Defiance of the Fall

The toll was like the first cry of a newborn , announcing its existence to the world . But instead of a baby , it was a path born , manifested into physical form through his Cosmic Core . Some considered Hegemony the true start of cultivation , and Zac could understand the feeling as his Daos and Energy kept him aloft , surrounded by a sea of his power .

This kind of phenomenon marked every ascent , though apparitions only appeared when Dao Branches fueled it . Zac was shocked as the wave just kept going .

The size and expression of the toll depended on various factors , such as quality , energy density , and the stability of one’s path . Zac had heard forming a one-mile shockwave was the hallmark of a cultivator with the qualifications to continue beyond the entrance of Hegemony . Five meant the core could climb through the ranks of the grade , while twenty indicated a seed of potential for an Inner World .

So why did Zac’s pulse just keep going?

At first , Zac considered it a welcome recognition of his potential when five miles turned into ten . Until the ripple reached the neighboring peaks , setting their energy astir . Twenty , thirty , and soon fifty miles . It was unstoppable , and Zac’s excitement was soon replaced by worry . Because for every mile the pulse expanded , the Heavens grew more agitated as it forcibly honed in on his location .

The light of his Dao projections were eventually overwhelmed by the purple gathering above . Zac had to fight his instincts to burrow into the ground , to use the layers of soil to hide from the gathering punishment . For one , it would be to shame his path , and it was fruitless . There was no escape from what came next .

The shockwave stopped after forming a domain of over ninety-nine miles , an accomplishment Zac had never heard of before . By this point , the Heavenly clouds were fully purple , and Zac spotted mysterious runes inside the formations . They were like angry spots of red , filled with the desire for destruction .

Zac quelled the turmoil in his heart , and his eyes steeled . Even if the bolts were superpowered , he only needed to withstand three . He refused to believe it was enough to do him in .

The Dao Apparitions shifted , and the whole mountain range stirred . One second ago , it seemed as though a supreme Dao Treasure had been born , creating a glorious spectacle . Now , that feeling was replaced by ruthlessness and fighting spirit . And the sense of internal disharmony between the armies was gone . Their aggression fully turned to the outside threat .

Together , they formed an axe pointed at the sky .

81

AN AXE AGAINST THE HEAVENS

Over the past three months , Zac had spent a fortune on talismans , pills , and treasures to pave the way through his Core Formation process . The total cost was undoubtedly counted in tens of C-grade Nexus Coins if you included the outside value of all the unique treasures he’d picked up inside the Perennial Vastness .

Yet now , Zac didn’t take out a single item as he looked to the turbulent sky . It wasn’t that he’d run out of money but that some things had to be dealt with on your own . Heavenly Tribulation was the Law of Balance manifest . He’d taken something from the Heavens , breaking his mortal shackles to steal power and longevity far beyond what any human should hold . As such , he needed to pay the price .

Some methods and treasures could help you out , but they generally came with a cost Zac was unwilling to pay . The most glaring one was that withstanding the tribulation was necessary to temper and transform the Cosmic Core one final time . It was both punishment and a path forward . If you weakened the lightning out of fear of getting hurt , you’d lower the potential of your Cosmic Core .

Some sinister methods subverted balance through things like sacrifice , where you used other cultivators as cauldrons to refine the Tribulation Lightning before letting it enter your body . That way , you’d get the benefits while someone else paid the price . Zac guessed Saeward’s array was exactly this kind of method . He’d trapped the souls of his soldiers in a cycle of suffering to turn them into something that could help him pass his tribulation .

In a spat of cosmic justice , Saeward failed and was turned into an experiment by Sendor . However , even if he’d succeeded , it wouldn’t have been without issues . Such a method was bound to stain your Karma , affecting your providence and Luck . It wasn’t just a form of punishment meted out by the System ; it was Heavenly Law .

Zac would never use that kind of method , not just because he found it revolting and an insult to his Dao . His huge Luck was one of his greatest advantages , allowing him to get this far . Without his Luck , how would he have encountered all the opportunities that made up the cornerstones of his cultivation system? Without his Luck , he would have died and been forgotten long ago .

Sacrificing all that to enter Hegemony safely? Forget about it .