"Due to your performance, I can award you twenty thousand points. You can use these points to buy whatever you like from my stores." She likely saw Maximilian's next question coming. So, she kept going without pausing. "I am unable to give you everything. First, the Network would not allow me, since this place is a trial zone. If it were my real body, then things would be different. Second, I wouldn't give it to you. It's better to introduce scarcity. An abundance of benefits can lead to a sense of entitlement and dependence on such tools."

  Maximilian was going to complain until he remembered that he had already won a lot. His understanding of the dao alone had increased significantly. Something that should allow him to either improve or create a new dao when he wanted. When you added the physique, he had already made out like a thief in the night. That didn't mean he wasn't excited when a familiar screen appeared in front of him. Looking at it reminded him of the first day of the tutorial. An event that felt like an eternity ago. He took a moment to appreciate how things had changed both for him and the world. A world that was not ready for it. Not at all. Yet had somehow come out on the other side. He wouldn't call it perfect by any means, but they were improving. At least he thought they were. He shook his head and got over his thoughts. He then went through the screens only to realize he had no idea what he was doing. Fortunately, the items were cataloged well, but what did he want? There was no option to buy things with credits, so he really was limited. There were also no spirit stones or other resources like that. There were cultivation resources, though, and after ten minutes, there were a few that drew his eye. Including one that cost 10,000 points. "Pardon me, but what is the Crystal Jade Tree?"

  Notopa smiled, waved her hand, and then a small version of what he assumed was the tree appeared. Only it was strange. It was in two dimensions. For a moment, he had just assumed that was a limitation of her ability; only he knew that was wrong. She had just shown him she could make objects in all three dimensions. "It is a unique tree made out of an uncommon crystal. It is a type of natural treasure that can improve a cultivation cave. It lacks attunement and can be very difficult to improve at higher realms. Thus, it is considered an Early Formation realm treasure."

  Maximilian nodded along as she spoke, but he couldn't resist the opportunity to learn more. "What is the 'Early Formation Realm'? I advanced my species to it during the tutorial, but haven't heard much more about it."

  "That makes sense; the rumors about your tutorials made it clear that they were only to provide a basic inheritance. One that would get you accustomed to the Network and the multiverse. I admit I find it strange that a world could exist with spiritual energy and without the Network, but I digress. The Formation realm is focused on the creation or formation of pillars within your dantian. It is divided into three major realms and nine minor realms. The major realms are Early, Middle, and Late. There’s often a fourth realm called Peak. This means you’ve finished the requirements and are ready to break through. You have no doubt figured out that the nine minor realms are devoted to the nine pillars. Each pillar represents nine levels. Thus, allowing you to reach level 162."

  Once again, Maximilian found himself wishing he had a notepad or even a voice recorder. Not that he believed he would forget anything, but this was important information. "How does one begin the process?"

  "It is a long way away for you yet, child. No need to worry, but I will provide a brief answer. You can use your cultivation manual to help gather the energy. After that, you will solidify it into a proper pillar. Once you have nine, you will be ready for the next step." She held up a hand almost as soon as he finished speaking. "No. I will not speak on the realm following that one. Too much information too soon can be a detriment."

  Maximilian smiled with a hint of regret, realizing that was the very next question. He could see the wisdom in her worries, but he would've appreciated a map that would take him to the top. Though he doubted that it existed. He did ask if this realm was divided in the same way, and he found it was. He was currently at two stars or the Early Foundation realm and would be until level 27. At which point, he would go to three stars and the middle stage. It was all a bit odd since there were no clear definitions of power within the stars or even the stages. He had to resist asking more questions. He had purchased the tree. Mostly because he wanted it and thought it was cool. When he paged through the alchemical stuff, he almost dumped all his points on that stuff. There were pills for just about anything. Including generic leveling pills, which hadn't been a part of Notopa's original treasure pile. Something that had only made him more interested. Until he tempered himself and thought about it. He didn't need leveling pills. So far, he hadn't exactly tried to level up. He had fought, of course, but he wouldn't say he had focused on trying to get levels quickly. He hadn't felt the need. If he consumed those pills, he could blast himself up at least two or three levels. If he took all of them? Yet his gut told him not to do it, and Notopa seconded.

  "It is a path that has potential, but I would not recommend it to you." She began. "It is not uncommon for scions to level straight from one to level twenty-seven using similar methods. Those people have an advantage that you both do and don't. They would receive their family's inheritances, teachings, and other benefits. These would replace what adventuring provides for you. You may not have noticed, but this planet has an unnatural amount of dao and spiritual energy. We call this 'Primal Dao' without going into detail; it is a privilege you all will slowly lose over time. It is a part of the reason it's so easy to gain Dao-related enlightenment. That is your greatest boon for now. It would be in your best interest to take advantage of it and the no doubt plentiful natural treasures."

  Maximilian had to admit her argument made sense. He had no interest in exploring the world and finding powerful creatures. That being said, what do other people think? He had half a mind to buy them all and hand them out to the people of Nubia. It could boost them a bit and let them fight a bit better. Though that wouldn't be ideal either. There weren't enough pills. He did buy several bottles of improved healing pills, including some that could purify poisons. He had wanted to try to make some survival kits, but this would do almost as well. "Am I able to buy advice? Specifically, what should I do with my own cultivation?" He asked as he mentally scolded himself. If he could've just asked the woman to teach him and he had just waited, the points he was going to fight. Fortunately, the woman looked more amused than annoyed by the question.

  "No, though you may ask your questions, and I will answer if I believe it is safe for me to do so. Make your selections first."

  Maximilian nodded and turned to the area that he felt was most lacking. Skills. Unfortunately, the skills that he found weren't all that interesting. They were mostly offensive, which was fine, but he had power already. He could manipulate the dao fairly well, so he should be okay until he got his class. At least that had been his thought process until he saw something he couldn't ignore. The Worldly Guidance Array. He had to read its description three times before he believed it was real. It wasn't that great an array if he was being fair about it. The array was listed as a middle-quality formation realm and was single-use. So, it wasn't an investment for anyone but him. Yet it offered him something he had wanted this whole time. It would help him design a skill. He made the buy without further thought. Why would he buy a skill when he could make one designed for himself? He wasn't arrogant enough to think he could make an amazing, perfect skill or anything, but he could make an attack. Something strong enough to hit people that Severing Disc couldn't.

  "Have you ever attempted to design a skill, child?" Notopa asked him with clear amusement in her tone.

  He smiled and shook his head. "Never. Though I think I understand the concept. The symbols in our bodies represent the Dao, and as spiritual energy passes through, it receives commands from the symbol. Are those commands then manifested in the world? It's like what I do when I command my dao."

  "Well said." She looked at him as if she had only seen him. "Yes, your understanding is correct for the most part. It is difficult to create more complicated skills via direct manipulation. Though it isn't impossible. As you grow stronger, you can get closer to mastering skills. However, your true abilities will also become more complex. Still, most spend years in preparation to make a single skill. For spellcaster types, even more so."

  Maximilian was about to ask why, but he figured it out. He didn't use a weapon, so he couldn't exactly stab someone and skip the hassle. Not that he cared. He was always more of a wizard/mage type than a warrior. He would take his time with the array, though. He wasn't in a rush to use it immediately. Though his gut told him his new physique might help him with that situation. Not that it really mattered now. He had made the buy, and he had a feeling that there were no refunds. With the last of his points, he purchased an energy gathering array that could improve the energy in all of Nubia. He had no way to know how strong it really was outside of the description, but he didn't care. He doubted he was in a position to complain about quality yet. Let alone anyone in the city. "Do you know of any way to make a person who isn't a cultivator become one?" he asked with hope that he could help his mother at least get the energy. He had no problem subsidizing her with stones, but if he could help her in other ways, he would.

  "No. I never found anything like it, but there are many rumors about mystical items that claim to have this power. They might also gain the ability in the more advanced realms, but again, we can't confirm it."

  Maximilian nodded and turned his attention to the items that had appeared around him. He placed the boxes into his bag. He still didn't get how the Network had placed a crystal tree into a box, but it had. Part of him wanted to question it, but another part didn't. He had a lot of other things to learn before he started to unravel space magic. Assuming he even could learn that. With everything else taken care of, he turned his attention back to Notopa. His excitement returned as he tried to organize his questions. "Are you able to tell what daos I cultivate?"

  She nodded. "For the most part. You have three. One was closely aligned with the dao of lightning, another was aligned with water, and a third was aligned with wind. From what I can tell, the one related to wind is the weaker of the three."

  He nodded, held out his right hand, and formed three finger-sized spheres of energy. One for each of his daos, with the dao of Squall being the hardest to control. "They are the lesser daos of Static, Rain, and Squall. I am not sure which direction to take them. I suppose I don't know what directions exist. Currently, I have focused on four categories: Static for offense, Rain for healing, and Squall for speed or movement."

  "That is not a bad classification, though a limited one. If I follow your intent, you plan on gaining a fourth for defense, correct?" He nodded, and Notopa continued. "Dividing them like that does work. Some people view the world in such arbitrary divisions. I would encourage you to remain open. What stops the wind from being destructive? And what keeps lightning from being paralyzing or restricting movement? There are few things faster than the dao of lightning. There is an issue in your understanding. I take it that your planet has not had anyone describe the spheres to you, and I will not do so myself. That touches on information that would be dangerous to know. Especially when you aren't strong enough to protect yourself. What I can tell you is that you have many more options in front of you than you know. Your assumption seems to be that Squall and Rain lead to the Daos of Wind and Water. That isn't necessarily the case. They can and are arguably more aligned with the Dao of Nature."

  Maximilian's eyes widened as he thought about it more. He hadn't really realized that was an option, but it made sense. Rain was made of water, but it was also related to weather events. Squall was similar, but why were they separate? Or did it matter that they were? "Which one is better?"

  "Which of your hands is better? Better yet, which of your lungs is better?" Notopa asked. When it was clear Maximilian couldn't or wouldn't answer, she continued. "All dao are under the Great dao. It matters not which road you take to get there. In other words, there is no 'better,' only better for you. The tutorial should've told you which you had a higher affinity for. I assume that is Lightning, Water, and Wind. That is not a bad path."

  "I am actually gifted in all dao. To be more specific, my affinities are equally high across the board, though with my recent changes, they have all been improved."

  Notopa went quiet for several moments. He resisted the urge to interrupt her as it was clear she was thinking about something. That, and he had wanted to consider the situation. It was true that he had assumed that water and wind were the correct paths, but now he wasn't sure. He had never fancied himself a druid, but the weather could work. Of course, he didn't need to. He wasn't sure what other things he could do, but it could be just as cool.

  "Truly a blessed son of Heaven," Notopa replied. "In your case, I further emphasize not choosing. You already have those three dao, and there is no problem there. You won't need to decide the direction until you evolve them from Lesser to Minor. I suggest you explore what you want. Your fourth dao, assuming you continue on that line of thought, will be important. If you decide to continue with the weather theme, I would suggest you go for the Dao of snow or something similar. If not, then the Daos of Earth or Metal could fit you quite nicely. Your personality seems a decent mix for either. That and they could fulfill your desire for defense."

  Maximilian nodded. "What about my class selection? I don't know much about how it works."

  "I see. It is simple. Once you reach level 27, you will need a Network hub. Once you interface with it you will be allowed to choose your class. The sheer amount of dao that you have should carry you far. I imagine a high-quality rare class at the very least. With at least an Epic option or two. More if you continue at your current pace."

  "Any recommendations for what I should do before I get there?"

  "Now that is for you to decide. I can tell that with your gifts, you have quite a few accomplishments. In truth, if you were in one of the top factions, you would likely have been told to rush to level 27. That being said, you do not need it. I suggest you keep doing what you are doing. Fight, explore, and discover. Your path will be found in the sky, the earth, and in the blood of your enemies."

  Maximilian flinched a bit at that. Not out of fear but out of reluctance. He had no issue exploring and learning, but blood? Was that the only way forward? It wasn't lost on him that monsters could evolve. That they would be and could be just as smart as he is. If not smarter. "Is there really no way to cultivate without leaving a mountain of bodies behind?"

  Notopa looked at him for a moment before shaking her head. "That is the hardest part for you forebearers. Not all of you have the heart for cultivation. In short, the answer is yes. Though there are plenty of people who justify. Merchants who tell themselves that they didn't kill anyone. Even as their arrays obliterate entire planets. Or alchemists who heal, while those they revive go on to commit one atrocity after another. There is no easy way around its child. Even I have killed more than I care to admit, and my path was based on research. My suggestion is that you find a way to deal with that. You can follow the path of the monks and balance karma. You can even try karmic cultivation, though I warn that it is a weird path. Or you could accept the harshness of the world and stand atop the pile of bodies. From there, you can bend the world or even the multiverses to your will."

  Maximilian cocked his head at the woman. He knew there was a lot of truth to what she had said. After all the humans of Earth had spilled enough blood to drown the planet throughout its history. It could be argued that morality, truth, justice, all of it, was just what the winner defined, but he also didn't accept it. After all, we knew of the horrible things that happened, and we tried to make them right. At least some of us are dead. He also knew that it would be a pointless argument. One that he would likely lose, since the woman in front of him could be millions of years old. None of that was what he had focused on. It was the very last part. "What is Karmic Cultivation?"