As the owner of the world bead, I couldn't leave my parents without the best possible benefits. They deserved far more than just a luxurious mansion in the Eastern Region.
"Come on, let me show you something else," I said, leading them back inside the mansion.
I guided them to what appeared to be a simple storage closet on the second floor. With a gesture, the back wall shimmered and dissolved, revealing a portal identical to the ones scattered throughout Earth.
"This is your private gateway," I explained. "It leads directly to my Core Palace in the Core Region, where the spiritual energy is strongest. You can use it whenever you want to cultivate or just visit."
Mom touched the portal's edge cautiously. "It's safe?"
"Completely. And it's keyed specifically to our family members. No one else can access it."
We stepped through and returned to my palace's main courtyard.
"The farm has expanded considerably since I first created it," I said, leading them toward the agricultural terraces that stretched beyond the palace walls.
What had started as a simple vegetable garden now covered several acres. Rows of tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and dozens of other vegetables grew in perfect lines, their colors more vibrant than anything found on Earth. Fruit trees dotted the landscape—apple, orange, peach, and varieties that didn't exist outside this realm. Berry bushes clustered in organized groves, heavy with fruit that gleamed like jewels.
"Everything here grows with spiritual energy," I explained, plucking a strawberry and handing it to Mom. "The taste is incredible."
She bit into it, her eyes widening immediately. "Oh my goodness, Ben. This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten."
Dad sampled a peach, juice running down his chin. "It's like every flavor is amplified but perfectly balanced. How is this possible?"
"Just like how cultivators develop superhuman strength from absorbing spiritual energy, plants and animals do the same. These plants have been nourished with spiritual energy, so their fruits are far healthier and tastier."
After they'd explored the farm thoroughly, I transported us back to Sacramento. We emerged from the portal near their house, the familiar suburban neighborhood feeling strangely mundane after the palace's grandeur.
"Christine is staying with Aunt Margaret tonight," Mom said as we walked up their driveway. "She wanted to come, but we thought it was too dangerous."
"Probably wise for her first time," I agreed, though I made a mental note to bring my sister soon.
Inside their house, I selected an unused corner of Dad's workshop in the garage. With careful manipulation of space, I created another hidden portal, this one disguised behind a tool cabinet.
"Your personal entrance," I said. "Now you can cultivate whenever you want without traveling to the public portals."
Dad ran his hands along the cabinet's edge, finding the hidden activation mechanism. "This is incredible, Ben. But why go to all this trouble?"
"Because you're my parents. You deserve the absolute best this realm can offer."
Back in the Core Palace, I spent the evening analyzing their spiritual aptitudes using techniques from Jihasti's knowledge. Dad showed strong earth and metal affinities, perfectly suited to his engineering background. Mom displayed water and wood elements, reflecting her nurturing nature and love of gardening.
I selected cultivation techniques specifically tailored to their strengths. For Dad, the "Mountain Foundation Art" would develop his earth affinity while strengthening his body gradually. For Mom, the "Flowing Garden Technique" would enhance her water and wood elements while providing gentle, steady progress.
I also transferred combat techniques suited to their elements. For Dad, "Stone Fist Method" would let him channel earth vital energy into devastating strikes, while "Metal Edge Palm" could turn his hands sharp as blades. Mom received "Healing Rain" for recovery and support, plus "Vine Binding Art" to restrain opponents without lethal force.
"These should give you options if you ever face danger," I explained, embedding the knowledge directly into their minds through spiritual transmission.
I pulled two storage rings from my personal collection, simple black bands with ten foot internal spaces.
"These are storage rings," I explained, holding them up. "They contain pocket dimensions inside. Non-living items only."
Mom examined hers curiously while Dad tested the weight.
"To bind them, you need to feed the ring a drop of your blood." I retrieved a lancet from my pocket. "Just like diabetics use."
Dad went first, pricking his finger without hesitation. The drop of blood vanished into the metal, and the ring pulsed with faint light before settling.
Mom followed suit, wincing slightly at the prick.
I retrieved two crystalline bottles from my personal storage ring, each containing a set of six crimson pill.
"Foundation Building Pills," I explained. "They'll improve your cultivation foundation. Take one pill every day for six days. There are minor side effects—some impurities will sweat out from your skin, and you'll feel younger and more energetic."
Dad examined his pill, rolling it between his fingers. "Should we wait?"
"Take them now. They digest normally, no meditation required."
They swallowed the pills simultaneously. Mom gasped first.
"It's warm," she said, pressing her hand to her stomach.
"That's the spiritual energy restructuring your foundation," I said.
"We should go pick up Christine," Mom said, glancing at the clock. "Margaret's probably wondering when we'll be back."
"Good idea," I agreed. "I'd like to see her anyway. It's been too long."
Dad grabbed his keys. "She's going to be shocked to see you, Ben. Last time we talked to her about you, she was worried sick after hearing about those layoffs in the tech sector."
The drive to Aunt Margaret's house took twenty minutes through familiar Sacramento suburbs. I found myself studying the ordinary houses and perfectly manicured lawns with new eyes. Everything seemed so small and constrained compared to the vast landscapes of the world bead.
"Remember," I said as we pulled into the driveway, "as far as Christine knows, I'm just another cultivator who got lucky with the portals. I don't want her thinking I'm some kind of divine being."
"Your secret's safe with us," Mom assured me.
Aunt Margaret answered the door, her face lighting up when she saw me. "Ben! What a wonderful surprise. Christine will be thrilled."
"Where is the little troublemaker?" I asked, stepping inside.
"Living room, working on some robotics project for school. She's been at it for hours."
I found Christine hunched over the coffee table, surrounded by circuit boards, wires, and what looked like the skeleton of a small robot. Her dark hair fell across her face as she concentrated on soldering a connection.
"Hey, stranger."
She looked up, her eyes widening. "Ben?" The soldering iron clattered onto the table as she jumped up and threw her arms around me. "What are you doing here? Mom said you were dealing with work stuff."
"Work situation got resolved," I said, hugging her back. She'd grown taller since I'd last seen her, nearly reaching my shoulder now. "What's this masterpiece you're building?"
"Competition robot for regionals. It's supposed to navigate a maze and collect objects." She gestured at the mechanical frame. "But the sensor array keeps giving me trouble."
I examined her work, impressed by the clean wiring and thoughtful component placement. "This is really sophisticated, Christine. You've gotten much better at this."
"Thanks. I've been watching a lot of online tutorials." She paused, studying my face. "You look different somehow. More... I don't know, confident?"
"I've been working out more," I said, which wasn't entirely a lie. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something interesting that's been happening."
"You mean those weird portals everyone's talking about? Mom and Dad went to check one out today. They said it was some kind of cultivation thing?"
"That's right. I've actually been through one myself."
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Really? What was it like? The news reports are so vague."
"It's incredible, Christine. There's this whole other realm where people can develop supernatural abilities. I've been learning to cultivate spiritual energy."
"No way. Show me something!"
I glanced around, then picked up a metal washer from her parts bin. With brute strength, I bent the washer into a perfect spiral.
Christine's jaw dropped. "Holy crap, Ben. That's amazing!"
"Language," Mom called from the kitchen, though I could hear the smile in her voice.
"How long have you been doing this?" Christine asked, examining the twisted metal.
"Just a few weeks. I got lucky and earned a lot of merit points early on by hunting some of the weaker spiritual beasts in the outer areas."
"Merit points?"
"Merit points are like currency there. You earn them through cultivation progress and helping other people. I managed to accumulate enough to rent a really nice place and access better training resources."
Christine bounced on her toes, excitement radiating from her. "Can I go? Please? I want to see this place."
I looked at Mom and Dad, who had joined us in the living room. "What do you think? She's fifteen now."
"I suppose," Mom said slowly. "If you promise to stay close to us."
"I promise! This is going to be so cool!"
Mom looked over at Margaret, who was watching our conversation with amused interest. "How about you? Are you interested in coming?"
Margaret laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Forget it, I'm too old for those things."
"Come on, Margaret," Mom pressed. "It's not dangerous. Ben's been there for weeks, and look how well he's doing."
"Linda, I'm sixty-eight years old. I have no business running around some mystical realm trying to develop supernatural powers. That's for young people like Ben and Christine."
"Age doesn't matter for cultivation," I said. "I've seen people in their seventies making good progress."
Margaret shook her head firmly. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm perfectly content with my book club and garden. You all go have your adventure."
Finally, seeing Margaret wouldn't budge, I pulled a crystalline bottle from my storage ring and pressed it into her palm.
"Foundation Building Pills," I explained. "It'll strengthen your body and extend your lifespan, even if you never cultivate. Just swallow them once a day for the next six days."
Margaret examined the crimson pills skeptically. "Ben, I don't need—"
"Please. For Mom's peace of mind."
She sighed, popping a pill into her mouth. Her eyes widened as warmth spread through her chest.
Mom tried for another ten minutes, but Margaret remained unmoved. Eventually we gathered Christine's things and headed for the Sacramento portal.
The pillar of light was visible from blocks away, drawing crowds of curious onlookers and news crews. Police barriers kept the area organized, but the atmosphere buzzed with excitement rather than fear.
"This is it?" Christine asked, staring up at the brilliant beacon. "It's beautiful."
"Wait until you see what's on the other side."
We approached the portal, and I watched Christine's face as she got her first glimpse of the Eastern Region. Her eyes went wide as the knowledge of cultivation flooded her mind.
"Whoa," she breathed, stumbling slightly as the information settled. "That was intense."
"Everyone gets that download," I explained. "It's basic cultivation knowledge so newcomers aren't completely lost."
I guided them toward the American monument, pointing out various features as we walked. "Those are the residential districts, that's the commercial area where people trade goods and services, and up ahead is American City itself."
Christine's head swiveled constantly, trying to take in everything at once. "The architecture is incredible. How did they build all this so fast?"
"The Eastern Region God has some impressive abilities," I said, which was technically true. "He can manipulate the landscape itself."
As we entered the city proper, Christine gasped at the obsidian buildings stretching into the sky. "It's like something out of a science fiction movie."
I replayed my early tour, showing her the commercial district, the restaurants, and the various amenities. Her excitement was infectious, making the familiar sights feel fresh again through her eyes.
"And this is where we're staying," I said, approaching our mansion.
Christine stopped dead in her tracks. "We're staying here? Ben, this place is massive!"
"Merit points go pretty far when you know how to earn them," I said, leading them inside.
After showing her the mansion's features, we slipped away to the secret portal. Christine's amazement reached new heights when we emerged in the Core Palace courtyard.
"This is your friend's place?" she asked, spinning in circles to take in the elaborate architecture.
"Something like that. He lets me use it for cultivation since I helped him with some early projects."
I analyzed her spiritual aptitude while she explored, finding a strong lightning affinity that perfectly matched her energetic personality. The "Thunder Phoenix Art" would suit her perfectly.
I also found "Lightning Step" for enhanced movement, "Thunder Palm Strike" for offensive techniques, and "Storm Body Refinement," a technique for absorbing electricity to further refine her body.
"These are all techniques that suit your lightning affinity," I explained as the knowledge was transferred directly into her mind.
Christine's eyes lit up as the techniques settled into place. "Oh wow!"
I reached into my own storage ring and pulled out another black band, identical to the ones I'd given our parents.
"This is a storage ring," I explained, holding it up for Christine to examine. "It contains a pocket dimension inside where you can store non-living items."
"No way!" Christine snatched it from my hand, examining it from every angle. "An actual cultivator storage ring! This is like something straight out of a novel!"
She slipped it onto her finger, admiring how it looked against her skin.
"Not quite functional yet," I said, retrieving the lancet from my pocket. "You need to bind it with your blood first."
Christine didn't hesitate, pricking her finger without flinching. The drop of blood vanished into the metal, and the ring pulsed with soft light.
"Whoa," she breathed, feeling the connection settle into place. "I can sense the space inside. It's amazing!"
I led Christine through the palace grounds toward the expansive farm terraces.
"You're going to love this part," I said, guiding her past rows of vibrant vegetables.
We stopped at an apple tree heavy with fruit that gleamed like polished rubies. I plucked one and handed it to her.
"Try it."
She bit into the apple, and her eyes went wide.
"Oh my god, Ben. This is incredible!"
"Everything here grows with spiritual energy. Makes regular Earth produce taste like cardboard in comparison."
As she devoured three more apples, I remembered to distribute merit points to all of them. "Here, you'll each need these for expenses and opportunities."
I transferred several thousand merit points to each of their identity tokens, enough to keep them comfortable for months.
"Ben, this is too generous," Dad protested.
"My early access gave me some significant bonuses in earning merit points," I explained. "I want to make sure you all have everything you need to succeed here."
Christine hugged me tightly. "Thank you for bringing me here. This is the best day ever."
As we returned to the mansion that evening, I checked the progress of the portal anchors across Earth. The bright pillars of light had spread throughout most of the western United States, with new ones appearing every few hours in cities like Denver, and Seattle. The eastern seaboard remained untouched for now.
"It'll be at least another week before the portals reach Tyler in Boston," I told my parents as we settled in the mansion's living room. "But they're starting to cross into Mexico now."
Christine looked up from examining her identity token. "Are you going to put Mexican people in American City too?"
"That's the plan for now. Mexico and Canada will both connect to American City since we're all part of North America. But I'm thinking the other continents need their own spaces."
I pulled up a mental map of the Eastern Region, considering the logistics. Thousands of new cultivators were arriving daily, and the numbers would explode once the portals reached major population centers like Mexico City, Tokyo, and Mumbai.
"I need to create separate cities for the major regions," I said, more to myself than to them. "Africa, Russia, China, Brazil, Germany. Then smaller countries can be grouped geographically with their neighbors."
Dad nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense from an organizational standpoint. Different languages, cultures, governing systems."
"Exactly. Plus it prevents any one city from becoming impossibly overcrowded."
I excused myself and position myself floating high above the Eastern Region, where I began the massive construction project. Using the same obsidian architecture as American City, I erected five new metropolises across the Eastern Region. Each city sprawled across nearly a hundred miles, identical in design but positioned with significant distance between them to prevent territorial conflicts.
The African City rose from red earth near a vast savanna, its black towers reflecting the setting sun. Russian City emerged from a pine forest, with the dual moons casting shadows through the towering spires. Chinese City materialized beside a majestic mountain range, its geometric patterns seeming to echo ancient architectural principles. Brazilian City bloomed near a tropical coastline, while German City established itself in rolling hills reminiscent of the European countryside.
Each city required its own monument plaza for portal connections, complete with the same flowering obsidian pillars and hovering white spheres that marked American City. I spent hours perfecting the details, ensuring each location could handle millions of future residents.
The final touch was creating intercity portals, allowing instant travel between the different cultural centers. These appeared as smaller archways in each city's central plaza, marked with symbols indicating their destinations.
For now, the new cities stood empty, their pristine streets and vacant buildings waiting for the portal anchors to reach their intended populations. But when that time came, humanity would have organized spaces to begin their cultivation journeys without the chaos of everyone crowding into a single location.
The infrastructure was ready. Now I just had to wait for Earth's population to discover it.