"How do you view ability users?"
"How... view? What aspect are you referring to?"
"Say whatever you want."
"Uh..." Mo Chuan pondered for a moment before replying, "First, the essence of ability users is a partial change in genes, allowing them to resonate with the abundant energy gas in heaven and earth, 'Spiritual Energy,' circulate it within their bodies, and finally transform it into various forms for expulsion, thereby achieving the effect of using spiritual energy skills."
"Mm, continue." Qing Lianzi nodded noncommittally.
"The abilities of ability users are largely related to their spirit-energy objects, and spirit-energy objects are related to personality. Those who are easily angered are more likely to awaken offensive abilities than the gentle ones. However, the proportion of ability users in most countries and regions is a thought-provoking sixty percent, while the proportion of ability users above the sixth stage is less than one in ten thousand."
"Do you know why ability users divide the third and sixth stages as the demarcation lines for ability users?" Qing Lianzi suddenly interrupted.
"Because... the increase in skills and the change in tactics?" Mo Chuan ventured.
"It's not that complicated, it's actually very simple: Ability users below B-rank can at most awaken three skills, with very few exceptions; while ability users below S-rank can generally awaken six to seven skills."
"So... the upper limit of an ability user's strength is actually determined when they awaken their ability?" Mo Chuan asked, stunned.
Qing Lianzi did not answer Mo Chuan's question but continued speaking to himself, "In fact, many ability users only barely reach the fifth stage in their entire lives, which is why people like you, who can enter the fourth or fifth stage around the age of twenty, are called geniuses."
"Let me ask you again, what are the key points for absorbing and circulating spiritual energy?"
Mo Chuan recalled the contents of "Great Freedom Meditation" and said, "Embrace energy into one, draw but do not absorb..."
"No, I'm asking about the key points for your own absorption and circulation of spiritual energy."
Mo Chuan looked dumbfounded, then carefully recalled and attempted to say, "Uh... there are no key points..."
"Very smooth? Fluid? Without any blockages or bottlenecks?"
"Mm..."
"This is the experience of ability users above S-rank," Qing Lianzi said. "If I asked someone below B-rank, no, below A-rank, they couldn't guarantee a hundred percent that they wouldn't encounter any obstacles or bottlenecks when absorbing and circulating spiritual energy."
"Uh... Teacher Lian..."
"Mm? What did you say?"
"Uh... Sister Lian..." Mo Chuan scratched his head and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Qing Lianzi chuckled and asked, "Have you, kid, not seen your teachers and classmates since the start of the semester?"
"Yes, I know you and Senior Tea Pig are busy with something, but I don't know about the others, and I don't even know who my classmates are..."
"That's because they were all brought in by their respective teachers. Class hasn't started yet; they're all having private tutoring. You were supposed to be the luckiest, as you have two teachers looking for you," Qing Lianzi chuckled. "But I have a mission, and Senior Tea Pig also had a temporary issue, so I left you alone in the special class to explore on your own."
"However, it's good this way. At least I can also give you some lessons and teach you the methods of breathing and circulating spiritual energy..."
...
In the morning, the meeting was held as scheduled. Both sides tested each other's bottom lines and engaged in some back-and-forth. They hadn't intended to reach any conclusions, it was merely a simple exchange of blows.
During the mid-session break, Mo Chuan, acting as a bodyguard, quietly guarded behind Zhizi, activating [Demon's Shadow].
"Little Taoist priest," Zhizi suddenly spoke.
Mo Chuan did not respond but quietly moved closer.
"Take me back to the guesthouse. I won't be attending the afternoon meeting."
Mo Chuan frowned and looked at the Prince on the opposite side. Although the Prince seemed somewhat puzzled, he said nothing and continued eating.
Mo Chuan materialized, startling the remaining three people at the table. He then took out his phone to contact the driver.
A while later, watching the people enter the courtyard, Mo Chuan leaned against the car door and stroked his chin.
"Master, have a smoke?" the driver offered, a cigarette dangling from his own lips. (Mentally picture this in Shandong dialect)
Mo Chuan took out his pipe from his pocket, signaling that he didn't smoke cigarettes.
The driver raised his eyebrows, put away the cigarette pack, and said, "The order from above is for Master to keep a close eye on these foreign women these days. There's something wrong with this negotiation."
This time, it was Mo Chuan's turn to look at the driver with surprise.
The driver smiled without speaking, pointing to his lapel pin – a five-star crimson shield representing the Ability Administration.
Mo Chuan nodded, activated [Demon's Shadow], and entered the courtyard. The driver finished his cigarette, stubbed out the butt, and drove away.
...
As soon as Mo Chuan entered the courtyard, he saw Zhizi sitting on a stone chair under the pavilion, her eyes fixed on the koi in the pond.
"Little Taoist priest, I know you're here." Zhizi stood up, glanced in Mo Chuan's direction, then turned and walked into her room, saying, "Little Taoist priest, come in for a chat. I've prepared some matcha."
Mo Chuan didn't know why she could always see him or what she was planning, but he secretly took out the antidote pill given to him by Qing Lianzi, materialized, and entered the room.
Zhizi was a Level 2 foreign dignitary, so her room was naturally well-appointed: exquisite ceramic ornaments, an ancient lacquered wooden table, elegant calligraphy and paintings, and a bronze incense burner...
To be fair, it was much better than Mo Chuan's employee dormitory.
"Little Taoist priest, please be seated."
Zhizi's ethereal voice sounded from behind Mo Chuan. Honestly, he disliked this feeling – it made him instinctively want to attack backward.
Mo Chuan suppressed the urge to summon his grappling hook and sat down. Zhizi also sat opposite Mo Chuan and began preparing the tea.
"Little Taoist priest, do you know why I came back?" Zhizi asked.
Mo Chuan looked at her in surprise. How would I know why you came back? But he still calmly replied, "Miss Zhizi must have her reasons."
"In our Neon country, Crown Prince's throne is unstable," Zhizi calmly dropped a bombshell, leaving Mo Chuan utterly bewildered.
However, even more explosive news was yet to come: "This negotiation was actively taken on by my brother. He wants to disrupt this negotiation or minimize losses by cooperating with the Cross Alliance and the Extreme Sun Empire." Saying this, Zhizi pushed a coarse pottery cup to Mo Chuan and said, "Please."
Mo Chuan picked up the cup and took a sip, pretending to have swallowed it – since she had dropped such explosive news, there was definitely something wrong with this tea.
Now, it was time to act.
"Pfft—" Mo Chuan sprayed the tea onto the ground, his body slumping onto the chair, weakly saying, "You... tea..."
Zhizi's lips curved slightly. She hadn't expected the soporific agent to take effect so quickly. She stood up, walked to the door, and placed her hand on the lock.
A cold aura swept past, and the metal door lock was sealed with ice and snow.
"Alright, Little Taoist priest..." Zhizi removed her veil, revealing pure white eyes, eyebrows, and even eyelashes, exhaling cold air as she said, "Now, where shall we begin?"