At the very bottom of Genesis Lake, hundreds of kilometers from Sword King Mountain, Fang Mo had carved himself a small cultivation cave directly into the bedrock.

It was small, but cozy.

Using a few formation disks he kept the water from coming in and created pockets of air to create a soft, calming breeze as well as breathable air. As a precaution, he added a few obscuring formations to hide his presence as much as possible.

Even though cultivators in the Soul Shattering Stage did not require such a thing as air, food, water and sleep to survive, it was something that was difficult to let go of. Surviving off true essence alone wasn't all that pleasing, although extremely convenient.

Out of his storage ring he had placed a bed, a meditation mat and a workbench with a large book resting right on top. This large book was his rune compendium. The knowledge he had acquired and refined over the past thousand years.

Since Lin Jian's breakthrough, he had secluded himself, aiming to create a new rune and further solidify his grasp of space-time laws. His comprehension and practical use of these concepts were already relatively advanced, his techniques and power application already being at the very limits of what was possible with his cultivation.

However, what he lacked were a few crucial links to fully comprehend the interconnections of these concepts.

Fortunately, Tyler had provided the missing piece. Recognizing the relationship between space as the canvas and time as the paint, Fang Mo skillfully fused two long-standing techniques which had been in the Flawless realm, realizing that one could not manipulate space, without time and alter time, without manipulating space.

Fang Mo recognized that he was already on the cusp of a breakthrough long before his interaction with Tyler, and these missing links were the final pieces of the puzzle. Without them, he might have achieved the breakthrough naturally in the next few decades.

Being a 6th Soul Shattering cultivator, he knew that eventually, if he ever wanted to push past the shackles of mortality, he’d have to establish his path properly and consolidate a Soul Palace to reach the ascendant realm.

For that to happen, he still had a lot of work to put in when it came to understanding laws and applying them to techniques and his cultivation method.

Luckily, when he was a Qi Transformation youth, he had explored an ancient ruin and had found a hidden realm within that had contained a trial for the full legacy of an ascendant cultivator from a different plane of existence, the trial of the Timeless Blade.

Over the course of fifteen long years, the trial had tested Fang Mo's understanding of runes at every turn. It had pushed him to his limits and beyond, gradually enhancing his cultivation step by step until he stood at the pinnacle of the Qi Transformation realm. It was a grueling journey, but one that had forged him into a more formidable cultivator.

This legacy wasn’t anything anybody else could acquire or replicate either.

It was inscribed on a token with a special formation designed to etch it into its reader’s mind. When he infused some of his Qi to read its content, it caused the token to flood his mind with various cultivation techniques, martial arts stances and truths about the world of cultivation.

Having expended all of its energies to convey that knowledge, the token disintegrated, leaving an indelible mark on his mind. It was akin to a codex-level technique, but significantly more advanced.

This transfer of knowledge was all-encompassing, fundamentally altering his understanding of life itself.

That was one of the few reasons why he was amongst the top cultivators on this planet even though he wasn't an Ascendant. The cultivation techniques he had received were all heaven-grade and most of them focused on imparting snippets of laws while others focused solely on developing tremendous foundations, beyond what most cultivators could achieve with the system alone.

With that also came the knowledge that every ascendant would one day learn. This planet, however mighty their cultivators may be, was just one tiny realm amongst a sea of realms.

Up there, in the cosmos, Ascendants were nothing but planetary lords at best. What did that even matter to rulers of entire clusters or even entire realms?

Coming to know how his deceased new master had died had taught him a lesson he would never forget.

Do not underestimate the stars.

With this foreign knowledge from a different plane, he had made leaps and bounds in his cultivation. It had played a huge role at first, but ultimately it was his out of the ordinary talent and intellect that had got him where he was today accompanied with the sobering thoughts of how easy Ascendant cultivators could perish out there in space.

From a tender age, he had dedicated himself to the arduous task of mastering the intricacies of runes, a discipline focused on the art of various equipment enhancement.

This unique practice revolved around imbuing the nature of the tool you were working on with enhanced properties by skillfully inscribing patterns onto them.

He had always been an extremely calm and patient man with a deep curiosity for the inner workings of the world and through his trial of the Timeless Blade, had learned to be extremely adaptable and to work well in isolation.

After months of practice and studies, he was ready and got to work.

From within his storage space, he retrieved his blade, Starfall's Edge, and carefully placed it on the workbench before him.

Next, he gathered the numerous materials that had long gathered dust within his storage and embarked on the demanding endeavor of meticulously refining them into a fine powder. If anyone had known the cost of these materials, most cultivators would cry rivers of blood at the expense.

With these preparations in place, he embarked on a solitary journey, driven by the enduring aspiration set forth in the Timeless Blade's legacy: the creation of a singular sword endowed with the power to tear through the very fabric of space-time itself.

His latest creation, guided by his profound understanding of the laws, was a concentrated effort aimed precisely at breaking that link between time and space. This endeavor took the form of a rune that he aptly named "Severing Causality."

Now it was time to actually engrave that rune into the treasure blade.

***

Hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, in the Heartlands.

Leticia had been traveling for months, living off the wilds, hunting monsters and gathering rare materials when she came across it. She had heard through a divination cultivator that many auspicious events would be happening in the northern territories in the following years.

Therefore, her main goal by going all the way to Veridian Peaks was to perhaps find treasures or hidden pockets of space within the gigantic lakes and acquire any materials with a water-affinity.

She had never anticipated that just a few weeks after her arrival, she would bear witness to the awakening of such an ancient soul and nearly face her demise when the renowned Timeless Blade emerged to protect it.

The Sword King's breakthrough was hardly a significant concern, given that the true threat in that situation was the 6th Soul Shattering Fang Mo.

Upon returning home, she received a hero's welcome, regarded as nothing less than a triumphant war hero due to her status as the daughter of Maximus Freeman, one of the most formidable beings in the history of Earth's cultivation.

What remained a well-guarded secret, known solely to her father's attendant, who also happened to be the reigning emperor of the Heartlands, was that Maximus had been living in isolation, steadily recuperating for centuries, much like the enduring roots of an eternal tree.

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The Heartlands, nestled at the geographical heart of what was once America, boasted its renowned Heartwood trees, defining the landscape. In the Imperial Capital, this unique essence was preserved, with every structure crafted from wood.

The most opulent establishments even resided within the giant trees themselves, creating a scenery that seemed plucked from the pages of a wood-elf fantasy tale.

While sword cultivators dominated the Veridian Peaks and spear cultivators ruled the York Empire, the Heartlands were a haven for nature-loving druids and mystical magicians.

As Leiticia strolled through the capital, she made her way to her ultimate destination—the Imperial Palace.

The sights that greeted her were a testament to the harmonious fusion of nature and architecture. Towering Heartwood trees formed the palace's pillars, their branches interwoven to create a magnificent canopy above.

Elaborate wooden walkways wound through lush gardens, and crystalline streams meandered beneath delicate wooden bridges.

Everywhere she looked, vibrant greenery and the tranquil sounds of nature enveloped the imperial residence. It was a palace that embodied the very soul of the Heartlands, a place where the line between the man-made and the natural world blurred into a seamless tapestry of beauty.

This was home.

Walking in the throne room, she was welcomed by the emperor himself. “Lady Freeman, welcome home. I had not expected you for at least a few more months. Did something happen?”

The emperor, Paul Thorne, had been her confidant all her life as he was her father’s best friend and attendant. So, she hid nothing. “Hello uncle. It’s good to see you. I unfortunately had to return a bit early due to what happened in Veridian Peaks and I think I need to rouse father from his deep sleep.”

"Oh? Then shall we head down to Heaven's Root and talk on the way about other things," the old emperor suggested.

The old emperor and the young woman walked side by side, discussing the recent events within the empire, the treasures she had acquired on her journey, and any recent progress in her cultivation.

Deep within the Imperial Palace, concealed beneath the emperor's private chambers, a hidden staircase had been meticulously carved into the earth's mantle.

It led them to a secluded chamber known as Heaven's Spire, a sanctum of secrets veiled beneath layers of soil and stone. At the entrance stood a massive, imposing door, its structure a curious amalgamation of ancient roots and hardened earth. It radiated an aura of age-old mystique, guarding the secrets that lay beyond.

Before the entrance, an intricate array of formations stood as the first line of defense. These meticulously arranged formations were designed to activate an arsenal of defensive treasures at the slightest intrusion. Without the proper key or the strength of an Ascendant cultivator, breaching this formidable barrier was an insurmountable task.

Even among ascendants, only those with extraordinary power and patience could hope to succeed. It would probably still take them several days of relentless effort, exacting a heavy toll on the intruder.

After successfully surviving that assault, they’d have to come face to face with an ascendant cultivator in his own domain, something most would never dare to attempt.

Leticia and Paul simultaneously produced their halves of the key, and as they joined the pieces together, a surge of potent energy rippled through the air. The ancient roots forming the door responded to this mystical resonance, as if acknowledging their rightful bearers.

Slowly but surely, the intertwined mass of roots began to unravel, transforming into a tunnel-like passage that allowed both of them to pass through unimpeded. The power of their combined keys had unlocked the path to the secretive chamber beyond.

The moment they had passed through the entrance, it immediately collapsed back on itself and the key broke back into two halves. In front of the duo stood a throne made of Heaven’s Root, an Ascendant rank carnivorous plant.

Seated upon the throne was a figure that appeared to have been born directly from the very roots that enveloped him. Despite his uncanny origin, he did not possess the appearance of an elderly being.

Instead, he resembled an eternal statue meticulously carved from wood, with skin as flawless and unblemished as that of a newborn, and features that suggested a man in his thirties. His presence exuded an aura of timeless wisdom and regal authority.

As the man sensed the arrival of his cherished daughter and Paul Thorne, or his other name, Heaven’s Root nascent spirit, his eyes gradually opened, emitting a sound reminiscent of the creaking of old tree bark being peeled away.

"Leticia... How... grown... you... look... How... long... has... it... been...?" Maximus uttered, his voice resembling the timeworn resonance of an ancient tree’s branches moving around.

“Father, you look better. We have not seen each other in over three hundred years.” she replied.

“Three… hundred… years… Mh.. Perhaps.. it’s .. why.. I .. finally.. Feel.. so .. much. Better.”

“You also look better, father. Your injury seems completely gone. How does it feel?”

*Creak*

Maximus shifted his position, slowly rising from his throne woven from roots.

After a long time, he finally stood up and stretched, creaking and cracking with every movement. But every time he moved, his movements became faster, more fluid and his skin slowly returned to its natural color.

Drawing in a deep breath, he closed his eyes, immersing himself in a moment of profound concentration. As he exhaled, his eyes slowly opened, and they radiated the same deep shade of purple as his daughter's.

Plants blossomed under his feet, and a radiating aura of pure life emanated from his person.

“Ahhhhh. I have not felt this good in years..! Another hundred years and I should finally be healed.” the man exclaimed. “What brings you here?” Maximus said, returning his attention to his daughter.

“Father…” She went on to explain the whole situation, the Timeless Blade’s breakthrough and re-emergence, the sudden breakthrough of the Sword King and most importantly… That extremely ancient soul fluctuation.

Maximus, seeking confirmation, extended his connection from his soul palace to the external world and projected fragments of his soul outward. With a focused intent, he inquired, "Does this appear to be it?"

Feeling that wave of ancient, potent and ethereal power, Leticia nodded furiously, unable to even take a breath. Maximus swiftly sealed this power back into his inner world so he didn’t permanently injure his daughter.

Fuuuuuu. Letting out a single short breath, Leticia added. “Yes, that’s it but.. It was so much weaker. Like, if I didn’t know any better I would guess that this soul had only a millionth of your power. It was really odd, I can’t really describe it.”

“Weaker..? Hmm.” Maximus fell into thoughts for a long time.

Then, his eyes shined like never before and he recalled one of the last things the seniors from the Tutorial over 10,000 years ago had told them.

With each realm that the Architect assimilates into his plane, there are inevitably a handful of fortunate souls who never manage to transition into the tutorial phase.

Instead, they find themselves trapped in the liminal spaces between realms, a state that can persist for anywhere from five to twenty thousand years where their souls are encased in a palace, making their path rather interesting.

If you ever meet them or hear about their resurgence, the Architect demands that you either help them or challenge them.

From the knowledge he had today, and from what he and many others had gotten from the tutorial, he understood how heavenly the entity known as the Architect was.

If Ascendants were the peak of a planet, the Architect was the lord of a whole plane of existence. How many of these were there, he didn’t know. Nor did he know how many steps there was between ascendance and the Architect.

With that information, Maximus grew serious and for the first time in a thousand years, he issued an order to the planet’s sole Heaven’s Root spirit, infusing his soul power and origin energy into its slave seal.

“You hold down Heaven’s Spire Vine. We’re going to Veridian Peaks.”

Leticia wasn’t expecting to see her father react this way when all she wanted was to seek guidance on a potentially rare and valuable soul treasure being born in Veridian Peaks…

For as far as she was alive, she had only seen her father for the first few decades of her life and now, he was finally out of seclusion!

“Leticia, my dearest daughter. You’re coming with me, Veridian Peaks did not exist when I went into seclusion, so you’ll have to guide me to that Sword King and we can use this time to reconnect.”

Excited, she couldn’t contain her happiness and smiled as she nodded heavily. “Yes father!” She was finally going to spend time with her father, the legendary ascendant, Freedom Incarnate.

Before leaving his sanctuary, he turned to the Heaven’s Root spirit, “Oh this trip might take a little while. You know me, I can’t stand all this flying around and teleportation crap.”

“Understood, master.”

Leticia noticed the weird interactions between both men and frowned slightly, she had no clue that they were in a master/slave contract and always thought they were best friends.

Like this, the legendary Shattering Ancestor returned to the world, but not one person knew about it, nor could they find out.

***

On that particular day, Tyler dedicated the entirety of his time to the tranquil shores of Serenity Lake.

He meticulously collected water from the lake, each gulp a deliberate act, and, employing the same meticulous process, expelled the qi-depleted waters that had settled in the deepest recesses of his inner world.

This endeavor, while seemingly uneventful on the surface, sent ripples of disturbance through the depths of the lake, reaching down to where fish swam, concealed tens of meters beneath the water's surface.

Fortunately, Tyler's divine sense allowed him to detect the presence of a few of these elusive sea formation fishes, prompting him to navigate with great care to avoid disrupting the fragile underwater ecosystems and causing his own demise by accident.

Rank 3 Creatures were not to be messed with. Perhaps Tyler could force them away with a full powered One Finger, One Sword, but he wasn’t confident.

As the day waned, he successfully replaced approximately a quarter of the entire sea within his inner world with the enriched, qi-laden waters from Serenity Lake.

It was a critical step in his ongoing journey, as he prepared himself for the ambitious undertaking of breaking multiple acupoints in the days that lay ahead and for that, he’d require a massive amount of Qi.