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At night, Li Pan was alone in the second-floor bedroom, casually sitting on a grass-made cushion on the floor.
In the palm of her hand was a Wood Element Crystal Core given to her by Liu Qian, no less. The Base Commander had treated her quite well. Liu Qian had told her that he had exchanged all the Wood Element Crystal Cores and even traded for some high-level ones from other bases for her as well.
The Base Commander used his influence to exchange for the best resources for her.
She was now using a Low-level Wood Element Crystal Core; it was her first time doing so, as she had never used one with her Beginner Wood Power before. These crystal cores were quite expensive.
All she did was farm, so she didn't need this thing. Her superpower could advance slowly, but with Xue Dong facing life-threatening dangers when going out to kill Mutant Beasts, the money and contribution points should be prioritized for his use.
Additionally, Low-level superpower users basically didn't absorb crystal cores. The reason was simple: after life verification, the energy in the crystal cores was impure, mixed, and contained violent energy. If Low-level superpower users absorbed it, it could be dangerous, potentially causing increasingly violent emotions and even meridian explosion.
In contrast, superpower users who slowly upgraded on their own were more stable and safe, with better growth potential.
Since it was verified by life-and-death experiences, people wouldn't use crystal cores at the Low-level stage. Generally, only Middle-level users would start absorbing crystal cores, as their bodies could eliminate the residual violent energy in the crystal cores and expel it from the body without much impact.
Li Pan carefully recalled the precautions for absorbing crystal cores before she began to sit cross-legged and absorb the crystal core.
She started with absorbing from the Low-level crystal core, letting her body get accustomed to it before considering the absorption of Second-level Crystal Cores, proceeding step by step.
It took five minutes to absorb a Tier 1 Crystal Core. Indeed there were impurities inside, but it was no trouble for her. Middle-level Superpower Users could expel some of the toxins from their bodies, and as long as it wasn't extremely poisonous, it wasn't a big issue.
No wonder they didn't allow Low-level superpower users to absorb crystal cores. These crystal cores were obtained from Mutant Plants and Mutated Demon Beasts, and ultimately some energies were not pure enough.
Seeing that there was still time, and feeling comfortable from absorbing energy, she wanted to try more.
She continued to absorb Tier 1 Wood Element Crystal Cores, feeling a fulfilling comfort throughout her body. The Companion Spirit Plant called Star Tree also swayed its branches, conveying a sense of happiness and satisfaction.
She absorbed ten Low-level Wood Element Crystal Cores in one breath, feeling a bit overloaded, before she stopped and went to sleep.
The Base Commander had given her a bag of Wood Element Crystal Cores, with more at Tier 1, and not a small number at second and third-order, but the least was only eight at Fourth-order.
So far, she had not heard of any Middle-level Superpower User absorbing Fourth-order Crystal Cores. Such things were hard to come by; she guessed that the Base Commander had used up all his clout. She was very grateful. Once the harvest was in, after saving enough food for her family, the surplus would all be sold to the base.
After her parents died, it was Xue Dong's parents who took care of her for two years. Then, after Uncle Wang and his wife also died, it was the Base Commander who took over and asked Uncle Qian to look after them. Later, the Base Commander personally arranged for her to work in the planting area, and for Xue Dong to go out to clear Mutant Beasts. The Base Commander would come over to check on them regularly.
Strictly speaking, after losing her parents, she was raised by the base. There were many orphans like her; the orphanage was supported by the base.
She hoped everyone could survive, and the children could grow up safely. After all, she had been fed by many!
Whenever it was time to distribute food, when it came to the younger children like them, the leaders of the plantation area would give them a little extra food. Even when others saw this, they would not say anything. Life was hard for everyone, and they tried to take care of each other as much as possible.
In the face of natural disasters, humans were very small. If they didn't unite, how could there be a day to rise again?
The rain continued for another three days, making it seven days in total. Every day, everyone had to work in the wind and rain, worrying about issues with the farm and not daring to relax in the slightest.
In the past few days, Li Pan planted the Poisonous Flowers and Poisonous Grass that Liu Qian brought back around the edges of the farm, to serve as a defense.
Among these Poisonous Grasses, a few were sentient and could communicate simply, but the others had no reaction.
Deep into the night, with the rain still falling, several dark figures lurked nearby the perimeter of the farm.
"Mouse, hurry up, be quick about it. It'll be troublesome when it gets light."
"Got it."
"Brother, I heard this farm is well guarded. Could there be Mutant animals?"
"There shouldn't be. Mutant animals also need to eat. Apart from the base and the rich district, almost no one can afford them. I haven't heard of anyone exchanging for Mutant animals."
"That's good then."
They found a weak spot, broke through it, and crawled in, quietly making their way into the fields.
The night was pitch black, with rain falling and visibility very low. Vaguely, three dark figures could be seen.
"Ao!"
A shrill wolf howl startled several people awake who were sound asleep in the house.
Li Pan jumped out of bed, throwing off her blanket and rushing downstairs barefoot.
She called out loudly, "Brother, there's movement at the farm."
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At the same time, three figures dashed out of the room with lightning speed, and Li Pan, who jumped down from upstairs, fell one step behind them.
"Space Barrier."
Li Pan called out loudly to the Star Tree.
An invisible light shield covered a hundred square meters of the main planting area, not encompassing the entire planting area, but it completely covered the main cultivation zones.
The three figures in the field found themselves blocked by an invisible barrier before they could get any closer, unable to penetrate it at all.
"What's going on?"
"Not good, we've been spotted; they have high-level superpower users."
"Run, there are wolves!"
The last voice did not lower its volume but instead shouted a warning loudly.
Qin Jianzhong had Wind Power and was the fastest, having already spotted the three thieves.
"Three o'clock direction, three of them."
"The Space Barrier only lasts for ten minutes."
Li Pan called out loudly as a reminder.
"Stop him."
Liu Qian accelerated and caught up with Wind Power's Qin Jianzhong, sending an ice blade flying first.
The wolf pack also deployed a containment strategy, preventing the three thieves from escaping.
Xue Dong's Fire Blade also took down one person.
Li Pan utilized her Wood Power advantage, using wood vines to block the escape routes of the three thieves; she hid in the distance, using the vines to bind and harass them.
Although the Star Tree had just grown, it was a tree, not a vine, and naturally tall; its tendrils could reach very far.
A melee broke out among the six people, and they stood no chance in front of the high-level superpower users.
The three were tied up tightly by the wood vines and hung upside down from the trees.
Qin Jianzhong ran back from outside the valley, "The lookouts ran away. According to the footprints, I reckon there were two of them who drove away; I didn't catch up."
Liu Qian used her ice blade to lift the chins of the captives, "Tell the truth and you get a way out; resist stubbornly to the end, and I have plenty of ways to pry open your mouths."
"Don't know, kill us or do what you will, we were just desperately hungry and tried to steal some food."
"You aren't just trying to steal a bit; you came here earlier to scope out the place."
Xue Dong saw through them immediately, his face dark and expression fierce.
"Pan'er, you go back inside; leave this to us."
Liu Qian looked at her and instructed.
"Okay. I'll go get your raincoats."
"No need, this will be over soon."
Liu Qian gave her a smile, her tone unquestionably commanding.
There was no need to let her sister witness such dirty work.
"Go back and make us some ginger soup; I will be back shortly."
Xue Dong looked at Li Pan and nodded at her.
"Okay."
Seeing that everyone insisted she not stay to watch, she didn't persist and went back home to prepare the ginger soup.