"Well, that was rather underwhelming,"
Zhang Dong remarked.
"I agree. I'm sure that master could have provided valuable insights for our cultivation, Senior Brother."
"I'm just relieved it's finally over. And I can't help but feel that I've made more progress than I ever anticipated."
Liena added.
Zhang Dong nodded in agreement, acknowledging Liena and Qiang, who had joined him in stepping through the dimensional door. They had now reached the secure area of the grand hotel. As they entered, they found themselves in an empty lounge and decided to take a seat. Although they didn't bear any visible injuries, their spiritual energy had been completely depleted in order to overcome the final test.
The environment here was rich in energy and there were even refreshments that allowed them to quickly push through the moment of weakness. The group of four wasn’t here for a picnic as they already knew what to do. Zhang Dong had already explained what they had to do after getting to this safe zone as their time was limited. First, the group needed to get into the premium cultivation chambers that became accessible and he would be entering one as well.
"We should enter now. Time is of the essence, and we still need to find Gramps," Zhang Dong suggested.
"Is there no way for us to stay in the same room?"
Liena asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I don't think so,"
Zhang Dong replied. While he would have loved to be in the same room as his wife, they knew it was better to cultivate separately. The rooms they were entering would slow down time, allowing them to achieve a year's worth of cultivation in just one hour. The idea of being locked in a room alone for that long wasn't exactly pleasant, but they needed to become stronger.
Each cultivation room was unique, allowing them to customize it according to their needs. Liena needed a high concentration of wind elements to enhance her cultivation, while Zhang Dong required a more balanced setup with a combination of multiple elements. His mastery of various elemental Daos made him adaptable to different energies and would slow his progress if he was together with his wife.
"I'll catch up with you later, Senior Brother! Maybe we can have a friendly sparring session once we're done... I can't wait!" Qiang said eagerly.
"Save that energy for our enemies, Qiang. We still have to deal with the Long Clan after we finish here and we need to find Gramps."
"Think before you speak!"
Liena scolded, frowning once again. She then gave her husband a tight hug, silently expressing her affection. Zhang Zhi, who had been quiet in the background, observed the scene. Both Liena and his own realm had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Late stage. With a little push, they could probably reach the Great Circle. Having three masters at this level would greatly increase their chances of victory, but he also needed to make some progress. His realm had remained stagnant for many years, not advancing much even after absorbing the Dao from other Emperors.
"Take care, everyone. I'll see you later,"
Zhang Dong said his goodbyes, and everyone made their way to their individual cultivation chambers. They were fully committed this time, utilizing all the points they had earned from clearing the tower floors. Although they had the option to continue further, Zhang Dong had concerns about their ability to progress all the way to the seventy-fifth floor, where the next safe spot awaited.
As he had anticipated, this tower turned out to be a relic from the past, like an alpha test that had been abandoned by the creator of the world. The phantom master they had encountered was inexplicably powerful, serving as just a small glimpse of what lay ahead. It wouldn't be surprising if the boss enemy on the fifty-first level was on par with that formidable old man. And beyond that, his true form might appear, a foe they would likely be unable to defeat.
Zhang Dong contemplated the possibility of breaking through the limitations imposed by this world, but he knew his companions would face more challenges. Unlike him, they were born in this world and likely had inherent limitations ingrained in their very souls. Even if the tower produced higher-level spiritual energy, they wouldn't be able to fully harness its power. Their understanding of the Dao was also somewhat incomplete due to their rapid progression through their realms. Even if they attempted to advance into the next realm, they would likely be unable to do so.
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He could not do anything but worry as he stepped into the premium cultivation chamber he spent all of the points he received from within the tower. While on the outside the room was situated in a hotel corridor things looked different on the inside. It was a large cave with ample room to train and in one particular spot, it was swirling with elemental dao. It was the central area of this cave and probably where he would spend the most time in.
“There is even a refrigerator with food, Liena did say that it kept refilling the food and even provided her with some pills…”
During the first few minutes in the spacious cultivation chamber, Zhang Dong took the time to familiarize himself with his surroundings. The chamber was well-equipped with everything a cultivator would need, including a large side area with training dummies and puppets. These could be activated for sparring and used to test his techniques as he progressed. Knowing that his companions were also in solitary cultivation, he couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness.
"Well, at least I have Bob to keep me company, right?" Zhang Dong said with a hint of amusement.
"Affirmative," Bob, his AI assistant, replied.
Zhang Dong smiled, appreciating the small comfort of having Bob's presence. Though the AI wasn't particularly talkative, it could follow his orders and provide some entertainment. However, he quickly reminded himself that his primary purpose here was to train and not to indulge in leisure activities.
Assuming the lotus position, Zhang Dong focused his attention on the spiritual lights within the chamber. The lights danced before his eyes, radiating with immense energy. With each breath, he absorbed the lights into his cultivation seed, a powerful vortex akin to a black hole devoured all the spiritual energy it encountered. The seed eagerly swallowed the lights, fueling his cultivation and pushing him closer to his goals.
Time seemed to blur as Zhang Dong delved deeper into his cultivation. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Within the solitude of the chamber, he honed his skills, refining his techniques, and expanding his understanding of the Dao. The spiritual energy within the chamber became a part of him, merging with his essence and empowering him with each passing moment.
As the final hour approached, Zhang Dong felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. The cultivation seed within him had grown stronger, its hunger for spiritual energy insatiable. With a final burst of energy, he opened his eyes, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
“I certainly have gotten stronger but this blasted thing… it still won’t budge?”
The white seed truly didn’t want to budge at all, while he did absorb a huge amount of energy through this whole year it still didn’t want to blossom into anything. A small change was noticed by him though as it was enriched. Perhaps with a little budge from the shell he received after defeating the sea Empress, he would be able to progress.
“I guess, I’ll use it if there is no other option then… It’s time to reunite with the others, they have probably gotten a lot stronger than before.”
Zhang Dong knew that his companions had also undergone intense training and growth during their time in seclusion. With their combined strength and unwavering resolve, they were ready to face the challenges that awaited them in their quest to protect their sect. Before leaving the cultivation chamber, Zhang Dong took a moment to appreciate the journey they had undertaken. The trials they had faced, the sacrifices they had made, and the bonds they had forged had brought them to this pivotal moment.
He had no doubt in his mind that they would be able to defeat the Long Clan and bring an end to this war. If everything went according to plan, it might also provide him with an opportunity to confront the true enemy who lurked in the shadows. However, he was uncertain about what to do with the wife of the Azure Emperor and whether killing her was even a viable option. It seemed that as long as he didn't make it too obvious, she would remain docile and not activate her formidable Overseer powers.
With his cultivation complete, Zhang Dong left the premium cultivation chamber and made his way back to the lounge where they had initially gathered. As he entered, he found Liena and Qiang already there, their expressions filled with anger. Between them stood Zhang Zhi who was panicking and trying to calm them down. It seemed that the two were back to their old antics which brought a smile onto his face.
“What should I do with you two?”
“Husband!”
Liena exclaimed while pouncing onto him the moment that she saw him. Her movements were fast and sharp like the wind Dao that she had mastered.
“Haha, I see that you also made it into the Great Circle realm, congratulations.”
Zhang Dong smiled and returned her embrace. The power that his wife and his other two companions were bursting with was tremendous. They were all given all superior cultivation methods and would be around his level if he ever continued on with regular cultivation. With all four of them gathered together he was sure that he had made the right decision.
“What will we do now, Senior brother? Continue to the next floor?”
“No, we will end now… if we ever hope to go further, we’d have to reach the next stage…”
“The next stage? You mean the legendary immortal realm?”
“Not quite but it’s not something we can get to yet, this will have to suffice.”
While he was hugging Zhang Liena, Huo Qiang came up to them. He was willing to continue as it was clear that remaining in this tower was producing results. They had made progress that normally should have taken them at least a hundred years.
“The time has come, we will defeat the Long Clan along with the Azure Emperor.”
“Finally!”
Huo Qiang smacked his fists together, his face full of smiles as he couldn’t wait. Zhang Zhi nodded in silence, his body becoming even more one with his sword. Liena on the other hand kept close, just taking in the moment of solace that she was given. Soon the group would depart on what could be their last adventure. Thus it was better to cherish this moment before it escaped into the void of time.