A smile spread across Lova’s lips upon hearing Zac’s question . After all , it was a partial agreement . - She should . This Esmeralda is only three years old . And don’t worry . As I said , she’ll rapidly grow over the next few years . She should be at Middle Hegemony by the time the inheritance starts . She still won’t be able to fight the other contestants , but she will not drag you down . -
Three years? Zac gave Esmeralda a second look , now noticing small differences in the patterns on her skin . Esmeralda released a puff of familiar Dao in response : his own .
The kid? - Zac blurted , and Esmeralda nodded with a grin .
The pillar’s sudden ascent came as a surprise to us as well , - Lova sighed . - Esmeralda’s reincarnation cycle was at an unfortunate state , so she sacrificed her cultivation to birth a second incantation early . This way , she’ll be ten when she enters the Left Imperial Palace . It’s not optimal , but someone like Esmeralda will have to be careful about the restrictions . Better safe than sorry . -
Do you think others will do the same? - Zac asked . - Bringing reincarnators or something similar? -
Of course , - Lova laughed . - This is one of the biggest events in recent memory . I don’t know about reincarnators , but everyone involved is currently wracking their brains to figure out ways to gain an edge over the competition . -
Zac’s expression fell upon hearing that . It was bad enough being pitted against centennials from the peak factions of the Multiverse . If they also brought a bunch of cheats , how would he and his followers survive?
The Multiverse was never fair , - Lova said . - But you shouldn’t worry overly much about that aspect . The System is giving this matter an almost shocking level of attention , and it’s already indicated it won’t accept any foul play . You won’t encounter things like what happened inside the Stand of Saeward . The rule on age includes a series of hidden restrictions that even the strongest will have to work within . To break those rules would be to declare war against the Heavens . -
Zac shuddered at that thought , remembering the words of Sendor and Engo . The Thrones , the Seals , the Terminus Council , and the war for the direction of the Era . It almost felt like the hidden masters of the Perennial Vastness were holding their breath , just waiting for all hell to break loose . Sendor had assured Vastermal of his neutrality , but that could also mean he had his own plans and ideas .
Silence stretched , and Even Esmeralda seemed subdued by the heavy topic . Lova sighed and shook her head , taking out an Information Crystal .
I’m sorry . These are not matters you need to worry about . Just focus on yourself and your goals while following your heart . I’ve outlined the proposed terms of cooperation here . It would be a binding contract enforced by teacher and the System itself , should you accept . Neither you nor Esmeralda can renege after it’s signed . -
A quick scan confirmed it was a contract enforced under the ruleset of the Apostate of Order , and it was quite generous . Zac’s only obligation was to provide passage into the trial . Meanwhile , Esmeralda had to do her best to help Zac accomplish his goals inside the Left Imperial Palace , even after she attained her goals .
There was one problem , though . Esmeralda’s goals were identical to the Undead Empire’s . Was there a conflict there?
Zac frowned . - There might be a problem considering the specific treasure Esmeralda needs . I already have a similar agreement in place . If there’s only one— -
Nine , - Lova said . - There should be nine utmost treasures beyond the true inheritance . Like the Heavens , the pillars were constructed following the rule of eight by nine . The one is the Eternal Heritages at their core , and the nine bound it to the Limitless Empire’s purpose . -
Still , Esmeralda is cultivating Death , and . . . - Zac hesitated .
You can see this as a small payment from me for helping my old friend , - Lova said . - I can somewhat guess what’s going on . The agreement you have is no doubt with the Undead Empire . It makes sense they wouldn’t dare aim for the grand prize . Their aim , if I had to guess , is the core of the Hollow Court . Esmeralda doesn’t want that item , so there’s no conflict . -
How do you know that? - Zac asked .
Not many would have the answer , but the followers of the Perennial Vastness are awarded unique insight . - Lova smiled . - Master has been around for a long , long time . He was even consulted on the grand undertaking back then and recorded some of the details . -
Zac raptly listened , afraid to miss a single word or inflection in case it was an important detail .
The reason I can say with good authority that the Undead Empire is targeting the Hollow Court is that they were the ones who helped build it . -
What? How’s that possible? - Zac said . - They didn’t even exist back then . -
The ancient era was a different time . The star of the Limitless Empire was almost blinding , like an insatiable beast , consuming everything in its path . They had accumulated strength far beyond what you can imagine . Even today , nothing comes close . The emperor and his trusted generals traveled the dimensions , seizing one powerful treasure after another and slaying everything that had staked a claim on the Dao .
Some were powerful enough to resist their conquest for a while . But the Empire’s expansion could only be delayed , never halted . Even the greatest beings were forced to compromise . The Primo was one of them . He was forced to pay a painful price in return for the emperor looking the other way and turning his blade in another direction . -
Zac could barely believe what he was hearing . The very same Primo that ruled today lived before the System? No wonder he’d never heard any murmurs of the four Divine Races trying to seize control over the Founders . Messing with that kind of old monster was to ask for trouble .
Looking the other way? - Zac frowned . - What does that mean? -
The Dao is eternal , but the Heavens are neither inexhaustible nor incorruptible . Simply existing for someone at that level is bound to become a hindrance to the aspirations of others . -
Zac had already learned that peak beings impacted the Dao and what it meant . The struggle between the Buddhist Sangha and the Apostate of Mercy exemplified that . Zac didn’t know what made Laondio change from the idealistic alchemist in his Bloodline Vision to the ruthless conqueror he was known as today , but Zac could imagine his thoughts .
The Primo was undoubtedly the most powerful cultivator on the path of Death , possibly the most powerful cultivator of the Peak of Chaos . If Laondio killed him , a good chunk of the Heavens would be freed up .
I don’t know exactly what the Primo was forced to leave behind in exchange for peace , but it was extremely important to him . The events now are a chance for him to take it back , to become whole . -
Zac’s heart shuddered , feeling like he’d learned something he wasn’t supposed to . Who knew? It was possible that not even Tavza or Kator knew the truth of their mission .
Making the Primo whole , what did that mean? A raw powerup , or could it be related to his work with the Heart of the Empire? From what he’d gathered , the Undead Empire still didn’t have full control of that Death-attuned Eternal Heritage , even after all these years . Could the item in the Hollow Court be the key for the Primo furthering his control over the Heart?
A personal powerup of their strongest combatant , and possibly being able to extract more benefits out of an Eternal Heritage based on the Dao of Death . It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that not even the Ultom Courts could compare to that kind of benefit , and it didn’t even come with the risk of seizing a second Eternal Heritage . No wonder the Primo was willing to pay almost any price to enlist his help , going so far as to draft an unprecedented mandate to win him over .