Yang Qi didn’t linger by the ditch. After collecting one hundred contribution points, he decisively called it a day and returned to his dorm to try the lottery.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Tier One Middle-Grade Fire Extinguishing Talisman.]

A Fire Extinguishing Talisman?

Yang Qi checked its description. It could resist the assault of ordinary fire and even low-tier spiritual flames for a certain period. It was a Defensive Talisman.

’Not bad,’ he thought. ’Even though it’s not an Array Plate or Water and Earth Spirit Stones, it can save my life in a critical moment. It’s just as useful.’

Muttering to himself, he stored the Fire Extinguishing Talisman in his Hundred Pouches Belt.

...

When twilight fell, Yang Qi once again set up the "Mosquito Extermination Array" in his backyard.

Listening to the familiar CRACKLE and the endless stream of [+1 Contribution Point] notifications, he cheerfully tossed a few Qi Condensing Pills into his mouth and began to circulate his energy to cultivate.

Early the next morning.

The first thing Yang Qi did after getting up was go to the backyard to "reap his harvest."

As expected, the mosquito lamp and electric grid array were "fruitful" once again. Including last night’s earnings, his total contribution points had broken the eight hundred mark.

Without hesitation, he decisively went for the lottery! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-Grade Spirit Rice (five jin).]

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Qi Condensing Pill (Low-Grade).]

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Strengthening Pill.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Strengthening Pill.]

Four draws in a row, all of them standard supplies.

Yang Qi’s expression was calm.

He continued drawing.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-grade Spirit Stone (Water Attribute).]

The Water Spirit Stone is here!

Yang Qi’s spirits lifted, and he materialized the prize.

He felt a surge of joy as he looked at the Spirit Stone in his hand, which emitted a faint blue glow and felt cool and smooth to the touch.

’I’ve obtained four of the Five Elements Spirit Stones!’

He drew again.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-Grade Spirit Rice (five jin).]

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Strengthening Pill.]

More standard supplies.

He continued drawing.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Nine Heavens Cloud Gold.]

Nine Heavens Cloud Gold?

Yang Qi checked the description.

[Nine Heavens Cloud Gold]: A Gold-attribute Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object, nurtured within specific terrestrial veins at an opportune time, formed by gathering the essence of the nine heavens’ clouds and fusing it with Geng Metal Qi. After refining and absorbing it, it can slightly improve the aptitude of one’s Gold-attribute Spiritual Root and, to a certain extent, enhance the sharpness of one’s Magical Power.

’A Gold-attribute Spiritual Object that can improve the aptitude of my Gold-attribute Spiritual Root!’

’So it really is the Five Elements after all.’

Yang Qi felt both emotional and overjoyed.

A guess was just a guess, but now that it was fully confirmed, he couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

Still, at least the aptitudes of his Five Elements Spiritual Roots had all been improved.

...

He brought the mosquito-exterminating equipment from the backyard back inside.

He went out to the warehouse to get food, then fed the Gray Wolf, the little raccoon, and the lynx in that order.

Without even stopping for breakfast, Yang Qi hurried back to his dorm.

He instructed Bai Wan to guard the door and had Xiaojiu stay at home to look after things. Then, he went up to the second floor and sat cross-legged on the Meditation Cushion.

Taking out the "Nine Heavens Cloud Gold," he placed it in his mouth and began circulating the Great Derivation Spirit-Controlling Technique.

Under the guidance of the Cultivation Technique, the "Nine Heavens Cloud Gold" began to slowly dissolve, transforming into countless tiny particles glinting with pale gold and white light, which then merged into his flesh and meridians.

The refining process this time was slightly shorter than it had been for the Stone Jade.

When the last trace of the "Nine Heavens Cloud Gold’s" energy was absorbed, Yang Qi slowly opened his eyes.

He reached out and took out four Spirit Stones, each with a different attribute.

The Fire Spirit Stone was scorching hot, the Wood Spirit Stone was warm and gentle, the Water Spirit Stone was ice-cold, and the Gold Spirit Stone felt sharp.

This time, Yang Qi could sense them clearly.

It was no longer the faint, almost nonexistent feeling from before—a mere guess reliant on the system’s descriptions. Instead, he could truly feel the four different types of Spiritual Qi and the faint resonance they created with his body.

Although this sensation was still very weak, far from the level of those geniuses with single-attribute Celestial Spiritual Roots, it was undeniably real.

’I suppose I now possess all Five Elements Spiritual Roots, and I’ve used Spiritual Objects to give their aptitude an initial boost.’

Understanding dawned on Yang Qi.

’Next up, I just need the Earth Spirit Stone and, most importantly, the Array Plate.’

Cultivating with Qi Condensing Pills generated Magical Power, but his Cultivation level didn’t advance an inch.

’It’s too slow!’

...

That afternoon.

While Yang Qi was doing behavioral training with the lynx, the phone in his pocket buzzed.

He paused the training and took out his phone. It was a message from the "Liudong Study Group" chat.

The message was from Song Wan.

"Hey, besties! Anyone busy tonight? If not, come over to my place for dinner. The monitor and I are cooking, and we promise a feast."

[Image]/[Image]

Yang Qi didn’t think twice. He replied, "Count me in," then put his phone away and went back to the training.

Before dark, he returned to his dorm to cook a pot of Spirit Rice Porridge, dishing out servings for Xiaojiu and Bai Wan.

He also set aside a portion for Ta Xue.

Then, he drove to the apartment complex where Song Wan and Qian Yu lived together.

It was rush hour, and the traffic was terrible.

By the time Yang Qi finally found a parking spot, climbed the stairs, and knocked on Song Wan’s door, he discovered he was the last to arrive.

"Brother Qi, you’re finally here! We were waiting for you," Gao Zhenyue bellowed as he opened the door.

"The traffic was a nightmare," Yang Qi said, exasperated.

Ye Haibing, who was sitting on the couch playing on his phone, looked up and raised an eyebrow. "See, there are advantages to not having a car. Look at me, I rode my little electric scooter, so I didn’t get stuck in traffic."

"Well, I don’t get stuck either," Gao Zhenyue retorted. "I just have to leave a little earlier, that’s all."

Ye Haibing glanced at him and said slowly, "I don’t talk to ’street loiterers’."

"Fuck!"

Gao Zhenyue flipped him the bird. "Say that again, you bastard? Who’s a street loiterer?"

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around. The food’s getting cold. Time to eat," Qian Yu called out, emerging from the kitchen wearing an apron.

"Let’s eat. Let them keep fooling around."

Yang Qi chuckled, walked over to the dining table, and helped open a bottle of coke.

"The ’street loiterer’ doesn’t need to eat, but I do."

Ye Haibing instantly shot up from the couch, ran to the table, grabbed his chopsticks, and stuffed a piece of braised pork into his mouth. While chewing, he gave Song Wan a thumbs-up. "Mmph—Song Wan, your cooking’s getting even better!"

Yang Qi also took a bite of the food. It was indeed delicious. He remarked with feeling, "Whoever marries Song Wan in the future is going to be one lucky man."

Gao Zhenyue and Ye Haibing nodded in agreement while continuing to bicker.

The atmosphere at the table quickly grew lively. They all ate and chatted, reminiscing about funny stories from college, complaining about work, and talking nonsense about the future.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group moved to the living room couches to relax and chat.

Yang Qi soon noticed something was off. Qian Yu kept secretly shooting glances at Song Wan, her eyes occasionally darting in his direction.

Meanwhile, Song Wan would open her mouth as if to say something, but then swallow her words and just go along with the conversation.

After observing for a moment, Yang Qi couldn’t help but ask directly, "Monitor, Song Wan, if something’s on your mind, just say it. We’re all old classmates and friends here."

"Huh? What’s wrong?"

Gao Zhenyue, who had been arguing with Ye Haibing about a character in a video game, was taken aback.

Ye Haibing also stopped talking and looked at Song Wan and Qian Yu, confused.

Called out by Yang Qi, Song Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, and stammered, unable to get a word out.

Seeing this, Qian Yu rolled her eyes at Song Wan.

Then, she sat up straight and looked at Yang Qi.

"There is something... Xiaowan was fired from her company."

"Huh?"

"What happened?"

Gao Zhenyue and Ye Haibing exclaimed at the same time, the playful smiles instantly vanishing from their faces.

Yang Qi also frowned slightly. "Fired? What’s going on? Wasn’t Song Wan doing a great job?"

Qian Yu sighed, glanced at Song Wan who was still looking down without a word, and explained.

"It’s because of Lin Qingyu."