Cave Refuge

Clear spring water gushed ceaselessly from the depths of the earth, scattering and falling a meter above the water, but no matter how much sprang from the earth, the level of the water pool always remained the same, not a drop overflowed.

Following the appearance of the Spiritual Spring, Dong Tianyu noticed changes in the cave mansion. If it felt no different from the outside world before, now being in the mansion brought an unconscious sense of pleasure.

This feeling was like lounging on a sofa alone after a hearty meal at night, with no muddled thoughts and enjoying leisurely television, feeling extremely relaxed and content.

This feeling wouldn't make one addicted, but each time it occurred, it stirred a nostalgia within, a comfort beyond words.

Dong Tianyu perceived a sense of satiety from various parts of his body. It turns out that not only does the stomach feel full after eating, but other cells of the body also give feedback when they are full.

"Ding~The energy activity in the cave mansion has risen to the minimum standard. The construction option for the mystic side of the cave mansion has been unlocked."

Hearing the system's prompt, Dong Tianyu finally realized why he felt something was missing constantly — his cave mansion was lacking in energy.

Magic Tower: A prerequisite building for magical cultivation. After construction, it unlocks the system for magic power cultivation.

Corrupt Pool: A prerequisite building for corrupt energy cultivation. After construction, it unlocks the corrupt energy cultivation system.

Arena: A prerequisite building for martial cultivation. After construction, it unlocks the inner power cultivation system.

Hall of Longevity: A prerequisite building for cultivation. After construction, it unlocks the spirit power cultivation system.

Temple of Truth: A prerequisite building for alchemy cultivation. After construction, it unlocks the alchemy cultivation system.

...,

Over a hundred of various prerequisite buildings, each corresponding to different unique contents.

For the magic side of things, there is the Magic Tower corresponding to all aspects of magic, and those corresponding to a specific series, such as the Flame Hall of the Fire series.

Although the details cannot be seen before construction, Dong Tianyu pretty much knows the difference between general and specific from reading numerous web novels.

If one had a clear goal, they'd definitely choose specialized buildings. However, choosing these for cultivation may lead to certain disadvantages.

How to choose would depend on the true desires of each person. If Dong Tianyu was belligerent, he would definitely choose a specialized building, which could enhance his combat abilities in no time.

But what Dong Tianyu wanted now was merely to stay alive and if things could be better, to live comfortably.

Hence, Dong Tianyu dropped the idea of choosing specialized buildings. The number of available choices was dwindling.

As such ideas appeared in Dong Tianyu's mind, the introduction of the remaining buildings on the interface was also changing.

Cultivating Magic Power: Mastery over one magic equates to using any magic.

Cultivating True Essence: A sword strike opens the door of heaven, a cut annihilates the past.

Cultivating Spirit Power: Swallow a golden elixir to rejuvenate, life is determined by oneself, not by destiny.

Cultivating Deconstruction: All things have prices, all things can be exchanged.

...,

There is no hierarchy in the ways of cultivation; even the true energy cultivated through martial arts, imprinted in Dong Tianyu's mind, is neither superior nor inferior to the cultivation of spirit power.

Martial arts cultivated to the extreme can also shatter the void like cultivating immortality to overcome tribulations and establish an empire.

Moreover, compared to other cultivation methods, martial arts in the early stages can relatively easy obtain strong combat abilities, and is also quite balanced in terms of offense and defense.

So, to sum up.

Dong Tianyu decisively chose the cultivation system, after all, compared to embodying the martial spirit, who could resist flying with the sword like an immortal?

In fact, there is no exclusivity in opening the prerequisite buildings for various cultivation methods. If Dong Tianyu willed it, as long as the cave mansion had sufficient space, Dong Tianyu could construct all the prerequisite buildings.

However, apart from the construction of the first prerequisite building being free, one would need a significant amount of survival points for any subsequent ones unless the corresponding legacy items were found.

Of course, such substantial expenditure would be considered only when survival points are in excess; the most crucial task at present is to construct the Hall of Longevity.

As he confirmed the construction spot in his mind, a bamboo house appeared beside the prefab where Dong Tianyu slept. Dong Tianyu hurried to inspect the information on the Hall of Longevity.

Hall of Longevity (Elementary): Transmit Skill (Qi Drawing Art), Spirit Gathering Array (Improves cultivation speed), Clear Mind (Reduces the chance of demonic deviation).

Upgrade conditions: Somebody in the hall reaches the Foundation Building Stage, 2000 survival points.

Seeing the upgrade conditions, Dong Tianyu felt they were not particularly challenging. After walking into the Hall of Longevity, he found that there was only one room. In the Yin Yang eyes of the Eight Diagrams pattern on the floor, two meditation cushions were placed.

Given the conditions inside, Dong Tianyu surmised that the current Hall of Longevity could support only two people cultivating at the same time.

However, he was the only one residing in the Refuge Center at present, so this restriction was not presently an issue.

Since he was already inside, Dong Tianyu, without further ado, sat on the Yang Eye meditation cushion, eager to try his hand at cultivation.

As Dong Tianyu calmed himself on the cushion, a warm flow slowly yet firmly flowed from his heart, moving bit by bit along his meridian.

Though the system didn't provide specific prompts, Dong Tianyu inexplicably knew many things.

The pathway the inner warmth took was the practice of Qi Drawing Art.

Qi Drawing Art is a fundamental cultivation method leading straight to the Foundation Building Stage. With no particular bias, this method allows for transitioning to other methods after reaching the Foundation Building Stage.

This is the advantage of Qi Drawing Art, but of course, it has its disadvantages.

The cultivation speed of Qi Drawing Art is mediocre, and its rank among equivalent cultivation methods is on the lower end.

After cultivation, apart from a slight enhancement in physical fitness, there were no handy combat methods.

However, its ability to enhance physical fitness, even though not as effective as equivalent martial arts methods, was a win in terms of being relaxed and simple, and didn't require as much hard work as training martial arts methods.

Upon the completion of a big cycle of spirit energy flow inside the body, the warmth rested in the Dantian region in the belly. This easy "cultivating when online" session was finished.

Upon opening his eyes, a sour stench hit his nostrils.

Dong Tianyu raised his arm. His body did not expel the black residues from the pores like in novels during the Meridian Cleansing Process.

At this time, Dong Tianyu felt his body slightly sticky as though after a heavy workout when the body secretes a large amount of sweat.

"Sure enough, the decision to steer clear of martial arts was correct. Now I can relax, cultivating while exercising my body at the same time. How comfortable!"

He got up, left the Hall of Longevity, and while thinking about his wonderful future life, he fetched water and washed himself on the platform outside the Refuge Center.

After refurbishment, the facilities in the Refuge Center were, in fact, already quite advanced. The only thing Dong Tianyu hadn't figured out how to change was the disposal of waste.

Dong Tianyu's initial thought was to dump the waste right outside the platform after accumulating a bit of it.

The road up the mountain connected to the left side of the platform outside the Refuge Center. Dong Tianyu planned to toss the waste to the right. Now, with the calamity already here, it was not the time to consider whether this was good for the environment.