Chapter 28: Value

Fan Bei gazed at the now-spotless cross-shaped corridor, suddenly paralyzed by indecision. Should he start clearing the northern section, the eastern wing, or perhaps the southern stretch?

However, he hesitated only a moment before making up his mind. Turning to Dabai, he instructed, “Let’s start with the medical ward to the north. Get ready, Dabai.”

As he spoke, he set off in that direction.

“Master, I’m ready,” Dabai replied at once, perking up and quickly falling in step beside him. “Xiaobai just said your decision is very wise. If we secure the medical ward first, we’ll get our hands on medicine. In the wasteland, food and medicine are the two most important things.”

“Well, actually, the real reason I picked this direction was just to clear the areas in a clockwise order. It’s more pleasing that way,” Fan Bei admitted honestly.

Children are forced to make choices; adults take everything.

“Oh, Xiaobai adds that your reasoning makes a lot of sense too. Going clockwise will ensure smooth sailing and great fortune,” Dabai barked in agreement.

What’s going on? This creature, who always sowed discord between me and Dabai, calling me a “useless waste”—this so-called noble higher spiritual being—was suddenly flattering me?

Fan Bei was momentarily bewildered. Who doesn’t like a few kind words? Yet being valued so highly by the other party made him uneasy; after all, he knew his own limitations.

In the future, once he had developed his strength, his potential would be limitless; but for now, he couldn’t even defeat Dabai.

Never mind—one step at a time.

Suppressing his thoughts, Fan Bei led Dabai toward the northern medical ward. They soon arrived at a large, rusted door. Its silver plating, long neglected, had flaked away in many spots, revealing pale grayish markings—clear evidence of ravaging evil spirits.

Just as he was about to push the door open, Dabai tugged at his pant leg.

“What is it now? If you’re only going to spout more flattery, spare me. We need to be honest and straightforward—no brown-nosing,” Fan Bei said seriously.

Dabai barked back, “No, Xiaobai says it would be dangerous to rush in like this. It would be best to use the thirty-four spirit cores you collected earlier, along with the Bronze-level Meditation Method you bought, to increase your strength before entering.”

Huh? How did the tone change so abruptly? Just a moment ago, this thing was calling me “useless,” and now it wants to help me grow? There must be a trap here!

And not just any trap—this was the kind of bomb that, once detonated, would leave him in pieces and unable to function, after which Xiaobai and Dabai could go off together, unimpeded…

Fan Bei’s face maintained a guileless smile as he mused, “The book I bought, I read it all night. It does mention that using spirit cores to assist meditation speeds up cultivation—dozens or even hundreds of times faster than ordinary methods. But it also says the risk is enormous. Humans can’t fully absorb the core of evil spirits; their chaotic nature always leaves a residue, which gradually accumulates and eventually pollutes the practitioner’s mind, leading to either corruption or madness.”

Dabai’s expression shifted to one of alarm. He turned and barked furiously at Xiaobai, clearly incensed.

“Xiaobai, you’re despicable! A few words of praise, and underneath it all, you’re plotting against my master! That’s it—I’m really breaking ties with you this time!”

“You foolish dog,” Xiaobai snapped back, eyes blazing. “You didn’t even let me finish! I have a silver-grade formula for using spirit cores. With certain mutated materials, you can purify them before absorbing, and even if a trace of will remains, it can be digested over time. As long as you don’t rush, and progress steadily, it’s far less risky—no more dangerous than flying on an airplane!”

At this moment, Xiaobai really had no intention of harming Fan Bei—at least, not until he got his hands on the system.

“Sorry,” Dabai said, sheepishly scratching his head. “I was wrong, Xiaobai; I misunderstood you. I knew you were a good dog, not like that wolf from the cartoons.”

“I am not a dog! I am a noble spiritual being.”

“Oh, I get it, you’re a noble dog… What’s a spiritual being? Never heard of it—it just means ‘dog’ to me. Aren’t all living things made of flesh and blood, like me and my master? You can’t be my master’s kind, so you must be mine.” Dabai feigned ignorance.

“Fine, then remember this formula and the meditation method: three grams of golden fruit seed, thirty milliliters of silver palm oil, seventy grams of copper ox liver…” The wooden carving began to recite, deciding to endure for now.

As long as you give me the system, I’ll be your kin—or even your grandson, if you wish!

“Too long—not memorizing it,” Dabai interrupted after a third, completely unapologetic.

“Then I’ll say a sentence, and you repeat it to your master.”

“That’s more like it.”

…

Fan Bei, meanwhile, listened intently, pulling out a blue ballpoint pen and jotting everything down on a scrap of note paper he carried with him.

Of course, the real notes were being recorded in the “Father of Systems” private diary.

“July 11: The golden tomato seeds I found two days ago turn out to be used like this. But it’s curious—how does Xiaobai know how to use them? Or did they anticipate the appearance of these seeds all along? If that’s the case, their ambitions are truly fathomless, like an endless abyss.

“Still, this formula gives me a perfect cover. I’ll write it down, but I don’t actually need it. With the ‘Father of Systems’ book, I can directly purify evil spirit cores into the purest spiritual power. What I really need is the meditation technique Xiaobai described. Using spiritual power only to restore energy is a waste; this auxiliary cultivation method is the true treasure I’ve gained today. Xiaobai still has plenty of value to be extracted.”

“Meditation method: When you reach the final stage of meditation, begin absorbing the spiritual energy contained in the medicinal solution. Then, use the meditation technique to circulate it through your mind until it becomes part of your own spirit, thereby increasing your spiritual strength. But never absorb too much at once—the amount should be about a tenth of your current spiritual strength.”

Fan Bei pretended to scribble notes on the sticky paper, then said to Dabai with a troubled look, “The method is good, but we only have one ingredient—the golden tomato seed. It might be able to substitute for one of the items in the formula, but we don’t have the others. So, we’ll still have to take some risks for now.”

Dabai barked again at the wooden carving.

The wooden carving trembled, then suddenly radiated a bronze light that enveloped Fan Bei.

A warm sensation spread through his body, and he immediately suppressed the notion of “purification.”

Once again, he marveled at the power of this unknown being. With just a single evil spirit core, it could restore so much energy, perform such feats—healing first, then protection… What else could it do?

“Master, you don’t have to be afraid now. This is a spiritual protection aura, able to repel bronze-level chaotic spiritual beings. Xiaobai expended a lot of energy—he can’t even speak now,” Dabai explained sympathetically.

“Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier? We can’t let him work for nothing. Here, give him this spirit core. As a higher spiritual being, he shouldn’t fear spiritual pollution,” Fan Bei said earnestly, immediately producing a grayish-white core and holding it out to Dabai.

But before Dabai could take it, the core vanished.

If you want the horse to run, you have to feed it grass.

Take it slow. This “spiritual protection aura” is a great skill—I’ll have to learn it someday.

With the bronze light shielding him, Fan Bei’s confidence soared. Without further hesitation, he switched on the lights and decisively opened the door to the medical ward.

As the doors parted, a wave of decay and musty air, tinged with the scent of medicine, hit him full in the face.

Under the glow of the lights, the entire medical ward was laid bare before Fan Bei and Dabai’s eyes.