Defiance of the Fall

There was no ebb , only a flow that kept gaining momentum . The waves in his mind had grown so massive , they resembled mountain ranges . It looked like two tectonic plates had collided , with his Soul Core submerged deep in the heart of the chaos . Life and Death had taken the main stage of his soul , but a shadow of his third Dao played an important part .

The small avatar had already left its position on his Soul Core , and it kept dancing among the frothing waters . One moment it looked like a human swinging a golden axe , and the next it was an abyssal Draugr with an axe wrapped in chains . As it swung its weapons , the oceans answered like an army roused by a powerful general .

His world shook as the war raged on , and cracks spread across the domed sky . The storm reached a crescendo , and Zac found his consciousness twist as a crack echoed out from the depths of his mind .

A blast of pure mental destruction ripped apart the rotten shreds of his cabin before leveling the trees around him . Zac inwardly breathed out in relief that he hadn’t taken out the Mind’s Eye Agate] for his breakthrough , seeing as its benefits came during prolonged cultivation sessions . It would have been a huge loss to destroy that amazing treasure so soon after getting it .

Zac’s perception expanded along with the unfettered wave of Mental Energy . It crossed the waters of the small lake , and cascading waves rose like soldiers answering a call . The mental wave kept stretching for hundreds of meters in each direction , a supreme presence lording over the no-man’s-land .

However , Zac’s nigh-omniscience didn’t last long . He found his expanded vision blur as his Mental Energy started to spin , forming a soul hurricane as it pulled back into his mind , bringing all the attuned energy in the area with it . First , the surrounding hills and rivers were drained of meaning , and a moment later , the lake shared the same fate .

Next came the mysterious clouds of Life and Death , kept together by some inscrutable markings Zac couldn’t quite make out . It was all dragged in by an unrelenting pull , and Zac screamed with pain as a tidal wave of Life and Death poured into his glabella . It was like a Heavenly spear cut through the two raging oceans before it slammed into his Soul Core .

The core was covered in cracks , and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back . Zac was beset by a soul-rending pain as his core exploded . Thousands of shimmering shards ripped through the ocean with unstoppable momentum , forcibly ending the war through mutual destruction .

The outburst of power completely destroyed the walls of his Soul Aperture , and there was suddenly no clear divider for his mind . Just like before he’d awakened his soul . However , instead of a murky ball of congealed energy , his soul now looked like a mottled ocean that stretched for miles in his mind .

The two seas had been reduced to a messy mix of gold and black , like two oils that refused to properly mix . The waters kept squirming from the proximity , but something kept everything in place—the innumerable shards . They’d become fixtures in the ocean , each one connecting a ball of water to it through some unknown means , either surrounding itself by Life or Death .

The scene was extremely chaotic , but it wasn’t completely out of Zac’s expectations . He’d known his soul would shatter like the last time , judging by the terse description of the process , and he already knew the solution . He needed to start gathering and fusing the broken shards before he died .

The problem was how . The second reincarnation was similar to the first , but there were also clear differences . Zac had hoped he would find some clues by this point , what to aim for . How should he fuse shards that had all been tainted , surrounded and marinated in a soup of Life and Death?

Were you meant to make a choice at this point , where living cultivators focused on the Life-marked Soul Shards , and the undead on the deathly ones? That way , you could form a soul better suited to your path . Except , that wouldn’t work for him , someone with two races and an equal focus between Life and Death .

Could he form two Soul Cores , one for each element? Would that ruin the method , which called for both oneness and the law of nine?

He didn’t know if he was doing the right thing , but he was also aware each second was precious at this stage . He could only start imposing his will on the shards , slowly arranging them by their respective elements . For now , he started at one corner of the ocean to see if his theory was correct , while maintaining some control over the rest of the waters , preventing it from dissipating .

Soon enough , the pockets of Life melded together , but Zac frowned when another problem cropped up—the shards refused to fuse like the last time . The golden waters were in the way , acting like some sort of insulation .

Was he supposed to mix Life and Death , after all?

He urgently redirected a couple of shards , but as expected , it worked even worse . If Life and Death mixed so easily , the fusion process would already have started up when the chaotic soup was created . Zac wracked his brain , desperately trying to match any piece of information he’d gathered over the past months with what he was seeing in his mind .

Suddenly , a snippet from Aia Ouro’s missives resurfaced .

While the ultimate goal of nurturing one’s soul is to empower it and allow it to become a greater extension of your will , the methods to accomplish this varies greatly . Generally , a distinction between Attuned and Unattuned Soul Strengthening Methods needs to be made .

The ultimate goal of the Attuned Soul Strengthening Methods is to remold one’s soul , to push it closer to your Path and your Dao . In terms of Body Tempering Methods , they will provide you with a constitution . Just as a fiery tempering technique might award its practitioner some manner of Fire Constitution , so can the fiery Soul Strengthening Method provide you with a soul attuned to fire .

The benefits of this should be clear for any practitioner of the Dao . An attuned soul will empower the matching Dao , just as the constitution will empower the matching skills . The drawback of this gift is the narrowing of one’s path . A Dao of a different peak will become harder to wield , and soul skills of clashing elements will become weakened .

From there , it had gone on to explain that most methods delayed the process of attuning one’s soul , as to not prematurely lock in users before they had confirmed their path of cultivation . But what if the Nine Reincarnation Manual] differed from the norm , and already being at the second reincarnation meant for you to attune your soul?

If true , it directly clashed with Zac’s assumptions after reading that missive . It had also gone on to describe unattuned methods , such as the Thousand Lights Chapter] and a few other methods . These methods didn’t provide an attunement to your soul , instead utilizing high-quality methods to make up for it by producing stronger souls that weren’t forced down a certain path .

It had also mentioned that even unattuned methods often used various Daos to improve their cultivation speed , and Zac had ultimately categorized the Nine Reincarnation Manual] into this type of method . After all , while he steeped his Mental Energy in Life and Death , his Soul Core had stayed completely untouched by those elements .

But seeing the situation in his soul , he wondered if his understanding was flawed , and he focused on a random shard surrounded by a bubble of extremely Pure Life . He exerted his will , and he was filled with a mix of elation and trepidation that the exuberant energies entered the shard , indelibly marking it with Life .

The glee came from having found the path forward , while the trepidation came from the ramifications . Still , Zac couldn’t worry about the future and how an attuned soul would affect him . He could only put his faith in the System once more , hoping it hadn’t provided him with a method that would clash with him being an Edgewalker .

He spread his consciousness , and one bubble after another started shrinking . However , by the point the surrounding bubbles were absorbed to two-thirds , Zac met an insurmountable resistance . Zac panicked , but he figured it was a result of him overstuffing the oceans . Thankfully , a solution presented itself as the waters around the shards exploded , leaving puffs of attuned vapors .

Meanwhile , the explosions exposed glimmering Soul Shards hovering inside the haze .

Zac felt like his mind was about to split apart as he desperately imposed his will all over the place , trying to keep the uncontrollable ocean in check . Eventually , large pockets of shimmering gems floated in his aperture , half of them pale gold and the other turquoise . Their colors looked slightly diluted compared to the oceans , most likely because of the pristine white of his broken Soul Core .

Seeing that some chunks had been processed , Zac exerted tremendous pressure on the crystals , just like he had during the first reincarnation . Immediately , the pieces started to fuse , and the process looked a lot like previous time . As two crystals fused , a more condensed one was formed that was just slightly larger than before . In return , it emitted stronger energy , and its color was slightly deeper .

Having found the correct method , Zac got to work , fusing some parts while attuning others . He worked his way through the large space of his Soul Aperture like a conveyor belt until he encountered an issue . Two crystals had formed , one shimmering in gold like a piece of divine amber , while the other emitted the deathly chill of a Supreme Miasma Crystal .

They looked immensely powerful , either one of them more than a match for his previous Soul Core thanks to the enormous amount of energy added from the ocean , the accumulated energy of the array disks , and the torrential amounts of energy he’d swallowed from the surroundings . However , Zac could feel that they’d reached sublimation after only having absorbed a fraction of the shards of his soul .

He tried to forcibly squeeze more into the cores , but it was simply impossible . As he pushed one shard inside , another one was pushed out , maintaining equilibrium . His mind worked with lightning speed , for once utilizing the thousands of points in Intelligence he had racked up to confirm something .

Nine , - Zac muttered , realizing that each attuned Soul Core contained exactly 729 shards , which was nine by nine by nine .

It definitely wasn’t a coincidence , and he stopped trying to force any more into the cores . Instead , he exerted pressure on some of the unattached crystals , and the familiar process started up once more . Two Soul Cores eventually turned to four , and four into six . Zac had no idea how much time had passed , but he was exhausted .

Worse yet , the protective bubbles around the remaining shards in his aperture had started leaking , the attuned waters turning into a haze as they slowly shrank . Thankfully , he’d already processed more than half of his soul , and had more than enough attuned energies to spare . Still , his vision was starting to blur and his speed was slowing down , so he threw an item into his mouth and kept working .

It was a mental stimulant found in Aia Ouro’s Spatial Gem , an item equivalent to a soldier pill for the mind . A surge of Mental Energy stormed into his aperture , immediately putting pressure on the remaining shards to speed up their transformation . Unfortunately , the energy was - unliving’ and not a true replacement to his own spirit , and it wouldn’t be able to replace any Soul Shards that were lost .

However , it did help to some degree , which was better than nothing . It gave him the strength to keep working and managed to buy enough time to form another set of attuned Soul Cores .

Four cores of Life shone like radiant suns , as they leisurely floated in his Soul Aperture . Meanwhile , four aquamarine moons emitted opposing energies as they formed a complex dance with their opposites . The scene was oddly reminiscent of the situation the Remnants found themselves in . However , Zac felt like these eight cores didn’t just restrict each other , but empowered each other as well .

They rotated in his soul like eight miniature celestial bodies , and his mind had changed from an ocean to a small corner of space . The oceans were partly gone , sacrificed in the formation of these marvelous Soul Cores . Remaining were just vast , hazy clouds in gold and aquamarine , nebulae shrouding this soul in mystery .

Zac could feel a connection between the cores , knowing he could draw energy from either one or all eight at once , depending on how much force he wanted to exert . They were separate , but they were also one . The total power they contained was amazing , but Zac wasn’t satisfied . After all , there were only eight of them .

Nine Dharmas , nine Heavens , nine layers of the Abyss . That was what the method called for , and Zac was still short of perfection .

Problem was , he’d run out of Soul Shards .

38

SINGULAR UNITY

Zac gazed at the eight shimmering orbs floating in his mind , urgently trying to figure out a solution for the final missing core . Soon , his attention turned to the clouds containing vast amounts of Life and Death-attuned energies . At first , he simply assumed the nebulae were leftover energies from the process . After all , his soul oceans had contained far more energy than necessary , so it made sense there would be some remaining .

But what if that wasn’t the case? Zac had an idea , and streams of Mental Energy emerged from the eight fully-formed cores . It felt so natural , so easy . Before , he could arduously control two streams to form his crude Dao braids . But now , he was actually controlling eight of them , though their movements were a bit stiff .

Still , that was enough for Zac’s purpose , and he made the streams catch large globs of nebulous dust before dragging it all toward one of the cores . It was one of the first two he’d formed , and Zac looked on as he drenched it in the two sets of clouds , prompting the familiar explosions to erupt .

It was like magnificent fireworks had gone off around the core , and Zac felt the immense pressure the explosions put on the core . The chaos continued for a few moments , and Zac’s brows furrowed as doubt crept into his heart . However , a small stream of shockingly pure light was eventually squeezed out from the heart of the core , its radiance almost blinding .

Zac’s eyes lit up , and he gingerly took control of the sliver , helping to drag it out from the core . He first planned on pushing the attuned clouds away , only to realize the clashes didn’t impact this pure string at all . It was his soul , condensed and refined to an unprecedented state . Some random Life-Death explosions weren’t enough to harm it even if it was just a thin string .

His instincts were correct , and it looked like the tendril knew what to do on its own . The eight attuned cores kept rotating in that mysterious pattern , and it was like they formed some sort of vacuum at the heart of it all . The scene made Zac think of a yarn winder .

He figured out the method to refine the cores one final time , but had a feeling that execution could still impact the end result . If he put pressure on just one core at a time , he would eventually form eight unconnected strings . Wouldn’t it be better to extract all eight strings simultaneously , allowing them to form a proper yarn?

Zac had spent years looking at the intricate patterns on the array disks of the Nine Reincarnations Manual] , and he was almost certain his theory was correct as he looked at the pattern of the eight outer cores . Zac didn’t quite understand the underlying meaning of their movements , but he sensed the same truths hidden in the clouds that sprung from the array disks .

The essence of the Soul Strengthening Method was hidden in that dance , and he needed to imprint that essence into the ninth and final core . Zac spread his consciousness , pushing his recently improved control to the limits as he rekindled the conflict between Life and Death throughout his soul .

As if sensing his desires , the avatar for his Branch of the War Axe that had been sitting in the middle of the circle stood up . It began its dance of conflict , swinging its axe as it kept swapping between incarnations . Wherever the avatar passed , the struggle was pushed to the next level .

Controlling so many clashes simultaneously was far beyond what he could normally manage , but Zac kept eating pills and incense sticks found in Aia Ouro’s Spatial Gem . The effect was getting worse and worse , but it was enough to help him maintain control of the process . Soon enough , eight pristine strings slithered toward the center of his soul , almost drawn together as though by magnetic attraction .

When they touched , a ripple spread out through Zac’s soul as his perception shifted once more . Before , he had already sensed the eight cores were connected , but that feeling was far more palpable now . He finally understood the true meaning of - From Eight Trigrams a system is formed , where the singular unity is supreme . ’

The moment the eight strings connected , they entwined into a small knot that became more and more complex as it and the outer cores kept spinning . The newly forming core was the real center of his soul , and Zac felt the walls of his Soul Aperture reform around it .

The bigger the shimmering ball grew , the more space was crammed into his Soul Aperture . It was already multiple times greater compared to before , yet the ball kept growing . It almost felt like he was forming an inner world , although this wasn’t a true space like the one a Monarch formed .

It was rather his mind conceptualizing something intangible , a place where the line between thought and reality were blurred . But it was undeniable that the ninth core’s growth meant his soul was becoming more powerful . Of course , the price of the growth was that the eight outer cores kept shrinking , though their colors grew more and more intense .

In Zac’s opinion , it was a worthwhile trade , but nothing good can last forever . The oceans had left behind shocking amounts of energy , but the clouds were growing dim . No matter how much the Dao Avatar urged its surroundings to struggle , the eruptions grew weaker and further apart . Thankfully , the strings had stopped growing .

He’d reached a limit of how far he could condense the outer cores . They’d shrunk to a third of their original size , though emitted shockingly deep auras of Life and Death . The eight strings detached from the outer cores and were dragged into the inner core , which was now twice as large as the outer ones .

However , even with the esoteric patterns almost melding the eight strings together , they were still not perfectly fused into one core . Zac hesitated , then made his decision , and the treasure he just bought appeared in his hand . He had initially planned on saving this thing until he formed his Cultivator’s Core , but he couldn’t be picky at the moment .

He remembered all-too-well how the Soul Shards hardened during his last reincarnation , and he was seeing that exact same phenomenon in the central core . He needed a final push , and he placed the natural treasure against his forehead , hoping the suction would activate again .

It was a success , and the small vortex by his glabella opened once more , dragging torrential amounts of rampant energy from the treasure . During the last reincarnation , he’d used multiple treasures to perform a perfect reincarnation . This time , it hadn’t been needed so far , but that was only because he’d overdone things with the two oceans .

It was like two waterfalls came cascading down from the Heavens above . They slammed into the newly-formed core , where the Dao Avatar was already waiting . A final series of explosions gradually squeezed the inner core tighter and tighter , forcing it to shrink . It became impossible to tell there had ever been eight distinct strings .

It was now a radiant sun , far eclipsing his previous core in both size and density . The moment it formed , something snapped into place , and Zac was beset by an unprecedented state of clarity . Hundreds of thoughts rushed through his mind , seemingly unconnected impressions and insights forming a greater whole . It was all one .

Zac slowly opened his eyes , a wide smile plastered across his face . He’d done it—a perfect reincarnation .

His gaze alone caused ripples in his surroundings until the brand on his hand sprung to action . The sense of limitless power was subdued , his soul output restrained to what was permissible in the Orom World . He wryly smiled as he looked down at his hand .

He’d held onto a small hope that disintegrating his Soul Core , thus technically dying , would have tricked the brand into dissipating , but it didn’t appear the Orom was so easily fooled . Even with the prison brand limiting his mind , Zac could still sense the improvements to his soul . If his old soul was a fortress surrounded by a moat , then his current soul was like an impervious mountain .

The dampening ocean of his previous reincarnation was gone , but the nine Soul Cores created a mysterious formation as they swirled in his mind . The outer layer of attuned cores created a nigh-impenetrable barrier protecting his true core . No matter how much rain or lightning pummeled its surface , it would stand tall .

Even if some terrifying Mentalist unleashed an overpowered strike at him , Zac knew he could sacrifice one of the outer cores , essentially making him a cat with nine lives . He wanted to find out what other benefits his latest breakthrough brought , but he was wrung dry . Eventually , he gave it up altogether and focused on recuperating .

Zac spent the days barely moving an inch . His only actions were to turn back into his human form and light five sticks of soul-nurturing incense around him . He wasn’t only focusing on letting his drained Mental Energy recuperate , he was also immersed in the stream of impressions he received when his soul was perfected .

He’d been beset by a series of epiphanies in regards to all facets of his cultivation , from his Daos to skill upgrades , to improving his two stances . Zac wanted to burn those impressions to memory before they turned into a confusing haze again . After five days , he had to admit defeat . Anything he’d lost by this point had become too muddled to make any sense of .

Perhaps he’d regain that sense of inspiration down the road when touching upon something tangential . Perhaps not . In either case , it was time to move on to the next step of his plan . Just as he’d hoped , the Orom hadn’t skimped out upon breaking through his soul . It was considered a lot harder compared to simply forming a Dao Branch , and Zac guessed his method was quite unique as well .

Altogether , the breakthrough had netted him just over 11 , 000 Contribution Points , far better than his estimates . He thought the breakthrough would provide somewhere between 4 , 000 and 8 , 000 , but it looked like the Orom was extremely interested in improvements of the soul . The points were more than enough to afford the treasure , though he didn’t immediately head out .

Instead , he checked his body for any hidden damage before taking out a Chainbreaking Pill] and the Stone of Hope . After hesitating , Zac decided against using the Spiritual Ice] .

The item wasn’t reusable , with each use eating up a chunk . The information missive had estimated it was enough for 10 to 15 uses , and they were better saved for the last stretch of levels . There were still a ways to go before that .

Zac took a steadying breath before swallowing the first Stellar Enkindling Pill] .

A radiant power spread through his body , allowing Zac to breathe out in relief . It had been some time since using any leveling pills , and he had both been blasted by Heavenly Lightning and Chaos since then . Along with the continuous ministrations of Purity of the Void] , Zac would be able to reach High E-grade today .

It didn’t take any effort to gently guide the powerful ball of energy toward a node right by his heart . The pill energy forced its way into the small vortex , and it didn’t even take five minutes before Zac shuddered as cracking sounds echoed out from his chest . The mysterious domain of Stone of Hope] had already activated , but Zac still puked a mouthful of blood before slumping over .

His heart had been lacerated from the explosion , though what would have been a lethal wound before the integration , was now just a minor tribulation . Having a broken heart wouldn’t even phase a Hegemon , and someone like Zac with massive pools of both Endurance of Vitality could seal his blood vessels and survive for hours in this state .

That was more than enough time for Zac , who swallowed a healing pill before activating Surging Vitality] with his Void Energy . His heart started to rapidly reform , and it was back in working order within five minutes , allowing Zac to continue his work without wasting too much of the medicinal efficacy of the precious pill .

He’d already been somewhat close to breaking open the latest node , and most of the pill energy remained . Capitalizing on his momentum , Zac pushed the shimmering ball upward until it reached his throat . That was the location of the final node in the middle E-grade , acting as the gate between the head and the body .

More and more energy crammed inside , and even Zac started to be filled with trepidation as he felt the buildup . Suddenly , he had an idea , and nine streams of Mental Energy poured down from his Soul Aperture . Before , his Mental Energy hadn’t been powerful enough to make much of a difference when breaking nodes , but things were different now .

The wreckage around him was ample evidence of the potency of his soul .

The nine streams started to enclose the node , each attuned core forming one superimposed barrier after another , alternating between Life and Death until they all were sealed by his inner core . Half an hour later , Zac felt the familiar buildup . Reality shifted as a sharp pain erupted in his throat . But not a drop of blood was lost this time .

There was some internal bleeding though , so Zac activated Surging Vitality] again as his heart drummed from the excitement . His idea worked even better than expected , with the mental barriers providing even more protection than the Chainbreaking Pill] . The makeshift barriers had ultimately collapsed from the outburst , but that was partly due to him being unaccustomed to controlling so many threads of Mental Energy at the same time .

The moment the inner layers had been attacked , he lost control over the outer ones , making things a bit chaotic . As long as he had some practice , Zac believed he would be able to double the strength of his barriers .

A surge of glee rushed through Zac that almost matched the one he felt after evolving his soul as he took out a Supreme Nexus Crystal to begin the process of filling the nodes . Having successively opened the node in his throat without much issue was a huge accomplishment . Certainly , he’d used pills to lessen the impact drastically , but the biggest obstacle of being a mortal in the E-grade had finally been overcome .

With his previous preparations , along with the mental barriers and Spiritual Ice] , he was finally confident in tackling the final 25 levels of the E-grade without breaking his brain . It might have cost him a fortune and a lot of headaches , but he was finally there . Now , he could fully turn his attention to the D-grade .

A couple of days passed until the small whirlpool in his throat gained a momentum of its own , prompting a surge of Cosmic Energy to course through his pathways before calming down . He had reached level 125 in his human class , and he opened his Quest Screen with anticipation .

Empyrean Aegis (Class) : Form one major and one supporting Dao Branch . Reward : Empyrean Aegis skill . (1/2)

The System wasn’t holding back this time around , demanding two Dao Branches to complete his quest . Even an elite like Catheya hadn’t planned on going down that kind of difficult route until an opportunity presented itself . Then again , it could almost be considered a freebie for Zac , since he was planning on forming multiple Dao Branches anyway .

As for the name of the skill , it was almost definitely defensive , which was exactly what he was lacking in his human form . It also put less pressure on the final skill evolution that awaited him— Hatchetman’s Spirit] . If he hadn’t been given this kind of skill from the quest , he would have been forced to somehow turn his domain skill into a more defensively oriented one .

As long as this skill delivered , he could focus on strengthening the domain aspects of Hatchetman’s Spirit] instead . It was perfect , having found some inspiration in the forest of Life before . He would hopefully be able to recapture that feeling down the road so long as he traveled the other Life-attuned zones for a bit .

Having filled the nodes in his human side , Zac rebuilt his cabin before swapping over to his Draugr side . Another few days passed until he reached level 125 there as well , prompting him to gain a second class quest as expected .

Desperation’s End (Class) : Extinguish one million souls . Reward : Desperation’s End skill . (0/1 , 000 , 000) .

39

DAO MANIFESTED INTO LAW

The System was often a bit annoying , although it had to be said it was quite considerate when creating balanced classes . Just like his human side lacked a top-tier skill for survival , his undead side lacked a good finisher that frontloaded damage . Pillar of Desolation] was a terrifyingly powerful skill , but not only did it cost more than half of his Miasma , it even required some Oblivion Energy to activate .

Meanwhile , Blighted Cut] was technically a finisher , though it required a few steps to set up . It was also quite cheap , with its finisher being even below Rapturous Divide] in raw damage output . Of course , if hit by that dismantling skill while inside Deathmark] , you’d be flooded with corrosive damage , making your remaining life short and painful .

Zac hoped Desperation’s End] was a powerful skill like Arcadia’s Judgment] , where he could make use of his Void Energy to instantly overwhelm and execute difficult opponents . That way he’d be able to better make use of his bloodline in his Draugr form as well . As for extinguishing souls , Zac wasn’t quite certain what that meant . It sounded like simple slaughter , but he would have to visit the Wilderness to make sure .

Seeing as it was a quest for an Epic class , there might be some trick to it rather than simply slaughtering a bunch of animals .

A wisp of Zac’s consciousness entered the small token he got from Murbot , and it listed his current Contribution as 11 , 584] . Some quick math confirmed Zac’s hopes . Pushing both his levels to 125 netted him 376 Contribution Points , an exact match to his gain in raw attributes . In other words , he gained Contribution Points for leveling both his races , making leveling more lucrative than for other people .

Together with his saved-up points , he had more than enough for the node-finding treasure and traveling the Orom for a while . He would first return to Samsara’s Edge and hopefully purchase the Bloodline Treasure , after which it was time for him to start exploring the Orom World .

Some pieces of the puzzle to his escape were in place , while others were missing . He was able to use his skills and energy just fine , and swapping between races hadn’t agitated the prison brand . He essentially had his whole arsenal available , and now he needed to turn all these tools into a way to break out .

The main issue was that space was sealed in the whole Orom World , so he would either need to use his abilities to escape the inner world or find a weak spot where the teleportation array could be taken out and activated . The Orom World had clearly marked edges , so perhaps it was possible to sneak into its actual body somehow .

Zac planned on traveling to the edge of the Orom in search of solutions . Luckily , these kinds of actions weren’t considered anything unusual , and he didn’t even need to cover up his activities . A lot of cultivators from his cohort had probably done the same thing already . Even those who had quickly adapted would often reach a point where reality set in , and they’d rail against their imprisonment .

If all that failed , he had one last backup plan , though it would delay him at least another year , possibly more . With his twice-reincarnated soul , he would be able to store a whole lot of Oblivion Energy , to the point he would be able to create a terrifying crack in space . One large enough he would be able to sneak through .

If even that failed . . . Zac shook his head , not ready to entertain such an outcome .

Before setting out , Zac collected all the array flags and other items he’d left across the island before erasing any traces of habitation . It wasn’t like he needed to hide his soul cultivation , but he also didn’t need to raise any unnecessary questions like , - why would someone cultivate in a place like this?’ Besides , he was done with this place for now , having accomplished his goal .

If he needed to come here again , he could always set it up for another round , though that would mean his plans had gone awry .

Zac set off along the now-familiar paths toward the settlement , and was relieved to feel he was essentially in perfect condition even though he had opened two nodes . It was thanks to the prisoner brand . It drastically limited his power output , but that also helped serve as a protection . In other words , gaining levels in this place wouldn’t slow him down at all unless he overdid things .

He reached Samsara’s Edge three days later , and was surprised to see the town still full of hustle and bustle even after more than two weeks had passed . He guessed the warriors who stayed behind took the opportunity to destress before consuming whatever treasures they’d bought .

Many had probably been secluded for decades , perhaps even centuries , and were in dire need of some R&R . Besides , the next culling was not for another twenty years for Hegemons , and 270 years for Monarchs . They weren’t exactly running out of time .

A few of the cultivators recognized Zac and waved him over , which resulted in him making some new acquaintances . When asked why he’d returned so quickly , he told the truth after some consideration . He had managed to break through with his soul , providing him with a windfall of Purchase Points .

It was a bit unnerving to be so candid after having been introduced to the Dao of Paranoia by Ogras , but sometimes you had to give a bit to gain something in return . The more potential he exhibited , the better his reception would be among these powerhouses . That , in turn , could open up all kinds of doors for him in the future .

Youngster! - a distorted voice drew Zac’s attention as he closed in on the Contribution Store , and he looked over to see a radiant energy-being in the distance .

It was something akin to a Life Elemental that Zac had spoken with while waiting for the store to open last time . People called it Ubo , since its true name was unpronounceable . The elemental looked a bit like a spectral cultivator drenched in gold , but it was actually a semi-corporeal species . The large shimmering rock in its belly was its true core , while the shimmering body it had formed was real enough to carry items and even consume food .

Zac walked over with a smile . Not only was Ubo a Monarch and a Gold Attendant , there was someone familiar standing next to it—the half-tree woman he met while crossing the forest two months back .

Hello , again , - Zac smiled before turning to the semi-tree . - I hope your experiment was a success . -

Oh , you know Heda? - Ubo exclaimed with surprise . - She rarely leaves her little plot of land . -

I watched him dance , - the woman smiled before she looked strangely at Zac . - I have been thinking of you . -

Uh . . . Alright? - Zac hesitantly said .

Don’t mind her , - Ubo coughed . - For some reason , she decided to fuse her soul with an unknown seed the Orom picked up a few dozen millennia ago . She hasn’t quite been herself since . -

It worked , - Heda shrugged . - I would have been culled if I didn’t try something new . -

Zac listened to the exchange , confirming something he'd suspected since seeing Heda stand next to the elemental . The fact Ubo mentioned dozens of millennia all-but-confirmed the half-plant cultivator was an actual Monarch just like the elemental .

Is having your soul subverted that much better than simply dying? - Ubo muttered before they turned to Zac . - So , what are you up to , youngster? Your life energy is quite vibrant . I guess you are below fifty years of age , no? Having trouble acclimatizing to the repose of reclusive cultivation? -

Something like that , - Zac smiled . - I thought I would tour the Orom World for a bit . I’m still finding my way , and there are so many things to draw inspiration from . -

Taking inspiration is fine , but be careful to not get swept up in someone else’s path , - Ubo urged as a token flashed into being . - I will not enter true seclusion for another ten years or so . If you’re interested , you’re welcome to visit my abode . I was born from a sanctified rock and instilled with untainted Life since my mind’s eye first gazed upon the world . My experiences might be of use to you . -

Absolutely . - Zac stowed the marker . - Thank you . -

Me too , - Heda said , and a wooden plaque sprouted and detached itself from her left hand . - There is Death in your Life . Perhaps , we can inspire each other . -

I’ll try to make it , - Zac said with a slow nod .

With these two , he’d gathered almost twenty markers . They were essentially invitation tokens that not only acted as maps to people’s cultivation caves , but were also markers and messages to the outside world in case someone managed to leave .

It was a simple form of quid pro quo in this place , where people exchanged cultivation lessons for hope . These two cultivators were the first Monarchs he’d received an invitation from though , making them even more valuable .

These two weren’t quite as powerful as Yrial in his heyday , but they weren’t just fragments of a soul . Just a few simple instructions could help a lot . Zac was almost disgustingly powerful for his level , but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a lot he could learn , even from Hegemons . No matter if it was their experiences in breaking bottlenecks or their pursuit of the Dao , they’d walked far further down the road than he had .

Zac could freely enter the Contribution Store now , but he still had to wait an hour before a disk became available . A few minutes later , he emerged decidedly poorer , but with the treasure securely stowed away in his Cosmos Sack . Apart from the Seed of Eldritch Awakening] , as the node-finding treasure was called , Zac also spent over 4 , 000 points on a series of items .

Items geared toward E-grade cultivators were dirt-cheap , so he managed to purchase treasures that could improve his constitution and soul , longevity-boosting items , and top-quality Attribute Fruits and Dao Treasures . He still had roughly 1 , 500 points to spare , but there was nothing else he urgently needed , and nothing he feared would go out of stock if he didn’t buy immediately .

Rather , Zac believed he was better off renting some of the High-quality cultivation grounds with his remaining points , unless he found an exit quicker than expected . Those places could help with everything from his skill fusions to comprehending his Dao and stances at an accelerated pace .

If he managed to escape ahead of schedule , he would simply have to give up on those 1 , 500 points , which wasn’t a big deal compared to his vast fortune .

There wasn’t anything else left to do , so Zac walked over to the transport hub and teleported over to Glimmerwood . The Orom World was shaped like an oblong circle , with the Wilderness commanding one of the short sides . Closest to the other edge , and the Orom’s head according to speculation , Glimmerwood was situated .

Zac figured he’d check out the space-attributed zones and the edge of the Orom World first , working his way down as he looked for weaknesses to exploit .

As luck would have it , Zac ran into a familiar face , the old man who’d helped him a bit when they first arrived . He was currently drinking with two others he didn’t recognize . Judging by their auras , they should all follow the Dao of Stars . Perhaps they were others from the Radiant Temple who had been captured .

Zac only stayed behind to talk for a few minutes before he left with three more tokens . Turns out the old man was called Travo Raso , and was some sort of fixer for the Radiant Temple . For example , if some minor clan didn’t pay their taxes or hid a promising talent , Travo went there to see what was going on .

Such activities were a bit beneath the officials of the Radiant Temples , so they preferred to use outside experts like Travo to make sure the money and young talents kept coming . Certainly , with Travo’s apparent talent , he would easily have been able to enter as an official member of the Radiant Temple . However , he enjoyed the freedom too much to become a proper enforcer .

More importantly , Travo enjoyed the huge number of bribes that kept coming his way in return for looking the other way when people shirked their responsibilities .

From Glimmerwood , Zac headed west , aiming to reach the tip of the Orom World . The surroundings of Glimmerwood were quite different compared to the other zones he’d passed through so far . For one , the sky was black , though the area was illuminated by numerous constellations that kept changing .

Apparently , the sky contained the echoes of the Orom’s own understanding of the Dao of Space and the Stars . There were innumerable such truths hidden all across the Orom World . It was all designed to subtly influence the captives’ paths , thus increasing the likelihood of them generating useful insights .

Those at the top could see through it , but for an E-grade cultivator like Zac , it was simply impossible . Thankfully for him , the way he gained insights was pretty weird . He could look at the Orom’s sky for a million years without forming any Dao Branches unless he was absorbing some Dao Treasures . With zero affinities , a sky was just a sky .

Right outside Glimmerwood’s area of influence stood a forest full of luminescent plants that stretched for a day’s travel . Zac encountered several warded-off cultivation caves among the trees , but he didn’t encounter anyone as he took a long berth around . Eventually , the trees grew sparse as the forest was replaced by a mountainous region .

It didn’t feel like the mountains were natural formations , though Zac figured that might be a result of how the Orom World was created . There was never any rain or strong winds , except in the elemental zones , and this particular section neither had seasons or a daily cycle . It would be odd if the stones were whittled down in such a place .

Instead , the mountain walls were covered in extremely sharp cuts and it almost looked like a laser had shaved off some sections . With the spatial fluctuations emanating from within , it was obviously the work of the Dao of Space . The area was rife with Spatial Energies , though Zac frowned when he realized it wasn’t a good thing in this case .

Just like Temporal Energy could both slow down and speed up time , Spatial Energy could both weaken and strengthen the laws of space . In this area , Zac suspected it was the latter , making the seal even stronger . Wanting to try something out , Zac found a secluded spot where he activated Earthstrider] with some Void Energy .

As anticipated , he was met with strong resistance , and he only moved a fifth of the distance compared to what he was capable of . It felt like pushing through quicksand , proving the Spatial Energies were working against him . Trying to tear open space in this area would be extremely difficult .

Zac continued toward the edge of the world , and even after two weeks , he was unable to find a single spatial tear . Not that he expected much . If random tears popped up , people would definitely try to escape , just like how desperate captives in the Technocrat research base did .

Eventually , Zac crossed the final mountain between him and the edge , and his brows rose when he saw over twenty people already standing there . Zac walked over , despite the oppressive atmosphere . A few glanced in his direction , but most were seemingly lost in their thoughts .

Trying your luck as well , kid? - came a sigh , and Zac looked over to see a familiar face . It was one of the Havarok warriors who’d been dragged here in the same cohort as himself .

No good , huh? - Zac grimaced .

See for yourself , - the man said with a wave .

Zac nodded curiously as he continued past the group . One moment , his vision was filled with expansive vistas that stretched to eternity , only for the scene to grow blurred the farther he went . A moment later , he reached a shimmering haze that looked like a purple nebula . This was the true edge of the Orom World .

He wondered if he would be committing a crime by trying to pass through the barrier . However , a Revenant suddenly popped out next to him , swearing like a sailor as he moved back toward the others . Zac wasn’t planning on using his hidden cards in front of an audience , but he still entered to get a sense of what he was dealing with .

A moment later , he emerged again , looking at the spot where he came from with confusion . Just like in the City of Ancients , he’d been redirected without noticing . However , while the thick haze in the City of Ancients had been the result of some intricate illusion arrays , Zac’s instincts told him the edge of the Orom World was the result of high-grade spatial laws .

His mind wasn’t tricked to turn around , space was rather folded in some way , where all directions were steered back to the Orom World . Zac sighed and walked back to the group , and his suspicions were confirmed soon enough .

How could people possibly have broken out from this place before? - the Revenant swore . - This isn’t a barrier . This is Dao manifested into law . To break through , you’d need to overpower it . But how could we accomplish that without having confirmed our Dao? -

40

JOURNEY

Zac grimaced when he heard the Revenant’s description of the spatial seal that prevented them from leaving the Orom World . He wasn’t exactly certain what - Dao manifested into law’ meant , but he guessed it was like a Dao Field except innumerable times more powerful . From what he’d gathered , Dao Intent was the next step after a Dao Field , and Dao Law might be multiple levels above that .

Dao Intent was a testament to the degree you controlled your Dao . It wasn’t dependent on the strength of your soul , though a powerful soul generally helped . When you reached the level of forming Dao Intent , you could condense your understanding into something more corporeal than just a large field around you .

It could essentially be turned into something akin to a skill , where you could kill a thousand people with a simple thought or empower your normal attacks . He remembered the powerful blade of sword intent Thea had been imparted with from the Blade Emperor inheritance . That small fragment contained a huge number of insights into the Dao of the Sword , and it helped her both cultivate quicker and unleash powerful strikes .

Those were just simple tricks though , which were mostly useful against a large number of weaker enemies . The more important aspect was that by the time you could form Dao Intent , you had a far greater command of your Dao . Skills empowered by the Daos would become stronger and you would more easily integrate the Dao into your combat style .

Most likely Dao manifested into law meant you had such high control of a Dao , that you could essentially change how the world worked in a certain area around you .

Perhaps there are times weaknesses appear , - a beastman ventured .

I think you are right , - another cultivator agreed . - I heard from a Gold Attendant that the Orom World occasionally enters some sort of dark state . All Cosmic Energy is dragged out from the world and the laws grow dim . People might think it happens when the Orom is fighting or entering dangerous pockets of space . It can’t waste energy on us in that kind of situation , which might present some opportunity . -

I heard about that as well , - a golemoid cultivator with an earthy aura rumbled . - But cultivators are sealed by the brand when that happens , and everyone’s energy is siphoned off like in the bubbles . Who would be able to break out in that kind of state? -

Zac’s heart shuddered when he heard there were windows of opportunity that could appear at any moment , but kept his face impassive . Seeing as nothing else came up , he excused himself . Zac continued along the edge , prompting half his field of vision to be the mountain range he just passed , and the other half the purple nebula that stretched to the sky .

A few hours later , and Zac activated his ocular skill to make sure none of the others were close . After making sure he was alone , he once more started pushing into the haze , using everything from his Draugr-vision to Void Zone] in an attempt to force his way through . The only thing he didn’t do was unleash powerful strikes like Arcadia’s Judgment] out of fear that someone would notice .

Unfortunately , no matter what he tried , the result was the same .

It was just like the Hegemons said , the concepts safeguarding the edge of the inner world were just too profound . It wasn’t a barrier that could be broken , and it wasn’t some sort of energy that could be nullified . The laws of the universe had been altered at the edge , where up was no longer up and left was no longer left .

Not even his Void Emperor bloodline could subvert the laws of space like that , rendering his Void Zone] useless . Still , Zac refused to give up . He’d already decided to walk along the edge of the whole Orom World in search of opportunities , and that was what he would do . Some setbacks right in the beginning weren’t enough for him to give in to despair .

A few weeks passed like this , and Zac entered the next zone . Along the way , he encountered even more people who sought an escape , and his helplessness was mirrored in their expressions as they passed each other by . The place he just entered was another rocky region , this one illuminated by a scorching sun and filled with fiery energies .

Rivers of magma flowed in crevasses , and Zac was shocked at how rapidly his surroundings had changed over the past hour . Zac eventually steered away from the edge , finding an unclaimed cave an hour’s trek away . There , he set up his arrays before taking out a bottle of Stellar Enkindling Pills] .

Three weeks later , Zac emerged , having broken open another four nodes and filled them with energy , providing him with thousands of more Contribution Points . He’d officially entered the Late E-grade now , which meant each node and each level provided even more attribute points .

Zac believed he had a pretty big advantage compared to the other E-grade cultivators in that regard . The few - lucky - ones who survived the great filter were mostly at Peak E-grade already , with their eyes set at forming a core . They didn’t have easy access to Contribution Points in the same way he did , which might become more important as a speedy escape started to look less likely every day .

Even after having consecutively opened four nodes in his head , Zac was still in decent shape . He had a pretty bad headache , but it was nothing compared to the suffering of blowing up your brain . It could have been much worse , and the damage was kept to a minimum thanks to his powerful soul .

Zac continuously worked on familiarizing himself with his transformed soul while traveling , and he was getting increasingly adroit when controlling the nine tendrils . It wasn’t exactly smooth , but neither was he making big mistakes like the first time he tried shielding a node .

He believed he would be able to improve his technique even further so long as he kept working on it , but it was enough to barely receive any physical damage while breaking open nodes with the help of pills , though the damage to his foundations was still there . Unfortunately , he’d reached the limit of the Stellar Enkindling Pills] for now , though he still had mountains of Beast Cores in his Spatial Rings .

The real test would be whether he could safely brute-force levels with all his new advantages . Zac would wait though , restoring his state to peak condition before attempting something like that .

As Zac got more and more used to his odd nine-core soul , it became increasingly clear that his cultivation method was pretty unique . He’d found that he could choose whether he wanted to drag attuned Mental Energy or pure Mental Energy from his outer cores , making it something in-between an attuned and unattuned cultivation method .

However , the amount of energy the cores released was greater when he extracted attuned energy . It was like only half of the core was used when conjuring unattuned energies . In other words , only a cultivator who cultivated both Life and Death could make the most of the soul that the Nine Reincarnations Manual] created .

Zac had only undergone the second reincarnation so far , and the effect might become greater as he progressed further with the method . It was pretty lucky that Vilari had dropped the method in favor of whatever Soul Strengthening Method Ralz Carzood , the Crown of Despair , had imparted . Otherwise , she would probably find herself unable to use a significant part of her soul down the road .

It made Zac quite curious about the origin of the Nine Reincarnations Manual] . He had scoured the Contribution Store already , and it wasn’t listed among the thousands of methods that were for sale . Conversely , all the common methods were there , most of them in various editions .

More importantly , how many people actually cultivated both Life and Death at the same time? In all accounts , it was extremely rare to have affinities in both those paths . Was the technique something created by a Life-Death Edgewalker such as himself? Or was it custom-designed by the System to allow him to keep gathering the Remnants for it?

There were some indications that the method might be of Buddhist origins , but Zac knew too little about the various branches of the Buddhist Sangha to draw any definite conclusions . Who knew , it was perhaps possible to turn the Daos of Life and Death toward some sort of Dao of Samsara or Reincarnation , rather than pushing the Daos toward Chaos .

Perhaps he could ask some monk later , they seemed pretty open about themselves . For now , the method worked just fine for him , which was all that mattered .

Zac continued his journey after reaching level 129 in one go . Unfortunately , while he made some strides with his cultivation , the same couldn’t be said for his prison break . No matter if it was the fiery region or glacier that neighbored it , there were simply no weaknesses to exploit . The barrier was impenetrable , and digging downward was no use either .

After pushing roughly two kilometers into the ground , a similar spatial barrier appeared . It was like he’d reached the core of a planet , where every direction technically was up . He found himself floating in the air , continuously falling without actually moving . If he tried forcing his way through the odd field , he encountered the same type of spatial bending as before . He could only climb out of the tunnel with disappointment and continue on .

Zac wasn’t interested in the Daos that had left their mark on the frozen world around him , but he was a bit interested in how they impacted their surroundings . Zac doubted the Orom bothered to meticulously craft every zone for its prisoners . Rather , it just flooded the areas with different Daos , and the attunement slowly terraformed the world .

Was this how attuned worlds looked? Would Earth become like the zones around Samsara’s Edge in the future , where the dominant Dao had a direct impact on everything from a blade of grass to the cultivators who lived on those lands? Or was it amplified here for the sake of expediting breakthroughs?

No matter the case , Zac found it harder and harder to ignore the whispers in the back of his head . His prospects of escaping were getting lower and lower each day . He’d considered himself unique , armed with both his unique bloodline and the Remnants . But he underestimated just how absolute the Orom’s domain was .

In this place , the Orom was the Heavens , and its will was Heavenly Law .

More than once , Zac found himself beset with hesitation , forcing those thoughts aside as he kept going , looking for fault-lines while visiting nearby settlements to gather information . He also had a blacksmith fashion a copy of Love’s Bond] in exchange for 500 Purchase Points .

The copy couldn’t change form and had no skills . But it was made from High-quality materials , especially the five pitch-black chains . The blacksmith had even managed to infuse the metal with some corrosive crystal that would help strengthen his skills even though the tool wasn’t Death-attuned .

It was a far cry from the real thing , but it would be enough to serve his needs , no matter if you talked about training in the Wilderness or practicing his Inexorable Stance . As for the real deal , it was still in deep slumber . Zac wasn’t sure if it was because of the dangerous energies or the Purifier it had swallowed—he could only wait and see .

Showing up inside a settlement in his Draugr persona was also a way for him to legitimize his other personality . There was no census or anything , so this way people would simply assume he was one of the new prisoners from the latest batch . He made sure to make some connections in his undead form as well , though he wasn’t able to gather too many tokens this far from the sections where the undead generally stayed .

While traveling in his undead form , he wore a simple mask to shield his Draugr heritage , similar to the one he wore when arriving at the Twilight Harbor . It was a bit unusual , but it wasn’t unprecedented that people hide their appearances one way or another . Some cultivators developed quirks , and people chalked it up to something similar .

Weeks turned to months with Zac making his way toward the Wilderness , one step at a time . He also secluded himself a few times to digest various ideas and insights he had on the road . Eventually , he reached the eastern section of the Orom World , and one day , stopped atop a small hill that provided great vantage of the surroundings .

When reading about the Orom World’s arena on the stele of rules , Zac pictured something like the Big Axe Coliseum back in the Zecia Sector . However , the structure that stood in the distance was just a fraction the size of what he expected . Of course , it was still a couple of times bigger than the sports arenas back on Earth since it required enough space for superhumans to clash , but it was nowhere near the city-like size of the coliseum he visited on the Bloodwind Planet .

Zac thought about it before he decided to head over , and was met by a raucous round of cheers as he passed through the gate . There were a couple of clerks stationed by the entrance in case you wanted to sign up for battle , but Zac was more interested in observing some fights .

You seldom had to wait long to spectate a duel , considering there were tens of thousands who sought inspiration by alternating between fighting in the Wilderness and battling on the stage . This soon after the Orom fed , the number of participants and spectators was even greater . Only the years before a culling would see more foot traffic , when people desperately struggled to break through .

Zac sat in an empty seat with a decent view , just in time to see two warriors leave the arena . One was a human sporting a nasty wound in his side , whereas the other was a beastman who was carried out by an Attendant . Seeing as he might have to wait a while for the next fight , Zac took out a vat of spiritual wine he’d moved over to his Cosmos Sack .

First time here? - a friendly voice asked , and Zac looked over to see a smiling woman donning leather armor covered in unfamiliar runes .

On her belt , there were over twenty identical daggers , while two short-swords were sheathed by her hip . She had a bloody aura , though Zac didn’t believe she walked some sort of assassin path even if her weapons leaned that way . He felt a sense of familiarity as he looked at her . It wasn’t that he recognized the woman , but he rather suspected she walked some path related to the Dao of Conflict .

Just arrived , - Zac nodded .

New batch , huh? - she said as she thumped down next to him , her eyes locked to the vat in Zac’s hand . - I’m Yurul . I guess you could say I have some renown here . Fought over 2 , 000 matches , altogether . -

Zac smiled slightly as he took out another vat and handed it to her , prompting her eyes to light up . Her hands turned into a blur before she poured at least five liters worth of alcohol down her throat .

That hits the spot . I’ve mostly been drinking ol’ Barrel’s swill for over a thousand years . It’s strong enough , but he insists on putting those centipedes inside . They taste alright , but it’s a pain when they bite your tongue , - Yurul sighed . - That’s what you get when buying alcohol from a poison master . -

The centipedes are alive? - Zac said with a raised brow .

They cultivate inside the vats , which purifies the brew , - Yurul shrugged . - You planning on competing? You seem like the fighting type . -

I was told to avoid this place , - Zac smiled . - For now , I’m just here to watch . -

Avoid? - Yurul repeated with confusion until her eyes widened . - Oh , you’re one of the brats? Bad luck , huh? Well , better than becoming fertilizer , I guess . Any chance of you getting out of here? -

We’ll see , - Zac smiled .

He’d been asked that quite a few times by now , though few were as direct as the gladiator next to him .

Mooching off the newcomers again , Yurul? - a gruff voice snorted , attached to an approaching , scarred Ogre .

Don’t mind him . He’s just a bit pissy he lost 5 , 000 Purchase Points yesterday , - Yurul laughed . - Another of the regulars had just made a breakthrough in secret , and he chose Obbo to provide the celebratory gift . -

Zac looked at the Ogre with confusion .

People hide their breakthroughs to swindle good folks out of their Purchase Points . Arol pretended to get in a heated argument with me that lasted for five days , and it ended with me challenging him . It was all a ruse to make me place a larger bet , - Obbo sighed as he thumped down next to Yurul .

Like you haven’t done the same , - Yurul snorted as she glanced at the arena . - Oh , Pavina is fighting today? She’s a tough one . -

Zac followed her gaze to see a Revenant emerge from one of the gates , her aura reeking of Death . A small smile crept up across Zac’s face as he looked on . His luck had come through for him again . Pavina was actually a Silver Attendant and someone who seemed to cultivate Pure Death .

He’d just visited the arena out of curiosity , but an opportunity to study someone who walked a similar path as himself had fallen right in his lap .

41

WAKING UP

The air screamed and red dust swirled as a halberd pierced toward her . Her mind was still a mess , but the endless drills she’d endured guided her movements . A brutal scream emerged from the depths of her soul as she swung her axe in an overhead arc to slam it out of the way .

At the same time , a burst of the sun’s fury ripped straight past her from the totem behind her back , finishing off the orc who already lost his right arm . Another wail meant Apostle of Autumn] had finished yet another warrior , leaving the captain as the lone survivor . Going from three-versus-one to a one-versus-one in an instant had extinguished his desire to battle , and swirls of razor-sharp winds erupted around his body .

Emily recognized that skill all-too-well . After all , her enemies were the very party she had traveled with over the past six months . It was Razorwake] , Captain Krog’s E-grade movement skill . Emily inwardly wavered on striking the back of a fleeing enemy , but the will of the Bloodwind World and the wounds across her body urged her on .

Roots sprung up from the ground as Emily activated Spring’s Embrace] , and the roots locked the area in place , preventing Krog from flashing away . From there , she seamlessly closed the distance as Cosmic Energy coursed through her body , her fury conveyed through the Fragment of the Axe as she struck .

Krog understood the situation he was in , and he turned with a ferocious glint in his eye . A crying mask appeared the moment Emily’s tomahawk closed in on his body , but a flash erupted from Emily’s fingers as one of her rings cracked . The defensive treasure that was meant to block Emily’s strike instantly crumbled from the light , and her weapon dug deep into flesh .

A cascading torrent of blood drenched her even further , and she ignored the viscous liquid . She delivered a second strike , this one digging deeper . Krog feebly tried to counter , but a fiery lizard bit his muscular arm clean off , prompting his halberd to drop to the ground .

Krog stumbled to his knees as bubbles of blood formed around his lips . He was trying to say something , but Emily didn’t want to hear it . With a flash of her axe , his throat was split wide open , and he toppled over with a thump .

A huge surge of energy burrowed into her body , though she barely registered it . Not even the insidious energy that covered the Bloodwind World could prevent the wave of confusing emotions that pushed to the surface now that the crisis was averted . She’d been betrayed , with all six members of her adventurer party striking her out of nowhere .

It was clearly a premeditated attack , and not a single one of her companions had tried to warn her . It wasn’t like she’d joined a veteran party who had adventured on the Bloodwind World for decades either . Only Krog and Brudge knew each other from their homeworld , while the others were recruited at the same time as her .

Yet they’d come to an accord to assassinate and rob a fellow member of the Big Axe Coliseum .

She knew she'd been shielded from the true horrors of the Multiverse since Zac saved her life all those years ago , but she still couldn’t believe it . She was also aware that she would be the one lying on the ground right now if not for Zac , her treasures split among the warriors whose corpses littered the area around her .

A gentle nudge made her look over with confusion , and she weakly smiled when she saw her conjured lizard by her side . It looked like it was trying to comfort her , even though it was just an energy construct without a real mind of its own . Was it some sort of self-defense mechanism from her subconscious?

Thank you , - she sighed as she patted the lizard’s head , and the summon along with the large totem pole dissipated a moment later .

She suddenly felt so utterly alone , a stranger lost in a corner of the Gorehowl Forest . Yet her instincts kicked in , and she heard her master’s urgings in the back of her head . Not Warsong’s , but Zac’s . She moved the bodies together into a pile before she took out a black vial and started pouring its contents over the corpses .

Soon enough , only ash and a few treasures remained , and she stoically put the treasures into a spare Cosmos Sack one by one . When it was filled , she took out a talisman and placed it on the sack before throwing it into the air . The talisman activated , and a burst of chaotic energies was followed by a wave of spatial fluctuations .

The Cosmos Sack had been ripped apart , its contents lost in some unreachable corner of the Void . With the corpses destroyed , she used a cleansing array to rid her of all the blood and grime before covering herself in fate-breaking dust . Finally finished with Zac’s danger-averting procedure , she flashed away through the forest , taking the long route back toward the teleporter in case of ambush .

She felt completely hollow , rushing through the forest and entering some sort of fugue state as she simply moved by instinct . Only when approaching the teleporter five days later did she somewhat wake up , and she roused herself before stepping onto the array . With a flash , she appeared outside the Big Axe Coliseum , the events of the past week somehow feeling like a dream .

A few confused looks were directed her way upon returning alone , but she ignored the warriors . She knew what they were thinking . Krog was only a Late E-grade warrior with almost no chance of reaching the D-grade , but he’d stayed in the coliseum for over thirty years . Quite a few at similar levels knew of him and his newly established party .

Why was she returning from a hunt alone?

The stares were almost like daggers , and she hurried into the coliseum , heading to the inner sanctums . She flashed her token to the Pseudo D-grade warrior who guarded a specific corridor , and he nodded before activating a teleporter for her .

A moment later , she found herself standing at the top of a balcony that overlooked the whole area . This place was one of the hidden mountain peaks behind the coliseum , and it belonged to one of the leaders of the Big Axe Coliseum—Warsong , the fourth elder .

You’re back , - the scarred man said , taking in Emily’s ragged appearance . - How was it? -

The others attacked me , - she said , her voice shaky as she finally allowed herself to remember the betrayal . - We adventured together for months , yet they tried to kill me! -

Indeed , - Warsong nodded . - Do you know why? -

Because of my treasures , - Emily spat , but she suddenly looked at her master with shock . - You knew they would target me? -

I assumed as much , so I followed you . -

You didn’t step forward and stop them? - Emily stuttered with wide eyes . - Am I really your disciple? -

If you were killed by that kind of rabble , even with all the precious items you’ve been flaunting , then you weren’t qualified to be my disciple . - Warsong shrugged . - Instead , this turned into a decent learning experience . You say that you want to understand war , that you want to reach the peak , yet your hands are almost untainted of blood . -

An aura reeking of blood flooded the balcony , a killing intent endlessly more powerful than the pervasive atmosphere of the Bloodwind Planet . It no longer felt like she was looking at a man . It felt like she was looking at a Primordial Beast , the two axes hanging from his belt razor-sharp fangs bared at her .

Why should I help you? -

I— - Emily weakly said , her anger quelled by the ruthless gaze of her master . - I’m sorry . -

You used three Peak-quality E-grade items to kill those people . One restriction talisman , one offensive talisman , and the defense-breaking ring at the end . By their quality , I would say you spent roughly 12 , 000 E-grade Nexus Coins to kill a couple of warriors whose total wealth barely surpassed 1 , 000 E-grade Nexus Coins . And you actually destroyed the items rather than rightfully claim them . If you were a wandering cultivator like most warriors in this place , you’d be long dead . -

Emily looked to the ground as she took in the admonishment , knowing he was speaking the truth . The items Zac prepared were the only reason she was alive . This wasn’t even the first time she’d relied on them .

You have an Epic class , a set of powerful skills , and extremely developed Daos for your age . You should have been able to kill those six without breaking a sweat and without using a single supportive item , - Warsong continued . - This will keep happening unless you smarten up . I’m guessing that is why your backer sent you here . -

That’s . . . -

No need to repeat that story about finding a trove , - Warsong snorted . - I don’t care which faction you’re from . I took you in because I saw your potential and found your path interesting . But I will not come to your aid like some elder of your family . And judging by the fact that you were sent here of all places , neither will they until you’ve become worthy of further nurturing . -

Emily wanted to retort , to counter or swear like she did when teased by Zac . Only , she couldn’t make a peep . The aura of her master was too powerful , quelling any resistance .

Well , you’re still young , and you have a lot of room for improvement , - Warsong sighed before restraining his aura . - If you want it , I have an opportunity for you . But I’ll only provide it if you agree with my rules . -

What is it? - Emily asked breathlessly , feeling like a mountain had finally been lifted from her shoulders .

A pocket dimension has been discovered not too far from here . It has been claimed by the Ruthless Heavens , and only those at the E-grade can enter , - Warsong said as he looked down at the gladiator stages far below .

A Mystic Realm? - Emily said , her messy mind suddenly cleared by a wave of desire .

Desire to become stronger . Desire to shed the weakness she had seen in herself .

Most of these pockets will become Open Realms after the initial event and turned into something like a training ground or herbal garden depending on the environment . Because of its location , it will be jointly controlled by the coliseum , the Supreme Sword Palace , and four other factions , - Warsong explained . - We’re mostly on good terms , but competition is Heavenly Law .

Depending on the results of the trial , each faction will get a different share of ownership . We will all send a series of peak warriors to open the realm and a few seedlings with potential . It will become a small-scale war for ownership and opportunities . You’re too weak to be a warrior , but you have the foundation to be a seedling . -

And you’ll give me a spot? Even if I messed up? - Emily hesitantly asked .

As I said , on one condition . - Warsong’s eyes bore into hers . - I will give you one of the spots , but only if you leave your treasures behind . You only get one lifesaving item and your equipment . If you want more talismans and defensive treasures , snatch them from the bodies of your fallen enemies . -

Emily’s eyes widened in shock , thinking back to how many times the mountain of treasures had saved her the fifteen months she’d spent on the Bloodwind Planet . She knew herself well . There obviously wouldn’t be any monsters like Zac in a small-scale trial like this , but there would be Peak E-grade warriors .

She was still only level 103 , unable to deal with those who had accumulated a foundation at the peak of the grade , even with her Epic class and other advantages . If she brought all the items Zac left for her through Vilari , she would be almost unkillable and able to dominate the whole trial with treasures alone .

Without them . . . She would be under constant threat of death .

I’ve told you already . War is coming , a war far more brutal than anything you will experience in some small trial . You need to make a choice . Hide behind your heritage or enter the path of a true warrior for a shot at controlling your destiny . -

I’ll do it , - Emily said with clenched fists , a glean of determination shimmering in her eyes .

Good , - Warsong nodded . - Thankfully , you have some time remaining . Rest up . In two days , I’m sending you to the Twinruin Gorge . Your blades have finally tasted some blood , but not enough . -

Zac was still a bit shook as he made his way through the deathly forest neighboring Samsara’s Edge , once more donning the mask hiding his Draugr heritage . He’d already come to terms with the fact that his strength was right at the bottom rung in this place , but watching a dozen matches in the arena had still been an eye-opening experience .

The way the Hegemons fought was beyond ferocious , and they managed to squeeze more power out of the small number of attribute points they had than Zac thought possible . Their bodies were a blur throughout their clashes across the arena , fluently swapping between skills and pure technique in a desperate struggle to create openings .

Not a single second was wasted . Not a single movement superfluous . They became avatars of their paths , putting it all on the line . Zac had somewhat felt he would be able to at least put up a decent fight as long as he could use an axe . But from what he saw , he was far from reaching that point . Even the weakest combatants he observed over the last day would have easily dismantled his stances before taking him out .

The stronger ones would simply crush him .

This was especially obvious in the two battles between Silver Attendants . Even now , Zac didn’t quite understand how they accomplished some of the strikes they unleashed . Pavina , for example , pushed Death to a level Zac had never seen before . However , she wasn’t like Zac , a spider who gradually trapped and whittled down his victims .

She was a grim reaper , whose strikes and technique presented another facet of inexorability . Zac almost felt like his own Inexorable Stance was a joke compared to the lethality the Revenant exhibited , but he pulled himself together , knowing he was still finding his way .

Still , while the fights shocked him , they were also exhilarating . Even if only Pavina had a path close to his own , it was extremely illuminating to witness how the different warriors incorporated their Daos and skills into a fluid combat system . He was simply lacking proper foundations , with no masters to teach him and no elders in his force to show him the way .

There was Yrial , but he was ultimately just a ghost . The duration the ghost could guide Zac was limited and highly dependent on his mood . It was nothing compared to growing up in a sect or with elders who could knock away at least some of the roadblocks on the road of cultivation . Zac initially planned on taking a trip into the Wilderness after visiting the arena , but ultimately decided against it .

First of all , he’d found out that even the weakest of the beasts in the Wilderness had twice the amount of attribute points compared to the prisoners . It was the Orom making up for quality with quantity . The beasts it reared were in the E-grade , useless for a Hegemon to fight on even ground with .

If there wasn’t a handicap , there was no point . Zac was pretty confident in taking out beasts at twice his attribute pool , but those kinds of fights weren’t his strong suit . If anything , he was usually the one who bullied the enemy with his massive attribute pool rather than the other way around .

Thankfully , he heard the attribute configuration would change to match his own allocation . For example , roughly 30% of his attribute points were Strength when not restrained , so his Strength would rise to almost 2000 in the arena or the Wilderness . Conversely , most of his other attributes would be lowered , except for Vitality and Endurance .

Only Luck was untouched , probably because the Orom was unable to mess with something like that .

Even then , Zac was a bit hesitant about entering the Wilderness . His life wasn’t in danger thanks to his bloodline , but he still didn’t want to risk getting exposed just to save his life from a beast tide . Besides , he’d pretty much given up on finding an easily exploitable weakness in the Orom’s spatial seal . He didn’t believe he would suddenly be able to pass through the walls in the Wilderness .

That meant he would have to wait for his Oblivion Energy to gather up . Four months had passed since evolving his soul already , but Zac could sense he wasn’t even half-full by how much purified Oblivion Energy he could store . Since he couldn’t influence that process , he might as well spend the time focusing on consolidating his gains and powering up .

His first target had been tantalizing him for months already and it was finally time to see if his investment was worthwhile . It was the Seed of Eldritch Awakening] that might open another Hidden Node .

42

ANCIENT DREAD

Is it really here? - Galau muttered as he kept watch for those sinister insects that lorded over the planet .

That’s what the captain said , - Bubbur grunted , though he was clearly just as confused as Galau was .

What would the invaders want with an uninhabited place like this? - Galau said . - The planet seems old enough , which means this area has to be pretty stable . But there are multiple nearby gates . It would be impossible to hold it for long . -

Not to mention these critters , - another member of the expedition added . - Setting up a camp would be suicide . There are simply too many , and they’re freakishly perceptive . Just look how they attacked our ship . Those bastards would have to invest way too much in shielding to make it worth it . Setting up camp on a random asteroid would be better . -

It only took us four jumps from the Worldship to get here , - Bubbur thoughtfully said . - Perhaps they’re setting up an ambush? -

They would have to be suicidal to attack the Worldship with their current strength , - Galau said with a shake of his head . - Their weapons are pretty terrifying , but by the time someone powerful enough makes it through , the Worldship will be long gone from that position . -

At least Galau prayed that was the case . They still hadn’t found the Space Gate , though they knew it was out there . After all , the enemies were here already .

They were just rumors at first , unconfirmed sightings of a new group of spacefarers in this chaotic sector of space . Normally , that wasn’t anything odd . Now and then , a new species or people appeared through a rift , their homeworlds suddenly connected to the Million Gates and the outer world . But these people were different .

For one , the faction was too diverse to be some isolated civilization that had grown inside a Mystic Realm . Secondly , their methods were too advanced . The Muscle Brigade was among the best-equipped and most ferocious squads in the area , yet every clash with the invaders had been a costly endeavor .

Even when the Muscle Brigade overwhelmed them in numbers and levels , the invaders exacted a high cost before succumbing . And they were true zealots , though that might be because of the things that lived inside their bodies . Even now , they didn’t know where they came from or what their faction was called . They only knew what they could glean from the corpses .

Neither the researchers nor the thieves managed to crack their weird spatial tools either . Finding news of this world was simply a stroke of luck . Greatest Peak managed to ambush and kill a leader in one go , right when he was reading a star chart .

The only good news was that the Space Gate hadn’t stabilized just yet , giving them a few more years to prepare . Those squads who arrived were just at the E-grade , with the occasional early Hegemon squeezing through . The Muscle Brigade had been commanded to hunt down any squad they could in hopes of finding the Space Gate , but prospects didn’t look good .

Even with over a thousand similar squads having been sent into the Million Gates Territory by the recently formed alliance , they simply couldn’t find it . Not even the sages of the Heliophos Clan could glean its location according to Average . However , the issue wasn’t the chaotic territory .

The gate was shrouded , and not even their Monarchs could break it .

That could only mean one of two things . Either their enemies were extremely powerful or the System was aiding the invasion . Perhaps it was both . In either case , it was bad news . Yet the Muscle Brigade pressed on , delving deeper and deeper in the seemingly endless expanse of the Million Gates Territory . If they couldn’t prevent the invasion , they could at least hamper their efforts .

These advance scouts were working toward something , gathering intelligence and setting up outposts . The more scouts they could kill and preparations they could ruin , the better their position would be when all hell broke loose . Perhaps they could even delay the invasion for a couple of years , which would allow for more fortresses to be built .

That’s why they were on this cursed island infested by an endless number of insects , each one of which essentially carried a gastric bomb in their abdomen . Galau was scared enough that he was ready to strike at every shadow that moved , but he no longer felt discontent about joining these kinds of dangerous missions . He’d even volunteered for this one , wanting to use his unique ocular skills to aid his companions .

What he was doing had value , and even someone like him could make a small difference in these critical times . He might have been discarded by his clan , but the Allbright Empire was still his home . The hundreds of trillions of lives didn’t deserve to be swept up in this war . Galau had seen how sinister these people were .

Wherever they encountered locals , not a single life was spared .

If not ambush , infiltration , then? - Bubbur ventured , scratching at his beard .

No point in guessing , - Average said as he glanced back at the squad . - As long as we find what we’re looking for , we’re bound to get some answers . -

Galau nodded in agreement as he glanced at his friend . It was true what they say , heroes rise in troubled times . Just a few short years had passed , yet the loudmouth young master had transformed into a capable leader the Muscle Brigade willingly followed . Of course , his explosive growth in power helped solidify his position among these meatheads .

After all , while this chaotic place had its dangers , it also held uncountable opportunities . They’d lost more than half of their squad , but those that survived had gone through a baptism of fire that no training regimen could compare to . Average , in particular , had essentially been reborn through the inheritances and troves he’d survived .

Hopefully , they would get the chance to consolidate for a while longer . They had grown a lot , but were ultimately just E-grade warriors . An errant clash between captains could crush their souls . Only when they became Hegemons would they be able to equip proper Regalia , which would at least provide a semblance of safety in a large-scale war .

Hours passed as the squad crept closer , closing in on the camp they spotted from orbit . Oddly enough , the incessant chirping from the native beasts grew more and more sparse as time went on . Did the invaders have some method to repel them? Finally , they were within a few kilometers of their target , at which point the jungle was eerily silent .

Seeing as no critters were nearby , they activated a cloaking array before taking out their enhanced binoculars . The invaders had set up camp at the edge of a vast chasm , one so large it was visible from outer space . Galau had never seen anything like it before , and he even suspected some supreme warrior had tried cutting the huge planet in two during some ancient era .

The scar reached almost halfway through the world , and just looking at it from space had filled Galau with dread .

What are they doing? - Bubbur whispered , glancing at Average . - Is it a trap? -

Galau frowned as well , feeling disconcerted by the scene . The invaders were right there in full display . A few stood at the edge of the chasm , apparently looking out at the vast beyond . A few others were simply sitting a few meters away from the others , mindlessly staring at the sky . It was a far cry from the ruthless warriors they clashed with before .

Average also looked confused , silently observing for a few more minutes . But there was simply no change . None of the invaders moved as much as an inch .

Go! - Average eventually growled , and the squad rushed out like a rabid pack of wolves .

There was no need for words from that point on . Their group had been through over a hundred battles by now , and their cooperation was flawless . They soundlessly closed the distance , and a series of attacks rippled out with perfect timing . However , Galau couldn’t believe what he was seeing , as one enemy after another was ripped apart , not even lifting a finger to defend themselves .

Stop! - Average shouted as he threw out two chains that grabbed the sole remaining invaders .

I didn’t get any energy , - a warrior muttered , and Galau looked over with surprise as he stepped into the camp .

Some of them were already dead before?

Uh , boss , - another warrior said as he walked out to the edge . - You need to see this . -

The others joined him , and were shocked by what they saw . An ancient fortress silently floated in the massive chasm , radiating a terrifying aura even if it was damaged by a huge scar . Had that thing just appeared? Because they should definitely have spotted that from orbit .

The construct wasn’t as large as the war fortresses the alliance was frantically building , but its quality was vastly superior . The aura it emitted was more overwhelming than anything Galau had ever encountered , including the Monarch that met with the captain a year ago . Its towers and walls were covered in unrecognizable scripts , and he didn’t recognize the design either .

This wasn’t something built by someone in the Zecia Sector . They simply didn’t have the capability to build something like this . It didn’t match the invader’s heritages either , which begged the question—how the hell did these invaders know where to find this thing? Where did it come from? And why were the invaders all dead or braindead? And who was powerful enough to damage this thing with a single attack?

A hum suddenly broke the silence just as runes lit up on one of the towers .

Something about the sound elicited a primal fear that threatened to break Galau’s spirit , and he wasn’t the only one . A few fell on their knees , while others desperately looked away . This wasn’t something they could get involved with .

Run! - someone shouted , but it was too late .

Unique advantages like Hidden Nodes , Constitutions , Specialty Cores , Attuned Souls , and other kinds of enhancements were restrained in the Orom World , although not sealed altogether . Even those with less unique bloodlines than his could somewhat benefit from their abilities , and those with many such accrued advantages generally did better in the Wilderness .

That was why he wanted to open another Hidden Node before entering the Wilderness . Conversely , the Attribute Fruits in his Cosmos Sack would only provide some Contribution Points , but no real strength .

Zac could technically take the seed anywhere and at any time , but he had no idea how Draugr bloodlines worked . They might have unique requirements like his Void Emperor bloodline , so Zac decided to visit this area to improve his odds of success . Eventually , he saw a towering peak through the Miasmic haze , which meant he’d reached his destination .

It was the Blackink Mountain , a unique cultivation resource a few days’ travel from Samsara’s Edge .

There were two spots in the Death-attuned zones that held special opportunities , and one of them was the Blackink Mountain . The solitary peak was thousands of meters tall , and held 242 empowered cultivation caves , along with one mansion at the peak . The mansion was only accessible to Emerald Badges , and the eight peak-quality caves could only be booked by Jade Attendants and higher . But the rest was available for rent .

What made the Blackink Mountain different compared to the zones themselves , was the amazing density of Miasma and Dao . Even the worst of the caves at the foot of the mountain far surpassed the density you could enjoy in the center of any zone . Of course , nothing good came for free , and you had to pay Purchase Points to rent these caves .

Zac soon arrived at the foot of the mountain , where a few dozen houses were erected . It wasn’t a real settlement , but rather a place to wait in case the cave you wanted was occupied . Thankfully , few people were willing to pay for prolonged stays , only splurging when they were ready to push for a breakthrough .

Welcome , - a bored-looking clerk said as Zac entered a small office . - Are you here to rent? -

How is occupancy at the moment? - Zac asked . - I’m looking for a low-tier cave . -

You’ve come at the right time . Few caves are occupied , but that will likely change in a few months , - the clerk said as he infused some energy into an array , which prompted almost one hundred small crystals to rise from a nearby box . - These are all the low-tier caves . Let me know which one you’re interested in and I will check its availability . -

Zac nodded in thanks and walked over to the gems . They weren’t Miasma Crystals , but rather small arrays from the looks of it . Zac infused a stream of Mental Energy into two crystals at random , and was immediately met by two small ripples of energy . Understanding the process , nine streams poured out of his mind , each one moving from one crystal to another .

After months of training , he’d mostly gotten used to his transformed soul . He had even gained another 800 points by simply stabilizing and strengthening his soul with the help of treasures . Altogether , he passed 15 , 000 Contribution Points without even trying , which was why he could afford a room at all .

Is there anything amiss? - the clerk asked with confusion when Zac returned after just a few seconds .

I’d like cave 183 , please , - Zac said .

Oh , alright , - the clerk said . - Cave #183 is luckily available , costing 1 , 000 Purchase Points per 12 hours . How long will you be staying? -

One day is enough . I can extend the stay if need be , no? - Zac asked .

The crystals were a pretty interesting solution . The Blackink Mountain contained a tremendously complex array , and most of the caves held different Daos . Certainly , all of them contained the Dao of Death , but just a third of the chambers were Pure Death .

Other caves were filled with mixed-meaning paths , mostly those popular in the Undead Empire . Zac had even sensed a couple of crystals that held a Death-Conflict imprint . Ultimately , Zac chose one of the pure-meaning caves . As to why Zac chose #183 , he couldn’t exactly put his finger on it . While its imprint was extremely similar to over a dozen others , it simply felt more comfortable .

He figured it had the best match with his Draugr side .

You can extend your stay without leaving as long as no customer outside has booked the same cave . Your token will inform you when your time is up , - the clerk said , handing over a small plaque . - Your key . This will lead the way . -

Zac thanked the man and flashed away , making his way up the mountain following the signal in the key . It only took thirty minutes to reach his destination , an excavated cave whose entrance was covered in intricate runes . Zac couldn’t tell if the runes were part of an array , but they seemed like some sort of fusion between Death and the patterns around the spatial gates the Orom used .

Their meaning was too esoteric for Zac to decipher though , no matter if he relied on Primal Polyglot] or any of his accrued knowledge . There wasn’t any indication that a cultivation haven waited inside , so Zac curiously stepped through the threshold . The moment he entered , a barrier activated behind him , quelling all sound and impressions from the outside . It once more felt like he had entered a sealed dimension , where there was only himself and the Dao .

Still , Zac was a bit confused as there weren’t any particularly impressive levels of energy around him , so he walked deeper into the mountain . Soon enough , he reached a densely engraved door , and he opened it to reach the core of the cultivation cave .

A wall of Pure Death slammed into him with such ferocity , Zac was pushed a few steps back and his eyes glazed over . Death . He had opened a door of no return , crossed the river of forgetfulness into an eternal domain of stillness . Death was always there , waiting , accepting all whether they wanted to or not . It was nothingness , it was release .

Zac shuddered as he regained his wits , but it was still with some trepidation he walked into the chamber . He initially wondered if he was too cheap , not springing for 12 hours in one of the middle-grade rooms . Now he wondered if he’d overestimated himself by coming to the Blackink Mountain at all . This environment bordered on the edge of what was harmful rather than helpful .

Still , the price was paid and Zac refused to turn back now . It wasn’t only a matter of cost either . He didn’t want to lose the sense of momentum he had gained after witnessing so many valiant warriors showcasing their skills . He wanted to use that adrenaline rush and hunger for power to fuel his breakthrough . There was no time to find some other place to settle down .

So , he let the gate close behind him , shrouding him in utter darkness . Zac was constantly beset by impressions as his body filled with Miasma , but while he welcomed the energy , he rejected the truths . Zac knew that he would probably be able to turn his Fragment of the Coffin into a Dao Branch if he stayed a week in this place .

However , such a breakthrough would be like the first ones he had back on Earth , where he was implanted with external concepts .

He didn’t want a Dao Branch based on the Daos fed into the cave by some array . He wanted a Dao Branch that was his alone , a branch attuned with his combat style , his class , and his path . Since Zac still hadn’t found all the answers he looked for in that regard , he couldn’t let himself get influenced by the curated truths that hid in the mountain .

Instead , he took out the pitch-black box and picked up the small seed within . It was no larger than an almond , but it felt like he was holding a small planet . The inner chamber didn’t let in a single wisp of light , but the seed was somehow darker than black , which made it stand out in the dark .

Zac looked down at the natural treasure with wonder , but the feeling only lasted a moment before he swallowed it . The effect was immediate , and Zac felt like he had become a black hole with the small seed as the core . He didn’t drag matter or energy into his body this time around though , but rather darkness .

It emerged from the ceiling , from the walls , from the floor . It flooded his body through every pore , frantically burrowing deeper . The gloom was turning it into an abyss , one he’d only seen in the eyes of Be’Zi before . Zac tried to channel it , to guide the changes the Seed of Eldritch Awakening] was eliciting .

Except he was losing control . His body was no longer his own . It was becoming one with the Abyss . Even the shimmering cores in his Soul Aperture were drowned in pervasive dusk . The last thing he felt was a burning sensation through his veins before his consciousness faded .

43

DARKNESS PERFECTED

The Abyss was his home and his sanctuary , a womb where time and space held no meaning . He didn’t know where he ended and the Abyss began , but he knew that he was safe . There were no sensations , no suffering . He was one with the universe , and it was one with him .

Until one day , there was a ripple in the darkness , change in the stillness . It called for him .

He didn’t know how , and he didn’t know why , but he moved toward the beckoning call , his very core burning with urgency . He had been content being one with the Abyss forever , to revel in his absence of being . Although now that the darkness wasn’t alone , his soul cried for more .

It couldn’t be seen . It couldn’t be touched . That elusive nature only made it more palpable in this world of absence . And it was even more real than he .

He was plagued with questions . Who was he? What was his purpose? Concepts that were once foreign flooded his mind , both cursing and liberating him . The Abyss was still his home and part of his very being , but he knew it couldn’t answer the questions that now tormented him . He needed to leave .

The Abyss was fighting his efforts , like a parent reluctant to let their child go . The calls relentlessly grew more urgent the further he pushed on , borrowing the endless power of the Abyss to fight the Abyss . After all , as much as they were separate , they were one .

Space held no meaning initially , but now , he started to understand just how immense it was . It had never mattered before . Now , it filled him with curiosity . Each breath , he traversed vast distances , entering sections of the Abyss he didn’t know existed . He could feel mysterious things hiding in the darkness , glorious things .

But they would be there in the future as well , and their call was not as urgent as the one from above .

For the first time in his life , he felt exhaustion . Whatever he was doing was draining him . Yet his destination was still so far away . When he couldn’t draw enough power from his surroundings , he dug deeper into his personal Abyss . And the Abyss answered . A surge of power spread through his being , and he the exhaustion melted away .

His desire gave him strength , and each time he moved , he wasn’t as drained . The exhaustion was still there , but his will was unbreakable , his adamance unrelenting . Another call came from below , urging him to let go . Only suffering waited on the other side . It was telling him to come home .

He didn’t listen , and suddenly , the darkness was no more . The endless Abyss had given way to an endless sky , and millions of flickering lights welcomed his arrival . The Abyss represented perfection and unity , while the myriad colors forming a chaotic tapestry contained an equal truth . For the first time , he took a deep breath , and reality shuddered .

Crashing waves against ancient rocks mourned the loss , but what he’d gained outweighed what was given up . With a simple thought , he could join those flickering lights far in the sky . . . Instead , he walked onto the shores . He wasn’t the first . Two were already there , letting themselves be baptized by the new environment while leaving their mark on the sky .

As he arrived , their eyes turned to his . And in their eyes , he saw home , his origin—the endless Abyss , darkness perfected .

Azol , - one of them said .

Mez , - his other friend added .

Eoz , - he answered . He didn’t know why , but it was true .

Nothing else was said . Nothing else was needed . The others would soon arrive . Until then , Eoz was content with standing at the shores , immersed in the low , soothing roar of the waves of home as he gazed upon the endless sky .

Zac took a shuddering breath as he woke up from the vision . He didn’t even get a chance to digest what he’d seen before he found himself in the middle of a torrent of energies . It felt like the ichor in his veins had been replaced with acid , but that was nothing compared to the burning pain in his throat .

A groan escaped his lips . He had to hold on . Something was changing in his body at the cost of tremendous amounts of energy . The cave was meant for early and Middle-stage Hegemons , but it was sucked dry by him all the same . Even then , it was nothing compared to the terrifying amounts of energy the Draugr called Eoz had consumed in his vision .

Each moment , the Draugr absorbed more energy than Zac had in his entire life . If Eoz sat here , he would most likely have destroyed the whole Blackink Mountain in a few seconds . Zac didn’t know whether the predecessor in his vision was an Autarch or something greater , but he was definitely not below Be’Zi , and far beyond the Orom or the Havarok Autarch .

All three Draugr in his vision were . It looked like those progenitors were just stargazing , but Zac felt like they themselves had been shifting the Heavens with their mere arrival . It made him wonder . Just what kind of place was the Abyssal Lake , to birth at least three such monsters?

Was it an Eternal Heritage? Did Draugr originate from an older era? And what were those things that hid in the lake just out of sight , each one emitting a world-ending aura that could snuff out an Autarch’s soul in an instant? After having seen it himself , he was no longer surprised that even A-grade cultivators could be wounded when exploring the Abyssal Lake .

Yet , he felt a sense of yearning when thinking back to that darkness . Even with the danger , he’d felt so safe there in the vision , at peace to a degree he had never experienced before . Even if he couldn’t visit the depths where Eoz originated from , he still wanted to enter the shallows of the Abyssal Lake , even if just to reclaim that sensation .

There were quite a few steps before he could reach that point . Most importantly , he needed to withstand the breakthrough . The energy in his body was getting crammed tighter and tighter as more poured in , and the Quantum Gate] was swallowing as much as the rest of his body combined .

It somewhat confirmed his earlier theories , though he wasn’t in any state to celebrate .

Any time Zac thought he might explode from the pressure , his cells shuddered and swallowed a mouthful before the process started over anew . He had no idea how long it took , but the pull eventually subsided . Even then , the room was left almost completely bereft of energy , which was almost a relief for Zac as he took a shuddering breath and sat up .

The process was over , and he curiously turned his gaze inward , looking for the new Hidden Node . However , a few seconds passed , and Zac furrowed his brows in confusion . Something had certainly changed with his body , but he couldn’t find a node . Had the process failed , even after being shown the vision? Or was this something related to his Void Emperor bloodline?

He thoroughly scanned his body a few more times , but the only change he could spot was that his energy was denser compared to before . If his Miasma had been water , it’d transformed into a viscous jelly now . That change hadn’t impacted the speed with which he could move his energy though , so Zac turned to his Status Screens for answers .

Name : Zachary Atwood

Level : 129

Class : E-Epic] Fetters of Desolation

Race : D] Draugr – Void Emperor (Corrupted)

Alignment : Earth] Port Atwood – Planetary Lord

Titles : Apex Progenitor , Pathstrider , Runebinder , Runic Erudition , Grand Fate

Limited Titles : Tower of Eternity Sector All-Star – 14th , The Final Twilight , Equanimity , Heart of Fire , Big Axe Gladiator

Dao : Branch of the War Axe – Early , Fragment of the Coffin – Peak , Fragment of the Bodhi – Peak

Core : E] Duplicity

Strength : 13895 Increase : 123% . Efficiency : 287%] 1 , 000

Dexterity : 5570 Increase : 88% . Efficiency : 206%] 1 , 000

Endurance : 8981 Increase : 109% . Efficiency : 275%] 1 , 000

Vitality : 7502 Increase : 97% . Efficiency : 262%] 1 , 000

Intelligence : 2275 Increase : 82% . Efficiency : 206%] 1 , 000

Wisdom : 4615 Increase : 89% . Efficiency : 216%] 1 , 000

Luck : 540 Increase : 106% . Efficiency : 229%]

Free Points : 0

Nexus Coins : D] 933 , 662

While nothing had changed in the Status Screen , Zac finally found some answers in his Bloodline Screen .

Bloodline : E – Corrupted] Void Emperor

Talent : Force of the Void – 50% , Void Zone

Bloodline Nodes : E] Void Heart , E] Spiritual Void , E] Purity of the Void

Nodes : E] Quantum Gate , E] Adamance of Eoz

He still couldn’t find the Hidden Node while scanning his body , but it was right there next to Quantum Gate] , though that alone was a bit confusing . His new node wasn’t a Bloodline Node? That was impossible . He’d seen the very origin of the Draugr race , just as Catheya described it .

The Draugr corpse that had been trapped in that odd pocket of space for innumerable years , and who was the source of his own Draugr side , had to be a descendant of that Eoz . Perhaps an effect of his Void Emperor bloodline . Zac wasn’t sure whether you could have two bloodlines , but he hadn’t heard of anyone with an imbuement like that .

Generally , the more powerful bloodline would push the other one aside , though the repressed bloodline still hid in one’s genes . From there , it could pop up in a future generation if the main bloodline weakened . It could also provide various benefits right away , such as improved affinities .

In Zac’s case , it looked like his Draugr Hidden Nodes were categorized as normal nodes since they weren’t part of his main bloodline . If that had any ramifications down the road , Zac had no idea . For now , it looked like everything had turned out just fine . Seeing that Adamance of Eoz] had been awakened and provided some sort of benefit , Zac closed the Status Screen .

Even now , the energy hadn’t returned to the chamber , and he took out a watch from his Cosmos Sack . He was worried he’d overstayed his visit , but the breakthrough had thankfully only lasted four hours . Something felt off though , and he took out his token just in case , and was immediately met with a shocking sight .

What the hell? - Zac swore as he slapped the thing a few times to see if he could reset the values .

Opening the Hidden Node had provided a whopping 9 , 900 Contribution Points , yet he felt a surge of anger upon seeing his transaction history . For some reason , he’d been charged an extra day’s stay , which meant he had lost another 2 , 000 Contribution Points . Zac stewed in the desolate environment of his emptied-out cave for ten minutes before he rushed down the mountain .

What’s going on? - Zac asked furiously the moment he entered the small office . - Is there something wrong with my cave? -

How could that be? - the clerk said , though he looked at Zac with some shock in his eyes . - Young Master , you simply drained over two days’ worth of energy from the cave , forcing me to add to your tally . -

What? If I absorbed two days’ worth of energy , I would have exploded . There must be something wrong with the cave . -

I’m sorry , this is all automated , - the man said with a helpless shrug . - There are fail-safes to make sure insufficient energy won’t get in the way of a breakthrough , but you will be charged for all the extra energy that is infused into the chamber . If it’s any consolation , you got a bargain . In total , you used up 53 hours’ worth of energy , but you were only charged for 48 . -

Well , alright . . . - Zac said , taking a steadying breath . - So , the energy won’t come back in the chamber over the next two days? -

I’m afraid not , - the clerk said with a shake of his head . - Unless you pay for more time . -

Alright , I’m checking out then , - Zac shrugged and threw over the key .

It was pretty annoying to lose 2 , 000 Purchase Points out of nowhere , but he doubted the Orom would bother scamming people with a scheme like this . He must have absorbed a monstrous amount of energy during the vision , just like he usually did when evolving his bloodline . But he did make a mental note to never evolve his bloodline in a place like that .

With the amounts of energy his main bloodline consumed , he’d be so deep into debt that he would never be able to dig himself out of that hole .

His bloodline was a no-go , but it was still huge to get confirmation he really had Draugr Hidden Nodes . Perhaps he should try making friends with one of the half-blood Draugr in the Orom to glean more information . He’d avoided them until now out of fear of getting exposed , but even a half-blood should know about awakening Hidden Nodes .

But there was no hurry . Zac made his way back toward Samsara’s Edge as he tried to figure out the use of Adamance of Eoz] . It was a bit annoying to explore his limits when his limits were restrained by the prison brand , though he did discover something interesting after taking out a Divine Crystal .

The Life-attuned energies inside were essentially poison , but Zac absorbed a small amount anyway . His old Hidden Nodes would take care of the invasive energy soon enough , but he wanted to test if his resistance had improved .

And it had .

Or , it was perhaps more apt to say his energy and his flesh refused to blend with the energy , making it harder for the Life-attuned energy to burrow deeper into its body . In no time at all , it was gobbled up by his Void Heart] , but even that was met with some resistance until Zac paved a path with a mental command . Curious , Zac kept experimenting , and the effect was essentially the same .

No matter if it was foreign energies scattered around him or infused into his body one way or another , he found his natural resistance had increased by a noticeable degree . This didn’t extend to physical or mental hits , but he was already plenty durable in those departments .

Even then , it somehow felt like this defensive ability was a side effect rather than the main use of Adamance of Eoz] . He still remembered his escape from the Abyssal Lake vividly , how his will pushed him forward , breaking the fetters that kept him in the depths .

His pace kept increasing until he was in a full sprint toward the settlement , and he jumped onto the teleportation array when he arrived .

A moment later , Zac appeared next to the small coliseum , but he didn’t enter the building this time around . Instead , he set course due east after purchasing a small booklet in a nearby shop . Three days passed , and he reached a huge square arch standing on a hill . It was fifty meters wide , rising almost a hundred meters into the air , making it easily visible from a distance .

A few makeshift settlements were erected around the hill , and around fifty cultivators lounged in the area . It wasn’t few , but it wasn’t many either , considering that this was one of the entrances to the Wilderness .

Oh , an undead warrior over here? Want to buy a missive on the local wildlife? - a beastkin asked as Zac closed in . - Just 100 Purchase Points . I have a High-quality Unholy Font as well in case you need it . -

That’s okay , - Zac said with a shake of his head as he passed by .

The Unholy Font was a simple-enough necklace that essentially duplicated the effect of an Unholy Beacon . However , while the beacon transformed large swathes of land , an Unholy Font only generated a small cloud of Miasma . This allowed undead warriors to stave off the uncomfortable effect of Cosmic Energy without wasting any effort on their own .

However , Zac already had dozens of similar items in his Cosmos Sack , including Peak-quality ones that could be powered by Cosmic Crystals to exude a shroud even larger than his Fields of Despair] . Furthermore , it looked like his newfound ability was somewhat efficient at staving off ambient energy as well , though he couldn’t be considered completely insulated like when using Void Zone] .

Zac wasted no time in stepping through the gate . His surroundings twisted , and a surge of warmth emanated from his left hand . A moment later , he appeared by two large rocks in a vast savannah . Only now did he realize how quiet the Orom World was in general , suddenly being subjected by constant roars from dozens of different types of beasts .

Still , Zac cracked his neck as he eagerly took out one of his spare axes . He hadn’t fought for almost half a year , and between the almost constant threat of death after killing Uona and being trapped in this weird place , he’d built up a whole lot of stress . Certainly , he needed to figure out more about his congealed energy and how to progress his class quest .

But those issues weren’t as urgent as unleashing a wave of carnage before he went mad .

44

ADAMANCE

The accumulated stress and inspiration filled Zac with an overflowing momentum that urged him to rush out and start whaling on the poor beasts in the area . It almost felt like when the Splinter of Oblivion had messed with his mind , though Zac kept himself in check a bit longer , trying to get used to the changes in his body . His attributes had already been adjusted , and he now had over 1 , 900 Strength .

He felt more in tune with himself , even if his attributes had become skewed again , and the energy coursed through his body more naturally . Zac tried activating Gorehew] , and this time the prison brand didn’t prevent anything . A large jagged edge , almost identical to when he’d used it in the Twilight Ocean , appeared in front of his weapon .

But its strength was hollow .

Conjuring the blade cost as much Miasma as it used to , but the brand on his hand siphoned off more than 80% of the energy , leaving a husk of a skill compared to its original strength . He’d seen the same phenomenon during the fights in the coliseum , though their skills had probably been drained of more than 95% of their energy .

Apart from its weakened state , Zac felt there was something different about the skill , and he curiously rapped his knuckles against the large blade . The jagged edge shuddered a bit before a powerful rebound rippled back into his hand . It was hard to be certain since he was still unaccustomed to using skills in his limited form , but Zac believed the blade was a bit sturdier than it should be .

Was this the effect of his Draugr node , Adamance of Eoz]?

The node somehow made his energy more congealed . Did that effect extend to skills? But what did - adamance’ refer to? Zac inspected the blade for a few seconds before he dispersed the skill . He had plenty of time to figure out how things worked . Besides , he’d always been a practical learner .

He was tired of just standing around , and he finally stepped out from his hidden spot . A small ripple around him meant he was no longer hidden from the surroundings , and he spotted a few bright blobs of life closing in on him .

There were nine gates in total that led into the Wilderness , each one working the same way . They sent you to a random location in the first band of the Wilderness , and you would be protected until you took a few steps from the starting position .

Just like the Orom World , there were various attunements in the bands , though the energies weren’t nearly as palpable as in the cultivation zones . It was just about enough to create different environments while accommodating more types of beasts . Zac had chosen the gate that currently led to an area that bordered fire and nature .

At the edge of the savannah , he could barely make out a mountain range where flying lizards , golemoid species , and hundreds of other beasts made their home . There were Miasmic zones as well up to the fifth band , but Zac wasn’t looking to find inspiration from Death-attuned beasts .

Of the nine total bands , the first four were safe zones , which meant you weren’t allowed to clash with other cultivators . But farther in , more than half of each zone was lawless , and you could even rob other prisoners . The only safety net was that you would be teleported back rather than killed upon receiving a lethal attack , at the cost of some Purchase Points , of course .

It was just like PvE and PvP zones in an online game , though Zac had no intentions of heading that deep . In general , you’d need to have the skill equivalent of a Middle to Late Hegemon to avoid becoming helpless prey in the fifth band . If you managed to cross the ninth and reach the edge of the Wilderness , you would essentially have pushed your path of slaughter to the point you should be able to confirm your Dao .

Going by what he’d heard , Zac wasn’t confident he’d be able to make it that far even if he relied on his Void Energy and its unrestrained attacks .

For now , Zac was content with staying in the first and perhaps the second band . He cracked his neck as a pack of animals closed in on him . After thirty seconds , he spotted the beasts even without his Draugr sight—there was four beasts that looked a bit like warthogs . Apart from being three meters long , they were also a bit leaner , and their green fur resembled long swaying stalks of grass .

Their tusks were also noticeably bigger than the species on Earth , and the two larger specimens even sprouted small horns .

The pitch-black coffin of his replacement weapon appeared on his back , and four black-and-green chains slithered out like snakes as Zac calmly walked toward the animals . The four beasts flickered , and Zac whistled with surprise when they appeared just fifty meters away from him , having gained a huge surge of speed as they barreled toward him .

At the same time , Zac felt a tightness around his feet , and he glanced down to see the knee-high grass twine around his ankles . These beasts actually possessed skills? Having skills at the early E-grade meant they had a decent heritage . Zac wasn’t too worried .

The grass had been empowered , but it still wasn’t able to withstand the two chains that lashed out , dripping corrosive liquid after being empowered by Blighted Cut] . Simultaneously , the remaining chains shot forward as a shroud of darkness spread out from Zac’s body . The warthogs had almost completely blended with the swaying grass , but their strong life signatures couldn’t stay hidden from Zac’s Draugr gaze .

He swung his axe to the side , striking a beast that tried to flank him . It seemed shocked about being exposed so easily , though its reflexes were extremely quick . It tilted its head to block the attack with its tusk , and it clearly planned to use its hefty body to crush him .

Zac’s initial instinct was to forcibly throw the beast away , but he found himself physically overwhelmed . Being physically overpowered by some random pig would take some getting used to , but Zac quickly adapted . Instead , he fluidly shifted his position , avoiding the brunt of the leap while delivering a ruthless punch in the hog’s side as it passed him by .

At the same time , his chains aimed for the eyes of the remaining beasts , which made them scream in fear and rapidly change course . A pang of danger blared in the back of his head , but the three small skeletons had already appeared . A spectral coffin rose to protect his back , and a smattering sound echoed across the area as thousands of stalks of grass failed to pierce the barrier .

It looked like these hogs could control the grass more freely than Zac expected .

Thankfully , Zac’s reinforcements started to appear by this point , as Deathmark] had already covered the area . Three of the wraiths were instantly destroyed by ferocious headbutts or vicious bites , but it gave Zac an opportunity to launch some strikes of his own . Meanwhile , one of the smaller warthogs rammed straight into the final axe wraith . Zac’s brows rose in surprise when it actually blocked the rush with its axe .

Cracks appeared on the spectral axe upon being hit by one of the tusks , but it held long enough for the wraith to counter with a slice that opened up a shallow wound on the beast’s haunch . The warthog wailed as the corrosive mist started entering its body , but Zac was more interested in the wraith that started dissipating .

It was just like he had experienced before with Gorehew] . Judging by how much his skills had been restrained , the specter shouldn’t have been able to withstand the hit . An E-grade beast with an average of 2 , 000 attributes should have crushed it with such a direct attack . But the specter had become more durable , allowing it to survive just long enough to unleash a counter .

Not only that , the empowering effect seemed to be greater than when he summoned the jagged edge by the entrance . One time might have been a miscalculation , but two times pretty much confirmed it . Adamance of Eoz] didn’t seem to directly improve his offense or defense , but it made his energy and energy constructs sturdier .

Various uses flashed through his mind , from withstanding powerful Daos to wasting less energy conjuring defensive barriers . However , Zac still couldn’t figure out exactly how to control it and the hogs weren’t willing to let him ponder on it as they tried to pincer him .

Zac found himself hounded from every direction , with thousands of razor-sharp blades of grass adding insult to injury . He was nearly overwhelmed , if not for the powerful defensive ability of Profane Exponents] and the improved durability of his wraiths , he would have racked up some nasty wounds .

There was no time to ponder on his nodes or improve his Inexorable Stance . Simply staying afloat was a struggle , and he furiously struck with all weapons in his arsenal in an effort to seize the tempo . Thankfully , this was just the beginning of the first band , and the hogs only had so many tricks up their proverbial sleeves .

As he grew more accustomed to the current state of his body , Zac gradually switched from avoiding attacks to going on the offensive . He figured out that it was the smaller hogs that controlled the grass , while the horned ones focused on physical attacks . Soon enough , he managed to separate the two groups , and he ended the two mage-hogs in an instant with a ferocious swing of Gorehew] empowered by his Dao Branch .

Same as with the skills , he found most of his Mental Energy and Dao entering the prison brand , making Zac swear with annoyance . Was it perhaps the warriors in the Wilderness that contributed the energy and Dao needed to keep the Orom World running?

With only two hogs and no grass attacks to deal with , Zac managed to capture the third one with his chains . Its fur had already become mottled by the corrosion all around them , but its suffering was over when Zac activated the finishing strike of Blighted Cut] to unleash three shockingly sharp strikes .

From there , it was just a matter of time before the final hog was killed , leaving a panting Zac in a large ring of corroded grass . The beasts hadn’t managed to leave any big wounds , but he was covered in small , stinging cuts . Zac ate a common healing pill , surprised at how much resistance some random beasts at the first band could put up . These kinds of beasts were the ones Zac usually slaughtered by the thousands without breaking a sweat .

Then again , their cooperation had been decent at best , full of flaws to exploit . Meanwhile , their attacks were choreographed and their grass control more annoying than lethal . Their short-lived advantage almost exclusively came from their superior attribute pool , and that alone had been enough to cause a headache , even with his Peak-quality skills helping out .

Was this what it was like fighting him? Having more skill and talent but being roughhoused by raw attributes .

Zac shook his head and moved on , not bothering with the carcasses . They were ultimately just early E-grade beasts , their bodies not worth anything . The amount of kill energy they provided was beyond pitiful , and Zac would have to fight for years to gather the energy required for breaking open a single node .

Of course , he hadn’t come here for levels . He’d come here to explore his new node and to work on his quest . If possible , he also wanted to work on his skills and stances . There were both free and rentable facilities for evolving skills in the Orom World , but there was no rush . He wanted to first gather more inspiration . Meanwhile , Zac had encountered an issue upon opening his Quest Screen .

Desperation’s End (Class) : Extinguish one million souls . Reward : Desperation’s End . (0/1 , 000 , 000)]

He’d just killed four beasts , yet the progress remained zero . Zac was certain the beasts were real , rather than some sort of constructs or illusions . He even sensed the beasts’ souls dissipating soon after he killed them . Even his Draugr-vision couldn’t see souls , but his empowered soul had given him a more refined sensitivity toward Mental Energy .

Those hogs had souls , Zac was certain of it . He was way too far gone down the road of slaughter to reflect upon the moral implications of this discovery , and was more curious about what he needed to do to progress the quest . Luckily , the savannah wasn’t lacking beasts , and he spotted a huge , furry centipede slithering toward him through the grass .

A few minutes later , five bloody sections of the insect were strewn across the floor , with the remaining part of the centipede feebly struggling against the Dao-empowered chains . After failing to unload a salvo of poison , it succumbed to its grievous wounds , and Zac closed his eyes as he sensed the weak fluctuations by its head .

The air screamed as Zac’s axe ripped through the empty space where he’d felt the weak mental fluctuations , but it didn’t make a difference . The feeling was gone , and his progress remained at zero . Just how was he supposed to extinguish a soul? Did he need to learn a soul-killing Mentalist skill to progress?

He certainly had some free spots in his pathways , but was reluctant to fill them with random junk . Besides , he was almost certain there was some trick to it .

Zac kept going , and found himself in a pitched battle with two green panthers . He kept trying to restrain and catch them , but they refused to be sucked into the momentum of his Inexorable Stance . Their Dexterity had to be at least three time’s his own . He barely saw their forms as they flashed by , leaving small wounds or a destroyed specter in their wake .

The Inexorable Stance he had been so proud of while traveling the Twilight Ocean utterly failed to restrain them . Death might be inexorable , but his stance clearly hadn’t captured the essence of that fact just yet . As he tried to force an opening with his chains and axe , he thought back to Pavina , and how she’d ruthlessly dismantled the defenses of her enemy in the arena .

She walked the path of Death just as he did , yet her lethality was so much greater than his , even with Zac’s accumulated advantages . It wasn’t that her class was so different from his either . She had used a ghastly avatar that controlled ropes of darkness and had used Pure Death as a poison , similar to his Blighted Cut] or Deathmark] .

Pavina hadn’t used any pure offensive skills like Gorehew] or Nature’s Edge] at all . Although , she almost made it seem that way . It was like she had become death incarnate . Why would death need to wait for its victims? She was the ender of all , destroyer of life . As much as the warrior had struggled , she was the one who adjudicated his fate .

Zac felt that was the key , a missing ingredient in his stance . Even if he managed to partly incorporate his path into his combat style , allowing him to restrain his enemies and control the momentum , he could definitely improve his lethality . Why should the spider hide at the edge of the net , watching its prey slowly tire itself out?

Even if the prey was too powerful to take out in one bite , Inexorable Stance should not only welcome them into the arms of eternity , it should push them into the Abyss . He needed to become the master of death with the help of his axe .

His attacks gradually grew quicker as one scene after another from the coliseum flashed through his mind . Zac let death guide him , and as his attacks became more condensed , and their restraining efficacy improved . The more complete his stance grew , the more preoccupied the panthers became with simply staving off death and staying alive .

Their hesitance was the nail in the coffin . With a wet gurgling yowl , one of the two panthers were impaled by a chain , its wound sizzling from the corrosive acid that dripped from the links . Seeing its mate getting skewered pushed the surviving panther into a frenzied rage , and it lunged straight for him with such speed , Zac was pushed to the ground , though he managed to unleash a swing that ripped open the belly of the beast .

Zac was drenched in a flood of blood and viscera , but he kept his cool , conjuring a barrier just before a set of razor-sharp teeth dug into his throat . A growl escaped his lips as he pushed the beast away , and two streams of Mental Energy entered his axe , flooding Zac with bloodlust and Dao .

The beast was already on death’s door after losing most of its innards , but death didn’t wait around as a slash split it clean in two from nose to tail . A small sputtering of kill energy entered his body , but Zac ignored it as he opened the Quest Screen . Just as he hoped , the screen showed (1/1 , 000 , 000) .

He’d felt it upon delivering that final strike . His Dao-braided strike crashed into the panther’s skull , destroying its soul before it had a chance to dissipate . A moment later , some minute flakes had disappeared into his body , though Zac couldn’t see where they went . Perhaps , it was an offering to the formation of Desperation’s End] , or perhaps it was just some soul fragment that flew in his direction by chance .

In either case , he found the solution . It was a bit gristly . He would have to crack a whole lot of skulls to unlock his new skill . Thankfully , the Wilderness wasn’t lacking in targets judging by the incessant cries , and he was awash with ideas on how to improve his two stances . He had nothing better to do until he gathered enough Oblivion Energy , so Zac shook off the blood that covered him from head to toe and walked deeper into the wild .

It was time to get back to basics . One man and his axe against the world .

45

CAT AND MOUSE

Never have I seen such a flighty bastard , - K’Rav swore . - You’ve been reading that thing for months now . Strength comes from pushing forward and seizing what’s yours , not cowering in a corner . -

The goblin was sitting on a sofa in the study , opened books strewn all around him . It was the fifth time this day it had complained , but Ogras didn’t care .

You think I’m like you bastards , ready to jump straight into the abyss? - Ogras snorted . - There is no way I’m going to blindly cultivate some method made by you lunatics . I need to understand it better before making a decision . Besides , I have still not completely healed from those cursed energies I was forced to endure from your so-called safe path . -

Cultivating the Spiritlock Physique would greatly alleviate that problem , - K’Rav said . - And then we could get on with the important business . -

Ogras only rolled his eyes before he turned back to the scroll . It was true , the goblin elder , Rasata , had created a terrifying technique that would give you a constitution called the Spiritlock Physique . For every stage you mastered , you would be able to seal one more spirit in your body and gain part of its strength .

There were a few problems with the technique though , apart from how it was recorded . Rasata posited that the limit would be nine spirits in total , but she only managed to infuse five into her body . She had also deduced the sixth layer of the Spiritlock Technique] , but it was unproven and , according to her , - a bit risky . -

Coming from these lunatics , that was saying something .

He had stayed in the central tower for months now , and the more he read about the history of the Ra’Lashar Goblins , the more horrified he became . He thought he understood just how far people would go for power , but he’d never heard of a civilization as crazed as these people . If they had been part of integrated space , the Ruthless Heavens would probably just have blasted their whole planet to preemptively avert disaster .

Conjuring the Qriz’Ul spirits from the Lost Plane had been the main cultivation method of these goblins , but inviting that madness into their lives only scratched the surface . The elders , the powerful families , even the netherblasted beggars on the street had delved into crazy and unorthodox methods to further strengthen themselves . Not one of them had any respect for their lives , and few ever died of old age .

Some experiments were a success , such as Rasata’s Spiritlock Technique] . Others had devastating consequences , and the Qriz’Ul uprising was simply the calamity that finally did them in . There had been similar incidents in the past . And even if the cursed beings of the Lost Plane had failed , something else would have killed these madmen soon enough .

Then again , Ogras would never admit it to the annoying ghost , but he was thoroughly impressed by what those long-snouted goblins had accomplished . Their civilization had only started down the road of cultivation 16 , 000 years before their demise , yet they’d raised over twenty Monarchs , though only half were still alive by the uprising . And that was without the assistance of the Ruthless Heavens .

The whole tower was filled with taboo techniques and weird experiences of these mad scientists . Techniques that would cause a storm on the outside . Figuring out which techniques were madness and which ones were inspired genius was the hard part . Certainly , those methods requiring taboo practices , such as large-scale sacrifice , were easy to avoid , as were the techniques that had terrifying side effects .

For example , one of the Warlock Elders had managed to turn himself into a conduit for some sort of eldritch horror , gaining a huge amount of power . However , anyone below a Monarch who came within one hundred miles of him was assaulted by whispers that gradually turned them into murderous lunatics . The elder couldn’t even join the final battle since he caused more damage to his own people than the enemy .

These blasted goblins also didn’t have any proper system for recording their techniques . They were like children constantly looking for the next new thing . Few bothered fixing the imperfections of their creations . They simply kept pushing further down the road until they exploded or turned insane .

Thankfully , Rasata was one of the few who worked to perfect her Spiritlock Technique] . Certainly , the reason for that wasn’t benign or anything . Rasata had been madly in love with the Grand Warlock , Hoso Kat’Rov . However , he’d spurned her advances , citing her nose being too small to marry someone of his standing . Love had turned into hatred , and she escaped into her research .

Her ultimate goal was to perfect the Spiritlock Technique] , and have it supplant Hoso Kat’Rov’s spirit-controlling technique as the premier cultivation method of the Ra’Lashar goblins . Unfortunately , that hate-induced drive turned her cultivation manual into a weird mix of angry poems , a list of pranks and failed assassination attempts on the Grand Warlock , and the actual methods to cultivate the Spiritlock Constitution .

Why don’t you go lure some more critters into the trap if you’re bored? I still haven’t completed the final brand required to enter this place the above-board way , - Ogras muttered as he felt the incessant stare of the ghost .

You want even more free labor? - K’Rav snorted . - How about you hold up your end of the bargain , instead? That would solve both our problems . -

Give me a break , - Ogras said . - I haven’t even finished going over these mad ramblings , and you want me to sink my teeth into that thing? That might take over a year . -

A year? - K’Rav guffawed . - Even if you studied for a century , you’d only be able to grab at the edge of the miracle we created . As long as you finish that thing— -

I know , I know , - Ogras responded with a lazy wave . - When that thing is completed , the clouds will part and phoenixes and dragons will dance to celebrate our glory . -

Keep pretending , - K’Rav spat . - I saw you almost drown in your own drool when you looked through the notes . -

Your flag is a bit impressive , but I’m not in any hurry , - Ogras shrugged as he kept reading .

The goblin snorted in dissatisfaction , turning toward the windows overlooking the ruins of his former empire . Ogras glanced at the ghost before continuing his reading , though his mind was only partly occupied with the Spiritlock Physique . The ancient bastard said he was brought back by the System , but after having witnessed the weird methods stored in this tower , Ogras wasn’t so sure .

He hadn’t found any damning evidence over the past year , but that didn’t matter . Ogras trusted his guts , and they were telling him that this Warlock who refused to leave for the underworld was up to no good . And even if he was wrong , so what? He’d rather kill a thousand innocent ghosts than risk his little life .

Ogras was even hesitant to finish the sixth and final key to this place and reap the rewards , afraid that unlocking the tower would also unlock the ghost’s power . K’Rav seemed to understand his misgivings , though he pretended to be oblivious . He’d even insinuated that he would be happy to pass on as long as the mission was completed , but that only made Ogras more unwilling .

So , they played their game of cat and mouse , each one pushing their agenda . Parts of him screamed to simply take his winnings and leave while he was still ahead . But even if he gained a lot from this place , there was still more to go . He’d already decided to take the gamble , even if he was betting with his life .

That thing was really something , but it couldn’t be finished without K’Rav’s help .

The silvery leaves ripped through the air , causing a swirl of frozen air as they shot toward the two four-armed yeti who kept harassing him from a distance . The storm pelted against his skin , but his Innate Ward] empowered by the Fragment of the Bodhi and improved durability from Adamance of Eoz] was enough to withstand the brunt of it .

It was lucky as well , as he had his hands full when dealing with the ice pangolin that kept launching extremely sharp scales under the guise of the storm . Its control was sublime , reminding Zac of Travo Raso’s sword array that he suffered inside multiple times over the last months .

However , while the Radiant Temple employee’s array adhered to his fusion of the Dao of the Stars and the Dao of the Sword , this pangolin had instilled it with ice and wind , perhaps forming something akin to a Fragment of the Storm . Speed , ferocity , and destructive capabilities , it had it all .

And the two damn yeti underlings magnified the danger .

Yet Zac pushed on . These beasts represented a threshold , being one of the strongest groups at the edge of the second band . Being able to defeat these guys without relying on his Void Energy would mean he’d reached a level where he could match most early Hegemons in this place . And the Orom World didn’t bring in useless people .

Barely being able to fight his way through the first two bands of the Wilderness in eight months didn’t seem too impressive to Zac , but it was apparently quite shocking . Most of the Hegemons he sparred against had become a lot more courteous after seeing his rapid progress , almost treating him like an equal . According to them , it usually took well over a century of slowly polishing one’s technique to reach this level .

It felt like some sort of vindication . He was a mortal , unable to cultivate or absorb energy nearly as quickly as others . His Dao Control was adequate at best , and that was only thanks to his soul cultivation . Without it , Zac would be beyond awful due to his zero affinities .

But he was a rarely seen genius when it came to combat , showcasing a marvelous ability to integrate his Dao insights into his technique . He still hadn’t managed to break his losing streak at the coliseum with either of his two races , but that was mostly because he wanted to fight people who could inspire further breakthroughs with his skills and stances . And those kinds of people weren’t weak .

Zac weaved through the storm that raged around him , his steps as inscrutable and chaotic as the unlimited possibilities of life . The pangolin repeatedly failed to trap him or exploit his patterns , because there was no pattern to the Evolutionary Stance . Suddenly , he made his move , taking advantage of the yetis being preoccupied with his Dao-infused attacks .

They had conjured a wall of ice to protect themselves , which forced them to split their attention , prompting the raging storm to weaken . Hundreds of engraved trees rose from the ground , and their vibrant lifeforce pushed the blistering cold of the tundra away . Zac disappeared a moment later , fusing with the tree that appeared right next to him .

A moment later , the tree was ripped apart by the pangolin’s scale array , but Zac had already been transported to another tree . Teleporting through the trees of Ancestral Woods] barely produced a ripple , and it was hidden among the constant burst of life the other trees expelled .

The tree behind him started to rapidly wither after having fulfilled its purpose , and Zac was already moving in on his targets . Only when two clouds closed in on them did the yeti realize their target was no longer trapped in the storm , and they spun around to meet the attack .

A small golden palace appeared in the sky as hymns of Arcadia drenched the surroundings in Life . Meanwhile , a bottomless ravine appeared beneath , almost sucking Zac’s soul inside when he looked upon it . The space between the two visions was just a hairline , but that thin line was an uncrossable divide that shot toward the beasts .

A ferocious storm slammed into the Peak proficiency Rapturous Divide] , but Zac was full of purpose now that he was so close to reaching his goal . The boost of Adamance of Eoz] rose to match his desire , allowing his skill to withstand the hailstorm long enough to break apart the defensive runes and grievously wound the two .

The beasts were thrown into their own fortifications from the attack , but still , they were alive . However , Zac appeared right by them , and the keening cry of his axe was amplified by the ice as he cut straight through the neck of one yeti . A pang of danger made him flash away , and two sharp explosions rippled out in quick succession .

It was some sort of icy ball that had burst from the dying beast and almost instantly exploded into a thousand razor-sharp spikes . The spikes melted when they hit the second yeti , but Zac found himself punctured full of wounds even after dodging with Earthstrider] .

The skin around his wounds turned blue , as he was flooded with chilly Dao , but Adamance of Eoz] prevented it from spreading and sealing his mobility . The pangolin was already rushing toward him , and Zac flashed forward , unleashing a furious barrage at the remaining yeti before he was pincered again .

The beast was desperately defending itself by conjuring one skill after another , but with every clash , Zac’s technique subtly changed , evolving toward something that could kill the beast . A sharp pain flared up his side as a scale swiped him , but Zac endured the agony as he finished off the second mage by cleaving its head in two with an Axe-Bodhi fusion .

With only the pangolin to worry about , Zac entered a ferocious melee where he only relied on Nature’s Edge] , Earthstrider] , and Innate Ward] to fight the beast averaging 2 , 500 attributes and possessed powerful control abilities . He mostly stayed in his Draugr form the past months , but he had still made great strides with his Evolutionary Stance as well .

Each movement was a rebirth , each swing a new creation . One wound after another appeared on the pangolin’s body as its scales kept getting destroyed . The leader of the tundra ferociously fought back , but it kept getting pushed further into a disadvantage . If not for the berserking brand on its body , it would have fled already .

Eventually , the beast fell after Zac managed to strike its head twice , breaking into its skull and instantly killing it .

Two of the three beasts had their brains destroyed , the inadvertent result of grinding his Draugr quest for months on end . He was no stranger to gory scenes after all he’d done since the integration , but the gruesome task was starting to get to him a bit . He even considered giving up on the class quest and acquire a finisher somewhere else .

But after discussing the task with Travo Raso , Zac came to better understand the purpose of such a quest . It was to prepare him for the future .

The further you walked on the road of cultivation , the harder it would become to kill your enemies . First of all , those who didn’t possess the means and instincts to survive in the Multiverse died before reaching any great heights . Those who survived possessed all kinds of methods to escape with their lives intact , even when overwhelmed by a superior foe .

Using teleportation talismans was just the most common method , and it had a lot of limitations . There were also skills , clone methods , illusions , and all kinds of other things . Some Late Hegemons could even survive by hiding their soul in a drop of blood while their body was destroyed . This wasn’t a huge issue for Zac’s human side , where he struck hard and fast , leaving nothing behind .

But it was different for his Fetters of Desolation class .

Whittling down one’s enemy was an effective method to win , but it meant some of your targets were bound to escape . The real world wasn’t like the Wilderness , where every beast was unable to back down . However , there was one surefire remedy to prevent any escape method—destroy one’s soul .

Only extremely rare techniques like Aia Ouro’s Thousand Lights Avatar could survive something like that , and not without paying a price . In a true life-and-death battle , most warriors would therefore try to strike the soul first and the core second . Destroying a Cosmic Core would cripple a cultivator , which was the second-best thing to actually killing an enemy . But that would still leave you exposed to retaliation .

It was this mindset that the System had been trying to instill into Zac and his Inexorable Stance , one kill at a time . Now , that fighting style had spilled over to his human side . He’d been a bit worried about the moral implications , but Travo Raso and his friend had laughed for a good minute when he raised his concerns about preventing people from reincarnating or entering the afterlife .

Since then , the two had called him Little Lord , short for Little Lord of the Underworld , for his presumed ability to dictate life after death . In truth , not even Divine Monarchs possessed the power to utterly annihilate a soul to the point reincarnation or resurrection was prevented .

Zac was exhausted , and started running away from the battlefield . He’d proved himself already , and there was no time to linger around until some other apex predator of the second band arrived . A huge grilled flank appeared in his hand as he ran , and he started devouring the meat like a starving ghost .

The benefits his most recent Hidden Node provided were amazing , improving his strength in so many ways . However , it was incredibly draining , and he still hadn’t found a way to turn it off . He could somewhat strengthen or weaken the effect by altering his mental state , but emotions were not so easily controlled . He still hadn’t found the limits of what it could provide , since it was impossible for him to enter a true life-and-death struggle in the Orom World .

Fighting for a few hours now left him winded in a way he had never felt since becoming a cultivator , and absorbing Cosmic Energy or Miasma didn’t help . The only thing he found to alleviate the exhaustion was devouring High-grade food , forcing him to constantly run around with mountains of easily-held dishes . Sometimes when the beasts refused to relent , he’d been forced to fight while stuffing his face with his free hand .

Zac kept running for another ten minutes until space rippled around him . He’d finally reached the third band , which meant he would be able to skip the first two bands next time he came here . Of course , Zac prayed that wouldn’t be necessary . One year had passed since he evolved his soul and last used his Oblivion Energy .

He still hadn’t reached the limits of what he could store , but he was getting close . It was time to make his final preparations before he enacted his prison break .

46

HUBRIS

Zac looked down at his hands with incredulity and despair as the last embers of Oblivion dissipated in front of him . Soon , just a depression in reality remained , and a moment later , there was nothing . The searing pain that ran from his head down his arms was nothing compared to the agony of defeat .

He’d failed .

Sixteen months . He had saved up Oblivion Energy for sixteen months , yet that wasn’t enough . The full-powered Annihilation Sphere only managed to tear a hole in space no larger than a hand , and it closed so quickly , the deadly ball of destruction didn’t have time to provide access . Even if he’d been gutsy enough to push through the small rip with Abyssal Phase] , he would have been torn apart before even entering it .

His thoughts had ground to a halt as his emotions ran amok , but he soon pushed down the burgeoning panic as he disappeared , transformed into an abyssal wraith . The surroundings of the Death-attuned zone turned into a blur , and he crossed tens of thousands of meters in an instant . Still , that wasn’t enough , and he kept going , thankful he’d plotted an escape path in case of failure .

Zac couldn’t be certain , but unleashing a three-meter-tall ball of utter destruction was bound to raise some eyebrows if anyone saw or sensed it . He wanted to be far , far away by the time anyone came to investigate . He only deactivated his skill five minutes later , at which point he’d used up more than half of his Void Energy .

He returned into his corporeal form in the crown of a tree with extremely dense foliage , and jumped down with a prayer mat under his arm like he’d been sitting in the tree cultivating . He’d passed through a good chunk of a zone in a short few minutes , something that would normally have taken him days .

It should be impossible to connect him to the now-distant event , unless the Orom itself was investigating . Zac kept going for another few hours until he reached his cultivation cave where he secluded himself , his eyes and ears peeled for any response . Hours turned to days , his nerves continuously fraying , but no Emerald Attendant came to take him in . Neither did his prisoner brand act up , and Zac finally let himself relax after a week had passed .

However , while it didn’t look like he was in trouble , Zac found himself gazing out from the window he’d carved inside the dead tree , his mind bereft of purpose and direction . This was supposed to be it . He had spent the last four months squeezing everything he could out of this place , from gathering all kinds of treasures to furiously sparring with the many elders .

It was to the point that he’d raised some eyebrows and started some rumors , and had almost been drowned in piles of fate tokens . He had known his actions were a bit suspicious , but he couldn’t help himself with so many treasures available all around him . Now , it was all for nothing , and he found himself stuck in this place after acting so mysterious . It felt like a thousand eyes were trained on the tree he hid inside .

He had already spent eighteen months in the Orom World , far longer than what he anticipated or planned . Yet he didn’t find himself any closer to escaping now than when he just arrived . If anything , he felt further away from returning to Earth than ever , as one escape plan after another had fallen through . Now , he wasn’t even certain what to do . His bloodline wasn’t enough , and not even the Remnants could pave the way to freedom .

Should he try getting relegated and hope there were weaknesses to exploit over there? No . Those people were even more tightly controlled than the cultivators of Orom World . He would only be sending himself there to suffer . Zac desperately searched for solutions , but hadn’t managed to come up with anything over the last week , let alone now . He was stuck .

Despair threatened to swallow Zac whole , imagining himself forced into desperate cultivation , struggling to keep up with his odd constitution until he finally succumbed as so many had before him . Until now , he somewhat considered himself above those around him , gifted with supreme fate . This might have been a prison for others , but not for him . This was just an opportunity .

The hubris .

No! Zac shook his head as his abyssal eyes regained their clarity . He refused to give up . If the force of the Annihilation Sphere had been too weak , then he simply needed to boost it . If he increased the output tenfold , the spatial tear should be bigger and more stable . He needed to strengthen his soul and his Dao to make it happen .

It might take a while to push his Fragment of the Coffin to become a Branch of Death , but he was confident he could accomplish that here , even without compromising his path . If that wasn’t enough , he would push his Branch of Death and the Branch of the War Axe to the Middle-stage , turning the Daos into even more powerful vessels to form the Annihilation Sphere .

Perhaps he could improve the process of forming the outburst , focusing its power with the help of his empowered soul . Until now , he had always pushed two streams of Dao into the pathways on his shoulders , but there was perhaps more he could do . For example , what if he created specific braids to empower the streams? Perhaps even Dao Arrays?

The more Zac thought about it , the more his hope rekindled . Perhaps there were treasures or methods that would allow the incorporeal form of Abyssal Phase] to survive inside the Annihilation Sphere long enough to escape . This wasn’t the end . It was just the beginning .

If eighteen months wasn’t enough to escape , he’d cultivate for three years . If that failed , then ten . He wouldn’t stop pushing himself in his pursuit of freedom until the Orom ripped him apart . Even then , he’d at least try to go out with a bang , damaging the big bastard or killing its descendants . Perhaps he could detonate the Remnants in his head , creating one final blast of chaos upon his demise .

For now , Zac figured he’d avoid using his Draugr side for a while just in case , and he transformed back into his human form before emerging from the cultivation tree he’d used as one of his home bases over the past year . He didn’t dismantle the arrays that shielded it , but he did take out a warning array before leaving .

It was a simple array that would transmit a signal to a daughter-array in his Cosmos Sack in case anyone forced their way into the tree . From there , Zac walked toward the side of the living , passing through the forest that had almost become as familiar to him as the forest of Port Atwood . In total , he had spent roughly two-thirds of his waking time in the Wilderness , constantly pushing himself to improve his combat stances .

However , he never stayed more than a month each time , sometimes just a week or two . In between , he traveled across the Orom World , sparring against dozens of different Hegemons or being imparted some general knowledge . Finally , he had set up two rudimentary cultivation caves , one for each persona , where he digested the insights before heading out again .

There were only so many hours available each day , and every aspect became more and more demanding as he progressed further . Zac figured he could evolve his Daos and work on his soul anywhere , and his limited time in the Orom World would be best spent by utilizing the old monsters and improving his cultivation stances .

He had at least made some small inroads into forming the Thousand Lights Avatar in between battles in the Wilderness . He estimated that his spiritual body had become around 10% more congealed down to his throat , which was a step in the right direction . It was less than 1% toward forming a proper avatar , but it was something .

Zac kept going for two days until he reached his second cultivation cave in the neighboring Life-attuned zone . This one was in a tree as well , but rather in the crown of a majestic oak that towered above most of the trees in the Life-infused forest . Sitting in its crown and gazing upon the surroundings had helped him gain some insights into the Dao of Life .

The scenery had played a big role when upgrading Hatchetman’s Spirit] into Ancestral Woods] during his stay , though he had drawn inspiration from multiple sources . The teleportation was a mix of his omnipresence of Pillar of Desolation] and the lanky swordsman in the Battle of Fates , who could move through the sword pillars he’d erected .

Unfortunately , the High-grade skill-upgrading chamber along with years of accumulation hadn’t been enough to form another ultimate pathbound skill . Still , Ancestral Woods] was above-average , even among Peak-quality domain skills . The result was no doubt better than what he would have accomplished with just a Fractal Framework Array] .

For example , he managed to completely transform the defensive properties of the skill . Before , the skill had conjured a divine tree with defensive charges , but those had never really come into play . They weren’t powerful enough to help if his constitution proved insufficient . Furthermore , he was already getting Empyrean Aegis] as soon as he got his Life-attuned Dao Branch .

So instead , Zac had taken inspiration from Undying Legion] when making the adjustments . Now , the trees could soak up some of the damage he received , apart from providing the omniscience , attribute buffs , and teleportation . It had become a skill with over a hundred small charges , where each teleportation expended one charge .

It was altogether superior to the previous version , with the exception that the trees had become semi-corporeal . Attacks infused with either Dao Branches or enough energy could damage them , though it would take some effort to rip them all apart . That was doubly true considering Adamance of Eoz] transferred over to his human side through Quantum Gate] , even if the node didn’t appear in his Status Screen .

Zac spent the next few days in his tree crown regrouping himself and planning his next move . Until now , he had focused mostly on his techniques , but if he wanted to strengthen the effect of his Annihilation Sphere , he would have to put more effort into his Daos and his soul .

Should he set up his cultivation cave on the island again , this time springing for a more permanent set-up to work on his soul? By now , his Soul Aperture had completely stabilized after the evolution , and he could start practicing the third layer of Nine Reincarnations Manual] at any time . Problem was , he only had 200 Purchase Points to his name after his pre-escape shopping spree .

He had lots of ideas , but felt he could use some guidance . He infused some energy into his Cosmos Sack , where over two hundred tokens floated in the void . He was the most familiar with Travo Raso , but the old man had entered seclusion to prepare for the three-year reshuffle of new arrivals . Eventually , his eyes turned to a glistening token—the one belonging to the unique lifeform Ubo .

Zac had tried visiting the elemental once before , but Ubo was still out from its cultivation cave at the time . But that was months ago , and Zac figured he could give it a try . The elemental lived in the same Life-attuned zone as Zac had set up his cave in , though on the opposite side . Considering he was also a Monarch , who better than Ubo to ask for some pointers?

There was also Heda , but Zac was still a bit leery about the cultivator locked in a perpetual battle for her soul with some terrifying parasitic plant life . Zac made his way toward the mountain that Ubo had made its home . Ten days later he arrived , and he once more gazed with marvel at the golden mountain .

It was teeming with life , even emitting a weak halo as though it was a holy mountain from legend . But even though it was drenched in powerful energies , there wasn’t actually a single plant growing on its slopes . Perhaps that was why Ubo occupied this spot in the first place . Its flavor of life matched Ubo’s origin .

The whole mountain was covered in a shimmering barrier , and Zac infused some energy into the invitation token to notify the elemental of his arrival .

So , you’re here , youngster . Come in , - a voice emerged from within the mountain , and the barrier flickered to provide passage .

Zac curiously entered , and he found himself in the heart of the mountain . He’d thought his cultivation cave back home on Earth was impressive enough , but he couldn’t help gawking as he looked around . Ubo had essentially hollowed out the whole mountain , and over a hundred golden pillars rose over a thousand meters into the air , each one covered in esoteric engravings .

There were arrays everywhere , and Zac was almost blinded by the thousands of Divine Crystals that illuminated the place . There was even plenty of natural sunlight in the cave , thanks to strategically placed vents in the ceiling . The area was as large as a whole village , and even contained a lake where Zac spotted thousands of golden carps swimming .

There were also dozens of buildings and side-caves whose purpose Zac couldn’t pinpoint because of obscuring arrays blurring them out .

In the center of it all was a massive altar reaching over fifty meters into the air , and the energies that swirled around it was almost a match to the cave he rented to open his Hidden Node . And even if Zac wasn’t an expert , he could tell that most of the arrays surrounding the altar weren’t even activated , which meant Ubo could probably boost the environment further .

Seeing this place made him embarrassed just thinking of his dinky little cave back home . Even worse , the crude camps he set up here in the Orom World . Then again , he had visited quite a few cultivation caves , and this one was definitely more intricate than anything else he’d come across .

Some warriors were even worse than he was , where they had just found a spot they liked and thrown out a mat .

Not bad , huh? - Ubo laughed , its voice reverberating through the cave .

Zac looked around with confusion until he spotted a mysterious stone on top of the altar . It sat on top of an embroidered pillow , but a moment later , it rose into the air as the shimmering body of Ubo congealed .

It’s eye-opening , - Zac agreed , taking another look at the meticulously designed cave . - There are truths hidden in this arrangement . -

There are truths hidden in everything , - Ubo countered . - But you are correct . Every item and building in this cave are part of a formation I created to imprint my path on my surroundings . This way , I am never led astray while meditating . I’m not as powerful as those at the peak in this cage , those who are able to subvert the will of the Orom World and rebuff the subliminal messages . -

The next moment , Ubo appeared at the foot of the altar , and it conjured a table along with some spiritual fruits .

If my memory serves , roughly two years have passed since your arrival , - Ubo said after they sat down . - Do you feel confident about the three-year shake-up? -

It should be fine , - Zac said . - I read you need 15 , 000 points on average to pass at the E-grade . I’ve already passed that , and I still have time to make more progress . -

Not bad , - Ubo nodded . - But don’t get complacent . You should have read some of the records . -

It’s hard to believe , - Zac muttered with a shake of his head . - How could someone at the E-grade gather more than 100 , 000 Contribution Points in three years? -

The current record at the E-grade was set two million years ago , where a woman called Jala Evermyre gained 118 , 235 Contribution Points before the three-year deadline . Even forming a Dao Branch was only worth a couple of thousand Contribution Points . To pass 100 , 000 in three years , she must have not only gained multiple advanced-stage Dao breakthroughs , but also practiced other highly valued methods like soul cultivation or bloodline evolutions .

Even then , Zac’s performance wasn’t anything to scoff at . He’d already gained over 35 , 000 Contribution Points since arriving in the Orom World , making him pretty much safe from the three-year culling . And that was without even aiming to maximize his Contribution Points . He was confident that he would be able to gain quite a bit more over the next year as well , as long as he didn’t get stuck on some bottleneck .

Well , that particular lady only stayed for four years before leaving . The Orom World also entered a twenty-year weakened state around the same time , so most assume someone in her family took issue with their descendant being caught , - Ubo snorted . - So , what brings you here today? -

I encountered a bit of a setback recently , - Zac sighed . - I figured I would stretch my legs and clear my head for a bit . -

Setbacks are part of cultivation . I once fell into a spatial crack that threw me into a corrupted inheritance trial . Took me eight hundred years to break out , - Ubo laughed . - Setbacks can be as valuable as epiphanies , provided you make the most of it . Tell me , what are you planning on doing next? -

Zac felt the atmosphere had shifted a bit , like there was some sort of hidden implication to the elemental’s question .

Well , I’ll keep training and then try again , - Zac said after a while . - I don’t like to back down after having decided on something . -

Ha! - Ubo laughed . - I guess the Lord was right . -

What? - Zac asked with a sinking feeling in his chest .

Had someone exposed him , connecting his two identities and his escape attempt? Zac immediately got ready to fight or escape , but what was the point even if he managed to kill the elemental in front of him? There was still this anonymous Lord who could turn him in at any time . Or was the Lord the Orom?

Zac frantically tried to figure out what to do , but his mind froze when he saw a familiar object appear above Ubo’s hand .

The Lord contacted me half a year ago . Told me that you would visit me soon , - the elemental explained . - It was he who instructed me to ask you about your plans , and present this thing in case your answer was to his satisfaction . -

Zac barely heard the elemental’s words , his eyes glued to the token hovering in the air .

Perennial Vastness . . . -

47

OPPORTUNITY

Zac made his way toward the eye of the Life-attuned zone , his heart filled with misgivings . The token Ubo showed had just been a projection , but according to the elemental , the real Perennial Vastness Token was his as long as he met with the Lord . But since when did good things simply fall into one’s lap? He was pretty lucky , but not that lucky .

Ubo was just the messenger , but the elemental had confirmed the so-called Lord wasn’t the Orom itself .

But Ubo refused to elaborate any further , only urging him to not keep the Lord waiting . Zac reluctantly agreed , and left the mountain a minute later , his previous plans put on the backburner . After all , the Perennial Vastness Token was too good to pass up , and it might even be his ticket out of this place .

At this point , Zac could only pray this mysterious Lord who seemed to have anticipated his every move was friendly . Hopefully , he wouldn’t demand something outlandish in exchange for the token , though Zac was prepared for the worst-case scenario . He was filled to the brim with Creation Energy , and his Void Energy had also mostly recovered .

Between the two , he had a decent shot at even taking out Monarchs in this world .

But there were no guarantees . After all , there were just over one hundred zones in the Orom World , and most of the warriors living at the heart of a zone were either High or Peak Monarch . Weirdly enough , Zac had absolutely no recollection of who this particular powerhouse was . Come to think of it , it was a bit odd he hadn’t even considered the issue .

Zac’s tree fortress was a day’s way into the Life-attuned zone from the small island , and if he kept going for five days or so he’d reach the heart of the zone . They were practically neighbors , but Zac had barely spared the powerhouse a thought . Had his mind been influenced to ignore the matter somehow?

The implication filled him with even greater trepidation , but there was no turning back now . It was hard to tell exactly how many of his secrets this Lord knew , and avoiding him might be even worse than just facing the issue head-on .

Two days passed as Zac got closer and closer to his destination , and he had already passed dozens of massive barriers shielding huge cultivation havens . These inner parts were exclusively controlled by Monarchs , and all their caves were fitted with massive gathering arrays . As a result , the environment between these massive bubbles was even worse than at his treehouse .

Of course , if a Hegemon dared set up camp this far into a zone , he’d quickly get kicked out if he didn’t have enough strength to defend his claim . No one wanted to die , and any energy siphoned by a neighboring gathering array was an attempt on their lives as far as the cultivators were concerned .

Even then , Zac realized the cultivation havens simply stopped as he got closer to the true center of the zone , and the environment was suddenly awash with Life . The density was at least three times compared to his treehouse , and the attunements infused in the environment were equally impressive . Even the rustling of some leaves filled Zac with wonder and inspiration .

Oddly enough , Zac was also filled with a sense of familiarity , but he couldn’t pinpoint the source of the impression . It was almost like something was calling to him , but the feeling was completely different from the far more palpable urge he got from the Remnants . Was it the Lord? Did they actually know each other?

That was extremely unlikely , unless they’d met in the Orom World without Zac knowing .

Soon , the chaotic forests of unbridled Life had been replaced by an orderly bamboo forest , where each pole reached for the sky . Each bamboo shoot was almost identical in size , but that didn’t mean they weren’t instilled with the exuberant energy of the environment . In fact , these trees seemed far more Life-infused compared to the random plant life behind him .

It almost felt like he would be able to squeeze out Pure Life from the shoots if he so desired , but he didn’t dare do anything of the sort . He was right in the core , and this forest was probably planted by the Lord himself . If he needed any further evidence this place was claimed , he could spot various red and golden ornaments hanging between the bamboo poles up in the sky , giving the forest an almost festive feel .

Zac’s instincts told him that most of those things were Spiritual Tools and High-grade talismans , yet Zac was unable to discern so much as a ripple of energy coming from any . As for the markings on the ornaments , they reminded Zac of the Sanskrit engravings on Mount Everlasting Peace back on Earth . They seemed filled with meaning , but not related to the common script that made up most arrays .

Zac was rooted in place , hesitant about what to do next . There was no barrier or vast aura barring his entry , and he had been invited . But could he just barge in like this? This place didn’t feel like somewhere he should intrude upon , especially not with all those unidentifiable talismans hanging above his head .

Follow the path , ’ a voice suddenly echoed through Zac’s mind , and Zac steeled his heart as he entered , following a small paved path that had seemingly appeared out of thin air .

The voice filled him with an even greater sense of familiarity , but his brows furrowed with confusion as he continued down the forest path . Just who was it? He couldn’t place it at all .

The forest was larger than Zac expected , walking for over three hours without reaching the end . By that point , he had passed hundreds of thousands of bamboo poles and ornaments , and could barely fathom their collective value . At least he’d figured out their purpose . They were soul-nurturing talismans that filled him with vigor .

Not only that , but Zac realized the whole bamboo forest was just one gargantuan array , where each bamboo shoot and ornament acted as a flag . The arrangement was terrifyingly complex , and he couldn’t even begin to comprehend its purpose . But finally , the scenery shifted when he reached a small temple complex next to a babbling brook .

Zac suspected as much from the various clues , but this confirmed it . The - Lord’ was a monk of the Buddhist Sangha .

The temple was much smaller than the one on Mount Everlasting Peace , with two small bell towers at the front , followed by a main hall where Zac vaguely could make out the statue of some deity . Farther in the back , Zac saw two mirrored buildings as well , and guessed they were either for meditation or living .

At first glance , it appeared simple , to the point it might as well have been a random temple situated somewhere in the mountains in east Asia . But there was something grand hiding within the simplicity . For example , Zac didn’t dare enter the main temple . Just looking in its direction made his soul shudder .

A true deity could very well be hiding within that statue , and Zac’s instincts told him that encroaching on its territory would have disastrous consequences . Even if he didn’t die , he was afraid his Dao Heart would be damaged . He once more remembered the warning of that necromancer when he just arrived , of how Buddhists were natural pathbreakers . Looking at that temple , he finally understood what he meant .

He turned away from the temple and started toward a small platform by the water . It had actually taken him a few times before noticing there was someone sitting on top of it . The bald man was so in tune with the surroundings , Zac’s eyes didn’t even register he was there .

In fact , Zac guessed he was only able to spot him because the man wanted him to . As he walked over , he got a better look at the man , which only increased his confusion . He was some sort of humanoid , but was more akin to a dwarf than a human . Zac guessed he wouldn't even reach his chest when standing , yet the monk probably weighed as much as he did .

When you added his lack of hair , he gave off an almost cherubic impression . The monk had three marks on his forehead that emitted a mysterious aura , but Zac’s eyes were still drawn to a token fastened to his sloppy kasaya . An Emerald Badge . As Zac closed in , the monk opened his eyes , showcasing two silver irises , and he smiled in Zac’s direction .

But why did his gaze look so shifty?

He had the temple , the clothes , and the spiritual forest , yet Zac felt like the fat little man was one of those fake monks scamming travelers in tourist hotspots . And his first words only strengthened that feeling .

Amitabha . Welcome , Benefactor . Karma pulls us together , we are connected . Benefactor , you carry great destiny on your self . - The monk smiled as he walked down from the precept platform . - But with great fate comes dangerous tribulations . How about making a small offering to this poor temple and receiving its blessings in return? -

Zac blankly looked at the smiling monk , barely believing what he was hearing . This monk was probably a Peak Monarch and an Emerald Badge , yet he was trying to solicit an E-grade cultivator for resources?

I would , but I’m afraid I would be punished for sharing resources , - Zac said with feigned disappointment as he showcased the prison brand on his hand .

How can the Orom’s Law measure to Buddha’s love? - the monk admonished with a sad look . - But this poor monk hears the willingness in your voice and senses the benevolence in your heart , and will therefore gratefully accept this offering . Come , let me show Benefactor around . -

Zac was confused , then almost swore when he saw the monk was holding one of the Spatial Rings Zac had hidden within his sleeves . That particular one held a good chunk of low-grade materials along with a pile of cultivation methods he planned on selling through Calrin .

That’s— - Zac exclaimed , but the monk simply walked away , chanting - Amitabha . ’

Zac didn’t have the slightest idea how the hell the thieving monk snatched one of his Spatial Rings , but he breathed out in relief when the rings that held the real treasures were still on his person . His instincts told him to just suck up the loss and leave , but he eventually took a calming breath and reluctantly followed the monk .

He still hadn’t accomplished any of his goals of coming here , so he couldn’t just leave .

Ubo said your eminence wanted to meet with me? - Zac said as the monk seemed content with just taking a stroll . - About the token . . . -

This poor monk has stayed here so long , alas . But he has heard many tales of wonder . A previous visitor described the marvelous wines cultivators enjoy . It piqued this poor monk’s interest , - the fat little monk interjected before giving Zac a pointed look . - Benefactor just arrived at this world , no? Perhaps , Benefactor can expand this poor monk’s understanding . -

Zac mutely handed over one of his vats of liquor and then added two more as the monk’s expression showed clear signs of dissatisfaction . He didn’t even bother asking why a monk wanted alcohol . The bald little bastard had already robbed him , so what if he also partook in meat and liquor?

Amitabha . To understand all creation , one must partake in all creation , - the monk said with a self-suffering look as he took a deep swig from one of the vats .

Zac hesitated to ask again , fearing the monk would just counter with more demands , but a flash of light flew in his direction . He hurriedly snatched it , and his eyes widened when he saw it was the Perennial Vastness Token .

Benefactor has grown a lot since we last met . Hopefully , this thing will help down the road . - The monk smiled as he kept walking .

We’ve met before? - Zac asked with confusion , still unable to make sense of the familiar feeling . He almost believed it was some illusion skill the monk used to scam people .

As this poor monk said , we are connected , - the monk smiled . - Our roads have intersected before . Twice , in fact . -

What? - Zac blurted , but the brook and the bamboo were suddenly gone .

A small cherry tree swayed in the wind , and a unique creature sat in silent meditation . He had no legs , but wings and two unusually long arms . A moment later , the scene shifted again , and Zac saw a fat little youth putting a whole mountain into his inner world .

Lord 84th? The Lotus Emperor? - Zac exclaimed , and he felt some sort of blockage snapping in his mind , and could suddenly connect two and two again .

So it was another avatar . Zac should’ve guessed the moment he saw the fat little man . However , something must’ve blocked his thoughts , just like Lord 84th had somehow removed one of his futures back on Earth .

It is surprising . In this vast universe , Benefactor has not only met my 84th incarnation , but also formed a Karmic Cycle with one of my still-sleeping avatars . Truly a blessing . -

May I ask who your esteemed self are? - Zac queried .

This poor monk managed to awaken third by a stroke of luck . My Dharmic name is Three Virtues . -

They passed by one of the inner structures , and Zac couldn’t believe his eyes when he spotted two blindingly gorgeous women sitting inside chatting .

The monk actually had girlfriends staying at the temple? Zac felt his understanding of Buddhism had reached new highs . Or new lows , depending on how you looked at it , after this one short visit . But that shock was nothing compared to what he saw in the opposite building .

It hovered inside some sort of glass cage , and an outer seal of Buddhist runes stopped any aura from leaking . But there was no mistaking it . There was a Shard of Creation in this temple .

That’s! - Zac exclaimed , but he quickly tried to make his face impassive .

Benefactor likes this thing? - Three Virtues smiled as he glanced at the shard , but soon shook his head . - Benefactor should be careful . There is an undying will hidden inside , a will that not even this poor monk’s sutras can cleanse . -

Zac looked at the sealed Shard of Creation for a few more moments , and he was slowly starting to form a hypothesis . There was no way the monk just happened to lead him past this thing on accident .

This thing is a blight on your fine temple , - Zac slowly said . - I am willing to take it off your hands . -

That would surely be an act of great benevolence , - Three Virtues nodded as it was a matter of course . - Alas , there is a problem . -

What’s the matter? - Zac said , inwardly groaning as he saw that shady look in the monk’s eyes again .

Have Benefactor heard of Batallion Leader Kaldor? -

Two weeks later , Zac crept closer to the heart of the Dead Zone , once more relying on his Draugr persona . In his hands was the roughly crafted invitation token that shifty monk imparted with him before throwing him out of the bamboo forest . The invitation token to the overlord of the Pure Death-zone .

According to Three Virtues , he was more than happy to get rid of the Shard of Creation . In fact , he had only reluctantly gotten it from the Emerald Badge Contribution Store to balance out the Splinter of Oblivion this Kaldor bought a while back .

As to why Three Virtues felt Zac was the man for the job to snatch that thing , Zac had a pretty good idea . The monk hadn’t said it outright , but he definitely knew about Zac’s two races . Three Virtues had strongly indicated that while Batallion Leader Kadlor held no love for the living , he had left some invitation tokens for promising undead warriors to find .

And one of those tokens had just somehow entered the hands of Three Virtues .

Zac didn’t know if the monk could sense the Remnants in his mind as well , but it was certainly possible . Zac was convinced the monk wanted Zac to collect a pair . As to what the monk was planning , Zac didn’t know . Did he know that two Remnants would lead to the formation of a Glimpse of Chaos? Did he want to use Zac to escape?

Thankfully , the monk had already provided Zac with one escape route from the Orom World with the Perennial Vastness Token , and his instincts told him the monk’s schemes weren’t directed at himself . Zac didn’t believe for a second he’d survive an attempt on his life from the monk , so there was no point for Three Virtues to scheme against him . The strength of an Emerald Badge Peak Monarch was far beyond what he expected .

Zac knew he was being led by the nose as he got closer to a large fortress in the distance , but being forced to play a part in someone’s scheme didn’t necessarily mean your fate was out of your hands . There were risks , but there were also ample rewards to be had . His goal was to find five sets of Remnants , and a third set had presented itself just after he’d evolved his soul?

No wonder the System ignored him when Zac had pleaded with it to take him out so he could continue his mission .

One of the new brats? - a rough voice echoed out from within the fortress when Zac got closer , and Zac groaned as his vision swam .

It felt like he was drowned in a sea of blood , and deafening screams of rage and suffering threatened to drive him mad . Zac soon stabilized his mind and kept walking , guessing this was some sort of test . It was killing intent so condensed , it had essentially turned into a mental attack . But his resilience against killing intent was far beyond normal by this point .

Oh , not bad , - a laugh echoed from within as the gates swung open . - I don’t hold much love for people wasting time on cultivating the soul , but you have a decent smell of carnage on you . Seems you’ve even killed some of those ghost bastards and a pureblood bloodsucker? Pretty gutsy . Is that why you’re hiding in here even if you’re a pureblood Draugr? -

Zac froze , but he wryly smiled as he took off his mask , exposing a backup face to his Arcaz Black persona . He should’ve guessed he wouldn’t be able to hide his heritage to someone who was a match to that monk . Zac walked into the fortress , but the large field inside was empty .

He turned toward the castle next , but a barrier stopped him from going any farther . He could only stop in his tracks , waiting for the boss to come out .

So you’re the little bastard who caused such a ruckus in my zone a while back? Did you know I had to take the blame for that one? Bastard , costing me 50 , 000 Points , - the voice swore , and Zac stumbled backward as another wave of killing intent almost knocked him out .

The aura that had descended on the square could only be forged through innumerable life-and-death battles . Neither the Ogre in the Big Axe Coliseum nor Greatest could even come close to the aura of supremacy that flooded the castle . The Havarok Autarch’s killing intent might’ve been stronger , but it had been less condensed .

This was something else entirely .

Yet Zac stood his ground , feeling he’d be in more trouble if he fled . Thankfully , he was right , and the pressure subsided .

I can guess why you’re here . The stench of that cursed little thing is still all over you . Is that why you’ve nurtured your soul? You want to cram your head full of these things? - the man said , and Zac sensed that Kaldor’s tone had changed from anger to curiosity .

Something like that , - Zac muttered , feeling that being straightforward with this Batallion Leader was his best approach . - It should make me stronger . At worst , I’ll become a lunatic , and I’ll be someone else’s problem by then . -

Hah! - a laugh echoed out through the square . - Fair enough . Well , seeing as we’re the only two purebloods in this place , I guess I can help out a bit . -

Lord is a Draugr as well? - Zac exclaimed with some excitement , hoping he could gain some insights into his Hidden Nodes .

Bah , who’s one of you? - a snort came back , instantly dashing those hopes . - I can give you that thing . After all , I am a bit curious about what would happen . But I refuse to help someone useless , so you’d have to accomplish something to prove yourself . -

Zac inwardly prayed it wasn’t to take the Shard of Creation from the monk . He wasn’t in any mood to deal with a catch-22 between two old monsters playing some game .

A duel . No skills and no using that cursed energy . Within three years , land a single hit on me , no matter how weak . I will not use my Warbones and will restrain my Daos to Peak Dao Fragments . Succeed , and I will give you that little splinter . Fail , and I will kill you , - Kaldor said . - Do you dare to take up the challenge? -

Zac didn’t immediately say yes . By the looks of it , this Kaldor was actually an Izh’Rak Reaver , and a pureblood at that . Zac still didn’t know much about them , except that they were natural-born killing machines . They had extremely powerful constitutions and natural affinities for combat .

Even if Kaldor restrained his combat style to the level of Peak Dao Fragment , it would probably be perfectly integrated . With his huge amount of experience , it would be an extremely tough battle . Zac couldn’t ambush him with Void Energy either . That might work on Peak Hegemons and perhaps even Early Monarchs , but Zac held no such delusions after feeling the killing intent of Kaldor .

To get the splinter , he would have to win fair and square . But first , Zac needed to know more .

How strong do I need to be to succeed? - Zac asked .

If you manage to pass the fourth band in the Wilderness , I’d say you have a fifty-fifty shot , - Kaldor said .

Zac had two choices now , one easy and one dangerous . He could either lay low until he reached Peak E-grade in this place before setting off with the Perennial Vastness Token . Or he could gamble his life to seize the third set of Remnants . It took him one year to pass the first two bands . Could he pass two more in three years?

Possibly , as long as he made some meaningful breakthroughs .

He almost managed to tear apart space with a single Annihilation Sphere a month ago . With chaos coursing through his body , escaping and destroying the brand on his hand would be a cinch . His gaze turned to the ring on his finger , where the Perennial Vastness Token rested . But his Abyssal eyes soon turned back toward the castle where the Izh’Rak Reaver was secluded , his heart beating with conviction .