Ultom Courts

*“Ultom Courts, Left Imperial Palace,” Orom whispered with longing in his eyes. (**Chapter 835**)*

*Nine seals. Eight pillars. One destiny.* (**Chapter 867**)

"Ultom Courts," Tavza nodded. "The sole heritage of the Lost Era." **(Chapter 1,079)**

## The Eight Pillars

"When the Limitless Empire crafted the System, their power alone wasn't enough. The Heavens are not so easily subdued, and they had to lend the power of others. Eight pillars were erected at the corners of reality, each one powered by something called an Eternal Heritage. Places of penultimate power, of penultimate truth. Concepts beyond the Dao itself, which was needed to contain the Heavens. The undertaking was a success, and the pillars provided the strength the System needed to stabilize and grow during its infancy. Many tried to stop Emperor Limitless' experiment, and the Left Imperial Palace became one of the battlegrounds where even the Heavens joined the fray. But the eight pillars withstood the assault and disappeared." (Leyara, Chapter 913)

The eight pillars are gradually returning. Each ascent has led to vast conflict between A-grade factions for the right to seize the pillar.

### First Pillar

* The Starbeast Alliance didn’t even contend for the first pillar (**Chapter 875**).

### Second Pillar

* To think that girl was a direct descendant to Vurkos Planur, who seized the second pillar in such a domineering fashion. **Chapter 1,039**

### Third and Fourth Pillars

* Individual Ancestors of the Starbeast Alliance contended for the three that followed (**Chapter 875**).
* The struggle for the 4th pillar lasted almost a million years (**Chapter 867**)

### Fifth Pillar

* The Left Imperial Palace is the fifth pillar to emerge since the beginning of the era of the System. It has nine Outer Courts (**Chapter 890**).
* *What was so special about the fifth pillar that it elicited this kind of response? ... As far as Kouzo knew, only Emperor Limitless knew the true worth of the Ultom Courts.* (Internal monologue of Kouzo, **Chapter 875**).
* *“The Left Imperial Palace has been without a controller since the Dark Ages. That’s more than enough time for it to have become influenced by the eternal intent of those ancient masters. Who knows what their goals were?”* (**Chapter 875**)

## Rivalry to seize the Left Imperial Palace

*“The Left Imperial Palace of the Limitless Empire is rising from the ashes of history,” Mohzius explained. “And it looks like it will make its first appearance in (Zecia) sector.”*

* The Starbeast Alliance had a prophecy about Ultom Courts and have been searching for it for tens of millions of years. Orom had taken on this task for the chance to remove the imperfection in his bloodline. He had scoured the edges of the Multiverse for any clues, finally gaining his lead from Zac.
* The Undead now know about it, most likely from Reyna Umbri'Zi's interrogation of Orom.
* The Buddhist Sangha know that Ultom stirs. The Starbeast Alliance fears the escalation, if they get involved (**Chapters 867, 875**). Lord Blessed Fate found a third option (of access). Three Virtues accompanied by other monks traveled to the Goldblade Continent. (**Chapter 918**)
* The Vigil are expected to be involved, but they have never gotten directly involved in the conflict . According to the Void Priestess, their task is to keep the Heavens out of the equation. "Fate must be decided by men, not by the Dao." (**Chapters 875, 929**)
* The Tayn know, but are not currently prepared to fight for the pillar. However Iz Tayn has decided to get involved.
* The invaders of the Zecia sector know about the pillar. One of the runes in the traitor Uzu's possession was the seal of the Left Imperial Palace (**Chapter 881**). Their position seems to be to gain favors from contending factions in return to providing transport to Zecia.

## Initial Conflict

*“The first candle is lit. Ultom has found a candidate."*

According to the Void Priestess, the Left Imperial Palace chose Zac as a candidate, but the System forcibly broadened the scope, contrary to the previous ascents. . The inheritance of Ultom has been integrated with the upcoming war and the final piece is already in the System's hands. The Bone Sage of the Starbeast Alliance believes a person has to be under 100 years old to qualify to compete. This was confirmed by the Void Priestess. (**Chapter 929**)

### Main Quest : Flamebearers

* **[Seal of the Left Imperial Palace (Unique, Inheritance): Form a seal of the Left Imperial Palace. Reward: Become a Flamebearer of Ultom. (1/4)]**

When Zachary Atwood came into contact with a piece of rubble originally from Ultom Courts, he received this quest. This seems to be the main prize in the initial conflict. (**Chapter 875**)

#### Known Flamebearers

* Zac has located a twenty-centimetre tall stone figurine within a temple to complete the second stage of the quest. Chapter 896. He has also completed the third stage in the Ensolus Ruins. (**Chapter 968**).
* Iz Tayn has begun this quest. She has obtained at least two pieces of the Flamebearer seal. Since then she has temporarily returned home so she can evolve to D grade. (**Chapters 892, 957**).
* Yselio Tobrial, who has the title Lord Vindicator, was picked by the Edge of the Seventh Heaven to compete. He chose to travel to Zecia via the Kan'Tanu. He has successfully become a Flamebearer. (**Chapters 964, 997**)

#### Other Contenders

* A Primordial has been unsealed by the Starbeast Alliance to compete. An advance team (Emberstorm, Til'Siri and Lonzor) have been sent via the Black Heart Sect to pave the path (**Chapter 899**). The Primordial has now arrived at the staging ground with the Kan'Tanu. After eating Emberstorm, she has decided to continue into the Million Gates Territory to locate the first key (**Chapter 1019**).
* The Buddhist Sangha rescued Thea Marshall from the Goldblade Continent and have been using her kharmic ties to Zac in the 'Boundless Sea Array' to pick up Seals (**Chapter 1044**). Possible party members are: Crystallized Enlightenment and Abbot Everlasting Peace.
* The Draugr Tavza An'Azol has located seals for herself and two of her followers in the Million Gates region. Another seal was obtained by killing a captive sealbearer. However Tavza does not have the Flamebearer seal (**Chapter 979**).
* The Reaver Kator has also entered the Million Gates region to find seals of Ultom. He and his followers have found some seals, but like Tavza, he did not become a Flamebearer (**Chapter 979**).
* The Undead Empire has heard that at least one Imperial Clan is on their way. (This might be Yselio Tobrial's group.) (**Chapter 949**)

#### Failed Contenders

* Princess Valsa Planur had aspirations to become a Flamebearer. She was a Seventh Echelon guest of the Perennial Vastness when her scouts located a Human male of interminable origin marked as a Flamebearer. She investigated the target and plotted to seize fate (**Chapter 997**). Slain by Zac in Perennial Vastness.

### Subsidiary Quests : Sealbearers

#### Flamebearers

* Zac has received this quest to find sealbearers for the outer courts in **Chapter 934**.
	+ **One by Nine (Unique, Inheritance): Form a full cycle of Sealbearers. Reward: Entry to the Left Imperial Palace (4/9) [2683 days] [NOTE: Multiple cycles can be formed.]**
* Zac completed his first cycle in **Chapter 1,038**.
	+ **One by Nine (Unique, Inheritance): Form a full cycle of Sealbearers. Reward: Entry to the Left Imperial Palace (9/9) [1343 days] (COMPLETE) [NOTE: Multiple cycles can be formed.]**
* **[Flamebearer of Zecia (Campaign, Inheritance (1/?)): Lead your faction to conquer 9 Early D-grade worlds in the Zurbor Sector. Kill or capture one Sealbearer. Reward: Court Cycle Token. (0/10)] Chapter 1,068**
* The two Starfall seals had been more than enough to finish the quest. But that was just the beginning. **Chapter 1,160**
	+ **[Flamebearer of Zecia (Campaign, Inheritance (2/?)): Accumulate 500,000 Merit through Fated Flamebearer Campaign Missions within your faction. Conquer one Middle D-grade end node. Reward: Lesser Enlightenment. (763,389/500,000)(1/1)]**
* After finishing, he got to his feet and touched the crystal, prompting the next step of his quest to appear. **Chapter 1,166**
	+ **[The Flame of Hope (Campaign, Inheritance): Find the breach inside the Eternal Storm. Light the Centurion Beacon. Reward: Seal of the Left Imperial Palace. (0/2)]**

#### Other Sealbearers

* More than half his Sealbearers had already finished their first quest, and while their second tasks were different, the reward was the same. They all stood to gain an additional burst of epiphanies, though Zac doubted it meant they'd get a piece of the seal. **Chapter 1,105**
* Boje Zethaya has an unknown seal

#### Skybreaker / Hollow Court

* **[Seal of the Hollow Court (Unique, Inheritance): Form a seal of the Hollow Court. Reward: Become a Skybreaker of Ultom. (1/3)]**
* Ogras Azh'Rezak has this quest. He marked his second location (with Iz Tayn's aid) and has since located it within the Million Gates region. (**Chapters 882, 901**) .
* Stormstar (**Chapter 1,107**)
* The reason I can say with good authority that the Undead Empire is targeting the Hollow Court is that they were the ones who helped build it. **Chapter 1,040**

#### Lightbringer / Radiant Court

* **[Seal of the Radiant Court (Unique, Inheritance): Form a seal of the Radiant Court. Reward: Become a Lightbringer of Ultom. (1/3)]**
* Emily Larkin has two pieces of the seal. (**Chapters 918, 970**)
* Carl Elrod (**Chapter 972**)

#### Realmsinger / Mercurial Court

* **[Seal of the Mercurial Court (Unique, Inheritance): Form a seal of the Mercurial Court. Reward: Become a Realmsinger of Ultom. (1/3)]**
* Janos Azh'Rezak (**Chapter 965**)

#### Threadwinder / Daedalian Court

* Galau (**Chapter 966**)
* Catheya (**Chapter 967**)
* Ventus Kalavan (**Chapter 990**)

#### Plainswalker / Farsee Court

* Jaol (**Chapter 967**)
* Ibtep (**Chapter 972**)

#### Soultaker/Anima Court

* Vilari (**Chapter 972**)
* Inda **Ch 1,138**
* Thea **Ch 1,169**

#### Reignender / Starfall Court

* Rhuger (**Chapter 972**)
* Ra’Klid **Ch 1,139**

#### Indomitable Court

* Kruta the Second (**Chapter 1,038**)
* Zac suspects Joanna could be fated for it (**Chapter 972**)

### Seal Quest Chains

* **[Indomitable Spirit (Campaign (1/?)): Personally execute hostile leaders worth 25,000 Merit. (18,321/25,000)] Chapter 1,067**
* A few locals have received quests that might lead to seals, ... **Chapter 1,079**
* A few non-seal bearers had also finished their tasks, but their reward for the second one was quite different—access to a personalized trial. Zac couldn't be certain, but he believed there was a small chance of obtaining the first piece of an outer court seal in those trials. **Chapter 1,105**

### Locations of the Seals

* The pieces of the seals seem to be mainly in the Million Gates region.
* Some were in the Stellar Ladder of the Void Gate. However Perala Janodrok has stated that none now exist there.
* The Ensolus Ruins held the third piece that Zac obtained. Janos was imprisoned in an illusion there, and received the first piece of his seal on escaping.
* The Sangha uses Thea with a Boundless Fate Array to find Seals in the Cosmos before they're dragged toward Zecia. **Chapter 1,044**