Zairon sat back in his quarters, the weight of his ambition heavy on his mind. His eyes lingered over the map of his expanding empire, but his thoughts were elsewhere—focused on his next big challenge: reaching S rank. He had already achieved A rank, and now he found himself staring at an even greater obstacle.
He checked his status, seeing the daunting requirement to reach S rank: 100 trillion EXP. A number that, even for him, felt insurmountable.
"Hm, what is this?" he muttered under his breath. "How am I supposed to gather this much EXP? Where would I find so many beasts to kill?"
His fingers tapped thoughtfully on the table. The more he thought about it, the more obvious the answer became. The sheer number of beasts needed to accumulate such an enormous amount of experience was unthinkable. But Zairon wasn't one to be discouraged so easily. He had always been good at finding unconventional ways to solve problems.
"Wait…" he mused aloud, sitting upright. His mind flickered back to his previous thoughts about the world of Raur. "There is another way. Another path to cultivation."
The more he reflected, the clearer the idea became. Raur was known for its denser spiritual energy, the very lifeblood of all cultivation. In dungeons, this energy was even more concentrated, especially in higher-ranked dungeons. The stronger the rank of the dungeon, the denser the spiritual energy became, offering immense opportunities for cultivation.
"The key isn't just killing beasts," Zairon realized. "The key is harnessing that concentrated energy to break through at a much faster rate. I can cultivate in these areas, absorbing the energy while simultaneously leveling up my skills and abilities. It's not just about fighting beasts; it's about tapping into the raw spiritual power of Raur itself."
He felt a surge of excitement at the prospect. To accelerate his cultivation, Zairon would have to focus on the densest sources of energy—those that could be found in high-rank dungeons, the ones with the most dangerous beasts and the most concentrated spiritual energy.
"It'll take time," Zairon thought, "but it's possible. The densest energy can be found in S rank dungeons, maybe even higher. If I can cultivate there, my growth could be exponential. And this will also help me lead my army more efficiently, making them stronger and more capable of handling anything that comes their way."
Zairon's thoughts began to take shape into a plan. But for now, the task was clear—he needed to oversee the progress of his cities and make sure they were well managed. He would continue with the expansion plans, but in parallel, he would focus on unlocking more cultivation techniques, exploring more dungeons, and harnessing the power of Raur to break through the limits of his current rank.
"Now that my forces are stronger, I can leave the cities in capable hands. The focus now will be on strengthening myself even further and preparing for the trials ahead."
He let out a small chuckle, the anticipation building. "If I can become an S rank, there will be no limit to what I can achieve. But first… I need to find a way to cultivate in the densest spiritual energy I can find. It's time to level up, not just through combat, but through true cultivation."
Zairon stood up from his chair, his eyes filled with determination. His journey to the top had only just begun.