After the celebratory party at my house, we divided it equally among ourselves. Tong Xue, Hao Ren and Qin Ying didn't look pleased, but I assured them that I had no use for most of the resources. I wanted them to keep working hard and improving their cultivation as well, and it was pointless for me to hoard.
"Once I absorb the qi from this many spirit stones," I explained, taking out a handful of high-grade spirit stones and parting them away from the rest. "The rest will be useless. You know absorbing qi from spirit stones are usually inefficient once you've reached a certain level. I only need this amount to breakthrough to Mystic rank, and the rest will be useless to me."
"Still, you should take more!" Qin Ying insisted. "At least take my share! My family has yet to pay you back fully for the money you lent to us!"
"No, I want you guys to improve as well. I can't just be surging ahead by myself. You guys need to catch up with me so that we can continue working together in future." I didn't want this to turn into a Korean web novel and manhwa syndrome, or even the Chinese web novel and manhua ones, where basically the protagonist hoarded everything for himself and became a god while everyone around him were useless burdens who existed only for him to save and look all heroic. I needed my friends to keep up with me.
I wasn't some Korean protagonist who soloed everything on his own or a Chinese protagonist who got carried away with cultivation and left everyone far behind in the dust. People existed as a society, as part of a community, and I would be delusional and arrogant to think a single individual like me could shoulder everything by myself. The world didn't work that way. Even Albeit Einstein had his own team of researchers behind him, he didn't achieve all those amazing theories on his own.
"The same goes for the elixirs. But I wouldn't rely on them. Think of them as supplements, not miracle tools that guarantee success. In the end, everything is down to your own efforts, and there are no shortcuts in life."
"What about the materials? You should take a few of these spirit ores." Tong Xue gestured to me. "Why would you only take the Dragon Tree wood?"
"Yeah! If we're going to split them evenly, take some of these!" Hao Ren pushed a few toward me, and I grudgingly accepted.
"Fine." I could at least sell them if the blacksmiths didn't need them. Speaking of which, I had a question. "You guys up for joining me to the Huo Yan Valley? I'm going to get my weapons forged there."
The three of them exchanged wary glances before shaking their heads.
"I know a cheaper place," Tong Xue said, grimacing. "The Huo Yan Valley's blacksmiths charge too exorbitant a price. I can't afford it. And the place is too dangerous. I wouldn't survive the journey there."
"It isn't that bad," I muttered.
"The heat is atrocious. I probably would wilt away and die from dehydration."
"Same," Hao Ren agreed, looking a little guilty. He frowned. "I know the reputation of the Huo Yan Valley and I'm sure they will forge the very best weapons, but is there really a need for you to risk such danger? You can get good quality weapons here as well. sure, none of them would be of the same level as a weapon forged in the fires of Huo Yan Valley, but it's pointless if you die on the way there."
I smirked. "You think I'll die?"
"N…no! That's not what I mean! But you have to be very careful. It's really dangerous!" Hao Ren waved his hands frantically.
"I will. What about you, class rep?"
Qin Ying sighed and shook her head. "As much as I would like to join you, you remember that my family is still indebted financially to you, right? We can't afford to splash so much money on hiring a Huo Yan Valley blacksmith. And no, I'm not going to borrow more money from you. I already owe you too much. If you're offering to lend me more money to forge my sword, I refuse."
"Okay." I was a little disappointed. It looked like I would have to make the journey alone, but both Tong Xue and Hao Ren had a point. It was going to be super dangerous, and at my current level, I might not be able to survive. I needed to become stronger, no matter the cost. Speaking of cost, I was aware of the exorbitant fees that the blacksmiths of Huo Yan Valley charged, but I had managed to make quite a fortune from selling the low-grade spirit stones that my Collector Crabs had gathered. So money wasn't a problem. It did hurt, though, that I would end up having no savings again. I was always spending almost as much as I earned, to the point where I didn't have much leftover to help my family financially. Not that my family needed financial help at the moment, but it still felt kind of bad.
With the shares decided, the four of us went on our own separate ways. I was exhausted after the tournament match and the events of the day, so I took a rest and only started my preparations the next day, shortly after I woke up.
"First, I must improve my strength."
Looking at the spirit pill in my hand, I grimaced and popped one of them into my mouth. Nothing happened. It was a supplement, after all, and digestion would take some time. What, did you think this was some cultivation novel where I would immediately power up after swallowing some drug? Cultivation wasn't that easy, dudes.
After having breakfast with my family, I made up an excuse and told my parents that I was going out to train. Technically, that was the truth. It was just that it was a different "outside" to what they might imagine. And so, upon sneaking back to my room after faking my departure, I visited my dungeon.
"Welcome back, my lord." Long Wang bowed when I teleported into the main hall of the Deep Sea Palace, not far from where the dungeon core – formerly the Ancient Aquatic Artifact – was located. I smiled and nodded.
"Thanks. I'll be training."
"The training space is open to you, as always, my lord."
"All right. I'll be there if you need me. Let me know if anything happens."
"Of course."
I entered the relatively small cavern that was designated as a training room. The Construction Crabs had done well, turning what used to be a natural cave into a solidly constructed room with reinforced walls, tatami mats, racks and shelves, and other amenities. Finding a comfortable spot, I sat down and rummaged my storage space. Taking the high-grade spirit stones, I absorbed the qi from some of them. As I pointed out, I only needed a few, which meant I could save the rest. Once I was done, I did a few exercises to assimilate the qi.
"Phew. All right, now that the qi is assimilated, let's begin."
Breathing deeply, I trained both physically and spiritually, going through with my movements and practicing my sword and archery techniques. The more I practiced, the more comfortable I became with my techniques to the point where executing them felt like second nature. As I swung my practice sword while simultaneously launching a few azure arrows at the target boards that my Construction Crabs had built, I felt a sense of ease.
If only these days could go on forever.
After training, I spoke to Long Wang, who filled me in on the details and growth of my dungeon.
"The population of the Little Anglers and Lantern Fishes has increased to about 120. There has been breeding in the pools. Similarly, the number of Collector Crabs and Construction Crabs under your command have also increased, thanks to breeding and them starting families. We have lost a few thanks to them being eaten by predators when going out on collection or construction, but otherwise there is a net increase."
"Remind them to retreat to the safety of our dungeon if they feel threatened or encounter danger."
"Will do. They are grateful for that. We also have Da Hai, Xiao Ke and the Lantern Fishes standing guard in case any marine predators try to force their way in. Thankfully, we haven't been attacked by higher ranked marine spirit beasts like the Large Liopleurodons or Megalodons or giant squids. In time, we'll need more powerful guards, though."
"Thanks. I'll figure something out, but I'll need to become stronger in order to forge spirit contracts with stronger spirit beasts." And the system hadn't given me any new contracts yet. I wasn't sure what triggered the rewards of spirit contracts, but the system refused to offer any explanation, which was frustrating.
"Understood. But don't overdo it."
"Yeah."
I returned to the dungeon constantly over the next week or so, eating the few spirit pills as supplements while training. The rest of the spirit stones remained untouched because they wouldn't be useful after I had absorbed the qi from the first few of them. Cultivation wasn't about the quantity of qi. It was also understanding and skill as well, which was why simply absorbing qi from external sources and relying on steroids…ahem, spirit elixirs wouldn't be enough.
But my efforts finally bore fruit.
After a rigorous training session a week later, I finally felt a surge in my qi. The esoteric energies swirled around me, tempering my body, and I could actually feel the physical transformations and refining of my qi. This was it then.
I had reached Mystic rank.
-Congratulations to user for attaining beginner Mystic rank. Long Wang's strength is now unlocked to beginner Mystic rank as well. –
"Thank you, my lord. You've worked hard." As if on cue after the notification window from the system appeared, Long Wang entered the training room, bowing. He held out a hand, black and blue qi crackling around his palm. "You have broken through."
"Yeah." I scratched my head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Thanks for the support."
"Not at all. This is entirely due to your own efforts, my lord. But thanks to you, I have unlocked another portion of my strength, and I believe I can serve you better."
"That's good to hear." I nodded, though inwardly I was running calculations in my head. Now that I was Mystic ranked, I could finally embark on the journey to the perilous Huo Yan Valley and get my weapons forged. I looked forward to that.
Also, there was one other thing I had in mind. But before I did that, I should take my leftover spirit stones and upgrade the dungeon. It turned out that I didn't need the remaining high-grade spirit stones, but I had kept them aside just in case I might want to absorb some more qi. The temptation was there, but I was glad I didn't depend on them.
"Here you go." Taking the spirit stones out, I poured them into the dungeon core, which absorbed them greedily. The system then provided me an update.
-Upgrading the Deep Sea Palace. Success. Dungeon has been upgraded. Previously locked sections are now open to construction. Territory has increased. New area unlocked: the Abyssal Cavern. New area unlocked: The Frontier. –
There was a rumbling as the dungeon grew and transformed. I watched the holographic map and spotted the new Abyssal Cavern at the bottom. There was an opening where the sea could flow into, just like the pools where my Little Anglers and Lantern Fishes inhabited, but this was a much darker and vaster place. and it was empty.
I understood why this vast place was isolated. The system must have deliberately upgraded my dungeon in this fashion because it understood my needs. Taking a deep breath, I descended into the Abyssal Cavern, with Long Wang accompanying me.
This was the issue I had in mind earlier. I was wondering if Hei Ba would be more inclined to obey me now that I was Mystic ranked. Of course, there was still a huge difference in our strengths, with him being peak and me only being beginner after just recently breaking through, but Mystic rank was still a massive step up from peak Yellow Rank.
"Hei Ba, you can stay here."
The Abyssal Serpent materialized in the Abyssal Cavern, half of his coiled body splashing into the undersea lake. He turned to regard me malevolently, then glanced away. Looked like his attitude still bordered on hostile and defiant, but there was still a slight, grudging acknowledgement now. Only at my growth, though. I still had a long way to go before I could command respect and total obedience from the vicious spirit beast.
Sighing, I left him be and returned to the main hall. I noticed how much more splendor there was after the upgrade, with the pillars looking a bit pearlier and the room being grander, with intricate carvings in the interior now.
"Don't be disheartened, my lord," Long Wang said, joining me in the main hall. "Hei Ba might not recognize your strength right now, but you've made tremendous progress. It won't be long before he submits to you completely. By then, you will have the power to punish him and make him regret his insolence."
"It's my fault for not being strong enough," I admitted. "But you're right. One step at a time. As long as progress is being made, I will get there someday."
"That's right, my lord."
"Well, as for other matters…" I conjured the holographic map and tapped on the newly unlocked sections. "Gather the Construction Crabs, and you might want to appoint one of the Lantern Fishes to help out here. I will be building a kitchen here, to feed everyone. Maybe a bar here, for the residents to enjoy themselves after work, especially the crabs. And you too, Long Wang. Enjoy the facilities. Oh, right. And get them to build a room for you. You need a place of your own to sleep, and for privacy, right?"
For a moment, Long Wang stared at me. Then he lowered his head. "I am touched at your generosity, my lord. to think you were considering about my welfare, as well as that of the spirit beasts living here. We are lucky to have a lord like you."
"Uh, this is nothing. Please don't do that. You're making me uncomfortable." I didn't quite understand. I was doing something perfectly normal, something that all companies did for their employees. In fact, I felt bad that I didn't do this earlier, but we didn't have the space for kitchens, bars and a private room for Long Wang even with the previous upgrade.
"Trust me, my lord, if you were to see other dungeons, you will realize how lucky we are to serve a lord like you."
That caught my attention. "Other dungeons?"
"Yes. I'm not sure if you've noticed, my lord, but this present upgrade has opened us up to the rest of the Celestial Labyrinth."
"The…Celestial Labyrinth?" I suddenly remembered the Frontier that was mentioned during the upgrade notification. Long Wang nodded before his next revelation took me by surprise.
"Oh, right. You're probably new to this because you're a human, but the Celestial Labyrinth is the interdimensional space in which your dungeon is currently located in."