“Primary cultivation system? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do know I don’t have whatever it is you’re referring to.”

“Yes, you do,” Kyrine said. “I’ve granted you one.”

I furrowed my brow, not sure when or how she’d given me anything. Even so, I did as Kyrine suggested by focusing on my center and thinking about accessing my primary cultivation system.

I felt something spark in my chest and saw before my vision something much like a skill screen that higher level cultivators had access to.

It was incredible. I’d never thought I’d ever have the funds to purchase something like this, and Kyrine had somehow provided me with one, completely for free.

I dismissed the readout of my stats and found that there was a main menu with two options.

I selected the first option—Jeremy Parker—and two sub-options opened up.

The first sub-option—Cast—was available, but the second sub-option—Summon— was grayed-out.

Curious about the second primary option in the main menu, I scrolled back and selected Dungeon (Mansion).

While my personal option had only two sub-options—Cast and Summon—, the Dungeon (Mansion) had three sub-options: Build, Craft, and Summon. All three of these, however, were grayed-out.

When I tried to access them, I was met with something like a mental brick wall.

“Something’s wrong,” I said. “I can’t use my new abilities.”

“The merging remains incomplete,” Kyrine said. “I now understand your fundamental desires, which will be helpful for forming our bond. However, I must understand more in order to bring the process to fulfilment.”

Something flickered in her scarlet eyes. It was a hunger of some kind. It seemed almost sexual, but it could have easily been a different kind of hunger.

Would the end of our merging be sex, or was she going to eat me?

Either one seemed possible, given the look in her eyes.

“I can tell that you’re getting impatient to move this along, but I have another question.” Even though I was stalling, I still had dozens of questions. I spat out the first that came to mind. “How do dungeons cultivate?”

“Much like any other cultivator. You take the mana from the world around you, then transform it into chi which you can then use to empower your body, cast spells, or enchant items. Dungeons, however, feed on expended mana, or—”

“Essence,” I finished for her. “So, dungeons are like magical waste recycling plants?”

Kyrine looked at me quizzically. “I am not familiar with such things. We cleanse the world of corruption. On that note, I must do the same with you.” She gestured to the hot tub.

“I’m going to take a bath?”