C2 Treasure!

The manager, being a sensible person, not only released Xiao Ai but also acted as a witness to Xiao Ai and Qing'er becoming husband and wife, promising a lifetime together.

Not long after, Xiao Cui took her own life. It was then that people heard she had feelings for the handsome and spirited Xiao Ai. Unfortunately, Xiao Ai's heart and eyes were only for Qing'er. Initially, the manager's blow that could have killed Qing'er might have resolved things. However, Qing'er was saved by Su Qianxun. As long as Qing'er lived, Xiao Ai could never love Xiao Cui, which led her to devise a plan to ensure that if she couldn't have him, no one else would either.

Stealing was a capital offense, and anything associated with death was something no one dared to plead against. Yet, Su Qianxun was not one to fear death and saved Xiao Ai. Knowing this, Xiao Cui realized there was no place for her at the farm anymore, which led her to consider ending her life.

Su Qianxun received an additional acre of land from the manager. With two acres already, she now had three acres to manage, keeping her incredibly busy.

"Qianxun, Qianxun..." Busy in the fields, Qianxun heard someone calling her. She looked up to see Qing'er and Xiao Ai walking hand in hand, with Xiao Ai carrying something.

"What brings you here?" Seeing the couple so happy, Qianxun felt a sense of joy herself.

"Here, take this. You have to accept it, or we won't leave," Qing'er said, handing the items from Xiao Ai to Su Qianxun.

"Yeah, you've helped us so much. Without you, we might not have made it. So, please, take it," Xiao Ai added, his face serious. Their journey had been incredibly perilous.

Su Qianxun smiled, "Alright, I'll accept it."

Xiao Ai and Qing'er exchanged a relieved glance.

"What? Thinking of taking it back? Too late now," Qianxun teased.

Qing'er came over and linked arms with her. "Qianxun, ever since you woke up, you've been different. There's a brilliance about you that makes me sure you'll make it out of this place. You're destined for greatness. I don't know what the future holds, but I hope you find happiness and peace."

Su Qianxun squeezed Qing'er's hand and said, "I hope you both find happiness too." She glanced at Xiao Ai, who nodded.

"Well, we should be heading back," Qing'er said softly.

Su Qianxun nodded, watching them leave.

Opening the bag, she found ten low-grade spirit stones on top, five bottles of cleansing pills, and nearly twenty pounds of spirit rice beneath. These were treasures for anyone with a spirit root, yet these two had given them to her. Qianxun felt deeply moved.

In her past life, she was an orphan, growing up in a foster home. Later, she joined an archaeological research team, witnessing all sorts of strange events that gradually hardened her heart. She made many good friends, but in the end, it was the friend she trusted the most who betrayed her.

In this new world, where everyone was vying for their own interests, only someone like Qing'er offered her comfort.

Back home, she took out the wealth that the original Su Qianxun had saved up. It was quite a bit, with dozens of low-grade spirit stones that she had been reluctant to use.

Su Qianxun took out ten low-grade spirit stones and went to the trading post. "Manager, I'd like to exchange for some rain talismans, weed-clearing talismans, and pest-repelling talismans."

"Sure thing, Miss Su. Hold on a moment. You don't need that many. Just three low-grade spirit stones will get you enough for all your fields, lasting three years. These are easy for a Level One Talisman Maker to produce, and since it's for your own family, they're quite affordable," the manager said kindly to Su Qianxun.

"Manager, it's fine. Just exchange ten low-grade spirit stones for me," Qianxun replied with a slight smile.

Seeing that persuasion was futile, the manager said, "We're short on talismans today, and it's getting dark. How about I get more talisman paper from the city tomorrow and make it up to you?"

"Alright, I'll take these for now," she said, taking the thick stack of talisman paper and walking away steadily.

"Ah, this kid. While everyone else treats spirit stones like treasures, you're spending them like water. You really don't see the situation clearly, do you? It's a pity," the manager muttered to himself.

Qianxun's actions were meant to repay Manager Liu of Ling Tian Manor for his kindness. However, in the eyes of Manager Li at the exchange center, it seemed like she was still holding onto her identity as a prodigy, unaware of her current status.

When Qianxun reached Manager Liu's office, she placed the talisman paper on the table. "The annual contribution from Ling Tian Manor barely meets the requirements and falls far short compared to other manors."

"You know, managing spirit plants is different from other crops. Even though we work tirelessly every day, the harvests have been disappointing in recent years."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Manager Liu asked, stepping closer to Qianxun, who met her gaze without fear.

"The soil is depleted; its nutrients have been exhausted. That's why spirit plants can't grow anymore. The only solution now is to use the energy from these spirit talismans. They can help eliminate pests and also provide nutrients to the land."

Manager Liu studied her for a long moment before speaking. "Su Qianxun, you've really changed."

"Manager Liu, everyone changes. It's just the time, conditions, and place that differ," Qianxun replied humbly.

"Tomorrow, Manager Li has some talisman paper. Could you please pick it up? Often, working together is more effective than going solo, but sometimes, the opposite is true." With that, Qianxun bowed and took her leave.

After that, Qianxun became even more diligent in her training. She learned a subtle barrier technique from the array inheritance. Every day, she practiced and set up the barrier to avoid disturbances. Her three daily meals of spirit-infused rice had accumulated a significant amount of energy, and that night, she felt on the brink of a breakthrough.

She took a Clear Qi Pill, converting it into her own energy. Each breakthrough in the Qi Refining Stage involved unblocking a series of acupoints, allowing her body's meridians to flow freely. It was a process of refining and purifying her body.

Qianxun repeatedly struck at the acupoint, sweat covering her forehead. A small magnetic field formed around her, drawing in energy for her use. Finally, with a crack, her meridians opened up, and she successfully advanced to the second level of the Qi Refining Stage, expelling impurities from her body.

After circulating her energy for another cycle, she exhaled a breath of stale air, fetched some water, and cleaned herself up. Then she returned to studying arrays. Crafting talisman paper required many materials, and in her spare time, she practiced in her mind. She had become very familiar with simple talisman papers.

However, alchemy was a different story, requiring memorization of numerous details, including the properties of herbs and various pill recipes.