Defiance of the Fall

Zac walked back into the fort with Vilari and the other leaders of Port Atwood in tow . Soon enough , they retreated to the conference room originally meant for the Peace Summit , while others dealt with the fallout outside .

Sorry to throw a wrench in your plans , - Zac smiled when they were finally alone .

I’m ashamed , - Vilari said as she bowed deeply . - We used so many resources , yet we had to rely on you to deal with the mess we created . -

I’ve read the reports , - Zac said . - You expended a lot of resources ousting the other factions , including the Undead Empire . It’s no surprise the locals had time to organize , especially with their spiritual heritage . -

This is my mistake , - Vilari once more said . - I— -

No , you did the right thing , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - It’s not a matter of efficiency , it’s a matter of principle . It would have affected morale if we started killing natives so soon after we went through the same thing . -

Are you okay? - Joanna cut in . - We’ve been worried something happened . We have been trying to find a way to reach Twilight Harbor but without any luck . -

Don’t bother , - Zac grunted as he sat down at the table . - It blew up . -

What! - Vilari blurted , a rare display of losing her footing as a mentalist . - How could such a place blow up? The harbor alone should be able to contend in power with half the Zecia Sector . -

The others were wide-eyed as well , and some looked at Zac like he was a monster surviving something like that .

Well , it turns out the Eveningtide Asura is still alive and well , - Zac said as he gave a shortened version of what happened in the Twilight Harbor and Twilight Ocean , glossing over the parts that involved his secrets .

Amazing , - Ilvere sighed . - It’s these kinds of experiences that are needed to reach the top? I think I’ll stay on as a guard captain . -

Autarchy . . . B-grade , - Joanna muttered with a glimmer in her eyes . - It’s so distant . -

It’s unprecedented in this Sector , - Vilari nodded . - But if the Eveningtide Asura could do it , so can young master . -

The Valkyries nodded as though it was a matter of course , but the others were not so convinced . Even Hegemony was a distant dream for someone who was born on a D-grade world , while Monarchy required you to subvert fate . Autarchy was not even a dream , merely something impossible to accomplish in the frontier , let alone a weak Sector like Zecia . Opportunities like the one Alvod Jondir seized didn’t grow on trees .

And you found the solution for Ensolus when you raided that treasury? - Joanna asked curiously . - Isn’t it better to use it on Earth? -

That was why I took the risk and snatched it in the first place , - Zac nodded . - But it won’t work . I visited the core of Earth before coming here . It turns out our homeworld already has something similar . It might be a result of the System protecting the planet . Funny enough , I got the Realm Spirits just days after you accepted the Incursion . I wonder if the System knew I’d get them and arranged this planet . -

The Ruthless Heavens has always shown consideration for its chosen , - Ilvere said , and Rhuger nodded in agreement .

That was over four years ago , - Joanna said with confusion . - What happened next? Did you visit the Undead Empire? -

Hardly . I got swallowed by a space fish when I escaped , - Zac sighed , and then told them about the Orom and how he was trapped there for years . However , he changed the nature of his escape by saying the fire golem’s attack caused spatial tears in the Orom World , and he’d simply jumped through one .

Death is waiting around every corner in the Multiverse , - Joanna muttered . - How is one supposed to grow when monstrosities multiple grades higher can appear at any time? -

That’s just it , lass , - Ilvere grunted . - Everyone will have to make a choice . You can stay on your homeworld and make steady progress , but you will never reach beyond the limits of the planet . Or you can take the risk to step into a vaster world , provided you have the prerequisite power and opportunities . You will most likely die on this path ; only a few people like young master will rise while billions fall . -

Joanna visibly agreed , though her face was a bit downcast . Zac could only sigh , unable to offer any consolation except a pat on her shoulder . What Ilvere was saying was true . His pouring resources over the people of Port Atwood could only push them so far . Not only that , but the more they relied on outside help , the less likely they were to rise to prominence .

You needed to take risks to gain power .

Even then , there was a matter of even having the qualifications to take the risk . Not everyone had his ability to travel freely . Joanna , for example , was locked to Earth unless she asked for his help . And even if she ventured out to dangerous areas in the Zecia Sector , she would most likely end up as fertilizer to someone else’s path .

Part of it was simple statistics . If you joined ten medium-risk adventures with a 30% mortality rate , you only had a few percent chance of walking out alive . If you joined certain-death events like the cataclysmic Twilight Harbor or the Orom’s culling , you were essentially screwed if you didn’t have something unique to fall back on .

That was the second part of the issue—the Multiverse was not equal .

This wasn’t a video game , there wasn’t balance in the sense that everyone had the same chance to reach the peak . Certainly , some people like Alvod Jondir managed to rise to their current heights by finding some Supreme treasure . While some could reforge their futures through a stroke of luck , most people relied on heritage .

Zac relied on both .

It was undeniable that he’d braved greater dangers than anyone else on Earth , but a big reason he could do that was his background . If not for his unique bloodline , he would have died ten times over already . If not for Leandra’s clan implanting him with the Duplicity Core , Zac would not even have survived Mhal’s attack when he was injected with the Draugr sample .

There’s no need to compare yourself to others . Cultivation is an individual journey , - Zac said as he looked around the room . - And I can see that you all have made great strides . -

It wasn’t empty praise . Six years was neither short nor long , but it had clearly been enough to reforge the core group of the Port Atwood elites . Their auras were thick and condensed , proving they hadn’t pushed only their levels with the help of treasures . There was both experience and hard work behind those auras , something secluded cultivation couldn’t nurture .

The Ensolus Continent has provided a lot of opportunities , - Vilari smiled .

Our last attempt was a bit wretched , - Ilvere said with a wry smile . - But this time we got our money’s worth . Uh , young master’s money’s worth . -

And I believe the greatest opportunity still remains , - Vilari added .

The Ensolus Temples? - Zac asked , referring to the mysterious ruins at the center of the continent , after which this continent , and now World , got its name .

The Ensolus Temples , - Vilari nodded . - We have only managed to enter one since its seal was broken down , but the manuals inside drastically improved our heritage . If you manage to crack open the others , there might be even greater treasures waiting within . -

For now , I have no interest in seizing those things , - Zac said . - You have worked for years to secure them , so you keep working on it . I’ll try to help out if I can , but right now I have a lot of things on my plate . I’m running a bit behind schedule after getting stuck like that . -

Exploring some ancient temples , which Vilari guessed might even predate the System , was obviously an interesting concept , but he really had too much to do . The temples weren’t going anywhere anyway . They seemed nigh-impenetrable judging by the reports—perhaps requiring the strength of a powerful Hegemon to break open .

If his people still hadn’t managed to crack them open before the Assimilation , he’d definitely give it a go . Otherwise , he wanted to leave this opportunity for them to explore .

Running behind? - Joanna muttered before her eyes lit up . - Are you breaking through! -

No , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - I’m not in a hurry in that regard . It will be a couple of years before I take that step . -

That long? - Joanna said with surprise . - After seeing your display , I figured you were right at the cusp . -

Our lives are measured in millennia by this point , - Zac smiled , still having some trouble coming to terms with that concept . - I don’t want to rush things like I did for my last breakthrough . I want to shore up my foundations a bit first . -

It’s not quite that simple , I’m afraid , - Ilvere sighed . - The war is really coming closer , it wasn’t just a sales pitch . We need some Hegemons to take charge . If not you , someone else . -

I read some of it in the reports , - Zac nodded . - Have you found out anything else? -

There still hasn’t been any official response from the peak factions , but the rumor mill is in full spin , - Joanna answered . - The top factions are building huge fortresses , each one as large as a planet from what I’m told . Apparently , the invaders are already here , though they are few in number , and they still haven’t left the heart of the Million Gates Territory . -

The Million Gates Territory? - Zac grimaced .

Between the warnings of the Ogre at the Big Axe Coliseum and Catheya , they had long known that something was brewing . Zac didn’t have any specifics until now , and learning that the Million Gates Territory was at the heart of it all was definitely not good for his plans . Would he have to dodge murderous invaders at every turn when he went to pick up Ogras?

Would it even be possible if he delayed too much?

Do we know anything about what kind of people the invaders are? - Zac asked .

That kind of intelligence still hasn’t been made public , - Ilvere said . - But going by the response of the peak factions , it will be a tough fight . Otherwise , the other empires would have left the Allbright Empire to fend for themselves . They have to fear that the whole Sector will fall . -

Conflict , - Zac sighed .

We got an early warning thanks to you , but even common factions are starting to become aware something is happening , - Ilvere added . - The price of cultivation resources is steadily climbing as everyone scrambles to make last-minute breakthroughs . The auctions are completely void of top-quality treasures . The same goes for things like arrays , talismans , and pills . -

Even if we’re not conscripted , some of us have to go early , - Joanna added . - We need to accumulate contribution points for our planet . -

What’s that now? - Zac asked .

We need a few Hegemons to rise before the war reaches Port Atwood , - Vilari explained . - We have gathered information about sanctioned wars for years now , and it is more akin to an incursion than a normal struggle . If it was just a conflict between two factions , only those at the top would matter . But when the System controls the events , even E-grade warriors can participate and gather contribution points . -

The System will set up graded battlegrounds and contested worlds , lessening the danger considerably , - Joanna added . - With the quality of our gear and resources , we have a good chance to perform well even if we lack experience . However , our survival hinges on being able to nurture warriors with the credentials to become captains and commanders . If we lack these kinds of leaders , we’ll have to take orders from some outsider , which could mean being used as cannon fodder . -

The System seems to be extremely rigid when it comes to war , - Vilari sighed . - Break the chain of command , and you will face harsh consequences . Of course , it’s within limits , where a nefarious or incompetent leader would similarly come under scrutiny . Though that won’t do us much good if we’ve already been wiped out because of a command we couldn’t refuse . -

Zac nodded thoughtfully , feeling the news a mix of good and bad . Good in the sense the risk of his people being wiped out by some random Monarch was a lot lower this way . Bad in the sense their foundations were still lacking—the war was coming too quickly .

Leaders , - Zac muttered . - Is it skill or strength? I mean , I think I have qualifications on the former to become some captain at least , but I don’t know anything about tactics . -

There are multiple variables behind the System’s appointments , from what we can gather , - Vilari explained . - First and foremost is strength . Secondly , nobility appears to be a big factor in who gets handed command . For this , we have a good advantage , with you on the cusp of becoming a Baron . -

I am? - Zac blurted and opened his Quest Screen .

Still nothing new , except for the Incursion quest he got upon arriving on Ensolus .

You will become a Baron the moment you control more than one planet , - Vilari smiled . - You might even be awarded a title , considering you’re still E-grade . -

There’s such a good thing? - Zac whistled .

It looked like controlling a faction was useful in more ways than just having people gather resources for cultivation . There was better treatment from the System and even direct boosts to your Strengths . Zac didn’t have any plans on abandoning Earth before , but this actually proved that focusing more of his attention on his budding empire might come with all kinds of unexpected perks .

So , what’s this about contribution? -

Sooner or later , teleporters will appear on Earth and Ensolus , - Joanna explained . - But you can join the war efforts earlier by heading to the frontlines yourself . The more contribution the Atwood Empire has racked up before the official start , the better treatment we’ll receive . We have explored options to send a few of our elites to the Million Gates Territory to gain experience and contribution . With you back , our odds are even better . -

Zac slowly nodded , realizing it was time to spill some of the things he’d kept to himself since Leandra snatched his sister . - I haven’t told you all this before , but I had been planning on going to the Million Gates Territory for a long time . Mostly to train and pick up Ogras and Billy though . -

WHAT! - Ilvere almost roared , jumping to his feet with wide eyes . - The boss is alive? Your sister was right? What in the Heavens is going on? -

I wasn’t planning on telling you in case things didn’t pan out , - Zac sighed . - But with this war , things have changed . When Ogras sacrificed himself to save my sister , he wasn’t ripped apart by the Dimensional Seed as it looked like . He was transported to its newly created Mystic Realm . The Dimensional Seed was then attracted to the Million Gates Territory by the strong spatial currents over there . -

How do you know this? - Vilari asked with confusion .

Because that intelligence was what my sister demanded in return for leaving willingly that day , - Zac explained , drawing gasps .

You don’t mean! - Joanna exclaimed .

My sister wasn’t killed , - Zac confirmed . - She was abducted . Don’t ask me by who ; it’s complicated . They are too powerful , and the less people who know , the better . This is why I’m struggling to become stronger . To get her back . -

Then Thea . . . - Joanna hesitated .

No , she really was killed , - Zac said with a shake of his head .

We’ll help you , - Vilari assured . - Even if it’s only to deal with the roadblocks to your cultivation . -

We’ll definitely do what we can , - Ilvere said , visibly moved . - To think the miss actually did that for our young master . -

Kenzie was ultimately taken , but that doesn’t change the immense debt of gratitude I have to Ogras , - Zac nodded . - I am definitely heading there , though now it sounds like I’ll also have to deal with some invaders . -

We would like to come with , - Vilari and Joanna both said , and it looked like pretty much everyone was of a similar opinion .

Zac didn’t immediately agree , but he didn’t say no either . Initially , he planned on setting out alone considering the dangers . Perhaps that was being selfish , depriving his people of a chance to progress . The Million Gates Territory would definitely be dangerous , now even more so than usual .

But was it his place to dictate whether they should get to take those risks for the sake of their cultivation? For Earth?

Besides , didn’t Cosmic Vessels require crews? His biggest point of reference was Little Bean , the Technocrat vessel . That thing had thousands of people on board , most of them crew members . The vessels he saw fly by in the Twilight Harbor were pretty massive as well , and they probably required multiple people to keep track of things . -

Even if he didn’t want such a massive ship , perhaps he needed to bring some people to manage the vessel he got from Karunthel’s quest .

Alright , I will talk with the Creators , - Zac said . - I’ll see about getting us a ship . I guess we’re about to become space mercenaries , so make your preparations . -

Excitement and determination shone in his people’s eyes , but the moment was ruined by a small tremor that reminded Zac of the most pressing issue .

But first , I guess I should fix this planet . -

8

ENSOLUS MINES

Zac spent the next few days in Fort Atwood , mostly catching up with everyone . While no one had tales as fantastical as being swallowed by a gargantuan space fish , it became clear that the elites of Port Atwood all had their share of adventure and hardship on the Ensolus Continent .

The most shocking thing was that Janos was presumed dead , gone missing in the mysterious Ensolus Temples . They held out some hope that the Illusionist somehow lucked into an inheritance , but it had been three years already . Even if he entered some trial ground , he should have come out by now .

Apart from that , more than thirty Valkyries had fallen , replaced with the next generations of spear maidens . In total , the casualties surpassed one thousand , most coming from the first bloody year when they eradicated one invading army after another .

It wasn’t really a big number compared to how many had fallen in Earth’s Integration , but it was worth remembering that only elites had been taken on this mission . Each death meant the loss of a talent that Port Atwood had invested heavily into—standout warriors who survived the Integration only to fall a few years later .

The second leading cause of death was the unstable beast of the Ensolus Continent , with the natives only being a distant third . That alone was somewhat lucky since a couple of skirmishes at the edge of the continent wasn’t enough to form some irreconcilable grudge from either side .

Therefore , the negotiations proceeded smoothly , with Zac only participating in a few . Vilari and the administrators had a much better grasp on the nitty-gritty details of incorporating a world and hundreds of millions of new citizens under his reign .

He did , however , take time to appear as Arcaz Black in front of the ghosts for a private meeting . He wanted to somewhat allay their worries , once more alluding to his connections to the Undead Empire . And it looked like it worked , especially after he showed some of the spectral cultivation techniques he’d requested Triv to send over .

Of course , he wouldn’t hand over such precious techniques just a few days after an insurrection , but it both acted as proof of his connections and a motivator to stay loyal .

After three days , most issues were ironed out , where taxation and other matters of concern were dealt with . Essentially , the Kingdom of Raun would be forced to hand over a larger share of their revenue because of their attack , but it would be lowered to the demon’s level after they’d contributed enough to the war efforts .

In either case , huge shipments of resources would start flowing from the two outer continents on the Ensolus World soon enough , many of them rare materials with their respective attunements . The cessation of war would also allow Port Atwood to drastically expand their operations on the Ensolus Continent , which was still teeming with valuable resources .

With the situation stabilized and the two armies having returned to their respective continents , Zac set out in secret , using one of his flying treasures to head over to a place called the Ensolus Mines . It was one of the biggest sources of wealth on the Ensolus Continent , a vast Nexus Crystal mine producing both Divine Crystal and Miasma Crystals , a network of tunnels tens of times larger than the mine on his island back home .

More importantly , it contained a secret chute leading into the depths of the planet . Since Ensolus wasn’t officially conquered just yet , Zac couldn’t teleport to the mantle of the planet . It was a bit annoying , but it was a small price to pay for strengthening the bond between his force and these natives .

Thankfully , his people had already done all the heavy lifting in their effort to stabilize this world , having dug deeper and deeper for years on end until they reached the same depths as Triv had back on Earth . Even Zac was beset by a wave of vertigo as he peered down from the ten-meter-wide chute , an endless hole leading into the abyss .

It will take one week to reach the bottom using a floating disk , - Ilvere , who acted as his guide on this mission , said .

A whole week? - Zac grimaced . - What if I just jump? -

I knew you would say that , - Ilvere laughed . - I tried it once , it’s quite an experience . It will take just over half a day that way . A series of lights will alert you when you’re getting close to the bottom . The landing is hard , so you better be prepared to deal with it somehow . -

No problem , - Zac smiled . Honestly , even if he smacked right into a floor of solid rock he’d be mostly fine . - Are you coming as well? -

I’ll stay up here , - Ilvere said with a shake of his head . - I wouldn’t mind another leap , but getting back up is a bit boring . Besides , I need to make sure no one tries to trap you down there or sneaks back into the mines now that they’ve been evacuated . -

Good . - Zac wasted no time and jumped down .

In an instant , Ilvere’s form at the edge of the chute turned into a speck , and a minute later , Zac found himself in what looked like a tube that stretched to eternity in both directions . If not for the repeating runes that reinforced the tunnel and the occasional glimmering crystal flashing by , he wouldn’t even have been able to see he was moving .

At first , the experience was pretty exhilarating , but it soon grew rather tedious , so Zac closed his eyes and started to meditate . He hadn’t gained any new insights from taking out the Ghost King , but this odd energy of the Ensolus Continent was quite interesting . It was a novel contrast to the surprisingly stable Twilight Energy , and almost a case study in what not to do when trying to fuse the elements of Life and Death .

On the surface , it should have been perfect ; energies of Life and Death , locked in a perennial struggle . It was a lot like he envisioned his Path and how he should create his cultivator’s Cosmic Core . Life and Death clashing , with everything controlled by conflict . And the swirling mix of both was certainly in constant upheaval on the Ensolus Continent , although not in a good way .

There was no balance . The energy on the continent wasn’t homogenous , and pockets of Life and Death constantly formed while the other element was pushed away . But soon enough , that would change again , in an unstable and unpredictable swirl . Certainly , it was chaotic in a way that slightly resonated with the Dao of Chaos , but having this kind of environment in his Cosmic Core would be disastrous .

He could picture it . Sooner or later , tremors similar to the ones that afflicted this world would appear in his Core until it broke apart . Just what was it that prevented this energy from fusing into a more stable Chaos Energy , or at least a subordinate version? His memory of the Chaos Pattern had long grown indistinct , but he could still remember its energy was one whole and extremely stable in its unpredictability .

He needed to recapture that feeling . Minor Chaos was the best solution he could come up with when forming his Cultivation Core , to create something akin to the motes of Chaos , though based on his three Daos . With such a core , he should be able to cultivate using either Cosmic Energy , Divine Energy , or Miasma . It would become the first step in fusing his two sides as well , a second bridge to join the Quantum Gate] .

But the situation on the Ensolus Continent and the clear delineation in the Twilight Harbor made him wonder if the Daos of Life and Death could even withstand such a concept . Were they impossible to fuse before elevating them to Creation and Oblivion? If so , what did it mean for his core , which required both?

Should he give up on this idea entirely , and instead aim to create something unattuned and solely based on his Branch of the War Axe? It would certainly be easier . But from what he’d gathered , one’s core needed to resonate with all one’s Daos , not just one . There were no easy answers , unfortunately , and it wasn’t like there was a wealth of information on Edgewalkers . At least not in the frontier .

A series of flashes in his surroundings made him put the matter aside and open his eyes . It looked like he’d been meditating for half a day already , and the bottom of the chute was closing in on him—looking like a fiery eye of a dragon . According to Ilvere , there should be a large cave with a research base waiting for him below , but as he exited the chute , he was greeted by a roiling sea of magma .

Zac hurriedly activated Earthstrider] and took a few steps in the air to exhaust his momentum before slamming into the molten rock . Scorching heat assaulted him from every direction , along with thick streams of Life and Death .

It was a mix of pain and pleasure as his body greedily swallowed the energies . Still , he activated one of his heat-averting talismans to lessen the pressure on his body . Visibility was essentially zero , but he could get an idea of the surroundings by spreading out his Dao Field . It looked like the tremors had destroyed the protective arrays and breached the cave , filling it with magma .

Thankfully , this place had been abandoned for months due to this exact risk , meaning none of his scientists had been burned alive . After all , most E-grade warriors only had a fraction of his Vitality and Endurance , and they’d get incinerated in minutes .

It quickly became obvious that the floor of the cave had burst apart , so Zac simply pushed deeper into the magma , getting some serious déjà vu from his time in the Twilight Ocean volcano . Hopefully , things wouldn’t get quite as explosive this time around .

The hours passed as Zac descended deeper and deeper into the mantle , though even he was finding the environment unbearable . Eventually , he stopped and activated another flame-retardant barrier , giving himself some breathing room . Only then did he take out the engraved box holding the twinned spirits and opened the lid .

I can’t go any farther than this , - Zac said as he looked down at the spiraled crystal . - Can you take things from here? -

He had no idea if these things could actually think or understand his words , but he’d started talking with them long ago every time he took them out , hoping to rouse their spirituality as they were fading away . Besides , he’d sensed that weak hint of fear from Earth’s spirit , so they might really have some sort of sapience .

The two spirits didn’t answer , but the crystal started to hum and vibrate , its previously flickering lights fast gaining strength . A crack echoed out as two powerful pulses of energy shot through the barrier like a spiritual drill , heading straight for the core of the planet . In an instant , the pulse left Zac’s scanning range .

Not so much as a thank you , - Zac muttered as he looked at the fragmented crystal in his box , but he was inwardly relieved .

It turned out those crystals weren’t the actual Spirits , but only something to temporarily house them . Judging by the speed of the spirits , they should reach the World Core within a couple of hours . That meant the clock had started ticking , and he urgently swam back toward the chute . He had no idea how this planet would react upon the World Core being seized by the foreign Realm Spirits .

Would there be a struggle? Some massive outburst of energy? No matter what , the magmatic mantle couldn’t possibly be a safe place to stay at such a time .

Zac spared no expense , activating one talisman after another as he plowed through the magma , and he managed to return almost twice as quickly as he descended . He jumped into the chute and took out a floating platform that started to lift him back to the surface . The speed wasn’t impressive , but it gave him the footing he needed to take out something better .

A rocket .

It was quite an odd-looking flying treasure compared to the other ones he’d found in the dozens of rings he’d snatched . The ship looked like a sleek emerald crystal needle that was just five meters long and barely wide enough to squeeze into its sole compartment .

It had no defensive arrays , extremely high energy consumption , and it was quite uncomfortable to ride , but it had one undeniable advantage—speed . It was probably used either as an escape pod or for some sort of hobby . Zac crammed inside and shot off , the momentum almost giving him whiplash as the floating platform beneath him crumbled .

The walls of the chute turned to a blur as the needle-ship pierced the air resistance and almost space itself , on the return to the surface . However , after just an hour , Zac felt an ominous rumble , a rumble that soon turned into something much worse—a massive earthquake . It was like the whole planet was screaming in pain , and Zac was currently right in its mouth .

A wetness formed in his ears , and even his bones and organs groaned in protest as the shakes grew increasingly intense . Even the energy in the air was careening out of control , and small cracks started to appear on his vessel from the vibrations . The arrays on the walls of the chute lit up to resist the shakes , but how could some manmade runes resist a planet having a seizure?

Cracks rapidly spread across the walls , and Zac’s eyes grew pitch-black in preparation for what would certainly come next . As expected , small stones started to rain down the chute , and these stones were soon replaced by large boulders . With the immense speed of the needle , he was almost there , but he got a sinking feeling as new cracks appeared on his vessel every time it reduced a boulder to ash by piercing it .

Finally , the transformation finished , and three pygmy skeletons appeared outside the flying treasure . Unfortunately , it was too late , and the vessel broke apart just as a sturdy shield appeared above . Still , the shield protected him from having a boulder slam into him , and he urgently took out another flying treasure .

However , a burst of superheated air interrupted his plans , and even his durable Draugr skin was scalded as he was flung thousands of meters in the air in an instant , pushing him and the falling rocks straight up and far quicker than any flying treasure could accomplish . His surroundings became a confusing blur , with only the three skeletons a fixture in a deafening storm of rocks and smoke .

And magma .

Oh , SHI— - Zac wailed , but he didn’t get to complete the sentence before a torrent of magma slammed into him like a bulldozer from behind , ripping his defensive skill apart and drowning him in molten rocks imbued with a momentum that no E-grade cultivator could ever hope to generate .

One talisman after another was expended as Zac desperately held on , but just as he ran out , he felt a wisp of fresh and non-scorching air . A moment later , he lurched , and when the magma around him parted , he was shocked to find himself at the top of a massive pillar of lava reaching over ten thousand meters into the air .

Similar scenes could be spotted in every direction . The mountain atop the Ensolus Mine had already been blasted apart , along with the fortune it contained . Soon enough , Zac found himself falling , and he turned back into his human form after some hesitation . If the energy was agitated before , it was rioting now , and he didn’t dare activate Abyssal Phase] in this kind of environment .

Instead , he utilized the same technique as before , taking a couple of steps in the air before slamming into the edge of a newly-formed lava lake that had replaced much of the Ensolus Mines . Blobs of molten rock were falling all around him , and he deftly swerved back and forth , occasionally cutting a boulder in two as he ran away from the collapsed mountain .

In the distance , he actually saw a barely familiar figure wave him over with two swirling boulders in the air blocking any magma from falling on him .

There you are , - a soot-covered Ilvere panted after Zac rushed over , a wry smile appearing on his face . - I had really forgotten how . . . extravagantly . . . you dealt with things . -

Well , that’s me , - Zac said before coughing out some ashy smoke . - Are you okay? -

That was a bastard of an earthquake , - Ilvere grunted . - But it seems things won’t get any worse at least . Hopefully , the lava will cool down in a couple of days and we can start looking into what’s salvageable . -

Do you have any method to contact Fort Atwood , to see if they’re okay? - Zac asked .

Ilvere quickly took out a thick stack of papers , and he breathed out in relief when all of them were intact .

Life effigies collected from people stationed in every outpost , - the demon explained when Zac looked at the stack with confusion . - Since all of them are intact , our settlements should either have been unaffected by the earthquake , or their shields held off any lava that had come their way . -

Good , - Zac sighed in relief .

Was . . . it a success? - Ilvere hesitantly asked .

Zac honestly didn’t know as he looked at the apocalyptic surroundings .

The magma pillar had collapsed into a fountain that - only’ reached a few hundred meters in the air . But ash still blotted out the sky while the lava lake was slowly submerging the broken shards of the Ensolus Mine .

I . . . think so? -

9

THREE OPTIONS

Ilvere looked at the soot-covered Zac before turning to the still-sputtering lake filled with lava , so hot and rife with chaotic energies , that it created odd apparitions reaching for hundreds of meters into the air .

Well , if you say it’s fixed , I’ll believe you , - the demon coughed . - The past weeks , we haven’t had more than eight hours between tremors . We should have a preliminary result by the time we’ve returned . -

Right , - Zac nodded before taking out a cleansing array , blasting himself and his guide with a storm of scraping winds and water that turned pitch-black before it was flung away . - Let’s go . -

They flew away , using another flying treasure that looked a bit like a spaceship you could see on artwork in the early 20th century . It was sleek and silvery with small fins , though there was no rocket at the end . Instead , there was a viewing deck , since its flight was powered by arrays rather than propulsion .

The reason Zac picked that one was because it had strong shields and an air filtration system , both of which came in handy with layers of ash covering the whole area in a dark haze , and the occasional rock still falling from the sky .

Their departure was just in time as well , as a second eruption rocked the area twenty minutes later , its fiery plume of magma visible even through the shroud . Both Zac and Ilvere looked at the scene from the windows with wide-eyed horror , and Zac urgently took out dozens of defensive talismans from his Spatial Ring , activating them just in time before a massive shockwave blasted the area clean of ash and sent the vessel thousands of meters off course .

The second eruption was even worse than the first , and by the time it abated , a new mountain had appeared , replacing the one that had just been blasted apart . Similar scenes were playing out in every direction . The Ensolus Continent was pretty much getting a second randomization following the Integration , though this one was one wrought from fire and brimstone rather than the System’s spatial manipulations .

Forests were turned to ash as magmatic tsunamis swallowed them whole . Zac shuddered as he heard the wails from the wildlife within , inwardly saying a prayer of thanks that the weird beasts on the continent were terrifyingly aggressive and quite literally insane from the chaotic energy . Meanwhile , new towering peaks shot through the ground , perhaps coming all the way from the core of the planet itself .

Furthermore , the series of earthquakes and volcano eruptions had kicked up unprecedented storms across the continent , forcing Zac and Ilvere to push the vessel to the limit to avoid getting dragged into supersized tornadoes that contained such ferocity , they’d easily rip apart any pre-Integration civilization it encountered .

But with the bad , also came some good .

The energy , it’s so dense , - Ilvere muttered as he looked through the windows , and Zac had to agree .

These eruptions did not only spew out magma , but also incredible amounts of energy that probably had been locked deep in the planet’s core . Currently , the density of attuned energies was more than twice what it was before—and that was far in the sky . If they went closer to the fault lines that now crisscrossed the Ensolus Continent , the energy would be even greater .

It made Zac wonder if the planet had been upgraded to Middle D-grade just by infusing the twinned spirits . Unfortunately , after the apocalyptic upheavals started abating twelve hours later , Zac felt the ambient energy gradually recede , but he still believed it would stop at a higher density compared to before .

Ultimately , Zac wasn’t too interested in the energy levels of Ensolus . He was more interested in any potential changes the twinned Realm Spirits could bring to the unstable mix of Life and Death . He let Ilvere maintain the wheel as he tried to sense any changes , to see if there would be any gradual transition from chaos to order in the air . This kind of opportunity was rare , and he hoped it would help him gain some ideas for the future .

Ah , it’s gone! - Ilvere exclaimed , waking Zac from his meditation .

Zac looked around as Verun’s Bite] appeared in his hand , but the scene outside was not much different compared to before . The hurricanes had started to peter out when the shakes abated , and now it was just a bit stormy outside , confusing Zac . - What? What’s gone? -

The quest! - the demon explained .

Zac opened his screen . In contrast to Ilvere , Zac still had the Incursion quest , but its reward had completely changed .

The Ensolus War (Incursion) : Subjugate the native factions of the Ensolus World . Reward : Choose one of three rewards . (0/2)]

Rewards :

Option 1 : Upgrade Earth to High D-grade Energy and Low D-grade Mass , Downgrade Ensolus to Peak E-grade Energy and Mass (redeemable within 1 year)]

Option 2 : Fuse Earth and Ensolus to a Middle D-grade Energy and Mass World (redeemable within 1 month)]

Option 3 : Choose approximate Assimilation Location for Atwood Empire (redeemable within 85 years)]

You can’t see the options any longer? - Zac asked .

No , - Ilvere said as he looked at Zac curiously . - But you can? -

Zac nodded , and he shared the screen after some thought .

Upgrade , fuse , and choose a location , - Ilvere muttered . - I wonder why they have different deadlines . -

Perhaps it would be hard to fuse the planets after the Realm Spirits had completely fused with the World Core , - Zac suggested . - So , what do you think? -

Honestly? - Ilvere slowly said . - I’d pick the third , I believe? -

Oh? Rather than upgrading Earth? - Zac asked with some surprise . - Getting a High D-grade world by downgrading a Low D-grade world is a pretty good deal . Then again , Ensolus might surpass Low D-grade on its own now after things stabilize . -

Well , I don’t know the specifics of the Assimilation ; Clan Azh’Rezak never expected to get that far . But I know how much the location of a world matters . The planets at the edges of the horde back home are always ravaged by the Tal-Eladar . With a massive war coming up , you can place us far away from the carnage , allowing us to avoid the brunt of it , - Ilvere said . - You can even wait over 80 years and choose based on the current state of the war . -

Zac nodded and indicated for the demon to keep going , interested in what the veteran had to say .

Increasing the disparity between our world and Ensolus would make sure a subjugated force doesn’t overpower us , but it doesn’t seem to be in line with your plans . Neither does fusing planets , - Ilvere slowly said .

Pushing Earth to High D-grade compared to Early D-grade is big , though , - Zac muttered . - It will exponentially increase the number of Hegemons Earth will be able to raise . -

It was true . In an Early D-grade world , the peak factions would generally have one or two Hegemons , most of them at the early stage . One or two cultivators on the planet might be able to push to Middle D-grade by hoarding resources . In contrast , on a High D-grade world , even Peak Hegemons could appear with the right resources and heritage . Furthermore , the larger factions would be able to raise scores of weaker Hegemons .

Certainly , with Earth remaining at Low D-grade Mass , the planet wouldn’t have enough space for too many peak figures . The higher you climbed , the bigger a support system you needed . If he’d been a normal cultivator who relied on his clan for resources , he might have needed to gobble up the resources of half the planet for a shot at Peak Hegemony .

That’s true . Long-term , it would be huge , - the demon agreed . - But will it matter for the war to come? An upgraded planet’s effects will only make themselves known after generations have passed , where each successive generation is born slightly more talented than the one before . This generation’s Hegemons will be born at the battlefield , not in some secluded cultivation chamber . -

Unless a System-based world upgrade brings the kind of opportunities that the Integration did , - Zac countered .

Yes , but I think I would have heard of something like that , - Ilvere hesitated . - But it doesn’t hurt to ask the floating eyeball or the smarter ones . -

That’s what I’m thinking as well , - Zac nodded . - We’ll discuss this with the others when we return . For now , keep these options to yourself . -

No need for the natives to know , - Ilvere agreed . - You’ve held up your part of the bargain . Now it’s time for them to hold up theirs . -

As the days passed on their return journey , the absolute lack of tremors following the initial massive outburst all but confirmed that the world really was healing . However , the unstable state of the Ensolus Continent’s ambient energy remained the same , making Zac wonder just what the Realm Spirits changed . Perhaps it would take longer for a more substantive transformation to take effect .

Soon enough , they saw Fort Atwood far in the distance , its grand defensive arrays still running on full power . The surroundings were quite devastated , and both Zac and Ilvere breathed out in relief upon seeing the fort itself was absolutely fine . However , as they flew closer and closer , the demon started to get a constipated look , like he wanted to say something .

What is it? - Zac asked with a raised brow .

It’s about Janos , - the demon hesitated , and Zac immediately understood what the demon wanted . - I know you have a lot on your plate , so I hate to ask . . . but . . . -

You should have more free time now that the war is ending , - Zac said after some thought . - Draw whatever resources you need from the coffers to buy Karma-finding arrays or whatever can help locate missing people , and take some talented scouts to make a proper sweep . If you can find any indication of where Janos ended up , I will do my best to help you save him . Unfortunately , I don’t have the time to scour the whole place myself right now . -

This was the least he could do for the Illusionist who’d fought valiantly for Port Atwood many times over . Normally Zac would have gone himself , but with the war looming over everyone’s head , he felt there were a million things he had to deal with before it was too late . He couldn’t spend months scouring the temple ruins that spanned an area as large as a small country , an area riddled with weird arrays and natural formations that were extremely time-consuming to break through .

Of course , - Ilvere hurriedly nodded , a wide smile spreading on his face . - This is more than enough . I will set out as soon as the situation has stabilized . -

Soon enough , they were right in front of the powerful barriers , and Zac could see that the two armies were camped out on the large courtyard , no doubt having been let in when the situation turned chaotic . His vessel had obviously been spotted some time ago as well , and the delegates , along with the leaders of Port Atwood , were already waiting at the center of the courtyard .

Thousands of eyes were trained on him as he had Ilvere set down the sooty vessel before he emerged from within , the burns that had covered his face thankfully long gone already .

Lord Atwood , you really did it , you healed this broken world . Let me be the one to thank you first , - the Ghost King Aouvi said with a deep bow . - We feared the worst when nature ran amok . -

I appreciate your people providing sanctuary , - the demon chieftain added with a nod after throwing a loathing glance at the spectral warrior .

It’s nothing , - Zac said , ignoring the friction . - Have you heard anything from your continents? -

The energies have been turbulent , but we managed to get word back yesterday . There was some unrest , but nothing compared to what we saw outside your shields . Just some mild shakes , followed by a clear increase in energy , - Ra’Klid said with excitement before a cough from the old warrior behind him made him somber up . - We hear the quest is gone? -

The global quest was transformed into a private one after I used my own resources to stabilize this world , - Zac explained , though he didn’t divulge the options . - However , there is one thing that remains . -

From there , Zac pointedly glanced at the Incursion pillar in the distance , which was still showering the fort with its light .

Ah , yes , of course . Of course , - Aouvi said . - As ranking Lord of the Kingdom of Raun , I hereby surrender to the Atwood Empire , so that we may join under their banner . -

A moment later , a large parchment flashed into being in front of the ghost , and both he and Carva put their hands on it after some hesitation . It was a System contract that officially turned the Kingdom of Raun into a subordinate force of Zac’s faction . That meant all System-based functions , including the automatic taxation , came under his control . It also meant that most acts of treason would turn into System-based events , which meant Zac and his subordinates would get a quest to quell uprisings .

The process was simple , but it was only possible thanks to multiple requirements being met . The first was power , where the Atwood Empire had to be ranked higher than the Kingdom of Raun through whatever measurements the System used . Secondly , there had to be a consensus in a surrender , where all the top-ranking members stamped the parchment . If there were a bunch of D-grade Ghost Kings hiding somewhere , it wouldn’t have worked , since Aouvi and Carva wouldn’t have been able to speak for their faction .

The Mavai will always honor their word . Strength and honor , Warchief Atwood , - Ra’Klid said and repeated the process with three out of the five councilors he’d brought . Apparently , the other two weren’t Lords in the eyes of the System , since the process finished without a hitch .

The next moment , the Incursion pillar started growing until it seemingly reached deep into space . The whole sky was drenched in emerald and grey as a familiar surge of energy filled Zac’s body , a sensation he hadn’t felt in some time . A moment later , the Incursion pillar spread out to cover the whole sky before slowly fading away .

Curiously , Zac opened his Title Screen while the others observed the spectacle , and his heart thumped with delight when he saw two new entries awaited him .

Blooddrenched Baron : Become a Baron through subjugation . Reward : All attributes +5%

Connate Conqueror : Conquer a planet while in E-grade . Reward : All attributes +5%

You kept your word about fixing this world . I hope you will continue to lead by example , raising our people to new heights , - the young warchief said as the radiance in the sky faded .

The road we have ahead of us is long with many unknowns , but I will do my best to pave a path for our people , - Zac nodded as he closed his Title Screen , then imbued his voice so the observing armies could also hear what he said next .

I am not really one for speeches , but let me just say that I’m happy to welcome you all into the Atwood Empire . I don’t plan on treating you any better or worse than the citizens of Earth . Those who perform well and bring something to the table will get access to opportunities and resources that are hard to match in the whole Sector . Those who just coast by will be ignored and left to fend for themselves , - Zac said , his voice echoing through the courtyard . - And those who act against our interests , will be dealt with strictly and severely . -

At that point , a burst of dense killing intent was unleashed , showering the whole courtyard . However , just as soon as it was unleashed it was gone again , though Zac hoped it would leave a mark in the hearts of these elite warriors .

Now that you’re citizens of my faction , you will gain initial access to the Atwood Empire Contribution Store , and in the future our Dao Repositories . Don’t look down at what they contain just because we’re a newly-formed faction . Due to some lucky encounters of mine , we have manuals that can match those of the big Empires in the Zecia Sector , - Zac continued . - Using them can completely transform one’s fate , elevating you from a talented warrior to a powerhouse with the qualifications to leave their mark on history . -

Is that how warchief became so powerful? - Ra’Klid interjected with glimmering eyes , his voice also loud for the benefit of the spectators .

Part of it . Access to resources can help improve your foundation , but most of my power comes from risking my life over and over , finding my path at the edge of death , - Zac said , getting approving nods from the older demons .

In either case , I am not a hands-on leader—I am focused on the path cultivation and strengthening myself , and I urge you to do the same for the foreseeable future , - Zac added . - We can start playing politics when we’ve won the upcoming war . -

It’s as you say , Lord Emperor , - Aouvi nodded . - With this planet healed and war being over , we shall begin shoring up our foundations . Your . . . encounter . . . with King Eomid proved that our strength is truly hollow , something we must remedy . -

From what I’ve heard , this continent isn’t lacking for beasts , - Zac smiled before glancing at Vilari , who nodded in confirmation . - Some bloodshed will sharpen you up . My people will soon start posting missions to tame this land . So those who want to contribute to the empire can start earning contribution and valuable resources as soon as they’ve received their token . -

The next moment , a group of soldiers came walking out from the barracks , each holding chests full of Information crystals . This moment had been carefully planned for , and soon enough , all the leaders and a good chunk of the soldiers were fervently scanning the contents .

What is this! - Ra’Klid screeched , his eyes as wide as saucers as he scanned the Information Crystal . - Rich . . . you’re rich! -

10

BARON OF CONQUEST

The Mavai Warchief’s eyes were so passionate when looking at the Information Crystal , Zac wondered if he needed to take it away before the demon tried to do something untoward to it . Then again , Ra’Klid wasn’t the only one , with the natives being locked in place with expressions ranging from incredulity to fervent desire .

The contents of the crystals were actually quite simple . The first part contained an introduction to the Atwood Empire , some basic rules , and an explanation of how contribution worked . The second part was simply a massive list of cultivation resources , a short description of each , and their respective cost in contribution points—essentially a simpler version of the store in the Orom World .

Most of these resources are the lowest-tier items in our stockpile , items that are immediately available for purchase in return for Atwood Empire Contribution Points , - Zac said , his voice directed not only at Ra’Klid , but all the elites present . - We have far more valuable treasures as well , but you need to rank up to gain access to those . But as you can see , we have left some special treasures for those who rack up points quickly . Oh , and I’ll be adding a whole load of new resources soon enough . I have collected a lot of good things during my travels . -

Ensolus never had any native citizens , and many things remain unknown and uncharted to us , especially after the upheavals , - Vilari added with a smile . - To quickly set the foundations for this planet and get your civilizations used to the ways of the Atwood Empire , we have added some incentives . Both the factions and the individuals who contribute the most over the next few years will see rich rewards far beyond what is listed in this missive . -

Does that include access to the High-grade cultivation methods and skills you mentioned? - the shaman ventured , his golden eyes almost burning with desire .

No , - Vilari said with a shake of her head , surprising Zac a bit . - The Atwood Empire is fully focused on nurturing talents that can rise to the peak of the Zecia Sector . The top performers will not be awarded the chance to purchase these methods—the methods will be directly provided , along with treasures worth multiple D-grade Nexus Coins . You have all helped erect the Merit Exchange over the past few days , and you can already collect your citizenship tokens there . Remember , even gaining levels and Dao breakthroughs will award contribution points in the Atwood Empire , so work hard on your cultivation . -

The ghosts and demons glanced at each other , clearly deliberating whether they should wait for the orders of their superiors or make a run for it . As for the leaders themselves , they simply gave a few hurried pledges of loyalty before flashing away , leaving their warriors in the dust in their hurry to get the Contribution Tokens .

A few seconds later , four disorderly queues had formed where the elite warriors of the Ensolus World impatiently waited to get their hands on the tokens that would give them access to the vast fortunes of the Atwood Empire . Only a few shamefaced delegates of each side remained , but even they hurriedly excused themselves when Zac said today’s events were over .

The representatives of the Mavai Tribes and the Kingdom of Raun probably knew this was all a scheme to have them compete against each other , thus lessening the risk of them joining hands against their new rulers . But what did that understanding matter in the face of unique treasures that could speed up their cultivation and improve their foundations?

It felt a bit odd to end such a momentous occasion like this , though Zac didn’t mind . The more the elites got used to the Merit Exchange , the more integrated and dependent they would get . He looked on at the spectacle for a minute , before he turned to Vilari .

Come with me , - he said , and turned toward the fort . They walked away while the others dealt with the exchange .

With his part essentially dealt with , he once more turned his attention to his titles . Normal increases to attributes had long since reached a level of diminishing returns , but any free boost to his attributes was obviously welcome . And seeing as the two titles gave increased attributes rather than flat , they would be a boost for the rest of his life . With this , he was just one or two titles away from an increase by 100% in every single attribute , something which had to warrant some sort of boon . Perhaps even a High-grade title .

Unfortunately , seeing the new titles was also proof of how easily elite factions could boost the strength of some of their scions . It was no wonder Catheya had been given an incursion when she was just seventeen . It wasn’t just to provide the Origin Energy , but also to get her a couple of titles . Considering how good these things were at the E-grade , Zac bet Catheya had even better titles to her name .

And while the System generally had its rules that titles had to be earned , Zac was sure that peak factions could easily bend them . It shouldn’t be too hard for someone like Iz Tayn to have her nobility pushed well beyond Barony , gaining any follow-up titles that came with it .

That made him think of something else , and he looked over at the mentalist with curiosity . - Did you get any titles as well? -

I got three , apart from my private quest as an Incursion General , - Vilari nodded . - Connate Conqueror , Planetary Invader , and a title for having reached 25 titles while in E-grade . -

You already have 25 titles? - Zac exclaimed with surprise , realizing that two of Vilaris’s new titles were alternate versions of the ones he got in F-grade .

I managed to get the Apex Hunter title here on Ensolus , - Vilari smiled . - I found a Beast King with extraordinarily weak mental defenses . That alone provided two titles . With the titles for forming , fusing , and creating skills , I have gotten a total of 9 on Ensolus . Unfortunately , many are the diminished versions of the ones you can gain in F-grade . -

Still , amazing work , - Zac nodded before opening his Status Screen as well , where things were mostly the same .

Except for one interesting change—his alignment .

Alignment : Zecia] Atwood Empire – Baron of Conquest

Almost everything in the line had changed . The mention of Earth had turned into Zecia , and Port Atwood had turned into Atwood Empire . Finally , Planetary Lord changed into Baron of Conquest , which was the biggest surprise . There were different kinds of Barons?

Zac would have to get a missive on the subject from Calrin . The biggest takeaway had to be that the System officially accepted the Atwood Empire as a real thing . He already suspected as much after the quest rewards for the Incursion , but with this , it was official . Once more , he turned to his general to compare , and Vilari simply shared her screen .

As expected , it looked just like his , except for Vilari having the title of a Subordinate Lord , which was somewhat of a surprise to Zac .

As I mentioned , I had a private quest to finish the Incursion , - Vilari explained . - One of the rewards was lordships , the other one is dependent on grade and will be received when I get to a Nexus Node . -

Can you see your mark? - Zac asked with some curiosity , remembering just how amazing the rewards from those kinds of quests could be .

B-grade , which is better than I expected , considering how things ended , - Vilari said .

Not bad , - Zac agreed . - The System probably takes into account how quickly you routed all the other invaders . Hopefully , it’ll help you set the foundation for Hegemony . -

It might be a while yet , - Vilari smiled . - Even if the Soul Strengthening method I got from master is quite suited for me , I expect it will take at least a decade , unless I encounter some opportunity . -

Have you undergone the inheritance trial in the E-grade yet? - Zac asked .

No , - Vilari said . - I haven’t been able to leave Ensolus since the Incursion started . If I returned to Earth , the Incursion would immediately end , since the general leaving would count as forfeiture . -

Oh yeah , - Zac said . - I’m heading back now . Are you joining me? -

There is no hurry , - Vilari said . - I will stay until the delegates and their armies return . Tonight , we’re having a banquet , and after that I expect them to leave . -

A banquet , - Zac frowned , a bit reluctant to squeeze that into his schedule .

Yes , but it’s best if you do not come , - Vilari said , hurrying to explain when she saw Zac’s eyes widen . - It’s not that we do not want you here! With your identities , it will become too complicated . For such a festival , why would Zachary Atwood appear but Arcaz Black not make an appearance? Or the opposite? -

Zac grimaced , understanding the issue . It was fine for his real name to be exposed to the wider world , but he was still leery about letting his dual races be made public knowledge . It was one thing if some Autarch far away in the Empire Heartlands learned of him being an Edgewalker , but the risk of it having negative ramifications was far greater in a remote place like Zecia .

For now , the less you appear in public , the better . If you become too approachable , people will eventually start asking questions , like why you’re never seen together , - Vilari explained .

Yeah , I don’t think it would look very convincing if I kept going to the bathroom to swap races , - Zac said with a wry smile .

Thankfully , you have always been focused on cultivation , rarely appearing in public . It has helped curtail the spread of rumors immensely , - Vilari smiled . - If possible , perhaps you can find some sort of cloning technique that will at least allow you to make some joint appearances? Until then , we’ll simply say you’re busy cultivating or putting out fires elsewhere . -

I’ll look into it , - Zac nodded .

They reached the secluded courtyard in the middle of the fort . The Incursion pillar was gone , but the Nexus Hub remained . Eventually , the hub would be moved to some heavily guarded structure that would act as the off-world Teleportation Station of Ensolus , but for now , it was still for private use only . Just as he was about to teleport away , Zac turned to Vilari , who looked back curiously .

You have done great work here on Ensolus , - Zac said . - Honestly , knowing you were the one in charge of the Incursion saved me from going mad with worry , and allowed me to focus on breaking out . I’m really proud of you . -

A radiant smile bloomed on Vilari’s face . - Thank you . It means a lot . -

A moment later , Zac appeared at the Nexus Hub by Azh’Rodum , which was now surrounded by heavy fortifications . However , he was surprised to find over a hundred soldiers standing guard , with multiple nasty arrays humming with power . When they saw it was him who appeared , the soldiers relaxed .

I’m sorry , Lord Atwood , - the captain said , and it turned out to be Harvath , the demon soldier who’d partaken in his first excursion to the underworld . - The pillar suddenly disappeared , so we set up a perimeter just in case , even if we heard you had returned . -

All is fine . Ensolus is conquered , and there shouldn’t be any more wars over there in the short run , - Zac said , turning toward the closest teleportation array .

Ah , my lord , - the demon coughed . - I happen to have found myself looking for a change in scenery . . . -

Speak with Ilvere on the subject , - Zac smiled . - There will be a large number of job openings coming up over the next weeks . There are a lot of resources in that world that need to be extracted and refined . For now , I have to deal with a few other matters . -

Of course , of course , - the demon hurriedly said as he stepped to the side . - I am sorry for holding you up . -

That’s fine . It’s good to see you again , - Zac nodded before flashing away .

A moment later , he stepped out from the teleporter in his compound , and set course for Port Atwood . He could have teleported to the city’s teleportation terminal instead , but it felt like a hassle . This way , he got to visit Port Atwood without drawing any attention . However , Zac couldn’t believe his bad luck when his desire for anonymity backfired on him .

Still not coming to pay your respects? - a sudden snort echoed through his private forest as thousands of radiant lights almost blinded him . - Nothing can escape the gaze of the great sage . -

Alright , alright , - Zac sighed as he changed course . - I’m coming , ease up with the blasters . -

Thankfully , the blinding lights that contained their telltale lack of any sort of Dao abated as Zac made his way to the Dao Repository . Zac inwardly groaned when he saw that not only had Brazla’s private garden more than doubled in size , but it had also gained an outer wall , a small lake , and a bunch of songbirds that definitely weren’t native to Earth .

Enter , mortal , - a grand voice echoed through the garden , and Zac reluctantly flashed over to the gates that swung open infuriatingly slowly .

It’s good to see you again , Brazla , - Zac said as he donned a strained smile when he finally managed to squeeze into the Towers of Myriad Dao . - You look quite dashing , as always . -

The Tool Spirit looked the same , in the sense that he looked gaudy and pampered . This time , he used the sage-like persona , with golden robes and a golden fan .

And you look slightly less wretched , - Brazla snorted .

All thanks to your teachings , - Zac nodded , deciding he might as well deal with things while he was here . - On that topic , I was coming to see you after dealing with a quick errand . I wanted to see if I can undergo the second inheritance trial? -

You mortals , always in a hurry , - Brazla said . He closed his eyes nonetheless , seemingly in thought .

Yrial had told him to wait ten years , which hadn’t quite passed yet . However , Zac since then added both energy gathering and soul-nurturing arrays to the Towers of Myriad Dao , so he hoped his teacher had recovered a bit faster .

A moment later , Brazla opened his eyes again . - It is ready , but I will need to gather energy for a few days to start it up . Of course , an offering of commiserate value and beauty is also required . -

An offering , huh? - Zac sighed as he scanned his Spatial Ring .

He took out a series of statues depicting powerful warriors full of authority . He’d found them in one of the Spatial Rings he pilfered in the Void , and Zac guessed they might have been gate-guarding statues for some upstart Twilight Harbor Clan . They had quite a few arrays inside , but more importantly , their design screamed of excess .

Each statue was around four meters tall and were covered in gems , arrays , and intricate talismans hanging from their clothes and fingers . If slotted with a Nexus Crystal , they even emitted a mysterious smoke .

I picked these valiant guardians up at great personal expense , - Zac said . - I was planning to use them as central ornaments outside my government building , but I guess they are better suited to adorn and protect your gardens instead . -

Obviously , that was a lie . He would die of shame if he placed something as overly extravagant as these things outside his offices .

I guess this will suffice as an initial offering , - Brazla snorted . - But don’t think the great sage is so easily bought off . -

Of course , - Zac nodded , though he was inwardly rolling his eyes . - I’m sorry , I know I just arrived , but I need to prepare for the inheritance trial . -

Alright then , off you go , - Brazla sniffed as he glanced at the six statues . - Remember to bring a better offering when undergoing the trial . Otherwise , I might be led to believe your obeisance isn’t sincere . -

Thankfully , Adran had people visit Brazla almost daily to butter him up while Zac was gone , saving Zac from being held hostage by a lonely Tool Spirit . Soon enough he was back on track , making his way toward the inner gate in the distance . By now , the inner wall leading to his compound had been moved three times , and it took him almost ten minutes to reach the closest gate .

It wasn’t all because of Brazla’s gathering arrays though . As warriors became stronger and their means more varied , the leaders of Port Atwood had decided to add more layers of security to his compound . Now , there was a no-mans-land between Brazla’s gardens and the inner wall , with layers and layers of defensive and illusion barriers , almost turning his private forest and beachhead into a separate dimension . From the outside , one would only be able to see forests and the Towers of Myriad Dao , the latter at Brazla’s insistence .

Zac passed through the gate , nodding at two extremely startled guards before donning the presence-hiding cloak he got from Catheya . There were no structures immediately on the other side of the wall either , except for the occasional guardhouse . However , the area wasn’t empty like the other side .

Instead , there was a band of beautiful gardens , squares , fountains , and small rivers running for almost a mile along the wall . It wasn’t only a leisure walk for the citizens of Port Atwood , even if Zac saw many families and couples stroll through the idyllic surroundings . Beneath the ground were carefully constructed defensive measures that could add another layer of defenses in case his compound came under attack . The environment was also carefully designed to not block out too much visibility , and reaching the wall unnoticed was virtually impossible .

Beyond the band , there was a row of beautiful mansions , not one structure identical to the others . Port Atwood had become a bit like the Base Town in make-up , in the sense that it was a symbol of status to live close to the inner park and his compound . Some of the Valkyries , demons , and other core members of Port Atwood had secured residences there .

It wasn’t only about status though . The environment was unmatched , as was the energy density , except for some spots up on the mountain . And with all the defensive measures hidden below-ground , it was also exceedingly safe , giving the owners peace of mind while they were off-world fighting .

Beyond the inner district , the towering skyscrapers reached toward the sky , their number having increased more than tenfold now that the Nexus Vein beneath could support far more cultivators . It was hard to believe that Earth had been met with an extinction event just ten years ago , where almost 90% of humanity died .

Zac had never seen a city as prosperous as Port Atwood before the Integration . Back when the expansion of Port Atwood had started in earnest , Zac had simply said he wanted to avoid a sterile city . The city planners were more than adhering to the wishes he’d laid out—they’d far surpassed his imagination .

There were gardens , parks , and public cultivation grounds everywhere , bringing lushness and breathing room to the city . Some massive platforms had even been erected between skyscrapers , and Zac saw them holding lush greenery as well , along with hanging gardens , artificial lakes , and wide streets that were generally paved with well-tended grass . It was a mix of solarpunk and magic , and Zac could barely look away .

With its careful planning and vast resources available to be spent on public resources , Port Atwood was fast growing into a proper capital that could hold its head high even when compared to established factions in the Zecia Sector .

11

UNORDINARY LUCK

There were a few people Zac needed to talk with now that he was back from Ensolus , but he only hesitated for a second before making his way toward the commercial district . For years , he’d been holding onto his fortune , wondering exactly what it was worth . Not only that , but there were thousands of items in his rings that he couldn’t identify , and the curiosity had kept him up some nights in the Orom World .

Finally , he was back , and any further governance could wait now that Ensolus was dealt with . He wanted to get his treasure trove identified and appraised .

Still , Zac wasn’t in a hurry , so he leisurely walked down the streets , enjoying the fresh air and the sights . A lot of people were wandering about , yet it didn’t feel cramped at all with no vehicles plugging up the street . With spatial tools , there was no need for trucks to move items . And with the citizens of Port Atwood mostly being talented cultivators , people could move faster by simply walking than taking a car .

There were , however , a few people riding on mounts , and Zac was a bit surprised to spot a grizzled man ride on an armored Barghest that was even larger than the six-legged Alpha he killed way back when . Luckily , it didn’t emit any of the bestial bloodthirst the Barghest were known for , and there was even a hint of intelligence in its eyes . It looked like the Tal-Eladar had imparted some of their skills over the past years .

Over an hour passed as Zac got reacquainted with his town , his identity hidden within his hood . With its powerful inscriptions , Zac could walk right next to people without them noticing , allowing him to catch glimpses of the daily lives of his citizens . But eventually , he reached his destination , and he passed through the opulent gates to the Thayer Consortia Compound .

The store , whose size had increased tenfold since his last visit , didn’t contain the slightest hint of its wretched state of ten years ago . Back then , some of the dilapidated buildings didn’t even have roofs . Now , there were more than a dozen grand structures in what had essentially turned into a district unto itself .

Apart from multiple department-store-sized buildings , there were also huge training yards where customers could test out items , and Zac smiled as he saw a bunch of kids playing around . They were probably pre-cultivating students of the Academy , and one of them was arduously swinging around a real steel sword while the others laughed at his clumsy performance .

Still , there was something about the youngster’s determined expression that resonated with him , and something about those seemingly clumsy swings he appreciated . Zac took off his hood and flashed over , appearing in front of the kids and a startled attendant in an instant , whose eyes turned to saucers when she recognized who he was .

Not bad , - Zac smiled as a Spirit Tool shortsword appeared in his hands , its inscribed blade gleaming with sharpness before he placed it back in its scabbard . - It could be considered fate we met today . This blade might be better suited for you . Remember ; path , skill , technique , and Dao . It is all connected . -

The young boy looked part-afraid by Zac’s sudden appearance and part-confused over his words . Even then , his hand stretched out to grab the scabbard , a glint of hunger in his eyes . Zac nodded , and a moment later he was gone , having used Earthstrider] to head into a slightly less conspicuous building near the back—a structure solely for managing the fast-growing Thayer Consortia .

Two receptionists were going over some documents in the lobby , but they shot to their feet when Zac appeared out of nowhere . A moment later , he was led to an enormous office on the top floor where the attendants bowed and took their leave . Inside were both Calrin , who’d gotten slightly plumper since Zac saw him last , along with Vikram , whose aura had grown increasingly refined .

The young genius wore a pair of glasses that Zac could tell were some sort of Spirit Tool , as was the ledger in his hands . Working at the top of a License-holding business must have been extremely conducive to his Mercantile class , and it looked like he’d perfectly adapted his old skillset to the new environment .

Young master , - the little Sky Gnome said with glee as Zac entered the offices . - When I heard the young Lord Atwood had returned safe and sound , I cried three days and two nights straight from relief , while the Thayer Children danced and sang praises to the Heavens , who truly— -

Alright , alright , - Zac snorted before the merchant started parading those puppy-eyed gnomelings in front of him again . - What’s going on? -

He’s hoping for you to deal with his problems again , - Vikram shrugged .

You! - Calrin exclaimed as he gave Vikram a death stare . - Cretinous wretch! For years you have harassed me— -

Stopped you from embezzling funds . -

Harassed me , - the Sky Gnome repeated . - Clipped my wings , stopping us from reaching our full potential— -

Bankruptcy , - Vikram interjected once again .

And yet I imparted my knowledge of business unto you , - Calrin huffed .

Tried to scam me , - Vikram sighed .

And this is the thanks I get? -

What problems? What have you done? - Zac asked , happy to hear his outside hire was performing splendidly in curtailing the seemingly inherent shiftiness among the gnomes .

I assure you , I have furthered your interest faithfully , - Calrin said with eyes glimmering of fake sincerity fraught with suffering . - But as you must have heard by now , the upcoming war has caused chaos in the Mercantile Sector . Our Thayer Consortia is finding itself hard-pressed to turn a profit , at least not with the rules you set before leaving . -

Zac understood what Calrin was getting at . After the situation on Earth stabilized , Zac had set some ground rules for his budding business empire . At that time , he was yet not a majority shareholder , but he was still the Lord of Earth . Seeing how he was essentially setting up a monopoly on the market , apart from the limited businesses run by the Marshall Clan , Calrin had pretty much unlimited power .

If he wanted , the Sky Gnome could have set any prices he wanted for items not carried in the General Stores , siphoning the riches of the whole planet . With Smaug gone and Zac having dominated the wealth ladder , there was no one else holding Mercantile Licenses at the moment . Not even the Marshalls managed to get their hands on one , and they still weren’t even close according to the missives .

Zac wasn’t surprised . If it was so easy to get one , then the Tsarun Clan wouldn’t have needed to target the Thayer Consortia . You needed to be a true talent in business and accomplish rare feats to even get the quest chains started . From there , you needed to get at least an A-grade evaluation to get a Temporary License . To make it permanent , even more trials and tribulations waited .

Since his business was without any meaningful competition , Zac had set up some hard limits on pricing to balance profit and allow Earth’s warriors to keep progressing . Even then , how could the gnome have run into trouble in a couple of years with his massive cash infusion?

Even if prices have gone up , shouldn’t we be doing fine? - Zac asked .

Well , we are still turning a profit , but not nearly as much as we should , - Calrin grimaced . - We are also finding it harder and harder to fill the purchase orders of your subordinates . Our old enemies have taken the opportunity to strike back at us now that the situation has turned unstable . -

And you expanded too aggressively in a changing market , - Vikram added . - Gaining us even more enemies . -

Hush , you , - Calrin waved . - Without some aggression , we would just get boxed in . -

What enemies? - Zac asked . - Is it related to Tsarun? -

Partly , - Calrin said . - Two large businesses are working against us , locking us out from most of the supply lines , affecting both our ability to import and export . On top of that , there are some smaller ventures like our own consortia who are trying to seize our markets now that we’re being pressured . Part of the issues unsurprisingly originates with the Tsarun Clan , while the other large corporation is targeting us due to our . . . ahem . . . array-improving business . -

Zac inwardly groaned , realizing the chicken had come home to roost from Kenzie’s extortionist business .

I don’t understand how two companies can cause us so much trouble , - Zac frowned . - Why can’t you just trade through that license of yours? -

All intra-Sector trade through a mercantile license is under the purview of the Zecia Mercantile Guild , which is controlled by the largest Mercantile organizations and clans , - Vikram explained . - The System is uninterested in the details , so it pawns off that responsibility to the ones who have the qualifications and are willing to pay the fees . -

Their licenses are far more advanced than the basic ones we use , - Calrin added with envy written all over his face . - With them , they can control a lot of things . They can even ban certain products and impose tariffs . Currently , there are nine clans at the top , and two of them are actively working against us . -

Who? - Zac asked with a frown .

The Starlode Ventures , who have close relationships with the Tsarun Clan . A lot of the Tsarun Clan’s business is going through them , and they are suspected to even trade with the Undead Empire and unorthodox cultivators , - Calrin said . - The second is the Draol Munitions , who have a close alliance with many of the Inscriptionists your sister , ah , consulted . The latter is especially troublesome now since they’re one of the two biggest suppliers of expendable wartime items such as talismans , arrays , and offensive and defensive treasures . -

Zac somewhat knew of the two ventures , but not much more than that . Draol Munitions had a store at the heart of the Base Town , but it was kind of exclusive like the Zethaya Pill House . As for Starlode Ventures , Zac had visited more than one of their auction houses across Zecia when procuring items for his sister and Jeeves .

What about the other seven? - Zac frowned . - Will the others look the other way when they harass smaller ventures? -

Crushing the smaller competition by abusing their superior licenses is common practice . I’m sure all of them are doing it to one poor sap or another , - Calrin shrugged . - Why would the others intercede on our behalf? Even if they were so inclined , they aren’t interested in rocking the boat now that the Sector is about to be plunged into chaos . Everyone is scrambling to make money while our shelves are half-empty and we’re taking a loss on much of what remains . -

Still , even if they can cut you off from some resources , they can’t completely isolate us , right? - Zac asked with confusion . - Shouldn’t we be making a lot of money on exports even if we can’t import the items we want? -

What exports? - Calrin snorted . - This is just a single miniature planet that’s mostly wilderness . How can our production amount to anything in the grand scheme of things? More importantly , we barely have any craftsmen , and it’s the refined items that are truly in demand right now . Talismans , equipment , arrays . Things you Earthlings want me to procure without providing anything I can sell in return . -

Well , there’s not much we can do about the craftsmen , except to keep providing our talents with resources to gain experience , - Zac shrugged . - So , what do you want from me? -

His company being pushed into a corner by some big businesses was a somewhat thorny issue , though not something Zac would lose sleep over . He’d help if he could , but he wouldn’t break his back to increase the profit margins of the Thayer Consortia . After all , he’d already gathered more resources than he could possibly need for the next century .

Well , you have the unique ability to travel the Sector , - the Sky Gnome said with a crafty grin . - If we can buy resources directly from the source , we can circumvent those bastards . -

You want me to become a porter for you? - Zac laughed . - I don’t have time for that . But you know , I think I can do you one better if you’re lacking resources . -

What’s this? More items lifted from your enemies? - Calrin asked curiously as Zac threw over a couple of his Spatial Rings . - Not to worry , we’ll deal with any eventual diffi . . . culties . . . -

Calrin’s greedy gleam quickly transformed into a hollow stare , and his small hands started to shake as they grasped one of the Spatial Rings .

What . . . This . . . - the gnome sputtered , prompting Vikram to look over with curiosity .

The young industrialist picked up the other ring to scan its contents , and he instantly lost the staid expression he’d maintained since Zac’s arrival .

Like you said , just some items I lifted from my enemies , - Zac smiled .

Altogether , Zac had looted far more Spatial Treasures than the few he threw over—hundreds of them . However , most weren’t too impressive since they were lifted from the E-grade adventurers in the Twilight Ocean . All that mediocre loot barely filled one of his bulk item-rings , with the rest coming from bulk purchases in the Orom World and Twilight Harbor , along with the Hegemon-owned rings he looted in the Void .

This is not good , - Calrin said as he closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair . - Not good at all . -

What? - Zac frowned . - These items weren’t even looted in the Zecia Sector . It can’t be too difficult to pawn them off . And if the problem is volume , I have dozens of these rings . -

Please stop , - Calrin groaned as his shoulders drooped . - I can’t take it . -

What’s the matter with you? - Zac said with a raised brow . - Since when were you allergic to treasure? -

You’re going to give me a Heart Demon , - the gnome choked , and there were actual tears forming in the corner of his eyes . - I work myself ragged day after day , going over quotes and reports until I see numbers dancing across the walls . But I barely manage to make a few D-grade Nexus Coins in profit , while you return with treasures worth millions . -

Well , so sorry about that , - Zac said , his voice laden with sarcasm .

I should have become a warrior . A brute , - Calrin muttered , not listening to Zac any longer . - No need to worry about projections , no need to keep constant watch over my thieving employees . Just swing my axe and drown in wealth . -

It’s not like these things come easy . I shouldn’t even be alive , - Zac snorted . - You know where I got these things? A Divine Monarch fought with an Autarch , and the shockwaves ripped the capital of a C-grade force to shreds . Trillions died , probably . I picked these things off the bodies of Hegemons who’d been killed by errant blasts , narrowly avoiding getting blasted myself . -

Ah? - Calrin said , his eyes glazing over . - Hegemons ripped to shreds? -

Then I got captured by a monstrous beast that ate Monarchs like candy , - Zac added .

That’s . . . - Calrin said as he glanced at the rings again . - Perhaps , the slow and steady path is the best , after all . -

Perhaps you’re right , - Zac said with a roll of his eyes . - And going from thatched roofs to annual revenue counted in D-grade coins can’t possibly be considered bad . -

That’s right . - Calrin puffed his chest . - Even with the winds blowing against us , good ol’ Calrin is bringing in the profits . So this loot , what do you want to do with it? -

I have already made a preliminary sweep and put aside the best things , - Zac said . - For the rest , same as usual . The good stuff goes to the Contribution Store , the decent to the shops , and the trash can be pawned off elsewhere . Hopefully , you can make some alliances with all those things , get yourself out of your current predicament . Oh , but keep any strategic war resources aside until we know what we’ll be dealing with down the road . And if you find something interesting in the rings , put it aside as well . I might have missed some good stuff . -

Certainly , - Calrin said .

I’ll keep the thievery to a minimum , but I only have so many eyes , - Vikram sighed .

You! Evil thing! - Calrin spat .

On another topic , - Zac said , ignoring the two who almost seemed like an old married couple . - I need the latest information on the Void Gate and Salosar . -

Void Gate was the key to getting his hands on the Ferric Worldeater for his quest to upgrade the Shipyard , and Salosar was the closest place he had access to , thanks to completing the System’s training regimen in the research base . It could be considered a border region that was either neutral or a subsidiary planet to the Void Gate .

It was a mercantile hub that provided the reclusive faction with cultivation resources , while the gate used Salosar to pawn off some materials that only appeared inside their domain .

No need , - Calrin said . - I already have it . -

Oh? - Zac said with surprise .

I’ve been keeping some tabs on them since you asked me all those years ago , - Calrin said . - And with the recent changes , I’ve been updating my reports weekly . -

Changes? What’s going on , - Zac asked curiously .

Apparently , they’re having problems with some sort of beast tide? - Calrin hesitated . - And they have sent out calls for assistance . -

Zac’s brows rose in surprise over this unexpected turn . He’d wondered whether he would need to expose his identity to gain access to the Void Star where the Ferric Worldeaters could be found , something which would bring some real risks with a powerful faction like the Void Gate . But just as he was wondering what to do , a solution had presented itself .

He had to admit—being blessed by unordinary Luck was quite convenient .

12

CALL TO ARMS

Information on the nature of the beast tide is lacking , but the situation has to be grave , - the Sky Gnome explained . - It’s the first time in recent memory they’ve allowed outsiders into their domain . -

Most of those who have entered have failed to return , - Vikram added . - Casualties at the battlefronts are reported to be extremely high . -

And people are still going? - Zac asked dubiously .

Absolutely . The Void Gate is filthy rich , and their rewards are great . The shortsighted warriors are just doing it for the wealth , while the better-informed , Wandering Cultivators see this as a final opportunity to temper themselves before the war breaks out , - the Sky Gnome explained . - After all , no matter how harsh a beast tide is , it cannot compare to the cruelties of war . -

Anything new on the Ferric Worldeaters? - Zac asked .

I’m afraid not . The only description the Void Gate has provided is that some of the beasts are intangible and that some of the fighting will take place in space , and specialized equipment will be provided , - Calrin said as he handed over a couple of Information crystals .

Intangible? Ghosts? - Zac muttered with confusion .

Not necessarily . There are all kinds of energy-based lifeforms out there , - Calrin shrugged . - But I haven’t been able to find out anymore . I suspect those who join the missions are bound by contracts , - Calrin sighed . - Either that or the information houses are leery of angering the Void Priestess . You might find out more if you head over . -

Alright , - Zac nodded . - Do you know of any way for me to masquerade as an Early Hegemon? Or at least a Half-Step D-grade cultivator? -

It sounds like you need an Aura Modulator , - Vikram offered .

A what? - Zac asked .

He’s right , for once , - Calrin reluctantly agreed . - I’m guessing you’re already as strong as a Hegemon , but your aura is clearly that of a Peak elite E-grade cultivator? If so , you need a modulator . -

What does it do? -

It cannot change the strength of your aura , but it can change the way it appears if you continuously infuse it with your energy . Therefore , only elites can use it , - the gnome explained . - As long as you have the attributes , a good modulator will allow you to appear as a Hegemon , though it will gradually drain you of Cosmic Energy while your aura is on display . -

They’re not very useful for most people . Few can use them , and the ones who do , have no reason for doing so , - Vikram added .

Zac nodded in agreement . It generally wasn’t very useful to appear as a weak Hegemon compared to an E-grade Heaven’s Chosen . Even if the latter was a grade lower , they’d receive better treatment almost anywhere . Normally , Zac would rather hide his aura if he wanted to go incognito , but he feared that wouldn’t be possible this time if he wanted to sneak inside as a mercenary .

Try to get me one of those , the higher quality the better , - Zac said .

No problem , - Calrin smiled . - While most things are currently hard to acquire , niche items like these are still collecting dust in various auction houses . You should be able to come and collect one in a week or so . -

Perfect , - Zac nodded as he took out the rest of his Spatial Treasures . - Then I’ll leave the rings with you . To be clear , I was stuck in a miniature world for five years , which was more than enough time to memorize all the items . So no funny business . -

Don’t listen to this screeching little monkey , - Calrin said as he waved at Vikram with annoyance . - The Thayer Consortia always act aboveboard . -

If you say so , - Zac snorted before leaving the Sky Gnome to complete the tally .

Zac donned his presence-hiding cowl again as he walked away from Thayer Consortia , his thoughts already having shifted from his treasures to the Void Gate . The more he thought about it , the more suspicious it seemed . How could a faction like the Void Gate find themselves pressed by a beast tide? With the Void Priestess and the Void Monastery secluded at the heart of the Gate , it should be one of the safest places in the Zecia Sector .

Was there a conspiracy at play? Did the Void Gate have some specific purpose in luring Wandering Cultivators to their side? Or was it related to the war? Zac shook his head , knowing he wouldn’t get any closer to an answer from here . He would simply have to head over to Salosar and check things out himself . If it seemed safe , he’d enter under a pseudonym , using that modulator thing to pretend to be a powerful Half-Step cultivator . That should provide him access to the inner sections of the Void Gate without standing out .

If things seemed too sketchy , he’d risk it and send word to Leyara .

Having made his choice , Zac continued down the road toward the main government building , intending to visit Abby next to confirm some details about the assimilation and operations . However , he suddenly stopped upon spotting a familiar building just ahead .

It was a three-story pub that looked almost exactly the same as before . The only difference was that the surrounding houses had been removed , replaced by a small park where tables were set . There weren’t too many guests considering it was just lunchtime , but there were a couple of groups having a beer under the shade of the trees .

Zac hesitated , but ultimately chose to enter , keeping his cowl on . There was only a single couple sitting indoors , and they were too engrossed with each other to notice any other guests . Zac simply sat down at his usual spot , taking off his hood .

Hey , no spells in the bar , I’ve told you peop— - Ryan muttered as he looked up from a ledger , but he froze with shock when he recognized Zac’s face . - It’s you! -

I thought your place would be bigger by now , - Zac smiled .

I , ah , - Ryan stuttered before he found his wits . - Well , I thought about it , but I gave up on the idea . I like this small and cozy atmosphere . Running a business empire sounds like a pain in the ass . -

Won’t it affect your cultivation? - Zac asked curiously .

I’ve kind of shifted , - Ryan shrugged . - I focus more on the brewing than the barkeeping nowadays . As long as I manage to brew better and better attribute-enhancing mead or liquor , I’ll keep progressing . -

Let me see the results of your hard work then , - Zac laughed , suddenly in the mood for some native brews after being locked in the Orom World for years .

Ryan nodded , taking his time in selecting the right brew . He picked up a miniature barrel with a golden stopper that couldn’t contain more than a couple of pints . The barkeep gingerly poured what looked a lot like an amber ale into a glass .

Here you go , one glass of - Hatchetman’s Delight’ , - Ryan coughed , looking a bit embarrassed .

That’s its name? - Zac grimaced , no longer sure if he wanted it .

Still , it emitted a tantalizing aroma , prompting Zac to take a reluctant swig .

It felt like cutting flames were trickling down his throat , unleashing a conflagration in his belly . Even Zac with his Vitality passing 13 , 000 felt a bit tipsy , and the feeling refused to completely go away even after circulating his Cosmic Energy . Meanwhile , Zac felt full of power , and his veins pulsated as though he’d taken a berserking treasure .

What the hell , - Zac wheezed . - There are people in Port Atwood who can drink this and not keel over? -

Well , no , - Ryan said as he scratched his head with a wry smile . - You would be the first one to taste it and remain conscious . So , how did it taste? Did you get any boosts? -

Zac shot the barkeep a glare before taking a look at his Status Screen .

I got a boost of 350 raw Strength and 200 raw Vitality , - Zac said after forcing his drifting mind to focus for a second . - That’s pretty impressive for a concoction . Are there any side effects , except the intoxication? Can it be stacked with other methods? -

It’s liquid courage , so to speak , so it should be stackable with berserking treasures and skills , - Ryan said . - But the strain on your body would increase . As for side effects , I haven’t observed anything except a splitting headache when the test sub—eh , customers , wake up . With your constitution , it should be fine though . -

Alright , can I put in an order for a couple of casks? And if you can do something similar with field rations or dried meat , I want that as well , - Zac said . - A few thousand kilos would suffice . -

Thousand? Kilos? - Ryan blurted . - Are you planning on providing rations to the army? -

Something like that , - Zac smiled . - Can it be done? -

In reality , the rations were all for himself . With Adamance of Eoz] constantly running , he was always a bit hungry , in contrast to most E-grade cultivators who barely needed to eat by the time they reached the peak of the grade . After a harsh battle , he would almost keel over if he didn’t eat something quickly . If he could get some food made by actual professionals like Ryan , he hopefully wouldn’t need to eat as much and as often .

I mainly focus on drinks nowadays , but I do have a few recipes and a meat-searing skill , - Ryan said . - But I know a good chef who has a similar focus as I . We can team up for this order . -

Even better , - Zac smiled . - Only High or Peak E-grade meat , if possible , and dishes you can eat on the go with one hand . I’ll get you whatever you need . -

No problem , - Ryan nodded . - It will take a few days with those kinds of quantities . In return , could you do me a favor? -

Sure , - Zac nodded . - If it’s within my power . -

It should be , - Ryan said with a hushed volume . - It’s about Lily . -

Who? - Zac asked , completely blanking out on the name .

The pet shop owner I introduced you to . The one you recruited to the Academy , - Ryan sighed . - I think something is wrong with her . -

Wrong how? - Zac frowned , finally remembering who he was talking about . It was the young girl he’d headhunted for Alyn to turn into a beastmaster with the long-term goal of taking control of the Ayn Hive . - She didn’t die or have a mental break , right? -

No , but something has been . . . off about her the past few months , - Ryan whispered . - I can’t pinpoint it , but her eyes sometimes make my hair stand on end . She mentioned some sort of insects long ago . . . I think something went wrong in her cultivation , almost like she’s possessed? -

I’ll look into it , - Zac assured . - There’s an extremely skilled Mentalist in my army , though she’s off-world . As soon as she returns to Earth , we’ll see if there’s something wrong with Lily . -

Zac wasn’t an expert on the subject , but even he knew there were dangers related to forming links with beasts . For example , if the beast became too powerful , it could break the mental fetters and attack its trainer . Was it perhaps possible the controller and controlled could swap places? Zac realized they might have overestimated themselves when trying to control a being like a Hivequeen .

It was literally an entity that controlled thousands of minions with their powerful mind . Even if the Hivequeen was just an infant that hadn’t even gained sentience when Zac left for Twilight Harbor , it sounded like something changed during his time in the Orom World . If so , should he or the other elites not be around to deal with the fallout , it could pose a big threat to Port Atwood .

The prospect of Lily having become a puppet weighed on both his and Ryan’s conscience , and the conversation grew a bit stilted . Soon enough , Zac excused himself , once more heading for the government building . But he didn’t even have time to take ten steps before stopping because he received a slight mental nudge .

It’s always something , - Zac muttered , but his eyes were full of excitement rather than annoyance . Any thoughts of meeting up with Abby were already gone as he flashed away , activating Earthstrider] to pass through Port Atwood like a blur .

He didn’t even bother entering his compound through a gate , simply opting to jump straight over the inner wall , passing through the killing arrays thanks to his unique command token . Just a few moments later , he reached the courtyard of his own manor , where Triv already stood waiting .

I’m sorry to have disturbed you , I figured young master would want to know , - the butler said .

Of course , thank you , - Zac nodded as he walked into the Death-attuned zone of his courtyard .

The nudge in his mind earlier had come from Triv using the mental communication skill of the Butler class . Triv had simply informed him that powerful fluctuations were coming from within his courtyard , and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on—Alea was finally ready to come out from her cocoon .

His heart beat like a drum as he entered the illusion array , almost immediately coming face-to-face with the large obelisk he’d placed there almost two weeks ago . It was much smaller compared to before , having shrunk to just a thin layer covering the coffin . And the coffin was clearly in the final phase of its evolution as it released powerful deathly pulses that shocked Zac with their purity .

Was it because of that odd egg Alea had swallowed just as she entered the void?

A quiet crackling broke the silence that otherwise covered his courtyard as shavings gradually fell from the crystal . Cracks were spreading as well until the obelisk completely shattered from a massive eruption of Pure Death and a cold cutting force that even managed to leave some bleeding gashes on Zac’s arms .

Left behind was a coffin that was both familiar and foreign . It still had the same general appearance as before—a black coffin with numerous engravings and chains holding it together . However , its edges were no longer smooth , instead replaced by extremely detailed carvings that seemed to be ornamental , though also not . They didn’t make up any fractals or arrays , or any other type of legible script Zac could recognize .

But they contained a hint of Oblivion .

The closest thing Zac had ever seen was right in his own body ; the patterns on his right shoulder—the ones that formed after Oblivion reformed Cyclic Strike] three times over . The carvings on Love’s Bond] were still quite indistinct though , and Zac probably wouldn’t have realized their origin if he wasn’t marked the same way himself .

The second difference was that the arrays on the lid had changed . The circular array on the top remained , though it now looked a bit like a porthole . Swirling darkness could be seen within the array , like he was looking at a gateway to the abyss . Meanwhile , the wreath-like arrays were gone , replaced by one vertical line stretching from the circle all the way to the bottom , along with three horizontal lines cutting through it on the lower half .

As for the chains , they were now pitch-black and matte , except for the endless number of patterns that covered the links—runes that had appeared after being marked in the Twilight Chasm . They’d been refined , their meaning deepened . Zac even felt they contained a lot of truths at the level of his own Dao Branches .

How do I look? - a familiar voice echoed from behind , and Zac’s heart almost threatened to jump out of his mouth as he spun around .

It was her—in the flesh .

13

IN THE FLESH

There she stood , as beautiful as he remembered . That alluring smile , those intoxicating curves , the limpid eyes that seemed to both invite you in and warn you off—toxic perfection . Alea was so lifelike , and one memory after another was dragged from the depths of his mind . But the next moment she shifted , her horns disappearing as her silk robes were replaced by hardy linens that would hold up in the fields .

His most trusted subordinate had become a hazy simile of Uynala , her features not nearly as detailed . One face after another , familiar figures appeared before him . Friends , lovers , even enemies . The Atwood siblings , full of mindboggling luck and layers of secrets . His stern but doting grandfather . It was a real walk through memory lane .

I really need to get out of here , - Ogras eventually sighed , and with a wave of his hand , the illusion disappeared . - Or I’ll soon go mad . -

How would you know if you haven’t? - a voice snickered in his head . - I’ve seen it so many times before . That hazy state where perception starts to shift , where old truths become muddied and new ones take their place . Where the discrepancy between one’s inner and outer world slowly drives a wedge in your personality , splitting it into two incompletes . -

Are you done? - Ogras asked with a roll of his eyes .

If conjuring past friends and lovers to accompany you with the help of your new Dao Branch isn’t crazy , then what about the lost hours? - K’Rav gleefully asked .

It’ll sort itself out , - Ogras shrugged with disinterest as he walked over to the tree . - They are getting spaced out further and further apart , meaning they will be gone soon enough . -

Ogras said that , but he , unfortunately , wasn’t as confident as he let on . After spending a mind-bending year in the depths of that icy domain , his grasp of reality had slipped a bit . Who could possibly be fine after having their memories wiped almost a hundred times?

Even more troubling was that the gaps in his memory kept appearing even after absorbing that weird treasure , but this time without any helpful notes hastily scribbled down . He thought he had refined all of the icy crystal to form his Branch of False Truths , his illusory Dao Branch based on his vision in the Tower of Eternity , and spending so much time living at the edge between falsehoods and truths .

If you say so , - K’Rav snickered , his presence thankfully returning into the flag .

Ogras once more swore at the fact the flag couldn’t be placed in a spatial tool , what with the technically-living souls inside . Then again , he wasn’t sure he’d dare place it inside one in either case , out of fear the shifty warlock would find some way to take his flag and run . So he could only endure the goblin’s attempts to foster Heart Demons , or at least annoy him to death .

Thankfully , life wasn’t all bad . He looked up with anticipation at the fruit whose color was rapidly growing deeper . An enticing aroma already spread through the area , and desirous calls could be heard in every direction . Though not one of the beasts dared to come closer as the treasure matured , the rotting carcasses strewn across the area a poignant reminder of what would happen if they did .

This was the fifth one , and most likely the last . Ogras didn’t mind , seeing as by now he’d almost gained immunity to them . In other words , it was about time to move on from this forest . Though where , he didn’t quite know . He’d found the Ra’Lashar Kingdom by chance when following his guts , and from there had passed through one biome after another , each one a realm fragment the Dimensional Seed had swallowed .

The Mystic Realm was a lot bigger than Ogras expected , but he was finally running out of places to visit . To the south of the forest was the edge of the realm ; a weak film that could move thousands of meters in an instant , throwing any poor bastard who strayed too far into the void . To the west was the glacier and the other regions he already visited , and to the east were the badlands . That left north , where the simple giant presumably still played court .

The question was whether he should enter the badlands , risking running into swarms of those battle-crazed bipods . He’d encountered dozens of strays , or perhaps scouts , over the past years , and they kept getting stronger just as he had . Their bloodlines were clearly out of the norm , which was extremely odd considering how many of them there seemed to be .

Normally , when individual beasts were this powerful , there wouldn’t be too many , what with the law of balance , and all .

Although most appeared reluctant to leave the badlands , which Ogras estimated took up nearly a third of the Mystic Realm , and Ogras wasn’t sure poking that nest was worth it . Those voracious bastards could chew straight through both Spiritual Ice and hardened rocks like it was nothing .

With years having passed , there couldn’t possibly be much of value remaining in the badlands , unless it were some sort of treasure they weren’t interested in . That thought alone made Ogras grimace . It wasn’t the thought of losing out on treasures , though that certainly pained him as well .

Gods , it had already been ten years . A whole decade stuck in this netherblasted realm .

A snap dragged him out of his thoughts , and Ogras snatched the fruit as it fell from its branch , immediately swallowing it before it had time to begin its rapid decay .

Time to work , you bastards , - Ogras muttered as he infused some energy into the Shadewar Flag] . Dozens of guardian ghosts appeared around him as Ogras sat down and closed his eyes .

Minutes turned to hours , and hours turned to days as Ogras gradually channeled the seemingly inexhaustible energies contained in the fruit into the node in his head , all while channeling his Cultivation Manual . Finally , he felt a pop , followed by a blazing headache that almost made him keel over .

A few of the ghosts stirred , but a couple of quick jabs instilled with the Branch of the Grey World ended the insurrection as quickly as it began . Ogras had the technique to control the ghosts , but would take decades , centuries perhaps , to perfectly brand all the captives in the inner world of his unorthodox Spirit Tool .

Of course , having a resentful ghost as a Tool Spirit didn’t help . Luckily , it was mostly fine so long as there were enemies around to turn their aggression toward , and it was only when forced to stand around like this that they started to get antsy .

Having opened seven nodes in just under two months was huge , and it put him right at the precipice of Peak E-grade . Just two more levels and he’d be there . A glance at his Status Screen confirmed what he’d been hoping for ; the latest level had pushed his Dexterity past 10 , 000 , which rewarded him with an anticipated title .

Specialist : Reach 10 , 000 points in a single attribute before evolving to D-Grade . Reward : Dexterity +5%

Having wheedled information out of Zac for years , Ogras already knew he’d gotten a title for pushing one of his attributes to 1 , 000 while still in F-grade . And a version of the same title appeared in the E-grade as well , though no doubt watered-down . Then again , he had nothing to complain about .

Before he left for Earth , he couldn’t have imagined reaching his current heights in just over a decade . Two Dao Branches , a mutated race that was conducive to his path , a unique Body Tempering Technique that almost increased his , admittedly unimpressive , attribute efficiency by half . And that was only the things you’d see on a Status Screen .

Apart from that , there was the simple fact of having formed a working path while still in the E-grade , having his affinities boosted by a considerable degree thanks to this unparalleled environment . Who knew that a baby Mystic Realm was this amazing , probably surpassing the cultivation environment even of the peak factions in Zecia? He just needed to find a replacement for the Grey World Mudra] , and he was golden .

He'd been quite proud of the manual back home , as his grandpa had gone through some trouble to acquire it . But back then , both his vantage and ambitions were a lot more restrained compared to today , and he feared it wouldn’t be good enough to form the kind of core he wanted .

Such was the curse of having an unimpressive start—every step forward would be uphill until you managed to right the ship .

Well , better late than never , - Ogras smiled as he turned toward the tree .

If it was back home , the elders would have covered the tree in a series of arrays to speed up its recuperation process . That way , it’d provide its next batch of fruits much quicker . Here , there was no need for that . Having absconded with most of the wealth in this realm already , Ogras had no plans of ever returning .

So why respect the law of conservation in this place? What was it to him if some bastard in the future didn’t find anything worthwhile when visiting this forest?

His spear appeared in his hand , and Ogras punched a deep hole with a simple jab that reached the heart of the trunk . A moment later , an amber sap started to pour out from the wound , the sticky compound veritably teeming with energy . Ogras wasn’t too sure he’d be able to use this goop on himself , but it should fetch a pretty penny on the outside considering how energy-dense it was .

Another hour passed as Ogras siphoned out the lifeblood of the tree while it withered with a speed visible to the naked eye . A deep thud made him look around with alarm , but he realized it wasn’t some big beast coming to stake a claim on the tree . The sound rather came from the sky—where space itself had been indented .

It almost looked like a window with a spiderweb of cracks , but those cracks were rapidly mending . The next moment , a second thud echoed through the world to worsen the spatial damage again . There wasn’t a third . Five minutes later , the sky had completely recovered , but Ogras’ gaze didn’t turn away as he thoughtfully took a swig of his almost depleted stock of liquor .

Was it finally time?

Finally , his eyes shifted away from the sky before turning to the east . One last hurrah before it was time to say goodbye?

It really was her .

However , Zac soon realized it wasn’t Alea in the flesh , considering the demoness was partly translucent as she stood there with her familiar smile . Her appearance was also a lot more like the large avatar of Death’s Embrace] than her old self , with the reddish tint of Torrid Demons having been replaced by pristine white with black scale-like markings .

It was a reminiscent of Ogras’ odd transformation , though the aura was completely different . While Ogras’ constitution felt indistinct like he was made out of shadows , the patterns on Alea’s skin rather contained the whispers of death . Her horns were quite different as well , almost like crescent blades with the outer side of them sharpened into an actual edge .

But the most palpable transformation were her eyes . They were more like the eyes of a Draugr than those of a demon , though she did have a sclera with a slight turquoise tint . It was just that her pupils were bigger than before , making her eyes almost look entirely black . But even with all the changes , it really was her .

You’re finally back , - Zac said with a hoarse voice , his heart assaulted by a wave of complex emotions .

Well , in a sense , - Alea smiled as she glanced at the coffin next to Zac . - Did you miss me? -

Even if her appearance was different , the smile was the same . For a moment , Zac was teleported back to the earliest days of the Incursion , just after he’d dealt with Rydel and the Azh’Rezak incursion . Back then , there had been no Port Atwood , only Zac and his camper with the occasional visits from Alea or Ogras .

The situation had been pretty desperate back then , but it had also been simple . Most of his days were spent in the mines , gradually detoxifying his body from the Cosmic Water while Ogras helped set the foundations for his budding empire . Back then , he only had one goal—to find his family , and he was steadily working toward it .

Now , his power far surpassed what he could ever have imagined , but his life had grown so complicated . There were dozens of matters requiring his attention , threats looming in every direction . So much history weighing on his shoulders , so many goals that remained far out of reach .

I did , - Zac said as he forced a smile . - It’s really good to see you back in one piece . How is your soul? -

My soul is healed and has completed its transformation , - Alea said as she curiously looked around the courtyard . - Unfortunately , this form is not a natural state for me any longer , I’m not like that weird guy at the Dao Repository . I can’t stay like this for long—it’s exhausting . Perhaps I’ll be able to move more freely by the time I reach whatever stage Brazla’s at . -

Is there anything I can do to help? - Zac urgently asked .

Well , you can keep me fed and happy , - Alea laughed . - You should have figured out what kind of materials I’ll require going forward . -

No problem , - Zac nodded . - And don’t worry . I’ll figure out a way to return your soul into a body , one way or another . -

Don’t worry so much or you’ll turn into an old man , - Alea smiled as she floated over to Zac’s side .

She tried to touch his cheek , but her hand passed right through , and Alea looked as disappointed as Zac felt . There was still a long way to go .

Alea regained her smile as she took a step back . - I’m in no hurry . With my soul fused with this weapon , I might even outlive you . Besides , between my environment and you feeding me all these treasures , I’m making better progress on my cultivation than I ever have before . -

Still . . . - Zac muttered .

More importantly , put me on , - Alea eagerly said as her eyes widened in anticipation . - I have a surprise for you . -

It was a bit odd to hear the term - put me on’ from Alea , but he did as he was told . He placed his hand on the cold surface of the coffin , and its chains smoothly wound around him and placed the Spirit Tool on its position on his back . It was more than five times heavier than before , even if it was still only the size of a large backpack .

Now , send the command , - Alea grinned , and Zac felt a stream of information enter his mind .

What the— - Zac blurted , and his eyes lit up as he sent a stream of Branch of the War Axe into the coffin .

The next moment , a muffled rattle was followed by a weapon appearing in his hand—a pitch-black axe . At the end of its hilt , a chain was attached , connecting the weapon with the bottom of the coffin . The axe itself was quite familiar—its design almost an exact copy of the axe his Dao Apparition wielded .

It was roughly the same size as Verun’s Bite] ; somewhat oversized for a one-handed axe with a forty-five-centimeter crescent edge , eclipsing Verun’s by five centimeters . On the back of the edge , a big spike acted as a counterweight , mirroring the smaller teeth on his primal-series axe .

However , there were a few differences to his Dao Avatar’s weapon . For one , this one wasn’t wrapped in chains . Instead , its hilt was made from some slightly mottled metal that felt extremely sturdy . On the back of the haft there was also a familiar set of runes—identical to the ones that appeared on the coffin lid .

The horizontal line ran along the full length of the haft , while the three horizontal scripts became his grip . The temper line of the edge was also quite interesting , almost perfectly matching the carvings on the coffin itself . Curious , Zac swung the weapon a few times , and he felt the balance was simply perfect , even if its length and edge differed slightly from Verun’s Bite] .

Very dashing . I suit you quite nicely , - Alea laughed . - Do you like it? -

It’s perfect , but how did you do this? - Zac asked . - I’ve never heard of a Spirit Tool changing this much from an evolution . -

It’s a bit hard to explain , but that array you used on me is still around . Even now , its potential isn’t exhausted . I should be able to transform upon reaching D-grade as well , but that will probably exhaust the energy in the array . After that , you’ll have to find me a blacksmith , - Alea shrugged as she floated around Zac .

I love it , but don’t overdo it with these transformations , - Zac urged . - What if you damage or accidentally alter your soul? Remember , the goal is to bring you back . -

Yes , yes , - Alea said with a roll of her eyes . - But until then , I want to be able to help you out . What if I become too weak , and I have to spend millennia in your Spatial Rings because you’re afraid I’ll break in battle . Then I might really go crazy . -

Alright , is there anything else I can do? -

You sure? - Alea asked as she leaned closer .

Uh , yes? - Zac said .

Alright , - Alea said after some thought . - Don’t date anyone else then . -

What! - Zac blurted , thinking she was about to ask for some expensive material .

I’m just joking . Why would I need to be jealous of some romantic interest? Like I don’t know you’re closer to your weapons than you will be any woman , - Alea laughed . - Do what you want . Someone as powerful as you ought to have a handful of wives and a few dozen children , really . Now , I need to go . -

Go? Already? - Zac asked with reluctance .

Like I said , I can’t stay in this form for long . I’ve already overstayed my welcome . I will be slightly weakened for the next few weeks , and you won’t be able to use my new skill , - Alea sighed .

If I evolve you to Middle E-grade , will you be able to come out again? - Zac asked .

Middle E-grade? - Alea laughed . - Silly boy , I’m already Late E-grade . Work hard , or I’ll pass you by . -

The next moment , she was gone .

14

THE ATWOOD EMPIRE

Wait , you’re Late E-grade? - Zac exclaimed , but Alea was already gone and there was no answer forthcoming from within his mind .

It really looked like she was unable to communicate freely just yet .

Zac couldn’t sense her presence at all in his mind , except for that intangible bond he had with his other Spirit Tools . Even if she’d disappeared as she had after their previous short conversations , Zac wasn’t worried anymore . Like Alea said , she was healed , and she was even making progress on her cultivation .

And truthfully , as much as Zac loved to hear her voice again , he was somewhat relieved that Alea wasn’t able to freely speak in his head . It wasn’t that he had a bunch of secrets he needed to keep from her—they were way beyond that point by now .

It was rather about the feeling of having his mind invaded , even if Alea obviously wouldn’t be a hostile presence in his mind like Heda’s seed . That was why both Vilari and Triv’s skills worked more like telephone calls . They had to nudge his mind , and he had to accept their attempt to communicate .

With Alea gone , Zac swapped over to his Draugr form before spending the next few minutes getting acquainted with his upgraded weapon . The fact she’d managed to leapfrog all the way from Peak F-grade to Late E-grade was huge , though Zac figured he shouldn’t be too surprised .

With the things Love’s Bond] swallowed since its formation , Zac wouldn’t even have been surprised if it became a D-grade Spirit Tool .

At first , Zac had been worried that the chain attached to the haft of his new axe would become a hindrance , even if it was thinner than the other ones he used to attack . However , he was relieved to find that the chain seemed to have a mind of its own , never getting in his way or hitting his hip .

In fact , it could even be considered a strength rather than a weakness .

First of all , the chain constantly danced in the air next to the handle , acting a bit like a cross guard . It probably wouldn’t be able to block an all-out strike , but having some metal in the way of a surprise strike targeting his weapon-holding hand was obviously a good thing .

Secondly , the chain essentially turned the axe into a throwing weapon . He hurled the weapon at a tree on the other side of the courtyard , and the axe shot forward like an arrow . At the last second , Zac slightly nudged the outstretched chain , prompting the axe to make a sharp turn before drawing an arc that cut down a neighboring tree instead .

It was a fusion between his understanding of axes and armaments , allowing him to control his axe as both . This type of manipulation of the chain was the simplest form of control , but it hinted at all kinds of possibilities down the road .

Just a moment later , the axe was back in his hand as the chain retracted with such speed that it almost looked like teleportation . A Dexterity-based elite might be able to grab hold of the axe on its return , but would they even dare to?

Triv , - Zac said as he walked out from the isolation array and threw over his axe to the startled butler . - Try to drag the chain away from me . -

Ah , young master , these types of feats are not my strong suit , - Triv hesitated .

Well , there’s only you around , - Zac shrugged . - Don’t worry , just do your best . -

Alright , - Triv reluctantly agreed , and some sort of semi-tangible lasso formed around the axe as they started to pull away .

However , try as they might , the coffin effortlessly dragged the ghost closer and closer . Zac grabbed the chain himself , and could feel that Triv utilized the equivalent of around 3 , 000 Strength to resist the pull . That wasn’t close to the coffin’s limits by the looks of it—Zac would have to find someone stronger to test it out properly .

Alright , thank you . You don’t need to wait around here , - Zac said .

Then I will take my leave , - Triv said , throwing an appreciative glance at the axe in their grip before flittering away .

Left alone in his courtyard , sat down on a prayer mat as he thoughtfully looked at the axe that had once more returned to his hand . With Alea having created a perfect axe for his undead form , it looked like one of his issues had been dealt with . He had been struggling to decide what to do with Verun’s Bite]—to infuse the weapon with Death to balance out the life it had absorbed , or to let it stay as it were .

Now , Alea made the choice for him , and the more he thought about it , the more suitable he found it . There was some logic to the argument that using only one weapon would help push one’s technique to its limit , but there were practical ramifications to only using Verun’s Bite] as well . For one , the undead generally didn’t use primal-series weaponry because of the very affinity clash Verun exhibited .

Secondly , if he wanted to keep his two sides separate in the eyes of outsiders , he couldn’t be running around with Verun’s Bite] both as undead and human . It had already become an issue in Twilight Harbor , where he’d been forced to get a substitute to avoid getting found out by Catheya . But using a lower-quality substitute to his real weapons was a deadly gambit , one which could cost him dearly if he suddenly ran into a powerful enemy .

Now , all those issues were solved , with him having full kits for both his sides ; Verun’s Bite] and Vivi when fighting as a human , and Love’s Bond] taking both those roles in his undead form .

Over the next few hours , he made a couple of other discoveries . The most obvious one was that the Spirit Tool had actually lost its shield form . Now , Love’s Bond] could only take on its backpack and necklace forms .

In return , the main chains of the coffin had become disgustingly sturdy , and Zac wasn’t sure if even a Middle D-grade cultivator would be able to damage the links . Along with a massive boost in durability , they’d also become more pliable , responding far quicker to his mental commands . This had drastically improved the defensive capabilities of the links and essentially removed the need for a shield .

In return , it cost a lot more Miasma to manipulate the chains , but that wasn’t surprising . And with his stockpiles , he would be able to use them continuously for a whole day before running out of energy .

Finally , he discovered that Blighted Cut] , his base skill that had been somewhat underutilized lately , had almost been reborn with a proper weapon . With Blighted Cut] activated , both his axe and the chain attached turned darker than black , and the gleaming edge of the axe started releasing such potent toxins , even Zac was appalled .

If Gorehew] was good at taking out weaker enemies , then Blighted Cut] had become a terror for infighting , which was perfect for Zac who’d spent years working on his technique . Part of the effect came from his improved Dao , but it was also obvious that his Spirit Tool amplified the corrosive effect of the skill .

In a perfect world , Zac would have wanted to spend a couple of months getting properly reacquainted with Love’s Bond] after having used Chainbox] for years , but a buzz from a Communication Crystal forced him back to reality and his many duties .

Lord Baron , it’s an honor , - the Stargazer said with visible glee as Zac stepped into her office twenty minutes later .

Don’t you look chipper , - Zac commented .

It’s all thanks to you , - Abby bobbed . - I am the administrator of a progenitor who managed to become a Baron in ten short years—a miracle . I have received a promotion , plus administrating a sanctioned empire has more than doubled my cultivation speed . -

Well , glad I can help , - Zac snorted .

If you open your management screen , you can now hire more administrators such as I . As a Baron , you can add one additional administrator per world , for a fee of course , - Abby added .

Why would I want to do that , though? - Zac asked . - Port Atwood has already nurtured many competent administrators . Why bring in more Stargazers? -

Well , for one , you don’t have to choose Stargazers , - Abby muttered . - But it’s also a matter of convenience . We have access to some functionality that others don’t . We are also neutral , only beholden to you , and limited in our actions by the System . Having outside administrators at the heart of your government , even if we don’t have any de facto control , will prevent corruption to a certain degree . -

Alright , I’ll look at candidates later . But no funny business . Don’t think I’ve forgotten your little white lies , - Zac smiled , waving away the Stargazer’s explanations . - More importantly , have you received the information about the quest I completed on Ensolus? -

About what to do with their planet? - Abby asked . - I got it . -

What’s your opinion? - Zac asked curiously .

All have their merits , - Abby said . - I think evolving this planet is most beneficial in the long-term , but it is a bit dangerous to have such a potent miniature world . Those kinds of planets are often highly contested ; they are perfect for private residential worlds . I’m not sure you will be powerful enough to defend such a planet , even with your power . -

Makes sense , - Zac nodded . - I guess I’m going with option three then . Can I pick a location right now? -

One second , - Abby said as the stardust in her eye started swirling faster . - You cannot choose a location right now . You will be able to choose a spot in 40 years at the earliest , and 85 at the latest . You also need to have visited the spot you have in mind , and it cannot be directly controlled by another empire . -

No problem , - Zac slowly nodded . - I haven’t figured out where to put us anyway . So , why did you call me over? -

You have a problem with the local factions . When the Atwood Empire became a sanctioned empire , the Incursion world was not the only one affected . Everyone on Earth has had their affiliation changed , and we have received dozens of requests for clarification , - the Stargazer explained . - We haven’t dared provide any clear answers before you weighed in on the matter . -

I’ll deal with it , - Zac groaned , and he left Abby’s offices twenty minutes later armed with stacks of reports and a travel schedule .

And so , he spent the next few days visiting the strongest factions of Earth , where Abby and his other subordinates made sure his appearances were well-publicized . Part of the reason was to explain what was going on , while part of it was to show the world he was back and as powerful as ever—quelling any thoughts of rebellion .

Thankfully , the pushback from the factions wasn’t too big , considering his rule over Earth was all-but-official before in either case . There were some grumblings over the new taxation rates , but those grumblings quickly died after the Contribution Tokens started rolling out just like on Ensolus .

With the number of official citizens of his faction going from millions to billions in just one week , Zac was forced to adjust the contribution rules to a slightly less generous model . Luckily enough , Vilari had already expected such a change , so the missives on Ensolus had said the exact rewards were still being calculated to adapt to the new situation . Furthermore , the Earthlings who weren't part of his faction only got the same deal as the Mavai Demons on Ensolus . They only had access to the basic items in the Contribution Store and would have to rack up a lot of merit before they unlocked the real treasures .

It was still easier to gain contribution points in the Atwood Empire compared to most established factions , though fewer would benefit from it . Zac had , under the suggestions from Abby and the golem at the exchange , eventually changed the model to one that mainly targeted elites .

Now , you either had to contribute resources to gain other resources , or perform uncommon feats .

For example , you could still get contribution points from gaining levels , but only if you progressed at a certain pace . It was meant to push people harder , where they perhaps needed to take some risks against beasts or the wilderness to keep up . If they succeeded , they’d both be tempered and gain contribution . If they failed , they might be hurt or even die .

It was harsh , but the Zecia Sector was about to enter a war that would last god-knows-how-long . Zac suspected it would be decades at the least , and if his people didn’t squeeze out all the potential they had , they’d only become fodder on the battlefield . Better suffer a little now than suffer a lot later .

It only took him three days to deal with the local factions , though Zac kept touring Earth for a while longer . Seeing Earth’s transformation , he marveled over how similar Earth and Ensolus had become . Elysium , the previously desolate desert continent , was now at least 80% Death-attuned , with small pockets of surprisingly condensed Life .

It really had become a paradise for his undead forces , and his rapidly growing population of undead civilians . He’d left a lot of his ichor with Vilari , and a few more generations of zombies had successfully been turned into Revenants . With the population booming , there was finally enough manpower to expand beyond just having an army .

Proper towns had appeared next to the military bases , which held as many non-combat classes as warriors . The first generation of natural-born undead children had appeared on Elysium over the last year as well , with the first set of Revenants having managed to reach Late E-grade . Even then , his undead cities were still quite small and limited in scope , a far cry from Port Atwood .

Finally , Zac toured his archipelago , and just like the missives said , his island kingdom had become the seam between Elysium and Pangea , with almost half of the islands having turned Death-attuned . It was a bit inconvenient for his faction , which had spread to almost all the islands , but there wasn’t much of a loss in the long run .

Hive Kundevi had avoided getting their island impacted , and Zac decided to make a short visit to meet with his old allies . Ibtep was still in the underworld , but he was soon led to the inner chambers where Nonet waited . The former Anointed was still almost three meters tall , but their aura didn’t feel nearly as imposing as the first time they met .

Turned out that the spiritual leader of the small hive had already encountered a bottleneck at the Middle E-grade , with their remaining nodes being too weak to open either through cultivation or force . In other words , the chances of Nonet ever reaching the peak of the grade were essentially nil .

It was an unwelcome reminder of the reality of a cultivator—for every grade you passed , you would leave most of your companions behind .

Each grade was a watershed that would keep a vast majority of cultivators , and that would become especially apparent now that Earth had lost its Origin Dao and integration-related opportunities . Nonet was the first such person he encountered , but there would surely be more .

Don’t mourn for me , - Nonet smiled upon seeing Zac’s expression . - The fact that I am able to live past the crusade is already a blessing . When it is my time , it will be weakness leaving the Hive . But I hope you can help our future generations adapt to this new reality as we are finding it difficult on our own . -

What do you mean? - Zac asked with some confusion .

The Hives are unable to nurture the kind of warriors needed to meet the challenges of this wider world . We are a communal race , where the Hive is all . However , the pursuit of the Dao is ultimately a personal journey of discovery , which is putting us at a disadvantage , - Nonet sighed .

Zac immediately understood what Nonet was talking about . The thinking of the average Zhix warrior was extremely rigid , and Zhix like Ibtep and Rhubat were extremely rare . If cultivation didn’t require insights into the Dao , they would probably have left the humans on Earth far behind with their one-tracked mentality , but now they found themselves stuck .

Without the boost of the Origin Dao , how many would even be able to form Dao Seeds and make it past the F-grade?

Your subordinates have graciously accepted warriors into your institutions , but we can see that their performance is not very impressive . We have also tried setting up warrior camps both here and in the underworld , with the goal of nurturing combat-based Daos , - Nonet continued . - But it seems we are missing something . I wonder . . . if the Zhix are doomed to be left in the dust in this new environment , a weakness leaving this world . -

No need to give up just yet , - Zac said after some thought . - And there’s no need to compare yourselves to humans . We’re known to be one of the most adaptable races in the Multiverse . The Zhix might simply need another generation or two to get used to the changes . Besides , I know there are extremely formidable insectoid races in the Multiverse . The problem might be that our training methods don’t suit your people .

I’ll ask my people to look for solutions . Our Sector doesn’t have any large insectoid empires as far as I know , but there should be some factions around . But even if we can’t find anything , don’t worry . Just like you adapted to meet the threat of the Dominators , you will eventually adapt to meet the requirements of the Multiverse . -

Even if Zac tried to sound positive , he still felt downcast as he flew back toward his island , opting to take the scenic route rather than teleport to clear his head . With Nonet failing to evolve their race , they would be gone in a few hundred years . Right now , that still seemed really far off , but Zac already felt how his perception of time had started shifting .

He’d already spent months in seclusion at a time , the passage of time barely noticeable as he focused on his soul or techniques . Soon enough , these months would turn to years as he became increasingly disconnected from the mortal world . It meant losing part of what made you human , where you got strength and longevity in return .

Soon enough , Zac recovered his state of mind . Ultimately , everyone had their own road to walk . The lives of lower-grade people might be far shorter than those aiming for the peak of cultivation , but that didn’t mean their lives were unfulfilling or insignificant . Life was what you made of it .

The forested edge of his island appeared on the horizon an hour later , and the moment he got in reach , he once more felt Triv’s spiritual nudge .

The Master of the Dao Repository has asked for you , ’ the ghost butler conveyed , the message almost completely dispelling the clouds in his mind .

Twenty minutes later , Zac passed through the gates of the Towers of Myriad Dao , his eyes immediately turning to his master—The Lord of Cycles .

15

PAINT YOUR PATH

The enormous statue of Yrial looked a bit different from how it used to . Today , a haze chock-full of fiery and icy energies surrounded it , and it actually released an aura akin to a real cultivator . It looked like Brazla hadn’t lied when he said he needed some time to prepare . The scene made Zac a bit leery—why did the second inheritance trial require this kind of energy? Was it related to difficulty , or something else?

If it was the former , then Zac held full confidence , but if it needed the energy to teleport him to some other Sector , then it might become a problem . He wasn’t willing to leave Zecia again , especially not while his escape bangle still hadn’t been repaired . Zac turned to the Tool Spirit , who was in his warrior persona today , with a mighty broadsword on his back and glimmering armor . - You’ve worked hard . -

It’s nothing to the mighty Brazla , - the Tool Spirit snorted , his nose almost pointing at the ceiling . - So , what have you brought today? -

Zac stifled his annoyance as a small mountain of golden ornaments appeared on the floor . One day , he would push down the haughty Tool Spirit a peg or two , but for now , he simply wasn’t strong enough . He could only smile and showcase his offerings ; chandeliers , statues , furniture , paintings , and all kinds of knick-knacks he’d gathered .

These are invaluable heirlooms I collected during my last outing . Each one was a defining treasure of great renown , - Zac lied as he channeled his inner Calrin . - While they don’t contain much spiritual energy , their artistic value is incalculable . -

Brazla gazed at Zac for a few seconds before turning his eyes to the shimmering pile of treasures . - Well , they cannot be compared to the artistry of my towers , but what can? I guess these trinkets will have to do . If anything , they can showcase the great gap between mundane artistry and the celestial artistry that is Brazla . -

Zac inwardly breathed out in relief that his attempt to pawn off some useless decorations had worked out . He still had a bunch of actual treasures and arrays prepared just in case , but why waste his money if he didn’t need to?

It’s their honor to be placed in your grand temple , - Zac nodded before pointing at the Lord of Cycle’s statue . - If I may ask , what’s with the aura? -

You would have to ask the haughty guy inside , - Brazla said in a mighty showcase of his unsurpassed lack of self-awareness . - I was just responsible for collecting the necessary energy . If you ask me , it’s a feeble attempt of the Lord of Cycles to match the grandeur of the Towers of Myriad Dao . -

Alright then , so the same procedure as before? Do you know how long it might take? - Zac asked , trying to finagle at least something useful from the Tool Spirit .

All these questions , - Brazla said with annoyance . - Do you take the great sage for your tour guide? Just step onto the teleporter and get out of my sight . It shouldn’t take too long . -

Zac only grunted in response as he walked away , stopping in front of the teleportation array . Since the Tool Spirit was in an unhelpful mood , he tried to gather any hints from the array . Thankfully , it looked the same as last time , which decreased the odds of this being an actual long-distance Teleportation Array .

His gaze once more turned to the towering statue , and a wave of nostalgia hit him . It was hard to believe that just over ten years had passed since he stood here last . It both felt much longer and shorter than a decade . He was so inexperienced back then , fumbling his way forward as he desperately grasped for the power needed to save Earth from the threats it faced . Now , he was almost completely reborn , but he still hoped Yrial could provide the answers to his burning questions .

Zac took a deep breath as he scanned his body one final time , making sure there were no lingering threats or weaknesses that might impact him for the trial . By now , he was mostly restored , with only some lingering echoes of forming a Glimpse of Chaos remaining . With that , he stepped onto the teleporter .

The next moment , Zac found himself standing on a floating disk among purple and pink clouds beneath a foreign sky of breathtaking beauty . The scene was mesmerizing , but his attention was soon drawn to a massive object floating in front of him . It was a large disk wrought from stone , its rim engraved with unfamiliar scripts as it slowly rotated in place like a wheel .

Most of its flat surface was completely smooth , and there were no clear hints to the function . There was a second , much smaller , wheel . It floated in the middle of the platform instead of among the clouds , looking like a daughter array to its 50-meter-tall parent . Zac guessed it was related to whatever trial Yrial had come up with , and soon enough , a familiar voice confirmed the hunch .

Paint your Path of Cyclic Supremacy , - Yrial’s voice echoed through the clouds as the smaller disk floated closer , his tone containing a grandeur that felt extremely fake after knowing the real Lord of Cycles .

Zac grimaced as he gripped the disk in his hand , his fears somewhat realized . If it was just about Dao or strength , Zac had full confidence in dealing with the trial , having far surpassed what anyone could have expected for a small local Dao Inheritance . But if he needed to prove a cyclic path , then things suddenly became a lot thornier .

Uh , teacher? Master? - Zac hesitated , eyes locked on the small disk . - There was kind of a change of plans . Can you change the test a bit? -

There was no response . Zac guessed the voice was pre-recorded , even if Yrial was likely watching from his own dimension . However , there was one change in response to his words ; a curtain of fiery ice , or perhaps frigid flames , appeared in the sky . The fiery sea was in a mesmerizing flux as it passed through Yrial’s cycle between fire and ice , yet Zac was dismayed rather than enraptured as he looked at the masterful Dao control .

Because the curtain was slowly falling toward his position .

It was like he’d been trapped in some cliché ruin where a spiked ceiling was gradually moving closer . In ten minutes or so , he would be drowned in fiery ice . Even if he managed to withstand the domain , it would no doubt mean the trial had failed , and he’d lost his chance to confer with his master until he was powerful enough to force his way inside .

There was no time to lose , so Zac infused a wisp of Mental Energy into the small disk to find any clues to what - paint your path’ meant . Only a second passed before he swore and almost threw the daughter array into the clouds . The issue wasn’t that it was too hard to figure out what to do , but rather that it was too familiar .

The array worked almost exactly the same way as the Dao Discourse Array back in the Tower of Eternity .

If not for the incredibly bad timing , Zac would have laughed at the irony . It was at the Dao Discourse against the Enlightened Three he finally realized the futility of pursuing a cyclic path of Life and Death , and instead took his first steps toward his current system . Yet now , he found himself in a similar situation where he actually needed to showcase a cycle .

This time he couldn’t just flood the array with his Daos Mental Energy tainted with Oblivion Energy . For one , he was pretty much tapped out on the Remnant front , and his Mental Energy was extremely pure nowadays after years of Soul Strengthening . Secondly , even if he managed to overwhelm the disk , so what? That would probably just count as a failure .

The curtain of cyclic flames kept getting closer , and Zac could only grit his teeth and do his best . He first infused his Branch of the Kalpataru into the disk , and a radiant tree started to appear on the left side of the wheel . Except as the wheel kept turning , the image of the tree was twisted and distorted , becoming indistinguishable before Zac even had a chance to infuse his second Dao Branch .

Let alone try to affect some faux-cycle to trick the trial .

Zac grunted in annoyance as he cleared the disk . For his second try , he formed two thick streams of Mental Energy and twinned them into a sturdy braid . Then , he filled the streams with his Daos of Life and Death before infusing the Dao Braid . The next moment , both of his Dao Avatars appeared on the turning wheel .

Unfortunately , the result was the same . The avatars only retained their meaning for a second before they were twisted and broken down , almost as though the huge wheel was a millstone . They couldn’t even stay on for more than a few breaths , let alone form any sort of cycle .

What the hell , - Zac muttered , but he refused to give up , trying one thing after another .

No matter how he infused his Daos into the disk , they never fused , and as the wheel kept spinning , it ruined every attempt . Zac even sent over the chains of Love’s Bond] . While they managed to slow down the wheel , it started to creak ominously , forcing Zac to let go .

There was something special about the rotation , where his own Dao would be attacked if it wasn’t rotating in step . However , he was absolutely unable to make that change . It wasn’t enough to try and rotate the Mental Energy on the disk—it had zero effect . The underlying theory wasn’t really a mystery—while the wheel was spinning to represent a cyclic path , the true cycle was conceptual .

If he couldn’t infuse that kind of understanding into the wheel , the drawings wouldn’t spin and would break apart as a result .

The minutes passed as Zac exhausted every possibility he could think of , but it was futile . He simply didn’t possess the ability to pass this trial either by hook or crook , and the curtain of flames were drawing close . Seeing he was out of options , Zac growled with annoyance . Since he couldn’t fake a cyclic path , he would instead force his own upon this picky wheel .

A keening cry echoed out amongst the clouds as Verun’s Bite] appeared in his hand , its sharp bone edge glimmering in blue and red under the curtain of Yrial’s Dao . Eight streams of Mental Energy , four instilled with Branch of the War Axe and four with Branch of the Kalpataru , poured into the Spirit Tool , instilling it with one-half of his path .

The trial space was fraying at the edges from the immense power contained in the weapon as Zac infused as much of his Dao and energy it could withstand . He didn’t use any skills , either his own or Verun’s , instead swinging his axe in an inscrutable arc that carried the insights of his Evolutionary Stance .

It wasn’t just an empty movement . With the amount of energy crammed into the blade , an actual blade of pure Dao shot forward , resembling his old skill , Chop] . And the target wasn’t the canopy in the sky , but rather the Dao wheel . An enormous shockwave caused the clouds to roil , exposing glimpses of a glimmering world far below .

It was more an enormous crystal rather than a continent , with thousands of refracting lights reaching him through the cracks in the clouds . Zac ignored the odd scene and focused on the object keeping him from completing the trial .

The attack left a massive scar on the wheel , drawing a straight vertical line a third of the way into the disk from the left . The scar almost felt like a crack in reality , teeming with churning waves of Life . Similar to the small cracks in the clouds around him , showcasing a glimpse of paradise , though it also contained a foreboding aura from his conflict-based Dao .

The unfamiliar scripts at the edges had been utterly ruined , and the wheel ground to a halt . However , Zac saw that the runes were slowly reforming , and he swapped forms , his eyes turning black as his skin turned pale . Simultaneously , Love’s Bond] hummed as his new axe appeared in his hand .

A stray thought hit Zac as he formed eight new streams of Mental Energy—should the axe have a name of its own? Or should it be considered part of Love’s Bond] since they were technically just one Spirit Tool? The name didn’t seem fitting for a bladed weapon . Zac guessed he would ask Alea the next time she popped up , and for now would simply call the axe Black Death] , based on its color and affinity .

A second wave of pure Dao shot forward , and a second scar appeared on the disk . If the first one felt like a tear almost exposing a celestial world , the second one was a festering wound , teeming with death and carnage . It was destruction , a shadow of the abyss itself .

With two scars running parallel across the disk , each one rife with his Dao , the wheel couldn’t take it any longer . Small cracks spread , forming a spider vein pattern . Interestingly enough , Zac saw how the cracks only seemed to appear in the middle of the disk , between the two scars , while the outer edges remained unblemished .

The new cracks started at the cuts and spread toward the other side , almost like they were reaching for one another . Zac looked on with rapt attention , gleaning new truths from the scene . The cracks weren’t random—they formed some sort of pattern based on his Daos .

It was almost like he was looking at two armies from a great distance , with streams of cavalry reaching toward the enemy lines . It was a war between Life and Death , a conflict as old as time itself . Soon enough , the two sets of cracks reached the middle of the disk where they met one another , which rapidly sped up the process .

Zac could only see a hint of something , he didn’t know what , a moment before the disk collapsed in a burst of energy that threw Zac off his feet . A third scar had almost formed where the two lines of cracks met , one that emitted an aura superior to either of the originals . Unfortunately , it had been so unstable that it only lasted second .

Seeing the disk break apart made Zac’s heart sink . His gambit had failed , where he wanted to forcibly engrave his path onto the disk . But a few seconds passed and nothing happened . Why wasn’t he sent out if he had failed? Did he still have a chance to make it? There was , however , one issue remaining .

The curtain of flames was still descending , and it was only a few hundred meters above him now . He looked up at them with hesitation , wondering if he should activate one of his escape means . By now , he had found a few better alternatives to the Coward’s Escape] , methods that would allow him to leave the trial without losing all his other quests .

The easiest method was simply to activate a spatial talisman powerful enough to destabilize this temporary space , which would result in him being spat out . That kind of method wouldn’t work inside Mystic Realms or top-tier heritages , but it should be more than enough for this kind of simple inheritance .

Such action didn’t suit Zac , he refused to give up just like that . The Miasma in his body churned as his Spiritual Void] was unleashed . He was going all out from the start , and a massive Dao Braid entered a Skill Fractal on his right bicep along with almost a third of his Miasma .

Billowing waves of darkness poured from his back the next moment , but it didn’t turn into a domain of death like Deathwish] . Instead , the energy condensed into a grid of strings that looked both like some sort of skeletal wings , a mesh of chains , or a spider’s web . They stretched out from his back five meters in every direction , the network constantly twisting as it accumulated energy .

One shimmering orb of utter darkness congealed at each tip , while Black Death] started radiating a grey haze that lacerated the air around it . Zac glowered at the sky , and with a roar , swung his weapon in a sharp overhead arc , causing the insanely sharp haze to rush forward . In an instant , the wave transformed into a metallic skull with a huge scar on its forehead .

The skull only appeared for an instant , where its jaws opened far beyond what should be possible . Before disintegrating , the skull unleashed a soundless wail that contained such force that it formed a barely visible blade that shot forward with almost impossible speed . In its wake , spatial tears full of the Dao of the Axe swirled , creating a trail of destruction that slowly expanded outward .

The scene was pretty shocking , but the skill wouldn’t end with just one single blade . The two wing-like appendages on Zac’s back flapped , and they expanded five times in size . In an instant , they reached the size of airplane wings before being absorbed by the two orbs at the ends . With that , a set of soul-chilling runes appeared on the surface of the orbs , at which point Zac finally released them .

The two singularities shot forward , the force tearing straight through space , reappearing next to the blade which had reached the roiling curtains of flames . The moment they appeared the surroundings were sealed as the runes flashed , and it looked like the icy flames had been completely frozen over as they stopped in place .

The blade and two orbs crashed into each other the next moment , and Zac was forced to activate Profane Exponents] to withstand the cataclysmic eruption that followed . Death and Conflict fused into one , and nothing could withstand its might as a black inferno ripped the whole canopy to shreds . Zac looked at the spectacle with awe behind his barrier , not sure if even he would survive at the heart of that explosion .

He’d tried out Desperation’s End] inside the Orom World before , but the scene back then was barely a shadow of what he witnessed now . For one , the orbs hadn’t been powerful enough to seal their surroundings , and the explosion had been like a match compared to today’s conflagration .

A few errant waves of fiery ice rained down around him , but the chains of Love’s Bond] effortlessly flicked away the ones that made it past the barriers . A minute later , the sky was clear , void of both his attack and the domain .

Uh . . . - Zac looked around , a bit hesitant on what he should do , stuck as he was on a disk flying among the clouds .

How could I ever have accepted a brute such as you as my disciple? - a sigh echoed out right next to his ears . - The long years inside this place must have turned me insane , just like the little Tool Spirit . -

16

BLUEPRINTS

A small smile spread across Zac’s face as he heard the familiar voice . This was obviously not a recording , meaning he’d managed to brute force his way through this trial as well . He swapped back to his human form while the clouds shifted , forming a tunnel that no doubt led to his teacher’s domain . He walked toward the edge of the floating disk , shooting one final look at the lingering remnants of his skill .

Desperation’s End] had a glaring weakness , being the slowest skill to activate between both his classes by far . Even then , Zac was extremely happy with it . His Fetters of Desolation class had a lot of skills that bound enemies and whittled them down , but it lacked direct lethality . That the class’s ultimate finisher was a blast of utmost destruction had pretty much added an entirely new tool to his toolbelt for his Draugr class .

Not even his Arcadia’s Judgement] contained this level of raw power , though it did deliver two consecutive strikes—the initial swing and the following eruption from below . That kind of design had its advantages as well , where the first strike could take out defenses while the follow-up went for the kill .

This new finisher of his required some more preparation , but that was fine with Zac . His other skills would bind the enemies to his calamity , and Desperation’s End] would sever their path . And he even had the perfect trump card in case he needed to speed up the process—his Void Energy . The Void Energy wouldn’t allow him to instantly deliver a strike , but it would drastically cut down on his casting time by instantly conjuring fully-formed singularities and wings .

Furthermore , the skill was a novel expression of the fusion of the two Daos that made up the foundation of his class ; Axe and Pale Seal . The skill even required both Daos to even function , so it was a huge relief that he’d learned to braid his Daos with his homemade method .

It wasn’t too uncommon for high-quality skills to require more advanced control of Dao . Regardless , Zac had been a bit surprised the System added such a skill to his class . Perhaps it was a reminder to keep working on his Soul , as the requirements to activate his skills would only grow more stringent down the road .

There were still a lot of things to discover about his skill , since this was the first time he activated Desperation’s End] without the prison brand limiting him . For example , those two singularities were actually controlled by him when he shot them out . That probably meant there were other ways to use them than simply bashing them into the conjured blade . That was the most fundamental technique he was imparted the moment he acquired the Skill Fractal .

Figuring out the details would have to wait , and Zac turned toward the now fully-formed tunnel . It looked stable enough , but Zac’s heart shuddered as he stepped off the floating platform and entered a pathway made of clouds . Thankfully , it held , and Zac flashed forward , soon appearing in a new world .

Zac didn’t find himself on the moonlit , floating island where he met Yrial the first time . Neither was it the odd gemlike world he vaguely spotted beneath the clouds . Instead , he entered a field filled with flowers , the scene somewhat reminiscent of the Dao painting he was forced to purchase with his credits last time . However , the flowers were far more varied here , creating a mesmerizing explosion of colors and scents .

In the distance , a wooden pergola had been erected , and thousands of pieces of hanging silk cloth that made up its ceiling danced in the breeze . The tintinnabulation from chimes hidden among the silk bands , the rustling of cloth and leaves , were the only sounds , forming a harmonious melody that soothed Zac’s soul .

Zac found a familiar figure reclined on a set of pillows with a bouquet in his hands , his features full of beauty and ambiguity . Having gained some experience , Zac realized his master wasn’t just almost impossibly beautiful . Seeing his features now , Zac could spot echoes of both fire and ice in perfect harmony .

It was Dao , just like what he’d seen when looking at Iz Tayn . Or was it perhaps more apt to say it was affinity , where great attunement with one’s Dao slightly changed one’s features to become more in line with the Heavenly truths? And would that explain why he so often heard he looked rugged but mundane , even if Zac felt his appearance had markedly improved through his two Race Upgrades? His features lacked any hint of the Dao , thus making him appear worse than he really was to cultivators .

More importantly , just how talented had Yrial once been? Certainly , the mark of Dao on his features was just a whisper compared to the palpable feeling he got from Iz Tayn . Zac suspected that weird girl was close to the peak of the Multiverse in terms of heritage or talent . Still , it possibly meant Yrial possessed affinities beyond pretty much anyone else he’d encountered .

Even then , he had fallen before confirming his Dao , proving that talent and hard work alone weren’t enough to reach the peak . The Multiverse didn’t lack the hardworking and the talented . You needed luck and opportunities as well .

I told you to return in ten years at the earliest , and you appear in front of me in ten years almost to the day? - Yrial asked with a raised brow as Zac entered the carpeted pergola . - Did you miss your beautiful master that much? It must have been difficult , only having - A Flower of Fire and Ice’ to remember me by . Or did you ignore my requirements , forgoing decorum in your greed for my treasures? Which is it? -

Definitely the former , - Zac reluctantly answered , remembering all-too-well the capricious nature of his departed master .

Yrial smiled as though it was a matter of course , gently swirling the bouquet in his hands , releasing a wave of perfume while the cloth above his head parted , letting the rays of the sun dance on his face and his long hair . Zac inwardly groaned , but he still kept himself from interrupting until Yrial had showcased his face from a few different angles . Only then did Zac dare speak up .

The situation on the outside has grown a bit messy . I need to leave my home planet soon , and there is a small chance I won’t be able to return before becoming a Hegemon . -

If all went according to his plans , he would return after fetching the Ferric Worldeater by the Void Gate . However , this was ultimately his first excursion without any real protections . It wasn’t some System-based trial like the Twilight Ocean , where his enemies were all bound to be the same grade as he .

It was a beast tide in a foreign land , where both Peak Beast Kings and hostile Hegemons , even Monarchs , could appear . There was no way to tell how things would play out , especially with his escape bangle down for the count for the foreseeable future . That’s why he wanted to see if any quick power-ups were waiting for him with his master , especially survival methods .

Since Yrial had been a Wandering Cultivator all his life , and going by the quest Zac got when he became his disciple , the Lord of Cycles had to be good at fleeing from his enemies . Zac needed some of those abilities since that was one department where he was currently lacking . Otherwise , Zac might find himself stuck on some hostile planet or Mystic Realm , at which point he only had one option—push to Peak E-grade before using his Perennial Vastness Token .

You’re pretty confident about evolving even with your trashy constitution , - Yrial commented as he lazily returned to a lying position , but his exquisite brows were slightly furrowed . - More importantly , what was up with that display of yours , ruining my blueprint? Did you forget everything I said the moment you left ten years ago? You were supposed to create a cycle . -

Well , some things happened , - Zac sighed . - It looks like forming a cycle is impossible with my affinity . It requires a level of control I can’t reach no matter how much I train , so I was forced to make some changes . -

Well , I knew that was a possibility , - Yrial shrugged .

You knew? - Zac exclaimed . - So you sold me that skill just to mess with me? -

I only guessed it , - Yrial smiled . - Who knows what rules your weird body follows? But I figured that even a failure could be useful in helping you find your way . And I think I was right . Life and Axe , Axe and Death . -

Two miniature swords appeared , one wrought from white-hot flames and another of pristine ice . The two clashed , releasing outbursts of energy that lit up the whole pergola .

Two opposites reborn through the forge of conflict . Interesting enough . That final creation of yours was somewhat impressive , but you’re far from realizing its potential . And looking at what happened to the blueprint , that doesn’t bode very well for you , even if some of the damage was because of the thuggish way you painted your path . -

You’ve called that wheel a blueprint twice now , what do you mean? A blueprint for a cycle? - Zac asked , his eyes turning away from Yrial’s simulation of his path .

You could say that , - Yrial nodded as the two swords fused into a wheel that looked a lot like the yin-yang symbol . - But also for something else . It was a template array for condensing a cultivator’s Cosmic Core . If you managed to paint your cyclic path on the wheel , it meant you would be qualified to make a run at Hegemony . But look at you , how could you possibly form a core with such volatile energy? You’d blow up . -

It’s that bad? - Zac grimaced . - Then how do Edgewalkers normally do it? -

Edgewalkers? - Yrial smiled . - You don’t hear that term often . I guess you’ve done your research . We’ll get to that later , but first , let me check you out . The Daos you infused into those windblades of yours were quite interesting . -

It wasn’t a— - Zac stopped himself and shrugged—Yrial wasn’t listening , his eyes glued to what Zac assumed was his redacted Status Screen .

You . . . what! - Yrial blurted . - Those Daoblades weren’t some simple skill? They were just pure Dao and energy! -

Well , yeah? - Zac nodded as though it were obvious , taking some pleasure in his master’s shock .

How is this possible? - Yrial continued , his pristine face distorting as he shot to his feet , any hint of his lackadaisical demeanor gone . - How can a legendary garbage like you have formed three Dao Branches in ten short years? Did you fall into a vat of Primal Dao? -

Primal Dao? - Zac said with a shake of his head , but his eyes suddenly lit up . - Wait , is it like a pristine white light , giving off the aura untainted by worldly Dao? -

You . . . - Yrial wheezed . - You didn’t . . . -

Well , no , - Zac said , prompting his teacher to breathe out in relief . - It was only a couple of motes , not a whole vat . -

Brat , are you trying to kill me again? - Yrial swore as his gaze grew distant . - Why did I never have this kind of luck back then? If someone had thrown some Primal Dao my way , would I have found myself stuck without ever confirming my Dao? -

Thankfully , the Lord of Cycles regained his wits , though he still looked at Zac with such disgust , it made Zac think of Ogras . - Well , even a pile of dung will be consecrated in the Dao with that kind of opportunity . So , what else have you been up to? You should have eaten the treasure I provided? Have you managed to excavate the other Hidden Nodes it showed? -

Well , I think I have more to open , but I can’t be sure , - Zac said , and Yrial nodded as though it was expected . - For now , you could say I have opened five . -

Brat , are you doing this on purpose? From now on , say your results quickly and concisely or I’ll start deducting credit , - Yrial said with a roll of his eyes as he started to fan himself with the bouquet out of annoyance . - What else have you improved? -

Zac hesitated , but ultimately chose to follow his original decision . He’d argued with himself over just how much he should tell his departed master , where Zac’s ingrained paranoia fought with his desire to get proper advice . If he told Yrial too little , Zac would once again get feedback that didn’t take into account all aspects of his path , just like how it was with Pavina and Heda .

But if he told Yrial too much , it might have some unintended consequences down the road , though he honestly didn’t know what . Ultimately , he decided to tell Yrial most of what he’d discovered about himself and his path , barring only his guess about his supposed connection to Emperor Limitless . Just like Pavina said , some things were better not spoken out loud , though he was worried about the System rather than the Orom this time around .

The benefits far outstripped the risks as far as he was concerned . If someone managed to break into his Dao Repository and extract his secrets from Yrial , breaking the rules of the System-enforced master-disciple contract , having his secrets exposed would probably be the least of his worries .

I gained a Peak-quality Soul-strengthening Manual in the Tower of Eternity , which I’ve cultivated to the third out of nine layers , making my soul stronger than most Mentalists’ . I have also awakened my bloodlines , which is related to my Hidden Nodes , - Zac said . - Oh , and I have reached the Integration Stage for the two stances of my technique . -

The Lord of Cycles leveled an even stare at Zac , while Zac smiled sheepishly in return . He knew what Yrial was thinking . Even if it felt like his progress had been slow at times , it had to be said that his cultivation speed was monstrous compared to most elites . Accomplishing even one of his breakthroughs in a decade could be considered good , but doing it in multiple branches? Most likely , only Heaven’s Chosen could accomplish something like that .

Alright , why have you started cultivating your soul? Is it because of your garbage affinities? - Yrial eventually asked .

Well , it helps with that , but it’s not the real reason . I didn’t tell you the last time I was here , but the System has kind of messed with my path a bit , - Zac grimaced as he roughly explained the situation with the Remnants in his mind , though he didn’t mention Be’Zi or their quests .

Creation , Oblivion , and Chaos . . . The broken peaks of the Boundless Path , - Yrial sighed . - To think you had been dragged into the schemes of the Boundless Heavens before you even set out on the path of cultivation . Is it related to your races? -

Most likely , - Zac slowly nodded . - The System probably saw an opportunity to try something out when I got my Draugr side , though it might be because it doesn’t want me to turn to my mother’s faction . -

Why would the Heavens care about something like that? - Yrial laughed . - Don’t let your ego get the best of you . -

Well , it turns out my mother wasn’t a native of the world I grew up on . She was a Technocrat . A powerful one , probably an Autarch . And judging by what they were up to , they might have been one of the most powerful Technocrat families around . -

Of course , she was , - Yrial groaned . - No wonder , no wonder . That’s why I couldn’t understand the scripts on that Spy Core of yours—it was the work of those maniacs . Don’t tell me you have started implanting yourself with those cursed components , departing from the natural order? -

No , - Zac said with a shake of his head . - My mother considers me a failed experiment of theirs , and she kind of left me here before she kidnapped my sister . I can’t be sure , but I think I’m completely organic . My mother’s family was annihilated before they reached the stage where they would start implanting me with odd things . -

Honestly , it felt extremely good to finally vent a bit after years of hiding the true facets of his heritage . With both his sister and Ogras gone , no one really understood what he was going through and the difficulties he faced . One secret after another was spilled in the pergola over the next hour as Zac roughly recounted what he’d been through since they last met .

Now , I am getting closer to forming my core , but I honestly don’t know how to tackle that problem . I was hoping you could point me in the right direction , being an Edgewalker as well , - Zac said .

How could I possibly help you? In fact , don’t talk to me , - Yrial muttered as he pointedly looked away . - I cannot even look at you right now . Mysterious background , being led to weird treasures by the Heavens themselves , bloodline experiments , unprecedented constitution , opportunities appearing wherever you turn . You bastard , did you steal a whole Sector’s providence or something? -

That’s . . . - Zac coughed . - I mean it might sound a bit unfair , but it hasn’t been a bed of roses . I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been wounded or almost died . -

Whatever , - Yrial huffed , but he eventually took a deep , calming breath . - Alright , your kind master will put aside this injustice for now . Have a look at the realities of pursuing Hegemony while I try to unravel the mess you have created . -

Zac was about to ask what he was talking about , then the next moment he found himself beset by a wave of vertigo . The world shattered as he fell to the ground . It suddenly reformed again , and Zac got back on his feet with confusion . He thought Yrial had sent him on another quest , but the pergola and field of flowers were still there .

But why had a wall suddenly appeared? And were those flying treasures in the sky?

17

DETERMINATION

There were dozens of small vessels whizzing through the air , most of them taking the shape of gondolas that left plumes of glittering clouds in their wake , a feature clearly added not for function but aesthetics . Zac also spotted the occasional warrior flying on his own , with the vessels giving the Hegemons a wide berth .

Young master Lau’Sai , I’m sorry for intruding , - a shaky voice said , prompting Zac to look over with confusion .

A young woman emitting an aura of Middle E-grade stood at the edge of the pergola , her hands fidgeting as she looked past Zac .

Yana , I told you to never apologize for visiting , - a euphonious voice answered , prompting Zac to once more turn around .

There he was , a young scion wearing the very same robes Zac had used the past decade , standing at the edge of the small pergola with a paintbrush in his right hand . Next to him was an easel with a semi-finished abstract painting , whose circular motif made Zac think of a shattered plate .

The painting felt lacking somehow , and it wasn’t for a shortage of proper supplies . Neither the canvas nor the brush were common goods ; the bristles were actually on fire . However , as the young man finished a stroke , a fiery ochre was left behind on the canvas rather than a scorch mark .

The young man was naturally Yrial donning a gentle smile , exhibiting a refined , albeit somewhat sickly appearance . In this vision , his hair was tied up with some sort of ornamental clip , and he wore a ferronnière with a small gem that emitted a soothing aura similar to Zac’s Mind’s Eye Agate] . This Yrial only looked slightly younger than the soul whisp Zac knew , though Zac could sense he was just at Peak E-grade . Not only that , but he guessed that Yrial’s pale complexion wasn’t natural , with his aura being a bit unstable .

Was he perhaps wounded?

More importantly , what was going on? This was different from the quest he got during his last visit . Back then , he’d essentially taken the place of Yrial in one of his memories , but now his teacher was standing right in front of him . Zac tried opening his Status Screen , and while it worked , there was no quest waiting for him .

Looking down at his hands , Zac could see himself just fine , but the other two in the pergola seemed oblivious to his presence .

Uh , hello? - Zac called out just to make sure—they ignored him .

Zac knew it wasn’t the young couple slighting him , but rather that they couldn’t see him . The whole situation was reminiscent of his Heart Tribulation , where he had presumably been dragged into an erased memory from his past . Of course , it wasn’t his own memory he visited this time , but Yrial’s .

His teacher had told him to witness the - realities of pursuing Hegemony’ just before sending him here , so Zac guessed this memory was from around the time Yrial made that step . The young girl Yrial called Yana flushed a bit upon seeing Yrial’s gentle smile , and Zac inwardly cursed his master to grow a couple of pimples for exposing him to this overly ambiguous scene .

Turning his gaze away from the love-struck youngsters , he instead took a proper look at the surroundings . It dawned on him what was going on , and why there were so many vessels in the air . The field of flowers was just part of a large , walled-in courtyard .

Behind the young girl , Zac spotted a small , yet beautiful mansion almost hidden among several willow trees , and occasional buildings poked over the walls . However , a weak shimmer around the courtyard indicated that this place was shrouded by some sort of privacy array .

It looked like Yrial had taken the beautiful garden and removed the rest when forming the world in his inheritance . As to why , Zac had no idea . Perhaps this place and this young girl held a special meaning to him . The girl in question had become extremely flustered , perhaps by Yrial’s admittedly singular appearance , or perhaps by his familiar tone , and it almost looked like she was about to flee out of embarrassment .

You are always a welcome guest , - Yrial smiled as he stowed his brush . - Seeing your smile always illuminates my soul . -

I . . . Ah . . . How are young master’s wounds? - Yana asked as she took a hesitant step into the pergola .

Thanks to your help , I feel much better already , - Yrial said as he looked deep into Yana’s eyes . - Perhaps my dream of Hegemony isn’t dead just yet . If not for young miss finding me wounded in the forest . . . It’s a gratitude this one will carry for the rest of his life . -

Ah , no , it was just something I should do , - Yana hurriedly said .

I still worry , - Yrial said , his eyes so wet he looked like he was about to cry . - I’m afraid I will inconvenience you by living in your townhouse like this . It could tarnish your reputation . -

Don’t be silly , - Yana huffed . - Who’d dare talk about the mayor’s daughter like that? Besides , if we . . . -

She didn’t finish the sentence , but the blush on her cheeks spoke volumes . Was this what dating was like on easy mode?

One day I’ll become someone worthy for you , - Yrial sighed . - But now , I’m . . . -

I brought something , - Yana said in a low voice as she surreptitiously looked around . - You mentioned your Spiritual Flame had been extinguished , right? Luckily , my grandpa found a very rare Spiritual Flame in a Mystic Realm a few hundred years ago . I brought one of its embers . -

The next moment , she took out an inscribed box from the bag on her side .

I cannot accept this! - Yrial said with wide eyes as he took a step back . - It’s too precious . There is no way your family agreed to this . I cannot let you do this for me . -

It’s nothing , - Yana said with an embarrassed smile . - The main flame was only slightly weakened—it will recover in a few hundred years , and I’ll just face some light punishment . Please , take it . It would be an injustice to the Heavens if someone with your talents would have your foundations damaged before you’ve reached your potential . -

Then . . . I’ll accept it , - Yrial said with some hesitation . - Once again , you have saved me . I can only hope I’ll live up to your expectations . -

Just be careful so you don’t open up your wounds , - Yana smiled . - I need to go back now before I’m discovered . Try to absorb it quickly . That way they can’t make you spit it out . -

Yrial stood with the box in hand , smiling gently as he watched Yana leave , bowing in her direction when she glanced back one final time . As she left through a gate , his smile slowly transformed , turning into an impish grin .

I’m sorry , little flower , - Yrial mumbled as his erratic aura stabilized . - Times are tough , even for handsome people . If fate permits , I will make it up to you . -

Zac’s eyes widened at the scene , immediately putting two and two together . Yrial mentioned he’d been - saved’ by that girl in some forest . Had he simply pretended to be hurt to get closer to her , or rather , to the Spiritual Flame her family controlled? Zac was filled with a new level of - respect’ upon seeing the avaricious gleam in Yrial’s eyes as he opened the box .

This was the tribulations of Hegemony? Scamming naïve girls out of their family’s treasures with the help of silky skin and smooth words?

Then again , Zac wasn’t one to judge . This could be considered mild compared to his own modus operandi where seas of blood were left in his wake . This way , only someone’s coffer took a hit , and the girls’ family could probably afford the loss even if the box looked extraordinary .

Inside the chest was a small vial containing a tiny blue flame . The moment Yrial opened the box , a cold snap spread across the area , causing a layer of frost to cover the pillows and nearby flowers . No wonder Yrial wanted this thing—it was extremely similar to the fiery ice he often formed .

Yrial hurriedly closed the box before taking out a series of containers from his Spatial Ring . From there , Zac looked on with interest as Yrial transferred the ember of blue flames into another vial while the original box and vial were placed on a small array . A whole ritual then commenced , involving karma-breaking dust , various liquids , and Yrial painting some sort of array on his face .

Ten minutes later , it finished , with the box simply disappearing as space distorted inside the array . The whole process was so fluid , it couldn’t possibly be the first time his teacher had done this , and Zac guessed any clues that could lead Yana’s elders to Yrial were gone . Zac had performed similar procedures quite a few times himself , but Zac admitted he was lacking in this regard .

From there , Yrial took out a pre-written letter , though one intentionally written to look like it was hastily scribbled , sprinkled some perfume on it before placing it on the table in the pergola . Zac didn’t have time to read the whole thing before Yrial folded it , but it said something along the lines of old enemies having found out Yrial survived , and not wanting to implicate the young miss , he’d been forced to flee . Something about how she should forget him if he hadn’t returned in a year .

Ten minutes later , Yrial left the city through a teleporter , disguised as a Daoist nun . Zac was somehow dragged along for the ride as though he were attached to Yrial through an elastic cord , even through the teleporter . Half a day passed this way as Yrial rotated between touring shops and teleporting to a new town , each time using a different , but always beautiful , identity .

It looked like Yrial’s transformation techniques were of a higher grade than his own , though his androgynous appearance probably helped him smoothly switch between genders without any hint of something being amiss .

Finally , Yrial appeared in a sprawling town in a forest of towering trees that reached thousands of meters into the sky . Only the slums were located on the ground , while grand manors resided in the tree crowns . Yrial took out a floating leaf and flew between the trees for half an hour until he reached a secluded manor on a mid-sized branch . Where the building was carved into the bark of the massive tree .

It looked like it was owned by Yrial , since he used a token to pass through barriers , though it might have belonged to yet another one of his acquaintances . By this point , Zac started to wonder just how long this vision would last . Hours had passed since Yrial tricked that Spiritual Flame out of that poor girl’s hands , and Zac had simply assumed his teacher wanted to use the icy flames as a catalyst to break through .

And finally , it looked like something was about to happen .

Zac walked over with anticipation as Yrial started setting up a complex cultivation array in the middle of a cultivation chamber inside the tree . Zac had never seen anything like it before , though there were some parts he recognized . It sort of appeared to be a mix between a Body Tempering Manual and a Beast Training Technique .

Some cultivators , especially those training in Elemental Daos , chose to infuse things like Spiritual Flames or Divine Woods into their bodies to strengthen themselves and their connection to their Dao . However , this was the first time Zac saw it in person , and he looked on with interest as Yrial extracted one wisp after another from the sealed ember and infused it into his body .

The process looked extremely painful , with Yrial’s skin both freezing over and getting scorched at the same time . He pressed on until he had absorbed five wisps in total , at which point he collapsed unconscious . Time twisted and hours passed in an instant until Yrial finally woke up with a cough .

He crawled to a sitting position and threw a Healing Pill into his mouth between ragged breaths . A few minutes later he closed his eyes before forming a bowl with his hands . Zac felt some sort of energy turn inside Yrial’s body , and eventually , a small apparition appeared in his hands . Zac recognized it—the form looked a lot like Yrial’s painting from before .

Hundreds of small shards formed something akin to a circle , half of them made from orange flames and the other half from milky-white ice . The flames looked exactly like the ones on Yrial’s paintbrush , but Zac noticed there were small flakes of chilly blue on the embers , no doubt a result of Yrial absorbing some of the Spiritual Flame . The two elements started to spin , but it only took a few seconds before the apparition collapsed .

Ice extinguished flames and flames melted ice , only a few of the shards managed to fuse into something similar to Yrial’s fiery ice , but these shards weren’t enough to save the cycle . Yrial eventually opened his eyes , disappointment evident in his eyes .

His downcast state only lasted for a few moments before he took out a massive map coving half the floor .

If Zac read this thing right , the world Yrial lived in was simply massive , where Earth would only take up a small corner of the map . And it wasn’t a complete map either . The edges blurred out , with the occasional note of what kind of environment resided beyond . Zac had a decent guess of what was going on—Yrial lived on one of the mythical C-grade continents that Zac had yet to visit .

Those physics-defying stretches of land defied space , taking up mind-bogglingly large areas . A world so large , a Peak E-grade cultivator would die of old age before having the opportunity to visit even a fraction of the countries , factions , and danger zones it housed . This kind of environment produced an endless number of opportunities thanks to its dense energies , and it was the kind of place most cultivators in the Zecia Sector could only dream of visiting .

Except , where there are opportunities , there are also dangers . A lot of sections of these kinds of continents were extremely dangerous , with no lack of Beast Kings or even Beast Emperors staking their claim in the wilderness . One false move and you’d find yourself stuck in a death trap . Though most dangerous were the other cultivators competing for the abundant resources .

The surroundings shifted , and Zac found himself deep in the forest with Yrial desperately fighting a fifty-meter snake . It was either a Half-Step Beast King or a newly evolved one , and Yrial was pushed to his limits as he unleashed one wave of blistering flames or frigid blizzards after another . It was the first time Zac witnessed Yrial fight , and it looked like he was a hybrid between a controller and a mage .