Remember how I'm leaving for vacation next week? Well, I'm sprinting to finish the book before then, and I have written a shit-ton. Maybe 10 chapters this week? Eleven? I don't even know, and there is still Sunday. Sprinting like this is a very intriguing challenge for me, and I can afford to tire myself out, since there is rest coming.
Still, I'm not sure if I'll make it in time. If I don't, you will be stuck at a pretty steep cliffhanger, but um... I hope it will be fine. Lea...
2023-06-10 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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Jack remained in a trance. A thousand thoughts crossed his mind instantly, each reinforced or repelled by the Dao in and around him.
What significant insight did he have that was not yet a Dao Root?
His resolve to reach the top? He had that. His understanding of how power shaped the world and weakness was a curse? He had that, too. An understanding of life? That was also a Dao Root though by a roundabout way.
What other feeling or concept was deeply rooted inside him?
...
2023-06-09 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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This chapter felt awesome to write.
---
Jack bit into the Dao Sprouting Pill. Its juices ran over his tongue.
Almost instantly, he felt the world screech to a halt. His eyes opened wide. Colors spread through the darkness until they filled it, then kept going. Shapes and geometric patterns materialized, floating haphazardly through the air, breaking and reforming at random, each bringing Jack new inspiration.
The small part of his mind that remained sober thou...
2023-06-08 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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So, um, this is a bit embarrassing, but I forgot that Jack needs to reach the peak of the E-Grade before breaking through. Or, at least, there is no need to complicate things yet. Not saying he will break through here, but he certainly seemed to think so, so I edited the experience jewel the Sage gave him to push Jack all the way to Level 124. In the editing phase of this book, I'll go back and add some more levels to the earlier rings so this isn't such a colossal power-up.
So...
2023-06-07 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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The animal bros hesitated, glancing at Brock for his opinion. After thinking for a moment, the brorilla nodded. Bocor hurriedly stood and walked away, bottling his humiliation as he waited for Longsword’s instructions.
However, all three Lords were frozen. Even Longsword had forgotten that he’d just been pushed back and humiliated yet again. There were more important matters at hand.
Both followers of the Barren High team had just demonstrated the strength of Lords out of nowh...
2023-06-06 17:36:59 +0000 UTC
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Happy new week, everyone! And happy summer. As we're approaching the end of Book 2, let me give you an outline of my current plans.
I will be on a weekly trip around the middle of June. As a result, I won't be able to write during that period. I am currently sprinting to finish the book before I take a break, but that probably won't happen. In any case, after finishing Book 2 will come the planning of Book 3 and a small recuperation period, so another week.
In a few words, I will ...
2023-06-05 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Small change: Nobody ever said that breaking through to the D-Grade in Trial Planet was impossible.
---
The stone slab crashed down, and everything went dark. It wasn’t just light. All sound from outside disappeared as well, and all Dao perception was blocked by the walls.
Jack stayed still in absolute darkness, panting heavily. He remained exhausted from the chase and battle. He still couldn’t believe he was safe. Maybe Longsword would barge in at any moment, angrier...
2023-06-03 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Some of you couldn't access Chapter 207, for some reason. It should be fixed now. Sorry for the many posts, but hey, at least most of them were chapters!
2023-06-02 20:21:00 +0000 UTC
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After Jack disappeared into the mist, followed by Longsword, Minerva, and a few of their followers who were determined to get the fruit, everyone else was left in an excited silence. They struggled to comprehend what had happened. At the same time, however, they were brewing with excitement.
To these people, what Jack had done was the equivalent of a particularly spectacular suicide.
As whispers soon spread, debating the how and why of what just happened, only two groups of people...
2023-06-02 17:42:01 +0000 UTC
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Small edit change:
Back when they met the devil, the Sage guided them through a complex path both away AND towards the devil. In other words, they went from point A (the right path) to point B (the devil) through a complex route that people cannot easily memorize, then returned from B to A through a similar route, then continued exploring. As a result, they will not meet the devil on the return trip, as it is outside of their path. Nobody besides the guides can find the devil, either.
2023-06-02 17:40:02 +0000 UTC
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Jack’s hand wrapped steadily around the blood-red apple—the Dao Sprouting Pill. It fit in his palm snugly.
The moment he touched it, the world went silent. Everyone around him paused mid-fight and gaped. Longsword glared with intense hatred.
Congratulations! Title “Seventh Ring Conqueror” upgraded to “Eighth Ring Conqueror!”
Efficacy of all stats: +35% → +40%
Final Ring Quest:
- Defeat t...
2023-06-02 17:38:01 +0000 UTC
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Four chapters coming today, as promised. Enjoy!
---
Jack jumped into the fray with a laughing roar. He could finally see the Lords’ movements clearly. Longsword’s slashes were readable. Priya’s suns were no longer instant. The ice witch’s tubes were slow.
He had finally done it. He was strong enough. He could fight these people head-to-head, and he wouldn’t give up this opportunity for anything in the world.
Yes, he was a battle maniac. But so what?
2023-06-02 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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As promised, three extra chapters are coming tomorrow. Along with the regular one, I will post 4 chapters tomorrow, at the regular time, back-to-back. You also get to skip some excellent cliffhangers. Lucky you!
And thanks again for your help on the release. I appreciate it. You rock.
---
The moment the final barrier fell, the Lords sprang into action. Their teams followed a beat later, roaring out war cries.
Chaos descended instantly.
Chotu turn...
2023-06-01 17:36:06 +0000 UTC
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So, the rankings finally unfroze last night, and apparently, we already hit all the goals I set. In fact, my last goal was #500, but we're currently (at the time of writing this) sitting at #377. Which is huge! It's extremely exciting news which affects my entire life very positively! Thank you guys. You're great! As promised, I will publish three extra chapters back to back -- probably on Friday or Saturday.
In the meantime, the launch isn't over yet. Spread the word, leave reviews -- ...
2023-05-31 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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The launch is going great so far! The ranking stubbornly remains frozen in time, but your reviews are starting to appear, and I get a lot of comments on all platforms. You guys are awesome. This is an incredible day -- as long as the sales are good, too. So keep spreading the word! If you love the story, post about it. Let the world shake with the name of Jack Rust!
Enjoy the chapter!
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Congratulations! The Dao Root of Power had been successfully fused with your Da...
2023-05-30 17:35:25 +0000 UTC
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Yo, check this out, the Aethon people went crazy on the cover. Sorry for the spamming but rule of cool.
Kindle/KU: https://geni.us/roadtomastery1
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Road-to-Mastery-Audiobook/B0C2VW2YNR
2023-05-30 10:57:24 +0000 UTC
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This is a pretty humongous chapter, but ah, these things happen sometimes when editing. I don't imagine anyone dislikes extra words.
In other news, Road to Mastery's Book 1 launches tomorrow, and I'm so electrified I can't sit still...
Enjoy the chapter!
---
Trial Planet had nine rings. Garden Ring had twelve gardens. And Trial Garden, the most dangerous but rewarding of those, had a core guarded by seven different formations, one behind the other.
In the System...
2023-05-29 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Turning, Brock found a human approaching. He was a tall, lanky, young-looking one with an evil glint in his eyes, like a kid about to bully his shortest pack-mate. Brock rummaged through his memory. He had seen this person before. It was the guy that had been present when Big Bro fought the minotaur in the desert, riding the desert lizard that was now on Brock’s other side.
“Hello,” Brock responded. “Can I help you?”
This was an expression he had specifically tried to le...
2023-05-27 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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A small change: Remember the gray orb that Jack got in the labyrinth, which turned out to be Beast Growth Powder, which he then gave to Brock? I changed that. The orb is now a Repeat Explosive Orb, whose description I give below. Head to the end of Chapter 193 if you want to read the full passage. Jack offered it to Brock, who refused, so he (Jack) kept it for later.
Brock will still get some Beast Growth Powder later. Don't be surprised when you see it.
Repeat Exploding O...
2023-05-26 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Two hundred chapters... Almost half a million words. Wow. I can't believe we've made it this far. I'm genuinely emotional.
Thank you, everyone, for your support. And thank you for reading my story. It really makes it more than words, and makes my work have value. You let me live the dream. Thank you.
Go on and enjoy the chapter, you awesome people!
---
“Release me quickly, or I may reveal your secret to everyone. I promise to run away without harming any of you.”
2023-05-25 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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“Hello, excuse me,” a voice came from the mist behind the cultivators, making everyone jump. Magic was held at the ready. Weapons were drawn.
Out of the mist walked three people. A middle-aged man with rackety clothes and a wide smile, a young, Asian man with two black daggers on his belt, and a djinn woman with twin ponytails and a large mallet.
“Sage?” Jack said.
“Do you know these people?” Lady Minerva asked, not letting up her readiness. The sparrow from befo...
2023-05-24 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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Hey. The ice witch that accompanied Longsword is also present. She was there when they fought the labyrinth guardian, too. I just forgot to mention it.
Enjoy the chapter!
---
The trek through the mist remained slow. This time, however, Jack didn’t mind. Better to be careful than take a wrong step when there were traps everywhere.
Everyone else had also fallen silent by now. The first trap had driven home just how dangerous this place was. Jack had survived, but the n...
2023-05-23 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Happy new week, everyone! Only a week and a day remaining until Road to Mastery is released to the wider world. I'm jittery.
---
A mist-filled garden stretched in the distance. It was surrounded by a thick metal fence long enough that Jack couldn’t see its end on either side, and so tall that it resembled more castle walls than fence. In its midst, right where they were headed, stood a hundred-foot-wide opening with the words ‘Trial Garden’ written on a plaque over its top.<...
2023-05-22 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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Garden Ring was the smallest ring of Trial Planet, but it remained hundreds of square miles in size. As a result, the Trial Garden was some ways off the entrance.
The three Lords, their followers, Jack, and the most ambitious of other cultivators broke into a jog. Of course, at their speed, a jog was about as fast as a pre-System human’s sprint. Everyone else remained behind to look for their fortune in other gardens. Brock gave his big bro a thumbs-up from afar, which Jack returned. ...
2023-05-20 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Edgar hovered high above the eternal glaciers.
Below him was a flurry of activity. Buildings were etched in the ice, half-buried into the glacier and half-exposed to the freezing air. A snow-covered expanse spread as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by the sea in the distance. Emaciated polar bears sat in a massive steel cage, waiting to be fed or sparred against.
Between all that walked a large number of people. Some were dressed heavily, like Alaska's inuit. Others wor...
2023-05-19 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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I forgot to mention that Jack got three levels after defeating the Bone King, raising him to 97. I edited it in. Thanks to the commenters who reminded me!
---
Garden Ring was a peaceful place. A welcome change after the forest, the dinosaurs, the village, space bubbles, and the labyrinth.
Grasslands stretched as far the eye could see, interspersed with the occasional small tree or bush. Grass blades swayed in the wind, dancing to its silent tune, and the faraway fences resem...
2023-05-18 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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A claw came Jack’s way. He barely ghost-stepped away, seeing the large, sharp bones carve the stone floor like it was water. His fist shone purple. He unleashed a Meteor Punch at the arm as it recovered, but all his explosion did was break the surface bones. There were many more layers underneath.
How can I be so weak!? he thought, eyes wide. I may not be at the Elite level yet, but I’m stronger than peak E-Grade monsters! Is this all I can do?
Yet, the harsh...
2023-05-17 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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Three sets of hands were placed on the door. The three Lords were all human, scrawny in size and smooth of skin. The doors, on the other hand, were colossal constructions of bronze, aging back to antiquity and seemingly unmovable.
They swung open smoothly. After all, opening the door was not the Guardian. The thing behind it was the Guardian.
The large double doors opened soundlessly and easily, like they had been pushed by a giant. They crashed against the walls with a loud bang ...
2023-05-16 17:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Happy new week, everyone. Prepare to enter the final (almost) ring! With any luck, Book 2 will be completed within one month from now.
---
Brock was pretty proud of himself. He had saved his little crab bros.
Dying to bone monsters all the time just wasn’t good. Therefore, Brock had gathered them up and taught them how to defend themselves.
First came training. He taught the crabs how to raise their pincers, not to snip pebbles off the walls, but to defend themselves...
2023-05-15 17:36:00 +0000 UTC
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The arrowtip hit the stone a few millimeters to the right of the target, embedding itself in the wall. Nauja froze in her stance. Her mind struggled to believe this.
She didn’t actually think she would miss. She had convinced herself she would succeed. And yet, reality was merciless. She had missed.
Wait! she pleaded mentally. The edge of the arrowtip grazed the target. That might be enough.
Unfortunately, the rules of the trial were clear. Any arrow that...
2023-05-13 17:36:01 +0000 UTC
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