【Status: Auto-cultivating in progress. 15 days remaining until reaching mid-stage Crystallization Realm (affected by cultivation techniques, spiritual roots, physique, etc.)】
Ye Chuan spent 990,000 on a large-scale Spirit Gathering Array, instantly cutting his upgrade time in half!
"Seems like a pretty good deal?"
With this, the progress toward the Golden Core Realm was halved—just half a month to reach mid-stage Crystallization Realm.
"What nonsense am I saying? That’s nearly a million! And I actually think it’s worth it?" Ye Chuan pinched the bridge of his nose. It seemed that money had come too easily lately, and he was gradually losing his sensitivity to it.
No, no, he needed to enjoy life a little.
If this kept up, he’d turn into a pay-to-win whale, obsessed only with realm progression.
Just then, another pop-up appeared on his phone—
[Recommended for You: Household Super Spirit Gathering Array, Limited-Time Offer: 9,999,999]
[Super Spirit Gathering Array: Massively generates spiritual energy, with a chance to instantly level up all users’ realms daily]
[Countdown: 59 minutes 59 seconds]
Ye Chuan: "..."
Not even pretending anymore, huh?!
Ten million? You dare?!
"Recommended for me?" Ye Chuan slammed his fist on the table. "Might as well call it ‘Guess Your Wallet’!"
Perhaps sensing his fury, the app slowly displayed a new notification:
[Friendly Reminder: Spend wisely, within your means. Enjoy a healthy gaming life.]
"Fine, I’ll whale on this scammy app." After calming down, Ye Chuan went ahead and bought the Super Spirit Gathering Array.
With cultivation power, making money was easy anyway.
The density of spiritual energy around him skyrocketed once more.
[Congratulations! You’ve triggered the Super Spirit Gathering Array’s upgrade buff. You’ve advanced to mid-stage Crystallization Realm.]
Huh?
Triggered on the first try?
Ye Chuan hadn’t expected to jump straight to mid-stage Crystallization Realm.
Now he’d have a hard time explaining this to Bai Qianshuang.
Going from Foundation Establishment to mid-stage Crystallization in just a few days?
Luckily, Ye Chuan possessed the Chaos Indestructible Body. Unless he willed it, Bai Qianshuang wouldn’t be able to discern his true realm.
And the next breakthrough—late-stage Crystallization—would only take ten more days.
[Recommended for You: Dimensional Spirit Gathering Array, Explosive Discount: 999,999,999]
[Dimensional Spirit Gathering Array: Massively generates spiritual energy for the entire plane, ushering in an era of spiritual revival]
Ye Chuan: "..."
What even is this?
An era of spiritual revival?
"Seems unnecessary. Plus, I can’t afford it." Glancing at the 900-million price tag, Ye Chuan felt the app was overestimating him.
Even if he had the money, he wouldn’t blow it on a Spirit Gathering Array.
"Let’s shelve this for now." He didn’t dwell on it—after all, he wasn’t that rich.
For the rest of the day, Ye Chuan made some simple home renovations, expanding Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke’s rooms and adding some nice touches.
In the app, the two chibi versions of Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke were each busy in their rooms.
Their chubby little faces were oddly soothing.
"Good enough."
Just as Ye Chuan set his phone aside and stretched, it buzzed with an incoming video call from Luo Xi.
He answered, and Luo Xi’s face appeared on the screen. "Chuanchuan, what are you up to?"
"As you can see, lying in bed." Ye Chuan tilted the camera to show his bed.
"Coming over for dinner tomorrow? I bought some yam to make soup," Luo Xi asked.
Ye Chuan grinned. "Sure, the beauty herself is cooking?"
"Of course! What do you feel like eating?"
"Sand ginger chicken hotpot, with free-range farm chicken—not too fatty, not too lean."
"How about a fist the size of a clay pot instead?" Luo Xi cutely shook her fist. After chatting a bit more, she said, "Alright, I’m off to shower."
"Take me with you."
"No way! My mom’s home. Last time my phone almost dropped, and she nearly caught us."
"Tch, can’t even watch a ball game."
"Heh." Luo Xi suddenly lowered her voice and winked. "We’ll talk tomorrow."
"Fine."
...
After hanging up, Ye Chuan closed his eyes to rest, only to feel a tickle on his nose.
He opened his eyes to find a cute face peering down at him from the wall, white hair cascading onto his face.
"What’s up?" Seeing Lan Xiaoke’s head, Ye Chuan asked.
"Ye Chuan, did you notice the spiritual energy in the house just multiplied?" Lan Xiaoke inquired.
"Who knows? Maybe our home’s a blessed paradise." Ye Chuan brushed it off.
Since the Spirit Gathering Array was in his phone, even Bai Qianshuang wouldn’t figure out the source of the energy.
"Qianshuang just went into deep cultivation. I’m kinda bored." Lan Xiaoke floated out and hovered above Ye Chuan. "Ye Chuan, play a game with me?"
Ye Chuan looked up, only to find his view completely obstructed.
What blinded him was…
A great terror. Truly, a great terror.
"Come down a bit." Ye Chuan reached up and patted Lan Xiaoke’s butt.
"Huh?"
She floated lower, and Ye Chuan sat up, finally seeing her face. "If the spiritual energy surged, why aren’t you cultivating?"
"The world has so many geniuses. What’s wrong with one more slacker like me?" Lan Xiaoke muttered.
"Fair point." Ye Chuan knew Lan Xiaoke had no grand ambitions—after all, she was just a college girl who’d died choking on instant noodles and became a ghost. Her only lingering regret was that unsold in-game item.
So he didn’t push her.
"Hehe, Ye Chuan, play a game with me~" Seeing him sit up, Lan Xiaoke floated behind him and started massaging his shoulders.
After all this time together, she’d completely shed her fear of him, acting like a clingy little girl.
Feeling the soft pillow against the back of his head, Ye Chuan closed his eyes. "Press harder, and I’ll consider it."
"Got it!" Lan Xiaoke immediately put in the work, even changing into a light blue bodycon dress for the occasion.
After a while, Ye Chuan’s neck felt much better. Lan Xiaoke might slack off in cultivation, but when it came to gaming or pocket money, she was all in.
"Not bad. Let’s play something."
"Yay!"
Ye Chuan rarely visited Lan Xiaoke’s room. Pushing the door open, he found it surprisingly tidy—after all, as a ghost, she didn’t produce much trash.
But to his surprise, her computer desktop had a photo of her and Bai Qianshuang.
"You have a photo together? How’d you even take it?" Ye Chuan hadn’t thought a ghost could take pictures.
Lan Xiaoke’s expression turned solemn as she recalled the incident where Bai Qianshuang nearly obliterated her.
"That… was a tragic chapter of my past."
Ye Chuan: "?"