Jiang Ran focused her divine sense to open the marketplace she had been curious about. At the very top was a simple search bar—likely meant for finding items.

Below, however, only three products appeared:

• Phoenix Divine Flame (Immortal Fire): 150,000 Reputation Points

• Supreme Fire-Origin Crystal: 500,000 Reputation Points

• Universal Body-Refining Technique (Heaven-tier): 100,000 Reputation Points

“…”

Jiang Ran was speechless. Each of these started at a hundred thousand points, while she had barely a thousand. Totally out of reach.

Still, she could now be certain of one thing: if this system held no hidden malice, then its appearance was definitely to her benefit. Which meant she had to carefully study how to use it.

At the moment, what troubled her most was how to help the Wheat Spirit Bug break past the shackles of its lifespan.

Over the past days she had grown attached to the two little creatures. After all, who wouldn’t love pets that were both capable and adorable?

She didn’t want the Wheat Spirit Bug to die. The creature’s will to live burned as tenaciously as wildfire.

And with her newly inherited Su Ling Town in such a fragile state—citizens’ loyalty dangerously low—she couldn’t afford for food supplies to collapse. If the people starved, half the population would defect to other lords. Then she’d be left not just a bare-pole commander… but perhaps no commander at all, her town swallowed up by neighboring powers.

For her sake and for her people’s, she had to find a way to save the Wheat Spirit Bug.

Her gaze shifted toward the system.

A sudden thought struck her.

She might know little about spirit sprites… but the system didn’t necessarily share that ignorance.

Yes, the system seemed crude right now, with little practical aid. But it still had a Quest tab and a Marketplace.

Quests could be triggered somehow, though she didn’t yet know the conditions. In the meantime, she could at least try that search bar.

Her eyes brightened. “What if… there are books about sprites? Or a method to evolve a bug into a Sprite Beast?”

Forgive her—Jiang Ran was utterly book-addled. Even in this crisis, her first instinct was still… books.

She quickly typed ‘spirit sprite’ into the bar.

In an instant, a dazzling array of goods appeared. The screen split into hundreds of panels, with more pages to scroll through.

A quick glance told her: no buying or selling of sprites. The system apparently did not allow trade in living beings.

That was disappointing.

But there were countless foods for sprites—like the common Jade Essence. Some even came in assorted flavors. Others were rare delicacies like Velvet Cotton Grass or Spirit-Fostering Herb. Prices ranged from a hundred points up to a hundred thousand.

The cheap foods she didn’t need. The expensive ones she couldn’t afford.

So she shook her head and dropped the idea of force-feeding the Wheat Spirit Bug a miracle breakthrough.

What did catch her eye, though, were books.

• “A Brief Introduction to Sprites” — 10,000 Reputation Points

• “The Four Stages of Sprite Evolution Revealed” — 100,000 Points

• “Sprites: Traces of the Transcendent Sacred Ones” — 500,000 Points

All out of reach. But she only needed one answer: how could an ordinary bug evolve into a Sprite Beast?

That second book looked perfect, but far too expensive.

Still, the idea gave her inspiration.

Her lips pressed together. She cleared the search and typed again: “books, spirit bug.”

Bingo.

• “The Life of a Spirit Bug” — 1,000 Reputation Points.

A short autobiography, written by someone who had raised a bug from first meeting to its eventual end.

It didn’t directly explain how to evolve one. But it touched on nearly every aspect of a bug’s life—hints Jiang Ran could piece together into her own path.

Without hesitation, she purchased it. Her points dropped from 1255 to 255.

She was curious how it would appear. Just as the thought crossed her mind, a faint light flickered before her eyes. With a plop, a shoddy little book—looking more like a cheap second-hand paperback—fell onto the floor.

“?”

Was this some kind of joke?

Her excitement fizzled instantly.

Still, she forced a smile. “Fine. Cheap goods can’t be quality. Having it at all is already something.”

No point insulting a system that had, at the very least, given her a chance.

She stooped to pick up the book. Content over cover. That’s what matters.

“Chiu mi~?”

Her two spirit bugs, full from their meal, crawled to her side, radiating joy.

She chuckled softly, stroking their plump little heads. Her eyes lingered on the Wheat Spirit Bug—fading but still stubborn. She whispered, “I know you’re unwilling to give up. I’ll find a way. Believe me.”

Someone once said Jiang Ran looked coolest when she was serious. Though the Wheat Spirit Bug wasn’t human, it still felt the fire in its new master’s words.

Like an elder at life’s end—body frail, spirit unyielding—the bug’s heart blazed with fierce resolve. Its previous master had never answered that plea… perhaps had never had the strength to.

But spirit sprites and masters shared a bond of mind. Hearing Jiang Ran’s promise, the Wheat Spirit Bug’s affection for her soared. Somewhere deep within, their contract grew stronger, their bond more profound.

Carrying her bug’s hopes, Jiang Ran opened the book—only for a knock to sound at the door.

“My lady,” came Butler Li’s voice from outside, “the cooks have prepared dinner. Lady Wen and Young Master Nan have been served. The guests you asked me to summon are all gathered in the main hall, and the servants await your word. Will you be dining now?”

He did not enter, only knocked and waited respectfully.

Jiang Ran glanced out the window. Twilight had already fallen.

She tucked the book into her sleeve, her dark eyes sharpening. “Butler Li, come in. I have a few matters for you to handle.”

Her tone was so serious that Li Fusheng dared not delay. He slipped in quietly, bowed, and carefully closed the door behind him.

Jiang Ran nodded to herself. Careful, loyal—at least she had one reliable person.

Her first question was: “Butler Li, have you found Physician Wang?”