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Chapter 1,419.
🕑 Added 2025-10-23 18:00:13 +0000 UTCLimanta was a fellow member of the Imperial Magistrate who’d made it to Mercurial Court as an attendant. Not confident their shaky deal with Everit Draom would fulfill their goals, the magistrate decided to buy another slot from another sealbearer. It was a good thing they did because Limanta had proven more useful than Zac’s own attendants. She’d made the market district her permanent residence, using the constant flow of people to make money and connections.
Zac couldn’t spend all his time waiting for suitable materials to come on sale. Instead, he’d commissioned Limanta, who purchased the items when they appeared. She was also an information merchant who’d sniffed out a few places suspected to have opportunities related to his path. Without her, Zac would have been forced to spend at least 10,000 Imperial Merits on materials.
“Just take the compliment,” Zac said as he turned to leave.
“You’re really breaking through?” Limanta asked with a serious expression. “I’ve read your report. It’s too soon to aim for Perfected Lord.”
“Have you seen this place? We’re being pushed forward whether we like it or not,” Zac said.
“Maybe you Sealbearers. Us attendants will have to do with the scraps,” Limanta said, waving at her book.
“I’ll relay your complaints to the Head Librarian,” Zac grinned.
“I’m not kidding. It’s too soon. You’re not even 800 years old, what’s the rush?” Limanta urged. “Perfection is a major hurdle. We still have more than 60 years left in this place. Why not take a few decades to refine yourself first?”
‘Maybe you have 60 years. We’ll be lucky if we get one more year,’ Zac complained to himself. Naturally, he’d already prepared a better excuse to explain his rush.
“What can I do? There are no invaders left to kill and no other ways to make easy money. Even the Princess has disappeared from the face of the earth,” Zac complained. “Major breakthroughs have a good chance of exposing new fated encounters. That’s the only way I’ll make some real money.”
“Always money with you. Don’t think I haven’t heard how much you made unsealing that Goddess,” Limanta scoffed. “Is it the [Universal Tear]? You’d better give it up. That thing’s only put there to make you sealbearers work harder.”
“Sure, but if I collect enough, they’ll still have to honor the listing,” Zac shrugged. “And while they haven’t said how to become a permanent disciple, collecting more Potentiality surely can’t hurt.”
“You’re still on that? I know there have been some… disagreements between you and the bureau, but it is still your home. The Mercurial Court may have amazing opportunities, but we both know this indolent place doesn’t align with your path,” Limanta said with a frown. “Admit it, you felt the most alive in this place when you tracked down the fugitives and hidden invaders.”
“It’s in fate’s hands now,” Zac said, earning another scoff from Everit’s colleague as he turned away.
“Don’t forget to stop by. There might be more missions in the future, and I usually have some valuable information to sell,” Limanta called.
“Take care. I think we’re witnessing the calm before the storm,” Zac said with a wave as he headed for the Compass Factory.
The factory was one of the permanent fixtures of the market district. Different from most department stores, which were run by research groups or powerful alumni, the factory was managed by the sect itself. Its purpose was obvious from its name; it sold compasses pointing to most of the facilities hidden throughout the court.
Some of the compasses were manufactured by the sect and in limitless supply, such as compasses leading to certain cultivation grounds. These compasses were one-time use, and buying them was no different from buying access. For instance, the chance to study before [Second Singularity] came in the form of a premium compass. To safeguard against any accidents, that compass had already been bought and was now in Esmeralda’s possession.
Other compasses were generated by disciples. One could buy empty compasses and use them to mark a specific location in Citadel. These user-generated compasses were a gamble since the Mercurial Court only sold user-generated compasses unmarked and at a fixed price. Getting a good one was still a matter of luck and fate.
Furthermore, Citadel was ever-changing. The coordinates on user-made compasses would eventually become useless. There were no set rules, either. Some could last for centuries while others lost their value after a month. The factory kept submitted compasses for a decade before discarding them.
According to data collected over generations of disciples, only 20% of the tokens ended up yielding benefits greater than their cost. There was still a steady stream of willing buyers, thanks to the many anecdotes of disciples making extraordinary gains. After all, the main reason disciples sold their fated encounters was that they didn’t understand them or lacked the strength to access the valuable.
Esmeralda had tried to figure out the internal mechanics of the compasses as a way to steal the opportunities they held. It proved impossible at her current level. The compasses were daughter arrays to the court itself.
Zac wasn’t here to gamble today, though his extraordinary Luck usually led to a decent outcome.
“I need a compass to a Judgment Plateau on Dome Lake.”
With all prerequisites in place, the only remaining challenge was the terrifying tribulations brought by his core breakthroughs. They’d gotten worse every time, to the point it was more apt to call them Heavenly Extinctions. It wouldn’t wait for him to finish his breakthrough, instead attacking the moment it began.
Making strides with his constitutions and Daos wasn’t enough to directly endure the punishment. The first time, Zac barely survived by taking advantage of a Temporal Chamber. The second time, he relied on the lingering Imperial Faith of the Centurion Base. With his upcoming breakthrough being the last of Hegemony, Zac needed to come prepared.
As luck would have it, Zac found himself with more options than ever before. First off, he’d gained the protection of the Imperial Faith, courtesy of accepting his role as a Holy Son of the Empyrean Chalice. If the Heaven-eluding effect of his Duplicity Core was the first layer of protection, then Xiphos’ boon was the second.
Ultimately, these two could only be considered tricks to lessen the pressure, not enough to rely on alone. Zac’s true ace was the [Fuxi Mountain Gate], which had received another upgrade at the end of Sevona’s hunt. The Void Space still wasn’t fully recovered, and the bridge beyond the gate was still in tatters. Nevertheless, the space could entertain Zac for almost three minutes already.
Three minutes was enough to tide over even a tribulation with six punishments. Still, Zac hoped he wouldn’t have to use the [Fuxi Mountain Gate] for his Peak D-grade breakthrough. He had no idea how summoning the Heavens would affect the mountain gate. It might undo all the work he’d put in, maybe destroy it altogether.
Furthermore, Zac could only send one of his bodies there. There was a risk that his other body would have to face a double tribulation single-handedly if his other half suddenly disappeared. The [Fuxi Mountain Gate] was better left for his future breakthroughs when his bodies were in the same location. At that time, he could send both bodies inside.
Ultimately, there was no point in taking the gamble when there were much steadier alternatives at hand. Why expend his own resources when he could use those of the Outer Courts? The Centurion Base had a specialized chamber that would have allowed the Kan’Tanu Pope to confirm his Dao if not for Zac’s intervention.
Naturally, the Outer Courts had even better breakthrough chambers. Such chambers could drastically reduce the threat, and one couldn’t forget that ancient cultivators faced more unstable breakthroughs. They wouldn’t just mitigate the tribulation; they were equipped with Core Formation Arrays that could help contain a Mortal’s explosive upgrade process.
With everything else done, Zac had chosen to spend the last of his Potentiality on a compass leading to the best chamber available to an Inner Disciple of the Mercurial Court.
“Current price is 7,800 Potentiality,” the clerk answered as she brought out a sealed chest.
“It’s gone up?” Zac asked with a frown. The cost quoted in his welcoming pamphlet was only 6,250.
“The demand has increased since you outsiders arrived. It’s put pressure on Dome Lake, forcing us to invite experts from the Radiant Court to perform repairs,” the clerk said with a smile.
“There aren’t that many of us, though. How could we possibly cause such strain?” Zac said, suspecting he was being taken for a ride.
“No, but the appearance of you outsiders has created a ripple among our elite disciples. How can they sit still while you’re seizing opportunities left and right?” the clerk explained.
“Fine, 7,800 it is,” Zac said with a glum expression as he paid the difference with Imperial Merit. “I assume this thing won’t lead me to a platform already occupied by a senior?”
“Certainly not. We guarantee availability for the next year. After that, it’s up to fate.”
Zac had to suppress a curse at that. In other words, they would put up an identical compass within a year. While one year was more than enough time for anyone else to get their affairs in order, the same couldn’t be said for Zac. They would have to take a shortcut through the ruins to reach the plateau. If he was unlucky and another halo went off in that time, another year might pass in the blink of an eye.
“Remember, after activating the plateau, you have forty-five days. If you remain any longer, a deduction of 500 Potentiality will be drawn daily.”
“But there’s no limit on how much energy I can draw in those forty-five days, right? And no surcharge for powerful tribulations?” Zac asked to confirm.
The clerk looked confused, but she dutifully confirmed Zac’s question. “That is all part of the payment.”
“Thank you.”
“May fate be with you,” the clerk said as Zac left the store.
'I wonder if they’ll change the rules after you’re done with that place,' Esmeralda giggled before emerging from the shrine to grab the compass.
The fact that it pointed westward didn’t mean much inside the memories, but Esmeralda had already figured out most of the hidden rules that governed Citadel. They were spat out a day later after taking two shortcuts. They appeared in a part of the ruins they’d never seen before. The buildings were grander based on the foundations left of the outer walls.
They didn’t dare to enter any of the ruins of the castles themselves. They were like slumbering beasts that stirred as they passed. Defensive arrays kept going off as they carefully navigated the streets, only retreating after their scans touched the shimmering compass. The treatment would certainly change if they invaded any walled-off area.
It was a shame, too, because Zac’s treasure sense was going off like never before. At least half the ruins called to him, indicating there were valuables buried underground. Unsurprisingly, it was the same ruins that still had operational arrays. Esmeralda also looked sick to her stomach as she gave the inviting ruins forlorn glances.
“Is this a test of our Dao Hearts?” Zac complained.
“Bear it, little protégé, we’re almost there,” Esmeralda croaked.
They reached their destination an hour later. It was a small lake covered by a radiant memory domain. It wasn’t made from the silver waters of the Peregrine Ocean; instead, it was a faded gold. A burgeoning aura filled with the empyrean holiness unique to the Limitless Empire greeted them as they stepped inside. It was the key to Zac’s breakthrough.
As one would expect, most of Mercurial Court’s ascension chambers were connected to the Peaks of Fantasy and Continuum. However, their premier option—and the only one that could help with Four Desolates tribulations—was the small lake before him. Only Imperial Faith could suppress the Four Desolates.
Zac also hoped that the faith-based Tribulation Platform would react to his title as a Holy Son of the Empyrean Chalice. Perhaps the tribulation-warding boon and the lake would synergize with each other, adding greater protection.
Five of the lake’s seven islands were covered in shimmering barriers, indicating ongoing breakthroughs. Thankfully, the token didn’t lead him toward any of them. If he’d made his way here by chance, he could have picked any island he wanted. Because he was forcing fate, he needed to follow the arrangement.
There were no boats, so Zac decided to fly across the surface. His perception changed the moment he left land, and he was no longer atop the lake. Zac gasped as he found himself floating above a boundless dome of flames. Different from Avici’s terrifying purgatory, this was a nourishing fire that exuded strength and resilience.
Had he been transported to the barrier separating the Multiverse and the desolation beyond? No, this barrier was in a completely different state than the one he’d seen. This barrier held none of the erosion he’d sensed before. Its Imperial Faith was at its prime. Perhaps Dome Lake was a cut-off from the real thing, or otherwise connected to it.
Either way, the scene was oddly comforting. It was like he was standing atop the Heavens with the whole Empire protecting his Dao. How could a tribulation possibly harm him when safeguarded by the Imperial Destiny?
The islands were still there, floating atop the flames. Zac eagerly flew over, only stopping short just as he was about to step ashore. Another missive was sent to the other side. Zac’s human half had been making final preparations while his Draugr half was busy relocating. For its other drawbacks, the Hollow Court was undeniably more convenient when it came to travel.
Zac flew into a grand palace titled ‘Myriad Realm Repository.’ After paying 6,300 Longanimity, a realmgate was directly opened. Zac exhaled with relief upon seeing what awaited on the other side. There was darkness, but not the desolate death outside the memory. It held the mysteries of deep night, the secrets of the lower planes. There were also strong fluctuations of Void Energy.
Curious, Zac stepped through, finding himself in a sprawling mountain range. Each mountain was covered by a barrier shimmering with Imperial Faith. The environment outside was an unstable mix of Life and Death that were whipped into a frenzy by streaks of Void Energy bursting from cracks in the ground.
This world had no demarcation of a memory domain, yet it was clearly not the present. A few grand palaces towered on neighboring mountains. Far in the distance, Zac felt a hair-raising yet familiar aura—the reality-inverting Heavenly Territory of Margrave Wartorius. Zac froze in place when a barely discernible perception brushed against him.
Had he noticed? If so, did the Margrave remember the things he screamed in desperation when facing Mox?
Zac only exhaled a minute later, worry turning into jubilation. He laughed out loud, knowing he’d been worried for nothing. The mountain range had to be the location of Fuxi Halls. Judging by the stable streaks of Void, Fuxi Halls might actually be built on the Lowest Plane, the same realm that Daoist Hidden Earth used to siphon Void Energy. If not, it had to be another Lower Plane with similar attributes.
Others would have to return the way they came after borrowing the Core Formation Arrays on the mountain, but Zac should be allowed to freely navigate the area. If he returned to the central region, he would still be able to make it back. Of course, he would have to avoid that as much as possible. Paying over 6,000 Longanimity every time he traveled wasn’t sustainable.
“Can you hear me?” Zac asked into a recently purchased communicator.
‘Loud and clear, buddy. How is it?’
“I’m here,” Zac said and described the surroundings.
‘I’m guessing you’ll stay a while longer then?’ Ogras asked.
“Most likely.”
‘Well, have fun, and try not to blow up the place. I’ll keep things running up here.’
Zac put away the communicator and began inspecting his own mountain. It had seven peaks, one of which called to him. Just like with Dome Lake, Zac’s perception twisted when his feet touched the mountain. The mountain grew to an unfathomable size, with Zac a giant on its slopes. Its veins were filled with boundless Faith.
Reality inverted as Zac began his ascent. He was climbing, yet he was simultaneously moving further away from the prime dimensions. It was like the Faith-imbued mountain had become the Void Mountain itself, increasing his distance from the Heavens to the limits. The experience created a poignant feeling of unprecedented distance to his other self. One stood atop of the universe while the other hid in its absolute depths.
Soon enough, Zac reached his mountain peak. It had been carved into a hollow surrounded by seventeen spikes. A densely engraved platform was placed in the middle of the hollow, and Zac quickly counted at least thirty different arrays engraved on the spires. Seeing the exquisite arrangement made it seem all the more real.
He was really about to become a Peak Hegemon.
Comments
Ben Sheahan
Also the Omnilord trial that was mentioned earlier in the series being Capped at Peak D Grade. So we may get a side mission on the way to the Technocrat homeland
Jeff McCulley
So…he’s about to be bi-sected?
Jeff McCulley
Random Thoughts A. Seems like about time for Janos to pop back up. Unless, of course, he’s determined to stay out of the way until Zac gets done doing Zac things, i.e. Zac-kabooms! B. Backing up, before Zac left, Rava asked him to bring back stuff from his trip. “Any relics related to the empire and its orders can be traded in for glory. There is no upper limit.” What was odd to was that he assumed it was just nostalgia, and didn’t connect it to the Void Gate doing the exact same thing. So, what is the secret? And (ahem), just how much “glory” do you think the whole Left Imperial Expanse will be worth? Also: “I’m not asking you to revive our order or strike down our enemies,” Heh. Turns out, he’s doing that anyway. C. Remember how Zac worked so very hard to place the blame for the death of Descartes entirely on Kaltosa Lu, when he was about equally responsible? Well, effectively, he’s giving Kaltosa Lu some credit, for whenever the Centigrade Pryer hears about it. So, since Kaltosa Lu ‘s assistant Lompo promised big rewards for actually helping his master—this pretty much counts. And for a lot more than a goody bag. At least, once they’re done with the Trial.
Dennis Damenis
That actually happens anyway. Remember the Old Heavens are especially what is trying to get Zac for Cultivating Chaos and the Void. It really sees that shit as "heretical " The Old Heavens already wants to get anyone gor cultivation period because do to so is to violate the Law of Imperminance, which wants people to just die within their regular mortal lifespan and to not gain longevity by cultivating. It also see advancing one's cultivation as stealing Providence from the Heavens. Its wants to keep all the good shit for itself and wants people to just never be powerful, never have magical/spiritual shit, and die. Some also run afoul of the Law of Balance by Cultivating in such a way they take without giving some contribution back. Zac did/does this with his Void cultivation. Take everything he needs and give nothing back, hogging it all in his personal Void. That was a part of his Four Desolates Tribulations. He has seen the error in that and has course corrected but he may not have "paid back" yet completely for the time he cultivated this way. He also practices Void magic with having basically infinite affinities with the Voids just hoe Kars did with the Daos. The System inverted his Bloodline as either part of a long term plan to use Zac as a tool to mend the Peak of Chaos (it led him to the Remnants, took him to Be'Zi and her mate for guidance and further quests on how to not go crazy murder hobo on all his friends, then die (Splinters of Oblivion), or mutate into a horrible monster that kills everyone or everyone wants to kill/creates, seemingly performing miracles, but is really just using up his lifespan and Providence until his ages super fast and dies (Shards of Creation), which ultimately the System knew would lead to his Atavism, which it directly amd indirectly forced him toward. The System wants Zac to complete the Peak of Chaos. The Old Heavens wants him to die in agony for daring to not die in the mud lile a good mortal. Lmao. Defier, indeed.
Dro
Zac's really trying to make that tribulation work hard to get him. Half of him is on one side of the multiverse, and the other half is completely on the other side. I wonder if he'll get tribulations from both the System and the Old Heavens separately
Dro
Holy shit, this is longer than the actual chapter.
Dennis Damenis
Those hints of the void... The Fuxi Mountain Gate... The Fuxi halls being actually really close by... The fact we know by now these Fuxi people use the Void or manipulate/study it for various means, methods, and projects... The fact Zac has mentioned his Bloodline failure several times now... The fact Zac and others have explicitly stated his/a Bloodline cab advance to the next Grade ahead of rest if one's cultivation... The fact both Zac and Esme have states they will absolutely need more Void power than Zac currently has to make their heist work... The way the C Grade Bloodline thing was mentioned and discarded immediately like nah that's not possible only for Zac to ask Tazva about it again anyway... which has been a classic way we have seen TFD foreshadow a thing, lead us to think its not possible right now but keep a look out in way later chapters becauze he is mentioning it now on purpose only to then subvert expectations and do the thing anyway right away... This is what vibes the C Grade Bloodline thing has all over it. The fact he has explicitly deaen attention snd concern to being absolutely stuck on his Draugr Bloodline with seemingly no further ways to advance it and how that will leave an imbalance between his two constitutions/Bloodlines... All the hype and attention he is putting into showing us all these precautions against powerful Tribulations so surely it wil be fine, right? Has Chekov's Gun written all over it in 50 different fractals across all 17 Dao Peaks... The fact she confirmed advancing one's Bloodline to C Gradr before making one's Inner World is actually an immense boon for mortals when forming their world because it aligns with the Cosmic Sea and helps draw in only the needed materials aligned flawlessly with the mortals Daos. All these C Grade treasures Zac is willing to go broke over to get right the fuck now when that id actually contrary to how he usually does things. He waits usually to let things and opportunities develop first before going all in just like with the store at the Orom or the Exchange during the Intersector War... and other places, too. He doesn't usually rush this way, and the fact it's not even for the next most pressing breakthrough but the one after that is supposed to be years and years away? We KNOW that isnt normal Zac mode... There is his Bloodlinr which can open Void vortexes that ignore normal wards and arrays like the Void does and gobbles whatever it needs for miles around... The fact TFD explicitly drew out attention to a stupid number of treasured underground or otherwise just RIGHT THERE on the way in he regrets he cannot get to as his Luck is saying they are significantly powerful/spiritual/valuable/all the above. Memorysteel Mountain in the Technocrat base Mystic Realm near Earth, anyone? Yeah, exactly. Does anyone else get what I am putting down here? This isnt just going to be a breakthrough to the next stage of power. This is going to be the breakthrough that is the turning point of this entire part of the arc. Zac is about to get a stupid number of upgrades here across the board. And Zac's internal train of thought plus Tavza saying its very possible upgrading his Bloodline to C Grade might even grant him a new Bloodline Talent MORE appropriately aligned with what they need for the heist... Seriously this was directly said, obvious as fuck. That's obviously foreshadowing from the 8/9 Hells and back... And if you remember way back when Zac wss first learning about Bloodline stuff and about Hidden Nodes it was said some of the more powerful/higher grade Bloodlines (like his Void Emperor, Eoz, and Iz Tayn's ALL certainly are) can find out/develop/unlock entirely new Hidden Nodes at and beyond Monarchy... Bloodlines get more developed and expand in scope the higher up the Grades one goes. I can't be the only one who clearly sees how these pieces make a pretty obvious picture when taken in together... I think we are looking at, among others even I might now be seeing here, a few things. 1) I am stupidly wrong, misinterpreted the signs, and Zac only upgrades to Peak Hegemony. He faces some unforeseen issues, has to adapt on the fly, breaks through anyway turning that trouble into opportunity that nets him even more awesome shit. I don't think its this one but certainly maybe. It is classic Zac. 2) Zac goes to do just a breakthrough to Peak D Grade but then mid process that aforementioned trouble happens and throws him into a serious state of crisis that forces him to adapt and improvise or be crippled as a Cultivator or be seriously set back/weakened, or even die. He has to find an out of the box solution RIGHT THE FUCK NOW and the trouble causing the crisis makes any conventional solutions or the prep he already has unable to correct the problem(s). He takes a stupidly bold risk and mid Peak D Grade and core rebuilding breakthrough goes for thr Bloodline breakthrough to C Grade because that's what he needs to save his ass. Its crazy, he pulls it off by the skin of his teeth, maybe at some steep cost, and gets all shit load of upgrades across the board, likely even a new title as this is momentous. I think the trouble he faces might even be Mox or Mox adjacent level trouble and the Margrave has to step in. He was mentioned too often for that to not matter somehow. Zac's Bloodline gobbles up ALL those treasures he past by on the way in plus some of the Void stuff in fhe nearby Fuxi Halls, and maybe even some of the Margrave's stuff. The Fuxi Mountain Gate gets stupid upgraded/repaired/fixed. The fact Zac's human side is in deepest hell and his Draugr side being in highest heavens isnt just the beautiful poetry it is. I think that has something to do with how he advances his Eoz Bloodline as well as his Void Emperor one and even gets it to C Grade as well by swallowing stupid amount of higher Dao Death than he has been getting which is why he bottlenecks. This issue has been brought up too many times to not matter lately. The imbalance between bodies not being good and his need for the Eoz Bloodline powers to advance to handle what is coming because those are some of his most powerful defenses. And I dont think it stops there. I think this deepest Death, highest life with the opposite bodies being where they are in relation to those opposing Daos means his Daos advance as well. Even Conflict because a Life attuned body in deepest Death and a Death attuned body in highest Life is the very definition of the type of Conflict making up the very core of Zac's Path... Like literally... This crazy inverse also likely relates to the Void of Life and Void of Death he uses in his core in this very inverse way. Void of Life with his Death attuned body and Void of Death with his Life attuned body. And of course the Void of Conflict which he now knows and had tested with his Chaos attacks that DOES properly bring the two together, the issue he had when he very first stepped into D Grade but didnt know that was missing piece until much later. He even brings it to out attention AGAIN when he was comparing the Realm's current energy to Twilight Energy but off in a way that doesnt try to poison the person but actually allows you to take in what you can endure/use while easily rejecting the rest. He stated clearly right then that this is not his Path as he seeks a PROPER fusion through the Void, meaning the Void of Conflict. Does anyone else see what I am getting at here? It's awful hard fo ignore this many things that literally DO line up RIGHT NOW. 3) I am right about most or all of this BUT only some of these things in option 2 is what TFD decides to do right now while thr rest is gor another breakthrough? I don't think this can be it because WHAT other breakthrough?? This is it before Monarchy! Our crazy boy is hauling ass to Peak D Grade RIGHT THE FUCK NOW. And everyone thinks its crazy. Ogras even said that interesting line about Zac being the reincarnation of the in universe First Defier. Now I think that was s throw away line Ogras just in jest to illustrate how insane Zac's progress is. I seriously doubt a writer as polished as TFD is going to tie every last interesting and Multiverse shaking piece of lore to the main character. That's vapid, contrived, and lazy to tue point it breaks suspension of disbelief. Zac already has the Kars/Laondio ties, the Technocrat ties, and now the Empyrean Chalice (no way this isnt tied to Iz Tayn's bloodline and family's Authority in some way we don'tknow of yet)/Limitless Empire/Holy Son ties, and his Flamebearer ties (I mention this separately of the previous entry because there is more tied to this. His literal Destiny and all that Fate/prophecy stuff and all the reasons Ultom chose him independently from the System or the LE. And that's another thing, the System is stupid complicit in all of this. The tablet stone thing of Conflict it made appear during Zac's Tower of Eternity run, its opening of the rifts that allowed the Intersector War it purposely started, it's intervention of so many seals and those quests tied to them, the way it was directly leading Zac to a path of progress let alone survival during the Technocrat base arc culminating is it wanting to have Zac let his baby sister die (fuck you, System, we love Kenzie!) for more power, the deals it made multiple times for Motes of Chaos, the way it turned its head to things it knows it shouldn't have allowed even in System-controlled events such as all that bullshit the Eveningtide Asura was doing in the Twilight Ocean (rigging the trial, having a stupidly overpowered monster in the lower Grade Twilight Ocean, it knowing about all of it and allowed anyway as it negotiated with Zac for another Mote of Chaos to save him from that monster it knew shouldn't have been allowed there from the start, the Asura directly attacking Zac when Zac of on that island to claim the Shard of Creation (I miss those quests and Litrpg elements...) and Zac rejected the Eveningtide Asura's Path as stupid flawed and super wrong and fake (Life is Life, Death is Death; forever separate and forever apart versus the Asura's Twilight Energy solution of Life is not Life and Death is not Death if you all recall) which pissed the Asura off super fucking bad as an E Grader essentially just told him his Path is all a lie, he IS a failure, and his Path to solve the Life and Death unable to merge solution is a dead in to the peak. LMFAO. No Divine Monarch wants to hear that shit when they are about to build their Ladder to Heaven! So he blew of the volcano where Zac was in revenge to learning his whole life is a lie. Lol. All if this the System saw and allowed as is was RUNNING this trial. It gave the quest Perfect the Tapestry of Twilight as each E Grader entered the trial. It was handing out titles for it! It knew the Asura was using all of these Dao breakthroughs and those getting them as furnaces for his Tapestry he was going to use as his lattice along with the Mystic Realm's world core being fed ti those treasures he has been using to eat entire worlds as his powerful method of Ascension for over a million years! I think the System is NOT this impartial AI just training people and whatever. I think its actively trying to help revive the LE and has been laying the groundwork for this Ultom/LE resurrection from the dream/illusion plot for eons. I even thi k this was always the plan. I think Laondio KNEW the Dark Ages would result from the System awakening as it drew in all spiritual energy. I think he knew the LE would need revived the entire time. That's why this Ultom crap was already set up before their fall! HE KNEW. Also makes sense if that is part of hoe he and Karz fought and parted ways though there is more to that story we don't yet know. (We might even get another couple of Bloodline visions from his Void Enperor and Eoz upgrades like we usually do which have always been fun! The one that especially hit me hard was the first Eoz Bloodline vision when they first rose from the lake. That gave me chills!) Anyway, I think the System came online with all of this baked in. It would always work toward this trial and the LE restoration. The System isnt a bland AI, its Sapient. It can negotiate and it spoke directly to Zac several times, the most chilling one: BEWARE THE TERMINUS. I know you all remember that! What is Laondio didnt die... What if he IS the System... Fucking scary as the System controls nearly every Dao and has a direct line into the souls, bodies, and minds of every single modern Cultivator... What does that sound like? The Twilight Ocean? The Orom? What if the System is using every single modern Cultivator as a furnace? For whose Cultivation? Laondio's? All this time? Fuck is dude S Grade+++ by now? All of this is scary.
Frederick
OMIRP
Jeff McCulley
Agreed, especially since we’re guaranteed for about ten when he forms his Inner World.
Jeff McCulley
Hah! We’ve all (including Zac & Co) been digging the wrong direction. The Primo’s dimension isn’t an 18th Lower Plane/9th Hell. It’s the inversion of the First Garden. It’s right there. Has been all the time. PRIMO. Any bets?
SandreX
I really hope breakthrough won't be another 4-5 chaps... 2 might be okay, but 1... will be perfect
Matt Mason
Since everyone is talking about progression... Don't forget the key to the eternal heritage Zac got from Bae Z and the other dude. He has to reach Monarchy at a minimum to go there... There are other concerns; 1) His empire 2) Fallout from the war/payout/cash out 3) tech/shores 4) his masters 5) his wives (Cathea / Iz) yes I know Iz is not his wife... 6) the fallout from his betrayal at his shipyard
MacMahon Wenzl
Have it from the Margraves perspective where he thinks he's just going to observe a juniors breakthrough. Probably have to do some weird time/ memory planer distortion thing so he doesn't know is specifically Zac, but it still be super cool. A simple excuse could be that he recognizes the Daos or something Zac is giving off and decides to investigate how/ why he knows of Zac. Just for him to walk in and watch Zac eat an entire tribulation.
Salvo
Zac is so worried about blowing everything up, he had to be in two empty voids. ‘Can’t blow up NOTHING, right?!’ These 9 pillars are about to become 8 seals!
DrSubterfuge
Part of it is certainly that we're seeing a snapshot of the past that predates the System, so it is largely absent from the current setting. That should change once he's out of the trial. The System is very integrated with society and figures in with the long term plans of one of the most powerful people in the story, so it isn't going away in that sense. There are other story reasons why it isn't as important as it used to be and will stay not as important though. Formalisms like classes and stats are tacked on to a xianxia inspired cultivation system that was complete before the System existed. Advancement for Zac largely reflects that. He cultivates, which the status screen only tracks on a surface level. The stat screen mostly exists to give cool names to things and to track progress on various stages of development, and I don't see that changing.
Sirloki
If he can break it he can eat it!
Dennis Damenis
Has anyone noticed the Litrpg elements of the story has declined to the point they seem irrelevant now? Is that just because of Ultom? I mean the System is a big deal, right? Zac hyped up the importance of getting his Path right before he locks it in with Arcane Classes and such. I miss the System quests. I miss the titles... I miss him talking about how awesome this nre boost to his attributes is. He barely bothers with his Status Screen any more and we rely on that to see how he has progressed from step to step and ad a refresher for things we may have forgotten... The relevance of advancing his skill fractals... Like how it was in the Twilight Descent or the escape from the Orom. I miss that. Right now its just been running from thing to thing. These Litrpg things are what helps bridge the main points in between like when Zac is just sitting there. The way the story starts and how epic in scale the System is and all that hypes up the Litrpg stuff too much for it to make sense for it to he dropped. Is it just an Ultom thing? Like us it just another thing Zac has been forced to set aside, like advancing his soul, because this currsnt arc is just too crazy and he simply hasnt the time? I hope TFD doesnt kill this part of the story...
Tyler S.
Time to blow up 2 realms at once. Lets go thanks TFD cant wait for a good tribulation
EsoEasy
All right, TFD, we know that Zac will have to avert a couple disasters during breakthrough. But I dare you to switch it up. Let’s have some POVs of some old monsters observing Zac’s breakthrough. That would be extremely cool.
Seijax
Time to break some expensive shit!
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
DrSubterfuge
I was pretty confident that he would set out to use sect resources to help mitigate the tribulation, but I'm a little surprised he's all in on doing it inside the domains. That means communication between his bodies is going to be limited, but I guess he can handle it. Really like the dichotomy of the two breakthrough areas. Draugr half standing on the peak of heaven surrounded by divine flames while his human half climbs an inverse peak into the depths of the multiverse surrounded by darkness and hints of the Void. Nice.
Unlisted Pokémon Hudson
I agree ngl but it’s still a good story
DrSubterfuge
He has to actively put the energy in, so the fractals aren't in danger or anything. He's just limited in his output until he can improve them. iirc the ones that were having issues were the ones on his shoulders, and that's because they are being used to channel daos he doesn't understand
Raymond Whitehead
I am concerned about the state of Zacs skill fractals after this. He was already having issues and I imagine adding the additional output from getting to peak hegemon isn't likely to help them
Dennis Damenis
What no way. Zac is going to need at LEAST another 1400 chapters to reach Monarchy. The Eternal Laws of 1) Super Slow First Defier Pacing and 2) Everything Stupid We Don't Want to Go Wrong and Adds Nothing To The Narrative But Delays MUST Go Wrong So First Defier Can Continue Following The Law Of Super Slow First Defier Pacing. I mean that half as a funny meme but half a little serious and ALL with respect. I am NOT just trying to cast shade (my affinities with the Daos of Shadow and Darkness are almost as low as Zac's), I love the story. But damn I wish it could drag ass a little less sometimes. This is becoming like the Nevermore arc in the Primal Hunter. Anyone who read that knows what I mean... The audience can just become setting fatigued. Too much has been promised with all the hype and too little is happening and pacing is dragging. I'm not exhausted all the way on this arc yet but its getting there. I know a good chunk of that is subjective so ignore me, I guess. But damn... I need this breakthrough to actually work right. I need nothing else to go wrong that derails or horrifically otherwise delays everything again... I need Zac to force his way through the breakthrough, yes its unexpectedly even more dangerous than he anticipated and all the prep which for anyone else would make it smooth sailing but for him adds up to enough that just barely lets him survive at all but he comes out on the other side so much awesome new or otherwise badass benefits. I need something to please just work out and pay off like the hype builds to rather than every wrench possible gets tossed into the gears and there we are going on a damn goose chase that delays the main thing, the breakthrough in this case, and just adds to the setting and pacing fatigue...
Jeff McCulley
BTW, when Liminata tells Zac “It’s too early”, she’s referring to Everitt Draom’s profile, which is who and what she can see, not Zac’s actual preparation state. Ogras has no objections.
kingofshibainu
Eagerly waiting for the next chapter
Jeff McCulley
“…because Limanta had proven more useful than Zac’s own attendants” Well Zac, you basically met them, and told them to f*** off. Exactly what did you expect?
Taylor Greenwell
Exactly. This is why Ogras needs to always be around to chastise him when he makes a dumbass comment like that...
Omiso
Zac raising a flag: "How could a tribulation possibly harm him when safeguarded by the Imperial Destiny?" The Heavens: And I took that personally.
SandreX
I doubt his foundations are hollow, his 80 year heart cultivation and bunch of treasures gave him rock solid base. Only wonder is how will this breakthrough will go tits up and what crazy stuff will he do to survive and thrive?
Jeff McCulley
I thought about pointing out the chamber Sothorom was using on the Centurion Base, decided not to. You have swallowed your heaping helping of crow gracefully!
Jeff McCulley
I have been wondering how Joanna would reach him to serve as his Dao Guardian for this breakthrough. Reluctantly, I will admit that Imperial Faith—and the Margrave—will likely serve adequately. Still not ruling out Joanna standing there when he’s done. Because that’s what she does.
Lex Luther S
Alright, I've died on the hill he wont reach Peak hegemony and now that its happening, DONT fuck him over at least. Let the breakthrough go about as well as can be expected when Heavenly extermination is knocking at the door. Otherwise, looking forward to Sunday's chapter.
CloudyBall
I knew when I started reading the chapter that it would end before the process started, and yet I couldn't stop. I am so EXCITED to see him blow up the whole court. LETS GO
Taylor Greenwell
Change the rules? That place won't exist after he is done with it!
Taylor Greenwell
He usually remains in each grade for 6-7 books. I think this is book 4 in D-Grade? But, given the insane hurdles of achieving monarchy I would expect at least 4 more.
Taylor Greenwell
It is going to probably take another book's worth of chapters to finish up the trial. Then another book to resolve whatever is happening back in Zecia and the Atwood Empire. Then he will likely start his journeys to the technocrat base with his human side and the Abyssal Shores and Undead Empire with his draugr half.
MacMahon Wenzl
They are 100% going to change the rules after he blows that place up.
Dragon
So he will reach peak hegemon here, finish up with the courts and head to the technocrat home base for the next arc?
Taylor Greenwell
I am so excited he is about to do this, but this is also going to go tits up for sure. Hopefully it is like his upgrade from E grade to D grade where even though it went waaaaay of the rails, it ended up working out beautifully if not at all as expected. If this is like his breakthrough to late hegemony he is going to be in a world of pain and he won't have his friends around to save him. Also, given the speed of his upgrade, I am worried his foundations will be more hollow than is typical like other people who rush through grades. It is his heavy foundations coupled with swift progress that allow him to punch so insanely high above his weight class and other eonic seeds won't need to upgrade to peak hegemony to take out a peak hegemon or monarch with hollow foundations. Does anyone else have this concern?
LUXRUS
Awesome, only 700 chapters before C rank then
Abartk
First
