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Eshmund awoke early, feeling the slight fatigue from yesterday’s efforts, but rather than exhaustion, there was a quiet satisfaction in it. His muscles carried a faint heaviness – not from combat or rigorous training, but from the simple act of settling into his new space. He had spent the previous night unpacking and reorganizing his living quarters, making the room feel less like a temporary shelter and more like his own. The simple wooden bed, desk, and shelves had been arranged until they felt just right, creating a sense of order and familiarity. This place would be his home for the foreseeable future, and he preferred to start off on the right foot. There was something oddly enjoyable about the process – wiping down wooden surfaces, sweeping the floor, and carefully sorting through his belongings. It gave him time to think, to process the fact that he was truly here, beginning a new chapter of his life. Excitement hummed beneath the surface, tempered only by his natural inclination for discipline. Even with the late-night efforts, his internal clock remained unchanged. Waking early was second nature to him, a habit ingrained through years of routine. As the first light of dawn filtered through the wooden shutters, he stretched, already eager to start the day. His stomach soon reminded him of one unfinished detail from the night before – the kitchen. While the dwelling was well-equipped, it lacked ingredients beyond uncooked rice and a handful of basic spices. He had noted it during his organizing, making a mental note to stock up later. For now, cooking wasn’t an option. He could have gone to the sect’s diner – he had been provided with a small number of free contribution points, enough to exchange for a decent meal – but he figured it would take too much time. It wasn’t that he was in a rush, but he preferred to start his work at the herb garden early. There was something satisfying about getting things done efficiently. He would head to the diner later, after finishing his daily tasks. With a deep breath, he reached for his storage pouch and retrieved a meal – one prepared by his grandmother, Leila. The pouch’s preservation enchantment kept it as fresh as the day she had made it. As he took the first bite, the familiar taste brought a smile to his face. It wasn’t just food; it was a reminder of home, a small piece of the past accompanying him into the future. As he finished his meal, his mind was already turning toward the day’s tasks. A fresh start awaited him, and he was ready to embrace it. With Muhsan’s note in hand, he set off toward the herb garden, the crisp morning air carrying the scent of dew-covered foliage. As he entered the garden, the sight of countless magical plants greeted him. Some glowed faintly with residual energy, others exuded strange aromas, each species cultivated for alchemical, medicinal, or ritualistic purposes. He moved methodically, watering the plants as instructed, checking for signs of pests, and ensuring that each specimen remained healthy. His hands brushed over leaves and stems, feeling the subtle hum of energy that pulsed within some of the rarer species.

On each of the raised beds where the herbs were growing, there were multiple stone pillar cylinders, and on top of them, energy nodes emitting a dim light. Eshmund stood on his toes to see what was on top of the pillars, confirming that the tops were flat, with intricate rune patterns etched into the surface. In the center of each pattern was a spirit stone. Eshmund figured these stones provided additional elemental energy to the garden, helping the plants grow healthy. This was a magical spirit garden, after all. Thanks to his grandfather’s teachings and the many medicinal books he had read, Eshmund recognized most of the herbs in the garden. Since he had left Sage, the AI from the SB system, running in RPG mode, each time he scrutinized a plant, information about it appeared before his eyes. This made his work easier, allowing him to verify each species quickly and efficiently. Additionally, Sage provided suggestions on plant care, displaying data on mineral deficiencies and optimizations needed for each plant to thrive. However, not all plants were fully identified. Occasionally, Sage displayed incomplete information, replacing the name with “???????” while offering fragmented details such as “This plant belongs to the Atractylodes family” or “Main mineral component ?????.” This ambiguity reminded Eshmund of the limitations of the system and the knowledge gaps that still existed. Some plants resisted easy classification, requiring hands-on experience and deeper study beyond the digital readouts. It made sense, since some of these plants didn’t exist on Earth, and their data wasn’t in the system’s database. “Sage, why is there unidentified mineral data for the herb’s mineral component?” Eshmund asked. “There seems to be unknown minerals in this world that differ from our Earth, and I don’t know how to name or classify them,” Sage responded. “It seems not only the plants but some minerals are also unknown,” Eshmund thought aloud. He soon noticed a pattern. Whenever he cross-referenced the unidentified plants with Muhsan’s notes, Sage’s data became more abundant. More details surfaced, revealing growth habits, medicinal uses, and even historical anecdotes about the plant’s significance. Sage’s learning ability was truly impressive. It seemed as though the system was learning alongside him, filling in the gaps based on external confirmation. The realization intrigued him – if he systematically matched every unknown plant with recorded knowledge, he might be able to refine Sage’s database even further. “It seems we need to go to the Grand Library later. These can’t stay as question marks forever. For now, just assign them random alphanumeric IDs. For the plants, use the family name if it’s known, and attach the ID after it. If it’s unknown, just name it whatever, use your creativity. We’ll try to fix it later.” “Okay, should I do the same for the minerals too?” Sage asked. “Yeah, use the normal practice – relate it to similar minerals that exist and attach an ID behind it. For example, Calcite-X or Carbon12-X… these question marks hurt my eyes,” Eshmund complained. “Right, I’ll give them some nice names,” Sage replied. The AI seemed to be evolving in its speech patterns. It used to sound more robotic, often using formal language, but now it was becoming more human-like. As he examined the garden, he identified a few familiar herbs: White Peony Root Known for its calming properties, it helps with anxiety and depression. Honeysuckle Flower Often used in relaxing aromatherapy treatments. Fragrant Angelica Root Opens up nasal passages and reduces tension in the head, neck, and shoulders, along with general body aches. Whenever he lingered on a particular plant, Sage would overlay recommendations: a certain plant lacked phosphorus and needed nutrient-rich soil, while another required more shade to prevent leaf scorching. This feature allowed him to make real-time adjustments, ensuring the health and vitality of the garden. Following the checklist, he confirmed that all the necessary herbs for this month’s alchemical quota were present and thriving. A small sense of accomplishment settled in his chest. No issues. That meant one less thing to worry about. Once the work was done, he decided to exercise. Running a few laps around the garden helped wake his body fully, shaking off the sluggishness of the morning. The rhythmic pounding of his feet against the earth was grounding, a reminder of the physicality he had to maintain despite his unique condition. As he ran, he noticed a patch of land at the end of the garden where no herbs had been planted – just a small, empty space covered in grass, about 50 square meters. It seemed like an ideal spot. Slowing to a stop, he stepped onto the patch and took a deep breath. The teachings of his grandfather, Tasan, surfaced in his mind. The martial exercises he had learned were not named techniques or forms but rather a collection of movements designed for improving strength, flexibility, and overall health. He assumed a stance and began moving through them – fluid, controlled, each motion precise. The air around him stirred as his body followed the disciplined patterns ingrained in him since childhood. Here, surrounded by the scents of earth and magic, he found a sense of focus, of familiarity, even in this strange new place. As Eshmund moved through the motions, he felt the subtle resistance in his muscles, a reminder that his body was still adapting. He could feel the conditioner nanobot enhancements working, but the process was far from complete. His limbs lacked the explosive power he was accustomed to in his past life, and each movement demanded more effort than he expected. Still, he persisted. The early morning air was crisp against his skin, carrying the scent of damp soil and the faint sweetness of honeysuckle. He transitioned from basic stretches into controlled strikes – palm thrusts, sweeping arcs of his arms, and slow, deliberate kicks. His breathing deepened, falling into an instinctive rhythm. Each motion was calculated, not for combat but for reinforcement, strengthening his body’s foundation. When the body enhancement was complete, he would no longer need to do such exercises. A notification from Sage flickered in his vision. [Physical Endurance: Slightly Increased] [Muscle Efficiency: Adjusting to current activity level] Eshmund smirked faintly. It was working, albeit slowly. As he prepared to move into another round of exercises, a voice interrupted his focus. “You’re up early. How’s the garden?” came a deep, measured voice. Eshmund turned and immediately recognized who it was. “Ah, Teacher Muhsan,” he said, cupping his hands and offering a slight bow. “My grandpa trained me to work out in the morning. He used to beat me up for it, so I’m pretty used to it,” Eshmund added with a grin, glancing over his shoulder at the man standing at the edge of the garden. Muhsan chuckled, clearly understanding the jest. “The herbs are in good condition, but some could use improvement. That Lamb’s Quarters over there – the leaves are scorching. It needs a bit of shade, and it’s lacking phosphorus. The soil in the raised bed also needs fertilizing” Eshmund reported. “About that, I forgot to give this to you yesterday.” Muhsan handed Eshmund a silver token. “This is the herb garden token. You can use the contribution points on it to exchange for things you need for the garden – fertilizer, spirit stones, and other supplies. Just present it to any shop or department in the sect. If the points run out, come to me or anyone from the Alchemist Hall, and they’ll top it up. I trust you won’t misuse it,” he added with a stern but friendly reminder. “Thanks,” Eshmund said, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He had been wondering how he was going to secure the materials for the garden, and Muhsan had come through just in time. “Actually, I came to tell you about this empty spot.” Muhsan gestured to the unused patch of land nearby. “I already gained permission from Elder Qiyang. You can use this space however you like – perhaps for experiments or something similar – as long as it doesn’t endanger the garden. But just so you know, the expenses will have to come from your own pocket,” he explained. “I understand,” Eshmund said with a nod. “Regarding your martial arts lessons – you already have a solid foundation, so there’s no need for you to relearn the basics with the other students,” Muhsan continued. “Just keep up the exercises you were doing earlier every morning. At this time each day, you’ll train under me, right here in this empty patch.” “As for the afternoons, I’ll leave them for you to manage. I trust you won’t waste the time.” “Thank you, Teacher.” Eshmund cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. “Good. I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow morning at this time,” Muhsan said. With that, he retrieved his flying tool and soared into the distance. After Muhsan left, Eshmund returned to the little house, heading straight to the kitchen to make himself some tea. He let it cool down slightly as he gazed at the herb garden, his mind filled with ideas for improvement and his next steps. “Sage, where are we with the system?” he asked. “Currently, power is at 82%,” Sage responded. “At this rate, normal operations can be maintained for approximately a year and a half.” “For every 1,000 new units of spy bots or conditioner nanobots produced, approximately 10% of power will be consumed.” “Energy seeker nanobots, however, will consume double that amount due to their more complex components.” “Currently, 9,874 out of 10,000 spy bots are active, collecting samples across the sect for the body enhancement fix. So far, 30 samples have been gathered, but we still need around 500 more to ensure accuracy. Additionally, 126 spy bots sustained damage and are undergoing self-repair in the repair chamber.” “All 10,000 conditioner nanobots are idle within your body and cannot be mobilized at this time.” “As for the energy seeker bots, 6,118 out of 10,000 are actively gathering and converting elemental energy to replenish the battery. Meanwhile, 3,700 are undergoing self-repair inside the repair chamber, and the remaining units are repairing themselves externally.” “So many are in self-repair… Why is that?” Eshmund asked. “It was unexpected. I apologize,” Sage replied. “The bots were damaged when passing through the herb garden’s magical formation. Since the energy seeker bots contain elemental energy, the formation treated them as intruders and attacked. We have no prior experience with such energy fields. However, most bots only suffered minor damage and should be fully operational in about 40 minutes.” “I see,” Eshmund muttered. It seemed that sending energy seeker bots through the formation was too risky. He needed to create a generator soon so the bots wouldn’t have to travel far to collect energy. They were like bees gathering nectar – returning to their hive, the battery, to store their harvest. As he recalled the spirit stones placed atop the stone pillar inside the herb garden, an idea began forming in his mind. “Maybe I can set up something similar to generate energy for the battery Or I could construct a hydro-powered generator at the creek,” he mused. “First, I need to visit the library. Once I have more information, I can determine the best course of action.”

“Alchemist Department, Herb Garden. Alright, this token grants you access up to the fifth level,” the guard said after inspecting Eshmund’s token. Eshmund didn’t plan to stay long – he was only here as an excuse to deploy his minions, the spy bots. “Sage, assign half of the spy bots to scan every book. Avoid energy fields and formations if you encounter them, it’s too risky.” “We don’t know how many books are in here. Should I prioritize anything related to elemental energy?” Sage suggested. “Yes. Prioritize Formation, Talismans, Runes, Magic Circles, and Artifact Crafting – then move on to the rest.” As Eshmund moved around, he noticed that most of the people on the first level were around his age. “The seniors probably don’t need books from this level anymore,” he thought. Wandering into the History section, he picked up a book with several maps inside. “Shouldn’t this be in the Geography section?” he muttered. Flipping through the pages, he found a detailed map of the Red Velvet Kingdom and its surrounding territories.

Eshmund traced the map with his finger, taking note of key locations – major cities, rivers, and mountain ranges. While he didn’t have any immediate plans to leave the sect, understanding the world’s geography was always useful. “Sage, store the map details. Cross-reference it with any additional maps we find.” “Understood. Data stored.” “Since cultivators can fly, this map should be fairly accurate,” Eshmund thought. Right now, with only a limited number of spy bots at his disposal, he had to prioritize more immediate concerns. Exploring the world would have to wait. First, he needed to solve the energy source issue for the System. Once that was settled, he could mass-produce the bots automatically – then nothing would stop him from mapping and scanning the entire world. Eshmund closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. Just then, he noticed a few students glancing in his direction. They weren’t hostile, but their curiosity was obvious. “Maybe they’re wondering who I am,” he thought. After all, he had only recently joined the sect. Not wanting to draw too much attention, he moved toward the Formation section. He skimmed through the titles until one caught his eye – Fundamentals of Energy Nodes and Flow Circuits. “This might be useful,” he muttered, pulling it from the shelf and flipping through the pages. It discussed how different materials influenced energy flow, the basics of energy nodes, and the importance of stabilizing circuits. “This could help with the generator idea,” he thought. “Sage, scan this book carefully. If there are diagrams, make sure to get precise copies.” “Understood. Data processing.” Eshmund glanced around and saw two students about his age in the same section. They looked up when they noticed him browsing the books. “You’re new too, right?” the girl asked. She had short, wavy brown hair and bright green eyes, giving her a sharp and inquisitive look. “Yeah,” Eshmund nodded. “I’m Eshmund. Just joined recently.” “I’m Halita,” she said, offering a small smile. “And this is Teagan.” The boy beside her had short black hair and a serious expression, though he gave Eshmund a polite nod. Both of them looked like westerners, similar to Elder Qiyang. “This world doesn’t seem to have racial or geographical divisions like Earth does,” Eshmund thought. “We just got here a few days ago. We are from the same hometown. You interested in formations too?” “Kind of,” Eshmund admitted. “I was looking for something related to energy flow and circuits.” “Ah, so you’re thinking of practical applications,” Halita said, intrigued. “Most people studying formations here want to become Formation Masters.” Eshmund raised an eyebrow. “So you two are training for that?” Teagan nodded. “Yeah. Unlike martial cultivation, Formation Masters don’t necessarily need a spiritual root. It’s all about understanding patterns, calculations, and energy interactions. Neither of us has a spiritual root, but as long as we master formations, we can still have a good profession.” Eshmund found that interesting. “Looks like we’re in the same boat. I’m taking care of the Herb Garden under the Alchemist Department.” “The Herb Garden? Isn’t that notorious for being a difficult job?” Teagan asked. “Seems like it,” Eshmund replied. “Luckily, everything’s in order for now. I’m still figuring out which classes to take because of my unique circumstances.” Halita grinned. “Great! We just signed up for a beginner’s class on formations, magic circles, and runes. If you’re interested, you could join us.” Eshmund considered it. He did need a better understanding of formations, especially if he wanted to work on his generator and avoid messing with dangerous energy fields. “Sounds like a good idea,” he said. “Let’s go together.” The three of them left the library, heading toward the classroom for new students – unaware that this small decision would set the foundation for future collaborations.