Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow. "This is a miraculous medicine my parents sent from... uh, from the immortal mountains overseas via a dream! It strengthens the body and wards off all illnesses! I've taken it myself! Look at me—I was nearly dead before, and now I can run, jump, and even throw stones to feed the fish!"

Before Nanny Wang could stop her, Qi Xiao pinched open the wax seal. A richer medicinal aroma wafted out.

She popped one pill into her own mouth first, chewing it with a crunch. "Hmm, not bad. Tastes sweet."

Then she pressed the other one into Lin Daiyu's hand. "Try it. If it tastes bad, you can spit it out."

Lin Daiyu looked at the smooth, round "sugar bean" in her hand, its medicinal fragrance soothing, then at Qi Xiao's "sincere" (though in reality, mischief-filled) eyes. She hesitated.

Sickly since childhood, she had endured countless bitter medicines but had never seen a pill that smelled so pleasant.

Moreover, this Elder Sister Qi Xiao seemed truly different from before, vibrant and full of life.

As if bewitched, she placed the "sugar bean" into her mouth.

The pill dissolved instantly, a wave of gentle warmth flowing through her limbs. The chest tightness and shortness of breath that had plagued her for days lessened noticeably, and a touch of color bloomed on her pale cheeks.

"How do you feel?" Qi Xiao asked with a smile.

Lin Daiyu, surprised by the physical comfort, widened her eyes. "It feels... much better."

Seeing this, Nanny Wang was both astonished and worried. "Young Lady, are you truly alright? Do you feel any discomfort?"

"None, Nanny. I feel very well," Lin Daiyu said softly, her gaze towards Qi Xiao now holding less fear and more curiosity and gratitude.

[Ding! Host has successfully squandered wealth, consuming [Body Tempering Pill] x1 (Valued at 1,000 taels of silver). Reward: Cultivation - Qi Refinement Stage 6! Points +10! Additional Reward: 1,000 taels of silver!]

Qi Xiao's heart blossomed with joy.

She spent 10 points and gained cultivation stage plus 1,000 taels! This deal was incredibly profitable!

And she'd casually raised the favorability of the future Daughter of Providence?

Not that she cared, but it passed the time.

"Comfortable? Good." Qi Xiao waved a hand grandly and instructed Chun Xian, "Chun Xian, go bring that plate of... the newly bought, most expensive pastries from my room for Sister Lin to try!"

She had almost slipped up and mentioned the chest of gold.

Chun Xian scurried off to obey.

Qi Xiao then pulled Lin Daiyu to sit on the railing by the pond, launching into her "Prodigal Indoctrination": "Little sister Daiyu, let me tell you, in this life, one must be happy! Eat what you want, play as you wish, never hold yourself back!"

"What is money? Money exists to be spent! Look at these fish in the pond—if you're happy, feed them something nice. If you're unhappy... just fish them out and grill them for dinner!"

Lin Daiyu: "..." G-grill them? Aren't they ornamental fish?

Nanny Wang: "..." This cousin has truly lost her mind!

Yet, listening to Qi Xiao's heretical words that somehow carried a strange sense of unfettered freedom, Lin Daiyu's heart—bound by strict etiquette and prone to overthinking—felt a faint stirring of yearning.

Could one really live like this?

...

After temporarily "capturing" Sister Lin's budding curiosity with a "sugar bean" and her "theory on grilled fish," Qi Xiao, accompanied by Chun Xian and carrying the newly acquired eleven thousand taels of silver notes, swaggered out of the Lin residence and headed straight for the most bustling streets of Gusu.

Her goal was simple: Spend money! Spend it like there was no tomorrow!

"Shopkeeper! The most expensive fabric in your silk emporium—which one is it? Oh, that cloud-pattern brocade? How much do you have? I'll take it all!"

"Proprietor! The largest pearl in your jewelry store? The purest jadeite? Pack them up!"

"My, this restaurant looks splendid! This young mistress is booking the entire place today! Put everyone's bill here on my account!"

Wherever Qi Xiao went, it was like a bandit's raid—no, more like the God of Wealth had descended.

She never asked the price, only if it was the most expensive item.

She bought utterly impractical things or items she had no use for.

For example, she bought Chun Xian a heavy gold phoenix hairpin inlaid with gems that nearly strained the poor maid's neck.

She bought herself an extravagant carriage, studded with various jewels, so heavy it required eight horses to pull.

She even bought an entire musical band from foreign merchants just because "it sounds lively."

[Ding! Host has successfully squandered wealth, consuming 5,000 taels of silver. Reward: Cultivation - Qi Refinement Stage 7! Points +50! Additional Reward: 5,000 taels of silver!]

[Ding! Host has successfully squandered wealth, consuming 3,000 taels of silver. Reward: Peak of Qi Refinement Stage 7! Points +30! Additional Reward: 3,000 taels of silver!]

...

Silver flowed out like water. Her cultivation stage skyrocketed as if riding a rocket.

By the time Qi Xiao returned to the gates of the Lin residence, leading a grand procession of dozens of carts loaded with various "useless trinkets," her cultivation had firmly settled at Qi Refinement Stage 8!

She had also accumulated nearly 200 points again.

The Lin family gatekeeper, seeing this spectacle, nearly collapsed in fright.

Had she bought out the entire city of Gusu?