Defiance of the Fall

No wonder the method strongly recommended breaking through within a Spirit Flame , especially a Life-attuned one . The clouds and drops were impurities lodged in the very depths of his cells . Pill Toxins , dregs from Natural Treasures , sequela from wounds . Even just the ambient impurities of being a cultivator of the frontier .

It was all removed at a level rivaling his baptisms by Tribulation Lightning . And there was a lot of it . Zac hadn’t held back on using treasures to speed up his body and soul constitution since secluding himself . His soul , especially , was built on a mountain of Life and Death-attuned treasures that allowed him to keep pace with the unimaginably powerful Moss Crystals .

Normally , a cultivator progressing like that was akin to sacrificing their future . Still , Zac dared do so because of Purity of the Void] and the upcoming Tribulation Lightning from entering Hegemony on the Boundless Path . Now , he was given a baptism ahead of time , a small bonus that would hopefully make his other breakthroughs smoother .

His Cosmic Energy stores had increased by at least 20% , which meant his Void Energy had also increased by 20% . His pathways had become sturdier , and Zac felt each cell was a small sun . Even his stores of Vigor and its natural recovery had improved , a welcome fuel that’d allow him to use his Draugr Hidden Nodes to much greater effect .

Zac teemed with Life , which would help with his body’s natural healing rate . It would also improve his resistance to almost any form of attack , from poisons to foreign Daos . He obviously wasn’t at the level of the ancient Body cultivators who could reform their bodies from a single drop of blood , but he suspected that even lost limbs would regrow given enough time .

Most interesting was perhaps the new realm his Dao Heart reached . The hidden burst of information had , for the first time , explained the three realms of the Heart the Boundless Vajra Sublimation] nurtured . The first realm , and the one he’d reached upon passing the first major threshold , was called Boundless Self .

The stage of Boundless Self allowed his Dao Heart to impose its will upon his body . A poignant example of this was how the broken pieces had recovered and become healthy flesh through a magical transformation Zac didn’t understand . Of course , this didn’t mean he’d gained the ability to take any form he wanted .

Boundless Self made what was true real , but not everything was true . For example , he couldn’t suddenly turn himself into an elephant or a thousand-meter Beast King . Neither could he will himself into Hegemony . No matter how much he wanted to sweep through the grades , he knew he was currently in the E-grade .

Being a Hegemon wasn’t true . Therefore , it couldn’t be made real . But his being human was true in his heart of hearts . As such , his body was human , which was further proved by the fact that his Status Screen hadn’t changed .

This kind of transcendent state would come with other benefits as well . The original version allowed your heart to accept outside Daos and influences without letting the self go astray . In Zac’s case , he nurtured a state of Void Self than a Boundless Self . He would have to try it out , but he believed his natural resistance to the path of powerful cultivators or environments would increase .

This probably increased his resistance against the pathbreaking Dharma of the Buddhist Sangha , which was extremely convenient with his manor being in the middle of a Dharmic storm .

The second realm of the Heart would arrive at the Major Sublimation and was called Boundless Domain . At that level , your heart didn’t just see through truths and falsehoods of the self but everything you laid your eyes upon . Illusions would be nigh-useless when faced with someone who had reached Boundless Domain .

Finally , upon cultivating the method to the end of the ninth layer , you’d give birth to the True Boundless Heart . Nothing was mentioned about that stage , but it was obviously incredibly powerful . Of course , passing the final layer of the method was almost impossible . Just completing the first layer put you in the top percentile of all who cultivated the method .

To completely master it? There were probably just a handful of those people in the whole Sangha .

The one thing that hadn’t improved was his affinity . Even now , Zac didn’t feel any closer to the Dao . Trying to absorb some of the ambient energy also failed , proving he still lacked that mysterious connection with the surroundings that allowed cultivators to drag energy out of the air .

Zac was simultaneously relieved and disappointed things had stayed the same on that front . He still held on to some small desire to become a - true - cultivator , though it would come with huge drawbacks . The most notable of which was that his core would no longer work since it depended on his lack of affinities to incorporate the Void .

In that regard , Zac felt he’d made the right decision in breaking through . Before , the inherent Death-attunement of his Draugr heritage was much stronger than his Life-attunement . Now , his human side had passed his yet-unawakened Draugr bloodline . Still , the difference was not as big as it was before .

If his Draugr side had been inherently 30% more impressive since drinking the Essence of the Abyss] compared to his second layer Void Vajra Constitution , then his human side was now roughly 15% stronger . And with his human side better suited to restrain the Inexorable Core and form the Evolutionary Core , he was in a much better position for his future undertaking .

With everything dealt with , it was time to go . Null’s earlier warning meant his free trial of the Keys of Ascension was about to run out . And like any self-respecting money-grubbing enterprise , the Perennial Vastness charged for the whole hour at the start of the hour . Zac left the inner circle , only then realizing he’d barely felt the heat of the invisible flame since breaking through .

Zac’s robes , rings , and other items were lying in a neat pile by the exit , and he quickly dressed . The confusing blur of paths and Daos greeted him as he emerged , but Zac’s heart was as steady as bedrock as he descended the golden stairs forming in front of him . The surrounding structures and their disorienting movements were no longer enough to confuse him . He even took the opportunity to look around as he descended , taking in the beauty of the possibilities presented by the Daos .

Fifteen minutes later , Zac emerged from the keys and stepped onto the bridge after giving the marvelous structure a final look .

I guess it’s time to see how my home base turned out , - Zac said upon reaching the exit .

You sure? - Null giggled . - Getting pretty confident after one breakthrough . -

Initially , Zac had planned on only returning after breaking through both his Soul and Constitution . Now , Zac felt it wasn’t needed . The protection against the Sangha’s Dharma he’d gained from reaching Boundless Self , or rather Void Self , was much greater than what he’d gain from breaking through the next layer of the Nine Reincarnations Manual] .

After all , the pathbreaking aspect of the Buddhist Sangha wasn’t some mind poison that harmed the soul . Its danger came from the beauty of a vast path approaching perfection , encompassing all Daos and beings . It was so easy to get swept up in the truths of the Pure Lands and their limitless power .

Of course , Null had a point . It wouldn’t do to jump in blindly . And he had technically exploded just hours ago . Something like that was enough to create a Heart Demon , even if it was an opportunity disguised as a calamity .

Zac spent the last ten minutes of his free trial on stabilizing his mind , including using Void Zone] a few times while no one was around .

Alright , take me to my manor , - Zac said after the ten minutes were up , placing his hand on the teleportation pillar .

The pillar split in two , but there was no hint of what was going on the other side . There was only a glimmering swirl in gold , steel , and black . That didn’t mean something was wrong , but that portals leading to manors had a privacy filter . Zac stepped through and found himself in a large living room with a similar design to his storefront .

If not for the incredibly dense energies , he’d have thought he’d been returned to Vastness City . The Samsara Energy was so dense that small golden numinous clouds floated in the corners and rafters of the room like large mothballs . Looking at them filled him with wonder , even causing his elevated Dao Heart to ripple .

Zac was still delighted to find the truths inside the ambient atmosphere slightly muted , even without him running his Dao Fields . Part of it was undoubtedly thanks to his approaching the first echelon already . He could tell there was a weak hint of discordance emitted from the manor itself , destabilizing the Buddhist Path on the mountain .

His gaze turned to the six pillars that held up the ten-meter ceiling . They were identical to each other , covered in dense engravings . The pillars reminded Zac of the seventeen pillars lining the square when he arrived , though the engravings echoed his Daos rather than the seventeen peaks of cultivation .

These pillars seemed to be the source of the disturbance , and Zac could sense over twenty similar sources spread through the manor . Their aura was still far from reforging Mount Illumination in his image , but it was an important first step . It injected a sense of imperfection and doubt into the Dharmic Perfection , allowing Zac to withstand the pressure more easily .

The problem , if one could call it that , was that the energy density and Dao-attunement had noticeably increased since he left . The energy density was over ten times what he enjoyed in his cultivation cave back on Earth , and it felt like someone was constantly crushing Nexus Crystals to push the environment to this level .

More importantly , the Dao was much clearer here than back home . It was akin to the difference between a normal attuned Crystal and a top-tier attuned treasure . Even if only a third of it related to his Daos , it was almost beyond what he could deal with . Zac wryly smiled , almost happy he was an affinityless mortal . It must be torture for cultivators to live in this kind of magical environment , only to be unable to meditate on their Daos because of the Time Dilation .

The environment had transformed just like he’d hoped when he placed his manor on the only loophole on the mountain peak . Unfortunately , it meant Mount Illumination was still not suitable for permanent habitation . Even with his Void Self , Zac was forced to release his Daos soon enough .

Thankfully , it wouldn’t be much longer . Perhaps by the third or fourth echelon , Zac could stay as long as he wanted without having to use Void Zone] or his Dao Fields to actively resist the environment . For now , Zac let his Dao suffuse the whole mansion as he carefully walked toward the closest window .

Zac breathed out in relief upon confirming neither ghost temples nor towering thousand-eyed Buddha had been permanently summoned to the peak . Neither could he feel the presence of the entity that seemed to have been forming inside the monastery’s main temple . It was all gone , leaving an empty peak covered in pebbles .

In fact , Zac didn’t see the golden nimbus that covered the peak earlier , either . Instead , he had a free view of a sprawling mountain range , a scene reminiscent of the Eastern Trigram Sect he visited during the hunt . Plugging up the leak in the array must have meant the energy the nimbus received was reduced to the point it dissipated .

Hey , Null , are those mountains part of Mount Illumination? - Zac asked .

Yes , but this peak should be the best one of the low-grade peaks the boss got his hands on . -

And I can explore them for free? - Zac asked to confirm .

Sure . If you travel somewhere without using our teleportation system , you won’t be charged . Technically , you can even find a few top-tier Red Zones and stay free of charge . But I should warn you , the Perennial Vastness isn’t just a simple continent . It exists simultaneously in multiple states and dimensions , and many of the best realms are in their specific subdimension . -

I won’t waste time like that , - Zac said . - I just figured it might help solidify my Heart Cultivation if I ascended different Buddhist Peaks . -

Sure , you can do that . -

Exploring the sprawling mountain range wasn’t something he needed to do right away . But he did want to at least figure out the situation with his own peak before leaving . His compound was completely square if you included a large walled courtyard out front . The building looked like a fortified temple , and the entrance and outer gate were perfectly aligned with the main ghost temple on the opposite side of the peak .

Zac walked out on a pebble path of his courtyard , noting that the native pebbles of the peak had been replaced within his manor . Instead of marble white , the stones were all black , gold , and steely grey . They formed a mottled Zen Garden , where the seemingly random placements of pebbles held some truths about his path .

A few minutes passed as Zac wordlessly looked at the ground before taking out a spear he had lying around in his Spatial Ring . He drew a few runes in the sand , his eyes gleaming as he saw the transformation of colors and their distribution . Zac shook his head and continued to the exit .

The outer gate looked like a larger version of the door leading into his storefront , with his blueprint emblazoned on both sides . There was no door or gate , but Zac saw how the air almost vibrated in the doorway . The Dao of Mount Illumination fought with the Dao powered by his Mana . For now , it was just a feeble struggle , but Zac smiled as he imagined how his path would one day swallow the whole peak .

His gaze moved from the air to the opposite side , and he took a steadying breath as he calmed his mind and conjured the Void . He didn’t need to close his eyes or activate his Void Zone] to become one with the Void any longer . He was the Void , and the Void was he . And as though summoned by his will , the scene on the mountain peak drastically changed .

The enormous Buddha was gone , but the ghost monastery remained . The main temple had , however , gained a halo . It emitted an immense aura of providence , like it carried the fate of the cosmos . The scene made Zac’s eyes widen , and not just because of the incredibly powerful Dharmic pathbreaking truths it exuded . It was because he’d briefly sensed this same aura before , only thousands of times stronger .

The band of beads in his vision .

When he first stepped foot on Mount Illumination , he was shown a brief glimpse of a mysterious lotus and a band of prayer beads . Back then , he’d felt there was more to the vision than it being some random hallucination . What if the beads were real? That had to be a true Fate-augmenting treasure , one of the rarest kinds of items in existence . Something that magnified one’s Luck .

If it were real , he had to find a way to snatch it .

20

STRUGGLE AMONG THE HEAVENS

Zac looked at the distant ghost temple with desire burning in his heart . Fate was gathering within , and the special sense he’d gained from his huge accumulation of Luck indicated a powerful treasure waited there .

But how do you take something out from a temple that only existed in your heart? He’d tried entering the subsidiary temples multiple times on the way up . But any time he came in contact while running Void Zone] , the temple disappeared . Entering a meditative state from within the temple grounds hadn’t worked either . It simply didn’t appear around him .

Or had those rules perhaps changed?

Zac thought it over and released his Void State before making his way toward the temple on the other side . He stopped roughly at the midway point and entered his ethereal state again . However , the scene was so surprising he immediately lost it . It was gone .

The cloud of providence surrounding the temple , the swirls of Fate . They were both gone , leaving the temple looking just like before Zac summoned his manor . Zac tried activating his Void Zone] instead , but the result was the same . Worried he’d missed out on a huge opportunity , Zac ran back to his manor . Calming his heart , Zac breathed out in relief . It was back .

A few minutes and experiments later , Zac confirmed a few things . The halo of providence only existed when he entered a Void State from within his mansion . At any other time , the sense of mystery and surging fate simply wasn’t there . The cloud would remain as long as he walked out of his manor while maintaining his state .

However , the whole peak transformed when approaching the temple this way . The Samsara Energy surged , and new additions appeared around him . A drum on a platform to the left , a bell tower with a golden bell to the right . Statues of Bodhisattvas and Devas guarding the entrances to the side temples . Anything he approached was elevated .

Furthermore , with every step he took toward the treasure on the other side , the more powerful the Dharmic pressure grew . It almost felt like the simple ghost temple contained a portal to the mysterious lotus flower he’d seen in the vision , and Zac was exposed to higher and higher Dharmic truths as he got closer .

By the time he reached the halfway point across the peak , Zac couldn’t maintain his Void Zone] . It was like the monastery understood he was - cheating - when using his Bloodline Talent and multiplied the pressure in response . His Void Energy was rapidly drained , and he felt his consciousness pulled into the Boundless Dharma .

His vision swam , and Zac could barely hear himself think over the roar of the Dao of Samsara . He felt that if he took another step , he’d enter the cycle of reincarnation . Zachary Atwood would cease to exist , even if his body remained . His survival instincts trumped his greed , forcing him to back down even if his mind was hazy .

Using his Void State went better . Since evolving his heart , it wasn’t hard for Zac to maintain a Void State while walking around , so he didn’t actually need to use Void Zone] to move . Unfortunately , Zac still didn’t get much farther than the halfway point before he was unable to continue . The barrier between the self and the cosmos was fraying at that point .

Zac reluctantly looked at the inviting temple door just a few hundred meters away . His instincts told him that he could take the treasure as long as he could walk across the peak without succumbing . This was just like the Sangha . They didn’t need to coerce or trick anyone into joining . They openly invited everyone to visit their holy sites , and people would succumb to their desires and grasp for too much .

He was greedy , but he did not need to go all-out for that thing right away . He’d just broken through to Void Self , and Zac could somewhat sense it was possible to improve the stability of the self even further . There were also protective treasures and talismans that were worth looking into . Anything that could give him an edge and allow him to take those next steps .

Since taking out the treasure immediately was impossible , Zac returned to his manor and started exploring other parts of his home . There was a small scripture hall where thousands of scrolls were placed into cubbies . They didn’t contain any cultivation methods , but Zac still found them interesting .

The scrolls mostly held historical accounts , describing the origin and history of the many zones in the Perennial Vastness . More than half of the environments in this realm had been absorbed from the outside , while the others had been born through various events . The information could shed some light on the various dangers of these regions , but that wasn’t why Zac spent almost an hour reading a random scroll .

There was a sense of mystery within the descriptions . They contained a unique charm that hinted at something grand . But unlike with the Book of Duality] , Zac couldn’t figure out what . For now .

He could tell there was something hidden within the flowing prose , and he had a lot of experience deciphering this type of text . Zac didn’t know if it was related to Dao or something else , but he really wanted to get to the bottom of it before he left .

Zac continued into the main meditation chamber and was met by his blueprint floating in the middle of his room . However , this projection was far more detailed than the ones that appeared on top of his head when looking for fights . There were depictions of energy flows , Dao interactions , and even individual patterns .

He’d heard some of it from Catheya over the past days , and he pointed at a certain section as he walked over . The complete blueprint was replaced with a small piece , and Zac got a far-better look at that part . He played around with the array a bit more and found it far more incisive than he’d anticipated . Zac even found some spots that were candidates for improvement , using his most recent insights into Kalpataru and Pale Seal .

That wasn’t the only thing the array could do . Zac activated another feature of the projection , and raging waves of flames assaulted the pathways . Being under assault by the Dao of Fire put the blueprint under pressure , and the energy circulation sped up . Zac looked on with interest as large amounts of energy were dragged into the output channels , clearly simulating skills being activated .

This feature was one of the biggest expenditures for most guests . The Perennial Vastness was an ancient realm with a direct connection to the System . There was almost no Dao or path it couldn’t simulate , allowing cultivators to test their path and blueprint against any challenge .

Few could say they had a path that no Dao could restrain or was without glaring weaknesses in certain situations . In that sense , perfection could be considered an illusion , where you did what you could to improve your foundations . With the array running simulations days out and days in for years , you were bound to stumble upon some improvements while deepening the understanding of your path .

Of course , duels were far cheaper in comparison . Still , it was a matter of luck and chance to stumble upon someone who not only had a set of Daos that could provoke a weakness in your path but also had the skill and discernment to spot it .

Zac chose to activate the premium simulation at 25 Mana a day . He’d let it run for the next month as an experiment . Having visited the Keys of Ascension , Zac no longer felt the truth of Ultom omnipotent . It imparted theories far beyond the level of the E-grade with unmatched clarity , but it was completely separated from the Dao .

Who knew? Some of his so-called fake weaknesses might be real loopholes created by his imperfect understanding of Duality and his Daos . To spend 750 Mana over the next month , letting the array try out tens of thousands of scenarios , was a small price to pay . Suppose the blueprint proved as impervious as he believed it to be , then great . He’d paid a small fee to put aside his final worries . If not , Zac would know he’d have to adjust his plans .

After an hour of looking through everything , Zac was ready to leave . He hesitated but eventually teleported to one of the cheaper Green Zones . An hour later , after having rested and performing a few experiments with his improved Heart Cultivation , Zac teleported to Vastness City .

It was a small trick that allowed him to emerge in Vastness City as a human without going through his storefront . The feature was useless for most people , but it did allow Zac to keep the secret of his two races hidden for a while longer .

There was no way he’d avoid getting exposed sooner or later because of his blueprint , but he wanted to trick some more people into duels before that happened . The only downside was that it cost one day’s worth of entry to the Green Zones he picked , though there were many which cost less than 30 Mana a day .

Zac emerged at the teleportation square , only to turn back toward the pillar after it closed behind him .

The Calamity , ’ Zac said in his mind .

A terrifying golden hurricane appeared on the other side of the gate . A moment later , Zac was gone , off to deal with the next thing on his list .

Scar glanced down with surprise at the ball in his hand , but he forcibly kept his face impassive . He wasn’t the only one sitting in the recovery area , and he couldn’t ruin the princess’ plans by giving something away . One line . This was the marking he’d been told to always keep a lookout for over the past five years , the opportunity his mistress had been waiting for .

This was his chance as well . He’d emerged an elite recruit of the Empire after almost a century of hellish training , narrowly surviving where tens of millions had fallen to raise new generations of the Imperial Guard . Serving the Heavens was a great honor and a chance for his descendants to contribute to the Imperial Fate , but he also knew one’s future was limited in this path .

He’d get to enjoy the greatest resources and training , gaining power most could only dream of . However , if Scar was assigned to one of the old imperials in seclusion , he might not leave the palace for the rest of his life . Dozens of generations could come and go before one of the ancient masters either emerged or passed on .

Right place at the right time . Scar was just in the upper segment rather than the peak of the guard , but the princess needed followers who had yet to enter the Halls of Glory to form an Imperial Core . And Scar just so happened to have a useful bloodline , the one thing he was thankful to his traitorous ancestor for . If he managed to help the young princess in this matter while seizing a seal for himself , he had a small chance of being promoted to a Sword of the Empire .

Leading the armies into the unknown ancient realms , looting the treasuries of the Empire’s enemies . Not having to seal his emotions and desires inside the Halls of Glory . Gaining the right to take a wife and form a lineage . The right to choose a true name of his own , not just a nickname temporarily given by the princess because she felt the number 8376-56 was too much of a mouthful .

This was his chance to generate enough Imperial Merit to expunge his ancestor’s sin in one go .

The minutes passed as Scar continued to scan any comers and goers while pretending to recover from his wounds . Not sending out a message , nothing . Luckily , he didn’t have to wait long , as his replacement arrived one hour later through the gate . He was covered in blood and familiar wounds . Scar briefly wondered why 8379-35 did that to himself when the princess permitted them to gain their wounds by hunting for treasures .

Scar guessed it was because 8379-35 was afraid he’d get himself killed , which would mean he failed the mission . Better to maim himself than risk letting that happen . Scar inwardly shook his head as he stood up to leave , not even exchanging a glance with the man . After all , they were only strangers who needed to rest after training , not people who shared a common mission .

You are pushing the limits , keeping watch of the teleportation arrays for 48% of each day , - Oldro said in Scar’s mind .

We are only following the restrictions you levied on us , ’ Scar answered the guide .

Why’d I have to get stuck with a deathsworn , - Oldro sighed . - You should be working hard at your core , not wasting your time spying on others . At this rate , you’ll get me killed . -

Your fate is not my responsibility . If you want to blame something , blame your bad luck that you were born a creature without control of your life and death . ’

Like you’re any different , - the guide scoffed .

Scar calmly walked toward the street where he and the princess had been placed . The thought of getting similar treatment as an Imperial Royalty was extremely unsettling , doubly so after their first encounter . She’d decided their proximity meant they were fated and temporarily elevated his status to a Royal Advisor .

A role he was woefully ill-equipped for . What did he know about strategy , schemes , and the great undertakings of the ancient masters? He had been slated to remove all thoughts in a few years , completing his transition into an eternal guard . He only knew how to fight and how to protect .

Still , he could only do his best to follow orders , and he sent a weak tendril of energy into a talisman upon entering his storefront . A few minutes later , a warrior emerged from a nearby structure , walking over to Scar .

The princess requests your presence , - the guard said . Scar bowed and wordlessly crossed the street .

A moment later , Scar appeared inside a living room that had become familiar by this point , where he spotted his master sitting at her usual spot at the workbench she’d brought over .

How ostentatious , always asking you to waste Mana by visiting her manor . She is a seventh-echelon guest . She could have come to your place for free , - Oldro scoffed .

Scar ignored the guide’s grating voice . He’d long realized what it was trying to do . It wanted to drive a wedge between himself and Princess Valsa Planur , to enkindle a desire for personal progress . Only through gathering enough Mana would Oldro survive , and it didn’t care about what happened to Scar after he left the Perennial Vastness .

I greet the princess , - Scar said , kneeling five meters away .

Come , sit , - Valsa lazily waved .

Scar inwardly groaned . Sitting down at the table with an imperial was punishable by death for someone of his standing . But so was refusing orders . Scar could only comply and pray Valsa wouldn’t mention her way of management upon returning to the First Heaven .

What happened? -

By Princess’ grace , I found another one , - Scar said , trying not to color the report with excitement . - Furthermore , the resonator showed one line . -

What? - Valsa said , her lazy demeanor gone as she looked up from the schematics in front of her . Another component for her regalia , it looked like . - One line? Are you certain? -

I am certain , Princess , - Scar confirmed .

A Flamebearer . It looks like fate is conspiring against my scheming cousin , - Valsa said , her mouth curving upward . - When did this happen? -

One hour ago . I am sorry for belaying the report . Other people were recuperating at the square , including individuals suspected to be informants . I dared not do anything that might expose the identity of the Flamebearer . -

You did the right thing . - Valsa nodded . - This is why I wanted to bring people who had yet to sever their past . Continue . -

It was a human male of interminable origin . He wore no markings of any known force , - Scar said . - He entered the Calamity . Does Princess wish to activate the coalition? -

No , - Valsa said without hesitation . - Those chosen by the Left Imperial Palace are bound to be tricky to deal with . We cannot act hastily . We might only get one chance to strike , so we have to make it count . What do you know about this person? -

Reporting to Princess , I have never seen him before . Furthermore , he is an untiered guest . He should be a new arrival , - Scar said . - I failed to confirm his Daos , but I am guessing he has one related to Life . He does not have the dourness of a living practicing the Dao of Death generally carries . And I felt an odd sense of stability from him . -

Stability? - Valsa repeated with a raised brow .

As though I was looking at a calm lake , - Scar said before bowing . - I beg your forgiveness . It is just foolish ramblings of this servant . -

No , you have the Planar Pulse] . Thanks to your bloodline , your instincts should rarely be wrong , - Valsa waved . - There are various things that can give you such an impression . The fact that he can block out your senses and Hidden Nodes is a clue . All the more reason to be careful on how we handle this . -

Scar nodded , inwardly hesitant whether he should be giving suggestions at this point as the appointed Royal Advisor or wait for orders as he was trained to do . Was he failing the princess? Thankfully , he didn’t have to wait for long .

Over the next three months , thoroughly investigate the target . But don’t forget about the others . I don’t think it’s a coincidence at least five sealbearers have appeared over the past year . We might have an advantage with our history and connection to the pillars , but others also have the means to expose these people . -

Princess wishes to change her target from the one who appeared two months ago? - Scar asked .

Of course! - Valsa grinned . - I can’t believe a Flamebearer showed up! So what if the Emperors picked my cousin? So what if he carries more fate with the Fifth Pillar? Fate can be seized . If the Heavens want to keep me away , I’ll just break down the gates and force myself inside . -

Of course , - Scar nodded , hesitating a bit .

What? - Valsa frowned . - Spit it out . Remember , you’re an advisor now . Advise . -

It’s just . . . - Scar hesitated . - 35 brought an update from Imperial Prince Yzum Tobrial upon his arrival . Prince Yselio of Seventh Heaven has already succeeded in becoming a Flamebearer . Taking a seal is Princess’s right , but becoming a Flamebearer may create problems for the First Emperor and tension with the Seventh Heaven . -

Oh , that , - Valsa laughed . - Well , don’t worry about my Royal Father . Who do you think gave me all these tokens and told me to go seize Fate? -

Forgive my foolishness , - Scar quickly bowed while inwardly crying .

He had just heard something he absolutely wasn’t supposed to . If it was one thing that could drag you and your whole bloodline into an early grave , it was knowing the secrets of a Supremacy . Especially when the Supremacy was the reigning emperor of the First Imperial Heaven .

21

THE CALAMITY

The Calamity was the same place where Zac had an opportunity to build his manor . But the storm he’d seen the first time was a special zone at the outer edges of the ancient chaotic anomaly , and it cost 50 Mana a day to keep your manor there .

Meanwhile , the Calamity was a Red Zone , where the teleporter took you farther inside . It cost a whopping 250 Mana a day to visit , making it one of the most expensive regular zones in the whole Perennial Vastness , even when including those restricted by echelon . Despite that , it was still at the very utmost perimeter of the storm , which was almost unfathomably big . Some estimates even put it at a size comparable to a smaller C-grade continent .

The inner regions weren’t available to the guests of the Perennial Vastness . That place could threaten even Monarchs , and it was sealed off by the Perennial Vastness . Perhaps it was running high-tiered experiments there , or it could even be a cultivation zone for one of the Realm Spirit’s disciples like Lord Engo . With such a huge realm , there could be whole civilizations living inside the Perennial Vastness without the guests knowing .

Zac wasn’t going to the Calamity to sightsee but to continue his cultivation . Having gained a surprising breakthrough in his heart , providing him access to his manor , Zac was faced with a choice . Breaking through his soul was no longer as critical as before . He could spend the next few days touring the trial zones to get better acquainted with them , such as visiting the Quarry as Lord Engo suggested .

However , Zac ultimately chose to continue with his pre-arranged plan . Three weeks in Sinner’s Lament had proven just how dangerous the Perennial Vastness could be . This was no place to save breakthroughs for later . Better to be safe than sorry . And that was what led him to the Calamity .

There were more zones like the Keys of Ascension in the Perennial Vastness , but none perfectly suited his unusual requirements of needing Pure Life and Death . As he’d realized during his years of bitter cultivation , it was a paradoxical path that was a dead end for anyone with actual affinities .

Keys of Ascension and a few similar places would do the trick , but it would cost most of his Mana . He had already made almost 10 , 000 in one month , but he knew the lion’s share of that windfall came from a situation he couldn’t easily replicate . Seeing how hard he’d been forced to work for a profit of one thousand from hunting Sinner Mounds , Zac had to be careful with his spending .

Most of the remaining options were zones like Mount Illumination . Life and Death might be present , but it was in a different state than what he needed . Using a mixed-meaning region didn’t seem like an optimal idea . His breakthroughs always drew huge amounts of energy from his surroundings , and he didn’t want foreign Daos messing anything up .

The easiest solution was waiting until he had enough Mana that his manor’s environment mirrored his path . But since that could take over a year , he was left with the Calamity , which had exactly the environment he required and more than enough energy .

Unfortunately , Zac didn’t even get the chance to get his bearings upon stepping through . A pang of danger was all the warning he got before he was whisked away , dragging him far from the teleportation pillar . A deafening roar sounding like millions of firecrackers filled his head , and his surroundings became a confusing blur .

Incredible amounts of Life-attuned energies raged around him , almost reaching the central circle of the temple where he broke through just hours ago . However , this place was no cultivation haven . It was a warzone , where the energies were incredibly agitated , partly because Zac could actually sense a hint of Creation in its depths .

Similarly , some Death was thrown into the mix , which was probably the cause of the agitation . Furthermore , the interaction between Life and Death was far more visceral than Zac was used to . It almost felt like the Dao had gone insane . For some reason , the vastly more abundant Divine Energy was willing to destroy itself to ensure it annihilated those snippets of Death in its midst .

Conflagrations of Life erupted in every direction , swirling whirls of madness creating small hurricanes in their wake . And Zac was caught and helplessly flying around in the middle of it all , utterly incapable of getting control over his body .

If nothing changed , who knew where he’d end up?

Cursing his bad luck , Zac couldn’t hold back , and he activated Void Zone] to quell the hurricane of Life-attuned energies that had kidnapped him . Except the moment he did , it was like he’d become enemy number one to the storm . Instead of targeting the snippets of Death , the abundant Divine Energy stormed into his nullification Zone , overwhelming its defenses .

Dozens of muted explosions erupted , and Zac’s Void Energy was expended at an alarming rate . The Bloodline Talent had clearly made things worse rather than better , and Zac urgently canceled the domain . With Void Zone gone , he had to endure the crazed energies with his body . But the Dao stopped targeting him , at least .

Until he tried using his Dao Fields .

The environment in the Calamity was dead-set on creating trouble . His Branch of the Kalpataru acted as fuel for the eruptions , while Pale Seal made him an even more obvious target than Void Zone] . And unsurprisingly , his Branch of the War Axe stirred the flames of Conflict , worsening his situation .

Zac was completely lost . The low gravity of the Calamity prevented him from falling back to the ground . And activating Earthstrider] only created more trouble . The chaotic energies were messing with the skill , and he sensed he hadn’t moved in the direction he intended . With his movement skill on the fritz , Zac could only move to another backup plan , having Vivi’s sturdy vines shot out in every direction like feelers .

He wanted to find something to grab onto , but Vivi’s vines were all destroyed long before they found solid ground .

The situation was bad , and the energy only kept rising , breaking apart and reforming in a deadly cycle that would instantly rip any F-grade cultivators to shreds . Even Zac’s Life-attuned Constitution only provided a limited reprieve from the chaos . Worse , it felt like the storm was building toward something . Something terrifying .

Zac suddenly felt a pang of danger , but he had no chance to react before a small swirl ripped a chunk of his leg . Golden blood and flesh were dragged into the haze , but Zac’s eyes gleamed with interest as he stuffed a couple of Healing Pills into his mouth . In contrast to Void Zone] or his Dao Fields , his blood was having a cooling effect on the storm .

Thanks to the calming effect of the bloody mist , Zac could see farther than a few arm lengths . The franticness died down in the area closest to him , and the haze cleared .

Zac almost wished it hadn’t . The Dao itself wasn’t the only danger in these parts .

An undulating shriek pierced the storm’s roar as a twenty-meter-long creature flew toward him . It looked a lot like a golden manta , its body covered in what looked like naturally formed runes . Its body was not only able to withstand the storm but even harness its force to some extent .

A Divine Stormglider .

If not for the chaotic situation , Zac would have been happy . The hides of Stormgliders were quite valuable because they made great armor . An undead cultivator incorporating those hides into their regalia would drastically improve their defenses , particularly against Life . Zac already learned the Undead Coalition had a standing order on those things .

It was one of the native creatures of the Calamity , having found an amazing cultivation environment where most only saw danger .

The Stormglider seemed attracted by his Life-attuned blood , its shrieks incredibly excited as it pulled a drop into its mouth . Zac wasn’t surprised at the reaction . Thanks to his Dao and pure constitution , his body had become something like a Natural Treasure to beasts . He was more worried about the fact Stormgliders seldom traveled alone .

A storm of fractal leaves shot forth , aiming to kill the Stormglider in two before it could call the rest of its squadron . But the runes on the Early Beast King lit up , and Zac swore with surprise when the storm increased in ferocity . A gust pushed through the temporarily calm surroundings and ripped apart the blades while creating a curtain between Zac and the beast .

The division didn’t last long . A beam of pure light pierced through , aimed straight at Zac . Around it , streamers containing the condensed essence of the chaotic environment tagged along , creating a deadly combination attack . Though Zac hadn’t just been sitting around since his opening salvo . Two shrouds pushed forward , forming an invisible divide .

The divinity beam was utterly incapable of contending against Rapturous Divide] and was swiftly cut apart . The Stormglider had the home-field advantage , but Zac had the advantage in absolute strength .

The boundary between Life and Death was under attack by the environment , but its intangible blade still cut everything for over two hundred meters before the skill collapsed . It contained a huge amount of Cosmic Energy and force , and in its wake , allowed a temporary corridor of absolute calm to form .

Zac activated Earthstrider] to appear right next to the bisected Beast King , and he stowed away the huge corpse before flashing away . It had only been for a fraction of a second , but Rapturous Divide] had not only helped Zac kill his target , it gave him a glimpse of land not that far away .

He needed to act quickly . First and foremost , the small Beast King he’d killed was probably just one of the outer scouts of its squadron . He could already hear dozens of piercing shrieks through the storm , probably answering their fallen companion’s earlier call . Dealing with one or two was easy , but Zac didn’t want to tangle with the whole pack .

There was no lack of Middle-stage Beast Kings in most Red Zones , and reports mentioned there could even be Late-stage Beast Kings lurking in the shadows . Zac wasn’t even confident in dealing with the former . The Beast Kings you encountered in the Perennial Vastness had far purer bloodlines than the ones on the frontier , and creatures that could thrive in the Calamity were doubly fearsome .

And against Late-stage Beast Kings? His only chance at survival was to escape and hope the beasts didn’t notice him . It was possible the stronger coalitions in Perennial Vastness could hunt Late-stage Beast Kings , provided they gathered enough people and made thorough preparations .

Furthermore , Zac didn’t have much time . Even if the storm had momentarily calmed , it was only in a relative sense . The Dao was weakened thanks to his blood , but the wind was still very much there . He’d soon be swept away if he didn’t reach land . Zac could also sense a growing sense of unease .

Something was happening in the heart of the storm , not too far-off in the distance . He couldn’t see anything because of the golden haze , but just sensing it was enough to make his hair stand on end . It seemed like the mother of all explosions was gathering momentum , and Zac wanted to take cover before it erupted .

Vivi could not reach the distant patch of land without being ripped apart , but Zac had an idea . He let the vines pass by the still-bleeding wound in his leg as he activated Earthstrider] again . His surroundings shifted and he was instantly disoriented , but five vines shot out in different directions , each glinting with a hint of gold .

The storm weakened all around him , and Zac once more spotted land , this time much closer . Another jump and Zac found himself just fifty meters away . It was enough . Vivi was prepared , and two of her vines managed to latch onto a few rocks on the ground before the wind dragged Zac away . The storm raged harder on the surface , but Zac staunchly withstood it as he pulled himself down .

Just as Zac thought himself safe , he felt a pang of danger as an incredible tremor rippled through the ground . If not for Vivi , he’d have been launched into the air again , but he still got some scrapes and bruises from slamming into the sharp ground . Zac was about to crawl up , but he realized his point of gravity was rapidly being shifted . The patch of land had started shifting , and Zac found himself hanging onto the ground rather than lying on it .

Zac was about to stand up to get his bearings , but a scream of danger made him throw himself on the ground as quickly as he humanly could . A stone shard as large as a head whizzed past just above , effortlessly breaking through the shields of two defensive treasures before ripping a wound across Zac’s back . It would have punched a hole right through his body if he hadn’t pushed back down fast enough .

A moment later , the stone was gone , flying with almost impossible speed . Hundreds of similar stones followed in its wake , though most were dozens of meters in the air . The fact the floating island was suddenly spinning saved his bacon , as it spun away from the trajectory of the meteor shower that hurtled by .

Just as Zac thought he was safe , the sound reached him . The explosion was so loud Zac was knocked out for a moment , and his vision swam even after waking up . Zac was scared , bleeding , and disoriented , but he couldn’t stop now . He needed to get out of the wind .

Zac channeled the Kill Energy from the Stormglider into Surging Vitality] while Verun’s Bite] reappeared in his hand . His blood did sort of act like a shield against the environment , but he didn’t want to attract any more Stormgliders while looking for shelter . The gleaming edge of Verun crashed into the ground , but a painful rebound in his wrist was the only result .

He’d used quite a bit of force , and the only proof of his attack was a shallow line on the rocky surface . As expected , anything that could survive inside the Calamity was incredibly sturdy . That also proved just how powerful the previous eruption was . That distant explosion had contained enough force to rip up the ground and launch shrapnel in every direction . It’d be game over if he took one of those to the face .

There was no way he could carve out a cave in this kind of bedrock , and Zac could only start moving in search of a natural shelter . One moment he was climbing . The next , he was running , all while the island kept spinning . Soon , Zac felt like he’d hit the jackpot , spotting the mouth of a cave not far-off . He jumped inside , ready to fight any beast that tried to push him out .

There was none .

Zac breathed in relief , both from the cave being over fifty meters deep and unoccupied by any beast . He set up a series of arrays to hide his presence from the Stormgliders and any other beasts before moving into the depths of the cave . Zac figured he’d be mostly safe even from such powerful eruptions this far into the incredibly hard rock , and he couldn’t feel another one of those blasts building up .

Those kinds of explosions couldn’t be too common even in the Calamity , or it would have been too dangerous even for a Red Zone . Zac grunted as he sat down and soon found the cave started to spin . With an annoyed sigh , Zac opted to suspend himself in the air with Vivi’s help , where he could rotate along with the island .

Outside , the storm kept raging . Distant calls of Stormgliders and other beasts could barely be heard through the incessant roar of the unrelenting storm . Even after the shocking discharge before , the Calamity had plenty of energy to spare . Going back out now would be asking for trouble , Void Vajra Constitution or not .

Zac shook his head as he remembered his thoughts upon reading the reports on the Calamity . He’d thought he’d be like a lost scion finding his way back home , where his unique Duality provided him benefits akin to the Twilight Ocean .

Reality was often a harsh mistress .

22

NOMAD

Zac felt a palpable sense of déjà vu as he observed the golden storm . At least his situation wasn’t quite as bad as when he fell into the Twilight Chasm . For one , he still had all his limbs . Secondly , the environment was quite nice now that he’d gotten out of the wind . It really looked like the storm was self-perpetuating . The wind agitated the Dao , which resulted in deadly eruptions that generated more wind .

The moment he found shelter , the Dao calmed , though still far more agitated than normal . That wasn’t all bad when kept within reason . Zac felt a dense stream of Pure Life enter his wounds , assisting in his recovery . This phenomenon was why the zone was considered worth 250 Mana a day .

It wouldn’t be wrong to call the Calamity a deathtrap , but the few safe spots that appeared were havens even top-tier cultivation chambers had difficulty matching up to . It was a great environment for cultivators to gather the energy needed to form a Life-or-Death-attuned core , and unique treasures were continuously born .

The storm kept raging outside , but Zac didn’t mind after confirming the rest of the Stormgliders were gone . He guessed the huge explosion before might have scared them away . Zac’s constitution was fast at work mending his wounds , and the rich environment even put him in a semi-enlightened state to figure out some improvements to a schematic he’d been working on .

A schematic for a healing skill .

Surging Vitality] had served him well since unlocking the second floor of the Dao Repository years ago , and it had already patched up the wound on his back . However , it ultimately wasn’t a very strong skill . It was a Middle-quality skill without any attunement . The only reason it had worked so well on Zac’s body was because of his high Vitality and his body’s inherent ability to recover . Any skill would have worked great on him .

But Surging Vitality] had too many limitations . For one , it was incredibly inefficient , requiring way more energy compared to most skills . That was probably why it had been designed to run on Kill Energy rather than normal energy reserves from the start . Secondly , infusing the skill with his Branch of Kalpataru only slightly improved the effect . Finally , it only had a 70% match with his pathways , lowering the efficiency even further .

For years , Zac had planned on swapping the skill out with a proper self-made one that meshed better with his class and Daos . He had mostly figured out what he wanted , and his study of blueprints gave him the skill to create it from scratch . But he’d held off , waiting for more pieces to fall into place .

Now , with his constitution evolved and his Dao Branch already at Middle-stage , he had everything he needed to finish the preparatory work . And as long as he didn’t wait too long to form the skill , he’d probably be able to push it to Peak-mastery before even leaving the Perennial Vastness .

The storm’s ferocity rendered the outside impassable even after an hour , but Zac didn’t care . The island had already stopped spinning after the previous blast , and the danger seemed to be waning . Zac understood he’d been caught in a squall the moment he entered the Calamity . Thankfully this level of danger wasn’t a permanent state , at least not everywhere at once . There were ebbs just like the flow he’d just seen .

Eventually , the roar of the wind calmed into a constant groan , and Zac hesitantly peeked out from his cave . The wind was still extremely strong , forcing Zac to hold onto the wall , but the air above was no longer an overwhelming golden haze . Now , smaller clouds flitted about in a vast backdrop of a chaotic dance between Life and Death . It looked like he’d been transported to a world of a thousand drifting suns , where roughly half shone in gold and the other half in black .

Between these stellar objects , incredibly ferocious storms raged , just like the one that had almost dragged him away . At any given time , there were eruptions powerful enough to wound even him grievously . And in the middle of all this chaos , platforms and islands floated about like boats on a raging sea .

Some were only a few thousand meters across , while others were so large that it’d take Zac hours to cross them . What kept them afloat , Zac had no idea . There was a slight upward draft in the whole Calamity , but he doubted that was enough to keep whole islands bobbing about . His gaze turned upward , and he saw the same scene continuing deep into the sky until his vision was blocked by an incredibly chaotic storm mixed of gold and black .

Being a mostly vertical realm , it would only take Zac a few days to cross the whole thing . The goal was to climb higher , where the energy was richer , and the treasures were better . Certainly , the beasts would also be stronger . Getting to the top was easier said than done . There were only a few safe routes through the huge storm in the sky , so you couldn’t just fly straight up .

Things were calmer around Zac now compared to what he saw in the distance . The storm of Life had swept up a lot of the energy , leaving the region relatively calm . Zac stepped out , knowing he had to make his move before it was too late .

Gazing around , he shuddered . He was less than one hundred meters from a sharp edge . And he knew where that led—nowhere . Being a literal hurricane , there was a down just like there was an up . Falling meant trouble if you weren’t careful and lacked the means to right the ship .

Far in the distance , Zac saw the pillar from where he’d arrived , proving he was still on the starting disk . Normally , it wouldn’t have been so easy to spot , but the Perennial Vastness helped out a bit in this confusing place . A huge sigil hovered above the pillar , making it easy to spot even from other islands . Of course , the guides could always point you in the direction of the pillar in case you were lost .

Zac’s eyes turned back toward the edge and then farther away , to the storm of Life that assaulted him for the past hour . Within , Zac could vaguely make out another floating island currently under assault . A deadly hail of rocks raked its surface , each projectile containing the strength of a Hegemon’s all-out attack .

The squall of Life had picked up in force while moving between islands , and Zac watched as a chunk over a hundred meters tall was snapped off the island . It was dragged across the surface , leaving a nasty gash in its wake before being flung out of sight .

In the face of something like that , there was only one reprieve : to run for your life . Better yet , figure out the weather patterns to avoid facing such a squall head-on . If you failed , you’d get turned into meat paste if unlucky . And just getting swept off wasn’t much better .

Apparently , the Perennial Vastness had cordoned off the Red Zone as a safety precaution , and the Chaos-attuned storm had formed a self-contained subsystem . There was no risk of being dragged into the more dangerous regions of the Chaos Storm , but the Calamity alone was lethal enough to grind even Hegemons to dust .

Zac wasn’t confident in enduring the unpredictable energy eruptions until he was dragged close enough to another floating island to latch on . And Null was no help . Apart from the barrier at the edge of the Red Zone , there were no safety nets . He couldn’t just tap out and be brought back to Vastness City if he couldn’t hack it .

Zac had already scanned the skyline for his target , but it wasn’t there . He’d have to keep moving for a while . Already prepared for this , he took out what looked like a hang glider with five-meter-wide wings . It could be considered a Flying Treasure , yet not . Flying Treasures were banned in almost all the zones of the Perennial Vastness , with a few notable exceptions like the nimbus . But there were half-measures allowed , such as the item in his hands .

It was made from local materials and didn’t have any flight or propulsion arrays . Instead , it contained a simple wind-controlling array that would allow him to gather and , to a certain degree , redirect the momentum of the winds in the Calamity .

As long as you were careful , it could take you shorter distances between the floating islands and meteors , using the low gravity and upward draft . You risked getting snatched up by powerful winds , but with some movement skills and other treasures , you could often stop yourself from getting pulled away .

Of course , being a zone with a hint of Primordial Chaos , there was always a risk that a storm would erupt out of nowhere .

Zac observed the surroundings for another minute , but he couldn’t dally . The information on the Calamity wasn’t endless , but quite a few had visited because the islands ultimately held treasures of Life and Death . Some lucky cultivators even found items containing echoes of Creation and Oblivion . Even if not directly useful for their cultivation , such items were incredibly valuable on the outside .

A series of roars echoed out , and Zac looked on with interest as a swarm of beasts leaped out from the very same platform as the one he stood on . His eyes lit up , knowing this was a good sign . Zac started running , steeling his heart as he jumped off the edge of the floating island , landing atop the glider while holding onto a set of reins to control the wings .

A powerful katabatic wind tried to drag him down , but the arrays activated on the wings . Zac redirected the force and felt himself pull out from the downdraft , soaring toward the island the storm had just assaulted .

The most important lesson in the missive was that while storms and eruptions could happen at any time , the safest place was generally to follow in the wake of a larger squall . Furthermore , the beasts living on the various islands had just withstood a powerful storm , often many weakened and unwilling to emerge from their burrows .

That way , you could island hop with relative safety , looking for treasure or beasts to hunt . Or , in Zac’s case , a suitable cultivation ground . The migration of the beasts proved the timing was good as well .

After his experience in the Twilight Chasm , flying between islands like this was a bit nerve-wracking . It felt like a current could appear and suck him into the depths at any moment . It remained relatively calm , as far as traveling inside hurricanes went . Even the beasts played nice . Those who needed to move islands wouldn’t fight with each other over the chasm . They’d need to reserve their strength .

Zac glanced to his sides , marveling at the scene of dozens of Beast Kings and their E-grade underlings who had appeared out of nowhere . He felt like the vanguard of a mottled army as they all flew toward the closest island . The mix was almost even between undead and living creatures , and most seemed to have adapted to a life without solid ground beneath their feet .

More than half were birds or various forms of gliders like the mantas he’d encountered . One undead creature looked a lot like a twenty-meter puffer fish . A spiked zeppelin gliding through the air . Similarly , there was a den of golden snakes where even the E-grade snakes effortlessly floated in the air , seemingly thanks to a high buoyancy . Only a few seemed a bit out of their element , like a huge toad and a rocklike creature .

Each group had at least one Beast King leading , yet none targeted Zac . They only gave him wary looks before refocusing on the island ahead . They even kept their more feral descendants in line , preventing them from targeting Zac or the other groups .

The creatures of the Calamity could be divided into three groups , and he’d already met the first : the skyborne . The Stormgliders were part of this group of beasts that never touched land . They could live within the energy-dense storms , getting all the nourishment they needed from the environment and the attuned stars . Corporeal skyborne were relatively rare , with most being energy creatures .

The second group was the nomads , also called the storm chasers . The beasts currently surrounding Zac belonged to this group . They were predators moving from island to island in search of Natural Treasures and prey to devour . They rarely stayed in one place too long , moving on when the resources were expended . Some had real dens somewhere in the Calamity they eventually returned to , while others were true nomads . Some were beasts who had been pushed away from their previous homes and forced to look for a new place to live .

No matter their origin , these beasts had long learned to stay out of the way of other nomads and visiting cultivators , who could be considered part of the same group . They already had their hands full dealing with the other two groups , and they couldn’t fall to infighting . If too few nomads gathered , moving between islands would become too dangerous . After all , there was safety in numbers .

The crossing only took fifteen minutes , though that didn’t mean the distance was short . The raging storm had already passed , but its movement had created a powerful pull in its wake . Zac’s Flying Treasures wouldn’t have been able to keep up with his current pace , even if the glider didn’t have any means of propulsion .

Suddenly , a twelve-winged centipede screeched as dense streams of noxious plumes of Miasma started to leak from its maw . Zac frowned as he looked over , his eyes widening when a deep gash appeared on its body . The hidden blade had been launched from too far away , and black ichor quickly mended the wound before the centipede unleased a wave of putrefaction toward the shores .

Where a welcoming party had already gathered .

Apart from the skyborne and the nomads , there were also the territorial beasts—those who had found a place to call home in this chaotic environment . They differed greatly in origin and strength , but they had one thing in common : they fiercely guarded their dens against the other two groups .

Both sides were already unleashing an unrelenting salvo of attacks at each other the moment they came within range . Zac couldn’t just sit back—doing so would show weakness to the other nomads , and he’d risk getting ganged up on even if they breached the island . A surge of Cosmic Energy entered his arm , and the gate of Arcadia’s Judgement] appeared .

A huge Death spike impaled the wooden hand the moment it emerged , and Zac felt a stabbing pain in his own hand . But the hand of Arcadia contained boundless Life , and the spike crumbled under its force . The gates flew over to the shores , absorbing the Life-attuned attacks while rebuffing those of Death .

The whole edge of the island groaned upon being put under such pressure just after enduring the storm , and the already exhausted beasts weren’t that much better off . The nomads weren’t stupid—they knew this was their chance . They went all-out , launching all kinds of Bloodline Talents , and one beast after another was either killed or forced to retreat .

And then came the judgement . The axe slammed down , destroying three Beast Kings in one go . Their bloodline skills were utterly incapable of rebuffing a dual-branch-empowered finisher . The spikes were even more dangerous , formed of the incredibly sturdy rocks the island was made of . Another five Beast Kings fell , and hundreds of their underlings were ripped to shreds by the ferocious resonance between the spikes .

Even more beasts remained standing , but they had clearly lost their desire to fight . They turned tail , fleeing deeper into the island , and a few even jumped down and flew toward the islands below . One attack had instantly ended the war , and even the nomads looked at Zac warily as he landed on the shore .

Usually , these encounters meant a tough fight with casualties on both sides . This time , the nomads came out of it unscathed . Zac ignored the looks as he rapidly looted the corpses . The Beast Kings right at the entrance of the Red Zone weren’t too impressive , but they still had pretty good bloodlines .

And Beast Cores with Pure Life or Death-attunement were useful . Zac glanced at the nomad Beast Kings , who all shuddered and took a step back .

I guess I shouldn’t attack my teammates . - Zac smiled . - See you guys around . -

With that , he flashed away , heading for the other side of the island . He couldn’t waste time hunting weak beasts if he wanted to find one of the drifting Calamity Mountains .

23

JOINT VENTURE

Zac wasted no time as he rushed across the island . If he pushed himself and used the glider when possible , he believed he’d be able to cross the whole disk in two hours . There were only six days until the next mission release , and he wanted to use two for his breakthrough . If he couldn’t find what he was looking for in the first two days , he’d either have to return or pick one of the leftover missions .

The latter wasn’t the end of the world , though , and the others were already prepared in the event he might not show up . For someone like him , there were always leftover tasks he could pick up and earn a decent chunk of Mana . And even if he somehow ended up empty-handed , he had other things to work on . Few guests had the energy and time to take on missions every month .

He wouldn’t be surprised if he were the only mortal in this place , which had one small benefit . He didn’t have to spend any time cultivating to form and upgrade the nucleus of his core . Instead , Zac could put that time toward collecting Mana or working on his other endeavors .

A sudden hint of dense Death made him stop in his tracks , and Zac curiously looked at a deep fissure . Most likely , it was a scar opened by the large peak that the storm had dragged off , and its passage exposed something interesting . Zac peered down , and his eyes lit up at the exposed cavern .

Inside , five pitch-black rose-like flowers grew , each one emitting an incredibly dense aura of Pure Death . His Life-attuned cells screamed at him to destroy those things , which probably meant they were something good for his other half . Zac jumped down , a sniff enough to confirm the roses weren’t poisonous . He carefully cut them off with a small axe imbued with the Dao of Pale Seal before storing them all in a treasure box .

There was nothing else inside the cave system , so Zac continued on his way , making a few more pit stops to pick items up from the dredged depths of the island . Most of the hidden caves were unguarded , but he had to take out a pack of Peak E-grade insects guarding a stone that had formed natural runes of Life . It didn’t waste much time , and Zac reached the island’s edge on schedule with a few new interesting items in his bag . This was just the entry layer of the Calamity , so they weren’t Supreme treasures . But they were all rare Peak-quality materials that might prove useful in the future .

To Zac’s surprise , he wasn’t the first arrival . A familiar face already waited at the edge , anxiously looking at the next island in the distance . It was one of the Beast Kings who had crossed the chasm with him before , one of the weirder ones . For one , it moved solo , but it also looked out of place . It was essentially a seven-meter-tall Death-attuned toad . It had no wings and no other means of flight . Instead , its back sported a set of translucent pustules , where black liquid sloshed inside .

The toad really was an odd one . Without any means of flight , it would be landlocked on an island for centuries until it finally became a Beast King . Species that didn’t even have the option to jump ship if a particularly nasty storm hit their island were bound to be disadvantaged in the Calamity .

But it wasn’t a weakling . Zac had run as fast as he could , yet this Early D-grade beast arrived ahead of him . Furthermore , it didn’t look winded at all .

You’re pretty quick , - Zac said with surprise as he walked over , and he laughed upon getting a disdainful scoff in return .

This Beast King was clearly smarter than the average species . And upon thinking back , Zac realized it hadn’t joined the fight . It disappeared when the nomads and territorial beasts started exchanging attacks . The toad must have used some movement skill to start crossing the island while the other nomads kept the rabble busy .

It looked like the toad had planned to keep going , but its plan had hit a snag . There was another island not too far in the distance , but there was also a group of roving birds guarding the chasm . Seeing the situation , Zac had an idea .

Want to make another jump before the storm gets too far away? -

The toad looked suspiciously at Zac before slowly nodding .

How about this , - Zac said , pointing toward the next island . - You saw my strength earlier . I’ll deal with those flying things and any other beasts we can’t avoid . In return , you carry me across the continent . I want to keep going until I find a drifting mountain . -

The toad mutely looked at Zac , clearly with some disgust in its eyes . Zac gave it a thought before releasing his Branch of the Pale Seal to show wasn’t just a being of Life . His Death-attuned Dao wasn’t weakened when using his Life-attuned Body , but it didn’t have the sense of smoothness as when using the Branch of the Kalpataru .

The eruption of a powerful Dao Field made the toad shriek in alarm , and Zac looked on with interest as a black gust swallowed it , moving it hundreds of meters in an instant . It almost looked like Ogras and how he moved through shadows , though the method was clearly based around Death . And possibly Time , though Zac couldn’t understand exactly how .

I’m just showing we’re on the same side! - Zac shouted . After a full minute , the toad hesitantly jumped back .

It released an enormous black tongue over ten meters long , seemingly trying to taste Zac’s Dao before looking down at Zac with confusion . Zac smiled as Death spread through his body , his eyes becoming pitch-black orbs of the Abyss .

See? Same side , - Zac said .

After showing his Draugr form , there were no more objections . Zac had found himself a capable mount , and the two jumped off the ledge toward the next island , not bothering to wait for any more nomads . The flock of birds shrieked with delight upon seeing two lone targets , but their elation turned into horror as the corrosive links of Love’s Bond] snatched up one bird after another .

Meanwhile , Zac utilized the free movement of Abyssal Phase] to catch up with two Beast Kings and destroy them before moving toward the next target . The toad wasn’t completely helpless , either . Its tongue extended thirty meters and snatched up a few Peak E-grade birds . The birds were almost as large as the toad , but it managed to squeeze them into its belly . The predators became dinner , and the two continued on their way .

This time , only a small group of beasts emerged when they were about to land on the other shore , and Zac made short work of them without having to rely on any of his finishers .

Alright , your turn , - Zac said upon stowing away the corpses , and he was surprised to see a hole open up on its belly .

The toad had a pouch similar to a kangaroo , along with the ability to perfectly seal it . Or was it just a second mouth leading into its stomach? The toad stamped impatiently on the ground as it pointed at its belly .

You want me to get into the pouch? - Zac frowned , looking up at the face of the huge toad . - You’re not trying something here , right? You should know I’ll blast a hole in you if you try to eat me or something . -

The toad rolled its eyes in an incredibly human manner , once more pointing at the pouch before making a rapid series of signs with its hands that Zac couldn’t understand at all .

Alright , alright , - Zac grunted .

The situation was pretty weird , but Zac resigned himself to fate as he crawled inside . The vision of him heroically standing atop the head of a Beast King as they crossed the lands was fast crumbling in his mind . At least the pouch was a lot comfier than expected . The walls were soft , and there was even an ambient atmosphere of Death that resembled a gathering array .

Then something wet touched him . Zac shrieked at the sudden feeling , but he quickly calmed down upon realizing it was only a two-meter baby toad who had buffed him with its tongue . The thing looked quite imposing , but it was only in Peak F-grade , probably unable to leave the pouch because of the environment .

Zac curiously looked at the toad , wondering why the Beast King allowed him to enter a spot normally reserved for its offspring . Most beasts would guard their young with their lives and hide their presence as much as possible . Was it a sign of trust? Zac couldn’t figure it out , and a sudden buff from the outside derailed his thoughts .

What? - Zac said with annoyance as he peeked outside , only to find the mama toad expectantly looking down at him .

Then , a wave of Deathly Dao spread through the pouch , though it was only at the Late-fragment-stage .

You want me to release my Dao for your child? - Zac said with a raised brow , getting a gentler buff in answer .

Essentially , the toad wanted a Dao Battery for its young . Zac wryly smiled as he released some of his Branch of the Pale Seal , letting it spread through the pouch . The baby toad released excited chattering sounds as it nudged closer . A moment later , the surroundings turned to a blur as the toad sped across the continent with speed twice what Zac could muster .

The toad had sealed most of the opening to its pouch , leaving enough space for Zac to peek outside , allowing him to confirm the beast was moving in the right direction . Though Zac could barely keep up with where they were going with how quickly they were moving . The surroundings kept shifting , making the view disorienting .

Rather than a skill , it seemed to be an inherited Bloodline Talent . Zac had already realized the black clouds it formed were made from the liquid it produced in its pustules . Zac also felt a bizarre pulse of Temporal Energy every time the surroundings shifted , confirming the toad was manipulating time to move faster .

Hey , Null , how is this affecting my time inside the Calamity?’

This . . . creature , isn’t changing the passage of time , so it’s like normal . -

Zac nodded in understanding , guessing the toad used Time to speed itself up rather than create some Temporal Chamber .

The second continent was even bigger than the first , and the mountainous topography created incredibly ferocious gusts that could come out of nowhere . Yet it only took the toad an hour to pass the whole thing , at which point Zac got out to prepare for another fight . The two kept chasing across the Calamity like this , passing seven islands in quick succession .

The odds of running into another cultivator at this point were pretty low , and it was even less likely for someone to catch up to him if they followed him into the Calamity . Zac had a hard time imagining even a Dexterity-based E-grade cultivator keeping up with this pace for hours .

However , the speed didn’t come without a price . The toad looked exhausted when Zac emerged from the pouch for the seventh time . The odd vats retained less than one-third of its liquid , exposing a set of mysterious temporal stones sloshing about within . Moving at such speeds must have significantly drained its energy stores , and Zac glanced at the other shore .

Toad had managed to keep pace with the raging storm until now . Half the island was shrouded in a vast curtain of gold that prevented them from seeing anything of what lay beyond .

We can take a break if you want , - Zac offered , but the beast stubbornly shook its head and drew three lines in the ground before making another set of incomprehensible signs .

What? - Zac said , trying to understand its gestures .

It soon dawned on Zac that they were on the left line , and the toad’s destination was just two islands over . Zac could only let the toad keep rushing , and they soon reached the edge of the next island . This time , the scene on the other side was starkly different , and Zac gazed at the next island with marvel .

The toad was looking for the same place he was .

The mountain towered into the sky , hundreds of thousands of meters tall , with large swathes hidden by dense shrouds of both Life and Death-attuned clouds . It didn’t quite have the traditional pyramidal shape with a flat base , but looked like a briolette with a rounded bottom . Its massive size beggared comprehension , and it wasn’t the only thing that made it stand out . It had two of the miniature stars rotating around its base .

Not even the terrifying storms of the Calamity could dislodge the Hegemony of this natural fortress , and Zac looked on with marvel as the storm they’d followed was forced to split apart to pass by . Between its massive size and its guardian stars , it drifted about in the Calamity like a lone titan .

This wasn’t the only drifting Calamity Mountain , but they were quite rare . Finding one was a matter of luck , and it was exactly what Zac had been hoping for . Only these mountains , with their mile-long tunnel systems and hidden pathways , could provide both enough energy and a safe enough environment to break through with his soul .

It was a stroke of luck he’d encountered the toad , and he finally understood why it was so stressed . The mountain was moving quite fast , and it might have drifted out of sight if they’d been even half an hour late . The toad must have somehow known the Calamity Mountain’s route and rushed to reach it in time .

Zac was about to climb out to prepare for another crossing , but the toad pushed him back into the pouch .

Stay inside? - Zac said , and the toad nodded .

The toad could fly much faster than his glider , so Zac was happy to oblige . It wasn’t mentioned in the information missives , but the mountains were bound to be the main targets for most cultivators . Even forests could survive on its slopes , meaning the odds of treasures surviving were much higher .

And with this mountain being only half a day’s travel away from the gate , there was a decent chance other guests would have ended up here . Zac would normally not be worried about being targeted . In fact , he would welcome it . However , he aimed to make a breakthrough , not fight and look for treasures this time . And by staying inside the pouch , he’d be able to sneak onto the mountain without being spotted .

The toad set off across the chasm , only stopping to let the side with the Death-attuned star turn toward them . There were no beasts guarding against their arrival , and they landed in a deathly forest without issue . The toad was still wary , glancing to its left and right as it kept running for a few more minutes . Only then did Zac emerge , looking around with interest .

Here , - Zac said , throwing out a Death-attuned Cosmic Crystal . - A small payment . You worked a lot harder than me in the end . -

The toad eagerly snatched it and stuffed it into its mouth , letting out a satisfied croak . In return , it formed a rapid-fire series of signs again , pointing toward the top of the mountain .

You’re telling me something dangerous is living on the peak? - Zac asked , getting an affirmative nod and a series of following signs . - And to not make a lot of noise on the slopes? -

A minute later , the toad ambled away , much more relaxed now that it had reached the drifting mountain before it moved out of reach . Zac thoughtfully watched it disappear among the trees before he swapped to his human form and flashed away in the opposite direction .

There was something off about that beast . Not that it tried to harm him , but rather the opposite . It was a bit stand-offish , but it lacked the thinly veiled brutality he saw in the eyes of the other nomads . It was just too intelligent and didn’t even seem native to the Calamity . Zac had no proof for this , but his instincts told him it wasn’t actually a wild Beast King but a domesticated one .

Whose pet it was and why it appeared here , Zac had no idea .

Zac was curious , but he had bigger fish to fry . He ran through the windswept forest before he found what he was looking for , a tunnel without any end . It wasn’t luck to stumble onto one so quickly—these entrances were all over the place . The drifting mountains of the Calamity were essentially beehives with innumerable tunnels crisscrossing the whole thing . It was more hollow than solid .

Perhaps that was the only way for such a huge mountain to float about freely without getting too heavy . No matter the reason , the thousands of tunnels created a unique situation thanks to the constantly rotating mountain . Powerful gusts full of energy entered the tunnels , constantly dragging more and more into its depths .

Meanwhile , the innards were completely protected from vicious storms , creating an incredible environment . In other words , the real dangers and opportunities waited within . And it was here Zac planned on seizing a cultivation cave to undergo his fourth reincarnation .

24

THREE FATES

The last rat fought against the suffocating chains , but a ruthless swing ended the struggle . Zac panted as he ripped Black Death] out of the Beast King’s head , adding its corpse to the growing pile of carcasses in his Spatial Ring . Zac grimaced as he pushed back his leaking entrails into his gut , applying a paste while expending two healing brands to patch up the wound .

While pondering on the Dao in his cave back home , he’d always longed for adventure among the stars . But you always forget these small details . Adventures were grimy , and you often ended up leaking stuff that shouldn’t leave the confines of your body .

Over the past day , Zac had either ambushed or been ambushed over thirty times , and he was starting to get worn down . The beasts and packs which could make the Calamity Mountain’s prime real estate their homes weren’t messing around . It was no wonder no one guarded the slopes against interlopers . Why bother? The outsiders would die the moment they dared enter the tunnels .

At least he’d made good headway . When Zac entered the mountain , he’d continued straight toward its heart . The two attuned stars were in a locked orbit with the mountain , which meant one side of the mountain teemed with Death while the tunnels on the other side were filled with Life . He needed a little bit of both for his method , so he had to reach the center where the energies converged .

The fact that the pack of rats he’d stumbled onto were Life-attuned proved he was getting close . The pungent smell of blood lingered in the den even after storing the corpses . Predators hoping to find a wounded victor would soon arrive . Despite this , Zac didn’t immediately leave .

He followed the urgings of Verun in his mind until he reached a pile of what he hoped was mud . After pushing it away with the huge edge of Gorehew] , a radiant glimmer lit up the whole area . Zac looked at the thing curiously . It wasn’t a crystal , neither was it some stone or metal . It resembled a piece of dried bark containing incredible amounts of Divine Energy .

A small , dried piece from a C-grade tree , perhaps? Even if it was only a small piece and quite aged , it had once held incredibly lofty Daos of Life . It was definitely a D-grade Natural Treasure , perhaps even a Middle-stage one . The energy it released was to the point the whole cave started to vibrate .

It was the adjacent passage , a wind tunnel full of turbulent Death , that was being instigated by its natural enemy being so close by . Zac urgently stowed the treasure before running away , his hands burning upon touching the bark like a hot coal . Distant , avaricious roars were already echoing through the tunnels .

Zac grinned as he turned into an abyssal wraith , squeezing through a small crack to join the corridor of Miasmic winds . The rats had clearly understood that treasure was beyond what they could hold onto with their strength , so they had isolated its powerful energy emanations with the mud .

But their aggression was their folly . They’d attacked Zac for passing by outside their den , even if he had no intention of messing with them . By the time he fought his way inside , Verun had woken up from within his Spatial Ring , roaring with hunger . It had indicated in no uncertain terms there was something it wanted to eat here .

Since Verun’s Bite] had reached Peak E-grade , it rarely showed any interest in materials . Verun doing so this time strongly indicated the piece of bark would be able to assist its breakthrough into a D-grade Spirit Tool . The only other thing he’d gotten his hands on so far was the mysterious drops Iz had given him after breaking through the first layer of his Void Vajra Sublimation] .

The Tool Spirit wanted to drink those drops , and Zac guessed it could act as a catalyst for elevating its spirit . But it was just a few drops , far from the pile of expensive materials Zac expected he’d need to gather to upgrade his weapon . Finally , he was making some progress , and the fact he could find useful High-grade materials was a promising sign .

Because if there were good things down here , then the upper layers of the Calamity were bound to have amazing treasures for both Alea and Verun . Now , he only needed a mission , preferably a long-term one , taking him back here . That way , he could earn Mana while treasure hunting rather than forking out 250 Mana a day .

In a second , Zac had moved hundreds of meters back and forth through the complicated network of stormy and calm tunnels . He found another slim crack and squeezed through , arriving in a separate set of tunnels . Abyssal Phase] had been his go-to method to avoid dangerous situations and take shortcuts toward the center .

Zac continued for another hour until he found what he’d been looking for : a storm chamber . He’d arrived through a tunnel carrying Death-attuned winds . On the other side , another pathway poured out similar amounts of Life . Unsurprisingly , the chamber where the two energies met was a madhouse with ceaseless explosions like those that had assaulted him on his arrival to the Red Zone .

It was essentially a storm in a bottle , pushing up toward some unseen exhaust . From there , the chaotic storm would become the clouds that covered a good chunk of the Calamity Mountain .

Even Zac didn’t dare enter the storm chamber , let alone cultivate inside it . He wasn’t after the chamber itself but rather the streams . He looked around the area for a while but sighed , failing to find what he sought . But there were quite a few such chambers in the heart of the mountain , and Zac eventually struck gold .

The constant explosions led to cracks forming in the surrounding walls , and Zac found a small fissure leading to a sealed chamber just a few meters below another storm chamber . The whole cave constantly shuddered from the barrage , but it looked stable enough otherwise . More importantly , the isolating rocks that made up the Calamity Mountain couldn’t perfectly seal off the incredible amounts of energy and Dao trapped in the storm chamber .

The stone acted like a filter as the Daos of Life and Death squeezed through , providing a steady stream of calmed energies . However , being constantly infiltrated by opposing Daos was bound to weaken its integrity over time . Looking at the ceiling , Zac guessed it would break in a couple of years , increasing the size of the storm chamber . For now , it held , creating a hidden cultivation chamber suited for his needs .

The energy density was far beyond the normal tunnels , yet there was one problem making it less than ideal for his breakthrough . Due to the cracks leading into the cave from the Death-attuned side , the Daos weren’t in balance . Some Life emerged from the ceiling , but it wasn’t enough for his needs . Zac went to the opposite side of the cave , studying the small cracks in the wall .

Nothing but a few trickles of Life came out . It was clear the fissures weren’t as wide on this side . However , the rocks were weakened already , and Zac started to chip away with his Dao-empowered Blighted Cut] . The Dao of Life that had been ingrained into the stone for years clashed with the Dao of Death in Zac’s attacks , and chips of rocks started to gather at his feet .

One hour later , his mad frenzy had damaged the wall enough to release roughly the same amount of energy from both sides . Adding more Life-attuned energies improved the density of energy and Dao even further , and a miniature storm was already brewing in his cave . Zac took a deep breath as he felt the agitated Daos dance around him .

This was perfect .

Zac spent the next hour installing one array after another . First , he set up two gathering arrays , one on each side of the cave . It helped keep the energies slightly separated , preventing them from exhausting themselves before becoming fuel for his cultivation . Next came isolation , trapping , and killing arrays , turning his makeshift cave into a proper cultivation chamber . After some hesitation , Zac even installed a wall-breaking array on the ceiling .

If someone snuck into the cave to attack him , he could bring the storm down on their head .

Even then , Zac didn’t start his cultivation session . He silently sat in the middle of the brewing storm , hidden by an invisibility array . Deliberating . Waiting . Part of it was because he wanted to see if someone had followed him or been attracted by the sound of his remodeling . An assassin could be lying in wait until Zac lowered his guard . But the bigger reason was that this was his final chance to turn back .

The idea had been born during his years of secluded cultivation , and it had only grown stronger as time passed . The third reincarnation was similar to his Minor Sublimation in that it was a major threshold . The method called the result a Three Fates Soul , representing his three rebirths . More importantly , it could be considered a crossroad where you had to make a decision—a decision of what direction you wanted to take .

Enlightened by the heavenly revolutions of Life and Death , the soul embraces the Samsara . One begets nine , and nine begets the one . Balance is at the heart of Heavenly Law . For one to rise , another must fall . One to lead , nine to follow . Reincarnate to align with your path , become one with the Cosmos .

Nine layers of the Abyss carry the Heaven . Nine Heavens seal the Abyss . Relinquish the nine , the Boundless Dharma , abject of self .

Nine returns to the one .

Such was the description of the third reincarnation . The manual was as vague as ever , but Zac wasn’t the same person as the one who almost got himself killed when undergoing the first breakthrough . Thanks to years of studying Life , Death , and their intrinsic nature , he was no longer a clueless Progenitor . And aided by innumerable mini-epiphanies , he’d already unlocked the secrets of the third and fourth reincarnations .

The meaning was simple : pick a side . Between Life and Death , one needed to be a leader while the other followed . Zac still wasn’t certain if the Nine Reincarnations Manual] was really Buddhist , but he doubted it . Something about it seemed different . It was more Daoist in nature than Buddhist , though it borrowed certain theories and terms from the Sangha .

It was even possible the original version had come from the previous era and then been refitted to better suit the cultivation system of the Era of Order . It was impossible to tell with only the first five layers , unaware of where it was leading .

What Zac could deduce was that the Nine Reincarnations Manual] was not meant for true Edgewalkers such as himself . Even Vilari , with her nigh-complete absence of affinity with the Dao of Life , could cultivate the first layer . If you had an uncommonly high affinity with both Life and Death , you had a chance at reaching the third reincarnation .

But Chaos cultivators were a thing from the previous era . Those constitutions couldn’t really form under a Heaven where the Dao of Chaos was still broken . No matter the original intent and method of the manual , you now had to pick either Life or Death to be the leader . In other words , you’d form an attuned core .

The attuned sides would no longer use the concept of clashing Daos to continue progress . The nine following the one would strictly become a cultivation resource—Life supporting Death , or vice versa .

Apart from picking a side , you could also keep your soul unattuned . It was what the - Boundless Dharma , abject of self’ meant . However , Zac had a feeling that relinquishing the nine wasn’t optimal . Nine was the utmost . To relinquish the nine most likely meant the ceiling of your soul would be lower when continuing through the reincarnations .

Very few methods were so flexible that they could be branched this way , yet Zac wasn’t satisfied . Why pick when you could have it all?

Zac wanted his soul to be attuned to Life and Death . Just like his body . Just like his path . But to accomplish that , he’d have to step off the beaten path and rewrite the method to better suit his needs .

That by itself wasn’t anything special . Most elites had already started doing so with their manuals by the time they approached Hegemony . You used the foundations the predecessors had laid to build something new and unique . If you blindly followed the heritages of others , you’d only ever be a follower and never a leader .

In reality , most such creations were destined to fall into obscurity , often disappearing when their inventors succumbed on the road of cultivation . A few progenitors found great success , and their ideas would form the foundations for the following generations .

However , it was more than a small overhaul in Zac’s case . He wanted to model his Soul Core after his blueprint . On the one hand , Zac felt it made sense . His Cosmic Core was a mirror of his Daos , so why shouldn’t his soul be one as well? On the other , it was too difficult . Translating the concepts of energy to the intangible mystery of the soul was easier said than done .

Ultimately , Zac knew doing it all at once was too much . Like Lord Engo said before , his core was based on partly borrowed knowledge . So he came up with a plan that he felt would take him a step in the right direction .

The Nine Reincarnations Manual] seemingly followed the cycle of one to nine and nine to one to reform and refine . During this reincarnation , he could throw either set of Outer Cores into his central core , creating a truly attuned core . But what if he picked both? Instead of returning to one , he’d create an Inexorable Soul Core and an Evolutionary Soul Core .

The concept wasn’t as advanced as his Cosmic Core , but it was the first step toward true unity . From there , he could keep working at it until he fused the two halves back together at a future reincarnation . After all , with his Void Emperor bloodline , he was bound to delve into the truths of the Void sooner or later . For now , he was benefitting from the Void without understanding , like a child . But that would have to change sooner or later .

By the time he understood the Void , his path would grow wider , allowing him to take it in more directions . The trinity could become a Duality , possibly even a singularity of unmatched prowess . Or he could keep things as is while properly using all three of his Daos in combat rather than two .

All that was an incredibly distant goal , though . Zac didn’t even know how to begin to study the Void of Dao . His only clue was Ultom , which might contain some information missives . For now , Zac only needed to create a Soul Core representing each of his sides .

Such a change to the Nine Reincarnations Manual] was much more straightforward . The manual and array were already designed to either form a core of Life or Death . He - only - needed to do both at once , with small alterations , while providing extra energy to form two central cores instead of one . Of course , Zac had long since plotted out the critical changes to the method , using some of the extra lake water to ensure he wasn’t overestimating himself .

Everything was in place , yet he hesitated .

There were some real risks with this plan , and not only because he was planning on breaking through in a place like the Calamity . He could keep his soul unattuned and worry about this issue in the future . Harmonizing his cultivation to align with his path was obviously better than not doing so , but he was still considered the younger generation . A hasty decision in the E-grade could lead to disaster further down the road .

The hours passed , and Zac made his choice . He hadn’t gotten this far by playing it safe , and his instincts told him to go big . He needed to keep grasping for power if he wanted to have a chance at catching up with his mother . Or even surviving the deadly gauntlet of Ultom . The moment he started to back down when faced with danger or a challenge , his path would grow narrower .

Filled with conviction , Zac’s eyes snapped open . It was time to start . Like the previous breakthroughs , it all began with a final cycle of Mental Energy through the array disks to power the process . But even before he began , there was a change of pace . Today , nine cycles wouldn’t be followed by nine more .

This time , he took out both array disks at once .

25

NINE TO LEAD , ONE TO FOLLOW

Zac couldn’t help but give the two Soul Strengthening Arrays in his hands a second look . Years of having Zac’s Daos channel through their pathways and absorbing the ambient energy had completely transformed them . The previously matte disks now glowed a deep hue of gold and black , giving off powerful emanations of Life and Death .

Even if he knew what he needed to do , Zac was a bit worried looking at the arrays . He’d never attempted cycling both halves at once , but he didn’t have much choice . Nine to lead , one to follow . The first cycle he began would set the schedule for the third reincarnation , preventing the other side from taking charge . It would only be able to chase the one who came before , fueling its ascension .

Zac took a steadying breath , making sure he didn’t have any lingering issues after having fought his way through the mountain . Only upon confirming everything was in order did he begin . Zac’s eyes gleamed with madness and determination as he split his focus . Storms of Dao-empowered Mental Energy entered the disks while Zac focused on the Outer Cores in his mind .

As his central core began to drain , the Outer Cores accelerated , quickening their dance of Life and Death . Minutes passed , and the arrays began glowing as they transformed his energy streams . For a moment , Zac had a strange vision . He’d become the Calamity Mountain , holding its satellite stars in his hands . The tunnels were his pathways , and the storm chambers his soul .

He didn’t know if he imagined things , but it almost seemed like the mountain resonated with his thoughts . The Daos stirred , and the vibrations from above increased in frequency . The feeling only lasted a moment before it was gone , and Zac refocused on his cultivation . He had his hands full just dealing with the cycles .

Channeling both array disks at once wasn’t just an issue of multi-tasking . It was a linear leap in difficulty simply because of the energy required to fuel the process . He needed two sets of Mental Energy and two sets of Dao each time , which rapidly drained his central core . Thankfully , Zac had enough to spare .

He had already absorbed one and a half Moss Crystal , each containing almost unfathomable amounts of Mental Energy . His central core had already passed the limits of the third layer of his method years ago , which was the only reason he dared attempt something like this .

The remaining Moss Crystal in his mind helped , lessening his burden by providing a third of the energy that went into the refinement circuits . One Soul Crystal after another also appeared in his hands , right atop the two array disks . The powerful pull from the arrays siphoned some of the densely packed energy from within the crystals , further lessening his burden .

Zac spared no expense this time , knowing he was pushing it by simultaneously channeling both arrays . The moment the Soul Crystals atop the disks had been drained of their most easily-accessible energy , he dropped them on the ground and crushed them with the back of his hands . A spiritual cloud was released around him , entering his pores . And from there , it went to his aperture , while two new crystals appeared on the disks .

An hour later , the currents of empowered Mental Energy came crashing back through his hands . Normally , it would appear like a healing rain . The cores that needed to be built had long since been built , and his central core was already at capacity . The only place the empowered Mental Energy could go was into the Outer Cores , filling them with powerful but unstable force .

Today , the effect was a bit different . One side didn’t take charge , gaining power while suppressing the other . Instead , an arms race began within the Soul Aperture . The Outer Cores madly dashed to absorb the incoming energy , seemingly trying to get one over on their opponent . The Life-attuned cores were especially aggressive , perhaps encouraged by the Pure Life naturally coursing through his body .

The golden spheres even tried to destroy some of their opponent’s energy , but Zac fiercely suppressed those actions . Ideally , he’d spend half the time of each cycle in each form to balance the two sides , but the Duplicity Core didn’t work like that . Ultimately , he’d settled on performing the whole thing in his human form .

It wasn’t a matter of his sides being weaker or stronger . The reason was simply that Miasma didn’t have as profound an effect on his human form as Divine Energy had on his Draugr self . Zac would have to rely on Natural Treasures of both attunements to pass through the gauntlet , which was best done in his human form .

Sometimes , it felt like the cores in his aperture were separate entities to him , flying about of their own volition as they communed with the Dao . Ultimately , they were part of him , and Zac wouldn’t let them act as they wanted today . With destruction being banned in his aperture , Life and Death could only compete by gathering energy .

And since each side was provided an equal amount of energy , the two armies were locked in an even struggle . Even his Dao Avatar of Branch of the War Axe joined in on the fun . It started flitting about through his aperture , sometimes swinging a black axe according to the Inexorable Stance . Other times it floated on a golden core , his axe teeming with Life and boundless possibility .

It was Zac’s way of ensuring the two sides were kept equal while simultaneously steering the process toward his intended cores . If one side got the advantage and rocked the fragile balance in his Soul Aperture , then Conflict would help push them back down .

One circuit after another was completed this way , each boosted by his Middle-stage Dao Branches . By the fifth revolution , Zac started to feel the strain . Even with Soul and Moss Crystals helping out , he faced an uphill battle . He needed bigger guns . An iridescent pearl appeared on his hand , and Zac’s mouth shot forward to gobble it up .

It was a Natural Treasure , normally meant to hold as you cultivated the soul . Today , it became fodder as Zac staunchly crushed the pearl into dust then swallowed . It had been a gift from the Undead Empire , a rare item from some hidden realm of the Eidolon . Getting one’s hands on such an item wasn’t even possible on the frontier , yet this cultivation treasure was reduced to fodder for his breakthrough .

Zac’s body grew agitated , and it started to absorb the Mental Energy from the surroundings and the Moss Crystal much faster . A refreshing wave entered his central core , allowing him to keep going .

The outer spheres in his Soul Aperture soon turned into small suns , mirroring those floating about in the Calamity . The previous sensation that he’d become one with the mountain returned far stronger , and Zac could tell it wasn’t just an illusion . Had the mountain formed a spirit that resonated with his breakthrough? Zac had no idea whether that was good or bad , but he couldn’t do much about it .

He had already jumped onto the tiger’s back and needed to ride this storm to the end .

Another cycle was completed with the aid of the pearl and dozens of Soul Crystals . Zac was buried to his knees in Soul Crystal shards , but he didn’t care . They still released some lingering Mental Energy , and Zac took any help he could get .

The Outer Cores started vibrating ominously after the energy of the sixth cycle returned . They moved far faster than normal , waging an invisible war by following their heavenly trajectories . The patterns released an invisible pressure , making his whole Soul Aperture groan . Six revolutions were usually the point Zac where stopped channeling his Dao when practicing the Nine Reincarnations Manual] . But not today .

Zac initiated the seventh cycle , at which point the array disks broke free from his grasp and started rotating around his torso . Their movements mirrored the Outer Cores in his mind , following the heavenly trajectories of Life and Death . They generated a mysterious resonance in the cave that took control over the ambient Dao .

The previously wild energies in the cave were attracted , and Zac was happy to see some of the attuned clouds enter the hovering disks . Unfortunately , it wasn’t enough . Zac could tell he wouldn’t be able to finish the hour-long circuit without further assistance . The Kalpataru tree in his aperture had started withering . Similarly , the oppressive aura of the Pale Seal was weakening , the whole thing fading into a turbid grey .

His soul was drained beyond what it could sustain , and the truths of his path were drying up . All the while , the Outer Cores grew increasingly difficult to control . Zac’s body was in perfect condition , yet he felt like a dried out corpse . Despite that , Zac felt incredibly alive . There was a sense of victory and accomplishment from simply walking down a path you created of your own volition .

He was no longer dancing to the tune of others . He was creating a new future with his own hands . Of course , that feeling of freedom did little to help with his lacking resources . Around the halfway mark of the seventh cycle , Zac reached his limit . He’d hoped to finish the whole circuit before reaching this point , but simultaneously using both arrays had been a monumental drain .

At least his performance was up to par with his previous breakthroughs , even when the difficulty was more than twice as great . Besides , the pearl wasn’t the only thing he’d prepared . A torrent of pure , unblemished Dao poured out from the central core as the floodgates of Spiritual Void] opened wide . The currents passed by the waning Dao Avatars , nourishing their source before entering the Array Disk .

Zac had already confirmed that his Void Self of the heart had allowed him to control the Hidden Nodes in his body freely . Finally . He could turn them on and off at will , preventing them from competing for resources . There were few situations where he didn’t want his three Void Nodes to passively keep running , but his elevated state also helped with his control .

For example , he could tell the Void Heart] which energies to eat and which to leave behind , including energies that weren’t even harmful to him . Similarly , he could tell Purity of the Void] what to focus its purification on , another ability that would have saved him a lot of headaches over the past years .

And he could sense how much Dao the perpetually hungry node in his mind could hold . It was no longer a voracious enigma but three separate containers—one for each of his Daos . There wasn’t more than 10% of his total stores for each of his Daos , but it was incredibly dense and pure . Ultimately , the true use of Spiritual Void] was to temporarily bolster his Daos by almost a full stage rather than acting as a Dao Battery .

The Hidden Node gave Zac a much-needed break to recover some of what he’d lost . When the refined energy returned half an hour later , he could better guide them into the rampaging Outer Cores .

The whole aperture was shuddering by this point , but Zac just started the next cycle .

Halfway through the eighth , the stores of Spiritual Void] started to run out , and Zac had no choice but to continue onto treasures . One item after another was either placed against his forehead or chewed and swallowed , each something that would create waves in the Zecia Sector . Not even his body could properly utilize all the amazing items when wasted this way , but he didn’t have much of an option . He needed a lot of energy and fast .

The discordant pile of treasures left him with a new set of toxins just days after purifying all the filth from his body , but they allowed him to narrowly squeak by the eighth cycle . At that moment , the Outer Cores essentially broke free from his control , aggravating their struggle . His aperture was filled with almost unbelievable levels of energy , to the point even the sealed Remnants stirred .

The cave was drowning in light by the two array disks , and energy was dragged in from the tunnels above , forming radiant and nebulous clouds around him . Zac could tell the arrays were barely holding on . Still , the disks were made by one of the most talented Array Masters in Twilight Harbor , using the sturdiest materials available .

Hopefully , they’d survive the final push .

The ninth cycle was the final and the utmost , returning toward the one . It was the last opportunity to infuse the much-needed extra boost to make the impossible possible , and Zac began rousing the two slumbering energies within his body .

Zac had made sure to retain ample reserves of Creation Energy in his body and Oblivion Energy in his soul upon entering the Perennial Vastness . You never knew when you needed an ace , whether it was to protect your life or break through . Luckily , nothing too dangerous had happened since arriving , which allowed him to use the energy for their intended purpose .

Meanwhile , Zac took out a small vial , the very one he’d gotten from Iz , containing the Wreathstar Nectar] . Five drops remained after breaking through the Void Varja Sublimation] . This time , Zac swallowed the drop before the real hurdle had even arrived .

It wasn’t that he was so certain he’d succeed that he took the drop in advance . Rather , he needed to rely on its mysterious properties to tide him over for the whole cycle . A fresh wind swept through his body , and dozens of streams of energy sprouted out of nowhere before they came crashing toward Zac’s Soul Aperture .

The streams entered the almost completely dimmed central core and the withered Dao Avatars who had been drafted beyond their limits . The center of his soul flickered to life , and his exhaustion was temporarily swept aside . The withered tree bloomed , once again spreading its divinity . Similarly , the Iron Maiden released a deep hum , seemingly coming from the depths of the underworld .

It wasn’t the nectar that powered his soul . It was the latent energy from all the treasures he’d just swallowed . He had only managed to use a small amount of their energy before , while the rest started to dissipate . The true purpose of the Wreathstar Nectar] was to put your body in a hungry state after a breakthrough , letting you absorb huge amounts of energy to stabilize your foundations .

In Zac’s case , he used the nectar to let his exhausted soul pull one last batch of energy from the treasures before it was too late . Even the swirling clouds of Life and Death around him were dragged into his pores and channeled into his Soul Aperture . There , they were reforged through the filter of his Soul Apertures before being pushed toward the array disks that were now moving so fast , they’d formed two bands .

Zac also infused his Creation and Oblivion Energy into these streams , elevating it even further . It entered the Array Disk , which started to crackle ominously . Just as he was approaching the zenith of his method , so were the disks reaching the limits of their endurance . Furthermore , infusing Creation and Oblivion had a mysterious effect on their trajectories , and in turn , the whole cave .

Initially , the odd ripple effect only affected Zac’s sealed cave . But as the ninth cycle approached its end , the ripples spread outward , completely unbothered by the isolating rocks . It was hard to tell where he ended and the mountain began , and he felt like his tendrils stretched for miles in every direction . His path was made law in the area , and he was becoming the heart of the mountain .

And when the heart beat to another tune than the rest of the body , odd changes were bound to occur . If he looked outside the Calamity Mountain right now , would the locked rotations of the attuned stars have changed their trajectories?

All stray thoughts were pushed aside as the final cycle came crashing back . As with previous breakthroughs , the beleaguered array disks exploded when they finished their task . Two huge swirls appeared to his sides , one golden and one black . The ambient energies were finally starting to be dragged into the vortices in earnest , but Zac barely noticed . His mind was fully turned inward .

Normally , Zac would have almost lost his mind by the billowing wave of Divinity and Death that raged through his Soul Aperture . Yet , thanks to his elevated Heart , his mind was clear as ever . His Void Self even helped momentarily keep the rampaging energies in check , allowing him to proceed with the plan .

The original method called for using the incredible force and accumulated pressure built up over two cycles to shatter the central core . From there , you’d shatter one outer core after another of the attunement you picked , infusing its essence into the cloud . Finally , you’d detonate the nine leftover cores simultaneously . That would unleash a tremendous shockwave that forced the mixed dust together and left you with an attuned core and a nebula of its opposing element spiraling around it .

The soul would essentially be a galactic core , and you built a galaxy of small attuned systems . The number of stars needed for the fourth reincarnation wasn’t set . It depended on your Dao and your path . The loftier your goals and the greater your comprehension , the more stars you could birth in your galaxy .

The problem was , Zac had completely turned the method on its head . The first cycle was supposed to set the stage . The empowered side would imprint its Dao onto the central core , creating the fault lines that would prompt it to crack later . But the Outer Cores had been busy fighting each other during his dual cycle .

Meanwhile , his central core was far sturdier than normal thanks to the Moss Crystal’s continuous impartment . As things stood , his Soul Aperture was liable to crack before the central core would . He had to bring in a hammer to smash the thing himself .

Time was of the essence . Cracks were already appearing in the far edges of his aperture , proving it was not just one endless space . This was one of the riskier parts of the plan , but Zac hadn’t discovered any better options . His Void Self found it harder and harder to maintain clear thoughts , but he forcibly gathered his will and snatched up a large amount of energy from both elements .

Zac pushed the opposing sides together before infusing a hefty amount of Conflict to act as an accelerant . He’d essentially built a makeshift bomb in his head , capable of an eruption like the ones outside in the Calamity . However , the bomb didn’t fly toward the central core . It swerved , passing through a hidden gate , appearing in the secret subdimension where the Remnants rested .

The bomb went off , a rune shattered , and madness poured forth .

26

RESONANCE

Unbridled destructive urges and mad exuberance fought for dominion as a set of Remnants squeezed out from the crack in their prison . Accompanying them was a storm of accumulated energies that had been filtered by the profound patterns crafted by Be’Zi and the System .

Yet , when the second set of Remnants attempted to follow in their wake , a nine-layered gate appeared to seal them inside . Conflict , Life , and Death , three by three by three , bolstered by an unyielding heart and an immense amount of Mental Energy . The still-trapped Remnants raged and railed against the barrier that barred their path to freedom , but they found themselves unable to bring it down .

The first set stopped for a moment , but their desire to unleash their madness upon the world won over their desire to free their compatriots . They surged forward , crashing through the hidden gate leading to Zac’s true Soul Aperture . Zac didn’t try to stop them . He bolstered their momentum with his Dao while gently guiding them forward .

Right at the Moss Crystal .

The undying wills inside the Remnants needed very little prodding to target the incredibly energy-dense gemstone that just so happened to float very close to the exit of the prison . Both Oblivion and Creation were processes that needed energy , and the Remnants were always kept in a drained state inside the prison . Right now , they only had around 15% of the energy compared to when Zac found them , and the Moss Crystal was a way for them to fuel up .

But a vast , alien consciousness spread through Zac’s aperture just as the two scrambling Remnants were about to reach the emerald crystal . It didn’t possess the splinters’ desolation or the shards’ exuberance . Instead , it was filled with acceptance . And the hunger to grow . Zac inwardly smiled . It looked like Mossy couldn’t sit still with those little calamities making their way over .

The Moss Crystal released an enormous amount of Mental Energy , forming an emerald shroud that tried to swallow and suffocate the two Remnants . But clearly , the discarnate consciousness of Mossy had underestimated what it was dealing with . The Remnants weren’t some easy prey , and they teamed up when targeted by an outsider .

They released powerful waves of energy that either destroyed or subverted Mossy’s spiritual quagmire as they inched closer . All while giving out their insidious promises to Mossy . Even Zac could hear the whispers of destruction and possibility targeted at the crystal , but he did nothing to stop their corruption .

He let the two tie each other up while he dealt with the volatile situation in his Soul Aperture . The shroud of Creation and Destruction released by the prison had increased the agitation of the energies , to the point large scars appeared at the edge of space . If those two Daos were left unchecked , they’d turn his whole breakthrough on his head .

Zac spent the next couple of seconds trapping the two clouds before they mixed with the ambient clouds of Life and Death . Some of it slipped through the cracks , but there wasn’t much Zac could do about it . The escaped Creation and Oblivion would likely slip into his reformed soul , but he had the experience and skills to deal with that in the future .

It looked like the battle between Mossy and the Remnants wouldn’t take long , which was an immense relief . Incredible amounts of Divinity and Death had already been dragged into his Soul Aperture by the vortices formed from the array disks . The Outer Cores had absorbed more than they could withstand , making them ticking time bombs .

Luckily , it was just as Zac expected . Mossy , especially not the fragmented consciousness hidden within its crystal , had no Dao Heart to speak of . It had never encountered real trouble as it grew to cover Emerald Eye . As such , it was incredibly ill-equipped to deal with the urgings of the two ancient wills inside the Splinter of Oblivion and Shard of Creation .

The previously radiant green had become mottled , and the crystal groaned ominously . This was it . Zac finally entered the fray in the most direct way possible—launching his central core right at the battling sides . The central core was over five times as large as the emerald crystal , and it looked like a meteor about to shatter the core to pieces .

The weak light hurts . Betrays , ’ a sigh echoed through Zac’s mind as his core drew closer . - So be it . We both fade . But Moss remains . ’

Zac braced himself but did nothing to prevent the incredible implosion that swallowed both his central core and the Remnants . Zac’s core was instantly ground to dust , and he ignored the soul-rending pain as he erected barriers around the lingering remnants of Mossy’s fading consciousness .

Having sealed the final vestiges of Mossy’s trap , Zac breathed in relief . His breakthrough was still in an incredibly precarious situation , but this was one major hurdle dealt with . For years , he’d known a piece of Mossy hid in the depths of the Moss Crystals . It had concealed itself well and never done anything except silently observe .

But not even a mighty dragon can subdue the local snake . The moment Zac realized what was going on , he’d started scheming for Mossy’s demise . Having another consciousness inside your soul when you reforged it was incredibly dangerous , especially if the soul was hostile .

It was easy for impressions and characteristics to slip inside at a moment of such weakness . And if Mossy wanted , it would have been able to launch an attempt to take over his body . One reason he’d targeted the Moss Crystal was that he needed its massive stores of Mental Energy to fuel two cores instead of one . However , getting rid of Mossy to continue the process was just as important .

The Remnants were much sturdier than Zac’s central core , but even they could not come out of that sudden implosion unscathed . The lights surrounding them had mostly faded as they emerged from the blast zone , their surfaces covered in cracks and scars that leaked tremendous amounts of energy .

Zac found it increasingly difficult to rouse his soul after it had been reduced into a cloud of swirling dust , but he readied himself for another battle . However , he watched with surprise as the two Remnants voluntarily fled back toward their brethren , entering the prison of their own accord . They didn’t even look at the great cloud of vaguely emerald-green that had mixed with the dust from Zac’s soul .

All that Mental Energy was left on the table . Zac had thought he’d have to wrangle and throw them back , but it looked like they’d had enough of the outside . Or perhaps they knew the prison wasn’t long for the world . The cage for the Remnants had never been a permanent solution , and he’d known since first getting the runes installed that they’d sooner or later fail .

The prison hadn’t been maintained since he fled Orom because the mysterious sigils rebuffed his attempts to repair or bolster them . Two runes had already broken apart during his secluded cultivation . Even the one he’d destroyed would shatter in a year or so , Zac only hastened the schedule a bit .

With each rune crumbling , the next one would last even less time . If nothing changed , Zac guessed the prison would be gone before he even entered Ultom . Of course , that was a worry for later . Now , he had to stop his Soul Aperture from exploding from the rampant energies .

The new batch of escaped Creation and Oblivion had created another round of mayhem by the time Zac managed to trap it , to the point there was now a replica of the Calamity inside his Soul Aperture . The whole miniature cosmos was a constant battlefield full of eruptions . Each collision put Zac’s Outer Cores under further duress , not to mention the aperture itself .

Zac took a deep breath as he imposed his will on the chaos , beginning with the spreading dust cloud that was a mix of his central core and the ownerless energy from the Moss Crystal . Two small swirls appeared a moment later . One spun clockwise , while the other one counter-clockwise . In all other regards , they were the same .

For now .

The swirls started gathering up Zac’s soul before it drifted away , allowing him to turn his attention to the rest . The other parties , his Outer Cores and the native energy of the Calamity , weren’t as easily controlled . But Zac was unrelenting . True , on the outside , he was just a small E-grade cultivator—an ant compared to the true masters of the Multiverse . But inside his aperture , he might as well be the Heavens themselves . His will was akin to a divine decree , and he refused to let anything revolt .

From Primordial Chaos , Yin and Yang were born—the delimited Dao . In the same fashion , Zac’s aperture was soon split between Life and Death . In the middle were two vaguely green spirals turning in opposite directions . Right behind them , the Dao Avatars of Kalpataru and Pale Seal hovered . It felt like they towered toward the Heavens , reaching thousands of miles in height , each a monolith floating in space .

The soul shroud rotated in a plane spiral around them like petals . And behind , nine cores floated in an orderly line , each vibrating with barely contained energy . Surrounding the Divine Cores were opalescent streaks of Creation , which attracted all the Life-attuned energies in the aperture to its side . A similar scene took place on the other side , and it only took five minutes for Zac to completely separate the two .

It really looked like he had created two cosmic flowers , where the stamen and core were attuned while the petals were yet unblemished . But that was about to change . The innermost attuned cores floated into the center of the swirling galaxies , dragging with it a huge amount of ambient attunement . The cores and their tails passed through the respective Dao Avatars and were given a final anointment in Zac’s Dao .

Zac infused his will , and the two cores shattered simultaneously , unleashing years of condensed and refined Dao . Most of it drifted into the swirling clouds , the small motes fusing with soul dust and painting them with their path . Some were thrown over to the opposing spiral , but it was rebuffed and relegated to the outer reaches of the spiral .

One explosion after another followed as Zac detonated the Outer Cores . The glittering dust of his refined inner core gained an increasingly majestic aura . Gone was the matte pastel green leftover from the Moss Core . One spiral now shone an oppressive black , and it felt like just looking at it would suck your soul inside . Opposing it was a divine spiral of utmost Life , illuminating half of his Soul Aperture in magical light .

As the dust grew denser from the constant infusions of energy and Dao , it started to condense toward its center . It almost looked like the two cosmic flowers furled their flowers back into a bulb by the time the sixth set of Outer Cores had erupted . Surrounding the flower bulbs were now thin bands of opposing elements , like the rings of Saturn .

Each half of his budding soul seemed to follow the plan of the third reincarnation , yet Zac frowned . The clouds of Miasma and Divine Energy had grown dim to the point they would barely last through the process of exploding three final sets of Outer Cores . New energy kept pouring in from the radiant vortices around him , but the ambient energy in the cave was dwindling .

This place wasn’t like the mysterious temple of the Keys of Ascension , where the ambient energy was kept steady no matter how much he absorbed . He’d misjudged how much energy could be dragged through the cracks and the stone itself when he broke through . He’d expected the energy vacuum to create a natural pull , but it appeared he was wrong . Either that or the storm chamber above exerted a far greater pull than he .

Either case , the situation had now become a bottleneck that couldn’t be fixed by Nexus Crystals alone . Even worse , integrating the Outer Cores into the dust cloud was just the first step . After , Zac needed far more energy to create a conflict powerful enough to refine and compress his creations . As things were , the Evolutionary and Inexorable Cores were more than one hundred times the size of the previous central core in his Soul Aperture .

This wasn’t a good thing . Part of the increase in size was all the added energy from the Moss Crystal , Outer Cores , and the ambient energy that had been dragged into the soul spirals . But most of it came from the two nascent cores being so porous they could barely be considered solids . The original final step of the method called for detonating the remaining nine Outer Cores , but Zac couldn’t do that . He’d already given them to his second core .

The only fuel remaining were two huge clouds of Creation and Oblivion that Zac had sealed with barriers of Mental Energy—the spillover from the Remnants he didn’t dare infuse into his new cores . But did he dare collide those two forces into each other? Obviously not . Even if he didn’t kill himself , he might end up spawning Chaos in his soul , something he wasn’t prepared to handle .

Zac scrambled for solutions , throwing all kinds of attuned treasures into the two vortices as the seventh set of Outer Cores were infused into soul dust . Eventually , his gaze turned to the ceiling . There was one place where all the energy he needed was readily available .

The problem was , if he broke the ceiling , his arrays would be torn apart . His breakthrough would be on full display , and with these amounts of Dao and Energy fluctuations , it’d seem as though a heavenly treasure had been born in the heart of the mountain . It wouldn’t be long before beasts and possibly cultivators arrived .

By the time the eighth set of Outer Cores was assimilated , the ambient energy in his cave had essentially been reduced to zero , and he barely managed to supply the needed amount of energy to recompense . If things progressed this way , he’d end up with two mottled Soul Cores in such a bad state he might even emerge weaker than before the breakthrough . It’d take centuries to fix this issue after the soul dust hardened and lost its malleability .

He couldn’t wait any longer .

Zac gritted his teeth as he grabbed the activation token . A deep thud echoed through the hidden cave as the wallbreaker array startled to life . For a moment , nothing changed , except for five trickles of sand raining from above . Then , all hell broke loose as the ceiling completely collapsed , raining huge blocks of stones all around Zac .

A barrier had already sprung up to push away the falling boulders to the sides of the cave , but what came in their wake was far more deadly . Zac found himself looking up at a five hundred meter tall chute , chock-full of ferocious winds of Life and Death . Winds that were now cascading toward him thanks to the sudden downdraft .

Zac was immediately beset with trouble , and not just because of the wounds that kept appearing across his body . The two vortices had a seemingly endless capacity to swallow energy , but only of their attunement . Meanwhile , the storm crashing down was a confusing jumble of energies that moved at incredible speeds . The vortices couldn’t extract what they needed from that confusing mess .

He needed to help them out .

Thankfully , he had just the thing , and two alien energies were forced out of his Soul Aperture . Two streams , this time unblemished by Conflict , passed through the pathways on his shoulders and into his arms . Creation in his left , Oblivion in his right . He didn’t keep them condensed this time , instead opting to release the energies as small clouds that swirled around their respective vortices .

The higher Daos acted as beacons , dragging their subordinate paths toward them . Yet it wasn’t enough . The energies were too unruly , to the point it was impossible to make much use of them . Zac barely scratched the surface of the vast energies coursing through the chute .

Releasing the energies did have one more effect , though . The odd sensation of being one with the mountain returned , this time more palpable than ever . A deep groan rippled through the cave , and the fierce winds inside the storm chamber simply froze . Zac looked up with shock , only for his vision to shift .

Suddenly , he saw the vast skyscapes of the Calamity , not a hint of land across the horizon . A sense of boundless freedom filled him as he became one with the sky . Then , Zac pushed through the clouds at the edge of the storm , at which point he found himself sitting inside the cave again as the chaos resumed .

In his mind , a strong desire lingered , one not of his own making .

You want this energy? That’s why you’ve resonated with me? - Zac roared over the raging storm . - Then you need to help me out as well! -

The response was immediate . A deafening crack echoed through the cave as enormous fissures appeared throughout the storm chamber . Then , rivers of energy came cascading down , drowning the storm before crashing toward Zac . His eyes widened in a mix of anticipation and alarm .

It looked like he’d gotten more than what he’d bargained for .

27

REINCARNATIONS AND REBIRTHS

Rivers of energy poured down the walls of the storm chamber , their density far beyond anything Zac had seen since entering the Calamity . Yet , an almost deafening silence had replaced the roar of the storm . Zac could tell some mysterious concepts were influencing the rivers of attuned energies , preventing them from touching .

The hundreds of fissures and their streams joined and separated , following a set of unique truths . Together , the streams formed a simultaneously simple and complex Dao Braid , allowing incredible amounts of energy to pass through the narrow space of the storm chamber .

The braid itself was almost the opposite of Zac’s path and not of much use conceptually , but it made his life a lot easier . The explosions of these energy levels would have been deadly , and would have forced him to split his attention between the war in his mind and the war on the outside .

Zac felt the ground beneath shudder as two small cracks appeared almost right beneath the two vortices that had already begun feasting on the more malleable attuned energies . In contrast to the fissures above , these small slits exerted a weak pull . Zac understood what was going on , and he redirected the Creation and Oblivion Energy into the cracks—payment for the fuel coursing into him .

This was a trade Zac was more than willing to take . The energies trapped in his aperture came straight from the Remnants and were tainted by their undying will . Giving it up could be considered helping him rather than being an actual payment . The only problem was that using the energies came at a cost , even when just releasing it from his Soul Aperture .

Although , there was no rule saying he had to be the one paying the price .

An impossibly vibrant branch with four leaves rippling with Time and Life appeared in his hand , and the first leaf started to wilt as Zac extracted the longevity locked within . Similarly , Oblivion exacted a price of emotions and memories , yet Zac had prepared a spare for that .

This wasn’t a Longevity Treasure like the one his subordinates had found at an auction . It was the lingering pieces of Mossy’s consciousness he’d trapped and sealed . The last emerald motes winked out one after another as Oblivion claimed them for fuel .

Seeing that the process went smoothly , Zac could finally turn to the most important matter . The almost exhausted ambient energy in his Soul Aperture was already halfway replenished , and dense clouds of Life and Death battled for dominion over his soul .

The small nebulous swirls surrounding the two oversized Soul Cores had grown tens of times in size , each shuddering with power as they exerted pressure on the cores . Meanwhile , innumerable explosions went off every second in his mind , each exhausting some of the build-up while pressuring the Soul Cores .

Even without Zac controlling things , the cores had already shrunk 30% in size since the vortices had begun swallowing the liquified energy . Yet it wasn’t enough . Zac could tell his cores had started to harden . He had a few minutes at most , and the cores still needed to be concentrated to a tenth of their current size . Right now , they were far too porous and brittle .

Determination gleamed in Zac’s eyes as he took charge of his Evolutionary and Inexorable Cores . His path had always been a straightforward one , and his solution this time wasn’t any different . The cores hummed as they began to move with increasing velocity .

Right toward each other .

In their wake , two enormous shrouds of Life and Death followed , making up the bulk of the army . Meanwhile , the cores were the vanguard , each containing an insatiable desire for the extermination of the other side . Zac did nothing to quell these impulses—he did the opposite . The Dao Avatar of the Branch of the War Axe released torrential amounts of Dao into the approaching cores and their shrouds while the final stockpile of truth started pouring out from Spiritual Void] .

Life and Death , kindled by Conflict ; a war as old as time itself . An earthshattering shockwave erupted in Zac’s Soul Aperture as two cores collided . A second , just as powerful explosion , followed a moment later as the spiral clouds of opposing elements were forced together . Zac’s vision swam , like his soul had been ripped in half as the two cores were flung back to the opposite edges of his aperture .

Blood poured down Zac’s nose and ears , and cracks covered the surface of the two cores . But it worked . The clash of the cores and the huge shockwave from the shrouds exploding condensed the two cores by almost 50% . Just as importantly , Conflict had been squeezed into them , moving them closer to his path .

The pain in Zac’s mind was almost enough to make him keel over , but he ignored the agony as he swallowed a handful of Soul Mending Pills . The exhausted spiral shrouds had been replenished just seconds later by the nigh-inexhaustible energies from above . Zac was full of reluctance , but he had no choice .

The two cores began moving again , their advance collecting all the energies in the aperture . Another set of shockwaves erupted when the cores clashed . This time , his consciousness slipped and he stabbed himself in the leg to regain clarity . The cores groaned in agony , but they’d shrunk another 20% .

One time after another , Life and Death rallied and fought for supremacy , with Zac’s mind as the battleground . The cores were no longer pure expressions of Life and Death . Now , they teemed with ferocity as Conflict integrated into their depths . Furthermore , their size was just 15% of before . The pressure had elevated them from rough coal into diamonds , their power far beyond his previous stage .

Such improvements came at a cost . Cracks covered every inch of their surfaces , deep scars that threatened to leave lasting damage . The same was true for his Soul Aperture , which was damaged to the point of leaking Mental Energy . He’d also run out of Creation and Oblivion Energy , and he could tell something was happening to the Calamity Mountain .

The mountain had been shaking over the past three minutes , the tremors growing deeper and more ominous by the second . The mysterious presence had also grown more distant , to the point Zac felt himself about to lose the connection altogether . He could tell the energies he’d provided had already been used up . For what , Zac had no idea , and he was running out of time .

One more , - Zac growled with a hoarse voice , his vision red while his mouth tasted like metal .

He’d endured eight collisions , each putting him closer to his goal . Nine was the last and the ultimate—the final battle .

The two cores were forced into battle , becoming missiles on a collision course . They collided , and Zac desperately formed a huge net of Mental Energy around his aperture to minimize the damage . The cores were pushed back , but this time proved different from the previous clashes . Glittering dust was left in their wake , making them appear as comets drifting through space .

The tail was made from pieces of Zac’s soul , but there were also emerald splinters from the Moss Crystal and pieces infected with the lingering will of the Remnants . The cores had been condensed to such a point that some of the impurities had been forced out , such as the pieces of Mossy that he’d failed to integrate into the cores .

His soul was rapidly filled with energy from the vortices , and Zac reached out and crushed the gates leading to his mind . Two new spiral clouds formed , but Zac no longer needed to push the two sides together . Instead , the two cores commandeered one half each of his Soul Aperture , forming two vertical swirls .

The Evolutionary Core was surrounded by a deathly cloud , while the Inexorable Core was ensconced in Life . In the center of his aperture , his Dao Avatar sat in meditation , continuously releasing its Dao of Conflict into the clouds . Eventually , the deathly cloud would turn into an inexorable cloud , and so on .

The clouds slowly spun around the newly formed cores , constantly putting them under a small amount of pressure . These clouds would become the key to continuing through the Nine Reincarnations Manual] . For now , they worked as protection . The pressure the clouds released wasn’t strong enough to damage the cores , but it helped keep them pressed together .

Zac swallowed a series of treasures meant for nurturing and healing souls , and a fresh wind swept through his soul . It was like outside and within had swapped positions . The storm chamber was rendered deathly silent since the streams of energy were released , the complete opposite of the raging war in his mind .

Now , the laws keeping the falling energies at bay were wearing thin , and explosions had resumed farther up the chute . Conversely , a fresh wind from the healing treasures swept through his mind , helping seal the tears in his aperture and cores . His soul finally found peace .

He’d done it . His Soul Aperture was a wreck , and the cores looked like they had been through years of fierce battles . But that was fine . The two cores were incredibly condensed , creating a powerful foundation to continue his cultivation . And while his soul was damaged , it wasn’t to the point he couldn’t use it at all . He should be fine if he didn’t draw more than 30% of their power . Using 30% of his Mental Energy with his two cores was far beyond what he could release during his previous reincarnation .

The explosions drew closer as the tremors grew more powerful . Almost like the whole mountain was about to collapse . Yet Zac sat in place , almost forgetting his fleshy body altogether . He was one with his powerful soul and felt it spread like a domain for hundreds of meters in every direction .

Boulders that should have smashed into him were nudged away , landing on the ground around him . Even the awakening storm avoided him , allowing him to gradually get used to his newfound power .

A pang of incredible danger pierced through the roar of the mountain . It interrupted his rebirth in the eye of the storm , like a discordant note in a beautiful orchestra . Zac still remained rooted in place , eyes closed , sensing a cultivator effortlessly pierce through the storm on his way to Zac’s exposed cave . The barriers had long since shattered , and the enemy was already upon him .

Zac only felt tranquility as he opened his eyes .

A pulse of pent-up pressure from his Soul Aperture was released through Zac’s gaze , and the hooded cultivator who’d targeted him lost all control over his body as an earring and a brand on his forehead snapped . His eyes glazed over like his soul had just left him . In a way , it had . It had been pushed out of place by the tremendous force Zac’s breakthrough generated .

Bad luck , - Zac muttered as Verun’s Bite] flashed , cutting off the reptilian’s head in one swift motion .

A surge of Kill Energy entered his body , confirming it wasn’t a puppet or something else that had been destroyed . Zac shook his head as he swiftly looted rings and everything else of interest on the man’s body before he stowed it away in his Corpse Sack . A second piece of high-potential material had delivered itself—doubly so since the assassin seemed to cultivate a Dao of Death without being undead . He would most likely make an amazing Revenant .

Zac had sensed this cultivator targeting him a while ago . Fate had been gathering toward him since he broke open the walls to release the floodgates . And when his soul spread through the area , he’d spotted the reptilian . Zac expected it to be a powerful Beast King , though , rather than another guest .

What he hadn’t anticipated was how powerful the accidental pulse he released was . He’d planned on stopping the man in place with mental pressure , seizing the momentum . But his soul had fractured , much like when Zac met the original owner of Vilari’s body . It was a shame such a powerful bust was a one-off thing and not something he could charge up .

But it gave him the idea to look for Mentalist skills , something for infighters in the vein of True Strike] he’d owned for a while . It was a bit of a shame to cultivate such a powerful soul and not properly leverage it in battle . He even had two empty slots for skill fractals in his head , a result of both his sides being such one-track martial classes .

A huge rock tumbling down forced Zac to put planning aside . The stone itself wasn’t a big problem , even if it was too heavy for his newfound telekinesis . Rather , it felt like a harbinger of what was to come . Zac could tell the shakes were not just the result of new pathways being carved through the mountain .

The mountain was dying . Had he accidentally killed it? He’d infused quite a bit of Creation and Oblivion , but he didn’t believe that was enough to take out the spirit that had communicated with him . Especially considering how much it had desired those energies .

Then again , it was hard to argue with facts as Zac could sense the mountain was no longer climbing in altitude while the cracks in the storm chamber grew more serious . But suddenly , a weak message appeared in Zac’s mind before his connection to the mountain was thoroughly cut . A thank you and a goodbye .

Zac didn’t know exactly what was happening , but his eyes gleamed with greed as they turned to the top of the storm chamber . A moment later , a spiraled crystal reminiscent of the twinned World Core fell through the ceiling . It didn’t fall with the rest of the rubble but rather floated , showering the whole chamber in powerful truths of Life and Death .

This was a Supreme treasure , nurtured for eons in the heart of the mountain . A gift from the spirit as it was reborn .

Its emergence was like the lifeline of the mountain being cut , and Zac felt the spirituality of the mountain rapidly drain . Zac couldn’t be sure , but he doubted the mountain would still be flying in a week or two .

An unbelievably enraged roar rocked the mountain before a powerful presence swept the area . The mountain’s owner had woken up , and it wasn’t happy . Worse , it was clearly a Late-stage Beast King , only one level beneath the terrifying snake he’d met in the Twilight Chasm . It wasn’t something he could contend with .

Zac’s hair stood on end upon feeling the aura of the powerful Beast King , but he ignored the warning bells going off in his mind as he started climbing toward the treasure . He’d already been discovered , so he may as well get the prize before running for his life .

A croaking snicker echoed through the storm as the two looked down at the drifting mountain .

Poor child , - Lova laughed . - Targeting a peer with such powerful Fate is bound to result in a cosmic hiccup if your own providence isn’t up to snuff . -

It was as though their gaze could pierce straight through the mountain , observing the young man within . His aura was unsteady after his brutish breakthrough , yet his eyes had unyielding determination as he braved the storms of energy , climbing toward the Mountain Heart floating above .

What do you think , Esmeralda? - Lova smiled as she looked down at the small toad in her hand . - He’s an interesting one . No wonder Engo has been muttering to himself for over a month . -

The toad formed a few signs , its tongue flicking about .

He’s a good person because his Dao tasted nice? - Lova laughed . - Well , his unique flavor did help your 403rd reincarnation save a bit of time from reaching maturity . -

Another enraged roar echoed through the area . The Dreambeast atop the mountain had awoken from its self-inflicted nightmare , and it was beyond infuriated to find the source of its dreams withered . It had already sent its tendrils through the mountain , and it was about to teleport to the heart .

Esmeralda grunted unhappily , and a wave of ancient aura shot toward the mountain peak . The Dreambeast froze in place , shuddering at the sudden presence that filled its domain . A moment later , it turned into a river of vibrant dreams , fleeing toward the upper layers of the Calamity . It even left the wilting Soulhaze Lily] in its cave , afraid that bringing it away would anger this terrifying intruder .

This one is fine , but no more , - Lova said . - Master does not like us meddling with the children’s fate . -

Esmeralda rolled her eyes , making a few signs while pointing toward the sky .

You’d seal master if he’d get in the way? - Lova said with a helpless shake of her head . - Maybe if you were in your original form . But even then , you’d only manage to keep him contained for a few millennia . And what do a few years matter to someone like master? -

The toad snorted , pointedly looking away .

Don’t be like that , - Lova said . - Who told you to go and eat that scary thing from the Time Nexus? Don’t forget , it’s only thanks to master and his old friend that you and your reincarnations haven’t been washed away by the Obverse River . -

The toad responded with a blithering stare before turning her gaze back to the mountain below . Cracks had spread across its whole surface , and huge chunks were breaking off , falling into the Void . A day at most .

Well , it’s true that your unique situation has been helpful for our undertaking . Either case , some things can’t be avoided . - Lova smiled as she glanced at a screen that had appeared in front of her . - A global event . You can consider this an opportunity for your little friend to temper himself . I am curious to see how this will play out . There are an unusual number of decent seedlings in this batch . I guess we have the ascending pillar to thank for that . -

Lova nodded , agreeing with the sign-speaking toad’s response . - You’re right , it might be the other way around . The pillar is ascending because of the gathering Fate . The Heavens are rising . It won’t be long until another throne can be claimed . -

A tongue ripped through the air in a snatching motion , releasing a powerful aura that contained the echoes of the very beginning of the era .

You? - Lova smiled . - You’ll first have to escape your curse of reincarnation . But I guess you have a plan , considering you’ve been sneaking about the past decades . -

Esmeralda pointed at the mountain , croaking in its ancient language .

Use one Eternal Heritage to fight another? - Lova nodded . - I guessed as much . In your current state , you’re not strong enough to sneak inside . So you have to borrow the Fate of these children . Well , there are a few to pick from right now . -

Esmeralda snickered with excitement as she looked at the chaos erupting throughout the mountain . Half of the beasts ran toward the exits , their survival instincts overcoming their greed for the Mountain Heart . Others had abandoned all reason as they rushed toward the heart , where the young human was still braving the increasing waves toward the treasure .

Lova monitored the proceedings , but a weak fluctuation made her look over curiously . The spirit was weak and small and full of unstable energies . But it freely existed in a permanent form , even when cut from its source .

A Mountain Spirit who dreams of the sky , - Lova smiled as she gently pointed at the spirit . - It goes against the natural order . Then again , so does all cultivation . -

A small azure rune appeared on her finger , which enlarged as it flew toward the spirit . It formed a gate leading to a vast azure expanse .

Us meeting today can be considered fate . This place isn’t suitable for the next step of your journey . The endless skies on the other side of the portal are just as dangerous as this realm , but they hold the key to your desire . -

The small floating mountain flickered , turning into a faceless humanoid resembling the young man who had given it the energy needed for its transformation . It bowed then flew through the gate , not sparing its former body a single glance .

And as one gate closed , another opened .

It looks like the children are already arriving , - Lova said , gaze shifting to the starter island far below . - This will become a bloody affair . -

28

CALAMITY CORE

It seemed like the weight of the whole Calamity Mountain bore down on Zac’s shoulders as he continued his climb . His arms strained from the pressure , and he would already have been thrown back to the bottom of the chute if not for the help of both Vivi and Alea .

He wasn’t sure if it was the treasure itself or the crack it fell out of that generated the overwhelming gravity domain , but nothing seemed to work against it . Even Void Zone] only weakened it a bit , at the cost of excessive amounts of Void Energy . Thankfully , he was almost there , and not a moment too soon .

Zac could sense a powerful presence just through the wall with his spiritual domain . It was clearly here for the prize , but it couldn’t find a way through . Judging by the shudders , it had opted for the most straightforward solution—forcing its way through by taking advantage of the large cracks that spread through the mountain .

And it wasn’t the only one . Roars resonated from almost every pathway leading into the storm chamber .

Muscles bunched together as Zac climbed the last stretch . His body was screaming with hunger when faced with the incredible truths locked within the twinned crystal . The closer he got , the more obvious it was that this thing was far greater than some Attuned Crystals . It didn’t seem to contain much energy , but it more than made up for it in Dao .

Even inside the time-dilated environment of the Perennial Vastness , Zac could feel the winds of inspiration buffet him as he looked at the flickering lights within . This crystal held the condensed truths of Pure Life and Death , refined over eons in the Calamity . Its Daos weren’t at the level of the mote of Primal Dao he’d encountered inside the Twilight Chasm , but it was perhaps even more enticing .

Because this thing was almost perfectly aligned with his path . Not only that , it seemed to still absorb the truths of the surroundings , showing no indication of losing its efficacy . It was a stark contrast to the white light that couldn’t survive in the exposed environment , where Zac only managed to grasp onto a corner of its gift before it was gone .

The cracks spread on the wall as the shudders grew more frenzied , but Zac was already upon the treasure . He was showered the truth by the Calamity , and pure Dao burrowed into his body . His mind glazed over but he snapped back to reality . A large jade box appeared in his hand , and he threw in a couple of Cosmic Crystals with Life and Death-attunement for good measure .

The treasure was safely tucked away in his Spatial Ring a moment later .

Zac didn’t run away , gathering the lingering truths on a fractal leaf . The wall just beneath crumbled , and a golden insect with glistening mandibles crashed through . Its eyes focused on Zac , and the storm chamber filled with greed and killing intent .

Thousands of small scales stood up on its back before they shot toward Zac like a golden hailstorm . However , they were swallowed by two clouds , one containing the domineering radiance of Arcadia and the other the oppressive darkness of the Abyss . It was Rapturous Divide] , empowered by the incredible amounts of attuned energies in the storm chamber .

A golden viscous liquid poured through small holes in the thick chitinous shell of the ten-meter-ant . It formed a second layer of defense for the Beast King , but it was utterly incapable of dealing with Zac’s strike . A surge of energy filled Zac’s body as the ant’s head fell toward the bottom of the chute . Hundreds of more ants were in the tunnel , but they all fled upon seeing their queen die .

Zac channeled the Kill Energy into Surging Vitality] while opening his Status Screen , sighing resignedly upon seeing the quest still there .

Mountain Heart (Global Event) : Seize the Calamity Core] formed in the heart of the Calamity Mountain . Reward : 5 , 000 Mana . (NOTE : Mission Considered complete upon leaving the Calamity . ) (1/1)

He’d expected as much upon getting the mission , but it was still a headache . Zac had read about this very situation in Ventus’ book , Perennial Transformations] . The strategy proposed by Ventus was to , through visiting various realms and gathering data , use numerology to estimate which realms would birth rare treasures and when .

That way , you would get a leg up on the competition , gaining riches and Mana in one swoop . If lucky , you could even get a quest before it became a global event . However , Ventus also mentioned one situation to look out for . When the treasure was too valuable , it’d immediately create a global event , with no chance of sneaking it out of the zone unnoticed .

And for the greatest treasures that were only occasionally formed in the Red Zones , the mission wouldn’t end even when he got his hands on the item .

It was a small difference , but one that drastically changed the fallout . For one , a persistent event meant the item was incredibly valuable . Secondly , the huge Mana bounty was still up for grabs . Five thousand Mana was half an echelon . Such a windfall was especially precious to the elites running against the clock .

It could give them the breathing room needed to form their core in peace or push them into a higher echelon that would allow them to activate the higher-tiered features a year early . Conversely , if the mission had ended , then most people would bow out , as the benefits didn’t match the risks .

Now , the exit was likely already guarded by powerful guests . Clearly , the System’s philosophy weighed heavier in the Red Zones , where struggle was just as important as exploring the Dao and forming new cores .

You guys really are jerks , - Zac muttered as he dropped back down toward the tunnel he entered through .

Well , this is a Red Zone , - Null giggled . - If the task ended the moment you got the treasure , who’d bother coming here to fight you for it? If you don’t want the hassle , you can just throw the Mountain Heart away . -

Zac shrugged . There was no way he’d discard the Calamity Core] , even if it meant clashing with high-echelon guests . He’d known it the moment he held the treasure . This thing easily surpassed any of his prepared items for his upcoming Core Formation .

Forming a Cosmic Core as a mortal heavily relied on treasures , but not any old item would do . Some attuned treasures weren’t suitable for Core Formation , while others had clashing spirituality or unsuitable insights . He had mountains of attuned items in his Spatial Ring , but most carried defects that would impact his breakthrough if not refined . But refinement also meant the item lost some of its efficacy .

The Calamity Core] was different . It contained incredibly Pure Daos of Life and Death , completely unblemished by outside influences . Furthermore , the core was completely unsullied by any lingering spirituality . Zac didn’t know what happened to the Mountain Spirit , but it had fully severed its connection to the mountain and its core . It wouldn’t need any refinement and could be directly absorbed .

And as such , the Mountain Heart had become the perfect item to set up the foundation for his incredibly complex core . It was even a twin-attunement treasure . The fewer treasures he used to create the nucleus of his Cosmic Core , the greater the cohesion would be . With the Calamity Core] , he only needed to add a Supreme treasure with Pure Conflict , and he’d have all the pieces he needed .

This would drastically increase his chances of success and even improve his chances of forming a higher-quality Cosmic Core . A top-tier foundation would act as a stabilizer as he extracted the energies of lesser treasures and added them to his core . With the incredible difficulties he faced with his Void Core , he couldn’t give up on something like that . The treasure even came with a massive Mana bonus , so there was no way he’d throw it away .

Zac reached the tunnel , and he wasn’t very surprised that no powerful current of Death poured through the pathway anymore . The shakes were persistent and increased with ferocity . The outside energies were siphoned off long before reaching the heart of the mountain , if they were dragged into the mountain at all .

The tunnel turned to a blur as Zac rushed toward the surface with utmost urgency , leaving a cloud of dust in his wake . It was a mix of Karma , smell , and energy-purifying dust that would hopefully throw the beasts off his trail . But the raging beasts were the least of his worries , unless the source of that terrifying roar before returned .

The Calamity Mountain was a sinking ship with the spirit gone and the core extracted . He needed to get out before it leaked too much energy , or it’d become his tomb as it plunged into the depths . A high-pitched screech echoed out ahead , but the Pseudo Beast King didn’t get a chance to react before its head was split in two by a Dao-empowered swing of Verun’s Bite] .

Upgrading his soul had once more improved his control over Mental Energy , and forming his crude Dao Braids was effortless and instantaneous . Not only that , but the current layout of his soul allowed for faster extraction . In his current human form , he could easily draw exactly the energies he needed from his Evolutionary Soul Core .

It didn’t directly improve his combat strength , but that was mostly because he hadn’t yet investigated the limits of his spiritual control . He should be able to create better Dao Braids after forming a Three Fates Soul , perhaps even forming a simple Dao Array . The spiritual domain that he could naturally form was also a huge help .

It stretched hundreds of meters around him , even passing through the mountain walls with their strong energy-isolating properties . Better yet , it barely required any energy to run . It provided an additional sense that helped him scout the path ahead for dangers . And being a passive domain , Zac suspected only Mentalists would notice it , in contrast to domain skills that would give off clues from how it used Cosmic Energy .

Zac continued at breakneck speed , each step with Earthstrider] moving him hundreds of meters through the tunnels . But soon , he opted to swap back to his undead form , using Abyssal Phase] to squeeze through the cracks that had appeared all over . It saved him hours , but Zac was still worried . The situation grew increasingly dire , with whole tunnels collapsing .

More than one path had collapsed to the point not even his wraith form could squeeze through . And he could tell that the mountain had started to sink , though it was a gentle descent . And there were still miles and miles of tunnels he needed to push through before he reached the surface .

After the fiftieth attempt , a talisman hummed to life . Zac breathed out in relief and infused Miasma without hesitation . He was swallowed by aquamarine light a second later , displaced by the top-quality escape talisman . The dour tunnel was replaced by the glowing radiance of the thousand suns of the Calamity as he appeared a few thousand meters away from the crumbling mountain .

The two attuned suns had started to drift away , and boulders fell like rain from below . Zac was more certain now , seeing the mountain from above , that it had died . A hint of decay and mourning gripped the whole thing , and huge clouds of stockpiled energies leaked out from the thousands of tunnels .

A huge maw suddenly appeared right in front of him , but the jagged edge of Gorehew] rebuffed the beast long enough for five putrefying chains to dig into the body of the winged salamander . The beast shrieked with pain as flesh sloughed off from its body , and it fell into the abyss a moment later .

The danger was averted , but the salamander was just one of innumerable beasts in the vicinity . The sky was filled with animals fleeing the mountain , forming a deadly beast tide . There were hundreds of Beast Kings and a thousand times that number of E-grade beasts who possessed the ability to fly . Many had already trained their gazes at Zac , but they quickly looked away when Zac released his murderous aura and Daos .

He’d already confirmed there was no Middle-stage Beast Kings in the tide . There was no sign of the leader of the mountain either . Its aura had disappeared just before he seized the Calamity Core] . Zac almost wondered if it was connected to the mountain somehow , and died when the mountain did . Of course , it was also possible it left for the higher reaches of the Calamity after its home was destroyed .

That wasn’t an option for most of the remaining beasts . Huge upheavals would rock the lower layers of the storm for the coming months , possibly years .

As for Zac , he had no interest in staying on to see the fallout . The Beast Kings had better things to worry about than Zac , and he was in no mood to waste energy fighting a mountain’s worth of beasts . The glider had already appeared beneath his feet and he had it fly away from the tide , heading for the vast emptiness beneath .

As luck would have it , the starting island wasn’t that far away . He and the toad had essentially moved in a huge circle while moving toward the mountain , climbing a bit higher with every jump . Now , the exit was just two islands over and one layer down , so there was no need to go back the same way he came .

Thousands of beasts following in his wake made for the islands below . Though most seemed somewhat lost , just hovering around the crumbling mountain , perhaps hoping it would stabilize—a futile hope .

The air screamed around him as Zac followed Null’s guidance beam . Occasionally some agitated beast would succumb to its instincts and try to attack him , but they were swiftly turned into bloody warnings for the others to stay clear . The real danger was the environment itself . Jumping down wasn’t as dangerous as climbing higher , but the attuned winds grew stronger by the minute .

He was forced to put the glider away a few times and brave the winds with his body until he fell through a rough patch . Zac’s heart was beating like a drum all the while . He was essentially parachuting without a parachute inside a raging storm .

One hour later , Zac finally saw the edge of an island below . It wasn’t the starting continent , but it had to be a neighboring one .

Zac landed on the island’s edge , partly hidden among a vanguard of fleeing beasts . Deafening roars greeted him , and the bloody air was proof the great reshuffling of the Calamity’s limited real estate had already begun . Each island could only support so much life , far less than the massive mountain had housed . Zac didn’t join the mayhem , keeping a low profile as he ran toward the other side .

After some deliberation , Zac opted to stay in his Draugr form . There was a high risk of a rough battle waiting for him up ahead , and he didn’t want to expose his human side if not needed . In contrast , his Draugr persona already had a reputation as a top-tier expert thanks to the global message , which might make some people back down . After all , this was a Red Zone without any safety nets .

Even then , it only took half an hour before Zac felt a weak pang of danger as a bolt of nothingness shot toward him with incredible speed . It was launched from a dead angle , not creating so much as a ripple of energy . Zac could still sense it with his newfound domain , allowing him to adapt even faster than merely relying on his danger sense .

Zac dodged as layers of Death spread from his body , kicking up a storm in the environment that swallowed the forest around him . His spiritual domain was strong , but it didn’t have the reach of his Peak-mastery Fields of Despair] , which exposed two warriors—one hiding in the distance whereas the other was almost upon him , moving at breakneck speed .

The projectile passed him by with incredible momentum , punching a fist-sized hole straight through a nearby boulder . It had to have contained incredible force to destroy the hard rocks of the floating islands so effortlessly . Even Zac wouldn’t have had an easy time absorbing such a blow . But there was no time to worry about the hidden archer .

Four chains dripping with corrosion shot forward , forming a deadly prison as the jagged edge of Gorehew] appeared . The skill hadn’t changed much since reaching Peak-mastery . It only built upon what it already had . The jagged edge was sharper , heavier , and could absorb blood far more efficiently in a protracted war .

Instilled with the branches of Pale Seal and War Axe , it carried terrifying weight as it cut toward the incoming warrior . However , Zac suddenly swirled around , cutting empty air as a chain impaled the hooded attacker . His swirl repositioned the chains , allowing them to slightly divert three more projectiles launched from the shadows . Zac growled with annoyance upon seeing cracks appear on the chains of Love’s Bond] .

The incoming warrior shattered like a broken mirror when Love’s Bond] pierced him , and the real warrior appeared where Zac swung his axe . The jagged edge crashed into a refractive barrier . The shield was completely incapable of stopping Zac’s momentum , but the warrior was already gone by the time he’d cut through .

A scream in the back of his mind warned of danger , but there was no time . A huge conflagration swallowed Zac , but its force wasn’t enough to leave more than shallow wounds on his frame . The flames were cut apart with a swing of Gorehew] , and a stomp quenched them altogether . After looking around , Zac snorted and continued walking .

The two attackers were already gone after their ambush failed . He’d sensed the melee fighter teleporting to the edge of Fields of Despair] when his defensive skill failed . Then he was gone before Zac could catch up , and the ranged fighter similarly chose to back away . Without using Pillar of Desolation] or Arbiter of the Abyss] , there was no way to make the two assassins stay .

They clearly hadn’t gone all-out , only testing the waters to see if it was a worthwhile fight . Witnessing Zac’s strength , they chose to back down . Unfortunately , there was a very real chance the two were only scouts , and the real fighting force was somewhere close by . Zac was confident in his strength , but he didn’t like the idea of fighting a whole faction so soon after breaking through , with his soul still in a fragile state .

He was about to flash away with Abyssal Phase] , but a rumble made him pause and look up . A smile spread across Zac’s face as the sky darkened . He might be alone , but at least he had the environment on his side .

29

CALAMITY

A huge gust passed by overhead , leaving behind a curtain of explosions . Far off , a boulder the size of a skyscraper fell , piercing through the budding storm and enraging it all the more . The winds reached Zac soon enough , who pushed the chains of Love’s Bond] into the ground to avoid getting swept away .

A deadly storm was descending on the region , this one an even mix of Life and Death . Explosions of both elements lit up the sky , and visibility worsened by the second . Last time , it had turned into a painful lesson about the dangers of the Red Zones , but Zac didn’t start looking for a cave to weather the storm .

He chose to keep moving . But just as Zac was about to resume his sprint for the other shore , he felt a surge in his body . The source wasn’t the gathering energies around him that had burrowed into his body . Rather , it was Immutability of Eoz] that had woken up .

Its cleansing waves of darkness swept through him , forcing an illusory mark to the surface . It contained a weak hint of fire , and Zac’s eyes widened in surprise . He really couldn’t look down on the guests in this place . The ranged assassin had been powerful enough to damage Alea’s chains , and the melee fighter managed to leave a delayed tracking mark in the conflagration .

Zac hadn’t noticed a thing . He would have been in big trouble if not for his Hidden Node . Zac ran a thorough scan of himself and the chains , but it looked like that was it . Still , the experience filled him with greater urgency , and he risked his safety by activating Abyssal Phase] despite the explosions around him .

Why leave a tracking mark if you weren’t planning to come back , most likely with backup? The theory the two before were scouts of a larger party just grew more likely , and Zac needed to get away . The surroundings turned to a blur as Zac became a stream shooting across the island’s surface . The agitated energies felt like knives cutting through his incorporeal form , and he soon couldn’t maintain the skill anymore .

He appeared in a secluded vale in a puff of Miasma , his body covered in shallow wounds . Zac didn’t do anything to deal with the lacerations . For one , they’d close soon enough thanks to his improved constitution . Secondly , his ichor worked just as well as his blood to quell the growing storm around him .

His movement skill was quick , but it couldn’t match up to the ferocity of the Calamity . Half a minute later , the storm had caught up , reducing visibility to almost zero . Screaming gales and constant eruptions drowned out all other sounds . At least it would be incredibly difficult for his pursuers to find him like this .

Even the constant roars of beasts fighting were gone . They knew well enough not to stay on the surface when faced with the wrath of the environment . Explosions in the atmosphere grew more frantic , and just moving became a chore . But as bad as Zac had it , the other guests probably had it worse .

The coalitions might have been able to prepare some measures against the environment if they had more time , but this was a time-sensitive event . There was only so much you could do in a few minutes . This was his chance . The further he could progress while the others were locked down , the fewer enemies he’d have to fight .

If lucky , a lot of people might leave the Calamity altogether upon seeing a Life-Death storm bear down on them .

A scream of danger made Zac look up , and he swore with alarm as he leapt out of the way , using the chains to ensure he wasn’t dragged off . A powerful gust ripped Zac’s anchor out of the ground and flung him into the sky , forcing him to take his wraith form again . Cascading waves of Life and Death ravaged his body , but Zac held on long enough to move a few hundred meters away .

His body was covered in far nastier wounds when he reformed , but he wasted no time as he activated Profane Exponents] just in time to partly block out a tremendous shockwave . The coffin-wielding skeleton bore the brunt of the force , only surviving thanks to the latest addition to the skill .

Upon reaching Peak-mastery , a fourth skeleton was added , appearing as a hooded mage holding an ancient tome . It emitted dense plumes of Death and was the source of the large sigil beneath his feet . On its own , the sigil formed a second layer of defense , weakening any force entering it . The mage skeleton also had a second feature—empowerment .

Every time the skill was activated , Zac could have the mage strengthen one of the other three pygmy skeletons and their abilities . He urged the empowerment into the coffin-wielding defender , which increased the durability of its barrier by over 30% . A second barrier also sprung up around the sigil , a lesser mimicry of the coffin blocking out the shockwave .

The skill ultimately cracked , but only after exhausting most of the furious waves of Life and Death that had covered the area like a tsunami . Even the deadly haze was momentarily swept away , allowing Zac to see what had almost killed him .

A boulder hundreds of meters across had almost landed on his head just now , clearly a broken-off piece of the collapsing Calamity Mountain . Huge cracks spread across the ground , and an endless series of shudders indicated this deadly projectile wasn’t the only one .

Neither guests nor storms were the most pressing threat . Something must have changed with the Calamity Mountain for pieces this big to fall with such frequency . Each one was like a small extinction event . Even if he could avoid getting crushed , how long could the island survive?

A chain shot forward , latching onto a cliff jutting out from the ground while Vivi’s vines did the same . But rather than carefully dragging himself forward , Zac used them as safety lines as he ran for his life .

With the winds trying to rip him away , Zac brought out a thick block from his ring , griping it in his arms .

It was a piece of D-grade metal called Nightblight Alloy] , which he’d gotten from the Undead Empire . After Alea swallowed the incredibly heavy alloy he looted from the Twilight Ocean Realm Spirit’s treasury , Zac continued looking for suitable materials for her evolution to D-grade . This alloy weighed as much as a small mountain , preventing Zac from being easily dragged away by the Dao-empowered winds .

It even served as a shield , as a small piece of rock appeared through the storm , flying toward him with such speed Zac didn’t even get the chance to react . A loud clang boomed and Zac was flung ten meters back , feeling like someone had punched him in the gut . At least it beat getting eviscerated . Zac looked down at the depression in the metal block with trepidation .

Still , errant shrapnel wasn’t enough for Zac to relent . He got back on his feet and kept running . The sky darkened farther ahead , forcing Zac to hunker down and activate his defensive skill again .

Zac’s senses were strained to the limits as he scanned for threats in every direction . Occasionally he stumbled into fearful beasts desperately searching for safe harbor . They weren’t in the mood to fight with random a passerby , except for a tiger who thought Zac blocked a nearby cave .

Suddenly , Zac sensed something different in the cloud—two cultivators . They were humans , one who almost possessed Billy’s heft , while the other had a thin sword slung across her back . They’d created some sort of wind tunnel , moving with impressive speed . Shimmering Mana Barriers also surrounded both , proof they’d reached the third echelon . Only those who had at least 30 , 000 Mana could turn on and off their Mana Barriers at will inside Red Zones .

Still , many opted not to use them , including the man he slew inside the Calamity Mountain and the scouts from before . It wasn’t overconfidence , though . Because of reptilian’s choice , Zac’s own Mana Barrier wouldn’t activate when they tried to launch a sneak attack . This was a small advantage higher-echelon guests had over new arrivals , and an important reason most people avoided Red Zone the first years .

Veterans could fight you while blocking the protection provided by the Perennial Vastness . And they could turn on their shield the moment they started to get disadvantaged . Of course , the barriers were weaker in a Red Zone compared to Vastness City , but it could still mean the difference between life and death .

As for the two cultivators , they used their barriers to slightly weaken the storm in their immediate vicinity . Still , its efficacy was limited , far worse than Zac’s ichor . They were forced to also use treasures to stave off the winds , yet both were covered in bloody gashes .

The two disappeared just seconds after Zac sensed them with his spiritual domain . A pang of danger warned him , and a coffin appeared behind his back . The whole coffin was swallowed by a huge burning dragon that had emerged from the fist of the bulky man , but Zac blasted it apart with a swing of his axe .

The trusty coffin of Profane Exponents] appeared to block a sword strike from the opposite direction , but Zac was shocked to find the thin rapier create a small hole in the skill and pierce through . Pain bloomed in his side as Zac narrowly avoided having his heart punctured , and a deep gash had been carved into the metal block he carried . Thankfully , no follow-up came because he managed to force the sword mistress to retreat with a set of corrosive chains .

That strike hurt like hell , but Zac ignored her as he advanced on the pugilist , quickly storing the Nightblight Alloy] while attaching one of his chains to the ground . His muscles strained as he swung Black Death] with all the force he could muster . The man’s fist lit up like a sun as he opted to fight fire with fire and strike right at the incoming axe . Unfortunately for him , he’d severely underestimated his opponent’s strength .

Deathly axe met burning brass knuckles , and the burning conflagration was cut apart as Zac’s edge dug into his flesh . Two Dao Branches empowered the man’s strikes , but only one seemed to be at Middle-stage . Conversely , Zac worked with two Middle Dao Branches bolstered by Spiritual Void] , and he held a clear attribute superiority .

The pugilist activated his Mana Barrier upon seeing himself lose , and Zac actually found his arm pushed back . He reacted instantaneously and bore a second stab from the sword mistress to unleash a ruthless kick right at what he prayed was a weak spot in the barrier . The pugilist effortlessly blocked even if he’d just lost two fingers , but a kick by Zac wasn’t so easily neutralized .

Muscles snapped , and bones groaned in Zac’s legs as he pushed Conviction of Eoz] far beyond the safe levels , boosting his strength by over 20% . The monstrous force blasted the pugilist away like he was launched from a cannon .

Normally , that wouldn’t have been a big deal , but they were currently in the middle of a storm . Zac sensed the man get swept away by a wind , and he was dragged out of Zac’s domain a moment later .

Pato! - the woman screamed , disappearing in a flash after leveling a deadly stare at Zac .

Zac snorted and picked up one of the severed fingers—the one with a Spatial Ring still attached . The two thought him an easy mark to make some money in the middle of the storm . There was no pity in Zac’s heart for people like them . He would have killed them both if not for wanting to save his aces for the real opponents lurking in the area .

He hadn’t gained any Kill Energy from the clash , but Zac knew the man was in trouble . Even if he managed to retain his consciousness , he’d been flung directly into the storm . Zac had been in that exact situation right upon entering the Calamity three days ago and understood firsthand just how deadly that situation was . Zac had even infused the man with a good chunk of his Dao of Conflict to turn him into a lightning rod for the environment .

The pugilist would be lucky if he survived long enough to find land through the chaos , and that wasn’t counting the numerous boulders and smaller shrapnel-like rubble mixed into the storm .

Thirty minutes passed , and the chaos just grew worse . Zac didn’t need to bleed himself to create a field of protection . If anything , he was forced to keep up field repairs of his battered body to avoid bleeding out . There’d been a dozen near-death encounters , mostly from shrapnel with nigh-undodgeable speed . The block of metal he used to anchor himself had already been turned into Swiss cheese by the unrelenting barrage , and he would have been grievously wounded if not for his Void Energy and Abyssal Phase] .

He wasn’t the only one facing hardships . Finally , the island couldn’t take it anymore . A deep groan reached the very core of Zac’s body before a huge crack appeared just one hundred meters away from him . The whole island had been split apart , and Zac desperately leaped to the other side upon realizing his half had started falling toward the abyss .

Zac was exhausted , but there wasn’t much to do but swallow a Soldier Pill and forge on . At least it shouldn’t be that long before he reached the end of the island . Even inside the storm , he’d kept a decent pace , and the guidance beam indicated he was getting close to the teleporter .

Another peak came crashing from the sky , forcing Zac to call upon his skeletal guardians again . The shockwave passed , but Zac looked up with shock as he saw his hands turned into corkscrews . In a similarly surreal fashion , a nearby boulder sprouted wings and flew away , singing a song of liberation .

Zac shook his head , and both hands and boulder returned to normal . He looked at the fallen peak with surprise . It hadn’t been Creation Energy that twisted its surroundings . There had rather been a powerful spiritual fluctuation baked into the shockwave just now . It had even managed to overwhelm his incredible mental protection , putting him in a dreamlike state .

Even now , a powerful spiritual fluctuation emanated from the peak , and the source wasn’t a skill . Rather , it seemed like there was an incredible Soul-attuned treasure in that piece of debris , which was further proven by the gathering of Fate around it . Zac hesitated , then ran toward the miniature mountain .

The situation was dire , but his soul all at once felt like an arid desert . Whatever hid within that mountain was the rain needed to make him whole . Its fluctuations weren’t quite at the level of the Calamity Core] , but it had to be one of the best Natural Treasures in this deathtrap .

A few jumps later , Zac stood inside a huge cave , and his heart shuddered at the lingering aura . It was incredibly condensed , still releasing mental ripples that almost scattered Zac’s thoughts . More importantly , it was an aura Zac recognized . It was the Late-stage Beast King that had scanned him after breaking through .

This had to be its den , which meant the small flower in the shimmering pond was one of its cultivation treasures . It looked a bit worse from the wear after having been thrown from the sky , and most of its pond was gone . But it still exuded incredible waves of Spiritual Energy , and Zac had to activate both a soul-warding talisman and Indomitable] to withstand its aura .

Zac didn’t believe this was a hallucinogenic plant . It was most likely a side effect of the powerful spiritual fluctuations it emitted . Going by the hunger in Zac’s body , it was most likely an incredible tonic for his soul , something he could use after his recent breakthrough . Half a day had passed since he broke through , and he’d only managed to repair some of the damage caused by his brutish breakthrough .

He could only eat so many Soul Mending Pills before they lost their efficacy , but this could be the key to rapidly recovering to an optimal state . Zac braved the mental fluctuations and harvested the flower . He put it inside a jade box and added a number of Soul Crystals along with some pond water upon seeing the flower lose its spirituality . Even then , Zac judged it wouldn’t retain its effects for more than an hour or two before it was relegated to a normal Peak-quality item .

Zac was about to put the box away , but a deep voice boomed through the chamber .

So , someone beat us to the punch . -

Zac swirled around and almost felt his vision had been inverted for a moment . He was standing inside a small mountain looking upon a sturdy man , yet it felt like the man was the mountain while Zac stood on the ground . He had an immense aura , towering yet calm like an ancient peak . Even the storm was pushed away from the cave mouth by his presence , though Zac guessed that was a result of his huge accumulation of Mana .

Null wouldn’t divulge the levels of guests in Red Zones , but Zac estimated this this cultivator was at least a proper seventh-echelon guest .

Even the three companions to his sides were no slouches . Each emitted an aura rivaling those of the strongest warriors he’d dueled in Vastness City . Zac inwardly sighed and cursed his greed . He wanted to avoid trouble , but a moment of weakness led him straight into a viper’s nest .

It only took one look to know there was no talking his way out of this one .

30

GREED

The group of four made no move to attack , and the two sides wordlessly looked at each other .

You are the Draugr who has been making waves over the past month . - The leader of the new arrivals smiled , his eyes turning to the box in Zac’s hand . - That thing . . . -

Is mine , - Zac cut him off .

Ownership is dependent on strength , - one of the mountain man’s companions said , and Zac’s eyes narrowed upon sensing powerful spiritual fluctuations emanating from him .

A Mentalist . No wonder the group had hurried over .

The Soulhaze Lily] is of great use to my friend here , as you’ve no doubt guessed already , - the mountain man said . - How about this? Two factions guard the trial’s exit , along with the solo adventurers who have formed a temporary coalition . A lone cultivator returning , such as yourself , is bound to be robbed of their Spatial Rings the moment you’re sensed . If you donate the lily and allow me to scan your Spatial Tools for the Calamity Core] , I will personally lead you out of this place . I swear on my Dao , I will not take anything else . -

Or maybe I just join the solo adventurers , - Zac shrugged .

Don’t try to play us for a fool , - the lone woman in the group , a warrior wielding two identical shortswords , laughed . - Every arrival since the global event began has been logged . We know you’re not one of them . What group would let you join without checking you for the core? -

And therefore , I must have the item? - Zac countered . - It’s might still be out there , probably in one of these falling mountains . -

He wasn’t really hoping to sway the group with his words , but these people were giving out critical information left and right . Why stop talking before he absolutely had to? He’d guessed these four were slightly sheltered elites of some powerful faction in the Multiverse from their appearance , and their demeanor and language only reinforced that theory .