"Xiaodong, take twenty patterned coins and give them to Little Bai girl." When they saw Bai Sui home, Uncle Tian winked at Tian Dong, telling his son to take out the money.

Tian Dong also knew this was the money for the Qi Drawing Art. Without hesitation, he took out twenty wen from his pocket.

"Thanks, Brother Xiaodong!"

Bai Sui accepted it with a smile on her lips. She had bought it for twenty wen and now "sold" it for twenty wen—neither profit nor loss in this transaction.

Then she jumped off the ox cart and turned back to say to him, "Tonight I'll make a copy of the Qi Drawing Art, and tomorrow morning I'll bring you the one I bought. How's that?"

"Of course no problem!"

Tian Dong agreed without hesitation, then after a moment's thought added, "Little Bai sister, you don't really have to rush to give it to me. Five or six days later would also be fine."

Before officially starting cultivation, he had to first take Marrow Cleansing Pills to improve his constitution. This process would take roughly five to six days, basically at a rate of one Marrow Cleansing Pill a day. Since he wouldn't need the Qi Drawing Art for the time being, he might as well let Little Bai sister take her time copying. Besides, he had previously flipped through this Qi Drawing Art, and although the core content wasn't much, it still had several thousand characters. To finish copying it in one night, he had to admit it was a fair bit of work.

Tian Dong might be dull, but that didn't mean he didn't know how to show tender consideration.

"No, I'd better give it to you tomorrow. The sooner I give it, the sooner I can rest easy. Otherwise I'll always feel like I owe someone a debt."

"This... alright, since you feel that way, giving it earlier is fine too."

"Right, do you need me to prepare some brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?"

Bai Sui shook her head. "No need, I have all those at home."

Hearing this, Tian Dong smiled and nodded.

Uncle Tian at the side, however, smiled thoughtfully and said, "I didn't see that Little Bai girl came from a scholarly family. Good, good, it's good that you can write. Otherwise we'd have to ask the village tutor to write it for you."

Uncle Tian remembered that Bai Sui had come to Spirit Water Village two years ago, and he hadn't seen her studying or practicing calligraphy since. So she must have learned to write before that. At that time she was only eight, so learning to read must have been even earlier. Besides coming from a scholarly family, what other household would teach a child to read and write so early?

Bai Sui nodded and revealed for the first time, "When I was in the mortal world, I lived with my grandfather. He used to be a Xiucai (official), and he taught me to read since I was little."

"Hmm, reading makes a person wise, writing makes a person elegant. That's very good. To be honest, before becoming a hunter, I, Uncle Tian, also read books and attended private school. Reading more books broadens your horizons—that's entirely true! It's just that making a living isn't easy, and in the end I became a hunter. By now, I've forgotten a lot of characters. Even if I pick up a brush again, I can't write well anymore; drawing a bow and nocking an arrow comes much more naturally."

Hearing Uncle Tian say this, Bai Sui was a little surprised, but she also understood some things. No wonder Uncle Tian could always speak such philosophical words—so he was actually a cultured hunter.

Hmm, that explained it.

"Alright, it's getting late, go inside first. Xiaodong and I should be heading back too."

They said their goodbyes in front of Bai Sui's courtyard. Bai Sui nodded, saw Uncle Tian and his son off, then opened the courtyard gate and went straight to her "greenhouse."

What met her eyes were rows of vibrant, thriving green plants.

Only seeing these lush, green spirit plants could soothe her anxious heart, worn down by drained finances.

Then she began counting them.

"One stalk, two stalks, three stalks, four stalks...

...676, 677, 678!!"

A total of 678 stalks of various spirit plants!

According to the purchase price agreed upon with Hundred Treasures Hall of "eight stalks for one spirit stone," rounded off, they could sell for a total of 85 spirit stones.

Quite a fortune!

At this moment, the excited little figure in Bai Sui's heart was stomping its feet left and right, alternately raising its hands in a joyful cheering pose.

So comforting, so comforting!

Bai Sui returned to her room contentedly, feeling warm all over.

With her mood improved, her motivation to work also increased.

Next, she started cooking.

Since she had bought spirit rice today, she might as well have spirit rice for tonight's meal and taste its flavor again.

No sooner thought than done. She fetched a small bowl and carefully scooped out about one tael of spirit rice from the rice bag. The small bowl was filled with plump, round golden grains that looked quite exquisite and translucent. When she lowered her head to smell, she could faintly catch a drifting fresh fragrance.

Then she added water, carefully washed the spirit rice, put it in a pot, and covered it with the lid. She placed firewood under the pot and started the fire with a Fireball Technique.

While the rice was cooking, Bai Sui began preparing the dishes. Thanks to her experiences over these past few years, her cooking skills had improved noticeably. Amidst the crackling of the firewood, two dishes and one soup were ready.

Unfortunately, she was alone at home, so this delicious meal could only be enjoyed by herself.

She picked up the small bowl and looked at the golden grains inside.

"Ah... smells so good!" Bai Sui sniffed, instantly feeling light and ethereal, a tremendous sense of satisfaction lingering in her heart.

Two years ago when she ate spirit rice, she could only peck at it grain by grain. Now, having traded a bird gun for a cannon, she could already eat it from a bowl.

The progress in between was truly enormous!

Every bite brought an immense sense of happiness.

That flavor, as if a fresh and pleasant force surged into her heart, nourishing her little heart and brain in a state of supreme satisfaction.

A bite of spirit rice, a bite of vegetables. With every mouthful, Bai Sui couldn't help but want to stomp her feet, to shed tears.

Mmm... so utterly satisfying!

Unknowingly, the rice had all gone into her stomach.

Bai Sui let out a long breath and with difficulty broke free from that feeling of satisfaction. Immediately after, she discovered a stream of spiritual energy continuously emanating from her stomach. The effect, though not as potent as a Qi Condensing Pill, was soothing and even more pleasant.

‘Now, this should be the perfect time for cultivation!’

Thinking this, she couldn't be bothered to wash the pots, pans, and bowls. With a swift leap, she jumped onto the bed and immediately assumed the cultivation posture.

Cultivate after a meal, as blissful as an immortal!!

She summoned the attribute panel:

[Character: Bai Sui / Bai Sui]

[Lifespan: 10/80 years]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer: 68/100]

[Cultivation Art: Qi Drawing Art 'Initiation': 85/100]

[Skills: Wind Brushing Technique 'Ordinary', Fireball Technique 'Initiation', Planting Technique 'Ordinary']

[Talents: Pure Ice Jade Body 'Cultivation Talent, Calm Amidst Collapse']

Once she started cultivating, she didn't know how much time had passed. When Bai Sui finished, she found that outside the window it was pitch-black. Judging by the angle of the moon, it seemed to be already past midnight.

They say in the mountains there is no sense of time, and cultivation does not count the years—this saying is indeed absolutely true.

Bai Sui stretched lazily and summoned the attribute panel again:

[Character: Bai Sui / Bai Sui]

[Lifespan: 10/80 years]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Second Layer: 74/100]

[Cultivation Art: Qi Drawing Art 'Initiation': 89/100]

[Skills: Wind Brushing Technique 'Ordinary', Fireball Technique 'Initiation', Planting Technique 'Ordinary']

[Talents: Pure Ice Jade Body 'Cultivation Talent, Calm Amidst Collapse']

‘Hmm... originally one cultivation session could only raise the cultivation progress by about two points, but after consuming spirit rice, this time it increased by six points! The proficiency of the art also improved a little. It seems that spirit rice being suitable for cultivators to eat is indeed true. No wonder it's sold so expensive—there's a reason for its high price. Compared to its effects, cultivators can completely accept its cost.’

Of course, this was only the effect for Bai Sui.

She didn't know whether other cultivators had the same effect after eating spirit rice.

Presumably, they didn't.

Minor improvements certainly existed, but not this obvious!

After all, judging by her cultivation progress, stepping into the third layer of Qi Refining, and even the fourth layer, was only a matter of time for her. But other cultivators couldn't possibly achieve such speed! Otherwise Jade Pool Market would have long been filled with Qi Refining experts everywhere; how could there still be so many low-level cultivators?

One had to know that among Jade Pool Market's hundred thousand-plus cultivators, the vast majority were still struggling and hovering below the fourth layer of Qi Refining. Those who actually reached the fourth layer and above wouldn't fare too badly even in this small market.

Bai Sui was very grateful that she had this cheat of an "attribute panel." Perhaps she had accumulated too much good karma in her past several lives, and heaven had bestowed grace upon her—and it was the bonus for her gender-bending reincarnation in this life!

She should all the more put this cheat to good use!

With such sentiments, Bai Sui patted her cheeks. After some simple grooming and cleaning, she returned to bed and lay down peacefully.