Wood Style And Sharingan

Huaihai City, beneath its towering high walls—

Inside the Executive Department headquarters...

"This is the payment for our original mission."

Mingyun handed out the rewards, distributing the spoils of their successful campaign.

For the mission, official members each received five mid-grade spirit stones and ten third-level demon cores.

As an intern, Smith's initial agreement stated he would receive three mid-grade spirit stones and ten third-level primary demon cores. That was also the standard reward Mingyun himself received.

"In addition, for assisting the Xiahai College Executive Department in completing their mission," Mingyun continued, "each member is granted one mid-grade spirit stone and three third-level demon cores."

This auxiliary reward was split evenly among the team.

So in total, Smith gained four mid-grade spirit stones and thirteen third-level demon cores from this mission alone. A significant profit!

Each third-level demon core could be exchanged for 300 energy points. With thirteen of them, that meant 3,900 energy points.

Smith couldn't help but grin—this mission had been worth every drop of blood spilled.

Mingyun looked at him, then added with a smile, "And since our new member Blood Moon performed exceptionally well during the mission, I'm personally awarding you one more mid-grade spirit stone."

Smith was stunned. But he quickly accepted the generous reward.

"Thank you, Captain!"

"Mid-grade spirit stones are extremely helpful for those preparing to break through to the third level," Mingyun said seriously. "You should make that your priority and help fill the last gap in our team's strength."

"Yes, I'll definitely live up to your expectations!" Smith said with resolve.

Though he had used mid-grade spirit stones many times before, Smith was starting to realize just how rare they truly were.

In reality, outside of elite squads like the Executive Department, most people never even had the chance to see mid-grade spirit stones, let alone own them.

For first- and second-tier psychics, they were powerful breakthrough catalysts. But at the third tier and above, their effects diminished sharply.

Still, mid-grade spirit stones held significant value outside of combat. They could be used to create special weapons, explosive talismans, or as currency in elite trades.

And perhaps most importantly—a specific number of mid-grade spirit stones could be refined and synthesized into a high-grade spirit stone.

High-grade spirit stones were priceless to third-level psychics. They could directly improve one's spiritual realm. While the synthesis process required a lot of energy and wasn't highly efficient, it was still the best option. Pure top-grade spirit stones were so rare that most people never even laid eyes on them.

For Smith, who had been a bit careless with spending them earlier, this latest mid-grade spirit stone was a much-needed boost.

"All right then, let's head back and get some rest," Mingyun said. "Oh, and one more thing, Blood Moon. Even when there are no missions, we're still expected to report to the high wall and remain on standby."

"Understood."

Smith nodded, though he sighed internally.

So even if there were no tasks, he still had to show up and wait like a soldier on call?

No matter the world, you could never escape the soul-sapping fate of being a working-class drone…

---

Back at home, Smith found the house quiet. His father, Jiang Lei, wasn't around.

Smith was already used to this. Jiang Lei had rarely been home in the past. It was only recently, when Smith had awakened his powers and begun field missions, that Jiang Lei had lingered more at home.

But now that Smith had officially joined the Executive Department and could independently fight monsters, Jiang Lei could go back to focusing on his own demanding responsibilities.

After all, Jiang Lei wasn't just anyone—he was a fifth-level psychic, and one of the directors of the Huaihai City Executive Department.

"Welcome home, young master. Dinner is ready. Shall I bring it out?" asked the family butler, Uncle Chen, with practiced politeness.

"Yes, please. Bring it up."

Although the Jiang family was one of the two major clans in Huaihai City, their household structure was quite humble by the world's new standards.

Unlike traditional noble families of old, where wealth and business defined status, in this era of rampant monsters and survival, power was the only currency that mattered.

In the Jiang household, there were only a handful of people: Smith and Jiang Lei, the butler Uncle Chen, two cleaning staff, and one chef.

The Jiang family's dominance didn't come from economic power, but from Jiang Lei's strength and influence. His rank and role had drawn academy resources and consolidated his power within the Executive Department—establishing the Jiang family as a leading force in Huaihai City.

Today, what defined a "great family" wasn't wealth, but rather combat capability and academy authority. Gone were the days of business rivalries and power plays—when monsters roamed the world, humanity had no choice but to unite.

---

After dinner, Smith washed up and returned to his room early.

He opened his personal system and converted all the monster cores he'd collected into energy points.

Thirteen third-level primary demon cores gave him 3,900 energy points. Adding the 50 points he had left over, Smith now had a total of 3,950 energy points.

As for the mid-grade spirit stones, he refused to trade them for points.

These were crucial to increasing his spiritual level directly.

With four mid-grade spirit stones currently in his possession, he was just a few short of making a breakthrough to the third level. He'd save them for now.

But the energy points—those were fair game.

He opened the Secret Store interface with clear objectives in mind:

Mangekyō Sharingan (Amaterasu): Already acquired

Mangekyō Sharingan (Tsukuyomi): 2800 energy points

Mangekyō Sharingan (Kamui): 8000 energy points

Mangekyō Sharingan (Kotoamatsukami): 8000 energy points

Mangekyō Sharingan (Susanoo): 12000 energy points

Immortal Technique: Myōjinmon (Shintō Gate): 10000 energy points

Wood Release: Unsealed Healing: Already acquired

Wood Release: Grafting Technique: Already acquired

Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial: 120 energy points

With 3950 energy points, Smith could only afford two items from his wishlist. But he didn't hesitate.

[−2800 energy points: Mangekyō Sharingan (Tsukuyomi) acquired!]

[−120 energy points: Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial acquired!]

---

Tsukuyomi:

Rank: S

Energy cost: 500 spiritual energy per use

Duration: 6 hours of illusion time per use

Extension: Additional 50 spiritual energy per hour (max duration: 72 hours)

> Note: Without the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, each special ocular ability can only be used five times.

If used a sixth time, the user will be consumed by darkness—permanently blind.

---

Tsukuyomi—widely considered the most cost-effective illusion technique among the Mangekyō Sharingan abilities.

While Kotoamatsukami was stronger, it had an extremely long cooldown and required higher investment. For overall practicality and combat flexibility, Tsukuyomi had the highest utility.

Now that Smith had both Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, his combat effectiveness had taken a qualitative leap.

With his current skills, especially in Sage Mode, he was confident that even if he faced a fully awakened fourth-level psychic, he could hold his own.

He clenched his fists and whispered to himself.

"This is just the beginning."

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

pàtreøn (Gk31)