Hunter’s knees buckled, forcing him to the cold, stone ground as a riot of colors whirled around him. When his senses returned, he found himself in a vast room, its ancient stone walls slick with slime and rising to a vaulted ceiling. He inhaled the damp, earthy air as he steadied himself back to his feet, noticing He Xiangu already upright, her eyes wide with fascination as she absorbed her new surroundings.

Standing close enough to feel her breath, He Xiangu smirked with a twinkle in her eye. "That was exhilarating. I felt as though I was soaring like a dragon through eternity…" Her voice trailing off as her gaze landed on her pale Komodo. She knelt beside the creature, its eyes dull and listless, and drew a waterskin from her pocket. Carefully, she poured water into her palm and held it to the Komodo’s snout. The poor komodo sniffed warily before its tongue flickered out to lap up the water. With a gentle stroke along its back, she whispered comforting words, her tone soft and melodic. Gradually, color returned to its scales, and it perked up under her care.

From the shadowed corner, Saiphan approached, her presence large and comforting. She lowered her head to meet the small dragon, offering a tender nuzzle that was warmly reciprocated.

In a sudden flash of golden light, Claude materialized, his robes billowing as though caught in a soft, unseen breeze. The chamber brightened under his glow, revealing the retreat of slimey, green blobs into the darker recesses and highlighting the shimmer of water puddles interspersed with burgeoning green plants resembling unflowered lily pads.

Rubbing his stubbled chin, Hunter grimaced. "I remember this place; it’s the water garden where those prolific slimes breed faster than rabbits."

Claude responded with a nod, his tone laced with approval. "Indeed, Tower has briefed me about your renovation feats here, and both he and I are quite impressed."

Adjusting his worn tunic, Hunter appreciated being fully clothed this time. "It’s been quite the ordeal. Barely making it through the Refiner Gate was tough, not to mention the difficulty with the final boss."

Claude circled them, clasping his hands behind his back. "You underestimate your prowess, Hunter. You navigated those challenges remarkably well, given the scant resources and information at your disposal."

Hunter glanced skeptically at his storage ring, wondering if his inventory had been restored, but he shelved the thought for later. With Claude’s transient presence, there were more pressing questions to ask. "You practically threw me into a battlefield stark naked, with no clue on how to locate Bravo or return here."

Spreading his arms in a grand gesture, Claude’s smile was both proud and enigmatic. "Look at the resilience you’ve cultivated from such trials," he boasted, gesturing towards He Xiangu. "And now, witness the fruit of your labor—a formidable initiate. Welcome, Bravo, to the tower."

He Xiangu’s expression hardened, her sneer cutting through the thick air. "As I’ve told Hunter—and now you—my name is He Xiangu. I don’t acknowledge 'Bravo.'"

Claude’s eyes narrowed, his divine aura subtly intensifying, dimming the light around them as if clouds had veiled the sun.

Despite the mounting pressure, He Xiangu stood her ground, sweat beading at her brow but her stance unwavering. Hunter felt an invisible weight press down on him, but he matched He Xiangu's resolve, standing firm beside her.

Her voice was defiant, even as her hand trembled in the slightest when she withdrew a cigarette and lit it. "Your intimidation tactics won’t work on me."

A hearty chuckle escaped Claude, resonating around the chamber like a melody. "Intimidation was never my intent. I've merely showcased a fraction of my capabilities. Your father poses no threat by comparison. This wasn’t about combat; it’s about understanding the enduring strength of bonds."

He Xiangu's posture relaxed, though her eyes remained sharp as steel, the lit cigarette bobbing as she spoke. "You think I’m unaware. My father will not rest until he reclaims what he considers his." As she spoke, the legendary mask materialized in her hand, its power almost stifling in the charged air.

Hunter glanced between it and Claude, wondering whether the mask or He Xiangu herself was the true object of her father’s relentless pursuit.

"Let him attempt to breach these walls; we shall be prepared," Claude stated coolly, his confidence unshaken.

Tower: Welcome back, first initiate. Your achievements have far exceeded my expectations.

Hunter bowed with respect, as Tower’s text unfurled across a scroll in front of them. "It's good to be back, Tower. Allow me to introduce He Xiangu and our new companion, Saiphan."

Tower: Welcome, Bravo. My directives are clear, though you may choose your response to the name. First, Hunter will guide you to the guild room where you may place your mask on the pillar designated for your cultivation path.

He Xiangu's jaw clenched, but she held back any retort, her silence heavy with unspoken thoughts. The expression on her face told Hunter she was trying to figure out the Tower.

Clearing his throat, Hunter tried to ease the tension that had strangled the room into silence. "Thank you for accommodating our extra guests." There was a note of gratitude in his voice. "This here is Sleidei, and along with Saiphan, he will be a formidable presence. We're fortunate to have them both here.”

"I aim to contribute while I care for my new little companion." Saiphan’s gaze drifted to the dark corners where the quivering slimes lurked. "If there’s anything I can do to restore this place to its former glory, let me know. My appetite for the parasites infesting you is insatiable." Her tongue flicked, her hunger evident.

Tower: That is why I brought you right here to the water garden. Given your size this is the best place to accommodate your needs while you have an ecosystem of food to dine on without leaving this space.

Her ice-blue eyes widened, a flicker of longing in her gaze. "While this place may suffice for now, I yearn for the freedom of the skies. I am a mighty water dragon, I sense this tower, surrounded by vast seas…"

Claude clapped his hands, stepping forward with a reassuring smile. "Patience, mighty dragon. You’ll have your chance to soar soon enough. For now, acclimate to your new surroundings here within the tower."

His eyes twinkled with mischievous, leaving Hunter to wonder about the sincerity of his assurances. The last thing they needed was for Saiphan to attempt an escape from the tower.

Saiphan bowed her head, her resolve evident even in her silence. She sniffed the air, her attention returning to the quivering slimes, her predatory interest barely contained.

Hunter exhaled, the weight of their challenges palpable. "We should get moving. There’s much to be done, and I’ll start by showing He Xiangu to the guild room. Tower, you can brief me on our next tasks along the way?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Claude remained still, his expression knowing and serene, as if he possessed profound secrets. "I'll leave you to it, then. My faith in your capabilities remains steadfast. He Xiangu, heed Hunter’s guidance, but remember: you have a direct link to Tower and your own path to forge."

He Xiangu raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly accusatory yet intrigued. "It’s curious how invested you are in our progress. I hope your motives are as noble as you claim."

Without waiting for a reply she nodded to Saiphan, who agreed to watch over her komodo dragon. He Xiangu turned to Hunter, a genuine smile spreading across her face, warming the chill of the stone surroundings. "Lead the way!"

With spirits lifted, Hunter bid farewell to Claude and the dragons, then led He Xiangu out of the water garden. At the threshold, he paused, peering into the depths for void pools teeming with leeches. He nudged her shoulder. "Watch those puddles—some are deceptively deep. You'll appreciate having boots."

As they skirted a particularly large puddle, He Xiangu flicked a leech from her boot and laughed. “Toe suckers are the worst. You wouldn’t believe how many dark sect cultivators are into that shit.”

Their laughter echoed down the stone corridor, lightening their steps toward the guild room. He Xiangu raised an eyebrow at a quirky sign cautioning about ducks in the Tower’s basement. However, her curiosity was swiftly overshadowed by a swarm of leaping leeches, whose relentless pursuit left no room for questions until they had safely escaped the bloodthirsty fiends.

Behind them, a trail of shriveled, tar-black leech corpses marked their path, leading to the sanctuary of the guild room—a haven where no other monsters dared tread.

Inside, Hunter’s gaze was drawn to his mother’s medallion, which lay proudly atop a guild pillar adorned with holly and horse emblems. Gesturing to the pillar, Hunter watched with a warm smile as He Xiangu studied the symbols representing her cultivation path. Her expression was a mix of intrigue and contemplation as she ran her fingers over a seahorse’s coiled tail, “Tell me more about this cultivation path of mine, the path of Hawthorn and Seahorse.”

Tower: I would be delighted to.

***

Tower: Congratulations, Second Initiate. You have been identified as a Hawthorne and Seahorse chi cultivator, with a dominant Seahorse personality and a primary class of fighter.

He Xiangu puckered her lips, her eyes darting between the mask she laid atop the pillar and Hunter. When she finally spoke, her tone was less than impressed. "So, after placing such a powerful artifact on that decorated pillar, you're telling me my primary class is fighter, something I already know. And what the hell kind of personality has a seahorse, for heaven's sake? It’s insulting to be compared with a fish." Her eyes were darkening pools of bitter regret.

Hunter waved her off. "The animal and plant totems are symbols of personality traits. I’m Horse; it means I possess specific characteristics."

Tower: Seahorse means you are very adaptable and garner versatile skills, especially geared towards combat with your fighter class. Optimizing your personality traits helps tailor the right cultivation path so that you will progress from the Refiner stage into the Founder stage and beyond much faster and with greater effectiveness, avoiding the common bottlenecks at the Core Former stage that many cultivators using the old system experience.

“So what you’re telling me is, in terms of chi cultivation at the Refiner stage, I’m low level.” While she didn’t concede that they were right, she didn’t argue any further. Her eyes brightened a shade. “So what do I need to do to fix that?”

Hunter smiled. “You’ll enter the Refiner Gate and kill monsters suited to your cultivation path.”

“What monsters did you face?” Her eyes drifted to the pillar holding his mother’s medallion. “Were you attacked by hordes of holly bushes and rampaging horses?”

Tower: Rabbits.

He Xiangu laughed.

“It’s a long story.” Hunter scowled. “And they weren’t the fluffy bunnies that you’d find in the material realm of your world. These were vicious and monstrous. The final boss in the Refiner Gate was as big as an oak tree, with slasher claws longer than my arm.”

He Xiangu’s lingering smirk told him she wasn’t convinced. “That so?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Hunter raised his chin. “When you enter the Refiner Gate on your floor.”

“If the Refiner Gate is the bottom stage in cultivation, how many stages are there after that?”

Nodding in the direction of the nearest door, Hunter suppressed a smug grin. “The tutorial room has all the answers you need. It’s through there; you can train with weapons or learn about crafting and the tower monsters for starters…”

Tower: Hunter is correct. I sense your impatience to know more, so I will start you off with the basics. In this realm, whether we're talking about the old or new cultivation system, there are seven stages. However, the new cultivation system better tailors to each cultivator by adding thirteen paths of cultivation.

He Xiangu shifted back, taking in more of her surroundings in the guild room. “Will you be joining me?”

Hunter shook his head. “No, I must stick to my own floor dedicated to the path of Holly and Horse, the same will be true when the next initiates join us. Remember, I am here to guide and lead, I am not a teacher.” He felt his confidence waver at the mention of leading, but He Xiangu held a serious look, not seeking to challenge that statement.

She wore a genuine, warm smile of encouragement. “From what I’ve seen in my world, you’ll make a good leader.” She kept her intense gaze on him. “When do you leave to rope in the next initiate?” Her tone was even, almost casual, but something in her eyes as she looked towards the Seahorse and Hawthorn on her pillar hinted that she was more eager to know the answer than she’d let on.

Before he could answer, Tower intervened.

Tower: It will depend on his progress in the Founder Gate. I predict there will be at least 0.15 tradaka moments or two Earth days. Additionally, I recommend that the most urgent renovation tasks be tackled before I am equipped to house the next initiates.

He Xiangu leaned back, crossing her arms. “Hunter failed to mention that part when he was telling me about the wonders of you. I can see your ruins are glorious, but to be brutally honest...” She looked around, “that copper sink and basic furniture aside, you look like you’ve seen better days. There is clean water I assume, but where do we rest or cultivate?”

Hunter glared at her as she looked fired up and ready to keep commenting on the tower’s flaws.

Tower: That is a fair observation. Bravo. You are right, I was once the most glorious Tower of Ascension with a powerful aura score. That was before the ogres ransacked me. They…

He Xiangu groaned. “That explains the awful stench I caught outside in the corridor. It’s like fermented cabbage and rancid blood sausages. Pity there aren't some windows about so you could open them and let in some fresh air.”

Tower: You know about the ogres?

“Unfortunately,” He Xiangu said with a hint of disgust in her tone, “my father had dealings with them when I was very young. I don’t remember much, except they were mean, green, and smelled awful. My mother used to spray the chambers they frequented with the earthy aromas of patchouli and sandalwood. Do you have any here?”

Tower: They pillaged my stores, but Hunter has restocked many items.

“How about I get some on my next trip into Delphare. I will visit Orcus and gather any other supplies needed for renovation tasks before I have to recruit the next initiate.” He stopped abruptly, deciding not to share his intention to visit his sister and find out how Lyra, the rooster, Mercos and his trusty bird, Monty were doing. It wasn’t part of his contract with Claude. He was supposed to trust his sister Jo that she could handle herself, but his brotherly instincts wouldn’t relent.

He Xiangu glanced back to the guild room entrance. “Can I join you? I’m curious to see—”

“No!” Hunter yelled in unison as the words appeared on Tower’s scroll.

No!

He Xiangu looked like she wanted to bite his head off.

Hunter pointed to the hallway that leads to the Refiner Gate. “Not right now; you have to focus on training, but in time, you can accompany me, is that right Tower?”

Tower: That is correct. Bravo. Once you have progressed to First Star Core Former and assisted Hunter with renovation tasks, you will be granted leave to venture outside my walls.

“My name is He Xiangu,” her voice was filled with menace.

Hunter eased the tension, placing a hand on her shoulder. “He’s following the directives set by Claude, just try to ignore it.”

He Xiangu gave a slow nod, her eyes landing on where Hunter’s hand rested on her shoulder. He promptly removed it, recalling she’d beaten a man to death with his own leg, and he valued keeping his limbs intact.

“Well then, I only have one more thing to say…”

Hunter nodded, encouraging her to continue.

A fierce grin spread across her face. “Let’s level up!”