Defiance of the Fall

Most of all , Zac was filled with an unprecedented sense of clarity , where the scripts and patterns that were the source for many a headache were suddenly as clear as day . It felt like his IQ was rising exponentially by the second , and he was awash with ideas to not only improve his current skills , but even create new ones .

This was the true nature of the mysterious fruit he had found ; Inspiration .

It was a treasure that provided an unprecedented state of clarity into matters related to Life and Death . No matter if it was creating skills or upgrading existing ones , it could take your concepts to a whole new level . No doubt it would be an amazing treasure for craftsmen as well . Anyone who created an item under the influence of this fruit would no doubt produce a Spiritual Tool or Pill of unprecedented quality .

Zac wasted no time , and the extremely complex Skill Fractal of Profane Seal] soon emerged from his body and entered the array . He had thought about this step for months on end , running hundreds and hundreds of simulations , analyzing every single step of the process over and over to make sure to avoid as many of the pitfalls as possible .

There were so many patterns working together in perfect harmony to create the extremely impressive cage that had become the staple of his undead side , and the slightest mistake could cause the whole structure to unravel . However , as Zac looked at the projection of the skill fractal in front of him , he wasn’t content . He saw it as a piece of art , as a burgeoning life holding vast amounts of untapped potential for greatness . If he followed his original plan he would succeed , he would create a top-tier E-grade skill .

But he could do better .

There was a small voice in the back of his head that urged caution , but Zac pushed those thoughts befitting smaller-minded men aside as he was consumed the glory of creation , and like a master artisan he set about his work with both conviction and precision . Whole sections of the skill fractal were transformed , taking in and adding various concepts .

Runes that had never appeared on any of his skills before were added , based only on pictures and descriptions he'd seen in information crystals . He dug deep for all kinds of sources of inspiration . Some came from obvious sources , like his other skills and his Dao Visions . Others were things he normally wouldn't even consider , such as the river of death that swirled around Be'Zi and the ominous tower that probably held one of the Splinters of Oblivion .

The array was beeping ominously after just a few minutes , but Zac was undeterred . He felt like he was one with the skill fractal , and he could feel the limits it could tolerate , like it was part of his own body . And he would need to push that limit over and over to reach the goal he was still conceptualizing as he was moving along .

Zac strayed further and further away from his envisioned path , grasping higher and higher . He felt how his soul was being rapidly drained , which was no surprise considering the number of adjustments and calculations he was doing on the fly . But he didn’t care . Perfection couldn’t be constrained by budget concerns , and he just crushed a couple of Soul Crystals as he kept going .

Eventually , the Skill Fractal was an unrecognizable clump of discordant concepts , a mess made up by thousands of barely interlocking parts . If nothing drastic changed before he ran out of Mental Energy , the skill would be completely ruined . The seeds of doubt grew increasingly loud , but Zac knew there was no turning back now .

He could only trust his instincts , doubling down on the madness as he pushed on with his mad plan . Soon enough , his vision started to blur . What once was clear was gradually becoming convoluted again . The skill fractal no longer looked the seed of perfection , but more of a testament to man's folly .

However , Zac knew that was just a mirage , and desperately squeezed out the last of the medicinal effect of the natural treasure as his mind provided the final motes of mental energy he had left . He was almost there .

The final rune was the only component missing , and as it was added , tens of thousands of runes suddenly snapped into place . There truly was greatness hidden in chaos , but Zac had no time to celebrate . He hurriedly extracted the Skill Fractal as he felt his consciousness slip , and he barely had time to reattach it to his pathways before he passed out , his mind utterly overdrawn .

Zac woke up with a splitting headache , but it was nothing compared to the pain of his body almost exploding from energy overload . He hurriedly activated Void Zone] to stop any more energy from entering his body , after which he quickly started to refine the energy that filled every inch of his body .

Soon enough a massive cloud of expelled energy had formed above his head . This time he had only been out of it for twenty hours , which was a relief considering he didn’t have the Void Beast Organ to perpetually power Void Zone] this time around . Ten minutes later the situation wasn’t quite as deadly , allowing him to breathe out and check his status screen .

Name

Zachary Atwood

Level

120

Class

E-Epic] Fetters of Desolation

Race

D] Draugr - Void Emperor (Corrupted)

Alignment

Earth] Port Atwood - Planetary Lord

Titles

Born for Carnage , Ultimate Reaper , Luck of the Draw , Giantsbane , Disciple of David , Overpowered , Slayer of Leviathans , Adventurer , Demon Slayer I , Full of Class , Rarified Being , Trailblazer , Child of Dao , The Big 500 , Planetary Aegis , One Against Many , Butcher , Progenitor Noblesse , Duplicity Core , Apex Hunter , Heaven's Chosen , Scion of Dao , Omnidextrous , Eastern Trigram Hunt - 1st , Tyrannic Force , Achievement Hunter , The First Step , Promising Specialist , Tower of Eternity - 8th Floor , Heaven's Triumvirate , Fated , Peak Power , Sovereign-Select , Frontrunner , Apex Progenitor , Pathstrider , Runebinder , Runic Erudition

Limited Titles

Tower of Eternity Sector All-Star - 14th , Weight of Sin , Equanimity , Heart of Fire , Big Axe Gladiator

Dao

Fragment of the Axe - Peak , Fragment of the Coffin - Peak , Fragment of the Bodhi - Peak

Core

E] Duplicity

Strength

8889 Increase : 110% . Efficiency : 250%]

Dexterity

3910 Increase : 80% . Efficiency : 187%]

Endurance

7383 Increase : 101% . Efficiency : 250%]

Vitality

6311 Increase : 89% . Efficiency : 238%]

Intelligence

1656 Increase : 74% . Efficiency : 187%]

Wisdom

3443 Increase : 81% . Efficiency : 197%]

Luck

466 Increase : 96% . Efficiency : 197%]

Free Points

0

Nexus Coins

D] 938 715

His attributes had taken a surprising leap since he allocated his free points into Dexterity and Wisdom a few weeks back , and it wasn’t hard to find the source .

Runic Erudition : Form a path-bound supreme-quality skill while still in E-grade . Reward : All stats +5% . Effect of Strength , Endurance , Wisdom +5%]

Zac looked at the title with marvel , both exalted by the boost it provided and what it represented . A supreme-quality skill? Zac didn’t even know such a thing existed , but it was all he needed to see to know that his gambit had succeeded .

This was exactly what he needed . He was tired of being taken advantage of , tired of being used as a disposable chess piece in the machinations of the old monsters lurking outside the trial . He needed more strength , and this was a step in the right direction . Zac knew it wouldn't make a difference against terrifying beings like the Eveningtide Asura , but even an ant could create some waves that would have unexpected consequences .

He was tired of being a tool , a mere chess piece to be used and discarded by these old Monarchs who barely would spare him a glance . He felt his very soul buckle and rage at the restraints that kept being placed on him . It was time to strike back . Directly confronting someone like the Eveningtide Asura was obviously out of the question , but a plan was already starting to form in Zac’s mind , a way to get what he wanted while also throwing a wrench in his and Uona's plans .

They would see who would have the last laugh .

Alvod took a deep breath as the memories of his soul sliver returned to his mind , and a sneer soon covered his face . Arcaz Black , that little brat was nowhere near as cowed as he wanted to let on . These youngsters all thought themselves so clever , that they were unique and infallible . He would soon learn the harshness of the multiverse , as so many had before him .

But there was still a lingering sense of unease in Alvod's heart as he went over the words of the young Draugr . Was he really related to two unknown Autarchs walking the boundless path? It sounded ludicrous , but Alvod knew that not even he would be able to instill a Draugr with affinity to life .

Someone had devised a heaven-defying method , and it was possible that it truly was someone the brat knew , rather than a fortuitous encounter . Not only that , but the brat had clearly recognized his true identity . Arcaz Black was more involved in the events Alvod had set in motion than he tried to let on .

However , Alvod eventually calmed down . The convergence of fate on the Twilight Harbor was too great , it was expected that some unexpected parties would make an appearance . If the Draugr was speaking the truth , he most likely was a vessel the two masters were nurturing , an experiment to travel that broken peak . That wouldn’t interfere with Alvod’s plans , and it might in fact help him .

Conversely , if the little bastard lied , then Alvod had contingencies for that as well . Thousands of people had thought they could pull one over on him over the eons , yet they had all turned into fertilizer for his Dao . He had planned this for so long , and no matter if it was the Havarok , the Imperials , or this Draugr , he would handle them all .

They would see who would have the last laugh .

Chapter 746 : Ascent

E] Pillar of Desolation - Proficiency : Early . Stuck and struggling . Inexorable desolation . Upgradeable .

Zac looked at the skill screen , endlessly relieved he didn’t listen to the whispers of doubt in the back of his mind that told him to give up on his drug-induced ambition and instead try to salvage the skill . Its description didn't seem any different compared to any other of his skills , but he knew that it most likely was the most powerful one in his repertoire at the moment .

His best guess was that it was the kind of skill you'd get from an Arcane Class , which should add another layer of raw power output . As for the skill being 'pathbound' , it probably meant the skill was tailormade for his path , having completely broken free from the ill-fitting archetype of his previous Undying Bulwark-class .

Zac gave it a thought as he took out the second dumpling , but he sighed with regret when he opened the lid of the jade box where he stored it . A gust of dense herbal aroma wafted into his face , but his body was mostly indifferent to the presence of the treasure . Just as he expected , this dumpling was the sort of item you could only enjoy once . He wouldn’t be able to use the second one for evolving Vanguard of Undeath] or Hatchetman's Spirit] , it looked like .

Still , Profane Seal] was the lynchpin of his Draugr class , and now that it was upgraded and improved , he felt a lot more confident even if he encountered the true elites of the trial . Even if he still was some distance away from defeating them , he was a lot more confident in escaping with his life intact . After all , while the details had become blurry in the wake of his epiphany , Zac was still certain that Pillar of Desolation] remained a restraining skill even after the evolution .

He briefly considered upgrading Vanguard of Undeath] even without the liquid clarity of the natural treasure , but he felt drained after eating the dumpling , like he had used a year’s worth of inspiration in creating Pillar of Desolation] . Any skill he created in his current state was bound to be unimpressive , if he managed to complete the upgrade at all .

Besides , while the dumpling might not be serviceable for another round , there were all kinds of opportunities out there . Both his classes were doing just fine without upgrading their final skills , and he would get another set of skills upon reaching level 125 . Now that Zac knew that attaining these kinds of unique skills was possible , he might as well keep Vanguard of Undeath] and Hatchetman's Spirit] unevolved until he found some way to enter another bout of inspiration .

With that , Zac knew it was time to get going . Of course , that didn’t mean he would leave a small fortune behind , and Zac turned into a whirlwind of unfettered greed as he ripped out one crystal after another from the walls . The shimmering light in the chamber grew dimmer and dimmer until even the broken crystals had been stowed away .

That left only two crystals inside the cave ; the massive Mind’s Eye Agate] , and the sanguine stone where Verun’s Bite] was still sealed .

Verun had actually finished its evolution months ago , but it had indicated to Zac that it wanted to stay inside the crystal . The aura of the Mind’s Eye Agate] apparently helped Verun strengthen its spirituality , though the effect was obviously not as pronounced as Zac's when using a Soul Strengthening method .

Still , the stronger the Tool Spirit , the easier the evolution to D-grade would become for Verun , so Zac had let it cultivate in peace while he focused on his own cultivation . But all good things had to come to an end .

It’s time to go buddy , - Zac smiled as he put his palm against the smooth surface of the crystal .

There was no immediate response , but a roar echoed through the cave as cracks started to spread across the surface of the crystal . Suddenly , it cracked , and Zac snatched up the axe before it fell on the ground . However , doing so almost made him topple over , and he looked at the weapon with a mix of surprise and satisfaction .

Since having finished its evolution , its weight had increased almost ten times over , and it felt far more sturdy compared to before . That wasn’t a problem for Zac , even if he hadn't expected it when grabbing it . If anything , it made the weapon easier to wield now that its weight better matched his massive increase in Strength .

That wasn’t the only thing that had changed , and Zac’s thumb traced the fourth rune that had been lit up . The fourth rune represented the fact that the Spirit Tool had reached late E-grade , just one step from the peak . The first rune was the one that let him release Verun and have it join him in battle , and it was what truly set it apart from most beastcrafted Spirit Tools .

This activation both cost a huge amount of blood and had a pretty long cooldown , so it could only be used sparingly . The second rune was far cheaper , and it had a pretty common effect ; sharpness . It used some sort of sanguine power to empower the edge , providing it with a stronger penetrative force . It cost a decent chunk of blood , but Zac still often used it when he needed a bit extra lethality in his swings .

The third rune was both useful and useless , since he hadn’t had cause to activate apart from trying it out . The third rune activated an odd ability that could best be described as molting , probably a result of feeding Verun's Bite] dragon's blood . The outer layer of the axehead would become brittle and fall off as a new layer grew out to replace it . Zac initially had some difficulty figuring out what good that ability was , but he soon realized it was a type of empowered restoration .

Verun’s Bite] had the ability to sharpen and recover from damage like most Spirit Tools , but the process was pretty slow . Still , with the weapon being of such high quality , the small blemishes Zac accrued from battles were easily fixed , making the third ability a bit superfluous . However , Zac felt the ability would become handy sooner or later as he fought stronger and stronger enemies .

After all , the passive regeneration could take days , whereas the active ability took just a few seconds . As long as he could stall for a bit , he could even use the ability in the middle of a fight . It might even be able to allow Verun to survive where most Spirit Tools would break , which was an extremely precious insurance policy .

Now the axe had a fourth ability , and realizing what it did made Zac all the more cognizant of the importance of finding the right food for Verun . The fourth ability built further on the most fundamental aspect of the treasure bone – weight .

Activating the rune could almost instantly increase the weight to a level so great that even Zac barely could withstand it . The ability suited Zac’s combat style very well , and it meshed perfectly with his Fragment of the Axe . The Fragment was fused from the Seeds of Heaviness and Sharpness , matching two of the axe's abilities perfectly .

Zac knew he had lucked out a bit though , and he knew that he would have to be a bit more discerning going forward . It wasn't just a matter of getting a bad ability by feeding it the wrong thing , but he also risked turning the weapon less compatible with his path . That was doubly important when he would evolve the weapon to D-grade . He would have to make sure it aligned with his path perfectly by that point , though Zac still didn't know how he'd accomplish that .

Only the agate was left behind after having extracted Verun’s Bite] , and the gemstone had already dimmed somewhat now that there weren’t any Supreme Twilight Crystals to siphon energy from . Zac quickly went to work , digging into the ground around the gem , forming a two-meter pedestal to hold the gemstone in place .

The Mind's Eye Agate] entered his Spatial Ring to join the Twilight Crystals , and Zac turned to an intangible wraith after taking a look around . A few seconds later he appeared in the main tunnels of the crystal mine , and he swept forward , occasionally ripping a crystal from the walls . Normally , he would have taken every single crystal , leaving just a mottled wall behind .

Unfortunately , he wasn’t in any position to do so at the moment . Now that he was on the move , crushing crystals to alleviate the ambient energy wasn’t nearly as effective . Even he couldn’t stomach the cost of crushing one every second as he rushed through the tunnels , and there was no point in leaving gusts of pure energy in his wake .

He needed to cover as much distance as possible while he had the energy to run Void Zone] , which meant he only extracted the most valuable crystals and herbs , leaving the rest behind .

Zac made steady progress through the tunnels , and the occasional beast that was unlucky enough to find itself in his way was quickly disposed of as Zac used them as target practice to get used to the new weight of his weapon . He didn’t really ascend toward the surface though , but he rather worked his way in the direction of what should be the waters of the Twilight Chasm .

Until now he had wanted to move as far into the bedrock as possible to avoid discovery from either snake or trial-takers . Now that it was time to get out of here , it would be far quicker to simply climb up the wall with the help of his chains . He certainly couldn’t move as quickly while defying the constant tug of the currents , but he also wouldn’t waste hours backtracking back and forth in the hard-to-traverse cave system .

It took him the better part of a day to reach his destination , mostly because he finally had to stop and run his Soul Strengthening Manual to expel Twilight Energy , but he eventually reached a section that was completely submerged in water . From there it just took another two hours until he found his way out of the massive network of cracks and tunnels that had been his sanctuary the past eight months .

First , he spent another ten hours restoring his Void Energy , after which he made his move . The calm and somewhat brackish waters of the cave system were soon replaced by the torrential currents of the chasm . He looked back and forth , but neither the monstrous snake nor any other obvious threat was anywhere in sight .

Two chains dug into the wall as the other two crawled upward along the sheer mountain wall . They extended for over two hundred meters before they slammed into the stone while oozing black tar . It was Blighted Cut] that empowered them with a much greater penetrative force , and the stone bubbled as it melted to let the chains dig deeper .

Zac dragged himself further and further up , but he froze in fear after just twenty minutes as he spotted something enormous looming above . He felt his hands shake in fear of being discovered , but he eventually calmed down when he realized he wasn't really dealing with the gargantuan pet of the Eveningtide Asura .

He still couldn't make out what it was though , but after climbing for another ten minutes did he finally figure it out . It was a mountain , if you could call it that . It might be more accurate to call it a mountain-sized rock hovering in the chasm , seemingly unaffected by the constant pull from the depths of the chasm . Zac could only see its bottom , but it was just as large as the mountains he had climbed before .

Was this the true nature of the peaks of the Twilight Chasm?

Rather than actual mountains connected to the ground , perhaps the peaks that people searched at the top of the chasm were nothing more than oversized rocks . The same possibly went for the peaks he had traversed further down in the depths . In fact , who knew how many layers of mountains were stacked like this in the endless depths of this place .

A couple of minutes later a few more peaks came into view , silently hovering in place like the first one . Zac looked at them thoughtfully , remembering the purpose of the peaks below . Were these mountains part of some array as well , perhaps? An obstinate part in the back of Zac's mind wanted him to swim over and cause some damage if that was the case , to show the Eveningtide Asura that he was not so easily pushed around .

However , the vast majority of Zac held onto his sanity , knowing there was a time and place for everything . He did want to throw a wrench in the works of the Eveningtide Asura , but that was ultimately more about self-perseverance than spite . Something massive was going down on the outside , and the events inside the trial could clearly affect the outcome judging by how the various factions were going all out sending their elites into the Twilight Ocean .

The more of Alvod's preparations Zac undid , the less time the Eveningtide Asura would have to spare on a junior who slighted him . He would be knee-deep in whatever the B-grade factions had prepared . However , Zac couldn't overdo it . If he caused too much trouble and his actions were exposed , then Alvod might very well hunt him down just out of spite .

He rather needed to figure out which side everyone was on , and subtly assist the Eveningtide Asura's enemies .

So he slowly looked away from the mountains , instead focusing on covering as much ground as possible . But as he climbed , he became more and more shocked just how deep this place was . Four days passed , and he actually found himself passing two layers of mountain ranges . But finally , Zac saw an end to his climb as the oppressive darkness started to give way to weak golden light .

Four hours later Zac found his surroundings properly illuminated , and he finally found himself able to cope with the environment without relying on his Soul Strengthening Array . As expected , he had been climbing the actual wall of the chasm all this while , and if he kept going for another hour , he would reach the crest .

However , Zac didn't climb the final stretch to the edge . Instead , he pushed out from the wall , shooting toward the closest mountain in the distance . He was eager to leave this ominous place , but there was one thing he wanted to do first . With things having reached this point , Zac had decided to see if he could harvest the odd egg .

Zac had actually been able to sense his brand for a while now , and the mark had grown a lot stronger since he planted it nine months ago . His original plan had been to go fetch the two remnants and then return for the egg , but the events in the depths of the chasm had probably ruined those plans .

He truthfully doubted he would be able to continue exploring the Twilight Ocean after forming the Glimpse of Chaos , so this might be the last chance to recover it . He could still somehow sense that the mark hadn't really - matured - , but he was out of options .

It thankfully looked like the currents had dragged him almost straight down after Uona knocked him unconscious . It wasn’t too far a distance he needed to travel to get back to the mountain peak that housed the hidden valley . There was a small chance Uona was waiting for him over there , but he doubted it considering her points had been steadily climbing since five months ago . She was most likely off hunting cultivators elsewhere .

Zac reached the very same spot where the hidden tunnel was located a few days later , and there were thankfully no signs of anyone lying in wait . Unfortunately , there was also no clear way for him to get inside without the egg acting as a key to open the path . He spent the next few days swimming back and forth , trying everything from brute force to dumb luck to break into the valley .

But no matter what he tried , the area was completely sealed off , the rock shockingly resistant to his efforts to dig into it . Eventually , he returned to the location of the tunnel to see if there was anything he had missed .

The mark felt like a taunting beacon , reminding him of the fact that the thing he desperately wanted was just out of reach . The feelings of impotence once more returned , and Zac growled in annoyance as two streams of Dao entered his shoulders . Soon enough , a small mark appeared , and he pushed it into the stone as he kept picturing the tunnel opening up .

Using his ace at this juncture was a risk , but Zac refused to give up now that he had come back to this place . The mountain wall shuddered in reluctance , but Zac felt a transformation starting to take place . It was much slower compared to before , but it felt like the stone was starting to become intangible somehow .

However , just as Zac thought he had succeeded , the wall started to revert back into stone as a pulse emerged the heart of the mountain . Zac stared at the wall with aggravation upon realizing he had failed , but he didn’t even have time to consider backup plans before the wall shuddered once more .

At the same time , he felt the brand on the other side of the wall go from a beacon into a raging fire , and the connection between himself and the mark grew exponentially stronger . Zac gaped in shock as the tunnel once more appeared , this time covered in the intricate runes that had started to cover the valley just as he left the last time .

However , there was an indiscernible difference this time . While the runes had only held the prime truths of Twilight before , they were now speckled with a hint of something more , something that belonged to Zac . The energy of Creation . His gaze soon turned toward the direction of the egg , but the hallway was completely covered in a thick haze seemingly wrought out of the Dao itself .

It moved like it was alive , and small glimmering specks within the dust made the churning shroud look like a star-speckled nebula . Looking at the swirling clouds made his drained soul once more fill with inspiration , and he almost entered a state of epiphany then and there .

However , a wave of panic broke his trance as the walls started to shudder ominously . The runes flickered , seemingly in a struggle against themselves . The tunnel that shouldn't have opened had been forced open , but it clearly wouldn't last long . Zac threw caution in the wind as he shot forward , not caring about what kind of dangers might lurk within .

Just the clouds that had escaped the valley were this marvelous , how could he let go of the opportunity that waited within?

Book 3 release and December Schedule update!

As for the webnovel schedule in December , I'm giving Zac a breather this Christmas as well , with the series having a holiday break betweenDec 20-31 . This affects all Patreon Tiers and Royal Road releases .

Chapter 747 : Dissenting Views

Zac felt like he was tearing through the veil of the heavens as he pushed through the haze , embraced by life and death as they had joined each other into a nebulous soup . Of course , Zac believed something even greater was brewing in the depths of the valley , and Love’s Bond] was already stirring in anticipation . The chains gingerly stroked the runes in the tunnel , and the Dao clouds shuddered in turn as the two resonated .

Each physical step also felt like a metaphorical step down his path , and Zac's original purpose of entering this place was starting to become muddled as he approached the mouth of the tunnel . A small part of his reason for coming here was to foil whatever designs Va Tapek had for this realm , but it seemed so insignificant now . The same was true for the Eveningtide Asura . What were they in front of the Grand Dao?

The murmurs of the most post profound truths of the Twilight Ocean whispered into Zac's ear as he approached the light , but even he hadn't expected what waited for him at the other side . What was this?

It felt like he had somehow been transported to the depths of the cosmos , to the origin of the universe where all matter and truth was reduced to a primordial farrago . Base concepts that tethered him to the mundane realities of existence held no sway in the storm he found himself in , and he felt himself becoming a stain that blemished a perfect tapestry .

The tunnel was gone , the Twilight Ocean and the surface were gone . All that remained was the Dao and the runes that spun all around him in a dance that codified reality . Life wasn't life . Death wasn't death . Truth was malleable , and it changed as the runes swirled around him , forming a river that was everchanging , yet always the same .

Of course , there was also the throne . Standing in the middle of the chaos was a point of order , and on its pedestal , the seed was still beating , each thump deepening the waters of the river around him . The egg was barely recognizable any longer , as it had somehow transformed from something physical into a concept .

Millions upon millions of runes formed a tapestry that while no larger than an ostrich egg , contained a whole universe . It had drawn upon the essence of the Twilight Ocean and distilled it into something greater , something higher . Was this true Dao? Looking at his own avatars , Zac felt like a caveman producing a fledgling fire while looking up at the stars , not able to grasp the vast chasm between the two .

It terrified Zac , and it enthralled him .

Thump .

Zac was now closer , standing at the foot of majesty , his soul weeping with inadequacy . Had he walked the distance , or was he simply moved here because this was his destined terminus? He felt his sanity fraying , but there was a small core that tethered him to the mortal world , and that frayed lifeline was screaming at him to take that thing and get out .

Thump .

He stood on the altar , his skin slowly transforming to conform to the higher truth of this valley . It was slowly gaining a greenish tint , and indistinct runes flickered before once more disappearing . They were of no script Zac could recognize , but they roared like crashing waves of Twilight . This was not a matter of being overrun by a deluge of sludge , it was losing one’s fundamental essence in front of a deeper gospel .

The fundamental core of Zac's being was being supplanted , but he barely registered it as his gaze was locked on something marvelous . The egg was not the only thing on the altar . There was something else , something perhaps even more precious than the insight locked in the avatar of Twilight itself .

It was a bead of distilled light hovering right above the egg , but its true appearance was blocked out by four layers of shockingly complex runes . Each beat of the egg released a crashing tsunami of Twilight , but only the most perfected pieces of the tapestry were allowed to enter the arrays enclosing the light .

Zac didn't know why , but it felt like that thing was unsullied by nature , and arrays were the only thing protecting it from being indelibly stained . However , the sanctuary the arrays were providing was slowly being corroded by design , and he knew that this pure light would eventually be swallowed by the river that coursed through this valley . The river of Twilight .

His mind was a chaotic struggle , ripped between the desire to protect and the desire to devour . His companion didn't have the same compunctions , and four chains shot forward , targeting the gestating truth of the ocean . A small mark of endless possibility cried in his mind in desire to fulfill its natal edict , to be consumed and in that way find new life .

But no matter what the Spirit Tool tried , it was unable to dislodge the egg . If anything , it had become a cemented part of the area . It had become the core of this universe , an eternal fixture that couldn’t simply be moved or taken away . Every moment Zac felt himself eroding , and he knew something had to change .

Suddenly , a mad idea took form as Zac looked down at the glowing avatar of Twilight . In its current state , it was unapproachable , an extension of the ocean itself . Taking it was as impossible as stealing the whole Mystic Realm .

But what if it was no longer an avatar of Twilight , but an avatar of his own? The more he thought about it , the more it started to make sense . And as his idea sprouted , nurtured by greed and his path , so did the swirling clouds around him lose their luster , the runes no longer mesmerizing in their profundity .

It's wrong , - Zac muttered , his abyssal eyes wide with mania as his silver hair danced in the wind . - It's all wrong . Life is Life . Death is Death . Forever separate , always in conflict . -

Two storms of Dao and ancient madness surged out from his mind and into his shoulders . It was Life and Death , unsullied and eternal . Twilight was just a half-measure , a mockery of Chaos . It was a poison , and he was the cure .

Conviction had pushed him forward , but Zac was all-too-aware of the gravity of his action , of the risks . This was not the time or place to form the Glimpse of Chaos . He didn't have two intact remnants to provide the fuel for the fusion . What was left was his soul and his life-force , both of which would probably be drained beyond a breaking point to conjure that glimpse .

Zac desperately pushed the two forces apart before they had a chance to fuse in his chest , even if doing so felt like breaking his soul apart . He pushed and pushed , and two storms surged through his arms , pouring out into the radiant egg .

A clap of thunder shook the cosmos , and Zac was thrown dozens of meters away , his body racked with pain . The nebulous clouds churned and cried as he pushed through them in his desire to return , ignoring the mounting feeling of wrongness of the runes around him . The intricate patterns inside the seed of Twilight shuddered and fluctuated wildly , its millions of small runes slowly warping into something new .

And as the egg changed , so did the universe .

A cascading ripple spread through the valley , with the delicate system of Twilight unraveling as it was supplanted by something that resonated with Zac's soul . However , he immediately spotted a problem . While the original Tapestry around him had felt like a cop-out , a defeat in the face of the true peaks of the Grand Dao , it was complete , a self-sufficient system existing in harmony with itself and the universe .

Meanwhile , the chaotic storm he had introduced into the system was just that ; a storm .

It was raw power that might hold the potential for a peak creation . But for now , it was incomplete , insignificant insights nibbling at the edges of the truth . Zac didn't exactly know what this place was designed to accomplish , but he knew that his own Dao was not up to the task . It would sooner or later break apart , even when powered by the distilled essence of the remnants .

Before that happened , he needed to make his move .

Take it , - Zac said with grit teeth , and the chains once more stormed the egg with rapid ferocity , clawing at it with desperate hunger .

But yet , it was hopeless . It was still fixed in place , the core of this microcosm of Dao . Zac sensed a wave of disappointment , followed by the coffin lid slightly opening to start absorbing the dense clouds of Dao in the valley . It looked like Alea had given up , opting to make the best of a bad situation .

Zac shook his head with a sigh , and thoughts of escape started to take hold . However , he suddenly spotted something changing . The arrays protecting that pure beam of light were fast crackling , suddenly looking like brittle glass as they were imbued with the distilled inspiration wrought from Zac's path . They clearly weren't designed or able to hold the energy the egg was now releasing .

Part of him was elated , but part of him was horrified . He could feel it . When the arrays broke apart , that light would be gone forever , like a star being extinguished . It would become sullied by the mundane , and the world would be a little bit worse by it . He couldn't sit by and watch it unfold , but what could he do?

Another crack echoed out , and Zac lurched forward and swallowed the light before it was too late .

It must have looked like Zac swallowed a sun , but there was no searing pain spreading through his body . If anything , his body was suddenly wrapped in a soothing embrace , no longer beset by the overpowering Daos in the valley . His body had become the Heavens itself , a universe unto its own .

Some of the light illuminated his soul , and he felt his three Dao Avatars blazed into life , each one of them radiating an unprecedented verve . He wasn't in a state of inspiration , he was the Dao itself . But the blinding radiance of supremacy was slowly wearing off , and perfection was slipping through his fingers .

That piece of heaven he had swallowed was not so easily absorbed , in a way he had never encountered before . This was not like when swallowing the Cosmic Water or a treasure beyond his grade . He didn't feel like exploding at all . Rather , he felt like a leaking sieve , where his body simply couldn't hold that miraculous light .

The infinitely pure understanding was gradually leaving him , instantly decomposing into lower Dao the moment it touched the environment . Try as he might , Zac found absolutely no way to stem the tides . Zac sighed with despondency , but his eyes soon regained a sense of purpose . Why lament over the loss of borrowed glory when he should make the most of this precious moment in time?

While incomplete , he had branded the egg with his Dao , and it had , in turn , distilled it into something greater , something that was now on full display in the valley . The runes that once held the tapestry of Twilight now held a ratified version of his path . Zac smiled as he suddenly disappeared from the pedestal .

Thump .

Verun's Bite] ripped through the glittering veils shrouding the valley , its primordial roars echoing the lust for power . Each swing left golden arcs behind as motes of stardust stuck to the bone edge . The arcs seemed like the leaves of the bodhi , not one exactly the same as the others .

It was alive ; everchanging and evolving , eternally struggling against death . It was the predator stalking its prey , it was the plant mutating to endure the harshening summers . It was everything , constantly adapting . It might be struck down , but it would never give in . It would rise up again to defy fate , stronger , evolved . And this dance would continue until the end of time .

Thump .

The Dao clouds churned as they were ripped apart by four chains dancing to the tune of inevitability , streaks of darkness forming an inescapable cage . They sealed everything they encircled , like a spider trapping its prey . It was patient , since death would always win in the end . They were the grinding gears of time , the inexorability of fate .

Clouds of Dao kept being swallowed , as this path was always taking , and never giving .

Thump .

He was conflict , ever-changing , never-ending .

He was a storm that raged through the valley , and the cosmos itself answered his call . His body shone with radiant luster as the impossibly pure Dao left his body . However , while he couldn't contain it , it had still been marked by his path . And as it changed , so did the valley . The runes that danced all around him were no longer a river . They had split into two armies that were locked in an epic struggle .

The murky green had turned into shimmering gold and oppressive black , life and death .

This was the truth of Twilight . Such a fragile harmony was bound to be broken as the convoluted ultimately returned to the primal . Oblivion is the inevitable end of Creation , just as Creation invariably will follow Oblivion . Each clash would birth something new , just like each swing of his axe could change his fate .

A thousand scenes flashed through his mind as Zac kept swinging his weapon , memories that had led him down the path he now stood on . Try to avoid it as he might , conflict was inexorable . To accomplish anything in this universe , he would have to keep fighting . If he wanted to change the fate he had been dealt , he would have to keep struggling .

Zac felt his momentum increasing , and the gently swirling clouds of stardust were swept up in the hurricane of his path . Raging wind blasted the black and golden runes , forcing them into even greater clashes . The world shook and thundered , but Zac kept swinging , feeling he was getting closer and closer . . . to something .

His movements were mirrored by the avatar in his mind . However , it no longer sat on top of his Soul Core but rather danced on top of the waters of the two oceans . The fading radiance of the bead of light still illuminated its body , and torrential amounts of the Dao Clouds entered his avatar form .

A swing from the avatar illuminated the deathly ocean with streaks of golden light , and a swipe subdued the golden ocean with the threat of death . With every breath , Zac's movement grew more precise , and a dense aura spread out from his body . And as his aura spread , the struggling runes subtly changed .

One moment they were life and death locked in their eternal struggle , the next moment weapons clashing in a pitched war . Zac felt his momentum reaching a precipice , and his Dao Field suddenly congealed . First , it became a condensed ball of his insight hovering above his head , but it soon took a more distinct shape .

It was two axes reaching over twenty meters into the air , one glimmering in gold and the other shrouded in darkness . They both emitted an aura of supremacy , neither willing to give in . Their edges were locked against each other , and the pressure they exerted impacted reality itself . The surroundings twisted and cried from their mere presence , their conflict being imprinted into space itself .

Suddenly , crashing thunder intruded on the scene , and Zac's abyssal eyes widened as the secluded valley of life and death had been encroached upon by churning clouds crackling with purple lightning . A boundless fury subdued the clouds of swirling Dao beneath , and the shimmering runes fast lost their luster . Not even the egg dared to keep beating , now once more a simple stone .

Soon enough , only Zac and the two axes remained , the rest shrouded by the descending clouds . The true Heavens had descended , unwilling to share the truths of the Dao .

This was the price of the Boundless Path , but Zac was undeterred . He raised his axe , and the massive projection shrunk before entering Verun's Bite] , prompting it to give off a hair-raising aura . Meanwhile , the avatar in his soul returned to its position on top of the Soul Core , its presence rapidly rising .

The Heavens were clearly enraged by Zac's actions , and he was suddenly drowned in purple light as it gathered its punishment . A bolt of condensed wrath descended , and Zac swung his axe in an upward arc , unleashing a wave of terrifying destruction as a smile spread across his face . The Heavens wanted a conflict , but that would only solidity his Dao .

However , the smile turned crooked as the two forces clashed , followed by his outburst of Dao being instantly crushed . The bolt continued completely undiscouraged , slammed into Zac like the fist of an angry god , the force so tremendous that cracks spread across the now-exposed valley . Another bolt soon followed as thunder crashed , and Zac felt his vision blurring as he desperately tried to withstand the electrified fury .

Suddenly , he lost his footing as a massive section of the valley simply crumbled , unable to withstand the presence of the Lightning Tribulation . He felt a surge of ocean water come crashing toward him , but he barely had time for a final thought as a third bolt knocked him unconscious .

Uh oh .

Chapter 748 : Imprints

Zac woke up with a start , his still mind scattered by the electrifying experience he'd just endured . He instinctively raised his arms to block the punishment from above , but he soon realized the oppressive presence of the Heavens was gone . It still took him some time for his mind to snap back into focus , and he breathed in relief upon realizing his surroundings weren’t shrouded in oppressive darkness .

He was still illuminated by the dark gold of the sky above the surface , meaning he hadn’t been dragged into the depths once more . He looked around to orient himself , and he realized that he was actually hanging from a ledge , the four chains of Love’s Bond] lodged into the wall to prevent him from being carried away by the currents .

It looked like Alea had saved his bacon when the Lightning Tribulation had knocked him out . A wave of shame hit him , and he shook his head as he dragged himself up to the ledge . He had entered the valley to find a way for Alea to evolve , yet it was he who had snatched the opportunity in the place .

Certainly , the egg was impossible to bring away even after he had risked it all , but he hadn’t even stopped to consider whether Love’s Bond] might have wanted that amazing bead of pure light as well . He had just shot forward and gobbled it up like a frenzied beast .

I’ll find a way to make it up to you , I promise , - Zac sighed as he caressed one of the chains , but there was no response as usual .

However , there was one startling change , and Zac looked at the chain in his hand with marvel . It was still pure black like it had been since the start , but it was now covered in a somewhat familiar pattern . The engravings were black as well , but they emitted a dense aura of death , making them light up under the scrutiny of Cosmic Gaze] .

The script didn’t seem like an actual skill fractal or something like that , but they rather reminded Zac of the markings on the Stele of Conflict . Of course , their instilled meaning wasn’t at the same level . The stele held the fundamental truths of conflict , profundity at its highest level . Meanwhile , it looked like Love’s Bond] had been marked by the deathly runes that had surged like a storm in the valley .

A thought struck Zac , and he took out Verun’s Bite] as well . As expected , the axe was covered in similar brands . These markings were golden in color rather than the black of the coffin , and they formed a spiderweb-like array with the red veins that already covered the bone of the edge . Zac looked down at the axe thoughtfully , not sure what to make of the situation .

It really looked like he would have to do something soon .

His axe was already leaning toward life before this , both from the nature of beastcrafted weapons and from the treasures it had eaten . It was instilled with the unsurpassed lifeforce of the dragons , and it had drunk the blood of innumerable beasts to complement its nature . Now , it was covered with patterns that held the essence of Life .

While it was great for his human class , it might become a problem for his current form . Should he get another axe to complement Verun? Or should he try to instill another set of brands on the weapon , adding death to the life? Both solutions had their pros and cons , but now wasn’t the time to go over it .

Things had gone out of control once again , and he looked at the surroundings with some helplessness . The mountain that held the secluded valley was partly gone , ripped at least into two parts . The ledge he was sitting on was probably a section of the edge of the valley judging by the scorched runes that were engraved on the rock around him .

But the rest of the valley itself was simply gone .

There was just ocean as far as the eye could see , meaning that the pedestal , the egg , and most of the runes most likely had been dragged to the depths of the Twilight Chasm by now . His whole body hurt , but he knew he couldn’t stay . The last time he came to this place , the outburst was just a shadow of what he had unleashed today , and who knew how many elites were on the way to investigate the commotion .

He took one last look at the scorched walls , the marks that once held the tapestry of Twilight all but illegible by now , and he scratched the back of his head with a wry smile as he set off . For a moment there he had felt like a true Heaven’s Chosen , seizing the Dao and bending it to his will . However , the True Heavens wasn’t messing around , slapping him back to reality before he had a chance to properly enjoy the experience .

As to why he was mostly fine , it was clear his Void Heart] had once more come through for him . It had been completely silent since he woke up a few moments ago , and Zac's chest was all pins and needles and covered in red scars that looked like angry veins . It was no doubt a side-effect of the node having drawn all the tribulation lightning into the void before it could cause any real damage .

Luckily , he had activated his Void Zone] just before getting zapped the final time . It hadn’t managed to impede the Tribulation Lightning at all for some reason , but it did allow him to avoid getting overwhelmed by Twilight Energy while out of commission . Going by the amount of Void Energy left in the tank , Zac figured he hadn’t actually been unconscious for more than a couple of minutes .

Zac pushed through the churning waters as quick as he could muster , heading further toward the center of the chasm rather than back toward the edge . Almost an hour passed , at which point he was finally forced to deactivate the field of nullification that kept the Twilight Energy at bay . Zac braced himself for a struggle now that he didn’t have his hidden node to help , but he was surprised to see that it wasn’t that bad at all .

It was like the Twilight Energy was suddenly unable , or perhaps rather unwilling , to burrow into his body , and he was beset by less than a third of the invasive infiltration compared to before . His first instinct was that it was thanks to his breakthrough , but he soon concluded that wasn’t the case . Having a greater foundation would help against the Twilight Energy , but the effect wasn’t this pronounced .

Something else had changed , and Zac didn’t need to be a betting man to figure that it was related to the events inside the valley . He wasn’t sure if the effect was permanent or not , but for now , he would make the most of it as he created some distance from the shattered mountain .

Zac made good time over the next few hours , and he passed by four mountains until he finally stopped . At that point he found a secluded cave and sealed it up , hiding himself to go over his gains . Having the marks of his Path engraved on his Spirit Tools was an unexpected boon , but that obviously wasn’t the biggest win of the day .

The blue screen listing his Dao appeared , and Zac looked at it with marvel .

Branch of the War Axe (Early) : All attributes +50 , Strength +2250 , Dexterity +1000 , Endurance +150 , Wisdom +250 . Effectiveness of Strength +25% .

Evolving the Dao to a Branch unfortunately didn’t quite result in a doubling of its attributes , with the flat boost going from 2 , 250 to 4 , 000 . However , the real gain with a Dao Branch was the force they brought to bear in a fight rather than the jump in stats . It was a qualitative leap in how they empowered skills , in a far more palpable way compared to the difference between a High and Peak Dao Fragment .

Zac had experienced the difference during his fight with Yanub Mettleleaf . His defenses had simply crumbled in the face of the treant’s Dao Branch , like he was trying to block a raging flame with a paper sheet . With this , Zac felt he wouldn’t be completely outmatched in a direct clash even with the rankers of the trial , though the top names no doubt were still a bit out of his reach even with this latest breakthrough .

Going into the valley he hadn’t expected to progress his Dao at all , yet he walked out with a Dao Branch . With how recently he evolved his Fragment of the Axe to the peak , he figured he was years of building a foundation from actually taking this step . But that light had changed everything .

Thinking back to it , Zac still couldn’t believe how magical that thing was . It was so far beyond any Dao Treasure or Origin Dao he had encountered so far . It was a blank slate , yet it contained everything . He hadn’t even managed to absorb 1% of the light before it slipped out of his body , yet it had pushed him this far . If he had managed to make use of even half of its efficacy , he might very well have pushed all his Daos to the limits of the E-grade .

If he could only get more…

Zac quickly shook his head , knowing he was being too greedy . He hadn’t even heard of something like that before , meaning it was beyond rare . Either it was something that could only be encountered by chance , or something that was hoarded by the people at the top . And after going over the events in the valley , Zac started to feel he had a better understanding of what was going on with that valley , and the implications weren't great .

The mystical Egg that Va Tapek made him bring here was some sort of purifier by the looks of it . The mountain had most likely contained an ancient gathering array , and the empowered Twilight Energy had entered the egg through the pedestal .

The egg , in turn , somehow purified and elevated the base concepts that was the foundation of Twilight Energy , and the result was the mysterious runes and Dao Clouds swirling around in the valley . However , even those miraculous things were just a by-product , with the essence of the egg’s output being steered toward the light above the egg .

Zac had felt the effect of that light on his own Dao . It didn’t connect him to the mighty , yet distant , Grand Dao like Yrial’s impartment did . For a moment , he was the Dao . While the line shone on his soul , he had understood it as clearly as though it was his second nature .

Before he had entered , he hadn’t actually been clear on what form his first Dao Branch should take . But seeing the runes of his path swirling around him , the clashing war between Life and Death , something had clicked . Of course , it was all thanks to that light that guided the way , but it was till just as clear as before , in contrast to how he felt after most bouts of inspiration .

Focusing on his path had allowed him to learn and consolidate the part of the Dao of Conflict that he needed , infusing it into what was now the Branch of the War Axe . The added epithet of - War’ to his Dao was based on conflict , and it had been symbolized by the very struggle between life and death that was central to his path .

He was a bit unclear on the purpose of infusing Twilight into the miraculous light though . It had such an amazing effect in its pure state , and adding something external felt like it would just blemish it . Was it about efficacy , that the light was hard to absorb normally? The light had provided earthshattering benefits to an E-grade cultivator like him , but for a Monarch , it might be insufficient .

As to who was growing beads of supreme Twilight in the heart of the chasm , it wasn't hard to figure out . The real question was why the hell Va Tapek was working with the Eveningtide Asura . Until now , Zac had worked under the assumption that Catheya's Master had been working alone , or perhaps in conjunction with the other Monarchs from the Undead Empire .

But from the looks of it , that was not the case , unless he had completely misunderstood something about the purpose of that valley .

Zac quickly gave up though . There was simply too much he didn't know , from cultivation to the motives to the old monsters outside . But one thing was for sure ; if Alvod found out he was behind this as well , then he might very well be in deep shit . Hopefully , his sight had been blocked after being booted by the System , but Zac still had a bad feeling about it .

Unable to do much about the situation , Zac instead turned his sight inward , and he breathed in relief upon seeing that his body was in its normal state . He still remembered how his body had been starting to transform for a moment , his skin turning green as markings covered his hands . In fact , he had seen that exact phenomenon before , on the avatar of the Eveningtide Asura . That was the second clue that he had inadvertently thrown a wrench into Alvod’s plans , rather than Va Tapek’s .

Zac had made a cursory scan before , but it really looked like the odd effect had been dispelled either by the Dao light , or perhaps by him renouncing the path of Twilight . Unlike his weapons , Zac didn't get a set of patterns of his own though . He still looked like a normal Draugr without any mysterious runes to represent his path . But perhaps there was something else that had changed with his body .

Miasma started coursing through his pathways following a set pattern , but there was no response from the energy around him . Zac tried again , this time with a different cultivation manual , but the result was the same . Nothing . He had held onto a small lingering hope after being so in tune with the cosmos for a while , but it looked like he still was a piddling mortal .

His affinity hadn’t increased at all , and a few experiments confirmed that his Dao control wasn’t any better either .

Still , Zac figured it might be for the best , and he finally turned his gaze toward his Soul Aperture . His soul might have been the area that most directly benefitted from being washed in the glow of the Dao . As expected , he felt that the oceans in his mind had once more been elevated to even greater heights , and watching the waves crashing against each other almost felt like watching a Dao-instilled treasure like the Big Boss’s Big Wall .

More importantly , it felt like the oceans were more in tune with himself . It wasn’t like he could command them at will , but their insights better matched his own somehow . And it wasn’t really a surprise . Before , they had mostly been infused by the insights hidden inside the Twilight Energy , with some craps coming from Divine Crystals and Miasma Crystals .

But now , the waters had gobbled up and copied the very essence of his path thanks to the bright light and the almost endless amount of Dao in the valley . The two avatars of Bodhi and Coffin looked mostly the same , but Zac noted that they were a bit larger compared to before . He didn’t really know what that meant , but he figured it was a good thing since they also felt more - real’ somehow .

Perhaps it simply meant he had solidified his foundation , taking him one step closer to forming his other two branches .

The biggest transformation was obviously the Dao Avatar that represented his Branch of the War Axe . It still sat on top of his soul core , with an axe in its hand , but it almost felt like a real being rather than an avatar . Furthermore , it kept changing . Zac curiously observed the avatar as it kept transforming . The avatar had looked like him in his human form before , but it was now in a constant flux between his two identities .

One second it was a human , the next a Draugr , though the Draugr had his true appearance rather than the one Zac used for Arcaz Black . As it switched back and forth , so did the weapon in its hand change . Unsurprisingly , it was the very same axes Zac had conjured while forming the branch .

One was pitch-black and wrapped in chains , and it emitted an extremely oppressive aura . Zac felt suffocated just looking at it , and it felt like those chains were binding him rather than securing the edge to the handle . It was inexorability taken form .

His human form instead held an axe radiating a golden gleam , yet Zac found it impossible to pinpoint what kind of axe it was . One moment it looked a bit like the hatchet he had used when the integration took place , and in another , it resembled Verun’s Bite] . But it also looked like a thousand other axes all at once , always changing unpredictably .

The change in the avatar no doubt reflected the integration of Dao and Path . The insight that he had added to his Fragment of the Axe was mainly related to conflict and struggle , and it was filtered through the two stances he had developed over the last year . Yet , as he looked at the two weapons the avatar held , they never emitted an aura of either life or death even if they clearly represented those paths .

It was a pure branch , rather than mixing it with snippets from his other Daos . It was possible that he would try something like that in the future to better integrate his other two Daos into the Dao of the Axe , but for now , he felt it more prudent to delve deeper into conflict , since it was what bound his Daos together .

There were no other changes he could find , but that was more than enough . He had pretty high hopes for the Twilight Ascent before entering , but the gains had far surpassed what he even dared hope for . His attributes had more than doubled since Kenzie was taken and Thea killed , and most of it was thanks to the Twilight Ocean .

Now , he just needed to make sure he'd survive all the enmities he had created getting this far . First off , he needed to leave the chasm before the Eveningtide Asura returned with a vengeance .

Chapter 749 : Folly of the Boundless

Ogras grunted with disgust as he chewed on the astringent mixture of herbs . The sickly heat radiating from the wound on his back was soon replaced by a cooling wave , proof that his makeshift antidote did at least work to some degree . It would take a lot more to rid himself of that sinister poison , but there was no opportunity to properly rest until he reached the next checkpoint .

He didn't know how , but his location was always exposed by those bastards , no matter how well he hid .

The demon sunk into the shadows , and his form soon appeared outside the dilapidated mansion , right in front of the squad of wretched creatures that had hounded him for the past two days . They were no more than a meter tall , but Ogras knew all too well the terror that was hidden within their diminutive forms .

They looked a bit like goblins though their skin was a dark mottled purple . They were also covered head to toe in an arcane script that Ogras couldn’t make sense of at all . It felt completely disconnected from the general runes of the Ruthless Heavens , indicating they were wrought in a place outside Heaven’s purview .

Their eyes empty holes filled with sinister energy , and they sparked with malice when they saw their target appear . The goblins needed no order to instantly attack . Their bodies bent and twisted as everything from simple spearpoints to massive maws was created from their bodies , attacking Ogras without hesitation or mercy .

His body cracked like a mirror while two ruthless eyes peered at the scene from a safe distance .

Ten spears wrought with condensed shadows sprung out from the ground , impaling a few members of the war party . The spears were covered in ethereal patterns of their own and imbued with the Peak Fragment of the Umbra to maximize their power . The ten spears targeted just six of the goblins , but none of them actually shot toward a vital .

Instead , they all pierced specific runes that shone brightly on the goblins' bodies , causing a chain reaction of cracks spreading through the script . Four of the goblins instantly shattered and turned into dust , leaving not even a corpse behind . However , the other two withstood the attacks as the runes covering their bodies shuddered and frantically rearranged themselves .

The next moment the shadow spears cracked , and the goblins stood there unaffected at all by what should have been a lethal strike . Ogras swore , realizing they had changed up the script again . The surviving goblins screeched in fury as their auras rose , and dozens of purple cracks appeared in the sky , each one of them emitting a cursed aura .

They looked a bit like spatial tears , but Ogras suspected they were something else . Because he had never seen the void on the other side of those things , only nightmares . It was one of these scars that had left the nasty wound on his back a month ago , teaching him a valuable lesson about the danger of these creatures .

The cracks quickly spread like a poison on reality , ripping everything in the surroundings to shreds . Decaying trees , walls , and even the ground turned mottled before it was reduced to ash , prompting a storm of dust to swirl through the area . The building where Ogras had rested was turned into nothingness as one of the goblins drowned in with tears a fit of fury , but it was no skin off Ogras’ back .

He had already receded into the shadows , heading west as he sent another of his shadow puppets running due north . He looked down at his forearm as he ran , a small hint of satisfaction on his face . Another line had been added to his tattoo this time , meaning there was just one pattern missing to complete the tapestry .

One out of four would have been considered proper shit luck two weeks ago , but he had hunted these goblin scouts for two weeks without a single one of the two missing lines being filled in . Meanwhile , the creatures had tightened the net in their hunt for him , making every step fraught with danger .

But it was worth it , Ogras figured , and he once more opened the quest screen for a boost of motivation .

The folly of the Boundless . (Limited , Trial) : Hunt the Qriz'Ul and collect their core runes . Each fully-filled pattern will form a key . Reward : Based on the number of keys gained . (4/6)

NOTE : All 6 keys are required to enter the Main Repository .

In the beginning , Ogras had felt the mission easy enough . He still remembered the glee upon finding this fragment of a long-lost civilization at the corner of this realm . It had taken the better part of a year trekking through the worlds that simpleton of a Realm Spirit had swallowed as it gallivanted through the void .

He had felt like the chosen one for once , finding ancient ruins at the end of his arduous journey . This was what adventurers dreamt of , the opportunity to rummage through the rotten carcass of a failed society . It was his opportunity to rekindle the dashed hope he had felt upon realizing that the Mystic Realm back on Earth wasn't holding anything of value .

This was a proper Cultivated Realm , where any random building might hold supreme methods and resources . Certainly , none of them had done so thus far , but he was still locked out of the core sections of this place . As he had traveled the broken lands , it quickly became clear that the civilization had fallen in war – and a war of their own making by the looks of it .

It had taken him two months and gathering the first sets of tattoos , but it hadn’t been too hard to piece together what had happened . And it was a tale as old as time - a tale of hubris and taking shortcuts in the endless pursuit of power . These people , the Ra'Lashar , had clearly dabbled in the unorthodox , and they mainly cultivated through summoning beings from another plane – the very same beings that now hounded Ogras every waking moment .

What they actually were , Ogras still didn’t know . Because they sure as hell weren’t goblins . In fact , Ogras had already realized that their appearance was a simple form of mimicry , taking the shape of the ones who had summoned them . Their true form was some sort of energy creature , and they could even be considered living arrays .

The Qriz'Ul were actually the dense scripts covering the bodies , rather than the bodies themselves . The only way he had found to kill them was by piercing their core runes , but the problem was that the runes kept changing . He had managed to kill four easily enough this time , but the stronger ones were far harder to deal with , especially considering every drawn-out battle attracted hundreds of these things .

Ogras had never heard of beings such as this before , but he knew that they could pose a huge threat if they ever spread out of this place . He had seen it , seen how three creatures suddenly split into nine , each one almost as strong as the originals . With that kind of ability to multiply , they would become a blight on any planet they inhabited .

Thankfully , it looked like the civilization that had summoned these things understood that fact as well and had created some sort of multi-layered seal that kept these critters inside their kingdom . They had even created a trial to cleanse the Qriz'Ul in return for their heritage , which was the quest the Ruthless Heavens had provided the moment he stepped through the outermost seal .

Most likely it was an act of vengeance on their killers rather than an act of goodwill , but Ogras didn’t care . Killing these things was decent experience , and as soon as the tattoo was filled to the next tier , he would be able to access a higher tier of rewards . And he knew where the final piece of the puzzle waited .

Ogras eyes turned toward the tower far in the distance , his eyes gleaming with desire . Every checkpoint brought him closer to that structure , and the rewards would grow better with every step . Now that this place had been integrated by the Ruthless Heavens , there was no chance for them to balk on the reward either .

That didn't mean there were no hidden traps , but Ogras knew he could turn back any moment . Between every seal was a secure checkpoint which doubled as an opportunity to exchange his tattoos for riches , and if things got too heated , he'd simply back down . The price of overconfidence was apparent all around him , and he wasn't about to get done in by some demon-goblins .

He was getting out alive from this netherblasted realm , and he'd exchange some of the wealth he had accumulated in this prison for a bacchanalia that would make the Succubi of the Twin Lotus Pavilion blush with shame . If he didn't beget a dozen little bastards in whatever town he found outside the Dimensional Seed , then his name wasn't Ogras .

That didn't mean he wouldn't push himself . Every time he considered cashing in , he pictured that dull face . He pictured that annoying smile as one treasure after another fell into that man's paws . He could feel it . Whatever Zachary Atwood was doing right now , he was no doubt falling headfirst into some opportunity , no doubt while setting the whole sector on fire .

Ogras knew that the five years in this virgin world had completely elevated his prospects and allowed him to make shocking progress , but it wasn't enough . How embarrassing would it be if they met in a couple of years , and that bumbling human had somehow gone even further ahead after Ogras had enjoyed this kind of environment for years on end?

It was unacceptable .

So Ogras refocused on the task at hand , slowly following the calling on the incomplete tattoo . When he was missing two marks , it had pointed in every direction , making it completely useless . But now that there was just a single piece missing , it was pointing him toward a single location . Ogras had encountered this phenomenon four times already , and he knew that the big boss held the final piece of the puzzle .

Killing any more of these troublesome critters would just draw more attention , so he melded with the shadows as he moved through the ruins like a wraith . Eventually , he reached the spot indicated . It was a large domed building that might once have served as a temple . Dozens of Qriz'Ul ambled around at its gate , but Ogras noted that not a single one stepped inside .

Using Darkside] to teleport onto one of the balconies would have been the easiest solution , but it was out of the question . These things looked pretty dumb , but they were pretty alert when it came to energy fluctuations . If not for his Fragment of Mirage , he would have been caught innumerable times by now .

Instead , Ogras was forced to slowly crawl closer , making use of brief windows of opportunity where the aimlessly wandering creatures had lumbered far away enough that he could sneak a bit closer . Finally , he reached the wall of the temple , and with one fluid motion dragged himself up along the wall until he reached a secluded balcony five meters up .

He jumped inside , Skybreaker] already at the ready in his hand , but he was thankfully greeted by an empty room that seemed to have serviced as a scribe's workstation . Old illegible scrolls covered the floor , the ink on the parchment long faded away . The door to the chamber was closed , but it luckily didn't squeak at all as he pushed it open to peer outside .

A nose .

That all ogras saw . A nose as large as an Alpha Barghest , full of welts and sinister runes , pointing straight toward the sky in defiance of both beauty and common sense . Ogras' heart almost jumped out of his mouth , and he pushed the door shut again ever-so-slowly , afraid to startle the thing right outside .

How was this fair?

The goblin that was lying in the domed chamber at the heart of this temple had to be over fifteen meters tall while maintaining its original proportions . By the looks of it , it was sleeping , but Ogras didn't know if these creatures actually slept . He hadn't seen any evidence of them doing so thus far at least .

He had observed the thing for a moment , but that creature was clearly not only big but also filled to the brim with the dark energies of the Qriz'Ul . Ogras guessed it might even have evolved to the next step , though its aura wasn't nearly as deep as his grandpa's . Still , tackling a creature of this magnitude , it was asking too much of him . Even with the skill he got at level 125 , Ogras didn't feel confident at all .

Well , I guess that's it for me , - Ogras muttered with reluctance as he turned toward the balcony .

Are you sure? - a shrill and guttural voice muttered from behind . - I can- ACK! -

The speaker didn't get any further as Skybreaker] pierced straight into its forehead , and the spear turned into a blur as it kept stabbing over and over . Unfortunately , it looked like the attacks were completely ineffectual .

I'm dead damnit , so stop trying to kill me , - the goblin said with exasperation as he tried to swat the spearhead away , though his hand simply went straight through the weapon . - Look at me , you idiot . Do I have those runes across my skin? -

Sorry , didn't notice , - Ogras lied as he moved toward the balcony while he gripped a thick stack of exploding talismans .

Of course he had noticed , but what did it matter? It wasn't like the original citizens of this place were his allies even if a few of them had somehow survived until now . If anything , they might get in the way of him getting to the treasures . Better kill and say a prayer in case the goblin was friendly , than get killed by some rune-parasite-summoning lunatic .

So long our world has been lost to the river of time , and a bastard like you is the one who finds us , - the goblin muttered . - Well , I guess it's destiny . -

Whatever , - Ogras whispered with a roll of his eyes . - What do you want? And speak with a lower volume , you imbecile . -

Because of that dolt? - the goblin sneered as he glanced at the closed door . - We could sing and dance for an hour without that thing noticing . It's placed itself in a type of stasis to reserve energy . -

Good to know , - Ogras shrugged , still whispering . - So what do you want? -

It would be a shame if you left like this , - the goblin grunted . - There are still a lot of Qriz'Ul profaning our final resting place . -

Well , that's not my problem , - Ogras shrugged . - Should have thought of that before you summoned them . -

Well , that's true . The second part , that is , - the goblin agreed . - As for the first , I wouldn't be so sure . -

Is that a threat? - Ogras asked , his eyes thinning as he tried to figure out if he had any ghost-killing capabilities . Unfortunately , he lacked any life-attuned abilities like those Zachary Atwood possessed .

Threat? No , an opportunity , - the ghost said with a wide grin . - That Ka'Zur Planeswalker in your body is giving you trouble , no? -

What are you talking about? - Ogras shrugged , barely managing to keep his face impassive .

No need to play dumb with me , brat , - the goblin snickered . - I might just be a figment brought back from the void to maintain this place , but I was once a Grand Warlock who had delved in the arcane for eons . I know one of those shadelings when I see them . -

And you want to help me? - Ogras said with a raised brow . - Pretty generous for a goblin ghost . -

Simultaneously , his mind was going over what he had learned of these goblins so far , comparing it to what the little ghost in front of him was saying . This civilization had almost all focused on contracting and training nefarious creatures from another realm , using them to fight in their stead . And while these things were distinctly different from Asshole in some regards , they were a bit similar in others .

Were they actually related? Did Asshole come from the same realm as the odd parasites outside? And did that mean their methods might actually be of use for him?

Getting fused with Asshole had led to a higher affinity to shadows , at the risk of his very soul . The Ka'Zur Planeswalker had been quiet for a long time , but Ogras knew it was lurking somewhere in the depths of his soul , waiting for the opportunity to pounce . It wouldn’t get the chance . However , permanently dealing with Asshole without losing the benefits that the creature provided was easier said than done .

If he could impose a Soul Brand on Asshole , he would be completely safe from attack as long as he maintained his cultivation lead . Now , he didn’t even dare get too wounded or go all-out in a fight out of fear that the creature would make a move .

Generous? Not really , but my hatred for the bastards outside is greater than my indifference to you . This shield won't last forever , and I'm afraid it will break apart before someone more competent than you appear here , - the goblin shrugged .

Well , I'm all ears , - Ogras said .

Whoever tampered with that creature in your body didn't know what he was doing , - the goblin said as he looked at Ogras with disgust . - You are one , yet separate . One of our great shamans possessed a technique to draw the creatures of the Lost Plane into her body , using them to empower herself . With that method , you will be able to truly make use of the power locked inside you . -

And look how that went for her , - Ogras said with a pointed look .

Our demise was due to another experiment , - the goblin said with a roll of his eyes . - Rasata fought to the very end , and the creatures that had fused with her soul never managed to revolt . Of course , the moment she fell , her body became an eldritch horror that accelerated the fall of our civilization . A regrettable quirk , but who cares what happens to our body after we fall? Might as well go out with a bang . -

And let me guess , - Ogras sighed . - That method is locked inside the tower? Probably guarded by a bunch of supercharged bastards like the big guy outside? -

The widening grin of the goblin was all the answer he needed .

Chapter 750 : Seal

Zac would have preferred to enter seclusion for a few days to consolidate his gains , but he was running against the clock here . Alvod had given him one month to unblock at least one jammer , and he had already spent a good chunk of that time climbing the chasm and heading to the valley . He would have to get used to his newfound power on the go .

He soon left the cave , swimming even further toward the heart of the Twilight Chasm . Zac didn't want to head back where he came from since that way would take him toward the Living Pulse once more , which was the opposite of what he wanted . If he had entered the Twilight Chasm from the South , then he instead set a rough course heading northeast .

The Death Pulse should be somewhere in the opposite direction of the Living Pulse , and cutting straight through the surface layer of the Twilight Chasm would save a few weeks of travel time . Hopefully , that would also lessen the chance of encountering elites , since even they usually stayed at the periphery of the chasm .

It wasn't that he was afraid . This deep in the trial he was nigh-invulnerable thanks to his resistance to Twilight Energy . But the moment his location was leaked , it would lead to all kinds of trouble . And the top combatants had all kinds of methods to stay alive , making it almost impossible to guarantee his secret being kept .

Of course , not even Zac dared to enter the most central area of the Twilight Chasm even in his current state , which was purported to be a towering mountain tens of times larger than the ones he climbed here . According to rumors , it stretched tens of thousands of meters above the surface , and it held just as great treasures as the deepest depths of the chasm .

But it was also crawling with Beast Kings , and not something Zac wanted to entangle himself with right now . There was too much to do , and too little time . The days passed as he crossed from mountain to mountain , occasionally snatching a herb or mineral that seemed valuable . His senses were constantly stretched to their limits in search of other trial-takers , but he hadn't spotted a single one .

Had he overestimated the elites of this opening , or were the rankers busy with something else?

He was however constantly targeted by large packs of beasts every time he reached a new mountain . But Curiously enough , not a single one of the Beast Kings made their appearance to lead their subordinates , even when Zac could sense their auras hiding deep in the mountains . That only increased the unease Zac felt , and his mind was starting to get frayed after a week's travel .

He knew that he wasn't scary enough to subdue all the Beast Kings in the chasm , so just what was going on? These behemoths were the most common source of deaths in the chasm , yet he was swimming through their territories unchallenged . Were they laying low because of what transpired in the valley? Or had a certain apex predator lurking in the depths made an appearance recently?

Zac didn't know what was the case , and the mystery prompted Zac to push himself to his limit to cross the chasm in record time . With his improved attributes and experience with far deadlier currents in the depths , Zac found himself able to almost effortlessly cover ground . Sometimes , he was even able to hitch a ride with one of the currents , saving hours in one go .

Unfortunately , he did feel that the Twilight Energy was starting to enter his body at a greater and greater rate , meaning the immunity he enjoyed wasn't permanent . Zac wasn't too bothered by that fact though . It would last over a month by the looks of it , and by that time he would be far from the chasm . Another week passed , and Zac eventually reached the other edge of the chasm , with less than a week to spare before the deadline .

It looked pretty much the same as there he first arrived , a massive wall stretching down into the darkness , with enormous currents rushing into the chasm to turn into submerged waterfalls . He didn’t immediately approach , but instead stayed hidden on a nearby mountain for almost an hour without making a move .

No matter if it was his Draugr-sense or Cosmic Gaze] , he still couldn’t spot any cultivators staying by the edge , and it was starting to get to him . There were millions of cultivators participating in the trial , and normally , there should at least be a few thousand who venture into the chasm every round .

He gave it some thought , but he eventually decided to stay in his Draugr form as he set off toward the edge . His Draugr identity was definitely exposed because of the ladder , making his human identity a lot safer in comparison . Of course , it wasn’t a very good disguise considering the bounty on his head , but he knew that the prompt required a few seconds to appear .

A few seconds might not sound like a lot , but it was enough to either ambush an unsuspecting party or escape with a talisman . That had been his original idea , but he didn't dare break the array hiding his Duplicity Core unless necessary now .

Zac reached the edge soon enough and was greeted with a barren landscape that stretched for miles . Still , the scene was filled with a sense of beauty to Zac , who was more than done with the subdued darkness of the Twilight Chasm . Besides , he knew that the environment should soon gain some more greenery . It was simply that the currents made it impossible for anything to grow around the edge .

Sure enough , the desolate rocks were soon replaced by a thick bed of moss and swaying seaweed . Ten minutes later , the grass had grown to over five meters in height , turning the area into a veritable forest . Zac was forced to slow down his pace somewhat since this area had to be a prime location for an ambush .

He suddenly spotted something amiss , though it wasn't a cultivator lying in wait . It was rather a massive rune that shimmered in the waters at the edge of his visibility . It only lasted a second before it disappeared , making it almost seem like the water refractions were playing with his mind . However , after the first one came another , and two turned into innumerable runes that stretched across the horizon .

It was like the whole Twilight Chasm had been cordoned off by some sort of array , and Zac immediately took out the array disk for his quest . For the second time , the tracker indicated a spot not too far away . The first time was when he had almost finished his climb on the opposite side of the chasm .

By the looks of it , the location was situated right beneath the line demarcated by the gargantuan array . These runes were connected to whatever jammers the Twilight Lord wanted removed , and they probably stretched all around the Twilight Chasm . The question was what kind of array had been set up , and who was behind it .

The native clans being behind this felt like a distinct possibility , considering they should be the factions with the most reason to stop the Eveningtide Asura's plans . Exactly what the Eveningtide Asura was planning wasn't clear , but the words of Yod echoed in the back of his mind .

The Corpselord had been convinced that someone wanted to blow up the whole Mystic Realm to drain it of its resources , but he had rather been convinced that the culprit was the foreign empires rather than the Twilight Lord himself . And knowing the ruthless method of cultivation the Eveningtide Asura employed , Zac figured this Mystic Realm wasn't long for the world if he had his way .

The empires were clearly embroiled in this matter as well , and the more Zac learned the more he understood he had no business getting himself involved with something like this . Yet he found himself swimming toward the spot marked on the tracker , using the lush plantlife as a means to cover his approach .

Soon enough he got within a few kilometers of the mark on his tracker , but he still hadn't spotted anything amiss . He got closer and closer , moving back and forth to get a better vantage . And eventually , he saw it . There was just a large pillar embedded in the ground , covered in markings . It was the same color as the ocean itself , and the engravings made it blend in almost perfectly with the seaweed around it , forming a nigh-perfect camouflage .

That wasn't only true for his mundane senses . The energy it emitted was wholly unimpressive , not standing out from the plants in the area at all .

If Zac was just passing by , he could probably have swum a few hundred meters from it without noticing its existence at all . It had to be a disguise . The Eveningtide Asura had risked the wrath of the Heavens to enter the Trial and find someone to shut that thing off . Perhaps the pillar had arrays hiding the energy it emitted .

The scene was a bit odd , making Zac feel something was amiss . He could simply take out a projectile from his spatial ring and destroy that thing with a lazy throw . Why were there no defenses to the thing?

As far as he could tell , the pillar wasn't even protected by a weak barrier , and there were no warriors or defensive golems stationed there either . If this was an integral piece supposed to thwart the Eveningtide Asura , why had it simply been planted and forgotten like this?

Zac scanned the area over and over , using every method available in his repertoire to look for any sort of trap . But there was nothing . Zac hesitated for a second before he swam upward , heading for the surface of the ocean . He risked getting exposed this way , but he needed to figure out what the hell was going on .

This odd setup looked harmless enough , yet it looked like it managed to keep the whole Twilight Chasm depopulated . There had to be some trick to it . But there was nothing to see on the surface either , except torrential storms and a humongous flying Beast King howling in the distance .

He quickly swam back to the depths before he was spotted , and he soon enough found himself just fifty meters from the Array Pillar . Part of him wanted to just ignore this thing and keep going , but the thinly veiled threat of the Eveningtide Asura made him grit his teeth and take out Verun’s Bite] .

A deep growl made the waters vibrate as Zac shot forward , the large jagged edge of Gorehew] forming in front of the axe . Thankfully , the Spirit Tool hadn't suddenly become incapable of channeling his undead skills after gaining the golden patterns . If anything , it felt like energy coursed through the weapon smoother compared to before .

Zac was in front of the pillar in no time , but his eyes widened when the seemingly engraved runes across the pillar rearranged themselves with dizzying speed , releasing a tremendous blast that rebuffed his strike and pushed Zac back over twenty meters . The strike had come from what looked like a gate made from the runes , and out of it , a densely tattooed man stepped out .

The attacker seemed to be a member of the Havarok Empire judging by the tattoos that covered his body , but Zac was filled with a sense of wrongness as he looked into the man’s empty eyes . There was no spark of sapience in those eyes , and the man in front of him reminded Zac of the silver guards of Salvation more than an elite cultivator .

It wasn’t strictly a puppet though as Zac could sense that the man in front of him was alive . However , his energy signature was pretty odd . He neither resembled a living cultivator nor carried the mark of undeath . He rather off an aura similar to a creature of the Twilight Abyss , perfectly in tune with the Twilight Energy . Furthermore , even after having observed the odd puppet-man for a few seconds , no contribution points showed up over his head , meaning the System didn’t consider the man a trial-taker .

The runes on his body immediately lit up in a dark golden-green , and Zac instantly felt a storm of Twilight Energy gather around him . In an instant , the energy density in the area had reached levels that surpassed the outer chasm , and if not for his unique constitution , he would have been in big trouble .

Zac looked back and forth between the silent man and the pillar behind him , no longer sure just which one of them was the actual target . The puppet reeked of killing intent , and he shot toward Zac as energy built in his body . His runes turned almost blinding and chaotic arcs something surrounded him .

His first instinct was to call it lightning , but it was fully made by Twilight Energy . It made him think of his experience in the valley , where he almost got convinced that life was not life , and death was not death . They were rather receptacles for something else , like how Twilight had somehow become a receptacle for thunder in the puppet in front of him .

It was an interesting contrast to his own path , but Zac didn't have any time to study it as the puppet was almost instantaneously upon him . The warrior didn’t have any weapons and instead swiped his hand toward Zac like a beast . Waves of twilight thunder rippled forward , and Zac was shocked at the power the attack contained .

This puppet , had it once been one of the Rankers of the trial? Zac had a hard time imagining too many being able to unleash such a forceful attack , even if he wasn't restrained by the Twilight Energy in his current state . However , Zac quickly realized the truth of the matter as he sensed a familiar source of power in the cascading wave of destruction .

Lifeforce .

The zombified cultivator was burning his longevity to unleash terrifying amounts of energy in the go , and the whole area groaned under the chaotic might of his attacks . Still , it was nowhere near enough to make Zac feel despair , and he stood in place as a thick coffin sprung up in front of him . It was the skeletons of Profane Exponents] that had made their appearance , for once not being beset by terrifying currents the second Zac brought them out .

The roiling wave of lightning struck the barrier , and the whole area for almost a hundred meters was instantly turned into a void as the water was forcibly evaporated . Of course , the odd scene only lasted for an instant before the ocean collapsed on itself again , causing a storm to erupt in the area .

But the crashing ocean itself was cut in two as Zac swung his weapon , its edge radiating the unquestionable might of the Branch of the War Axe . The lightning storm was unable to last even a moment as the ripping edge of Dao shot forward , its churning chaos nothing in of the madness of war .

The energy whole area itself was suddenly roiling , and not from the outbursts of attacks . It was Zac who had unleashed his Dao Field , which now was powerful enough to almost impact the fundamental laws of the area . Even the usually harmonious Twilight Energy was growing erratic , almost breaking apart in an internal struggle .

For a moment the outline of two massive axe appeared behind Zac's back , but they only lasted for a fraction of a second before they dissipated and joined the more intangible energy of the overpowering Dao Filed . Zac wasted no time as he appeared right next to the puppet , the edge of Gorehew] once more ripping toward him .

The puppet had been pushed off-balance by the Dao Field , and its runes flickered as he hold his head in a silent scream . Zac guessed the zombification process wasn't perfect , and the warrior's original path suddenly found itself in a struggle against the one imposed on his body . Ultimately , it didn't matter , and the black edge ripped him clean in two , prompting a surge of energy to enter Zac's body .

Zac looked at the bisected body of the cultivator thoughtfully for a moment before he swam toward the pillar . No wonder the chasm was so empty . If puppets like these were placed out all around the area , few would dare to make their move . Its combat strength was nothing to scoff at , but more importantly , the amount of Twilight Energy it had gathered was enough to kill most warriors on its own .

A second swing destroyed the array pillar as well , but Zac's brows rose in surprise when the engravings on its surface actually detached from the crumbling rock and turned into glistening sigils hovering in the water itself . The runes quickly reformed themselves , distorting and elongating until eight vortices formed .

From the void , eight more figures stepped out onto the ground , each one of them radiating the same killing intent as their fallen comrade as the energy density area started climbing toward unprecedented levels . Zac's first instinct was to book it , but he swore in surprise when the whole area was suddenly sealed by some sort of Twilight Energy lock .

Zac looked back at the eight warriors with a sigh as torrential amounts of Miasma started to churn in his body . It looked like these guys wanted to lock him down , but two could play that game . It looked like it was time to try out his new skill .

Chapter 751 : Pillar of Desolation

The rampaging Twilight Energy was putting even Zac at a disadvantage as he felt dangerous amounts storming into his body even with the latent protection he had gained inside the valley . Thankfully , simply using his new-and-improved Dao Field lessened the pressure significantly , which allowed him to finish charging his new skill without having to turn to his Void Energy .

He had figured that a supreme-quality skill would be pretty energy-hungry , but he was shocked to find that it required 60% of his energy to finally form , meaning it was actually impossible to activate solely with his hidden energy reserve . That alone was crazy considering how massive an energy pool his attributes and Draugr heritage provided , but even more shocking was the fact that a small amount of distilled energy of Oblivion was dragged into the skill fractal .

Zac had no time to worry about that though as the skill was finally ready , and it was just in time . The eight puppets seemed to have realized that he wasn't exploding from energy overload , and their auras started to accumulate as they no doubt readied themselves to strike . However , they were too late as the whole area rumbled as it was rapidly being swallowed by endless darkness .

He himself was no exception , and he felt himself meld with the nothingness around him . He was suddenly one with the domain , and Zac felt he would be able to appear wherever he wished . He could also stay and let his skill do the work for him , which he opted to do . Unsurprisingly , the eight puppets instantly stopped in their tracks as they tried to find their way in the darkness .

From that darkness , a sole pillar suddenly rose from the ground , and even Zac was shocked at the grotesque monument of suffering even if he was the one who had conjured it . It looked a bit like a totem pole reaching fifty meters into the air , and it was completely constituted from statues and reliefs of hundreds of people locked in agony .

Some missed arms or other limbs , while others were maimed to the point of entrails spilling down on their neighbors . A few even held their decapitated heads in an embrace as they were pinned to the pole by thick chains that formed an intricate mesh from top to bottom .

Their wounds were carved with excruciating detail , yet their facial features were indistinct , creating a sense of discordance . But as Zac looked at the figures , the unreadable faces suddenly became all-too-familiar . It was the faces of those who he had killed on his journey . Thankfully , the effect only lasted an instant before the statues turned back to their previous form .

A few seemed to be struggling against the fetters that bound them while an even smaller group was lost in a fugue of abject hopelessness . However , most of the depicted warriors , especially those placed toward the top , seemed to be struggling to climb higher . To reach the orb above them .

At the top , a sphere of utmost darkness hovered , an anti-sun radiating true death . Zac could feel that not even an undead would be safe if entering that thing , since there ultimately was an uncrossable line between undeath and true death .

And in the heart of the orb - nothingness . Oblivion .

It was just a small seed , but it was enough to bring true finality to death . Yet , for some reason , the wretched beings seemed desperate to enter the orb , even though they were frozen in place . You could perhaps say that the totem pole represented limbo , whereas the orb represented release .

However , try as they might , they would never reach that spot , bound as they were by thick fetters of desolation . The orb hovered untouched , drenching the area in its immense aura .

The dark domain it had created was different from the darkness that spread from skills like Deathmark] or Varo’s obfuscation skills . It was a sealed domain with no escape , and Zac looked with interest as the remaining runes of the pillar cracked , making sure that no other puppets would be teleported to the area .

At the edge of the domain , a river of darkness created a towering wall as impassable as the River Styx itself . Certainly , people could enter if they so wished , but doing so would put them in Zac's kingdom . Here he was sovereign ruler , the arbiter of fate . Not even Twilight held sway in here , and it was severely weakened by the combination of his Dao Domain and the orb exuding supremacy at top of the totem pole .

The zombified warriors worked as one , unsurprisingly deducing that the pillar presented a huge threat . Each of them conjured massive waves of energy as they launched their strikes at the base . Some of the attacks were elemental in nature , like the blast of twilight-touched lightning from the first cultivator to appear .

Others were just chaotic mixes of energy , condensed into a lethal storm that tried to tear apart everything it touched . However , not one of them used any skill , and Zac was starting to suspect they weren’t able to . Whatever was done to these people had fused them with the Twilight Ocean , probably at the cost of their original cultivation methods .

Zac sent out a mental command , and eight of the ethereal chains on the totem pole shot out , each of them targeting a puppet . They entered the chaotic storm of twilight like spears of death , but they were swallowed in the tide as the barrage slammed into the totem pole with enough power to almost destroy space itself .

However , the core of Pillar of Desolation] only received superficial damage even from such a terrifying strike . Some of the statues had cracks running across their bodies while a few of the chains shattered . The chains that Zac had sent out were momentarily dispelled into puffs of darkness , but they had actually reformed after less than a second and were already closer to their targets than they were before .

The puppets finally displayed some semblance of sapience as they spread out , with four shooting toward the pillar whereas the others tried to break out from the domain . Those who went of the offense were struck down first , and Zac felt a surge of Miasma entering his body as the first of the puppets was caught while the other three desperately dodged .

Just like the old skill Profane Seal] , the chains immediately started draining their captives of energy , becoming fodder for Zac to keep fighting . The tattooed warrior furiously struggled as it released one strike after another , but the moment the chain had actually ensnared him , it was like it had transformed from an intangible manifestation of darkness into a physical object .

Suddenly , it was as durable as the totem pole itself , and it barely received a scratch as it dragged the man closer and closer to the pillar . In fact , it was a few of the statues that were pulling on the chain , and Zac almost felt like he could sense a hint of schadenfreude in their blank eyes as they pulled the captive closer and closer .

A second one of the zombies was caught soon after , and then a third . They were pretty agile even without access to skills , but many of their advantages were nullified here . Some of their energy-gathering ability was blocked out by the layers of domains , but more importantly , the whole area was under tremendous pressure from the orb in the air .

The old Profane Seal] had a massive fractal that doubled as a gravity array , and that effect was retained in an even more powerful form from the glowing anti-sun . These puppets had tried to take the pillar down , but the closer they got , the more affected they were by the restriction . Soon enough , they became too slow to avoid the chains .

Zac sensed that he could actually activate Blighted Cut] any time he wanted after having caught the first set of puppets , but he wanted to unearth the full effect of the skill now that he had activated it for the first time . Everything had been so clear when he formed the thousands of patterns that made up this terrifying ability , but it had all become blurred and confused even before he completed the process .

Now , things were slowly coming back to him , and he looked with rapt attention as the first of the puppets were finally dragged onto the pillar by the nearby statues . It struggled and fought , but it was all in vain as the statues enclosed the man in an embrace as the fetters wound them all tighter and tighter .

A pained wail echoed out from the puppet , and Zac could see some emotion in its eyes for the first time – fear . It only lasted for a fraction of a second though before the enormous sphere of death on the top of the pole released a pulse , prompting a wave of darkness to cascade down along the length of the pillar . It passed the spot where the warrior was being held , continuing out through the other chains to deliver a painful surge to the other captives .

The darkness passed , and the puppet bound to the pillar was gone , replaced with yet another statue locked in an eternal struggle . Meanwhile , it looked like the totem pole had grown a bit taller , and the sphere at the top had grown slightly more oppressive .

The other half of the puppets were still trying to break out from the prison Zac had conjured , but the river swirling at the edge of the cage was as impassable as his old skill , or rather even more so . Zac could feel how their monumental attacks were disrupting the churning waters , but it wasn't enough . It was an everchanging blockage , and Zac sensed how the cracks in his skill were swiftly moved away , replaced by other sections of the river .

Breaking out was possible , but you would either need to be able to unleash a terrifying strike to split apart the river in one go , sort of like Billy’s titanic smashes that could break apart almost any array . If that wasn’t an option , you’d need extremely keen senses or good scouting skills , so that you could keep track of the damage you caused .

The second option was easier said than done even if you had the capability , since Pillar of Desolation] wasn't the only skill Zac would have going in a situation like this . Activating another skill would force him out of hiding , but Zac didn't care as he silently appeared at the edge of the cage , far away from his targets .

One spectral wraith after another appeared as Zac activated Deathmark] , and he smiled with satisfaction as he saw the wraiths looking more corporeal than usual . It was no doubt thanks to the orb of budding Oblivion shining down on the area . While it suppressed the interlopers in this domain , it also looked like it helped Zac’s summons .

He didn’t feel any boost to himself , but that was perhaps because he wasn’t a conjuration of death like the axe-wielding wraiths . In either case , they looked slightly more corporeal , and while they didn’t seem much stronger , they would last longer and be able to withstand more punishment before dissipating .

Soon enough three more puppets were caught by the chains of death . Two of them were inexorably dragged toward the pole , but one managed to resist . It was an extremely bulky warrior who probably had Strength as his main attribute that managed to resist the pull . He had dug his feet into the ground , and his limbs bulged as he released a torrent of energy to withstand the pull of the fetters and even topple the pillar itself .

However , the stalemate only lasted a second before a wraith flashed over , its axe separating the man’s head from his torso with an emotionless swing imbued with the Branch of the War Axe . Soon enough he was dragged along with the others , joining the statues on the pole .

Zac finally felt a pang of danger as the two surviving warriors shot toward him , their auras rising to unprecedented levels . Zac had been in this very situation more than once before , and the small skeletal warriors of Profane Exponents] appeared behind him , just in time to form a thick barrier to seal him off .

The next moment , the cage wildly shuddered as the two puppets self-detonated , creating a terrifying explosion of Twilight Energy in the area . The barriers Zac had hastily erected were only enough to block the destruction for a second , but that was enough for Zac to activate and flash away with Abyssal Phase] .

The rumbling soon subsided , and Zac deactivated all his skills . The real Twilight Ocean soon came crashing back , no longer held back by his deathly river , and Zac looked at the desolation around him with a satisfied smile . Two deep craters had been left in the ground after the puppets self-destructed , but Zac was more interested in the small spot frayed space that lingered at the area where the core of the anti-sun had once been .

It was a crackling black glob that shuddered as it was rooted in place , looking a bit similar to a spatial tear yet decidedly different . It almost felt like a frayed thread on a sweater , and if Zac pulled on the thread it would lead into the true Abyss . Zac obviously wouldn't do such a thing , instead opting to immediately set off after confirming that he had progressed the quest and that there was no loot to pick up .

The lack of Spatial Treasures was disappointing , but the quest progress was higher than expected . In fact , it had reached (9/729) . It mostly confirmed that it was those odd Havarok cultivators who were considered the jammers in the quest , rather than the array pillar itself . There were probably a lot of them lurking around the rim of the Chasm , and what he’d seen so far didn’t give Zac reason to believe finishing the quest to be overly difficult .

The preparations of the Havarok might have been enough to thwart most people since most would be lucky if they could even stay alive in front of the energy density the puppets conjured . Zac even guessed that only he and Uona would have the ability to trash those things as they came .

Even then , Zac didn’t start swimming along the edge of the array in search of the next pillar , and neither did he wait for another batch of puppets to come looking for him . He kept going straight ahead instead , moving further and further away from the chasm . Destroying the pillar was simply a precaution , a way for him to display some progress in case the Eveningtide Asura really had some hidden traps in case he completely disregarded the quest .

But there was no way he was actually going to keep breaking open those jammers .

A Perennial Vastness Token] was nice and all , but you needed to be alive to enjoy it . This was a Decree quest , and he would have to physically head over to the Eveningtide Asura or an assigned representative to cash in on the quest . The chance of him surviving such an exchange was worse than slim .

Getting a decree quest would normally be a dream come true for most wandering cultivators , since getting one was the quickest way to add a Teleportation Array to your private teleportation system . Just being able to travel back and forth between Twilight Harbor and some other world in the Zervereth Sector would allow you to make a decent living as a porter .

But that was for normal cultivators , and for normal times . It wasn’t even a given that the Twilight Harbor would exist in a few decades if Alvod Jondir had his way , so what good was teleportation access? And even the harbor survived , would Zac dare return to this place after the ruckus he had caused?

So why make an enemy of the Havarok Empire for a reward that you’d never get to enjoy? If anything , the more of the jammers that stayed intact , the better . That way the Eveningtide Asura was more likely to have his hands full while Zac fled back to the Zecia sector in his human form , never to be seen again .

Zac even wished he was a bit more talented like his sister . If he was , he might have figured out a way to seal up the chasm even better . But for now , creating some chaos would have to do .

Chapter 752 : The Spider and the Fly

Zac knew he had been too reactive until now , dealing with things as they came . But he knew he needed to start making some moves on his own , or he'd eventually get trapped in someone's schemes , be it the Eveningtide Asura or the large factions . He needed to be the spider rather than the fly stuck in the web , and that feeling had been part of the motivation behind the formation of his new skill .

And it was with that conviction he needed to push forward through this trial , no longer staying passive . First off , Zac needed to get away from here . He had noticed a weak shimmer in the waters when he destroyed the pillar , like a spider web burning up , and he guessed that whatever array the Havarok erected had broken down in his section . He made use of that fact as he left the chasm behind , heading in the general direction of the Death Pulse .

The most pressing issue was that his Ocean Chart] was completely blank in this area , and he wasn’t really in a mood to waste more time than necessary . He was running behind schedule because of his extended cultivation session , and he was already a couple of months late to his rendezvous with Catheya .

Zac definitely couldn’t get caught in some sort of trial or danger zone at this moment , wasting what precious time he had . He needed to catch someone and borrow their map , preferably gaining the route back to the middle reaches of the Twilight Ocean in one fell swoop . Unfortunately , the puppet-like cultivators didn’t even have a Cosmos Sack , let alone an Ocean Chart] .

Furthermore , the ocean remained oddly desolate , with no cultivators in sight even after traveling for two hours . It almost started to feel like he had been thrown into an empty dimension , or that he had lost track of time and stayed beyond the closing of the trial . Thankfully , it didn’t take much longer until Zac found his first clue .

A massive rune illuminated the ocean far in the distance , just beneath the surface . This wasn’t an array like he had seen before , but rather a marker similar to the one Ventus had used for his settlement in the Greengrove Archipelago . However , this one said - Warning! - in the Multiverse general script rather than indicate a gathering spot .

Zac hesitated only for a second before he changed course , heading straight toward the marker . It was definitely worth the risk if he could get some answers . Finally , he saw the source of the glowing sign ; an inscribed block of stone with hundreds of groves . In each grove , an information crystal was embedded , waiting for whomever to pick one like a flyer . Some of the crystals shone with a golden luster , whereas others glowed with the cold turquoise of Miasma .

It was hard to tell whether the block of stone had hidden arrays , so he had Love's Bond] stretch through the vegetation he was hiding in and continue for hundreds of meters beneath the ground until it sprung up like a snake right in front of the marker . The fetters snatched one of the crystals radiating Miasma before it pulled back to where Zac waited .

He simply picked up the crystal before he flashed away , furiously swimming for thirty minutes before stopping . It was a small precaution in case the thing was a trap , and only after erecting a series of isolation arrays did he infuse some Miasma into the gemstone , which clearly was a high-quality information crystal .

A large screen immediately appeared in front of him , showing a large group of cultivators . Standing in front of them was a burly cultivator standing as tall as Billy , with a massive sword draped across his back . He radiated an extremely ferocious aura as well , to the point that it could be sensed through the screen . Of course , Zac recognized the man since he was extensively covered in every information missive he owned .

Iam Aldus Venarun and I have a matter of grave importance to share with all the undead factions of the Twilight Harbor , along with our friends of among the wandering cultivators . '

Zac was a bit surprised as he listened to the message . Going by the odd tattooed cultivators and the array flag before , Zac had expected to see Ykrodas Havarok . But this notice was made by a local rather than an outsider . Zac calmly kept listening , though he never stopped scanning the area for any sort of threat closing in on him .

'Enemies of the Twilight Harbor are scheming to bring harm upon it . A few shortsighted families from the Undead Empire along with the Radiant Temple are bent on collapsing the Twilight Ocean upon itself , stealing its essence . We cannot allow this to happen . It would spell doom for our homes and true death for trillions . Everyone needs to do their part in protecting our homeland . '

The scene suddenly changed , and Zac’s eyes widened when he saw it was a short clip of the enormous snake that had almost killed him in the depths of the Twilight Chasm . The clip was short , only showing the beast’s head from a distance for an instant before a wave of destruction rippled toward the source of the video . It didn't take a genius to figure out that whoever filmed that clip was no longer of this world .

The Twilight Lord is fighting for our survival , Aldus said as the projection swapped back to show him again . 'He is risking his life by bending the rules , sending a guardian to seal off the Chasm . It is the heart of this ocean and the lifeline of the harbor , which makes it one of the targets of our enemies . The council and our allies have worked together to aid the Twilight Lord's efforts , by setting up a vast tracking array . '

'We have cordoned off the whole Twilight Chasm , and anyone entering will become an enemy of the whole Council . Even if the Twilight Lord’s guardian doesn’t manage to strike you down , we will hunt you down with everything we have . You might think it unfair , but this is a matter of life and death . So please , turn back , and look for opportunities elsewhere . If you wish to join our cause , you can do so at any one of our stations . '

The projection changed again , showing several locations on a surprisingly detailed map . Zac hurriedly copied the map , adding vast swathes to his Ocean Chart] in one go . By the time Zac was done , the projection had died down , and the area was once more silent .

Zac looked around , and while the area was empty , he still activated another escape talisman , disappearing in a puff of smoke . He appeared among some 50-meter tall corals a moment later , startling a school of crabs who were busy picking apart a massive eel . A short but frenzied battle later , Zac shot away through the reef , his Spatial Ring filled with a small mountain of high-quality crab meat . He didn’t travel too far though , but rather stopped at a secluded spot to go over the information .

He finally understood why there were so few people in the area at least . The tracking array was a pretty strong deterrent , and Zac had experienced their methods himself , with the powerful puppets appearing out of nowhere . He guessed that anyone who passed through those runes would be branded , becoming a beacon for teleporting puppets .

And even if someone managed to pass through that outer layer of defense , there was still that terrifying snake to worry about . Zac wondered just what had happened while he was secluded in cultivation for eight months . Was that snake really guarding the Twilight Chasm? If so , why? Was it simply to prevent any more accidents from happening?

Zac was definitely suspicious about how the information was framed . From what Zac had gathered , the Council and the Eveningtide Asura shouldn’t be on the same side . Alvod was using this Mystic Realm for his cultivation by the looks of it , draining it like he had done with so many worlds before . It was more likely that Aldun Venarun simply reframed the clip to suit their purposes when the snake was doing something else entirely .

He was pretty surprised that the undead clan with some Izh'Rak Reaver heritage had taken up with the Havarok Empire , but it ultimately didn’t matter much to Zac’s purposes . The chart the crystal had provided was far more useful . It had mapped out seven towns and their surroundings , the closest one being just over a week's travel away . There was another one in the inner reaches , though it wasn’t located in the direction Zac had left the chasm .

The rest of the towns were located in the middle and early sections of the ocean , too far for Zac to reach anytime soon . Unfortunately , it didn’t show any indication of where the Death Pulse was located , so Zac reluctantly steered toward the closest settlement . He figured he could catch someone there , finally getting an update of the state of the trial , hopefully an update that didn't take such liberties with the truth .

The days passed as Zac traversed the core region of the Twilight Ocean . This area was just one huge reef forest with massive corals that shone in all colors of the rainbow , making the experience almost psychedelic . He had tried traveling in a submersible to avoid prying eyes , but he had lost it to a Beast King’s sneak attack after just 1 hour . He had ultimately been forced to travel the normal way , not wanting to lose any more of his ships .

The deathly silence of the Twilight Chasm didn’t reach this area , and it seemed like every single coral was home to some powerful beast or deadly plant . Even when exuding a blood-drenched aura that marked him as a tough nut to crack , Zac found himself mired in dozens of battles over the next three days .

While this place was a ruthless place where only the strong could survive , it was also a place full of opportunities . Every time he was attacked by a beast at the precipice of reaching D-grade , Zac could almost be sure he’d find a valuable treasure in their den . Certainly , none of the items were anywhere close to the dumplings or the soul-nurturing grass he had found in the depths of the Twilight Chasm , but some would still be considered rare treasures if presented at an auction back in the Zecia sector .

On the fourth day , just as Zac was in the middle of looting the den of an overconfident mollusk monster , Zac felt his chest thump , but it was not his heart that beat at the prospect of treasure . It was Void Heart] that was finally waking up after a month-long comatose state . He barely had time to seal the cave with a series of arrays before the hidden node beat again , and Zac hurriedly sat down as he was beset by a storm of lightning .

It was clear that his E-grade hidden node was incapable of completely refining Heavenly Lightning , and Zac screamed with pain as rippling currents coursed through his body , setting his world ablaze . Thankfully , he could feel that the lightning had been somewhat changed , and it didn't have the presence of the Heavens themselves , that ancient fury intent on killing those who walked the Boundless Path .

Zac's whole body twitched as more and more lightning was released by his Node , and soon enough his whole soul Aperture was beset by a calamitous storm as well . Thousands of lightning bolts struck down at the ocean , and his Soul Core was almost like a lightning rod that was constantly targeted .

However , while he was filled with agony , Zac didn't really lament the situation . Trauma was generally just trauma , but suffering sometimes had a silver lining . His whole body was spasmodically twitching on the ground , but he could feel how his cells were greedily swallowing the lightning , almost as quickly as Void Heart] was spitting it out .

As to where it went , Zac wasn't sure , but he assumed it was the same place as all the other treasures he swallowed when evolving his bloodline . Not only that , but Zac also felt his soul being refined by the continuous lightning strikes . The process continued for over twenty minutes until it eventually stopped , and Zac shakily got back into a sitting position . His hair was singed and standing straight out and he smelled like a roasted pig , but he was filled with excitement as he started to check on his condition .

The most palpable change was his Bloodline Talent - Force of the Void] . Until now , it had held 32% of his normal energy reserves , but that number had been pushed up to 38% in one go . It was just 6 more percent , but it was still an amazing step forward considering he had barely progressed that much after years of absorbing energy back on Earth .

His cells had long felt like billions of small black holes drawing energy to the void , and it seemed these small vortices had been slightly expanded by the tribulation lightning . Even better , some of the nigh-impossible-to-remove gunk from the Chainbreaking Pills] had been singed clean from his nodes , saving him well over a month of work .

This was great news considering this was just one of the tribulations he would have to endure in the E-grade . With his path being formalized and pointing toward the Boundless , the System wouldn't protect him against the Heavens when forming his three branches , even if the Branch of the War Axe technically was within the System's purview .

If anything , the Minor Tribulations that would hit him for his other two branches might be even more powerful considering they were part of a strictly Boundless Peak . But Zac figured the Heavens could zap him every month if it meant getting these kinds of rewards , and he continued to go over his body .

His soul had improved as well , but it wasn't as palpable as the situation with his Bloodline Talent . The shimmering core in his Soul Aperture hadn't grown bigger or denser , but Zac felt its luster purer compared to before . Most likely , the lightning had zapped some of the impurities from it .

The Soul Core had been almost completely pure after performing his first reincarnation , but much had happened since then . For one , the energy of oblivion kept pouring into the core , slowly nurturing it while leaving a bit of its mark behind . But most of the accumulated impurities were ultimately that grass he had chewed raw for months down in the chasm .

That Spiritual Herb had been extremely pure , but each stalk no doubt left some impurities behind . And after eating almost a hundred , there was bound to be some detriments to come along with the detriments . Unfortunately , the Purity of the Void] only dealt with the impurities in his body , leaving his Soul Aperture untouched .

So this boon , while not useful in the short run , was bound to help with his second reincarnation in the future . Apart from that , the two oceans seemed energized somehow , but Zac couldn't pinpoint exactly what the change stemmed from . Zac kept scanning his body for another couple of minutes , but there wasn't anything else to find .

His attributes were still the same , and he didn't feel any change or improvements to his Dao , unfortunately . Still , it was far better than what most could expect . For a boundless cultivator , simply surviving the punishment was all the benefits you could expect . And from what Zac had gathered , most were left bedridden for months , sometimes years , after getting blasted by the Heavenly Lightning .

Having unearthed all the benefits he could from the lightning , Zac soon set out again through the vast reef , this time looking for treasure with even greater fervor . The tribulation lightning had blasted away a lot of his impurities , making this a prime opportunity to stuff himself with treasure . Who knew , he might encounter another sudden bout of inspiration that would allow him to form a second Branch .

It would be a huge waste if he hadn't accumulated a bunch of impurities that he could powerwash out of his system by that time .

That’s why Zac’s eyes lit up when he saw a harried figure swim through the reef in the distance , and he quickly masked his aura as he crept closer . The creature in question was a weird 80-meter-long monstrosity that looked like a mix of a turtle and an alligator . The result was a Beast King with a spiked shell on its back and massive jaws with three rows of sharp teeth .

It was a creature bred for war , evidenced by the fact that it actually had another Beast King in its maw ; a 40-meter long fish that still released an ominous aura even in death . However , that in itself was Zac’s opportunity , since the victor hadn’t come out of the battle unscathed .

A large crack ran across the spiked shell on the Beast King’s back , and it had multiple deep wounds across its body . Its aura was a bit unstable as well , and Zac guessed it was rushing back toward its den to nurture its wounds . If that thing had been in perfect condition , Zac wouldn’t have wasted his breath .

He might have been able to take it down even if it was a lot stronger than the Beast Kings he had fought in direct battle so far , but it might have forced him to use the energy of the Remnants to win . Now , the situation was different , and any treasure an apex predator like this kept in its den would have to be pretty impressive .

Zac had his goals , but a small detour shouldn’t change the situation too much . He started to follow in the Beast King’s wake , making sure he wasn’t discovered , and the thrill of the hunt and the promise of treasure made adrenaline course through his veins .

Chapter 753 : Reef Forest

Zac panted deeply for a few seconds before he eventually ripped out the edge of Verun’s Bite] from the brain stem of the beast . Afterward , he quickly swam up , escaping the gory soup inside the Beast King's skull . All around him , the massive den was in shambles , the walls completely unable to withstand the fury of their clash .

The original plan had been to ambush and take the wounded beast down in one quick go , but plans could only take you so far . The first surprise had come when the beast finally reached its den , an enormous chasm that continued thousands of meters into the ground . Zac had been shocked to find that its aura had simply disappeared just a minute after entering .

It was like it had teleported away , without giving the slightest hint of what it was about to do . Zac first thought that it was unusually good at restraining its aura , but that didn't completely explain the situation . There had to be something inside , be it a powerful Nexus Vein , a unique herb , or even some mysterious metal whose aura would allow the Beast King to gradually refine their bloodline .

But there was nothing like that . Conversely , the energy hadn’t decreased either like it did around the small chamber that had become his Cultivation Cave down in the depths . The energy the hole emitted was exactly the same as the ambient energy , making Zac guess something else was at play .

Either there was an array hiding what was going on inside , or perhaps a unique material with obscuring capabilities . In either case , it piqued Zac's interest , and he had slowly made his way inside after waiting for another 20 minutes to let the Beast King lower its guard . Unfortunately , it had been futile , and Zac had almost gotten himself killed by a terrifying energy beam that engulfed the whole entrance when he entered .

If not for his Danger Sense and activating Abyssal Phase] with the help of his bloodline , he would have been severely burned . However , he managed to dodge completely unscathed , which left the wounded Beast King in an awkward situation , considering using an attack of such magnitude had worsened its wounds considerably .

The battle had turned into a ruthless melee afterward , where Zac eventually managed to create an opportunity with the help of the finishing strike of Blighted Cut] , which had opened up a large enough wound in its skull for Zac to sneak inside . From there , a rampage inside its brain had given the king of the reef a gruesome but quick death .

He had ultimately been forced to use Pillar of Desolation] again even though he had planned on doing without , but the chains of Love's Bond] simply wasn't strong enough to trap such a strong Beast King , even in its wounded state . Just trying would damage the chains , which in turn would harm Alea .

It was a useful experiment though since it was a confirmation that he could only attach one chain to even such a massive creature . The chain had at least wound itself over ten times around the beast , and it had managed to endure just long enough for him to unleash Blighted Cut] . However , he knew that even his ultimate skill wouldn't have lasted against a Beast King for too long .

In either case , the hunt was a success which meant it was time to loot . The beast was quickly chopped up into manageable chunks , though Zac could quickly confirm that its meat most likely wasn't serviceable . It had a rank odor not fit for eating , but it would still be useful as feed or as a lure for other beasts .

As for the den itself , it was covered in Twilight Crystals , though most of them had been broken during the clash . Unsurprisingly , the energy intensity inside the den was far greater compared to the outside , in this case , thanks to sitting on on a Nexus Vein . Unfortunately , it looked like the 'treasure' that this beast had found for itself was a natural formation rather than an item , meaning it impossible for Zac to bring away .

He had sensed a mysterious energy being generated in the center of the cave , but that energy was gone by the time the fight was over . That didn't mean his hunt was fruitless , and his eyes first turned to the small hill of corpses in the corner of the cave , and then the mound of Twilight Crystals in another .

It looked extremely grim , but Zac still shot toward the pile first to rummage for wealth among the fallen cultivators . There were almost a hundred corpses gathered , and judging by the state of decomposition of the remains , this beast had preyed on trial-takers for at least 10 E-grade trials . For all Zac knew , this bloodthirsty bastard might have been a known terror of the area .

Zac only briefly scanned some of the rings and pouches , but he realized that most of the Pouches had been broken down by the Twilight Energy , their contents lost to the void forever . Thankfully , the Spatial Rings were more resilient , and while many had lost a lot of their space , what remained contained an impressive amount of treasures .

Those who had fallen were mostly native elites from the looks of it , while Zac guessed seven of the identifiable corpses came from the three B-grade factions . Even then , the items inside were almost exclusively treasures found in the ocean or the preparations they had brought for the trial itself . The imperials didn't have a single skill crystal or cultivation manual inside their rings , for example .

Finally , there was the odd crystal mountain hidden in a secured corner of the cave . Throughout the whole battle , the beast had kept away from that side , and Zac curiously looked at the skeleton sitting on the mound of Twilight Crystals . After having encountered something similar once before , Zac could quickly confirm that this set of bones had once belonged to a Hegemon , this one probably much stronger than the other skeleton he still carried in his Spatial Ring .

Its bones shone like polished metal , and they exuded a palpable pressure as Zac swam closer . Zac wondered why the Beast King would accord this long-dead cultivator such respect , but after some time he believed he had found the reason . It was not the skeleton itself , but rather the item on its wrist and the benefit it provided .

It was the bracer the fallen Hegemon carried that hid the aura of the cave , rather than the natural formation or the Beast King itself . To accomplish that , it was constantly drawing energy from the thousands of crystals beneath , and Zac guessed that it was the beast that had figured out how it worked and supplied the crystals .

The thing seemed able to block out the aura of anything that entered this cave . It had a mesmerizing blue luster , and Zac could vaguely spot what looked like a rune deep inside . The craftsmanship of the metal bracer that held the sapphire-like gemstone was absolutely exquisite , and the treasure reminded Zac of his Stone of Hope] .

He hesitated only for a moment before he put it on his left wrist just like the skeleton had , and the change was immediate . Whatever field the gemstone emitted was drawn in , suddenly only covering his body . Zac tried infusing it with some Miasma to see if he could make it spread its protection to a wider area , but his energy was rebuffed .

Zac furrowed his brows a bit as he glanced at the mound of crystals beneath the skeleton , and he guessed that the item wasn’t made for the undead . That was fine with him though . This effect alone was a great get . Anyone could restrain their aura , but there were always some of it leaking out .

Besides , anyone using scout abilities would see the energy inside his body just like he did with Cosmic Gaze] no matter how skilled at energy control you were .

This treasure would hopefully allow him to traverse unseen , just like the array pillar of the Havarok had almost perfectly blended in with the surroundings . He doubted it would be able to hide the bounty that would appear above his head , but he also knew that thing only showed up when he was focused on .

He spent a few more minutes storing the skeleton and crystal mountain before scavenging the cave for any more treasures , but the Beast King was pretty organized , as far as turtle monsters went . Most of the corpses and treasures had been dragged to the same alcove , except the D-grade skeleton which had been placed in its own section . Seeing as there were nothing else of interest Zac simply left , once more setting course for the settlement indicated on his Ocean Chart] .

It took him another five days to pass the vast coral reef , even if his new bracer saved him a lot of headaches . As long as he kept it running he was ignored by most of the animals that made the reef their home , even if he was spotted . They probably figured that eating something that didn’t emit a speck of energy was a waste of time . Why fill their bellies with trash when they could gobble up something much more palatable?

Some beasts still tried to rip him apart just out of spite , but most of them let down their guards since killing such a weak being didn’t warrant any effort . They were quickly proven wrong as Zac bisected them with a lazy swing of his own , adding their carcasses to his rapidly growing stockpile of high-grade meat .

These fights quickly showed the limits of the bracer . It only worked while Zac didn’t emit too much energy himself . The moment he unleashed a skill the effect was broken , and the beasts around him could suddenly sense his aura . Secondly , it was a bit troublesome to keep going , seeing as it required non-miasmic energy to function .

Without anything to feed it , the sapphire lost its luster after around an hour . Zac quickly fashioned a makeshift solution by fastening a Supreme Twilight Crystal to it , though he suspected he wouldn’t need something like that in his human form .

Having the crystal against his skin led to more Twilight Energy entering his body , but it was a small price to pay for Zac as he crept closer toward the gathering point the information missive had shared . He was still half a day away from the settlement marked on the mapper , but a sudden outburst of energy followed by massive explosions made him stop in his tracks and quickly take cover .

It didn't seem like beasts fighting from the energy signatures , and Zac cautiously crept closer until he spotted the source . It was cultivators , over a dozen of them . Seeing them filled Zac with an odd sense of relief . He hadn't seen a single soul for almost a year , to the point that he started to doubt his sanity a little bit . But he really hadn't been left behind , forgotten in this cursed ocean .

The group of cultivators was fighting against a school of fish that had made a large beehive-like coral their home , and Zac had quickly receded into the shadows before he was spotted . The group was made up of six elementals and nine undead , Revenant natives by the looks of it . Two of them had bounties at 2 , 500 - 5 , 000] as well , indicating they most likely possessed Dao Branches .

Zac wanted information , but taking on a group of fifteen elites was overdoing it . More to the point , Zac wasn’t certain some locals knew the answers to his questions , and their allegiances were a lot harder to guess . That party might just be a band of strong cultivators looking for opportunities together , or they might be agents of some of the foreign factions .

For all he knew , there might be spies for all the major forces in that group considering their average strength .

He rather hoped that he could stumble upon members of either the Radiant Temple or the Havarok Empire . Some Imperial Clan of the Undead Empire would be fine too , but there wasn’t a high chance of that happening . From the looks of it , there didn’t seem to be many of them around , with the notable exceptions of Uona and the Eidolon scion whose activities were still a mystery to him .

In fact , he and Catheya were the only true pureblood Draugr inside the trial as far as he knew . Not a single scion from the nearby Draugr-led Kingdom was participating , and Catheya’s clan had apparently sold most of their slots to others rather than use them themselves . In contrast , the Havarok Empire had thousands of cultivators entering from the looks of it , and the Radiant Temple had multiple squads as well .

That by itself was some sort of clue to his questions . But exactly what it meant , Zac still didn't know .

Zac left the group of cultivators to their devices , aiming for a group of easier targets to digest . Preferably , he'd like to find and catch a lone explorer , but he didn't know if there were too many of those this deep into the ocean . The hours passed as Zac dodged one group after another as he crept through the forest . He didn't actually go any closer to the reef any longer , rather opting to find some cultivators at the edge of the reef .

He had been extremely close to pulling the trigger on a group of four human cultivators , but he had been rudely interrupted just as he was about to close in on them . Another set of cultivators shot closer as well , clearly intent on robbing the quartet . Zac was forced to creep back into the shadows again , swearing at the group of ten opportunists ruining his good fortune .

But finally , eight hours after encountering the first squad , Zac found his perfect opportunity . A sudden light of life flickered between two corals in the distance , and Zac first thought his eyes were playing tricks on him . However , he soon realized what he was seeing was real . His Draugr eyes were seeing the outline of a humanoid from the life force it exuded , but his other senses couldn't spot a thing .

Someone was traveling alone , using some sort of skill or treasure to hide both their aura and appearance . Luckily , they couldn't fool his special sight that was almost like a heat-seeking vision , and a smile spread across Zac's face as he activated Abyssal Phase] . The world was reduced to a crawl as he shot forward , rapidly closing in on the target .

The runner only noticed something was wrong just as Zac had appeared right behind them , and by that point , it was much too late . Zac turned back into his corporeal form right next to the invisible target , and his hand flashed forward along with four unbreakable chains . As expected , the target didn't have an actual shield running , and he felt his fingers close in on a throat as they slammed into a coral with enough force to topple it .

A pained scream echoed out in the area , but no beast dared come close as Zac unleashed his Dao Field and empowered it with a storm of extra Dao from his Spiritual Void] and his immense killing intent . It was like the area had become a war zone , and Zac could almost hear the screams of desperate warriors clamoring as his eyes bore into those of his captive .

He couldn't believe his luck when he saw that it was a Havarok Cultivator sporting pretty serious wounds . The injuries didn't come from him bum-rushing the poor man , but they rather appeared to be from a previous battle . The cultivator had been fleeing toward the settlement from the depths of the reef , so Zac guessed that something had gone awry in there .

It wasn't a surprise . Zac himself could fight freely in these waters , but most cultivators would be pressed to exhibit even 20-30% of their strength in this area . Entering a place with multiple Beast Kings roaming was to dance with death , and Zac guessed that the rest of this man's party had become food for the wildlife .

The cultivator looked completely discombobulated for a second before his gaze met Zac's , and his eyes slowly widened with comprehension .

It's you! - he croaked with a strained voice .

Zac only smiled in return as he took out a sharp needle , which he unceremoniously stabbed into the man's throat . It was a paralyzing agent locking him in place . Zac would have preferred to seal his cultivation altogether , but he figured that the environment would kill the poor man if that happened . And that couldn't do with the plans Zac had .

I guess I'm easy to recognize , - Zac smiled as he removed his grip . Of course , he kept the Havarok agent locked in his chains , and he moved the edge of Verun's Bite] to the man's throat to discourage any hasty actions . - In a sense , we're fated . I was just looking for someone from your empire , and here you are , delivering yourself to me . Answer my questions , and I'll let you go . -

The cultivator shuddered for a moment , but a sense of calm soon appeared in his eyes as he stopped struggling .

Like I'd trust an abyssal fiend like you , - the man grunted . - Just kill me . I will never betray the Empire . -

Now don't be like that , - Zac snorted . - Believe it or not , our interests are more aligned than you would think . In fact , I need you to send a message to your prince after this . I failed to kill off that bloodsucker the last time we fought , but if prince Ykrodas is interested , we might be able to finish the job together . -

Chapter 754 : Return

It was you who maimed that lunatic! - the man exclaimed with surprise , but he quickly regained his composure . - Do you take our lord for a fool? Teaming up with an Imperial to fight an Imperial? What a joke . -

You should understand that the hidden conflicts beneath the surface of the Undead Empire are far greater than the small skirmishes with random factions here on the frontier , - Zac snorted . - In either case , I don’t need you to decide anything on your own . I just need you to relay my message . -

Of course , what Zac wouldn’t tell his captive was that the man’s conclusion was spot on , except for the part of both him and Uona being Imperials . He had no real intention of teaming up with Ykrodas Havarok to take out Uona , at least not if he had anything to say about it . As far as he was concerned , those two could play their deadly games while he picked up the two remnants and got the hell out of this place .

But a the same time , if there was something he had learned over the past five years , it was that the System had a fondness for throwing lethal challenges at him . Zac still wasn't sure whether it was a result of his abnormally high Luck or because of his bloodline , but the fact was that trouble kept finding him one way or another .

Considering that Uona was as troublesome as they came , it seemed prudent to try and make some small preparations . Uona should also be one of the biggest thorns in Ykrodas Havarok's plans , no matter if it came to the contribution ladder or the larger schemes at play . If things came to blow , this simple message might provide a lifeline .

… I will recount this meeting in full if given the chance , - the man said after some hesitation .

Good . I need some information , so let's get some things out of the way . I know there’s a large-scale conflict is taking place , where the Havarok Empire is on one side , and the Twilight Lord is on the other . Of course , the Twilight Lord is rather the human cultivator known as Alvod Jondir , or the Eveningtide Asura , - Zac grunted , and he was elated to note there was no surprise on the captive's face .

It was finally time to get to the bottom of things .

Our goal is to thwart the plans of the Eveningtide Asura , just as you said , - the scout eventually said after some hesitation . - But I don’t know the exact plans , and even if I did , I would not tell you . My squad was only stationed here to keep the area stabilized . We set out three days ago to investigate an aberration , but we ran into a mishap leaving only me behind . -

Zac had a pretty good idea of what that aberration was , but he ignored it and pushed on .

Why is your faction bothering with this matter? From what I’m told , Alvod is just a wandering Monarch from a frontier sector , - Zac asked .

He caused unimaginable losses to our Empire a long time ago . He even killed one of our ancestral princes , - he said with fury in his eyes . - Now he wants to sacrifice one of our main commercial nodes of the frontier to defend his Dao and achieve Autarchy? We will never abide! -

Zac inwardly shuddered , realizing the situation was really as he had feared . He had figured the situation was bigger than Alvod simply wanting to evolve a Dao or something similar , and this proved it . Having an Autarch being pissed off at you was not a great way to live , and it only doubled Zac’s desire to not get too bogged down in this mess .

Well , taking that step here in the frontier… You might not need to do anything to get your wish , - Zac shrugged as he feigned disinterest . - More importantly , where is everyone? I left seclusion a month ago , only to find that the chasm is sealed off and no elites in sight . -

We have sealed off the chasm , - the man said . - Most wouldn’t dare enter . -

I doubt Uona or the rankers would care about that message of yours , - Zac said , opting to forgo divulging his deeds with the pillar . - I could easily make it through that array of yours if wanted to as well . -

Zac had a strong suspicion that this man’s wretched state was related to Zac's actions at the chasm , so he massaged the truth a bit . Admitting he was the reason his captives had been killed would put a real damper on the conversation , and there was still much he needed to figure out .

We have our means , - the scout said as he looked at Zac with suspicion . Zac could sense the man's aura fluctuate a bit , but it looked like the soldier reluctantly dropped the matter after a second . - But most have left for the inheritance . -

The what? - Zac asked with confusion .

An ancient city appeared in the middle reaches of the Ocean three months ago . It’s still sealed off from what I’ve heard , but people are flooding there from all over the trial in hopes that it’ll open , - the man said with yearning in his eyes . - Some believe it will automatically open its gates at a set time , others believe enough warriors need to gather before the trial starts . -

Ancient city? Trial within a trial? What? - Zac muttered , not having expected this piece of news at all . - I’ve never heard about something like that . -

Neither have the natives , but many believe it’s a unique inheritance of the trial , - the man said . - Perhaps something left behind from before this realm was created . -

It rather sounds like a trap , - Zac said skeptically . - Is it something that the Radiant Temple or the Natives have set up? -

We . . . Believe it might be something Alvod Jondir has dragged from the depths to distract us , but we might be wrong . Uona Noz'Valadir has been spotted in the vicinity , as has most of the rankers , - the man said . - But something of that scale , we doubt E-grade warriors can conjure such a thing , unless someone has been working toward it for dozens of trials . -

Another complication , just what I need , - Zac muttered .

Zac kept questioning the man about the general state of affairs of the trial for a while longer . Thankfully , the Havarok soldier , who was named Trakodles , was more than willing to rat on any faction except his own , especially the Radiant Temple . After just a few minutes Zac knew more about that faction than after meeting Ventus Kalavan .

He also added Trakodles's charted territories to his own Ocean Chart] , massively expanding his map .

Alright , - Zac eventually said . - As I said , I am willing to work together with your leader to take down Uona Noz'Valadir . The stage has been set , and an opportunity to discuss this further will present itself at the gates of that city . Until then , I hope we can stay out of each other's way . I know Ykrodas might be eyeing my bounty , but I urge him to remember his mission , unless he is prepared to lose everything . Now , it's time for you to take a nap . -

What? - Trakodles blurted , only to have a pill shoved into his mouth .

Trakodles's eyes rolled up into his head as Zac started to push the man deeper and deeper into the soil . He stopped at thirty meters beneath the surface , after which he surrounded the warrior in Supreme Divine Crystals and an illusion array .

The crystals would absorb some of the energy from the surroundings , helping combat the atmosphere . The array wasn't really for the man's protection , but rather for him to be a bit harder to locate . He had almost missed it , but Trakodles had sent out some sort of signal by cracking a talisman the moment they crashed into the coral reef .

Zac only pretended to not notice in hopes that his captive would keep talking in an attempt to delay . Back-up was no doubt on their way , though it would take them a few hours to reach this place . With his preparations , they would hopefully waste a couple of hours pinpointing their ally's position as well , giving Zac more time to gain a head-start .

The corals turned into a kaleidoscopic blur as Zac rushed to create some distance . Only after having swum tens of thousands of meters did he take out an escape talisman and crush it . Zac appeared dozens of kilometers away , and he quickly oriented himself before setting off again , making a wide berth around the settlement .

The Ocean Chart] of the Havarok warrior had provided Zac with everything he needed to make it back to the middle reaches . It even detailed the location of the Death Pulse , saving Zac the need to capture an undead warrior as well . However , he didn't head toward the Death Pulse , but rather a current somewhat poetically called the River of Broken Ambition .

The name came from the fact that it was one of the few currents that could take warriors from the core regions of the Twilight Ocean all the way to the far safer waters in the beginning . Most of the currents , including the Death Pulse , rather streamed in the direction of the Twilight Chasm , making them unsuitable for his purposes .

He would eventually have to head for the Death Pulse to find Catheya , but traveling against its current would waste months comparing to hitching a ride to the River of Broken Ambition .

Zac kept a frantic pace over the next week , not even stopping for a quick rest , as he pushed toward the next danger zone . It was a massive maelstrom that had made a vast swathe of the inner ocean extremely precarious to traverse . The energy density was a lot higher compared to outside the turbulent waters as well , which was why some considered it a testing ground for those who considered going to the chasm but weren't sure they could handle it .

For Zac , who had survived weeks in the depths of the Twilight Chasm , it could barely be considered a challenge , and he cut through the chaotic waters like an arrow , saving over a week on his route . Hopefully , this had also thrown off any potential pursuit , though Zac hadn't sensed any signs of such a thing taking place .

The moment the waters stabilized , he took out one of his submersibles and set out , using the vessel to hide his identity from any curious onlookers . From there , Zac's journey became a lot more tranquil . It took him a week to reach the current , at which point his speed more than doubled .

The following week , s Zac mostly rested and consolidated his gains . The ambient energy had already become too sparse for him to use his Soul Strengthening Manual , not that he dared use them while traveling . The ship usually sailed itself , but he occasionally had to take over to avoid beasts or greedy cultivators .

More than once did Zac encounter ambushes by people trying to snatch the riches of those fleeing from the inner ocean in defeat . These attacks invariably ended in wholesale slaughter this time around since Zac couldn't have his whereabouts spread . At least those short and bloody encounters allowed him to confirm and sometimes expand on what he learned from Trakodles .

The Havarok Warrior had pretty much spoken the truth , though he had failed to mention that the Havarok was clearly targeting the ancient city that had popped up . Ykrodas had gathered most of his forces to stand guard outside its gates , and their presence on the other areas of the trial was mostly skeleton crews like the one Trakodles had been a part of .

Soon enough a month had passed along the River of Broken Ambition , at which point Zac finally detached his vessel from the current and set a new course . He was at the edge between what was generally considered the middle and inner section of the ocean , meaning it was time for him to start looking for Catheya .

He kept her token in his hand as he sailed toward the Death Pulse , but the communicator didn't show any sign of activating during the sixteen days until he reached the pulse . The Death Pulse itself was just like he imagined , a massive , kilometer-wide current of condensed death . He had felt the environment change even hours before reaching it , the difference was palpable now that his submersible was only a few thousand meters away .

It felt like he was enclosed in a warm embrace , in contrast to the poisonous environment of the Life Pulse . The feeling was a poignant reminder of just how unnatural this realm was , with its corrupted energy constantly burrowing into his body . It made him long for the days when he could leave this place , but he soon refocused and passed right beneath the current , continuing on the other side .

Zac kept steering his vessel in a zig-zag pattern over the next 20 days along both sides of the Death Pulse . He was trying to get close enough to Catheya for the tracker to activate , and one day his efforts finally paid off . He looked down at the array disk with a mix of anticipation and hesitation as he put away his submersible and entered a dense forest beneath him .

He understood all-too-well how much chaos he had created , and he wasn’t sure what kind of reception awaited him . He even considered turning around and leaving . Then again , since he could see that Catheya was nearby , then the Draugr scion had probably sensed his approach since a few hours ago .

There was no point to his hesitation . He had decided to put his trust in his Draugr associate , in the fact that she had not decided to throw him under the bus to protect herself . Of course , that didn’t mean that he would just blindly go in without some preparations since there was some risk that she had been captured by his pursuers .

A thorough scan of the surroundings exposed some of the usual wildlife , but no cultivators either living or undead . The spot Catheya had chosen was really desolate , and the area didn't seem to have much in the way of valuable plants . There were no suspicious energy fluctuations either , and his Danger Sense was completely quiet .

If there was a trap waiting , then it was extremely well-hidden .

Even if there was some risk involved , Zac still swam toward the place his beacon indicated , a small chain of mountains sitting in the middle of the forest . As expected , when he got within 100 meters of a sheer wall , a gate appeared out of thin air and soundlessly opened . Zac steeled himself as he swam inside , both his axe and his coffin at the ready in case of ambush .

Past the hidden gate was a roughly carved tunnel leading into a small chamber no more than five by five meters . Its walls and ceiling were filled with small holes , and looking into them gave Zac an ominous feeling . The three small skeletons of Profane Exponents] appeared behind his back , protecting him in case something nasty came flying out from those trapholes .

Hello? - Zac eventually shouted as the seconds passed , and only then did another hidden door open .

Zac flashed inside , and he immediately found himself face to face with three familiar figures in the other room . Catheya sat on an ice crystal crafted into a high-backed chair , and her two followers stood behind her . He breathed out in relief upon seeing they were fine . He hadn't heard anything about the three since setting out , and their situation had been a constant weight on his shoulders .

But in fact , it seemed like they were more than fine . Just over a year had passed since they met last time , but Zac sensed that they all had made pretty impressive gains to match his own , Catheya most of all . Her aura had always been one of an elite , but it was much deeper now . Not only that , but over her head a bounty of 750-1 , 000] soon appeared , proving her improved aura wasn’t just empty bluster .

Her increase in bounty was proof that her Death-aspected Dao had become a Peak Fragment , but Zac was certain it wasn't the only Dao she had improved . Her bounty wasn't too high , but the cold aura she exuded easily surpassed that of someone with a simple Peak Fragment , which meant she probably had formed some ice-related Dao Branch .

Qirai’s aura had become deeper as well , even if her bounty was still a pitiful 0-250] . It was no surprise , considering she probably had a combat-oriented Dao , possibly coupled with a Soul-oriented one . Even Varo felt a bit stronger , though Zac noted that he had ultimately lost his badly mangled arm . An empty sleeve now hung to his side .

It wasn't the end of the world though . Catheya's master , or her clan if Va Tapek turned out to be a traitor , shouldn't have too much trouble regrowing an E-grade cultivator's appendage . And even if that failed , there was the Corpselord route that was open to the undead . Of course , Varo could also do just fine without the use of a second arm as evidenced by people like Ogras .

Zac was feeling excited to finally link up with his old allies , but the oppressive feeling in the room was making him a bit unsure whether the feeling was mutual . Catheya and her two companions didn’t say anything for a few seconds , instead opting to mete out even stares that spoke volumes on their own .

Uh , long time no see . How have you all been? - Zac said with a small smile , trying to lighten the mood since the pressure of Catheya’s gaze was starting to get a bit suffocating .

What was the last thing I asked of you before we split up? - Catheya finally said , her voice shaking with barely contained fury as the room turned into a freezing hellscape .

Right then and there , Zac felt he might be better off facing another turtle monster than this enraged trio .

Chapter 755 : Parting the Clouds

The last thing you said? - Zac muttered as he scratched his chin . - Uh… Don’t cause trouble? -

And what did you do? - Catheya said with a dangerous smile .

Well , that wasn’t my fault . Uona- - Zac tried to explain , but he didn’t get any further before he got cut off .

So you did attack her! - Catheya exploded . - No wonder that crazy harlot put a bounty on my head! We haven’t been able to sleep a wink for months because of you! Looking over our shoulders every waking moment , afraid that the bloodthirsty she-devil or the Havarok prince would entrap us in their hunt for you . Battle after battle the moment our disguises were exposed! -

To be fair , she was the one that attacked me first . What was I supposed to do? Let her attack me? - Zac muttered before he froze . - Wait , the Havarok Empire is looking for me as well? -

What do you think? You surpassed them both on the ladder , and it didn’t take much investigation to find out that you had been part of the missions to mess with the Living Pulse . With your contribution points , I think they are seeing you as their number one obstacle to achieving whatever goal they have in here , - Catheya sighed as she slumped down in the chair . - I swear… I have never heard of anyone with such a penchant for creating chaos such as you . At least it looks like the Havarok stopped looking for you two months ago , which gave us some the opportunity to find this place . -

It can’t have been all bad , - Zac said as he took out a chair of his own , shrugging off a layer of frost that had formed on his robes . - I can’t believe you’ve managed to form a Dao Branch this quickly . -

What Dao Branch? This layered domain? - Catheya snorted as she glared at Zac . - It’s just a third Dao Fragment I was forced to form just to stay alive . My whole cultivation path has been thrown off-kilter because of your unrivaled ability to create enmities . Now I have to figure out what to do with a second Ice Dao . -

Well… - Zac coughed , feeling a bit bad for Catheya .

Initially , he had even been a bit jealous . He had been forced to go to insane lengths and swallow that mysterious Dao light to form a branch , and she had accomplished the same in the middle reaches of the ocean? But it turned out it wasn’t actually an Ice Dao Branch as he thought , but rather two Peak Dao Fragments both of the ice variety .

Still , forming a Peak Dao Fragment from nothing in just over a year was almost as shocking as forming a Dao Branch . Besides , the aura she had exuded for a moment was simply too great , making Zac believe there was more to it . Did Catheya perhaps have a Hidden Node that worked similarly to his Spiritual Void]?

Forming another Dao Fragment was a good thing on the surface , but it could also spell trouble . He knew that Catheya's original plan was to form a Dao Branch by fusing her two Daos . Now , she was suddenly saddled with a third Fragment , this one in the same vein as one of her other two Daos .

It wasn’t too uncommon to cultivate two Daos of the same type , but the goal was usually to fuse the two similar Fragments into one Branch . However , she couldn’t do that now , since that would leave a sole Death-attuned Dao Fragment . Upgrading that Dao as is would mean flirting with the boundless path , which was highly frowned upon in the Undead Empire .

She would ultimately have to still fuse Death and Ice and then complement it with another Ice-based Dao Branch . Problem was , that such a path would put tremendous requirements on her affinity to ice . Even elites had a hard time forming and progressing a single mixed-meaning Dao Branch , but Catheya suddenly had to gain the equivalent insight of one and a half pure Ice Branch .

It was not just a matter of doubling the time it took her to cultivate . She would require both a lot of additional lucky encounters , life-and-death battles , and time to meditate on a way to piece it all together .

Simply giving up on one of the Dao Fragments wasn’t an option either . The System neatly arranged one’s insights into packages and named them Seeds , Fragments , Branches , and so on , but it was ultimately just understanding of the universe . It was all one , all connected .

That’s why you couldn’t just collect 100 Dao Fragments to boost your Luck and other attributes . It would end up with your path being all messed up . You’d have problems even progressing in the D-grade with Dao Fragments weighing you down , and becoming a Monarch was simply impossible . How would you form an inner world on such a shaky foundation like a Dao Fragment?

Of course , if Catheya succeeded on her new path , she would be stronger for it . Two Dao Branches was not just twice as strong as one . There was also the added benefit of Dao Braiding apart from the attribute boost . But the risk of getting stuck in a bottleneck was much greater than going with a more conservative Single-Branch Path .

That’s why most people except the real elites only aimed for one Dao Branch . People who dared to aim for three branches like Zac himself was exceedingly rare , even in the top factions .

Your talents were wasted on only going for one Dao Branch anyway , - Zac said . - A budding Heaven’s Chosen like yourself should have at least two , right? Just look , your new Fragment has progressed by a terrifying amount in one short year . -

Catheya only snorted in response , but she did seem a bit mollified . - Well , I was considering adding another facet to my cultivation after meeting you . I just wish I would’ve had more time to plan and meditate on the decision further , rather than being forced into it . -

If it’s any consolation , pretty much all my insights come from almost getting myself killed , and it has worked out pretty well so far , - Zac said before his brows furrowed in confusion . - Wait , what does your Dao have to do with me? -

Catheya just smiled as she conjured two ice shards . The first one slowly turned into a beautiful flower which gave Zac a sense of immense cold , reminiscent of the terrifying bolt Va Tapek had unleashed in the Twilight Harbor .

The other shard turned into an icicle , and Zac almost felt his soul getting pierced by looking at its sharp edge . Zac wasn’t sure exactly what insights had gone into that Dao , but he felt it much more aligned with his own Dao of Conflict compared to the other shard . It looked like Catheya had opted to go all-in on an offensive Dao while her other one was more all-purpose from what he’d seen so far .

Sometimes , brute force is simply the best solution , which you are walking testament to , - Catheya said as she gave him a long look that made Zac’s hair stand on end . - Besides… -

What? - Zac hesitated , his heartbeat speeding up from the intense stare .

Nothing , never mind , - Catheya muttered .

Well , offense is the best defense , - Zac said with a weak smile . - And don’t worry , I’ll be more careful going forward . -

Please , don’t jinx us any further , - Catheya groaned while Qirai almost looked like she had been physically wounded by Zac’s assurance .

On another subject… - Zac said hesitantly .

Yes? - Catheya slowly said as her eyes slowly thinned .

Here , I have prepared a small token of apology , - Zac said , quickly changing course from asking about the remnants .

From the sounds and looks of it , the trio had barely managed to stay alive thanks to his exploits , and it was just too heartless to immediately ask about his own matters . Instead , he took out three boxes and threw them over to Catheya and her two followers . Inside Catheya’s box was the second dumpling , while the other two contained what he suspected to be top-quality Dao Treasures .

What’s this? - Catheya asked , her scowl suddenly replaced by an impish smile .

Zac immediately realized he might have been duped , but he didn’t really care . It was ultimately true that he had caused Catheya a lot of trouble , and this was a was simply making amends .

I don’t know what it’s called . I found it in the heart of the Twilight Chasm . It’ll provide you with a powerful epiphany , allowing you to improve death-attuned skills in all kinds of ways . I used one to upgrade a skill , it worked extremely well , - Zac said . - I think you could use it when crafting as well . It might allow you to create a uniquely powerful follower , or perhaps form a supreme-grade skill to go with your new Dao . -

Supreme-grade? That great? - Catheya exclaimed as she looked down at the box with shock . - Thank you , it looks like you do have some conscience after all . -

The other two nodded in thanks before they stowed away their boxes , and Zac could sense that the tense atmosphere had relaxed by quite a bit .

So you really went all the way to the chasm , - Catheya sighed . - I guessed as much , but I wasn’t sure . I wanted to check it out as well , but some other time perhaps . By the way , were you involved in that enormous snake making the rounds in the chasm? -

Zac smiled a bit helplessly with a shrug . He wasn’t sure why the big snake had targeted groups of cultivators at the surface , but he guessed it had taken out any threats to its master’s plan . However , Zac wondered if it would still have done the same even if he hadn’t ruined its plans at the bottom .

Should’ve known , - Catheya snorted , whereas Qirai gave him a thumbs up .

Don’t listen to the young miss . Cultivators are meant to live large! Otherwise , what’s the point? - the Titan Revenant laughed . - And we were only in true mortal danger a few times while looking for those places . -

You still looked after getting a bounty on your heads? - Zac said , his heart beating an extra time with his excitement . - Did you find them? -

Why else would we be hunted day or night? - Catheya glared . - I promised we’d find them , so we did . It was actually not too far from the ravine we ran into Uona , that crazy witch . Luckily , she was busy decimating a small army and didn’t realize who we were , so she only sent a few blood thralls after us . -

Near the ravine , you said? - Zac frowned as he got a sense of foreboding .

He had blasted Uona with a full-powered Annihilation Sphere , and now she just happened to be seen close to the resting place of the second splinter? He wanted to believe in coincidences , but he didn't need his Danger Sense to realize his plan might have hit a snag .

Well , that’s not good , - he muttered .

That’s the understatement of the year , - Catheya exhaled . - Do you know who the Noz'Valadir are? Varo had heard of them before . They have two Autarchs , both of them more powerful than our Patriarch . And both of them have a good chunk of lifespan left as well . I fear they might retaliate against clan Sharva’Zi unless you can get our ancestor to return . -

Zac’s eyes widened a bit , only now realizing his actions might have implications outside the Mystic Realm as well . There was an unspoken rule in the Multiverse that the grudges and actions inside Mystic Realms stayed between the members of the junior generation , but there was a limit to everything .

There were no guarantees they would let bygones be bygones if he directly impacted their bottom line with his actions . And after interrogating that Havarok warrior , he understood what was going on . It was a competition for the opportunity that the Eveningtide Asura was trying to create . If his actions cost the Eternal Clan an Autarch , just how far were they willing to go for revenge?

Would the Undead Empire step in to protect Clan Sharva’Zi? Or at least the more powerful Draugr clans?

You know , I tried entering the ravine before we were discovered , - Catheya said after the silence had stretched on for a while . - I couldn’t pass the natural formations , but I smelled something familiar . The same thing I smelled from Zac Piker when he caused havoc at the base town . The same thing as the tear-streaks on your follower’s face . -

Oblivion , - Zac grunted . - The path of your ancestor . Uona has reason to believe I’ll appear there if she’s figured out the same thing as you . -

And you’re still going? - Catheya asked hesitantly .

Have to , - Zac grimaced . - That weird town people keep mentioning , is it close to the ravine by chance? -

Zac’s last hope was that Uona had simply passed by the area of the splinter while hunting cultivators around the ancient city .

Not really , - Catheya said , dashing his hopes . - A month’s travel away , maybe? -

Well , shit , - Zac muttered .

You really haven’t had enough? - Catheya said with a raised brow . - I don’t exactly know what is hidden in those two places , but my intuition tells me it’s nothing good . -

I would prefer to stay hidden for the rest of the trial , but I can’t stop now , - Zac shrugged . - I have things that I have to accomplish . -

Well , one of the locations is not that far away , - Catheya eventually sighed as she threw him an intelligence crystal . - Tell me . Whatever you have planned . Will it be as… impressive… as what you’ve done thus far? -

Well , this one might get a bit chaotic , - Zac admitted with a crooked smile .

Give us a moment , - Catheya groaned as she glanced at her two followers who promptly nodded and left the chambers .

How bad are we talking? Are you able to say? - she asked when the two were alone .

Zac hesitated a few seconds before he decided to tell the truth . - I want to say that nothing will happen , but my hands are tied . The result… is unpredictable . Might be as hectic as the Tower of Eternity . With Uona creeping about , it might get even worse . -

Is it my ancestor making you do this? - Catheya asked with a frown . - Or is it my master? -

Neither , - Zac shrugged before he braced himself . - I have completed what your master asked of me . Did you know that he is working with the Twilight Lord , who just so happens to be the Eveningtide Asura? -

What?! - Catheya exclaimed , looking genuinely surprised . - The Eveningtide Asura from the Zecia sector? I thought the Asura had been killed? -

Zac didn't immediately answer , but rather sat frozen for a few seconds before he breathed out in relief . He had thought long and hard just what he could and couldn't say to Catheya . He had seen the brand disappearing , and the text had said that 'karma was severed' . However , did he dare bet his life on it?

Ultimately , he had settled on sharing everything he had managed to piece together , but keeping all information about the egg and the valley for himself , just in case . And it didn't look like he had triggered any hidden curse by divulging his findings .

Apparently not , - Zac eventually shrugged before sharing all the information he had gathered so far .

Catheya only asked a few clarifying questions , and she sat in silence for almost a minute after he was done .

I finally get it , - Catheya said with sorrow in her voice . - So the Eveningtide Asura is trying to break through to Autarchy , turning this place into a sacrificial vessel . I can’t believe master is helping the Eveningtide Asura , after all my clan has done for him . And no wonder so many elites have gathered . This will be a real bloodbath . -

Why do so many factions care whether Alvod tries to break through? - Zac asked .

A single Autarch emerging can shift the power dynamics in these outer sectors , but it’s not really about that . It’s about resources , and why no Autarchs ever emerge in the frontier sectors , - Catheya said .

Just why is that? - Zac asked curiously .

These sectors are too lowly , and the true face of the Heavens are shrouded , like the sun being hidden by thick clouds . It's not possible to ponder on the Grand Dao here . In fact , it's so bad that Autarchs try to avoid these lower Sectors altogether . Just existing in them is a constant drain on their foundation . Without access to the Heavens , they're like starving beasts sacrificing muscle mass to survive a bit longer , - Catheya sighed .

With the Heavens shrouded , you simply cannot seize and defend your Dao . Doing so requires a special environment , and this is not just an issue of the frontier either . Clan Sharva’Zi doesn’t have direct access to such an environment . The whole clan has to contribute to the Empire for ages to gain a single chance at Autarchy . Even then , the odds of success are extremely slim . -

But Alvod has found a way to break this convention , - Zac concluded . - To part the clouds , so to speak . -

Apparently , - Catheya nodded . - Normally , I would have said it was a fool's dream , but considering the weight the multiple factions put on this matter , I think that it will actually work . A unique opportunity for Divine Monarchs , situated out here in the lawless frontier… Autarchy without spending a hundred thousand years' worth of accumulations . No wonder the sharks are circling the waters . -

Where does that leave us? - Zac asked with exhaustion . - Are we all screwed? Is there anything we can do? -

Leave early , - Catheya thoughtfully said . - The Boundless Heavens might provide some sort of lifeline if all hell breaks loose , but I wouldn’t bet my life on it . Perhaps it will deign us a worthy sacrifice in return for the ascension of another Autarch . -

That sounds like the system , alright , - Zac muttered . - This ancient town , do you think it’s related to everything else going on? -

What , you’re planning on wreaking havoc over there as well? - Catheya countered with a raised brow .

Not if I can help it , but sometimes you don’t get a choice , - Zac said . - What’s your take? -

It’s a bit suspicious , - Catheya said . - A mysterious town appearing like this when so much is going on? If I had to guess , it might be related to Aia Ouro . -

Chapter 756 : City of Ancients

Aia Ouro? The Eidolon? - Zac said with confusion . - They're the ones who have conjured the city? Are you sure? -

They call it the City of Ancients , apparently . It appeared much closer to the Death Pulse than the Living pulse , so I’ve actually traveled around that area quite a bit over the last year . And I encountered an inordinate amount of spectral cultivators flitting back and forth , - Catheya said . - Besides , I heard rumors of the Eidolon's vessel being spotted here as well , over a month before the city rose through the ground . Why would such an elite stay in the middle reaches , if it was not related to that place? -

What would a bunch of ghosts have to gain from doing this? - Zac asked .

I have no earthly idea , but whatever they are doing should be aimed at helping their elders seize the opportunity for themselves . Of course , I have no idea how things like that work . I wouldn’t be surprised if Aia Ouro themselves didn’t know exactly the purpose of their actions , - Catheya said . - Perhaps there is something at the heart of the City of Ancients that can help wrest control of this realm? That's the idea I've been able to come up with so far , but the truth is probably only known to some Divine Monarch outside . -

A bunch of paranoid old goats , - Zac muttered .

It’s those kinds of people who survive for long enough to become Divine Monarchs , - Catheya winked as she took out a decanter and two glasses of wine , pouring a cup for Zac . - Now , what will you do after this , provided we survive? -

What do you mean? - Zac asked as he took a swig .

You know the kind of chaos you’ve caused , and you seem to have no intention of stopping . I will be questioned the moment I leave this place , and you should know that the contract we’ve entered will not hold , - she said with a helpless shrug . - Not to mention master and my clan , it’s also likely that the Umbri’Zi Family will want to look into the matter . Who knows , with your display , you might attract attention from even higher places . -

Like the Abyssal Shores? - Zac asked curiously .

The Umbri’Zi Family was the Draugr Clan ruling over the Undead Kingdom in the area . Technically , most of the Undead Provinces in this part of the frontier were subordinates of the Umbri'Zi , including the Kavriel Clan that governed over the Zecia Sector . However , the provinces were ultimately pretty autonomous , simply sending some resources in steady intervals .

Zac didn’t have a lot of information about the Umbri'Zi , since their presence wasn’t all that palpable in the Twilight Harbor . Catheya had explained their disregard as a matter of pride . The Umbri’Zi was on the precipice of becoming a High B-grade Clan , with both an extremely powerful matriarch and a handful of lower Autarchs to lord over their domain .

Their domain wasn't just the Undead Kingdom , but they apparently controlled vast territories in the Undead Heartlands as well . It would be a bit of an embarrassment for a vaunted clan like that to set up shop shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of the living factions in a frontier settlement .

Rather than that , they had others do business for them , like half-blood Draugr forces with some weak link to their bloodline . Furthermore , forces like Sharva'Zi had to pay a tax to the Umbri'Zi rather than the Twilight Lord . So , Zac felt that it was possible for the Umbri’Zi to look into him after these events .

Hopefully , they shouldn’t be antagonistic toward him , considering he had worked against the Twilight Lord’s interests rather than the Undead Empire’s on this occasion .

However , while the Umbri'Zi was well-known , the Abyssal Shores was still a blank . Uona had mentioned it like it was the holy lands for Draugr , yet he hadn't heard a word about it from any other source .

Well it’s- - Catheya said before she stopped herself and looked at Zac suspiciously . - Wait , why are you asking? Why do you know that name? -

Uona thought I was from that place , - Zac said before he hesitantly decided to tell the truth . - And I might have rolled with it and used that as my background story from then on out . -

A groan echoed through the room as Catheya slumped forward with her head in her hands , in a shockingly accurate homage to the statue depicting the Crown of Despair .

Why must you torment me like this? - Catheya said - You impersonated a person from the shore? Who? Who knows this? -

Well , there’s you , - Zac said , getting an exasperated grunt in return . - And Uona . And the Havarok Empire , probably . -

Anyone else? - Catheya asked icily .

Oh , and the Eveningtide Asura , probably . Well , I told his snake guardian , and it probably passed it along? -

Why not just shout it in front of the gates to the City of Ancients where a few hundred thousand warriors can hear you? - Catheya said while glaring at him .

You think that would help? - Zac asked , but he quickly stopped messing around upon seeing that she was on the verge of another eruption . - Alright , alright . I’m sorry . I simply didn’t have a lot of options , and I didn’t want to implicate your family with my actions any further . I figured that the Abyssal Shores would be powerful enough they could survive taking the blame for my actions . -

Catheya’s demeanor softened a little , and she eventually shrugged . - Well , that's true . It’s not like you’re at the stage where you can rock the Abyssal Shores . They don’t care about some squabbles on the frontier . They’re only interested in the advancement of Draugr . -

So just what is it? Can you tell me? - Zac asked with burning curiosity . Who wouldn’t know about the peak institute of their heritage?

Well , it is a matter of the Draugr rather than the Empire , - Catheya thoughtfully said . - It shouldn’t break any commandment if I discuss it considering you’re Draugr . The Abyssal Shores is indeed the seat of our power . But more importantly , it is the origin of our kin . -

What? - Zac exclaimed with surprise . He had expected the former , but the latter was a surprise .

There is a mysterious lake of infinite depth and infinite darkness . Not even Autarchs can enter it and come out alive . There are even rumors that one of the non-Draugr princes once entered the Abyssal Lake , only to barely escape with their life intact , - Catheya said .

Zac’s whistled in surprise . A place not even Autarchs could tread . . . Just kind of dangers did it contain? As for the princes , Zac was pretty she was referring to one of the Empire's elusive A-grade cultivators .

The Draugr are the sole exception . Eons ago , our ancestors emerged from the depths , walking onto the Abyssal Shores . They had no memories of the past , of where they came from . Were they born in the ocean , or did they come from some realm hidden in the depths? We still don't know . They only knew they were the Draugr , - Catheya said as she glanced at Zac . - This was long before the System , mind you . -

Then what happened? - Zac asked .

Our ancestors lived at the Abyssal Shores until the integration took place , our most powerful ancestors easily rebuffing any attempts to unroot us . But the lake actually closed itself during those dark ages , and it no longer sustained us . By that time , our ancestors had already allied with the other undying races , and they joined in the exodus . Eventually , the Undead Empire was founded , and we moved the lake to its core at a shocking cost , - the Draugr scion continued with some wistfulness . - Two A-grade ancestors sacrificed their lives to accomplish the task .

Today , the lake is once more our Heartland . The Abyssal Shores is the name of our centralized faction . A few of our clans have permanent residence there , while some elites of our race get to train there temporarily . It’s in the heart of the empire , so the cultivation environment is naturally unsurpassed . Furthermore , the lake itself presents us Draugr with unique and unrivaled opportunities ever so often . -

Zac slowly nodded with a thoughtful look in his eyes . Traveling there to cultivate for a while sounded like a huge opportunity , but he doubted that was possible for him . He was neither a true Draugr nor a member of the Empire .

Well? - Catheya asked with a glare .

Well , what? - Zac repeated with confusion .

Your plan? - Catheya exclaimed with exasperation . - Focus up . -

Ah , right , - Zac smiled . - Worried for me? -

Worried about the chaos you infuse into your surroundings , - Catheya snorted before she became serious . - Your name is probably known far and wide outside , and my involvement with you is common knowledge by now . I cannot lie to the Imperial Ambassadors . -

The two stared into each other’s eyes for a few seconds , before Zac eventually sighed with some exhaustion . - Well , I’d appreciate it if you kept my situation secret . If it’s impossible… Well , that’s too bad , I guess . You think the Empire would want to kill me or Recruit me? -

Definitely recruit you , - Catheya slowly said . - A Heaven’s Chosen marked by fate , who could walk among the living as either a spy or ambassador? I wouldn’t be surprised if some old monster claimed you as a direct disciple . -

Zac smiled at that , but he didn’t feel as confident himself . The warnings of Yrial echoed in his head , and there were no guarantees that he wouldn’t end up dissected rather than nurtured . The good news was that he doubted he was interesting enough for an ancient Autarch to make a move . And even if some Monarch came looking for him back in Zecia , so what?

He already had a handful of Monarchs gunning for him over there , and he was doing just fine . No one even knew his real identity , and if things really got out of hand , he could always seal Earth after the Assimilation , making sure no clues got out . If worse came to worst , his core personnel would go into hiding across the sector , while he became a wandering cultivator .

With his teleportation network , he’d be night impossible to catch , and anyone would have to think twice before targeting Earth , lest they wanted to bring another Eveningtide Asura event down on their heads . Of course , for that kind of deterrent to be effective , he would need to prove his effectiveness at pushing through the ranks . He would need to be a lot more powerful than now by the time the integration took place .

Well , I will try to be gone by the time my identity becomes an issue . I can always sound out the situation in the future after things have calmed down . I'm planning on heading out to the two spots locations as soon as possible , and leave the moment I have what I need . The that City of Ancients and the fate of the Twilight Harbor , I want no part of it , - Zac eventually said .

We'll leave early as well , - Catheya nodded .

Could you give me a few days headstart before you leave the realm? - Zac asked .

That’s fine , - Catheya shrugged . - We have already picked up most of the treasures my master had divined for us . There are a few locations left , but I doubt they haven’t already been stolen by others by now . We'll move toward the second spot and help you with reconnaissance . Then we'll exit three days after you've left the Ocean . -