After channeling the spiritual energy from three lower-grade spirit stones into the space between her brows, Song Miaozhu finally began to feel a slight pressure there. Truthfully, if she pushed herself, she could have continued drawing in more energy.
But Song Miaozhu wasn't the type to take reckless chances. The moment she sensed any discomfort, however faint, she stopped. Although she didn't fully understand the space within her brow, she knew it served as a vessel for spiritual power—a foundation for cultivation, akin to the dantian in the previous era of spiritual practice.
And just like a shattered dantian could end one's cultivation path, damaging the space between her brows would be equally ruinous.
So, she returned to folding paper offering.
By the time she had transformed all the gathered spiritual energy into condensed red crystalline power, morning light had already begun to seep through the paper-covered window.
Dawn had arrived.
While forming new red spirit crystals required the folding ritual, replenishing spiritual power used from existing crystals only needed a fresh supply of ambient energy. The energy stored in her brow-space was like a backup battery—ready to recharge her reserves or be refined into new crystals whenever needed.
With that in mind, Song Miaozhu pulled out three more spirit stones and carefully channeled their essence into her brow-space using her cultivated power. Once the energy had been drawn out completely, the stones crumbled to dust and vanished from her palm.
She blinked, stunned. "Wait… isn't this exactly what the old texts described?"
So this was how the stones shattered. The realization was oddly satisfying. She glanced over at the oversized hammer—now being batted around by her three kittens as a toy—and let out a sigh of relief that no one had seen her earlier attempt to break the stones by force.
Not entirely her fault, really. The way those ancient manuals worded things was just too vague.
She hurriedly stored the hammer away. Best not to see it—out of sight, out of mind. Turning her focus back to the crystalline slab within her brow-space, she compared its current state to before.
Previously no bigger than an A4 sheet, the red crystal had now grown by nearly half a page in size. And this was just from absorbing the energy of four lower-grade spirit stones. The energy from three more stones still lingered, waiting to be processed.
"So the concentration of spiritual energy really does affect my progress!"
Aside from the fact that spirit stones made absorption easier, this was the only explanation she could think of. At this rate, using four low-grade spirit stones in one night meant about ten per day.
That only amounted to a thousand hell coins—barely a fraction of her shop's daily earnings. Song Miaozhu suddenly felt secure. She wouldn't be running out of spirit stones anytime soon.
"Hell coins really are the most stable currency!"
She even considered transferring most of her assets to the underworld, keeping only a small amount of liquid funds in the mortal realm. With her low-grade Treasure Bowl (which converted hell coins to mortal currency) and mid-grade Treasure Bowl (which did the reverse), executing this plan wouldn't be difficult.
She just needed to prepare more coin molds. Some of the ungraded molds lost ghost lifespan over time, making them depreciate if left unused.
As the streets outside grew livelier, Song Miaozhu checked her phone. It was almost time to meet Zhao Huoyan.
She hurriedly changed, freshened up, tended to the cats, and headed out. They had agreed to meet at a restaurant near the Woodcarving Workshop at the end of Huaihua Alley.
Before she arrived, Zhao Huoyan sent her the private dining room's name.
At the same time, Zhao Mumu messaged her privately:
[Zhao Mumu]: Miaozhu, my brother came to see me and Master last night! But we didn't tell him anything you shared with us. He also doesn't know Master can now see ghosts and faint spiritual energy. Today, feel free to negotiate with him using what you know—no need to hold back!
[Miaozhu]: Got it.
Replying quickly, Song Miaozhu walked toward Fragrant Gathering Pavilion.
"Excuse me, where's the Bamboo Room?" she asked at the entrance.
"Second floor. Please follow me."
Led by the server, she arrived at the room and opened the door.
"Miaozhu, you're here! Come sit!" Zhao Mumu stood up, waving at her.
"Sister Mumu! Grandpa Zhao!" Song Miaozhu greeted them as she walked over.
The two had left a seat for her between them.
"Hello, Master Song!"
On the other side of the round table, a tall, stern-faced man with a rigid posture stood up.
Song Miaozhu guessed this was the organizer of today's meeting—Zhao Huoyan, leader of Lingcheng's SEIU.
"Hello, Leader Zhao. Just call me Song Miaozhu. I'm hardly a 'Master.'"
"Understood, Master Song Miaozhu!" Zhao Huoyan replied.
Song Miaozhu: "…"
"Is there something wrong with this guy?"
"Miaozhu! My brother's always like this—too serious, no sense of humor. Sit first! Let's talk over the meal."
Zhao Mumu smoothed things over. "Don't worry, Master and I are on your side today. Negotiate however you want!"
Zhao Huoyan watched his sister siding with an outsider, his lips twitching, but he said nothing. "Please, sit."
A large round table that could seat ten only held four people.
Three of them sat close together on one side. Zhao Huoyan sat alone on the opposite.
The division of sides was obvious.
Without any pretense, Zhao Huoyan got straight to the point:
"The current benefits for members of Lingcheng's SEIU are excellent—meals and lodging covered, a monthly salary of fifteen thousand. The only work required is documenting physical changes and interactions with spiritual energy to compile data.
Master Song Miaozhu, you can already see spiritual energy, correct? That's why you've been making paper offerings at night to absorb it?
According to our current investigations, spiritual energy is scarce across regions. Once absorbed, it doesn't replenish quickly. If you join us, the unit can send you to different locations to gather energy. We'll also handle crowd control—day or night, you won't have to worry about drawing strange looks.
Would you reconsider?"
Song Miaozhu shook her head without hesitation. "No need. I'm staying in Yuanshan Ancient Town."
If this offer had come before last night, she might have been tempted. After all, spiritual energy in town was dwindling. But now that she had spirit stones, joining the SEIU would only slow her progress.
Zhao Huoyan didn't press further. "If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime. For now, let's proceed with exchanging information on spiritual energy."
"I'll ask you some questions. Once you've answered them all, you're free to review this Spiritual Energy Investigation Report compiled by our experts."
Song Miaozhu glanced at the thick stack of documents in his hands, surprised.
"The government's already compiled this much data? They're moving fast."
"Ask away," she said.