Smiling Demon was led to a large open ring where some wolf warriors were practicing with wooden swords, real weapons, and punching bags. Next room was a weight room and synchronizing practice with martial arts. All following the same movements as one led the class in front. They passed through a hall till they entered a room with holes in the ground all the way up and down the long tower reaching out to the open sky that could be seen by a domed glass ceiling. Stairs led down into a hallway to more holes. Wolf warriors preoccupied some of them. In a seated position as chi swirled around them. "How do these work?" Smiling ask. "This tower is built into a mountain that has the largest deposit of chi stones in this realm. Each room is the same; the floor is equipped with a large piece of the stone for each chamber. To activate it you will insert your own chi that will then blanket your body. The chambers are for enlarging your mind and soul core. When activated you will feel tremendous pressure like the gravity has increased. To excel you must keep your mind focused on circulating the chi through out the body" Fulken explained. Smiling Demon looked closely at the meditating warriors as some had different color chi around them. They looked to be sweating as they cultivated.
Some were looking stoic and upright as the chi swirled around their bodies. "I ask that you do not exceed the limit of three days inside the chamber without a break. It could be disastrous on your mind and core. Cultivation is not a sprint it is a jog always remember that" Fulken explained. 'You sound like my master back home. He used to say the same thing' he thought. "Thank you for your wisdom" Smiling answered to this tip. They then walked towards a large forge with carcasses of mythical beasts in one corner of the room. Some the corpses looked nightmarish while others looked like mutated animals. Wolf warriors cutting up bodies as they took parts and put them into a swirling forge of multi colors of molten chi. "This is where we practice Mythical Forging. We use the bodies of mythical beasts to enhance each warriors element by creating soul weapons, armor, and any other uses you can think of. Next to this is the enchanting room where spells are made. From here our tour ends with the library of tomes" he lead Smiling to a circular room with books and scrolls. The entire walls were covered with them. Leading all the way up to the high ceiling the room was filled with knowledge. Smiling looked around, "What is your element?" Fulken asked. "Iron" Smiling told him.
Fulken looked taken aback and gave him a nod. "A very powerful element. You will find tomes on that element here" he pointed to a balcony on the left. "Each balcony is sectioned off for each element and Iron is the second balcony" Fulken then gestured for him to follow. "Now to your room. Each of these sections I showed you have attendants that keep things organized. You will know them with pendants upon their uniforms. Here we are the guest wing" Fulken said stopping at a door. He unlocked it and handed Smiling the key. "Food will be brought shortly please make yourself comfortable. He flattened his hand and a black training uniform materialized. "Feel free to change into this for when you train. We can also wash your clothes if you would like" Smiling Demon nodded and took the folded uniform. He then walked into the room and Falken left him there. He closed the door and scanned the room. It was minimal but had essentials. A bed, a bathroom bucket, a table with two chairs, and a chest. He sat upon the bed and removed his vest. 'This is nice compared to the Rabbit Hole location I was staying in' he said with optimism.
He began to rub the knot on the back of his head. 'Man I need to step my game up. First thing is find a spell that enhances the body something that grows as I elevate in the ranks. Along with working on a new style of fighting with my Iron ability. A lot of work to do and not much time. The King thinks Red will take along time. Knowing him for as little time as I have he isn't likely to take forever' he stood up and went for a pitcher of water on the table pouring it into a cup. He took a long drink satisfying his thirst. A knock came at the door as a woman in a black uniform stood with a tray of food. Smiling gave her a polite grin, "Thank you" he said taking the tray. "Your most welcome. Will you be needing anything else by chance?" She asked crossing her arms behind her back. "Oh no but thank you. I will be content with this. What's your name?" He asked. "My name is Disciple Erin. If that is all I will leave you with your peace" she nodded at him and walked away. He closed the door gently and sat at the table to eat. When he looked through the tray it was roasted chicken, grilled vegetables, a slice of pie, and a wooden box. He picked it up and opened it finding two black pills inside. A folded note was inside, "From the king. They are chi pills to help boost your core before you go into the chambers. Sincerely, Fulken" he read. "Nice.." he then ate in silence. Shortly after that he slept soundly in a long while.
The next morning Smiling headed to the mess hall and got breakfast. Afterwards he headed to the library to find spells for the Iron element. He scanned and found the attendant he was a plump man in glasses. He was reading over a scroll at a desk. Resting on the desk was a black wolf mask matching his black uniform. His eyes looking up at Smiling. "You must be the guest of the king?" He said plainly. "Yes. I was wondering if you could point me to the right direction?" He asked. "What direction would that be young man?" He asked with a stern look. "Was wondering where your long range spells are for Iron element? Along with Iron Element cultivation technique that would be unorthodox to speed up Soul Core growth to Rank Six or get close to the top tier?" He said with a matter fact tone.
Man sighed, "Well if you want that I would start in the left side for long range spells, as for cultivation techniques I would look in the middle section. That is where all are located. When you want some copied bring them to me and I will make a note to the Spell department to make copies bringing them to your room" he explained looking back down at his scroll. "Thank you" Smiling gave him a nod and walked away.
He looked through the shelves and found three long range spells that he felt would be perfect, "Molten Iron; allows the user to heat up metal around them to a degree it reaches melting point. Used for shaping metal for smith work or to disarm opponents" another he found was "Spinning Disk; allows the user to manifest a metal disk from chi and become a projectile that can be controlled far away". The last spell was called, "Metal Golem; he could summon a golem made of metal or copy his own self as a golem form to engage large group incursions" he nodded and took all three scrolls. He then headed to a the cultivation section. He looked for body enhancement and Iron meridian expansion.
He found one mind and body expansion technique particularly connected to the Iron Element something he found was a Furnace Treatment. He would heat a piece of metal with the Seal of Heat etched into the edges of the metal circle. Then heat up special made metal needles. These needles would then be injected into his meridian, his soul core, forehead, and the flame meridian.
The needles would then be absorbed into the body coating the bones in steel. This would also enhance the body making it tougher. This while all simultaneously circulate the chi circuits through out the body to keep it resistant to the heat. This works out the Mind Palace helping it expand as you must have complete focus on keeping it going for hours till fatigue. The effects he read were excruciating. But would give him a leg up is done successful. They also came with perks allowing his body to self heal drawing from the metal bones imbued with chi.
This process takes a month before the body goes into a slumber for another month as his body hardens and his mind expands to the next levels. Smiling sighed reading all this, 'This will be a process' then he slid his eyes to the caution written at the bottom. "If failure to complete cycle once begun then your soul core will crack along with the Mind Palace leaving the user in a coma" his eyes widened. "Well that's ominous" he sighed and shuddered. "But even Red would do what it takes" he found the etching drawing on the back of the scroll. He then approached the attendant still seated.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" He asked looking up from his scroll. "I did. May I have these copied. Would the smiths do something custom for me? I have gold if that would help?" He asked with a smirk. "Well it wouldn't hurt your chances to have them help you. The workers of the forge love gold. But merely to make something with over spending it. They like creation over riches you see and with the Ash Realm being somewhat desolate and not very populated spending money isn't really an issue" he took the scrolls placing them into a metal cylinder. He wrote onto a piece of paper and wrapped it around and tied it tight with twine. He gestured to a librarian who approached. "Take these to the Spell Crafter and then have them deliver it to the guest wing" the librarian bowed and took the cylinder. "Should take a night but you will have them as quickly as possibly. Is there anything else?" He asked.
Smiling demon merely shook his head, 'this guy is way too serious' he thought leaving the library.
Next stop was the chambers, 'Time to cultivate while the spells are being copied' he thought walking down the hall.