Akira frowned as he read the first of the three scrolls that contained the secrets of the Tower, which were kept hidden from the public.
He undid the second scroll and his frown deepened.
"Strange."
Akira anticipated some inconsistency in the information, but not to this extent.
He continued reading until he reached the last scroll.
Akira massaged his glabella, finding the public information more entertaining than the classified information.
The Tower was renowned for bringing justice and balance to the power in the Silica continent, as Jin Boqin had mentioned.
However, the classified information he received was absurd, leading him to question whether Jin Boqin had risked his life for it or if he had been deceived by an unreliable source.
He felt like he would never be able to uncover the truth about the Tower. It was as if the truth about its origin was buried so deep that it was like staring into an abyss.
"Or was I overestimating myself?"
Akira leaned against the oak tree and closed his eyes.
It felt like he needed to be there to uncover the truth for himself. Despite his disappointment, he had found a small clue linking his illness to the Tower's founder, the Grand Maester.
He is familiar with all the strange words that are unfamiliar to most people.
Stove like he bought from the system.
A shower faucet is a fancy name used for baths and many other things.
These fancy names were all from the Grand Maester.
And all these items were now being used by everyone that could afford it.
The Templars have nothing to do with it.
He was confident the Grand Maester only appointed these templars to assist in governing the nation and not to disrupt the foundation he built and the organization he started. This was proved after he read all through the scrolls.
The templars are only chosen by the Grand Maester every ten years to assist in governing the Tower's dominion and have no other connection with the Grand Maester.
The Templars, the closest aide of the Grand Maester.
That's it.
If his deduction is correct, he is a direct descendant of the founder of the Tower.
Currently, there is no available information indicating that a Grand Maester has any relatives or that there is any record of him having a wife and children.
According to the information not obscure to the public, the Grand Maester was an ordinary person who defeated immortal cultivators and even forced the Divine Immortal from Heaven Realm to close Heaven's Gate due to his unmatched strength.
But---
"Logic dictates that he was an Immortal with no lifespan."
Akira mumbled as he saw his personal information from the translucent tab prompted by the system.
[Name: Akira]
[Title: Dungeon Master]
[Lifespan: ???]
[Qi Points: 52,050]
Do these question marks imply that I have no lifespan, or is it just currently like that on account of my connection to the Dungeon?
As he pondered, a loud explosion caught his attention.
Boom!
Akira turned his head to the source of the explosion.
Xu Xena and Gu Ryu were engaged in hand-to-hand combat with beasts in the desert sector of the First Floor.
They were not allowed to use Spiritual Qi to defeat the beasts, so the explosion was likely caused by their enemies.
Akira prompted the system to show the information of the two cultivators.
[Xu Xena]
[Cultivation Realm: Late Stage Qi Condensation]
[Cultivation Talent: XVII]
[Cultivation Manual: Common Manual Rank – (IV/X)]
[Body Refinement: Common Body Refinement Manual Rank – (IV/X)]
[Cultivation State: Balanced – (VII/X)]
[Gu Ryu]
[Cultivation Realm: Late Stage Qi Condensation]
[Cultivation Talent: XV]
[Cultivation Manual: Common Manual Rank – (III/X)]
[Body Refinement: Common Body Refinement Manual Rank – (VI/X)]
[Cultivation State: Balanced – (VI/X)]
Despite the lack of visible progress, Akira could tell that their body was becoming stronger and more resilient each day.
He is determined to push these two to their limits so they can triumph over their peers.
Akira tapped something on the translucent screen and the current battle projected.
Xu Xena and Gu Ryu were both wounded, with blood spilling from their mouths every time they dodged or endured an attack if evading it was not possible.
Out of the 10 beasts in the Early Stage Qi Condensation Realm he sent, only 3 have survived.
He then sent his thoughts to the system and another batch of beasts with the same cultivation realm only this time their numbers is now 15.
As they approached, the two cultivators shook their heads helplessly.
Akira knew he was taking a risky gamble by training them to become peerless. If they turned against him, it could be the end for him.
But he believed that taking risks was necessary to achieve anything.
So he placed his trust in these two and in Wukong to stop them if they did betray him.
He considered them to be the best way to gain knowledge, he needed them to enter the Tower so he invested in them.
Akira stood and sent his thoughts to the system once more.
As he stood out elegantly, the branches, twigs, and leaves fluttered wildly as some type of enormous, winged beast descended gracefully, creating a scene of Akira being in the middle that could easily capture any lady's heart.
The winged beast lowered its head and offered its wing for Akira to use as a step.
Then, it jumped and flapped its wings, taking him to the sky.
Akira watched the breathtaking view from above as the winged beast soared and roared.
The other beasts in the sky made way for them.
It didn't take long for them to reach the desert.
The beast gracefully descended near the raging battleground, and Akira elegantly hopped off and stood to watch.
The winged beast shields Akira from the harsh sunlight with its large wings.
Gu Ryu ran around, creating space for Xu Xena to attack the scorpion beast with her axe, completely obliterating its head.
As a dozen beasts pursued him, he shouted to Xu Xena, "Are you ready?!"
She replied, "Not yet!" and began pounding the sand with her wounded hands.
Akira immediately understood the situation. "Smart." He mumbled softly.
"Hurry!" urged Gu Ryu.
Xu Xena stopped momentarily and scolded Gu Ryu, "Can't you run faster? Stop talking so I can focus!"
Gu Ryu dodged the scorpion tail's attack and exclaimed, "I've been running for ten minutes! I'm exhausted! Argh, damn it, here goes nothing!"
Gu Ryu changed his direction and ran towards Xu Xena. She was horrified and pounded the sand with all her might, without using her Spiritual Qi.
She exclaimed "Damn it! Damn it!" repeatedly.
When Gu Ryu was only five meters away, she dashed sideways, and Gu Ryu jumped when he reached the spot where Xu Xena had pounded the sand.
The beasts chasing him fell into the pit. The two immediately went into action and threw everything they had.
Overwhelmed by the handmade daggers he and Xu Xena threw at them, the beasts shrieked and died from the onslaught.
Despite the elixir fruit glistening from the hole Xu Xena created none of them dared to retrieve it.
The two collapsed on the sand, struggling to catch their breath.
"I thought I was a goner," Gu Ryu said.
"How many close calls did you have today?" Xu Xena asked.
"Too many to count. *cough* Next time, it's your turn to be the bait."
Suddenly, they were startled as small stones were thrown at them. Gu Ryu stood up angrily and glared at Wukong's guard donned with chainmail and shields.
"What's your problem!?"
Xu Xena pulled the hem of Gu Ryu's tattered robe.
"Don't stop me now! They think they can disrespect us just because they work for Lord Wukong!"
Then Xu Xena smacks Gu Ryu's head. "Cool your idiotic head! Dungeon Master is here!"
Gu Ryu's anger plummeted rapidly.
"Greetings, Dungeon Master!" they shouted in unison.
Akira ignored their greetings and got straight to business. "How's the crop field?" he asked.
"The crop field is in good condition. We have finished building three small cabins outside the dungeon," Xu Xena replied politely.
Akira stared at them, making them nervous.
Was there anything else? They wondered.
"Right. We also cleaned Lord Wukong's great hall and are working hard to keep the fire burning inside the Temple," they added.
Akira continued to stare at them, prompting them to think of something else to report.
"And of course, the siblings are okay. They are currently occupying a cabin that is hardly noticeable by anyone," they quickly added.
"Good. Make sure to keep your distance from them but closely keep them under your watch." Akira commented indifferently.
"Of course!"
"Gu Ryu, I noticed you seem familiar with the construction of the temple. How do you know about it?"
Akira observed that Gu Ryu often stopped to admire the temple when they fetched banana peels from Wukong's Temple.
The two nodded in agreement, acknowledging that this was the longest question they had ever heard from the Dungeon Master.
They were used to the Dungeon Master being brief and to the point.
Gu Ryu nervously replied, "Yes, the construction is similar to the Tower, especially the column orders."
Akira pondered for a moment, then said, "As you were," before walking away.
As he walked, he overheard the two bickering while being given corn by Wukong's guard.
"I never thought I'd enjoy eating ordinary food after becoming a powerful cultivator," remarked Gu Ryu.
"Powerful, my foot!" retorted Xu Xena as she poured cool water over her wounded body, ignoring the burning sensation.
They were forbidden from using Spiritual Qi to heal their wounds and had to endure the pain until their bodies healed naturally.
Despite their initial dislike of the rule, they had come to appreciate the benefits of not relying too much on Spiritual Qi.
Gu Ryu remarked on the sweet flavor of the corn and thought about his uncle, who is a merchant and loves corn.
Xu Xena asked about his uncle's whereabouts, to which Gu Ryu replied that he was probably still in the Tower selling his wares.
He then urged her to stop asking questions to cherish the moment and appreciate the beauty of life.
He began realizing that the status of a cultivator meant nothing in the face of overwhelming danger. Thanks to life-threatening training every day.
Xu Xena could only roll her eyes in response.
For the second time, they were thrown small stones at them.
"What on Earth is your problem!? I can take you all on, come on!"
But the appearance of Dungeon Master made Gu Ryu calm down.
Akira handed the two an Elixir.
Xu Xena and Gu Ryu's eyes widen in surprise.
This was the first time they had received such a treatment from the Dungeon Master, and the quality of the Elixir brought tears to their eyes.
Xu Xena's lips trembled, and at the same time, fear began to creep into their hearts.
They were aware of the Dungeon Master's principle of equal exchange, as evidenced by the Essence Spirit Paper they had signed.
None could deny his adherence to it.
"We don't deserve this Elixir," Xu Xena politely declined, while Gu Ryu nervously added, "We may be selfish, but we still have dreams to fulfill. Please let us live and continue our daily tasks in your Dungeon."
Akira looked at them in disbelief but didn't show it. "I indeed have a mission for you to take on, but that's for the future. This elixir is just a small part of the rewards you can obtain if you devote yourself to the Dungeon. Make sure to consume it after your wound heals naturally."
Without waiting for their response or wanting to see their reaction, Akira left them and hopped on the winged beast that soared elegantly in the sky leaving the two crying over the Spirit Grade Elixir.
As he gazes at the sky, a faint smile appears on his usually impassive face.
Akira is aware that the two are already bound by the fake contract they signed, and this is confirmed when he questions them about the field.
He intentionally prompts them to report on the situation, even though he already knows the answer.
The two do not deceive him and fulfill their end of the bargain diligently.
He was simply testing them, and their honesty and dedication only strengthened his resolve to train them and eventually send them to the Tower.
However, his plans change when he overhears a conversation about Gu Ryu's uncle, who lives in the Tower.
This information prompts him to consider advancing his plan sooner than he had originally anticipated.
All this just with a right nudge of rewards.
Regardless of whether they were cultivators or not, they all shared a common trait: the ability to feel grateful, which could lead to loyalty.
Regardless of whether they were cultivators or not, they all shared a common trait: they were all seeking someone to follow, a role model or hero.
By rewarding them unexpectedly, he fueled their sense of gratitude.
His goal was to become enigmatic enough for them to look up to him as their everything, and once they were convinced and bought it, he could potentially manipulate them to do his bidding.
Akira now understood the dynamics of politics in sects and kingdoms.
For some, it was intoxicating and invigorating.
"It's unfortunately fortunate and a shame I can't share the same sentiments," Akira mumbled.