Two days later, John felt a profound shift in his understanding of tai-chi. The subtle movements, the focus on balance and flow, had always resonated with him, but now he grasped its deeper essence, its connection to the very fabric of reality. He realized that his fighting style, even before he had consciously defined it, had always been based on the principles of tai-chi, adapting and evolving to suit his unique abilities. Now, however, he felt ready to give it a proper name, a name that reflected its true nature. Without his fly rod in hand, his movements became even more fluid and precise, focusing on the precise timing of each action, the perfect moment to strike, the optimal angle of attack. He decided to call this style, this extension of tai-chi that emphasized the manipulation of time and space, “Time-Chi.” It was a fitting name, he thought, a name that captured the essence of his power. “Hey, jinn,” John called out, his voice echoing slightly within the vast space of the tree. Max appeared beside him, a curious expression on her face. “What’s up, John? What did you want to change?” she asked, her voice light and cheerful. “I’ve been thinking,” John began, a thoughtful look on his face, “and I think since the dungeon can think for itself, since it’s a sentient being, it should have a proper name, a name that reflects its unique identity.” He paused, then continued, “How about Dunn for your first name, and Jinn for your last? Then I will call you Jinn from now on, if that’s okay with you?” A wide smile spread across Max’s face, her blue eyes sparkling with delight. “I love it, John!” she exclaimed; her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. “Ever since it found out that my name is Max, he wanted a name of his own, but he just wasn’t sure what to call himself. He really loves the idea of being called Jinn. It feels… right.” A warm feeling spread through the air between them, a sense of connection and mutual respect.

“Well, Max,” John said, flexing his fingers, “I’m very close to breaking through the muscle stage of body refinement. I’ll need another core when I’m ready.” He paused, then added, “Tell Jinn that he should treat me no differently than any other person striving to reach the next floor. It has to be fair to everyone. I don’t want special treatment—no making it easier, but that also means no making it harder for me.” Max nodded in understanding. With that, John retrieved another level three beast core. He held it for a moment, focusing his intent, before consuming it. The moment the core dissolved in his stomach, a wave of intense heat erupted within him, even more intense than before. The energy surged through his blood, a torrent of power rushing through his veins. He could feel the raw power of the core being drawn into his muscles, each fiber absorbing the energy like a sponge soaking up water. Then, just as quickly as it had arrived, the initial surge subsided. His body began to actively assimilate the energy, integrating it into his very being. He could feel his muscles becoming denser, stronger, the individual fibers knitting together more tightly, becoming more resilient. The breakthrough was complete. Each level of body refinement allowed a person to lift an additional 100 pounds. With his blood, skin, and now muscles refined, John could easily lift 300 pounds. This was before factoring in his spirit cultivation. At the fourth level of chi refinement, every level granted another 100 pounds of lifting capacity. This meant John could lift 700 pounds without even considering the enhancements granted by Jin. Now, John understood something else. Since he had achieved maximum stats before entering the dungeon, each level granted him an extra 100 pounds of base strength, meaning he started with a significant advantage.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Then a boy’s voice spoke, echoing softly within the training room. John knew instinctively it was the dungeon. “Thanks again for helping,” the voice said, a hint of youthful enthusiasm underlying its ancient resonance. “The new song’s coming soon. Train here. You’ll get stronger faster. I made the training rooms better. When you’re stronger, I’ll need your help upstairs.” The voice had a strange resonance, a hint of something ancient and powerful. John realized that if the dungeon were to have a name, it would be Dunn Jinn—a name that spoke of hidden depths and enduring strength. A smile touched John’s lips. He turned to Max. “From now on,” he said, his voice clear and decisive, “I’ll speak with Jinn directly. If he doesn’t respond, then I’ll know he doesn’t want to talk. No need to bother you with it, Max. Plus,” he added, a slight smile playing on his lips, “Jinn might want to practice talking, so it’ll be easier for him in the future… if he wants to speak at all, that is.” He paused, then his tone shifted, becoming more businesslike. “With that being said,” he continued, “I’m going to the eleventh floor. While I’m gone, it’s time for you to let the sects and guilds know that if they want to hear ‘Hell’s Bells’ earlier than scheduled, they can. But” he emphasized, his voice firm, “it’ll cost twice as much. Double the price. Make sure they understand that.”

“Then, Jinn, take me to the eleventh floor,” John said, his voice clear and commanding. In an instant, he was gone, vanished from within the tree. Outside, the spectacle continued. All of a sudden, the leaves on the massive tree began to change. They didn’t simply fall or wither; they transformed, morphing and reshaping themselves into actual crows. One by one, the leaves-turned-birds detached from the branches, taking flight with powerful flaps of their wings. It was Max, carrying out John’s orders, traveling to the different sects and guilds to deliver his message. She understood the strategic reasoning behind John’s instructions. This wasn’t just about making more money; it was about getting the sects and guilds to willingly invest more resources, to essentially “buy in” to the dungeon’s power and influence. By offering them early access to “Hell’s Bells,” John was creating a demand, a sense of exclusivity, that would drive up the price and encourage them to offer more valuable resources. Max also knew that when she arrived at each location and shifted back into her normal, humanoid form, the leaders of the sects and guilds would be eager to establish a relationship with her, to gain her favor and access to the dungeon’s power. She was prepared for this, knowing it was part of the process. She would accept whatever they were willing to offer—money, rare materials, even powerful artifacts—and then present it all to John, allowing him to decide how to use it.