After waking up the next day, he informed the hotel staff that he was awake. Shortly after, they delivered the breakfast he had left an order for. Although most places had simple fare like porridge, at the Featherbed hotel he was able to request his own breakfast. It had a great similarity to a full english breakfast. He closed his eyes and breathing deeply through his nose, smelled the aroma. his mouth was starting to salivate. However, he did not wish to rush. Keeping his pace slow enough to savor his breakfast, he still managed to wipe his plate clean very shortly.

After the hotel staff cleared his plates and tableware away, he performed his morning ablutions, and headed out. The tailor would need a couple of days, so he instead went looking through the other stores. This time, his aim was a bookstore. Books were more valuable in this world. The phrase, “knowledge is power” is quite close to the hearts of those who lived in the world. So they were kept secure and only sold for high prices.

The bookstore was centrally located. It had quite a few books on shelves, but even more held in protective displays. Dahe wandered around, looking at the titles, and seeing what he might like to buy.

A few volumes were ones he hadn’t seen in the sect library. He also found a section dedicated simply to stories. Fiction in other words. Flipping through a few, he found some that tickled his reader’s spirit, so he put them on his pile.

Having browsed the books that were where anyone could touch, he went to browse those works that were kept locked away.

Quite a few were interesting. Some he had to have the clerk explain to him. The pile grew larger. Finally, after clearing out nearly half the store, he put the books away into his public storage bag. He’d transfer them to his private bag later when he was alone.

He walked to the next place on the map, pondering his options when it came to games. What kind of games could he introduce? Skill games. Nothing that could rely on strength or speed, unless it was used between energy gatherers to compete. He smiled over the thought of convincing powerful people that kerplunk was a serious, inscrutable game.

Along the way, he noticed a jewelry store. Walking inside, he found that the selection was better than Binyi. Once more he decided to buy an assortment of shiny jewels. He even purchased loose gems. His grin grew larger, when he dropped by a carpenter and gave him the plans for a treasure chest. His dream of having a treasure chest overflowing with jewelry and precious gems was closer to coming true.

Back on track, he found the store he had wanted all along. The store he had had the hotel clerk make a special note on his map for. The bedding store. He found they only had a few of their highest level mattresses, which actually cost a duck each, for sale. He bought all of them. Then multiple sets of sheets, blankets and pillows. Then he put it all in his storage bag, grinning at the expression of the store owner. He gave a nod, and left. Ignoring the stuttering attempts at bowing from the owner.

Having wandered enough for one day, he returned to the hotel. After a nice dinner, he consulted with the clerk about more things he might need, and she marked on his map where to find them.

The next few days, he enjoyed himself. Wandering around, looking through stores, and burning off as much money as he could. He even found a few places of entertainment. There were even playhouses. Catching a few shows, he found it interesting, but not quite to his taste. Thankfully, he had his backlog of entertainment.

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He spent his nights in his mental palace, not simply enjoying reading or watching movies, but also considering which games he had actually played, and which would be most suitable for this world.

Finally, he had seen everything he was even remotely interested in seeing and decided to head back to the sect. His home needed redecorating.

Walking through the woods, he waved to the sentries. As the woods became the channel that was the way into the sect, he felt a feeling of nostalgia and familiarity. Staying in the sect was one of the longest times he had stayed anywhere.

Reporting to the headquarters that he had returned, the Vice-Sect Leader had come out to greet him. Then ordered a physical. She said it was to make sure he was still in good health. Luckily he was, and the physician corroborated that fact.

Putting his clothes back on, he exited the physician’s office area. He then walked directly back to his house. Looking around with new eyes, he began to mentally organize his possessions. After a time, he set to work, pulling out new furniture, works of art, and anything else he wanted to include in his home. After he was done, he looked around. A gentle smile on his face, satisfied at his home’s transformation.

There was nothing else to do. So he went to sleep. The next day, Fusang put him through a trial. Making sure he hadn’t lost his edge, Fusang said. Dahe was unimpressed, he’d been gone for a few weeks at most. How had he lost his edge in that amount of time?

Though time seemed to pass slowly, it did pass. Dahe was getting close, he had improved his body as much as he could with his limited range. Now, it was time to upgrade.

As time passed he accumulated energy until he felt himself pushing his limits. Finally, he decided it was time.

After telling those who needed to know, and those who he wanted to know, he went home. He put a sign on his door saying not to bother him. He looked around the house and decided to use his private living room, since it was rarely used. He cleaned it thoroughly, setting a mental note to automate the task in the future.

He sat down in his comfortable chair and closed his eyes.

The next task would be difficult. He needed to upgrade his brain. His brain was part of his body, and yet, was the leader of his body. So when he needed to upgrade his body, he’d have to upgrade the brain first, so that it could upgrade the body later.

The energy bath within his skull began to slosh, as energy entered it, making it move more and more. Slowly, Dahe increased the pressure. He forcefully infused the energy into his brain, allowing it to develop at a faster rate. Using the surrounding force, he created a high energy area around his head, and slowly squeezed that energy into his brain.

His brain developed more neural pathways, and began to change, its material becoming more than simple soft tissue. It began to develop a metaphysical quality. The bridges of his brain widened. Reaching further and further. He realized he could think faster, and his ideas would coalesce quicker. Concepts he had never connected before, seemed to suddenly have similarities. ‘I’m becoming a genius!’ Dahe shouted in his mind.

Hours had passed, and finally, his brain had stretched itself to its utmost limit. Now it was time to focus on his body once more.

Stopping the inward flow of energy, Dahe was able to relax. He felt sore in his head, which was a strange sensation. He drank some water then went to bed. Falling asleep shortly after.

Waking up it was dark. By his internal clock, it was nearly the middle of the night. He went through his private bag and took out a few snacks to nibble on.

Feeling full, he decided to return to his mental palace to while away the hours until morning.

Once he appeared, his eyes widened in surprise. There was so much more room. Dahe realized he now had more space to work with. Starting with the library he worked outwards. Halls, with various works of art. Bedrooms with designs from different decades. A swimming pool from a famous New England mansion. There was even space outside, with a tennis court and a basketball court. A massive garage with cars he’d always dreamed of owning. This would work, for now. Just one more thing.

“Wolcroft.”

“Yes sir?” responded his new butler.