156: Chapter 156 Injection

The first thing Chen Zhen did upon opening his eyes was to reach out and press his hand against his chest.

He channeled his spiritual power inward.

The system panel popped up.

[ east mountain jade tablet · Resonating ]

[ Current progress: 92 / 100 ]

Three points.

Four points yesterday, three points today.

It was getting slower and slower.

He sat up and leaned against the headboard.

Outside the window, the sky hadn't fully brightened yet; it was still gray and hazy.

His hand felt a bit sore—not the soreness of muscles, but that sensation of spiritual power being drained dry.

It was like a well that had been pumped dry, having to wait for the water to slowly seep back in.

He closed his eyes and rested for ten minutes.

Then, he pressed his hand against his chest again.

Once more.

[ east mountain jade tablet · Resonating ]

[ Current progress: 94 / 100 ]

Two points.

It was even slower.

He caught his breath and leaned back against the headboard.

Zhou Rui had once said, "It's too slow. Can't you speed it up a bit?"

He had replied, "If it's too fast, it's easy for problems to arise."

The problem now wasn't about speed; it was that his body couldn't take it anymore.

For twenty-one consecutive days, he had been infusing spiritual power three to four times a day.

The seed in his Dantian was spinning happily enough, but he was exhausted.

He stood up and walked to the window.

He pushed the window open, and a cold breeze rushed in.

Downstairs, the owner of the breakfast stall was packing up tables and chairs, stacking a pile of plastic stools high.

He yawned.

He turned around and headed out.

At nine in the morning, Chen Zhen arrived at the repair shop.

The shop door was closed.

He knocked a few times, but no one answered.

He knocked a few more times.

The door opened, and the middle-aged man poked his head out, his hair messy, wearing pajamas.

"So early?"

"It's not early."

The man turned sideways to let him in.

The shop was piled high with old appliances—televisions, refrigerators, washing machines—all in a jumble.

The man picked up a notebook from the table and opened it.

"That sticker of yours, I tried it. It saves forty percent on electricity; you said it was less."

Chen Zhen looked at him.

"The actual test showed it saved forty-five percent. I recorded it for three days and took photos of the electricity meter reading every day."

The man handed him the notebook.

Chen Zhen took it and glanced at it.

First day, before applying the talisman: 12.3 units.

After applying the talisman: 6.7 units.

Second day: 6.5 units.

Third day: 6.4 units.

On average, it saved forty-six percent.

The man pointed at the notebook.

"My wife says this thing is more useful than energy-saving light bulbs."

Chen Zhen returned the notebook to him.

"What about your relatives and friends?"

The man nodded. "They tried it too. Everyone says it works well."

He took an envelope out of the drawer and pushed it over.

"This is what they pooled together. It's not much, but you take it."

Chen Zhen didn't take it.

"I said I didn't want money."

The man stared at him for a few seconds.

"Then what exactly do you want?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment.

"Do me a favor."

"What favor?"

"If anyone comes to ask you about this sticker, help me write it down."

The man was stunned for a moment.

"Who would come looking?"

"I don't know. But they will come."

The man was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Alright. I'll help you record it."

Chen Zhen turned to leave.

The man called him back.

"Chen Zhen."

He turned his head.

The man took a plastic bag out of the drawer, which contained a few steamed buns.

"My wife steamed these. Try one."

Chen Zhen accepted it.

The buns were still warm, filled with chives and eggs.

He took a bite.

"Delicious."

The man smiled.

Leaving the repair shop, Chen Zhen ate the bun as he walked.

His phone vibrated.

A message from Zhou Rui: "Master, the seedling is glowing again."

Chen Zhen shoved the last bite of the bun into his mouth and quickened his pace.

When he arrived at the base, the door was open.

Zhou Rui was squatting in front of the flowerpot, Shen Nian was standing beside him, and Yun Xi was leaning against the doorway.

All three of them were staring at the seedling.

The petals had almost all fallen off, leaving only the small cluster in the center of the flower still glowing.

But the new bud at the base of the calyx had already unfurled its first leaf.

It was a tender green, very small, like a baby's palm.

There was a golden vein on the leaf.

It was very faint, but it definitely existed.

Chen Zhen walked over and crouched down.

The new bud was glowing.

It was very faint, but very steady.

It connected with the light from the flower's center, like a thin golden thread.

"It is connecting," Shen Nian said. "The flower is transmitting the light to the bud."

Chen Zhen reached out and gently touched the new bud.

The moment his fingertips touched it, a faint consciousness came through.

It wasn't the clear emotions of a mature plant, but a vague, nascent consciousness.

It was saying: "I have received it."

Chen Zhen withdrew his hand and stood up.

"It has grown up," Zhou Rui said. "When the flower withers, it will be able to be independent."

Chen Zhen walked back to the center of the formation and sat down.

He reached out and pressed his hand against his chest.

[ east mountain jade tablet · Resonating ]

[ Current progress: 96 / 100 ]

Two points.

He withdrew his hand and caught his breath.

Zhou Rui walked over.

"Master, you don't look well."

"I'm fine."

"You should rest. Don't force yourself."

Chen Zhen nodded.

He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

The seedling was glowing, the new bud was growing, and the jade plaque was resonating.

He heard the sound of his own heartbeat.

Thump, thump, thump.

Very slow, very steady.

It was the same speed as the seed's rotation.

He was synchronizing.

It wasn't just him infusing spiritual power; the seed was helping him too.

He was infusing, and the seed was guiding.

The two of them were pulling that rope together.

He opened his eyes and reached out to press his hand against his chest.

One last time.

Infusing spiritual power.

[ east mountain jade tablet · Resonating ]

[ Current progress: 98 / 100 ]

One point.

He withdrew his hand and let out a long breath.

Two points left.

Tomorrow.

He stood up and walked to the window.

The sky was turning dark, and the city lights were turning on one by one.

On the street below, some people were walking their dogs, some were jogging, and others were carrying vegetable baskets home.