17: Chapter 17 Settlement, Evolution, and the Dawn of a New Commission

The smell of disinfectant mixed with the crisp morning air from outside the window, waking Lin Yuan from his deep coma.

The moment his consciousness returned, sharp pain followed—it felt as if his soul had been torn apart and then crudely stitched back together, with every inch transmitting a sense of overextended soreness and emptiness. The pain from the backlash of Baleful Qi and the surge of energy remaining in his meridians (especially his right arm) was even clearer. He couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, struggling to open his eyes.

His blurred vision gradually cleared: a white ceiling, an IV stand, and a thin hospital blanket covering him. It was a private room.

He tried to move his fingers; a wave of weakness washed over him, but at least his body was still intact, with no limbs missing. Memories flooded back like a tide: the terrifying night at Yongxin Cultural and Creative Park, the life-and-death negotiation with Mr. Mo, the fury of the "Mother of Rust," and finally, that all-or-nothing "Blade of Order"...

Did it succeed? He immediately focused his mind, attempting to sense it.

Deep within his soul, that [God of Ruins] divinity still existed, but it felt... different. It was no longer that dim, cold, "junk bond" quality that felt like it would shatter at any moment; instead, it had gained an indescribable resilience and a faint glimmer. It was like a piece of rusted iron that had been wiped clean; though still old, it could faintly reflect his own shadow.

Even more obvious was that there seemed to be a little something "extra" inside the divinity. He performed a careful "inner vision" and discovered that at the core of the divinity, besides the original faint golden thread representing the concept of "Optimization," there was now a small, slowly rotating gray-white cyclone. Inside the center of the cyclone, a tiny, curled-up white phantom and many even smaller gray light spots were faintly visible. Around the periphery of the cyclone, a circle of extremely faint, light-golden runes composed of his blood and intent flowed slowly, maintaining stability.

It was a miniature projection of that "Composite Spirit Body Containment Field"! It had been anchored within his divinity in some way? What was this? Did the divinity come with a "built-in prison" or "containment unit"?

With a thought, he tried to touch that gray-white cyclone with his consciousness. A mix of sadness, pain, and confusion, yet also a strange sense of "peace," was transmitted back. It was the contained resentments of the work-injured and the phantoms of the infant spirits. Their state seemed relatively stable, without frantic agitation, as if they were sleeping or being slowly "soothed" and "combed through" by the lingering aura of the light-golden runes and the "soul soothing guide."

Could this... be the application of the "Optimization" divine office at the energy level? To "contain" chaotic resentment and attempt to "comb and optimize" it?

He didn't have time to overthink it; a more urgent thought arose: The system! The commission! Faith points!

Almost the instant this thought arose, the familiar translucent interface automatically unfolded before his eyes, but it was brand new!

The interface, which had been as crude as a beta version of an app, was now clear, orderly, and even had a slight metallic luster. The information was arranged more systematically, and several new sections had been added.

[Divine Personal Terminal v1.01]

(Detected increase in divinity core stability, faith reserve has crossed the threshold, interface automatically upgraded)

[Bound Entity: Lin Yuan (God of Ruins)]

[Divine Office: God of Involution Termination and Blessing Optimization (Initial Insight)]

[Faith Level: 1 (Glimmer)]

[faith reserve: 50.001] (Note: Basic commission reward of 50 points has been credited; faint natural growth of 0.001)

[Divine Power Intensity: Faint but Stable] (Can support basic divine art casting and low-intensity energy operations)

[Divinity Traits (New): Order Affinity (Faint), Chaos Perception (Temporary), Weak mark of conquest]

[Divinity Attachment: Composite Spirit Body Containment Field (Miniature/Unstable)] (Click for details)

[Divine Ability List: Optimization Guidance (Beginner), Blade of Order (Prototype/Single Imprint)]

[Faith Connections: 3 (Solid)] (New: Zhang Qiming and two early online sympathizers)

[Shrine: None (Suggested to establish a faith anchor as soon as possible for steady improvement)]

[Assets: Composite Spirit Body Containment Field (Valuation in progress)]

[Liabilities: Lingxiao Capital Faith Loan (Principal: 1000. Current divine breath due: 30. Remaining time: 25 days 08 hours 47 minutes)]

faith reserve: 50.001!

Despite his body being weak and in pain, and despite his soul being exhausted, the moment he saw this number, an indescribable sense of security and power surged through Lin Yuan's entire body! It was no longer a struggle for fractions of a point, but a solid fifty points! It was enough to pay the first installment of divine breath, with twenty points left over as a development fund!

He had won the first round! From the edge of the cliff, he had forcibly clawed his way back!

The countdown was still cold, but it was no longer desperate.

He noticed that "Order Affinity (Faint)" and "Blade of Order (Prototype)" had been added to his [Divinity Traits]. This was likely the harvest from the final strike he had made by mobilizing all his will in conjunction with the "mark of conquest." Although the cost was immense, it seemed to have given his divine office substantial expansion—moving from simple "emotion and process Optimization" toward touching upon the deeper "reconstruction of energy order."

And that [Composite Spirit Body Containment Field] was actually counted as an "asset"? Although it was labeled "Valuation in progress" and "Unstable," it meant it might possess some value and could even be "disposed of" or "utilized" in the future?

Just as he was immersed in the new interface and information, the ward door was gently pushed open.

Boss Qian still had that same amiable smile, carrying a fruit basket, followed by a gentle-looking middle-aged doctor in a white coat.

"Consultant Lin, you're awake? How are you feeling?" Boss Qian placed the fruit basket on the bedside table. "This is Dr. Li, one of our own. She specializes in handling... well, 'special' injuries and energy disturbances. I specifically invited her."

Dr. Li stepped forward, placing her fingers on Lin Yuan's wrist as a gentle, cool aura probed inward. "Severe soul overextension, multiple fine cracks in the meridians with residual Baleful Qi, and both physical and mental strength are on the verge of exhaustion. Fortunately, the foundation is undamaged, and the divinity actually shows signs of becoming more solid... Truly strange." She glanced at Lin Yuan with curiosity in her eyes. "Young man, you played quite a big game last night. This Baleful Qi isn't ordinary Yin Balefulness; it's more like a mixture of an ancient battlefield and industrial resentment, with a trace of... having been forcibly combed and regulated?"

"I appreciate the trouble, Dr. Li." Lin Yuan didn't offer much explanation.

Dr. Li didn't ask further, taking out several pale green potions and a small box of ointment from her medical bag. "Internal medicine to soothe the spirit and supplement the soul, external application to clear the meridians and extract residual Baleful Qi. Use them on time. Do not violently use your spirituality or Power of Faith within the next three days; focus on resting. Boss Qian has already paid the fees."

"Thank you." Lin Yuan thanked her sincerely. Boss Qian had indeed been a huge help this time, from equipment to intelligence, and now this timely medical support.

Dr. Li left the medicine, gave a few instructions, and departed.

Boss Qian pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Lin Yuan with a smile. "I've already settled things with Chairman Liu. The park was surveyed this morning; the interior of the core factory is a mess, as if it experienced a small earthquake, but strangely, that bone-chilling, eerie feeling has vanished. Even the perimeter feels much 'fresher.' Although Chairman Liu is pained by the losses, he's more afraid of that thing coming back, and he's now absolutely impressed by your skills. The 50 points of faith have been transferred to your account as agreed. You received them, right?"

"I received them. Thank you for setting this up, Boss Qian." Lin Yuan nodded.

"Don't thank me; you earned it yourself." Boss Qian waved it off, his tone becoming slightly more serious. "However, there's something I must remind you of. Early this morning, when the park's energy field fluctuated violently, 'Lingxiao Capital' had a 'spiritual sense' sweep through that area. It was very subtle, but my people detected it. You made quite a commotion, and they've likely noticed you. A 'decayed' deity burdened with their high-interest loan suddenly having the ability to solve a thorny Baleful Array left by Mr. Mo... that doesn't fit their 'risk assessment' model for you."

Lin Yuan's heart sank. As expected, the creditors wouldn't stay asleep forever.

"What will they do?" Lin Yuan asked.

"Hard to say." Boss Qian rubbed his chin. "According to Lingxiao's usual style, for an 'asset' that shows unexpected value, they typically adopt two strategies: either increase monitoring and control, possibly even triggering hidden clauses in certain 'betting agreements' to squeeze out more value; or... if you show signs of being enough of a threat to their investment security—like having the ability to quickly pay off the debt and escape their control—they might consider 'risk disposal.'"

"Risk disposal?" Lin Yuan's gaze turned cold.

"That means 'harvesting' or 'clearing' unstable factors in advance," Boss Qian said bluntly. "Of course, your current value shouldn't be enough to make them use extreme measures yet. But during the next repayment cycle, you'd better be careful. They might create some 'small trouble' for you to test your mettle, or keep you running ragged so you can't smoothly accumulate capital for the next payment."

Lin Yuan remained silent. This was the game of capital: when you are weak, they squeeze you with high interest; when you show signs of rising, they use various means to suppress and control you, ensuring you always remain on their chessboard.

"Additionally, regarding Mr. Mo..." Boss Qian lowered his voice. "He took the core 'metal malevolence core,' so the deal is considered done. But a man like him is hard to read. That 'attention' he gave you might not be a good thing. The secret of your 'Optimization' might have caught his eye. In the future, try to keep a low profile."

With wolves in front (Lingxiao Capital) and tigers behind (Mr. Mo), while he himself was lying weak in a hospital bed, Lin Yuan felt the slight sense of relief he had just gained being replaced by pressure. But he wasn't discouraged; instead, he felt a familiar thrill, like maneuvering against giants in the financial market.

"I understand. Thanks for the warning." Lin Yuan mused. "Boss Qian, regarding that 'Composite Spirit Body Containment Field'... do you have any suggestions? It seems to be attached to my divinity now."

Boss Qian showed a look of interest. "Oh? You managed to contain it directly into your divinity? Your 'Optimization' path is indeed unique. This thing, if handled well, is a resource; if not, it's a bomb. Although the resentment inside is temporarily soothed, the root hasn't been eliminated, and the obsession remains. Long-term containment will not only drain your mind and Power of Faith, but if it loses control and backlashes, you'll be the first to suffer."

"I suggest two paths." Boss Qian held up two fingers. "First, find a temple or monastery with real expertise and pay the price to have a high-level priest perform a ritual for transcendence and purification. This is the safest way, but it's expensive, and since those resentments were processed by a mix of Mr. Mo's evil arts and your 'Optimization' power, ordinary transcendence might not work; it might require a special ceremony."

"Second," his eyes brightened slightly, "if you have confidence in your 'Optimization' ability, you can try to 'digest' it yourself. Not by devouring it, but through true 'Optimization and restructuring.' Use your divine office power to gradually transform the 'pain,' 'obsession,' and other negative emotions contained in that resentment into relatively neutral or usable 'energy' or 'information.' For example, can the extreme desire for 'safe operation' within the work-injury resentment be refined into some kind of faint rule insight in the field of 'production safety'? Can the pure obsession with 'life' and 'existence' in the infant spirit resentment be transformed into a subtle understanding of 'vitality' or 'purification'? This path is extremely risky, but if you succeed, the returns are the greatest, and it can greatly deepen the essence of your divine office."

Lin Yuan was shaken. Boss Qian's suggestion had opened a brand-new door for him! Deeply processing "distressed assets" to transform them into "specialty products"!

Wasn't this "asset securitization" or "innovation in distressed asset disposal" from the financial world? Except the underlying assets had changed from bonds to resentful spirits!

"I need time to consider." Lin Yuan didn't decide immediately.

"Of course, you still have over twenty days. The priority is to heal, pay off the first installment of divine breath, and stabilize your base." Boss Qian stood up. "By the way, that e-commerce client I mentioned earlier—after hearing you solved the big trouble at Yongxin, their interest has grown even stronger. When you're feeling better, shall I arrange a meeting?"

"Sure, in three days," Lin Yuan estimated his recovery time.

"Good, I'll arrange it. Get some rest." Boss Qian walked to the door, then turned back and smiled. "Kid, you're more of a troublemaker than I thought. But it's good to stir things up. This world is mostly dead and stagnant; it's more interesting with a 'variable' like you. Recover well, I'll be waiting for your next surprise."

After Boss Qian left, the ward returned to silence.

Lin Yuan endured the discomfort and took the green potion Dr. Li had given him. A cool, soothing sensation flowed through his limbs, and the stinging pain and exhaustion in his soul eased slightly.

He looked at the ceiling, his thoughts racing.

With 50 points of faith in hand, the pressure of the first installment of divine breath was temporarily relieved. But the road ahead was even more dangerous.

He needed to establish a "Shrine" (faith anchor) as soon as possible to improve steadily. He needed to deeply study the newly unlocked "Blade of Order" and the "spirit body containment field." He had to deal with the potential probing from Lingxiao Capital. He had to prepare for the meeting with the e-commerce client to expand his "Optimization Consultant" business. And he had to find a way to "dispose of" or "transform" the resentful spirits in the containment field...

A thousand threads of thought.

But this time, he had chips in his hand, a preliminary path that had been proven feasible, and... a glimmer of light.

He pulled up the system interface, looking at that [faith reserve: 50.001] and the countdown below it, which was still glaring but no longer terrifying.

Then, he noticed at the very bottom of the interface a line of extremely tiny text that hadn't been there before:

[Detected that divinity stability and faith reserve have reached the standard, hidden module 'Void God Spark' activation conditions are pre-loading...] (Progress: 0.1%)

Void God Spark? What was that?

Another unknown mystery.

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and stopped thinking about it.

The priority was recovery.

Then, with this "first pot of gold" of 50 points of faith and the "new assets" snatched from the ruins, he would face this new era where gods and demons coexisted with rampant capital, heading into the next, more intense round of the game.

The sunlight outside the window was just right.

And the countdown in his system quietly ticked away:

25 days 07 hours 12 minutes.

Time was still pressing.