Alex knows Vesa is right.
Even for students of the same method, in a world without an advanced education system, learning how to create formations is very hard.
Most will just give up and instead focus on cultivation.
The nature of Qi is also one of the big reasons it's more volatile and hard to control compared to Mana.
'That means I need to find a way to enter the dungeon without Mom knowing,' he thought.
He knows his Mom, Luca, won't allow it.
'Well, let's think about it later. For now, I should focus more on this cube.'
Alex turned his gaze back to the cube's design.
One of the problems he will face in mass-producing it is the material; he still needs Qi crystals to create the core.
Alex then reached out to MingYue, "MingYue, are you busy?
How is the progress on your side? I need your help to get a constant supply of qi crystals."
Alex asked this since they had already agreed to create their own faction in both worlds, which is also why MingYue started recruiting many villagers, placing them in her secret realm.
Hearing no answer from MingYue made Alex frown; he wondered if something had happened.
After a few moments, MingYue finally replied, "Sorry, I was preoccupied with something else. What did you say before?"
Hearing her cracking soft voice, Alex knew something was wrong.
"What happened, MingYue? Are you sick?"
"Don't joke around, Alex. I am not in a good mood. Is a cultivator getting sick?
You should know better... What do you want?"
Alex chuckled, "How about this: you tell me your problem, then I will tell you what I want."
MingYue frowned. At this point, she was already used to Alex's antics.
With a sigh, she replied, "You are the one who contacted me first; just tell me.
Honestly, are you doing this on purpose to annoy me?"
She then could hear Alex's laughing voice in her mind, making her shake her head.
"I'm asking about the progress on your side.
How is the sect going? Have you been able to carve out your own territory yet?
I need a steady supply of Qi crystals."
Alex then explained the new device he had created and also discussed how the company had progressed.
Through these past few days, Alex has surveyed the building and recruited everyone living there.
He also started renovating part of it.
Alex wants to make both the research center and guild in the same place.
When the old members of Suzaku heard Alex mention a guild, they quickly bombarded him with questions and expressed their intention to join.
They also requested that Alex name the guild Suzaku again.
Alex shrugged it off, telling them it's his sister who will be building the guild; they can go meet up with her.
Those not suitable to join the guild work in the laboratory.
Alex made sure each of them received a decent wage and a suitable position, from security to administrative jobs.
He knew his father treated them like family, and they never betrayed them.
So he could trust them to work for him.
Of course, he only entrusted the most sensitive information to Faerith since she had a slave contract with him.
But Faerith didn't realize this; she thought she was just signing a normal contract.
Alex also shared some plans he had for the hunters' association and his goals after making the storage cube.
As an avid gamer and novel reader, Alex had the idea of creating something similar to a VR game.
He wanted to enclose a secret realm inside a storage cube that would work like a server, where people could enter the world using their souls.
Since the players are not cultivators, Alex could easily control their interaction with the formation.
With this, he could hit many birds with one stone: he would earn money, have his own game, and look for the right candidates to become their people.
Alex excitedly explained how they could use a quest system to filter their personalities, see their true nature and talent from their souls, and many others.
But his ambition didn't stop there; he wanted to use the game to link people from both worlds, integrating their cultures step by step.
Hearing Alex go on and on, painting a future for them, made MingYue forget what just happened.
"You really think too far ahead, Alex. There are too many things we need to achieve before we reach there."
"Well, thinking is free, MingYue, and it provides us with a path and direction, better than being aimless without anywhere to go.
What's the worst that can happen from that?
Even if it fails, I will just need to think of another way to reach it."
If Emily heard what Alex just said, she would laugh her ass off.
How could her introverted brother, who spends all his day only playing games, talk about path and direction?
Even their mom worries about Alex's future. But Alex would just reply with a smug face.
"What do you mean? No goal?
I play all those games with the goal of building up my reputation as the Whale God.
As for the novels? Of course, I do it because of Mom.
Mom helps others by doing many charities, and I buy the author chapters so they can pay their bills."
Luckily, all this didn't happen, otherwise, Emily would probably smack him on the head for that shameless answer.
MingYue doesn't know all this; she admires how Alex can have such a positive outlook on life even after he lost his father.
After some deliberation, she decided to tell Alex what happened; she felt curious about what Alex would do in her position.
Hearing her long story, Alex didn't comment or interrupt her; he listened intently, only giving a few sounds to indicate he was listening.
After she finished, Alex sighed, "If what he says is true, your mom doesn't deserve to be one, Mingyue. But you don't know how much of it is the truth."