[NR] Rosha Informed - Chapter 505

After tossing and turning over the night, Courtney made a decision. They would delay leaving the town one more day. Though the day wouldn’t be spent in NeoRealm.

So, as soon as the others woke up, Courtney informed them of the change in plans. The other two didn’t really mind, as the extra day at the inn wouldn’t cost that much. At that point, the only question was whose private room they would use.

Well, first Courtney had to firmly convince them that they needed to hold the conversation there. Though even that didn’t take much work with only the whole “private rooms should be private” holding the others back. After that, all is straightened out, Jason ends up volunteering his own room since it is nearly default still. It was just a matter of him inviting the others and then everyone appeared in Jason’s private room.

Rosha, “You weren’t joking about it being almost default.”

Jason shrugs, “I don’t spend time here. Why bother making much of it if?”

Rosha rolls her eyes, “And people don’t spend much conscious time in their rooms, yet they still decorate them.”

Jason, “Yeah, didn’t do much there either.”

Rosha, “Eugh, no appreciation for art.”

Jason shakes his head, “I appreciate art well enough, I just prefer to see it in a proper setting. A painting isn’t going to live up to its potential without the proper setting. That’s part of why I don’t like most museums. They just hang the paintings on blank walls and it kills the vibe for me.”

Rosha gestures at the room, “Well, you could have made a good setting here for whatever art you might like. VR, since the start has been about bringing a person’s vision to life.”

Jason shrugs, “Eh, that would get expensive. While you can make anything into reality, it isn’t free.”

Courtney interrupts, “Let’s put this on hold. Rosha has a point that a completely blank room is a bit strange. However, Jason isn’t like us where he can just drop money on making a perfect room.

“All that aside, we should get to the topic at hand. I’ve made a decision and a private room is the only place we can talk about it without being listened to at this point. The System just revealed by accident that it doesn’t have access to what happens in them.”

Rosha, “Is this about that one thing you never told me about? That was a while ago.”

Jason, “And if it is, I doubt you had enough time to properly research it for safety reasons. Why now?”

Courtney sighed and explained about the Systems request for information on it.

After they took a moment to go over what the message said exactly, Jason agreed that in all likelihood things would leak given time. While what he was doing should be unique, it was also built off of the human body and so not impossible to figure out. After all, people managed to figure it out at one point so the System should be able to manage.

Rosha, “So we’ve danced around it enough. What in the world are you talking about? Seriously!”

Jason smiles, “Oh, we’re just talking about cultivation. Nothing too big.”

Courtney rolls her eyes, “And by that he means like out of a XianXia novels, not farming despite the fact he can apparently do both.”

Rosha shrugs, “Well, yeah, that is what he is doing. While Energy is rare, I know enough people manage it with Qi. Is there something special about Energy cultivation?”

Jason smiles even wider, “You would think that, what with her being so worried about the System knowing.”

Courtney sigh, “Fair enough, I didn’t really say things clearly there. No, we don’t mean cultivating in NeoRealm. He is cultivating irl and I’ve had people testing what he knows. So far, all signs are pointing towards what he has said not being a lie.

“Even the test subjects’ lifespans have been increasing. Though only by such a small amount, it likely isn’t worth a full day of time. However, if the System is looking into it, other people will be trying to figure out what is going on as well. They probably don’t know it is cultivation yet, but it is only a matter of time, especially with the tests I did.”

Jason, “You can measure lifespan?”

Rosha nods, “Not the most common knowledge, but it came along with some of the more in-depth life extension techniques. Anyway, since you’re saying this is a thing, I’ll let you explain, but you have to admit this sounds far-fetched.”

Courtney, “Very much so, which is why you’re only learning about it now. I had to test things beforehand to make sure it wouldn’t hurt you. While I would like to trust Jason, I can see some of your father’s enemies planting a deep agent to try and harm your potential.

“The only reason I’m getting you in on it now, is the resources. Our family might be rich, but once this spreads, the old monsters will come out to play and the good stuff will vanish. For them, even a day’s more time is worth more than you can spend in a year.

“Plus, I suspect that starting early has some benefits on that front. Not that it would stop the elders. Though on top of all that, this is one of those things where those ahead use their advantage to get even further ahead. We don’t want the ladder pulled up in front of us by those who manage to race ahead.”

Rosha turns to Jason, “And your thoughts on this?”

Jason shrugs, “She isn’t wrong on any of that. In particular, while cultivation extends your lifespan, it doesn’t do it by tacking on more to the end of it. If your lifespan was seen as being broken up into discrete chunks of time. Then, instead of adding, it makes each chunk last longer.

“Yes, for the ancient it will return some youth, though only ever creeping towards middle age yet never reaching it. If instead you’re young, each improvement is actually worth more and stretches your years of youth out even more.

“Though of course once you reach physical immortality the whole ‘aging’ thing stops. And once you become more energy than flesh? You can look however you very well please. Of course, people still feel most comfortable in something close to what they consider their natural form.

“More than one immortal has forged their way to the top because of body dysmorphia. Having complete control over what you look like to them is worth more than even the increased difficulty to kill them. To get the body you feel most comfortable in? Worth more than anything you can imagine, and those who try to stop people seeking such goals are heartless monsters. After all, it isn’t like they’re trying to change your body.”

Rosha raises an eyebrow, “Bit hot there. Got any personal feelings involved?”

Jason shakes his head, “Not particularly, however I understand the feeling of not fitting in and of not being able to express yourself. Not all problems are physical. Thankfully, things have changed since the past. While nothing is perfect, NeoRealm is a great equalizer that allows people to really express themselves.”

Rosha nods, “Fair enough, now I assume we’re here to learn how to do this? Though I feel a bit more explanation on what it is about might be a decent place to start.”