Chapter 6: Making a Foundation

Matt quickly led me to the shop called body cultivation. I was about to reach my hand out to look at the list when he blocked me, as he said.

"Woah, don't be so eager. Let me explain a few things first. For one, once you pick a cultivation path, you won't be able to change it. My suggestion get something that has to do with swords. No need to waste your race's natural talents. Also, make sure not to spend everything you still need an elemental cultivation method as well. I'll take you afterward."

I nodded, acknowledging his advice as I reached out towards the door, eager to see what options I might have. As soon as I touched the door, a voice rang out in my head.

"Detecting user has no prior cultivation. Listing all level one cultivation scriptures."

Scriptures

Basic Body Cultivation 10pts

Tiger Palm Scripture 50 pts

.....

Dragons Body Scripture 7000 pts

.....

World Palm Elemental Scripture 10,000 pts

The True Sword Scripture 15,000 pts

I looked through the various options, all seemingly endless with no descriptions. It seems the tower wasn't very keen on letting you make informed choices.

I shrugged and scrolled down to the section with scriptures in the 10,000 range wanting to save some of my points for the elemental cultivation. Scrolling through, I noticed a scripture with a sword in the name.

Wanting to get some advice before picking, I tried to pull my hand away from the door and turn towards Matt. Yet I realized I was looked in place, and as I continued to struggle to move, a voice in my head said.

"Please make a choice. All shoppers must make a purchase before leaving."

I grit my teeth this damn unreasonable tower. Quickly going back to the choice I had looked at earlier and selected True Sword Scripture. As soon as I did, the voice rang out in my head again, saying.

"True Sword Scripture selected this is a scripture which cultivates Sword Ki to develop. It then moves the Sword Ki throughout the user's body strengthing it as well as increasing the user's affinity to swords. Making it easier for them to gain true insights on the path of the sword. The user can also use the Sword Ki to empower their strikes, greatly enhancing the cutting ability and range of sword strikes."

As soon as the voice ended, a familiar pain filled my body as it felt like thousands of swords were rushing through my body, tearing apart my cells as they gathered near my chest.

Quickly forming a ball of energy made up of tiny swords that, from time to time, would rush through my whole body in a specific pattern.

I quickly picked myself off the ground looking back to Matt, who was looking at me with a grin as he said.

"Not the most enjoyable experience is it. Well, beats having to cultivate all the energy yourself. Anyways I'll explain more about it later let's get your elemental cultivation first. Getting to watch newbies get their first elemental energy is always a fun experience."

His cheeky grin let me know it most likely was not going to be a fun experience for me the things you have to do for power.

I quickly ended my mopping as I hurried to follow his lead as he headed to another marble shop. He stopped when we got to the entrance holding out his arm as he said.

"Remember since your already on the path of the sword, just find an elemental art that complements it. No need to get some flashy lighting skill. Just leave that to those stuck up mages.

I laughed at his apparent disdain of mages before putting my hand to the door letting the familiar voice fill my head.

"Detecting lighting element seed and no previous elemental cultivation. Displaying all level one lightning cultivation."

Scriptures

Basic Lightning Cultivation 50pts

Lightning Whip 70pts

Lightning Steps 100pts

...

Azure Lightning's Wrath 7,000pts

Lightning Body Forging Technique 9,000pts

Lightning Channeler Scripture 12,000pts

Lightning Gods Strike 20,000pts

Once again, a list which only vaguely gave hints at what each technique would do but remembering Matts advice I decided on the only expensive technique that mentioned anything to do with the body. As soon as I did, a voice filled my head saying.

"Lightning Body Forging Technique selected by the user. This technique allows the users to fuse the lightning element within the user's cells slowly melting away any impurities and increasing the user's strength and speed. Its focus is on increasing speed, reactions, and allowing the user to embed the lighting element within each of their strikes."

As soon as the voice ended, the small spark of lightning that had been embedded in my chest since the first test quickly grew as it bored its way through my body, causing my muscles to twitch as they glowed with the lightning filling them.

The process was significantly less painful than the last baptism, but I was still glad when it was over, and I could turn back to Matt in full control of my body.

I saw him laughing as he said.

"Its always fun seeing the newbies glow and spasm as they get their first elemental bath. Now come I'll explain more to you once we get to my place."

He then led me towards a shop that read "Homes." It seems the towers naming sense wasn't going to get much more creative any time soon. He dragged me in front of the door before placing his palm on the door. As soon as he did, a voice sounded in my head.

"Does user except external teleportation?"

I nodded my head, and that was apparently enough acknowledgment as I was soon encompassed in the same light as when I was teleported to the second test.

Once the light cleared, I looked around, taking in the sights of the house I found myself in. It was an enormous Japanese style mansion filled with all sorts of sliding doors rock gardens and ponds swimming with fish.

I was impressed with the size and not surprised at all with the decor considering Matts clothes. He quickly approached me and said.

"So what do you think. I designed it myself from a description I saw in a book once. I always wanted a house like this. Well anyway, I guess now that you're here I should explain some things. First off, check your timer. How much do you go left before the next test?"

I was about to question him on how the hell I was supposed to check some magical timer when the voice rang out in my head.

"Applicant has 19 hours and 43 minutes until the next test."

Well, that solved that. I quickly told him the time remaining. And he nodded and said.

"As expected. Well, that gives us plenty of time for me to explain a little about cultivation and letting you test it out some. So first off, what you bought is the tower forcibly promoting you to the top of the first tier of your cultivation scriptures.

To go further, though, you have to a breakthrough on your own before you can buy the next stage. How you do that will be different for each scripture. You should have all the details in your head, another gift the tower gives with your purchase of the scripture.

So your best use of time is attempting to breakthrough. The early levels tend to be fairly easy. But before that I have an offer."

I had been waiting for this. He was putting much more effort into me if all he was doing was recruiting for a normal team. I figured I should hear him out. I owed him that much, at least. So I nodded for him to continue.

"So here's my situation. You know how I said you could form teams on the 50th floor. Well, I used to have one. And we attempted the floor and just barely passed. The only problem was I'm the only survivor. I could try finding another team, but considering I'm not outstanding, the chances of making it through the floors would be close to none.

My offer is I'll help you and other newbies develop giving all the advice I have. Then once you make it the 51st floor, I want you to give me a spot on your team. If you agree, I'll make sure to support you and five others to the best of my ability."

I had to ponder his offer. Was it worth sticking with him? I figured there were probably more talented teams I could get recruited into. But I saw the desperation in his eyes. I knew I was indeed his last hope, and hey, I figured with all the early advantages I was building, the guidance could more than makeup for losing one slot on my team.

So I stuck out my hand, shaking his hand as I said.

"You've got a deal."