⌈Cultivator Summoning Altar progress:

Resources: Large stone x1, Offering Bowl x1, Summoning Formation x1

Builders: Sect Core⌋

"Almost there," I said. "Now we just need the Summoning Formation. Uh, how do we get one?"

<We make it,> she corrected, <with materials and qi. I'm not at all sure how you're going to manage to activate the formation but for now->

A loud growl interrupted her. The fairy whipped her hand around, her hands catching on fire.

<What's going on?> she asked. <I hadn't sensed any other beasts beside the monkey!>

"Oh...it's not a beast," I told her. "It's my stomach..." I hugged my stomach, gritting my teeth at the pangs of hunger that resonated within. The biting emptiness ate at me, begging for something to fill it, but I hadn't anything to give. My stomach growled in misery, twisting and turning in despair.

The fairy cringed back. <Mortals and their need for material sustenance!>

"I wouldn't be here if-"

<Yes, yes, I know, no need to complain again.>

I sat down, a sudden bout of weakness overtaking my will to push on. I'm surprised I lasted this long, honestly. Back on Earth, I couldn't go more than two hours without hunting for a snack.

Nun hopped-limped over to me. I thought he was going to give me some brotherly-comfort, but he just patted his stomach and pointed at his mouth.

I scowled at the monkey. "Don't you think I would share if I had food?"

He shrugged.

Scoffing, I said, "Part of the contract states that you have to collect food, you know." I pointed toward the treeline. "Don't you think you should get on that, Nun?"

He growled and slapped my arm. That hit hurt. Tell me again why creatures smaller than me are so much stronger. Oh, that's right: cultivation. What a cop-out!

"None of that now! You agreed to the contract; it's time to do your part."

When the fairy snapped at him, I didn't have to try to convince him further. He jumped and scampered toward the forest. My heart squeezed when I saw the Stationary Ent on the edge of the treeline shift, but the monkey nimbly avoided the tree and disappeared into the dense woods.

"I hope he'll be alright," I mumbled.

<Enough about the monkey! You need to learn about how to make a summoning formation.>

Ugh, right. I gotta get back to work. I motioned for her to continue.

<Okay, the first thing you need to know about is the materials. Depending on what you're trying to summon, you could use the blood of the innocent, the bodies of virgins, and->

"I'm 99.9% sure we are not going to be making a formation that needs those things," I interrupted, shivers crawling up my spin. "Can we just get to the part that affects me?"

She pouted. <But that stuff's important! You never know what you could need in the future->

"I'm good."

<Fine. I'll get back to the summoning formation that you'd need here. I've never seen a formation that summons cultivators, so I'm not exactly sure what you'd need. But when you don't know, there are always three things that can make up for the lack of proper materials: chalk, qi-infused paint, and ash.>

"Well, we don't have any of those," I huffed.

<Not exactly,> she said with a smile.