ASER – Chapter 31

“The imperial court even gives you Spirit Cores?”

It was expected that Feng Ting could produce 1 million star coins; after all, he had operated in Qishan for many years and had received two rapid promotions. But 30 Spirit Cores was too fast.

“No, the imperial court’s reward was cultivation sessions at the reclaimed Small Spirit Gate. These Spirit Cores were gathered for me by my subordinates. I suggest you don’t sell Spirit Cores in the future either. The prices hyped online are inflated; actually, 200,000 per core is the normal price, but it’s not a good deal. Money depreciates, but these resources don’t. In the early stages, you basically can’t buy resources even if you have money.”

Feng Ting had long since noticed A’Diao’s extraordinary possessiveness regarding money and feared she might go astray.

Although Spirit Cores were useful to everyone, they had all received a certain number of cultivation sessions and promotions in rank and benefits. It wasn’t difficult for a group of them to gather 30 Spirit Cores, as they were military officers fighting Demonic Spirits on the front lines.

However, Feng Ting had contributed the largest share.

“I know, I won’t. If there really were Spirit Cores for 200,000 each, I’d rather buy them.” A’Diao gleefully took the bag and put it away, like a greedy little hamster. Feng Ting found it amusing but also asked curiously, “Have you registered? Which school did you apply to?”

Just now, he saw her carrying food and drinks, her mouth still stuffed, looking like a starving ghost who hadn’t eaten anything good in eight hundred years. It seemed the Chen family wasn’t treating her well, look how starved she was.

“Just an ordinary school. I’ll tell you after I get in.”

Actually, A’Diao wasn’t very confident, but she knew she had no other choice.

Feng Ting didn’t say much more, just handed her a token.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a token for Small Spirit Gate usage sessions. I’ve allocated 5 usage rights to you from it. You can choose to use it at any government-controlled Spirit Gate facility in Jinling or Lingcheng. However, the Small Spirit Gate in Lingcheng has been requisitioned by the imperial court. I heard it’s not an ordinary Small Spirit Gate and might be upgraded to a Level 2 Spirit Gate, so we can’t go in anymore; you’ll have to use it elsewhere. I’ve already entered your information into the system, and it’s been approved. You can go anytime.”

Five sessions? That’s quite a few.

A’Diao was stunned. Just as she was about to say something, Feng Ting said sternly, “I never owe favors. The imperial court rewarded me with ten sessions; half of them are yours. We owe each other nothing, so we can cooperate well in the future.”

“I have high hopes for you, A’Diao, just as you have for me. I hope we can both rise.”

He raised his cup, and A’Diao understood. The two of them clinked glasses.

At this moment, their grassroots-to-riches alliance was truly established.

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That night, A’Diao returned to the Chen family residence. She didn’t trust the Chen family and didn’t even absorb Spiritual Energy there, planning to do so on the airship the next day. However, she could take out the toilet to have a look now.

After absorbing 30 Spirit Cores.

Level: 2 (Current Energy 29/50, 21 more energy points needed to reach Level 3.)

Mental Energy: 27,000.

Synchronized Spiritual Energy Release: 2 wisps.

Exchanged Skill: My Little Fist Will Smash You to Death (Active Skill, Currently Level 1, requires 500 Mental Energy per level-up, max Level 10.)

Exchangeable Skills:

1: Eye Contact Wire-Pulling (Active Skill, requires 1000 Mental Energy to exchange, 1000 Mental Energy per level-up, max Level 10.)

2: Vacuum Packaging Special Effect 101 (Status Skill, requires 2000 Mental Energy to exchange.)

3: Tomato Egg Drop Soup (Auxiliary Medicinal Tonic Formula, requires 5000 Mental Energy to exchange.)

A’Diao had once seen an old movie, something called “King of Comedy,” where there was a scene in which the female lead worked in a nightclub and used the “spiritual victory method” + “localized goodwill method” to balance her work state. At the time, A’Diao felt that, comedic effects aside, its essence was worth learning from. But clearly, the skills the toilet gave her seemed to be testing her patience in this regard as well.

What did it mean for one to be weirder than the last?

“The ‘Little Fist’ is one thing, at least it’s a proper attack skill. But what is this ‘Eye Contact Wire-Pulling’? What kind of wire is it pulling? A soul attack?”

“Vacuum Packaging… Do you think I’m a ready-to-eat braised chicken wing?”

“And this last one, Tomato Egg Drop Soup, am I the tomato or the egg drop?”

After looking at the three in a row, A’Diao was brainwashed and actually felt that the “Eye Contact Wire-Pulling” skill was comparatively normal-looking.

Toilet: You don’t have to buy it. Who cares?

Heh, you toilet, you even have a bad temper!

I just won’t buy it!

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-2000, get Vacuum Packaging Special Effect 101.

-5000, get Tomato Egg Drop Soup.

Ding, ding. The two purchases deducted 7,000, leaving 20,000 Mental Energy.

Amidst the toilet’s cold sneer, A’Diao calmly examined them and found that these two were indeed good things.

Vacuum Packaging 101: Can package a 10 cubic meter space around the body, sealing all Spiritual Energy from leaking out. Costs 101 Mental Energy per hour of use.

Tomato Egg Drop Soup Formula: Can concoct a low-grade medicinal soup to cleanse bodily impurities. Once a day, can be used repeatedly.

Vacuum Packaging 101 is a status skill. Below the formula were the various required ingredients, and the preparation method was also very simple: stew for one hour, then pour into a bucket and soak for one hour.

It had been said before that offensive combat skills could be put aside for now; the most important thing was to improve aptitude.

A’Diao looked at the formula, then went on Taobao to check prices at Chinese medicine shops. After careful calculation, one batch of soup would cost 300,000 star coins.

“Is this stewing tomato and egg drop? It’s clearly using dissolved star coins as bathwater. Aren’t you afraid of skin peeling off…”

A’Diao couldn’t help but ask the toilet: “Does ‘repeatedly used’ mean if I soak today, I can save it, reheat it tomorrow, and soak again? Can it be used repeatedly like that?”

Listen to that, her stinginess pierced the heavens.

Toilet: “Do you reheat your bathwater from the previous day and use it again?”

Little toilet, you’re so harsh.

So, it meant soaking once a day, and one batch could be used for several soaks, but the first soak would likely have the best effect. Once it stopped being effective, she wouldn’t soak anymore.

A’Diao made a wry face. She had originally thought her assets of over 16 million would last her a long time, but just a few medicinal baths were so expensive. If more formulas appeared later, she feared that even over 16 million in assets wouldn’t be enough.

A’Diao first ordered 6 portions of medicinal ingredients, spending 1.8 million. But she had a premonition that the longer the Spiritual Energy revival continued, the more expensive these ingredients would become, because medicinal tonics existed since the early era and weren’t unique to the toilet.

By the time she bought them next, these medicinal ingredients would probably have increased in price, and perhaps she wouldn’t even be able to afford the next formula.

“There are two options now. I could start buying medicinal ingredients in bulk to hoard, then sell them when the price skyrockets to make a profit. But I estimate the toilet will produce a new formula after Level 3, and I’ll have to buy ingredients at a high price then too.”

“Another option is to spend money on Spirit Cores, reach Level 3 as quickly as possible, find out the required medicinal ingredients in advance, and buy them early.”

Both options were actually beneficial to her. However, Spirit Cores were completely unavailable for purchase now. Helpless, A’Diao could only hoard medicinal ingredients and had them sent to a major bank in Jinling. Because her account balance exceeded ten million, she just met the VIP threshold, and the manager there could help store them.

After some fiddling, only 20,000 Mental Energy remained, and her account balance became 10,000 star coins for living expenses. Fortunately, the hotel and such were already booked.

A’Diao, who had become rich with great difficulty only to return to abject poverty before the money even warmed her hands, felt extremely miserable. She lay on the bed like a turtle, wriggling under the covers as if she could dig out money.

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Actually, A’Diao hadn’t tidied up that room; she had to return to Jinling for her exam the next day.

Hadn’t she lowered her standards and chosen a school in Lingcheng from top to bottom?

Jinling’s high schools were notoriously difficult to get into; many local Jinling students were even considering coming to Lingcheng to try for a spot.

Many in the Chen family muttered privately, but since the masters of the house said nothing, the servants didn’t dare to discuss it.

Most people didn’t have a good impression of A’Diao.

Regardless of why she had left before, now that she was back, apart from being received by the old madam, stepping over a brazier, and exchanging a few words, she neither paid respects to the legitimate principal wife nor acknowledged her own mother and younger brother. She left as soon as she said she would, and it was unknown whether she was ignorant of etiquette or simply didn’t care.

Anyway, people’s imaginations ran wild, and when they looked at the courtyard of a certain favored concubine, their gazes became much more meaningful.

Lianxing Pavilion was the residence of Chen Ran’s most favored concubine. At this moment, several maids and old nannies attended outside the spacious and luxurious bath, while in the pool, a figure that made one blush and heart pound swam freely.

This was a worldly vessel, a worldly body, the source of affection and desire. The most terrifying thing was that she knew her advantages well and had understood how to use them to achieve her goals since her youth.

She had succeeded. Although only a concubine, she had essentially obtained every benefit a woman could get from a man in one fell swoop.

Wealth, favor, status, consideration, importance, and even sincere affection—she had obtained them all.

It was also because of such nurturing that even if she feigned the innocent and delicate demeanor of a little white flower, she actually possessed a certain arrogance born from being doted upon.

Splash… Fair, jade-like feet slowly stepped up the white jade stairs. Wiping, applying expensive skincare balms, massaging—but she didn’t spray perfume, yet she naturally carried a light, elegant, and alluring fragrance.

Although Chen Ran was only a mid-ranking civil official, no one knew that he kept a favored concubine in his residence who was like a rare imperial consort.

Her eyes held a hint of languid weariness as she casually asked, “How is that daughter of mine?”

“The carriage is ready; she’s preparing to leave. Should we remind the Third Miss to come and pay her respects to you?”

She tilted her head, her hazy, water-like eyes seeming to try to recall her daughter from childhood.

But the memories were mottled, and though some fragments remained, she was unwilling to dwell on them, merely saying faintly, “She doesn’t care to see me, so what’s the use of calling her? However, I should go see her, lest that First Wife uses this to reprimand me later.”

“The First Wife’s looks are ordinary, bland, and uninteresting. She hardly sees the Master a few times a year and is naturally jealous of the Master’s favor towards you. You don’t need to mind her.”

“Looks… ordinary?” She stared intently at the speaking old nanny, who, embarrassed, lowered her head and said, “Compared to you, they are ordinary.”

“Hmph.”

She snorted lightly, turned her face away, and muttered while resting with her eyes closed, “Compared to me, she’s ordinary, but… she’s still passable.”

Although she couldn’t stand that woman who always put on airs, she wouldn’t tell barefaced lies either.

There weren’t many unattractive women in Chen Ran’s residence to begin with.

“How are things at the flower corridor?”

“A hundred flowers are in bloom; it’s overwhelmingly beautiful.”

“Excellent.”

Early in the morning, to save some taxi fare, A’Diao hitched a ride in the Chen family’s hovercar. After all, it was an official vehicle. Now that the “nouveau riche dog” was the top official in Lingcheng, even some of the family’s cars had been upgraded.

Truly a case of swapping a bird-hunting gun for a cannon.

Just as A’Diao was about to get into the car, she saw a beautiful woman slowly approaching from the flower corridor ahead, surrounded by several maids.

It was the most beautiful flower corridor amidst the Chen family’s understated and elegant architecture. It was a fine season, the sky clear and the air fresh. A gentle breeze rustled through the enchanting flowers, stirring her skirt to reveal a graceful figure with a slender waist and long legs, and letting her ink-black long hair float lightly. It was truly the perfect time for a farewell.

To be honest, although everyone in the Chen family, from top to bottom, had criticisms about this concubine who had served Chen Ran with her beauty and been favored for many years, the one thing universally acknowledged was her beauty.

Distant mountains like dark kohl, autumn waters and hibiscus flowers—all paled before her magnificent and splendid appearance. Graceful and elegant, every step was a picturesque scene.

Her waist was so slender, it seemed as if a few more steps would make her break like a delicate willow.

A woman like this, if she merely trembled while breathing, leaned against a doorframe, lowered her gaze, pursed her lips, and indulged in self-pity for three seconds, countless men would fall over themselves to give their all for her and fight her injustices.

A’Diao was also stunned by such beauty and affected posture, thinking secretly: Who is this beauty?

But as the other person drew near and their eyes met, distant memories surfaced in her mind.

A’Diao internally exclaimed, “Holy crap! This woman is my mother? She must be forty, right? How does she still look like she’s in her early twenties? Why doesn’t she age? What does she eat? Ginseng fruit or Tang Monk flesh?! Or is she a fox spirit?! But why is she still like over ten years ago, having maids and nannies create a flower-petal-scattering atmosphere team every time she appears? All that’s missing is a wind machine! It’s too exaggerated!”

At this moment, when Chen family’s foremost favored concubine, Xie Yuqing, saw A’Diao, she too was inwardly shaken: Who is this girl? Xiao Diao? She’s almost 20, isn’t she? How does she still look like she’s fourteen or fifteen?! Don’t they say a girl changes dramatically by eighteen? How is she still so ugly! This isn’t my daughter! Has my peerless beauty gene mutated?!

After the two women looked at each other, both were inwardly shaken, their emotions leaping faster than anyone’s. But A’Diao reacted quicker, before the other person reached her, fanned herself with a round fan, and was about to speak.

Swoosh! She rushed forward and hugged Xie Yuqing, her eyes reddened, tears welled up, and her emotions were perfectly in place.

“Mother, you must be my mother, right? Mother, Xiao Diao missed you so much.”

Are you a little eagle?

This is a big bird attacking!

My slender waist!!!

Faced with this eldest daughter who hadn’t inherited even a bit of her beauty, Xie Yuqing, who usually had a strong “green tea” vibe, was awkward. She retreated several steps, not knowing whether to push away or hug this daughter. For a long while, she couldn’t find the “green tea” artistic and fragrant script and emotions she had been brewing for so long, and could only say dryly, “I, I also missed…”

Before she could finish, A’Diao burst into a storm of tears: “It is your daughter who has been unfilial. I’ve been outside for many years, and though I often ate sweet potatoes, I always thought of the pear paste you fed me when I was little. Yet, I couldn’t save any money to honor you. How could I trouble you, Mother, to personally come and give me money now?”

What? What did you say? What giving money?

No, I don’t have any, I didn’t intend to give you money!!!

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