Chapter 20: I Want to Quit

At midnight the next night, Li Yi, Zhang Gao, Lu Jue, and others resumed their guiding duties.

With experience from the first time, everyone was noticeably more skilled; Wu Zhen, whose injuries had improved significantly, entered meditation without waking mid-session—likely, he would earn his desired salary today.

Li Yi, however, was pondering how much he should earn today.

More precisely, how much he could earn without arousing suspicion.

In the end, Li Yi decided to cap his daily income at 300,000, allowing slight fluctuations but never exceeding that limit, for 300,000 was the ceiling of a genius’s capacity—anything higher would make others suspect other motives.

Yet sometimes Li Yi wished he could freely channel cosmic energy without restraint.

Then he could drain millions from a single client in one day; within a few days, he’d never again worry about money.

But in the end, Li Yi suppressed his inner greed.

Soon.

The day’s work ended.

At 6:10 a.m., everyone reunited in the cafeteria for breakfast and to collect their wages.

Everyone else’s pay remained unchanged: 54,000 for six hours—but Li Yi’s wage broke records again, reaching a staggering 280,000, shocking the others once more.

“Indeed, Li Yi still has untapped potential. I thought yesterday was luck, but now it’s clear—no luck involved. He’s a genuine genius, and today doesn’t even seem to be his limit,” Lu Jue marveled inwardly.

“Last night, my guess was right—his cultivation value is at least 200%. My decision to invest in him was correct, though I missed the timing. At this rate, he’ll save his first round of cultivation funds in less than ten days or half a month. Once he has startup capital, Li Yi’s terrifying talent will fully emerge.”

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoxiao felt immense envy, for she understood: as Li Yi’s cultivation level rose, his earning opportunities multiplied; the more he earned, the faster his cultivation accelerated.

It was a virtuous cycle.

Problems like family poverty or supporting parents? In light of Li Yi’s rapid progress, they were trivial—easily resolved.

“This Li Yi...”

Wu Zhen sat in a corner, eating with a dark expression. He now realized his chance to retaliate against Li Yi was slipping away.

He even felt a strange, creeping fear.

With this earning speed and cultivation value, Li Yi not coming after him was already a miracle—if Wu Zhen still dared to provoke him, he’d die horribly.

“I can’t stay here anymore. I must quit. If Li Yi awakens his spirit mediumship and gains cultivation abilities, I’ll be the first target.” Awakening to this danger, Wu Zhen sensed overwhelming threat.

He finished eating quickly, collected his wage, then found his supervisor Xu Ming.

“I’m quitting this guiding job.”

Supervisor Xu Ming understood why Wu Zhen was quitting. He didn’t stop him—he readily approved. After all, guiding staff like Wu Zhen could be hired anytime; not worth retaining.

On the third day, when others noticed Wu Zhen’s absence, they realized he had secretly fled.

“Li Yi’s pressure was too great—he ran in fear.”

Zhang Gao, Lu Jue, Zhao Xiaoxiao, and others quickly understood what had happened.

Otherwise, how could anyone abandon such a high-paying job so easily?

“He did right to leave. Today, Li Yi’s eyes are brighter than when we first met. His evolution is visibly rapid. If he keeps this pace, he’ll awaken his spirit mediumship and enter cultivation within days. If Wu Zhen doesn’t run now, he won’t be able to escape later.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao thought silently, stealing a glance at Li Yi, who had just sat down.

Li Yi paid little attention to Wu Zhen’s departure—he was now adjusting his state to enter meditation swiftly.

“Today, I must earn more.”

After successfully entering meditation, he immediately began channeling cosmic energy into the cultivation pod, while also absorbing a portion of the pure energy from the coin energy field into his body.

Work and cultivation, both handled at once—with meals and lodging included. Li Yi loved this job.

But after three hours of meditation, Li Yi’s consciousness sensed a change in the coin energy field. The previously calm field now churned like a storm, its energy surging violently—this anomaly made it impossible to guide cosmic energy.

Moreover, this disturbance signaled something ominous.

The resentment of the dead, stored within the damaged coin, had awakened again.

“Bad luck. I must’ve meditated too long last night—now this happens.”

But Li Yi had experience handling this. His consciousness had already retreated beyond the coin energy field’s reach.

As long as he avoided its grasp, his consciousness wouldn’t be captured—he could wake from meditation anytime, avoiding the near-death experience of the first time.

“You, born-evil Earth Prisoner...”

The familiar angry voice returned. The damaged coin’s energy coalesced into a translucent, upper-body figure—but unlike the first time, this figure was increasingly faint, less solid.

As if ready to vanish at any moment.

“No illusion—it’s truly weakened. Yet even so, its power far exceeds my expectations. To wait for it to vanish completely will take a long time—or I must wait until my cultivation reaches a higher level before dealing with it,” Li Yi thought.

But the damaged resentment seemed to sense Li Yi—it roared and lunged toward him, as if about to break free from the coin’s constraints and crush his consciousness.

“No way, again?”

Li Yi startled, snapping out of meditation immediately.

He wiped sweat from his forehead.

Just a scare.

He glanced around.

Zhang Gao, Lu Jue, Zhao Xiaoxiao—all still in meditation, guiding cosmic energy. The dangerous middle-aged man nearby, like a bodyguard, sat with closed eyes, motionless.

The surroundings were quiet.

No one noticed Li Yi’s disturbance, nor sensed the strange artifact on his person.

“What deep grudge does this damaged coin’s resentment hold against me? Every time it sees me, it goes mad, desperate to kill me. Last time was the same—today’s awakening means my guiding work will be disrupted.”

Li Yi thought inwardly, but he had no recourse—this was merely a damaged artifact; hidden dangers were normal.

The coin could no longer be used. He could only rely on his own channeling of cosmic energy to complete the remaining two hours of work.

After calming himself, Li Yi entered meditation again.

Now, without the artifact’s aid, he instantly went from genius to mediocrity—the effortless absorption of cosmic energy vanished. He could only, like everyone else, fish for scattered cosmic energy in the gray-white world. That meager amount couldn’t even cover his expenses, let alone fuel his cultivation.

He endured another two hours.

At 6:00 a.m., everyone’s guiding work ended again.

They headed to the cafeteria as usual for meals.

Supervisor Xu Ming, with his assistant, distributed today’s wages—but unlike yesterday, today’s pay was higher than normal.

“Xu Ming, shouldn’t I get 54,000 today? Why did you give me 110,000? Did you miscount?” Zhang Gao asked, puzzled.

Supervisor Xu Ming explained: “After tomorrow, our employer may awaken from the cultivation pod. Your guiding duties may be halted prematurely. To prevent losses, we’re paying everyone one day’s wage in advance. Our cooperation may also end tomorrow—please prepare accordingly.”

“What? Only a few days in, and you’re letting people go?” Zhang Gao exclaimed.

Supervisor Xu Ming replied: “We needed many guides only because we required short-term help. If you want a long-term guiding position, you must pass screening—at minimum, you need a guiding license. Unless... you’re a special talent like Li Yi, whom we can hire exceptionally.”

Zhang Gao was instantly disappointed—he’d hoped to stay ten days or half a month. Now, that dream was gone.

Lu Jue said: “We understand. Your pay is already double the market rate—only urgent, short-term needs justify this. But if you have similar work in the future, contact me—even three or five days will do.”

“No problem. We’ve collected everyone’s information. If we need you, we’ll contact you immediately,” Supervisor Xu Ming said.

Zhao Xiaoxiao, after receiving her pay, looked disappointed. “Only four days of work—and now unemployed again. Guess I’ll have to find another job.”

Supervisor Xu Ming then approached Li Yi specifically. “Li Yi, your income today is 190,000. Though lower than the past two days, we’re still settling your tomorrow’s wage at 300,000—so today, we’re paying you 490,000.”

“Hey, come on! You give us normal pay but give him special treatment? That’s unfair!” A cultivator nearby, just paid, immediately protested.

Zhao Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. “If you had Li Yi’s cultivation value, they’d pay you extra too. Without the credentials, don’t expect special treatment—and don’t complain—it’s embarrassing.”

The cultivator immediately realized his mistake and slunk away, embarrassed.

Others smiled silently. Zhao Xiaoxiao was right—Li Yi was favored because the employer saw his cultivation talent and was willing to pay more. Those of us with average cultivation values? We’re invisible to the employer. Getting any extra pay at all is generous.

“Thank you, supervisor. If you have work in the future, I hope you’ll remember me,” Li Yi said smoothly, taking the money and speaking politely.

“No need for thanks. Your cultivation value is high—we often need talents like you. If we need you, I’ll contact you first. And I believe, with your speed, you won’t need our jobs much longer. Plenty will want to invest in you. Perhaps after our employer finishes cultivation tomorrow, he’ll gladly fund you,” Supervisor Xu Ming smiled.

Still, Li Yi felt a pang of disappointment.

Such a good job ended tomorrow—he’d earned only 990,000 total.

Though substantial, this sum was now heavily spent. He didn’t know how long it would last—he’d have to find another job soon.

With Supervisor Xu Ming’s departure, everyone’s appetite dwindled.

The truth was simple: it’s hard to return to frugality after luxury.

“Li Yi, after you quit tomorrow, what will you do? Look for another job, or return to cultivation?”

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoxiao walked over with her tray, seemingly trying to ease tensions.

Li Yi replied calmly: “I haven’t decided. Maybe I’ll cultivate for a while. I’ve earned enough for now—I don’t want to look for work.”

Zhao Xiaoxiao continued: “Cultivation is expensive—medical pods, nutrient fluids, guides, even private tutors... You need to save your million for your parents. How much can you truly spend on yourself? So, Li Yi, give me a chance—let me invest in you.”

Though Li Yi had refused before, Zhao Xiaoxiao felt his refusal only strengthened her confidence in his future. If he blindly accepted every investment, she’d hesitate.

Li Yi shook his head. “I’m not interested in your investment. Invest in someone else. There are countless cultivators needing funding now—no need to fixate on me. I only want to earn money myself—I won’t accept sponsorship.”

“Then... alright,” Zhao Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly.