Chapter 1,037.
Added 2023-03-16 19:17:48 +0000 UTCA/N:
I keep mixing up the Heavens when writing, which has created a lot of confusion. So I put together a primer just to refresh everyone's memories of what's what.
Mentions/relevance of the 7 heavens:
1st - Valsa and Vastermal. Claimed one of the previous pillars.
2nd - Not mentioned
3rd - Causing problems from the shadows (Erroneously attributed as Kruta's neighbors in earlier chapter)
4th - Kruta's real neighbors
5th - not mentioned (erroneously mentioned yesterday).
6th - not mentioned
7th - Prince Yselio and other Y-names. Has a Flamebearer.
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Zac felt Sendor's starry eyes bore into him, and the pressure made it difficult to gather his thoughts. He felt like an ant put under the magnifying glass, his fate to be decided by the whims of the giant wielding the glass. Zac had been annoyed by the lack of interest in his Specialty Core and Bloodline when he first entered the Perennial Vastness, but he now desperately longed for that kind of disregard.
At the same time, Zac was excited. The man said it himself; Sendor was ancient when the Limitless Empire came around and most likely already a powerful entity. Did he know the secrets of his bloodline? Had he met Emperor Limitless? Did he know the truth about Laondio and Karz?
The scrutinizing gaze eventually relented, and Zac released a breath he didn't know he'd held until now.
"You're a pretty interesting brat," Sendor grinned as he gave Zac a thumbs-up, the image once more clashing with the transcendent master who'd just stared down the Heavens. "Not bad, killing one of those little imperials. Always walking around in my domain like they own the place."
"No thanks to you," Zac muttered but immediately regretted it.
Sendor's lacking energy and laid-back demeanor made Zac momentarily forget that he wasn't just some cantankerous old man. He was an entity at the level of Supremacies who'd lived far longer than most planets. Thankfully, it didn't look like the Perennial Vastness minded Zac's lacking manners.
"I guess that's my bad," the avatar laughed. "I was curious what would happen with the seal in the air. The storms the pillars generate can lead to surprising outcomes. I didn't get anything useful, but you still performed valiantly, even if your final blow was a shortcut. How about this? I'll make it up to you. What do you want?"
Zac inwardly complained, even if he didn't dare show anything but deference after his previous faux pas. Was he a magnet for weird and shameless old monsters? Or were they all like that? Reaching the limits of cultivation wasn't accomplished by measured and reasonable people.
"One second," Zac said.
He desperately wanted answers, but there were more pressing matters, so he hurried over to Kruta's side. The barbarian was growing increasingly pallid from the blood loss, and he seemed unable to expel the force of Valsa's light when unconscious. However, just as Zac was about to take out his healing pills, he heard an impatient grunt.
With that, the wounds were just gone. Even the bone stump had been replaced by a proper leg. Not only that, but Zac felt his own body heal in a process that was even more effective than when he used Creation Energy. Even the Dao Mold in his mind was repaired, and the motes of Oblivion stuck in its cracks were ejected into his Soul Aperture.
The only thing that wasn't restored to its original state was the energy he'd spent, both his own and the remnants'. His longevity hadn't recovered from reforging his arm either. Still, his Dao Mold getting repaired had saved him over a year and would allow him to head out again immediately without worry about not being in peak condition.
Zac hadn't sensed any energy, just like when his Duplicity Core was sealed. It was like reality had just changed per Sendor's will. Or had he rewound time, returning their bodies to a previous state? Either case, it was an incredible ability, especially since it seemingly worked on anything, from wounds to recreating a whole world. Zac's eyes turned to the unmoving puppet atop the dais.
It didn't emit any energy, but it hadn't been the first time Zac saw it either. Was Saeward back? If so, would it remember him interrupting his breakthrough?
"He won't jump at you again," Sendor said, grinning at Zac's hesitance. "Don't feel bad, brat. He would have failed whether you came crashing into his array or not. Like he's done a thousand times. He's never gotten past the fifth bolt, even when aided by one of you brats."
"What?"
Sendor didn't immediately answer. Instead, Zac suddenly felt like time was going out of control. He took a few shaky steps to distance himself from the puppet, but the whole atrium was going out of control. In seconds, Zac had seen the puppet stand up on the dais and face heavenly tribulation dozens of times. The details differed slightly each time, but the end was the same; a scorched, broken puppet unmoving on the ground.
"Saeward hoped to trick the Heavens and reincarnate using the captive souls of his followers in a loop of war and despair," Sendor smiled. "This scenario was actually his eighth 'final stand,' and the one where he'd finally accumulated enough impetus to make his attempt. Alas, he fell one step short of success, and the Heavens disintegrated his soul."
"Then this world…" Zac said.
"Saeward's choices, this thread of fate… It has potential. Perhaps not with the Heavens in its current state. Perhaps not with the variables you little brats introduced this time. But it has the potential to show me something interesting. So I disentangled the scenario from the river of time. I freed the suffering souls and replaced them with my own creations. Every Cosmic Gallery, the scenario starts anew."
Sendor looked back at the puppet, and Zac shuddered as he saw the look in the man's eyes. He still had a playful expression as he looked at Saeward dying repeatedly, but there was a terrifying coldness within his gaze. Not the coldness of hatred or animosity. It was the chill of complete and utter indifference to life and death.
It was beyond the morbid detachment cultivators gained as they walked over the corpses of their enemies on the path of cultivation. It was akin to the unfeeling callousness of the System, where right and wrong didn't matter. Saeward's soul being locked into that puppet in an eternal cycle of suffering wasn't even a punishment. It was just an experiment that may or may not produce results.
"Saeward's soul will continue to toil until he provides me with an answer. A solution that moves the tapestry closer to completion."
Zac slowly nodded, putting two and two together. He finally understood the origin of the various zones and the role he and the other guests played. The realms of the Perennial Vastness were seeds of potential collected by Sendor. The guests of the Cosmic Galleries would enter the realms, introducing variables of randomness to the experiments. And because the Heavens were still healing and moving toward perfection, the experiments had to be continuously performed.
"What happens when you get the answer?" Zac asked.
"The Stand of Saeward will be retired, replaced by another scenario."
"Then, the Quarry?" Zac ventured.
"It's functionally the same," Sendor nodded. "You closed the loop by accepting the inheritance and desire of Solemis. The Quarry will no longer appear in future Cosmic Galleries as it has no more potential to extract."
Saeward eventually stopped moving in the distressing cycle of despair as the castle returned to the state where he'd just failed his tribulation but before Valsa arrived. The rubble from the broken dais reappeared, and Zac could even feel his Dao inside the marks on the ground. From within Saeward's broken frame, two lights suddenly flew up. One moved to Zac, while the other stopped over the still-unconscious Kruta.
"Your prize for reaching the end of the scenario," Sendor explained.
"What's this?"
"It's the remains of a Natural Treasure. Saeward called it the Embryo of the Wargod, which is both inaccurate and a bit boastful," Sendor laughed. "I call it a [Warstone]. Saeward stumbling onto this thing is how he cooked up this scheme. If you use this shard as a basis for your core, it will naturally generate a bit of energy as you fight. A pretty useful feature for someone walking a path full of Conflict."
Zac curiously looked at the small stone in his hand and felt the waves of Pure Conflict from within. Just holding it almost made Zac feel like he'd eaten another [Rageroot Oak Seed], even if his mind remained completely clear. Still, his Dao Avatar stirred, and it began its dance between his two cores, swinging its axes in deadly arcs.
The truths of his Branch of the War Axe soon coursed through his veins, which made the stone release even more energy. It was like the resonance between two tuning forks, where two frequencies empowered each other. Thankfully, it only took a thought for the Dao Avatar to stop and sit down, and the [Warstone] calmed down soon after.
"Conflict breeds conflict," Zac muttered, placing the stone into a box and stowing it away.
"Exactly," Sendor said as the stone hovering above Kruta's body shot into the Spatial Ring on his hand.
Unfortunately, no quest had been triggered, but Zac believed the barbarian would still be happy with the sudden windfall. Mortals were the only ones who required precious treasures to form their cores, but that didn't mean Cultivators couldn't benefit from them. The [Warstone] perfectly complemented Kruta's path, and infusing its essence would elevate the resulting core.
Getting the [Warstone] and securing the final item he needed for his Core Formation was exactly what he'd hoped for when setting the course for the Stand of Saeward. Still, it wasn't enough to forget the real opportunity that had presented itself. So Zac quickly turned to Sendor before he could change his mind or flash away.
"You said you'd make it up to me just now. I'd like some answers," Zac said, the words spilling out his mouth. "You've seen my bloodline when you inspected me. Can you tell me more about it? How is it related to the Limitless Empire? Is it the bloodline of the Limitless Emperor or someone else?"
"As expected," Sendor nodded. "Honestly, I couldn't believe my eyes when I sensed the aura of the Void Emperor on you. Of course, it's oddly inverted, but the truth couldn't hide from me. What do you—"
Sendor's words were interrupted by another rumble in the sky. It wasn't the imperial who had returned, but the new arrival was still someone familiar. The gathering clouds crackled with power, and Zac felt a vast presence lock onto the area. It felt like time had frozen, yet it wasn't really the case. Zac couldn't move, but he saw Sendor scratch the base of his antlers as he looked up.
"You don't want me to speak?" Sendor said as a mischievous smile spread across his lips. "What are you scheming, you troublemaker? Still, I've never been one to—"
A loud rumble far surpassing the roars of the Planur Supremacy shook the Stand of Saeward, perhaps all of the Pennial Vastness. Or, for all Zac knew, it could be across all creation, judging by the unfettered force gathering in the clouds above. The stars shattered, unable to withstand the presence of the descent.
Zac had never seen the System gather so much energy, not even close. Even Alvod Jondir's ascent to autarchy didn't create such a scene. And this was just the start. An enormous swirl appeared above their heads, but it didn't unleash a torrent of heavenly punishment upon the lands. Instead, a seemingly innocuous item descended from its center.
It was a blue silk scarf, two hands wide, no longer than two meters end to end. There were no runes or engravings on it, but a spatter of dark spots covered one of the sides. It didn't look like anything special, but that only meant Zac was too ignorant to understand what was going on. Odd fluctuations rippled around it, creating scars that made Zac's hair stand on end.
It wasn't space that was being frayed, creating Spatial Tears. Reality itself couldn't withstand the piece of cloth and crumbled in front of Zac's eyes. Zac could tell even the Dao was twisting and turning as Eternal truths were coming undone. Meanwhile, cracks spread across the ground, and it looked like the Stand of Saeward would face a second calamity.
"Fine, fine!" Sendor screamed with alarm as a hairline crack appeared on one of his antlers. "Take that thing away. Are you trying to kill your dear friend?!"
Zac still wanted answers. But as things stood, he far more desired for the System to take that thing away. The scarf was far scarier than any tribulation lightning. It wasn't a trial to be overcome—that seemingly unassuming scarf held the Armageddon within its threads.
Thankfully, the System didn't seem intent on going to war with the Perennial Vastness, and the scarf was dragged back into the swirling vortex. The unfathomable aura of catastrophe lingered for a few seconds like an unspoken warning before it and the clouds dispersed.
"Damn, so touchy," Sendor swore as he looked up at the sky, once more donning the expression of a disappointed elder. "Too few of us old hands left for you to go around waving those things around. And you know the others all have a few screws loose. Who are you going to reminisce with if I'm not around?"
"That's..." Zac said, finding his voice no more than a whisper. "What was that?"
"Oh, just some old thing the System keeps around. One of its safeguards to make sure people play by its rules," Sendor said with an annoyed wave, looking at Zac with mixed emotions. "Sorry, kiddo, looks like I can't put my hand into this matter. The Terminus Council is mostly forgotten, but their will and Karma still spread through all creation like a web. That scenario is far from over."
"Terminus Council," Zac muttered.
The words were almost like a spell, and Zac felt a storm of fate crashing down at him. However, the feeling was stopped by the receding clouds gathering for one final bout of fury. Karma was erased and fate subverted, and the clouds drifted apart. The System was leaving, but it imparted Zac with a final message before it was gone.
[Beware the Terminus.]
Zac didn't dare speak the words again, his heart still hammering from the series of events. Just what was going on? Why didn't the System want him to know the truth? Was it an enemy or a friend? Truthfully, it felt like the System had protected him this time around.
It seemed too early to dig into the truth of his origin, but Zac still felt he was a few steps closer. For one, Sendor had confirmed the existence of the Void Emperor without Zac mentioning it. The revelation further indicated that his original theory was off; Karz wasn't the Limitless Emperor. Still, Zac's instincts told him the two were connected somehow.
Was the Limitless Empire perhaps run by two people, where one stood in the light while the other moved in the shadows? It seemed entirely possible when remembering Karz's temperament in his Bloodline Visions. Or was Karz a member of this 'Terminus Council'? But if that was the case, why did Zac need to be wary of it? Were they the reason history seemed to have mostly forgotten about a cultivator who could infinitely improve his affinities?
"What a mess," Sendor muttered as he drew a finger across his antler, which dragged Zac out of his thoughts. "That's all the information you'll get for now. Sometimes, scary things come crawling out when you turn over old stones. Ask for something else instead."
Zac nodded in agreement, noticing that the antler was already whole. Zac didn't know why, but it felt like Sendor was partly pretending when looking so frazzled at the scarf's appearance. Still, there was a nugget of truth to the fear in his eyes, but Zac decided to put the matter aside. He could slowly pull on these threads later. There were still benefits to be had.
His gaze immediately turned to Valsa's Spatial Ring in his hand. A princess sent on an important mission by a Supremacy surely had to be drowning in wealth. However, his experience with Uona's Spatial Ring made him afraid to infuse even a sliver of Mental Energy into the Spatial Tool. What if Vastermal Planur had marked it? He didn't even trust K'Rav to deal with this thing.
But if anyone could remove its hidden traps, it would be the man in front of him.
"The Imperial Clans have targeted me, and I think the key to figuring out their plots is within this ring," Zac coughed. "With your unfathomable means, perhaps you could help me unlock it?"
"Nice try," Sendor said with a roll of his eyes. "Do I look like a graverobber to you?"
He'd been rejected outright, but Zac wasn't about to give up. "The events just now were outside the bounds of Lord Sendor's trial and affected my ability to gather Mana. How about some…"
"I would, but the System won't allow me to give out things left and right. You saw how stingy it is. I have to follow the framework," the avatar interjected with a clearly disingenuous smile.
"Then… There are two remnants in…"
"Go find them yourself; you have the strength," Sendor lazily said, his enthusiasm clearly waning. "I can give you a small hint related to them, though. Combine their energies, and you'll be awarded 25,000 Mana."
Zac inwardly grumbled at how stingy this guy was, but he refused to give in. "You saw how the imperials acted because of my seal. They'll probably keep cheating on the outside. If you can't help me with the ring, then could you leave me with my memories of their identities intact? Or perhaps teach me a way to hide the aura of my seal?"
"I guess I could edit your seal only to guard the secrets of my realm," Sendor shrugged. "I don't really care if you start messing with the other guests after you're gone. However, a little brat like you can't hide the winds of fate the Seals of the Left Imperial Palace radiate. That array inside your body will trick even Autarchs, though. Of course, it'll only work if you keep it running."
"Kruta's seal too," Zac quickly added. "He also suffered from this injustice and deserves to understand the threat upon leaving."
"Fine, but that's it, brat."
Zac quickly nodded in thanks. It didn't completely solve the issue, but it was a start. Zecia was already sealed, so Leandra's array would be enough during the war. He had only been discovered inside the Perennial Vastness since he didn't even know it was possible to expose sealholders. He'd never bothered keeping Leandra's Array active inside the Perennial Vastness either since he constantly shifted between his forms.
On the outside, he always ensured it was active when going off-world, so he didn't need to change anything. And with Sendor allowing him to remember all the names and faces of the other guests, he would be far better off than before. Still, Zac felt it insufficient. This shameless old man had let a Supremacy plot against him just because he was curious about what would happen. The name of a council he had no way to investigate, and a small adjustment to his seal didn't feel like enough of a restitution.
Unfortunately, Saldor saw through Zac's thoughts and waved his sleeve at Zac with annoyance. "Brat, didn't you hear me when I talked with Vastermal? You can't get too greedy. Ai, I need to go into seclusion. What was the System thinking, bringing that inauspicious thing into my body?"
Saldor was gone before he finished his sentence, preventing Zac from asking for anything else. However, his voice returned a second later. "Oh, if you want to pick that thing up, you'd better hurry. The other brats will soon sense it."
Zac was about to ask what Sendor was talking about, but he felt his vision shift. It stretched out from the castle gates and across the now-desolate battlefield and into the isolating shroud where he fought Valsa the first time. There, he spotted a dozen corpses lying among dried weeds. There was also the deep crack from [Arcadia's Judgment], from which a floating sigil had emerged, releasing increasingly powerful ripples of truth.
A seal.
Comments
agreed, in my opinion, I think is about the hold thing about either elevating the heavens or sealing it(I don't remember where it was mentioned but it was during this arc).
LIMBO
2023-03-20 02:48:25 +0000 UTCNot to mention the more powerful the person you want to resurrect the harder it is. Mortals are easy (relatively). However if you wanted to resurrect a monarch? That would be probably be exponentially harder. Any higher than that, I imagine a supremacy would be taking severe injuries or even die in the attempt. Although I'm questioning myself now, couldn't somebody just resurrect a powerful cultivator but without their cultivation? Maybe that's too deeply embedded in their being... what with their understanding of their dao.
EnigmaticOne
2023-03-18 19:08:20 +0000 UTCI think its far more likely that the primo and sendor are simply further into the A grade than others, like late stage or something. While S grade would be the defiers.
Mathias
2023-03-17 18:28:45 +0000 UTCAfter the confrontation with Zac’s mother, Zac believes the man who raised him wasn’t his father. I can’t remember his reasoning though.
bltth26
2023-03-17 17:17:16 +0000 UTCI don't think the System would let the timeshifting effect major plotlines; maybe prevent a crippling injury becoming permanent. It seems there are limits the higher beings have from interfering with the fates of lower grade cultivators.
Richard Climer
2023-03-17 17:17:02 +0000 UTCLooking forward to Kruta's reaction to his leg being totally healed and Zac telling him to peek in his spatial ring.
Mike Naka
2023-03-17 17:17:02 +0000 UTCI think the extra one Zac has might have something to do with Thea or that Galow guy. Can’t remember the correct spelling.
bltth26
2023-03-17 17:14:42 +0000 UTCIt's already online lol
night hawk
2023-03-17 17:14:14 +0000 UTCI agree if you have time to read from the beginning it’s a fair progression of slowly but clearly defined power increases along with his level of understanding. And with this fight he has managed to not only fight toe to toe with someone who arguably has the best foundations in the multiverse. He also has managed to harness Oblivion energy without too much damage to himself. It’s why I believe he’s earned a peak core for the D grade. That way the next arch can be about the war and pure leveling.
bltth26
2023-03-17 17:11:41 +0000 UTCI believe it’s the Candor seal.
bltth26
2023-03-17 17:00:46 +0000 UTCI agree the system is definitely looking out for/actually training Zac for something. It has been from the beginning. In its own way it seems to have taken Zac as an apprentice.
bltth26
2023-03-17 16:58:30 +0000 UTCI believe it’s the Candor Seal. My guess is Sendor is giving the seal to Zac.
bltth26
2023-03-17 16:52:35 +0000 UTCDefinitely the Candor seal that prevented Zac from using his duplicity core.
bltth26
2023-03-17 16:49:08 +0000 UTCI think there is good odds that the System is actually trying to look out for Zac in its own detached and imperious way. Sometimes learning too much about dangerous things too early is a huge risk in this setting - seems like just having knowledge can make you a target for some real heavy-hitters. I definitely think the System is an asshole, but even assholes can have good intentions :P
calrodsomething
2023-03-17 16:11:45 +0000 UTCMust've been on the toilet when he typed that!
Mike Naka
2023-03-17 16:09:23 +0000 UTC@Sodalane In my best Aussie accent, Noyce call mate!
Mike Naka
2023-03-17 16:07:26 +0000 UTCWe can't forget the cosmic backlash either; remember reviving someone from the dead comes with a price so steep even Supremacies can only stomach it a handful of times at most. Also I feel this reverse of time is uniquely because they're in PVs body and given how zac and kruta were healed here, it's likely he's a Supremacy in his understanding of daos alone and that most definitely includes the Dao of time; though if other peak Autarchs or Supremacies with the Dao of time can do this has yet to be seen.
Lex Luther S
2023-03-17 15:03:29 +0000 UTCOnly god like beings have god like power. But they also have god like perspectives. Yes they can undo things and reverse time, but why would they other than their own motives? Think of it like when the system intervened in the twilight ocean. Yes, it did save Zac from certain doom, only to add a task with horrible penalties of he failed.
Michael Fannon
2023-03-17 13:56:09 +0000 UTCI agree but so far in seems limited to resurrection and owned realms rather than within the multiverse itself.
Kangaroo
2023-03-17 13:52:13 +0000 UTCC grades are monarchs. B grades are autarchs. A grade are supremacies. S grade has been hinted at and I think are called Emperors based on what was said when Zac first arrived. There are beings that are far older and more powerful than any supremacy, like Sender, Waz'ol, and the Primo.
Michael Fannon
2023-03-17 13:40:58 +0000 UTCi wont lie, i greatly dislike the timeshifting business, if you can unmake everything even with costs, what does even matter? Yes its just suff for A-grad and above, but still..., now we have a story tool to undo everything at anypoint with deus ex bullshit. I just dislike that the possibility exists to begin with.
Indy
2023-03-17 13:07:33 +0000 UTCAt least it wasn't a Spoog Towel or Crusty Sock
Mike Naka
2023-03-17 12:56:44 +0000 UTCSo far none of the courts were named that. Also seems a slight break from the naming convention. Sticking with it being a powerful seal that was the basis of the seal Candor when amplified by the supremacy to cover the region Rando speculation- The first heavens have already claimed a pillar (eternal heritage like Ultom) I wonder if it has seals. And what they are called
Henry Wartemberg
2023-03-17 12:54:36 +0000 UTCThe "hiding information to not affect growth" was just an example of arbitrarily withholding information that's common. I don't think this information is being withheld from Zac for his growth. I still think it's arbitrary.
Kyfe
2023-03-17 12:43:14 +0000 UTCI would have agreed with you last month. But i binged on all the books from chapter 1 recently and it all fits together well. I especially like the fact that he's consistently getting stronger even though the levels aren't. And we're finally at the point that he's beating out the chosen of the main powers and he isn't some country bumpkin with a bit of luck. The pacing is slow, but that's always been the case and catching him up with the best in the world i good progression
Anonymonous
2023-03-17 12:02:17 +0000 UTCIf im not mistaken, to resurrect someone, they either need a piece of their soul or the exact location where they died so zac wouldn't be able to ask PV to do that; besides i feel like zac would want to fo that himself upon reaching Supremacy.
Lex Luther S
2023-03-17 10:47:33 +0000 UTCAt least his fosterfather. Do we really know how he was conceived by all the Tecnocrat manipulation.
Chemistrywarrior
2023-03-17 10:05:00 +0000 UTCI mean, PV just explained why the information was hidden... It has the potential to sway the results of the experiment that is Zac. It's not about his growth, but it would affect his decision making. Say he finds out something about what his bloodline can do, and leans towards that ability in the future, suddenly his entire path is shifted. We just learned that to the "System" or Terminus goons or whatever, Zac is the same as any of the realms in PV, a scenario.
john henderson
2023-03-17 08:31:12 +0000 UTCYes Catheya has one. Remember her reason for fleeing to the PV was she was worried the Draugr princess was going to kill her for it.
2023-03-17 07:11:35 +0000 UTCThanks just wanted to make sure
BloodStorm
2023-03-17 05:59:35 +0000 UTCThe more courts you have on your side the better I would guess. Plus the Draugr and Reavers will probably add a court each for Zac. Since neither of them were able to get a flame bearer title.
2023-03-17 05:55:53 +0000 UTCIt's entirely possible they killed one of the seal bearers they identified that came here from Zecia though.
2023-03-17 05:50:43 +0000 UTCIf its an Ultom seal, then I'm thinking the seal of the indomitable court. Found on the battle field, hopefully for Joanna (chapter 972)
2023-03-17 05:44:50 +0000 UTCIt's a 'seal of truth' so its likely related to the edict of candor, and not a seal of ultom
Dols1618
2023-03-17 05:16:34 +0000 UTCAutarchas for b grade supremacies for A?
Ark
2023-03-17 04:41:45 +0000 UTCWhat are A-rank & B-rand cultivators called?
BloodStorm
2023-03-17 04:29:15 +0000 UTCWas kind of hoping he would ask to have his father resurrected. Long shot, but it might not be too hard to resurrect a low level mortal. Of course we don’t know all the rules around reviving someone yet, but the guy probably would have explained a bit about it if asked.
Caedmon Fowler
2023-03-17 03:40:37 +0000 UTCYeah but sometimes the hiding of growth is integral to character back story - Cradle. I can agree it can sometimes feel tired, but all stories are going to have elements of the unknown and subsequent discovery.
2023-03-17 03:28:01 +0000 UTCDoes catheya have a seal? Could be for her to join his court ... Idk can't he have more than one cycle of nine? love your work thanks for the chappy
2023-03-17 03:10:22 +0000 UTCGreat summary, Lex! Although that does trigger a thought...we all seem to be thinking the seal Zac got a mental picture of was a seal of the Heavens. It may well be that Zac can steal part of the 5th Imperial's legacy and for later access to the Heavens to advance. Just speculation, of course, but I'm thinking if/when Zac's team takes Ultom that all the Ultom seals coalesce for their faction making it theirs...unless some later scion f's up and loses a piece sort of like now... :)
Mark Thorne
2023-03-17 02:27:20 +0000 UTCHe's on the path of the unorthodox
Kazith
2023-03-17 01:29:01 +0000 UTCI have honestly enjoyed the entire buildup through E grade. Zac has had massive gains since he hit 150, and we continue to see him grow in strength even in battle. I can't wait for D grade tho, can't be too long now. I can see how the courts stuff can be annoying but author is just trying to build tension and importance into these aspects for the next arc.
Killinger Ryan
2023-03-17 01:21:39 +0000 UTCRe-read Chapter 980, it talks about the general structure consisting of Pillars and Thrones representing the 17 DAOs and holding up the Heavens. It indicates no one knows why it is like this, it just is. Courts have never really been explained yet.
Mason W
2023-03-17 00:52:30 +0000 UTCYes I find it confusing, complex and hard to follow as well and it somewhat distracts from the storyline trying to understand tiny snippets of information about the world building aspects. After reading a 1000 chapters and the main character in essence has not yet left the second level (E grade) it is becoming harder and harder to enjoy. Complexity is good but it needs to balanced.
Rod Higgins
2023-03-17 00:46:24 +0000 UTCThey’re never fully explained at all. Just tiny bits across hundreds of chapters. Semi-impossible to keep track of unless you follow the comments by some of the more fanatic readers
Subliminary
2023-03-16 23:58:38 +0000 UTCIt's likely become warped after being exposed to the unique environment of the stand so it's become a good little treasure to pocket. Also I don't think it's seal of ultom, not all seals are from ultom; remember the church of everlasting dao? Those psychopaths used their faith to forge a seal that was very much real and made of precious gold metals that damn near killed zac
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 23:57:00 +0000 UTCThanks
Harley Dalton Jr.
2023-03-16 23:52:25 +0000 UTCOk, here's a refresher. The heavens are special universes where anyone can pop up anywhere as long as they have a certain tier of access; its apparently a cultivation haven where monarchs and Autarchs are born, it is speculated that they steal the fate and dao of the frontier sectors to fuel all those ascensions; all imperial clans seems to have a heaven named 1-7 and it seems the imperial clans decided to go by heavens number instead. The pillars are the eternal heritages that propped up the system at the start and in its early years but are no longer needed; so far 3 pillars have appeared with ultom being the 4th if memory serves correct. The seals are the court's of ultom, so the flamebearer is the main inheritance or core court while it has 9 outer courts, if you can't remember the courts names then the wiki is a good way to get the run down. Anything else?
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 23:49:34 +0000 UTCFyi, I don't understand any of the stuff about heavens, pillars, courts, seals etc. I must have missed when all of that was properly explained. I try to ignore that stuff now but it can be irritating sometimes.
Harley Dalton Jr.
2023-03-16 23:21:35 +0000 UTCI actually don’t think it’s an Ultom seal. My guess is that it’s related/ the basis of the Edict of Candor (Truth). Also by happenstance the first Heaven have already secured a pillar. It could be related to that
Henry Wartemberg
2023-03-16 22:46:31 +0000 UTCIt’s the conflict seal probably
Ryan Ulrich
2023-03-16 22:44:01 +0000 UTCThis is the part that throws me though "There was also the deep crack from [Arcadia's Judgment], from which a floating sigil had emerged, releasing increasingly powerful ripples of truth." Could have just been buried and he dug it up with a lucky strike since that sentence makes it sound like it is coming from the crack and not a corpse
Sirloki
2023-03-16 22:41:44 +0000 UTCWell it should be a seal for lesser court if it dropped from a deathsworns corpse(I think it was Scars), but another type didn't think about that hope not we have enough plots running
Ark
2023-03-16 22:33:58 +0000 UTCGoing to Kruta is my guess as reward for helping Zac, unless things have changed Zac's final seal will be an award from system as per convo with Void Priestess
Ark
2023-03-16 22:30:29 +0000 UTCCareful the system might remember this slander when it comes online
Ark
2023-03-16 22:28:25 +0000 UTCI'm going to choose to believe there is more to it than that. Because there is no way Zac just fought a friggin heavens chosen elite from the 1st heaven who was aided by a squad of 15 people and a supremacy who sealed half his fucking strength to then walk away with a bargaining chip. You know what, fuck it. This trial was his recompense for getting that void inheritance in the quarry. It's the only justification I can think of to avoid breaking something.
Darnell Maxwell
2023-03-16 22:15:20 +0000 UTC^^^ This guy knows how to properly hate and defy the heavens (i.e., system)
Dro
2023-03-16 22:15:18 +0000 UTCSell it to someone
Alexander
2023-03-16 22:10:26 +0000 UTCCan someone please tell me why Zac would want that seal. Genuinely curious. I thought he already got all of his and has enough people to form almost two full courts.
Darnell Maxwell
2023-03-16 22:05:29 +0000 UTCFUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM!!!!! An E grade cultivator got help from a fucking supremacy to seal and gang up on Zac! You did fucking nothing to stop this flagrant abuse of power! Yet he somehow comes out of this event a victor and you will go out of your way to stop him from asking a simple question! And then provide him with nothing as a reward in the informations stead! BALANCE MY ASS!!! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM! FUCK THE SYSTEM!!!!!
Darnell Maxwell
2023-03-16 22:04:21 +0000 UTCNo not one of his seals as Flamebearer but one of the lesser courts are still of Ultom as far as I understand. It could also be a seal of some other sort not related to the courts but I find that less likely
Sirloki
2023-03-16 21:55:59 +0000 UTCNo, if you go back and read his debut ch, then you'll see that he hopes to aquire a seal himself so that instead of being stuck guarding some old monster that may never leave seclusion before his death, to instead being allowed to pillage the empires enemies
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 21:51:23 +0000 UTCBut wasn't Scar the scout Valsa used a Sealbearer himself?
Chemistrywarrior
2023-03-16 21:35:09 +0000 UTCBut thx for the chapter ;)
jordan
2023-03-16 21:28:05 +0000 UTCMUST..... HAVE..... MOOOOAAARRRR!!!!!
jordan
2023-03-16 21:27:42 +0000 UTC"Too few of us old hands left for you to go around waving those things around. And you know the others all have a few screws loose. Who are you going to reminisce with if I'm not around?" Might consider re-wording as the guy says “around” 3 times here. TFTC!
Tommy
2023-03-16 21:09:25 +0000 UTCI highly doubt its a seal for the ultom court's, pv doesn't have anything to do with the court's and all seasl hace so far been located in or within close proximity to zecia. It's likely that seal of Candor as some seals are physical objects; besides if kruta somehow got a seal he'd be on the imperial side as, despite how much of a bro he is, he and zac aren't that close and he's not going to jeopardize his whole clan.
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 20:57:29 +0000 UTChahahaha
Talen Drake
2023-03-16 20:43:21 +0000 UTCOhhhh I forgot about that seal, good catch; given others want a piece of it it'll definitely be something good and will likely carry one hell of a bounty.
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 20:43:19 +0000 UTCI am going to agree with the others… there is no way that the system is doing this for Zac’s benefit. The system clearly has goals of its own, and any benefit that Zac has been able to seize is incidental
Craig
2023-03-16 20:31:37 +0000 UTCThe System's throwing down the gauntlet by dropping a plain scarf in its opponent's face.
Reno
2023-03-16 20:23:27 +0000 UTCThe PV saying he's not a grave robber is pretty funny when lots of the different zones he has collected are grave sites of entire populations. Is it better to steal the entire cemetery over robbing one grave?
2023-03-16 20:20:46 +0000 UTCProbably an auto correct error
Ark
2023-03-16 20:19:45 +0000 UTCOgras unwelcome goblin spirit from the dimensional seed realm he was stuck in, helped Zac open the ring from the Kan'Tanu hedgemon they fought while adventuring with Vai
Ark
2023-03-16 20:19:07 +0000 UTCThx for the chappy
Thenais
2023-03-16 20:16:52 +0000 UTCMy money is on one of the vampires. Get the undead really represented.
Frardowin
2023-03-16 20:15:29 +0000 UTCHonestly I quite enjoy when there is a built in reason for plot armor or some such. I’ve always enjoyed luck as an excuse for getting treasure, or momentum as a reason for attacks building over time, and especially when there is an actual reason that a peak character doesn’t just solve all the problems right away.
Enzo Elacqua
2023-03-16 20:09:47 +0000 UTCIs there a reason you are switching between saldor and sendor
Atlanta Geek
2023-03-16 20:07:38 +0000 UTCThe old goblin ghost that lives in the taboo war flag
2023-03-16 20:06:45 +0000 UTCAnyone know who K,Rav is?
NeverNaught
2023-03-16 20:03:56 +0000 UTCI love the idea of a massive inorganic system arguing with a massive realm and then the system just scowls and takes out a scarf. It feels like something you'd read in a manga
Sean
2023-03-16 20:03:30 +0000 UTCI think it was Scars seal likely usable by Kruta as mentioned previously Zac's final seal is a system reward during war
Ark
2023-03-16 20:00:46 +0000 UTCReality Breaking Scarf would be an awesome band name!
Naotsugu97
2023-03-16 20:00:27 +0000 UTCDoubt it is for Zac, likely Zac shows Kruta and Kruta joins Zac's 2nd cycle
Ark
2023-03-16 19:59:23 +0000 UTCsounds funny but after reading primal hunter I would probaly find it repetativ after a short Time
Frederik
2023-03-16 19:57:11 +0000 UTCSo Question#1 is the Seal one of the Ultom Seals? Question#2 was it from one of Valsa's dead followers or did it come up from the crack that Zac left Question#3 was the crack enough of a crack in reality that Zac can claim credit for destroying the zone!? 🤔😁
Sirloki
2023-03-16 19:55:16 +0000 UTCThere’s something hilarious about a reality breaking scarf. It’s always weapons and armor in other series. TFD? Man check out my sweet new suit, it breaks the universe when it touches reality.
2023-03-16 19:51:43 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapter.
Joshua Little
2023-03-16 19:51:03 +0000 UTCI think it might be the basis of the edict of Candor. Radiating Truth- Candor
Henry Wartemberg
2023-03-16 19:49:16 +0000 UTCThat is actually one of the good things about this novel. The Cultivation levels are set in stone from the early stages with only more details and different terms or experiences given by different people which is logical (IZ being an example) The thing with information being blocked by the system is not bad writing (at least yet) since we do not know why the system wants to hide it from Zac. I don't think it's simply "it'll harm your growth" argument but something much more impactful since it relates to 2 biggest plot points in the entire novel. 1-The technocrats and what they did to create Zac and for what purpose 2-The limitless Empire and the secrets of the void emperor and his real identity Both points has to due with Zac heritage and the driving force for him to get his sister back and avenge Thea.
Abdullah Binateag
2023-03-16 19:48:11 +0000 UTCFinally PV actually admitted that he let things go too far and offered to do something in return.
Abdullah Binateag
2023-03-16 19:46:49 +0000 UTCBEWARE THE DOOM SCARF, DESTROYER OF WORLDS!
Tyler smalley
2023-03-16 19:46:44 +0000 UTCThat was a weird chapter
Random Information
2023-03-16 19:45:38 +0000 UTCThank you!
Andrew
2023-03-16 19:45:23 +0000 UTCI really appreciate getting to see some of the top individuals interact these last two chapters. It’s quite funny that the imperial supremacy tries to put on airs by looking like he is commanding the heavens incarnate, but he is really just a junior brat compared to Sendor and has his scam foiled. Meanwhile, the system descends and goes straight for the throat… by dropping a reality killing scarf. LOL!
Craig
2023-03-16 19:42:15 +0000 UTCA seal; hmmmmmm what kind of seal is the question but it is undoubtedly a powerful high quality item that will bring interesting benefits, and zacs all healed and ready to go, though he may still switch over to his undead side given his skill might still be on cool down.
Lex Luther S
2023-03-16 19:41:26 +0000 UTCHe should have asked to be PVs friend so they could chat.
Nathan Emerson
2023-03-16 19:41:06 +0000 UTCBig Guys promising to make things up to only essentially do nothing of the kind has always annoyed me in stories like these. Zac was absolutely right in his judgement that Sendor didn't live up to his promise. Not even close. Another thing that annoys me is the arbitrary hiding of information. I've never bought the "it'll harm your growth" argument. An example would be not telling the MC about the later stages of cultivation only to find put later that there are entire empires of people who know the truth from day 1 and it never effects them in any way. None of that is to criticize the writing. I can be mad at the characters (Sendor and the Heavens) without condemning the writing.
Kyfe
2023-03-16 19:40:58 +0000 UTCI just had a stomach churning panic that it was Friday...
Disclancer
2023-03-16 19:39:19 +0000 UTCI kinda want to see more of PV. Seems like a fun character that doesn’t really give an f
Ryan Ulrich
2023-03-16 19:38:50 +0000 UTCSo the system is flaunting his favorite scarf around?? Is it Iriel?
Stefan Muntean
2023-03-16 19:36:05 +0000 UTCWow nice chapter. I was wondering what would happen to the seals when someone died. Am hoping Kruta joins Zac's force and gets it.
The Lost Pages
2023-03-16 19:35:24 +0000 UTCGreat chapter, there’s always someone with way more authority!
Zero10011
2023-03-16 19:31:32 +0000 UTCY’all are fast.
Dan
2023-03-16 19:19:08 +0000 UTCThanks!!
Zero10011
2023-03-16 19:18:59 +0000 UTCNice, thanks
2023-03-16 19:18:13 +0000 UTCSecond! 😂
Sirloki
2023-03-16 19:18:03 +0000 UTCThanks
Kristopher Abraham
2023-03-16 19:17:59 +0000 UTC
