With the weight of the responsibility on my back, it seems like only moments before I reach my tower.

For some reason, it seems lonelier than the others.

This massive building, all to myself.

THIS IS GREAT!

An introverts dream.

Having this still near everyone will allow me to engage when needed.

But most importantly, this solitude will be amazing for solo cultivating. The building itself is made to collect more qi, so I’ll be able to have it all to myself for a period.

My scan had previously informed me that qi comes from three different areas: a sub-dimension that provides the vast majority of qi available; the current dimension, which ambiently generates a small amount, after absorbing it from the sub-dimension; and finally, for beings that have reached a comparable stage to foundation establishment, generate it in some shape or form naturally.

The sub-dimension emanates qi into this one as a constant source. There are areas that naturally attract more qi from this method, both increasing the flow of it from it and also generating a small amount of its own.

There are other ways to increase the flow of qi from the sub-dimension, such as with certain formations. However, most formations like that will focus on concentrating the ambient qi in the area toward one area.

As could be expected, they use a mixture of these sources for cultivator spaces in practice.

Some examples of this are the towers and their rooms. The local area on this mountain already has a higher flow of qi from the sub-dimension. Areas the towers are built on, even more so. It then is built in a way that maximizes the qi flow and forms a pseudo-formation. On top of that, formations are built to take a small amount over a large area and concentrate the qi into specific places, while also increasing the flow of the qi from the sub-dimension.

The underground room of the tower collects much of its qi from the untapped areas underground, filled with rock and dirt. The one at the top of the tower takes it from the skies and area above. Both are bolstered by collecting from the local area and sub-dimension.

Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I’ll be able to make my own formations. For now, though, I’ll have to work through Senior Tian.

Now that I’m not running around with everyone and with the first time coming here being so hectic with Sister Nuan, I finally can take the chance to look at the tower itself.

Being the largest tower of the three, meant for the senior core disciple, it is a truly massive thing.

While the other towers are around 200 floors, as well, the scale of it is different. The size of each floor is massive, being 20,000 sq meters for the smallest and much larger for the ones below ground.

The variance of heights is also much higher for this building, having some floor heights being comparable to the smaller skyscrapers from my world. As could be expected, such areas are meant for a variety of activities or items, such as training or growing certain tall ingredients.

One of them is even like a mini-jungle, having a wide variety of plants inside.

Adding to that, is that the internal layout of the tower is variable… means that it would be easy to change the building to accommodate my needs.

… Being a core disciple is no joke. Now I see why my scan suggested I go with Sister Nuan as my master. Anyone else would have already had a senior disciple or wouldn’t have been as prominent, thus they wouldn’t have had as nice towers.

With her being a relatively new, but extremely powerful, elder, they gave her more support and space.

Maybe they did so, assuming she wouldn’t live long enough to keep it for more than another 200 years. But that if she did, then it would be to their benefit to help her grow further.

Either way, they don’t lose too much.

And now I gain from it.

I find myself in the entranceway of the almost circular tower.

Stepping inside, my scan reveals the immense quality of the materials used in its creation. The sect clearly doesn’t spare money for the higher levels of its ranks. Making me wonder what the elder’s towers, the hall of exalted purity, and the palace of the ancients are like, if they will do this much for a core disciple.

But even with all these materials and the amazing things that the tower can do, they still expect normal people to go into it and traverse it. Like normal stairs.

So, I climb up them.

But, as could be expected, this takes a while to do for a massive tower.

And if this takes awhile for me…

The others likely had to take breaks just to get back to their rooms.

I’ll definitely setup an elevator for them to get around quicker in. There are already similar things in the towers, so I’ll just repurpose some of them to mainly be for people instead of materials. Funny enough, those elevators have even more strict requirements than if they were for people.

Eventually, I reach the floor where I will be primarily living on, which is near the upper middle of the tower. I end up walking for some time through areas with lavish living spaces, like kitchens, and most predominantly open sleeping spaces, clearly meant for a surplus of lovers to rest and partake in activities.

Luckily, there are also private rooms with one master room being the most prominent of them all.

The doors open easily for me, but my scan shows me that there are ‘permissions’ on it that would prevent others from coming in without my permission. And it’s not a simple one, either. Able to be locked down with a wave of the hand from me.

In some ways… it makes me think the tower is alive, with the sheer number of interacting and layered items here. Which it isn’t, but with enough time, the cultivation trope of things saturated in qi coming alive can occur.

Regarding what’s before me, with one massive bed and a lot of storage for a variety of items, it’s clear that I can use this as a basic storage area. There are, of course, vaults to put the truly valuable items in, but this will suffice for the ‘normal’ things.

Considering all the attention I’ve been getting, maybe I should hire or heal someone that could just operate as a guard for me.

… Actually. Why don’t I do that?

There are most definitely dilapidated cultivators out there, with families, that would give their lives to improve their current situation.

Heck, Master Ming and the other elders were in practically that exact situation. Even the old cultivator who gave me my cultivation method was the same.

If I put potential people in a similar, but defense-oriented contract, I’ll never need to worry about my safety again. Within reason, of course.

But I’ll definitely have them sign the contract first, before doing that. And with another cultivator I can trust there. Most likely Sister Nuan, when she has time.

In the meantime, I can search out the people I need, though.

Plopping down on this abnormally comfy bed, I run my scan through its paces. Looking for the next priority for the towers and myself.

Safety.