The training grounds have changed significantly. No longer a broken barracks, the new training grounds are now on the southeast side of town across the road from the teleport. The facility is three times the size of the teleport hall and fills the entire square.

"Since we are a guild city focusing on cultivation, the training grounds will be an important function of our city. Cultivators can use these facilities to practice every aspect of cultivation for their chosen elements. With the contributions of the Guild Society, fighters guild, adventurers guild, and our own resources, we will have the world's most advanced facility. Full-on fights with no deaths can be fought. Vision stones can record techniques and help combatants improve. Techniques can be learned and shared. And with all the mana invested into the building, newly awakened beings, even mages, can experience breakthroughs."

"The training hall is incredible." Gene is bursting with excitement." This will do wonders for our people and visitors. And based on Kaelin's estimates, the training hall alone will provide ample funds for our city."

"This is incredible." I notice a peculiar archway twenty feet behind the check-in counter on the left side of the main floor. No gem has been inserted into the structure, but its shape resembles the portals I've seen. "Are we planning on building a teleport directly to the training grounds?"

"That is one of the new changes the three leaders agreed upon," says Lana. "This facility will be where people access the dungeon. This is going to be like nothing else. We will offer live dungeon training for cultivators. We will need to work out some kinks, which depends on us recruiting enough people to fill our dungeon. When it is done, the dungeon will be vital to our training grounds."

"I can see how this will turn a profit. People pay to access the training grounds. Then, they have to pay to use the dungeon. And when they are defeated, the dungeon absorbs their power, boosting our guild… that actually feels slimy." I accidentally voice my hesitation.

"The dungeon will be an extension of the training grounds. The same power that keeps cultivators from dying in the training grounds will apply to the dungeon. However, they will lose some progress in cultivation and equipment that is not bound to them. The consequences are important, though."

"How's that even possible?"

"A lot of mana, rituals, a Golden Mana Tree, and the twisting of realms."

"Cru gave one of his trees for this?"

"Cru insisted we use both of his trees: one here for training, which he believes will allow his spiders to grow the best, and another for use in the guild hall. This was all his idea, actually."

"Where's the tree?"

"On the top floor behind lots of security, which makes the top floor a haven for those pursuing spiritual cultivation." Gene is practically dancing with excitement now, which I understand. This is all amazing and will do wonders for the people here. "Jim, this training ground is like no other. We have a resource that will allow us all to prosper. People will fight to protect this gem. It's already helped me so much."

Gene opens her hand and points at her shadow with no further words. Her hand lifts and closes. Shadow and dark mana condense around us, and a shadow rises from the ground. The shadow melds into reality, becoming an exact replica of Gene. Standing next to them, I can't tell them apart. Original Gene whispers something to her shadow, and the shadow begins shifting into different forms, from wolf to fire hawk to her wyvern.

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"With the help of the training grounds and the efforts of Lana and Glimmer, I can now duplicate myself! I can be in two places at once. Do you know what this means? I get to go on adventures with you and stay and help my children grow up," Gene says, full of excitement and pride. Next to Gene, Lana looks equally excited."

"No way!" I can't contain my excitement either. "This is you?" I point at the clone.

"Yeah, it is no different than you splitting your focus. I just send my split focus to a identical vessel.

"Gene, that is amazing!"

"Just speak to the link when you want the clone to be active," says Gene as her clone melds into my shadow realm.

"You don't need to keep your clone in my realm." I try to object. "It can be doing so many other things."

"Jim, I've been stuck as a mage for a hundred years. It is time I start progressing, too. While my clone is in your realm, it will be cultivating."

"That's genius."

"I know. It is an upgrade from your silly form of walking cultivation. So thank you."

"The rest of the main floor will be managed by the Fighters Guild, who are set to arrive in town within a week," says Lana, bringing us back to the topic of the training hall. "The second floor is devoted to mind cultivation, and there is even a library. And as we already mentioned, the third floor is meant for spiritual cultivation."

"It is a good thing you and Bones are back," says Gene. "Rumor has it, there is now a small gathering in the mornings, and they are requesting chances to spar."

"What's behind the door of the admin counter?" I didn't notice the somewhat hidden door as we walked in. Only now that we are leaving do I see the entrance."

"That will be a room for Rising Fist guild members only," says Lana. It leads into the academy, which is being worked on as we speak."

"Seems like we are going to need more security with our private rooms and such," I say more as a casual observation. Where there are secrets, there are people looking to expose secrets.

"Go ahead and try to enter." Gene extends the challenge with a smile.

"I take it there's some mana work at play?"

"Precisely." Lana nods her head and points to the back of her hand. "Guild members will be given a hidden rune on their arm that will bypass security. This rune will be given to all dungeon members automatically. We will need a guild officer to write the rune for the three of us."

We walk through the Living Square, which will have temporary housing for guild commission visitors, as well as other living quarters, religious and recreation facilities, and bathhouses. Of the four districts, the Living Square needs the most work.

At the end of the tour, I look at Wolvsden from one of our watch towers. Our fortress town sits on raised ground in a valley surrounded by a forest and lake. The Rising Fist Guild Hall sits behind sturdy walls and aggressive defenses at the city's center. The market, living, training, and traveling districts are outside the Guild Hall's walls. Wide roads connect all the districts and the Guild Hall together. The city is protected by a larger wall supported by defensive towers.

Even with all of the changes, forests and greenery fill the spaces between buildings and roads. Children are running and playing safely with only the supervision of their squads. Glimmer and Bloom are preparing a big celebration, with Roxi and some spiders helping with set up. Three days, and this place has completely transformed. It feels safe and homely already.