Defiance of the Fall

Why hadn’t he noticed? The Heavens were almost completely drowned out by the endless flames , but he was certain the Dao hadn’t been twisted by temporal distortion . He was even close to evolving his Branch of the Layered Blade to Late Mastery . How had Mistress Thousandflames accomplished something like that? Was this the benefit of holding a throne?

No . I’m saying you’ve been on board my ship for a couple of months . Since when did it become years? -

Huh? -

Seems you got turned around by eating all those roots . I thought you realized they were poisonous when you spent two full days emptying your bowels in the bushes , but I guess you’re a bit of an idiot , - the orc sighed . - Well , that’s fine . It’s not the smartest guys who walk out of a battlefield in one piece . It’s the strongest one . -

Kruta was flushed with joy . He hadn’t missed it . He’d thought the old eccentric had prevented him from being sent to the Left Imperial Palace when three years had passed in his mind . Turns out he was out of his mind on toxic roots . Thank the ancestors! However , the frowning expression on Thousandflames’ face made Kruta rein in his jubilation , and he looked at her attentively .

But what’s the deal with your aura? Your fire’s soft and gentle like a courtesan’s , even after tempering yourself a bit in the penal colonies . What good are you to my niece in your current state? -

Uh , - Kruta hesitated , not sure what she was talking about . - I don’t know . I’ll work on it? -

Fine , - Thousandflames relented , her eyes lighting up with excitement . - You’re too soft , but you’re still a kid . How about this? My little niece is undergoing some training herself . She should emerge in two years or so . Until then , I’ll toughen you up a bit . Whether I bring you or not depends on your performance . -

The thought of being tormented for two years was too much to bear . Not even the Left Imperial Palace was worth that . He’d just be happy with his partly-finished seal and see if it was enough to bring him over in three years . But how do you turn down the discipleship of a crazy Supremacy without getting toasted?

Well? - Thousandflames said , her voice like a thousand roaring flames again .

You didn’t . Kruta was trapped . He could see it in her eyes . There was no room for rejection .

Disciple greets master , - Kruta said , feeling something wet pour down his cheeks .

Sweat from the heat , no doubt . He surely wasn’t crying .

Disciple . . . - Thousandflames said , a radiant smile spreading across her face . - Would you believe that I’ve never actually had a disciple? -

Kruta’s mind was a mess after being repeatedly dragged between joy and despair . But he roused himself . Maybe it wasn’t so bad? Maybe things were finally lining up for ol’ Kruta . Even being an in-name disciple of a Supremacy came with benefits most could only dream of . Being the sole disciple of one?

An opportunity like that was almost at the same level as the trial in the Left Imperial Palace . However , his new master’s next words threw him right back into the pit of despair .

Well , never one that was fated , anyway . -

77

NUCLEUS

Zac flashed forward , appearing by the gates of his mansion . The powerful waves of energy greeted him by burrowing into his body , akin to a gentle caress . Like a missing part of himself coming home . There was no mismatch , and it barely took him any effort to make the energy his .

Was this how it felt to be a cultivator? Zac shook his head and continued toward a cultivation chamber he rarely entered . It used to be a conventional chamber with custom arrays based on your blueprint . The arrays helped cultivators speed up the formation of their Core Nuclei , but those things didn’t work on him .

As such , the room had mostly gathered dust , except when he occasionally secluded himself to ponder aspects of his Core Formation or Cosmic Forge] . The energies were gathering there , meaning it had already been rearranged for the next step . Zac first sent out a short message to Catheya and Ogras , confirming he’d succeeded and was entering seclusion .

I’m secluding myself , - Zac said out loud after receiving two answers of well-wishing .

Affirmative , - Null said . - Your final tally is 130 , 784 Mana , granting you a fourteenth-echelon breakthrough environment . Your special requirements have been accepted . All other features of the Cosmic Gallery have been deactivated . -

Null was clearly following protocol , but Zac could hear her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anticipation . Null had a lot riding on this , just like him . If he failed his breakthrough , Null would be no more , no matter how splendidly he’d performed over these past seven years . Succeed , and Null would be awarded a true soul , becoming a permanent resident of the Perennial Vastness .

And being the guide to a fourteenth-echelon cultivator with such a unique blueprint probably came with additional perks .