According to the plot the two of them had received, the second wave of Spiritual Energy Revival should have been five years from now.
But at present they could clearly sense that the concentration of spiritual energy was accelerating, and as Qin Jingzhou looked at Ling Jing, he said, "Things are getting exciting."
"The World Will really trusts us," Ling Jing giggled. "All this time, she’s been using all her strength to slow down the rise in spiritual energy, so much so that she hasn’t had time for anything else. Now that she thinks we’ve done a decent job, she’s stopped holding herself back and finally let go."
As soon as she finished speaking, both systems relayed a cheerful string of "Hehe, thanks for your hard work" to their respective hosts. Ling Jing and Qin Jingzhou exchanged smiles.
With the Spiritual Energy Revival speeding up, the first to sense it were the two of them. Next—well, not the Extraordinaries of this world, but rather the Evil God larvae hidden in the rifts between dimensions, as well as the Evil God eggs that hadn’t yet awakened due to the previous scarcity of spiritual energy.
Ling Jing, wrapped in Qin Jingzhou’s divine sense, switched directly to a godlike perspective. She could not only see the strength of spiritual energy and the presence of Extraordinaries all over the planet at a glance but could also clearly see the Evil Gods lurking in the cracks between dimensions, staring hungrily at this world with rather horrendous appearances.
What was even more revolting was the sight of the Evil God larvae—so densely packed together, stacking up in clumps like patches of dandruff.
Returning to her own spirit, Ling Jing reluctantly pulled her boyfriend’s hand. "Is this what the world looks like from a big boss’s perspective?" she said. Her motivation to cultivate soared.
Qin Jingzhou didn’t even try to be modest. "Yes." He had taken her on this out-of-body ‘journey’ precisely to encourage her. "Once you reach the Divine Transformation Stage, you’ll be able to do it too."
Ling Jing rested her head on her boyfriend’s shoulder. "I’ll be fully prepared. When the world’s spiritual energy gets dense enough for me to break through, I’ll start advancing to the Divine Transformation Stage!" As she spoke, she pinched his cheek. "Don’t be afraid I’ll get annoyed or discouraged. I like a boyfriend who pushes me to improve. If I ever feel too pressured being with you, I’ll let you know."
Qin Jingzhou smiled. "I’ll remember that." He would never give her the chance to say so.
Ling Jing understood clearly what he was implying. Pressing her cheek against his, she said, "I can’t handle the domineering CEO type, but you being a little bossy once in a while… is pretty cute."
Qin Jingzhou let her play with his face. "You’re the first one who’s ever called me cute."
Ling Jing burst out laughing.
In between their cuddling and kissing, they didn't forget to send a message to Chief Li: Spiritual Energy Revival has begun again, Evil God larvae are multiplying rapidly, seize the opportunity to get ready.
Having spelled it out this clearly, the Officials quickly came up with a plan after a brief collaborative discussion. Not only did they go all out encouraging the public to hunt and cook Evil Gods to eat, but the Officials also set up over a thousand professional Evil God larva hunting teams. Except for a few reserved for storage and research, the vast majority of the hunted larvae were boiled and eaten on the spot.
For the first three to five meals, people honestly didn’t feel much, and since the taste was particularly off-putting, many ate with reluctance, even though they knew it was good for them.
But after eating it once every other day for a month, anyone could sense changes in themselves.
Chief Li, bursting with excitement, even posted an anonymous thread.
I have a stomach ulcer. Lately, there’s been a lot of overtime at work, so the condition got worse, but I had no way to take leave due to special circumstances.
It just so happened that the department started handing out boiled Evil God larvae as an overtime perk. My colleagues and I had to pinch our noses at meal times to get through it.
If it wasn’t for knowing that this was highly recommended by the world’s top big boss, we wouldn’t have wanted to eat it at all. Luckily it was just three or four slices per meal. After hesitating and bracing ourselves, we managed to swallow it down.
By the tenth time, I could clearly feel my tongue urging me to spit it out, while my stomach was clamoring for me to hurry up and send it down!
That same day, I went to a medical checkup. The doctor was amazed by the report.
Because my stomach ulcer… was gone. As if I’d never had it in the first place.
The big boss’s girlfriend, almost as powerful as the big boss himself, had told me before: Evil God larvae cure disease if you’re sick and strengthen you if you’re not.
Now I have only one belief: Trust the big bosses!
Evil God larvae, everybody should eat them. Eat as much as you can!
Chief Li’s post had a huge impact.
The first supreme VIP big boss who’d eaten the Evil God larvae also confirmed his identity and liked the post. He commented that he’d collected a lot of larvae recently and could clearly sense himself getting stronger, though not in a way he could currently quantify. More importantly, his autistic younger brother had been fed five slices of boiled Evil God larvae every other day, mixed into savory congee, and lately, the brother seemed to be gradually starting to act like a normal person.
With the two of them taking the lead, even more netizens who’d benefited from eating Evil God larvae began to post their experiences.
Because the taste of Evil God larvae was honestly too much for picky eaters in Hua Country, a lot of those captured had previously been resold...
But now, with so many people "speaking from personal experience," everyone became more enthusiastic about hunting Evil God larvae. People preferred to eat what they caught themselves rather than sell it. Three months later, Ling Jing’s hunch proved right: kitchens everywhere and restaurants on every street were filled with that signature stench of Evil God larvae.
It was obvious that the general population, both physically and mentally, had improved to some degree. Seeing that the time was right, Qin Jingzhou approved the official release of the black tech flying swords.
Black tech flying swords were limited to an altitude of one thousand meters and a speed of forty kilometers per hour, so they wouldn’t really affect airplanes or cars. Plus, they were equipped with protective airbags to prevent any accidents from people slipping off. After thorough evaluations, everyone agreed black tech flying swords were very safe as a means of transportation.
Officials quickly amended the original regulations and launched new ones, designating flying sword routes and no-fly zones, and establishing matching rules. Because so many people gained greater tolerance for cold and heat after eating Evil God larvae, the timing was perfect for the release. Black tech flying swords quickly replaced e-bikes and shared bicycles, becoming the most popular option for commuting and getting around.
However, the orders for accessories to go with the black tech flying swords went to the manufacturers of e-bikes and regular bikes. With the most basic version priced at thirty thousand per sword, it was, without a doubt, an industrial upgrade.
As spiritual energy continued to increase, people everywhere started pulling freshly hatched Evil God larvae out of cracks in their storage rooms and even their bathrooms…
A year passed, and the general quality and capabilities of ordinary people worldwide were visibly enhanced, especially in Hua Country.
After repeatedly coming face to face with Evil God larvae, everyday people developed a considerable degree of "resistance." They didn’t underestimate the Extraordinaries, since they still couldn’t match those powers, but neither were they as fearful or blindly worshipful as they had been before.
At this point, each of the major Extraordinary factions completed their preparations and were ready to open their Mountain Gates and recruit disciples on a large scale.
Qin Jingzhou and Ling Jing didn’t react much. Occasionally, they would livestream either showing tips for controlling flying swords or sharing techniques and basic knowledge for ordinary people to strengthen themselves.
Meanwhile, the major Extraordinary factions, now more at ease, devoted most of their attention to recruiting.
Only the Taiyi Sect and He Jiuping, who had joined the Evil God, saw things differently. With the second Spiritual Energy Revival, both the sect’s Grand Elder and the “My Lord” Evil God showed signs of advancing—but those two all-powerful souls who had taken over bodies shouldn’t have stayed stagnant either!
He Jiuping was particularly sharp. After some communication with the Evil God, he left seclusion and stood under the sunlight, gazing east. Those two had spared him deliberately back then... most likely to "fatten him up before killing."
He glanced down at the suckers growing on his right arm, calculating how he could leverage the Evil God further, while also plotting to escape before the two made a move against the Evil God.
Very quickly, the topic of recruitment by major sects and factions took over the trending lists of social media in various countries.
Netizens kept saying, "Extraordinaries aren't such a big deal," but in fact, they pored over every single “admissions brochure” from each sect and force.
Soon, many netizens began posting proudly about how they had successfully joined various factions.
Ling Jing sat in a restaurant scrolling through messages and felt that people were still pretty naive. "Sects are the true masters of toxic competition. If you want to stand out, you have no choice but to hustle. But once you step into a sect, you can never really get out."
Zhang Qingxing, who had managed to catch up with most of junior high within a year, asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Ling Jing smiled as she explained, "Except for the truly exceptional, ordinary people start as Outer Sect Disciples. They get a generic cultivation technique as a benefit, but at heart, it’s on them to earn spirit stones and provide for themselves. Sects don’t truly train you. Honestly, the way sects exploit people would make capitalists weep, since capitalists nowadays only dare to bleed people dry, not actually eat them."
Zhang Qingxing’s eyes widened. "So this is just… willingly volunteering to be a grunt?!"
Zhang Jiamin finished chewing the Evil God larva in her congee. "Correct answer."
Zhang Qingxing took a sip of white congee at just the right temperature, gulped down both congee and Evil God larva in one go, wiped his mouth, and asked again, "Dad, are you… giving those people who don’t want to be grunts a chance to quit?"
Qin Jingzhou burst into laughter. "You’re teachable." He explained frankly, "In the Spiritual Realm’s established sects, including those of the demonic path, being a disciple is already very much like working a job: you carry out your daily missions, then organize your own time. The rewards are relatively reasonable too. While it’s not total freedom, with a little cost, you can smoothly switch sects. Unless you secretly steal your sect’s greatest treasures, you’re not likely to be hunted down."
Ling Jing chuckled and continued, "But this world is obviously different."
It wouldn't be long before the sects in this world revealed their true faces—starting to enslave their Outer Sect Disciples and sending them out to oppress even weaker ordinary people.
A glance at history will tell you what happens when those at the bottom stay enslaved without any way to rise.
However, ordinary people in the context of a Spirit Revival don’t have the power to overthrow the higher-level Extraordinaries or their organizations, but that doesn’t mean they can’t resist.
And yet, for the Extraordinary factions to survive in a healthy way, they require a steady stream of ordinary people to become their "expendable" Outer Sect Disciples as well as the rare true cultivators.
After patiently explaining, Ling Jing gently wrapped her arm around Qin Jingzhou's. "Your dad’s job is to set rules for those high and mighty Extraordinaries and their factions."
Zhang Jiamin smiled. "So, are you going to wait for them to come knocking? Whether it’s disillusioned ordinary people or arrogant high-tier cultivators..."
Before her sentence was finished, a deafening shout crashed right through the gate. "Get out here!"
Ling Jing shielded the children and staff—still ordinary people—in the villa, watching as her boyfriend rushed out, raised a hand, and slapped—
The Nascent Soul cultivator who came to cause trouble was instantly decapitated, then cried out and ran after his own head.
Just like that, he ran off…
Only ran off…
The Officials’ Observers and Extraordinaries from all factions keeping watch on that villa fell silent.
They shared a single thought: Looks like Mrs. Zhang is going to post another short video soon.