Continue what? Crippling yourself? - Ogras grumbled .
Nine by eight , - Zac said . - Seventeen keys will open the inheritance . -
You’re going to absorb seventeen garbage kernels? - Ogras said , looking at Zac like he was a lunatic . - Let alone seventeen , just two is dangerous . Haven’t you heard what happens when you absorb two Fate Kernels? They’ll clash , ruining both while damaging your foundations . -
Except it wasn’t a Fate Kernel , - Zac said .
Sure looked like one , - Ogras countered , prompting Zac to give the demon an even stare . - Alright , alright . You’re not deranged—you just acted like you were . I guess it’s fine . With your weird body , so what if you eat a couple of kernels? I bet you’ll digest them and walk away with a Dao Epiphany . -
That’s the spirit , - Zac smiled as he took a deep breath . - Let’s finish this off quickly ; it’s not a great feeling carrying this thing in my body . -
Who could have known? -
It didn’t take long to plot a path between the hotspots and dry veins . There didn’t seem to be a particular order that needed to be followed , so they’d move in a large circle around the teleportation pillar . And with eight hotspots and seven dry veins already marked on the map , it wasn’t too difficult to infer the final spots with the help of the constellations . Altogether , it would take around ten days to visit the sixteen locations , depending on how difficult it was to figure out the locations of the Void Kernels .
They headed west toward a sweltering swamp . It wasn’t a hotspot but rather one of the dry veins . Zac was greeted by a series of confusing flashes when he set foot on the region . The pain returned , but Zac was invigorated by it . The vision confirmed his theory was likely correct , and the two spent a few hours mapping out the area . Zac soon found which constellation the patches of land of the swamp matched .
Two hours later , he emerged from the murky waters , covered in grime but smiling . In his hand , there was a small pebble . It was another Void Kernel masquerading as a normal one , this one covered in a sheen of Dao of Water . The noise in his mind had grown deafening once more , so he wasted no time as he absorbed the kernel into his body .
The process repeated itself , and a second seal soon stabilized in his left arm . The two seals formed a mysterious resonance that Zac couldn’t quite understand . It was like they were strengthening each other . In addition , his strength had been further sealed . By this point , he probably wouldn’t have won the battle against the Earth cultivators without risking everything .
You’re alive? - Ogras said after Zac opened his eyes .
Why do you look so surprised? - Zac snorted .
Well , you can’t blame me . You’ve been playing it fast and loose . -
So you’ll stop your bellyaching and just help now? -
Sure , - the demon grinned . - If the only price I have to pay for access to an inheritance is you getting weaker , then I’m game . -
The days passed , and they picked up one Void Kernel after another . In return , Zac’s aura weakened as the seals amassed in his body . By the time Zac absorbed five , his aura was on the weaker side of the guests . By the time they’d gathered ten , Zac looked like someone that had just recently entered the E-grade . His movement speed was so slow that Ogras had to carry him around , and the two started to keep watch for guests .
His energy-hiding bracelet and robe hid his weakened state , but no disguise was perfect , and they didn’t need the hassle . This was a Green Zone , and Zac could sacrifice some Mana to surrender , but it was better if they dealt with this inheritance before that . Luckily , they didn’t spot too many people , partly because of the mission release and partly because they spent half their time in dry veins .
Eventually , they approached the final piece of the puzzle . Zac’s energy was all-but-gone , and he felt almost as weak as after winning that lucky roll all those years ago . However , his body was still that of a powerful Peak E-grade cultivator . His cells screamed for sustenance , but the Void Kernels had everything on lockdown . Unless something changed , he’d likely die from energy starvation in a few weeks .
Ogras realized the issue and kept a frantic pace toward the final location . Ogras was already familiar with the process , and Zac had a detailed sketch of the area and energy flows before he’d even taken out all the plaques . And then they found it . The last region was a dry vein somewhat close to the exit , where a complex series of mountains and crags made up the formation . The final Void Sphere hid within a withered tree in a secluded valley just ahead , but Zac didn’t immediately get it .
Wait , go get Catheya , - Zac said in a weak voice .
Are you crazy? A gust will knock you over! - Ogras said . - It’d take me almost two days to head to Vastness City and return with her . -
Still , - Zac said . - If this is the final key to an ancient inheritance , then she should be here . -
Fine! Fine , dammit , - Ogras swore . - But if you start seeing a white light at the end of the tunnel , ignore us and get that final piece . -
Sure , - Zac smiled .
Ogras dug out a hidden cave , grumbling while setting up a series of defensive and illusion arrays before bolstering them with his Daos .
Dou have something that can kill an interloper? - Ogras asked .
I got Vivi , Alea , and a whole pile of bombs , - Zac said .
In addition , he had his Void Energy . Most of it was siphoned off by the seals , but he had enough to launch a few furious attacks that should be able to kill most people in the Perennial Vastness .
Try to sit tight , - Ogras said . - Though knowing you , I’m fully expecting a calamity when I return . -
Go , go , - Zac waved before closing his eyes .
The demon disappeared in a puff of shadows , allowing Zac to focus on withstanding the seals . It was hard to find center when his whole body was constantly screaming for sustenance , and his soul was pressured to the point the two spirals had essentially been forced to a halt . There was nothing to do but wait . He’d tried everything over the past week , but nothing worked . The only thing that helped was absorbing Void Cores and Void Stones , which replenished the small but constant drain on his Void Energy .
He tried to make time pass faster by studying the sixteen seals and committing them to memory . He wasn’t making any headway at all , but that was fine . Down the road , the memories might jog something loose and spark an epiphany . Eventually , exhaustion overcame him to the point his concentration failed him . His empowered soul and solidified heart were utterly unable to deal with the mysterious resonance of the seals , and Zac was essentially reduced to just trying to stay awake .
Zac? A-Are you okay? - a worried shout dragged Zac’s thoughts to the surface , and he opened two tired eyes to see Catheya standing in front of him .
You made it . - Zac smiled , his voice but a weak whisper .
You! - Catheya glared at Ogras . - You said some of his strength was restrained! How did you let him get like this? What’s wrong with you? -
You try to stop him when he gets an idea in his head , - Ogras said with a helpless wave .
Useless! - Catheya spat before turning back to Zac . - What do we do? His aura is almost completely— -
I’m fine , - Zac said , barely managing to stand up .
The two days had passed in a flash , but the passage of time had weakened him even further . A pang of hesitation filled his heart , but he pushed it away . There was no turning back now . He was right at the finish line .
Sorry about interrupting your cultivation . I asked Ogras to call you here in case an opportunity appeared . -
Opportunity? You look like you’re about to embrace the eternal slumber . We need you to get back to one of the healing environments . -
No point . He’s already swallowed sixteen kernels , - Ogras interjected , getting another nasty look .