Chapter 3: Raising a morning glory won't be worse than a Devil Vine

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Ge Bai woke up. This had been her habit for many years.

After changing her clothes, she went to the courtyard as usual, sat on the stone bench under the hard-leaf eucalyptus, and began to meditate.

Today was different from usual. Before entering meditation, she closed her eyes, recited silently in her heart, and activated the Spirit Plant Communicator state.

Accompanied by the rustling sound of the wind sweeping through the leaves, a deep voice came from the hard-leaf eucalyptus behind her: "Little Ge Bai is here to meditate again."

Hearing this voice, Ge Bai felt a strange soreness in her nose. It turned out that for the past ten-plus years, she hadn't been sitting alone in the empty courtyard to meditate every morning. It turned out the hard-leaf eucalyptus would call her "Little Ge Bai," greet her, and accompany her during meditation, even though she had never noticed it before.

She turned around, hugged the thick trunk of the hard-leaf eucalyptus, and pressed her face against the rough bark.

Last night wasn't a dream; it really was a system. Having this system is truly great.

Ge Bai hugged the hard-leaf eucalyptus hard, turned back, sat down, and began her daily meditation.

Two hours later.

"System, what is my spirit awareness development degree now?"

"10.7%"

Finishing her meditation, Ge Bai felt that the spirit power was flowing exceptionally smoothly in her body today, so she didn't open her eyes directly, but instead asked the system about her progress.

The system, which had been silent, gave the conclusion readily.

Sure enough, this progress is much faster than before.

And now, without having to go to the testing center, she can understand her own cultivation level more intuitively. It's truly convenient and saves money.

You know, for spirit awareness development testing, only the initial test for third-year junior high students is free. Every subsequent test requires a fee of 200 Alliance Coins, even if one is registered as a primary, intermediate, or senior Beast Master or Spirit Plant Master.

200 Alliance Coins is enough for Ge Bai's food expenses for half a month.

Satisfied, she opened her eyes. Just as she stretched, she saw Wu Dami squatting on the ground poking ants with a twig not far away.

Liu Hao was sitting on a tree root that had grown out of the ground, leaning against the trunk, seriously reading a book titled "Encyclopedia of Pet Beast Species." There was a plastic barcode on the spine; it must have just been borrowed from the city library.

"Bai Bai, you're finally done meditating! I said let's come out to find you at eight, but Liu Hao insisted on pulling me over to wait an hour ago and wouldn't let me call you. It was so boring waiting for you." Wu Dami was as talkative as ever, threw down the twig in his hand, and ran over to squeeze in and sit beside Ge Bai.

Liu Hao ignored Wu Dami, closed the book in his hand, and stood still in front of the two.

"Ge Bai, what are you planning to do today? Do you want to go to the Spirit Plant Garden together? Dami also needs to contract a spirit plant."

Ge Bai reacted instantly. These two must have heard about her situation and were specifically here to block her early in the morning, fearing she wouldn't be able to handle it.

Hearing this, it seems Wu Dami also has spirit plant affinity attributes, and Liu Hao can contract Pet Beasts.

"Hmm, Dami and I can just go together. Haozi, don't worry about me. There are several Pet Beast cultivation centers, and there are many more types of Pet Beasts than spirit plants. Don't accompany us; seize the time to choose carefully." Ge Bai had already adjusted by now, and her emotions were not low.

Wu Dami observed Ge Bai cautiously. Seeing that she was still normal, he let out a long breath, grinned, and just as he wanted to say something, he was ruthlessly interrupted by Liu Hao.

"No, I'll accompany you to the Spirit Plant Garden first."

Liu Hao was very firm, and Wu Dami was also nodding frantically on the side.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go together."

Ge Bai didn't insist. The few of them greeted Teacher Xiaolu and walked toward the bus stop.

The Blue Star Welfare Institute is located in a remote area, so there weren't many people on the bus. The three of them sat in the last row.

Liu Hao was twisting left and right in his seat, looking extremely conflicted.

He wanted to let Ge Bai advise him on what kind of Pet Beast would be suitable to contract.

After all, he knew best how much research Ge Bai had done on Pet Beasts over the years.

But he really couldn't ask. Asking this now wouldn't be rubbing salt into Ge Bai's wounds.

Ge Bai had originally been supporting her head and looking out the window, but since the three were so close, she also noticed Liu Hao's conflicted appearance.

Coupled with the fact that they had grown up together, she knew what Liu Hao was conflicted about. Her heart warmed again.

"Haozi, what Pet Beast are you planning to contract?"

Ge Bai asked first. Liu Hao looked up instantly, seeing the girl by the window with her hair blown by the breeze, smiling very gently. He also gradually relaxed.

That's right, they had lived together for more than ten years; they were already family. Isn't it normal for family members to help each other?

"I haven't decided yet. I originally thought about contracting a Steel-Toothed Dog, but a news report came out a while ago that the Steel-Toothed Dog evolved a new fire-attribute path, and the price of cubs has risen to 350,000 now. I can't afford it." Liu Hao was a little frustrated.

Spirit beast and spirit plant shopping loans are relatively common in this society. Ordinary families can mortgage their property and provide proof of stable income to borrow about 900,000 to 1.2 million.

But children from welfare institutes like Ge Bai and the others can only rely on government welfare loans, applying for loans based on non-criminal records issued by the community and personal qualifications. Liu Hao and Wu Dami had already checked, and they could only borrow about 170,000.

Later, by submitting proof of work salary, it could increase by 10,000 or 20,000, but it definitely couldn't exceed 200,000.

They have to repay this money within 5 years.

Ge Bai's situation is slightly better. With 10% spirit awareness development, if she had Pet Beast affinity attributes, she should have no problem getting the top-tier welfare loan of 500,000. But now, she still doesn't know how much she can borrow.

It doesn't matter much. She can just check at the contract window of the Spirit Plant Garden in a while.

Ge Bai thought for a moment and said very seriously to Liu Hao: "Do you like monkeys?"

Liu Hao was stunned: "It's okay. I don't have any particular likes or dislikes; I just haven't paid much attention to them usually."

"I suggest you contract a Ring-tailed Lemur or a Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey."

Ge Bai continued.

"In the past two years, the evolution paths of large apes have broken through frequently, and the prices of all primate Pet Beasts have been rising, but small monkeys are still okay. Ring-tailed Lemurs are around 90,000, and Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys are around 120,000. The initial cultivation costs are also much less than meat-eating or metal-eating beasts like the Steel-Toothed Dog. We can afford it."

"Although small monkeys certainly can't evolve into large Battle Beasts that can fight head-on like the Long-haired Black Ape or the Vajra Giant Gorilla, their advantages in lurking, sentry duty, and reconnaissance are also very obvious."

"They can also help when working part-time. Later, if you cultivate them well, you can try to transfer to a professional Battle Beast Master, go to the frontier with a Battle Beast team. This kind of scout-type Battle Beast is still very popular. The risk is not small, but the returns are also high. If you have higher expectations, the interstellar legions recruit from society every year. If you can join the army, that would be even better."

Ge Bai knew Liu Hao's personality and tried her best to think of a feasible plan for him.

After hearing this, Liu Hao let out a long breath: "Ge Bai, it has to be you."

"I understand what you said, but are there any small monkeys cheaper than the Ring-tailed Lemur?"

Ge Bai was a little surprised.

"There are, but the growth ceiling will be lower. These two should be the most suitable. Don't you two have 170,000 in loans?"

"Hey, Haozi told me he wanted to buy you a Devil Vine. Relying on your own loan definitely won't be enough, so we'll spend less and free up the quota for you to use." Wu Dami was energetic now and directly stated the result of the two people's discussion yesterday.

Devil Vine, an auxiliary spirit plant, is also one of the few spirit plants with a certain attack power. Every year, interstellar legion recruitment favors Spirit Plant Masters who can cultivate high-level Devil Vines.

This is also the best spirit plant the two of them could think of.

The price is naturally outrageously expensive. An ordinary Devil Vine seedling needs 700,000 to 800,000 Alliance Coins.

Liu Hao elbowed Wu Dami in the stomach, and Wu Dami coughed repeatedly from the impact.

"Uh, no, it's mainly because we can't spend all our loans, and it's a waste. It's better for you to use it." Liu Hao explained anxiously, fearing that Ge Bai would stubbornly refuse them.

Seeing the two of them like this, Ge Bai felt warm inside and smiled exceptionally happily.

"You two don't think too much, and don't worry about money. Haozi, just choose between the Ring-tailed Lemur and the Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. I haven't decided what spirit plant to contract yet; we'll see when we get there."

"But..."

"Alright, don't worry. I, Ge Bai, am so amazing; raising a morning glory won't be worse than a Devil Vine!"

Seeing Ge Bai joking, the two didn't continue.

At this time, neither of them expected that what Ge Bai said casually wasn't a joke.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 4 =====