It’s just a toilet, does it really need to be hidden?
Of course, three hundred years ago, there were many ancient Forbidden Items for testing Spiritual Energy. Who knows if these people would bring similar Forbidden Items to search for Spiritual Vessels, or perhaps technology has become incredibly advanced these years, maybe there’s specialized super-equipment?
One scan, a beep, and it’s found.
Hand it over? Bah! She’d find it disgusting even to hand it over to the Imperial Court of the Tang Song Empire, let alone these wealthy households who act unscrupulously, daring to kill and seize treasures just because they’re rich.
A’Diao’s thoughts raced. She remembered another text from the Old Daoist Priest mentioning that even if a destined person hadn’t reached the stage of skillfully using spiritual energy, there were other ways to accommodate a Spiritual Vessel, just a bit more dangerous.
“Mind guides blood, blood forms a linear diagram, binding to one’s destiny.”
Once bound, it could never be changed. If this toilet turned out to be useless, only able to release a tiny bit of Spiritual Energy, it would mean wasting her destiny slot. Someone with a background would definitely not do such a foolish thing, but A’Diao didn’t hesitate in the slightest. She directly pricked her blood onto the toilet lid and drew a diagram. Finally, following the hand gesture recorded in the text, she dotted blood on her glabella and pressed her forehead against the toilet lid.
It was a very bizarre posture, but she was incredibly devout.
Since childhood, A’Diao had read many books. Many were unorthodox or esoteric. In the three hundred years that Spiritual Energy had been absent, these books were like dregs, but she quite enjoyed reading them.
One of them recorded such a story: A group of people went hunting in the wilderness empty-handed. One of them encountered a saber-toothed tiger that had just died. Just as he was about to take advantage of the situation, he saw a flock of plump wild pheasants fly by ahead. He thought the saber-toothed tiger wouldn’t run away, but the wild pheasants would be gone if he missed them, so he ran off to chase the wild pheasants. Unexpectedly, he ran into another person. This person was carrying the fangs taken from the saber-toothed tiger as a weapon. They killed both the wild pheasants and him.
From this story, she understood: If in a dangerous environment, do not give up any benefits already in hand. One must know how to restrain greed, promptly absorb it to strengthen oneself, rather than coveting something more while neglecting what one has. Otherwise, one might lose everything and even one’s life.
She didn’t have the capital to be picky. Spiritual Energy was reviving. The beginning was the hardest. One step faster, and you could eat fresh food; one step slower, and you’d be overtaken and devoured by the jackals and wolves behind.
Nine seconds, just nine seconds.
Buzz, the toilet disappeared.
And a faint voice appeared in A’Diao’s mind: “Destiny-bound. Requires 100 points of Mental Energy to activate and use.”
A very simple voice.
But A’Diao was a bit stunned. Mental Energy? What Mental Energy? The books never said any Spiritual Vessel had such a requirement; they were all activated and used directly.
This couldn’t be a pirated Spiritual Vessel, could it!
However, it quickly added: “Reminder: A wave of ultra-low-level conquerable targets is on its way. Please prepare, please prepare!”
A’Diao: “?”
Perhaps it was luck, the spaceship’s landing point was closest to the old Daoist temple.
As they approached it, a subordinate reported the temple’s situation to Jiang Chun. Soon, they neared the courtyard, but before entering, everyone became vigilant.
Something’s up!
What was that in the courtyard?
Upon closer inspection, there were two ‘zongzi’ in the main hall—people tied up like zongzi—and they were right next to the coffin.
Damn it, almost scared them to death!
After confirming they were people, the group stealthily infiltrated. While they were searching, Jiang Chun saw wisps of cooking smoke. He narrowed his eyes, reached the kitchen door, gripped his longsword, raised his leg… Bang!
The wooden door was kicked open.
The commotion startled the person huddled behind the stove. Startled, she jumped up, “Who is it!!”
She was already black and blue, but after being hit on the forehead by the toilet earlier, it was even more swollen.
Jiang Chun looked and frowned.
Where did this pig demon come from?
This group of people arrived menacingly. An orphaned girl would naturally be terrified. Before Jiang Chun and his men could state their purpose, she clutched her phone and shouted, while aiming the spider-gun at them.
“Are you accomplices of those two bandits outside? Don’t come any closer, I’ve already called the authorities. I even took photos of your companions and sent them. Look!”
“They broke in with sharp weapons to commit murder. The Government Office people will be here soon.”
“Stay back!”
Jiang Chun did indeed see the call log on the phone. The Government Office number was unique; there was no hiding it.
Seeing this, everyone inwardly cursed their luck.
What rotten luck, this slip of a girl actually managed to notify the Government Office in advance. And with photographic evidence, the Government Office would definitely come.
Then if they still made a move… the evidence of such a large spaceship couldn’t be hidden either.
Besides, they didn’t even know if there was a Spiritual Vessel.
Their emotional fluctuations were not small, though hidden. But at this moment, A’Diao almost couldn’t hide her own inner turmoil.
What the heck? Why did she see +1+1 numbers floating above these people’s heads?
+1 floated above everyone’s head.
Some even had continuous +1s.
Could it be related to the Mental Energy mentioned by the toilet Spiritual Vessel?
However, she hadn’t cultivated yet, nor had she mastered spiritual energy, so she couldn’t introspect the toilet’s condition.
But she was certain these people were the so-called “ultra-low-level conquerable targets.”
Jiang Chun was suspicious. He always felt things couldn’t be this coincidental; there had to be something strange about it.
“Little sister, don’t misunderstand. We’re not with those two outside. We just happened to hear some commotion and came to help.”
A’Diao’s appearance was too deceptive. At eighteen, she looked like fifteen or sixteen at first glance. Bruised and swollen, she also appeared very thin and small. Jiang Chun didn’t take her seriously, thinking he could easily coax secrets out of her and get the Spiritual Vessel.
“Besides, that Forbidden Item in your hand is mine.”
His? A’Diao was genuinely surprised. But she also recalled what the Old Daoist Priest had muttered about the day before yesterday; she feared these people had been to Qishan once before.
“Nonsense, I snatched this from those monkey thieves. I was beaten up like this. You say it’s yours, and it’s yours?”
Seeing the complex expressions on their faces, A’Diao confirmed they weren’t lying. But she suddenly wanted to confirm one thing, so she added: “Besides, if it was yours, and you didn’t report it to the Government Office after the monkeys snatched it, thereby leading these monkeys to attack a law-abiding citizen like me with it, causing my injuries and disability, according to the law, you are to bear responsibility for the monkeys who lack personal accountability—at least you should give me medical expenses and compensation for emotional distress.”
As long as I play the victim and extort them first, those dog-like bastards who want to kill for treasure won’t catch up to me.
Jiang Chun: +2+2+2…
In an instant, he contributed 10 points of Mental Energy to her.
Oh-ho! But this Jiang Chun gives a higher value of Mental Energy than the others; one is 1, the other is 2.
But provoking them indeed allowed her to gain Mental Energy points.
Jiang Chun suppressed his annoyance, continued to smile, and placated her: “Alright, alright, let’s say it’s yours then. Did you use this thing to subdue those two? Or do you have some other powerful… treasure?”
Damn it, why does this young master have the expression of a village auntie coaxing a child to hand over their New Year’s money?
A’Diao pondered for a moment, then said: “Me.”
Jiang Chun: “What?”
A’Diao said no more. Then they understood—I am the treasure, clever and smart.
Holy crap!
They say country folk are reserved and low-key. Look, she’s indeed very reserved. Doesn’t say much else, just one word: “Me.”
A’Diao saw +1s float up from their foreheads again, and wondered inwardly: It’s true I want to farm Mental Energy, but why are these grown men, none of them young, so easily farmed? They just casually give +1.
Jiang Chun suppressed his impatience, glanced at the burning stove, “So, what are you burning?”
A quick-witted subordinate beside him immediately darted over, pulled A’Diao aside, and checked under the stove, only seeing firewood and ashes.
A’Diao was quickly subdued. The spider-gun was also snatched away. Terrified, she had no choice but to answer every question.
A dangerous glint flashed in Jiang Chun’s eyes. He asked in a heavy tone: “Tell me, what exactly were you burning?”
Could she be destroying some evidence?
A’Diao said weakly: “See for yourselves, just wood.”
“And what else?!”
“Dry!… Grass?” she said, somewhat uncertainly.
They suspected this damn girl was cursing them.
+1+1+1+1…
Jiang Chun was getting angry. Unwilling to give up, he pressed further: “What are you burning wood for?”
A’Diao paused, then uttered one word: “Eat.”
Of course, she couldn’t say she was burning the cardboard box the toilet came in. Otherwise, if they didn’t see the toilet, they would surely become suspicious.
But they were already suspicious of this pot.
In the dead of night, with strong enemies attacking, why would she be hiding in the kitchen, tending a fire?
This pot must hold some mystery!
It was said that among the first generation of Spiritual Vessels when Spiritual Energy first appeared, there were some spirit pots. They could fly and carry people, or suck in enemies to stew them—absolute super treasures.
A subordinate, quick of hand and eye, immediately lifted the large pot lid. Steam billowed out, and inside the pot, several large steamed buns were being heated.
Look, this pot is big and round, and the buns inside are also big and round. Even exuding an ethereal air—isn’t it just magical!
One man stepped forward and carefully examined the pot while it was still hot. “Confirmed, Young Master. It’s indeed a very large pot, and it’s still very hot.”
Damn it, as if I needed you to tell me!
A’Diao found these people quite amazing too. They had gone mad searching for a Spiritual Vessel. It was just a pot, yet they were as excited as if they were reuniting with a long-lost wealthy father.
Jiang Chun was displeased: This village girl! She really is audacious, still thinking about eating steamed buns, and so many of them.
Seeing them staring at the iron pot, A’Diao silently moved over and put the lid back on, as if afraid they would snatch her steamed buns.
+1+1+1+1…!
Without confirming the existence of a Spiritual Vessel, it wasn’t worth killing anyone, especially since the Government Office people were likely on their way.
Jiang Chun gave a meaningful look. One subordinate kept an eye on A’Diao, while the others searched around.
A’Diao watched as these people carried out the peeling paint statue from her bedroom. This Buddha statue really had a high appearance rate; bad guys always paid attention to it. It could be called the C-position.
Just like the experience from the day before yesterday, the subordinates found nothing here. They did confirm, however, that there were indeed rotten sweet potatoes in the backyard, and there were ancestral tablets before the Three Pure Ones.
“Young Master, I don’t think there’s anything here. Let’s not waste any more time.”
Jiang Chun was in a terrible mood. He coldly glanced at the little girl huddled in the corner, took out his phone, made a call, and said: “Bring Ding-89432 over to me.”
A’Diao, in the corner, lowered her head. She suddenly had a bad feeling.
What era was this? Naturally, it didn’t need to be carried by people. Ding-89432 was brought over by a levitating carrier device. After it landed, Jiang Chun had A’Diao restrained and forced into a chair. He pulled out her hand and connected it to the machine’s sensor pads.
Her palm was ice-cold. A’Diao saw the appearance of the instrument. She knew this thing greatly resembled the sensors mentioned in the texts, and her heart instantly turned cold.
She had read books. She knew that only ancient Forbidden Items were designated with prefixes like Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding. If this thing could detect Spiritual Vessels, then she was finished!
She was panicking internally, but she still planned to struggle a bit, so she continued her act—she was betting that the Spiritual Vessel inside her was special, not just because it was a toilet, but more so because of its so-called concept of Mental Energy. Perhaps it was beyond the detection range of these ancient Forbidden Items.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Help!”
The little Daoist apprentice whimpered pitifully, truly pitiable. Unfortunately, her bruised and swollen face diminished the degree of pity. Without a word, the men activated the device. And then… the device lit up.
Jiang Chun had heard his father say that the detection results were based on two outcomes: a red light meant nothing was found, a green light meant something was there.
And now, the color of the light was clearly…
