Chapter 23: Residence

“Yo, Lester!” A familiar voice called out from the side, pulling Lester from his thoughts. He had just exited the towering building and was still lost in the information booklet he had been handed by Felix. Glancing up, he saw Patrick waving with a huge grin, brimming with excitement.

Lester returned the wave, his mind still swirling with everything he had learned during his recent meeting. The idea of staying on Cultivation Island had been growing on him ever since the orientation. It wasn’t just about gaining a foothold as a cultivator—it was about access to resources, knowledge of the happenings, and rare treasures that could give him a significant edge. The island held incredible potential, especially when it came to alien technology. And with the wealth of cultivation techniques imprinted in his mind, Lester knew he could leverage that knowledge for even more valuable resources.

As he approached, Patrick could barely contain himself. “Dude! How did it go? What’s your rank? C’mon, tell me everything!” Patrick fired off questions in rapid succession, his excitement contagious.

Lester chuckled softly, a little overwhelmed by the barrage of questions. He slipped the booklet into his bag and responded calmly, “It went fine, I guess. I’m officially part of the island now. My rank is 1,422.” He held up two fingers, indicating his position with a slight smile.

Patrick’s eyes widened as he raised his own badge with pride. “No way! I got 1,347! Can you believe that? I fought that damn gorilla to a standstill—he was tough as hell!” He flashed his badge, which bore the name Golden Dragon beneath his rank.

Lester raised an eyebrow, amused. “Golden Dragon?”

“Yup!” Patrick nodded vigorously, grinning from ear to ear. “Apparently, no one wanted it. They thought it was too ‘domineering’ and ‘audacious,’” he said, making air quotes and rolling his eyes. “Even the instructor tried to talk me out of it, but I stuck to my guns. Ever since I got that cultivation book from you, the name just felt... right.”

Lester couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, it suits you.”

“And what about you?” Patrick asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

“Black Seed,” Lester answered plainly. The name held significance for him, symbolizing the dark gem embedded in his forehead—the key to his vast knowledge.

Patrick gave an approving nod. “Nice, man. Sounds mysterious.”

Lester grinned and glanced back at the towering building they had just left. “I think we should stay here for a while. They’re giving us a free trial, and the requirements to keep the place aren’t too difficult. Besides, I’ve heard there’s a lot more to this island than just the basic facilities. There’s treasure, alien tech, and resources that could really help us grow.”

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Patrick sighed in relief. “I’m with you. No offense, but after living in that cabin, I could use a change of scenery.” He laughed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Same here,” Lester chuckled, pulling out his communicator. “Let’s find a place to stay. Maybe a two-person unit? It’ll be easier to work on our cultivation together.”

The communicator resembled a sleek, modern smartphone, but it was far more advanced. As Lester swiped through the interface, holograms flickered to life, displaying available residences, resources, and other useful information. The island’s technology was remarkable, a blend of alien advancements and human ingenuity. Everything they needed was right at their fingertips—maps, mission details, and even residential listings.

“Check this out,” Patrick said, pointing to his own communicator. “There’s a unit available in the D Area. Looks like it’s open and it fits our rank.”

“Perfect.” Lester quickly received the information from Patrick’s communicator, tapping away to confirm the details. “Let’s activate our trial and head over.”

With their residence secured, they began the walk toward the building. As they made their way through the city, they talked about their goals for the coming months. Both agreed to use the first two months to solidify their foundations and enhance their cultivation. Once they were stronger, they’d take on missions together, unsure of what challenges awaited but confident in their partnership.

“Here we are,” Lester said, stopping in front of the towering building. It stood at least twenty floors tall, with a triangular base that gave it a modern, angular aesthetic. The building’s gray walls were marked with the insignia of Cultivation Island—the same symbol etched onto their badges. The area surrounding the building was an artful blend of nature and architecture, with well-maintained lawns, clusters of trees with perfectly round green canopies, and paths crisscrossing through the greenery.

Cultivators of all shapes and sizes walked the paths, deep in conversation, exchanging techniques, news, and advice. The diversity was striking—people with tattoos that glowed faintly, others with animal-like features, and many in robes of various styles and colors. The lack of vehicles added to the serene, almost meditative atmosphere, with everyone walking calmly along the stone paths.

Entering the building, they were greeted by a sleek, modern lobby with glass walls that offered panoramic views of the island’s architecture. A receptionist at the front desk asked for their IDs, and after a quick scan, they were directed to the elevators.

They stepped inside, the soft hum of the elevator filling the silence as they ascended to the eleventh floor.

“Ta-ding!”

The doors slid open, revealing a spacious, open-plan common area. The floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the room in natural light, offering stunning views of the island. The space was furnished with comfortable sofas, modern decor, and a bar area off to the side. It felt more like a luxurious penthouse than a dormitory for cultivators.

Lester noticed that each room had a screen next to it, displaying the names of the occupants. As they walked through the common area, they passed rooms labeled with names like Rising Sun, Hair Witch, Wild Madman, and Sword Disciple. Their own names—Golden Dragon and Black Seed—were side by side on a pair of adjacent doors.

“Looks like we’ll be neighbors,” Patrick said with a grin.

Before they could explore further, they noticed two individuals seated at the bar, a man and a woman, engaged in a deep conversation. The man, noticing their arrival, raised his hand in a friendly wave.

“Welcome to floor eleven!” he called out with a smile.