Arriving at an area where several roots ran up the walls and covered part of the ceiling, where several semi-transparent bluish stalactites stood, the group came upon a special cultivation area.
There was no fountain there, nor were there any extraordinary resources that would make them stronger quickly. However, how the place was formed and the way the energy and laws of nature flowed through it made this 40-square-meter area a 'natural cultivation room.'
However, this was not a 'cultivation room' in the Spiritual World, but in the powerful and rich Zocarro!
The energy and laws were extremely concentrated in this area, and any being that cultivated or even breathed in this area would benefit!
The fountain where seven of their companions were was probably much more attractive than this place, but this would be the best place for everyone there to use after those fountains.
"This is a good place to cultivate." Said one of the few remaining spiritual experts in the group. "We'll probably be able to get closer to our levels by cultivating here while those seven take advantage of their opportunities."
Minos nodded in agreement. "We can take turns using this area. Half of us can fit in here simultaneously, so we can take turns cultivating here while part of the group attends to other matters in the cave."
It wasn't just these two special areas that the cave had. There were interesting minerals and plants for the group to study and collect, and the professionals there would need time to produce resources and work.
Even though the place wasn't big enough for all of them, it was enough for the group to settle in without any problems.
Minos soon chose those who would start their shifts there, placing Ruth among them and leaving the spiritual professionals and the two remaining robots out of the group for the first shift.
"I want you to study the minerals and plants in this area. Gather what you can, but be careful. Although there doesn't seem to be anything to threaten us here, this is a special place that could react against us depending on the circumstances."
The people agreed and soon moved on to explore this underground area while the robots stayed behind Minos.
"I want you to help our professionals, but there's something here I want to show you." Minos led the way through the area, heading for the last part of it for them to explore.
Arriving at a wall where there was a large white crystal that covered the entire wall and gave off a strong sensation, Minos said. "This is a bit like what's inside your heads, isn't it?"
The stronger of the two robots looked closely at the crystal and noticed the structure of the thing, which emitted a strong energy and singularity.
"Interesting. I'm not saying it's identical to what we have in our essence, but it's very similar." The robot said as he brought one of his metallic hands close to the thing.
When he touched it, he felt his whole system tremble as he confirmed what he had just said.
"What do you think?" Minos asked.
He had studied the nature of alien robots extensively before the war began, but he still couldn't find an explanation for how the robots of the Mechanic Empire were made.
But with his encounter a few moments ago, for the first time in many years, he had come close to understanding what gave life to these metallic creatures.
"It is possible that if we use this, we can create new essences capable of giving life to other robots." The being said as he moved one of his hands away from the crystal. "But we would have to reach the Mechanic Empire. There's no one in our group with the skills of the Mechanical Emperor, so creating robots with that alone will be very difficult.
But this could eventually give birth to robots that are much more advanced and powerful than me, Your Majesty. Moreover, these robots would be utterly loyal to the one who first left his mark on this crystal, you!"
Those robots were under the command of Minos, but if a new Mechanical Emperor who was stronger than him appeared before them, they would immediately switch sides. Not only that, if such a Mechanical Emperor approached them while Minos was away, even if that guy was stronger than the alien in question, he could still lose these robots to his opponent.
But if new robots created from this essence were to join Minos, it would be a completely different matter!
"I see. Can you mine it?" Minos asked.
"It will be difficult to mine this crystal at our current levels, Your Majesty." Said the strongest and oldest robot. "But it is possible for us to take this crystal from here and in the future, when we are stronger, to do what you wish."
"Then do it," Minos ordered. "Try to use the opportunities here to become stronger, but do it before we leave."
With that, he left the two robots alone to work with the large crystal that would be able to create a few dozen robot essences while he returned to the area where Ruth was already meditating.
'Time for me to join you.' He thought as he found a place for himself, planning to meditate for the next few hours until it was time for the group to change shifts.
...
The group would remain in this grotto for the next six months, but none of the seven individuals cultivating in the special springs of the area would leave their places, nor would Maximillian succeed in advancing.
Meanwhile, the robots would finish removing the crystal Minos had ordered them to remove, while the group's spiritual experts would finish collecting and analyzing everything they had managed to take from the cave during that time.
The group hadn't encountered any problems since they began their seclusion there, so they would follow Minos' plans to continue there until their more fortunate allies had finished taking advantage of their opportunities.
That would take some time, so the whole group would eventually be in seclusion there for several months.
Even then, no significant progress would be made in the meantime, as no one in the group would take special pills to speed up their progress.
They wanted to focus on cultivating hard for a while before going back to consuming resources that would facilitate their progress in this world.
So they would stay in that cave for another nine months until the first people came out of those fountains.
With the first to succeed in their special seclusion, new individuals would reach levels 98 and 99. Not only that, the first level 99 Demigod of the group would advance to level 100 since their arrival in Zocarro!
So the weeks following the second level 100 in the group would pass until finally, it would be time for Maximillian to awaken from his state and reach a level never before imagined by beings from the Spiritual World.
Maximilian would be the first native of this world to reach level 101!
