Spiritual Might Level Up

Wang Xun's conversation with the stall owner piqued Kūkaku Shiba's interest.

She was still chewing the fruit Wang Xun had given her, its sweet and sour juice bursting in her mouth, but her eyes remained fixed on the two men talking.

Wang Xun pondered for a moment. If this fruit that provided an experience bonus really grew on only a few trees, then their growing environment had to be unusual.

Either the soil contained special Reishi, or something nearby was affecting the composition of the Reishi.

Either way, it was worth a look.

"Sir, when are you heading back?"

"My son is still taking his exam. We'll leave after he finishes this afternoon, but it's a long way into the mountains. Getting there takes most of a day. You're a student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, young man. I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to leave, will it?"

"That's easy enough," Wang Xun said with a smile. "I'm off for the next few days, so I can go out."

The man nodded repeatedly.

"Good, then. How about I wait for you here this afternoon?"

"All right."

Kūkaku Shiba had heard everything from the side. Seeing that Wang Xun really intended to travel so far for a few fruit trees, she couldn't help growing curious.

"Wang Xun, are these fruits worth going so far out of your way?"

"Let's just say I want to satisfy my curiosity."

Wang Xun smiled, offering no further explanation.

As he looked at the fruit covered in the glow of fragments, those fragments were what held real value for him.

He reached into the fruit and rummaged around, absorbing the fragments.

[Obtained tiny Reiryoku fragment ×44, Spiritual Might experience +44]

[Spiritual Might: tenth rank (experience: 2755/3000)]

He was getting closer and closer to a Spiritual Might breakthrough.

He divided the remaining fruit into two portions, handing one to Nanao and carrying the other himself, intending to share it with his classmates and teachers when he returned.

Nanao took the bag and looked earnestly at Wang Xun. "Are you really going?"

"Yeah. There's no harm in taking a look." Wang Xun nodded. "Maybe I'll find something interesting."

A trace of hesitation flashed through Nanao's eyes. She actually wanted to go with Wang Xun and have a look too.

"It's a shame... I can't go."

Nanao's voice was tinged with clear regret.

"The elders in my family won't let me go too far from home."

Kūkaku Shiba's eyes darted around, and she suddenly spoke up. "Hey, Wang Xun, how about I go with you?"

Nanao's eyes widened, and she stared at the girl before her in disbelief.

"Second sister," Ganju Shiba said, hastily grabbing her, "big brother said he was taking us to that famous Ichiraku Ramen tonight!"

"We can eat ramen anytime."

Kūkaku shook off her brother's hand and looked at Wang Xun, her eyes shining as she patted her chest.

"I'm pretty interested in those trees too. Besides, I know Rukongai well. With me there, maybe I can help you out somehow."

Wang Xun blinked. Had he just heard the name of his own shop?

He thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right. Sorry for the trouble."

"Great!" Kūkaku patted her chest excitedly. "Then after the exam ends this afternoon, I'll wait for you here with the bald uncle!"

Beside her, the man silently touched his balding head.

Wang Xun turned and left with the somewhat restless Nanao. Before he went, he turned his head slightly.

"Oh, right. If you go to Ichiraku, mention my name and you'll get twenty percent off."

Ganju Shiba watched Wang Xun walk away and scratched his head in puzzlement.

"We get a discount just by mentioning him?"

In the blink of an eye, afternoon arrived, and the students who had finished their exams began leaving one after another.

When he reached the entrance, the stall owner and Kūkaku Shiba were already waiting there.

The man's son was still young and looked utterly dejected. It seemed he hadn't done well.

He stood in stark contrast to Kaien Shiba, who looked elated beside him.

"Wang Xun, over here!"

Kūkaku waved at Wang Xun, looking full of energy.

When Kaien saw Wang Xun, he smiled and stepped forward.

"So you're a senior at the Spiritual Arts Academy. We've met once before. I hope Kūkaku hasn't caused you any trouble."

"Not at all. We'll be schoolmates from now on, so let's keep in touch."

Wang Xun exchanged a few pleasantries with Kaien.

"Everyone's here, so let's get going."

After leaving Rukongai, the group went their separate ways.

As the sky began to darken, Wang Xun and Kūkaku, led by the stall owner, reached a village in the woods of West District 2.

The man took his child home and looked at the dimming sky.

"It's getting dark. I'm afraid it won't be safe to go into the mountains. Why don't you stay at my house for the night, and we'll head into the mountains tomorrow morning?"

Wang Xun looked at the hazy outline of the distant mountains.

"That's true. Sorry to impose, then."

They had a simple meal at the man's house. The food was plain, yet it brought a rare sense of comfort.

Moonlight descended, and Wang Xun sat by the door, gazing at the clear night sky, his heart unusually peaceful.

At some point, Kūkaku sat down beside him, her arms resting on her knees as she tilted her head to look at him.

The young man's white hair glimmered in the night, and Kūkaku suddenly couldn't quite remember why she had wanted to come along.

"You seem awfully interested in those trees. Are they useful to you?"

The girl's large eyes sparkled in the night as she quietly watched Wang Xun.

The moonlight fell in his eyes, revealing a calm depth.

"It's just curiosity. Maybe that's what makes life enjoyable."

"What about you? Why did you want to come along?"

Kūkaku looked into the distance, then buried her chin in the crook of her arms, leaving only part of her face visible.

"Hmm, I guess I was curious too..."

The air fell quiet.

A moonlit night, the woods, and the chirping of insects.

After sitting for a while, Wang Xun yawned, got up, and walked toward the house.

"It's getting late. Let's rest. We still have a journey ahead tomorrow."

Kūkaku watched Wang Xun's retreating figure and smoothed down a few stray hairs.

In truth, she had no answer to that question.

The night passed without incident, and the group set out early the next morning.

But as they traveled farther off the beaten path, the buildings around them grew sparse, eventually giving way to dense woodland.

"The mountains start here." The stall owner pointed to the mountain range stretching out ahead. "Those trees are deep in a valley, and the path isn't easy."

"It's all right, sir. Lead the way," Wang Xun said, gesturing ahead.

The three entered the mountain forest and followed a rugged trail.

After walking for a little over two hours, they found the trees around them growing denser, sunlight filtering through layers of branches and leaves to cast mottled patterns.

"We're almost there." The stall owner wiped the sweat from his forehead. "It's in the valley just ahead."

They rounded a mountain bend, and the view suddenly opened up.

A secluded valley appeared before the three of them. Mist hung in the valley, and several oddly shaped trees stood quietly within it.

The trees were about as tall as a person and looked no different from other trees, except that they appeared young.

"These are the ones."

The stall owner pointed to the small trees.

"I only found them recently myself. Strange thing is, I often come into the mountains to gather firewood, but I'd never noticed this place before."

The trunks emitted the faint glow of fragments, which shone brightly in Wang Xun's eyes.

Kūkaku looked at the small trees, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.

"There's nothing different about these trees. Are you sure, sir?"

"The environment here is nice, but there's nothing special around it. It doesn't look like enough to produce fruit like that."

The man scratched his head.

"These are definitely the trees. Look, I picked all the fruit off them. I can't be wrong."

"Huh, really?"

Kūkaku looked around while Wang Xun walked closer and reached out to touch the faint glow on the trunks.

[Obtained large Reiryoku fragment ×5, Spiritual Might experience +500]

[Spiritual Might level increased ↑]

[Spiritual Might: ninth rank (experience: 255/5000)]

Wang Xun's heart trembled.

Rich Reiryoku instantly filled his body, and he felt a sudden ease throughout his limbs and bones.

His Spiritual Might had broken through to the next level.

These trees had given him as much Spiritual Might experience as nearly two months at the Spiritual Arts Academy.

That experience alone had made the trip worthwhile.

But strangely, the system text did not disappear.

As Wang Xun watched, a new line of text slowly appeared.

[Obtained tiny Hōgyoku fragment, Hōgyoku awakening +0.05%]

[Special ability unlocked: Hōgyoku (awakening: 0.05%)]

A strange sensation appeared in Wang Xun's chest.

Within a Shinigami's spiritual body, Saketsu and Hakusui, the two major points located in the chest and abdomen, were crucial points where Reiryoku gathered.

Wang Xun sensed an extremely tiny fragment floating within the Saketsu in his chest, merging with his soul.

Even with Wang Xun's composure, he couldn't help freezing for a moment.

Hō... gyoku?