Kruta’s eyes glimmered with desire and battle lust , but he reined himself in . - Will that mean I’d compete with you for the inheritance? What kind of trial is it? -
No one knows what will happen inside , but there are indications that teams will be formed . I’m not aiming for the main prize . Some real monsters will join the contest . I’ll let the peak factions fight it out over the inheritance . I plan to grab some random goodies before escaping with my life . -
Kruta’s eyes lit up at that . - Good! I knew I made the right decision grabbing onto your thigh! -
So , you’re in? - Zac smiled .
When has Kruta the Great ever shied from some danger! - Kruta said , grandly slapping his chest . - What are we waiting for? Let’s go! -
Zac nodded , and they stood before the seal five minutes later . It looked exactly the same as in the vision . It was a replica of the Seal of the Indomitable Court made of pure energy . Zac guessed only the unused fragments would be found in things like rocks or statuettes , while those seized through battle would be more obvious .
The ripples it released were filled with the truth of the Lost Plane , of Ultom . It didn’t hold as much energy as the unused seals , but it was much more than Zac expected . It was almost certain to provide Kruta with an epiphany .
This . . . - Kruta said hesitantly as he looked at the floating seal . - I’ve never seen energy like this before . It’s not Dao . It’s . . . I don’t know what . -
It’s unique , - Zac nodded . - Just joining the trial is an opportunity in itself . It should give you a powerful epiphany . It can’t help with your Dao , but it’ll provide a moment of utmost clarity and comprehension . It can be used for all kinds of things , from upgrading your blueprint to techniques and manuals . The sky’s the limit . -
Anything? - Kruta said .
It’s how I came up with my trickster core , as you call it , - Zac smiled .
Well , I don’t know if I want such a weird Cosmic Core , but there are a few things I’ve been wracking my brain over , - Kruta muttered . - Alright , here I go . -
Zac stepped back as Kruta touched the seal , and it was gone in a flash of light . Kruta’s eyes closed , and he stood immovable for over ten minutes . Zac looked on , feeling a pang of desire as Ultom’s aura drained from the area . That blissful state of total comprehension was almost like a drug . Even a weakened seal would have to be far beyond what the tainted lake water provided .
What would happen if he claimed outer court seals during the war? Could he claim the insights but discard the ticket?
Eventually , Kruta’s eyes opened , and he looked at Zac in shock .
This . . . this . . . - Kruta said . - Not even the greatest tribes can provide inspiration at this level . I doubt even the imperials can . -
Yeah , it’s something else , - Zac agreed .
Indomitable Court , - Kruta said , his eyes veritably burning . - You’re really my good brother! -
Zac was happy he could provide Kruta with the opportunity , and not just because the Indomitable Court was the only missing piece to his quest . Finding companions you could trust with your life was difficult , and Kruta had proven his mettle inside the Stand of Saeward .
Can you tell me what’s going on now that I’m tied to your chariot? - Kruta grinned .
The phrasing piqued Zac’s curiosity , and he opened his Quest Screen .
One by Nine (Unique , Inheritance) : Form a full cycle of Sealbearers . Reward : Entry to the Left Imperial Palace (9/9) 1343 days] (COMPLETE)
NOTE : Multiple cycles can be formed
Zac nodded with satisfaction as he closed the Status Screen . With Kruta and the Indomitable Court , he had a full set with some spares . When he first saw the requirements , he wondered how he’d ever complete the quest . Now , it didn’t seem impossible to form a second cycle through the war .
With that out of the way , Zac explained the broad strokes to Kruta as he had to his followers and the theories he and Ogras had come up with so far .
You weren’t kidding , - Kruta exhaled . - Left Imperial Palace of the Limitless Empire? An Eternal Heritage that’s also a pillar of the Ruthless Heavens? -
Are you okay? - Zac asked .
If I’m okay? - Kruta said , an almost deranged grin spreading across his face . - This is the kind of opportunity that cultivators dream of . The kind of opportunity that can completely reforge one’s fate and leave a mark on history . -
It’ll be extremely dangerous , - Zac commented .
So what! - Kruta roared as his aura exploded toward the sky . - I’d rather die aiming for greatness than live a safe but ignoble life! Besides , let the others fight for the Eternal Heritage . I just want the soup! -
Zac nodded in agreement . You’d never reach the peak without putting it all on the line . That was a fundamental truth of the Multiverse , to the point it was hard-wired into the System itself . And even if he wanted his friends and followers to stay safe , they had the right to take a chance on themselves in their pursuit of the Dao .
What now? - Kruta said , his surging momentum causing the haze around them to stir . - How do I find the other pieces? -
Ah , - Zac said , his eyes glazing over .
Only then did Zac realize the logistical issue of adding a follower from the other side of the Multiverse . Kruta belonged to the Redleaf Tribe of the Everwind Steppes , which was actually a vast region on a B-grade continent . Apparently , the steppes were the size of a large C-grade continent , far larger than any frontier continent , which was almost impossible for Zac to comprehend .
Crossing the steppes from one side to the other would take a Hegemon millennia , if they even survived the journey . The region was filled with dangerous beasts , and even Beast Emperors couldn’t be considered too rare . There were also tens of thousands of danger zones , odd anomalies created by the tremendous energies and Daos released by a B-grade world .
More importantly , the Everwind Steppes’ continent was extremely far from Zecia .
Directions were iffy with the confusing dimensional composition of the Multiverse , but the steppes and the Seven Empires could be considered on the - other side . - The distance between Zecia and the Undead Empire was much shorter between the Everwind Steppes and the Undead Empire .
Kruta getting to Zecia was incredibly difficult , and even his Autarch elders would be hard-pressed to accomplish that feat . The cost alone would be utterly staggering . And it wasn’t even a matter of resources and willingness . You needed connections to cross such vast swathes of space . Zac doubted that a B-grade tribe could cross multiple multiversal quadrants and empires , at least not in a few years .
What’s going on? - Kruta said , noticing Zac’s silence .
Honestly , I’m not sure you need them to enter the inheritance , - Zac said . - Though getting the full seal is obviously much better . -
Zac wasn’t just making things up . His followers getting just one piece of the seals was enough for his quest to progress . With Kruta , he’d already formed a cycle , even if no one had a full seal . He and Ogras believed a fragment would be enough to enter , but a full seal would be required to enter the main parts and trials .
But I won’t find them here , - Kruta surmised , his eyes glimmering with understanding . - You said you’re from the frontier . -
The exact location of the inheritance is still unknown , but it’s probably at the edge of my home Sector and the Endless Storm , - Zac said . - The whole Sector is sealed , and only Monarchs and lower can enter . Representatives from the Multiverse Heartlands are currently turning the place upside down in search of seal fragments . -