The truth of the Paul Jihn Knowles story is somewhat murky. Maybe parts are accurate, but it's possible that some aspects have been embellished or changed over time.
There were several ways to obtain Ardent Soul Points:
1. Level 90 and above Elite monsters randomly enter, three times a day. Each time, you can obtain 2 Ardent Spirit Points. You can obtain 180 Ardent Spirit Points every month.
2. Weekend AFK Farming Event. Earn 32 Ardent Spirit Points per week.
3. Elu's Treasure. Earn 5 Ardent Spirit Points per week.
4. Various uncertain activities, you can get dozens of Ardent Soul Points every month.
5. It was a free upgrade.
6. He bought it from the shop.
The above was the answer based on the search results provided.
I'm not entirely sure as I haven't played it myself. But generally, a visual novel often has a story - it could be about the character named Dexter and his adventures, relationships, or a particular journey in a fictional world.
Love and relationships are often common themes. Maybe the characters in the 'ardent aspen' story have complex emotional bonds that are explored in the fanfics.