Chapter 1218: Impartments

Chapter 1218: Impartments

The streak of light was joined by a swirl of utmost darkness entering Zac's Draugr avatar, pushing his soul to its limits. It took Zac over ten minutes to gather his wits, and that was just from accommodating the impartment. Digesting it would take far longer, possibly his whole life. He'd only managed to scratch the surface of what was held within, yet what he'd found left him in awe.

"This should prove useful whatever direction you choose."

A'Zu's comment could be considered the understatement of a century. The repository of information that had taken up a corner of his mind was more valuable than a complete Heritage in Zac's eyes. There were no skills, manuals, or techniques inside, nor were there any actual insights into their Dao. There was something even better. The two marks contained a terrifying amount of data.

Just the reports and calculations from a mind-boggling number of experiments would put the Void Gate's nuns to shame. They were also filled with notations, conclusions, and unconfirmed directions of thought. In addition, there were mountains of common research drawn from multiple outside sources Zac had never heard of.

The library was similar to the [Book of Duality] he got from Yrial, except the information was solely focused on the Peak of Chaos. The recording method was ingenious, too. The information was transformed through the lenses of his Branches of Kalpataru and Pale Seal.

Zac couldn't even read the contents in his current state. Almost everything except the introduction was missing critical context without infusing his Daos. He could only intuit that what he saw was the surface of a bottomless lake of information. Zac had no idea how deeply the information went, but he could tell most of it would remain hidden because of his limited level of comprehension.

The repository left Zac humbled. It drove home the efforts and dedication required to approach the peak of cultivation, especially when climbing a broken peak like Chaos. At their level, it probably took thousands and thousands of expensive and time-consuming experiments just to take a small step forward. These two were no doubt performing countless experiments within their Inner Worlds even now.Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

A whole chapter also covered the remnants, discussing their composition, nature, and usage. Those notes were clearly not just theory. There was practical experience behind the concepts, meaning they must have found some remnants for experimentation. This chapter was created with him in mind rather than the result of this powerful couple's own cultivation.

The last section on the remnants posited dozens of ways they could be utilized after surviving the Atavism. Zac already had very strong theoretical foundations for his level, and he could tell they all held great promise. He wouldn't even need the help of an epiphany to create a working technique from many of the concepts introduced.

The possibilities were endless. The libraries would be extremely helpful for most aspects of his cultivation going forward. He could draw from them when upgrading blueprints, creating or upgrading skills, and dealing with his cultivation methods. Zac even believed the wealth of information would prove instrumental to one of his most important long-term goals—fusing his two bodies into one.

Being split into two had proven unexpectedly useful in the war. It would also allow him to visit Sanctuary and the Abyssal Shores simultaneously after Ultom, though the current situation in the Undead Empire had introduced uncertainty to that plan. Despite the benefits, Zac had never given up on returning to normal. Being a duality simply didn't feel like his natural state. Becoming one was also required to unlock the true power of his path. Evolution and Inexorability needed to be fused to display the limits of his path.

Zac had already begun drafting a basic framework for reverting the split. Progress was slow because he lacked the theoretical foundations, and Ultom's inspiration couldn't solve these deficiencies. Ultom held all the answers, but the key was knowing the right questions. If you used it blindly, you'd only be able to build on something that already existed.

There were three subjects Zac needed to master before successfully fusing: his Origin, the Void, and the Peak of Chaos. He still only grasped bits and pieces of the Kayar-Elu's experiment. He needed to actually understand how his Specialty Core and the Quantum Spaces worked before he dared fuse himself back to one body. He also needed to know if any more surprises were waiting for him in the later stages of his journey.

It was highly likely he'd need to modify the Duplicity Core to suit his Human-Draugr combination to avoid an even worse fate than what he encountered during his D-grade breakthrough. Doing so without knowing the complex schematics that went into its creation was bound to backfire. Thankfully, he already had a lead on uncovering these secrets. They were the supposed reward for completing Leandra's task to infiltrate Sanctuary in the Eternal Storm.

Relying on the Void was unavoidable if he wanted to fuse before comprehending the Dao of Chaos. He'd formed his core by borrowing truths from Ultom and relying on the quantum space. If he wanted to fuse his two halves, he'd need to understand the Void and tailor a solution that worked without the help of a special environment. He had finally made inroads on this aspect after upgrading [Void Mountain] and activating [Spiritual Void]. There was also the upcoming trial and possibly the Sindris Clan to provide further clarity.

That left the Peak of Chaos. It was his Daos of Life and Death and incompatible constitutions that almost killed him back in the Perennial Vastness. His Branch of the War Axe amplified the conflict, but it wasn't really part of the problem. He'd need a much better understanding of the mechanics of the Peak of Chaos, even if he had the Void to act as a mediator. The library he'd just received would do the heavy lifting in this regard.

Zac's ambitious goal of fusing back together when stepping into Monarchy suddenly felt a lot more achievable. He would have been more than satisfied with this impartment alone, and it was only the first of four.

"Thank you," Zac eventually said. "This is extremely helpful."

"Experience can only save time. It cannot solely be relied on," Be'Zi reminded. "The fine details of your Dao can only be explored on your own."

"I understand."

"Next—"

"I'm grateful, but this is already more than I expected," Zac said.

"The third gift is connected with the second. You'll receive both upon leaving," A'Zu continued. "It's the thing we originally promised—a glimpse of true Oblivion and Creation unsullied by that ancient madness."

"A Dao Impartment will damage your foundations. It's a waste of such a precious gift since we walk a different path. I even got a piece from the Primordials already."

A'Zu's outer eyes rapidly blinked in a way that Zac, for some reason, felt mocking. "You might have your own ideas for the Peak, but you need to learn to walk before you can run. No matter how you arrange things in the end, you have to begin with the basic building blocks."

"The accord cannot be broken. It was spoken with the Heavens as a witness," Be'Zi added.

"You don't need to worry about us. Our difference in level is great, and neither of us has left an impartment before. We'll fully recover in a few millennia, and we're mostly forgotten by the world. Our wisps will take you to the Grand Dao before bringing you back," the Aetherlord said, settling the matter.

"I won't waste the opportunity," Zac said with determination.

"Good," Be'Zi said, taking out an item. "The final gift we leave represents our gratitude for going far beyond our expectations and our aspirations for your future. In accordance, it is the most valuable by far."

Most valuable by far? Zac gulped, looking at the nondescript item in Be'Zi's hand with a mix of expectation and confusion. That thing was more valuable than two Dao Impartments, a lifetime's worth of experience, and a killing blow of a Mid-stage Autarch?

"What is it?" Zac couldn't help but ask as he looked at the mottled key in Be'Zi's hand.

It looked like something used to lock up an old toolshed rather than a supreme treasure. It appeared crudely made and disfigured, having been bent and scratched up after extended use. It didn't emit a speck of energy, either, to give a hint of its purpose.

"[Chaos Cipher]," Be'Zi said. "A relic from a bygone time."

"Chaos cipher..." Zac said, his eyes gradually widening in alarm. "Don't tell me it's related to an Eternal Heritage?"

"Yes and no," Be'Zi said, drawing a confused look from Zac.

"You should be aware we're currently in the Era of Order since you know of Eternal Heritages," A'Zu said, continuing after Zac nodded in affirmation. "Order has brought structure. A hierarchy of established factions controls all integrated space, and society gravitates toward the order of Empires. The torch of cultivation is passed on through familial bonds, and a delicate balance is enforced.

"The Era of Order could be considered a reaction to the previous one, which is commonly referred to as the Primordial Era. Primordial Chaos forming the lynchpin of reality led to a very different environment. Factions neither grew as large nor as enduring as what we've witnessed in our time. Those seeking the Dao more often resembled Wandering Cultivators.

"They traveled alone or in small groups of like-minded people. The weak walked the earth, and the strong traveled beyond the stars. They were generally referred to as Demonic Cultivators. Mind you, they were not intrinsically evil. They followed their inner voice, ignoring the law of man or the Heavens.

"This chaotic environment wasn't necessarily worse than the road of cultivation we have today. Fewer reached the peak because they relied on nothing but their hands and determination to seize a corner of the Heavens. However, those who did were generally stronger than the cultivators of today. Of course, our generation also has the System, so it's impossible to make a perfect comparison."

What A'Zu described lined up with Iz's description of progenitors. The few who managed to rise to B-grade and higher often wield greater power than normal while having stronger Dao Hearts. They had built their path through greater effort since they didn't have any elders or ready-made Heritage to fall back on.

"The downside of the Primordial Era's environment was the limited culture of inheritance. You may not be aware, but Eternal Heritages can be separated into two categories. True Eternal Heritages are likely those you've heard of. Places of ultimate power that surpass the Dao, allowing it to survive Era after Era."

"The [Chaos Cipher] is not related to one of them," Zac concluded.

"No," A'Zu sighed. "Not a single faction of today has the resources and strength necessary to erect a True Eternal Heritage. The Limitless Empire was the only one that possessed the qualifications, but they created the System instead. So, how could the solitary cultivators of the previous era accomplish something like that? As far as we know, there are no True Eternal Heritages left from the Primordial Era."

"That brings us to the second category of Eternal Heritages. They're called Cataclysmic Heritages, and the [Chaos Chipher] we're bequeathing you will provide access to one called the [Waking Nautilus]."