Sogen arrives at Mr. Rudriger's workshop. As usual, Mr. Rudriger was standing on the counter, but this time he had a cauldron in his hands.
"Boy, you've come at the perfect time."
Mr. Rudriger walks toward the system gate and hangs a small board that says "Closed."
"Boy, let's start your training."
They enter the familiar small realm behind the garden where Sogen trains every day.
"Boy, do as I say. I'm going to teach you how to control your spiritual energy. First, sit down in the lotus position and close your eyes."
Sogen follows his command.
"Now, first release all the spiritual energy you have and feel the flow of your own energy. To understand the flow in your surroundings, you must first understand your own energy. Everything in this world contains spiritual energy, and you can draw it from your surroundings, making it your own. It will also increase your own spiritual energy. Now, try to absorb your spiritual energy slowly, as I instruct you."
Mr. Rudriger explains the specific spiritual meridians through which Sogen should channel his energy, how to form a spiritual sea, and how to circulate it.
"Boy, you will feel unbearable pain, but you must endure it; otherwise, you risk injury. If you get injured, it will take months to recover, and you'll have to start over."
Sogen endures the pain for almost 30 minutes. He grits his teeth, and as time passes, his body feels numb, and he begins to feel dizzy, yet he holds on to his consciousness through sheer willpower.
Flashbacks from his past life flood his mind, and he thinks, "In my previous life, I had a good family. I wanted to achieve something big; I wanted to become rich. I was ambitious. Even though I had the potential to fulfill my dreams, I wasted it. I couldn't be a good son, a good brother, or a good person. I had the chance to do something great, but I didn't; it wasn't a compulsion but a choice—I was lazy and unwilling to leave my comfort zone. I never noticed the efforts my family put into supporting me. If I were to summarize my last life, it would simply be a failure. But in this life, I will surely achieve something great, even if I have to endure hell to do so."
After some time, the process concludes.
"Ding! Hidden Quest: Host has learned to control his spiritual energy. Rewards: 300,000 system coins."
As soon as the process ends, Sogen faints. Mr. Rudriger catches him and smiles, saying, "Boy, I was fully prepared to assist you if you struggled with controlling the energy flow, but you have surpassed my expectations. I truly admire your passion and courage. To gain great power, you must endure pain, and enduring pain requires immense willpower."
Mr. Rudriger takes out a pill from his bag and places it in Sogen's mouth.
"This will help you recover more quickly."
Then, Mr. Rudriger leaves the training realm.
After some time, Sogen opens his eyes.
"Was it a success? Can I now control my spiritual energy?"
Sogen feels concerned because he is uncertain. He begins to channel his spiritual energy and is surprised to discover that he can control it much more easily and use it as he wishes.
"Yes! It's a success!" he shouts with joy.
"Host, you have become a spiritualist now. You have been awarded 300,000 system coins."
"300,000 system coins; that's a substantial amount."
Sogen starts examining his body by channeling his spiritual energy.
Meanwhile, at Felix Mercenary Group's headquarters:
"Father, why did you call us so urgently?" a boy asks a man who seems distressed and is pacing back and forth in the room. It is none other than Gale, with his sister Siana standing behind him.
"Gale, Siana, our informants have gathered some alarming information. The Dima Loan Shark organization has been completely annihilated; not a single person from their organization is left alive. The most shocking part is that they were destroyed within their own territory."
"What? Father, which group or organization could have done this? Their organization wasn't very strong, so why are you so worried?" Gale asks.
"Gale, while their organization may not have been powerful, the situation is far more concerning. An investigation revealed that all members of their organization were killed by a single weapon; everyone suspects that one person is responsible for the annihilation. Even I, as a King Realm 4th Stage Peak Level Cultivator, couldn't eliminate them all by myself."
At that moment, Sogen's image flashes in Gale's mind, but he dismisses the thought. "No, it couldn't be him; he was only 15 or 16 years old, yet his aura was so dense."
He sighs and replies, "I must be overthinking."
"Gale, what were you thinking about?" his father asks.
"Nothing, Father, but have you called us here immediately just for this news?"
"The reason I called you here is that I want you to find the person who destroyed Dima Loan Sharks. With the help of your sister's Grade D+ Innate Skill, Step Vision, and your Grade D Innate Skill, Blood Perception, you may be able to locate him. If this person agrees to help us, we might win the upcoming Crimson Dust Competition. You must find him at any cost."
"Father, why are you so worried about the competition? Do you not believe in our strength?" Siana asked her father with an annoyed tone.
"It's not that I don't believe in your strength, but I am more concerned about the tricks the Letinca Mercenary Group will employ. I've heard that Khamas has hired a disciple from the Golden Hawk Sect."
"From the Golden Hawk Sect? That's one of the strongest sects among the five strongest in Hamar Town!" Gale exclaimed in surprise.
"I've heard that Khamas has promised the disciple the chance to absorb the crimson dust and will also provide him with a significant amount of money. So you need to find the expert who destroyed Dima Loan Sharks."
"Yes, Father, we will do our best to find him."
After that, Gale and Siana left the room.
"Brother, who do you think the person is that destroyed Dima Loan Sharks? Do you have any idea how we will find him?" Siana asked her brother.
"Siana, how would I know who the expert is? But every time I think about this incident, the image of the boy we met at the Pilaaf Estates Association comes to my mind. If he had shaken hands with me, I could have determined whether he had killed cultivators or ordinary people."