《Dungeon's Ascension》


 Chapter 1

    There was a low, pulsing sound that repeated in regular intervals. Then a whine, as if a storm was howling outside. Then silence. Then a loud bang. Right at his door.


    Quin¡¯s eyes flew open, and his consciousness returned. With his mental faculties returning to life again, the sounds from outside got increasingly louder. That was, however, not what occupied his attention.


    He had almost died. If it hadn''t been for the sounds of what was probably a battle outside of his hidden residence, it was quite probable that he would have never awoken again.


    Suddenly his back was slick with sweat. This had been his closest brush with death so far, and he hadn¡¯t even seen it coming. When he checked the gains he had made before slipping too deep into meditation for fruitful cultivation, a sigh escaped his lips.


    He had barely gained a sliver of additional cultivation. At this rate, even he with his prodigious remaining lifespan would die of old age before reaching even the bottleneck to the next stage in cultivation.


    Letting out yet another sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to regain his bearings. The roar of yet another explosion made that endeavor quite impossible. His eyes snapped open as he decided to go out and see who had been his unwitting saviors.


    With only a thought he triggered the protective spell formation stitched into his robes and teleported outside his residence. There, in the dark Astral Depths, two cultivators much weaker than him were slinging spells at each other.


    One was a woman of fiery temper and choice of clothing, her face twisted in rage and her robe decorated with swirling red patterns. Her opponent was a hunched-back old man clad in a washed-out grey robe commanding the winds.


    Their attention was squarely on each other and thus his sudden appearance went unnoticed.


    He had no interest in waiting for them to notice him though and expanded his domain. Once it had been established, he used it to snuff out any spells that the two opponents tried to cast.


    That brought him the attention of the two who both paled and shifted from aggressive to subservient postures. Someone who could dominate them so thoroughly and who could be so bold in his domain usage in such a dangerous area was not someone to upset.


    The two of them had even been cutting it close with their exchange of spells and they had done their best to limit them in size, visibility, and sound.


    The old man gathered his thoughts much more quickly and approached Quin, bowing deeply to him. ¡°How can I assist you senior?¡±, he asked.


    The woman didn¡¯t lag far behind and copied the old man. ¡°How can I assist you senior?¡±


    Seeing that the two had quickly ceased their aggression and had likely inadvertently saved his life he decided to reward them later, but first, he had a few questions.


    ¡°Tell me, what is the current era?¡±, he asked.


    This time it was the woman that answered faster. ¡°Senior, it is currently the second quarter of the 935th year after the last high tide, which was the 10th of Emperor Verdant Mountain¡¯s reign.¡±, she said.


    Qin frowned. It seemed he had severely underestimated the time he had spent in meditation. ¡°Who were the emperors before that?¡±, he asked.


    The two weaker cultivators looked at each other surreptitiously. It seemed that the big fish they had disturbed was even bigger than they had thought.


    ¡°Respectfully, Emperor Verdant Mountain was preceded by Empress Blue Rose, who was preceded by Emperor Flame Oak, whose predecessor was Emperor Viridescent Dream. The records about emperors further back are quite spotty in the remote region we originate from, and I am ashamed to say that I did not take the time to rectify that.¡±, the old man answered.


    ¡°I am also ashamed to say that I can¡¯t give the senior a better answer.¡±, the woman said.


    Quin didn¡¯t care though as his expression had brightened upon learning the last name. Viridescent Dream had been a student of his a long time ago when his father, the then crown prince, had been worried about his son¡¯s lacking ambition and studiousness.


    Originally, he had wanted to ask about important events that had happened in his absence, but since his source of information didn¡¯t seem very reliable he decided to get the information directly from an old friend who he was sure knew about all the important events in the empire and beyond.


    ¡°That is quite alright, I was acquainted with Emperor Viridescent Dream. I will take my leave now. Just take care not to make such a ruckus this far down in the future. Not everyone has such a good temper as I have. You did unwittingly free me from a predicament though, so I will grant you a reward.¡±, he said. At that, the expressions of the duo brightened.


    ¡°As you two seem to be lacking in knowledge and I have a reputation as a teacher to uphold, I will gift each of you this map which charts the whole empire at the time I made it along with all the relevant spots which contain opportunities for higher-level cultivators.¡± With that said, Quin summoned two scrolls and sent them over to the two grateful recipients.


    Since he had a long journey ahead of him Quin returned to his abode, gathered all his possessions, and afterward made his way to a separate part of his home where a dock had been constructed. Moored at this dock was a small sailing ship that could take advantage of the incredibly strong streams of spiritual energy that spread throughout the Deep Astral to swiftly take him to the empire¡¯s core areas.


    A few minutes later he was on his way, his abode secured and hidden and his mind spinning with thoughts on how to solve his current predicament.


    His gaze wandered over the landscape rushing by as he neared his destination. Until now, his purpose in life had been to reach the peak of cultivation and then ascend to a higher world. Now that ascension was plainly impossible, his drive to continue had been sapped completely.


    He had two avenues of success that he could see. The first avenue was to seek out increasingly dangerous areas in the hope of finding something to either speed up his cultivation or increase his lifespan even further. This was the passive route in which he had to trust his luck to both survive and find something worthwhile,


    His second avenue was even riskier, but he would take his destiny into his own hands. He had a way to start over again. This time though, had would have all his broad cultivation knowledge and he would not start as a weak human. This option appealed to him much more, but he would take the time his journey afforded him and ponder which option was the right one for him.


    ¡­


    A few weeks later Quin finally arrived at his destination. The capital of the Grand Vitality Empire was located on a smaller sub-plane connected to the main world only through a few heavily fortified entrances.


    His special status allowed him to ignore all restrictions and so he flew above the seemingly endless queue of people waiting to enter the city. From above the city looked like a giant park, with many narrow walkways and bridges over streams and rivers of all lengths and sizes.


    He alighted from his ship in front of the imperial palace of the Viridian Empire. It was a massive building dominating the capital city with both its height and the expansive area it covered.


    As befitting of an empire dominated by a family of nature cultivators, the palace buildings were formed out of rare white living wood interspersed with various parks, lakes, and streams.


    He had donned his ceremonial robes in various shades of green decorated with golden highlights identifying him as a Grand Imperial Teacher. His unexpected arrival sent the palace staff into a frenzy of activity as they rushed to prepare a suitable welcome for him.


    Pinned upon his uniform was also a badge identifying himself as one of the highest-ranked officials, just below the emperor, who at least in theory stood above all. In reality, nobody in the empire had the strength to force him to do anything he didn¡¯t want to.


    The badge was also what had allowed him to fly his ship directly in front of the palace gates, ignoring all restrictions on flying and deactivating the protective formations that surrounded the palace for him.


    He climbed the marble steps leading up to the main entrance and was welcomed by a middle-aged man clad in similarly ostentatious garb made completely out of green and red vines.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Greetings to the Grand Imperial Teacher. Might I know which esteemed teacher has returned to the empire? This insignificant official is named Lei. As the current Palace Chancellor I welcome you and will see to your needs.¡±, the man said.


    ¡°Greetings, Palace Chancellor Lei. I am sure someone will recognize the name Quin.¡±, he answered. The man¡¯s eyes widened almost imperceptibly which indicated that at least the imperial court hadn¡¯t forgotten him.


    They entered the palace gate as they spoke and entered a richly decorated corridor. White wooden walls were covered in rich tapestries depicting scenes from nature and golden ornaments were placed wherever possible.


    ¡°I will need an audience with the emperor.¡±, Quin said.


    ¡°Certainly, teacher Quin. As luck would have it the court is currently in session. If you¡¯d prefer to rest and refresh yourself beforehand a special audience can be arranged in the afternoon.¡±, Chancellor Lei answered.


    There were regular smaller staircases leading down from the main corridor leading further into the administrative buildings of the palace complex through the roots of the trees they were made of, which connected them underground.


    ¡°I had time to rest while traveling and there is no need to prepare any rooms. I¡¯ll be departing shortly after the audience is over, so there is no use in bothering the servants.¡±, he said.


    ¡°Very well teacher Quin.¡±, Chancellor Lei said. He motioned with his hand and a nearby servant burst into a sprint to convey his arrival.


    The two men followed him at a more measured pace and took nearly ten minutes to reach the petitioner¡¯s hall which contained gates to the throne room. Along the way, the corridor had not once changed in appearance. The details were different, but the overall look and feel stayed the same.


    The guards stationed at the gate saluted them and opened the gates.


    ¡°Presenting the right and honorable Great Imperial Teacher Quin and the right and honorable Chancellor of Palace Affairs Lei.¡± The sonorous voice of the announcer filled the expansive throne room.


    The ministers, originally seated to the left and right of the emperor behind small tables now all stood respectfully, forming a guard of honor on the raised dais in front of the throne.


    The emperor himself was still seated as his position dictated, but he sat as stiff and straight as possible. He was powerfully built and clad in a golden robe decorated with dragons in shades of green.


    The wooden diadem adorning his head was decorated with various precious stones and his staff was formed out of the root of an elder tree. Both were of course powerful artifacts just like anything else he was wearing, but that made the thematic coherence all the more impressive as powerful treasures were very rare and took many different forms


    Quin once again performed a shallow bow in greeting and then climbed the steps of the dais while the chancellor stayed behind.


    ¡°Great Imperial Teacher Quin, We are delighted to see you still healthy and whole. We had already feared the worst when you didn¡¯t appear at the wake for ancestor Viridescent Dream. The list of imperial immortals venturing into the Deep Astral and never returning is sadly a very long one.¡±, the emperor said.


    He nodded to the emperor.


    ¡°I also regret that I wasn¡¯t there to send him off, but if it wasn¡¯t for the coincidental battle of two juniors in front of my hidden abode I fear that I may have very well never awoken from meditation.¡±, he said.


    Shock marred the usually placid features of the emperor and the ministers. This was certainly not the answer they had expected.


    ¡°This is also the reason I am here today. I have clearly reached the limit of what I can achieve with my cultivation. Thus, I have decided to preserve my dignity and not slowly sink into degeneracy as so many of my predecessors have done when they felt it impossible to progress.


    I will leave this life behind and enter the cycle of reincarnation.


    Most of my wealth has already been invested into my legacy and only a few items remain that are unsuitable for a successor to inherit. Those items are inside my ship and will be given to you to do with as you please. Lastly, I will need to speak with the Great Will Oracle.¡±, Quin said.


    The emperor was visibly reeling from the sudden turn the audience had taken and was visibly searching for the right words to say.


    ¡°It fills Us with great sadness that this situation has come to pass, but We will of course honor your wishes and take the necessary steps. Your contributions to the empire are greater than that of any other person still alive. Chancellor Lei will be at your disposal for any further arrangements you wish to make.¡±, the emperor answered.


    ¡°Thank you, your majesty. I will take my leave.¡± Quin bowed once again and left the throne room. This had been the shortest audience in his considerably long life, but by now he was beyond caring and he saw no point in long formalities or pointless niceties when it would all be over soon.


    Once outside he turned to the chancellor and said: ¡°Let us be off then.¡±


    ¡­


    The Great Will Oracle was living hidden away deep in the palace grounds. Most people and even most powerhouses of the empire never learned of her existence. Only those with considerable contributions to the empire or the Great Will would be allowed to see her and use her services. Thankfully he had both in spades.


    When he arrived she was already standing outside her abode that looked just like an ordinary oak tree magnified enough to not stand out among the other palaces.


    ¡°Sennah.¡± He smiled. ¡°It seems to me that we are the only ones still left from when it all began.¡±


    She smiled back at him though her smile was tinged with sadness as she no doubt already knew the reason for his arrival.


    ¡°Quin. It¡¯s good to see you. Come inside, the tea should be about ready.¡±, she said.


    She turned to the chancellor still standing awkwardly nearby.


    ¡°It is not yet time for you, so you will have to return alone, chancellor.¡±, she said.


    Quin nodded to the chancellor, turned around, and entered, followed by the oracle. The chancellor saluted and bowed to their backs and then left as well.


    As opposed to the rest of the palace the inside of Sennah¡¯s residence was very homely. Directly behind the entrance was a living space with the dining table to the left and a pair of divans to the right half facing each other and half facing an extinguished fireplace.


    A second door was facing the entrance and through an open door in the ensuing hallway part of the kitchen was visible.


    ¡°Just take a seat, I will be along shortly with the tea.¡±, she said.


    Quin looked at his two options and decided to take a seat at the table. After a short while she returned with two steaming cups.


    ¡°So, tell me what you have experienced since we last spoke. It has been so many years so you must certainly have interesting stories to tell.¡±, she said.


    ¡°Oh, there are a few. I, unfortunately, spent a large amount of that time in meditation, so there are fewer than you might think. In return, you can tell me what I have missed. The last I heard was that Little Dream was declared crown prince and now he¡¯s been gone for millennia already.¡±, he said.


    She smiled at him again.


    ¡°Sure, I might not go out as much as I used to, but I have heard a few things.¡±, she said.


    The hours flew by as they recounted their lives while apart and shared juicy pieces of gossip about various important and unimportant people. Slowly, the conversation petered out until they sat in companionable silence for quite a while, each reminiscing. After a while, Quin decided to broach the topic had originally come here for.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m ready.¡±, he said.


    She stilled and looked him deep into the eyes. Then she turned away from him and sighed.


    ¡°Come, then.¡±, she said.


    She stood up, and he followed her out of the room into the hallway. At the other end of it was an ornately decorated door that stood in stark contrast to the rest of the home.


    They walked over to it, and it opened as soon as she lay her hand on it. Behind it was a circular room flooded with light. At its center stood a cushioned table.


    She looked deep into his eyes again


    ¡°This threshold can only be crossed once by you. If there is anything that you want to do, it has to be now. The Great Will offers you the chance to be reborn as one of its agents, but it has no patience for those trying to back out at the last moment.¡±, she said.


    Quin motioned with his hand for her to continue. All of his affairs were in order and he had known that this would be a one-way trip.


    Sennah led him over to the table, and he laid down on it. Gently, she laid her hands on his temples and began channeling her energy into them.


    ¡°Whatever option you have chosen for reincarnation, keep it firmly in mind. If you waver and the mental image becomes unclear the Great Will might not be able to discern your choice. In that case, it will choose for you. Most of those who end up here don¡¯t get a choice, so don¡¯t squander it.¡±, she said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Those were the last words Quin the human would ever utter before his mind and soul vanished in a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors.


    The moment that his soul left his body there was nothing left to keep his cultivation in check. While the room and home of the oracle were unaffected by the final unleashing of his cultivation base, the rest of the world wasn¡¯t quite so lucky.


    A sudden hurricane developed in the parks outside the oracle''s home, tearing out bushes and trees, throwing decorative boulders around as if they were pebbles, and emptying the various ponds of most of their contents.


    Then the pressure arrived and everything instantly shot down onto the ground tearing holes into the grass and then cracking and splintering until the ground was perfectly flat.


    Further along, the walls and foundations of the palaces began to crack, and only the constant work of both protective and repair formations kept the buildings standing.


    In the throne room, the emperor barely managed to stay seated, but many of his ministers were not so lucky. The wave of pressure then rolled over the rest of the capital. Though much diminished, it still managed to shatter almost every glass item and window in the aristocratic quarter surrounding the palace.


    The ordinary citizens were lucky that the walls surrounding the aristocratic quarter managed to contain the worst of it, and they only felt a heavy weight pressing down on them for a short while.


    Anyone lucky enough to be outside at that moment was treated to a massive pillar of energy rushing into the heavens from the center of the palace. For those in the know, this signaled that the empire had just lost one of its hidden powerhouses and that the surrounding nations would soon start to probe its stability.


    In the brightly lit room, Sennah remained in the same position and only removed her hands when the last vestiges of energy had left.


    ¡°So close to ascension, and yet so far. Goodbye, old friend. I hope to meet you in your new form someday.¡± A teary-eyed Sennah looked down at the body of her friend.


    ¡°You were indeed the last of our generation to die.¡± The image of the woman wavered and then broke apart revealing a mass of plants in a roughly female shape. The various plants soon unraveled and vanished into the floor, leaving the room empty bar the table and the corpse on top of it.

 Chapter 2

    Disoriented, Quin lay upon soft dirt and glanced into an unfamiliar night sky. He raised his right hand and looked at it. He couldn''t suppress a giddy smile any longer at what he saw.


    It was light blue and crystalline with a few milky-white streaks that painted an intricate pattern both on and inside it. When he sat up and looked down at his body it looked as though a sculptor had carved out a rough outline of a human body but had lost interest after that and never finished it.


    When he was done admiring his new body, he decided to survey his new surroundings. What he saw was exactly what he had expected, but still depressing. The land surrounding him was cracked and dry, littered with dried-out bushes and trees and wilted flowers.


    When he looked behind himself, he saw a gently swirling nexus of energy in various shades of grey and black with hints of violet which was framed by a crudely-made stone arch. The sight was not unfamiliar to him, and he identified the phenomenon as a currently dormant dimensional portal.


    Almost all high-level inheritances and hidden planes were connected to the main world by such portals as they could span hundreds of kilometers and required ambient energy densities that were rarely found in the outside world.


    Even with his dismal surroundings, he was quite content as everything was exactly as described by the dungeons he had visited in preparation for his eventual reincarnation. It stung that he had to re-cultivate from the start, but that was what made it possible to surpass his old self.


    Satisfied with his examination of his surroundings and his body he noticed an itch at the back of his mind. It was as if there was a new metaphysical muscle just waiting to be flexed. As the feeling got more and more intense he decided to give in to his instincts and see what happened.


    As soon as he flexed the mental muscle his vision doubled. One point of vision stayed the same, while the second began to move away from his body and drifted higher and higher until it reached a point where he could see the entirety of his surroundings.


    What had not been visible before was that the land he was standing on and now also floating above, was a giant island of dirt and stone floating in nothingness, with a wall of mist surrounding it from quite a distance away.


    Along with the new perspective came a whole host of new sensations and ways to interact with the world. After a few tries he learned how to move around his point of view and soon he was flying all over the dead land, inspecting every nook and cranny.


    Along the way, he learned how to link his sensations to what he was seeing on the landscape. A dried-out riverbed felt somehow itchy to him, and the dried-up plants felt as if there was something on his skin that he couldn''t just brush off.


    Something he couldn''t quite make sense of was a very uncomfortable feeling of congestion or blockage that he had when nearing the central mountain dwarfing every other feature. The deactivated portal near his crystal body felt similar, though somehow different in certain aspects he couldn¡¯t identify yet.


    The only thing of note was an indentation in the mountain near the top from which the feeling radiated the strongest.


    He decided that since his new senses couldn''t give him an answer yet, he would have to improve his familiarity with them and then try again. The first thing he decided to learn was how to use his corporeal and incorporeal bodies simultaneously.


    He began by performing an action with each body successively in shorter and shorter intervals until He managed to move both at the same time. His next challenge was to figure out how to use each body autonomously.


    To achieve this it tried to separate his mind in two. He knew that other cultivators had done this too, as it was a prerequisite for certain advanced techniques. It took him quite a few tries, but eventually, he was able to split off a part of his mind that he could give instructions to follow. the split part of his mind was only able to accomplish very simple tasks, but he was confident that this too would be something he could improve in due time.


    As he was unsure about the physical limits of his crystal body, he set his simple mind the task of running around in a large circle while monitoring top speed, endurance, and energy consumption. He would have to check back in periodically to set new tasks, but at least the most boring parts would be handled by the part of him too dumb to feel boredom.


    With his crystal body occupied and having explored most of the island with his incorporeal body, he began experimenting with whether his second body was able to do more than just scout.


    It once again took a few minutes of trial and error, but he eventually found that he could create limbs that could interface with and affect the world. As cultivators also developed such a limb during their cultivation he was intimately familiar with its usage.


    This so-called spiritual sense was one of the most important tools that cultivators had available to them. It functioned as both a third eye and a third arm and could be used for a variety of scouting, analysis, and intricate manipulation tasks.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    His new spiritual sense differed from the normal one in quite a few ways. For one, it was not restricted to just one limb, his current limit being three. It would remain to be seen whether that number would go up in the future.


    Furthermore, two of his spiritual senses were also larger and stronger, more suited to more large-scale tasks, while the third was more similar in size to the one he was used to.


    While experimenting with his new spiritual senses He found out that the two larger ones could both suck in and repel materials. Moving earth or send was much more convenient with this compared to using his spiritual senses as hands, as no material got lost in transit and much more material could be transported at once.


    When he tested the limits of this new way of using his spiritual senses, he found out that anything that was sucked up to his second body got stored in a separate space that could accommodate quite a large volume of materials.


    He did not find an upper volume limit during testing, but he also didn''t try very hard since he didn''t want to create a giant hole somewhere only to have to fill it back up again.


    One idea that popped up during his experimentation but that he quickly discarded was whether it was possible to store his crystal body in case of an emergency. He had no intention of destroying his body in an accident birthed by curiosity.


    Over time, his options for experimentation dwindled more and more though, and the thought of how convenient it would be not only to store the body but also to be able to quickly put it back down on another part of the island would not leave his mind.


    He eventually couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity any longer and decided to just risk it and see what would happen. The most likely outcomes were that it either worked as he thought or not at all, meaning that nothing would happen. There was always a slight risk of injury and a very small chance of death, but that was just life.


    Commanding his second mind to pause its exercises, he connected one of his large spiritual senses to it and began the suction process without hesitation. After a short moment of resistance, the crystal body shot into the air. It did not get transferred into his storage though but was instead immediately sent down his other large spiritual sense.


    While not a complete failsafe in case of an emergency, it was still highly useful for movement around his island and would keep his body safe in most instances.


    Now that he had a convenient method of transportation for his crystal body, he decided to try and solve the congestion issue with both bodies working together. He once again connected one spiritual sense to his body, while the second connected to the mountain peak where his issue lay.


    With a light pop signaling the displacement of air he vanished and reappeared at the mountain peak. The sudden change in elevation beneath his feet made him stumble, but he quickly found his footing and surveyed the landscape from his elevated position.


    He knew from his earlier exploration, that there was a deep indentation in the mountain near the top, but it was near invisible from above due to an overhang. He quickly found the correct spot though and jumped down into the indentation. He had already tested the durability of his crystal body as best as he could and though he hadn''t found its limits yet, he was confident that a fall of 10 meters would be unable to harm it in the slightest.


    He looked around for a while to see whether he could find any indication of the source of his discomfort, but the stone was smooth with no discolorations or any other hints.  Since he didn¡¯t know where to start, he randomly picked a spot and decided to dig down there to see whether something could be uncovered.


    His fingers parted the stone with surprising ease, and he quickly managed to make clear progress. It almost felt too easy to him. He still remembered the years of training his body in different martial forms and it was only when he reached the foundation-building stage that he was strong and durable enough to not injure himself while trying to destroy rocks with his bare hands.


    After excavating a hole of roughly his height he heard an ominous rumbling and then a cracking sound. He quickly escaped the hole he had dug and only stopped the retreat when he had reached the rim of the indentation.


    Only a few seconds later the hole erupted. Stone rubble was catapulted high up into the air alongside a rainbow-colored mist. Stone debris lay everywhere and the air was heavy with spiritual energy In such a concentration that it was almost visible.


    The mist quickly dissipated and to ordinary eyes, the hole looked empty once more, but to those with the ability to see spiritual energy, which evidently Included him, a steady stream of rainbow-tinged air was still emitted from it.


    It seemed that the land had only waited for this to happen, as soon the area around the mountain began to green. Previously dead trees turned from gray to brown while crumbled bark regenerated and leaves and fruits rapidly sprung from the branches.


    When he shifted his incorporeal body downwards to observe the changes in greater detail, he also noticed various grasses, bushes, and ferns unfolding into a dense underbrush. The change flooded steadily outwards like an unstoppable wave and only ended when it reached the rim of the island where an invisible wall made sure that the energy stayed contained within.


    As the land recovered, so did Quin. His connection to the land had been noticeable before, but the connection was much clearer to him now. His spiritual body felt significantly stronger and the feedback from the land felt much crisper than before. Now, it was however a source of additional strength and comfort instead of irritation.


    His crystal body was also affected significantly. More and more spiritual energy entered through previously atrophied channels and filled previously unnoticed internal reservoirs. As he felt spiritual energy rush through his crystal body, the contrast to before was showing him just how limited his obviously magical body had been without it.


    He resigned himself to doing all the exercises again, as all the previous ones had seemingly been done with him running on fumes. He was now a magical creature and as such spiritual energy was a large source of his strength.


    Another welcome discovery was that his crystal body also came with a set of innate abilities. He resolved to test them out as soon as possible, but there was another pressing issue that commanded his attention.

 Chapter 3

    The new issue that had grabbed his attention was that the inert portal he had woken up next to, which had been a second blockage he had felt, had apparently been cleared by the eruption of spiritual energy and now served as an outlet through which this valuable new resource was steadily draining away.


    At that moment, the rate at which the spiritual energy vent he had opened spewed out energy outpaced the loss significantly, but there was no guarantee that the vent wouldn''t run out eventually.


    Furthermore, such a sudden influx of spiritual energy to whichever place the portal led was sure to attract attention and it was now imperative for him to see if there was a way to close the portal and to find out where it led.


    He moved himself to the newly activated portal which had started lighting up in a soft glow and now consisted of slowly spinning rainbow particles on a canvas of black and gray. He found no way to interact with the portal, as the stone arch surrounding it was only what it seemed and didn¡¯t contain any further functions. It seemed that his only option was to step through the portal.


    When he arrived on the other side he was greeted by a dimly lit room with sheer, stone walls. The only slight illumination was provided by the portal, and even that was almost entirely gone by the time it reached the walls.


    He was relieved that some process in his new body recognized the changing light conditions and activated his night vision. After a few seconds, the room was perfectly visible to him, as if it was in full daylight. It seemed that not every new ability of his had to be manually activated.


    His crystal body was soon followed by his incorporeal one since there seemed to be no immediate danger. After a brief inspection, he determined that the room was roughly hemispherical with no further features to indicate which way would lead to the surface the fastest.


    When he neared the wall just across from the portal, one of the abilities of his crystal body that he had not yet tried out drew his attention. It almost seemed eager to be used and after a small moment of reluctance, he complied.


    He felt uncomfortable being told what to do by his own body. It had been ages since anybody, or anything had even tried to tell him what to do. It didn¡¯t really matter since he had wanted to try them all out eventually anyway, but it was the principle of the thing.


    In front of his eyes, the stone began to part. Hesitantly at first, but with increasing speed a hole the size of his fist formed. His senses further told him that the stone from the hole had been fused into the stone surrounding it, making it a bit more durable. This meant that the bigger the rooms he dug with this technique, the sturdier their walls would be.


    He had received the advice that reaching the surface as fast as he could, would only be beneficial, so he continued working to establish a passage to the outside world. As his familiarity with the technique increased, so did his rate of advancement. Luckily, the drain on his energy only slightly exceeded the rate at which it refreshed, so it would take quite a while until he would have to stop.


    Two days of digging upwards at a steep angle later he finally broke through to the outside world. A ray of sunlight speared out of the small crack that was his connection to the outside world. It had taken many cycles of excavation and meditation to refill his reserves, but now he finally felt the connection from his inner world to the tunnel strengthen considerably.


    Alongside the stronger connection, another barrier appeared at the tunnel exit, preventing the spiritual energy which had accumulated more and more in the tunnel from spewing into the outside world. This alleviated his fear that he had just kicked the energy loss problem down the road and hadn¡¯t actually solved it.


    After this positive surprise came a much less welcome one though. There was someone outside waiting for him. He could make out a hushed conversation between at least three people, one of them female and two male.


    He now regretted not taking the time to properly research all of his abilities and that he hadn¡¯t really explored the full combat potential of his new bodies.


    From his limited information, he surmised that he had probably unluckily tunneled into a settlement or a camping spot. Another possible explanation was that there was someone who had somehow tracked him and was now waiting specifically for him.


    He was suddenly very thankful that his method of excavation was almost completely silent. Just when he was about to silently close the opening again in order to carefully think about his options it seemed that at least some of the energy had escaped before the barrier had been established, which had seemingly led to his discovery. It was unexpected, however, that the voice which called out to him soon after both knew that he was present and also exactly who he was.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    ¡°The delegation of the Great Oracle humbly greets the esteemed dungeon.¡±, a female voice called.


    He thought about retreating for a few moments but ultimately decided against it. For one, the other party clearly knew where and who he was and secondly, A group of determined cultivators would have no trouble digging down to his portal in a matter of days.


    Since retreat was not an option there was really no downside to showing a bit of goodwill by meeting the other party face to face. He thus swiftly removed the few centimeters of rock separating him from the outside world and came face to face with a party of three.


    The woman, who was obviously the leader of the party, was clad in white-rimmed, black robes which concealed her body and hair fully, while her face was hidden behind a white ceramic mask. The mask was not plain though, as its facial features were highlighted by gold filigree.


    His ability to see spiritual energy also informed him that there were a variety of potent talismans hidden beneath her robes and that the mask was clearly much more valuable than even its ornate appearance would suggest.


    She was flanked by two men who wore a much more common outfit with both of them clad in cured leather armor which was mostly concealed by heavy, dark-green cloaks.


    In terms of weaponry, one of them was outfitted with a short axe for close combat and a long spear that could be used both for hunting large prey and also to keep enemy combatants at a distance. The other had a bow slung over his shoulder with a quiver on his right hip and a machete on his left one.


    The weapons and armor also faintly lit up to his spiritual energy sight, marking them as low-level spiritual tools on the same level as the woman¡¯s talismans.


    ¡°And who might you be?¡±, he asked the trio.


    ¡°Greetings, dungeon master. I am Oracle Nayda, sent by the Great Oracle Broga to be your aide, advisor, and liaison to the Great Will, and these are my guardians Seylin and Rafir.¡±, she answered.


    ¡°And how did you learn of me and my location?¡±, he asked her, though with less suspicion than before. After all, he knew that this was what oracles did, they knew things and used that to steer history in whatever direction they saw fit. His sources of advice had also told him to expect visitors, just not that quickly.


    ¡°Your location was revealed to Great Oracle Broga by the Great Will. This is a barren land, magically speaking, and as the first and only dungeon, your presence is a boon as well as a necessity for its continued development. The Great Oracle has long pleaded with the Great Will for greater support and the revelation of your location was the source of great excitement among the local agents of the Great Will.¡±, she answered.


    ¡°While your words sound believable, you should understand that I have to make sure before we talk further.¡±, he told her. Her two guards were bristling at his statement, but the young woman only nodded.


    ¡°What would you like me to do to prove my identity?¡±, she asked. Quin pondered for a short moment before deciding what would be the hardest thing to replicate which could still establish her identity fairly quickly.


    ¡°Why don''t you draw a simple sealing array for me?¡±, he said. with a wave of his hands, his incorporeal body ejected a thin layer of loose soil onto the smooth stone floor between the two sides. ¡°If you really were trained to assist me you should be able to do that much.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±, she answered. She then grew a branch out of her right sleeve and used it to draw various symbols and lines in a vaguely circular shape with an open spot in the middle where the subject to be sealed would be placed.


    During the inscription process, Quin kept most of his focus on the two men to make sure they couldn¡¯t make use of his lapse in concentration for a surprise attack. His occasional glances at the array did confirm to him what he had been more and more sure of during their short conversation though.


    Even if Nayda wasn¡¯t, as she had claimed, an oracle, she was at least sufficiently bound to the Great Will that it was highly improbable that it would allow her to harm him. Sealing arrays were virtually unknown to weaker cultivators and also designed in such a way that they would only work against their intended targets, which made them ineffective against the large majority of possible opponents that weaker cultivators would face.


    They were however a tool commonly used by the agents of the Great Will to lock away objects or people that were too hard to kill until a time when an individual able and willing to do the deed arrived. Dungeons, he knew, were frequently used to hold such undesirables as few locations were as secure as them.


    When she was done inscribing the array, the young oracle looked at Quin in askance. ¡°Is this array to your satisfaction, dungeon master?¡±


    Quin took a long look at the array circle and mentally compared it to the more advanced ones he had seen in the past. When he couldn¡¯t find anything wrong with it he looked back at her and nodded.


    ¡°Very well. I apologize for my caution, but I am sure you understand that I am now in a more vulnerable position than at almost any other time in my life.¡±, he said.


    ¡°That is only natural. May we know the honorable dungeon master¡¯s name?¡±, Nayda answered.


    ¡°You may refer to me as teacher Quin. While you are under my care and supporting me in various ways I will naturally reciprocate and guide you in your cultivation efforts.¡±, he said. ¡°Now, if you would follow me, please. I will show you the inner world of my dungeon and we will see about setting up some accommodations for you. While we walk you can tell me what you know about dungeons and the things you think will be most pertinent for me to learn in the immediate future.


    With that Quin turned around and made his way back down the pitch-black tunnel. Nayda followed him without comment and after making eye contact for a short moment her two attaches followed the others, having been ignored completely by both.

 Chapter 4

    After taking a few steps into the tunnel Quin remembered that his guests were still reliant on normal sight and quickly performed a light spell, which summoned a small, softly glowing orb into the air in front of him.


    ¡°As you can see, the construction of the outer part of my dungeon has only just started. The first inner layer is at least wooded by now, but apart from that navigating this tunnel in the dark is currently the only challenge my dungeon provides.¡±, he said. He then had to do a double take as he realized that more and more critters began to populate the forest when he looked at it with his incorporeal body.


    When he took a closer look, he observed that all manner of small mammals and insects were burrowing out of the earth while small birds suddenly exited previously empty bushes. Previously unnoticed by him, several small streams were now meandering through the landscape and were also teeming with life.


    Taking his focus back to his physical body, he turned his head towards Nayda.


    ¡°I think it would be easiest if I share what I know beforehand so that you can fill in any missing parts.¡±, he said. ¡°First, since you so easily accepted me as your teacher I assume you know that I am a reincarnated cultivator.¡±


    While Nayda nodded her two protectors were clearly not informed and their surprise at this revelation was clear to see on their faces.


    ¡°When it became apparent to me that I was unlikely to reach the next rank and my ascension all but impossible, I began searching for alternative methods. Reincarnation was but one of them, but it was the method that seemed to have the highest possible upside.


    As a result, when I had settled on the specifics, I visited many dungeons and thankfully a few of them were willing to meet me. They were however very reticent or unable to tell me about the specifics of what to expect and only gave vague advice.


    They mentioned that it would be wise to reach the surface as fast as possible and that I should expect visitors a few weeks after. Your haste in reaching me was thus quite unexpected. They further said and I observed that the dungeon is supposed to be a prison for the Great Will¡¯s enemies, a vault for foul objects and knowledge, as well as a site to challenge and reward cultivators, though the specific aims still elude me.


    From my visits to dungeons, I am also aware that I should develop this outer part of my dungeon further as both a first challenge as well as a first line of defense in case someone seeks to free certain prisoners or abscond with the dangerous objects or knowledge.¡±, Quin elaborated.


    Nayda nodded along to all of his points.


    ¡°I am glad that you are so well-informed already, teacher Quin, and I believe I can elaborate on what you told me to provide a clearer picture. Please keep in mind that I am limited in my knowledge too, though.¡±, she said. ¡°But with my position as your advisor confirmed I can commune with the Great Will more often to hopefully clear up any questions you might have that I currently do not have answers for.


    On the point of imprisoning the Great Will¡¯s enemies, storing dangerous objects, and your points of interaction with cultivators I can already provide you with some additional information. The problem with those that infiltrate the Great Will¡¯s domain from the outside or who swear fealty to those Outsiders is that the spiritual energy and resources they take from this domain get woven much more tightly into their bodies and cultivation bases than what cultivators from inside the domain would do.


    As a result, what they take is exceedingly hard to reclaim through normal means. Due to certain restrictions, higher-level beings or cultivators are not able to free either in a cost-efficient way. Such a powerful technique naturally demands an equally large weakness to exploit.


    That weakness is combat against native cultivators of even or lower cultivation. By killing and then immediately reviving the subject multiple times, the Great Will can transfer a significant portion of their power to the victorious cultivator and thus reintroduce it to the spiritual energy cycle.


    Should the prisoner be bound together with an item whose power has a similar origin to them, both can be reclaimed at the same time.


    The other important function of a dungeon is that of cultivator population control and strengthening. By weeding out those who are weak compared to their peers, strengthening the average, and elevating the strong, dungeons ensure that the cultivator population can defend the Great Will¡¯s domain should that be necessary.


    It might sound callous, but the Great Will does not care about individuals, but rather about the system that creates those individuals and its development over time.¡±


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    After that impromptu lecture, silence descended upon the group for a while. While Quin was thinking about the ramifications this new knowledge would have for his plans for the future, the trio was waiting for his response.


    A few minutes later, the group arrived at the portal which would bring them to his inner world. Quin entered it without thinking, but when Nayda tried to follow she was stopped by her protectors for a moment.


    ¡°Even if it seems overly careful at this point, Rafir will go first.¡±, her bow-wielding protector said and nodded to his companion. Before she could mount a protest, Rafir had already entered the portal and Seylin motioned that she was now free to continue.


    Hoping that the dungeon master would not take offense to this, she quickly entered the portal as well. The contrast between the dark and silent tunnel to the well-lit inner world teeming with life was a stark one.


    All thoughts of apologizing vanished into thin air as she beheld the lush greenery, the ominous mist that coated the sky, and the jarring lack of a source for the light that illuminated it all. The air was saturated with spiritual energy which she drew in with every breath, and the songs of various bird species filled the air.


    After a few moments she managed to collect herself and she turned to Quin to see how they would proceed from here.


    ¡°Since I started work on my connection to the outside world as soon as I was able to, there are unfortunately no accommodations for myself or you and your companions yet.¡±, Quin said. ¡°Thankfully, sleep is not a requirement anymore for me, so I can focus on creating yours first. The only problem is that going by the extensive construction all dungeons do, I have not yet discovered the method they use.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid that such knowledge was not part of my education, but I am sure teacher Quin will find a solution. We have already had to make do on our way here, so camping for a few additional days will pose no problem to us.¡± Nayda answered, which was followed by nods from both of her companions.


    In the following few hours, Quin tried every option he could think of, but nothing seemed to work. This was not to say though that his experiments were completely fruitless. He learned that his thin spiritual sense was able to give him detailed feedback on the composition of the landscape, as well as the inner workings of plants and animals.


    His crystal body, on the other hand, was able to manipulate both the inanimate materials and plant matter, but the changes he could make were purely for their form, so while it would be possible to construct things with it, that process would take far too long to be viable on the scale he needed it for.


    His large spiritual senses were even worse as no matter what he tried they could do nothing besides crude suction or ejection. When he noticed that his frustration was mounting, he decided to check up on his guests and get a read on their current cultivation.


    While he would put his main focus on Nayda, as she was the one who was able to offer something worthwhile in return, he wouldn''t just ignore her companions who were also responsible for her security if he happened to notice any issues with their cultivation or if they had pressing questions that he was able to answer.


    Night had fallen in the meantime and the trio had started a campfire over which two small hares were roasting. Seylin had asked him for permission to go hunting and since the wildlife was self-replenishing Quin had seen no reason to deny his request.


    After a short round of interrogations, he had found out that all three of them were still at the beginning of their cultivation journeys, having just started to gather and accumulate spiritual energy in their spiritual repositories. While different regions had different names and also techniques for the various stages of cultivation, their overall goals always stayed the same for the different races.


    Since they had started their current stage with the image of a slowly accumulating lake of spiritual energy in mind, their best option was to continue with it and then swap over to a mental image that he was more familiar with and had techniques for after they had broken through to the next one.


    While the two men were tending to their dinner, Nayda sat meditating, still in her body-concealing robes and mask. During her meditation she was drawing in spiritual energy at a far higher rate than normal, as such, this was the premier method every cultivator used to progress.


    What Quin could see but not the trio, was the way the spiritual energy swirled around her during the process and how smoothly the absorption process was going. After observing her for a short while he walked closer to the fire and was soon noticed by Rafir and Seylin.


    ¡°The first breath in your sequence should be at least one heartbeat longer aren''t you should reduce the time you exhale at the third and 5th time, but still try to empty your lungs as much as possible. That should improve your circulation considerably and make the spiritual energy you are taking in less chaotic.¡±, Quin told her.


    Rather than getting distracted by him, Nayda tried to incorporate his advice with the next cycle but adapting parts of her breathing while keeping the others the same was a tricky affair and it took her a few more revisions and some more help from Quin until she managed one flawless cycle. She then repeated the correct cycle a few more times to make sure she would be able to replicate it later and then opened her eyes.


    ¡°Many thanks, teacher Quin.¡±, she said.


    ¡°There is no need for thanks between teacher and student. This is naturally what I should do.¡±, he answered. ¡°I found myself at an impasse in my efforts and decided that my time would be better spent here than trying to force something that can¡¯t be forced. It seems I was right in this regard and who knows, maybe in teaching you I can also find inspiration for myself. If you have any further questions about cultivation I will try to answer them now.¡±

 Chapter 5

    The flickering light of the campfire illuminated Quin and the trio who sat around it. The crackling of the flames and the occasional sizzling of the fat that dripped off the hares and into the fire provided a cozy atmosphere that Quin was loathed to break, but there was much to prepare and no way to know how much time he had until the first prisoners and challengers arrived.


    ¡°Before we begin, I have a small request.¡±, Quin said.


    ¡°Of course, teacher Quin, how may I help you?¡± Nayda answered.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s time we stop talking so formally. I tire of it. The student-teacher relationship is a connection that will hold our entire lives so there is no reason to cling on to this artificial distance between us.¡±, he said.


    ¡°Thank you, teacher. In that case, I think I should also do this, it is long overdue I think.¡±, she answered and removed her mask and hood. Like a butterfly out of a cocoon, her mask and cloak had concealed a bright-eyed, lively young woman with unruly brown hair and vibrant green eyes.


    ¡°I was starting to feel awkward in my ceremonial outfit, but I didn¡¯t really find a good reason to remove it yet.¡±, she said. ¡°I was told to be as respectful and polite as possible by the Great Oracle, but I¡¯m not sure I could have kept up the facade for long.¡±


    The contrast between the formal and distant priestess hidden behind long robes and a mask compared to the lively young woman was quite jarring to Quin. Most seasoned cultivators would have stayed cautious and slowly tested the waters, but it seemed that Nayda hadn¡¯t yet seen how cruel the world of cultivation could be.


    A short glance at Seylin and Rafir showed that they were similarly inexperienced since they showed no large reaction to this turn of events and their relaxed postures revealed that they didn¡¯t have any worries at the reveal.


    When the hares were done, the trio quickly ate while Quin contemplated how detailed his first lesson should look and decided that a rough overview would suffice for now. Knowing too much wouldn¡¯t help them for now, but it was helpful to have a general idea of where one stood in the grand scheme of things and what was possible to achieve.


    ¡°To begin with I want to make it clear that while I can give you tools to help you cultivate, I cannot cultivate for you. If you form an overreliance on teachers to guide you through every minutia of your cultivation journey you will forever be chained to their understanding of it.


    I want you to be able to solve problems on your own and only when you can¡¯t see a way forward will I step in to help you take a step further. In the next few days and even weeks, I will start by providing you with different visualization models that you can use to improve your meditation.


    Before we begin with that though, I have decided to give a brief overview of the different stages of cultivation.


    The cultivation journey can be divided into four major realms, the first three of which can each in turn also be divided into three stages. The names of these realms and stages may differ from region to region, but what you have to do to progress will always stay the same.


    You are currently at the first stage of the first realm. The first realm revolves around the necessity of procuring spiritual energy and incorporating it into your cultivation base, which is housed in your spiritual repository.


    Your stage, the Spiritual Energy Gathering stage, is the purest expression of this endeavor, as it is purely concerned with the accumulation of spiritual energy. Conversely, if you want to compare yourself with others of your stage, the amount of spiritual energy you have available will be a large advantage compared to those who have less.


    Just like a great cook can¡¯t do anything without ingredients, how efficient and well-trained your spells and techniques are will not matter if you don¡¯t have the spiritual energy necessary to use them.


    The next stage and the one you are currently working towards is the spiritual foundation building stage. at that stage, you still expand the amount of spiritual energy you have available, but you also work towards refining it until its amount and purity are sufficient to be condensed into a core.


    That is also the final stage you can reach purely by utilizing spiritual energy. The second realm is then concerned with developing your soul while the third realm requires that you find your own Dao. The final realm is that of the ascenders and even I don''t know what is required of you there.¡±, Quin said.


    The trio looked at him expectantly, clearly fascinated by those higher realms they hadn¡¯t been told about before.


    ¡°Since those realms are so very far above your own, explaining them now won¡¯t do you much good.¡±


    While their disappointment was clearly visible, none of the three thought about interrupting the lesson. Getting taught by an experienced cultivator with such a clear vision of the greater picture was a rare blessing none of them wanted to squander.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So, coming back to your own realm, there are many different avenues through which you can increase your spiritual energy, but the easiest one is, as you already know, meditation in environments that contain much of it.


    Besides a higher ambient concentration of spiritual energy, our meditation sessions can also be enhanced by specific breathing patterns, as you have already demonstrated. What you may not know, is that the mental image you have while meditating can severely enhance or hinder your progress.


    Since developing a working mental image is quite hard, most of the time younger cultivators get taught to clear their minds completely of extraneous thoughts until only the breathing pattern remains.


    This eliminates the risk, but also the possibility. I have even known several cultivators who reached the second realm without one, but by that time it is so ingrained in one''s habits that developing one can be very difficult.


    What they did instead to supplement their meditation was to ingest copious amounts of food rich in spiritual energy, as well as various medicines which boosted their rate of absorption. Needless to say, their spiritual energy was muddied beyond belief, and none ever advanced another step.¡±, Quin continued.


    This time Nayda couldn¡¯t hold on to herself though and posed him a question with obvious worry.


    ¡°I am sorry teacher Quin, but I have also received many spiritual beast meals and a few medicinal baths. Is there a way to repair my cultivation?¡± she asked. Seylin and Rafir also looked worried and it was obvious that while they may have not been as pampered as Nayda, they had still hunted and eaten several spiritual beasts.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. Spiritual energy purity only becomes a concern once you reach the foundation building stage and even then a regular but measured intake of supplements is not only not detrimental, but almost necessary if you want to condense your core with any amount of certainty.¡±, he reassured them and then asked. ¡°Are you all familiar with the method of visualizing your spiritual repository?¡±


    While Nayda hesitantly nodded, both Seylin and Rafir clearly had no idea what he was talking about.


    ¡°I am afraid not teacher Quin. Rafir and I are mostly self-taught with the help of manuals rented from the temple library.¡±, Seylin answered for the two of them.


    ¡°I have done it a few times, but it seemed pretty useless until now, so I haven¡¯t tried it in quite a while.¡±, Nayda said.


    ¡°You are right that this method wasn¡¯t very useful to you until now, but the mental image you have while cultivating will influence your spiritual repository over time, so it is important to monitor it for any unwanted changes.¡± Quin said. ¡°This is obviously not a problem for those meditating without one such image.¡±


    His audience nodded at that statement and once again confirmed to themselves that there really was no substitute for a knowledgeable teacher.


    ¡°As you should be aware, your spiritual sense guides the flow of spiritual energy inside your body. That is not the only thing it can do though. Since spiritual energy has both a physical as well as a metaphysical component, it can connect to both. This dichotomy is also true for your spiritual repository.¡±, he continued. Seeing that his audience had seemingly no idea about this second component, he decided to expand upon it.


    ¡°The most apparent example for this metaphysical component is for example, that spiritual energy slowly takes on certain characteristics of the environment it is in. Should you ever enter the lair of a demon worshipper you will notice that the spiritual energy inside it can make you physically ill while empowering them considerably.


    On the other hand, spiritual energy inside caves will naturally attune towards being dark, sluggish, and stale and techniques that embody those attributes will be noticeably stronger than others. there are other ways to alter spiritual energy, but you are unlikely to encounter those any time soon.


    The metaphysical component of your spiritual repository is, that the totality of spiritual energy together with all your spells and techniques and your mental self-image results in a spiritual world that you can access with your spiritual sense. The only thing you need is the right intent while connecting with your spiritual repository and you will find yourself inside it. This early into your cultivation journey it is likely that you will only encounter a chaotic mess of disparate influences on your spiritual energy, which will only settle in the coming months and years.¡±, he said.


    While giving his speech Quin had been thinking about his own situation. Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a feeling that his lesson could also help his attempts at finding the powers that he knew dungeons should have.


    He then tried to reframe what he was trying to do. He was searching for innate abilities and the way to activate them. While it didn¡¯t need to be immediately obvious, every dungeon he had ever visited had figured it out, so it should at least not be hidden or unintuitive how to find them.


    The only thing he hadn¡¯t yet done that every dungeon would do sooner or later was to cultivate and, coincidentally, to inspect his spiritual repository. He then returned his focus to his waiting audience.


    ¡°Follow along with me.¡±, he said. ¡°Use your spiritual sense to connect with your spiritual repository and focus on your desire to see your inner world.¡±


    The moment he uttered that sentence he had an epiphany. He had subconsciously referred to the island as his inner world for a while now. It had just felt right. On a whim, he connected one of his large spiritual senses with the land, but this time not with the intent to absorb or eject but to connect.


    From one moment to the next his view of the world changed. Where he had previously had various dulled sensations that indicated the overall health of the island, he now knew with perfect clarity what was happening on the island. He knew where every tree and critter was, he saw every boulder and flowed along with the river all at once.


    But just as if not more importantly, he had a distinct feeling that if he willed the earth to move, it would. He did so immediately but on the other side of the island to not spook his visitors, which he could also observe.


    With only a small flexing of his mind alongside a considerable amount of spiritual energy he first raised the earth into a large mount and, after only stone remained around the mound, spiritual energy was automatically used to substitute earth at an even steeper price. If he hadn¡¯t had a faucet that constantly spewed new spiritual energy for him to use he would have run out of reserves rather quickly.


    Meanwhile, his three students had also managed to connect with their inner worlds and so the whole group was smiling just as wide as he currently was.

 Chapter 6

    Quin sighed. ¡°It seems that teaching really is the best way to learn.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you also gained something, teacher?¡±, Nayda asked.


    ¡°I have indeed. I have finally found the method to make large-scale changes, so I¡¯ll start experimenting on the outer region of my dungeon first to not disturb our upcoming meditation session, but once the outer region has a layout that I¡¯m satisfied with, there will be lots of things I want to change in here.¡±, he answered.


    He then returned the land on the other side of the island to its original appearance and exited his inner world with his spiritual body. When he connected with the outer dungeon, the contrast to his inner world was quite jarring.


    Instead of the well-lit, large, and lush island he now only held dominion over a dark, barren, thin strip of tunnel. At roughly a meter from the tunnel walls out into the mountain, his perception had vanished completely.


    Thankfully, as he dug an experimental tunnel at an angle from the topside, his perception advanced with the tunnel. Slowly at first, and then, as his confidence grew, faster and faster, he carved out a winding tunnel that connected to the portal room. As soon as the tunnel was finished a worked at collapsing the original one.


    Having a straight shot at his inner world while he hadn¡¯t had the time to build some defenses was unacceptable to him and thus the old tunnel had to go. In its stead, he carved out a second tunnel which was similarly winding to his second one.


    This time though, he connected a second large spiritual sense to the ground and tried excavating from both sides. To his surprise, he found no difficulty in doing so. His mind naturally split between the two senses and he didn¡¯t even lose any speed in excavating.


    In hindsight, he should have expected this development since his crystal and incorporeal bodies were also operating independently without problems, but that had become second nature at that point, and he hadn¡¯t even thought about it.


    When the second tunnel was fully constructed he began weaving in branching tunnels which would either lead to dead ends or converge with the main tunnel at a later point. When there were enough branching tunnels, he filled in some sections from the main two tunnels to create a true labyrinth.


    At certain sections though, all tunnels converged before larger rooms and then split up again. These rooms would later contain the prisoners which would arrive in the coming weeks. He would have to ask Nayda to commune with the Great Will for more detailed instructions on what to do with them, so he had to leave it at that for the time being.


    Unlike his inner world, plants and wildlife didn¡¯t magically appear from thin air, and so he had the tedious task of transplanting fitting specimens from the inner world via two of his large spiritual senses. Thankfully, by using intent the suction and expulsion process became a teleportation one, reducing the possibility of accidents.


    When he scoured his inner world though, he barely found any plants and animals suitable for permanent cave inhabitation, particularly those at the bottom of the food chain. He briefly contemplated abducting species from the outside world, but finding and catching them would be a major hassle.


    He had neither the time nor the inclination to do such a thing, but thankfully he soon realized that he had a very easy solution for his problem. He began excavating a small cave system at the back end of the island, and its inherent magic did the rest, populating the new habitat with suitable species.


    The first species that appeared was a softly glowing moss that was ubiquitous throughout the whole world. Wherever there was spiritual energy in mostly dark places, this moss would appear after a certain time.


    It had been theorized that its spores were somehow being transported by the flow of spiritual energy since no other possible way of transmission had ever been found. Next, vines sprouted from the sheer stone, circling the different patches of moss.


    Then, all manner of insects that fed on both the plants or each other appeared one after the other. Those were followed by patches of mushrooms, which in turn were followed by bats and small amphibians. Quin was careful to only pluck out plants and animals at their approximate replacement rate so that the ecosystem could remain stable for the moment and even grow in the future through reproduction.


    Due to its lacking size compared to its outer region counterpart, the plants and animals taken from the inner world cave system only filled a very small part of his labyrinth. It would take a while for the labyrinth to fill up completely, but since his active time investment for this was minimal he didn¡¯t mind too much.


    Besides, the high spiritual energy density in his inner world would soon trigger the plants and animals to evolve into spiritual beast and plant variants. It was only those that would provide a suitable challenge and incentive to come for cultivators, the mundane animals and plants would soon be replaced or relegated to the bottom of the food chain.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    . . .


    At the same time that his spiritual body had exited the inner world through the portal to start the construction of his labyrinth, his crystal body sat down cross-legged on the grass next to the fire pit. Nayda, Seylin, and Rafir followed his example and sat down in a half-circle facing him.


    ¡°Now that you are acquainted with the basics and have glimpsed at your inner world, I will guide you through a meditation session and we¡¯ll see how it compares to your blind ones.


    I will start with a water-based visualization since that is one of the easiest and most common mental images. In the coming days and weeks, we will test out a variety of different ones. When you find an image that speaks to you, we will see about slowly refining it so that it fits the way you want to cultivate as well as possible.¡±


    Suddenly, Quin¡¯s voice had an additional hypnotic effect which made the trio fixate on his every word.


    ¡°Now, close your eyes and follow my voice. You feel the outside world slowly fading from your senses.


    You smell the smoke from the fire and the fresh air of the forest.


    You acknowledge it and then let it fade into the background.¡±


    He paused for a while.


    ¡°You feel the grass and the earth beneath you are sitting on, the tiny mounds and indentations that are strewn across its surface.


    You let it go.¡±


    Another pause.


    ¡°You feel the clothes you are wearing rub against your skin. You feel your body being supported by solid, dependable ground.


    You let it go.¡±


    The last pause. Quin¡¯s voice had drawn his audience into an illusory world for him to construct.


    ¡°You are on a boat now. You feel the grain of the wood on your naked feet and hands, you feel the comfortable linen robe covering you from the elbows to the knees, and you feel the wind softly caressing your face and exposed limbs.


    You feel the wooden plank you are sitting on and the gentle swaying of the boat on the tiny waves. As you draw in your first breath, you smell the watery atmosphere of the lake.  The wind is strengthening with every breath. And so are you.


    You feel energy suffusing your being, and you know you are strong. The boat isn¡¯t a long one, just a few meters, but enough for a wooden mast with a sail. The lake stretches to the horizon and there is no land in sight.


    You start breathing in the familiar rhythm of your cultivation method, and you feel the wind responding to your breath, pushing you ever further. As you float above the vast expanse you notice that there is a large school of silvery fish frolicking next to your boat.


    You grab the net from beneath your bench and cast it out. In only moments you have a good haul. You flex your muscles and will. Bit by bit you reel in the net and heave it over the railing and into the boat.


    As the net hits the wooden planks the fishes dissolve into motes of energy, which your powerful breath absorbs into your body. You feel your energy swelling and your muscles tightening. You ready your net and throw it out again.¡±


    The meditation session continued the whole night, and Quin led his students to many schools of fish, catching them until nothing remained.


    When the outside world began to slowly brighten, so did his inner world. This was the signal for him to bring the meditation to a close and to start remodeling the island. The central mountain and the spiritual energy vent were fixtures he would only be able to modify slightly, but everything else was completely malleable.


    During the meditation session, he had also been experimenting with his singular thin spiritual sense and found out that it had a different function compared to the three large ones. With it, he could only affect a very small area compared to his large ones, but as a tradeoff, his changes could also be much more in-depth or intricate.


    He could carve tiny, almost invisible runes and arrays for various effects, but he could also alter materials, plants, and animals on a very deep level. One rabbit¡¯s offspring in the forest would from now on grow to the size of a dog, while a particular oak deep in the forest could now slowly attract blood in a mile radius around itself and absorb extra nutrients from it.


    These were only the first of many changes to come, and he felt excited about the many ways in which he could push the species in different directions. Once a regular stream of cultivators frequented his inner world, it would be up to them and his creations to find out who was favored by the law of natural selection.


    He would of course have to create environments that played to the strengths of the by-then spirit beasts since the humans had almost every other advantage.


    His musings were interrupted when his three guests were beginning to stir. After such a long meditation session it took a while for their minds to wake up again. Luckily meditating in such a way rested the mind and body just as much as sleeping, so they would all be full of energy they once had roused themselves.


    While Rafir was the first to fully wake up, he stayed silent and waited for Nayda to get her bearings.


    ¡°That was amazing, teacher. I¡¯ve never made that much progress in one session.¡± She beamed at him and both Seylin and Rafir nodded at her statement. While he hadn¡¯t minded their reluctance to engage with him until now very much, it was becoming clear to him that this would be a problem in the future.


    He had no accurate read on either of them and if he was to teach them so that they could better protect their charge, that was unacceptable in the long run. Not that he knew that much more about Nayda, but he had at least a read on her general disposition and her willingness to talk with him would do the rest.


    He¡¯d try to pry something out of them when Nayda communed with the Great Will next time and see if he could make inroads that way. For now, he just smiled at them and reiterated that this would be a daily, or in this case nightly, occurrence until they all had a suitable image.

 Chapter 7

    Three riders and a spare horse appeared on a lonely mountain road framed by trees. It was an early spring morning and the first rays of the sun were only just beginning to illuminate the valley below them and parting the mists that had hidden it from view.


    Right in the middle of the valley, surrounded by wide pastures and fields lay an idyllic village.


    ¡°The village looks kind of peaceful from up here.¡± Hamman said to his two brothers. ¡°The heretic seems to still lay low.¡±


    ¡°Well then get moving before they decide that today is a good day to sacrifice some children.¡± Amra answered.


    ¡°And while we ride, finally tell us what made you so secretive about the mission. I¡¯m not risking anything before I know what¡¯s going on. What has got the Head Hunter so worried about this particular one?¡± Ohrun, the third and also youngest brother, asked.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Hamman said. ¡°The mission is pretty standard, at least as much as missions like this can be. It¡¯s what happens after that has him so excited. You see, we finally got confirmation that the dungeon master has arrived.


    After we catch this one we have the order to collect a few others that have been collecting dust in a nearby outpost. The mission paper states I should only tell you when we arrive at the prison, but I don¡¯t really see the point either.¡±


    ¡°The old man is seriously starting to piss me off with his paranoia.¡± Ohrun said. ¡°I get he¡¯s a veteran from the Witch War, but nobody has heard from them since and we keep the land clean from everything else.¡±


    ¡°Ranting about it ain¡¯t helping either though.¡± Amra said ¡°Just look at it as an old monster eccentricity. They all got some and there is nothing we can do about it. You can go challenge him about it when you reach peak Spirit Foundation as well. Or Spirit Foundation at all.¡±


    Ohrun grumbled something incomprehensible, but Amra¡¯s speech had visibly deflated his angry bluster.


    The winding road down the cliffs grew progressively wider and easier to traverse as they descended. When they left the last trees behind it only led down at a gentle incline and soon even that was gone.


    Only flanked by the wild pastures, their approach was soon noticed. While the children were excited to see outsiders and even armed ones at that, the adults were much warier. Having armed strangers enter your village randomly was never a good sign.


    For many cultivators, having a weapon and supernatural strength were all the justifications they needed to use them. Thus escorted by distrustful gazes from all sides, the trio of Hunters headed straight for the largest residence around.


    The residence consisted of multiple buildings connected by a central courtyard and roofed walkways. The central building reached an impressive three stories and was by far the largest building around. Its entrance was guarded by two poorly equipped mundane warriors.


    ¡°This would all be much more impressive if land and labor weren¡¯t so cheap out here.¡± Ohrun mumbled, clearly still in a bad mood.


    ¡°Just shut up and don¡¯t antagonize them. I don¡¯t want to do this without their help, do you? And remember that we want to test whoever is in charge first.¡±, Hamman reprimanded him. Then, loudly, he announced: ¡°Three adventurers in search of treasure and the Dao have arrived. Go fetch your lord so that he may help us in our endeavor.¡±


    The two guards looked at each other and then back to Hamman, clearly unsure of what to do in this situation. Just as Hamman was about to just ignore them and enter through the open gates, an old housekeeper appeared.


    ¡°The warmest welcome to the three heroes. My name is Steward Negin and I will show you to our greeting room. Unfortunately, the lord is currently receiving other guests, but he will be with you shortly.¡± he said and bowed to them.


    ¡°Very well. Tell him to be quick about it.¡± Hamman answered.


    The three brothers dismounted and followed the steward into the courtyard. Once inside, their horses were taken over by stable hands and they were led to a comfortably furnished room on the ground floor of the largest building.


    The room contained four large couches arrayed around a large marble table. The servants soon served them tea and biscuits while they waited and a large bowl with various fruits was also brought in.


    After a few minutes of waiting, a richly clad, middle-aged man entered the room. His greying temples and well-groomed beard gave him an air of authority and dependability. He eyed the trio lounging on the couches as if they owned the place critically.


    ¡°Greetings. My name is Korrin Ouengard and I¡¯m honored that young heroes such as yourself saw fit to visit a simple magistrate like me. I am however not quite sure what I can do to help you in your endeavors. The problems of cultivators are not something I can really involve myself in.¡±, the man said.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Well, you have a cultivator problem already, even if you seem not to know about it yet.¡±, Hamman said. Amra mostly preferred not to speak and Ohrun couldn¡¯t be trusted not to mess things up, so it fell on him to represent their group. ¡°How familiar are you with the world of cultivation, Magistrate Ouengard?¡±


    ¡°I have dabbled with cultivation myself in my youth, but in the end, it wasn¡¯t really for me. I have however kept myself informed about the potential threats to my village. Has a dangerous Spirit Beast been sighted in the vicinity?¡±


    ¡°Much worse. The oracles have seen a shadow darkening the spiritual energy in your valley. A demonic cultivator has made their nest here.¡±, Hamman answered. While speaking, he had removed a medallion depicting a tree strangling a demon from beneath his shirt. This medallion was proof of his membership in the Hunters.


    The magistrate¡¯s eyes threatened to bulge out of his head and for a moment he was too shocked for a proper reply. Amra and Ohrun used that opening to swiftly dash to his side.


    ¡°Going by your reaction I¡¯m rather sure you aren¡¯t the person we¡¯re looking for. Even so, it¡¯s always better to check.¡± Along with those words, Hamman removed a round hand mirror from his pouch. After injecting a small amount of spiritual energy into it, it began to emit an intense ray of light which he shone on the magistrate''s face. When the magistrate showed no reaction besides closing his eyes at the intense light, the three Hunters let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°I apologize for that unpleasantness, but we had to be sure that you remain uncorrupted.¡±


    While the magistrate tried to recover his eyesight, Amra and Ohrun moved back to their seats. For a moment it looked like he wanted to protest the rough treatment, but none of the three Hunters looked even remotely apologetic.


    ¡°Right. Well. So how can I help you find the demonic cultivator? The few things I know about them tell me that the longer they can stay undetected, the worse for all involved. I assume you can¡¯t just shine that mirror of yours on everyone.¡±


    ¡°That is correct.¡± Hamman said. ¡°The mirror has to recover for a few hours and it¡¯s also very energy intensive. The foreign energy that most demonic cultivators depend on can feel quite unsettling even to mortals. So if there are locations nearby that evoke such feelings that should be our focus.


    Sadly, most of them know that much and the mountains that surround your village probably have many spots to hide in. We¡¯ll need a local guide who knows every cave, ruin, or other places  that would allow someone to hide in for quite some time.¡±


    Magistrate Ouengard nodded. ¡°There are a few prospectors and hunters that I do business with. I understand that they¡¯ll have to be kept in the dark so that the demonic cultivator isn¡¯t alerted, but they won¡¯t. It has to look like I was just your intermediary.¡±


    ¡°Naturally. This isn¡¯t our first hunt. Once this is done you can blame the reckless cultivators for endangering everyone.¡± Hamman said. ¡°But don¡¯t overdo it. I¡¯d hate to cut through another mob of enraged villagers.¡±


    The magistrate paled at that and nodded again. ¡°Then I think it would be best not to dawdle. I¡¯ll have some guest rooms prepared for you while I gather your guides.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you. We¡¯ll go take a look at your village in the meantime. You can expect us to be back around midday and we¡¯ll set out after lunch.¡±


    . . .


    ¡°Why do those bastards always hide out in such dumps.¡± Ohrun complained. ¡°Everything is muddy and you can¡¯t tell whether the thing soaking your shoes is earth or shit. And have you looked at their girls? Flat as a board and plain like the eastern prairie.¡±


    ¡°Why did you even become a Hunter then? You knew where they hide beforehand, city boy.¡± Amra said.


    ¡°Youthful idiocy and unrealistic expectations. I should¡¯ve just joined a sect and continued to read about Hunters and explorers in my trashy novels. If I find the ones who wrote such drivel I will drag them to the most backend hovel I can find and force them to live there for a few months. Let¡¯s see if they will dare to lie like that again.¡± came the heated answer.


    Hamman rolled his eyes. His parents really had pampered his little brother beyond belief. ¡°Just keep your eyes open. We¡¯ll get a nice lunch at the magistrate¡¯s mansion and tonight we can sleep in real beds. Save your complaints for the bad missions.¡±


    Internally, he agreed with Ohrun though. The contrast between the magistrate¡¯s mansion and the shoddily stacked stone houses of the regular villagers was quite stark. At least they had somewhat solid roofs over their heads and most of them didn¡¯t even look that malnourished. Compared to most city slums this was almost luxurious.


    After a while of fruitless sightseeing, they returned to the magistrate¡¯s mansion. While it was the largest one around, it wasn¡¯t the only one. There were plenty of smaller compounds and two of comparable size, their only lacking feature was the two-story main building instead of the magistrate¡¯s three-storied one.


    ¡°So why weren¡¯t we looking into these obvious targets?¡± Ohrun asked, pointing vaguely at the other buildings.


    ¡°¡¯cause we can¡¯t just run in there without alerting everybody. Amra will stay and keep an eye out for suspicious movement,  but we¡¯ll eliminate the soft targets first. Rich people won¡¯t run unless they feel they have to. And if one of them does go missing we¡¯ll hear about it. Then we¡¯ll either have our target or a first victim which can lead us to the heretic.¡± Hamman replied.


    Amra grunted in agreement. ¡°Before you complain, I know what to look for and I¡¯ll also take night watch. Besides, you have to get used to finding clues in the wilderness. Most of them hide out alone or with other outcasts, where nobody asks why there¡¯s suddenly one less mouth to feed or loot to split with. If you¡¯re rich you have the means but also much more to lose.


    This village is too small for a proper slum and too poor for bandits to bother with, so loner or affluent it is.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t they teach all this during apprentice classes?¡± Ohrun asked. ¡°Not that cultivation lessons and weapons training aren¡¯t important, but I feel that I should maybe know stuff like this already. I could have just trained with my bow during the journey.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we teaching you right now?¡± Hamman asked back. ¡°But seriously. I can teach you this stuff as we go, but I can¡¯t teach you to keep up if you¡¯re too weak. You can only learn if you survive. Now enough of that. Don¡¯t let the guards or servants hear you. We don¡¯t want to alarm the target too much.¡±