Chapter 34: Chapter 34
Looking at Rider, disheveled and sucking blood from his own finger, Shinji couldn't help but feel even more uncomfortable.
For a young and vigorous man like Shinji, such a scene first thing in the morning was quite a shock.
However, thinking about his young sister at home, Shinji quickly discarded any fleeting wicked thoughts.
What if Sakura heard something inappropriate while he was doing something bad?
No, that would be terrible and would set a bad example for her.
Should he tell Rider that the finger he was sucking on had picked his nose last night and hadn't been washed yet?
In the few minutes Shinji was lost in thought, Rider's previously semi-transparent body had solidified completely, and his barely holding together clothes were gradually covering the dangerous parts again.
Rider released Shinji's finger and slowly stood up.
"Barrier."
"Huh?" Shinji was puzzled for a moment, but then he sensed something and waved his hand. "Dispel."
With a command, the formation and restrictions in the room disappeared, and at the same time, the magical connection was reestablished, allowing Rider to feel connected to Sakura again.
"Looks like you didn't really listen to what I said yesterday, Rider," Shinji said softly, with a slight smile on his lips.
Strangely, Rider didn't feel any discomfort looking at Shinji's smiling eyes.
Before leaving, Rider gave Shinji one last glance before turning into a spirit form and disappearing.
"Grandson, check your mission rewards."
Only then did Shinji remember that he had completed the main mission yesterday. He excitedly opened the system interface.
However, upon seeing the solitary, cheap-looking silver metal ring in the inventory, his face instantly fell.
Are you kidding me? Just a lousy ring?
Couldn't you at least embed a diamond?
This looks like something bought from a roadside stall for ten yen!
Where did all the things I've accumulated over the years go?
Did they grow legs and run away?
"In the ring."
Huh? Shinji's expression softened a bit as he took the ring out of the inventory.
Looking at the plain ring, which looked like it was bought from a jewelry store for 200 yen, Shinji remembered the few fantasy novels he'd read in his previous life, where there were items called storage rings.
Could this be one of those?
"Yes, are you satisfied?"
Satisfied, my ass! I spent so many points and ten years completing the main mission, and all I get is a lousy ring?
Is the system space that small?
Do I really need something like this?
Give me back my youth! Refund! RNM!
"Don't complain about getting something for nothing. This is just a bonus. The real reward, you should already know."
Tch! Shinji curled his lip, got up, went to the table, opened a drawer, and took out a thin platinum chain to string the ring on and wear it around his neck.
This platinum chain was one of the few relics Shinji had found belonging to his unseen mother.
The system was right. The real reward wasn't the 100-cubic storage ring, but something Shinji urgently needed at this stage.
Humans have three souls and seven spirits.
The three souls are the Heavenly Soul, Earthly Soul, and Human Soul, also known as Fetal Light, Refreshing Spirit, and Dark Essence. Some call them Main Soul, Perceptive Soul, and Life Soul or Primordial Spirit, Yang Spirit, and Yin Spirit.
In the Taoist path, they are referred to as the Primordial Spirit, Yang Spirit, and Yin Spirit, but they are essentially the same.
The seven spirits are the Celestial Spirit, Spiritual Wisdom Spirit, Qi Spirit, Strength Spirit, Central Spirit, Essence Spirit, and Heroic Spirit.
These seven spirits are actually the seven chakras located along the central channel of the human body, from the crown to the perineum.
The Celestial Spirit is at the crown chakra, the Spiritual Wisdom Spirit at the brow chakra, the Qi Spirit at the throat chakra, the Strength Spirit at the heart chakra, and is also connected to the palms and soles. The Central Spirit is at the navel chakra, the Essence Spirit at the sacral chakra, and the Heroic Spirit at the root chakra.
The three souls and seven spirits both manifest the mind but in slightly different ways.
The three souls are primarily associated with the mind, while the seven spirits are not only mental but also the source of the body's vital energy.
Therefore, the realm of refining spirits is a true watershed for a Taoist. Before reaching this realm, one might be superior to ordinary people but still essentially a mortal.
Only after reaching the realm of refining spirits does one undergo true transformation, gaining abilities beyond human power (including technology) or even the power of gods and ghosts.
However, Shinji lacked one spirit, the most crucial Central Spirit that connects the other six. This was why he hadn't broken through to the realm of refining spirits.
The reward the system mentioned was the most important half of the missing Central Spirit.
"Just giving half and calling it a reward?" Shinji sneered, muttering disdainfully as he counted his task rewards.
Points reward of 100,000, a 100-cubic storage ring, Hades' hat inside the ring, a large magic analysis instrument (one-time use), and half of the Central Spirit.
Seeing the small silver metal device with a liquid crystal panel, Shinji smirked. His original reason for stealing Medea's fundamental method no longer existed.
For the first time, the system did something decent.
Because the half of the Central Spirit connected the other six spirits, Shinji broke through the bottleneck and entered the realm of refining spirits while asleep. Though he hadn't fully refined a spirit and reached the first stage of refining spirits, he was now a genuine practitioner in that realm.
Is something missing?
After counting all the rewards, Shinji raised a question.
What about a weapon? Practitioners in the refining spirit realm can use magical artifacts, right?
What am I supposed to use to fight others?
What's this Hades' hat?
Did you steal it from some gold-hoarding citizen?
Doesn't it overlap with the hidden breath method I developed in the soul-condensing realm?
Change it!
"Task rewards cannot be changed."
Damn it!
"But there is a new batch of weapons in the points mall. Since you did well on this mission, there's a 10% discount."
Looking at the points mall, where even the cheapest beginner artifacts cost no less than 98,000 points, Shinji fell silent again.
Though he had always suspected it, this time the scythe's blade was too obvious.
It was as if it was saying: the grass (Shinji) has grown again, time to harvest.
"System, can we discuss something? Can you be less obvious when you're about to cut me next time? Can't we maintain some basic decency? Does it have to be so blatant? It's not even about saving face anymore!"
"Listening to you, grandson."
"So, how about changing the 10% discount to 50%?"
"No way."
Knowing the system's routine well, Shinji asked, "By the way, do you have the basics of refining tools? How much is it?"
"Buy a beginner artifact, and it comes with the basics of refining tools."
"Just the basics?"
"The gift is not for sale. But you can win it in a draw. Now a five-in-a-row draw guarantees the basics of refining tools!"
Shinji: ...
At seven in the morning, Shinji sat by the bed, his eye twitching as he looked at the tiny peachwood sword he'd bought after an hour of bargaining for 85,000 points. It was likely made from freshly cut peachwood, just an inch and a half wide, and only a foot and a half long, along with the first page of the basics of refining tools.
"Exorcism Peachwood Sword."
"Required materials: fresh peachwood, carving knife."
"Refining method: Carve your favorite sword shape and patterns on the peachwood, then hang your favorite ornaments."
Shinji had no desire to read further and instead slapped himself hard.
Slap!
I'm such an idiot!
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
koijiro21
koijiro21 Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone