Chapter 1,323.

Zac completed the fourth layer of the [Void Vajra Sublimation] shortly after his battle with Yselio Tobrial, thus shattering the Shackles of Man. Those limitations referred to the lowly pursuits of the mortal world in the original Buddhist method, and breaking them meant leaving the past behind to become one with the boundless Cosmos.

That path was not for him, and it contained the hidden threat of the Buddhist Sangha. Zac had changed the [Void Vajra Sublimation]’s Shackles of Man to represent his desire to break free and control his fate. By becoming a Void Vajra, he’d stand outside the Multiverse’s schemes and power struggles.

To cultivate was to wage a solitary war against Heaven, yet such determined independence was rare. Not even Eonic Seeds like the other Flamebearers followed this route. Their path toward the peak was illuminated by their predecessors. They could always tell how far they’d climbed and knew what they needed to accomplish to reach the next stage. When strong enough, they’d inherit the whole system and make it theirs, becoming the next generation’s ruler.

It wasn’t supreme confidence in himself that brought Zac to this point. If anything, it caused him no small amount of trouble. His solitude came from necessity. His bloodline was one of a kind, making it impossible to follow in someone else’s footsteps. He also lacked powerful ancestors or a backer he could genuinely trust, nullifying the upsides of walking the conventional path.

Zac choice was reflected by his Void Road. He was his own hierarchy, a pyramid of one. At least that was the idea. In practice, breaking the Shackles of Man hadn’t made him any freer than he was before. Invisible chains were still controlling his actions, as were the hidden plots of ancient existences.

It was unavoidable. The gap in power between Zac and those eyeing his secrets or otherwise meddled in his life was an insurmountable chasm too great to be bridged by a cultivation manual. However, Zac believed the [Void Vajra Sublimation] would complement his Duplicity Core’s Karma-shielding ability when he grew stronger, sharing the strain of shielding his Karma.

Reaching that point was easier said than done. Paving one’s own path came at a cost. Years had passed since breaking the Shackles of Man, and the method to practice the fifth layer remained incomplete. Part of the holdup stemmed from lacking time and insights into the Dao of Life. There also was a more fundamental issue holding him back.

Changing his Shackles of Man represented a significant departure from the original scripture. He’d even cannibalized some of the meaning behind [Boundless Vajra Sublimation]’s Shackles of Earth for his previous breakthrough. The Shackless of Man, Earth, and Heaven were central to the middle layers of the Body Tempering Manual. Altering them changed the method’s context and caused cascading consequences.

Without first understanding what the next set of shackles represented, Zac couldn’t create a perfect fifth layer for the [Void Vajra Sublimation], severely harming its long-term potential. This wasn’t a problem that could be brute forced with Ultom’s insight. It needed introspection and deciding on a direction that resonated with him.

Zac already had some ideas, and Mei’Er’s performance was an opportunity to crystallize them into an answer ahead of schedule. Eager to recapture the feeling before it slipped away, Zac threw the less pressing matters to the back of his mind. “What should I do? Should I just sit here and listen to Miss Mei’Er play?”

Mei’Er smiled at Zac. “Mei’Er will do her best to live up to Lord Atwood’s sudden interest. First, I’d like to ask Lord to release his aura so that I can calibrate my performance accordingly.”

The request was a cold shower that left Zac hesitant. “My path has been… troubled. I’m afraid my Dao will bring about disharmony if exposed.”

While it was true that his bloody aura wasn’t suited for the Joyful Gardens, Zac had a more immediate concern. He’d already been marked by the Lower Planes, and the Threaded Hell’s lord had left his calling card by imparting his benediction. These bonds eluded Zac’s senses, and he had no idea what might trigger them.

Staying inside a sect with direct connections to the Nine Gardens was already testing the strength of the signals he was inadvertently putting out, and releasing his Earthly Dao of Life would be tempting fate. The little monkey could be acting as a transmitter to its homeworld for all Zac knew, and the memory domain’s edge was out of his reach.

Mei’Er seemed to understand there was more to Zac’s misgivings. Her zither floated into place before her, and she gently began plucking its strings. She didn’t infuse any Dao or intent into the instrument, yet Zac felt his mind clear up. The little monkey also enjoyed the performance. It actually jumped down from Mei’Er’s shoulder to sit down next to him. That way, it got a front-row seat to the performance.

“Does Lord Atwood know why we invite our guests for individual cultivation? Why I’m not performing at the public pavilions where my music can bring joy to a larger audience?”

“It loses its effect,” Zac guessed.

“Indeed. While communal cultivation can generate more sentiment, its shallow and chaotic. Only our Outer Disciples can rely on such methods for cultivation.”

The music subtly changed, and Zac’s eye twitched when discordant notes joined the simple melody, completely ruining it. The monkey was just as startled, looking as its master like she was sick.

“The higher one’s skill, the deeper one can bring the audience into a single harmony. Alas, no matter one’s level, it’s impossible to share a profound connection with a crowd. Only by tailoring my performance can I delve deeper into the mysteries of Life and deliver a performance that benefits us both.”

The melody returned to normal before subtly changing, and Zac felt his mind stir. He could hear hints of his Earthly Dao of Reborn Life in Mei’Er’s song. It was based on what little could be gleaned from Zac’s current aura, and it left him wanting more.

“Is this not why Lord Atwood came to us? Mei’Er can tell that Lord Atwood isn’t here to enjoy himself and forget his worries,” the courtesan cajoled.

“I guess you could say I’m seeing where fate takes me.”

“Lord Atwood does not need to worry about privacy. Mei’Er only needs Lord to release his restrictions, not to expose any of his secrets. Your basic aura is enough for a performance at this stage.”

Zac stared at the guileless little monkey by his side and nodded after some thought. “I can release my aura, but Miss Mei’Er should brace herself.”

The upsides outweighed the risks and Zac sensed no dangers or hidden threat, so he decided to roll the dice. Besides, Zac doubted the Joyful Gardens’ realmgate surpassed Middle C-grade. It would immediately collapse if something stronger tried to squeeze through. Furthermore, the memory domain was smaller than Dipper Seven’s. It would collapse if a Realmlord so much as looked in his direction.

Wasting no time, Zac released the floodgates. Roiling waves of Conflict and Life poured out from his body to showcase his Evolutionary Path. Unavoidably, a large amount of Killing Intent followed suit. It shattered the tranquility, suffocated the music, and added an ominous gloom to the bamboo forest. Zac could smell the acrid iron of fresh blood, hear the roars life-and-death battles within the forest’s haze.

Mei’Er’s face paled but she quickly recovered. She resumed plucking the zither strings and released a radiant halo holding redemption and promise of better times. It created a sanctuary of bliss in Zac’s sea of bitterness. Soon after, the Killing Intent and Conflict returned to Zac’s body. He’d only exposed those parts to give Mei’Er context to his Dao of Life.

Zac had kept his eyes on the monkey throughout. It gave no indication of having sensed Zac’s connection to the Lower Planes, and he felt no powerful perceptions honing in on him. It had scampered back with abject fear from his aura before tentatively returning when Zac only exposed his Earthly Dao of Reborn Life.

The monkey soon forgot the scare and nudged closer. Clearly, the Garden Spirit was greatly attracted by his novel Dao of Life.

“Lord’s Dao holds great desperation,” Mei’Er sighed after the environment stabilized.

“My understanding of Life came from a different place,” Zac said and presented his three-starred veteran’s token.

“So Lord was a decorated hero of the Empire. You have my deepest respect,” the courtesan said with a graceful bow, her deference by all appearances genuine.

The golden monkey seemed taken with the token, prodding it and sniffing deeply. Zac smiled and poked the spirit, and it waved its hands at him with annoyance.

“Lord has suffered much, still your Life burns bright. It worthy of admiration. However, having nerves taut as strings and desperation guiding your steps is no way to live. How can Lord enjoy his retirement with countless chains weighing his steps? How can Lord face the Heavens with a heart covered in mortal dust? What will Lord see at the Terminus following a path without joy?” Mei’Er said with sorrow.

A sudden twang from the zither preempted Zac’s response. It also silenced the voices in the back of his head that turned over every word and gesture, analyzing them for threats. A second string filled with trembling Life brought Zac to a roaring battlefield. A sea of familiar faces desperately resisted the Kan’Tanu’s wall of bloody tendrils.

Zac tensed at the surprising scene and the imagery faded. A thorough scan confirmed a few points, allowing Zac to relax. The scene wasn’t an illusion, and Mei’Er had no way to see what he did. Her music was interacting with his Aura, creating an effect similar to guided meditation. She’d stopped upon noticing Zac’s resistance.

“Mei’Er can tell Lord is looking for something. Experiencing my understanding of Unbounded Life might provide inspiration,” she gently said.

“Unbounded Life,” Zac muttered, nodding and closing his eyes.

The hauntingly beautiful music resumed. Memories flowed like a river, brought out by Mei’Er’s gentle melody. Most were Zac’s own, with a few relevant memories from Tam Brooks thrown in the mix. Mei’Er deepened her comprehension with each probing note, calibrating and harmonizing in search of perfection. The further she went, the more real the memories became.

Suddenly, there was no telling where the music ended, and his Dao began. It wasn’t just a random composition infused with Dao. Zac was hearing the symphony of his Reborn Life, and the evocative song made him shudder. There was so much bloodshed. He’d looked countless enemies in their eyes as he ended their lives with a swing of his axe. Those casualties were nothing compared to the mountains of corpses left by his large-scale skills like [Deathmark] and [Primal Edict].

Whole armies had been reduced to nothing, millions of lights winking out on his command. Zac didn’t regret or feel ashamed over his actions. It was a war for survival, and he would have been the one lying in the dirt if he was any weaker. Still, the endless slaughter had undeniably left a shadow in his heart, a weariness of the spirit he usually kept in check. The exhaustion was impossible to ignore when given a voice by Mei’Er’s zither.

The song shifted before the accumulated suffering could taint the countless memories. The melody was no longer a nigh-perfect representation of his Dao. It had split into a duet, with a second voice perfectly complementing his. It infused new meaning to the dreary images. Zac saw the relief in the eyes of his bloodied subordinates as they returned toward the teleporters. He saw children laughing on the streets despite the war raging across Zecia.

There were countless scenes of hope and optimism hidden in Zac’s memories, only made possible through his Dao. Zac understood what Mei’Er was trying to convey and felt a warm wind bring spring to his Dao of Life.

His Earthly Dao of Reborn Life was a Dao of desperate struggle, of overcoming limitations and fate. It was a reflection of the law of the jungle his Dao was based on, but it wasn’t enough. The Heavens were cold and heartless; he was not. Without purpose, his evolutionary cycle of generational struggle was incomplete.

Only a rabid animal would fight to the death without reason. Only a fool would risk their life overcoming fate if they weren’t driven by dreams and aspirations. Without a purpose, Evolution was reduced to a nihilistic cycle of suffering. The driving forces didn’t even have to be lofty ideals or grand ambitions. It could be something as simple as enjoying the miracle of Life another day.

Zac felt this realization touched upon a deeper truth of Earthly Daos. Why should a man-made Dao be sterile and emotionless? Why should he mirror the Ruthless Heavens? Zac’s Dao was his. It shouldn’t just reflect his understanding of the word, it should represent the world he wanted to see. Given enough time, this desire would shape reality.

On the back of one unexpected insight, Zac also found the one he had been looking for. His vague idea of his Shackles of Earth rapidly transformed into certainty. Like a bolt from above, it was clear what he needed to do. His Shackles of Earth was a continuation of his previous breakthrough, reinforcing his unencumbered path.

The Shackles of Earth represented the power others held over his path. They were fast approaching the Era’s Zenith, and the Heavens were already claimed. The powerful had seized their corners of the Dao, and they waged wars to expand their territories. Knowingly or not, cultivators were borrowing from Heavenly Territories to form their Daos, often more than one.

Zac was no different. He might be cultivating the incomplete Peak of Chaos, but there were still Supremacies who’d seized its Authority. Zac had already encountered quite a few entities holding Authority over his path, with the Heart and Spark having manipulated his fate to the greatest extent. The Primo was another, as were the Lords of the Abyssal Shores. Zac even suspected that Iz Tayn’s ancestor held a small amount Authority related to his Dao of life, based on a comment of Iz’s after their duel.

The list kept going. There was no doubt in Zac’s mind that the Realmlord of Threaded Hell was a Supremacy who wielded Authority over the Dao of Death. Add Nine Gardens and seven more Hells, not to mention the Authorities related to his Dao of War. Zac had no idea who wielded those Authorities, let alone the Peak of Conflict’s Utmost Authority.

Authority didn’t mean complete control over those cultivating those insights, but it awarded a level of control. Those blessed by their ancestor’s Authority, like Iz Tayn, would see smoother progress, and their Dao would shine brighter. Those rejected by Authority would find themselves swimming against the current.

There were also countless mysterious techniques and treasures in the Multiverse. Zac was certain some could exploit the tenuous bond of a shared Dao, where the Supremacy used their Authority to spy on or manipulate those within their territory. The price was no doubt high, but so what? Even the possibility was a latent threat to someone like Zac.

The Shackles of Earth that Zac wanted to shatter were these intangible bonds of Dao. It was similar to how he severed his connection to the remnants during his Atavism. Doing so, Zac wouldn’t be able to borrow the strength of the previous generations. In exchange, their control over him would weaken. His Life would be his, hidden in the Void and away from prying eyes.

The moment Zac reach this conclusion, he immediately released the hold on [Purity of the Void] and its stockpile of refined inspiration. Thankfully, the Hidden Node was filled to the brim from breaking through the wall of corruption to enter the memory domain. Clarity and insight joined hands in deciphering the [Boundless Vajra Sublimation]’s incredibly complex theories and deriving a new approach.

Piece by piece, sutra by sutra, the fifth layer came into being. Everything else faded, including Mei’Er’s music. When Zac eventually opened his eyes, he realized he was surrounded by dozens of small critters. A few had even perched on his shoulders, and Mei’Er’s three-tailed monkey had nuzzled into his lap without his notice.

The other spirits stayed close, relishing in the fresh aura of Life he exuded. His Dao was the same as before, but it had been cleansed of some of the Intersector war’s suffering. Surprisingly, Zac found himself connected to the Garden Spirits through almost identical golden threads. Hundreds more stretched into his surroundings, leading into the bamboo forest and beyond.

Zac would have panicked if the serenade hadn’t elevated his mental state, thinking the spirits were trying to parasitize or bind him down. Now, Zac could intuit that the threads were the Shackles of Earth that he needed to sever, representing the Authority of the Nine Gardens. These subordinated shackles were weak and hollow, and Zac there was no active presence in them. At least for now, there was no spying Realmlord.

The threads were gradually fading, and Zac did nothing to stop it. He was only seeing them because of his of his enlightened state, and Zac wasn’t ready to actually break them. His epiphany had opened the door to the [Void Vajra Sublimation]’s fifth layer, and Ultom’s insight left the method mostly complete. However, he hadn’t actually practiced the layer. Opportunities and [Void Emperor Apotheosis] had refined his Life-attuned constitution beyond the threshold already, but he was far from reaching his constitution’s limit.

Zac exhaled, finally turning to Mei’Er. The remnant spiritual fluctuations surrounding her indicated that her gains weren’t small, either. She’d been inspecting the Garden Spirits with slight frown of confusion. Upon seeing Zac wake up, she turned to him with a gentle smile. Zac’s heart lurched, and he realized he felt much closer to Mei’Er than before.

It wasn’t the result of a bewitchment technique. Their Daos had entered an intimate union to create a unique symphony. The experience was like peering into someone’s soul, creating a mutual understanding. The softness in her eyes hinted that Dual Cultivation might no longer be off the table, but Mei’Er could also see that it remained a threshold wouldn’t be crossed.

“Thank you, Lord, for indulging Mei’Er,” the courtesan said with a gentle smile as she held out a golden Leaf shimmering with a multitude of Life.

“I’m the one who should thank Miss Mei’Er,” Zac said, accepting the treasure. “What’s this?”

“It’s our song. The [Unbounded Leaf] is unable to record the true essence of our performance, but Lord Atwood can use it should he want to recall our encounter,” the courtesan explained. “Mei’Er calls it Hope.”