Defiance of the Fall

As for himself , Zac knew he’d passed a threshold sometime during the journey . He’d entered the Middle Mastery of the Integration Stage , mostly thanks to Ultom’s impartment . It perfected the patterns on his blueprints , which in turn elevated his technique . And it wasn’t a case of barely breaking through either .

Zac could tell his foundations were still incredibly solid . He only lacked the fundamental understanding of his Daos required to push his techniques . As long as he upgraded his Branch of the Kalpataru and continued gaining experience , he had a decent chance of evolving his technique again before the trial for Ultom began .

That might also be the key to evolving Vivi , which would be a huge victory . Haro was still far from strong enough to be used as a weapon . Meanwhile , Vivi was a top-quality Spiritual Plant . If she evolved into D-grade , she should be able to match up to War Regalias in might .

Since the breakthrough was done with , Zac stepped through the gate for the fifth time .

Gate of Asura passed : 3 : 32 remaining . Continue?]

The Path of Asura had taken over an hour of real-time , almost as much as the previous four trials combined . Still , Zac felt the reward was worth it . You could never be sure inspiration would strike so clearly again if he suppressed the feeling until he was outside the trial . And there was only a single trial remaining . As long as he could rush through it , he’d have over three hours of inspiration .

Zac entered the next trial , finding himself in a celestial realm of purple clouds , with the occasional mountain peak breaking through the rippling curtain . It was the highest realm of the six paths , the final obstacle of Nirvana . There was a golden road leading through the realm . Zac set out , Verun’s Bite] already held at the ready .

It didn’t take long for him to encounter his first enemy . A humanoid decked in jewelry floated over , a halo behind its elephantine head radiating a strong aura of providence . In its hands , it held a partisan spear , and it stabbed it against Zac the moment it was close enough .

Zac dodged the somewhat simple strike effortlessly , but he was surprised to find himself nicked at his shoulders . The strike should have missed , yet something went wrong . Stepping aside to reorient himself , Zac almost stepped out off the edge of the road .

A strange drunkenness clouded his mind , even if he had full clarity . This was something far trickier . It was Karma . Not as palpable as the Karmic cultivator Zac fought inside the Tower of Eternity , but it was there . Almost like the humanoid Deva radiated an aura of luck , or misfortune , depending on whose perspective you looked at it from .

Zac had no way to rouse or target his own Luck , but just understanding the situation helped . A vicious strike and the Deva fell into the clouds , never to be seen again . New figures were already floating toward him , their auras seemingly superimposing to create an even stronger effect .

The Devas were the beings closest to attaining Nirvana , each carrying immense Karma . Zac guessed their will impacted the river of fate , bending it to their advantage . Unfortunately for them , Zac was an unmovable rock thanks to his huge amount of Luck . Their providence failed to contain him and keep them safe from his counter-attacks .

This effect seemed to be further augmented by his Branch of the Kalpataru since it siphoned some of the good fortunes of the realm for Zac’s use . Zac sped up , a Life-attuned Dao Field covering his surroundings while he launched fractal leaves at any Deva who dared get close .

Zac felt the constant resistance of fate , but it only managed to deviate his blades slightly . Ultimately , it didn’t matter if a three-meter fractal leaf was pushed a few hands to the side . The various demi-gods who got close were cut down all the same . For Zac , the sixth realm was actually easier than the fifth , where you could only fight fire with fire . And together with the fact he used his skills this time , Zac veritably flew through the paradisial world of clouds .

Twelve hours was all it took until Zac stood at the final checkpoint of the Gate of Life . Zac wasn’t surprised none had reached this point , even if they’d dared attempt it after the gauntlet of Asuras . Fighting against the Devas was almost like fighting against fate . If you didn’t have a huge amount of Luck like he did , you’d have to absolutely overpower the Devas to the point their luck couldn’t save them .

The number of deities he’d left in his wake was shocking . If this were the real world , he would probably have accumulated enough fell Karma for ten lifetimes for killing so many creatures with such positive Karma . Luckily , this was just a trial ground , and there was no way these creatures were real .

Either case , it was over with , and Zac was ready to collect his reward . He passed through the gate , entering a supercharged swirl of pure Life . By this point , even Zac could feel there were noticeable benefits from staying inside the swirls of Life . It was akin to an impartment , much like the Life-Death Pearls of the Twilight Ocean . Using this kind of energy would allow Zac to quickly work toward the next stage of his Dao Branch .

Zac didn’t even get the chance to enter a state of revelation before something changed .

Gate of Deva passed : 3 : 01 remaining . Continue?]

Continue? Zac blankly stared at the line , wondering what was going on . The System clearly told him the Gates of Rebirth had six layers when he received it as a reward , and they perfectly matched the six realms of rebirth . Yet there was another one? Was it actually Nirvana? Or maybe a hidden level? Something awarded because he’d passed the trial with more than half of the time remaining?

The reasons didn’t matter . What mattered was whether he should accept or not . Looking around at the vibrant swirls of Life , Zac made his decision .

It wasn’t enough . Zac could tell that while he’d make improvements in the current environment , it wasn’t enough to crystallize the insights he was lacking to form a Middle-stage Dao Branch of the Kalpataru . The fact that the energy was already useful made Zac hopeful for the next stage , and he chose to continue into the hidden trial .

This time , the environment was different . There was no world stretching to the horizons . He simply stood at the edge of the universe , gazing upon golden gates hundreds of meters tall . To its sides , a wall stretched toward infinity in either direction . Had he really been taken to paradise? Were these the pearly gates leading into Heaven?

There was nowhere to go but through the doorway , and staying wasn’t an option either . The universe was draining him , stealing his Vigor faster than any of his Hidden Nodes ever had . After he ran out of that , he’d probably start losing life force . Zac ran toward the huge gates , but he stopped in place with shock just a moment later . The moment he’d started circulating his Branch of the Kalpataru as usual , the drain more than doubled .

Zac urgently changed Dao and was both relieved and confused to find that his Branch of the Pale Seal noticeably stemmed the loss . Meanwhile , the Branch of the War Axe neither helped nor hampered him . Why was it the opposite?

For each of the previous tiers , Life helped resist the challenges of the gates in various ways . But here , it became a liability while Death saved his bacon . Zac only hesitated a moment before swapping over to his Draugr form , and he breathed in relief upon feeling the loss lessening even further . Between his Death-attuned branch and his Death-attuned body , the drain was negligible .

As long as he kept eating to replenish his Vigor , he’d be able to last a good while in this environment before running into trouble . Of course , that was only so long as the drain didn’t get too bad deeper into the trial .

Surviving to the end probably meant you’d get sent out with a title of the previous tier but no epiphany , but Zac couldn’t be sure . Besides , his goal in this place was less about the Limited Title and more about the insight waiting at the end . There was no point loitering at the entrance after having solved the danger . Zac rushed into the enormous complex , and it almost felt like passing through the gates of Heaven .

The feeling didn’t last long . There was no paradise on the other side . Instead , it was a long golden hallway with paths veering both to the left and right . Some pathways started a couple of meters into the air , proving the structure had at least two layers . The scene reminded Zac a bit of the research base Mystic Realm , though there was no ceiling .

A maze?

Just standing at the entrance left Zac a bit light-headed , and not just because of the dozen paths he’d already spotted . Every inch of the golden walls were covered in black scripts , forming a dizzying array of patterns stretching as far as Zac could see . Having worked on a blueprint for years , Zac recognized many of the overarching themes .

These were patterns related to the Dao of Death , there was no doubt about it . However , Zac only recognized snippets , where most patterns were mostly foreign to him . Zac could only tell they had the same - flavor’ as his own Dao , meaning they were probably different aspects of the Dao of Death . Just observing them filled him with some inspiration .

Zac took a few hesitant steps forward while chewing on a strip of dried meat of an undead Beast King , but he soon stopped again . Just how should he deal with this place? If this was a maze , there had to be some sort of clue on how to pass it . He’d seen just how massive this place was from the outside . He could run around for months without finding the exit if he didn’t have a plan .

Zac took a calming breath , not letting the unexpected scene impact his heart as he sought solutions . It was a trial , not a trap . First things first . Zac turned into an abyssal wraith , shooting toward the sky a few hundred meters above . However , no matter how many thousands of meters he moved , the edge of the maze grew no closer .

There was an array that prevented cheating . Zac expected as much , but he had to make sure . He landed back on the ground , turning to the walls and paths around him . The key had to be the scripts and the Dao of Death . First , Zac tried to figure out if some paths were false or imperfect , but it didn’t look like it .

All sixteen paths he could pick from the initial entrance seemed equally perfect . None had any obvious flaws Zac could discern . Although , his eyes gradually turned to the third path . There were hints of his Branch of the Pale Seal in every path except five , but runes that resonated with his path were denser in the third .

Was that it? Pick the one that fit you the best? Zac had no better option , so he entered the path . It continued for almost a mile , with a few paths veering to the sides . Each held a smaller concentration of his Dao , so he ignored them . Eventually , he found a path that looked a bit better and entered it .

Having to constantly observe and analyze the endless runes around him was taxing , but also illuminating . Most of the patterns weren’t directly related to him , but they were related to the Dao he practiced . There were all kinds of connections and relationships he’d never seen before . And while he couldn’t utilize any of it right now , he felt they might come in handy in the future .

Zac even suspected this wasn’t the originally intended way to pass the trial . The runes emitted a weak energy , and Zac suspected a normal cultivator would be able to resonate with the runes that matched their affinity . Zac was essentially brute-forcing it with his brain filled with patterns thanks to Ultom and his inordinately powerful soul .

Thank the Heavens he hadn’t given in to his curiosity back then and entered the Gates of Rebirth early , instead opting to save the opportunity for when he’d accumulated insights after his years of cultivation . Without a proper theoretical foundation , he wouldn’t have been able to move nearly as fast as he was .

Zac continued this way , running through the winding maze , constantly feasting on meat to keep his Vigor topped up . The hours passed , and Zac started to realize it wasn’t just the inscriptions on the walls that formed complex patterns . The paths themselves formed enormous runes , creating a shockingly vast array .

He was running inside the Tapestry of Death .

75

DEATH FROM LIFE

Zac remembered some of his breakthroughs , where he’d seen the endless tapestries of the Grand Dao and tried to grasp some corners that resonated with him . This was essentially the same , with the only difference being he’d been physically placed in the middle of the vast emblem . The realization didn’t change much , but it filled Zac with greater confidence that he was on the right path , even if the drain kept increasing .

At first , he could only see a few percent of his path being reflected on the walls . After an hour , more than 10% contained pieces of his Dao . By the time Zac ran five hours , more than half of the patterns reflected his own . This was reminiscent of when he walked through the spiral after returning from absorbing Ultom’s light . The only difference was that he was now retracing the steps of Dao comprehension instead .

Except the drain was becoming a problem . He was losing energy fast , and no amount of food was enough to stem the loss . Zac suspected he had at most four hours before running out of Vigor entirely . Yet he continued without looking back . As the drain grew more palpable , so did the aura of Death from the runes .

He felt he had entered a semi-enlightened state where the repeating patterns engraved themselves in his heart .

Eventually , his constitution failed him . He was a hollow husk , with not an ounce of Life left in it . He only wanted to lie down and sleep , to shut out the unbearable hunger that threatened to consume him . Only he couldn’t stop . Not now . Not when the walls were 90% filled in with his path . He was so close he could taste it .

Zac continued on pure willpower , forcing his legs to keep moving and the turbid ichor in his veins to keep flowing . His life was slipping out from his body , but a Longevity Treasure allowed him to mostly spend an external source . But the drain grew stronger , and external treasures soon weren’t enough to stem the loss .

Days turned to weeks and soon months . Zac didn’t care . He was walking in a perfect representation of his Branch of the Pale Seal . Until he suddenly wasn’t . The pathway he’d stumbled through ended in a small room no larger than ten meters across . There was a simple well in the middle , and the sloshing of water resounded from within .

A golden radiance spread out from the reservoir , proving it wasn’t normal water , drowning out the intense darkness of the runes . Zac walked inside filled with wonder , barely noticing the drain had reached a fever pitch . In the heart of Death , there was Life . Zac’s mind was fuzzy , but he understood clearly what he needed to do .

He stumbled over to the well and simply tipped over . Staying any longer in the maze environment would be his end . Besides , there was a powerful calling coming from the depths . The well was surprisingly deep , giving him time to send an exhausted nudge into his Specialty Core , prompting it to transform him back into his human form .

Death receded , both within his body and in his surroundings . A storm of Life jolted Zac’s drained mind wide awake a few seconds later , and he felt how torrential amounts of energy were entering his body while the truths of Life were laid bare all around him . No matter if it was the density or depth , it was on a whole other level compared to the sixth checkpoint .

His utterly drained Vigor was rapidly being replenished , the bone-piercing exhaustion replaced with exuberance . The Dao of Life was so clear and intimate , like a long-lost friend caressing you in an embrace . Was it because he’d walked down the corridors of Death for half a day , like how you were blinded by even the weakest of lights after having stayed in darkness for a while?

This was it . This was the one . Death from Life , and Life from Death .

No screen was forthcoming , though Zac wasn’t sure he’d notice it even if one appeared . He was fully consumed by the Branch of the Kalpataru , swept away by his path . It had been years since he felt his Dao so close and palpable . Ultimately , the lake water of the Lost Plane , or even the divine light of Ultom , was bereft of Dao .

Their inspiration could break anything apart and show you the mechanical underpinnings of the Dao and its absence , but it could not elevate Zac’s understanding of Life . But now , practical understanding and spiritual comprehension became entwined as Zac gazed at the fundamental nature of Life .

There was nothing that Zac needed to change with his understanding of the Kalpataru . He just needed to stay the path , just like he had through the Tapestry of Death . Life was the motor of change , the breaker of fate . It was progress manifest through the evolutionary dance of his technique .

The truths he’d grasped onto while inside the Orom World grew more condensed and robust , and Zac lost any sense of anything else but the warmth of Life . But suddenly , Zac felt something amiss , and his eyes shot open as he warily looked around . It took him a moment to realize what was happening , and he scoffed before closing his eyes again .

There were no threats , at least not in the corporeal sense . The trouble Zac sensed was a few insights that tried to sneak into his Dao , hinting at the fusion between Life and Death by adding a set of concepts to create a working microcosm . The first steps toward Samsara . As expected from a Trial of a Buddhist nature .

Luckily , Zac had tempered his heart in the Void for years already , and he effortlessly rejected those thoughts while greedily taking what he needed from the storm around him . Due to Zac rejecting a chunk of the truths , the energy entering his body also decreased . That could barely be considered a problem . A white box appeared in his hand , and Zac swallowed the golden peach before stowing the container .

It was a top-tier Life-attuned Dao Treasure that helped Zac make up the loss and speed up his breakthrough . It joined the external streams of truth , flowing into the floating tree in his Soul Aperture . The Kalpataru didn’t grow any larger , but the branches grasping for the Heavens did . The golden leaves also became more radiant , while the movements of the dancing vines turned more capricious .

The tree shone like a small sun inside his aperture , annealing the golden Outer Cores with Life of a higher order . And just like that , it was done . Another Dao Branch pushed to Middle Mastery . Zac warily opened his eyes and peered around , both relieved and disappointed that no angry clouds gathered above him .

Ultimately , the Old Heavens didn’t care about minor breakthroughs like evolving Dao Branches , and it wouldn’t come down at him with Tribulation Lightning until he formed an Earthly Dao . However , from that point , each step would draw a tribulation as long as he stayed on the Boundless Path . That was a worry for later , and Zac opened his Dao Screen to see the results .

Branch of the Kalpataru (Middle) : All attributes +50 , Dexterity +750 , Endurance +1500 , Vitality +4750 , Intelligence +50 , Wisdom +450 , Effectiveness of Vitality +25%]

Having accomplished what he set out for , Zac blocked out the golden light . He’d taken what he needed . Any more and he might find his path deviate . This place really was a Buddhist heritage , trying to sneak in some insights to move his Dao toward Samsara . Looking back , it seemed like a deliberate action with the maze of Death leading to a well of Life .

Instead , Zac turned his attention to his upgraded Dao Branch . He hadn’t been certain he’d be able to upgrade the Dao with the help of this trial , even if he made huge strides since the Orom World , both in the Void Gate and during his years of study of the Dao of Life . His worry had been warranted . If not for the secret seventh layer , he wouldn’t have reached all the way .

A Middle-stage Dao Branch wasn’t required for him to form his Cosmic Core—it would only be a prerequisite for upgrading his Cosmic Core to Middle-stage . But even if it weren’t a must-have for the Perennial Vastness , it would certainly help . The better the balance between Conflict and Life , the easier it would be to forcibly form and contain the sections of his core .

Besides , the upgrade provided him with over 8 , 500 attribute points—more than a 10% boost to his attribute pool . If he could do the same with his Branch of the Pale Seal , he’d be far better prepared for any conflict inside the Perennial Vastness . Because one thing was for sure , no matter where you went in the Multiverse , there’d be a struggle for resources and to get ahead .

As for the attributes , there weren’t any real surprises . Zac was happy to see Dexterity had gone from +300 to +750 , an increase of 150% rather than a simple doubling . That came at the cost of no extra Intelligence and a reduced gain in Wisdom and Endurance . As far as Zac was concerned , it was a worthy trade .

His Wisdom was starting to fall behind a bit , though , so he might have to put some points into it after reaching Hegemony . His soul was incredibly powerful , but it could not be fully utilized without the Wisdom to run it .

Zac closed the screen , looking around . There was no timer , but he could somewhat sense time was almost up . The golden streams had grown dim , having been robbed of a chunk of their truths . Actually , the theft was still happening , and Zac was happy to see a steady stream enter his World Ring . He’d been too swept up in his own breakthrough to notice before .

Being a product of Heda , Vivi was obviously Life-attuned . Haro was not . However , between Zac’s nurturing and Haro’s closeness to Vivi , Haro started to absorb more and more Life-attuned Energy . Zac hoped he could have it diverge from the norm and become a Life-attuned Heavenrender Vine , just like Ogras accidentally diverged into a Shadow-aspected demon .

The minutes passed as Zac waited for the trial to conclude and to see what kind of title the seventh layer of the Gate of Life awarded . The normal trials provided 1% of your main attribute and either Vitality or Endurance , depending on which trial you chose , per layer . Would the seventh layer push the attributes to 7% , or would the title change as it did with the Havenfort Chasm?

Finally , the trial ended , but Zac felt no pull or any sensation that he was about to be placed inside one of those flowers outside . Instead , another prompt appeared .

Trial Ended . Continue into the Gate of Death?]

Zac didn’t give it a second thought as he accepted . This was exactly what he’d hoped for . The chance to enjoy the other half of his trial . Hopefully , there would be a second hidden level waiting for him on the other side , giving him the inspiration needed to evolve his final Dao Branch .

But as Zac accepted , he felt an uncomfortable pull . Like part of him was being held back in this sea of Life . He tried to hold on as best as he could , but it still slipped between his fingers . It was his memories being purged of his experiences in this place . Zac held onto a small hope he’d be able to retain his memories , either through his powerful soul or because he conquered the whole thing .

He was wrong , but that didn’t mean Zac was willing to give up without a fight . Ultimately , Zac only managed to hold onto a few key pieces by furiously rotating his Soul Cores . The maze , the timer , and his technique . A familiar gate appeared beneath him , and Zac had a final thought before it was whisked away .

What happened with the title?

A moment later , Zac found himself standing on a path of molten ground , filled with a conflicting sense of loss and gain . He looked around , trying to make sense of a confusing hole in his mind . He’d been purged just like the others , though he remembered what he was doing here . He’d fully passed the Gate of Life and evolved his Dao Branch , and it was time to climb the second half .

The hellscape of fiery Life filled Zac with an odd sense of déjà vu . He guessed the previous trial was the same , except there had been Death within the flames rather than Life . The same odd burning sensation came up through his soles , but he soon realized the Branch of the Pale Seal was effective at stemming the invasion .

As expected . Going by his current form , Zac had clearly completed the previous trial as a human , and this one was best dealt with in his Draugr form . Between the hazy memories and instinctual knowledge of what he needed to do , the level was completed in less than six hours thanks to Abyssal Phase] . He passed through the gate and found himself in a sea of endless black .

If not for the visions of the Abyssal Lake , Zac would have thought this was how a real lake of Death felt like . Now , it seemed like a cheap mimicry of the real thing , almost like the Towers of Myriad Dao in the face of the Tower of Eternity . Of course , this was still just the first level . As the days passed and Zac knocked out one layer after another , the sea became increasingly filled with meaning .

Each level passed also unlocked a bit more of his memory . He was walking in his own footsteps , his experiences mirroring each other . By the time he reached the Fourth Layer , he could almost see himself running in step . Zac sensed it wasn’t a case of finding meaning where there was none . This felt intentional , like the trial showed him two sides of the same coin .

Unfortunately for the creator of this place , it wasn’t for Zac . This kind of fusion the Gates of Rebirth were trying to nudge him toward was probably an expression of the Dao of Samsara . He had his own path to tread , and his heart was stable enough to ignore the pull . He would take what he needed and discard the rest .

Soon enough , Zac reached the fifth layer , and a smile spread across his face as Black Death] appeared in his hand .

It’s been a while , ’ a content hum echoed in his mind . - Are we going out again?’

We’re heading to the Perennial Vastness soon , - Zac smiled . - Hopefully , we can find a way to upgrade you there . For now , I’m going to evolve my technique . See if you can feel anything from my control . -

I’ll follow your lead , ’ Alea answered before her consciousness receded into the depths of the coffin .

It was a shame that short conversations were all Alea could manage , even after being fully healed and stabilized from her series of breakthroughs . It took a lot of effort to condense her consciousness to the point it worked like a person’s . Its natural form was more of a passive state spread through the coffin , much like Mossy’s normal conscious state .

Alea didn’t have the monstrous reserves of Mental Energy that Mossy did , either . So while the moon could speak how much it wanted , Alea could not . Zac hoped that would change by the time she became a D-grade Spirit tool , and her soul evolved along with it . And perhaps , this would be the first step in that regard .

Death and Conflict filled Zac’s body , propelling him down the road of carnage . The Asuras teemed with seemingly unquenchable Life , each of their attacks trying to leave part of it in Zac’s body behind . Though it was more accurate to call it a virus the way it acted . If Zac had been in his living form , it would have sought out his Life and poisoned it .

The effect was stifled by his Draugr heritage and his Dao , allowing Zac to fully focus on his technique . The echoes of himself were even more poignant as he advanced , his chains and axe weaving an inescapable net of Death . The hours blurred until he found himself standing in front of the swirling gate leading toward the sixth and final realm .

Or wait , was it really the final level? Something felt off .

Half a day later , Zac stood in front of a black gate with a tremendous wall stretching toward infinity . It looked like the entrance to the Underworld , yet a smile spread across Zac’s face as he swapped over to his human form . It had finally come back to him , all the memories of his previous trial .

One final journey into the Tapestry of Life to find the answers to Death .

76

FULL CYCLE

Why are we here? - Carl asked , warily looking at Ogras .

You’re the one who said you had to speak with the Lord immediately , - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes . - That your happiness depended on it . And this is where he went , apparently , leaving the boring stuff to me . -

But this place is trouble , - Carl muttered . - I can sense it . -

What trouble , - Ogras scoffed . - The Ruthless Heavens shrouds us , and we’re stronger than any warriors on this planet . -

But how will that protect us against the boss? - Carl countered .

Ogras studied the cowardly archer for a moment , a smile forming . - I guess you have a point there . -

See , over there , - Carl sighed . - I told you . Trouble . -

Ogras glanced over , frowning upon seeing hundreds of people gathered in front of the trial .

What’s going on? - Ogras asked after flashing over .

You are . - ? the guard asked with some confusion before spotting Carl next to him . - Ah! Captain Elrod! Thank God you’re here . -

At least one of us feels that way , - Carl muttered . - What’s happening? -

It’s Lord Atwood . . . He . . . - the guard hesitated , glancing at the huge half-disk behind him .

Ogras ignored Carl’s pointed look , snapping his finger to regain the guard’s attention . - The lord what? -

He entered eleven hours ago and still hasn’t come out . We even tried cutting open a bunch of flowers in case he was trapped , but we couldn’t find him . Ultimately , the vines started releasing dangerous energies , forcing us out of the graveyard . -

He’s eleven hours in , - Ogras muttered . - Well , let’s just wait for another hour . He probably passed the first one and somehow entered the next . -

You know what , my matter is silly , - Carl said . - It can wait . -

You sure? - Ogras grinned . - It’s hard to know with you . You were so adamant about not joining our mission just an hour ago . -

That’s because you told Lissa , - Carl said with grit teeth . - Forcing me to choose between hell with the boss or hell in my home . -

That’s my mistake , - Ogras sighed . - I simply felt I hadn’t talked with my former subordinates enough , and it somehow slipped out when she was listening . -

I’m sure , - Carl spat .

Now , don’t be like that , - Ogras laughed . - Whether you like it or not , you have one of the most powerful fates of any earthlings . Excluding that guy , of course . Are you going to keep resisting it , or will you seize the opportunity? Aren’t you a man? Shouldn’t you have the power to protect Lissa? -

Carl’s face scrunched up like a dried Palo Fruit , but he still sat down when Ogras took out a table and some chairs . The minutes passed until people started to stir , their gazes turned toward the huge disk .

It’s about time , - Ogras muttered , a sense of anticipation filling him .

Who knew? There might be some benefits to be had if that guy really caused a scene . The ground started to shake , and Ogras looked on with shock as the whole half-disk started to spin . Was the thing really a coin? The somewhat simple half-moon with the ladders and the two entrances entered the ground as a completely different scene emerged .

Paradise .

An exquisite diptych engraving in black and gold was hidden on the other half of the Gates of Rebirth , depicting with excruciating detail a Buddhist paradise . Arhats were guarding the mountains , and Buddhas spread their boundless love from the peaks . Enlightened beasts , celestial lotus flowers , bodhi trees , and temples .

A huge silhouette of a Buddha appeared in the sky , its two hands clasped in a Dhyani mudra . Inside its palm , a wheel of gold and black turned , and Ogras’ soul shuddered . Almost as though he were looking at both his future and his past .

What in the . . . - Ogras muttered , but the avatar was gone the next moment .

Suddenly , two doors opened in the middle of the scene , and a familiar figure stepped out . Ogras hadn’t even spotted the gate—they perfectly blended into the mural . Zac took a few steps before turning back , looking at the huge coin as it gradually spun back to its original position . Ogras glanced at the ladder , not too surprised to see no name had been added to the tally .

That bastard had obviously enjoyed some sort of special opportunity .

That’s the boss , alright , - Carl sighed as he got to his feet .

Zac turned away from the Gates of Rebirth and immediately spotted Ogras and Carl walking over . Ogras wasn’t too unexpected , considering he’d been stuck in that place for twelve hours . But why was Carl here?

Hey , - Zac said . - Sorry , I got a bit derailed . -

That’s fine , - Ogras said . - Some scene . At least nothing exploded this time . -

I know , right? - Zac laughed before turning to Carl . - Welcome back to Earth . Good job out there . -

Thank you , lord , - Carl said with a small bow , glancing at Ogras , who shrugged and summoned a swirl of shadows around them .

As you’ve heard . I have attained the first piece of a Seal of the Radiant Court . I was hoping you’d allow me to join the command group and the excursion in the future . As such , I’d appreciate any clues as to where I can get the missing pieces of my seal . -

Uh , of course , - Zac said . - I don’t have any solutions right now , but you might want to check the Ensolus Ruins , just in case . The seals are connected to the war . We’ll all have to fill out our seals there . -

Carl nodded . - I understand . Then I shall start preparing . Have a good day . -

With that , he walked toward the teleporter with a straight back , slightly nodding at a few soldiers who came up to greet him .

I thought I’d have to bribe that guy to join , - Zac muttered . - Guess he grew a lot during your outing . -

Something like that , - Ogras laughed .

I’m sorry about the commotion , - Zac said to the guards waiting in the distance .

He was about to head back to Earth , but suddenly turned back toward the public .

Add a new warning to the trial . No one should attempt the Sixth Layer without having 500 Effective Luck . Less than five people in the Atwood Empire have the strength to break through without providence on their side , and they should know who they are . -

We will immediately add it to the missives , - the guard assured .

Zac nodded , and he and Ogras walked away .

You remember the situation inside? - Ogras said curiously .

I do , - Zac said . - For a moment , I thought I’d lose it , but after passing both trials , I got it back . -

So? What’s with the Luck? - Ogras asked .

Zac thought about it for a while before simply explaining . He hadn’t decided whether to also divulge the details yet to the wider population . Zac wasn’t sure if doing so would do more harm than good . Some people would overestimate themselves after reading about the challenges , pushing farther than they should .

At the same time , the first five layers didn’t have any special traps or pathbreaking elements . They provided a comprehensive challenge , testing everything from your Dao to intangible things like determination and Dao Heart . Furthermore , all of the trials could be overcome with raw strength if need be .

Providence , huh? Well , like you say . Should be possible to force it , - Ogras muttered before looking at Zac suspiciously . - That’s not the whole story , though , is it? Don’t tell me you just passed the normal way . -

Well , turned out there’s a secret seventh layer . - Zac smiled as Ogras groaned with disgust . - But that one has extremely specific requirements to survive . They require the Daos of Life and Death , but they’re inverted from the rest of the trials . -

Inverted? - Ogras frowned . - So , you’d need a Dao of Death in the Gate of Life? -

Exactly , - Zac nodded .

Sounds like a death trap . Any Revenant who even had a shadow of a chance of reaching the last layers would obviously pick the Gate of Death because it seems more suitable from all the experiments , - Ogras said before looking at Zac with a scrunched-up face .

What? - Zac said .

I just felt it’s nice to see some things stay the same with all the crazy things going on , - Ogras said with a shake of his head . - It sounds like the Ruthless Heaven created that trial just for you , huh? -

I don’t know about that , - Zac said . - As you saw , I think the trial was made to train monks . An extremely powerful cultivator might also pass it , provided they have the right Daos . -

What about me? - Ogras asked . - You think I could brute force the hidden layer? -

Impossible , - Zac said without hesitation . - It’s a trial requiring Life or Death . Anything else is useless . -

That’s just great , - Ogras muttered . - Well , I guess the Sixth Layer title is better than nothing . -

Better than nothing? - Zac scoffed . - 6% to two attributes for a total of 12% boost is right up there with any of the top titles available in Zecia . -

Then what did you get? - Ogras asked curiously , and his face collapsed upon seeing a smile appear on Zac’s face . - No , never mind . Don’t tell me . -

Zac laughed . - You sure? It’s a good one . -

Spare me , great lord , - Ogras said with a roll of his eyes .

Zac grinned , but he still opened his Status Screen to marvel at his latest gains .

Name : Zachary Atwood

Level 150

Class : E-Epic] Edge of Arcadia

Race : D] Human - Void Emperor (Corrupted)

Alignment : Zecia] Atwood Empire – Baron of Conquest

Titles : Blooddrenched Baron , Connate Conqueror , The Second Step , Singular Specialist , Apex Attainment

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

Dao : Branch of the War Axe – Middle , Branch of the Kalpataru – Middle , Branch of the Pale Seal – Middle

Core : E] Duplicity

Strength : 29 , 272 Increase : 149% . Efficiency : 319%]

Dexterity : 13 , 005 Increase : 106% . Efficiency : 222%]

Endurance : 24 , 578 Increase : 140% . Efficiency : 319%]

Vitality : 22 , 853 Increase : 138% . Efficiency : 319%]

Intelligence : 3 , 920 Increase : 100% . Efficiency : 222%]

Wisdom : 8 , 646 Increase : 107% . Efficiency : 234%]

Luck : 721 Increase : 124% . Efficiency : 248%]

Free Points 0

Nexus Coins : D] 9 , 491 , 406

For so long , his attributes had barely moved , except for the small amount of flat attributes his Body Tempering provided . But the years of accumulation set the foundation for a massive leap forward . As expected , a well of Death awaited him in the heart of the maze engraved with the truths of Life , which led to a chain reaction of benefits .

Branch of the Pale Seal (Middle) : All attributes +50 , Strength +750 , Endurance +4750 , Vitality +1500 , Intelligence +50 , Wisdom +450 . Effectiveness of Endurance +25%

The attributes of his Branch of the Pale Seal perfectly matched those of Kalpataru , just like when the Dao Branches were at Early Mastery . Together , the two provided another huge boost to his survivability . Of course , that wasn’t the end of it . It was , after all , a trial .

Gates of Rebirth : Conquer the Gates of Rebirth . Reward : All Attributes +3% , Strength , Vitality , Endurance +7% . Effect of Strength , Vitality , Endurance +3%

Passing both sides of the Gates of Rebirth resulted in a similar situation to his experience in the Havenfort Chasm . But since the difficulty and requirements were far greater in the Gates of Rebirth , the gains were noticeably better . First , the two titles had been fused into one , giving +7% to three attributes instead of two . On top of that , it both added a boost to all attributes and a small push to Attribute Effectiveness .

The title was more than twice as strong as his other - normal’ Limited Titles , such as Heart of Fire and Big Axe Gladiator . Unfortunately , the challenge wasn’t enough for the System to provide him with Title Permanence , which forced him to give up his Heart of Fire title .

Having to give up a title to retain the new one made the boost a bit smaller than a real title . However , it still pushed him just past 100 , 000 attribute points without relying on Forester’s Constitution] , which gave him a title he’d lacked before .

Apex Attainment : Reach 100 , 000 Attribute Points before reaching D-grade . Reward : Effect of Attributes +8%]

It was the third Apex title he’d received , after Apex Hunter and Apex Progenitor . Unfortunately , the title only provided 8% instead of 10% like the others , most likely because he didn’t get the equivalent title while still in the F-grade . Zac could probably get a redo token and fix the title in the future , but it wasn’t a high-priority matter .

Looking at his attributes , Zac couldn’t help but marvel at his progress . Half a day and his attribute pool increased by almost 25% while his effective combat strength had improved even further . If he met Uona today , he was confident he’d be able to defeat her without relying on the Remnants or his bloodline .

The attribute limits of having a D-grade race were between 40 , 000 and 50 , 000 , depending on your body’s potential . When Zac broke through to E-grade , he’d thought it crazy high and unattainable . Clearly , he underestimated the compounding gains of elite E-grade cultivators . Had he followed a simpler path with three Strength-based Dao Branches , he’d probably have hit the limit already .

Zac closed the screen , turning to Ogras . - Talked with Vikram yet? -

I could kiss that man , - Ogras laughed , his scrunched-up face blooming into a radiant smile . - I’m richer than the whole Azh’Rezak Clan . -

Everything was either on or ahead of schedule , mostly thanks to the shocking amount of wealth his shipwright business brought in . Between his trade agreements and Calrin gradually selling off the excess resources he gathered before returning to Earth , Zac’s private fortune had already ballooned to almost 10 C-grade Nexus Coins .

If you included his remaining resources , treasures , and Cosmic Vessels , his actual net worth was almost triple that number . And he was still making money hand and foot , even if he spent exorbitantly to shore up the foundations of his soldiers . Every week , thousands of D-grade Nexus Coins poured into his coffer thanks to Calrin’s agreement with the Allbright Dynasty .

Speaking of , you’re still not heading home? - Zac asked . - Even if you’ve lost your teleportation access , I can still teleport you to the border towns . Shouldn’t be difficult for you to find a porter to send you over . -

No . Not yet , at least , - Ogras said after some thought . - Still don’t know whether I want to kill or help my cousins . -

Alright . - Zac nodded . - But it’s fine if you want to bring your grandpa over . -

The only way I’d get the old coot to come here would be if I stuffed him in a burlap sack , - Ogras guffawed . - But I still want to see the old man . Hopefully , he didn’t get too much flak for the failed Incursion . After all , we were pitted against the crazy Deviant Asura . -

I was no asura back then , - Zac snorted . - You guys were just disorganized . -

I had to keep up pretenses , you know , - Ogras winked . - So , Million Gates Territory? -

Not sure what I should do about Jaol , - Zac sighed . - He’s seen both my identities . I never expected to see him again , even after realizing the trial was happening in the real world . Even if I go with a disguise , he’ll eventually find out about me one way or another as long as we bring him back . -

How about this? - Ogras said . - The guy isn’t even Peak E-grade yet . There’s some sort of issue with his metallic body parts . You can sign a contract with him and keep him contained on Ensolus . In return , you’ll figure out how to fix his issue . -

Easier said than done , - Zac muttered . - Not like my ancestry gives me any inborn knowledge of Technocrat parts . -

Seemed to have for your sister , - Ogras said pointedly but lifted his hands in surrender upon receiving a glare . - Whatever , guess she got the smarts in the family . But you don’t need the know-how to help him . You just need wealth . -

How so? -

The more levels he gains , the worse his components work . According to him , he either needs to upgrade his components or swap back to a fleshy body . The former is definitely impossible now that he’s been hauled deep into Zecia , but the latter should work . Either find a Transcender heritage for him or cut out the metal parts and provide some body-restoring treasures and skilled healers . -

That could work , - Zac said .

If that was all , Zac only needed to knock the guy out and infuse him with some Creation Energy . It was faster than any Healing Treasure , and he still had enough Longevity Treasures on hand to not waste any more lifespan than the spark needed to start the process . Someone like Jaol shouldn’t require too much energy , either .

Someone like him , with a physical class , high attributes , and now an attunement , would require far more to recover his organs . According to the small experiments he’d performed over the past years when forced to exhaust some of his pent-up energy , it would take about three times as much energy today compared to when he was stuck at the bottom of the Twilight Chasm .

Let’s go get the guy . -

Go get him yourself . Since I’m here , I’ll snatch a title myself before dealing with the inheritance , - Ogras said .

Enjoy yourself , - Zac waved . - Remember , don’t enter the seventh even if the trial presents you with the opportunity . It’ll get you killed . -

I know , I know , - Ogras muttered , and the two split up .

An hour later , Zac stepped into the guarded compound on Crimson Edge , immediately spotting a few familiar faces . He smiled and waved , though he had to admit his mind was elsewhere . Everything was finally dealt with . The blueprint , his Daos , his foundations . His followers knew what they were doing , and the war preparations were all-but-complete . Nothing was holding him back .

The moment he got word from Catheya , he’d activate the token and leave for the Perennial Vastness .

77

REUNIONS AND DEPARTURES

A spiritual nudge dragged Zac out of his thoughts , and he looked up to see Vilari walk over .

It’s nice to see you again , - Zac said , and he felt an odd yet comforting sensation as a consciousness wrapped itself around him in a spiritual embrace .

Likewise , - Vilari smiled , stopping in front of him . - I’ve missed home . -

Things have changed a lot since you left , - Zac said . - The undead population has quintupled . Pika and her husband are working in the Atwood Academy , overseeing the undead students . -

It’s really happening , - Vilari hummed , looking up at Zac . - Thank you . -

Of course , - Zac said . - You had the right idea from the beginning . -

Vilari nodded before looking Zac up and down . - Your current aura is shocking . -

It’s just a bit unstable after a couple of breakthroughs , - Zac explained . - I had planned on bragging about my Soul Improvements when you returned . But it looks like you’ve made even greater improvements somehow . -

I’ve encountered a few opportunities of my own , - Vilari said .

I heard you found your piece early? -

I was lucky , - Vilari said , her smile widening . - It allowed me to finally resolve the matter of my bloodline . My cultivation speed will drastically increase going forward . -

Zac whistled . - That’s amazing . -

Vilari’s bloodline was one of the most powerful he’d seen , but the previous owner of her body likely came from the central regions of the Multiverse . Like his own bloodline , it proved incredibly hard to rekindle no matter which method they’d procured over the years . That , in turn , led to Vilari being unable to awaken and utilize her soul-based bloodline .

No wonder her soul felt so powerful . If he could get another Moss Crystal from Mossy , Vilari would be ready to evolve into Hegemony sooner . Zac almost shuddered at the thought of an elite Mentalist with an incredibly refined soul and a Soul-related bloodline in a place like Zecia . She’d be a one-woman army .

Let’s catch up more later , - Zac said . - For now , let’s deal with the Technocrat . -

Of course , this way . -

Zac stepped into a guarded building , and a wry smile spread across his face as he saw the familiar figure toiling over a workbench . It didn’t look like a blueprint or a schematic for some machine but rather a genealogical study . Jaol looked up when Zac entered , their eyes locking .

Long time no see , - Zac said , not finding any better words after meeting the person whose fate he’d so utterly derailed .

Wh— - Jaol froze , his mechanical eyes slowly widening in alarm and rage . - YOU—BASTARD! -

Zac didn’t have a chance to say anything else before the navigator flung himself at him , seemingly trying to claw his eyes out . Of course , it was fool’s hope , and Vivi bound him before he even got close .

I heard you’ve had a bit of a rough go at it the past years , - Zac sighed . - I’m sorry about that . -

A bit of a rough go! - Jaol screamed while desperately trying to break free from Vivi’s entanglement . - You blew up my place of work , which was also my home! You then framed me and pushed some of the blame on me , even though I was a hostage . I’ve been hounded and hunted for over a decade . The moment I go back , I’ll get executed! -

That framing bit was to get you off the ship , - Zac said as he sat down . - If I didn’t , you’d be dead now . -

I would have flown right back into the explosion if I knew I’d end up in your hands after all these years of suffering . -

Don’t say that . We worked quite well together the last time , - Zac said . - Either case , things have reached this point . You have to admit , the odds of us running into each other again are essentially zero . Fate’s at play here . So let’s talk about your future in Zecia and the Left Imperial Palace . -

Zac stepped out of the compound an hour later , a hooded Jaol by his side . A contract had been signed , and he’d gained another follower for his journey into Ultom . Jaol was surprisingly agreeable upon hearing that more than ten people of his faction would go . Then again , it made sense . Jaol wasn’t even a Hegemon and had a non-combat profession at that .

Even if he wanted the opportunities inside , he neither had the means to get the other pieces of the seal nor the confidence to enter alone . He was probably planning on using Zac and his people as meat shields while looking for treasure or more bursts of insight . For now , Zac could live with that kind of attitude . He did ultimately owe Jaol one .

Perhaps even more important than getting a second Plainswalker of Ultom , Zac gained a navigator who knew more about the Endless Storm than anyone in Zecia—something that might prove vital for his distant goal of reaching the Six Profundity Empire . The most promising method was finding a gateway , possibly the same as the one Leandra used , that would take him to that section of the Multiverse . Going blindly would be incredibly dangerous and akin to finding a needle in a haystack .

Of course , Zac would wait a bit before informing Jaol they would be setting out on that kind of adventure in the future .

Jaol wasn’t surprised by Zac’s ability to use Creation when he explained his offer . In contrast , Jaol was quite pleased , though he didn’t want to be reformed just yet . Turns out the navigator was working on a Transcender path on his own , researching various eyes and bloodlines to incorporate into his body .

Since Zac couldn’t create something he couldn’t understand or imagine , Jaol wanted to first gather samples for Zac to analyze . That was fine by Zac , though it meant Jaol would have to wait until he returned from Perennial Vastness to get his new body parts . That was a good safety measure since Jaol was now bound by the System’s contract .

Zac wasn’t worried about Jaol causing any troubles with the Neural Network either . Because of Kenzie , he’d already invested heavily in blocking out any Technocrat Signals . It was more than enough to deal with a low-grade navigator from a weak corporation like the Little Bean’s owners . More to the point , Jaol had a terrifying bounty on his head because of him .

It was no doubt the result of him flashing Leandra’s command token . The exact details of his and Jeeves’ birth were a bit blurry , but it seemed like many powerful Technocrat factions had betrayed the Kayar-Elu after the System weakened them . Now , they were looking for Jeeves , hoping to use it to create the Machine God .

Of course , Jaol didn’t know all that . He’d just thought some bigshot had sent Zac onboard Little Bean , and the Technocrats wanted to find this person . In a sense , it was half-correct , except Leandra had nothing to do with his heist of the Shard of Creation .

After learning it was part of a mission of the Tower of Eternity rather than some conspiracy , Jaol’s anger mollified somewhat . The Technocrat’s inborn disdain for the System allowed Zac to place all the blame on it , hopefully making their cooperation easier going forward .

Zac shuttled Jaol back to Earth while the rest of the elites of Ogras’ mission resumed their roles in the Atwood Empire . There was still a year left before the war officially started , according to the Void Priestess . But there were no guarantees . The main thing that held the Kan’Tanu back was that the Space Gate wasn’t stable enough to shuttle through Monarchs .

The moment they could send a real Vanguard , they’d likely start trying to conquer planets to create beachheads . By that point , the System might just go ahead and erect the War Platforms across the two sectors .

With all the elites returned and the situation clearer , Zac spent the next two weeks in a series of meetings to make final decisions . Some meetings were with the core members of his faction , while others were large war councils joined by both the experts he’d hired and visiting consultants of the Allbright Empire .

The consensus was unanimous—the number of resources spent on low-grade warriors was far beyond what any D-grade force in Zecia could stomach . Unfortunately , there were limits to how far Nexus Coins could take a faction . Money didn’t breed elites , and killing random beasts on his planets or their moons wasn’t enough of a challenge to temper an army .

True warriors could only be forged on the battlefield . Zac prayed his preparations would keep the initial losses at a minimum .

Ogras didn’t participate in the meetings , instead opting to enter the heritage of the Umbra , riding on the success of becoming the first official name on the Sixth Layer of the Gates of Rebirth . The demon emerged five days later , some nasty wounds filled with the Dao of Shadows covering his body . However , by his happy look , he’d accomplished what he set out for .

Zac also spent some time every morning teaching Emily . He mainly focused on helping her find a direction and stabilize the fundamentals of her technique . That way , she could continue progressing after he left for the Perennial Vastness .

After a few days , Joanna also joined . Zac was relieved to see that some time to stabilize her heart had borne fruit . The franticness was gone , replaced by a steady calm . Her aura made Zac think of a veteran army—steadfast and precise like a well-oiled machine . It was very different from Zac’s chaotic path for the Dao of Conflict , and most likely better suited to lead armies . Hopefully , that temperance would be the key to cinching a seal of her own .

Two more weeks passed like this until the day Zac had waited for arrived . A report from Vikram confirmed a Communication Crystal and a Spatial Ring had been sent over from the Undead Empire , and Zac soon had the delivery on his table . Zac called Ogras over before sinking his consciousness into the crystal .

He’d hoped for a confirmation from Catheya that it was time to go . Instead , he heard the voice of Laz Tem’Zul . And the more he heard , the deeper his brows furrowed . The shadows congealed a few minutes later , and a grinning Ogras appeared in front of him .

It’s finally time? -

Zac only shook his head with exhaustion .

What is it? - Ogras asked . - What happened? -

Listen to this , - Zac muttered as he activated the Communication Crystal again .

Young master Umbri’Zi , we hope this message finds you well . With the date of your ascension coming close , we wanted to send a short message of well-wishes and a few items that may prove useful inside the Perennial Vastness , ’ Laz began .

What followed was a long , detailed list of the ways their agreements and preparations had progressed , proving the Undead Empire had gone above and beyond keeping their end of the bargain . It almost sounded like the Draugr Monarch was gearing up to complain about something , but the topic changed to another direction .

As you head into the Perennial Vastness , I hope you will remember that there are as many truths as there are viewpoints . Nothing is black or white or necessarily what it seems , and you’ll see more if keeping an open mind . The Undead Empire is sincere in their desire for cooperation and welcomes you with the highest honors to the Abyssal Shores in the future . ’

A few more cryptic lines about misunderstandings and friendship followed , along with the customary invitation to meet in person to discuss further .

Well , that’s not great , - Ogras grunted .

What do you think? -

Something must have gone wrong , - the demon said .

Why would they frame it like I shouldn’t believe any rumors that come my way? What should I keep an open mind over? - Zac muttered .

Still haven’t heard from Catheya? - Ogras asked .

You think it’s about her as well , huh? - Zac frowned . - You don’t think she’s . - ?

Unlikely , - Ogras said after some thought . - I feel it’s more likely she’ll be the source of whatever new information they don’t want you to listen to . This reeks of internal politics . -

You think they’d put such things aside when it comes to a matter as important as the pillar , - Zac muttered .

It’s during these kinds of times , in particular , they can’t give up on the internal struggle . Something like a Pillar of the System will completely upend the power dynamic of whatever faction ends up with the prize . If the clans don’t position themselves properly ahead of time , they might find their achievements and struggle result in their doom . -

So , what should I do? - Zac asked . - This is outside my wheelhouse . -

Depends on what your goal is , - Ogras said .

First of all , I want to ensure Catheya’s safety . And unless necessary , I don’t want to rock the boat with our agreements , - Zac said . - The Undead Empire is the guarantor for the long-term plans of the Atwood Empire . Without their support , we might not have even managed to sell our Cosmic Vessels . -

It wasn’t an exaggeration . Calrin had almost been thrown into the brig because of scheming from certain Mercantile Clans . At first , Zac planned to use Alvod Jondir’s name to slap away any such conspiracies . The Allbright Empire was an external subsidiary force of the Radiant Temple , so Zac figured they’d know a bit about the situation and back down .

At the same time , Alvod would likely stay in seclusion for centuries , perhaps millennia . He barely managed to break through while simultaneously fighting off multiple factions , including an actual Autarch . It was a miracle he managed to survive , let alone break through . By the time he emerged , the matter would be long forgotten , and it wasn’t like a subsidiary force like the Radiant Temple would dare inquire with him even if they remembered .

But it turned out his gambit was unnecessary . The Undead Empire had already made some moves on his behalf . Casses Allbright , the third Prince of the Empire , had been sent into the Million Gates Territory to investigate a huge and sudden presence of undead cultivators . It was there he’d met , or rather had been captured by , the Imperial Monarchs .

Instead of a forceful conversion , it had turned into the first diplomatic meeting between the Zecian forces and the Undead Empire . And Casses had flown right back from that meeting to quickly accept a most generous agreement with the Thayer Consortia .

In fact , Zac could have increased his earnings tenfold if not for the production limit . After getting a chance to prove their wares , the Creator series had become quite popular on their own merit , and each War Fortress wanted at least a hundred . The ship’s unique technology was an incredibly useful tool that could turn the tide of war . What were some C-grade Nexus Coins in the face of that?

The factions on the frontier obviously couldn’t compare to the real behemoths of the Multiverse Heartlands , but they were still established dynasties with millions of years of history , powerful backing , and trillions of citizens . Even the innumerable F-grade cultivators could help fill the war coffers by killing beasts , getting money from the System , and selling anything worth Nexus Coins at the System-run stores .

If you want to retain the status quo , send an equally vague letter back , - Ogras said . - Something along the lines that you’re happy with how things progressed through Catheya’s hard efforts . That you’re looking forward to seeing her in the Perennial Vastness or something . -

Zac agreed , and they spent the next hour crafting an ambiguous message to send back to the Undead Empire . As for the items in the Spatial Ring , they were top-quality core formation treasures . Zac wasn’t sure if he’d dare use them after how they tampered with the Essence of the Abyss] , but he could perhaps sell them to a cultivator in the Perennial Vastness .

What do you want to do? - Ogras asked after things were dealt with . - If you ask me , I think the Draugr lass has already entered . That’s why they were forced to send that message rather than just catch her . -

I think so , too , - Zac said . - Which means she might already have been inside for weeks , with the time dilation . Are you ready to go? -

Been ready for a while now , - Ogras grinned .

Give me one hour , - Zac said , then he sent out a series of messages through his communication device .

The core of his faction already knew he was leaving to form his core , so a flood of well-wishes entered his Communication Crystal over the next hour . Joanna , Vilari , and Emily visited as well .

Good luck , - Emily said . - Come back sooner , this time , alright? -

I’ll try . - Zac smiled , and turned to Joanna and Vilari . - In case the war starts without me . . . -

We’ll hold the fort , - Joanna confirmed . - Don’t worry about Earth and its people . You have done more than enough already . It’s time for us to prove ourselves worthy of your nurturing . -

Just remember , survival comes first . I don’t need some small-scale victories if it means mountains of dead . -

Finally , he turned to Ogras , both of them holding their tokens . - You ready? -

The demon’s grin widened . - Time for the Deviant Asura to create another scene . May the Heavens have mercy on the Perennial Vastness . -

Defiance of the Fall will continue in BOOK TWELVE!

DEFIANCE OF THE FALL 12

1

NULL

Zac’s excitement was mirrored in Ogras’ face as they held their Perennial Vastness Tokens . The ticket to Hegemony . Things were different this time compared to the hasty ascent into E-grade . His foundations were as stable as bedrock thanks to the Twilight Ascent and the Orom World , and he’d found the path forward in the Void Star and Ultom’s impartments . Finally , the Perennial Vastness would provide the stage needed for a perfect breakthrough .

A unique realm that attracted elites from all across the Multiverse was bound to have deep undercurrents , but Zac didn’t mind . In fact , he welcomed it . He’d spent the past five years in secluded cultivation , three of which were in an isolated Time Chamber . Conquering the Gates of Rebirth , cinching a Limited Title while upgrading his techniques and Daos , had only whetted his appetite for adventure .

There was nothing else to say , so Zac infused his energy into the token . A deep hum , like the shifting of tectonic plates filled Zac’s ears as a series of runes sprouted around him . A storm of Cosmic Energy gathered above , almost covering the whole compound . It raged and roiled , and only got worse when Ogras activated his token . Almost as though the sky were trying to eat itself .

Zac hadn’t expected such a scene from activating the token , and he shared a look with Ogras .

See you on the other side , - the demon said before disappearing .

Zac said a final goodbye to Joanna , Vilari , and Emily , then rushed in the opposite direction before the token whisked him away . He stopped at the edge of his compound and nodded in satisfaction upon seeing that the storm had stabilized and split into two . It was just a precautionary measure to ensure there wasn’t any interference or issues with the teleportation .

The runes being conjured by the token grew more numerous by the second . They soon attached themselves to his body , forming a cocoon . Then , a slit in space appeared below him . It wasn’t some random spatial tear . It was lined with incredibly complex golden runes , far surpassing the patterns on any teleportation array he’d seen . Zac didn’t get the chance to make any sense of them before dropping inside , and he soon found himself launched through the Void of Space .

The experience was completely different from using the teleportation arrays . There was a palpable sense of speed even in the Void . Zac suspected he was traveling hundreds , if not thousands , of times faster than when he was teleported with the standard arrays provided by the System in the Zecia Sector .

It was a relief , though it left Zac confused . He’d expected the System to perform one of its instant teleportations to send him to the Perennial Vastness , like when he visited the Hunt or the Tower of Eternity . Instead , he shuttled at a speed beyond light for roughly thirty minutes until light bloomed in the endless darkness .

A magic circle?

Was it something the token had conjured for him? No , if it had , why wait for half an hour? Besides , it was simply huge , at least the size of a planet , and it radiated such incredibly dense spatial fluctuations that the Void was pushed back . Something like that couldn’t possibly be contained in his little token .

The runes on his body flickered , and Zac looked on with interest as a wheel turned in the middle of the circle . It almost looked like the gear on a bank vault , but the circle didn’t open like a door . Instead , a small vortex , not much larger than Zac’s cocoon , appeared in front of him , and he shot through .

Zac didn’t know exactly what just happened , but he believed it was one of those shortcuts Iz had mentioned . Looking back , he saw either the same or another magic circle shrink in the distance as he continued on his way . A similar scene happened twice more over the next two hours , until an identical golden ring lit up at his feet .

The next moment , the frantic movement was gone , and Zac found himself floating in endless darkness . It wasn’t the Void , but rather a proper dimension that didn’t try to rip him apart . He wasn’t sure what was going on , but the token he’d held onto lit up , and a simple screen appeared in front of him .

Please Wait]

Zac waited for another ten minutes , when a vast presence descended upon him . It was like receiving the attention of the System or the Old Heavens , yet there wasn’t the cold indifference of the former or the wrath of the latter . Instead , it was a calm ocean , almost soothing and welcoming .

That consciousness spread through him , and he didn’t try to fight it . For one , he knew there was no way he could , even if he wanted . Not even Mossy could compare to this presence . Secondly , most of his secrets would be exposed when coming here one way or another . After all , he would potentially have to spend years forming his core , continuously swapping between his races .

What did it matter if his secrets were exposed now or later?

There was no other way . His chances of reaching Hegemony weren’t great , even with the Light of Ultom creating an amazing core blueprint . Actually building it was simply too complicated , and he was just a mortal . Even if he somehow succeeded in breaking through back home , he’d probably waste years in the process and end up with a Low-quality core at best .

By that point , the struggle inside Ultom might already have started , and he would have completely missed any chance at catching up with the elites who would enter .

The Perennial Vastness was his only shot at properly breaking through , forming a powerful enough foundation to burst forth to the Peak Middle D-grade . At that point , he believed he’d be able to deal with almost any frontier Hegemon , which would be an important lifeline for Earth .

So , he watched on , fighting his instincts as he let himself get scanned , including his Specialty Core . Leandra’s shrouding array was active , but the presence saw right through it . Leandra had said it would work against most Autarchs , proving just how powerful this presence was .

The scan didn’t linger too long on his Duplicity Core , though . It moved on after just a few seconds , leaving Zac with mixed emotions . Part of him just wanted to scream , - Take a good look at the core! Isn’t it amazing?’ now that someone could finally see it . It was so powerful it was almost a cheat , and Zac had almost expected the owner of the Perennial Vastness to appear in front of him .

Yet , the presence seemed to deem it not very interesting . It spent twice the time looking at the constellation of Soul Cores dancing around in his Soul Aperture . Ten seconds later , both tendril and presence were gone , leaving Zac alone in the emptiness of space . The screen telling him to please wait appeared once more until the darkness cracked .

Welcome! - a bubbly voice said as the world was filled with color . - Welcome to the Perennial Vastness! -

Uh , thanks , - Zac said as he looked around with confusion . - What’s going on? -

Zac didn’t know what he’d expected of the Perennial Vastness , but it wasn’t this . The name conjured images of endless plains or oceans stretching toward the horizons . Neither matched reality . Instead , Zac floated in the middle of a swarm of cosmic fireflies , thousands of them all around him . Everything was hazy , making it impossible to know whether the lights were the size of a person or if they were distant stars .

Some things are being prepared for your arrival , so you will have to wait a bit , - the voice answered . - You can consider this the orientation . -

Alright , - Zac said , hesitant . - And who are you? -

Isn’t it polite to introduce yourself first? -

The voice was a bit childish and mischievous , making Zac think of Emily when she was still a teenager .

I’m Zac , - Zac said , not bothering to come up with another pseudonym .

From what Zac had gathered , the compulsions that guarded the secrets of the Perennial Vastness were extremely thorough . The whole visit was subject to a confidentiality clause enforced by the System and empowered by whoever ran this place . Zac wouldn’t even be able to discuss things with Ogras afterward , apart from the cultivation aspects and his gains .

Not even the Undead Empire elites knew what was happening inside . Any attempts at breaking the restriction ended with the whole visit to the Perennial Vastness being wiped out—including your memories of your Core Formation and other gains . An A-grade Eidolon had tried to uncover the secrets without success , proving just how exquisite the seal was .

The Monarchs of the Undead Empire might have been holding back on him , but Zac doubted it . This place had been around for hundreds of millions of years , yet not a single piece of tangible information had spread . It was safe to say that most things happening here wouldn’t leave the trial . As such , he’d decided not to be overly secretive , especially considering he’d be forced to showcase his two forms .

Just as importantly , Zac was tired of running around taking on fake identities , hiding who he was while fearfully looking over his shoulder . That kind of behavior completely clashed with his path . In a sense , the Perennial Vastness was the perfect place to gauge the reactions from people all across the Multiverse as he showed more of his true self .

Of course , only an idiot would flaunt all their secrets for anyone to see , but there had to be a middle ground between paranoia and carelessness . While Zac wouldn’t share his full name , he could at least go by Zac . He’d also modified his appearance so that no one could easily connect his identity to Zachary Atwood of the Zecia Sector .

Zac , huh? You’re kind of a weirdo , Zac of the frontier , - the voice giggled . - Then again , I shouldn’t complain . I wouldn’t have been born if you hadn’t been a weirdo . Hum , since you’re so weird , what should I call myself? Alright , you can call me Null . -

Null , - Zac asked with confusion . - What does that have to do with me? -

Look around you , - Null said . - See all those lights? -

Of course . -

Some of those are guests like you waiting to be sent down , others are visitors entering the Perennial Vastness for other reasons . The lights are guides such as myself . Normally , we’re sent to guide guests with matching affinities . -

Oh , - Zac said with a wry smile upon realizing there was no light around him .

Exactly , - Null laughed . - The boss had to specially create me since you’re a weirdo with no affinities . Don’t worry , though . I have been imparted with all the knowledge I need . I won’t be any worse than the others . Perhaps even better since I was handcrafted . -

Can I ask who the boss is? - Zac asked .

Huh? It’s the Perennial Vastness , of course . -

I know , but who owns it? -

No one . The Perennial Vastness is the Perennial Vastness . -

The world itself is sapient? - Zac said with surprise .

Something like that . It’s beyond me , but the lines get blurred at the top . Either case , it’s the Perennial Vastness that’s reached an agreement with the System , and it’s the one who sends tokens into the universe . -

Can I ask why? -

Isn’t it a bit late for that after already coming all this way? - Null snickered .

Humor me , - Zac smiled , feeling no animosity from the odd guide .

Simply put , your cultivation system is imperfect because the Dao is yet imperfect . But with every generation , the Heavens mend and evolve , and the paths of cultivation evolve with it . Furthermore , this recovery process can be sped up , and the boss is one of the System’s helpers . And you , in turn , are helping the boss with his task . In a sense . -

Zac exhaled , putting two and two together . If what Null said was true , it was no wonder no faction had claimed this place , even if it was a top-tier Immemorial Realm or a Primal Heaven—something that would attract even A-grade factions . Trying to snatch it was to steal from the System , and few were foolish enough to do something like that .

And even if they dared , did they have the strength to do so? The System alone was enough of a deterrent , but the World Core was most likely monstrously powerful on its own . If the World Core had evolved to the point it could freely control the energy of its realm like a cultivator , it could absolutely steamroll any cultivator .

So , it was like that , - Zac muttered , feeling more confident about his plans . - Are you here to help me during this trial? Like a Tutorial Pixie? -

Yeah , that’s a good analogy—a Tutorial Pixie , like on the outside . I’ll be your guide and administrator until you leave . If you do good , my life will get upgraded . If not , I’ll die . -

What? - Zac blurted . - What’s up with those rules? -

I don’t know , I was just born , - Null said . - My memories tell me that some of us prefer to hide it and then tell it later after we’ve bonded to get a better effect . But why not tell you from the start? In either case , let’s work hard at creating your core . I’ll do my best to guide you in the Perennial Vastness . You just focus on cultivation . -

Just to be clear , will anyone find out about my actions in here? - Zac asked .

You’re planning on creating trouble? - Null giggled . - That’s fine . The Perennial Vastness is neutral , and we will help sever any Karma and remove any tracking marks before you leave . Of course , even if the other guests can’t talk about you or recall your identity , they’ll certainly remember certain aspects of you . You’ll have to figure out a way to kill them before they leave or bear their grudge .

I’m going a bit ahead of schedule here , but I can add that the boss has covered the whole place in a couple of special arrays . People won’t be able to remember your face or name on the outside . So even if you pass each other on the street , you won’t notice each other . But if you two clash and expose your auras , you’ll be able to tell . -

I understand , - Zac said . - Killing is allowed? -

There are some rules and restrictions , but essentially yes . Struggle is Heaven’s Law , - Null said .

As expected , you couldn’t just seclude yourself for a couple of years and form your core without a care in the world . Even then , Zac wasn’t planning on staying low-key . Trying to stay unnoticed might just end with him not getting the resources he needed to form his incredibly complicated Cosmic Core .

Furthermore , this trial wasn’t like the Twilight Ocean . There weren’t any old monsters around who could turn him into ash with a look . Secondly , he wasn’t the same person as he was back then . He’d entered the Twilight Ascent as a Middle E-grade cultivator with mostly F-grade skills , imperfect techniques , and Dao Fragments rather than Dao Branches .

By this point , almost all of his skills were already pushed to E-grade Peak-mastery , he had three Middle-stage Dao Branches , and his Combat Technique was already at Middle Integration . Even if he couldn’t guarantee he was the strongest participant here , he was definitely up there . This was doubly true when you considered that many peak factions , like Iz’s family , had their own unique methods of forming Cosmic Cores . Iz could obviously get her hands on a Perennial Vastness Token if she wanted it , but she had no interest or need to go to a place like this .

He was at the top of the food chain , and most of his actions here would be sealed away . So why shy away from taking what he needed to succeed in his breakthrough? Even if he had created a blueprint after years of work , only half the battle was won . And nothing came for free in the Multiverse . Why would the Perennial Vastness be any different?

He would have to be both ruthless and shameless to snatch as many benefits as possible .

You have the aura of a bloody conqueror , - Null said , but there was no reproach in her voice . - That’s good . I think I’ll be one of the survivors . But don’t get ahead of yourself . It’s not a completely lawless place . Are you ready for the tour? -

Absolutely , - Zac said , inwardly relieved that his unique constitution hadn’t elicited much of a reaction except getting a tailor-made guide .

Zac hadn’t gained much from the Undead Empire regarding the Perennial Vastness over the past years . If there were any factions with an inside scoop , the Undead Empire wasn’t part of them . Instead , they’d been forced to infer what little they knew . For example , people understood it was a time-dilated trial by measuring the Temporal Energy inside the bodies of those who returned .

According to the delegates from the Undead Empire , the average cultivator seemed to have spent seventeen years in this place , at a temporal ratio of 1 : 10 . Oddly enough , there didn’t appear to be a strong correlation between how good a core the people got and how long they stayed .

In fact , those who stayed the full fifty years generally emerged with suboptimal results . Conversely , there had been many examples of people emerging after just a few years with great cores . That was exactly Zac’s goal , so he could return before the war started in earnest .

Just one question , though . I want to join up with two other guests . Is that possible? -

Of course . Some choose to go at it alone , while others team up . Both are viable options as you fight for Mana . -

Mana? -

That’s right , - Null said as a gate opened in front of Zac . - The next few years of your life will be spent obsessing over Mana . Of how to get it and how to protect what you have . Only with enough Mana can we both reforge our fates . Now , let’s go! -

Roiling clouds shrouded the situation on the other side of the gate , and Zac almost blanked out from the incredibly dense energy that wafted over him .

So far , the Perennial Vastness lived up to its name .

2

A DANGEROUS GAME

The message stopped playing , leaving a pregnant pause in the room .

What a fine mess . - Laz Tem’Zul sighed , the Draugr Monarch’s eyes turning to his ward .

He wasn’t the only one . Everyone’s eyes were on her , expressions ranging from annoyance to bemusement . Furthermore , she’d bet her cultivation that Kator would be grinning ear to ear if the Reavers had expressions to gauge . Tavza took the looks in stride , knowing this day was coming since that little troublemaker absconded .

I admit , I did not expect Catheya Sharva’Zi to do something like this , - Tavza said . - Being the commanding officer on the excursion , I take responsibility for this situation . However , I cannot help but wonder what would bring the child of Zi to do something like this . She had to know this would damage our undertaking . -

Laz nodded in agreement . - It’s ultimately the fault of that willful lass we are in this situation . She knew the stakes yet chose to throw a wrench into the machinery . -

She is willful but loyal to the Empire , - Enis Umbri’Zi frowned . - Without her , we would not be as well positioned as we are , no matter if it’s for the upcoming war or the struggle for the Eternal Heritage . More importantly , she’s not so bored she would run for her life , hijacking a vessel . The surveillance arrays can only give one side of the full picture . She clearly feared for her life . -

Why would I kill her for a seal? The net benefit would be zero , - Tavza rejected . - If anything , it would be a guaranteed loss . Someone chosen naturally will most likely be more useful inside than someone who stole a ticket . And that’s not even including the damage to our cooperation agreement . I was rather thinking of putting her under house arrest for the way she pushed beyond her capabilities , almost getting herself killed in search of personal strength . -

Three years you’ve kept us from communicating with that brat , and this is the fallout , - Toss grunted . - We brought his teacher just to pull him over to our side , yet you wasted our window of opportunity with your nonsense . -

He wouldn’t appear in person for his close friend ; what makes you think he’d show up for Pavina Sorgo? - Laz scoffed .

Either case , we are sending a petition to the Heart . Your handling of this matter has been crude at best , - Toss said . - The Izh’Rak Reavers will be taking charge of this matter . Tavza is powerful , but she doesn’t have leadership experience like Kator . She’s been locked away in her castle all her life , never having been forced to come into contact with the ugliness of the world . -

Leading a bunch of brutes in head-on battles against the Primal Council might not be more useful than my knowledge of ancient arrays . And I have the Abyss on my side , - Tavza calmly said . - Not to mention , he is falling behind . -

I may have one fewer sealbearer , but that was before you lost one , - Kator laughed . - Also , war is our specialty . There’s no way we won’t find more seals than you over the coming years . Besides , my taking charge will alleviate some of the tension with that ally of ours . -

Leadership is up to the Eternal 108 to decide , - Laz calmly said .

It looked like Toss was about to continue arguing , but a gentle knock on the door drew everyone’s attention .

Come , - Toss said , and the door opened .

I am sorry to interrupt , - Tassar said , repeatedly bowing to the trio of Monarchs . - I have the report the lords asked for . -

Anything? - Tavza asked , keeping her face impassive .

Ah , that’s . . . - Tassar hesitated .

Just say your piece , - Laz Tem’Zul said . - Let the truth speak on its own . -

The Kavriel Patriarch nodded , clearly not relishing being forced into the middle of the internal strife that had been escalating over the past years .

We found traces of Kazh Strangleroot] in the vat Miss Sharva’Zi used to recover her wound . Actually , we were lucky the vat was slightly damaged . The compound had already been replaced by untampered medicine , but a small amount of the liquid had leaked inside a gathering tray below . -

Strangleroot? - Tavza said . - Someone placed a hallucinogen inside the tank? Why? -

Well , - Tassar coughed . - It wouldn’t be a hallucinogen at the levels we measured . But if exposed continuously , it would elicit feelings of paranoia , of being watched . Since we found the Strangleroot , we knew what to look for . We also found weak traces of it in a duct leading to Miss Sharva’Zi’s room . -

Someone was dosing that girl? - Tavza frowned .

You’ve been had , child , - Laz sighed , turning an even look at the Reavers .

What? Do the vaunted delegates of the Abyssal Shores have something to say? - Kator laughed .

You? - Tavza frowned . - Guess you’re not just an empty set of bones . -

I don’t like what you’re insinuating , - Kator shrugged . - How is it my fault you have no control over the personnel or your vessel? But this just proves what Brigadier Toss said . You don’t know the cruelties of war , thinking this is an outing with your servants . -

Your stunt may have cost us a potentially useful helper mission , - Tavza said . - Neither of us managed to become a Flamebearer , but he is one . If he won’t help us⁠— -

Where did you get that? - Kator asked , scratching his skull . - Didn’t you hear the guy say how much he enjoyed the cooperation? Might be a bit wary of you guys , though . But that sounds like a Draugr problem rather than an imperial problem . -

This may push him into choosing his dreamer form in the upcoming trial , - Tavza said with a scowl .

What does that have to do with the mission? - Kator countered . - We can just work with him in his dreamer form , no? He still needs our help for his undead subordinates and backing inside that place . Again , not a problem . -

These actions go beyond the scope of the mission . This is harming the foundations of the Abyssal Shores , - Laz said , killing intent leaking out of his body to the point the whole castle shuddered .

However , an opposing aura of boundless bloodthirst rose to match it from Toss , causing tears in space to crop up . Tavza sighed as four runes appeared around her , preventing the ruthless auras from reaching her . Kator simply withstood it with his bones , clearly relishing the conflict .

Please , lords , - Tassar Kavriel entreated . - There are hundreds of thousands of dutiful workers of the Empire caught in your auras . -

Laz snorted , but his aura vanished a moment later .

If the Abyssal Shores have a complaint and the proof to back it up , they are welcome to bring it up through the normal channels , - Toss said when the shakings abated . - Just like how I will put forth that Kator be made the mission leader . -

This isn’t over , - Laz said . - If this costs the Abyssal Shores the Bloodline of Eoz , there will be consequences . -

You can rail against the injustice , but I would be careful pushing too hard , - Toss countered . - After all , it’s not only the Izh’Rak Reavers who are content maintaining the equilibrium . -

Let’s go , - Laz said , walking out of the meeting with Tavza and Enis in tow .

I know Catheya has caused some problems this time , but she’s not a fool , - Enis said . - I’m sure she’ll be able to figure out something was amiss with her situation after getting the medicine out of her system and thinking things over . -

The Strangleroot wouldn’t create new enemies in her mind , - Laz said with a pointed look . - It would only amplify those that were already there . -

Still . The Umbri’Zi is fully committed to helping out in this endeavor , including bringing Arcaz back to the Heartlands . -

If there’s even an Arcaz left by the time he emerges , - Tavza sighed .

That’s . . . - Enis said before sighing and shaking her head . - Let me know if you need my assistance . -

Enis returned to her quarters while Tavza and Laz walked in oppressive silence to their wing of the castle . A few minutes later , they reached a sealed chamber , where Laz released a series of Runeseeker Eyes to look for hidden arrays or spies . He nodded at Tavza , who smiled slightly .

Did you get it? - Tavza asked as she sat down .

Thankfully , Lord Tem’Zul’s outburst allowed me to condense the conversation without being noticed , - Sepravo A’Tem , the stealthy Monarch always shadowing her , nodded as he appeared and handed her a crystal . - I could not get the final exchange , though . Toss would have sensed me dragging the conversation from the past without the interference . -

That’s fine , - Tavza nodded . - What you got is enough for our purpose . Can you bring the two of them out? -

Of course , miss , - Sepravo said .

A Revenant and a dour-looking human appeared in the room . - Greetings , mistress , - both said with a bow .

Your mission is to find Arcaz Umbri’Zi or Catheya Sharva’Zi inside the Perennial Vastness . Give them this recording . Keep a respectful distance , and try not to interfere with their business . Keep watch for agents of the other Divine Races ; I fear they might be planning something similar . -

We will accomplish the mission without fail , - the Revenant said .

Good , - Tavza said before turning to Sepravo . - I’m sorry , but we will have to activate the tokens inside your Inner World to hide the ripples . The wound will heal slowly in this environment . -

It’s a small matter , - Sepravo said . - I will prepare a hole in my aperture to minimize the loss . -

Go , then , - Tavza said . - We don’t know how things work inside . The closer they enter together , the greater their odds of running into each other . -

Then I shall take my leave , - Sepravo bowed then disappeared .

You’re playing a dangerous game , - Laz commented after the Revenant Monarch left . - If you fail , the consequences are huge . Appearing incompetent will be the least of your worries . -

I was left with no options . The status quo couldn’t go on . If not for those spies , I would have been forced to do something on my own and hope to frame Kator , - Tavza said . - Only by breaking down the current structures can we begin to rebuild . As for looking incompetent , who cares? What does my reputation matter in the face of furthering our goals?

If Acraz Umbri’Zi sees he’s being plotted against by the other factions of the Undead Empire , he’ll be faced with two choices . Either move toward the Abyssal Shores or try to elude the Empire altogether . Kator was right about one thing . Arcaz still needs us for his undead followers and to act as a guarantor . He clearly has not severed his emotions to the point he can sacrifice his home world and hide away . -

Why not nip the problem in the bud when you noticed it? - Laz asked .

Tavza knew Laz didn’t need her to explain it . He was rather trying to gauge her understanding before reporting back to the shores . This was a huge gamble , one the elders back home would have vetoed if they had the chance . But everything she’d learned and seen of this wretched region , everything she’d gathered about Arcaz Umbri’Zi , told her this was the only path .

He was Chaos incarnate .

Perhaps it was by design , perhaps he was a pawn of the Heavens . It didn’t matter . Staying the course and relying on the experience and lessons gained over eons would fail in both unexpected and extravagant ways . Fate twisted around that man in terrifying ways , leaving utter bedlam in his wake .

She had to push their relationship closer , or the storm would ruin her plans . For years , they’d prodded and tried everything with this outsider , but he was more slippery than an Abyssal Eel . In a way , it had been illuminating . She’d thought any cultivator living on the frontier would jump at the opportunity to become part of an empire like theirs . How wrong she’d been .

Arcaz does not trust us in the slightest . Three years and we haven’t even managed to get a blood sample to confirm his bloodline . If not for the details he shared with us and Prince Mez’s divination , I would have thought he was lying . He is merely too paranoid . Even if I dealt with the spies , he might as well consider it a ploy to build trust . If the news even reached him .

This way , we can at least make ourselves appear marginally better by dragging the Reavers through the mud . It may be the first step toward building a real rapport . -

But what if he chooses his human side? -

Kator has a point . We don’t need a Draugr for the inheritance . But Arcaz knows there is a time after that , and the agreement is with Acraz Umbri’Zi , not Zachary Atwood , - Tavza said , though she felt some exhaustion over the matter . - Ultimately , it’s out of our hands . We can only put our faith in the divination of Prince Mez . The Heavens indicate we will get what we seek . -

What about Kator? - Laz asked . - We will be hard-pressed to contend for leadership as things stand . -

The situation is fluid , - Tavza said . - Today , the winds are blowing east . Who’s to say which direction it’ll blow tomorrow? A lot can happen in four years . -

Zac’s heart drummed with anticipation as Null somehow moved him into the hole . Incredible energies teeming with meaning celebrated his arrival . For the first time in years , he lamented he wasn’t a cultivator who could take advantage of this environment . Zac soon remembered the truth , though , which settled his heart . He couldn’t make use of the dense Dao in this realm , but neither could the cultivators .

The world was in a Temporal Chamber , and anyone who dared ponder on the Dao in this environment would find it twisted and out of tune with the Heavens . Still , it was most likely an incredibly useful building block for cultivators to speed up the formation of their cores . Most sects and clans had similar gathering arrays , as did the Atwood Academy nowadays , and even areas in the Orom World he visited were the same .

Except , those places couldn’t compare . This whole world was filled with the Dao , and it wasn’t limited to one specific element . It was almost like a corner of the Heavens had been stuffed into a Mystic Realm . Was this how the environment was in the more flourishing regions of the Multiverse? No wonder his mother wanted to take Kenzie to the Six Profundity Empire .

One’s body would gradually acclimatize to this kind of cultivation environment , while cultivation and meditation would yield far greater results . The environment was even better than in his cultivation cave , and this was while floating around in the air . If he added gathering arrays . . .

Zac was dragged out of his daydreams by a weak mental nudge . Zac could have easily extinguished it with his soul , but he let the tendril into his aperture . Simultaneously , a small band appeared on his left wrist , seemingly made of glass that absorbed light rather than reflected it . He wouldn’t have known it was there if not for the mental connection that formed .

Null , is that you? - Zac asked .

It’s me , - the guiding spirit confirmed , and Zac wasn’t sure if he heard the voice in his mind or reality . - I’ll usually be taking this form during your stay . -

You’ll be watching my every move? - Zac asked .

Kind of , - Null said . - But you know , even if I didn’t , the boss would . He’s everywhere at once , so there are no keeping secrets here . You either have to live with that fact or leave . -

I know , I know , - Zac said . - Where is this? I can’t see anything . -

The space before was sort of a gateway . Starting now , you’ve entered the real Perennial Vastness , and time moves at ten times the outside speed . This is the Energy Nimbus surrounding the whole domain . If you want , you can hire a vessel to fly around in it in the future . There are some interesting places hiding inside , but finding them is a matter of fate and chance . -

Zac tried sensing anything within the surroundings . There was just an ocean of energy , no matter how far his consciousness spread . - So , what’s next? -

I’m taking you to get your starting kit , - Null said . - Then , we’ll find a place for you to settle down . -

What about my friends? -

Space is relative . As soon as you pick a spot , you’ll be able to find the others . You will understand soon , - Null answered as another gate appeared before them .

The next moment , Zac floated in the center of a huge circular square . It was made from a singular piece of smooth rock and lined with seventeen pillars . No two pillars looked alike , and each emitted unfathomable power . Zac’s eyes first turned to a pillar made from twisted steel , looking almost like a thin hurricane covered in runes .

Chaos .

Another was made from innumerable weapons , most of which Zac didn’t recognize . Just glancing at it filled Zac with such pressure he was forced to look away lest his soul be torn into ribbons . Others were simple to understand ; the pillars of the Elements or Nature were easy to spot . Some were more mysterious , though Zac had a decent idea of what most represented .

What’s this? - Zac still asked .

This is the most commonly accepted model of the Heavens . Seventeen Peaks of the Grand Dao . The Nine Seals and Eight Thrones , - Null said .

Nine by eight . One destiny , - Zac muttered and immediately regretted it .

Two simple sentences , and the whole world started heaving .

3

NINE BY EIGHT

The square shuddered at his words , filling Zac with alarm as Fate gathered around him like when he uttered the word - Ultom . ’ It wasn’t just the world , either . Each of the pillars had hummed into life , and Zac found himself awash with terrifying truths far beyond what he could handle .

Seventeen distinct Daos flooded the square , forcing Zac to be an unwilling witness to a tremendous clash urged on by a torrent of Fate . Zac didn’t know if the energies were trying to destroy the world or recreate the Heavens on Earth . Either way , the energies were reaching dangerous levels , and Zac sought an escape path .

Before he could start running for his life , a heavy pressure descended and quelled the unrest , scattering the winds of Fate and dragging apart the currents of Dao . It wasn’t the System but the entity that scanned him upon his arrival . The Perennial Vastness itself had made a move .

Ah! - Null exclaimed . - The boss is telling you to cut it out . Knowledge and Fate can give words power , and you’re touching upon that ancient conflict . You’ll cause trouble . -

Ancient Conflict? - Zac frowned . - What do you mean? -

Shouldn’t I be the one asking that? - Null lazily said . - I was born less than an hour ago . What do I know about these matters? Even if I did , I couldn’t tell you . If the boss doesn’t want to get involved , then I’m definitely going to stay clear . We only get one life , and I’m not going to throw mine away on stuff I don’t understand . -

That’s— - Zac quieted , a prickling killing intent was right behind him , almost like a needle sticking into the back of his head .

There was no delay or hesitation . Verun’s Bite] appeared in his hand , and three runes had already lit up as Zac unleashed a herculean swing at whatever was behind him . Axe hit flesh , but Zac felt the bones in his arm creak when the edge that was supposed to make its way through the enemy was forced to an abrupt halt . A tremendous rebound followed , confirming that Zac was dealing with something extremely dangerous . His fears were realized when he managed to take in what he’d just attacked .

A face .

The face was as large as Zac was tall and belonged to a creature with more girth than height . Its greenish face was covered in such a dense beard and bushy eyebrows that Zac suspected it had some beastkin blood in its ancestry . In reality , the appearance was closer to some sort of demonic troll . Its huge nose was wider than Zac’s face , and four glistening horns covered in archaic runes protruded from its skull .

The eyes were even bigger , each one as large as a manhole cover , and Zac felt extremely exposed as they stared at point-blank range . Especially considering his axe was stuck trying to penetrate its left pupil without much luck . No barriers or Cosmic Energy kept the razor-sharp edge of Verun’s Bite] at bay .

His axe was hitting the monster’s eye , yet it was his axe that suffered damage . Cracks covered Verun’s edge , and Zac felt a mix of pain and fear in his mind from the Tool Spirit . Zac urgently jumped back a few meters , activating the seldom-used fourth rune on his axe , prompting it to start molting and regenerating .

Thankfully , the troll creature made no move to follow , and the sense of impending doom was completely gone . It just stood there on two stubby legs , each as thick as a tree , holding a three-meter staff . It wore a set of earth-tone robes , which looked incredibly odd on such a disproportioned creature .

As expected , you chose violence , - the troll laughed as it tapped its staff onto the ground , prompting odd ripples to spread through the square . - Conflict , indeed . Pretty sharp senses , too , though it took you a few seconds to notice me . -

Zac blankly stared at the huge creature . Had this thing stood right behind him for seconds without him noticing?

Lord Engo! - Null exclaimed .

What? Who? - Zac whispered .

Lord Engo is one of the boss’s oldest disciples . He’s at the threshold of Supremacy . -

Surprise swept through Zac . He’d known it was powerful , but a Peak Autarch? Those beings weren’t quite as rare as Supremacies , but it wasn’t that far-off either . It also proved just how powerful the Perennial Vastness was if they had such powerful disciples .

A Realm Spirit has disciples? - Zac muttered .

We’re all equal in the face of the Dao , - Engo smiled . At least Zac thought he did . It was hard to tell , with the troll’s maw being a two-meter-wide vortex of teeth and horror . - Origins mean nothing at the peak . Only your path and your purpose do . -

Zac nodded after some thought . What the troll said was true . There were cultivators like Ubo in the Orom World . He was originally just a normal rock that happened to be in a particularly Dao-dense environment , which accidentally created a spark of sapience . Zac himself had a soul sliver of a likely dead cultivator for a master . It wasn’t that weird for a powerful realm to take in disciples .

Don’t be so nervous , - Engo guffawed . - I was nearby and sensed Fate gathering , so I came over to see what was going on . It’s not often you see such winds of providence from people who haven’t yet shed the chains of mortality . -

I’m sorry about that , - Zac coughed .

Do you want to know? - Engo grinned . - About what you asked . -

Zac would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious , but this felt like a matter far beyond someone like him . Just knowing about it might entangle him in unexpected ways , like how the Remnants seemingly influenced his path in their desire to fuse with their brethren .

Still , he’d heard the term Nine Seals , Eight Pillars , and One Destiny during his first vision of Ultom . Now he’d heard something similar , except the Pillars were called Thrones . Not knowing what they were dealing with might put him and his followers in danger after they entered the inheritance .

The broad strokes , if it’s convenient for you , - Zac said .

Broad strokes , - Engo hummed . - Well , show me something interesting , and you’ll know . -

What does that mean?’ Zac inwardly asked , hoping Null could hear him .

See that pedestal in the middle? - Null answered . - You need to show your planned core . Not for Lord Engo , but as part of orientation . Depending on how good it is , you will get a set amount of starting Mana . -

Zac was curious about this Mana , but one thing at a time .

How do I show my blueprint? - Zac asked .

However you want . Place a blueprint on it . Infuse it with your mind . We’ve seen it all . -

Alright , - Zac said , glancing at the Autarch before walking over to the pedestal .

Zac placed his hand on the white stone and infused some Cosmic Energy . He then imprinted his blueprint , just like he’d record information on an Information Crystal . He could have placed the two carvings on the plinth , but he was afraid doing so would lead to the array misunderstanding his plan . Better to showcase the exact idea that existed in his mind .

The process only took a few seconds , after which he looked back at Engo , only to find the creature standing right next to him . Zac’s heart almost jumped out of his mouth . At least he didn’t swing at Engo this time . What was it with this big bastard and moving so stealthily? Did he enjoy startling people?

A light tap from Engo prompted the pedestal to light up and display a mesmerizing orb made up of innumerable lines in steely grey , gold , and black . The discerning eye would also notice invisible lines made by negative space—the Void .

Even the array couldn’t perfectly replicate the core , though . The projection shifted back and forth between two states , just like how it looked when Zac looked at his carvings from the right angle . As the blueprint spun above the recording pillar , two of the pillars hummed at the edge of the square .

The pillars of Chaos and Conflict .

Life and Death connected through the Void and enkindled by Conflict , - Engo muttered , slightly nodding a few times as the core spun .

Zac inwardly grumbled at the reaction . It was just like the consciousness before , when it barely spared his Duplicity Core a second glance . Would it kill them to be a bit impressed? This was a core never-before-seen in the Multiverse . Why did Engo have to talk about it like it was yesterday’s weather?

A surge of energy distracted Zac’s thought , and two streams of energy entered Null on his wrist , each coming from the pillars of Chaos and Conflict . A set of patterns lit up on the band before sinking into its depths . Zac looked on with wonder , feeling that Null was changing on a fundamental level to accommodate his path . A few seconds later , the process was over , and the radiant blueprint hovering in the air disappeared .

If only the Core Formation process would be that simple .

How intriguing . No wonder the System is keeping such a close watch on you . But I see that your understanding of the Void is not your own . It carries the shadow of the Left Imperial Palace and the inheritance it governs . -

That’s . . . -

Don’t worry . The Perennial Vastness has no intentions of involving itself with the ascent of the Fifth Pillar , nor the conflict it represents . We neither have the qualifications nor the desire to decide the direction of the era . - The troll grinned . - We all have our own pursuits . -

Then , the answer? - Zac ventured . - What’s the ancient conflict? How does it relate to Ul—That place? -

Why does an Era end? - Engo countered .

That’s— - Zac hesitated , stumped by the shift in subject .

The question itself was interesting . The Dao was eternal , and the Heavens released and took back energy in an endless cycle . Why couldn’t it keep going forever? Was the universe leaking energy or something? Zac eventually shook his head , indicating he didn’t know .

Suffice to say , while the Heavens are eternal , they aren’t static . Those at the peak can influence the Dao , and the Heavens also change on their own . An Era has a period of rapid growth as it recovers from the death of the previous one . Then follows a much longer span of stability as the Heavens move toward their peak . We’re in that stage now .

In the future , the universe will reach its zenith , yet the Heavens will not stop changing , nor will cultivators stop imposing their wills onto the fabric of reality . This will lead to the Heavens drifting apart and the Dao growing more discordant . Eventually , the Multiverse cannot function and gets ripped apart as the Dao collapses .

Some believe this natural cycle of growth and decay is yet another limit meant to be broken . Cultivation is to go against fate , so why not break open the Heavens and see what’s beyond? Only that way can our potential be truly unlocked . Only that way can the path of cultivation move toward true Eternity . The Heavens are the final gatekeeper to that ancient goal . The Thrones represent the will of the greatest emperors , those who have levied their swords at the Terminus . -

Zac shuddered , remembering the boundless anger of the Statuette in the temple of Ultom . Or Eoz’s memories of the forebearers who left their gifts in the Abyss . Were they part of this group? Holding the belief that the Heavens was a prison , seeking to break the limits of what was possible . Was that the sorrow of reaching the peak? An incompleteness that their path had not yet ended , but the Heavens were blocking the way?

Others believe that doing something like that will destroy the road of cultivation . If there is an Eternity , it can only be found by perfecting the Heavens and fusing with them rather than destroying the Dao . The Zenith of an Era is the key . If they can seal the Heavens at that moment by taking control of it , they have a chance at Eternity . -

Boundless Path and Heaven’s Path , - Zac muttered .

You could look at it that way , though things are seldom so black and white , - Engo laughed . - This is a gross simplification of the conflict . In reality , there are as many beliefs and paths as there are cultivators . A Throne may not necessarily want to destroy the Heavens , and a Seal may not necessarily aim to perfect the Heavens . Most simply desire the power those titles represent or see them as the key to reaching the next stage of existence .

Don’t bother asking me about who these people are , - Engo added , shutting down Zac’s next question . - You’ve seen how a few words can have enormous effects . -

Why Nine Seals and Eight Thrones? -

That , I don’t know , - Engo shrugged . - For some reason , that’s how the Heavens are arranged . Eight pillars lift the Heavens , and Nine Seals keep it all in check . If not for those at the top of the food chain having seized corners of the Dao , then each Peak Dao would have represented either a Seal or a Throne . This is how it’s been for some Eras . Perhaps the inherent nature of Heaven leans toward preservation rather than destruction? -

Zac frowned as he looked at the pillars around him , remembering the conflict the Void Priestess , mentioned . The conflict over the direction of the era . It was definitely related to this struggle . Some factions wanted to seize Ultom and use it to break open the Heavens , while others wanted to become the Heavens and seal the Dao to prevent it from drifting apart .

And how was this related to the System and Heaven’s Path? Was there more to the System than the official story , that it was a training device for the war of the Limitless Empire? Could this be why the System so desperately wanted his Motes of Chaos? To perfect its understanding of the Dao before the Heavens reached the zenith?

No need to look so troubled , - Engo said . - This matter is ultimately something for those at the top . Just know that the ascent of the next pillar will attract people from both sides of the conflict , along with neutral parties just seeking power . And with these kinds of stakes , the battle will be beyond brutal . -

Which parties are on which sides? - Zac asked .

That , you’ll have to figure out on your own , - Engo snorted as he looked to the sky . - Master seems to feel I’ve been talking too much already . Well , this was an interesting encounter , so I’ll bend the rules a little more . You should check out the Quarry before you start working on your core . -

There were more things Zac wanted to ask , such as the details about Ultom . But Zac knew this was it , so he bowed respectfully .

Thank you for your guidance . -

The troll nodded and was gone , like it had never been there .

Lucky guy , - Null said . - But I guess it makes sense . Your core is super weird . It would be odd if neither the boss nor his disciples showed any interest in your idea . -

Then they were just acting cool and collected? - Zac smiled .

I mean , it’s still just a Cosmic Core , - Null giggled . - Lord Engo is millions of years old and only cares about completing his pillar and ascending . Would he lose his composure over the clever idea of a brat? Perhaps he pitied you because you also walk a pure path toward a broken peak? -

Whatever , - Zac snorted . - What’s the Quarry? -

Remember what I said about Mana and the many realms? Well , the Quarry is one of them . It’s one of the lower-tier zones , though , and all guests can visit for free for a week . After that , it’s 10 Mana a day . -

And is that little? - Zac asked . - How much do I have to start off with? -

Look at your Status Screen . -

Zac opened it , and everything looked the same except for one part . A new line had been added below his Nexus Coins .

Mana : 2 , 500]

Just so you know , the starting Mana ranges between 500 and 2 , 500 depending on your core , - Null added . - So full marks for you! Of course , that doesn’t mean your core is perfect or anything . It just means it reaches the level for the highest payout . Roughly 5% of all guests do . -

Zac nodded in satisfaction , though he wasn’t too surprised . If he couldn’t reach the top 5% of the guests after hundreds of lake-empowered epiphanies and using the full opportunity of a Seal of the Left Imperial Palace , he might as well give up on cultivation .

So , what’s with this Mana? - Zac asked . - I can’t sense it at all . -

It’s the fundamental currency in the Perennial Vastness . Rather than one large continent , it’s more accurate to consider the Perennial Vastness a gathering of thousands of subordinate treasure realms full of opportunities . You can visit them to prepare the materials for your breakthroughs or search for enlightenment , but doing so isn’t free . That’s where Mana comes in . -

So Mana is kind of like Contribution Points? - Zac said .

It sounded a lot like his time in the Orom World , where he accumulated Contribution Points by improving his cultivation . The points , in turn , could be used to get more resources , keeping the process going .

It’s similar , but Mana is more than that . Mana is akin to providence in the Perennial Vastness . The more Mana you wield , the greater your impact on your surroundings will be . The world will be molded in your image . -

My image? - Zac said , his gaze returning to the pedestal .

Exactly! As you gather Mana , the environment will get more and more suited for your breakthrough . Eventually , the world itself will assist you in the process . You might be a mortal with no affinities , but you can still rouse the Heavens to assist you here . It’s part of what makes the Perennial Vastness unique . -

A smile spread across Zac’s face . The difficulty of forming his core had weighed on his shoulders over the past years . Even if he had figured out the blueprint , it was so incredibly complex that he hadn’t been certain it was possible to form as a mortal . But if the world itself could help him out , the pressure suddenly decreased by a lot .

Mana was the key , and anyone who got in his way would have to watch their back .

4

HOME BASE

Null’s explanation was music to Zac’s ears . This was exactly what he’d hoped for . The opportunities and various treasure realms would certainly be useful , but Zac was more interested in the aspect of providence . Being able to use the energy of the world to contain and nurture his core while it was being built was a huge advantage for someone like him .

A cultivator would naturally form their core by rotating their manual and making small adjustments . It was almost like a fetus that grew gradually and in harmony with the Heavens . Meanwhile , a mortal’s process was more like building a bomb inside your body by cramming more and more energy inside , all while trying to impose your blueprint on it .

Mana helps me form a core , but visiting the realms costs Mana? - Zac confirmed . - Won’t that slow me down? -

To use the Mana is to take a risk , - Null agreed . - It might be a waste of time and a loss of resources , but you may also find unique treasures that will drastically help you with your Cosmic Core . You can rely on things you’ve brought or purchased from others , but you know how it is with the best treasures . -

Ultimately , many of the best resources couldn’t be preserved long after being harvested . They relied on a unique environment to be born in the first place . The moment you took it away , the treasure would lose some of its spirituality . The Primal Dao he ate at the Twilight Chasm was a perfect example of that . It wouldn’t last a second after being freed from the purification array .

It was the same with many of the treasures he’d brought out of the Twilight Ocean . Some had lost most of their efficacy upon leaving that environment . Others had turned into complete trash . That was why Peak-quality items weren’t the best things around per grade . They were just the best among what could be safely stored .

This was a big reason why even wealthy elites visited places like wild realms and other unique areas untouched by cultivators . It was the only way to access some of the best stuff . As for the supreme items , they were either top-tier resources that had retained an unusual amount of their efficacy after being removed , or items forcibly sealed by High-grade cultivators . But they could never reliably be grown and harvested , at least not in the frontier .

Besides , this is the Perennial Vastness , not some random Mystic Realm , - Null continued . - The System and boss have worked together to create a few opportunities and types of treasures you simply won’t find on the outside . Even those with powerful backing usually end up spending quite a bit of Mana on excursions . -

Does the Quarry have things like that? - Zac asked .

Yep! - Null said . - You can excavate something called Fate Kernels there . They’re a unique resource of the Perennial Vastness . If you find a suitable one , it’ll help with your Core Formation . It’s pretty popular among less-talented cultivators since the stones can harmonize with Mana and your home base in a way that outside items can’t . -

It made sense Engo told him to go there . But Zac wondered if there was more to Engo’s hint since he would definitely visit a place like that after learning of it . Were there perhaps secrets beyond what you could see on the surface?

Any idea why Lord Engo asked me to go there? - Zac ventured .

Who knows? - Null giggled . - He maybe took pity on you because of your lacking affinities? You’ll just have to check things out for yourself . -

Zac snorted . - Whatever . So , how do I get more points? -

Well , first of all , you will get 500 Mana every month in the beginning , though that’s only until you reach 10 , 000 . After that , you will instead be charged 100 Mana a month . At 20 , 000 , we charge 200 , and so on . -

What? Why? - Zac said .

It’s not cheap to maintain the benefits provided by Mana . The more you accumulate , the greater the benefits , but the higher the fee . Some use these rules to their advantage and keep themselves at lower tiers for years . But if you ask me , that’s a loser’s path . -

Staying at the lower-tier made sense , getting 500 free Mana a month to use on accumulated resources . Though from how Null explained things , he could accumulate Mana and treasures simultaneously , which would save a lot of time .

How much do the top people normally have at their peak? - Zac asked .

The greatest elites usually accumulate over 100 , 000 Mana by the time they start forming their Cosmic Cores in earnest . However , going much further is almost impossible for multiple reasons . -

Zac contrasted that information with what he knew before entering this place . He had fifty years to accumulate Mana at a maximum , and most elites left within a decade . In other words , they accumulated at least 10 , 000 points a year , most likely while using the various facilities and opportunities . Then , there’s the fee to take into account , which meant it would get harder and harder to accumulate Mana .

He should probably be aiming at least double the number , especially considering he might need more than the 100 , 000 accumulated Mana talented cultivators used . Zac set a preliminary goal of gaining 2 , 500 Mana a month . That way , he should be able to push past 100 , 000 Mana within a decade while not denying himself the various opportunities the Perennial Vastness offered .

I’m guessing there are multiple ways to accumulate Mana? -

Of course , we’ve got it all! - Null said . - But you can boil it down to missions and robbery . -

Zac smiled . Things were looking better by the second . The situation made him remember the Sovereignty-quest he undertook after dealing with the Mystic Realm . He’d been like a wolf let loose amongst a bunch of sheep when pitted against the other progenitors of the Sector .

Can I buy Mana with treasures or Nexus Coins? - Zac asked .

No , - Null giggled . - And you should be thankful for that . Some very rich people occasionally find themselves in these parts . They’d be able to bully everyone with their wealth . -

What does someone buying Mana have to do with me? - Zac asked with confusion .

I told you . Mana is everything in this place , - Null said . - Watch . -

Zac first didn’t understand what Null meant , but a gold , steel , and black barrier sprung up around him the next moment . Zac looked at it with marvel , feeling a sense of connection . It was his Cosmic Core . Or rather , the barrier was based on the concepts of his core . It rotated around him , shielding him from the surroundings .

The barrier remained for another five seconds before disappearing , and Zac breathed out in relief upon confirming his Mana was still 2 , 500 .

What was that? - Zac asked .

The more Mana you have , the greater protection of the world you’ll enjoy . That also means those with higher Mana have an inherent advantage . So , work hard and quickly gather Mana , or someone with more Mana than you might be able to bully you when you’re out looking for treasure . -

Turned out the Perennial Vastness wouldn’t be a complete free-for-all where he could wantonly rob Mana to rapidly ascend . There were checks and balances in place that allowed conflict but kept it within bounds . Before starting a robbing spree , he’d have to figure out how much Mana helped in battle .

Are there people here who have stayed decades already? -

Of course , - Null said . - We call this event a Cosmic Gallery . It lasts for around 250 years on the outside , or 2 , 500 years in here . The current gallery has lasted for 67 years on the outside , so it’s been running for centuries already . At any given time , there are around 100 , 000 cultivators present . -

What happens after the Cosmic Gallery ends? - Zac asked .

We close the Perennial Vastness until the next gallery a few thousand years later . -

Alright , so I need to gather more Mana to remove my newcomer’s disadvantage . What about breakthroughs? I cultivate both my Soul and Constitution . Do they provide Mana? -

Not really . But also , yes? - Null said . - This place isn’t a sect . You don’t get Contribution Points for getting stronger . There are missions related to creation though! If you can create things like new Cultivation Manuals , skills , or other auxiliary methods , you might be able to claim Mana bounties . -

Zac sighed with disappointment . It sounded like neither of his upcoming breakthroughs would do him any good in here . Luckily , he wasn’t all out of options . There was one more thing he’d held onto until now , even though he’d been ready for a while now .

He could create new skills from scratch .

The main goal was to shore up some weaknesses in his two kits and get the accompanying title , but acquiring Mana would be a welcome bonus . Of course , there were no guarantees the skills he had in mind would result in any bounties . Ultimately , his two sides on their own weren’t that unique—there were trillions of undead cultivators who had fused Death and Conflict in their cultivation .

The odds of him creating a never-before-seen skill weren’t great , though he did have the benefit of pursuing Pure Daos . Furthermore , two - identical - skills could have some unique aspects . Even skills provided by the System could have slightly different features , depending on the cultivator’s class , Daos , and pathways . Such a difference would only be greater with self-created skills .

Apart from creating skills , there was also his Void Vajra Sublimation] . He had made decent headway in recreating the fourth layer of the method already . Perhaps he could finish the job here . That method was definitely unique in the Multiverse . Researching it now would leave more of his final Ultom insight in the future to something else .

Ultimately , it depended on how much spare time he would have and how much Mana it’d be worth .

So , what now? - Zac asked .

You have left your mark , so now it’s time to build your base , - Null explained . - Follow me! -

Zac was about to ask what Null meant when a shimmering line appeared on the ground . It led out of the square and into an adjoining building . It reminded Zac of the guidance trajectories that his Axe Mastery] created .

Can others see and hear you? - Zac asked as he followed the tracking mark .

No , - Null said . - Guides are individual . My words and these guidance markers are formed through our mental connection . You don’t even need to speak out loud to talk with me . You can mentally communicate with the wristband . -

Can you help lead me to treasures as well? - Zac asked .

You wish! - Null giggled . - I can lead you to various regions where you can find treasures , though . Like right now . -

The room he’d entered was almost like a smaller version of the circular square , except this room had a plinth at the edge . The pillars didn’t appear to contain such powerful Daos as the ones outside . Instead , they had shimmering gates in front of them , though it didn’t seem they were leading anywhere .

First of all , take the guidebook , - Null said , and Zac picked up a thick tome lying on a nearby pedestal . - This thing lists all the realms you can visit , the prices , and so on . -

Zac nodded and stowed it away . He could look through the index of interesting places later . For now , he wanted to get set up so he could meet up with the others .

Are we teleporting again? - Zac asked .

The Perennial Vastness is big . Like , really big , - Null explained . - Even if you started running from one side , you wouldn’t even be close to halfway across after dying of old age . Because it’s too big for low-grade cultivators , the boss has chosen to remove the restrictions of space . You can pick a region that feels suited to you , and your manor will be built there .

This room is connected with all the available regions where you can build your manor . If you infuse your will into the array , you’ll be able to browse their information and open gates to get a hint of the energy within . -

And if I want to build a base close to my friends? - Zac asked .

You shouldn’t think like that , - Null said . - Everyone has their own path , and you should pick a place suitable for your Core Formation . The manor will be connected to several hubs , and using most portals will cost you some Mana . -

Basically , I can just teleport over to them , - Zac hummed .

Exactly! There is Vastness City . The path to your manor will turn up like a storefront there , and the same is true for your friends . Shouldn’t be too hard to find them there , especially if they’re looking for you as well , - Null said .

Zac put his hand on the pedestal , and he almost groaned from the deluge of information that flooded his mind . Null wasn’t joking around when saying this place was big . The Orom World was just a backyard compared to seemingly endless environments here . A casual glance indicated over five hundred different environments related to the Dao of Fire .

Altogether , there were tens of thousands of options , each accompanied by a string of information . Zac even spotted the ruins of a Technocrat capital , where crazy robots still walked the streets . Of course , there were also environments related to his three Daos . Hundreds of them , to the point the options made Zac dizzy .

You’ve seen my core , - Zac eventually said . - Do you have any suggestions? -

Smart . Always listen to Null! - The guide laughed as the seventeen empty gates were replaced by four real ones .

Each one radiated incredibly dense energies , and while none of the four were anything like the others , they all contained something that attracted Zac .

Your situation is difficult since you incorporate opposing elements and two different peaks . But you have options . The first is the nimbus you just visited . The nimbus is a blank slate ; you can form it however you like , - Null began . - Settling on one of its floating islands is a decent option for people with cores incorporating many Dao Peaks .

The second is the Sezho Battlefield . This should be the best suited out of the hundreds of ancient battlefields sealed in the Perennial Vastness . The Sezho were a civilization that fought the Limitless Empire before the System’s birth . Boss got his hands on a realm where one of the most heated battles was held . Even today , an extremely powerful aura of conflict lingers , and war is always a struggle of life versus death . The Sezho were even brutes , and the axe was one of their main weapons .

It has extremely dense energies and should provide a good start . But the anger and defiance of the Sezho still linger . If you’re weak-willed , you’ll turn into a madman . Even those with stronger convictions will have a hard time focusing on their Core Formation . -

Zac nodded thoughtfully . If you considered your choice of manor a starting zone , then the nimbus was a neutral start . No negatives , but it would require more terraforming to suit his needs . The battlefield already had ample reserves of the Dao of Conflict , but Zac could feel the incredibly dense bloodlust and fell Karma through the gate .

It wasn’t at the level of what he’d sensed upon seeing the war torn Left Imperial Palace in his vision back when entering the Void Gate , but it surpassed the Bloodwind Planet’s environment .

What about the others? - Zac asked .

Mount Illumination , - Null said , and Zac turned to the gate that almost seemed to release Buddhist chants . - A consecrated mountain formerly belonging to the Sangha . The temples are gone , but a nimbus with the providence of Samsara remains . There’s both Life and Death . You just have to infuse your Conflict into the harmony to forge your path . As for the downside . . . -

Pathbreaking , - Zac said .

Some have come as fierce warriors and left as baldies , - Null giggled . - Well , they still made their cores , though . -

What’s the final option? - Zac asked . The last gate was a pitch-black vortex releasing an incredibly ominous feeling .

The Storm , - Null said . - A Remnant piece holding a whisp of the Primordial Chaos of the previous era . You’re walking the path of purity , and there are hints of its Terminus in there . However , that place is scary . The peak is still broken , and Chaos cannot exist in a stable state , creating an incredibly volatile atmosphere . Settling there will cost you 50 Mana a day , while other places are free . -

All the places kind of have downsides , - Zac commented .

Well , yes , - Null said . - The top-quality environments generally do . If your path was something simple like fire , you could just build your base inside a volcano . But you just had to make it complicated . -

I guess that’s on me , - Zac smiled .

Do you see one you like , or do you want to keep looking around? - Null asked .

I think I know what I want , but let me double-check , - Zac said , and he spent the next ten minutes opening over one hundred different gates to inspect the energy they emitted .

Zac could soon confirm Null’s picks were right on the money . While many of the places he’d investigated seemed good , none were as good as the four she chose . There were a few without any downsides , but the Dao and Energy emitted were far worse than the four top options .

The gates closed and were replaced by a singular one . - Alright , let’s go with this one . -

5

PURE LAND

A towering mountain clad in a shroud of green , with a golden cloud circulating its peak . Mount Illumination .

As far as Zac could tell , it was simply the best option available , with the battlefield being the second option . The Storm might technically be the best option , holding the pure unblemished energies of Life and Death he needed , unsullied by ancient resentment or Buddhist resentment . Unfortunately , the downsides were too heavy . With a price tag of 1500 Mana a month , it would hamper his accumulation and access to other opportunities too much . He was better off visiting in search of treasures and opportunities than making it a permanent residence .

Conversely , the nimbus was too far from his path , and he didn’t want to spend that much time reforging his manor in his image . He wanted to start working on his core as quickly as possible . Overcoming the negatives of the other two places seemed faster . Their environments could even temper his willpower over time , which was free training .

Between ancient bloodlust and the Buddhist pathbreaking , Zac felt the latter would be easier to deal with . He was afraid that a pervasive killing intent from ancient Autarchs and possibly Supremacies would constantly try to kindle the conflict of his core , forcing him to place far more time and effort into keeping the core stable . As a mortal with a deep foundation , he already had enough problems in that regard .

The pathbreaking didn’t worry him as much thanks to his Void Vajra Sublimation] and the concept of the Void it had imprinted on his heart . He wasn’t foolish enough to think Mount Illumination was just at the level of Mount Everlasting Peace back on Earth , but it should still be at the level of what elite E-grade cultivators could deal with .

His heart was far more tempered than most , and the biggest contributor wasn’t even the Void Vajra Sublimation] or the Splinters of Oblivion and their whispers of destruction . It was the natural refinement he’d undergone through innumerable life-and-death encounters . Each hard-earned victory steadied one’s heart and reinforced one’s belief in their path . Iz had told him those who climbed mostly on their own efforts generally were better off at the higher stages of cultivation , and this was an important reason .

Besides , Mount Illumination already contained two of his three Daos , just like the storm . Finally , Zac admitted that the idea of using Mana and his Dao to break the path of Samsara on the mountain was pretty enticing after what they tried to pull with the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] .

Alright , but prepare yourself , - Null said as energy accumulated in the room . - This isn’t the frontier . -

Zac took a steadying breath as the final gate shifted from being a window into an actual portal . A powerful gust of energy filled the room , so powerful that Zac’s mind almost blanked out . The feeling was far more powerful than when he first sensed the Energy Nimbus . Not only that , there was a clear flavor to the energy .

There were hints of Life and Death , but it wasn’t like the Twilight Energy , where Life and Death made up all the energy . Life and Death were only responsible for half of the insights pouring out of the gate , and they had been moved away from the Peak of Chaos to become subordinate concepts of something else .

Still , this kind of environment was amazing . The energy density was just shocking , and this was while he still stood outside looking in . The density would be far greater where he found a good spot to set up a gathering array . Even if he accepted the one half that resonated with him and rejected the rest , he would have more than enough energy for his needs .

Zac stepped through the gate and found himself at the foot of the verdant mountain . However , the scene looked drastically different in person . A Buddha , tens of thousands of meters tall sat behind the mountain . It looked like a whole pantheon crammed into one multidimensional body , a scene somehow both horrifying and comforting .

Its thousands of heads were seemingly staring right at him . Eyes met , and the world disappeared .

Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine gilded statues sat on the petals of a sky-blue lotus , each one consecrated in the name of Tārā . To take in the heavenly scent was to be annealed in the compassion of Buddha and saved from the suffering of Samsara . Above , an endless world blotted out the firmament , its divinity trickling down like rain toward the lotus .

Akaniṣṭha , the Pure Land .

He was at the threshold , arrived at the doors of paradise , yet still burdened by the sorrows of mortality . But the soothing hymns of the loving mother were slowly replacing suffering with contentedness . His whole soul was being illuminated , its shadows vanquished . His gaze turned to the heart of the lotus , the focus of the guardian devas .

A bracelet of simple wooden beads . Nine were natural brown , with the other eight painted black . At its center was an eighteenth bead painted red , seemingly containing the providence of the universe . Just looking at it made him want to sit down , mirror the pose of the guardians , and accept ordination .

Zac’s heart roared in defiance , and the world twisted . The lotus , the statues , and the paradise above disappeared . Replacing them was the lonely mountain , guarded by the enormous Buddha . Mount Illumination was completely different from when he first saw it . Thousands of red temples lined the slopes all the way to the peak , forming an intricate pattern .

The scene only lasted for a moment before his vision returned to normalcy , and the mountain was just a mountain once more . Zac’s back was slick with sweat , his heart wildly hammering as he desperately stabilized his mind . That had been too close . He hadn’t underestimated the power of the Sangha , yet it almost dragged him under for a moment .

You’re back? Are you Zac , or do you have a new name? - Null’s voice echoed in his mind .

Why would I have a new name? - Zac asked with a frown as he shook his head to clear his thoughts .

That’s what happens when the old baldies get you . You’d discard your old identity and take on a Buddhist name . Almost looked like you were ready to discard your robes and don the kasaya . -

And you didn’t try to prod me awake? - Zac complained .

That’s not my job , - Null giggled . - I’m just a guide . I’m here to answer questions and help facilitate your stay , no matter if you’re an eminent monk or a brute from the frontier . Saving your butt is not part of the assignment . In fact , getting involved is strictly forbidden . -

Well , you’re still stuck with me for the time being , - Zac grunted as he looked around . - There are no temples to settle inside? -

All the temples were removed , but their foundations remain . You can either build your manor on those foundations or pick any random spot on the mountain , - Null explained .

Zac felt Null’s answer was a hint , even if an unintentional one . He didn’t think the vision just now was some random scenes his brain conjured from being invaded by the latent will of the Sangha . It was a remnant of the original face of the mountain . Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine temples , forming an array generating providence .

Could he make use of that fact?

And I guess the best environment is at the top? - Zac ventured .

Yep! It’s really dangerous up there , though . Much worse than here , - Null confirmed .

Well , let’s see how far I can make it , - Zac said as he passed through the gate and started ascending the slopes .

It was just a theory , but Zac followed his memory of the mountain , heading toward the closest temple he’d seen upon waking up . There were no paths or steps , but the cliffside wasn’t hard to traverse . The forested slopes were practically pruned , forming natural , winding paths that further strengthened Zac’s guess that the mountain was covered in formations .

It almost felt like he was walking inside the corridors of the Gates of Rebirth again , where the forest formed an enormous natural array far surpassing anything Triv had managed to build in his cave . Yet , there was a good chance this formation was a natural result of the powerful truths the mountain still contained , rather than something intentionally built to further its effect .

Zac could feel his Daos in the soil beneath his feet , but he kept his heart closed off from any further input . The trees , their branches swaying in harmony , the leaves rustling like Buddhist chimes . It was reduced to a beautiful tapestry in Zac’s eyes . Something that could be appreciated , certainly , but not something that would change the course of his life .

Mount Illumination was as tall as the pre-Integration Tibetan peaks , but Zac was no pre-Integration mountain climber . He was a Peak E-grade Defier who could maintain a leisurely walking pace that would look like a blur to a mortal . It wouldn’t take him too long to reach the peak if he pushed himself .

Even when keeping a steady pace to avoid any surprises , it only took Zac a few minutes to reach the location of the closest temple . As expected , he found a foundation hidden among the trees . A simple square of fine white sand on a raised platform of large stone blocks . It wasn’t big , only twenty by twenty meters , but it would be more than enough to set up a temporary manor .

The energy was also denser around the platform than in the forest , and it almost sounded like the rustling leaves were the muted chants of scripture . Zac didn’t want to risk losing his composure again , so he took a steadying breath and closed his eyes . A few seconds later , he had become the Void , his heart ensconced in nothingness .

Years of practicing his Void Vajra Sublimation] had long since allowed him to enter the ethereal state even when not practicing the stances . It had become a good and effective way to clear his mind after absorbing the corrupted lake water of the Lost Plane , and Zac also found it useful in this kind of environment . His accomplishments still weren’t as good as an actual Heart cultivator’s , but he could always add Void Zone] to amplify the effect .

He could only maintain the meditative state while emptying his thoughts and closing off his surroundings . There was no way for him to retain it while walking around , especially not when fighting . Zac didn’t even know if something like that was needed since he didn’t want to become the Void during battle . It was the opposite , in fact , where he wanted to fuse with his Daos , not the lack of Dao .

After recalibrating his state of mind , Zac slowly opened his eyes . However , he almost lost his composure upon seeing a red temple proudly standing before him . Wooden beams held up a slated tile roof and the well-polished floor of the inner hall . There was even a shrine inside , but he couldn’t determine what kind of deva was consecrated within before the temple disappeared .

Zac remained still , thoughtfully looking at the once-again empty platform . Was it more than an illusion? True and false weren’t black and white in the Multiverse . There were various states of existence , and an illusion didn’t necessarily need to be a figment of one’s imagination . Janos had physically lived inside an illusion for years before finding his way back to reality .

So why couldn’t a temple exist when looked through a different lens of reality? It was possible that while the physical temples were gone , some sort of spiritual manifestations lingered . Then again , even if his theory was correct , did it matter?

Do you like this place? - Null asked , dragging Zac out of his thoughts . - If you pick the platform , I can conjure a suitable manor in ten minutes . It’d take a bit longer if you picked a spot full of trees . -

Can I move my base in the future? - Zac asked .

Not really , - Null said . - There are Relocation Tokens , but finding them is a matter of luck . You can’t even buy them with Mana . You should get it right from the start . -

Why not just let us move as we please? - Zac asked .

Something about fate , - Null said with disinterest . - Plus , it costs money to keep building new ones . The manors aren’t just houses . They’re incredibly complex arrays that can help form Cosmic Cores . We have a budget to follow , you know . -

Zac smiled , feeling like Null sounded like a penny-pinching bureaucrat . - Then can I wait with choosing a manor? -

Nope , you have one day . Besides , don’t you want to meet your friends? You can only find them after picking a cultivation spot and getting access to the teleportation system . -

Zac nodded in understanding . He wasn’t really planning on settling this close to the base of the mountain . He could withstand much more powerful energies than this . However , he wasn’t sure he could withstand the influence at the peak . Especially not if there were almost ten thousand ghost temples channeling providence to the main temple at the top . At the same time , Zac was unwilling to settle for a less-than-optimal cultivation location .

Do I have to spend much time in my manor , or can I travel about? -

That’s up to you , - Null said . - Traveling usually costs Mana , but you have access to some freebies . And even if your trials run out , you got a good amount of starting Mana . For example , you could stay at the Quarry for almost a year if you wanted to . There are many free places to visit , but they don’t have as much good stuff as the premium environments . -

Zac’s eyes turned toward the lofty peak , the focal point of the whole mountain . Even at this distance , he could feel how much Fate was gathered . The golden cloud wasn’t just a cloud—it was distilled providence . The environment was definitely far better than at the foot of the mountain , but also far more dangerous . That wasn’t just random fate . It was marked by the Dao of Samsara and the Buddhist faith .

Perhaps it was possible if he used his hidden weapon against the influence of Mount Illumination . If Zac could break through with the Nine Reincarnations Manual] and the Void Vajra Sublimation] , he would improve his resistance against outside influence . However , those two breakthroughs couldn’t just be performed without some preparation .

One day wasn’t enough . Besides , he had things to settle before that , including finding Catheya and Ogras . And if he could just withstand the pressure temporarily , to the point he could settle his home base , he could leave this place and only return after breaking through .

Having formulated a plan , Zac resumed his climb after giving the platform a final look . He’d see how things looked closer to the peak . If he really couldn’t withstand it even for a moment , he’d just have to compromise and settle at the upper reaches and start looking for a Relocation Token .

The minutes passed as Zac climbed higher and higher , passing one empty platform after another . Null stopped speaking up , perhaps to avoid distracting Zac during his ascent . Zac didn’t pepper the guide with questions , instead focusing on the matter at hand . Null joked around about him becoming a baldy , but Zac could tell there was a real risk of that happening .

As far as Zac was concerned , his theory was essentially confirmed after crossing over ten ghost temples . Each one was only visible for a moment before Zac lost his ethereal state , but it was long enough to see the temples act like array flags . Together , they formed a mountain-spanning formation that funneled energy toward the peak .

The mountain didn’t have any restrictions or pressure in the normal sense . The threat came from the Dao itself . The farther up he went , the greater the impartment was , both on Zac and the surroundings . He could shield himself , but just looking at a stone would fill him with errant thoughts of the cycle of creation if he wasn’t careful .

By the time he passed the halfway mark , he occasionally stopped to meditate to regain his balance . Zac didn’t feel like his mind would be swept away , but the environment rekindled the visions of the Remnants . How the carriers had gradually found themselves twisted by the whispers of the splinters , their personalities replaced without them noticing .

The dangers of the Sangha were in the same vein . Their attacks were much harder to notice than getting stabbed or blasted by a fireball . At the same time , Zac was reaffirmed that just staying at the mountain would be extremely useful for tempering his heart . As long as he didn’t lose himself to the ghost temples of Mount Illumination , he’d emerge much stronger from the experience . Zac could understand why cultivators kept flocking to the Sangha , even after knowing of the dangers .

By the time Zac reached the upper reaches of the mountains , he didn’t dare let his mind freely wander . Every stone , every leaf , was an expression of Buddha’s love . If he didn’t focus on his path , he’d risk having his personality subverted . Yet , Zac staunchly kept walking , heading toward the peak . Once he set up shop up there , everything would be fine .

He could stay at the slopes until his heart met the requirements , only heading up when he needed to form his core in a few years .

Eventually , he reached the very edge of the golden cloud . Continuing forward meant entering the focal point of the mountain-spanning array . The energy was so dense in front of him that he could almost grasp it with his hands , and the truths were more than comprehensive enough to keep up .

Seeing it up close only reinforced Zac’s desire to claim the peak . If he could control the area with his accumulated Mana , he’d have unlimited Dao and Energy at his disposal .

The environment was in a league of its own , even compared to the uppermost platforms he’d passed . The peak reminded him of the hidden valley in the Twilight Chasm—a place where the building blocks of the Dao were a tier higher than any place he’d visited on the frontier .

Are you sure about this? - Null asked . - I know you’re powerful , but that won’t help you here . Remember , this is supposed to be your home . Climbing the mountain is not some trial to conquer . -

You said Mana helps one form their core , - Zac said . - Do different environments have any impact on that effect? -

The greater the environment , the greater effect of Mana , - Null confirmed . - As long as you can enforce your path on the peak , you will get at least twice the help from the cosmos compared to where we stand right now . But you need to be alive to enjoy the benefits . -

Then I have to give it a try . - Zac smiled as a tremendous Dao Field of Conflict crashed out from his body , imposing its harsh truths on Mount Illumination . - Nothing ventured , nothing gained . -

6

A BET ON ONESELF

The air rippled as opposing concepts clashed . The golden cloud originally moved in a lazy rotation around the peak of Mount Illumination , like the wheel of Samsara slowly being turned by the river of Fate .

Zac’s Branch of the War Axe acted like an accelerant , kicking up unstable gusts . Simultaneously , the Dharmic pressure lessened on him as the call of the Sangha grew more chaotic through the filter of Conflict . However , Zac frowned upon seeing the effect was limited . The environment was pushing back .

He ultimately couldn’t compete with a whole mountain , at least not with a Dao Field alone . The energy stabilized , accepting the ferocity of his Dao without being affected by it . Almost as though he were screaming at the clouds like a lunatic .

This wasn’t enough for him to give up . Two more Dao Fields followed the first , and Zac’s eyes lit up upon feeling the energy around him destabilize . Motes of Life , Death , Karma , Order , and a little bit of Time were shaken loose . But not even three superimposed Dao Fields were enough to permanently dismantle the ambient energy , let alone the dense cloud of providence above him .

Perhaps it’d be different if he’d managed to fuse his Dao Fields into an empowered field representing his complete path . For now , the energy around him was locked in a perpetual cycle of breakdown and recovery . It even felt like the process represented the cyclic nature of Samsara . Zac looked at the surroundings with annoyance .

If he were a cultivator , he could have absorbed the Life-attuned pieces , taking out one of the ingredients . Now , he could only watch on as the Samsara Energy broke apart and reformed .

Can I stay here while you place down the base at the peak? - Zac asked .

No way , - Null giggled . - That would be cheating . You need to prove yourself strong enough to claim the best region . You need to come with , and you need to stay on the peak during the whole process . But I can tell you that the manor comes with a set of protections . And after it’s built , it’ll immediately start enforcing your path on the surroundings , though you’d need a lot more Mana to reform this place completely . -

Alright , - Zac nodded , unsurprised by Null shutting him down .

Nothing good came for free .

The question was whether his Dao Fields were enough to withstand the environment inside the golden cloud . It was hard to tell without stepping in . But he didn’t dare enter without enough preparations . He had the Void Zone] as a final lifeline , but it wasn’t a solution . If he couldn’t even withstand the peak temporarily without cheating , he’d never be able to live here long enough to form a Cosmic Core , even with his planned breakthroughs .

Was there anything he could add to improve his situation?

Can you eat the Divine Energy? - Zac asked , having Vivi extend her vines out from the protection of the World Ring .

He shook his head and retracted Vivi as soon as she appeared . He sensed Vivi was getting confused by the Dharmic truths . Which meant even plants could be converted and consecrated in this place . He’d have to rely on himself for this one .

Zac spent the next ten minutes centering himself through meditation before decisively stepping into the golden nimbus . He immediately felt a tug on his consciousness as the truths around him skyrocketed , but Zac was prepared .

Ka! - Zac rumbled as he stomped on the ground , and a shockwave pushed away clouds and Dao alike .

It was the opening step of his Void Vajra Sublimation] , and it allowed him to rebuff the Dharma before it could infect him . Though like an inevitable tide , the golden clouds came crashing back . By that point , Zac had already started adapting to the incredible environment , and he was able to resist the pull .

Zac inwardly breathed out in relief . It felt like an immense weight was bearing down on his heart . Zac wouldn’t dare stay in this environment beyond a day or two , but that was within his levels of acceptance . Between his breakthroughs , further tempering , and the protection of Mana , he was confident he could live in this place in the future .

At the same time , it would become a potent protection against any other guest he might cross over the next couple of years .

Zac resumed his climb , relieved to find the environment didn’t get any worse . Just twenty meters after entering the nimbus , he passed the golden curtain and reached the actual peak . The cloud formed a band , like standing in the eye of a storm , giving him full vantage of the huge platform on the mostly flattened peak .

The area was large enough to accommodate over a thousand normal platforms , indicating the peak hadn’t housed just another small temple . A major complex had once stood here , even if he hadn’t managed to see anything when he stood at the base of the mountain . Now , the whole place was covered in windswept grains of white sand .

No , not windswept . Dao-touched .

Zac’s mind shuddered as his eyes traced the vast array of seemingly random dunes and valleys covering the peak . They formed an incredible pattern whose complexity far surpassed that of his Dao or blueprint . Almost like looking at the actual wheel of reincarnation . Just grasping at the corners of understanding filled Zac with horror and impending doom , and he urgently closed his eyes as he activated Void Zone] .

The feeling disappeared , allowing Zac to breathe out in relief . That had been too close . The enormous pattern had tried imprinting itself on his soul , or perhaps tried to drag it into the cycle of reincarnation . Now , he mostly felt the ancient energy of the Void .

That didn’t mean the danger had passed . The dunes and their pattern were waiting for him after he opened his eyes , and he wasn’t sure the rebuffing effect of his nullification zone would work against the mysterious effect he’d sensed .

A spare axe appeared in his hand , and he sacrificed a small amount of Void Energy to unleash a barrage of fractal leaves in every direction . Only then did he dare open his eyes again , and he was shocked to find a full monastery in front of him . He was currently standing at the edge of a large courtyard that took up half the peak while the courtyards formed a U-shape around him .

The main temple was on the opposite end , while the side buildings were shrines , Zen houses , prayer platforms , and scripture halls . They were all exquisitely crafted but lacked any markers indicating arrays or formations . The temple could just as well have been something you’d see in East Asia pre-Integration .

Even then , the complex had a tremendous presence , as though a Bodhisattva resided in that very temple . In fact , it felt like the monastery was full of monks , even if he couldn’t see anyone . Chants were coming from one side , and he could vaguely sense the smell of burning sandalwood . Altogether , it formed a harmonic atmosphere that fused with the surroundings and the nimbus cloud .

Like the peak had become one with the cosmos .

Thankfully , Zac didn’t feel his perception being influenced , no doubt thanks to his Bloodline Talent . He was more curious about why he saw the temple and why it remained in front of him . Was it because of Void Zone]? The Bloodline Talent did help him quell any outside interference while calming his heart , but he wasn’t in an ethereal state like before .

Zac confirmed his random attacks had rearranged the sands , and he deactivated his nullification zone a moment later . Immediately , the pressure of the Dharma returned . But without the pattern in the sands to amplify the effect , Zac could handle it by just maintaining his three Dao Fields .

The temples soon disappeared , proving their appearance really was connected to his Bloodline Talent .

That was weird , - Null commented . - What did you do? It felt like I just lost half a minute . -

A defensive measure , - Zac muttered , a bit surprised Null had been deactivated by his Void Zone] .

Thankfully , it didn’t look like the big guy upstairs was interested in the matter , so Zac refocused on the task . With the sand rearranged , he thoughtfully looked across the peak . He felt it viable to place his manor on the peak now that he’d ruined the pattern that formed in the sand . But where?

Should he superimpose his manor on the main temple? That should be the end-point of all the energy gathered by the ten thousand ghost temples on the slopes . Or would that create problems without any benefits? Was there a better spot to pick?

Zac slowly walked across the peak , passing through the center , the side temples , and eventually , the main temple . As he walked , he tried to understand the energy flow without letting himself be influenced by the whispers of Samsara . There was certainly something going on here , even if he didn’t sense any threat from the spots taken up by the ghost temples .

Something was wrong . It was incomplete . Eventually , Zac ended up where he started , having made a circle across the peak .

So , are you happy with this spot , or do you want to keep looking? - Null asked .

One second , - Zac muttered , frowning as he looked across the sands .

He was at the cusp of understanding , but he wasn’t quite there . He even conjured the monastery several times with Void Zone] to see if he had missed anything . Then it hit him . Zac’s eyes turned to the left , to the building most likely to be a Library and a Dharmic Repository .

Truth , - Zac muttered , looking to the Zen temple on the other side . - Balance . -

The Buddhist Sangha was made up of Nine Mountains , representing the seals on the Heavens . Eight Temples , each representing a peak elevating the Dao . Four Oceans for the Eternal Laws . And finally , one paradise , the heart of their belief—the ultimate destiny . Zac’s eyes turned to the main shrine , his instincts telling him it represented the Law of Cosmos . That left one side and one law : Impermanence .

A suitable place for a guest on the mountain .

Zac returned to a spot he’d noticed before , opposite the temple . It wasn’t in the middle nor at the edge . It was one-third to the center from the side where he started . A spot with a slight depression in both energy and truth . He deactivated Void Zone] , letting the temples fade to nothingness .

Let this spot be the core of my manor . -

This . . . - Null hesitated . - Are you sure? It seems like you’re standing on a fault line . -

I’m sure . -

Okay , - Null said . - But don’t use your weird skill to knock me out . It’ll make the impartment fail . -

Alright , - Zac said , and he saw a familiar network of lines spread out from his feet in every direction .

From the ground , a fourth temple rose . A temple wrought from stone , steel , and the colors of his Dao , rather than the red wood of the ghost temples on Mount Illumination . Zac felt like he was raising a banner of defiance in enemy territory , proclaiming his arrival . The response was instantaneous .

The whole mountain shook while the energies rose to unprecedented levels . In just seconds , Zac’s surroundings reached levels of Truth he’d only encountered on extremely rare occasions . Such as when he pushed Void’s Disciple out of the heart of the Dimensional Seed or when the valley of the Twilight Chasm went crazy .

And it kept climbing .

Zac gasped upon seeing both the temples and the immense Buddha appear in the sky , and he groaned upon feeling the radiant sun in its eyes trained on him . He wanted to run away , to activate Void Zone] , but he roused his faltering determination to push back . Instead of depending on his bloodline , he reinforced his heart .

Ka! - Zac roared again as he started the Void Vajra Sublimation] . This time , he didn’t stop with the first cycle but kept going toward the next , desperately holding onto his path .

He visualized himself being the Void , only taking what he needed from the Heavens while keeping the rest out . The Dharma proved relentless , replacing the whole cosmos . Zac fought tooth and nail as he went from one stance into another , but his bubble of security kept shrinking while his heart grew exhausted .

Zac took out one Cosmic Crystal after another , and the equivalent energy of a Hegemon’s Cosmic Core was released as Zac crushed them in his hands . Anything to create imperfections in the terrifying pressure bearing down on him . Yet his feeble attempts at disruption only became kindling to the Buddhist storm that had been conjured .

The calm nimbus transformed into a hurricane , dragging more and more energy out of the mountain . The Dao was so condensed it started to affect reality . Millions of golden marks appeared in the air , naturally forming Dharmic Scripture , while celestial phenomena danced over the monastery .

And bad became worse when Zac sensed something else .

A presence unlike the others was forming within the main temple . The phenomenon was similar to a heavenly descent , like a Dharmic Guardian was gradually taking form . The apparitions covering the peaks were just there to herald its arrival . Zac felt despair upon being exposed to the perfection it embodied .

It was game over if that thing was allowed to emerge from the temple .

It’s done! - Null’s voice echoed in his mind , and Zac almost cried in relief .

Any more and he would have to run for his life , even if it meant giving up on his base . He wasn’t confident that even Void Zone] could withstand what was coming .

Exit? - Zac gasped , and a red gate lit up .

Zac didn’t know where it led , and he didn’t care . He jumped through the gate , running for his life .

The deafening hum of the Buddhist Sangha was completely cut off the moment he was teleported . Zac took a shuddering breath , feeling like he’d just escaped divine judgement . That had been way too close .

He’d realized the formation on the peak was incomplete , missing a flag in one of the four cardinal directions . The golden nimbus rotating around the peak was most likely leakage from the imperfection .

Zac figured it was a trial of sorts . To unlock the true potential of Mount Illumination , he would have to complete the mountain-spanning array with his manor . He had been correct , but he hadn’t expected the activation would lead to such a huge reaction . Hopefully , it was just a temporary outburst as the array was realigned , and by the time he returned , the mountain would have calmed down .

For now , Zac was alive and well . If anything , he was even more optimistic about the Perennial Vastness after his brush with death or ordination . Zac couldn’t be certain , but his treasure sense told him there was an opportunity hiding on Mount Illumination . Something amazing was generating all that providence .

Even better , if he could encounter something so shocking at a starting location , what about the high-grade environments you had to pay to visit?

Zac looked around , realizing he was standing in a doorway leading to an eclectic city where each building had its own unique and distinct features . On the opposite side of a twenty-meter-wide road , a cave-like building stood . It didn’t have any windows like most of the buildings on the street , but it had open slits between sets of stalagmite pillars , allowing him to look inside .

Right above the entrance , a complex mesh of red lines formed a raging flame ; a Fire-attuned blueprint for a Cosmic Core . Had someone placed their blueprint for the world to see?

This is . - ? Zac asked with a hoarse voice .

This is Vastness City , - Null said , her voice filled with concern . - Are you okay? -

I’m good , - Zac smiled . - Was a close one , though . -

But what about the future? - Null asked . - You’ll have to live there . -

Don’t worry , that should’ve just been a temporary storm , - Zac said .

Still . . . -

This is a bet on myself , - Zac explained . - If I give up in the face of adversity like that , how can I aim for the peak of cultivation? -

I know , - Null muttered , the usual exuberance tempered by worry . - But try not to go too crazy . The Perennial Vastness is full of dangerous places . One mistake , and it’s game over . For both of us . -

Hey , I’d love to stay out of trouble , - Zac wryly smiled . - Unfortunately , trouble has a way of finding me . Besides , that’s the only way to get powerful . -

Maybe it’s not too late to put in for a transfer . . . -

7

CHICKENS AND MONKEYS

Zac didn’t rush out to explore Vastness City . He first spent a few minutes just standing in place , letting his heart return to the Void to avoid any lingering or hidden effects from the overpowering Dharmic pressure . He also activated Void Zone] , resetting his state even further .

What now? How can I find the others? - Zac asked after having grounded himself .

Two ways , - Null said . - If your friends arrived at the same time as you , they’ll appear here sooner or later if they haven’t already . The city isn’t that big , so go around and look for them . If that fails , you can check the buildings . You should understand the cultivation of your friends , right? -

Sure , - Zac nodded . - To an extent , at least . -

Well , look behind you . -

Zac turned around , and he whistled at the domineering building behind him . It wasn’t big , but a lot of detail had gone into its creation , which almost resembled the temple of a war god . The building was mainly made of small golden and black bricks—clearly set in a pattern that reflected his path—alongside steel details .

There was no time to get a good look at his manor back on Mount Illumination , but Zac guessed this house reflected its design . While the building gave off an impressive aura , it was clearly not a defensive structure as there were two large windows , one on each side of the entrance . They showed a small space within , roughly five by five meters .

The interiors had no furniture or items ; the only feature was a single door Zac guessed led back to his manor . Null had mentioned he’d get a storefront in Vastness City . It looked like she wasn’t kidding around .

In the middle of each window , an incredibly complex seal was engraved . And while it looked odd , Zac could tell it was a representation of his blueprint . The scene made him frown and look over his shoulders for people spying on him . Thankfully , there was very little foot traffic in his neighborhood , and he only saw a few people walking in the distance .

Your blueprint is akin to your stamp or calling card in here . You can modify the design if you don’t want to show it , - Null explained . - But you’ll soon find out most people are open with their blueprint . -

Having seen the nearby buildings , Zac knew Null wasn’t making things up . Zac still felt a bit vulnerable , putting his Cosmic Core on open display like that . For now , he infused the building with a mental command . A second later , the two halves of his cores were split into separate engravings . The left window got an Evolutionary Core , and the right an Inexorable Core .

It looked a bit better than the confusing mesh where the Perennial Vastness tried to distill his blueprint onto a two-dimensional surface , and it didn’t give off any potential secrets of his . Having done so , he turned back to the street .

Do all these buildings belong to other cultivators? - Zac asked , glancing to the fiery-red building opposite his .

Most of them , - Null confirmed . - If you find one that matches your friends , you can infuse your will into its inner door , and the owner will be notified . -

Can you take me to any Shadow or Ice and Death-attuned storefronts? - Zac asked , eyes scanning the street for anything reminding him of Ogras or Catheya .

I don’t have any features like that , - Null said . - You’ll just have to walk around . But since you came together , you should appear in the same section of the city . If you really can’t find them , there are usually people who keep track of storefronts , including new arrivals . -

What’s up with the storef— - Zac said , but he lost his train of thought upon seeing two cultivators walk past him .

It wasn’t the fact they were some humanoid species he’d never seen before , but rather their discussion that drew Zac’s attention .

The Grand Firmament Coalition is harassing that black-eyed yin creature again , - one of the two said . - This is the second month . -

She’s unlucky to run into them right at the start , - the other shrugged . - An undead should have known better than causing a scene . -

Zac frowned and walked over to them , leaking some of his aura so they’d take him seriously . - Excuse me , where can I find this undead? -

A newcomer? Perhaps an acquaintance of the young lord? - one of the two said with a respectful nod . - They’re not far from here , close to the sixty-eighth . -

Thank you , - Zac nodded and walked away .

I’m on it , - Null said before Zac needed to ask , and a guidance beam appeared in Zac’s field of vision .

What’s the Grand Firmament Coalition? - Zac asked as he sped down the roads , the buildings around him turning to a blur as he only focused on the guiding line .

No idea , - Null said . - Probably some temporary alliance of guests . As I said , some people go at it alone while others team up . Some do it because they’re weak and can’t deal with the environments of the Perennial Vastness . But it’s also common for top-tier guests to form factions that can help them complete harder yet more lucrative missions . -

Zac sighed . The Grand Firmament Coalition was probably the second type of group , going by that humanoid’s comment about a - young lord . ’ It looked like Catheya had found herself in a troublesome situation the moment she arrived . Was it because of her situation with the Undead Empire , or was she just unlucky?

Hopefully , he wouldn’t be late to help his companion this time . Zac pushed some Cosmic Energy into his legs , but he almost stumbled upon feeling an intense resistance that prevented him from activating Earthstrider] .

What’s going on! - Zac swore . - I’m restricted . -

Rotating Cosmic Energy is blocked in Vastness City to keep order , - Null explained . - There are exceptions , though . Look to the left . -

Zac glanced over and spotted a number of people standing at one of the major crossings . There seemed to be a huge circle lined by a protective array . Inside , two warriors were furiously trying to break open each other’s barriers , blood covering the ground . The scene proved that the blueprint-based barriers Null showed him earlier weren’t infallible , and his worry for Catheya only increased .

Thankfully , Null was right . When rushing , it took Zac less than a minute to reach the street the guiding light indicated . Unfortunately , there was a small crowd ahead , proving something was happening . Zac couldn’t see exactly what was going on , but after leaping into the air , he caught a glimpse of a scene that ignited a fire in his chest .

Of Catheya being surrounded by a dozen people , her aura erratic with ichor trailing down her ear and mouth . A few of her enemies were already out for the count , barely standing with ice covering their bodies . But there were still six with their weapons drawn at her . Just as Zac had leapt into the air , he’d seen her trying to veer away , only to be prevented from escaping by a human blockade .

She wasn’t standing inside one of those battle circles but rather on a wide street , which meant she couldn’t use any escape skills to get away . And being a mage , she was clearly at a disadvantage using just her body and Daos . All the while , over a hundred people egged the attackers on , considering her situation a game .

For six years , Zac had restrained himself , hiding away in his cave as he worked on his foundations . Now , it felt like a seal had snapped , and cascading waves of killing intent roiled from his body as Miasma replaced Cosmic Energy . Even the splinters locked in the depths of his mind stirred , singing with joy as Zac’s murderous intent became so condensed , it almost took on a physical appearance .

It didn’t matter who these Grand Firmament Coalition were or what factions out in the Multiverse backed the - young lord . ’ The scene in front of him dragged out too many bad memories , and this time he was neither too late nor too weak to make a difference . He hadn’t planned on staying low in either case , and these people could serve as a warning to the rest of the Perennial Vastness .

A warning that blood would flow when his companions were targeted .

With each step , it felt like he was coming alive after years of slumber , the ichor in his body pumping with vigor . This was it , the true self that the Integration of Earth had awakened . His path was not one of secluding himself in cultivation chambers or staying hidden to avoid trouble . Conflict was at the heart of the road he’d chosen , and he let his Dao course freely through his body , becoming one with his purpose .

The air groaned , strained from his burgeoning momentum as he stepped forward . Love’s Bond] appeared on his back , and the metallic clatter of the fetters echoed through the streets . The links were forged with Pure Death , which made their collisions sound like the death knells of a funeral procession .

What the— - one of the onlookers muttered as he turned around , his eyes widening in alarm .

He stumbled out of the way just as Zac’s billowing killing intent crashed into the crowd like a tsunami . The shouts and jeers died out , replaced by an oppressive silence as the crowd parted like a sea . The scene came into full view once more . Catheya controlling six floating ice shards , facing off against a swordsman while the rest blocked any path of escape .

His anger reached another level upon seeing they were essentially toying with her , and he shot forward .

Ah! Wait! - Null’s voice echoed in his mind , but Zac could barely hear the guide over the roaring buzz of his killing intent .

His whole being screamed for blood , and he wouldn’t be denied .

Who are you? - the apparent leader shouted upon noticing Zac’s entrance , but the only answer forthcoming was a gleaming axe crashing toward his head .

Four chains simultaneously targeted the others still in fighting condition , each link targeting a vital spot . Eruptions of Dao rippled around him as six barriers sprung up to protect the defenders , and Zac frowned in annoyance upon feeling over 80% of his strength being sapped away as he tried to split his target’s head in two .

The light emitted from the barrier was almost blinding , its squirming patterns drenching him in a yellowish gleam . The resistance was tremendous , but just 20% of his strength was enough to kill most Peak E-grade cultivators . Unfortunately , the resistance slowed his opening move too much , narrowly providing his target with enough time to react . He desperately backpedaled as Black Death] cut down just half a hand from his nose .

Stop! - the leader screamed .

Unfortunately for him , they weren’t standing inside one of the dueling circles . He couldn’t use movement skills , and his attributes were nowhere near Zac’s . If not for the protection of his blueprint shield , the first swing would have already killed him . Zac easily kept pace , his anger only growing after failing to kill a single one of his targets .

The chains had also been rebuffed , and he could only use them to restrict while he dealt with the leader . At first , Zac planned to push toward the inexorable end where his axe found flesh , but he spotted something just as he was about to strike . Wasn’t that wrong?

Zac didn’t know why , but he felt something was off about a few of the runes among the hundreds of thousands that made up the yellow barrier around the leader of the Grand Firmament Coalition . As luck would have it , one was right at level with his throat .

Stop! We surr— - the man screamed , but his sentence died out as his head flew into the air .

The silence was deafening . Zac now stood over a headless corpse , blood trickling down the edge of his axe to join the pool spreading around him . The spectators looked at him like he was a madman , everyone afraid to speak up lest they’d be targeted next . A few were already distancing themselves , while others were too afraid to even move . Zac had seen similar expressions countless times , and he didn’t bother with them after confirming no one was planning to step in and block him .

His heart did not so much as ripple as he turned to the remaining cultivators . He’d kept up the pressure with Loves Bond] while dealing with the leader , but the chains weren’t powerful enough to kill enemies through the pathbound barriers . The shields just sapped out too much strength .

Even if the piercing strikes of his armament had the strength to pierce the barrier , the remaining force was so weak that even a Middle E-grade cultivator could rebuff it . And the people who had arrived in the Perennial Vastness weren’t useless . Even the weakest among those coming to this place were renowned talents or at least scions with impressive backgrounds who could source the coveted Perennial Vastness Tokens .

After all , the Perennial Vastness and the System only sent a few million tokens out every Cosmic Gallery to be shared amongst innumerable Peak E-grade cultivators . Zac still felt dealing with these five shouldn’t prove too difficult after this initial kill , unless they all fled in a different direction , but a sudden searing heat on his wrist made him stop in place .

What is it?’ Zac asked in his mind while maintaining his abyssal glare .

Don’t attack them! You can’t just kill people in Vastness City! - Null cried . - Right now , you broke the rules , resulting in mutual destruction . Look at your Status Screen . -

Zac opened his Status Screen and almost swore upon seeing his Mana .

Mana : 1 , 978]

In one go , he’d lost over 500 Mana , more than 20% of his total . The scene almost made him queasy , and he realized he couldn’t continue . There were still five people remaining , not counting those Catheya had already dealt with . If he killed them all , wouldn’t he run out of Mana? If that happened , then what? Would he be kicked out of the Perennial Vastness?

Even then , Zac didn’t regret it in the slightest . These people needed a reminder they couldn’t just act as they wanted , hiding behind the rules while harassing others .

You lost 10% of both your and your opponent’s total Mana for illegally attacking and killing that guy , - Null groaned . - What kind of lunatic starts killing people the moment they arrive? This is a Green Zone . There are rules . This wasn’t a death match . It was a duel for resources! -

Undead will die if they run out of Miasma , even if the enemies don’t land a killing blow , ’ Zac grunted , still angry upon seeing Catheya’s pitiful expression .

That’s . . . - Null hesitated . - Well , that’s true . No rules are perfect . But you still can’t just kill these people . That won’t save your friend . -

Zac had too little information . While climbing Mount Illumination , he’d been fully focused on solving the mystery of the ghost temples while protecting his Dao Heart . And the moment he arrived in Vastness City , he was distracted by the news of Catheya . Now , he was facing down a whole group of cultivators , unsure of his options .

The situation wouldn’t wait for him to get a full run-down from Null , leaving Zac at an impasse . Thankfully , Catheya was quick on the uptake .

You losers want to keep playing? - Catheya laughed as she walked up to Zac . - My husband will accept any of your challenges . I’d like to see how you deal with him . In fact , you can bring the whole coalition if you dare . We could use a couple Revenant servants for our stay . -

He’s a newcomer . He doesn’t have unlimited Mana , - one of them stuttered , but he shuddered when another wave of killing intent drowned him and his companions .

Maybe not , but isn’t the Grand Firmament Coalition planning a final excursion to the Hyr’Zen Tundra? No penalties there , and lots of places to hide . - Catheya smiled . - Or do you want to stay and fight? -

The group had already lost their fighting spirit long before , and Catheya’s nudge was all they needed to turn tail and run , even carrying their semi-frozen companions so they could move faster . After a pointed glare , the crowd dispersed , leaving Zac and Catheya in front of a building clearly belonging to her .

Ice and black metal formed a beautiful storefront in gothic design , with a pitch-black ice blueprint hovering over the door frame .

Are you okay? - Zac asked , his attention back to his old companion .

Catheya surreptitiously looked around as she dragged him into her storefront , which was already decorated with black ice furniture . A wave of her hand made the windows tint , and her aura stabilized .

How can I be okay? - Catheya huffed as she lightly slapped his chest . - You scared away the little fishies . -

Zac looked on with incomprehension as she wiped the ichor from her cheek . A few seconds later , one wouldn’t have been able to tell she’d just been in a fight .

It was fake? - he blurted .

Did you think those guys could do me in? I was just after their Mana , - Catheya glared , but her scowl soon turned into a radiant smile . - Still , your display was worth it . Who doesn’t like the dashing prince coming to the rescue? -

I— - Zac said , losing his train of thought as two arms snaked around him .

I’ve missed you . - A content hum reached him from below as Catheya nestled herself against his chest .

I missed you too , - Zac sighed , enclosing her in his arms . - I’ve been worried about you over the past years . -

Neither moved until a disgusted snort echoed through the room .

Is this my lot for the next couple of years? Watching the springtime of others? - Ogras swore from within Zac’s shadows , startling both Zac and Catheya . - Shameless couple . -

8

THE RULEBOOK

You were here already? - Zac exclaimed while Catheya looked around warily .

Who? -

You know my friend from the Tower of Eternity , - Zac explained .

He’s got a token as well? How? - Catheya muttered as she looked around . - And why are you skulking around in the shadows? -

I figured it would be useful if at least one of us didn’t create a large number of enmities the moment we arrived , - Ogras said , still not emerging from wherever he hid . - Seeing as I could sneak inside by leaving a mark on your husband , I think it’s best I remain hidden . -

A few black veins spread across Catheya’s face in what Zac had learned was akin to blushing as she took a step back . - What a pervert , spying on others . -

Hey , I have no choice . I promised his other wife to keep an eye out , - Ogras snickered . - I don’t want to get incinerated . -

What! - Catheya exclaimed , looking at Zac with shock . - Who? -

Ignore him . He’s just messing around . He’s talking about another friend of mine , - Zac said with a roll of his eyes .

Who’s this woman? - Catheya asked , completely ignoring Zac .

Fire and ice . How poetic , - Ogras answered with a laugh , then buttoned up upon feeling Zac’s killing intent spread through the small storefront . - Alright , alright . Geeze . -

You’ve been busy over these past years , - Catheya commented with a raised brow .

I have literally been sitting alone in a cave working on my breakthrough , - Zac grunted .

I’m just kidding . - Catheya laughed . - Don’t you think I know what kind of cultivation blockhead you are by now? -

Whatever , - Zac said with some helplessness . - Is this place safe to talk? -

These storefronts have no protections , except for the gateway to our manors . Anyone could eavesdrop unless you watch out , - Chatheya explained . - I’m surprised your friend managed to elude my defenses . Maybe they’re not as thorough as I thought . -

Can we sit down and talk somewhere? I still don’t understand all the rules and just lost over five hundred Mana . If possible , I’d prefer to avoid doing that again , - Zac said . - Can we visit your base? Shouldn’t be anyone to eavesdrop there . -

That might not be a great idea now that you’ve brought your friend . My place is a bit dangerous for non-Draugr , - Catheya said .

Are all places like that? - Zac asked curiously . - I almost got myself killed setting up my base . -

It’s usually like that if you get more than 2 , 000 starting Mana , - Catheya nodded while taking out a Healing Pill . - Turns out those who perform well from the start have a perk ; better starting options , though those places are all pretty dangerous . My environment is doubly so for your friend . Let’s go to the incensary instead . It’s on our way , in either case . -

She followed up by eating the pill and crushing another to let its medicinal aroma douse her , making it seem she had just used some powerful healing treasure to recover quickly from her supposed internal wounds .

On our way where? - Zac asked as they emerged from her empty store .

The Mission Hall , - Catheya smiled . - You have good timing . New quests will be released in a few hours . We can catch up and get you oriented before then . -

Sounds good , - Zac nodded , but he stopped upon seeing the headless corpse lying not far ahead .

No one had dared claim the body or its treasures , and Zac wordlessly walked over and put both head and body into his Corpse Sack—the first addition in years .

Some improvement , at least , - Catheya smiled . - Reattaching a head so cleanly cut isn’t that hard for a talented Lich . The problem comes when you destroy their brains like you did in the Twilight Ocean . No rot , either . Please make sure you remember that during our stay here . Every single guest in the Perennial Vastness has the makings of a top-tier Revenant . -

Still as practical as ever , - Zac smiled . - This incensary . Is it an actual shop or some other person’s storefront? -

A small number of the buildings in Vastness City are empty , much like in the Tower of Eternity . However , you have to pay Mana to rent additional real estate , so most don’t bother . The Undead Empire has one such shop because we need a place to gather and organize , considering we’re a small and exposed minority here , - Catheya explained as she led them through the streets .