Yu Qingtan lay in bed for two days.
Then she resumed her studies and work.
Yu Qingtan's clients came in all shapes and colors.
There were clan descendants, gang members, shop assistants, and loose cultivators, most of whom were in the early to mid-Qi Cultivation phase, with a few in the late phase.
A month later.
Yu Qingtan had gained a deeper understanding of Suichuan Immortal City and the cultivation world.
Yu Qingtan also displayed her budding talent in zither music, to the great pleasure of Manager Su, who adjusted her performance schedule to once every six days, and replaced the background music in the sound recording artifact with Yu Qingtan's own zither playing.
Back in her room, Yu Qingtan glanced at her system's attributes panel.
[Name: Yu Qingtan]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 14/87]
[Spirit Root: Water 67/100; Wood 52/100; Earth 51/100; Metal 25/100; Fire 3/100]
[Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Second Layer 7/200]
[Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique]
[Spells: Cleansing Spell Beginner 67/100]
[Skills: Exquisite Dance Small Success 95/200, Butterfly Dance Beginner 45/100, Zither Art Small Success 71/200, Chess Skill Beginner 5/100, Calligraphy Beginner 3/100, Painting Skill Beginner 3/100]
[Charm Points: 3100]
[Affection Value: 11]
[System Space: 'Phantom Dance Exquisite' outfit set, 364 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, 1 drop of Spirit Dew, a Clear Heart Ornament, Falling Star Pendant, Sun Flame Jade, and various other items]
[System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Value), First-Order Cultivation Level Upgrade Card 0/3 (10 Affection Value), First-Order Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Value), First-Order Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Value)]
[Lucky Draw: 10 Charm Points for one draw (with ten consecutive draws available)]
The additional 2 Affection Points came from one loose cultivator and one clerk from Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
The loose cultivator was named Hao Can, who used to be a scholar in the Mortal Realm. Unfortunately, having failed the imperial examinations twice, his wife could not endure their poverty and divorced him, returning to her parents' home. Heartbroken and intending to jump off a cliff, Hao Can was saved by a minor sect cultivator and, by a stroke of fate, entered the cultivation world.
But within two years, that minor sect was annihilated by demonic beasts, and he barely escaped with his life to Suichuan Immortal City, where he became a loose cultivator. In his quest to cultivate, he tried to become a talisman master but ended up in debt without success.
Only after years of mining did he finally pay off his debts and survive by joining adventure groups to search for resources in the Yunhua Mountain Range.
After hearing Hao Can's story, Yu Qingtan fervently dished out life advice, moving Hao Can to tears. Then, a few days later, he indeed struck it lucky by discovering a small vein of Spirit Iron and made a small fortune. He also became a subordinate of the adventure group's leader.
So, the second time he came to see Yu Qingtan, Hao Can professed to have fallen in love with her and presented her with his only remaining sect heirloom, a Clear Heart Ornament of mid-grade first-order quality.
Although it wasn't much use to him anymore.
The clerk from Hundred Treasures Pavilion was named Dong Er, an honest man who took over his father's position because his father was also a clerk at the pavilion, working there for twenty years. Ten years ago, he married a redeemed disciple from Tianxiang Pavilion's outer branch, who was introduced to him by a matchmaker.
At first, his wife was beautiful and they lived happily, and six years ago, she even bore him a big chubby boy, which delighted him. Even as his wife gradually scorned his lack of ability and even gave him "directions" during their intimate moments, he bore it in silence.
Until recently, when he realized that his son looked less and less like him, Dong Er secretly bought a magic artifact to conduct a test and, unsurprisingly, confirmed his fears. Broken-hearted, he confided in two close friends who advised him to accept the situation, arguing that biological ties didn't matter that much.
Confused, Dong Er decided to give up, taking out his private savings to visit the hostesses at Tianxiang Pavilion—he knew his wife harbored resentment for not making it to Tianxiang Pavilion's inner branch, so he insisted on visiting the inner branch. That day, by chance, Yu Qingtan was performing and he was chosen to be her patron.
Under Yu Qingtan's increasingly refined rhetoric and acting skills, Dong Er regarded her as a confidante on the spot, pouring out his inner turmoil to her.
As a modern-day male college student in her past life, Yu Qingtan obviously couldn't stand for Dong Er's situation and immediately advised him to sever ties with his wife.
Then, the very next day, Dong Er decided to break up with his wife. At over fifty years old and only at the fourth layer of Qi Cultivation, he chose to return to the Mortal Realm to enjoy life. Before leaving, he spent almost half his fortune on a pair of mid-grade first-order earrings named Falling Star Pendants, which he gifted to Yu Qingtan.
Dong Er knew that his broken heart had been healed by the young girl, and he had fallen for her, but he knew they could not be. He only hoped that years later, she would still remember him.
Yu Qingtan came to the conclusion that in order to gain Affection Value, one not only had to show interest but also present a gift of a certain value.
"What a hassle~ And the cut Tianxiang Pavilion takes is seriously steep~"
Yu Qingtan had worked hard for a month, earning a total of 3000 Spirit Stones, yet only one-tenth of that made it into her hands.
She sighed, used the Cleansing Spell to clean herself, sat cross-legged on the bed, brought her hands together, and prayed silently in her heart.
"Dao Ancestor be eternal!"
Then her consciousness singled out the "ten consecutive draws" button that just appeared on the system interface when she reached 3000 Charm Points and tapped it.
"Thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, try again, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage, thank you for your patronage."
Yu Qingtan almost blacked out.
It really was the beginner's protection last time!
Taking a deep breath, Yu Qingtan clicked on the single draw (free) again.
"One Lower Grade Spirit Stone."
Looking at the single Spirit Stone that appeared in her palm, Yu Qingtan was speechless.
"Are they trying to shoo away a beggar? I'm not playing this anymore, just a plant."
Yu Qingtan suppressed her gloomy feelings; she wasn't a gambling addict and wouldn't go on a drawing spree when resources were tight.
She put on the Heart-Calming Amulet and the Falling Star Pendant.
With a thought, she exchanged 10 Affection Points for a first-level Cultivation Upgrade Card and used it.
Yu Qingtan immediately felt spiritual energy rapidly flowing into her body, so she quickly cycled her cultivation technique. Soon, another minor meridian was cleared, and Yu Qingtan advanced to the third level of Qi Cultivation.
But it didn't end there. The spiritual energy continued to pour in, and Yu Qingtan kept absorbing it through her cultivation technique.
Until late at night, Yu Qingtan felt the changes in her Dantian and was satisfied.
She glanced at the system interface.
[Cultivation Level: Qi Cultivation Third Level 107/300]
[Cultivation Technique: Clear Water Technique]
[Charm Points: 3000]
[Affection Value: 1]
[System Shop: Primary Spiritual Root Upgrade Card 0/1 (100 Affection Points), First-Level Cultivation Upgrade Card 1/3 (10 Affection Points), First-Level Spell Upgrade Card 0/10 (1 Affection Point), First-Level Skill Upgrade Card 2/10 (1 Affection Point)]
"I actually gained 300 progress points, not bad."
Yu Qingtan primarily used the system to break through because she felt that her own strength was too weak and she hoped to enhance it as quickly as possible. After reaching the third level of Qi Cultivation, she could start learning some spells.
Although last time it was not a case of poisoning, who knew whether one day it might actually happen?
She had also considered seeking the help of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, like Tower Master Gongsun, but had an intuitive feeling that it was not a good choice.
The instincts of a cultivator should not be mistaken for mere illusions, so she had no choice but to temporarily give up on that idea.
Another key point was that a few days ago, Shen Wanning received a spiritual fruit from Song Zhenfeng, which also allowed her to break through to the second level of Qi Cultivation.
Yu Qingtan also realized that although the Cultivation World is dangerous, it is also full of opportunities.
For instance, some people have breakthroughs in understanding and advance through several realms at once; some find innate spiritual treasures and soar to the heavens in a single bound.
Therefore, Yu Qingtan's successive breakthroughs to the third level of Qi Cultivation generally wouldn't attract envy.
After stabilizing her cultivation level, Yu Qingtan ate something and went to bed early.
The next day, she had an important matter to attend to.