The box held a plaque and then what looked like a vial of light blue gas. I focused on the plaque to start. I sent a small bit of spiritual energy inside and received a burst of information. The vial was much more interesting than it appeared. It was an item called a **Heaven's Path Cloud**, it was a flying treasure. Though calling it a flying treasure was massively underselling it. It was a high-quality treasure that should be able to fly in just about any environment.

  The cloud relied on the energy control of the pilot to maneuver which shouldn't be a problem for me. The only flaw if you could call it that was it was meant for one person. There was no way Xerxes would be able to join me in the air. It also meant I probably wouldn't need him to carry me around which was disappointing but not by much. Part of me really wanted to take the cloud out and see what it could do but now wasn't the right time.

  I placed it back into my ring to deal with later. It was time to review the rest of my growth. The Tao of Compression went up a stage which caused my attributes to take a nice leap forward. On top of the two levels. The growth of my Tao had me a bit concerned. I wasn't sure if it would become harder to get new strands if I maxed some out but it was definitely time for me to get a new one.

  I was pretty sure compression was going to be related to space. I rarely used it with anything else which put me in a unique position. I could focus on Time and try to pair them. I wasn't sure if the Tao had categories but Space and Time were usually combined. At least in most video games or books. I could try to get another one related to space. Maybe one that focused on the spatial slashes? It would at least guarantee me another attack.

  Lastly, there was another idea in the back of my mind. Was there a Tao related to arrays? Or at least for crafting? I found a book on Taoism a little while ago and it mentioned that Taoism was about everything. "The Way" as it was referred made it sound like you could get inspiration from everything so why couldn't you do it with Arrays? Unfortunately, the academy was of no help in this. I wasn't sure if it was because of the System or if it was something else. The information on the Tao was basic. It explained there were weapon-based Taos with the most common being the sword.

  The elements also existed including lightning and wind. Apparently, those two belonged to different categories from the other elements. The categories were called "Spheres" but that was all it would tell me. I figured upgrading the school would help me with that but I wasn't strong enough to do it. I would need to fight with something and I could only make the challenge once a century. It also didn't matter too much. I was too weak and inexperienced to worry about the categories from what Desbera explained the last time I asked her.

  I got to my feet and walked out onto the balcony. The city looked beautiful from up here. The lights looked brighter and now that there was no pollution even the air felt nicer. Further, the energy-gathering array made the atmosphere better than almost anywhere else on Earth. Not counting the homes of some beasts. It still wasn't a match for mine and Xerxes' chamber but Amara was rapidly transforming. It wasn't a struggling group of survivors anymore. It was a proper city and more than that it was the place to be. Saanite was keeping track of the people immigrating here and it wasn't insignificant.

  We were still a far cry from Earth's biggest cities but we could rival smaller ones. It wasn't enough for me though. I wanted Amara to be New York, Chicago, or Paris I wanted it to be the place everyone wanted to be. A monster of a city. I let myself fantasize about various ideas before I turned my attention to something I had been putting off for far too long. I summoned the Heaven's Pearl from my ring and sat down. I was pretty sure the pearl was on its last legs. I would finally get to find out what the fuck it did.

  I circulated my technique and let the energy pour into me. The pearl rapidly shrunk until the last of its energy entered my dantian. A wave of calmness passed over me that felt better than any high I had ever had. When the sensation passed I opened my eyes. I felt different but I couldn't tell what had changed. I got to my feet and tried to expand my Tao field. It expanded with unheard-of ease. It was as if before now I was trying to control it with one hand behind my back but now. Now it was as easy as breathing.

  I switched Tao and the sensation was the same. Until I started with the Tao of Compression. Previously this one didn't do much when it was in field form. Outside of just allowing me to condense it better, this was different. Space had solidified around me. It wasn't quite a wall but it was better than what Adamance could provide. Of course, it didn't work for mental effects so it wasn't a replacement. Next, I formed a blade of compressed space. Not only was it faster but the process was easier. It used very little mental energy to do and I could control them as if they were a part of my body.

  I experimented with forming the slash from earlier and accidentally cut a six-inch gash into the ground. "So the pearl improved my affinities?" I grinned and went back inside. I had to find a mirror. When I saw my face I let out a low whistle. It was still hard to put a finger on what had changed. My facial features were just better. I was proudly in supermodel territory. "I got to find more of these. Even if I just sold them. For other people, these had to be worth everything." I played around with my Tao until Xerxes entered the room.

  "What did you do? My connection to the Tao of Embers has improved."

  I grinned. "I had a treasure. We might be able to find more of them if we travel into the ocean. Though I doubt it. My assumption is this is another special treasure. If we did find more we would need to decide what to do with them."

  "Why wouldn't we just consume? Our affinities should have no upper limit."

  I shook my head. "Honestly I don't know if we would need them. They might benefit Trey or Aaliyah better and if we didn't give them away then it would be better to sell them. Money is always useful."

  Xerxes snorted and then lay on the ground in front of the couch. "If they want them they should go and get them."

  I took a seat on the couch next to him and shrugged. "I mean maybe but that's what strength is for. They won't be able to rely on us forever. They will likely want and need things I can't or don't want to get them. For now, though I can help them so why not?"

  "They have stopped fighting. Most of their levels haven't changed in a week and very few would survive either of our auras."

  I sighed and cracked my neck. "I know but what do you think I should do? The contribution store already awards personal advancements so I can't do anything there. I don't want to conscript people besides I am not sure that would help any. People who don't want to fight are never good at it. Not to mention that some of those people are becoming other things we need. Craft people and even a few healers."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "*Do you think its enough?*"

  I shrugged and we fell into silence. There was of course a second reason why I didn't care if they got stronger or not. I still planned to leave Earth and if the citizens were all too weak then it shouldn't be hard for the council to maintain order without me. I wasn't sure if that thought was evil or not and I really didn't want to know. When I got tired of waiting I stood up and made my way into the cultivation chamber. There was no way I would gain another level anytime soon but another Tao strand? That was doable.

  I sat in the center of the gathering array but didn't activate it. The energy wasn't needed and I didn't have a lot of useful treasures anyway. I closed my eyes and went over the small insights from my last few battles and the arrays. I was still a good distance away from improving the Tao of Adamance so it wasn't my focus. I decided to let my mind wander and go with what my instincts told me.

  I took another breath and slowly entered a meditative state. I wasn't sure how long I sat there before something changed. It was subtle at first like a slight breeze, like the last piece of a puzzle that finally slipped into place. Strands of energy danced and pulled at my focus as if each one vied for my attention. It felt like I could seize them all with a thought. Yet there was no pressure. No need to worry about picking one before the sensation ends. No need to stress about which one I would get. They were all mine.

  I let go of my worry and embraced the sensation. The freedom of the Tao. The truth settled onto me like a warm blanket but I didn't move. There was no need. The Tao slowly ascended. Returned to its grand heights. I took another breath and waited until the sensation completely faded. I slowly opened my eyes and stretched. I wasn't sure how long I sat here but it felt like a little while. I made a mental note to buy a clock or at least a timer for this place.

  This weird lack of definitive time was irritating. It felt like we were in a vague timeless dimension where only the position of the sun mattered. Which I guess was how things worked before industrialization. I shrugged and turned my attention to the thing I cared about. I opened my notification and smiled. It wasn't what I expected but it was good nonetheless.

  Strand of Flow: Intelligence +10 Perception +10

  I took a few moments to test what it did and was surprised. I assumed it was about the flow of time but that wasn't the case. Rather it was about energy flows. I couldn't do anything with the Tao. It wasn't an attack nor was it a defense and imbuing my body with it didn't do anything. It did have amazing synergy with the Eye of Heaven. It even helped with understanding my sigils which would probably be clutch when I made my own spells.

  All in all, it was a utility or rather supportive Tao which was good. I still lacked a powerful ender. Neither my Tao nor my spells were good at putting an enemy down. At the moment it wasn't a big deal but if I ever encountered something that could go the distance with me I would be in trouble. I briefly considered continuing my session. I was pretty confident I could push toward a Tao of time. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get it but I could do it.

  I decided against it though. I wanted to spend some time working with Arrays. Furthermore, I didn't feel like sitting here any longer. I stepped out of the cultivation chamber and cocked my head in confusion. Xerxes lay on the floor the same as when I left him but Trey and Aaliyah were with him.

  "You are finally finished," Trey complained. "I wanted to go out fighting."

  I shook my head and took a seat on the couch across from the pair. "I had things to do. How are things going? Did anyone notice we weren't here?"

  Aaliyah shook her head. "No, but you going into seclusion immediately didn't exactly help. Thankfully uh Xerxes was here and managed to scare people." She glanced over at the Qilin as if he was a wild animal.

  "It was no big deal. They got to bask in my presence and they gave me food." Xerxes replied through our bond.

  "Is that why she's afraid?"

  "Is that what it's like when you use that communication spell? Do you just stand there silently?" Trey's question brought me back to the moment. I rolled my eyes and shifted my attention to the massive window. The sun was high in the sky so it was likely midafternoon?

  "If you managed to get one you would know. Outside of the impatient one here did anything else need my attention?"

  "Not really, I am told that the academy is ready whenever you would like to go. They said you would know what that means."

  I grinned and rubbed my beard. "Good alright, I am going to head over there to do some reading. Have we heard anything about the Herald? Ideally, I would like to take care of that problem as soon as possible."

  She shook her head. "No, once again he has gone radio silent. We've checked in with the settlements on the third continent but they haven't encountered anyone like that."

  "How are they fairing? Do I need to go over and recruit them?" I glanced over at Xerxes who perked up for the first in this conversation.

  "No, the majority of the world's armies ended up on that continent for some reason. They managed to hold the line against the monsters and were mostly a threat to themselves. With the rumors of your visit to both the UWG and the Commonwealth everyone either wants to join up first. Or they want to wait and see. Only the wait-and-see group is rapidly shrinking."

  "Do we have a count on how many people we are talking about?" I leaned back and placed my ankle on my knee.

  "Not quite probably one hundred thousand at least though smaller villages and towns are still being found. We have the army ready to move in and subdue the continent but we wanted to be sure you didn't want to do it."

  I waved my hand dismissively. "It's yours or everyone's I guess. Truth be told I don't care much about what Earth has. Outside of the ocean of course. If you find any more of those pearls I want them. Other than that either let the person who found it have it or place it in the merit shop. Oh, who is managing the money?"

  Aaliyah stared at me for several seconds while a vein on the side of her head threatened to burst. She sighed and shook her head. "Apparently one of the Wall Street types got a mercantile class. According to her its a mixture of mercantilism and administrative abilities. Zero combat. She has taken it upon herself to manage the economy in a weird kind of capitalist feudalism."

  "I don't know what that means. Do I need to go and deal with her? What's her name?"

  "Evelyn Stephens and no please don't. She is like a person who read Ayn Rand once and then decided to work for you. Anything you don't strictly regulate she believes in leaving it up to the 'market'. Something that makes arguing with her a pain in the ass."

  I nodded. "Tell her to be careful. If I leave and come back to find that you all have allowed something insane I will wipe her out. No slavery or anything like that. No selling body parts."

  The look on her face was much more strained at that but she didn't say anything. "Alright, I will do that." She got to her feet and started toward the door. "Are you planning on leaving again?"

  I paused for a moment and really considered it. "I don't think so. I am probably going to focus on arrays for the next week or two. After that, I don't know. If the Herald starts to act or if anyone finds him I will go after him. If not then I might do something different. I still don't know if there will be a second stage of the Road of King's Quest. Since this last one didn't name me ruler of Earth I have to assume there will be at least one."

  She nodded and looked at Trey. "Come on. We are heading out to do some training underground and it would be good to boost your level."

  "Alright, we still have to go out together!" He shouted back as they left the room. I stared at the doorway for a few moments before I laughed.

  "Your little cub has grown. He should be able to hold his own more often now."

  I glanced over at Xerxes and shrugged. "You are probably right. I just don't know if I wanted to drag him along. Our fights are getting worse. If the trend continues he won't be able to keep up."

  Xerxes growled and then lowered his head. "He could die here if he encounters a bad monster or gets stabbed in the back. At least that way you would be present to look after him."

  That made me grin. "Am I to assume that you wouldn't look after him?" His irritated snort only made me laugh harder. "For now it doesn't matter but I will give him the chance. His level has brought him into the top ten so he isn't weak. Not really. Do you know what you want to do for these next few days?"

  "I will hunt with the cub. I would like to see how well he can fight and if he will be useful."