100,000 yuan!
For a high school student with no family to rely on, surviving only on government aid, this was an astronomical sum of money. Standing before the entrance of Suzhou-Hangzhou's most exclusive shopping mall – where spiritual energy potions were sold like rare jewels – Bai Hao clutched the thick bundle of cash that had seemingly fallen from the sky just yesterday.
A single bottle of basic psionic enhancement potion cost more than an average family's entire annual income. Even as the lowest-grade potion available, its price was so exorbitant that ordinary people could never hope to afford it. But Bai Hao was now free from financial constraints he'd never imagined escaping, and with this unexpected windfall in hand, he knew he had to take the risk.
He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of urgency rise in his chest – the kind of desperate determination that comes with staking everything on a single gamble. The college entrance exams were just weeks away, and rumors spread like wildfire that many candidates were using these powerful elixirs to push their spiritual energy levels to the threshold of the "Spiritualist" realm before the Combat Assessment. It wasn't just about increasing their chances of survival in the brutal trial grounds – it was about opening the doors to top-tier psionic academies and rewriting their destinies entirely.
When opportunity knocked like this, the money in his hands became more than just wealth – it was a stepping stone to a future he'd never dared to imagine. With his knowledge of this world's rules, he understood perfectly that power was far more valuable than gold. He would never be foolish enough to cling to small gains while losing out on life-changing opportunities.
Every minute of the lunch break was precious, so Bai Hao immediately hailed a taxi and directed the driver to his destination. As he stepped out onto the mall's marble plaza, he noticed even the uniformed security guards at the entrance exuded palpable spiritual energy fluctuations – clear signs they were at least "Spirit Master" level!
In this world, anyone with average talent could reach the Spirit Master level by middle age through systematic cultivation, even without external assistance. Outside of recently awakened students, almost every working adult had achieved this basic level of power. Guards like these – approaching retirement age and still at Spirit Master rank – were a true reflection of how most lower-tier superhumans lived their lives. Those born into powerful families, however, could easily reach Great Spiritual Wizard level with the help of spiritual materials and elixirs, never settling for anything less.
The moment he stepped inside, Bai Hao was enveloped by opulence beyond anything he'd ever experienced. Beneath his feet lay special stone flooring that shimmered like polished crystal mirrors. Above, a massive crystal chandelier cast soft, ethereal light across the atrium, while the air carried a faint, cool aroma of expensive spices mixed with the metallic tang of rare alloys. Around the enormous central space, shop windows displayed items that glowed with unique psychic auras – almost all were rare treasures that only Spirit Masters could safely handle and use. Only a small, modest corner was set aside as a lounge area for customers, a stark contrast to the grandeur surrounding it.
This establishment truly lived up to its reputation as Suzhou-Hangzhou's premier destination for psionic goods. Rumor had it the minimum expenditure per person was 50,000 yuan – even those with low talent and cultivation levels would be too embarrassed to enter. In his original world, Bai Hao had never heard of such a place, and if one had existed, it would never have been located in the city center where privacy was impossible to maintain. Wealth and status always demanded discretion in consumption – but here, extravagance was on full display for all to see.
"Luckily… luckily I brought the money," Bai Hao muttered to himself, gripping the strap of his worn backpack tighter. He couldn't shake the awkward feeling of being completely out of place – like a country visitor stepping into a royal palace for the first time. The ten thick stacks of banknotes inside his bag felt heavy and incongruous against the backdrop of swirling psionic energy that filled the mall. In his previous life, 100,000 yuan would have been pocket change, but now it was everything he had – a lifeline that could change his future, forcing him to be careful with every single note.
Since his awakening, his perception had been completely transformed. It was as if an invisible switch had been flipped inside him – every person hurrying past seemed to have a tiny flame of spiritual energy burning within them, some bright and fierce, others dim and flickering. He could see the extent of their power, trace the minute circuits of their psychic energy flow with perfect clarity. It was an unsettling yet fascinating new ability he'd never expected to develop.
This must be spiritual awareness, he realized. According to ancient texts he'd read, only those with exceptional talent and an innate sensitivity to psychic energy could achieve this level of insight.
"Hiss…"
A sharp, stabbing pain shot through his brain, followed by waves of dizziness. Bai Hao shook his head violently, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "How could this be? None of the courses mentioned anything like this happening after awakening…" The overwhelming clarity of his new perception was already straining his nerves, making him feel more on edge than ever before. He forced himself to focus, pushing through the discomfort until he spotted his target.
Inside a transparent display case, rows of psionic potions refracted dazzling light under specialized lighting. Before he could get a closer look, a slender figure glided silently to stand before him.
"Hello, how may I assist you today?"
The voice was clear and pleasant. Bai Hao looked up to see a young, beautiful receptionist – she wore a black dress with a brown pencil skirt, a white silk scarf tied neatly around her neck. Her figure was slender and graceful, her makeup exquisite and precise, and she wore a professional smile that clearly came from rigorous training. She couldn't have been much older than him – probably a recent graduate or a student working part-time to support her studies. Even so, the spiritual energy radiating from her body indicated she was already a high-level Spiritualist.
It made sense – even ordinary receptionists here earned tens of thousands of yuan per day. Such high salaries naturally attracted countless young women to apply, ensuring only the best and most capable were hired.
Bai Hao's gaze didn't linger on her carefully made-up face. Instead, his eyes immediately locked onto the sparkling potions displayed on the counter before him.
- Basic Psionic Enhancement Potion: Price – 50,000 yuan
- Intermediate Psionic Enhancement Potion: Price – 300,000 yuan
- Advanced Psionic Enhancement Potion: Price – 2,000,000 yuan
"If you're going to charge this much, you might as well just rob people outright," Bai Hao muttered under his breath, feeling a pang of envy as he looked at the array of potions. Robbing this place would definitely be faster than hitting a bank, he thought wryly – though that was as far as the idea went. Without needing to think about it, he could sense the subtle yet powerful protective aura surrounding the counter. Any thief foolish enough to try something would end up as fertilizer for the mall's decorative plants before they could take a single step. Only someone with overwhelming power would even consider such a thing – and those people had no need to steal.
"I'd like two bottles of the basic psionic enhancement potion, please," Bai Hao said, pointing to the largest section of potions on the counter.
"Of course," the receptionist replied, her smile remaining perfect as silk sliding over skin. "Would you like to see our new products, or perhaps one of our special offer gift packages? They provide excellent value for advancing cultivation levels."
"No, thank you – just pack them for me," Bai Hao said firmly, shaking his head. His tone carried the weariness of someone who knew every penny counted. It felt like going to the hospital with a life-threatening illness and spending all his savings on nothing more than glucose – necessary, but painfully inadequate. In this world of superhumans, money seemed to lose its value the moment you needed to spend it on something that actually mattered.
The receptionist moved with practiced efficiency, her slender fingers wrapping the two simple glass bottles in high-quality silk before placing them in an elegant gift box decorated with delicate patterns. She then placed the box inside a beautiful satin-lined bag, every movement smooth and aesthetically pleasing. Bai Hao had no time to appreciate the presentation – as soon as he received the bag, he stuffed it into his worn backpack without hesitation, completely destroying the carefully crafted packaging.
Next, he pulled out the thick bundle of banknotes he'd received from Yun Meng – still tightly bound with white paper strips, the ink on the bills barely dry. Without hesitation, he pressed the entire 100,000 yuan onto the cold, glowing countertop. The money hadn't even had time to warm his hands before it was gone, leaving him with a deep sense of loss that settled heavy in his chest. Still, despite the heartache, he couldn't help but feel grateful to Yun Meng for her "gift" – without it, he would never have even had the chance to make this purchase.
With mere seconds to spare before the afternoon bell rang, Bai Hao burst through the classroom door, disheveled and gasping for breath as he collapsed into his chair. Almost instantly, Mu Wanqiu – who sat in the front row – quietly turned her head to look at him. Her clear, calm eyes – usually as still as autumn water – held a look of concern that seemed deeper and more pronounced than ever before.
"Bai Hao… what have you been doing these past few days? Could it be that you're…"
Few people knew that Bai Hao held a special place in Mu Wanqiu's heart. Though they rarely spoke in daily life, the feelings she'd kept carefully suppressed were becoming harder to hide as graduation and the college entrance exams drew near, threatening to separate them forever.
Before Bai Hao could catch his breath or respond, a loud shout erupted from behind him.
"OH MY GOD! YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS! EXPLOSIVE NEWS! No. 8 Middle School – one of their students who awakened today… they're an EMPEROR-RANK SPIRIT ENVOY!!"
The shout initially annoyed many students, but the words that followed immediately grabbed everyone's attention.
"Wh… what?! Emperor-rank?! That's impossible!" someone exclaimed, jumping to their feet so quickly their chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"What nonsense are you spouting? How many years has it been since No. 8 Middle School produced anyone remotely outstanding? Even the top schools in Suzhou-Hangzhou haven't had news like this in ages!"
Questions and criticisms flew from every direction.
"Exactly! Stop spreading lies – you're just trying to mess with us right before the exams!"
"Where did you get this information? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"Yeah! Don't ruin our school's morale with your nonsense!"
The male student who'd shouted the news glared defiantly at everyone around him, then suddenly held his phone high above his head, displaying the screen for all to see.
"Who says I'm lying?! I have a childhood friend who goes to No. 8 Middle School – he took this photo at the awakening ceremony himself! It's real! They've truly produced a genius-level talent!"
Buzzing –!
The air in the classroom felt like it had been sucked out and then ignited in an explosion of excitement. Emperor-rank! The Xia Kingdom hadn't seen a Spirit Envoy with Emperor-level talent in nearly three years – not since the last prodigy emerged two years ago. To have another appear now was nothing short of earth-shattering.
"Wow! That's incredible! It's been so long since our country had an Emperor-rank Spirit Envoy! No. 8 Middle School is going to be famous nationwide!"
"It's all over for us… Yesterday's evening paper just did a feature on our school's two Saint-rank talents – Mu Wanqiu and Yun Meng. I heard Jiangnan TV's interview van was already on the way… and now this! All our spotlight's been stolen!"
"What a shame… two Saint-rank talents, and their shine is already being overshadowed by an Emperor-rank before they even get a chance to stand out…"
"What can you do? Who cares about Saint-rank when there's an Emperor-rank around?"
Ring! Ring!
The school bell cut through the chatter, forcing everyone to sit back down – though whispers continued to spread like wildfire between students. Even the teacher was a few minutes late entering the classroom, likely because they too had heard the news about the extraordinary talent who'd just awakened at No. 8 Middle School.