Wei Jin stood there, staring at the notification floating before him, his mind racing.
Ding!
The maiden Ru Shaonian was grateful that the host wasted cultivation resources, specifically the Hundred-Year Spirit Herb.
With a level of gratitude of grade six, the Spiritual Essence would be multiplied by six, turning it into sixty Spiritual Essences.
Note:
The level of gratitude has different levels.
1. Acknowledgment - Recognizing something positive in your life or the efforts of others.
2. Appreciation - Feeling thankful for a specific action or kindness, often accompanied by a desire to reciprocate.
3. Recognition - Understanding the value of someone's contribution or support, often leading to public acknowledgment.
4. Thankfulness - A deeper emotional response, where one feels a sense of gratitude that influences their overall outlook.
5. Gratitude - A sustained sense of thankfulness that can lead to a more positive mindset and improved relationships.
6. Deep Gratitude - A profound appreciation that affects one's life significantly, often resulting in a desire to express this feeling through actions or lifestyle changes.
7. Transformative Gratitude - A level of gratefulness that leads to personal growth, resilience, and a shift in perspective on life's challenges.
8. Unconditional Gratitude - A state of being where one feels grateful for life itself, regardless of circumstances, often leading to inner peace and fulfillment.
The shimmering words outlining Ru Shaonian's gratitude and the resulting surge of sixty spiritual essences felt surreal.
His hands trembled, not from fear, but from a spark of hope he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time.
"Sixty spiritual essences…" he murmured under his breath, still processing the sudden windfall.
The old soul, observing his stunned state, flickered impatiently. "Hey, hey, it's the system, right? Damn it, I knew it! You've got a system, don't you?"
Wei Jin's gaze finally shifted from the notification to the old soul.
For the first time in what felt like forever, his lips curled into a faint smile, a mix of triumph and excitement lighting up his face. "You were right," he said, his voice brimming with energy. "I have a chance."
"A chance?" The old soul's tone was incredulous. "What are you talking about? What does the system even say?"
Wei Jin's excitement was palpable as he began to explain.
"My system… I'm not sure but depending on my understanding, it rewards me based on how I 'waste' cultivation resources on maidens. The amount of spiritual essence I gain depends on two factors: the initial value of the resource from the maiden and the maiden's gratitude level.
"For example, Ru Shaonian gave me a grade six gratitude level for the Hundred-Year Spirit Herb I gave her. That's a deep gratitude level, which multiplies the base value by six which is ten that I got from her. So, ten times six equals sixty spiritual essences!"
The old soul's flickering form froze, as if the sheer absurdity of Wei Jin's words had short-circuited whatever logic it operated on. "Wait… What? That's all it takes? Waste some cultivation resources, gratitude and then get spiritual essences? Are you kidding me?"
Wei Jin chuckled, a rare sound filled with both relief and amusement. "It's that simple. And it's not just about wasting resources—it's about the gratitude they feel. It means… it means Ru Shaonian might still have lingering feelings for me."
The old soul's form started flickering erratically, as though it couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. "Lingering feelings? You're jumping to conclusions! Gratitude doesn't equal love!"
Wei Jin shook his head, his expression firm.
"No, you don't understand. This proves she at least values something I did for her. That's a foundation I can build on. Maybe…" His voice softened, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "Maybe she can still see me as more than a placeholder."
The old soul sighed heavily, muttering to itself. "This idiot… fine, whatever. It's your life." But then, as if struck by a thought, it straightened and turned its full attention back to Wei Jin. "Actually, I think I have some bad news for you."
Wei Jin's expression froze, his excitement faltering. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously, his tone laced with suspicion.
The old soul hesitated, flickering as though grappling with how to deliver the blow. "I'm not sure you're gonna like what I have to say…"
Wei Jin's eyes narrowed, his heart pounding as he braced himself. "Say it."
And with that, the tension in the air thickened, the system notification fading into the background as Wei Jin waited for the old soul's revelation.
The old would say, "I think she is not grateful because of you; she is grateful because of the help you have given her."
Wei Jin's expression froze as the old soul's words sank in. "What?" Wei Jin asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Yes," the old soul said with a cautious tone, sensing the shift in Wei Jin's mood. "Why do you think it was important to her? Why did you give it to her in the first place?"
Wei Jin stiffened, the realization hitting him like a lightning bolt.
His hands clenched into fists as he remembered the original story of his life—the story that had laid out his role as a stepping stone for Ru Shaonian's ambitions.
The Hundred-Year Spirit Herb wasn't just any resource.
In the story, he had given it to her in the original narrative as a congratulatory gift for her breakthrough as she intended. That's why she made a breakthrough, knowing it would be crucial in curing the curse that plagued the protagonist, her true love.
Now, in this life, Wei Jin had hoped to use it as leverage to secure her agreement to the divorce. He had thought she would accept it, relieved to part ways with him while gaining something of immense value that could help her lover.
Yet now, the system made it seem like she cared for him in some profound way.
But she didn't.
She never had.
Wei Jin felt his knees weaken. He stopped walking and stared into the distance, his thoughts spiraling into a chaotic mess. What a fool I am, he thought bitterly. "You're right," he muttered after a long silence, his voice barely audible. "She didn't care about me. Not really."
The old soul flickered, a wave of embarrassment radiating from its formless shape. "I didn't mean it like that," it said hastily. "I just wanted you to see the reality of your situation."
Wei Jin let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, thanks for that, old man." He straightened slightly, brushing off the self-pity that clung to him. He turned his gaze to the old soul, narrowing his eyes. "By the way, why are you so… good to me? What's your angle in all this?"
The old soul flickered, its tone turning sheepish. "Little brother, you put something in my soul, remember? If I lie, you'll know—and then you'll scatter my soul into the void. I'm just trying to survive here!"
Wei Jin barked a short laugh, the sound sharp and dry. "Yeah, right."
But then the old soul shifted gears, its tone becoming more serious. "Listen, I think Ru Shaonian might come to you soon."
Wei Jin frowned, a mix of hope and suspicion flashing in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Depending on the gratitude she feels toward you and the help you gave her, there's a chance she'll come looking for you," the old soul explained. "It's not love, but she might approach you for something. If that happens, you'll need to be ready to handle her."
Wei Jin's frown deepened. "And what exactly should I do if she does try to find me?"
The old soul's flickering form leaned closer, its voice lowering conspiratorially. "Here's what you need to say to her. And we don't have much time, so let's practice until you get it right."
Wei Jin raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Okay, what is it?"
The old soul leaned closer, whispering something in a tone too low to make out.
Whatever it said made Wei Jin's expression harden, his brows furrowing as he tried to grasp the old man's cryptic advice.