Chapter 98: Spirit Fox

Inside the room.

Jiang Jian sat cross-legged on the floor, opened his identity device, and logged into the Fuanhezhou United Forum.

“Unbelievable! Linjiang Academy’s Jiang Jian, Divine Bestowal at 37%!”

The first post in view had its title enlarged and bolded.

Below it, comments were densely packed, already exceeding ten thousand.

“Did I misread!?”

“How is this possible!”

“It’s real! The poster uploaded live footage!”

“Definitely the Linjiang Academy testing hall!”

“Divine Bestowal at 37%—are you sure this isn’t a dream!?”

“It’s only been half a month since enrollment; my Divine Palace Spiritual Resonance just reached 5%!”

“Qi Ming from Wangchuan Academy only hit 21% in yesterday’s test!”

“Which noble family does this Jiang Jian come from!?”

“This level of Divine Palace Spiritual Resonance is typical for a second-year student, right!?”

“The average Spiritual Resonance for second-year students is only 30%—don’t you know that?”

…

On the other end of the communication.

Jiang Zhao said, “By the way, I’ve carefully read the notes you gave me.”

“My recent cultivation progress has been smooth, with no stagnation.”

Jiang Jian scrolled the screen, closed the forum, and said, “You never ask me about cultivation matters.”

Jiang Zhao thought for a moment, then said, “Actually, because I haven’t really encountered any difficulties.”

A few seconds later.

She continued, “Every time I cultivate, I feel my Spiritual Resonance limit slowly increasing, so there’s nothing to ask about.”

Jiang Jian nodded slightly and said, “Do you still have enough money?”

His sister replied, “The last amount you gave me hasn’t been spent yet.”

Jiang Jian instructed, “Focus on your cultivation.”

The communication ended.

The cultivation room door opened.

Ji Xue, his back laden with items, walked forward on all fours to Jiang Jian’s side.

“Ten crates of cultivation herbs.”

Ten large crates, curled up by the gray fox’s tail, were neatly stacked in the corner.

Jiang Jian, meanwhile, opened his identity device and directly purchased cultivation room time.

“You are about to purchase 100 hours of cultivation room time.”

“Cost: 1000 academic credits.”

“Confirm?”

Jiang Jian swiped his finger and tapped confirm.

“Purchase successful!”

“You have consumed 1000 academic credits.”

“Your remaining academic credits: 5450.”

Ji Xue, upon hearing the prompt, changed expression.

For a moment, unsure whether he felt joy or dread, he muttered, “Another hundred hours.”

In the cultivation room, spiritual energy flowed endlessly, surging in.

Jiang Jian ignored it.

The Feishuang Bracelet’s micro-array activated.

The speed at which spiritual energy gathered around him instantly surged!

Jiang Jian gently closed his eyes and carefully sensed the Mountain Ghost’s origin.

Before finding a suitable refining array.

Jiang Jian had no intention of actively refining it yet.

Using true fire to melt it yielded imperfect conversion efficiency.

Even if the Mountain Ghost’s origin was simply left untouched.

The natural yin energy it slowly leaked out was already sufficient to sustain his daily cultivation.

Ji Xue lay curled beside him and asked, “You have too many unread messages—sure you won’t check them?”

Jiang Jian did not pause his cultivation: “Just tell me the important ones.”

Ji Xue swiped the holographic screen and said, “Professor Zhang Jian from your department sent a message.”

“He wants you to visit his office when you have time.”

Jiang Jian’s voice remained calm: “Continue.”

Ji Xue sorted the messages and began reading them one by one.

“Third-year student Gu Qi said there’s an event in a few days and wants you to join—reward is ten hours of trial access to a private cultivation chamber.”

Upon hearing this.

Jiang Jian suddenly opened his eyes, his emotions stirred, and said, “Reply to Gu Qi immediately and ask for details about the event.”

“Alright, I’ll reply after I finish reading.”

Ji Xue sighed slightly and continued, “Next are your sister’s messages—about a dozen daily updates.”

“Also, Linjiang Academy’s monthly resource subsidy: 4,000 Alliance Coins and 10,000 Alliance Coins in shopping credit.”

As Ji Xue claimed the resources, he grumbled, “This little amount won’t even cover a snack.”

A few seconds later.

Jiang Jian’s Alliance Coin balance became 2.99 million.

His shopping credit rose to 410,000.

“Nie Zheng sent two or three messages—all cultivation materials.”

Ji Xue opened Nie Zheng’s identity device homepage, his eyes brightening, “This female student is incredibly beautiful.”

In the background of the page, the girl wore the Guangling High School uniform, her fluffy twin tails resting on her shoulders, white lace trim peeking from her shoes, smiling sweetly.

Upon hearing this.

Jiang Jian was speechless, opened his eyes, and glanced at Ji Xue: “Aren’t you a female spirit creature?”

“Yes.”

Ji Xue flicked his tail. “But she really is beautiful—when you think about it, she’s almost as pretty as Yin Yin.”

“Still, compared to your sister, she’s a bit dull.”

Saying this,

the gray fox actually pulled up the identity device and began counting on his paws, making a ranking.

“Sister is the most beautiful.”

“Then Yin Yin and Nie Zheng.”

“Then Shan Ye, Shi Luohua, Mu Ying, Lu Tingting…”

Ji Xue scrolled through every person in the identity device.

Jiang Jian continued his cultivation, ignoring him.

After some time passed.

Ji Xue looked thoroughly satisfied, having finally completed his ranking.

Jiang Jian looked at him, his gaze slightly cold, and asked, “Have you sorted the messages?”

Ji Xue blinked, then said, “Not yet…”

BOOM!

A stream of flying-flower light slashed through!

It cleanly sheared off a tuft of Ji Xue’s fur!

Ji Xue shuddered violently, instantly frozen in terror, cowering in place without daring to move.

The flying-flower light, having passed over his head, suddenly slowed.

It dissipated into a shower of petals, vanishing.

Jiang Jian retracted his finger and said softly, “You can make whatever ridiculous rankings you like.”

“But there’s one condition—you must finish what I’ve asked you to do first.”

“Understood?”

Ji Xue pulled his neck in, nodding frantically: “Understood.”

As a daily spirit creature, a variant of the spirit fox.

His nature was naturally familiar.

After working efficiently for two days and past the cautious phase, he, like other members of his kind, began acting freely.

Jiang Jian had read Ji Xue’s profile and naturally understood his personality; he did not scold him further, softening his tone.

"This cultivation chamber is rich with spiritual energy; you should cultivate diligently."

"Perhaps one day, you'll break through to the Spirit Platform and take human form."

Hearing these words.

Ji Xue’s pupils trembled as he declared firmly: "That is utterly impossible!"

Spirit Platform realm.

It is the foundation upon which the essence of life begins to transform.

Beasts can shed their fur and take human form.

Ghosts can dispel their resentment and gain physical form.

Humans can perceive the soul and behold the Spirit Platform.

Spirits can awaken their bloodline and elevate their essence.

"That terrifying realm—don’t even think about it."

Ji Xue shook his head repeatedly, his gaze resolute: "Cultivating to the Spirit Platform realm is better than dying outright."

Jiang Jian asked: "Why?"

Ji Xue said: "How could anyone possibly reach such a realm without centuries of arduous cultivation?"

"Such suffocating monotony would surely drive a person mad."

Thinking of this, Ji Xue’s eyes filled with fear.

As a spirit fox of an exotic breed, he was naturally restless and hated stillness; nothing tormented him more than prolonged cultivation.

(End of Chapter)