Chapter 1,199.
Added 2024-02-10 18:24:08 +0000 UTCA/N: Next chapter Monday. Will likely do 4 chapters next week instead of the planned 3 (the scheduled editing days are 15,16,19).
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Zac took a deep breath as he emerged from the hell of his own making. He'd hoped the Pilgrimage of Heart would resemble the trial he overcame to get his hands on the [Boundless Vajra Sublimation]. Facing a superior path would be even better, as his Void State was excellent at rebuffing that kind of influence.
In reality, the Pilgrimage of Heart was a lot closer to the tribulation he overcame when reaching E-grade. He'd been forced to face the victims of his path, and there were a lot of them. A sea of anguished souls had forced him to witness futures that would never be because of his bloodthirst. Each family torn apart and dream cut short became a fetter, making his steps heavier.
Zac knew that his bloody path was born out of necessity and survival, not savagery or bloodlust. And the rough road to his current level had nurtured a far stronger Dao Heart than those who grew in the shade. However, the pilgrimage had turned what should have been a strength into a weakness, twisting and amplifying his deeds. It had almost been enough to push him over the edge.
The stele's energy had almost faded. Its aura left him with nothing but an indication he'd passed with less than ten minutes to spare—not even close to getting a spot on the stele. Zac had realized the Pilgrimage of Heart would pose a challenge after the combat trial, but to think it was this bad. Maybe he'd become arrogant after the surprisingly good showing in the Pilgrimage of Mind, where he actually seized a 34th spot.
Finishing with ten minutes left of a whole day was undeniably a disappointment after reaching this point. It would drag down his grade, reducing the rewards he'd secured after passing four trials. But like the previous pilgrimages, passing came with some benefits. The trial had almost done him in, which would have resulted in death or insanity. But it also helped him process the carnage he'd been forced to participate in since the war began.
A trial wouldn't miraculously fix the accumulated mental toll, but it had helped him expose some spiritual cracks and begin the healing. It was possible those wounds would have slowly recovered on their own after the war. They could also have been left to fester until they turned into Heart Demons or weaknesses to be exploited by the remnants or Heart Cultivators.
The experience had left him unraveled in a way a few minutes of rest couldn't fix—not what Zac had hoped for with the final trial right around the corner. As expected, there was still no exit provided after the fourth trial.
"Hello?" Zac shouted. "Can I come out? I've passed four like you said."
The Eternal Servant didn't respond, and Zac turned to the final door and the uncertainty it represented; faith. How was faith tested? He tried picturing replacing faith with the resources in the other trials. He would die if the Pilgrimage of Faith were anything like the Pilgrimages of Heart and Combat. The Pilgrimage of Mind, where he used Mental Energy and his Daos to lead a group of refugees through a snowstorm, was iffy.
He wouldn't be able to progress, and his protectees would have died. But with his other advantages, he could survive and run out the clock. It was the same with the Pilgrimage of Body. He could have stayed by the fountain or in a side passage until the wraiths drained the elixir, and he failed.
The odds of passing a Pilgrimage of Faith were essentially nil unless there was a huge loophole in the trial. It definitely wasn't worth gambling his life on such a long shot.
"I concede! Please teleport me out," Zac tried again.
Still nothing. Zac refused to give up on giving up. The waiting room wouldn't last much longer. Maybe he'd be sent out after the timer ran out.
Minutes passed, and the surroundings grew increasingly unstable. Just as Zac thought he'd succeeded, the runes lining the trial gate lit up, unleashing radiant waves of faith-attuned light. Zac swore and grabbed onto the ground as the light formed hundreds of appendages dragging him toward the trial. Resistance proved futile.
Zac sighed in defeat as he took in the new environment. He couldn't see the trial stele, but he was obviously not back in the Halls of Service. He'd been sent to a grand corridor exuding an air of profound dignity, where every inch of floor, walls, and ceiling had been lovingly formed by master artisans. Every few meters had a niche on either side, displaying relics radiating undying glory.
Together with the dense Faith Energy, the hall gave off an intensely sacrosanct aura. Even Zac, who didn't share in the common belief of the Limitless Empire or their templars, was swept up in the atmosphere. It truly felt like he'd embarked on a holy pilgrimage, and he was beset by an incredibly strong compulsion to walk down the corridor toward the gates waiting at the other side. Zac only barely managed to resist the coercion to look behind him.
Not an exit. The corridor just stretched toward infinity, and Zac couldn't even will his body to turn around. His exhausted Dao Heart was already fraying from resisting the pull, and Zac eventually had no choice but to take one reluctant step after another. Only when he reached the first alcove did the pressure relent.
The enshrined relic was an azure-blue sword snapped right above the hilt. The engraved array lining the alcove flickered, and a solemn voice spoke in Zac's mind.
'The sword of Her Holiness Eleani Ano, Cardinal of the Twenty-fourth chapter. Her holiness embraced the Origin in the year 133,305 of the Fourth Trigram Order. Her sacrifice saved the lives of 3,847,318,324,521 citizens of the Rosini Colony.'
Zac's vision shifted, and he was almost overwhelmed by terror as he found himself facing a sea of flying beasts. Paradoxically, it was their overwhelming aura that quickly helped Zac calm down. After all, this swarm couldn't possibly be the trial he was supposed to face. A beast tide this size could probably devastate all of Zecia if given enough time.
The swarm almost seemed endless, filled with too many Beast Kings to count. There were also hundreds of Beast Emperors, each larger than a city. Massive armies of smaller descendants accompanied the larger beasts, some of them even clinging to their bodies.
Their goal was evident—they might look like reptilian birds imbued with the Dao of Space, but they acted like locusts. Drained shards of over a hundred D-grade planets drifted in the distance, an appetizer before the swarm set its sights on the main course. Zac turned around, seeing a massive continent stretching as far as Zac could see.
A sole guardian floated at its edge—a human templar, holding a whole version of the broken sword he'd just seen. One moment, she felt like a mortal lost in space. The next, she was the embodiment of Heavenly Judgment, her aura reducing millions of beasts to dust. Zac had only seen such a display of power once before; when he escaped the Orom World and encountered Iz's guardian.
Beast Kings died by the millions as the templar unleashed a one-woman crusade against the swarm. Each of her attacks had the power to destroy Earth, yet it was barely enough to make a dent in the sea of beasts. The templar didn't relent, nor did she back down, and not a single beast made it onto the continent.
Days passed, and Zac couldn't begin to compute the number of deaths he'd witnessed. However, even an Autarch would eventually run out of energy if put under a relentless and unending assault. The Cardinal was clearly reaching that point, with something having changed about her attacks. They contained a different aura, which made Zac think of attacks imbued with life force. If Zac had to guess, she was sacrificing pieces of her Inner World to keep attacking.
It would have been easy for her to escape. The beast tide was endless, but the strongest Beast Emperors were Middle Monarchs. Yet, like the ancient protector from Zac's Dao Vision, Eleani Ano refused to abandon the trillions of lives behind her.
An earth-shattering wail filled with turbulent Spatial Hunger shook the universe just as it looked like she might pull through. Enormous cracks tore toward the continent, and the templar's waning aura grew erratic as she narrowly prevented the ambush from getting past her. Space buckled as three gargantuan birds emerged from hiding. Each was the size of a small D-grade world, and their auras had clearly surpassed the C-grade.
The swarm had been reduced to a third of its original size, and it looked like the true leaders couldn't sit around any longer. Or perhaps they were happy to thin out their herd after it had grown too big, especially when it let them exhaust a dangerous enemy.
With such a difference in aura, Zac would have run for his life. He couldn't see any path to victory when placing himself in the templar's shoes. Of course, Zac knew that wasn't how things would play out after hearing the introduction.
There was no joy or sorrow on Eleani's face as she pointed her shimmering sword at the three incoming giants. A six-winged avatar even larger than the Primordial Beasts formed behind her, and it was like the gates to the Heavens had opened above the continent. Innumerable streams of prayer rose to the sky as a whole civilization prayed for salvation.
Faith and sacrifice gathered into a singular point at Eleani's sword tip, and the cosmos dimmed before the destruction that was unleashed. The echo of a sword snapping echoed through the vacuum of space, followed by a heavy silence. The three giants were utterly annihilated, and only a few wayward beasts remained from the swarm.
It was a victory, but it cost everything. The templar was slowly disintegrating, breaking apart into motes of azure light. She had sacrificed her Life, Dao, and Soul, joining it with the world's faith to wipe out the threat. Zac witnessed her final moments, entranced by the tranquil conviction of her gaze. The scene faded, and a woman's voice echoed in the darkness.
'The blood of the Empyrean Chalice feeds the flame.'
Zac was back in the hallway, facing the broken sword. The days of struggle had only taken a minute in real time. The pull urged him to keep going to the next relic, and he complied after bowing at the sword.
Not all scenes were as overwhelming as the Eleani's final stand. A few of the relics had even belonged to Peak Hegemons, though Zac didn't have a shred of confidence in taking any of them on. They were monsters through and through, one of them even slaying ten Monarchs before detonating his core to stop an evil ritual.
The enshrined saints had one thing in common. They had paid with their lives to create a miracle, saving uncountable lives and preventing deadly calamities. Just as shocking was that every single one of the interred templars belonged to the same chapter, and Zac recognized a third of their from the ladders. These amazing, terrifying people weren't even the greatest martyrs of the Order of the Empyrean Chalice. They were just the local standouts.
Zac's opinion of faith-based cultivators had always been strained. His first encounter with the concept was the Church of the Everlasting Dao, the body-snatching lunatics who'd caused mayhem during the Integration. Then there was the Great Redeemer, who used faith to form a Karmic link with his chosen. Not to mention Salvation, his crazed apostle. Even the Monks of the Sangha reeked of holy malevolence, hiding their ruthless schemes behind congenial smiles.
These templars felt different. They seemed like true guardians of civilization, no matter what Laondio's ultimate goal was or what the Imperial Destiny entailed. Sure, the templar order would want to convey an image of righteousness, and this journey through history could be considered conditioning or even propaganda. Zac still felt the core of it was genuine and that these feats weren't fabricated or embellished.
Eventually, Zac reached the end of the hallway where the golden door waited. The short walk had only taken an hour, but he'd spent weeks accompanying the saints on their final journey.
On each door was a large rune in the script of the Limitless Empire—'flame' and 'uphold.' There was an unbelievable amount of meaning stored in those words, returning Zac to when he faced the Imperial Destiny in the Tribulation Throne. Whoever carved those runes must have been an Autarch, and a Faith-based cultivator could likely gain far more from them than Zac did from the wall in the Big Axe Coliseum.
The gates swung open on their own, and Zac almost stumbled back when a cascade of pent-up Faith Energy came pouring out. It was far beyond the hallway or what he'd faced in the Halls of Service, though it thankfully wasn't weaponized against him. Even then, Zac had to safeguard his mind to avoid having his path led astray. The holy atmosphere might give him the final push to accept consecration after witnessing those feats of valor if he wasn't careful.
"Hello?" Zac hesitated as he stepped inside. "Uh, Lady Instructor?"
The only response was the slam of the gates closing behind him. Zac looked to his left, finding a familiar face looking down at him. It was one of the saints he'd just seen, carved from a white stone with perfect detail. It almost felt alive because of the immense amounts of Faith Energy it held.
Perhaps it was. Zac could vaguely sense a hint of spirituality within, which was constantly being nourished by the room. Unfortunately, the high-grade materials and large amounts of energy coursing through the statue made it difficult to glean anything specific. Zac took a step closer before quickly moving away.
The energy inside the statue stirred from Zac's proximity, exuding a minacious aura. It was like the fallen saint roused himself from his eternal rest to slay another enemy of the empire. Zac continued, relieved to see the statue calm down from the added distance. However, the hall was lined with similar statues, and another slumbering presence stirred when he moved into reach. It carried a similar forbidding threat, forcing Zac to keep going.
It didn't take long to get a full scope of the inner sanctum. It was a catacomb interred templars shaped like a T. There were only statues, and no graves. Maybe they had no choice, considering only a few of the saints left a body behind. The trial stele stood in the sole intersection. One hundred and eight candles were burning before it, one for each saint.
Apart from the 108 statues and the stele, the central crossing was also furnished with three oversized weapons. A scepter and a sword to his left and right, while a human-sized chalice had been placed at the place of honor behind the trial stele. They didn't emit any spirituality like the statues, but Zac could tell they were anything but ornamental. If he had to guess, they were all powerful Peak D-grade weapons. The chalice might be something even greater.
Thankfully, they were inert, only giving Zac a vague sense of danger. The intersection also seemed to be a blind spot for the slumbering saints. The closest ones didn't stir so long as Zac stayed within a few meters of the stele.
Taking in the stele's aura finally imparted the rules for the Pilgrimage of Faith. Recognition. Zac needed to gain the blessing of at least one statue before the candles burned out. It didn't sound very hard, but the saints were obviously very discerning. Even the top ladder holder had only gained sixteen blessings, and four was enough to get on the ladder.
Of course, none of that mattered to Zac. He might have common beliefs with most of the saints, and a few walked similar paths. However, he wasn't a templar, and he had no Faith Energy to commune with the statues. More importantly, he had fully rejected the Imperial Fate of the Limitless Empire to create his own path, essentially marking him as an enemy of the faith.
His failure was already a given, let alone appearing on the ladder. Zac wasn't too broken up about it. Just passing through the hallway had been an eye-opening experience that broadened his horizons.
More importantly, the trial held no danger so long as he stayed close to the stele. He just needed to withstand the ambient Faith Energy for a couple of hours before being sent out with a failing grade. Having passed the other four pilgrimages, he would be spared and even get some benefits. This was already the best-case scenario.
Zac was content standing next to the stele doing nothing. His Heart had already stabilized after the many visions, but he saw no point in rocking the boat. He could try some alternative methods to gain the acceptance of the D-grade saints just before the flames went out. All his items and abilities were unlocked, so he'd be able to endure a short time even if he triggered a violent rejection or awakened the weapons.
Half an hour passed. Zac had all but become the 109th statue in the catacombs. He kept his aura sealed, silently watching the candles while his other half discussed possible ways to gain a blessing with the others despite the overt antipathy from the interred spirits. Unsurprisingly, Esmeralda suggested stealing one by extracting the wisp of spirituality inside one of the statues.
Zac had no idea how he'd go about something like that or if the spiritual wisp was the actual blessing. Not to mention, desecrating a saint seemed like a good way to get ripped apart by the Eternal Servant upon his return. Ogras had a few ideas to trick the statues, like faking faith with an Aura Modulator. Ultimately, they agreed the best solution was to display his path to the statues Zac felt the most affinity with, hoping it would outweigh his lack of faith.
Their discussion was suddenly interrupted by a vague sense of foreboding. Zac flashed out of the way, feeling like a ghost had been breathing down his neck. He was almost right. A spiritual tendril had emerged from the closest statue, its aura almost indistinguishable from the ambient energy. It had just been a few inches from entering the back of his head.
Zac knew well enough to trust his instincts. The feeler didn't appear dangerous and the statue appeared calm, but coming in contact with it was a very bad idea. That notion only grew stronger as the statues came alive, one by one releasing tendrils like they were searching for the interloper that previously eluded their grasp.
Trouble had come knocking.
Comments
I think I saw two episodes of Lost? Not much of a TV person for a while, much prefer books.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-13 13:55:59 +0000 UTCI suspect. Seeing the imperial throne thing somehow blessed his rejection could be seen as a test of faith for themselves
Henry Wartemberg
2024-02-12 17:56:39 +0000 UTCLex is basing that on the scene when he initially discovered his bodies and tested them with Sendor. It was Zac that surmised synced fighting together was his ultimate form. It’s draining though because it takes more out of his core to shield karma between the two at close proximity. Take it up with the author
Henry Wartemberg
2024-02-12 17:54:08 +0000 UTCI'm waiting for the tag team battle with both halves. I'm also waiting for him to fuse back together. What will that look like? I picture him swinging his axe down from one direction as a life based attack, while a Dao manifestation of death swings from another. Like a phantom axe that is real, but also not.
xlinkedx
2024-02-12 16:25:34 +0000 UTCYou ever seen Lost? 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. Add em up and you get 108. The Dharma Initiative has been activated.
xlinkedx
2024-02-12 16:22:24 +0000 UTCRemind me again, Lex, where you have seen him put two bodies on the same field anywhere thus far? Because the original question had to do with “up until now”. Literally, “since he split”. Sure, he’ll be using his full potential when he has both bodies battling (more or less) side by side, but he hasn’t managed that yet. One stuffing pills or treasures down his throat while the other fights a universe away certainly doesn’t qualify.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-12 15:21:11 +0000 UTCNah I thought that too but the definition of empyrean is relating to sky or heavens
Stormz Rift
2024-02-12 14:38:03 +0000 UTCHuh, and here I thought the Empyrean throne was fire related, from pyre.
TKO
2024-02-12 14:04:05 +0000 UTCBojie or Boji
Kirivina
2024-02-12 03:58:56 +0000 UTCEven a few weeks of training in halls that brought up such monsters like these Templars would be massive boons to zac and his followers. Most of them have never had true proper teachers like zac or ogras(lol) and this would be a major boon for his followers and greatest elites. Even if they only get 4 weeks to train before preparing to leave for the mission it'll still rebirth his followers in ways that could rival having their fate reforged. Especially those like zac ogras and joanna.
Lex Luther S
2024-02-12 02:22:42 +0000 UTCWe are on the right side of 1,000. Lol
Shafan Knight
2024-02-12 01:58:44 +0000 UTCActual heart cultivation, most aren't ready...
Matthew Hay
2024-02-12 00:29:30 +0000 UTCOn the verge of TFD offering us a nice, round Post 1,200–perhaps with some significant reveals—I realized something last night. Some have pointed out how this base will be useful as a training center. Others that it could be a real money maker. I think the truth will prove to be just a bit more. It’s going to be a force multiplier. For Zac’s entire empire going forward. Guessing we’ll get a glimmer through the coming week.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-12 00:21:36 +0000 UTCI think that Empyrean is a generic term for “close to heavenly” considering one of Zac’s skills has the word in it. Also related to out Imperial Princes, iirc.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-12 00:17:35 +0000 UTCIn a few years
Bernhard
2024-02-11 23:39:23 +0000 UTCIt’s called the Order of the Empyrean Chalice, wonder if the Tayn Clan have anything to do with them? Especially since the Tayns rule the Empyrean Sector, the Grandmother sits on the Empyrean throne and I think Iz has a skill in which she has or will eventually have 6 sets of wings like Avatar that the lady used to destroy the insect horde. I remember Iz saying that she can’t take that form where others could see it because it would cause questions to be asked that the Tayns would prefer not to answer.
Jeffrey Worrall
2024-02-11 22:33:33 +0000 UTCWoohoo! Chapter 2000 coming up!
Shafan Knight
2024-02-11 21:58:56 +0000 UTCDamn, I've just catched up. I've to steel my heart for the next few weeks because of the lack of resources
2024-02-11 21:47:39 +0000 UTCWhy do I have a feeling this is leading to all of Zecia giving Zac their faith energy so he can Chaos spirit bomb the pope.
Michael
2024-02-11 20:29:32 +0000 UTCIf everything returns to the primordial chaos, he who cultivates chaos cultivates everything, it would be totally possible to get the approval of all if you walked the path of chaos
Russell Widger
2024-02-11 20:14:39 +0000 UTCWell, for Zac it was already much to late to think of going for a mage class as from the get go he had an axe in hand, basically being pre ordained that he becomes a chopping murder hobo in the woods.
Lex Luther S
2024-02-11 17:28:52 +0000 UTCNo he's not. Zac was never able to draw out his other sides abilities unless he swapped over. Certainly not being able to return fresh faced could be considered a downgrade but when you factor in what having 2 bodied brings to the field it more than makes up for it. Zac himself even mentions that he's in his "Ultimate form" when both bodies are together as they can fight and cover each other in ways other cultivators can't imagine. The only issue he was having was when he first returned and couldn't properly enter his technique unless the other body was in a void stateor not present, but he's most likely solved that issue at least to a degree where having both bodies fighting together outweighs the detriment he has controlling them both
Lex Luther S
2024-02-11 17:11:05 +0000 UTC…and thanks, Curtis!
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 16:55:35 +0000 UTCThanks. Will try that.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 16:25:46 +0000 UTCI suppose he’s arguably half power in that he can’t exhaust all of the skills and reserves of one persona—just switch over to a fresh face. However, his quantum gate has transferred some things back and forth, so I think it’s more like losing only maybe 49 or 48% of effectiveness, rather than half.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 16:25:13 +0000 UTCMy idea was that all of them recognize the value of self sacrifice to protect others—and that is a path Zac is dedicated to. Remember, he has lamented more than once that he’d love to be a mage class—but he has to protect people. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg to his path of protecting the people of Earth—and now, of his Empire. Guess we’ll find out Monday. :)
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 16:20:35 +0000 UTCSince the top name on the stele only got 16, I'd suspect that getting them all isn't possible. Each saint would have different paths, different views on what constitutes true faith, etc.
Scott Mingo
2024-02-11 16:03:35 +0000 UTC108 is an incredibly significant number in eastern religions, comparable to the importantance of 7 in Christianity. Prayer beads have 108 beads, Shiva had 108 followers, temples have 108 steps, there are 108 temptations a man must overcome to achieve nirvana, 108 chances to live a good life, many religious texts have 108 volumes, etc., etc., etc. The common theme is of there being 108 things to do before the end. So with all the saints being at different power levels they might represent the 108 levels within the religion. Or maybe there are 108 different schools of thought about how to be a templar? And a 'perfect' templar would do all of them. I would expect that getting approval from all 108 would be considered "perfection" on some deeper level than just "oh you got the max score, well done".
Curtis
2024-02-11 13:42:16 +0000 UTCSettings -> More -> Connected Apps
The First Defier
2024-02-11 09:23:29 +0000 UTCI agree with your comment. In the original version Zac feels too passive, not even daring to come close to the statues. It wasn't conveyed well enough that you needed faith/belief in the Imperial Fate of the Limitless Empire to gain a blessing. Zac knew it, but the readers didn't. I have updated the chapter today, changing certain sections after he steps through the gates.
The First Defier
2024-02-11 09:19:50 +0000 UTCI think it might be more whether he earns their respect…
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 08:35:55 +0000 UTCI’m still trying to figure out how to do that. I realized a while back that I’m Discord-illiterate.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 08:34:37 +0000 UTCI feel like TFD has thrown us a hint here. 108 saints? What is it about the number 108? After all, the Undead Empire has the oft-mentioned Eternal 108 at the top with the Primo. Have we seen that number elsewhere? I get that 9x12=108, but what else is it? What’s the significance?
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 08:32:38 +0000 UTCI mean he was never able to fully extract the power of either half while in the form of the other. In this way, he can extract his full power. I have no way of knowing, but in the future it is likely he will become more effective at using both halves while they are near each other.
GC
2024-02-11 08:11:56 +0000 UTCIsn't Zac technically at like, half power? Ever since he split, he's literally been missing half of his kit, as well as whatever attributes and versatility would come with being whole. I can't help but think that he'd have placed higher in those other trials if he wasn't handicapped. Like in the maze, Zac and Arcaz could have done 2 paths at a time. Or the first trial, they could have tag teamed all those enemies. They aren't really 'they' but 'he', so he should have been allowed to enter as his true self, so to speak, instead of with one arm tied behind his back. That being said, I can't wait for him to fuse back together. If both Zac and Arcaz are this monstrous already, imagine how insane Zac will be once he steps into Monarchy as a single entity again.
xlinkedx
2024-02-11 06:47:41 +0000 UTCThe void emperor mvp next chappy
Thenais
2024-02-11 06:44:46 +0000 UTCThe key to this trial has to be Joanna. The servant is testing her faith in Zac and whether or not Zac is deserving of it. Joanna is already at the point of basically worshiping him. She would (and already has) gladly sacrifice her life to protect the emperor as his spear. He must prove himself worthy of her faith in him. Zac said he would have bailed if he was in Eleani's position, but I don't think that's true. If that beast tide was bearing down on Earth/Ensolus, there's no way Zac would abandon his people.
xlinkedx
2024-02-11 06:41:28 +0000 UTCThere's no reddit page (as far as I'm aware). Most discussion on the series is in the DotF discord. ( https://discordapp.com/invite/hjGtWPh ) . You'd need to link your discord handle with Patreon to access the patreon discussion channels.
The First Defier
2024-02-11 06:39:06 +0000 UTCDo we really know what the Goal of the story would be when he is in B Grade? The current set up arcs are: Ultom, Remnet Atavism, Technocrat Secret Base, Rescue Kenzie in Heartlands, Sangha Shenanigans, Reach the Terminus (presumably this is last arc), Void Destiny, Laondio/Karz Comeback (Antagonist maybe??), Primo/Undead Heartlands War. I'm sure there have been more hints that I'm forgetting.
Kevin Albers
2024-02-11 05:39:09 +0000 UTCIs there a Reddit page just for DotF books?
blarper
2024-02-11 05:06:49 +0000 UTCHeh. I looked back, and the Instructor actually gave Zac a little tutorial on this Pilgrimage when talking to Joanna…and he missed it. Here’s the relevant parts: “Are you willing to suffer to save this man?" "I am." "Then go," the servant said, and a nearby gateway lit up. "Pass the trial and prove your faith, and you can both leave.” You’ll note that she very clearly says “prove your faith”, and blatantly obviously is not referring to Joanna having Faith in Limitless. In other words, the brand doesn’t matter. It’s more about being willing to suffer to save someone else. And that sailed by Zac like a curveball for Strike One. He still thinks it’s all about Imperial Faith. Well, he’s about to find out. *And the only thing I’m worried about is that days are ticking by, when only 28 were left until they had to be there. Even if Zac unlocks everything, that’s not much time left for his Sealbearers to train up.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 01:54:59 +0000 UTCZac is the emperor not the templar. The destination of faith not the source. Thanks for the chapter.
Joshua Little
2024-02-11 01:39:45 +0000 UTCYeah that's the guy. I just didn't remember his name nor care enough about him to look it up.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-02-11 01:33:54 +0000 UTCAt least with Kator though, he fought on the first place. The problem here being that he’s proceeding from invalid assumptions—and attempting to quit without even trying. That’s a big no no, and a big boo-boo on his part.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 01:32:05 +0000 UTCIf he has to fight overpowered Templars ranging from peak Hegemons upwards, he’s in serious trouble.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 01:29:37 +0000 UTCSo... the test is not about if Zac has faith, but about if these spirits hve faith in Zac?
Gio
2024-02-11 01:11:49 +0000 UTCRemember that he’s already died protecting the role of Earth himself—he just didn’t know he had a Get Out Of Jail Free card tucked away in his specialty core. He chose NOT to imprint on the dimensional seed that became Gemmy, and allowed her her freedom. And pretty much everything he’s done (including the looting) is to better protect and prepare Earth for the future.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 01:11:42 +0000 UTCUpon further thought, I think this just shows how much stronger Templars are than people their own level and just above. A Hegemon takes out ten Monarchs, an (presumed) Autarch takes out not only an immense beast wave—but three other Autarchs (or higher) at the end. That seems like it’s a Templar thing, not entirely a “weakened as the era proceeds” thing.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-11 01:06:26 +0000 UTCStory would be entering end game by then no point in waiting that long. Zac will definitely start to track down Kenzie soon so if he doesn’t get a significant power up then he has no chance against Leandra. This training mini arc seems setup for him to significantly close the gap otherwise this story will become a never ending story.
Ben
2024-02-11 00:45:38 +0000 UTCI imagine tying it back to Zac choosing not to escape when he had a chance, before the trials. All these great masters who sacrificed for trillions, they ask how many Zac would save and judge him, but he subverts by saying he’d sacrifice for any of his followers, not just all of them. I just don’t know if Zac is altruistic enough to pull it off.
Telewyn
2024-02-11 00:34:25 +0000 UTCTFTC! Thanks for getting extra chapters out to make up for missing some being sick! But I'm sure everyone would prefer you were healthy and the story took a bit longer, than you got sick and the story just stopped! Do what you need to stay healthy!
Nick Bond
2024-02-11 00:04:44 +0000 UTCThat was a truly sad yet inspiring moment.
Omiso
2024-02-10 23:14:54 +0000 UTCThat likely won’t happen before B grade.
Luke Scheffe
2024-02-10 23:00:10 +0000 UTCI hope these opportunities are finally what Zac needs to truly become pinnacle tier and is at least on par but preferably above that Primordial. He’s always being slightly behind Iz and those top tier geniuses, it’s about time he surpasses them, as the disparity between his enemies is just too significant.
Ben
2024-02-10 22:38:29 +0000 UTCAwesome chappie, faith based systems are awesome to read and scary as hell
Jake
2024-02-10 22:22:18 +0000 UTCEleani Ano - "I have a sword... And I will defend my home" (for the other 'Beyond the Timescape' readers, she would fit right in as a Swordsage)
Dro
2024-02-10 22:08:01 +0000 UTCI think blessings have come knocking not trouble
Jay Fowler
2024-02-10 22:04:41 +0000 UTCThank you!
Andrew
2024-02-10 21:28:54 +0000 UTCThe statues are all Martyrs that died fighting right? How else would they bestow the blessing if it wasn't by fighting? Round one Start!
Sirloki
2024-02-10 21:10:38 +0000 UTCConnect it to your Patreon also works
Alexander Dupree
2024-02-10 21:08:42 +0000 UTCNice
Alexander Dupree
2024-02-10 21:01:31 +0000 UTC“Her holiness embraced the Origin in the year 133,305 of the Fourth Trigram Order” I think this is simply how a different era stated what Zac’s calls “entering the cycle of reincarnation”. In other words, she died—and returned to the Origin.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-10 20:57:59 +0000 UTCIt should still be on the RR page
Mathew
2024-02-10 20:47:11 +0000 UTCThe one at the end of the hallway were you were supposed to use ur dao or have an entry ticket right?
Jett
2024-02-10 19:59:45 +0000 UTCHe was that potion guy at the tower of eternity right? Also he did get him at the end as an undead so i think he fulfilled the win condition of the bet but not the match
Jett
2024-02-10 19:58:18 +0000 UTCHow do we get invited to the Discord?
GC
2024-02-10 19:58:16 +0000 UTCTftc! Can’t wait for them to bless him based on his path not his faith lol
James Faulkner
2024-02-10 19:48:15 +0000 UTCYeah seems likely that this is going to be how he qualifies to stand next to the peak of the multiverse like Iz
Lucas Gulick
2024-02-10 19:39:38 +0000 UTCMore than helpful. It will likely be the sole reason he survives it. Kinda lucky that he ran into the opportunity right before he faces off against atavism really l
Henry Wartemberg
2024-02-10 19:38:23 +0000 UTC“This was already the best-case scenario.” Oh, Zac. Dear silly Zac. You only wanted to finish in the top 100 at the Twilight event. How’d that turn out? You keep saying how you just wanna get some side bennies from the Left Imperial Palace. We all know how that one’s gonna turn out. And now you say that only completing four is the “best possible scenario”.., lol. As if Fate isn’t listening!
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-10 19:35:39 +0000 UTCI can’t help but think that, immediately in the wake of having his Dao heart shredded by seeing the impact of all of the deaths he’s caused… …he’s going to find it strengthened by seeing the impact of all of the lives he’s SAVED.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-10 19:31:28 +0000 UTCI’m sure there’s a Tower involved.
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-10 19:28:08 +0000 UTCHope you’re feeling better! TFTC
Morphic
2024-02-10 19:17:28 +0000 UTCI had the same thought. Is the "Origin" that these Cardinals witnessed possibly a vision from the previous Eras? Gaining an understanding that every time the Dao collapses and is forced to reform leading to it being weaker might just give the motivation necessary to convince these insanely powerful Cultivators to sacrifice for the greater good and become Cardinals and Eternal Servants.
Lumpawaroo
2024-02-10 19:16:03 +0000 UTCIt would be amazing if it turns out that they all think Zac’s being super humble and respectful by not bothering them.
Luke Scheffe
2024-02-10 19:15:29 +0000 UTC"Zac refused to give up on giving up" is the greatest line this author has ever written. No sarcasm I'm 100% serious. It's hilarious and one the things I find most interesting about Zac has always been his ability to say no when shit gets too crazy. As much as I was clowning on Arcaz, I still respect him for forfeiting the duel. The only thing he lost was some clout and pride. Rather that then risking injury or death just to save.... I honestly can't remember the dudes name.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-02-10 19:07:55 +0000 UTCdang it i wanna read what happends next...
Danny
2024-02-10 19:07:18 +0000 UTCI feel like Zac has a fundamental misunderstanding of this trial. He doesn’t need to impress the Saints with his faith. His self sacrifice, his willingness and dedication to protect others will be just fine and dandy. He can’t connect with them, so they’ll connect with him. 108 blessings incoming. (How else would he be able to find out what the sword, scepter and chalice offer?)
Jeff McCulley
2024-02-10 19:03:16 +0000 UTCFoolish Zac, being from earth I can't believe he didn't think a pair of Faithful wouldn't knock on his door and try talk to him about their Lord and Savior the Limitless Emperor.
Omiso
2024-02-10 19:02:12 +0000 UTCThese trials and the subsequent training will definitely be helpful when Zac has to deal with the Atavism of the shards. Good timing I'd say. Kinda like somebody or something is looking out for him.
Mike Naka
2024-02-10 18:54:38 +0000 UTCShow the statues the terminus and ironically get to the first spot in his "weakest" attribute: faith.
Kaladin
2024-02-10 18:53:14 +0000 UTCThe difficulty of this trial lends credence to the idea that each generation is actually getting weaker, and they are running out of time to reach the terminus.
Stephen Taylor
2024-02-10 18:49:30 +0000 UTCInteresting. I knew the trials would be difficult but even a monster like zac barely made it through 4 of them. And a peak hegemon killing multiple monarchs? Insane! But it just shows how utterly insanely powerful the Templars are. And obviously zac is gonna pass the faith trial. One of the steles will take a liking to his path and he'll gain the few needed. After all, the facilities will be the biggest training boon one can imagine for zac and his followers, especially those that are to join him on his expedition to the breache. I'm calling it that zac will be reborn after a few weeks in those training rooms. In a way that is extraordinarily rare in the current era.
Lex Luther S
2024-02-10 18:41:57 +0000 UTCWoot!
Sirloki
2024-02-10 18:26:02 +0000 UTCYeay
Chemistrywarrior
2024-02-10 18:25:23 +0000 UTC
