NOVEL WEB Chapter 174: soon
1 Counting the CashKent sat at the kitchen table right after breakfast, a plastic lunch box open in front of him. Inside lay neat stacks of dollar bills—crisp hundred-dollar notes on one side, rumpled twenties on the other. Auri perched on the rim, pecking at each bundle as though checking for worms.
"Stop that," Kent laughed, shooing the bird away. "Paper isn't food."
Auri fluttered to the back of a chair, giving a wounded chirp that clearly meant I'm helping, thank you.
Nima strolled in, still brushing her hair. "Whoa—that's a lot of green. Did you rob a bank?"
Kent rolled his eyes. "I sold three spare spirit stones at the watcher exchange. Had to convert part of the payment into mortal cash."
He thumbed a list:
Watch-tower drop tonight – $10,000 needed.
Spare change for fertilizer – $1,200.
Emergency snack budget (Nima, Auri) – $300.
"Everything fits," he said, satisfied. "We can pay for the realm-glass spheres and still have money left."
Nima stretched. "Great, because I saw mochi ice bars at the corner store. They are limited time."
Kent sighed. "Add them to the emergency list."
2 Xian Yu's WorryOutside, Grandpa Xian Yu marked new rows. He glanced up as Kent walked over with a fresh watering can.
"Disciple, your eyes carry a scheme," the old man said, half joking but half serious. "What have you planned tonight?"
Kent debated honesty, then chose a half-truth: "Meeting a craftsman. Buying glass jars for research. Might be late."
Xian Yu frowned. "Glass jar sellers who ask for fog-gate delivery are seldom normal. Take a blade—and common sense."
Kent patted the Soul Slasher dagger at his belt. "Both ready, Master."
The old man nodded, though lines of worry folded his brow.
3 Afternoon Prep – Testing the DisciplesMid-afternoon, Kent opened the shed to check on the ten Forsaken disciples. They knelt in meditative silence, but their eyes burned bright.
"Tonight I'm out," Kent told them, voice low. "My sister and grandpa will stay home. If any thief or bully approaches this property, scare them stiff. No killing. Clear?"
Nine heads bowed. The leader, Disciple 01, asked, "Permission to also punish the pickpocket gang on South Canal? They beat an old woman yesterday."
Kent's lips curved. "Approved. Just pain, fear, and regret—nothing lethal."
He blew the whistle's low note, releasing the chains. Ten shadows vanished into the city's alley network.
Kent thinks, That should build a nice SP buffer while I travel.
4 Gathering Night GearSunset painted the sky blood-orange. Kent changed into dark field pants and a charcoal jacket—clothes sturdy enough for climbing but plain enough to blend in. He strapped the dagger across his back, tucked a flashlight in one pocket, and slipped the money bundles into an inside pouch.
Nima blocked the door. "If trouble shows, call me on comm bead. I can zoom over with Silver Muse."
Kent smiled. "I know. But keep watering schedule. Plants first."
She saluted, then shoved two energy bars into his hand. "Eat. You forget when you're nervous."
Auri leapt to Kent's shoulder, claws tight.
"Not tonight, buddy," Kent said gently. "I need you guarding the house with Nima."
The phoenix-sparrow puffed in protest, but Nima bribed him with a dried banana chip. He relented.
5 The Road to the Watch-TowerKent left the residential streets, following the tram line east until the rails crossed old factory lots. Rusted cranes poked at the sky like bent fingers. The watch-tower—a brick cylinder four stories tall—rose beyond a fence of chain link and weeds.
A half-moon hung above, shining silver on broken windows. Kent checked his wristwatch: 23:04. The deal time was twenty-three thirty.
He circled the fence, found a gap, and slipped through. Inside the lot, grass whispered under his boots. He kept one hand on the dagger hilt, senses wide.
6 Fog-Gate DeliveryAt twenty-three twenty-five a faint cloud spilled from the tower's dark doorway—mist cold and gray, carrying the metallic tang of pocket-space. Kent stepped closer.
A deep voice echoed from the fog: "Money Immortal?"
Kent answered, "Yes. Payment in mortal notes, as agreed."
The fog parted to reveal a broad-shouldered man in rough work robes—clearly Gold-Core Carpenter in a mortal shell. He carried a wooden crate under one arm.
"Two spheres, forged from realm-glass, triple-sealed. Ten thousand."
Kent showed the bundles. Carpenter snapped a finger; the bills floated, spinning into the fog where some spirit counted them. A moment later the crate levitated toward Kent.
He opened it: inside nestled two clear spheres the size of grapefruits. Their surfaces shimmered like soap bubbles yet felt sturdy as steel.
Kent bowed. "Pleasure trading."
Carpenter dipped his head. "May your fortune grow, Money Immortal." The fog rolled back, doorway empty.
Kent exhaled. Deal complete.
7 Ambush in the YardKent jogged home under streetlights, crate strapped tight. But as he reached his gate, he stopped short.
Two men in black hoodies knelt on the path, trembling. Behind them stood Disciple 04, hands glowing red with pain seal energy.
One burglar whimpered, "We were only scouting!"
Disciple 04 intoned, "Theft intent: confirmed. Punishment: agony echo—thirty minutes."
Kent nodded approval. System beeps arrived:
+180 SP (Fear)
+220 SP (Pain)
He tapped Disciple 04's shoulder. "Good work. Reset them outside the district after echo fades."
The disciple bowed and vanished with the groaning burglars.
Kent smiled grimly. "Security system working."
8 First Glimpse of the SpheresInside, Kent set the crate on his desk. He lifted one sphere against lamplight. Micro-runes flowed just beneath the glass like tiny fish, opening channels for qi but nothing larger than dust.
Kent thinks, Perfect. Now, bacteria.
He needed a culture—sterile, easy to feed. University labs sold teaching kits; he could visit tomorrow.
Next problem: emotions. He opened a new notebook page:
He underlined Distress–Relief Loop twice.
9 Late-Night Chat—Choosing Soil MicrobesKent re-entered the Immortal Assembly. He posted:
Money Immortal: Seniors, which micro-life forms show strongest feeling waves?
Moss-Roof Granny replied first:
Plants react slow. Try soil microbes—very lively. Mix mushroom spores to amplify bliss.
Thousand-Petal Fairy added:
Add trace dream-sand; microbes learn faster, produce richer fear/joy spectrum.
Kent thanked them, then asked:
Money Immortal: How to prevent micro-realm from cracking?
Gold-Core Carpenter: My spheres are safe to ten times mortal core pressure. Just modulate heat slowly.
Kent relaxed. Plan looked solid.
10 SP Harvest While He SleptBefore bed he checked the disciple map. More pings lit up:
Loan shark forced to refund fees – +250 SP (Shame).
Drunk gang terrified by shadow illusions – +300 SP (Fear, Regret).
Total daily gain: 3,150 SP. Enough to cover experiment costs in system-store reagents.
He closed his eyes, a grin on his lips, and slept.
11 Morning Purchase – Bacteria Starter KitDawn, Kent left Auri and Nima planting leek seeds and caught the tram to the city college. In the biology supply window he bought:
Universal nutrient gel packs (x4).
Dormant soil-bacteria spores (mixed culture).
Packet of luminescent dye (to observe activity).
Total cost: $180.
Back home, he sterilized a cooking ladle with Auri's flame, poured warm gel into Sphere 1, and injected spores. He sealed the access rune.
The microbes looked like flickers of green dust swirling inside the gel. Kent set the sphere on a cradle and attached a heat rune with adjustable dial.
He started Prototype Cycle 0:
Room temp 4 h.
System pinged within minutes:
[New Emotional Source detected]
Feeling: Mild Curiosity — +2 SP.
Kent whooped. "They're alive. And they feel."
12 Evening Trial – Starve and FeastHe cooled the sphere for six hours—no fresh nutrients. At hour three, microbes darkened, movement sluggish.
System pinged:
Distress +15 SP
Distress +18 SP
Kent flipped the feed valve, letting a thread of fresh gel flow. Within seconds, microbes glowed soft turquoise and swam vigorously.
Joy +22 SP
Relief +25 SP
He scribbled numbers. One small colony, one cycle, +80 SP. He clapped. "Scale this to billions, and—" He whistled low. Endless fuel.
13 Dinner RevelationsAt dinner Aunty Zhou served vegetable dumplings. Kent felt buoyant. He shared a simplified story:
"I bought science spheres. Growing tiny helpers that make good fertilizer signals."
Nima blinked. "Mini-pets?"
Kent shrugged. "Kind of."
Xian Yu eyed him but chose trust.
14 Night Wind and GoalsKent stood on the porch after dishes. Field rows rustled in the breeze. In the shed the sphere pulsed gentle green.
Kent thinks, Next: Sphere 2, bigger colony, automate cycles with a timer rune. Then keep SP farm and veggie farm running side by side.
A star shot across the sky. Money Immortal smiled, already counting tomorrow's harvest of feelings—and carrots.
End of Chapter 157
14 Night Wind and GoalsKent stood on the porch after dishes. Field rows rustled in the breeze. In the shed the sphere pulsed gentle green.
Kent thinks, Next: Sphere 2, bigger colony, automate cycles with a timer rune. Then keep SP farm and veggie farm running side by side.
A star shot across the sky. Money Immortal smiled, already counting tomorrow's harvest of feelings—and carrots.
End of Chapter 157
14 Night Wind and GoalsKent stood on the porch after dishes. Field rows rustled in the breeze. In the shed the sphere pulsed gentle green.
Kent thinks, Next: Sphere 2, bigger colony, automate cycles with a timer rune. Then keep SP farm and veggie farm running side by side.
A star shot across the sky. Money Immortal smiled, already counting tomorrow's harvest of feelings—and carrots.
End of Chapter 157