CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: 2 MERIT POINTS

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

It was a rare outing for Ren Suo, and he was mainly waiting for Qiao Muyi to treat him to dinner. He decided to stop by the sports club, where he could use the Cultivation Ground for free by virtue of being a member of the Tactical Bureau. In fact, even if he wanted to pay, it wasn’t possible; only government-sanctioned personnel were allowed to use the Cultivation Ground there.

Since it was not yet off-duty hours, the Cultivation Ground was almost exclusively occupied by Ren Suo himself and a few staff members.

Clearly, the staff held Ren Suo in high regard. They prepared drinks for him during his Cultivation and even asked what he’d like to eat and what size bathrobe he wanted. Yes, the Cultivation Ground also provided meals, bathing facilities, and a sauna.

This made Ren Suo somewhat realize the state’s attitude toward ’submitted’ cultivators. The basic salary of a Tactical Bureau member wasn’t high, even lower than that of a fresh graduate from a key university. However, the subsidies were plentiful, and the benefits were good.

Of course, the most important thing was the Cultivation Ground. All cultivators aspiring to a transformation and hoping to catch the wave of the ’Spiritual Energy Transformation’ definitely had a much better chance with the help of a Cultivation Ground than with Wild Fox Zen.

Ren Suo also did some Cultivation before sleep, which, like running before bed, could improve sleep quality. However, if the efficiency of Cultivation in a normal environment was 1, then the efficiency at the Cultivation Ground was 15—perhaps even more.

With the Cultivation Ground and the nation’s established Cultivation System, working hard also meant one could exchange for Spells. This was obviously better than aimless practice.

During the five hours Ren Suo spent at the Cultivation Ground, he even activated "Infinite Stamina" for two hours. He felt his Qi Cyclone grow by about 10%, whereas all his previous bedtime Cultivation sessions combined barely amounted to 1%...

After five o’clock, Ren Suo saw people coming into the Cultivation Ground one after another.

Although called a ’Ground,’ it was actually divided into a ’Meditation Area’ and a ’Dynamic Area.’ The Meditation Area was partitioned into small cubicles, roughly the size of a toilet stall, each equipped with a meditation cushion and soundproofed on all four sides, allowing cultivators to practice quietly.

The Dynamic Area, naturally, was filled with a variety of equipment that allowed cultivators to exercise while adjusting their breathing.

Once a cultivator’s Qi Cyclone was formed and rotating, they could choose between static or dynamic Cultivation based on personal preference.

Ren Suo, of course, chose dynamic Cultivation. Since he spent his whole day playing games at home, he always felt he lacked physical exercise, so he exercised while cultivating...

In fact, once a cultivator possessed a Qi Cyclone, their Physical Condition would continually improve. Ren Suo’s concern was purely unnecessary.

When he finished his Cultivation and was about to leave, he encountered Xie Qiansi, who was just entering.

Xie Qiansi looked much more composed than he had just over ten days prior. Upon seeing Ren Suo, he seemed slightly startled, then promptly pulled him over to the rest area for a chat. "You never speak in the group chat, and you don’t post on your social media. I thought you were on some secret mission. Is the Tactical Bureau that busy?"

"Quite busy," Ren Suo said earnestly.

After chatting with Xie Qiansi for a while, Ren Suo learned that Xie Qiansi was now part of the Public Security System’s special operations team. They were mainly responsible for rapid responses to incidents involving the ’use of supernatural power’ within their jurisdiction. Examples included street performers using abilities like fire-breathing or ice-making, hooligans fighting with supernatural powers, or Awakeners suddenly undergoing their Awakening on the street. All these ’clearly identifiable’ Human Awakeners fell under the jurisdiction of the Public Security System.

The Tactical Bureau was specifically responsible for dealing with Non-Human entities or special events. Its responsibilities overlapped somewhat with the Public Security System, but they generally exchanged information. Easily resolved situations were handled by the nearest special operations team, while more complex ones were managed by the Tactical Bureau.

"Do you know where Zhao Huo has been recently?" Xie Qiansi suddenly asked.

"I have no idea... but he probably isn’t with the Tactical Bureau, right?" Ren Suo replied.

Xie Qiansi lowered his voice. "He’s gone missing."

"Gone missing?" Ren Suo was taken aback. "Dead?"

Xie Qiansi’s mouth twitched. "Come on, we shared a dorm for days. Do you have to be so harsh? Remember Zhao Huo’s Talent was 3.12, right? Even among the few hundred people in the training camp, he was likely in the top five, a real Genius."

"I’ve noticed that he and several other Geniuses with excellent Talent disappeared shortly after returning."

Ren Suo asked, "So what?"

"Well, I have inside information; they’ve likely gone for advanced training," Xie Qiansi said. "Naturally, talented Geniuses must be given more attention."

"And the point is what kind of work they’ll take on after they return from this advanced training." Xie Qiansi pointed to Ren Suo, then to himself. "Do you realize? We’re tools for the greater good, put to use after minimal training... like students who go to vocational schools right after compulsory education. Although it’s relevant, the prospects could hardly be considered good."

"The nation needs technical workers like us with specialized skills, but it also needs ’college students’ who have a complete education and limitless creative potential... You understand what I mean?"

Ren Suo shook his head.

Xie Qiansi explained, "You’ve been to university, so you know professors have to teach students and participate in research. For the nation, such a position is the ideal destination for a Genius Cultivator. They can pass on their experience and help the country break through certain technical difficulties in a superior environment..."

Ren Suo began to understand. "Are you saying that after their advanced training, Zhao Huo and the others might end up... taking on positions like teachers?"

"I didn’t say anything," Xie Qiansi stood up. "But if you ever hear your superiors hinting at something like ’advanced training,’ you might want to give it some thought."

Xie Qiansi’s words made Ren Suo quite distracted during dinner with Qiao Muyi. Qiao Muyi asked, "Don’t you like spicy hotpot skewers?"

The place she took Ren Suo for dinner was an old Chengdu-style spicy hotpot skewer restaurant. It offered all-you-can-drink herbal tea and beer, each skewer cost just one yuan, and the bill was even discounted to 58% of the original price. According to Qiao Muyi, "A frugal girl like me can only afford to treat you to this kind of delicious, cost-effective place."

Seeing Ren Suo’s absentmindedness, Qiao Muyi thought he was a picky eater who didn’t like the food.

"No, no," Ren Suo thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know about Zhao Huo..."

"Ah, have you talked with Chairman Xie?" Qiao Muyi immediately responded.

Xie Qiansi, with his power-hungry tendencies and fondness for expanding his connections, was jokingly called Chairman Xie by them. Ren Suo was taken aback, then quickly realized, "He’s talked to you?"

"We often make plans to go to the Cultivation Ground together," Qiao Muyi said. "Are you worried that the appearance of other cultivators with a formal education might cause you to lose your job?"

Ren Suo nodded; that was indeed what he was thinking.

"Don’t worry. Working for the government, although it also emphasizes that the competent should do more, still acknowledges seniority," Qiao Muyi said lightly. "For those of us who started working for the government from the beginning, the government will protect our jobs, at least as a formality. Besides, even if cultivators become abundant in the future, that should be a concern for the distant future, when the world will have changed in ways we can’t imagine."

"Moreover, just because there are more university students, does it mean that vocational students can’t find jobs?"

"More importantly, you know the saying, ’With great power comes great responsibility.’" Qiao Muyi picked up a skewer of chicken cartilage, dripping with spicy oil from the hotpot, its aroma tantalizing. She bit into it directly, chewing as she spoke, "Likewise, the lesser the Ability, the lesser the responsibility."

"If you want to stand at the forefront of the times, to call the winds and command the rains, plenty of opportunities more important than advanced training will await you in the future. If you just want to live a muddled life, your status as a cultivator will at least let you live comfortably. Most people are like us, just ordinary. After all, ’Everyone is born with a purpose,’ right?"

"We’ve already crossed the threshold; we have many choices. This isn’t the Cultivation World where it’s survival of the fittest. We work for order."

After listening, Ren Suo felt much better, as though he’d been told, ’It’s okay if you fail the test; many people failed this time.’ He then joined in devouring the skewers with gusto.

He wasn’t happy because Qiao Muyi said he could live well as a Salted Fish. It was her words, ’plenty of opportunities more important than advanced training,’ that made Ren Suo realize:

The Mini-World Game Console was an opportunity more important than any advanced training.

If not for the Mini-World Game Console, his Qi Cyclone might not have activated so quickly. Ren Suo even suspected his cultivation aptitude might have been a result of that "Physical Fitness Optimization."

Now, possessing the "Strong Heart Technique," he was at least slightly more important than an ordinary cultivator, almost like holding a golden rice bowl.

As long as he could gain more rewards in the future, even if Ren Suo couldn’t become the strongest person, he could at least become someone useful to the country, to society, to the nation, and to his family!

Yes, even if he were to be a Salted Fish, he would at least be a precious one—one that’s revered and saved to be eaten last!

"By the way, while I was recovering in the hospital, I incidentally awakened an Innate Spell. I should be transferred soon," Qiao Muyi mentioned casually.

Ren Suo nearly poked himself with the skewer. He put down the bamboo stick and looked at Qiao Muyi with a look of grievance.

Because he lacked Key Sense, Ren Suo almost forgot that Qiao Muyi was a suspected Awakener.

"You... you just fed me that ’Everyone is born with a purpose’ chicken soup, and now you turn around and dump a ’but I’m more useful than you’ pile of shit on me..."

Qiao Muyi laughed it off. "Well~ It’s pretty normal to awaken after a life-and-death crisis... It’s nothing. It just means my sensitivity to Spiritual Energy, my Talent, can slowly improve, that’s all."

Normal, my ass! If he didn’t have Key Sense, he would have been completely fooled by Qiao Muyi. She must have noticed the Tactical Bureau gives special treatment to Awakeners and decided to reveal her status now to increase her value.

And that Innate Spell looks pretty powerful too!

After the meal, Ren Suo dismissed Qiao Muyi’s tedious request to ’walk her home,’ and hurried back to try his heart-wrenching Krypton Gold plan!

He had hesitated about being stingy with his Merit Points before. But now, it seemed that given his modest Talent, limited diligence, and cautious nature, he likely wouldn’t seize any real-world opportunities. So, he had to concentrate on conquering the Mini-World Game Console.

Touch of Healing—he was determined to get it!

For the seventy-eighth time loading the save ’Before the Second Trial,’ Ren Suo controlled the fat character and once more approached the Bounty Exchange Square, summoning the Golden Ranger.

’Do you wish to expend Merit Points to hire the Golden Ranger to attack the exchange system?’

’Please enter the amount of Merit Points to spend.’

Ren Suo keyed in a number, and the system reminded him again, ’Do you wish to hire the Golden Ranger for 2 Merit Points?’

’Hiring successful! The Golden Ranger is attacking; please wait...’

Meanwhile, Ren Suo saw a notification pop up in the top right corner of the screen:

’You’ve activated the ’meticulous calculation’ effect, spending 1 Merit Point, current Merit Points remaining: 10’

He had triggered it on his first try!