Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1411: Servants

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

The true gem lay in the coral structures that purified blood essence. These sinewy tendons had gathered an incredibly potent spirituality over thousands of years by drawing in blood. Though hard to precisely rank, Zac figured they rivaled Peak Quality Middle D-grade Natural Treasures. Bundling the many tendons from each mouth could even rival a Late D-grade item.

Thanks to their powerful Life-attuned Fiend Energy, these organs suited uses ranging from beastcrafting to body tempering, yet a superior choice existed. Haro showed keen eagerness, enough to rouse the Skyrender Vine from his deep rest. Restraining Haro’s Worldring and shielding him from the Emergent Pool’s influence had proven quite the challenge.

Zac hesitated to give the raw tendons to his companion without preparation, as that might render them useless. Essentially, what he sought was the Emergent Pool’s concentrated might, and letting the Skyrender Vine ingest the tendons might spark a positive evolution.

Spiritual plants inherently develop far more slowly than beasts, much less cultivators. Haro was already surging ahead rapidly by studying Zac’s Daos via [Adaptive Symbiosis] and feasting on bodies plus Natural Treasures. Yet, it fell short of matching the pace, with slimmer options to bridge the gap unlike his Spirit Tools.

Infusing Haro with aspects of the Ninth Garden might accelerate his growth through devouring foes, and the tendons excelled at soaking up Blood Essence. The challenge lay in preventing harmful changes while maximizing gains from the remains Haro consumed.

Adopting Ninth Garden characteristics would surely shorten Haro’s lifespan despite success, but the budding Plant Emperor possessed an abundance of it. Crucially, Haro could recover any deficit by climbing to superior realms. Zac couldn’t decide for Haro, but he believed the vine would eagerly embrace the exchange. Haro never overlooked Vivi’s demise or the cost of frailty.

Based on the slow fading of spirituality, Zac had several months to choose. Seven additional gardens awaited before arriving at the Hollow Court, possibly offering superior chances—maybe even treasures that paired well with the tendons upon integration.

Prior to that, Zac and his allies faced the grueling task of removing all altered tissues emerging in their forms. Unchecked, these would spawn cancers. As one group endured self-inflicted agony, Zac’s duplicate finally reentered Citadel’s peripheral areas within the Mercurial Court.

The Peregrine Archipelago, brimming with unexplored promise, was abandoned to other seekers. Zac and Esmeralda delved into unknown ruins, hunting prospects while biding time for the ideal memory wind. Sevona’s lodge had bestowed Esmeralda a surprising gift. Merging her Dao of Space with echoes of Sevona’s divine essence allowed Esmeralda to detect select concealed routes from afar.

“That one should take us close,” Esmeralda pointed at a memory wind a few dozen miles away.

The two dashed forward before the wind shifted. Though Esmeralda now perceived a route, no assurance existed it would persist if delayed. A lively murmur of phantom vendors welcomed them into the bygone era, and Zac noticed several genuine disciples amid the spectral locals.

The vibrant atmosphere brought reassurance. Outer Disciples strolled Citadel’s avenues without haste. Though Zac internally thought they ought to strive more fiercely, grasping chances ere too late, the sight affirmed the corrupted foes’ menace stayed contained.

“This way,” Esmeralda said, guiding him along the trade street until a tavern appeared.

After paying 3 Potentiality for a night’s room, they ascended to the second floor. Zac barely eyed the basic quarters as he shut the door. Though grubby, they had no intent to rest there. Esmeralda signaled for Zac to pause ten seconds before nodding toward the door.

Immense force was required to force the door, making Zac worry the tavern might crumble. Once breached, a dark membrane awaited beyond. Like the cask leading to the Scripture hall, passing through delivered them to a known avenue. Zac traversed a quiet enclave of isolated estates until his own home came into view.

Zac and Esmeralda had outlined a basic strategy for their return. Upgrading to Inner Disciple status wasn’t urgent. Numerous zones, akin to the Peregrine Archipelago, restricted access to Outer Disciples alone. Zac’s Disciple Token also noted two destined prospects. Since such opportunities and cultivation zones for Inner Disciples focused on Monarchs, lingering as an Outer Disciple proved wiser for now.

They aimed to assess the Mercurial Court’s latest state before venturing further. No fresh halos had flared beyond the initial three, but considerable internal time must have elapsed. Fortunately, Zac knew exactly whom to consult. A handful of residents in the housing quarter burned for his attention.

“Master Draom, you’re here.” A scholarly-looking man with gold-rimmed glasses quickly got to his feet upon seeing Zac step inside.

The man had been studying an ancient-looking cultivation text under the shade of the eaves for quite some time, judging by the light layer of dust on his knees.

“And you are?” Zac asked, despite already knowing the answer.

While he looked more refined than expected, there was no mistaking the understated markings of wealth and the calculative gleam hiding behind his visage of nobility. This was a merchant.

“I’m Yimin An of Great An Merchant Troupe,” the young man said with a bow. “Once more, we’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for presenting us with this opportunity.”

“Well, I didn’t do it for free,” Zac said in a pointed tone. “Do you have my—"

Zac was interrupted by the door to the inner manor opening, from which two distinctly different men emerged. One was large enough to give Billy a run for his money, and he emitted the steady aura of someone who’d seen plenty of battle. Wearing a Servant Disciple’s robe couldn’t hide the fact that he was an elite soldier. Zac had expected as much, though he imperceptibly frowned upon noting a familiar crest attached to his belt.

The soldier Zac met in Astora’s courtyard wore the same thing, the very soldier whose corpse Descartes had thrown out to feed the lodge. While the corpses were only illusions acting as symbolic offerings to conclude the hunt, the Enforment hall did confirm that Anton Eilin died on the island. Zac had nothing to do with his death, but having a second member of the Arcana Phalanx pop up as his attendant smelled like trouble.

The last man was thin and wiry, and he barely reached Zac’s shoulders. At the same time, he unconsciously exuded a mental pressure that made him seem much larger. Sensing the pressure on his mind and Dao Heart triggered one of Everit Draom’s memories. The pressure probably wasn’t intentional.

It was a side effect of one of the Imperial Magistrate’s cultivation manuals. Only when perfected would the user be able to control themselves. Even then, most didn’t bother, as it was the manual of the Magistrate’s interrogators—or torturers, as they would be called in civilized society. While people like Everit were responsible for tracking down criminals, the interrogators were responsible for extracting answers from heretics and hardened cultivators alike.

“—stuff?" Zac finished his previous sentence. “Good, you’re all here. Makes things easier for me.”

The soldier expressionlessly took out a small chest from a satchel, while the merchant produced an embroidered pouch from a sleeve. Zac would have expected some complaining from Everit’s colleague, but he handed over the promised payment without complaint. While he looked gloomy, that was likely his natural countenance.

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Zac gleefully accepted the containers without pretense. This was the main reason he had come back in the first place. He had never forgotten that the real payment for selling his attendant spots waited to be handed over. Zac knew he would be running back and forth preparing for his Peak D-grade breakthrough after this, and there was no telling what would happen after they stole [Second Singularity]. Adding any other variables that would crop up, this could be his only chance to collect.

His heart thumped with anticipation as he opened the chest. The payment from the Imperial Army was a piece of copper that emitted such a violent aura that Zac’s eyes teared up from looking at it. And that was despite a golden script keeping the item sealed, much like the [Fuxi Mountain Gate]. Zac nodded in satisfaction at seeing the Imperial Army wasn’t cutting corners.

Sealing C-grade items so that they could be stored in Spatial Tools was a pain and a half, according to Esmeralda, which was why she carried the ones he’d collected thus far. Kristvan Wendimar had imparted a C-grade flower to his daughter, yet his seal only lasted a few hours before it started to unravel the spatial pocket hidden within the Wendimar Clan’s token.

The seal on the Conflict-attuned treasure could probably last a decade without issue, though leaving a C-grade item sealed that long wasn’t a good idea. Staying in a sealed state would slowly damage its spirituality, so such methods were rarely used. C-grade items and higher were either left in an Elder’s Inner World or a treasury with Nurturing Arrays until it was time to redeem them.

C-grade Spatial Tools were also an option, except what would be the point? Only Monarchs could activate C-grade Spatial Tools, and they had Inner Worlds to keep the items secure. C-grade Spatial Rings were mostly used when dealing with massive artifacts or bulk trades.

“How long was I gone? This place has a tendency to mess with one’s perceptions,” Zac asked as he continued to the next container.

The interrogator had brought a rock that seemed completely free from attunement, though it was more accurate to say it held an even spread of spirituality to match the Cosmos. It looked unremarkable at first glance, but looking at it almost made Zac’s knee buckle from an intangible weight.

While unattuned and outwardly unimpressive, the item was actually worth more than the Conflict-attuned treasure. Esmeralda had preyed on the Imperial Magistrate’s pride. While they couldn’t outbid the outrageously wealthy merchants of Great An, they’d be caught dead before being outdone by the army when competing for a slot.

The stone was a supporting item that could improve the result when stepping into Monarchy. Placing the stone inside one’s newly formed world would add additional weight, creating a stronger pull on the Cosmic Sea. Any Cultivator would be willing to use it, and it was exponentially more valuable for a Mortal. The caveat was that one needed a stable enough proto-space to house it, and that was what Kristvan Wendimar’s Spatial Flower was for.

“Forty-two months have passed since your heroic feats in the Peregrine Archipelago,” Yimin An said.

“I wasted that much time in seclusion, huh? I’ll have to work harder to catch up,” Zac muttered before looking at the Great An Merchant with a raised brow.

“I’d be most grateful if the young master would indulge me with a private meeting,” the Merchant said with a refreshing smile that held absolutely no emotion.

“Hard to say no when you put things like that,” Zac said with an equally fake grin as he led the merchant to a side building.

Beyond the promised C-grade Death-attuned item, there were twelve Peak D-grade Natural Treasures neatly arranged in the pouch—four matching each of his Daos. The items were top-notch and suitable for core formation, and they weren’t part of the original agreement. The guild had done their homework since they seemed to know exactly what he needed. They’d probably investigated what items he traded for in the bazaar.

Since there was no way a mercantile clan would give away money without reason, the Great An wanted something from him. Zac was more than happy to oblige. His three attendants represented factions with deep coffers, and part of the reason he came back was to see if there was some way to extract more benefits. The items he needed could undoubtedly be bought at the markets, but any item he got from the trio was Potentiality or Imperial Merit saved.

“That’s it?” Zac asked a minute later. “You just need me to mention your consortia in front of the princess? Not seal an agreement or something?”

“A mention is all my elders ask for,” Yimin confirmed.

“Astora’s stock must have gone up after the Belial descendant got himself killed. And when she rises within her clan, she might need helpers who aren’t too embroiled in the political scene or other branches of her family,” Zac mused as he observed Yimin’s reaction. “At that point, she might remember my words—the words of someone who helped secure her position.”

“The Matriarch simply wished to extend an olive branch after witnessing Princess Theomore’s valiant leadership at Transformation Docks,” Yimin said.

“Fine, I’ll mention Great An next time we meet,” Zac promised.

The other two attendants were still hanging around when Zac returned. “I forgot, who were you again?”

“Doklos, Arcana Phalanx,” the soldier said, confirming Zac’s guess.

“Severus,” the wiry information extractor said. “We also need a word.”

Zac thickened his skin and adopted a troubled expression. “Certainly, if the stars align. My schedule is quite full, and our time here is limited.”

The soldier scoffed, but he clearly wasn’t one of the rigid soldiers governed by rules and honor. He took out another pouch that contained two Peak D-grade Natural Treasures steeped in conflict. The offering paled compared to the merchant’s, but his ask was also quite simple.

The soldier mainly wanted clarifying information about what happened to his comrade on Sevona’s island. Zac shared what he knew, which wasn’t much. He neither saw Anton Eilin during his travels in the archipelago nor on Sevona’s island. Zac didn’t even know he’d been a participant in the hunt before seeing the corpse.

In addition, Doklos asked for insights into the invaders, and he purchased Zac’s Signet Ring for another Natural Treasure. It was a great trade for Zac, who no longer needed his identity as a member of the Explorer Guild. The conflict-attuned materials provided by the Imperial Army were top-notch, while his Dao of Conflict was the hardest to source materials for.

“Well?” Zac said after turning to the final attendant.

“Sorry, I don’t have a bribe,” the interrogator said before tossing over an Information Jade. “I figured this was more up your alley anyhow.”

“What’s more up my alley than free money?” Zac scoffed before scanning the contents. “Huh. Bounties?”

“A few Sealbearers decided to take advantage of the chaos at Transformation Docks to enrich themselves,” Severus said, his eyes burning with anger.

“If this is about me making a few—”

“Not like you. You may have pushed the envelope, but you acted within the law. These scum murdered fellow Sealbearers or joined the invaders in slaughtering families in the Transformation Docks. They thought they could hide their actions or pin them on their doppelgangers, but they overestimated their abilities,” Severus said.

“The Mercurial Court has decided not to interfere, citing that the crimes were committed outside their domain. They believe each Sealbearer is a carrier of destiny, so they will let fate take its course. Nevertheless, the Magistrate will use these criminals to make a statement that no one is above the law.”

“Since when?” Doklos scoffed.

Severus gave the soldier a scathing look before continuing. “Duke Grand Dream has granted us permission to perform our duty within Citadel. There are five targets. If you can bring two of them to justice, we’ll provide the item you originally wanted.”

“Really?” Zac said, his eyes growing heated as he stared at the Information Jade.

It wasn’t hard to figure out which item Severus was referring to. Since Great An and the army had provided C-grade Treasures of Death and Conflict respectively, Zac had tried to get a Life-attuned item from the Imperial Magistrate. They’d rejected him since Everit Draom had never shown any inclination toward the Dao of Life, instead providing the supportive C-grade treasure.

“Have they arrived already? How do I cash in the bounties?” Zac asked.

C-grade treasures suitable for Inner Worlds were much rarer than items that could be used in core formations. Their requirements were extremely stringent since even Mortals mostly relied on drawing matter from the Cosmic Sea when forming their Inner Worlds. Zac had no idea where to even begin to look for such an item after leaving the trial, so getting his hands on it now and completing the kit would be a godsend.

Especially when the mission was so easy. Only one of the five listed targets made Zac wary. He was confident in taking out the other four without much issue.

“Three are confirmed to have appeared in the merit hall, but their current whereabouts are unknown,” Severus said, glancing at the soldier. “You should know that you’re not the only one qu