Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1411: Servants

Although not as impressive as the earlier areas, they managed to secure a solid bounty from the Ninth Garden. Ogras pulled out numerous Life-aligned resources from the spirits he defeated, including some rich in essence blood and savage intent—ideal fodder for Verun.

The true gem lay in the coral structures that purified blood essence. Those slender tendons had soaked up an incredibly potent spirituality over thousands of years of blood absorption. Hard to grade precisely, but Zac figured they equated to top-tier Mid D-grade Natural Treasures. Bundling the many tendons from each mouth together, they rivaled a Late D-grade find.

Thanks to their potent Life-attuned Fiend Energy, the organs suited uses from beastcrafting to body refinement, yet a superior path existed. Haro showed intense eagerness, enough to rouse the Skyrender Vine from its rest. It had taken effort to lock down Haro’s Worldring and shield him from the Emergent Pool’s influence.

Zac worried about feeding the raw tendons to his companion without preparation, as it might ruin their value. Essentially, he sought the concentrated might of the Emergent Pool, and letting the Skyrender Vine devour the tendons might spark a positive change.

Spiritual plants typically advance far slower than beasts or cultivators. Haro was already surging ahead rapidly by tapping into Zac’s Daos via [Adaptive Symbiosis] and feasting on bodies plus Natural Treasures. Even so, it fell short of the pace needed, with fewer ways to bridge the gap unlike his Spirit Tools.

Infusing Haro with aspects of the Ninth Garden could boost his growth by consuming foes, and the tendons excelled at drawing in Blood Essence. The challenge lay in preventing harmful changes while maximizing gains from the devoured remains.

Adopting Ninth Garden features would surely shorten Haro’s lifespan even if successful, but the future Plant Emperor had abundance to give. Crucially, Haro could recover through higher advancements. Zac couldn’t choose for him, though he believed the vine would embrace the exchange. Haro never overlooked Vivi’s demise or the cost of frailty.

From the slow fade of spirituality, Zac had several months to decide. With seven additional gardens ahead before the Hollow Court, superior chances might await—maybe even pieces that enhanced the tendons upon joint absorption.

Prior to that, Zac and his allies faced the grueling task of removing all altered tissues emerging in their forms. Unchecked, they’d spawn cancers. As one group endured self-inflicted agony, Zac’s duplicate had at last reentered Citadel’s outskirts in the Mercurial Court.

The Peregrine Archipelago and its islands brimming with promise were abandoned for others to claim. Zac and Esmeralda ventured through unknown ruins, hunting chances while awaiting the perfect memory wind. Sevona’s lodge had granted Esmeralda a surprising edge. By syncing her Dao of Space with echoes of Sevona’s divinity, Esmeralda could detect concealed routes even externally.

“That one ought to bring us near,” Esmeralda indicated a memory wind several dozen miles distant.

They dashed forward before the wind shifted. Though Esmeralda now perceived a route, delay might erase it. The lively calls of phantom vendors welcomed them into the bygone era, and Zac noticed some genuine disciples amid the spectral crowd.

The vibrant atmosphere soothed. No rush gripped the Outer Disciples strolling Citadel’s avenues. Though Zac inwardly thought they ought to strive more fiercely, grasping chances ere too late, the sight assured that the tainted foes’ menace stayed contained.

“Over here,” Esmeralda directed, guiding him along the commerce lane to a tavern.

After forking over 3 Potentiality for a night’s room, they ascended to the second level. Zac barely eyed the plain chamber as he shut the door. It was grimy, yet luckily they weren’t staying to rest. Esmeralda signaled Zac to pause ten seconds then nodded toward the door.

Immense force was needed to budge the door, making Zac dread the tavern’s ruin. Once it yielded, a dark veil covered the far side. Much like the cask leading to the Scripture hall, passing through landed them on a known avenue. Zac traversed a quiet district of isolated estates until arriving at his residence.

Zac and Esmeralda had sketched a basic strategy for their return. Upgrading to Inner Disciple status wasn’t urgent. Areas like the Peregrine Archipelago, open solely to Outer Disciples, abounded. Plus, his Disciple Token flagged two destined chances. Since those spots and cultivation zones for Inner Disciples focused on Monarchs, lingering as an Outer Disciple made sense.

They aimed to gauge the Mercurial Court’s state before departing anew. No fresh halos had flared beyond the prior three, but considerable internal time should have elapsed. Fortunately, Zac knew exactly whom to consult. A handful of folks in the housing area yearned for his visit.

“Master Draom, you’ve arrived.” A scholarly figure with gold-framed spectacles rose swiftly as Zac entered.

The man had pored over an archaic cultivation manual beneath the porch shade for hours, evident from the faint dust on his knees.

“And you would be?” Zac inquired, though he already knew.

He appeared more polished than anticipated, yet subtle signs of affluence and a shrewd spark behind his genteel mask betrayed him. This was a trader.

“I am Yimin An from the Great An Merchant Troupe,” the youth replied with a bow. “We once again offer our deepest thanks for granting us this chance.”

“Well, it wasn’t without cost,” Zac replied sharply. “Do you have my—"

The inner manor’s door swung open, revealing two contrasting figures. One bulked large enough to rival Billy, radiating the steadfast presence of a battle-hardened warrior. His Servant Disciple garb couldn’t conceal his status as an elite fighter. Zac had foreseen this, yet he subtly frowned spotting a known insignia on his belt.

The guard from Astora’s yard bore the same, the one whose body Descartes had discarded for the lodge. Though the remains were mere phantoms as ritual closers to the pursuit, the Enforcement hall verified Anton Eilin’s demise on the isle. Zac bore no fault in it, but another Arcana Phalanx member as his aide hinted at complications.

The final figure was slender and lean, scarcely topping Zac’s shoulders. Yet he unwittingly projected a psychic force that amplified his stature. The assault on his mind and Dao Heart stirred a recollection from Everit Draom. The emanation likely wasn’t deliberate.

It stemmed from one of the Imperial Magistrate’s training methods. Mastery alone allowed self-restraint. Even so, few cared to, as it suited the Magistrate’s questioners—or tormentors, in polite terms. While types like Everit hunted offenders, these extractors pried truths from apostates and tough cultivators.

“—items?" Zac concluded his thought. “Excellent, you’re all present. Simplifies matters for me.”

The warrior stoically drew a small coffer from his pack, as the trader retrieved an ornate sack from his cuff. Zac anticipated gripes from Everit’s peer, but he surrendered the agreed reward uncomplainingly. His somber look seemed innate.

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Zac eagerly claimed the vessels without show. This was the prime motive for his return. He hadn’t overlooked that true recompense for vending his aide positions lingered. Knowing he’d dash about prepping his Peak D-grade surge post-this, and uncertainty loomed after snatching [Second Singularity], plus emerging twists, this might be his sole shot to claim it.

His pulse raced with excitement as he unlatched the coffer. The Imperial Army’s tribute was a copper fragment radiating such fierce energy that Zac’s eyes watered despite the golden inscription binding it, akin to the [Fuxi Mountain Gate]. Zac approved, seeing the army hadn’t skimped.

Containing C-grade goods for Spatial Tools proved arduous, per Esmeralda, explaining why she bore his gathered ones. Kristvan Wendimar passed a C-grade bloom to his kin, but its binding endured mere hours before fraying the hidden space in the Wendimar token.

The binding on this Conflict-aligned prize might hold a decade stably, though prolonged sealing harmed C-grade items. It eroded their spirit gradually, so such tactics were uncommon. Higher-grade treasures stayed in Elders’ Inner Worlds or treasuries with Nurturing Arrays until claimed.

C-grade Spatial Tools offered another route, but why bother? Monarchs alone wielded them, possessing Inner Worlds for safekeeping. Such rings mainly served for colossal relics or large-scale exchanges.

“How much time passed during my absence? This spot warps senses oddly,” Zac queried while eyeing the next holder.

The extractor delivered a stone seemingly devoid of alignment, better termed as evenly infused with cosmic spirituality. It appeared plain initially, but gazing upon it nearly buckled Zac’s knees from unseen pressure.

Though neutral and unassuming, the stone outvalued the Conflict piece. Esmeralda exploited the Imperial Magistrate’s vanity. Unable to top the lavish Great An traders, they’d rather perish than lose to the military in vying for a place.

This rock aided Monarchy ascension by heightening outcomes. Nestled in a nascent world, it intensified gravitational draw from the Cosmic Sea. Every Cultivator coveted it, especially Mortals where its worth multiplied. The drawback demanded a firm proto-space to contain it—enter Kristvan Wendimar’s Spatial Flower.

“Forty-two months elapsed since your bold exploits in the Peregrine Archipelago,” Yimin An stated.

“I squandered so long in isolation, eh? Must push harder to close the gap,” Zac murmured, then eyed the Great An merchant inquisitively.

“I’d greatly appreciate if the young master granted a discreet audience,” the merchant proposed with a bright, emotionless smile.

“Tough to refuse phrased so,” Zac replied with a matching false beam, ushering the trader to a annex.

Besides the pledged C-grade Death-aligned treasure, the pouch held twelve elite Peak D-grade Natural Treasures—four per his Daos. Prime for core forging, they exceeded the bargain. The group had researched well, pinpointing his needs. Likely, they probed his bazaar trades.

No trading house gifts without motive, so Great An sought favors. Zac welcomed it. His trio of aides hailed from rich powers, and returning partly aimed to milk extra perks. Markets sold what he required, but gains from them spared Potentiality or Imperial Merit.

“That’s all?” Zac probed soon after. “Just name-drop your group to the princess? No pact or such?”

“A simple mention suffices for my elders,” Yimin affirmed.

“Astora’s value must’ve soared post the Belial heir’s demise. As she climbs her lineage, she’ll seek allies untainted by politics or kin branches,” Zac pondered, watching Yimin’s response. “Then, she might recall my endorsement—from one who bolstered her standing.”

“The Matriarch merely offers goodwill after beholding Princess Theomore’s brave command at Transformation Docks,” Yimin replied.

“Alright, I’ll reference Great An at our next encounter,” Zac vowed.

The remaining aides lingered upon Zac’s return. “Forgotten, who might you be?”

“Doklos, Arcana Phalanx,” the warrior declared, validating Zac’s suspicion.

“Severus,” the lean inquisitor added. “We require a chat too.”

Zac steeled himself, feigning reluctance. “Of course, should fortunes permit. My agenda’s packed, our stay brief.”

The warrior snorted, yet he wasn’t the stiff, honor-bound sort. He proffered another sack with two Peak D-grade conflict-soaked Natural Treasures. It lagged the trader’s gift, but his request stayed straightforward.

Doklos chiefly sought details on his fellow’s fate at Sevona’s isle. Zac relayed his scant knowledge. He’d neither encountered Anton Eilin in the archipelago nor the isle. Unaware of his hunt role until the body appeared.

Moreover, Doklos probed invader intel, buying Zac’s Signet Ring for yet another Natural Treasure. A fine deal for Zac, done with Explorer Guild ties. The army’s conflict goods were superb, and his Dao of Conflict proved toughest for sourcing.

“Well?” Zac turned to the last aide.

“Apologies, no payoff here,” the extractor said, hurling an Information Jade. “Thought this suited you better anyway.”

“What beats free coin?” Zac derided before reviewing it. “Hmm. Bounties?”

“Certain Sealbearers exploited Transformation Docks’ turmoil for personal gain,” Severus explained, eyes aflame with fury.

“If this concerns my minor—”

“Not your style. You stretched bounds, yet stayed legal. These vermin slew peer Sealbearers or aided invaders in massacring kin at Transformation Docks. They figured deeds could stay buried or blamed on doubles, but misjudged their cunning,” Severus continued.

“The Mercurial Court opts out, claiming acts fell beyond their realm. Viewing each Sealbearer as fate-bearers, they leave it to destiny. Still, the Magistrate’ll leverage these felons to affirm none evade justice.”

“Since when?” Doklos mocked.

Severus shot the warrior a withering glare before pressing on. “Duke Grand Dream authorized our operations in Citadel. Five marks exist. Secure two, and we’ll supply your sought item.”

“Truly?” Zac replied, gaze igniting as he fixed on the Information Jade.

Spotting Severus’s meant item was simple. With Great An and army yielding C-grade Death and Conflict treasures, Zac had angled for a Life-aligned one from the Magistrate. Denied, as Everit Draom lacked Life Dao leanings, they offered the auxiliary C-grade instead.

“They here now? How to claim rewards?” Zac pressed.

C-grade aids for Inner Worlds outshone core-formation items in scarcity. Demands were strict, as even Mortals mostly pulled from the Cosmic Sea for worlds. Post-trial, Zac puzzled over sourcing one, so nabbing it now to finish his set would prove divine.

Particularly with such a simple task. Just one of five targets gave pause; he trusted handling the rest handily.

“Three verified at the merit hall, locations now murky,” Severus noted, eyeing the warrior. “You should know you’re not the only one qu