Chapter 555

(Due to uploading several times while correcting typos in 'ginseng', yesterday's release volume hit the limit, so I had to merge chapters. Sorry, folks, please swipe up with your little hands!)

Spiritual Energy, as one of the three major ascension systems in the universe, its corresponding thought trend is mostly idealistic.

And the ways Spiritual Energy is discovered are not the same; for example, the 'Corrosive Form Spiritual Energy' from the sapphire incident.

Or it could be the 'Reactive Form Spiritual Energy' accidentally synthesized during research.

Or like Yu Xiaomo, who gains power through fantasy, the 'Idealistic Form Spiritual Energy'.

But the ascension system of Spiritual Energy is unified; the first stage is uniformly called: Enlightenment.

At this point, the Spiritual Energy system is at its weakest, possessing only a few abilities, not much different from the superhumans in some films and TV shows.

The ranks range from I to IX, that is, one to nine, almost corresponding to the Knight Simulator.

Enlightenment IX possesses the ability to alter terrain on a large scale, the strongest combat power on a planetary surface, but cannot reach the strength to destroy satellites; it's roughly the peak of that simulation.

And the remaining several stages of Spiritual Energy have been named by the Star Sea Hall, a total of six, namely:

First Stage — 'Enlightenment'

Second Stage — 'Basic Cognition'

Third Stage — 'Synapse Awakening'

Fourth Stage — 'Quantum-level Resonance'

Fifth Stage — 'Spectrum Domain Collapse'

Final Stage — 'Latitude Link to Divinity'

This is merely the naming by the Star Sea Hall, but aside from the first four stages, no civilization has been heard of reaching the later stages.

And Zhang Jie speculates that the 'Little Aunt's' realm is likely in the third stage, 'Synapse Awakening'.

After all, the other party's strength is clearly capable of personally destroying a star, and only the third stage can achieve that.

Pure Spiritual Energy continually penetrates the body, after a long time...

Enlightenment II, breakthrough!

"Tsk, a bit slow."

Zhang Jie shook his head; his real body is truly incapable in every way, except for having a simulator, nothing else can compare to the simulator.

This might just be an ordinary person—no talent, no particular specialty, just the most common human.

However, it's understandable; in the simulator, he has trait bonuses, and any S-rank trait taken out is a dimensionality-reduction strike.

Screw it! Add points!

Spiritual ability level differs from genes; each tier's increase is extremely obvious, yet each consumes twice the attribute points.

Zhang Jie did a rough calculation; if he only added points to spiritual ability, by the time he reached the burst‑star level the attribute points spent would even be cheaper than for genes—basically, upon reaching the third tier he could burst star.

His gene lock, however, is around level 25, still far from burst star.

After deducting 108 attribute points, Zhang Jie successfully reached the second tier of spiritual ability, "Elementary Cognition".

Strangely, upon reaching this tier, he could no longer continue adding points—it seemed something special was required.

"Elementary cognition... must be the reason for this."

"Well, we'll ask a professional about this later."

Zhang Jie intends to rest two days, then go ask his "little aunt" about her take on this elementary cognition—at least Old Zhang himself doesn't get it yet.

"Almost there, Xiao Jiu?"

"Still a while!"

Xiao Jiu's biological avatar walked over with a prepared fruit plate; Zhang Jie had thought it was to feed him, but Xiao Jiu instead plopped down beside him and began to show off.

Alright, if it were the old Xiao Jiu, we'd surely have to feed him two bites first; but now Xiao Jiu isn't afraid of exposure, isn't pretending, and has directly reverted to his true nature.

"Want me to rustle up a few more novels for you to read?"

"Yeah! Humans can do it!"

"You're really not being polite."

Zhang Jie laughed, rubbing Xiao Jiu's head twice; he still prefers this Xiao Jiu—unlike before, when he had to constantly stay proper and normal, such a Xiao Jiu is no longer needed.

"I'll take you out to play then."

"Okay~"

While waiting, Zhang Jie unconsciously pulled out that coin.

That coin Zhang Jie and Yu Xiaomo had bet on—the coin brought into reality—was said to offer another chance to choose.

"When exactly will this thing take effect?"

The coin has been kept very smooth; it looks almost no different from a brand‑new one, but in fact it has spanned many years.

"Never mind, we'll see later."

Soon after, Zhang Jie and Xiao Jiu arrived at Galaxy Dream Company, and Yu Xiaomo personally went to fetch them.

Originally, Yu Xiaomo was happy to come pick up Zhang Jie, but upon seeing Xiao Jiu chatting and laughing with Zhang Jie, he immediately sensed something was off.

"You you you! You couldn't be!"

"What's wrong with me?"

Xiao Jiu blinked his eyes; Yu Xiaomo, after a moment, couldn't make sense of it, so he let it be, but still secretly messaged Weiniya to ask.

After all, they're on the same side now, but unfortunately Weiniya is busy and didn't reply to her.

However, even if she had replied to Yu Xiaomo it wouldn't help; Weiniya herself doesn't know that Xiao Jiu is the next one, and she still innocently thinks Xiao Jiu is just a pure biological warship.

"Does she want to come along too?"

"Her? Just get her some novels and kids' toys to play with."

Xiao Jiu sent a resentful glance; Zhang Jie simply ignored him, as if Xiao Jiu would play some stupid game and go sit at the kids' table.

Thus, the poor Xiao Jiu was given a lone table and shoved aside.

What are you playing, you bad guy?

I don't know.

Then play this?

Anything goes.

Zhang Jie originally came just to relax; it doesn't matter what he plays.

Watching Yu Xiaomo tinker with the equipment enthusiastically, Zhang Jie finally couldn't suppress his inner doubt and asked Yu Xiaomo.

By the way, Xiao Mo, you've been playing with these things for so long, aren't you bored?

Yu Xiaomo's hand paused, but she pretended nothing was wrong and continued fiddling with the equipment.

Yeah, if I get bored I'll just develop a new game.

But usually I don't play, because there's no one to play with me.

Alright, listening to you sound pitiful.

Sigh, yeah, we can't go back to the past.

Yu Xiaomo sighed, the experience of being a player was indeed impressive, that world had too many twists and secrets, but fortunately they all returned to reality.

It was just Zhang Jie who got 'ga'ed.

Looking at Yu Xiaomo with an emo face, Zhang Jie thought for a moment, stretched out his finger, and refreshed the Idea King.

Hey! Should I call Liu Delie? Let's all three of us together?

Yu Xiaomo's eyes lit up instantly, looking at Zhang Jie.

Sure!

Thus, Liu Delie, who was sleeping off jet lag on the Star Planet of Building Dreams Company, was shaken awake by a communication.

Hey? Ga ha?

Come out!

?

Where to?

You come out first!

Liu Delie, looking speechless, was dragged out by the two; upon asking what these two idiots were up to, he immediately said they wanted him to come play games.

No, you two called me chulai just to mess with this thing?

Yeah, reminisce about the past.

Yu Xiaomo excitedly handed the equipment to the two of them.

I had the entire tech department work overtime three hours to rush out this game, it's absolutely exactly the same as the one we played before!

Let's play this 'Phantom Beast' first! The rest of the tech department is still working on it!

Zhang Jie's mouth twitched, 'Hey, why do you have to awaken this unbearable memory of mine? Back then, playing these things, for those few badges I almost puked my liver out.'

Moreover, he currently doesn't have the Nightmare that can be brought into the game—this isn't forcing him to eat poop, is it?

I thought they were three of them tackling a new game, but didn't expect they'd just go back to the old route.

You.... did you give them overtime pay?

Of course, 20x overtime pay, take it, buddy will be happy.

6

Let them stop rushing, let's play something new.

Liu Delie listened to their discussion and also became interested.

I agree, that old game I really don't want to touch.

Two versus one, we win!

Hey! Well, it's not impossible.

Great! Our 'Legendary Player Squad' assembles again! Ready!

Get ready, get ready, hurry up and get ready! Let's go!