Defiance of the Fall Chapter 1430: Mummy

A low growl emanated from [Verun’s Bite], held firmly in Zac’s grasp. Having been partners for so long, Verun intuitively understood Zac’s thoughts, and the Tool Spirit seemed to concur. She hadn’t forgotten their prior encounter with the mummified individual, where her blade had failed to even scratch his palm. While perhaps not the most honorable act, dispatching him now would eliminate potential future complications.

However, this course of action was ill-advised for several reasons. Firstly, they were within the precincts of the Hollow Court, making them fellow disciples under the purview of the Limitless Empire. Terminating him would incite a relentless pursuit with Zac as the quarry instead of the hunter. Even if he managed to reach the fringes of the Fuxi Halls’ memory domain and eliminate the man outside, his actions would inevitably attract significant attention.

Furthermore, Zac had been led here by a formidable Templar operating under Roan’s direct orders. It was highly probable that they were still monitoring his movements. Lastly, the priest had hinted that the answers Zac sought might be closer than he anticipated, and this mummified man could very well be the key to completing his objective.

If Zac’s hypothesis regarding the man’s origins held true, he possessed knowledge of immense value. Whether it pertained to insider information about the Hollow Court, the location of the Primo’s treasure, or clarification on the sudden emergence of the Left Imperial Palace, this mummy represented his most promising lead.

“Well, it appears to be your fortunate day,” Zac remarked with a wry smile, cautiously advancing.

Appearances could be deceiving, and Ramses might possess hidden automated defenses programmed to target any approaching individual. Yet, Zac’s danger sense remained dormant, even as he began to examine the mummy’s attire.

“I’ll take to calling you Ramses, seeing as you’ve decided to turn into a mummy,” Zac quipped, placing his hand upon the man’s chest.

His dire condition was no pretense. In fact, Zac’s former adversary was in an even more precarious state than his withered appearance suggested. It was as if his very being had been stripped of all moisture. His muscles resembled desiccated sinews, akin to jerky, devoid of any semblance of Vigor. His internal organs had ceased functioning, and his vascular system had completely collapsed. Not a single drop of fluid remained, and he was too far depleted to possibly recover.

The scene bore a disturbing familiarity. Zac warily scanned his surroundings once more. Could the Undead Empire’s rebels have infiltrated the area with a contingent of vampires from the Eternal Clan after Kator’s demise? The Eternal Clan was known to possess an affinity with the Hollow Court that was above average. While not exactly Edgewalkers who commanded dominion over both Life and Death, their Dao of Blood undeniably blurred such distinctions in ways Zac was still struggling to fully comprehend.

Regardless of the potential, there were no discernible traces of blood arts or the Dao of Death upon the unconscious man. There were no open wounds or foreign Daos present—nothing to indicate a conflict or a deviation in his Cultivation. He was simply drained, both spiritually and physically. His Cosmic Core mirrored his body’s state, utterly exhausted, functioning no better than a common stone.

“Nothing but an empty shell. The Four Desolates?” Zac mused with a contemplative frown, channeling some of his spiritual essence.

The transferred essence dissipated without offering any palpable improvement. It was as if the mummy’s inherent potential had been fully depleted along with everything else, rendering recovery impossible. This reminded Zac of the Four Desolates’ attempt to extinguish his Energy, Cultivation, Dao, and Longevity in their effort to restore cosmic balance. Could Ramses’ current condition be the result of a failed tribulation?

Most Hegemons would have succumbed by now. An exceptionally resilient constitution had enabled Ramses to persevere, and the faint flame of his life was sustained by a meager trickle of Faith Energy provided by the very land itself. The mountain shared the same dire fate as its inhabitant, seeming to sacrifice its own regeneration to sustain him. Observing the mountain’s condition, Zac realized he would have been too late had he emerged from his seclusion even a week later.

Given his “patient’s” extreme fragility, Zac could not simply administer a barrage of pills or flood him with Creation Energy. Even if Ramses’ body did not reject the treatment, it would be akin to force-feeding a starving individual rich, heavy meals. The mere act of relocating Ramses to the cultivation cave might prove fatal. Every action required careful consideration and precise execution, compelling Zac to continue his search.

Investigating the internal structure of a defenseless elite from the Eternal Storm proved to be an enlightening experience. Ramses’ Cultivation did not adhere to the established principles of the System, nor did it follow the more rudimentary methods of ancient cultivators. The remnants of his pathways resembled intricate Sanskrit or primordial runes rather than geometric fractals, transforming his entire being into a unique scripture inscribed in the language of the Dao.

Instead of distinct skill fractals, abilities manifested as profound mantras integrated into his network. This approach embraced a holistic philosophy, starkly contrasting with the modular cultivation system introduced by the System. The chosen path bore a resemblance to an Izh’Rak’s Reaver’s skeleton; damaging a single section of the sutra would inflict more severe consequences than harming conventional pathways.

It was far beyond simply rerouting energy flow or abandoning a particular skill. The predicament was akin to attempting to activate an array with a missing flag. Furthermore, the inherent bottlenecks were significantly more arduous. Ramses likely had to upgrade all his pathways and skills concurrently to avert destabilization, an feat that would be impossible without specialized resources.

Zac would be naive to attribute this to the ignorance of a society isolated from the Multiverse Heartlands. The apex factions of the Eternal Storm were well aware of the integrated cultivation societies; they deliberately chose cultivation methods better suited to their specific needs and available resources. The Technocrats served as a prime illustration of this.

Such stringent demands, however, promised substantial rewards. Ascending to a human formation likely facilitated a smoother energy flow, enhanced synergy, and achieved a natural, flawless harmonization of one’s Dao. This harmonization was particularly crucial when progressing through the higher echelons of cultivation.

Academic interest alone was insufficient to divert Zac from his current objective. He meticulously assessed and examined every facet of the man’s cultivation, occasionally introducing subtle streams of Dao or energy to observe the reaction. Given Ramses' background as a body refiner with extensive accomplishments, there remained a possibility for his recovery.

Everything hinged on the discoveries Zac would make during his mental exploration. He was acutely aware of the devastating implications of soul damage, a lesson painfully learned from Alea's ordeal. Compounding the issue, Ramses appeared incapable of refining any medicinal aids. If his soul had fractured during the unfortunate event, Zac would be powerless to intervene.

Zac’s scattered thoughts abruptly converged as his investigation provoked a potent reaction. Ramses’ Soul Aperture underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming a vast sutra that emanated intense Imperial Faith. This concealed pattern, like a cornered beast facing an intrusion, marshaled its forces to retaliate fiercely.

Though its former glory had waned, it still possessed sufficient might to cause Zac to hesitate. The impact wasn't solely due to sheer power; its damaged state could not conceal its profound origins. It distinctly surpassed the quality a Hegemon could refine, evoking the same sense Zac experienced from his Chaos Motes or the fruits of the Void Tree—concepts directly originating from a Grand Dao.

The mantra serving as Ramses’ Soul Aperture was undoubtedly the core of his peculiar cultivation. It was either a legacy passed down through his bloodline or directly bestowed by a senior member of his clan. More astonishingly, Zac had recently encountered a nearly identical presence. It was the stone etched within his Bloodline Vision by Laondio, possibly the initial manifestation of the term “Limitless Empire.” This peculiar tapestry conveyed the same profound meaning as those two runes.

This discovery strongly supported Zac’s hypothesis. These individuals were indeed descendants of the Limitless Empire, possibly even direct descendants of Laondio Evrodok. They had somehow evaded the great purge and persisted in the remote depths of the Eternal Storm to this very day. Remarkably, their existence had not only escaped the notice of the Heavens but the Pesvati Rift had also endured, all while remaining in close proximity to their ancient adversaries, the Technocrats.

Then again, was this outcome truly unexpected? If Laondio possessed the ability to erase Karz’s very existence and monopolize an entire Dao Peak, how difficult could it be to establish a sanctuary for a line of descendants? Assuming that was indeed their true nature.

Zac had never encountered any mention of descendants or an imperial clan; only the Emperor and his devoted followers were ever referenced. Laondio also did not strike Zac as the type to have them, regardless of his apparent agreeableness in Karz’s visions. Based on Zac’s observations and inferences, he strongly aligned with his ancestor's mindset.

Laondio was not inherently malicious, but he was exceptionally dangerous and singularly driven by his grand ambition. His adversaries vanished without a trace, and he abandoned both his master and sect during the cataclysm that ravaged the Grand Expanse. It was this ruthless pursuit of the Dao that convinced Karz that Laondio would inevitably target his Bloodline sooner or later. An individual like that would not bother with Dao Companions or raising descendants unless they served his ultimate objectives.

The enigmatic tapestry quickly settled. After a gentle touch from Zac’s Mental Tendril for confirmation, it reformed into the guise of a typical Soul Aperture. It seemed the recognition was mutual. Zac peered at the mummy, lost in thought. All indicators suggested Ramses was the true origin of the calamity. But how could a Late Hegemon cause such devastation, and what was its connection to Zac’s own critical breakthrough?

Zac dedicated the following day to finding methods for enhancing Ramses’s condition. Regardless of the pill or decoction he administered, the outcome remained unchanged. It truly appeared as though Ramses had been forsaken by the Heavens, rendering him incapable of reclaiming what he had lost.

“If the Heavens deny you, I shall simply obscure their sight for a time. If you can perceive my words, you must persist,” Zac declared, subsequently unleashing [Void Zone] to encompass half the mountain.

Any residual spirituality that had begun to recover on the mountain was instantly suppressed, establishing a domain utterly detached from the Cosmos. This included the faint trickle of Imperial Faith that had sustained Ramses until now, and Zac observed his life force flicker precariously. Wasting no time, Zac expertly channeled his Dao of Life through Ramses’s body while simultaneously guiding a diluted elixir down his gullet.

It proved effective. Within the confines of [Void Zone], the peculiar impediment no longer afflicted Ramses. His body began to assimilate, drawing the medicinal essence of the elixir into itself. Yet, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Zac was compelled to deactivate his Bloodline Talent after a mere five seconds. Any prolonged exposure would have resulted in Ramses perishing from the Void itself, rather than his existing affliction.

It took twenty minutes before Ramses attained stability, at which point his state was marginally improved from before. Having identified a viable strategy, Zac replicated the process hundreds of times over the subsequent three days. The patient’s physique finally reached a state where his internal organs showed signs of function, and barely visible blood began to circulate through his veins.

Not long after, Ramses’s Cosmic Core commenced drawing power from its environment. Zac, acting as a conduit for cultivation, had somehow disrupted the established order and initiated Ramses’s re-integration with the Cosmos. Nevertheless, the recovery proceeded at a glacial pace. Despite Ramses being human, his distinctive cultivation path rendered the majority of Zac’s medicines incompatible.

This incompatibility was especially pronounced for his highly unorthodox soul. The artificial Soul Aperture completely disregarded all the soul-strengthening pills Zac provided. Though not a physician, Zac estimated it might take weeks before Ramses spontaneously awoke. Awakening, however, was merely the initial step. While Ramses might practice body tempering, it did not equip him with the resilience of an indestructible cockroach like Zac.

Ramses would likely be incapacitated for at least a year, unless Zac could procure a potent magical tonic. Whether he could fully restore his cultivation remained uncertain, a detail Zac did not particularly concern himself with. From his perspective, Ramses remaining in a weakened state was arguably for the better.

What truly mattered was the knowledge sequestered within Ramses’s mind. Zac had meticulously examined his possessions and the cultivation cave multiple times between treatment sessions. There was no trace of Spatial Treasures, concealed chambers, or secret documents. Any information Ramses held would necessitate extraction through interrogation, and Zac lacked both the time and the inclination to play the role of caregiver until Ramses was conscious and coherent.

With Ramses now stabilized, it was imperative to move forward. While the Void might have been the sole means to reverse Ramses’s crisis, the advantages of exposing him to it had reached their peak. Zac would be better served by seeking an actual healer or a soul-fortifying technique derived from Imperial Faith. Such remedies held a reasonable prospect of efficacy for Ramses.

Given that the surrounding mountains were once replete with Imperial Faith, suitable Natural Treasures might still exist. Furthermore, the Templar not only guided him to Ramses but also advised Zac to traverse the mountains and valleys. Should that endeavor prove fruitless, Fuxi Halls likely possessed an exchange pavilion somewhere. Zac would not hesitate to expend a few hundred points of Longanimity for an item that could expedite Ramses’s awakening by several weeks.

Entrusting all hope to Ramses for answers was not Zac’s preferred approach. Venturing into Fuxi Halls also presented an opportunity to independently investigate clues concerning the Primo.

“Do not hold it against me. This is for your own security,” Zac stated as he erected a series of defensive barriers and communication jammers around the cave, effectively transforming it into a secure confinement.

With Ramses’s cultivation in ruins, he could strike his head against the shields for years without achieving anything. Ample water and sustenance, sufficient for several months, were also left by his bedside. While by no means an infallible method, restraining Ramses with sealing treasures, akin to Ogras’s treatment of Tavza, would have been a death sentence.

The mountain range remained largely unchanged. A mere few days was insufficient for nature's unaided recovery, making the green expanse introduced by the priest all the more conspicuous. Zac found it perplexing. Why was there no immediate reconstruction? Where had everyone vanished to? The Limitless Empire was not the sort of entity to permit nature's slow healing. They ought to be exerting their dominance over the battered landscape, molding it to their requirements.

The palaces atop the peaks that had weathered the tribulation now stood deserted. Zac could not detect any spiritual fluctuations emanating from any direction—not even the distinct aura belonging to the Margrave’s Heavenly Territory. Had it not been for his recent encounter with the priest, Zac might have believed he had been expelled from the memory domain upon exiting the Judgment Plateau.

No calls of treasure or accumulations of fate echoed in any direction Zac turned. He retrieved the Primo’s feather from his Spatial Ring. He had performed this action numerous times while growing weary of Ramses's sluggish recovery. The feather still offered no reaction to its surroundings and stubbornly resisted Zac’s attempts to imbue it with any of his Daos. Not even the Void could breach the absolute Death it contained.

With no other leads, Zac directed his flight towards the source from which he had initially detected the Margrave’s aura. Zac surmised that the disciples of Fuxi Halls would have sought refuge with him when the Heavens descended. The undulating mountains and profound valleys seemed to stretch endlessly, their colossal scale rendering Zac’s progress slower than it actually was.

Nevertheless, after hours of continuous flight, Zac began to observe a shift in the environment. The further he journeyed from the tribulation’s focal point, the more intact the mountains appeared. Fewer peaks had been devastated by Heavenly wrath, and the fissures scarring their surfaces were less severe. They also retained more spiritual energy, although it was still less than what could be found in the outer fringes. Zac found it necessary to utilize Cosmic Crystals to sustain his own Qi reserves.

With diminished structural damage, the signs of natural restoration were more advanced. Life and Death energies originated from above, while Imperial Faith cascapped into the depleted mountains. Surpassing both of these forces was the void energy seeping through the deep fissures in the valleys. Zac abruptly halted his flight and closed his eyes. Ten seconds later, a Void Vortex materialized before him.

His hand encountered solid rock on his initial attempt to send it through. The aim was slightly off, so Zac conjured a second vortex miles beneath the surface. This time, Zac had barely enough time to extend a finger before he recoiled with a pained grunt. There was no need to collapse the vortex; it had been violently disrupted by an unexpected surge of energy that completely incinerated his fingertip.

Undeterred, Zac initiated a third attempt. Success! He managed to retrieve a small cluster of subterranean moss. The instant it was exposed to the open air, it began to disintegrate, and reactivating [Void Zone] offered no assistance. This middle D-grade Void Plant was of no use to his cultivation, so Zac promptly deposited it into [Fuxi Mountain Gate] before it completely decayed. It was a minuscule addition, but every contribution was significant.

Over the ensuing day, Zac detected six additional Void Treasures, all situated more than five miles deep underground. The Void Energy emanated from even greater depths, rising towards the surface as if drawn by an unseen force. None of the discovered items were particularly remarkable, yet each newfound treasure intensified Zac’s intrigue regarding Fuxi Halls' subterranean domain.

Could it be connected to a Lower Realm, perhaps the Lowest Plane they had glimpsed within the Hidden Earth Abode? Or did their excavations delve deeper, seeking the very source? What other astonishing discoveries lay hidden beneath? The Void's potency increased with depth, and his treasure sense could only barely graze its true extent. Perhaps C-grade and even B-grade Void Treasures awaited discovery below.