Shanghai, known as the "Oriental Magic City," is a dreamlike and bustling city that many people yearn for. However, behind the bright lights and noise, there are always untold dark nights.

North of Jiangdong District.

The streets are especially lively as night falls. This area is located on the outskirts of the city, and many people from other places who come to Shanghai to work gather here.

A little girl with dry, yellow hair was wearing an old, red winter coat that was half-short, black pants with a hole in the knee, and two shoes of different colors.

The little girl carried a tattered woven bag filled with beverage bottles she had collected.

The dim light from the streetlights made the little girl's face appear even more sallow. Judging from her delicate features that hadn't fully developed yet, she was probably six or seven years old.

As usual, the little girl passed by a small Chinese restaurant on the side of the street.

Inside the small restaurant, a young man was clearing tables. The young man's name was Zhou Daqiang, and he worked part-time at the restaurant every night.

Zhou Daqiang glanced at the little girl outside the door, who was looking at him expectantly, and smiled gently.

"Xiaoxi is here? Wait a minute."

Zhou Daqiang took a plastic takeout box, packed up the leftover food from the guests on the table, and handed it to the little girl.

"Thank you, Brother Daqiang."

The little girl took the takeout box and quickly left, afraid that if the boss saw her, Daqiang would get scolded again.

She walked quite a distance before sitting down on the street and wolfing down the leftovers. To her, the meal was truly delicious.

After finishing her meal, the little girl, carrying her woven bag, habitually walked to the entrance of an empty alley and stood under a streetlamp, lost in thought.

This little girl named Xiaoxi has never known where her parents and family are.

Only a jade thumb ring strung on a red string around her neck, with the character "汐" engraved on the inside of the ring, could prove her identity.

Xiaoxi was thrown into a trash can after she was born.

A childless couple took her in and raised her until she was five years old. But then the couple had their own child, and Xiaoxi was abandoned again.

Xiaoxi can only make a living by scavenging for garbage and lives in a shack at the garbage dump in the north of the city.

Xiaoxi found bottles and cardboard boxes and sold them to an old man who collected recyclables in an alley.

Just a year ago, the old man suddenly discovered Xiaoxi's jade thumb ring, saying that he was destined to be with Xiaoxi and that she should become his apprentice.

However, he only allowed Xiaoxi to come to his courtyard at night to impart knowledge to her.

So, Xiaoxi continued to pick up trash everywhere during the day.

Strangely enough, every night when Xiaoxi came to her master's courtyard, she could feel a special aura that made her feel incredibly comfortable. As a result, Xiaoxi often studied with her master all night without feeling sleepy.

Later, the master said that this was spiritual energy, because only his small courtyard had spiritual energy.

Xiaoxi was already very intelligent, and with the blessing of the spirit-gathering array in the courtyard, she learned calligraphy, painting, various musical instruments, chess, and medicine from her master this year...

Xiaoxi mastered in less than a year what others could not learn in several lifetimes.

Two weeks ago, her master suddenly started teaching her cultivation.

Just last night.

Suddenly, the master said, "Xiao Xi, I have taught you everything I need to. You are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

"As for cultivation, Xiaoxi has already entered the early stage of Qi Refining. From now on, it's up to Xiaoxi herself. Xiaoxi must cultivate diligently!"

"Huh?" Xiaoxi was stunned.

"Where is Master going?"

“I do not belong here; it is time for me to leave.”

It was so sudden that Xiaoxi couldn't accept it for a moment, and she hugged her master and cried bitterly.

"Master, don't leave Xiaoxi. Are you going to abandon Xiaoxi too?"