The sudden eruption of spiritual energy came like long-awaited rain after a drought, plunging the entire world into euphoric celebration.
Dust-covered embroidery needles, rusted carving blades, and inkless inkstones—tools neglected for over a year—were pulled out from forgotten drawers and dusted off. Secondhand marketplaces saw prices for artisan tools skyrocket, and younger generations returned to their elective craft classes with renewed fervor.
Departments dedicated to spirit-lit infrastructure, which had long been disbanded, began summoning back their cultivator staff to rekindle abandoned spirit lanterns across the streets.
Online shopping platforms reinstated spirit-kite delivery options, and spirit-paper kites began flitting through the air once more, delivering packages with a shimmer of ethereal light.
The most heartening sign came from hospitals, where spirit creatures used for healing were reactivated. Patients no longer had to endure the pain of traditional medicine.
Restaurants that had rebranded as everyday diners quickly swapped back their old spirit-food menus overnight. One owner, watching the sudden emptiness of his mundane eatery, could only smile bitterly. "Figures. People still want spirit meals."
Cities rich in tombs and ruins became tourist hotspots again. On forums, the once-dormant "Unclaimed Spirit Artifact Exploration" section exploded in popularity. Recruitment threads filled the screen:
"Urgent need for an offensive-type spirit creature to explore a Western Zhou tomb. Profit split 70/30!"
"Looking for cultivators at Azure Spirit Fifth Stage or higher. Destination: Han dynasty royal mausoleum. Experience required!"
The market for spirit remnants soared. Prices fluctuated three times a day.
At Zhao Huoyan's side, spirit-paper kites fluttered in and out of space non-stop. His phone and WeChat app were bombarded with new notifications. Every message came from the central SEIU or regional SEIU branches asking him to bulk-purchase spirit souls.
Finally, Zhao Huoyan personally contacted Xiaozhu Mountain's finance director, Yan Feng. His voice carried a mix of urgency and restrained desperation:
"Master Yan, the SEIU needs a high-quality shipment of spirit souls, urgently. We can offer twenty percent above market price. When would be a good time for a face-to-face deal?"
Yan Feng, who had long anticipated this moment while preparing for her lady's next breakthrough, spoke over the phone from a small spirit residence set aside for such communications. With feigned difficulty, she replied:
"The spiritual tide just returned. Most of Xiaozhu Mountain's spirit creatures are still recovering. Lady Miaozhu doesn't have much energy to nourish the artifacts yet. It will take some time."
"Thirty percent! We'll go thirty percent above!"
Zhao Huoyan had dealt with her for years and knew just how difficult she could be. He didn't believe for a second that they had no spiritual essence left. Offering a higher price to show sincerity, he followed up with an emotional appeal.
"To tell you the truth, the SEIU suspects the tide is already entering its declining stage again. We need to help high-level cultivators break through quickly, in hopes they can trigger another global spiritual surge and delay the overall decay. Spirit remnants are vital to that effort."
"Very well. We did set aside a batch for Lady Miaozhu's personal use, but if it's for the greater good, we can spare it. However, the price must be fifty percent above market."
"Fifty? No, that's too high!" Zhao Huoyan feigned shock. "Sure, spiritual energy is back, but who knows how long it will last? The government is shifting priorities now. They want a balance between spiritual energy, spirit creatures, and scientific productivity. Farming, textile, and manufacturing industries are being revived. They're encouraging integrated development rather than full reliance on cultivation. Our budget has been cut. We really can't afford that much. Forty percent is our limit."
"Deal," Yan Feng replied immediately.
Zhao Huoyan instantly realized he had been played again. The price had been set too high.
But backing out now would hurt their relationship. He could only accept it with a tight heart.
Yan Feng smiled and brought out the meticulously prepared list of spirit remnants. It was thicker than any transaction before.
The more Zhao Huoyan read, the more shaken he became. The spiritual tide had been absent for years. The SEIU had nearly collapsed. Yet Song Miaozhu had managed to accumulate so many spirit remnants. Had she really not run out of energy?
Before he could speak, Yan Feng explained:
"These were stockpiled during the last surge. Lady Miaozhu anticipated the tide entering its final phase. She believes the more breakthroughs we achieve now, the better. That's why she agreed to sell these."
In truth, they were all remnants rendered useless to her after she developed her new method for directly infusing spiritual energy.
"I see," Zhao Huoyan nodded, suspicion eased.
After all, the spiritual surge had been global. No one else had any energy. It made sense that she had simply planned ahead.
"Also, we need to renew the lease on the underworld artifact warehouse. The paper servants managing artifacts at each SEIU branch also need contract extensions. Here's the new agreement."
There was precedent for this. After reviewing the contract, Yan Feng signed it without hesitation.
This unrelenting surge of spiritual energy had become a shot of adrenaline to a civilization on the brink of giving up cultivation.
Spirit-gathering dolls were humming again. The SEIU app's trading page lit up with new activity. Even in alleyways, people began discussing plans to resume cultivation.
Though the government was steering society toward a dual path—melding technology and cultivation in preparation for future spiritual shortages—the special treatment and resource allocation for cultivators remained generous.
Only Song Miaozhu knew the truth.
Sitting calmly at her desk, she felt the spiritual energy flowing around her and knew with certainty: this global surge had been triggered by her own breakthrough.
The spiritual tide had entered its terminal stage. Its decline could no longer be reversed.
Within her spiritual platform, a newly formed multicolored spirit crystal hovered above the black spirit crystal stairs.
Its flawless symmetry and radiant light mirrored the gate of colored brilliance suspended in the skies.
When this crystal solidified, her perspective had suddenly expanded. That distant, untouchable gate now stood right before her.
"Nine layers," she whispered to herself.
Just like the previous tiers, if she could pave nine full layers with these colored spirit crystals, she would rise another step upward.
This revelation filled her with renewed determination.
That gate—the one that had loomed in her spiritual platform since she first began cultivating—what did it truly lead to?
Was it the legendary Immortal Realm, or the key to shedding mortality?
As she stared into the swirling light of the gate, Song Miaozhu felt, for the first time, that she was just one step away from the final answer.