Chapter 11: Fixed Increase

The transaction was complete, and Su Jingzhen didn’t plan to continue staying in the quiet room.

He still needed to digest some things.

Moreover, he remembered Shuang Jiang’s words about the importance of moderation in alchemy.

So, even though the current situation was quite pressing, he didn’t plan to continue practicing tonight.

The remaining ten medicinal materials were his capital for turning his life around, and he couldn’t afford to waste them.

“It’s getting late, I’ll head back to rest. You should get some rest too, young lady.”

After moving the alchemy furnace back to the corner, Su Jingzhen said to Shuang Jiang.

The latter was slightly surprised: “You’re not going to continue?”

Su Jingzhen smiled slightly: “You’re right, young lady. Alchemy can’t be rushed. I gained some insights from your guidance earlier. I’ll think it through thoroughly tonight and try again tomorrow.”

With that, Su Jingzhen pushed open the door and left.

Seeing this, Shuang Jiang’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, and she nodded slightly.

However, as soon as the door closed, Shuang Jiang sat down on the stone bed, eager to flip through the two notebooks Su Jingzhen had given her.

【Empathy +2】

【Empathy +2】

【Empathy +2】

Outside, Su Jingzhen saw the golden words flashing before his eyes, and he was overjoyed after a brief moment of stunned silence.

He had expected to get some points from Shuang Jiang, but he hadn’t expected to get six points.

He now had 61 points available.

【Cultivation: Qi Refining Initial Stage (2nd Layer) 0/200】

【Hint: Host’s dantian is damaged, point effectiveness reduced by half】

However, after taking a look at the panel, Su Jingzhen couldn’t help but sigh.

Breaking through to the third stage of Qi Refining would require 400 points, a daunting task.

Despite this, Su Jingzhen’s mood remained good.

He hummed a tune as he walked back to the kitchen.

At the same time, on the rooftop of a nearby house, two figures were hiding in the shadows, watching the school.

“Cancel the mission, retreat! There are other people in the school with unknown cultivation levels.”

Some people who walked in the darkness would never take action against the unknown.

As the words fell, the two figures disappeared like they had never been there.

In the quiet room, Shuang Jiang was reading a book with a serious expression, but her eyes glanced out the window, and a hint of disdainful smile appeared on her lips.

……

The next morning.

Su Jingzhen woke up early as usual.

As soon as he opened his eyes, golden words flashed before him.

【Days until the host’s dantian is fully destroyed: 500】

This reminder was always at the top.

【Daily fixed empathy points: Zhang Xiu: 4, Shuang Jiang: 2

Remaining usable points: 67】

This was a new reminder.

It made him overjoyed again.

Damn, it seemed that the points would increase every day.

Zhang Xiu’s empathy level bonus was four times, so the fixed points were four, and Shuang Jiang’s cultivation bonus was two times, so the fixed points were two. This was easy to understand.

Getting such a surprise early in the morning made Su Jingzhen’s mood even better.

However, he didn’t have money to buy medicinal materials for Shuang Jiang today.

After tidying up, he practiced in the courtyard for a while, waiting quietly for the children to arrive.

“Good morning, Mr. Su!”

Not long after, a beautiful eleven- or twelve-year-old girl in a white dress walked into the school, respectfully greeting Su Jingzhen.

“Good morning, Ning Yao.”

Su Jingzhen smiled back, and this little girl was sister-in-law Zhang Xiu’s daughter.

She was also his most satisfactory student at the moment.

He had a feeling that this time, Ning Yao would definitely awaken her spiritual roots.

As the little girl was about to enter the classroom, Su Jingzhen asked, “Has your mother returned?”

He knew that the situation in the city might be a bit precarious, and he was worried about sister-in-law Zhang Xiu.

“Mother said she had to go out yesterday, but she still hadn’t returned when I came here.”

Ning Yao replied, her tone not showing any worry.

Sister-in-law Zhang Xiu had protected her very well, and at her age she was still unaware of the cruelty of the cultivation world.

Su Jingzhen nodded, deep in thought.

Originally, Su Jingzhen had twenty-five students, but today, only nineteen people had arrived at the school by the start of class.

It was unprecedented for his students to be late.

Su Jingzhen furrowed his brow again, and a sense of unease grew in his heart.

The remaining students didn’t show up, and it was easy to guess why.

Six students were missing, and Su Jingzhen suddenly lost the motivation to continue teaching.

“Chen Chong, I’ll remember your name in my little book.”

“You’ll have to pay back what you owe sooner or later.”

Su Jingzhen muttered to himself.

Losing six students was a small matter, but it made Su Jingzhen sense a hint of crisis again.

Cuiliu Alley was strong overall, but it was still difficult to intervene in Peach Blossom Alley.

But they had managed to do so, proving their determination to integrate the school.

Thinking about it, Su Jingzhen walked into the classroom and said to the children, “In a few days, you’ll be going to Huayang Sect to participate in the spiritual roots awakening ceremony.”

“You can take a break and relax for a few days. It’s better than attending classes here.”

“Review the lessons from yesterday on your own today, and don’t come back tomorrow. We’ll meet again at Huayang Sect on the day of the awakening ceremony.”

When the children heard Su Jingzhen’s words, they were overjoyed.

“Yes!”

“Goodbye, Mr. Su!”

They cheered and bid farewell to Su Jingzhen before running off.

Seeing this, Su Jingzhen shook his head and sighed, thinking that not having to attend classes was always a huge surprise for children, no matter what world they were in.

“Goodbye, Mr. Su.”

Ning Yao, the first to arrive, was the last to leave, and she slightly bowed to Su Jingzhen.

Although she was young, she was already quite mature and seemed to have a sense of understanding that didn’t belong to her age.

“Be careful on your way home, and wait for your mother to return.”

Su Jingzhen specifically reminded her.

“I know, thank you, Mr. Su.”

Ning Yao bowed to Su Jingzhen again before leaving.

Su Jingzhen nodded, feeling more and more satisfied with this girl.

“This girl’s spiritual roots awakening ceremony is coming up, and I wonder what kind of spiritual roots she’ll awaken. It’s quite exciting.”

Huayang Sect held a spiritual roots awakening ceremony every year for children of a certain age, which was known as the awakening ceremony.

If a child had decent spiritual roots qualifications, they would be recruited as a disciple by Huayang Sect on the spot.

If they had a mysterious single spiritual root or even dual spiritual roots, they would have a chance to be recruited as an inner sect disciple.

Su Jingzhen had high expectations for Ning Yao.

If Ning Yao could become an inner sect disciple of Huayang Sect, and he, as her mentor, would have a strong backing. It would be impossible for Chen Chong to touch this school.

Although the school was already on the verge of collapse, and he, Su Jingzhen, had lost interest in it.

But there was a difference between closing the school himself and being forced to do so by others.

Being bullied to this extent, he still wanted to fight back.

He had always yearned for a quiet and peaceful life, but when faced with these challenges, he was willing to accept them.

Ning Yao might be one of his trump cards.

Closing the classroom door, Su Jingzhen headed towards the quiet room.

He had rested well last night and was in high spirits.

He felt that the alchemy matter was also settled.

As he approached the quiet room door, he instinctively knocked on it.

However, before his hand touched the door, it opened by itself.

Did you leave the door open for me?

Su Jingzhen’s heart skipped a beat as he pushed the door open.

Shuang Jiang was sitting on the stone bed, not cultivating, and her facial injuries had almost fully healed. It seemed that she would be fully recovered in a few days.

Her condition seemed to have improved compared to yesterday.

Seeing this, Su Jingzhen’s heart was slightly anxious.

He knew that he couldn’t keep Shuang Jiang here, and once she recovered, she would leave.

At first, he had hoped that Shuang Jiang would leave as soon as possible, but now he was reluctant to let her go.

He still wanted to earn more points from Shuang Jiang.

“Miss Shuang Jiang, your condition has improved significantly. I suppose you won’t be able to stay here for much longer, will you?”

Su Jingzhen asked casually.

Shuang Jiang raised an eyebrow: “What? Are you trying to drive me away?”