The Ganoderma grass was quickly brought over.
Li Xun took a glance at its quality and, after confirming it was indeed a century-old Ganoderma, promptly handed over 89 high-grade spirit stones, plus one mid-grade spirit stone.
After paying for the herb, Li Xun held it in his hand and looked toward the girl at the entrance of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Under his gaze, the ordinary-looking girl suddenly became enveloped in a faint white light visible to the naked eye.
[Congratulations, Master, you have discovered a white-level investable individual. By investing one Ganoderma grass, you can earn 50 mid-grade spirit stones!]
“Only a white-level investment?” Li Xun frowned.
Based on his experience from his previous life of reading novels, such a destitute girl should at least be a heroine if not the protagonist. How could she only be a white-level investment?
Could it be that the people he can invest in truly have nothing to do with fate?
“System, are you sure it's a white-level investment?”
Ding! [Master, the system is never wrong!]
“Alright then,” Li Xun reluctantly accepted the fact.
Though the girl was just a white-level investment, it still confirmed his guess. As long as he had enough resources, investable individuals could be found anywhere!
"Servant," Li Xun called.
“Yes, sir, what else do you need?” The servant quickly rushed over with a smile.
“Go.” Li Xun handed him the Ganoderma grass and pointed toward the girl outside the door. “Give this to her.”
The servant was confused for a moment.
Earlier, you said you wanted to run an experiment, but I didn't see what kind of experiment you did, and now you're done? So... you're giving this herb to that girl?
“Hurry up!” Li Xun said impatiently.
“Yes, right away!” The servant grabbed the Ganoderma and rushed to the entrance. He handed the herb to the girl and said, “Take this. The young master inside sent it to you.”
The girl looked up, her face covered in dirt, with two clear tear streaks running down her cheeks. Upon seeing the herb handed to her, a glimmer of light flashed in her previously dull eyes.
She took the herb and rushed into the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
This time, the two guards did not stop her.
After entering, the girl ran straight toward Li Xun. Upon reaching him, she fell to her knees with a thud.
“Thank you, benefactor!”
“Benefactor, your great kindness will never be forgotten. I, Chu Lingyue, will remember it for the rest of my life!”
“In the next life, I will serve as your horse or ox to repay this favor.”
“Next life...” Hearing this, Li Xun rubbed his nose. He couldn't help but want to look in a mirror. Fortunately, he had no special expectations from the girl.
When he gave her the Ganoderma earlier, he had already used his spiritual sense to examine her talent.
It wasn't bad, but neither was it remarkable. Her potential was average at best, barely good enough to enter the Profound Sun Sect.
Right now, she was still an ordinary person without any cultivation technique. In a hundred years, she'd likely be nothing but dust.
By giving her this herb, all Li Xun could gain was a small reward from the system.
“Stand up,” Li Xun said, extending a hand to help the girl up. “Your mother's illness is more important. You should go back and take care of her.”
“Benefactor, may I know your name?” Chu Lingyue asked softly as she stood.
“Li Xun,” he replied casually.
“Benefactor's name, I, Chu Lingyue, will never forget. I will always keep it in my heart.”
With that, before Li Xun could react, the girl kowtowed, placed a small cloth bundle at his feet, and quickly ran off.
“This little girl...”
Watching Chu Lingyue disappear into the crowd, Li Xun shook his head and chuckled, “Interesting.”
She only mentioned repaying him in the next life, not in this one.
Perhaps she had already realized the gap between them.
After all, how could an ordinary person repay a cultivator's kindness?
As he watched her leave, Li Xun picked up the small bundle she left behind.
When he opened it, he saw five low-grade spirit stones lying quietly inside.
Li Xun was lost in thought.
“For an ordinary person to face a group of cultivators without fear, to dare barge into the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and despite her ragged clothes, still have five low-grade spirit stones... Could it be that this little girl has some background?”
Unable to figure it out, Li Xun decided not to dwell on it. He accepted the five low-grade spirit stones and silently said “claim” in his mind.
With a soft whoosh, a pile of spirit stones briefly flashed on the table beside him.
Before anyone could notice, the fifty mid-grade spirit stones gifted by the system were already safely stored in his storage ring.
“One Ganoderma grass for fifty mid-grade spirit stones— not a bad deal,” Li Xun comforted himself.
Then, he stood up and headed toward the city gate.
Meanwhile, in a remote corner of Panshi City—
Chu Lingyue ran into a small alley.
This usually rundown alley was different today. A large group of fierce riders, who absolutely shouldn't have been in Panshi City, had gathered there!
There were thousands of them, all clad in armor, riding ferocious beasts, with spears pointed toward the sky. Their entire beings radiated a cold, metallic sheen, exuding a chilling murderous aura.
Though thousands of them were gathered, not a single sound escaped the alley, a testament to their elite discipline.
When Chu Lingyue entered the alley, the leading general dismounted from his beast, knelt before her, and solemnly said, “Subordinate greets the little princess. Please, allow us to escort you back to the empire!”