The vision focused again, and the sense of lost time was the first thing that came to Zane and Gael's minds. It wasn't the conventional laws of space and time; their spirits had been transferred between universes in a way completely beyond their understanding, even though they had, in the past, transcended the condition of ordinary mortals and gained total mastery over all laws.

Shortly after, they confirmed that, as before, the entire world seemed frozen, as if waiting for their return. Then, as if by magic, the laws began to circulate again, the air started moving, and life returned to the entire planet.

The sensation of that giant, rounded body also returned, but, at that moment, they even felt a bit more comfortable returning to it. After all, a metallic robotic body was something very different and hard to get used to; the form of that chubby whale, at least, was human... or close to it.

Their visions immediately moved to the side, and they felt the warmth and peaceful breath of Mira lying next to them. A strange sensation ran through both of their minds, leaving them incredulous; although they had been absent for a few months, which represented no more than a blink of an eye for them, this feeling of relief at seeing her again was strange.

[Accept rewards?]

[Yes / No]

The green screen suddenly appeared, interrupting these highly unusual feelings for them. So, trying to forget about it, Zane answered affirmatively.

[Extra Reward 01: 40 Upgrade Points Acquired.]

[Performance Level 40/100]

[Extra Reward 02: Oridecon Chest acquired]

[Main Reward: Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivation Attained]

Immediately, they felt the entire Qi in their meridians moving throughout their bodies. Then, the air around them began to warm up, and black sweat slowly began to be expelled from their skin.

To establish the foundation, the latent Qi in the meridians must traverse the entire body, opening all 300 acupuncture points and expanding their ability to use Qi. It took an hour for everything to stabilize. Now, officially, they were at the elementary level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

This is a watershed for mortals, where a lack of talent can result in an unstable realm, making it impossible to form a core in the future. But, of course, for Zane and Gael, the breakthrough was as perfect as possible.

Now, vital functions like eating, sleeping, and breathing become less important. Eating and sleeping once a week are already sufficient, and one can stay underwater for a day without breathing with no issues.

With a thought, Qi circulated out of their bodies, cleaning all the dirt. Then, their focus turned again to the message on the screen.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"40/100? What the hell is this? We completed everything perfectly... this system must be malicious." Zane then ranted.

Gael, thinking of something, mumbled, "Hmm... maybe there's a summary of the outcome?"

[Read the summary? Yes / No]

Gael, proud of all the hours spent on games on Earth, answered positively.

[Quick Completion Bonus +40]

[Divine Performance Bonus +15]

[Sadistic and Malevolent Charm Bonus +30]

[Goodness Bonus for Saving a Controlled Innocent Life +15]

[Demerit for Coldly Killing a Controlled Innocent Life -30] [2x]

[Total Calculated 40/100]

"Damn, those two hero dwarves you killed messed everything up," Gael commented incredulously.

"Innocent life? What nonsense is this? They were ready to kill us if we let them. I'd kill them again. I don't care about this ridiculous system." Zane retorted angrily.

Gael huffed, analyzing, "They didn't have autonomy in what they were doing because of the queen... but I admit we couldn't just leave those variables alive." Gael then seemed to understand something. "Heaven's Will seems to want to eliminate the queen and save all forms of life from her clutches. Since all life originated under its influence, it actually makes sense for it to value their lives... well, in the next quests, let's act more calmly."

"Screw this shit." Zane didn't seem like he wanted to care about anything in the future. He then thought about the upgrade shop; the new green screen appeared, and he confirmed for the shop to open.

[Available Upgrade Points: 50]

[Level One Options: 05]

[Level Two Options: 02]

Ten points came from the side quest, and the other forty from the main quest. They then opened the level two options.

[Level 2] [Supreme Yin and Yang Collector Cultivation Technique] [50 Upgrade Points]

[Level 2] [Supreme Physical Cultivation Technique: FiendGod's Hegemony] [25 Upgrade Points]

Soon, both observed with curiosity the upgrade cost for the techniques they had already received. "We're already in the second stage of the three in FiendGod's Hegemony, so it makes sense for the upgrade to be cheap. But why is the collector technique so expensive?" Gael commented, unable to understand.

Physical cultivation was easier for them to measure progress because it was divided into well-defined stages. On the other hand, the Supreme Yin and Yang Collector Cultivation Technique didn't have something like that; they just received the theory in their minds, created the tattoos, and started using it without thinking too much.

"It seems like this technique is much deeper than we thought. We haven't even spent much time studying it. A deeper understanding of it must be the key to completing the first level." Zane replied.

Both of them thought for a moment, and soon, a rare mutual understanding struck them. It didn't make sense to spend all the points on the collector technique now. As for the physical cultivation technique, it was even less appealing. They were still far from completing the first level; just imagining the amount of QI they would have to use to complete the third stage of the first level was daunting. They still had a long way to go, so it could wait.

Then, they opened the level one options in the shop.

[Primordial Spiritual Cultivation Technique: Ancestral Sacred Spirit] [45 Upgrade Points]

[Alchemist God's Dao] [40 Upgrade Points]

[Forgemaster God's Dao] [30 Upgrade Points]

[Devouring God Spatial Technique] [20 Upgrade Points]

[Heavenly Dual Cultivation Technique: Exchange of Essences of the Harem God] [10 Upgrade Points]

Their eyes carefully scanned each of the options. The spiritual cultivation technique seemed to have become five points cheaper than before. "It must be because we improved our understanding a bit after we received the Soul Sealing Technique," Gael recalled.

Alchemist God's Dao remained the same as before, but it wasn't interesting to them now. However, Forgemaster God's Dao was ten Upgrade Points cheaper; Zane nodded in satisfaction, saying, "We learned a lot from the robots in that place. We even had to plan and modify our bodies. It seems like the system recognized that we've made significant progress in this area."

Gael agreed and then looked at the other option, commenting, "Devouring God Spatial Technique; it must be because we learned the Lower-Level Spatial Technique, which is the inventory, and used it a lot. Buying this seems like a good option."

They both contemplated calmly, and then their attention turned to the last option. In the next second, fury surged in both of them, but for different reasons.

"What the hell is this? Dual cultivation technique? Harem God?" Gael spoke in shock. "It still costs 10 points... the system is clearly directing us, but why."

Zane took a deep breath, seeming to understand. "The system can sense and understand our intentions and insights." Gael nodded in agreement; everything had been clear from the beginning. Even when they decided to join the evil sect, the system gave them a side quest, anticipating it.

One must remember they entered the Vital Yin Sect, which had a lot to do with dual cultivation. They even pretended in front of the others that Mira was their future partner for this purpose. It's just that Gael and Zane would never go that path because of their deceased wife. In their minds, it was the same as betraying her, the one thing that even Zane would rather die than try. Still, the system didn't know that. It only created that option out of the outcome of their actions.

Zane glanced at Mira for a moment and continued. "It seems like your lolicon intentions didn't escape the system. It even gave you this gift."