Chapter 1,365 – Potentiality

Zac walked to the side and draped himself in his new Outer Court Disciple garb. Its design veered toward the wide robes of Imperial Scholars, and its automatic fitting couldn’t resolve the fundamental mismatch with his brutish frame. Already used to such things, Zac took out the booklet and Outer Disciple token to figure out the details that Old Sixth glossed over.

By dripping his blood, Zac established ownership, and a series of flutters appeared in his mind. The feeling was similar to his Treasure Sense, where he could feel a slight pull from seven distant locations. Curious about what it meant, Zac infused his will and received a short prompt in return.

[Potentiality: 837]

[Imperial Merit: 63,838]

Potentiality clearly wasn’t a grading of his talent. It was the name for the Mercurial Court’s internal currency, likely related to the potential to change fate, going by Old Sixth’s cryptic hints. Zac had no way of gauging whether 837 was a high number, but it didn’t seem likely. He hadn’t accomplished much in the way of assisting the Mercurial Court as he had the Hollow Court. Most likely, it was connected to his actions in the Peregrine Ocean. He’d done exactly what Old Sixth wanted by adding unpredictable variables to their arrangements.

The token didn’t explain its fated connections, so Zac turned to the booklet. The book only listed a dozen obvious rules, such as not harming fellow disciples and that Potentiality could be used to access various resources. Oddly enough, the introduction also stated that most opportunities could be utilized for free if one didn’t want to use merit. If that were possible, what was the point of accumulating Imperial Merit or the internal point system?

Next, Zac learned that the provided array disk only had one feature. It could “actuate fate,” whatever that meant. There were also a few points specifically pertinent to outside visitors. Zac was delighted to learn his attendants could be brought over as soon as he’d claimed a residence. They didn’t need to cross the Peregrine Ocean as he did, though they would be limited to the status of Servant Disciples.

Zac didn’t care about that part so much as the fact they still held extremely valuable resources as part of their deal. Continuing on, the booklet listed a huge number of services and holy regions, drastically surpassing Rava’s already impressive offering. The Mercurial Court was no worse than a Peak Sect, holding every single type of facility imaginable.

So long as Zac had the money, he could do anything: upgrade his treasures or get new ones—there were over a dozen different treasuries. There were unique cultivation grounds and unique marks left by Supremacies. Just as Xiphos promised during their first meeting, even Cosmic Natal Treasures were mentioned.

The book only mentioned the possibility of “renting” such supreme treasures, and even that exceeded what Zac could afford. The price was worth it. Zac knew well how valuable resources like the Axe Coliseum’s [Big Boss’s Big Wall] were. He could only imagine the benefits of meditating in front of a supreme treasure born during the Big Bang.

Most of the listed opportunities veered toward the Peaks of Continuum and Fantasy, but even someone like Zac could keep himself occupied for millennia. Some of the Holy Grounds seemed to be the size of worlds, indicating the Mercurial Court’s true size was massive.

The residential districts were also mentioned, and Zac was happy to learn Outer Disciples would get their own manor with a courtyard. However, there was no mention of the district’s location. For that matter, the booklet didn’t explain where anything was, not even any restricted regions or the Mercurial Court’s central structure. There were only repeated mentions of ‘The Citadel,’ which Zac assumed was the huge city.

“Gimme, gimme,” Esmeralda urged while impatiently tapping Zac’s forehead.

Zac shrugged and handed her the booklet while taking out the Information Jade. It didn’t hold any communal cultivation method or a map. Instead, there were thousands upon thousands of images with short descriptions. Skimming it, Zac found images of everything from an average Outer Court Disciple’s manor to the Scripture Tower that held even A-grade manuals.

There were no further explanations inside the [Mercurial Sack], so Zac approached a nearby Outer Disciple. “Excuse me, could I ask where the quarters for Outer Disciples are located?”

“Oh, is senior one of the visitors?” the young woman said with interest, her gaze shifting between Esmeralda, who was holding a book as large as herself, and the golden crest on Zac’s chest.

“No need to call me senior,” Zac said to the Late E-grade disciple. “My name’s Everit Draom, and I just arrived.”

“Nice to meet you, Lord Draom. I’m Jisi Aetem.”

“Likewise. You’ve heard about us?”

“Only some rumors. You’re supposed to be really talented, like Inner Disciples,” Jisi said, her expression growing slightly odd. “I can’t sense any Space or Illusory powers from you?”

“Uh, yeah. I don’t really do that. I leave that to my companion,” Zac shrugged, pointing at the toad on his head. “So, the quarters?”

“Oh,” the young woman blinked and looked around. “They should be somewhere over there.”

“Should? You don’t know?” Zac said with confusion, following the direction she pointed. “You don’t live there?”

“I do; it’s just that I haven’t been home in a few weeks. Some trial and error is needed to figure out where the district has wandered off to.”

“I’m sorry, what? It wanders?”

“Oh right, things don’t work that way on the outside. Who’s manning the desks? They didn’t explain how things work?” the disciple muttered, glancing toward the administrative building with confusion.

“Something came up, so I got the abridged introduction,” Zac fibbed. “So how do you find your way back home if it wanders?”

“The Citadel is endless, but you eventually learn to intuit things. Of course, the token is still critical. Do you feel it calling you?” Jisi asked.

“Yes, in a couple of directions,” Zac nodded.

“I’m guessing five, right?” Jisi smiled.

Zac nodded at her to continue, seeing no need to mention he could feel two more.

“The five represent the Court’s five permanent fixtures—the residences, the markets, the lecture halls, the Peregrine Isles, and the Conflux Mountain.”

“So just follow the call pointing in that direction, and I’ll get there?” Zac asked.

“I wish it was that easy,” Jisi smiled. “Space isn’t linear, and reality isn’t quite real here. Don’t blindly follow directions or you’ll get lost in the Citadel. You have to adapt to its mercurial nature. Still, it won’t take you too long to find the permanent fixtures. Well, unless you’re unlucky and they’re playing hide and seek.”

“I see. I’ll have to experience it myself,” Zac said. “What if there are more than five calls coming from the token?”

“You just arrived and already feel the call of destiny?” Jisi exclaimed with a mix of surprise and envy. Still, she dutifully explained what it meant. “Any signal beyond the original five represents destined encounters.”

“Is that what the book meant?” Esmeralda eagerly asked, giving Jisi a scare. “If we find something ourselves, it’s free? Just use the [Aligned Array] to open a door?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“I—Ah. Greetings, senior toad,” Jisi said. “The lecturers say there’s nothing free in this world. There is always a cause and effect. But essentially, yes. If you find a resource on your own, it means you’re fated. That means you can use it once without paying. Unfortunately, it’s rare for Outer Disciples to seize fate like that. Years can pass between encounters.”

“Is it more common for Inner and True Disciples?” Zac asked.

“It is. Their Destiny is stronger.”

“If you want something specific, is there anything you can do to nudge fate in your favor?” Zac followed up.

“Everyone here has their own theories. Maybe the direct descendants have some inside knowledge. Most of us just walk around when we’re not busy. There’s a chance to seize destiny without relying on the token.”

Zac asked a few questions to get a rough understanding of the situation. Simply put, the Citadel was an endless, ever-changing city. The Mercurial Court and all its critical structures were hidden within. Satisfied, Zac asked a final question.

“Do you know an old man in blue robes who calls himself Old Sixth?”

“The Sixth Elder?!” the Servant Disciple yelped, her face turning as pale as a sheet as she turned and ran.