudden appearance of the big honcho himself , so he simply nodded in his direction as he mentally readied himself for battle just in case .

Welcome to my little town , my friend , - Ventus smiled . - I have been waiting for you . I have a business proposal for you . -

Waited for me? We don’t even know each other , - Zac countered as warning sirens went off in his mind .

Then I guess we were simply fated , - the elf smiled in return as his fingers grazed a few of the gems on the abacus , prompting them to change their constellation .

Come visit me when you are ready . It will be very beneficial for you as well . After all , aren’t you right at the precipice? - Ventus said with a wave before he left , leaving a befuddled Zac behind .

Zac tried to understand what was going on as he spied on the elf saunter back toward the walled-off area in the settlement , with all the resting cultivators quickly getting up on their feet to greet him . Zac had stayed nondescript since arriving , and his current identity didn’t have any interesting points . His array was currently inactive , but the bracer he got from Greatest should be enough to block any spying at the e-grade .

The situation was definitely suspicious .

Boss has called a few people over since he set up shop here almost two months ago , - the attendant shrugged when he saw Zac’s inquiring look . - All of them left not long after . The longest stay was two hours . Some of them sported wounds , but they didn’t look disappointed . A few even had their bounties increase . You can ask anyone here , many even stay here longer than planned in hopes that the boss will call them over . -

Zac hesitated for a few seconds before he nodded and left . The elf had already entered his compound , but Zac didn't immediately follow . He instead walked through the small settlement , surreptitiously asking one cultivator after another for some information in exchange for Nexus Coins . After half an hour the situation was clear ; either they all were under some sort of spell , or the attendant was telling the truth .

In fact , many had asked those who left the compound what happened , and it turned out that the elf was looking for suitable sparring partners and had supposedly built a sparring cage that was powered by Dao Treasures . Most tried to stall as long as possible so they could benefit as much as possible from the insanely exorbitant setup , but most fights only lasted for a moment before they failed to keep up with the boss .

A few actually managed to last long enough to reach a breakthrough of their own . Of course , some were also dreaming of being discovered by showcasing their skill during the sparring session .

Zac hesitated for a few seconds , but he eventually walked over toward the walled-off section . He had fallen just short of evolving his Fragment of the Bodhi before , and this seemed like a good opportunity . If this didn't work , he could always find a Beast King to pit his life against . A sparring session here would even allow him to save on his own Dao Treasures so that he could keep them for a rainy day .

Sparring with an elite from a B-grade faction would definitely be beneficial to his combat style as well . How was his Evolutionary Stance supposed to evolve if he didn’t seek out various powerful opponents? Still , he mentally prepared for a prison break in case the scion’s intentions weren’t quite as pure as advertised .

The gates to the mansion swung open as Zac approached , and they closed after he entered . The interiors were actually just a large garden , and Zac looked around with some confusion , realizing that none of the plants were spiritual in nature . Was the elf simply walking around with a pouch full of soil and flowers for situations like these?

Oh , you’re finally here , - Ventus said as he looked up from a book he was reading .

You could have saved me some trouble if you simply explained yourself , - Zac grunted as he scanned the area for hidden traps as best as he could .

No need to be so tense , - Ventus laughed . - I have no designs on your life . You’ve seen my bounty . The amount of slaughter and destruction I would have to unleash to even gain a top 10 , 000 spot would be shocking . And even all that effort would just result in a Limited Title even worse than the ones I already have . What’s the point? -

So why even come here? - Zac probed .

Orders from above , can’t go into detail . However , my intuition tells me you have an idea of what I’m talking about , - Ventus smiled . - The Perennial Vastness Token is a happy surprise though . -

You don’t have things like that in the Radiant Temple? - Zac asked , diverting the subject from what he did and didn’t know .

Well , we do have a few similar opportunities , but nothing comes for free . If I can save decades' worth of Temple Points by snatching this opportunity for myself , I can use the points on unique treasures or other good stuff instead , - Ventus shrugged . - So , are you ready to spar? Let's help each other across the threshold . -

Chapter 727 : Order

The elf was clearly gearing up for a sparring session that would push them to reach a breakthrough . However , Zac had some reservations even if the opportunity seemed good .

Why me? - Zac asked . - If you can’t give me a proper answer I’ll have to decline . -

That was the most burning question in Zac's mind . If he was giving off clues about his situation to the young elites of the B-grade empires he needed to know immediately . Or if this elf had somehow found out about some of his most important secrets , the situation might turn into something bigger than a simple spar .

Can you tell what path I follow? - Ventus asked as a Dao Field spread out from his body .

Zac’s thoughts whirred as he felt the ambient energy , and he looked at the elf with surprise . It was actually just a Dao Field from a Peak fragment as far as Zac could tell , which was decidedly lower than he had expected . However , the Dao Field was still far more intense than the fields of his own two peak fragments , almost a whole tier higher .

This Ventus must be right at the precipice of forming a Branch , and Zac also suspected he had an extremely powerful soul to push the Dao Field to this extent . As for the type of Dao , Zac actually didn’t have the slightest clue .

It didn’t really feel like a combat-oriented Dao ; there was no bloodlust or sharpness to it . It was neither attuned to nature or the elements , and it didn’t feel like Adcarkas Dao of Space or Leviala’s Dao of Time . It did give off a mysterious and intangible feeling , but it wasn’t the Dao of Karma either .

For some reason , it made Zac think of an old academy with observatories and ancient books and scrolls filling tables .

Books…? - Zac said from lack of better answers .

Well , not quite , - Ventus smiled . - My path is within Dao of Numerology , one of the children of the Dao of Order . -

Zac’s brows rose a bit in surprise . The Dao of Order was a top-tier concept , proven by the simple fact that it had birthed a proper Apostate . As for the Dao of Numerology , Zac didn’t know a lot about it . He remembered Leviala mention it once , and he had read short descriptions in missives about Dao .

There was no proper faction in the Zecia sector following this Dao as far as Zac could tell , and it was apparently as hard to master as the Daos of Space , Time , and Karma .

These Daos put greater demands on affinity for some reason , and it was no wonder this guy managed to become a proper member of the Radiant Temple with this kind of accomplishment . It was probably even harder to form a Peak fragment subordinate to the Dao of Numerology compared to forming a Dao Branch of some weapon-based Dao .

That didn't mean these Daos were more powerful , though the rarity of a Dao was an advantage of its own . Zac had fought against a lot of elementalists and weapon masters over the past years , and he could trust his instincts against those kinds of warriors . But against the elf in front of him? He was still clueless on what to expect in a battle .

Every day since entering , I have calculated the streams of fate of the Twilight Ascent , and the path gradually grew clearer . I chose this spot specifically to form a settlement , as it rests on a nexus on the way to the Twilight Chasm . A large number of those marked by fate will pass through these gates , and you are one of them , - Ventus said with an intense look . - Even better , the presence of the Undead Empire and Havarok Empire in this area is extremely weak , with a low probability of me running into someone troublesome while collecting Twilight Fruits . -

It was just like Leviala had said . If he was speaking the truth , then Ventus Kalavan was essentially like a supercomputer that gathered thousands of pieces of information , turning them into data that helped him predict the future and his optimal path . Abbot Everlasting Peace's Dao had been different , but the end result was similar .

He had known all sorts of things that had yet happened through his insights into Karma . For a peak E-grade cultivator from a B-grade faction to be able to do the same , it wasn’t too surprising . Zac hesitated for a while , but he eventually nodded . His intuition told him that while the elf didn't necessarily explain the whole situation , he also wasn't lying .

So , how does this work? - Zac asked .

Come with me , - Ventus smiled , and the two walked over to a tree that twisted to form a tunnel .

They eventually reached an underground chamber that had a ceiling height of over ten meters and a diameter of almost a hundred meters . Its walls were made from the densely packed canopy of the Greengroves , and hundreds of banners with inscriptions were hung from both ceiling and walls . Zac guessed they were purifying talismans since the Twilight Energy in the area was barely as dense here as at the starting continent .

There were also eight braziers standing by the wall equidistant from each other . Zac’s eyes roved across the engravings and braziers , looking for any hint of something amiss . But neither his Danger Sense nor his skills found anything wrong with the setup , and his instincts told him that this was the kind of preparation you'd see in a cultivation cave .

In fact , there were already Dao Treasures loaded in each of the braziers , and the moment that Ventus closed the door , small fires ignited beneath the fruits . An alluring scent spread through the whole place , and the area soon felt a weakened version of the Dao chamber where they cracked open the Dao Funnel . Part of him wanted to simply sit down and gobble everything up , but he knew that doing so would just harm himself .

He was still lacking that final inspiration of what direction to take his Fragment of the Bodhi . If he just let himself get swept up by the mysterious smoke , he might end up with an imperfect Dao that didn't quite match with his path . Zac turned toward Ventus , but he hesitated when he saw the smiling elf just standing there with the large wooden frame in his left hand .

What’s wrong? - Ventus eventually said with a raised brow . - It’s not cheap to run this thing , you know . -

Uh , are you going to fight with that thing? - Zac asked hesitantly as he looked at the wooden frame and the floating stones within .

You’ll understand soon enough . Don’t worry , just fight freely , - he laughed . - No skills though . They are just conduits to the Dao rather than its base , and it might attract the big guy below us . -

Alright , - Zac said . - You better not regret it . -

It looked ludicrous that the elf wanted to defend against Verun’s Bite] with stone beads and a wooden frame , but Zac guessed his reservations were simply him being a country bumpkin . Not wasting any time , Zac shot forward as Ventus flashed to the middle of the chamber with a graceful leap .

Zac launched a probing strike aimed at the elf’s chest , but he effortlessly avoided it by shifting his weight with expert precision . At the same time , the elf flicked one of the stones on his Spirit Tool , and Zac felt the universe somehow tilt when hearing the clicking sounds of gems colliding .

It wasn’t really a spiritual attack , at least not a type he was familiar with . It rather reminded him a bit of when he fought the Karmic Cultivator in the Tower of Eternity , where the man tried to impact his fate . He didn't actually feel those kinds of karmic restraints , but he still felt like a beast trapped in a cage for some reason .

Zac swung his axe once again to break out from the mental shackles by putting out some pressure of his own , and he also tried to stomp down on the elf’s foot to lock him in place . However , he was surprised to find it was rather his own foot that had been restrained , with Ventus immobilizing him with a force that belied his thin frame .

Something suddenly changed in the weird weapon as the hovering stone inside the wooden frame suddenly lit up like stars , and some of them rearranged themselves into a constellation resembling an intricately decorated shield . Zac didn't know why he thought so since a few dozen motes of light couldn't depict an image with such clarity . But that was what he saw .

In either case , there was no time for Zac to ponder on the implication of the rearrangement since the elf actually moved the abacus to counter Zac's own attack . Such a collision would normally result in a broken wooden frame and Zac’s enemy thrown across the room or cut apart entirely , but it was like the weird Spirit Tool nullified force .

The collision didn't quite halt Zac's strike , but Ventus had somehow managed to exert very little power to diffuse most of Zac's momentum , and Zac suddenly found himself getting his forehead flicked before the elf distanced himself in a flash .

You better get serious , - Ventus laughed . - You’re no good to either of us like this . -

Right , - Zac muttered as he prepared himself .

The most recent exchange had been a bit embarrassing , but now he at least knew that the man could take the heat . He shot forward once more , like a beast pouncing on another powerful predator encroaching on his domain . His axe cut a ruthless upward arc aimed at maiming rather than killing , but he once more heard the beads colliding , somehow restraining him .

Thankfully , the heart of the Evolutionary Stance was change and freedom . Life always finds a way ; if one path closed , there would still be innumerable other paths to success . Zac fluidly changed his upward swing into a tackle , and Ventus quickly took a few shuffling steps to avoid getting thrown onto the ground .

The elf regained his tempo almost immediately though , and he launched an offense of his own . Zac was already pushing forward to force the fight into the tempo of his stance , but he almost felt like he had been gored on a lance when he found a palm slamming into his chest seemingly out of nowhere . The elf looked weak and refined , but he was really packing a punch .

Zac estimated Ventus' effective attributes to be around his own , and it was even possible that was because he was restraining himself to match Zac's power . However , Zac's gut told him that they were simply closely matched , which probably meant that Ventus possessed a Dao Branch he currently wasn't utilizing . There was no other way that he would be able to match Zac's attributes as far as Zac was concerned .

Attributes weren't the only source of the effectiveness of the elf's strike though . It was like Ventus had found the absolutely optimal moment to strike . It hit Zac straight in his solar plexus , and the strike even took advantage of Zac's own momentum . Zac almost felt like a dumb boar running straight into the raised spear of a hunter , impaling himself on the weapon .

A small setback like that wouldn't stop a beast in the wild though , and the gleaming edge of Verun's Bite] ripped through the air in an attempt to cut off the offending hand . Unfortunately , it was like Ventus knew his actions even before Zac did so himself . Zac was following his instincts , and the elf was somehow calculating what Zac's instincts would say in real-time , continuously adjusting his response .

The two exchanged a dozen strikes in an instant , where all of Zac's attempts to forcing open Ventus' nigh-perfect defense were rebuffed , with Zac getting punched by one painful counter after another . He was quickly coming to understand the power of the elf's path ; it was using precise calculations and predictions to find the optimal ways to strike . Meanwhile , the odd Spirit Tool was not only a defensive treasure , but it also looked like it helped Ventus make those precise calculations .

Zac couldn't think of any direct solution that didn't involve 'cheating' with his skills or bloodline , so he could only redouble his efforts . There should be a limit to either Ventus' calculative abilities , or his ability to respond to Zac's unfettered assault . In fact , Zac felt that his Inexorable Stance would be pretty effective against this kind of combatant .

So what if you could predict fate if fate was inexorable and unavoidable?

However , Zac's purpose wasn't to win but to find inspiration . A minute passed , and the speed the two exchanged strikes kept increasing . They had turned into a blur as they flickered across the Dao chamber , each strike empowered not by Dao but their Path and their convictions . Zac was quickly becoming engrossed by the battle , partly because of the environment and partly because Ventus was an excellent sparring partner .

It felt like he was fighting fate itself with his Evolutionary Stance . Zac's technique was everchanging and ever-improving , but Ventus was already prepared no matter what he tried . In fact , the elf's methods were evolving as well as Zac's movements became more and more unpredictable . He wasn't just anticipating Zac and countering after a while , but he rather started pushing the direction of the fight in inscrutable ways .

Everything from a small shuffling step to moving the stars in the abacus was filled with meaning , meant to change the way Zac reacted . It was extremely powerful on its own , but especially so against someone like Zac who used an instinctual type of fighting . It was almost like Zac couldn’t trust his instincts , as his own Path was being affected by Ventus’ .

That didn’t dampen Zac’s enthusiasm though , rather the opposite . Every moment his technique improved , becoming more and more complete . He also felt a burgeoning wave of inspiration wash over him . He was literally fighting inside a tree canopy , hidden inside a small sanctuary in a dangerous zone .

He was standing inside his own Dao , gradually perfecting his path .

Evolution was endless , everchanging . If his Inexorable Stance represented the ultimate fate of all living things , then the Evolutionary Stance represented the ability to break those chains of fate and the laws of nature themselves .

The smoking haze from the braziers started to transform , turning into two forces in a struggle for supremacy . One was overbearing , like the Heavens themselves as it towered above all creation . The other was much smaller , but it frantically fought against the larger one , constantly eluding being locked down .

Ventus was aiming at becoming the arbiter of fate , an apostle of Order . His actions would be Heavenly Law , dictating providence and the tides of battle . Meanwhile , Zac birthed and discarded one move after another in an endless cycle , each attack a life going from birth to death in the span of a breath . Each one was unique and unpredictable .

He was becoming an agent of Chaos , infecting fate with an unerasable tinge of uncertainty .

And the motor of it all was Life . Life was the source that kept filling Zac with inspiration , while his weapon was the delivery method . Axe and abacus clashed over and over as neither Ventus nor Zac was ready to give an inch as the fight represented their paths . It was even becoming unclear whether they were really just sparring fighting for real as time marched on .

Fists met flesh , the collisions echoing with the truths they both searched for in the heat of battle . However , as the two were getting more and more caught up in the ripples of inspiration , the fight started to transform once more . An outsider would probably get confused if he spectated the fight since the strikes gradually became slower rather than faster . It must have looked like they both were running out of steam , but the truth wasn’t that simple .

For every move that Zac executed , there were ten that were discarded . They both were continuously adjusting from the slightest change in the battlefield , like they were playing chess thinking dozens of moves ahead . The bringer of this change was largely Zac , as he started to come to a realization .

Life was full of endless possibilities and unpredictable , but it was also extremely efficient . Excess was a luxury of humans rather than a truth of life . The wolf wouldn't go on a mad slaughter and kill more than it could eat . It would be a waste of energy . Plants and beasts wouldn't evolve features that served no purpose , since every morsel of energy was needed to survive in the wilds .

Just like how life was efficient , so did Zac need to become more discerning in his combat style . His combat style would still be marked by randomness and unpredictability , but he would need to be in the driver's seat . This would create a targeted evolution rather than series of random events that might or might not end well .

It was important to distinguish between concept and application . In true evolution , most mutations failed and 99% of all species perished sooner or later . But that outcome was obviously not acceptable when he was fighting . He couldn't let himself get maimed or even killed just because randomness dictated it .

And as he controlled evolution , he was controlling fate . If fate wanted him to perish , he would break through fate and find a way . Zac's attacks gradually became more and more forceful , no longer trying to trick or subvert Ventus' combat style . His instincts told him to break right through it .

He was already a Mortal on the path of cultivation , so what did he fear fighting directly against predestination?

The elf frowned as he suddenly found himself pushed harder and harder , and the storms of Dao around him became more and more overbearing . But it was to no avail as Zac fought like a man possessed , pushing forward with wild abandon . Zac was accumulating one wound after another , but rips and tears started to appear on Ventus' robes as Zac pushed on .

The elf was unwilling to be pushed around , and the abacus swung toward Verun's Bite] in an effort to steal his momentum once more . But Zac's knee rose with enough force to make the air fracture , and it hit the bottom of the wooden frame with overwhelming might just before the two weapons clashed .

Zac felt a strong resistance for an instant before the abacus flew out of the elf's grasp and into the air . His whole being surged with momentum , and Zac barely remembered to stop his edge before it sunk into the chest of Ventus .

It's my vict- - Zac said with burgeoning pride , but his proclamation got cut short as a hard object suddenly slammed into his head .

It was the abacus he had forced out of Ventus' hand . It had flown up a couple of meters into the air , but the trajectory made it fall back right on top of him . The collision had caught him completely unaware , and Zac stumbled a few steps back as his vision turned white for a second . He shook his head to clear his mind , but he saw that the elf thankfully had no intention of following up on his lucky break .

Relinquish fate to seize the future , - Ventus muttered , his eyes burning with conviction as he stood rooted in place .

It looked like the elf had found a path of his own , and he quickly scurried to the other side of the chamber and sat down .

Zac was covered in painful bruises , but he was still elated as he walked over to the opposite side and sat down as well . His body was full of the mystical energy of the Dao Treasures already , and it all shot toward the celestial Bodhi in his mind . He had found it , the direction he wanted to take the Fragment of the Bodhi . And now he simply needed to form it with the fuel that Ventus had provided .

Chapter 728 : Dao Branch

The scorching sun blasted the badlands , and the lone Bodhi was still the only island of life in an ocean of death . The punishing rays had kept the vast desert in a deathly grip for an eternity , but the sanctified tree was not content with simply enduring . It was the agent of change , the key to life in this lifeless world . Year after year a golden haze would spread from its canopy , small seeds with the power of transformation .

Life was the breaker of barriers that pushed cultivators to pave the road toward Eternity . The Heavens had its designs ; it was immutable and intractable , but it couldn't stop the innumerable beings of the cosmos from grasping for the great beyond . It staved off death as it filled the living with endless possibilities , allowing all manners of beings to spread across all space .

Eventually , a seed from the Bodhi would manage to take hold , and one tree would turn into two . Two would birth four , and eventually , the badlands would be a desolate desert no longer . A small seed could break the status quo that had gripped the world for a near-eternity , and when the winds of fate blew , anything could happen .

Zac had already incorporated his Dao with his Path , and most of the insights were already consolidated after the previous bout of meditation . There was now an added element to the Fragment of the Bodhi , just as with his path ; fighting fate . If the death-aspected side of his cultivation represented finality and inexorability , then the life-aspected side represented endless possibilities .

The two concepts were opposing and irreconcilable , but Zac still felt it was the right way to go . Soon enough , the Fragment had taken the final step , and he had managed to push his final Dao Fragment to Peak Mastery . He opened his eyes and activated his Dao Screen , taking a gander at the results .

Fragment of the Bodhi (Peak) : All attributes +40 , Endurance +550 , Vitality +1110 , Intelligence +30 , Wisdom +280 , Effectiveness of Vitality +20%

The results were in line with his own expectations , with the only caveat that the evolution provided a bit more Wisdom and a bit less Endurance than expected . That was just fine with him , considering his physical durability was pretty disgusting already . There wasn’t much else of interest that had changed , except his ladder position that had made another jump , though this time only by 300 places .

It wasn’t too much , but Zac wasn’t surprised . The evolution had pushed him just past 100 , 000 Contribution points , which meant he most likely was competing with those who had formed a Dao Branch by now . And who among those warriors hadn't managed to gather a bunch of Contribution Points through other means?

He would either need to form a Dao Branch or find something valuable to destroy like the mother tree to make another qualitative leap forward on the ladder . For now , he was more interested in what was going on with Ventus Kalavan . Zac's own breakthrough had consumed a decent chunk of the Dao-infused mists in the arena , but it was nothing compared to what was going on around the high elf who still had his eyes shut .

There was a storm brewing above him , to the point that space itself was affected by the outburst . It didn’t crack and form spatial tears , but it was like the laws of nature changed within ten meters of the elf . It reminded Zac of how it felt when he stood in front of the trapped Dimensional Seed , where his very path was being questioned by the aura Ventus exuded .

It didn’t take long for Zac to find his bearings though , and he looked on as a five-meter rune appeared above Ventus's head . It wasn't engraved or inscribed , but it was rather formed by what looked like shimmering stars . It looked a lot like the stones in the odd Spirit Tool , but these small stars were made by the Dao itself .

Unsurprisingly , the constellations they created felt far more tangible compared to the one in the spirit tool . Looking at the rune was like looking at the heavens themselves , and it was like Zac had been transported to that mysterious space where Yrial had performed his Dao Impartment to him .

Behind the motes of lite was a vastness that Zac had never seen before . A bridge had been formed in the chamber , a bridge between their physical realm and the beyond .

It was a shame that Ventus' path was completely separate from his own . Looking at the process of forming a Dao Branch from first row gave him all kinds of insights , but it would have been far more beneficial if their Daos had been more aligned . As for what Dao Ventus was forming , Zac wasn't certain .

Zac believed it was technically possible to form a Branch of Numerology , just like it was possible to form Branches of Life or Death from Bodhi and Coffin . But you could form many different Dao Branches even if you walked a path of purity as Zac did . Even two concepts within the Dao of Order could form a unique Dao , and it seemed as though Ventus might have some relation to stars going by the Dao Apparition above his head .

The process continued for over an hour at which point the braziers were completely sucked dry . The elf was forced to take out three more Dao Treasures , each one better than anything Zac owned , to continue the job . But the elf was definitely making great progress . The celestial rune above his head kept growing more and more powerful and condensed .

The position of the stars kept making small adjustments , and Zac felt like it was approaching closer to perfection with each passing moment . It was almost like when he upgraded Indomitability] , but on a far grander scale . Zac looked at the apparition with awe , stunned by its complexity - it was rife with meaning .

Eventually , it seemed like everything clicked into place , and a mysterious pulse spread out from the rune , and Zac could feel it deep into his soul as it passed through him and continued out from the arena . The apparition quickly shrunk in size next before it entered Ventus through his glabella . Only ten minutes later did he open his eyes , and Zac saw pure elation on his face .

Zac could understand the feeling . Forming a Dao Branch was one of the biggest hurdles to forming a powerful Cosmic Core with some certainty . He was pretty certain that the elf already had one Dao Branch before , but one’s main Dao was more critical to upgrading one’s Core since it more represented one’s path .

With Ventus having formed two Dao Branches , one of which was the extremely hard-to-train Dao of Numerology , reaching Hegemony was just a matter of time now . Without it , you needed some unique opportunity or a good chunk of dumb luck to succeed . But those kinds of people would always be limited in their potential since the Dao was the foundation for all cultivation .

A Cultivator Core formed mostly with the help of an external treasure wouldn't be aligned with the Cultivator himself , and it would usually have very low potential . Most such Hegemons would never leave the initial stages of the D-grade , but that alone was enough to become an elder in a D-grade force and gain thousands of years of longevity .

It was the same for Zac . Finding proper information on Mortals forming their Cultivation Cores was pretty hard since it was so exceedingly rare . But the gist of it was that there was no real method to slowly form the foundation of the core like Cultivators did through their manuals .

You had to try to forge it in one go , where part of the process was fueled by Dao , and the other part of it was fueled by treasures . It was more than ten times harder than it was for cultivators since the Mortal had nothing to build upon . It put even higher requirements on one's Dao as well since it was a more integral part of the process without a Cultivation Manual to do some of the work .

That alone was what stopped almost all mortals from ever taking that step . Simply gaining a Dao Fragment in the E-grade was almost impossible with the extremely low affinities Mortals had for the Dao . How would they possibly manage to form a Dao Branch that could help stabilize the process?

That was why Galvarion's accomplishment was such a shock , to not only manage to make it into Hegemony but even past it into Monarchy . He must have been blessed by extraordinary luck to make up for his lacking affinities , finding one opportunity after another to push him along . Of course , it was also possible that he had already become a Cultivator by the time he was aiming to form his inner world through boosting his affinities , something that might not be possible for Zac .

Congratulations , - Zac eventually said as Ventus got to his feet . - I feel I gained a lot from seeing your breakthrough . -

Thank you , - Ventus smiled . - I am happy that you could take a step forward as well . The fighting style you are forging for yourself – marvelous . I seldom see such integration between man and Dao even back at the temple . -

Zac smiled , but he was actually a bit confused about that point . For example , while Catheya was extremely adept with her Daos and skills , he didn’t feel much of a Path from her combat style . It was the same with most people he had encountered , with only two real exceptions . One was Adcarkas , who had perfectly harmonized with the Dao of Space . Even now , Zac felt he was barely beginning to catch up to the Dominator's mastery .

The other was Kenzie when she fought under the guidance of Jeeves .

Ventus was the third person Zac met who had reached that stage , and he was obviously a rare genius to form this kind of Dao Branch while still in the E-grade . Zac didn’t really feel like he personally was some sort of genius when it came to these matters , and his affinities to the Daos were simply abysmal . Was his ability to so easily integrate his Dao a benefit of his constitution , or was it rather the result of his unique road to get where he currently stood?

I have no idea why a monster like you remains unattached , but my calculations indicate you have some private issues weighing you down , - Ventus continued . - But you know what , the Radiant Temple don’t care about your past as long as you’re not an unorthodox cultivator . If your grudge is with a local faction , why not just come to our place? -

Your place? - Zac said skeptically . - You’re inviting me to the Radiant Temple? -

Well , not really , - Ventus laughed as he threw Zac a token . - I’m just a little disciple myself , it’s not like I can decide who can enter . Perhaps if it was some of those highbrow scions with powerful ancestors to rely on , but I’m an outsider myself . -

Zac snatched the token and took a look at it . Its design was completely different from the one he got from Catheya , but it was clearly a cut above the other ones he still had in his Cosmos Sack . It was a proper cross-sector teleportation token and something that most people in the frontier dreamed of acquiring .

Then what’s this? - Zac asked .

It’s a token to the Lucent Mile Continent in the Yr’Vanium Sector . In case you don’t know , Yr’Vanium is a Sector roughly ten times older than Zervereth , and you could say it’s in the process of transforming into an established sector from a frontier sector , - Ventus said .

Yr’Vanium is firmly under the control of the Radiant Temple , and we regularly hold trials on the Lucent Mile Continent . With your strength , you will have no problems at all becoming an Outer Member , and becoming an Inner Disciple definitely is to be expected . You should only need to temper yourself and your combat style a bit more , and you might even become a core or personal disciple after being vetted for a few years . -

Zac looked at the token with interest , and he eventually put it in his Cosmos Sack .

Are there any requirements on age or grade to join? - Zac hesitantly asked . - I can’t say I’m not tempted , but I have some stuff I need to deal with . I might even be a Hegemon before I’m ready to look for a faction . -

Pretty confident , - Ventus grinned . - But I think you have the qualifications to be . There are no strict requirements , but the Temple obviously prefers younger cultivators . Most outsiders who join are between late E-grade and early Hegemons , and the E-grade cultivators are generally around 30 to 50 years old . Those at the precipice of forming their core might be a few decades older , but I honestly doubt the Temple would accept an E-grade cultivator over 100 years unless they have some unique skillset or special circumstance . For example , they might have extreme potential but have been stuck and wasting away on a trash world for too long . -

Are you sure you want to give me this? I might not even be able to go , - Zac asked curiously , knowing his identity as a mortal might waste this token . He couldn't say that part out loud though , as his power was just too ridiculous for being a Mortal .

Well , I do get Temple Points for every member I manage to recruit for the sect , so I hope you use the opportunity . But I can always get more contribution points through scamming some young scions , - Ventus grinned . - I hear a disciple brother of mine got blasted by some crazy Draugr not far from here , he is as smooth as a baby and as red as a lobster right now . I can probably provide a fake divination in return for a good chunk of contribution . -

Zac couldn't help but feel sorry for Auride Serveris . He still didn't actually know if the guy was hostile toward Arcaz Black when they ran into each other the other day , and now he was also about to get scammed by his fellow disciple .

Is there tension between outside members and those who are grandfathered in? - Zac asked to change the subject away from his other persona .

He was honestly contemplating giving it a go in the future if he felt he could enter a place like that without exposing his secrets . Even an outer member would gain access to a lot of knowledge that would benefit most cultivators . He had seen just the kind of heritage a fragmented group like the Big Axe Coliseum possessed , and that was nothing compared to what a proper B-grade force like the Radiant Temple would have .

But Zac was a bit hesitant to go if the Radiant Temple was the kind of place where the old families within the faction had all the power , turning the whole Sect into a pseudo-clan where the outside recruits were barely considered members .

Well , yeah . Nepotism is a reality in any faction . Otherwise , the old goats at the top wouldn’t work as hard . But it’s not too bad , - Ventus shrugged . - The young lords have better resources , but us outsiders generally have greater talents . It’s the young lords with good talents you have to watch out for . -

Are any people like that here? - Zac asked curiously .

Ventus didn’t immediately answer , but he eventually shrugged like he didn’t care . - Kataron Rissit is one of ours . The Rissit Family’s supreme elder is one of the twelve Grand Deacons of the Temple , and Kataron himself is probably their most talented clan member in 100 generations . He’s not a bad guy , but he’s a bit singletrack when he’s on a mission . Better stay away from him . -

Zac recognized the name immediately since it belonged to the current 4th place ranker on the ladder . Kataron Rissit had started at the 5th spot , barely suppressing the 6th . But every time the ladder had appeared , he had made great strides forward . He had surpassed the 4th place holder , Dravzur Kuldas after a month , and he was currently just a hairbreadth away from claiming the third position .

There was still a pretty decent chasm between him and Ykrodas Havarok or Uona Noz'Valadir , but he clearly stood out from the other Rankers .

Right , - Zac nodded . - Thank you , I- -

He didn’t get any further as a tremendous shockwave threw him off his feet , and he felt powerful auras fluctuate from the surface . Another shockwave erupted , and Zac could suddenly hear a bunch of screams and screeching sounds of beasts . There was one clear suspect of the chaos , and Zac grimaced when he realized that the Raksha Shrimp King probably had come knocking .

He had a sneaking suspicion that it was because of the ripple that Ventus' breakthrough released , and he looked at the elf who responded with a helpless smile .

What now? - Zac sighed , knowing there were probably tens of thousands of shrimps waiting right beneath the canopy he stood inside .

Well , you can't subvert fate every time , - Ventus sighed as he threw an odd array disk to Zac . - Best of luck to you , I hope we’ll meet again . This is the key . Help the others , will you? -

Ah? - Zac blurted , getting a foreboding sense of déjà vu .

His suspicion was immediately confirmed when the Radiant Temple disciple simply disappeared in a flash of starlight , very similar to how Ogras got swallowed by shadows just after getting Zac to throw out that poison kettle so long ago . Zac laughed at the similarities , but he choked on his laughter when he realized that the escape talisman he had taken wouldn't activate .

Space was sealed .

Chapter 729 : Raksha Shrimp

Zac glared at the sealed talisman in his hand , swearing at both the wily elf and the salesman who had guaranteed 'unparalleled ability to escape even inside a sealed domain' for the talismans .

Don't be like that . Now hurry , my preparations can only delay the big guy for a minute , - the voice of Ventus echoed through the chamber , surprising Zac .

It looked like the elf had known something like this would happen and made some preparations . The thing Ventus threw Zac at the end clearly wasn’t an escape token , but it looked like it was meant to deal with the situation above . Zac sighed with some exasperation before he rushed out of the Dao Arena , and he was met with a scene of utter chaos outside .

The outer wall was already gone , and there was an enormous hole in the Greengrove canopies right outside the settlement . And from the depths of the tunnel , hundreds of Raksha Shrimps skittered forward , reeking of bloodlust with their six serrated claws ready to tear the settlers apart . Even the smallest of them was 4 meters long , brutish crustaceans clearly bred for war . The largest specimens were almost twice as big , and Zac guessed they had to be the ones who reached had Peak E-grade , with the rest of them being in the later stages .

They rolled forward like bulldozers , but the protective arrays still held while the wall did not . In fact , the whole sky had been replaced by a starry nebula , making Zac feel like he was looking up at space outside the Mystic Realm rather than the greenish haze of the Twilight Ocean . Motes of light were constantly falling , each one of them targeting a shrimp that stepped too far .

The motes looked harmless , but one massive beast after another fell helplessly on the ground after a simple touch , and piles of them were quickly forming at the edge of the settlement . The two dozen cultivators still inside weren't affected though , and the motes harmlessly passed them by . A few took the opportunity to strike at the shrimp , but most were trying to break out .

It was not only space that had been sealed , but the beasts had actually managed to erect a physical barrier creating a cage far stronger than Profane Seal] . There was a huge water barrier that encapsulated the whole settlement and the surrounding five hundred meters . Even Ventus's prepared defenses were within the water cage .

As for the source of the barrier , it was pretty obvious ; a 40-meter long Raksha Shrimp King that actually floated in the air above the tunnel that it had created . Not only did it have eight enormous claws that made Zac's heart shudder when he looked at it , but it had actually formed what looked like wings made out of blood-red water .

His best guess was that the Beast King was tricked into thinking there was some opportunity for a Dao breakthrough hidden in the town , and it had now locked it down to look for it . Thankfully , it looked like it was a bit hesitant about entering itself because of the odd cloud in the sky , instead letting its children test the water .

Zac only hesitated for a second before he shot toward the water wall on the opposite side of the town , away from the Raksha Shrimp King and its minions . Fighting a Beast King was something he was planning on doing sooner or later , but there was a time and place for everything . This one had a seemingly endless number of followers to throw at him , and some of them had quite formidable auras .

Besides , the king himself gave off a much more condensed aura than the electric eel even if the shrimp king was less than half the size . Not only that , but the Raksha Shrimp species were generally considered one of the most dangerous species in the inner layer of the Twilight Ocean according to the missives he'd bought thanks to one special ability of theirs .

They could utilize a War Array .

The king had brought thousands of subjects , and it might be able to turn itself into the equivalent of a Middle Stage Hegemon with their combined contributions . It was no surprise that the settlers focused on stalling while trying to break the water wall rather than going all-out to take the king out . Few E-grade cultivators would willingly anger a Beast King , even less than a Hegemon .

F-grade beasts were almost always weaker compared to cultivators level for level , except for some unique races . E-grade beasts were a bit better off , but still slightly behind . They had gained some basic intelligence and an understanding of the Dao , but they were still a tier lower compared to cultivators with their weapons , and skills , and so on .

However , that all changed at the D-grade . The boost in power for humans was big , but it was even bigger for beasts . Beast Kings were essentially the lowest grade beasts that were considered bestial cultivators , beings who followed in the steps of the Beast Ancestor .

Only those who managed to purify their bloodline would manage to form a Beast Core , and when that happened they would gain a Bloodline Inheritance . This bloodline inheritance differed greatly in quality and scope between species , but even the worst ones were a full kit of both skills and a cultivation method that suited their kind .

Though apparently , beasts with extremely pure bloodlines could awaken such an inheritance much sooner , some even from birth .

The bloodline evolution alone would give them a tremendous surge in power , and forming a Beast Core would award them with a shocking amount of energy , and energy reserves were already one of the things they surpassed cultivators at . With the inheritance itself , they suddenly gained ways to make use of those almost endless stores of Cosmic Energy with skills and to empower those skills with cultivation manuals .

That was why the difference in power between cultivators and beasts was pretty much removed at the D-grade . In fact , the average cultivator was slightly disadvantaged in raw power . Zac was no average cultivator , but he still was far from the peak of the E-grade . The amount of strength he would have to exhibit to deal with this big guy was a lot more than he was willing to show in front of over a dozen elite cultivators .

Instead , he decided to follow Ventus's suggestion and help the people escape .

Keep attacking it , - a burly humanoid roared as he unleashed a tremendous slash with a two-handed sword at the barrier . - We need to exhaust it! -

The others didn't need to be told what to do , and they were piling on in an effort of breaking through the thick wall of water to escape . A few even tried to swim right through it , but they were rebuffed and bloodied from the attempt .

It’s you! - a familiar face exclaimed when he saw Zac approach . It was the storekeeper who had helped him update his Ocean Chart] . - Where’s the boss?! We need his help getting out of here! -

He teleported away somehow , - Zac said with a crooked smile . - I think he’s gone already . -

What?! - multiple people exclaimed , glaring at Zac like this was all his fault .

What are you looking at me for? Do you think I want to be stuck in here with you people? - Zac grunted as he took out his axe .

The next moment a storm of Axe-infused leaves slammed into the barrier , but it just rippled without properly breaking . The barrier was something else , and a showcase of the difference between the D-grade and E-grade . Hegemons simply had a disgusting amount of energy to spare , and the Shrimp King could probably just keep infusing the barrier with energy until their whole group was exhausted .

After confirming the situation , Zac took out the item he got from Ventus . The elf had said that this was the key , and Zac’s best guess was that it was meant for this very situation . He readied himself as he infused the token with Cosmic Energy , and he instantly felt it emit a shocking cold . He had a good guess what was going on .

The boss prepared a key! Get ready! - Zac roared to those few who were attacking the shrimp at bay in the distance , and he threw the talisman at the barrier a second later .

A huge seal appeared from the token , the rippling waters of the barrier immediately started to freeze , and the water wall soon turned into an ice wall . That wasn't the only change though ; much of the energy that filled the waters were somehow nullified , making the ice not much stronger than just a normal wall . However , Zac knew the window of opportunity was limited as an enraged roar erupted from the beast king .

The Beast King could clearly sense what was going on , but an almost blinding starlight illuminated the area as a storm of silver leaves shot toward the rapidly freezing wall , cutting out a large chunk of ice in one go . A few more mighty attacks enlarged the escape path even further , forming a proper pathway .

Zac instantly flashed forward with Loamwalker] , appearing far outside the barrier in an instant . Three cultivators were even quicker than he was , and most of the others were hot on Zac's heels . The whole island shook the next moment , and Zac knew the Beast King had been forced into action .

This was no place to stay , and he rushed forward , his steps empowered by his movement skill as he flashed toward a neighboring island . A crash and an eruption of Cosmic Energy behind him indicated that the Beast King had caught up to someone , but Zac didn't stop to look . He had already paved the path , the others would have to deal with the fallout themselves . As for Zac , he set course for the depths of the Mystic Realm .

He was occasionally forced to jump down to the bottom of the shallow lakes to activate the moment skill again , but he was still making great progress across the archipelago . He only stopped ten minutes later to get his bearings , and it thankfully didn't look like any of the shrimp had followed him .

There was however a few cultivators on neighboring islands . They bowed in his direction before disappearing , and he followed suit as he jumped into one of the rivers of the Greengrove Archipelago and dug a hole that took him to the proper ocean beneath the canopies .

The Raksha shrimp were probably still gathered around the encampment , looking for the Dao Treasure that the Shrimp King thought he had sensed . However , they would probably spread out the moment they couldn’t find it , aiming at the cultivators instead . So Zac didn’t want to spend any more time in the area than he had to .

Huge swathes of land , or rather water , had been added to his Ocean Chart] , and Zac started planning his route as he pushed forward . Most of the added spots were unsurprisingly in the earlier parts of the Twilight Ocean . It was like Ventus had said , the temporary settlement seemed to be at the nexus of four paths , of which the route he took was one .

However , some parts had been scouted that went even deeper than the settlement itself . Zac had - wasted’ almost two months between Catheya’s mission and his cultivation session , and some had reached this area over a month ago . A promising route to the Twilight Chasm had already been found , and Zac only hesitated for a few seconds before he changed course toward the already charted path .

The map bought from a Temporary Settlement didn’t hold all the private markers that cultivators could add , such as warnings of powerful beasts or natural disasters , but it was still much safer than to go about things blind . The route would take him through Greengrove Archipelago and some more , where one of the settlers had spotted the beginning of another stream .

That stream was most likely one of the dozen-odd currents that led to the Twilight Chasm and entered its depths , and the quickest way for Zac to get where he needed to go .

But before setting off , there was one thing to take care of . He was currently swimming between the towering mangroves , but he suddenly swam a bit closer to one of the trees . Without warning , he pivoted in the waters , and stomped off against the trunk , utilizing the tree to activate Loamwalker] .

He flashed a few hundred meters forward , at which point he double-jumped in the waters to instantly change his direction and move around another trunk . There was nothing in sight , but a storm of leaves still shot out as Zac swung Verun's Bite] with a ruthless gleam in his eyes .

The waters suddenly shuddered as two bloodied men appeared out of nowhere , both of them looking at Zac with surprise and trepidation .

Is there some sort of misunderstanding? - one of the men asked . - We just escaped with our lives , why attack us like this? -

Preemptive self-defense , - Zac shrugged .

Zac had actually realized that someone was following him for a while now . Part of it was thanks to his peak mastery Cosmic Gaze] . Each improvement to the skill brought the same benefit ; greater detail to his energy vision . By the time it had reached peak mastery , it captured even the weakest hint of attunement .

Not only that , he had just evolved his Tree-based Dao and he was inside a forest , which made his senses extremely keen . Zac had noticed that there was a spot with weaker attunement a few hundred to a thousand meters behind him . That was often the tell-tale sign of an illusion array or cloaking skill that didn’t quite match up to Zac’s own sentry abilities .

But the most sure-fire way was obviously his Luck . With his recent Dao Evolutions , his mostly stagnant Luck had finally taken some steps forward , and he was approaching 1000 effective Luck . That was a shocking amount for E-grade cultivators , and it unsurprisingly provided great benefits . His warning senses had never been sharper , and he could feel something amiss just from the fact that he was being targeted . Previously the danger would have had to been palpable for him to get this way .

The two had tried to make it look like Zac had made a mistake , but he could sense killing intent hidden in their eyes . As expected , the two suddenly shot toward Zac as they brandished their weapons . They could probably tell that their ploy had failed and decided to instantly attack to retain some of the element of surprise .

Zac wasn't worried , and a vast fractal forest sprung up among the mangroves , making sure he'd sense if there were even more people lurking in the area . His aura exploded to a level that far exceeded what he had displayed inside the town , and the waters churned from his roiling killing intent . This deep into the Twilight Ocean , this kind of outburst essentially represented a Heaven’s Chosen .

The two were clearly shocked by the display , and one of them took out an escape talisman without hesitation .

Wai- - the other man screamed in alarm , Zac had already pounced on him .

The robber's head was lobbed off as the other man activated the talisman . But he was dragged back by the chains of Love’s Bond] before he was finished in one go as well . Zac deactivated Hatchetman’s Spirit] and scurried away after looting their rings and Corpses .

The gambit was a huge success . Zac was definitely powerful enough to deal with these two warriors without too much effort , but it shouldn't have been that easy . The two were still elites that dared travel in the depths of the Twilight Ocean , and Zac didn't want to attract any attention so he had unleashed an unnaturally powerful aura to catch them off-guard , courtesy of his bloodline and Spiritual Void] .

The two must have thought he was a monster with a Middle Stage Dao Branch between not being restrained at all and having his aura so condensed . They would definitely have figured out it was just fake power within a second or two , but they both died long before that .

Zac traveled for another ten days , continuing his progress between going over Catheya’s fractals and battling various beasts that had made the expansive mangrove forest their home . His Dao evolution was rapidly being consolidated into his path , and he was shoring up the insights into his path he had gained as well .

Soon enough he reached the edges of the Greengrove Archipelago , but he didn’t leave just yet . He first found an inconspicuous tree an hour from the edge and dug a small cultivation cave in its crown . He plugged the hole with the branches he cut out and followed up by setting down a couple of arrays to seal the area .

He had already incorporated his lessons from upgrading Indomitable] , and he had pushed his Life-attuned Dao Fragment to peak as well . Now that things had calmed down , it was time to make a real go at upgrading his skills .

Chapter 730 : Upgrades

Zac felt he had accumulated enough to give it another go at upgrading his skills , but rushing things at this juncture would create a lot of extra work down the road . The better the state of his skills were post-evolution , the less effort he'd need to spend on slowly fixing them later on . So he went over every skill fractal fastidiously while more going over his plans , checking and double-checking the missives he had collected before collating everything against his insights into his recently evolved Daos .

The next stop would be the Twilight Chasm itself , a terrifying place where other cultivators were only one of many worries . There were natural death traps and beasts aplenty , and the few cultivators who were traversing the chasm were all peak talents who were at the level of Yanub Mettleleaf or even higher . Running around with mostly F-grade skills in that place was idiotic , even borderline suicidal .

His insights had obviously not reached the peak yet , but they were good enough to perform adequately when upgrading his skills . He would get more and more hands-on experience as well , making the process easier with every attempt . The first target of his upgrade in his human form was carefully chosen for this very reason .

It was Hatchetman’s Rage] . The berserking skill's pattern was even simpler than Indomitable] , and it shouldn't be too hard to upgrade even if he planned on making some minor adjustments . With the lesson learned from this attempt , he would proceed to the more complex patterns .

Still , it took three full days before Zac took out another Fractal Framework Array] , this version slightly different compared to the previous one . Its base function was the same , but this version rather ran on Cosmic Energy and was made to help with life- and nature-related skills . It was one of the items he had made the Hexmaster buy for him after collecting everything for his Draugr cultivation himself .

The array lit up , and Zac gingerly cut off the skill fractal and infused it into the core disk . A hologram appeared once more and he started making adjustments following his plan . The patterns grew denser and more intricate as Zac upgraded one section after another of the fractal . The patterns were slightly different compared to the ones in his undead form , but the difference was simply to accommodate the different types of energy sources . Their fundamental functions were the same .

There was a delicate balance in the skill fractal , an equilibrium between patterns responsible for providing the temporary boost of Hatchetman's Rage] , and patterns that kept the process stable for as long as possible while also minimizing the backlash . The change Zac wanted to enact was simple ; more power . The boost provided by Hatchetman's Rage] didn't need to be a full minute . A battle could be decided in less than a second , as the fight the other day proved .

Besides , his body was unnaturally durable thanks to his extremely high Endurance and Vitality , along with his mother's machinations . The backlash he had to endure was drastically weakened compared to normal cultivators , so making the skill a bit more slanted should work just fine . As long as he didn't go insane like he did after eating the Rageroot Oak Seeds] , the more power it released the better .

However , the skill fractal suddenly started to shake as warning messages appeared next to the hologram , causing Zac to frown with worry . Things were not quite out of control just yet , but it was clear that his adjustments threatened to destroy the skill fractal's balance . The fractal had to be constantly filled with Cosmic and Mental Energy to stay malleable , and it was this that made the process so precarious since the energy could go wild and ruin the whole fractal .

Zac didn’t panic as he rapidly kept going , quickly upgrading the counterforce to the boosting section . But he wasn't fast enough , the fractal was becoming too imbalanced . He had thought he had made enough concessions to keep the process stable even after adding so much force into the skill , but it looked like he still lacked some theoretical foundation .

He thankfully had a solution in mind , and he made a temporary release valve like Catheya once had mentioned , providing an outlet for the energy that was building up to ominous levels . It was a temporary measure , but one that would allow him to work on the main diagram that would naturally contain the power .

Only when it was stable enough did he remove the release valve and patch up the spot with the original patterns that were there before the temporary change . An intervention like that weakened the pattern by a couple of percents , but it was far preferable to just letting the thing blow up .

After that first little hiccup , the process continued without any real surprises . Overall , the result was pretty good , and Zac managed to return a recently evolved skill fractal to its proper position with Mental Energy to spare . The fractal looked somewhat similar to before , except it was obviously lopsided now with a much larger section being reserved for power-boosting .

It was a huge sphere with small additions below , and it made Zac think of a setting sun for some reason . He had expended more than 80% of his mental reserves in the process , forcing him to take a break . That was fine with him though , and he curiously opened his Status Screen to see the result while he started absorbing energy from a Soul Crystal .

E] Arcadian Crusade - Proficiency : Early . Nothing will deny the vengeance of Arcadia , not even death itself .

Zac's heart beat an extra time as he read the description , but he sighed when he saw that he hadn't actually upgraded his title . That meant the skill was still a high-quality one , but that the adjustments to the skill fractal were large enough that not only the description was changed , but even the name .

Unfortunately , there was still no description of how the skill worked , and curiosity gnawed at Zac as he slowly recovered his Mental Energy . Initially , he planned on immediately moving on to evolve the next skill , but he eventually caved and decided to activate the skill to get some 'practical experience' of the process .

He activated a surveying array to confirm there were no cultivators in the immediate vicinity before arrays before pushing Cosmic Energy into his new skill fractal . Suddenly the world turned white as a tremendous explosion erupted around him , turning the sturdy wood of the mangrove into shredded splinters that were shot hundreds of meters in every direction , creating a huge disturbance in the ocean .

Fury coursed through his veins and the fires of war burned in his eyes as his pathways were expanded to a bursting point . The waters around Zac churned as a white-and-gold set of fractals covered his skin in what looked a bit like a tribal tattoo . Zac could only see it on his hands , but he could feel that both his arms and chest were covered as well .

It was almost a shame that he wouldn't be able to test out this shocking amount of force that rippled through his body .

However , Zac soon cursed his errant thoughts as space bent before spitting out a massive creature that was more maw than body . It had no doubt been attracted by the eruption of energy from the activation , and it swam toward Zac with murder in its eyes . The hideous creature looked a bit like an anglerfish without the antenna , and it was clearly in the early stages of Hegemony .

He hadn't planned on fighting a D-grade beast today , but Zac still shot forward without hesitation . There was no telling how long the boosting effect would last after his change , but it would definitely be shorter compared to before . He needed to settle this quickly .

The Beast King looked enranged to find an E-grade cultivator rather than natural treasure at the source of the energy eruption . A high-pitched shriek echoed among the Greengrove trees , as a water blade spanning hundreds of meters rushed toward Zac , cutting apart trees like they were made from paper .

However , a leaf large enough to look like something plucked from a worldtree appeared in front of Zac , and it cut through the waters with unstoppable force . Blade met leaf , and the whole section of the forest shook from the collision . The Beast King's probing attack was clearly imbued with vast amounts of energy , but it was no match to the ferocity contained in Zac's empowered swing .

It broke apart and turned into a series of chaotic currents , but Zac cut through those as well as he kept going forward . One of the nearby trees was on the verge of collapsing , but Zac managed to reach in time to launch himself forward with the help of Loamwalker] . It looked like someone had set off a bomb where Zac pushed off for leverage , and the force from his step was the straw that broke the camel's back , breaking the mangrove in the middle .

Space shrunk as Zac flashed forward , but he suddenly found himself severely slowed down as he got within a few hundred meters of the Beast King . The fifty-meter long anglerfish had erected some sort of Domain , but it looked like it was meant to trap rather than to allow it to escape as it still swam straight toward Zac with murder in its eyes .

Its maws opened wide , and Zac almost felt like he was looking into a portal to another dimension as it sped toward him . The momentum of the crusade was still urging Zac on though , and there wasn't any hesitation in his heart as another enormous leaf appeared , this one rapidly gaining a radiant golden hue as it unleashed an enormous haze of pure life that moved to encompass the whole anglerfish .

The deathly fog of the Abyss followed almost instantly behind the radiance of Arcadia , and a storm of unparalleled proportions was unleashed in the direction of the poor Beast King . It immediately realized that it was in trouble , but it was too late as it had almost reached Zac already . It tried to erect a barrier , even a D-grade beast's defenses proved insufficient to deal with Rapturous Divide] empowered by Arcadian Crusade] and the ocean itself .

In fact , Zac felt he could boost the effect even further , but he restrained himself for one simple reason ; doing so would actually cost him life force . What he had unleashed right now was more than enough , so paying such a steep price on a random beast was overkill .

The delimitation between Arcadia and the Abyss was just as chaotic this time around , perhaps even more so . Space fractured and recovered over and over , and long tendrils of destruction spread in every direction as the two clouds shrouded the Beast King . It desperately tried to escape using the same sort of spatial displacement as before , but not even a Hegemon could traverse space this fractured .

The anglerfish had no choice but to withstand the chaos that had engulfed it with its skills and the durability of its body . But the madness that Zac had unleashed was not something that a freshly evolved Beast King could withstand . Perhaps that Raksha Shrimp King would have fared better thanks to its thick shell , but the scales on this deep-sea dweller were clearly unable to withstand the spatial cracks .

Enormous lacerations were cut open across its body , and Zac felt a tremendous surge of energy before he even had a chance to follow up his initial salvo with Judgement of Arcadia] . The waters eventually calmed down , and Zac looked at the mangled remains of the Beast King with some helplessness .

He had expected that his first battle against a Beast King to be an epic contest between man and nature , but it was more like a wanton slaughter . His new skill had added a full 35% power , and it had also sped up the speed he activated his two skills by a large degree thanks to forcibly turning his pathways into superhighways .

The latter wasn't that impressive considering his bloodline , but he wouldn't need to be nearly as careful with this ability compared to Force of the Void] . But for now , he needed to get out of here . The odds of any other cultivator being in this area were pretty low , but the waves he had caused weren't small .

Zac didn't want to risk it , especially with an impending backlash , and he was actually filled with a sense of impending doom as he hurried away . He had gained enough strength to rip an early Beast King to shreds from his new skill , and the price for such power was likely to be equally impressive .

As expected , he didn't get very far before a searing pain spread throughout his body , and he couldn't stop himself from releasing a weak whimper as he sank to the bottom of the forest . His veins were once more set on fire , but this time in a completely different sense . It felt like he had been poisoned on top of being run through a wringer .

The backlash from Hatchetman's Rage] had mostly been a wave of weakness that lasted a few hours , but this pain reached into Zac's very soul , even eclipsing what he had been forced to endure when using the Bone-forging Dust] . He knew that he had to create at least some distance from the scene of the battle , but he could barely swim in his current state .

Without any better options , Zac activated one of his escape talismans , soon finding himself tens of thousands of meters away . Getting forcibly transported like that only worsened his pain , but he activated another three talismans before he was satisfied . Only then did he dig a small burrow beneath a large root of a random mangrove , and he continued to dig until he was nestled over a hundred meters beneath the ocean bed .

Falling asleep right now was risky , but his eyes were refusing to stay open as he descended into a deep slumber .

A nibbling pain startled him awake some time later , and he found himself covered in 40-centimeter long mollusks trying to break through his skin with small pincers . A wave of killing intent made them scurry away into the sand , allowing Zac to check his state in peace . Some surface wounds from the critters aside , he was mostly healed after activating his new skill .

However , he realized that he had actually slept for half a day while recuperating , and so deeply that random beasts actually thought him a corpse at that .

The backlash was pretty bad , but Zac believed it would become more manageable over time as his strength grew and his bloodline kept evolving . If anything , this was exactly what he had been looking to achieve when evolving the skill . The effect was palpable ; a boost of roughly 35% was a drastic improvement compared to the 25% of Hatchetman's Rage] .

Besides , his old berserker skill had been unable to completely boost his attributes now that they had outgrown the skill , reducing the actual effect to something like 10% . Arcadian Crusade] had no such limitations though , providing a massive augmentation that had lasted around 15 seconds from the looks of it .

The duration was even shorter compared to Hatchetman's Rage] when it was at early mastery , but 15 seconds was more than enough to cause a whole lot of damage .

Even better , Arcadian Crusade] even allowed him to empower it by expending longevity if his back was really against the wall in the future . It was a bit like the Anointed's unique methods , trading life for power . Zac could actually empower strikes with his life force if he really needed , but doing it through a skill would definitely have a greater effect than using it 'raw' .

The experiment could tentatively be considered a success , but he would probably be a bit more careful in the future after evolving a skill . He was still emboldened by success , and Zac soon dug his way up through the sand before he set out in search of a new cultivation cave . The previous set of defensive arrays to hide his cave had all been destroyed by activating his new skill , but luckily he had over ten identical sets just in case .

Soon enough another canopy had been hollowed out , and another set of illusion , isolation , and defensive arrays hummed to life as Zac started to focus on the next skill to evolve . He still took half a day to analyze his mistake where he almost made Arcadian Crusade] collapse , and how it applied to the other skills he had planned on upgrading . Only then did he activate the array once more , and the process started up again .

One skill after another was transformed over the next week , all of them successfully elevated to the next tier . Almost every evolution had some twists and turns , but he was definitely satisfied with the result .

E] Arcadian Crusade - Proficiency : Early . Nothing will deny the vengeance of Arcadia , not even death itself . Upgradeable .

E] Forester's Constitution - Proficiency : Early . All living beings under the Heavens are one entity . Upgradeable .

E] Earthstrider - Proficiency : Early . Traverse the boundless worlds , unrestrained and unfettered . Upgradeable .

E] Piercing Gaze - Proficiency : Early . Unravel their secrets . Upgradeable .

Four upgrades , and only one had been relegated to a lower grade .

Chapter 731 : Minefield

Three core skills had been directly upgraded to their E-grade equivalent without any major issues , with Forester's Constitution] mostly staying the same and Loamwalker] being adjusted to the point that it was given a new name . The former skill was a passive buff that boosted his Endurance and Vitality , with the peak skill adding something like an inborn instinct for the forests , helping him both find opportunities and avoid dangers .

Zac had tried to put more focus on the part that improved his instincts , but it had proved too complicated . He guessed that part of the drew inspiration from the Dao of Nature , and he was currently veering away from that path toward the Dao of Life . The two were pretty closely related , but they were still paths of their own .

Still , his efforts had been enough to slightly change the description to no longer just mention 'Man and Nature' to instead incorporate all living things . It was a step in the right direction , and he hoped it would broaden how the skill could be used . Being so dependant on forests nearby to provide full benefits was a weakness he wanted to move away from somewhat .

He didn't really sense anything different from the skill itself so far , except that his attributes had gained a small boost . That wasn't because the skill provided more points , but rather that it could scale even his massive attribute pools . It now provided 15% Endurance and Vitality as it did before Zac's attributes grew too big .

Perhaps the instinct would work like that as well , providing him with a natural understanding of stronger plants and places as well . After all , Zac doubted Forester's Constitution] could give many insights to things like D-grade plants before .

The changes to Loamwalker] were more extensive , where he mainly focused on improving the part that represented his double-jump . Staying inside the ocean had shown how big a weakness it was to always be landlocked . Soon enough he would fight Hegemons who all could fly , so he needed to improve the skill's aerial performance .

It looked like his change was a success , but he would have to test it out after leaving in a bit .

Unfortunately , problems cropped up when he had attempted to evolve Cosmic Gaze] . Its fractal wasn’t too complicated on the surface , but it did contain a few unique patterns that weren’t present in his class skills . This had created some hidden connections and unexpected dependencies that made the skill far more complicated to upgrade than Zac had expected .

He was forced to perform one patchwork after another as the skill fractal started to become unstable , and the result was Piercing Gaze] , which Zac estimated was a high-quality sibling to Cosmic Gaze] . It was a sobering wake-up call that there was still a lot that he didn’t know when it came to patterns , and it was also a good reminder that skills from outside sources ultimately weren’t as in tune with his understanding as his class skills or skills he would create himself in the future .

Upgrading them would require greater preparation , and some might be doomed to fail because of lacking compatibility .

Zac wasn’t all-too-beat up over the loss though . A high-quality E-grade investigative skill was still pretty much equivalent to his old skill at peak mastery . Besides , he still had the original skill in his Draugr form . He would prepare some more before upgrading the skill on his undead side , and hopefully , it would retain its full strength that time . As long as he succeeded , he would reform Piercing Gaze] and restore it to its former glory on his human form as well .

Making some mistakes was ultimately normal , and something that happened to most people when upgrading their skills . Keeping them at the F-grade , waiting for perfection was a fool’s errand , as it would delay his own progression . He was already halfway to late E-grade and he still hadn’t completed the step that most finished before even reaching middle E-grade .

Adjusting skill fractals after the initial process was a chore from what he'd gathered , but it was possible . They were like brittle glass , and every change had to be slowly and carefully performed , and fixing one was a slow process that would take a couple of years . Still , it was simply something he could add to his daily cultivation routine , taking a few minutes every day to slowly work on those that needed to be fixed .

The downside was that it was a bit risky to use the skills while doing those kinds of upgrades , so he wouldn't be able to do so inside the Mystic Realm .

So some mistakes were expected , but he still left Hatchetman’s Spirit] alone as he swapped to his Draugr form . That skill was simply too complex , and he wasn’t confident in changing it without System-assistance . Repairing mistakes was fine and all , but that was only true up to a point . If he messed up to the point that the skill became unrecognizable , then there was only so much he could do .

This time he meditated a full day before finally activating the array , and the skill fractal of Fields of Despair] entered the array . The peak quality skills were more intricate compared to the high-quality skills of his old Hatchetman class , but this particular domain skill was one of the three basic skills he gained at level 25 . Its effect was great , but the patterns were nowhere near at the complexity of Profane Seal] .

Besides , some of the structures in the skill fractal were surprisingly reminiscent of Hatchetman’s Rage] and Forester’s Constitution] . It was a marvel in a sense . Two opposing concepts with opposite effects , one buffing and one cursing , had such a similar appearance .

Soon enough the process was complete , and a new skill fractal entered his body .

E] Fields of Despair - Proficiency : Early . A desolate haze , both entrapping and illuminating . Upgradeable .

The upgrade was a success , and Zac had only made some small adjustments . He had given up some of the skill's ability to provide Miasma to other undead warriors , and in turn , expand the omniscience the skill provided from Peak Mastery . Ideally , he would have done away with those parts meant for warfare entirely , but they were an integral part of the fractal .

Cutting them out completely would have caused too big an imbalance , to the point that Zac had no way to upgrade the skill at all . He would have to gently steer the skill in the direction he desired with each upgrade instead , and by the time he became a Monarch , it might be completely in tune with his Path .

Just like with Hatchetman's Spirit] , Zac still didn't dare to touch Vanguard of Undeath] and Profane Seal] . There was still reason to celebrate though after this latest boost in power . Just over half a year had passed now since Zac entered the trial , and the improvements he had made were shocking .

His raw attributes had increased by almost 80% since he left for the Havenfort Chasm , and his effective combat strength had increased even further . If he fought that Half-Step Blacksmith Golem today , he would be able to take it out without using any berserking items at all , and the same was probably true for Adcarkas .

Then again , Zac knew that as he got stronger , so would his adversaries .

There was no time to lose , so Zac finally set off again , heading for the stream indicated on the map . He still traveled in his human form , and he finally found a chance to try out Earthstrider] . He swam between the mangroves , but a patch of grass suddenly appeared around his feet and he disappeared the next moment .

Zac appeared again a few hundred meters away , but he only stayed for a fraction of a second before he disappeared again , this time a few flowers appearing around his feet . He kept going , but suddenly he felt a sense of hollowness in the skill , and he landed on the seabed . The skill was quickly 'recharged' by some unseen force , and he felt he could flash away again any time he wanted .

This was exactly what he had hoped for . He could already create a similar effect with Hatchetman's Spirit] , but this was far more convenient . Earthstrider] actually created a patch of greenery right by his feet , allowing him to move unencumbered just like his double-jump . However , he only managed to perform five jumps before he was forced to land .

Still , that was a huge improvement , especially considering he didn't even need to start the skill on the ground . The movement capabilities of Earthstrider] themselves were barely superior compared to Loamwalker] , but Zac didn't care . It already performed great in battles , and it would be even more flexible going forward .

Zac was already close to the edge of the archipelago , after which he once more entered the more open waters . The energy was extremely dense by this point , so the ocean obviously wouldn't be empty . If anything , it was teeming with life by this point , with corals , weeds , and all kinds of plants fighting for space on the seabed .

An endless number of fishes and beasts scuttled between them , most of them mostly harmless even though they emitted energy signatures at E-grade . Zac was only occasionally forced to fight since unleashing his aura was enough to make whole shoals spanning hundreds of meters swim for their lives .

He continued traveling through the verdant ocean for another week until there was a change once more . He had reached an odd stretch of water with ball-like plants covered in beautiful flowers that swayed as the balls slowly bobbed abut . They seemed mostly stationary , looking like flourishing miniature planets . Zac still felt a vague sense of danger from them but passing through them seemed risky , if impossible , considering there had to be millions of them .

The waters were filled from the surface all the way down to the seabed , and they were placed so closely that his vision almost looked like a solid wall . His Ocean Chart] told him to go straight through , but Zac decided to trust his instincts and first try to see if he could pass them .

However , even as he tried to find another route , the bobbing balls were replaced by an endless sea of jellyfish who each had hundreds of tentacles , each one of them over fifty meters long . Zac didn’t recognize the balls , but he did know about these jellyfish . They were both venomous and voracious , trying to snatch up any cultivator who passed by .

Ultimately he chose to backtrack to the field of weird planets . He had no desire to tangle with hundreds of thousands of jellyfish , and the one who filled in the Ocean Chart] must have passed through the minefield of flower-balls since the map went right trough the patch they filled up .

Zac prepared some escape talismans just in case , and he used both Piercing Gaze] and Forester’s Constitution] as he started to make his way through the minefield . A long rattan vine suddenly flew out from the closest ball , and Zac instantly cut it off with his axe . The waters around the cut were suddenly filled with a dark haze , and Zac instantly felt a sharp uptick of Twilight Energy in his body .

It was pretty similar to the Hollowtongues , which allowed Zac to shrug off most of the effect and allow him to swim away . However , a sweet scent attracted his attention , and he saw a small berry sitting alone on the crown of the weird plant . A chain shot forward with lightning-quick speed , snatching the fruit up and dragging it back just in time to avoid dozens of rattans that emerged from the ball a moment later .

It was like the inert ball of green growth had been completely infuriated by the theft , and it raged as it searched for the culprit . Even a few of the neighboring balls were attacked , causing something of a chain reaction of destruction in the area . Zac found himself assailed from every direction , but his evolved Forester’s Constitution] quickly proved its worth .

It was like he instinctively understood how these previously unknown plants would act , and he swam in a pattern that allowed him to dodge most of the vines . The few that were unavoidable were quickly cut apart by a bodhi-infused Nature’s Edge] . Such an attack full of life-attuned aura didn't seem to draw the semi-sapient plants' attention , allowing him to avoid any further retaliation .

Zac barely had time to get out of the danger zone before spotting another ball with a fruit on top of it , and he hesitated only for the fraction of a second before another chain shot forward and ripped the whole bush off the mini-planet . As expected another wave of destruction was unleashed , forcing Zac to continue to bob and weave .

Things continued like this for two days , at which point Zac left the area a bedraggled mess . Wounds covered his body , and he held ominous volumes of toxins in his body . But Zac felt it was worth it . The toxins should be flushed in a few days from a mix of his pills and hidden node , leaving no lasting downsides behind . Meanwhile , he had managed to loot over 200 of those odd fruits .

They weren’t listed in any of the compendiums , but considering they were in the depths of the Twilight Ocean they had to be good things . After all , that minefield would probably take out 99% of the cultivators entering . As for their function , Zac actually guessed they were related to body tempering .

The fruits had a slightly bloody aura , and Zac’s cells greedily reacted to them very much in the same way as they did when put in front of bloodline treasures like the Blood Nucleus] or the Cardinal Kernel] . He stowed them away , happy to see his preparations for his Bloodline Evolution more and more comprehensive .

It didn’t take Zac long after passing the minefield to find the stream on the map , and the area was blessedly void of other cultivators . One more week passed , and things thankfully calmed down after he hitched his vessel to the stream . The vessel he currently used was still the one he looted from the Havarok Scion . It was simply the best one he had , no matter if considering base materials or quality of arrays .

He had spotted a few Beast Kings far in the distance , but most minded their own business . Many Beast Kings possessed intelligence equivalent to cultivators , and they probably understood that cultivators who managed to reach these depths of the Twilight Ocean were not someone to mess with .

After all , the life span of Beast Kings was around ten times that of Cultivators , and the oldest ones should have lived through dozens of trials . Of course , others followed their innate bloodlust and tried to attack his vessel , but Zac was long gone before they reached him .

The ship didn’t have any purification features installed , and the base design only relied on cultivation arrays to make the insides more bearable . If it was before , this wouldn't have been an issue , but as time passed Zac felt himself increasingly under pressure . Finally , after another week passed , Zac felt his body reach its limit .

Thankfully wasn't the limit of what he could endure , but rather the limit of what his body could passively expel without him lifting a finger . Void Heart] currently beat once every minute , which seemed to be the limit in these conditions . Zac felt a wave of relief after every beat , but more Twilight Energy entered his body every minute than his Hidden Node swallowed .

Some of the leftovers were dealt with by Purity of the Void] , but it wasn't nearly as effective for this particular purpose . So it came fell to Zac to manually process the leftovers just like all other cultivators had done since entering the trial . He simply expelled a little bit of Cosmic Energy , and his body naturally absorbed the Twilight Energy instead .

It felt like breathing stale air , but his bloodline was thankfully still doing the heavy lifting . The effect on him was currently far less severe than normal cultivators had even at the starting continent . Still , it also meant that he would be more and more restrained as he kept going .

The soul ocean was filling up pretty fast in this place as well , but Zac still felt that he should be able to go for at least two months before his life-attuned ocean reached max capacity . At that point , his resistance against the environment would drop even further , but there was not much he could do about that .

That’s why he needed to quickly rid himself of the odd stone and perhaps snatch some treasures before returning to depths he could handle . And finally , Zac saw his journey was coming to an end . The ocean bed simply stopped far in the distance , and it was replaced with endless darkness . The stream took a sharp turn and plunged into the chasm , heading god knows where in the depths of the Mystic Realm .

He had finally reached the Twilight Chasm .

Chapter 732 : Twilight Chasm

The enormous chasm quickly grew closer , and Zac immediately steered his vessel away from the stream and stowed it away after swapping to his Draugr form . His undead soul ocean was even more filled compared to his living one , but he had still chosen to travel the final stretch in his Draugr form , at least until he got a better lay of the land .

When comparing his two classes , Fetters Of Desolation currently had greater survivability . With Force of the Void] and Abyssal Phase] working together , he could instantly escape from most perilous situations to an even larger degree than his upgraded Earthstrider] . But more importantly , this final task of his was definitely related to whatever the bigshots outside had planned , and he didn't want to get his human persona involved in this mess .

He'd drop off the odd egg before swapping over to his human form , completely washing his hands of whatever schemes the Monarchs had .

Zac had read about the Twilight Chasm , but seeing it with his own eyes was still something else . It looked like an endless hole that reached into eternity , far surpassing the Havenfort Chasm in scope . It wasn’t an empty hole though , as he spotted dozens of interconnected mountains sticking up from the depths . All-in-all , the chasm was almost as big as the starting continent , meaning it would take weeks to swim across it .

Of course , that was not really possible . Beasts and cultivators were one of the dangers in this place , but another was the unpredictable currents . Zac looked over to his left , and he saw the stream that he had hitched a ride from until this point . It looked like a waterfall that descended into the depths , and he vaguely spotted another similar situation far in the distance .

Overall , there were over a hundred streams that had the Twilight Chasm as their endpoint , where they plunged into the abyss heading god knows where . The best guess was that the streams formed a loop , and they'd emerge again where they started . Of course , no one had survived attempting to find out , as dropping into the depths of the Chasm was a death sentence .

Just the surface of the Twilight Chasm had an energy density far surpassing any other area of the Twilight Ocean , and it got worse the deeper you descended from what he'd gathered . Hopefully , he wouldn't have to go too far down to drop off this egg , as even he wouldn't survive down there .

Zac took out the odd stone from his spatial ring , looking between it and the ravine in front of him . He doubted the mission was as simple as just throwing the thing inside , but he never actually got any more detailed guidance from Va Tapek when he handed over this thing . A weak fluctuation suddenly appeared around his hand as the icy brand appeared on it again , and Zac groaned when he received a burst of energy into his mind .

His vision suddenly changed as he shot through turbulent waters and jagged cliffs . The scene took him to a secluded valley through a hidden pathway , where an ancient altar stood erected in the middle . On it , the stone in his hand pulsed , and each beat awakened a few mysterious runes around it .

Soon enough his vision was back to normal , and Zac looked down at the orb with exasperation . As expected , there was a specific drop-off site stored inside the brand . The bad news was that he would need to actually enter the Twilight Chasm , but the good news was that he didn’t actually need to enter its heart .

The weird altar was located just a quarter into the twilight chasm , and it was actually not that far from his current location . Zac guessed that Va Tapek must have surmised that Zac would reach the Twilight Chasm from this general direction . Every second he loitered in this area was another second he was worn down a little bit more by the Twilight Energy , so Zac wasted no time before setting out .

Zac didn’t immediately jump out into the vast unknown though , but he made his way back and forth along the precipice , constantly rooting his chains into the bedrock to make sure he wasn’t suddenly ripped into the chasm by an unpredictable current . He was trying to find a patch of calmer waters to enter through , but it quickly became apparent there was no such thing .

Going above water served no purpose either . He knew that place was even scarier than below the surface . Hundreds of streams converging into one spot didn’t just do a number on the environment in the waters , it was even worse up there . Hundreds of hurricanes and insanely powerful winds made the environment deadly even for Hegemons . The chaotic currents in the chasm were safe in comparison , at least unless you had something like a Branch of Gale to protect you from the winds .

Eventually , Zac found a somewhat decent spot and jumped off from the ledge , and he instantly found himself assaulted by sharp waves from every direction . They tried to rip him down to the depths , and he was forced to keep expelling large amounts of Miasma to move forward . If he relented for even a second , he would be swept up by the waters and dragged god knows where .

His situation was luckily manageable thanks to the combination of his Draugr-vision and Cosmic Gaze] .

The more powerful the current , the more energy it also contained , which essentially turned the danger spots into brightly lit streams that he could circumvent . That didn’t mean he was safe though , as the streams constantly changed direction like a bucking horse , and Zac was forced to scramble out of the way more than once .

Suddenly , his mind screamed of imminent and deadly danger . A stream was veering straight toward him like a snake , and he saw no choice but to forcibly activate Abyssal Phase] with the help of his bloodline talent . He was turned into a cloud of energy in an instant , but his whole being screamed with pain as he felt himself being ripped apart . Zac only managed to move a second in his abyssal form before he was forced out of it , but that second had thankfully put him out of harm’s way .

He was still completely drenched in dripping ichor when returning into his physical form , a poignant reminder that he wasn’t immortal in his energy form . He had already suspected as much when being trapped in the Living Pulse , but knowing what could and what couldn’t harm him wasn’t an exact science . Clearly , rampaging Twilight Energy was on the list of dangers to his intangible form .

Every second was a struggle as Zac slowly made his way toward the first mountain ridge inside the chasm , and his reserves actually started to dip to dangerous levels . Just traversing the empty space of the chasm was difficult enough , but he was constantly forced to put a great deal of effort into dealing with the Twilight Energy accumulating in his body as well .

The density had essentially doubled the moment he jumped from the ledge , and it seemed to only be getting worse as he traveled further toward the core . But finally , he reached the closest mountain , and four chains shot out from Love’s Bond] and embedded themselves into the wall .

He dragged himself over and breathed out in relief after finding a spot somewhat protected from the turbulent waters . Zac felt a bit like one of those mountain climbers camping on the side of sheer cliffs as he hung from his chains while he started restoring his Miasma with a Soldier Pill and crystals . Normally he wouldn’t have wasted a Soldier Pill in a place like this , but the Twilight Energy was just too powerful .

It was a negative spiral . The more Twilight Energy he failed to expel , the greater the suppression would be . And as he got weaker and weaker , he eventually would succumb to the environment . This was why people didn’t push beyond their means in the Twilight Ascent , even for a quick sojourn to search for booty . There was no guarantee you’d make it back even from a half-day trip in an area your constitution couldn’t handle .

Zac thankfully had one final ace he hadn't been forced to use to deal with the Twilight Energy just yet , but he knew he was close to reaching that point . For now , he kept making his way forward among the sharp cliffs , using his sharp eyes and high Luck to navigate the treacherous waters . He did see both caves and some promising spots that might lead into secluded valleys , but he ultimately chose to focus on his main task .

He could go searching for treasure as soon as he was rid of this suspicious egg and the brand hiding in his body .

Quite a few Beast Kings lived in the chasm , but they thankfully stayed inside their caves most of the time . The chasm itself was actually quite desolate because of the dangerous currents , and few plants could survive for long on the surface . Instead , every single mountain was a cornucopia of hidden spots with valuable treasures that had grown in seclusion from the currents or other outside interference .

Apparently , there were many secluded valleys like the one where they harvested the life-death pearls as well , but he didn't have any way to find those spots except relying on dumb luck .

Zac had estimated his journey to take just three days , but it took him over a week to follow the path lined out in his vision . Some time was wasted from avoiding Beast Kings emerging from their caves to hunt , but most of it was a matter of having to stop and focus on expelling Twilight Energy for a few hours to prevent any dangerous build-up .

A new problem appeared the moment he reached the spot though , and Zac frowned as he looked at the sheer mountain wall in front of him where the hidden tunnel should be . It was either real or an illusion so good it had blended truth and false to a perfect degree . Was the map wrong? It shouldn’t be . Everything else had matched his vision perfectly , except this wall which should be a tunnel leading into a hidden valley inside the mountain .

A thought suddenly struck him , and he took out the sphere . His eyes lit up when the response was immediate ; the wall fluctuated for a few seconds before it just disappeared . He still had no idea whether the wall had been real or fake as he passed through the tunnel , but he guessed it didn’t matter .

Soon enough he entered the valley , and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders . The density of Twilight Energy was even lower here compared to the Starting Continent , and a small haze emerged from his pores as the large accumulations of toxins were being expelled by Purity of the Void] . Between one Hidden node gobbling up the energy , and another expelling it , Zac figured that he would be good to go within a few hours or so .

The altar stood in the center of the valley just as advertised , but Zac only started to advance after having recovered to perfect condition . The procedure looked simple enough in the vision , but Zac wasn’t as optimistic . Everything about this mission and this place was suspicious . For example , where did this altar and the inscriptions come from? Had someone built it? And what would actually happen when he placed the egg on it?

Chaos had gripped the whole Trial , and it felt like the contraband he had brought in here was if not in the heart of it , then at least close . Which begged the question ; what was Va Tapek doing with this thing? Catheya hadn’t said anything out loud during the month they had traveled together after the events beneath the Living Pulse , but she was definitely troubled by the situation with her master . She either was an excellent liar , or she really wasn’t clued in on the situation .

It almost felt like Va Tapek was breaking with the Sharva’Zi clan for whatever reason , joining a conspiracy that would potentially destroy one of their major revenue sources . And if he was , what did that mean for Catheya? Would she even still have a master when she came out from this thing? He remembered her words back on at Cork Island about chess pieces , and he really felt like one as he slowly walked up toward the altar .

There were no threats around , and none of his early warning methods indicated any danger . Zac still gripped his axe nervously as he placed the egg on the center of the altar , but his danger sense didn't even have a chance to wake up before a pulse threw him off the steps . It didn't hurt though , and Zac barely registered it as he looked at his right hand with glee .

The icy-blue brand appeared on the back of his hand again , and it even emerged and started to disintegrate into small ice crystals . Just as they were about to dissipate , they formed a simple sentence in the written script of the Undead Empire ;

Such is balance restored and Karma severed .

Balance my ass , - Zac muttered . Va Tapek had only spoken a few words to the Veilplume Monarch , and he had been sent on a trip to the most dangerous place of the Twilight Ocean .

If not for his Bloodline , he would have been forced to train like his life depended on it for the whole trial before attempting to deliver this thing . Still , he knew complaining about Catheya's master was futile . It was just another indignity he had to push to the back of his mind , just like all other lower-rung cultivators . Instead , he turned to the egg to see if it brought some change .

It just sat silently on the podium for a few minutes , but suddenly it released the very same ripple as he saw in the vision , and it felt like the whole realm beat with it as a few runes lit up around it . Zac felt the pulse all the way to the depths of his bones , but he found he was neither harmed nor helped by it . It just passed him through , like an extremely deep bass .

However , there was one thing that had changed from the pulse ; Love’s Bond] had woken up again . Alea hadn't spoken a word after that short message back in the Hollowtongue Mountains , but the Spirit Tool woke up with a vengeance because of the egg . The whole coffin on his back hummed with intense desire , its hunger far eclipsing both the Twilight Fruits and Life-Death Pearls .

It even eclipsed the ardent craving that Verun had shown toward that mysterious stone or the Dragon’s blood back then . Four chains shot toward the egg without Zac doing a thing , driving home just how much Alea wanted the mysterious treasure . It almost felt like he was fighting five frenzied snakes as he commanded the chains back into the coffin .

You really want this thing , huh , - Zac muttered as he looked at the stone in front of him .

It beat once more , causing another shudder to ripple through the valley . Zac hesitated for five minutes as he watch the egg beat over and over , each ripple empowering itself and the surroundings with a little bit more energy . It was like the treasure was slowly charging itself from a drained state , and the desire from Love’s Bond] increased with each passing moment .

Zac knew he was about to do something immeasurably stupid ; he had to snatch it .

He had searched high and low for over three years , but Love’s Bond] was clearly extremely picky , not once having shown any interest before coming here . The Twilight Harbor had been the only place holding things Alea needed , and none of them even were close to this item . Who knew if he would ever find something like it again?

Alea was right at the precipice , and this might be the final key to the puzzle .

Doing so would definitely put him in harm’s way , but the thought refused to leave him once it had taken root . One by one the people around him had fallen since the Integration . First was his dad , then Alea . Ogras , Billy , over a dozen Valkyries and followers in the hundreds . Even Thea had met her end , and he didn't know if he'd ever be able to see his sister again .

It felt like this egg represented a way for him to break the cycle , to at least bring one person back from the dead . And if he could do it with one , he felt more confident in helping the others as well . This opportunity didn't only provide a chance for him to evolve his Spirit Tool , it represented hope that his lofty goals weren't a fool's dream .

Besides , did stealing this odd object really change anything? He was already planning on slinking away in the darkness like a bandit , using his human form as a disguise from Va Tapek and any other prying eyes . So why not go all out now that things had come to this point?

Zac soon found a problem though as he jumped back onto the altar between heartbeats ; he was completely unable to move the treasure now that it had been locked into place . Pulling with all the force he could muster didn't do a single thing , and Love's Bond] was unable to absorb it while it was attached to the altar as well . He found himself at an impasse for a few minutes , until he had another idea .

Brand it with your Mark of Creation , making it forever yours , - Zac whispered , his eyes glimmering with a mix of madness and determination .

Chapter 733 : Repercussions

Zac knew he wasn't thinking rationally , but his desires muffled the voice of caution in the back of his mind . Using the Mark of Creation to forcibly take control of the egg was worth a try . He could sense that mysterious energies that filled the runes of the egg and the runes on the altar were too vast for him to overpower , but he might be able to snatch it as long as he seized control for just a moment .

As to whether this messed up Va Tapek's or the Undead Empire's plans , Zac couldn't care less . That man had sent him on what might almost be considered a suicide mission . If anything , Zac felt he would end up carrying a ball of resentment if he didn't do something to mess with his plans . Besides , Zac guessed the Monarch had a bunch of contingencies in case this egg never reached this place . After all , Va Tapek must have believed that Zac reaching this place was a long shot at best .

Two streams of mental energy and Dao entered the weird pathways on his shoulders , and they were soon joined by a mysterious intangible force that normally hid deep in his cells . A moment later a small sphere full of endless potential appeared behind his hands , a small rune barely visible inside . Zac kept infusing it with energy for a while until it stabilized while also instilling it with the purpose of why he was doing this .

Create an opportunity to steal the egg and have it become food for Love’s Bond] . Those thoughts and desires permeated the rune , and it subtly changed before Zac pushed it onto the egg . He sensed a slight resistance before the Mark of Creation entered the smooth surface and disappeared . A shudder passed through the egg , and it spread into the array and out into the whole mountain .

Zac was just about to see if he could take it , but a massive pulse suddenly threw him over thirty meters away as a storm of energy shot toward the sky from the altar itself . Millions of runes lit up all across the valley , and Zac found himself completely immobilized by a force far beyond what he could understand or endure . Unable to move , Zac found himself looking at the spectacle with a mix of horror and awe .

Who had created something like this? The tapestry that appeared among the walls spoke to the very core of Zac's soul , and he felt awash with inspiration while his body was inundated with a terrifyingly concentrated force . Void Heart] and his soul had been quiet since entering the secluded valley , but they woke up with a vengeance to greedily swallow the extremely precious energies that raged all around him .

Zac barely registered what was going on inside his body as his eyes darted back and forth , trying to imprint the vast schematic that had appeared on the walls . The feeling was just like when he sat in front of the Big Boss's Big Wall , but on a far grander scale . Not only that , but the insights were related to Life , Death , and at least two other concepts that he had no understanding of .

Was he looking at the blueprint of the Twilight Energy , with all the insights that made it possible on open display for him?

Zac wouldn't complain even if he found himself stuck here for a year , but too much of a good thing wasn't beneficial either . The levels of energy quickly grew uncomfortable even for him , and it felt like the whole valley had been turned into an enormous cauldron , where he was part of the impurities that were being burned away by the raging waves .

The chaos didn't stay contained to the valley either , but it had rather shot toward the surface , creating a pillar of force that had to be visible from far and wide . His tampering with the egg must have made the ancient preparations go haywire , and he was now paying the price .

The outburst thankfully only lasted ten seconds , but that alone was enough to fill him with enough energy to almost explode . As for the energy itself , it was pretty odd as well . It was Twilight Energy , yet it wasn't . Its base was the same , but it was purer , more primal in a sense . He wouldn't even be surprised if the odd thing inside him was the source of the Twilight Energy , which when mixed with Miasma and Cosmic Energy became the 'lower' version that permeated the whole Mystic Realm .

The energy was filled with far more meaning than the original energy as well . Both his Soul Oceans were rapidly expanding and evolving , probably to a stage that he wouldn't be able to reach with Twilight Energy alone . Zac grunted as he got back to his feet , a bit flummoxed that what should have been an opportunity for Alea somehow had become an opportunity for himself .

He had just evolved his two final Dao Fragments to Peak Mastery with the help of the Life-Death Pearls , but he had already gained another bout of inspiration . Most of the concepts he had glimpsed on the runes were far beyond him right now , but they'd serve as a foundation for him to move toward forming his two branches .

Part of him really wanted to investigate the source of that amazing energy to see if he could siphon off any more , but the scope of the spectacle had set off warning signals in his mind . Such an outburst must have been seen or at least sensed from far and wide , and he wouldn't be surprised if both Rankers and Beast Kings were making their way toward his location at this very moment .

Outbursts like this were often a sign of a great treasure having been born , and if he suddenly emerged from the cave he would become a prime suspect . He needed to get away before that could happen .

However , he couldn't go before trying to actually steal the egg , and he flashed forward once more , suddenly appearing on top of the Altar . The egg had once more calmed down and resumed its normal beat , with each beat illuminating a few more runes . Try as he might , he still couldn't dislodge the thing from its spot on the pedestal .

There was one change though ; Zac could actually sense his mark inside the egg . It hadn't been erased by the outburst , but had rather somehow fused with the treasure . With each beat , the Mark of Creation released a minute ripple that probably wouldn't be discernible to anyone but him , and Zac actually felt a weak connection slowly forming between himself and the treasure .

His abyssal eyes looked at the egg with anticipation , knowing that not all hope was lost just yet . Who knew , he might be able to wrest control sooner or later after the Mark of Creation had completely fused with the egg .

The question was how long that would take . For all he knew , it might take over a year , and Zac hesitated for a few seconds before he jumped down from the altar and started running toward the exit . This treasure was a big opportunity , but he needed to be alive to enjoy it . Who knew what problems could crop up if he stayed here . Better he leave for now and deal with his other matters , and come back in a year or two when the situation had calmed down .

He rushed through the tunnel , and Zac breathed out in relief when there were no massive beasts waiting outside . He still activated Abyssal Phase] , moving thousands of meters away from the cave mouth before the furious currents outside the secluded valley forced him back into his corporeal form .

Zac was about to swim away , but he suddenly felt a terrifying pressure descend upon him . He immediately turned around to see what was going on , and his eyes widened as a sanguine current ripped through the Twilight Chasm , heading straight for him . It was hundreds of meters long , and it almost looked like it intentionally crashed into the powerful currents in the chasm just because it could , crushing them with pure force .

An escape talisman appeared in his hand , but he sighed when it fizzled without activating . It was just a last-ditch effort though , since he had already known this would happen . The energies were far too chaotic in the chasm , making it impossible for the talismans to connect two different spots in space .

He considered activating Abyssal Phase] again , but he knew he wouldn't be able to get far even if he forced it . Besides , the blood river moved extremely quickly , and it had already reached him .

Oh? A Draugr reeking of mysterious energies appearing just after the whole chasm was thrown into chaos? Just what have you done? - a curious voice said as a young woman emerged from the stream .

It was an otherworldly beauty who had appeared in front of him , her features perhaps only matched by Iz Tayn or Be’Zi of those who he had encountered in his whole life . However , much like Be’Zi , her beauty was marred by a weird set of eyes where the sclera was red instead of white . She also had four small pupils instead of one , though Zac’s own eyes widened a bit when the four pupils suddenly fused into one as she titled her head .

A skill?

Her features were otherwise pretty much human , apart from her ears which were slightly prolonged and ended in a tip rather than a rounded bow . She emitted a graceful and even somewhat fragile aura , but Zac understood that she was anything but . It barely looked like the rampant current had any effect on her at all thanks to a few thick bloody swirls that circulated around her , and the river she had used to move through the chasm seemed more like a skill than a treasure .

Of course , the immensely powerful swirls of energy wasn’t the only clue of what kind of being stood in front of him . More poignant was the - 100 , 000’ above her head . It was even higher than the mothertree , let alone any other trial takers . And he unfortunately had a pretty good idea who he had encountered .

Reaver caught your tongue , Draugr? - the woman smiled .

Mistress Noz’Valadir , I presume? - Zac sighed with a small bow . - It’s an honor . -

Such a gentleman , - she laughed . - Who are you? -

I’m just a nobody who have come to the frontiers in search for opportunities , - Zac smiled as he tried to figure out a way to get out of this mess .

There were four portals leading out of Twilight Ocean just outside the chasm , all of them days away . Then again , they were no good even if he could reach them since there were still a few months before they would open to let people out of the Mystic Realm . And with his escape talismans not working , he would be hard-pressed to escape from this monster .

It looked like he could only pray that Uona Noz'Valadir wouldn't attack another Imperial .

If you're a nobody , then why is your bloodline even purer than any heartland scion I've met? - Uona smiled . - My stomach is rumbling just from standing close to you . Are you a lineal descendant from the Abyssal Shores? -

How could that be the case , - Zac said with a strained smile . The conversation had taken an extremely regrettable turn .

Alright , whatever . It's not surprising the Draugr have their eyes set on the opportunities in this quadrant . Tell me what happened here , - Uona shrugged . - I want the energy that's coursing through your body , and I think you would prefer I take it from the source rather than from you . -

Zac wholeheartedly agreed , but he also couldn't say the truth . The brand had disappeared , but who knew if the restrictions remained like an oath? What if he accidentally killed got himself killed by divulging the secrets . He could only mix some lies and truths and hope to get out of the situation in one piece .

I was searching this mountain for opportunities when I felt an odd pulse from within . I tried to find a way inside since I figured it was something valuable , but the whole place was suddenly drowned in this energy to the point it almost killed me . I think someone got there first , they might even be absorbing the treasure as we speak , - Zac hesitantly said , hoping to send the vampire on a goose chase .

Don’t play dumb with me , - Uona said as a chilling pressure started to spread from her . Clearly she was not so easily convinced . - I could sense the unique aura from ten mountains over , yet there is not a hint of it anywhere except on you right now . Did you already eat the treasure? -

If I did , I wouldn't be swimming around in these dangerous waters , - Zac quickly said . - I would have secluded myself inside the mountain . -

So you’re either lying or useless? - Uona sighed with disappointment . - Well , then you might as well die . -

Wait! - Zac shouted with alarm . - You must have come with the same goal as our people! We are on the same side , we shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves when there are the Havarok to deal with . -

Same side? - Uona snorted as she pointed toward Zac . - There is only the side of the Eternal Clan . All else is cattle , that slippery bastard of a Princeling included . Since you refuse to help , then what good are you? -

Zac felt a sense of profound danger the next moment , and he immediately activated Profane Exponents] as he started swimming for his life . However , the large barriers that he erected were instantly crushed by a tide of blood that rushed straight toward him . Not even the Twilight Chasm was a match to its ferocity , let alone Zac’s own defenses .

It wasn’t just a matter of volume , though the enormous sanguine river was massive enough to drown the whole cage of Profane Seal] in an instant if it so desired . It also contained extremely high-grade insights , insights that completely crushed his own Fragment of the Coffin . It was so far beyond what he had felt when fighting Yanub Mettleleaf , to the point that Zac guessed she had not only infused the river with multiple Dao Branches , but also empowered them through some extremely powerful braiding method .

Perhaps she even used the Dao Arrays that Catheya had mentioned once . Even worse , it was just like Catheya had guessed ; Uona didn't appear any more restricted by the Twilight Energy than he did . At least he hoped that was the case . If not , she was simply a terror at a level he only encountered in Iz Tayn before .

Zac knew he was completely outmatched , but he obviously wasn’t willing to just give up like that . He steadied his mind as he started channeling his Miasma into his movement skill . Meanwhile , he used the chains of Love’s Bond] to increase his speed by slamming into the mountain wall and dragging himself forward . The enormous river was still gradually catching up , and Zac knew he had no option .

The channeling was finally complete , and he disappeared into a puff of energy as the world slowed down to a crawl . Painful currents ripped into his abyssal form , but Zac forcibly kept the skill going as he started creating more distance to the blood river . However , Zac only managed to increase the distance by a few hundred meters before his mind screamed of danger .

He didn’t even get the chance to react before a lance of blood shot out from the river and pierced through his form with impossible speed . Zac felt like his whole body was on fire as he was forcibly dragged back into his normal state , and he felt a wave of despair as he looked down at the stump where his right leg once had been .

A large trail of ichor was already forming behind him , and his vision had threatened to close in on him . It was extremely lucky he had only been hit in the leg rather than his heart or head . If he were less fortunate , he'd be a real corpse instead of just an undead .

But Zac suddenly heard a snicker within the blood river as it slowly crept closer , and it dawned on him - Uona was toying with him .

He didn’t know why , but the snicker made rage overtake his dread , and he immediately stopped swimming for his life . The remnant’s influence on his mental state had been mostly averted as his soul cultivation proceeded over the past years , but the voices calling for destruction once appeared in the back of his mind .

Perhaps it was because of the mockery , perhaps it was because his body was in an agitated state after using the Mark of Creation . And this time , Zac didn’t try to push away the poisonous thoughts of destruction . Escape was clearly futile , so he had to change tactics .

If she wouldn’t let him go , then she could just go ahead and die .

He wasn’t someone she could toy with without getting burnt herself . Fury burned in his chest , fueling the torrential streams of energy that once more entered his shoulders . This time the goal wasn’t to create a bridge between himself and the weird egg , but rather to annihilate that woman in one go .

The energy kept accumulating in his chest , but he forcibly kept it condensed inside his body as he kept moving away . The problem with the Annihilation Sphere was his difficulty to properly deliver the strike . Another spear shot out from the river , and it hit even after he tried to dodge . Zac grit his teeth as he saw his left hand get dragged away by the current , forcibly keeping the process going even through the all-consuming pain .

Zac suddenly appeared right on top of the river thanks to the teleport of Profane Seal] , and a massive sphere formed between his right hand and his grisly stump as he felt a burning pain spread across his face and neck . He pushed every morsel of Annihilation Energy he had accumulated in his soul into the sanguine waters and used his rage and pain as the fuse .

The response was immediate as a huge chunk of it simply disappeared into an orb of nothingness while the rest of the sanguine river was pushed to a boiling point . It didn't even last for half a second before it collapsed , the blood swallowed by the currents which had been kept at bay until now .

A bloodied form emerged from the waters , her state even more pathetic than Zac's own . She was missing one of her arms along with a chunk of her torso , and she had lost one whole leg to boot . Even the parts that had avoided the Annihilation Sphere were covered in weird cracks that complemented the tendrils of pain that spread from Zac's head down to his shoulders .

But she was still alive .

The four chains of Love's Bond] instantly shot toward weak spots for a quick kill , but Uona's closed eyes opened as she stared at him with confusion , pain , and vengeance . Sanguine Eyes met Zac's abyssal orbs , and the Twilight Chasm shuddered as an ocean of blood destroyed the mangled body of Uona and everything within a thousand meters .

Zac was right at the epicenter , and he only managed to resist for an instant before everything turned black .

Chapter 734 : Crushing Pressure

Searing pain woke Zac up with a start and he found rampant energies wreaking havoc inside his body . It wasn't something Uona had done , but rather terrifying amounts of Twilight Energy , far more than his bloodline could handle . His whole body was barely holding together from all the wounds , but the energy was an even more immediate threat .

Perhaps he should consider it a relief that there was no kill energy occupying space inside his body . He had no idea how Uona had managed to survive blowing herself up in an eruption of blood of such epic proportions , but she should barely be hanging on just like him from the state he left her in . Unfortunately , that was not much of a comfort as he found himself on the verge of succumbing to the environment around him .

No matter what he did , things only got worse inside his body , and Zac tried to swim toward the surface where the density should be lower . However , as he looked around to get his bearings there was only darkness . Darkness so pervasive Zac even feared that he had been blinded by that final explosion .

Thankfully , the world lit with color to an almost blinding degree when he activated Cosmic Gaze] , and Zac immediately understood what was going on .

Uona’s self-destruct skill had knocked him out , and he had been dragged God knows how far down into the depths by the currents . If the absolute lack of any light reaching this far below the surface was the first clue , then the terrifying amounts of Twilight Energy assaulting him was the second .

The density of Twilight Energy was multiple times more powerful than that of the surface of the Twilight Chasm , dozens of times greater than other parts of the Twilight Ocean . This was way beyond what he could handle , even with his unique set of advantages . And that was when he was in prime condition .

Just a stump remained of his right leg , and his left hand stopped a bit after his elbow . His pathways were broken and the little Miasma left in his body moved turbidly through the storms of Twilight Energy ravaging his innards . Normally , losing all his miasma would result in swapping over to his Human side , but he actually wasn’t sure he’d survive the transformation in his harried form .

He was running out of time , and his feeble attempts at swimming upward were completely futile . The currents were shockingly powerful , and new wounds kept appearing across his body to add insult to injury . He needed to get out of this place , or at least find a spot to rest up and recover .

Zac was dizzy and nigh-delirious , but he suddenly saw a spot of even more condensed darkness rapidly approach , and he knew that his chance had arrived . Four chains shot forward , each of them empowered by Blighted Cut] to give them greater penetrative force . One , two , three chains were claimed by the currents before they reached their target , but two hit true and embedded themselves in the wall just as Zac was swept by the underwater mountain .

Sharp pain in his midriff cost him his consciousness for an instant as he was suddenly forced to a halt , but being blasted by the furious waters didn't let him stay under for long . He arduously dragged himself to the wall , helplessly scanning for any caves or crevasses where he could take cover for just a bit .

There was none .

Zac wouldn’t give in though , and Verun’s Bite] appeared in his hand as he frantically started carving a hole into stone . Any rock that was placed this deep into the Twilight Chasm and still remained was bound to be extremely durable , and Zac barely managed to leave marks deeper than a few centimeters even when going as hard as his condition allowed .

But he refused to stop , and one chipping after another was claimed by the streams as he dug further and further into the mountain . After five minutes , he had finally made a hole two meters deep , where the waters were blessedly calm . This place allowed him to avoid the currents , but it didn’t solve his predicament with the Twilight Energy .

But he had an idea .

He properly secured himself in the stone with every single chain before he took out a spare shield to block out the few streams finding their way into his crevasse . Only when he and his spot were secured did he take out the small Array Disk for Nine Reincarnations Manual] with shaky hands .

The Array hummed to life as Zac crammed a cocktail of Soldier Pills and Healing pills down his throat , and he almost cried with relief as the insanely condensed Twilight Energies assailing him rapidly decreased in density . He felt a powerful drain of Mental Energy in his mind , and he passively let the array siphon what it needed as he took stock of his situation .

He was in an absolutely horrid state , with deep lacerations covering his whole body . Even his pathways were damaged , not to speak of his missing limbs . For now , he could only bind a set of ropes around the stump of his leg and arm to stem the loss of Ichor as he focused on other issues .

The combination of pills and the array had at least allowed him to right the ship , albeit barely . Void Heart] and Purity of the Void] were fast at work dealing with the lethal levels of Twilight Energy that had already accumulated in his body . The real star was obviously the Life-Death Array .

Not only did it continuously swallow exorbitant amounts of Twilight Energy , but it also expelled huge amounts of Cosmic Energy . The Array only wanted the attunement to empower the Mental Energy going into the array , and it expelled the actual energy into the surroundings .

It wasn’t a great feeling to sit in the middle of a cloud of Cosmic Energy as an undead , but it was far preferable to Twilight Energy . The Cosmic Energy that the array spat out didn’t possess the weird ability to burrow into his body , and it essentially acted as a shield against the Twilight Energy in the surroundings .

Of course , the Twilight Energy was endless and pervasive , and it continuously kept swallowing up the Cosmic Energy he generated . However , Zac had no lack of Nexus Crystals , and he started to continuously crush Miasma Crystals to bolster the effect from his Array . Those two actions together were just enough to keep the immediate Twilight Energy at bay to the point that he was expelling more than he was forced to take in .

It was a continuous drain on his resources , but it provided him with a stable environment as long as he kept the array running . There was enough Twilight Energy inside his body to kill ten peak E-grade Cultivators , and if not for his unusual bloodline he would probably already have died before waking up in the depths .

His Soul Ocean on his undead side had already reached sublimation after swallowing the mysterious energy in the valley , which slowed down the purification process somewhat . The Soul Strengthening Manual didn’t need much of his attention though , and he managed to use some of his Mental Energy to start refining the Twilight Energy .

Twilight Energy was slowly turned into Miasma which replenished his pitifully low stock , and he felt himself slowly crawling away from the brink of death . Thirty minutes passed in this state of gradual recuperation until the first cycle of his Soul Strengthening Method ended . A storm of attuned mental energy came crashing back , filled with the power of the Mystic Realm itself .

The cultivation method was very much the same as before , so he had started with his death-attuned side since he was in his Draugr body at the moment .

Doing so would slow down and weaken the effect of the cultivation session compared to if cultivated as normal , infusing himself with death while living , and with life when dead . But that was exactly what he wanted in this situation . The less pressure he put on his mind , the better . The more time he could buy for himself , the better .

Still , a huge chunk of death-attuned mental energy poured into his soul aperture , and his deathly soul sea became even darker as it started to churn . The moment the first revolution ended , the ambient energy instantly exploded back to full force , and Zac quickly activated the second rotation to give himself another breather .

This process continued for six whole hours , at which point the black ocean was veritably shaking with barely restrained might . It looked like it would swallow the life-attuned waters and turn his soul into one vast ocean of the abyss , and Zac was forced to continuously expend a large amount of mental energy to keep the ocean in its lane .

Seeing as the first half of the session was done , Zac changed his race after making sure he was firmly attached to the wall . A bout of weakness later he found himself filled with life , but he was quickly filled with a wave of nausea from the large amount of deathly energies that filled his body . It came from Void Heart] that had operated at maximum during the cultivation session .

He had tried to absorb or expel the runoff manually , but he obviously wasn’t as efficient as his Hidden Node . It hadn’t been a problem in his undead form , but now it was .

Still , there was not much to do about the situation , and Zac started working on expelling it as he activated the second round of Soul Cultivation . The density of Twilight Energy once more decreased , and some of that left-over death-attuned energy was suddenly swallowed by the Void Heart] while some more was expelled by Purity of the Void] .

The minutes passed , and soon enough the energy had passed through the small array , bringing with it a surge of vivacious mental energy . It entered the golden ocean , and its churning waters rose up and started to push back the deathly ocean . The waves crashed against each other , and Zac felt a small tremor in his mind as his shimmering Soul Core was placed in the heart of the conflict .

One round after another had the battle only increase in ferocity , and waves were soon tall enough to completely submerge the soul core . His soul aperture was fast becoming a chaotic storm of life and death . All the while , Zac felt his soul being polished .

That was not the only change though . While some of the imperfections were being sanded off by the chaos , it also looked like the waters left something behind . It was like some sort of fine sand was brought from the depths of the oceans up into the waves , and a few of those barely discernable motes of energy landed on the soul core and quickly melded with it .

Altogether , it looked like the session added a bit more than it removed , though just barely . It wasn’t too surprising though . It was his first proper Soul Cultivation session since he evolved his soul , and he hadn't done anything to empower the process . Besides , Zac figured that the number of impurities that were removed after each session would decrease over time as his soul became more perfected , which would lead to a greater effect .

Unfortunately , Zac quickly found himself in a worrying situation as the cultivation session was drawing to an end . The ambient energy would return to its terrifying density in just a moment , and Zac would once more find himself overwhelmed . Doing another round of Soul Cultivation was impossible , and it was impossible to activate the Array without actually connecting it with his mind .

His hours of hard work expelling all that accumulated energy inside his body would soon be undone unless he did something , but he had already found the solution . Another supreme Nexus Crystal Appeared in his hand , and he immediately crushed it before the Twilight Energy had a chance to rush back . The whole area was instantly drowned in dense waves of Cosmic Energy , though not quite as dense as when the Soul Strengthening Array was also helping .

The first time he tried this method it had worked for almost half an hour , and he had crushed one a minute while running the array . But this time the relief barely lasted ten seconds before the Twilight Energy had gobbled it all up . Zac immediately crushed a second crystal , and the Twilight Energy was once more pushed back .

There were few , if any , E-grade Cultivators who had the financial strength to burn almost 5 , 000 E-grade Nexus Coins every minute , but he had thankfully stocked up on a small mountain of Crystals before entering the trial . After all , he had no idea if he would have the chance to purchase another round after he left the Twilight Ascent . But even his stock wouldn't last the whole trial going at this rate .

Zac knew all-too-well that not even he could stay down here forever , but there was one more thing he needed to do before he set off . He looked down at his left leg ending just above his knee , and he grit his teeth as he loosened the rope keeping it closed . A thin layer of skin had already appeared over the wound thanks to his crazy Vitality , and Zac said a silent prayer as he cut off a thin slice with Verun’s Bite] .

The waters quickly turned red , but Zac stanchly kept his focus as he crushed another Supreme Nexus Crystal before he roused the slumbering Creation Energy in his body . For this purpose , there wasn’t even any need to create a Mark of Creation , and he just looked as a new leg rapidly regenerated to replace the missing one .