Xiao Li strolled around and spotted a few seeds at a small stall.
How do I change this?
Nowadays, people exchange goods, and money has long since become worthless and useless.
The stall owner was an old man. He had been sitting there for quite a while without anyone asking about him. Finally, someone asked him, and he quickly answered.
"Just three packs of instant noodles, or a small bag of rice."
Xiao Li touched her backpack; thankfully, she had brought supplies with her. She took out three packs of instant noodles and handed them to the old man.
Just as I was about to take the seeds, a woman snatched them from me.
"Junran, I like this."
A girl in a red dress tilted her head and flirted with the boy next to her.
The man looked over, nodded, tossed the old man a spirit core, and the two were about to leave.
Xiao Li was a little angry, and she stopped the two of them.
"Gentlemen, these seeds are mine, and I've already paid for them."
The old man nodded, somewhat reluctant as well. These days, supplies were far more valuable than spirit cores, and when supplies were scarce, even spirit cores couldn't buy them.
The man frowned, hesitated for a moment, then took out two more spirit cores and tossed them to the old man. This time, the old man smiled and nodded.
Xiao Li watched the interaction between the two and couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
"I was here first, and I paid the bill first."
The old man returned the instant noodles to Xiaoli, saying, "I'm sorry, young lady, I have a grandson to raise at home, and my wife is waiting for me to bring rice back."
The girl in red played with the seeds, watching them with a grin. She rolled her eyes at Xiao Li with disdain, then took the man's arm and walked away.
Xiao Li tried to stop them, but the old man held her back.
"Girl, bear with it. Those people are dressed neatly and look like important figures. We can't afford to offend them."
Xiao Li looked at the old man's weathered face and gave up on arguing.
Seeing that Xiaoli was still a little sullen, the old man took out a paper package from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Take this as compensation."
Xiao Li opened it out of curiosity and found three plump seeds inside, which looked much better than the ones from before.
Xiao Li calmed down a bit, and instead of ordering instant noodles, she took the seeds and left.
Xiao Li went to the slums again, where many people gathered.
The original owner used to live here, and later Zheng Shuxin and Liu Sitong came and lived here as well.
They were a small team, and they had carved out a small area, which was quite comfortable for them.
When Xiao Li arrived, Zheng Shuxin had just had a fight with Li Jing from the same team. Because Li Jing was the vice-captain's girlfriend, everyone sided with her.
Zheng Shuxin was wronged, and she cried outside with tears in her eyes. Liu Sitong came to comfort her.
"Xinxin, don't provoke her next time. We can't afford to fall out with them."
Otherwise we'll have to find a new team again. This team is stronger and safer.
Zheng Shuxin said angrily, "She was the one who started it, and you're blaming me for causing trouble instead of helping me."
"Okay, okay, I was wrong, but you should be more careful next time."
Zheng Shuxin replied reluctantly, "I understand."
She looked up and saw Xiao Li. She felt a little flustered, but quickly regained her composure.
What is she afraid of? She didn't abandon Ding Xiaoli alone, and besides, Ding Xiaoli didn't even know about it.
Moreover, she has a gentle personality, and if I say a few kind words to her, she will definitely forgive me.
Zheng Shuxin smiled and said, "Ali, you've come to City C too."
Liu Sitong also looked over and came forward to take Xiaoli's hand.
"Oh, we're so relieved that you're in C City, Ali. When we went to find supplies, you disappeared after we got back. You have no idea how worried we were about you."
Xiao Li smiled and said, "Really? But I heard you all advocating abandoning me and going to City C together."
Zheng Shuxin's face stiffened. Did Ding Xiaoli really hear that?
Liu Sitong smiled awkwardly, "Ali, you must have misheard. We've been friends for many years, how could I abandon you?"
Now that you're in City C, we can be together again. You have no idea how wicked the people outside are, and those mutated beasts are extremely dangerous. We must stick together to survive.
Xiao Li nodded. "Yes, you're right."
Liu Sitong was relieved and began to subtly probe for information.
"Ah Li, have you awakened your special abilities?"
Xiao Li nodded, "Yes, I have awakened the wood-type ability."
"So what kind of work are you doing now?"
Xiao Li shook her head. "I just arrived in City C and I don't have a place to stay yet. Can you take me in?"
Zheng Shuxin looked reluctant, but Liu Sitong quietly pulled her aside and agreed with a smile.
“Okay, you can stay with us. The three of us can look after each other.”
That night, Xiao Li moved into Zheng Shuxin and Liu Sitong's tent.
The next morning, she went with the two to see the captain, greeted him, and the three of them became a small group.
Since they were going on a mission today, Xiao Li naturally went with the two of them.
Liu Sitong had this idea in mind. She and Zheng Shuxin were ostracized in the team because their skills were not high.
Now that Xiaoli has joined them, things will be much better for the two of them.
They had tried to get closer to the other members of the group before, but they were rejected by the others, so their small group always operated with only two people.
The team's mission was to collect samples at the botanical garden. The team leader assigned tasks to the members, and the three of them were tasked with collecting pine needle mushrooms, just like in their previous life.
Xiao Li followed silently. When they encountered mutated beasts along the way, she started to slack off instead of fighting desperately like the original owner. In the end, she was killed by the two of them.
"Run!"
The three of them ran for their lives. The two-headed hellhound they had just encountered was too powerful; they were almost injured and had no choice but to flee.
But where is this?
They got lost.
Liu Sitong possessed earth-based abilities, so she constructed an earthen wall, which provided some protection. After resting for a while, the three headed off in one direction.
Before long, they saw a huge mutated tree, and what was even more attractive were the two soul fruits on the tree.
This fruit has been obtained by some people and has been confirmed by scientists to allow superpowers to be upgraded.
Zheng Shuxin and Liu Sitong were overjoyed. This was specially prepared for the two of them. They had excluded Xiaoli and hadn't considered her at all.
What a coincidence!
Xiao Li thought so too.
The three slowly approached the tree. The tree's only weakness was its heartwood. It would only stop attacking people if they cut open the heartwood and obtained the spiritual core inside.
The original owner was a key player back then. She had wood-type abilities, and trees naturally felt a connection to her.
She used a dagger to cut open the tree's heart, but was also seriously injured by the tree roots, which allowed Zheng and Liu to take the opportunity to kill her.
"Ah Li, go and retrieve the spirit core. We will protect you."
Xiao Li nodded and moved closer to the tree's core. Sensing the danger, the tree transformed its branches into whips and lashed out at the three of them.
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