152: Chapter 152 The question is what we're waiting for.

On the day of the parent-teacher meeting, Chen Zhen sat on the railing of the corridor outside the classroom.

There were many people inside; parents were gathered around Old Zhao, asking one after another about grades, rankings, and college admission rates.

Su Xiaoya's mother arrived early, and before going in, she specifically walked over to take a look at Chen Zhen.

"Are you Chen Zhen?"

"Hello, Auntie."

She nodded, said nothing, and turned to enter the classroom.

Chen Zhen had seen her from a distance before; she wasn't tall, was slightly plump, and always had a smile on her face.

She had been suffering from insomnia, but after using the talisman, she slept well, and her entire demeanor had changed.

Not long after, Su Xiaoya also snuck out of the classroom and stood next to Chen Zhen, leaning against the railing.

"My mom says she wants to treat you to a meal."

"No need."

Su Xiaoya looked at the playground downstairs and kicked the railing.

"She said you helped her a lot, and she would feel bad if she didn't show her gratitude."

Chen Zhen didn't speak.

Su Xiaoya waited for two seconds and sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

She took a plastic bag out of her pocket, which contained a few cookies wrapped in plastic wrap.

"My mom made them. She said if you won't eat, just take these."

Chen Zhen took them, unwrapped the plastic, and took one.

The cookies were cranberry-flavored, crumbly, and not very sweet.

"Is it good?"

"Mm."

Su Xiaoya smiled.

"Then I'll bring more next time."

When the parent-teacher meeting ended, Chen Zhen's mother walked out of the classroom.

She was wearing a dark blue coat, and her hair was combed neatly.

Seeing Chen Zhen, she walked over.

"Old Zhao said your grades are stable. Third in the city, keep it up."

"Mm."

His mother glanced at Su Xiaoya, and Su Xiaoya called out, "Hello, Auntie."

His mother smiled and nodded, then looked at Chen Zhen.

"I'm heading back first. Come home early tonight."

"Okay."

His mother left.

Su Xiaoya watched her back.

"Your mom is so young."

Chen Zhen didn't respond and put the remaining cookies into his pocket.

In the afternoon, at the Secret Base.

Chen Zhen sat cross-legged in the center of the formation, with three jade plaques placed in front of him.

North Mountain, West Mountain, South Mountain; their milky white surfaces shimmered with a faint light.

He lowered his head and looked at his chest.

He reached out and pressed against his chest, slowly injecting spiritual energy into the seed inside.

That spot of light brightened.

The system panel popped up a notification.

[east mountain jade tablet · Resonating]

[Current progress: 49 / 100]

Forty-nine. Yesterday it was forty-five; it increased by four points today.

It was very slow.

Chen Zhen withdrew his hand and took a breath.

Each time he injected spiritual energy, it could increase by four to five points.

Then his spiritual energy would bottom out, and he would need to recover.

He could try two to three times a day.

He calculated that it would probably take another five or six days to reach one hundred.

Zhou Rui stood up from the workbench and walked over.

"Master, how much did it increase today?"

"Four points."

Zhou Rui squatted down, staring at those three jade plaques.

"Too slow. Can't it be faster?"

"If it's too fast, problems arise easily."

Chen Zhen stood up and walked to the seedling.

The flower was still blooming, though the withered yellow on the edges of the petals had increased a bit more.

But the seed at the center of the flower was still very bright and steady.

Shen Nian was squatting nearby, holding a magnifying glass.

"It hasn't been growing lately. The leaf veins have stopped at fifty-two lines, and the flower bud hasn't gotten any bigger."

"It is waiting."

Shen Nian looked up at him. "Waiting for what?"

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

He was waiting for the jade plaques to return to their positions.

The jade plaques were waiting for him to inject spiritual energy.

The seedling was waiting for the jade plaques to return to their positions.

The flower was waiting for the seedling.

One link after another; there was no need to rush.

Chen Zhen returned to the center of the formation and closed his eyes.

Recovering spiritual energy.

He would try again in a while.

In the evening, Chen Zhen went to an appliance repair shop.

The middle-aged man was squatting at the door repairing an old refrigerator, his hands covered in grease.

Seeing Chen Zhen, he stood up.

"Young man, do you still have those stickers?"

Chen Zhen took ten advanced-level Conductive Talismans out of his pocket and handed them to him.

The man took them and looked at the deep red patterns on the talisman paper.

"These are different from last time."

"The effect is better. Just stick them on."

The man nodded and put the talismans away.

He took two hundred yuan out of his pocket and handed it over.

"A small token of my appreciation. Take it."

Chen Zhen shook his head. "I don't want money."

The man was stunned for a moment.

"Then what are you after?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"Nothing."

He turned and left.

The man stood at the door, holding the money in his hand, watching his back disappear.

At night, Chen Zhen tried again.

[east mountain jade tablet · Resonating]

[Current progress: 53 / 100]

Four points.

He withdrew his hand and leaned against the wall.

Yun Xi walked over from the doorway and sat down opposite him.

"Han Lie asked again when we are going to Changbai Mountain."

"Soon."

Yun Xi looked at him.

"You say that every time."

Chen Zhen didn't speak.

Yun Xi waited for two seconds, sighed, and leaned back against the wall.

Zhou Rui was still drawing talismans at the workbench, the tip of his brush wandering on the paper, very slowly and steadily.

Shen Nian was organizing the record book, writing something stroke by stroke.