114: Shu Li, not dead?

"System, refresh the mall."

Lin Chuping tapped his palm with his fingertip.

This world could tolerate ghosts running rampant, so Shuli absolutely could not perish like this—that little fellow was not only a believer, but also his chosen right-hand man. If he couldn't even protect his subordinate, he, Lin Chuping, would be a truly pathetic "god."

Fortunately, in such a world of immortals and devils, anything was possible.

Most importantly, he was a man with a cheat.

"System, this is an emergency. If you can get me a few Magical Artifacts that help nourish and Cultivate the Soul, I'll consider buying your Star Isolation Grand Formation."

"Deal. The System mall has been refreshed."

The mechanical voice suddenly rang out, carrying a rare hint of urgency:

"Mall Rank: 2

Current Items:

1. soul stabilizing pearl: The best choice for stabilizing the Soul, enhancing Soul Power, and resisting mental attacks.

Price: 100,000 Incense Points (per pearl)

2. Soul-Summoning Banner: Condensed from Yin Qi, it can summon wandering Souls and help lost Souls return home.

Price: 100,000 Incense Points

3. Star Isolation Grand Formation: Absorbs the power of the stars and can isolate an entire area. Even mighty emperors would have to steer clear!

Price: 1 billion Incense Points

Note: Purchasable items refresh at midnight daily."

"I'll take them all."

Lin Chuping pressed his tongue against his molars.

He wasn't going to live frugally anymore.

As for his words about never touching loans again, he'd pretend he never said them.

Those were the words of Lin Chuping five minutes ago; what did they have to do with the current Lin Chuping?

However, Lin Chuping stroked his chin. The System could manipulate what items appeared in the mall refresh. To sell this Star Isolation Grand Formation, the System was really going all out.

Lin Chuping wasn't an ungrateful god. Since his Transmigration, the System had never tricked him, and he had a basic level of trust in it.

This item must be very important and extremely urgent.

Isolation Grand Formation?

Was it trying to isolate the governed territory? There was no need for that, was there?

He couldn't figure it out, so he'd buy it first.

"System, is the soul stabilizing pearl useful to me?"

"A little, better than nothing."

"Alright, two soul stabilizing pearls, the Soul-Summoning Banner... and the Grand Formation, too, please."

The consequence of all that buying was a return to square one overnight.

A loan of 990 million, requiring an annual interest payment of 178.2 million.

His current total Incense Points weren't even enough to cover a year's interest.

Did the System perhaps detect his somewhat laid-back personality and decide to give him some intensity?

Forcing growth prematurely was not good!

Lin Chuping sighed deeply. Immediately after speaking, he felt a tiny bit of regret; it was still impulsive spending.

However, the System didn't give Lin Chuping much time to regret. In less than a second, the transaction was complete.

It was a done deal.

"Ding! Incense Loan Agreement effective."

"Deducting 950 million Incense Points. The Host's current Incense Points are negative 990 million."

"Received: soul stabilizing pearl x2, Soul-Summoning Banner x1, Star Isolation Grand Formation x1."

Three balls of light descended consecutively.

The soul stabilizing pearl was chillingly cold to the touch, and Lin Chuping's palm instantly formed a layer of white frost;

The Soul-Summoning Banner moved without wind, and blood-colored runes writhed like living things;

Most astonishing was the Star Grand Formation—a palm-sized circular Formation Plate, cold to the touch, with ancient characters and patterns converging on it. Ancient runes flowed like a river of stars, and a light touch of a fingertip brought a vast pressure surging forth.

"It is recommended to deal with Shuli's Soul problem immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuping immediately took out the Soul-Summoning Banner.

With a thought, the distorted runes on the banner surface suddenly came alive, like countless tiny red snakes slithering across the cloth.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, Shuli's figure appearing in his mind.

"Soul, return!"

The banner moved without wind, and blood-colored light spread out like ripples.

A moment later, the ground began to tremble slightly.

Wisps of grayish-white mist were forcibly pulled out, coalescing in mid-air into a blurry mouse-shaped outline.

"System, can my eyes see ghosts?"

"Theoretically, yes, but those that are buried cannot be seen."

Shuli's Soul was incomplete, with a shocking large hole in his chest, which was where the fatal injury was located.

The Soul's eyes were tightly closed, seemingly having lost consciousness.

"soul stabilizing pearl!"

Lin Chuping hastily threw out a dark blue gem.

The pearl floated above Shuli's Soul, casting a soft blue light. The scattered Soul mist began to slowly gather, forming a blue light bridge, and Shuli's Soul was gradually solidifying.

"Soul consciousness has recovered."

"Preliminary conscious communication is possible."

Lin Chuping took a deep breath and lightly touched the Soul's forehead with his fingertip.

"Shuli, can you hear me?"

The Soul trembled slightly but did not respond.

"Next, simply place the Soul into the soul stabilizing pearl, and that will be all. In the future, when you acquire Cultivation Techniques for Souls, he can Cultivate on his own."

Lin Chuping followed the System's instructions and placed the Soul into the soul stabilizing pearl. Shuli's Soul slowly floated within it, the hideous crack on his chest still glaringly obvious.

"System, with me owing 1 billion, will I ever be able to buy Cultivation Techniques for Souls in this lifetime?"

"Host, your life is still very long; there's no need to belittle yourself."

* * *

"Next..."

Lin Chuping wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "I need to inform Shuling."

It was late at night, and Shuling was lightly sleeping in a hastily built straw shed.

Tears still hung at the corners of the little mouse demon's eyes, and she clutched Shuli's old clothes tightly in her arms.

Lin Chuping formed hand seals and chanted a spell, a wisp of Divine Sense floating into Shuling's dream via the Incense connection.

The dream was a wheat field. Shuling saw a hazy figure approaching from a distance, enveloped in sacred golden light.

She instinctively prostrated herself.

"God... Lord God."

"Look up."

Lin Chuping's voice came from all directions.

Shuling timidly looked up, only to see a dark blue gem suspended in the golden light. Within the gem, a familiar figure was vaguely visible.

"Hus... husband?!"

She abruptly stood up, tears gushing from her eyes.

"Shuli's Soul has been recovered, but it is severely damaged."

Lin Chuping controlled the dream imagery, showing snippets of the Soul-summoning, "It needs time to recuperate."

Shuling wildly kowtowed, her forehead bleeding from the impact: "Thank you, Lord God! Shuling is willing to work like an ox or horse..."

Although there were ghost cultivators in this world, not all beings could transform into ghost cultivators after death; it required a great Opportunity.

For example, a complete Soul, retaining its own consciousness after death, knowing suitable ghost Dao Cultivation Techniques, and so on—it was extremely strict.

Because without the support of Cultivation Techniques, a Soul could not condense for too long and would quickly dissipate.

Shuli was in such a situation; he not only lost consciousness, but the wound left at the time of death was also continuously leaking Yin Qi.

If not for the soul stabilizing pearl, complete dissipation would have been a matter of only a day or two.

"There's no need for that."

Lin Chuping raised his hand in a gesture of support, and the wound in the dream immediately healed, "You suffered this calamity while working for me. Naturally, I will not stand by and do nothing."

With those words, Lin Chuping did not engage in further conversation and withdrew from Shuling's dream.