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"No need for the formalities," Duke said, casually waving his hand, signaling for everyone to continue with their tasks.

The group immediately complied, a renewed sense of vitality coursing through their bodies.

Aside from expelling the demonic insects, the heavenly pill had also infused them with pure spiritual energy, enhancing their power and purifying the energy within them.

The effect was undeniable—they felt stronger, more attuned to their surroundings, and far more capable than before.

The pill had proven to be far more beneficial than they’d anticipated, improving both their physical and spiritual well-being in multiple ways.

With renewed energy, everyone dove back into their tasks around the territory.

As they finished their work, there was nothing more to be done, so they began preparing to leave, waiting for the storm to pass so Sparrow and his team could head north.

Meanwhile, the artisans continued their work on the oxygen muzzles and isolated pods.

With time on their hands, the others decided to rest and find a way to redirect the surge of energy coursing through their bodies.

Ultimately, they chose to cultivate, using the opportunity to prepare for their next level-up.

For those who had yet to awaken, it felt as though they were on the cusp of a breakthrough.

Their energy swirled around them, intensifying to the point where some experienced fever-like symptoms.

Even after the first batch of awakeners had already passed, the special circumstances continued to influence them, and one by one, they too began to awaken, their powers unlocking amidst the rising surge of energy.

Kisha left everyone to focus on their tasks, knowing the first city shield was on its last legs and nearing collapse.

008 was ready to replace it as soon as the time came.

With nothing pressing to do and no way to leave the base, Kisha and Duke decided to relax and spend some time with his family.

They sat together on the sofa, sharing a meal and enjoying the quiet moment before returning to the territory to cultivate.

Duke settled near the Crystal, while Kisha retrieved the inscribing manual that 008 had purchased for 50,000 system points, leaving her with just 50,000 points remaining.

Though the low points nagged at the back of her mind, Kisha chose to focus on her task.

She found a quiet spot, crossed her legs, and opened the manual.

As soon as she flipped the first page, a system prompt appeared in front of her, drawing her full attention.

[Do you wish to use The Emperor’s Incribing Manual?]

[Yes] or [No]

Kisha didn’t hesitate for a second.

Without giving it much thought, she clicked ’Yes’.

The pages of the manual flipped rapidly, and in an instant, a golden light shot out, rising from the book and floating toward her head.

It entered her forehead with a gentle pulse. The moment the light merged with her, the manual burned to ashes and vanished.

A torrent of knowledge flooded her mind, overwhelming her senses. Her brain pulsed with intensity as the surge of information poured in, leaving her momentarily disoriented.

The rapid influx of understanding caused her head to throb, and she struggled to process the depth of the newfound wisdom.

’Damn! I really can’t get used to this excruciating pain!’ Kisha grumbled in her mind.

But, surprisingly, this pain was far more tolerable than before.

Perhaps it was due to the protective layer that had formed around her energy core after her ’Mental Capacity’ reached 1000 points.

This change not only shielded her from the worst of the pain but also allowed her to recover much faster.

Soon, after only a brief sweat and the lingering discomfort, the pain faded.

The flood of information gradually settled into her mind, and the overwhelming rush of knowledge calmed.

She could feel the transformation taking place within her, and the sudden clarity was both overwhelming and exhilarating.

Once the discomfort faded, Kisha settled into a calm state and began reviewing the information that had been injected into her mind.

Although she was already familiar with the content of the manual, she knew she needed to take the time to fully understand and master the techniques.

Each passage required careful consideration, and she patiently worked through them, ensuring she grasped the intricacies of the practice.

After a few hours of focused silence, Kisha finally turned to 008. "Can you buy the materials I need to practice inscribing?" she asked. 008, always eager to assist, immediately complied and began arranging the purchase without hesitation.

Not long after, 008 returned with the bulk training materials, each item carefully chosen for its quality.

Even the parchment paper was no ordinary paper—it was magical paper, crafted by a production mage from enchanted plants.

The ink was made from charcoal derived from burnt magical wood, the same wood used to create a mage’s staff.

Everything came at a steep cost, totaling an additional 20,000 system points.

However, Kisha had long since accepted that her points would inevitably be spent on such necessities.

With that in mind, she stopped worrying about saving them up, focusing instead on the task ahead.

[You have purchased Magical Parchment Paper]

[You have purchased Enchanted Ink]

[You have purchased a Phoenix Feather Pen]

...

After gathering all the materials, Kisha set up a small workstation with a table and stool.

She arranged the items 008 had purchased from the system channel—stacks of magical parchment paper to her left, and a bottle of enchanted ink to her right.

In her hand, she held the Phoenix Feather Pen, its fiery red glow still shimmering with magical energy as she gripped it between her fingers.

Once everything was in place, Kisha took a sheet of parchment and began to inscribe the simplest contract she could manage, given her current mastery level, which was still that of a beginner.

As she attempted to write with the Phoenix Feather Pen, she felt her hand tremble.

The unfamiliarity of the pen’s balance caused her to struggle with control, and the words on the paper looked less like legible writing and more like squiggly worms, their forms erratic and disjointed.

It was a far cry from the precision she hoped for, and the sight of her clumsy attempt was almost comical.

’I didn’t realize it would be this difficult to write the scriptures,’ Kisha thought to herself, setting the paper aside in frustration.

"Host, the issue is that you didn’t channel the correct amount of mana into the Phoenix Feather Pen while inscribing," 008 explained patiently. "The pen was acting on its own, essentially resisting your control."

"Is that so?" Kisha asked, skepticism lacing her tone as she frowned at the pen in her hand.

"Yes," 008 confirmed. "This item is similar to those in the Murim world that have gained their own consciousness and chooses their own owner."

"Are you saying it’s not accepting me?" Kisha’s voice faltered with frustration. "If the pen won’t let me use it, does that mean I need to buy a new one?"

She felt a growing sense of annoyance at the thought of needing to purchase another item, especially after she had just spent so many points on this one.

"No, host. Why don’t you try bonding with it for a while?" 008 suggested.

"How do I do that?" Kisha asked, still skeptical but willing to give it a try.