The Antler Serpent nodded again.
It wasn't surprising that the Infernal Drake's incubation required vast spiritual energy, and that its nest contained Celestial Spirit Jade.
But who put it there...
"Could this be the legendary Spirit Jade Ore?" Grace asked Cutie Pie.
Spirit Jade Ore only forms in places where spiritual energy is dense enough to condense into jade.
Once it’s mined, it’s quickly divided up by the major factions—ordinary practitioners rarely ever get to see it.
Cutie Pie turned around and hauled over another stone. After biting it open, it still glimmered with rainbow colors.
But the colors were already extremely dim, and the stone itself had faded to a pale gray.
This was Celestial Spirit Jade that had been drained of energy by the Infernal Drake—only a trace of spiritual power remained.
Later, Grace brought in all the stones and had Cutie Pie bite them open one by one.
There were twelve stones in total.
One was a perfect, undamaged Celestial Spirit Jade.
The other four Celestial ones had all been partially drained of their spiritual energy.
The rest were Earth Spirit Jade, each shining with three-colored light.
Of the Earth Spirit Jade, three hadn’t been drained at all—the rest had already been used.
Grace gave Cutie Pie a look of wonder. "The first one you handed me was the perfect Celestial Spirit Jade. Can you actually tell what’s inside these stones?"
The Antler Serpent nodded.
Of course.
"Oh my god, you really are... my darling!" Grace scooped him up and smothered him with three kisses. "From now on, you’re not Cutie Pie—you’re Snuggles!"
Meanwhile, Evan Xiao’s blood was boiling as he watched her with a look of deep, wounded jealousy.
Can’t you pick a name that’s a little more fierce and majestic?
And, could you be this affectionate when you’re in human form too?
"My Snuggles! You’re absolutely amazing! Good boy, go grab that scale for me—I want to weigh this Celestial Spirit Jade."
Evan Xiao went to fetch it.
Grace weighed it: three pounds, eight ounces.
The Celestial Spirit Jade weighed three pounds, eight ounces.
"Four slots, and each needs a pound of Celestial Spirit Jade... I'm two ounces short?" Grace put down the scale in frustration and started rummaging through the other jades, hoping to find a perfect two ounces.
But with the drained Spirit Jade, the depleted areas were evenly distributed. She couldn’t find what she needed.
So she had Cutie Pie break up the Celestial Spirit Jade and divide it among the four slots.
No matter how she split it, those two ounces were always missing—it just wouldn’t work.
The Illusory Array didn’t react at all.
She tried using the half-depleted Spirit Jade, but no matter how much she put in, it was useless...
...
After all that effort, Grace had no choice but to give up.
"Ugh! Still two ounces short... What a shame!" Grace frowned. "I’ll figure something out next time!"
Cutie Pie looked at the hole, then at Grace, honestly not understanding what she was up to.
"Cutie Pie, you’ve been asleep for ages—you must be starving! I’ll make you something delicious when we get out," Grace said, grabbing him.
Cutie Pie’s eyes darted around, and he nodded.
After enjoying several plates of Grace’s cooking, Cutie Pie let her know he needed to leave again for a while.
Seeing him so energetic, Grace didn’t mind letting him go—his long hibernation hadn’t affected him at all.
...
The next afternoon, she arrived at the General’s Manor as promised.
Sure enough, Evan Xiao had prepared a special appointment letter for her.
He told her to take it and report to the military camp.
"I’m a Fifth-Rank Spirit Practitioner! What kind of position did you arrange for me?" Grace asked with a grin.