Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

The way Grandma Bai looked at Ning Xuan, as if appraising a piece of merchandise, made Yan Fuzhen’s and Chen Nan’s expressions instantly turn cold. Chen Nan sidestepped, blocking her line of sight.

Ning Xuan raised an eyebrow and nudged Chen Nan aside. She had no memories of or feelings for the original owner’s parents, but she could tell from the original owner’s diary that she had held deep affection and admiration for the couple.

However, the original owner’s parents had died when she was six. From then on, she suffered endless abuse from Ning Chuchu, her mother, and her sister. She was chronically malnourished, sensitive, insecure, and timid. Ning Xuan felt a great deal of sympathy for the original owner’s past experiences.

But precisely because the original owner hadn’t been treated kindly by anyone in this world, Ning Xuan felt no pressure to acknowledge any of her so-called relatives—like the woman standing before her.

"Sister, this is our grandmother. Grandma Bai and I had our bloodline verified, which also proves that you really are my biological sister." Ning Chuchu ran to Grandma Bai’s side, affectionately linking her arm with hers.

Ning Xuan sized up the silver-haired woman. ’Based on her appearance, she looks to be around forty. Her posture is ramrod straight, and her eyes gleam with shrewdness. Only the faint fine lines at the corners of her eyes and mouth betray any trace of her age. People in this era have children quite late. I remember the original owner’s mother gave birth to her at forty-seven, and her father, Bai Xiwen, was fifty-three at the time. That means Bai Xiwen was fifty-three years older than Ning Xuan. If he were still alive, he would be seventy now. In that case, this woman must be at least a hundred years old, right?’

’She still looks so energetic.’

"The fact that you and your grandmother are related by blood is your business. What does it have to do with me? And as for this woman, I didn’t know her before, and I have no interest in knowing her in the future. My parents are both deceased. It doesn’t matter whose child I am; it has nothing to do with you." Ning Xuan met Old Mrs. Bai’s obviously calculating gaze and shot her a mocking look.

Hearing Ning Xuan’s words, Bai Ruzhen’s expression darkened. ’Legally speaking, within the Federation, Ning Xuan’s surname is Ning, making her a member of the Ning family. Furthermore, as a woman about to reach adulthood, she possesses full personal autonomy. She isn’t like a boy, who remains under parental control as long as he hasn’t formed a Contract.’

’Someone like Ning Chuchu is trying to gain benefits from the Bai Family, so I can control her with the promise of rewards. But Ning Xuan’s attitude... it’s as if she looks down on the Bai Family.’

"I know your parents passed away early, so you probably haven’t been taught any manners, which is why you’re so rude to your elders. But never mind. You are Xiu Wen’s child, after all, so I won’t hold it against you. I’ve always wanted your aunt to bring you back. It doesn’t matter if your Level is low; I’ll have your aunt arrange for you to study at the Federal First Comprehensive Academy. She’s the dean there, so she can look after you. What do you think?" Bai Ruzhen was determined to entice Ning Xuan with benefits, not hesitating to play her trump card right from the start.

Ning Chuchu stood to the side with her head down, nearly twisting her clothes to shreds. She had pestered Bai Ruzhen and Bai Xiurong for so long, and Bai Ruzhen had only just now relented. ’Why? Why is it being promised to Ning Xuan so easily now?’

"My parents are dead, and they didn’t leave me with any relatives. Housekeeper Yan, I’ll leave this to you. Ah Nan, let’s go." Not wanting to waste any more time here, Ning Xuan glanced at Yan Fuzhen and turned to leave.

With a wave of her hand, Bai Ruzhen sent a dozen or so Attendants forward to block Ning Xuan’s path, but they were intercepted by Yan Fuzhen’s men.

Ning Chuchu suddenly rushed over and hugged Ning Xuan. "Sister, Grandma is being so good to you—so good that even I’m jealous, yet you’re still ungrateful! She can give you such a bright future. If Father were still alive, he would definitely want you to listen to her. You can’t leave!"

Ning Chuchu tightened her grip, holding onto Ning Xuan for dear life as she lowered her head toward Ning Xuan’s neck. In truth, Ning Xuan could have pushed her away or dodged when Ning Chuchu first rushed over. But when she saw the red light flickering in Ning Chuchu’s eyes, she recalled something the original owner had written in her diary: every time before Ning Chuchu sucked her blood, her eyes would glow red.

’It seems Ning Chuchu’s craving for my blood has become uncontrollable. Or perhaps, she’s realized that if she doesn’t take this risky gamble today, she might never get another chance.’

In reality, Ning Chuchu was indeed desperate. She was aware of Grandma Bai’s schemes for her but was unwilling to give up the benefits the Bai Family offered. In her mind, as long as her spiritual power broke through to B-Level, all her problems would be solved.

Ning Xuan didn’t push Ning Chuchu away, allowing her to hold on tightly. Just as Ning Chuchu leaned her head toward Ning Xuan’s neck and opened her mouth, three slender red vines shot out from Ning Xuan’s neck. SHWIP! They drilled right into Ning Chuchu’s open mouth.

The red light flickering in Ning Chuchu’s eyes instantly dissipated. She let go of Ning Xuan and began clawing at her own mouth, which she held wide open. She could still feel something slithering down her throat. She wanted to dig it out but found her limbs growing weak as something was stripped away from inside her. "No, don’t! Ning Xuan, you bitch, what did you do to me?"

Ning Xuan frowned. With a beckoning gesture, she recalled the three red vines just as Ning Chuchu began to scream wildly.

"Feeling those things that don’t belong to you suddenly disappear?" Ning Xuan raised an eyebrow. She was disgusted by the bloodline essence that the vines had siphoned back—it had originally belonged to the body’s previous owner. The Little Red Bird was equally disdainful of it. After a moment’s thought, Ning Xuan had the Ghost Vine Body absorb it instead.

"Give it back! What did you do? I’ve spent so many years in painstaking Cultivation! You can’t do this to me!" Ning Chuchu could feel her power draining away. She secretly tried to channel her energy to summon her Companion Spirit, but she found her energy dissipating, impossible to use. Her Companion Spirit flickered in and out of existence, unable to fully materialize.

"Chuchu! Ning Xuan, what did you do to Chuchu?" Seeing Ning Chuchu’s state, Bai Ruzhen felt a deep sense of unease and demanded an answer.

"What did I do? Why don’t you ask her? A thief steals something, and after a while, they start to believe it truly belongs to them. Ning Chuchu, this is what you were always meant to be." A sudden thought occurred to Ning Xuan. ’It might be good for her to live on like this. As she lives and watches me achieve one thing after another, will she wonder? Will she think that if only she had drained all of Ning Xuan’s blood and completed that final step, all of my accomplishments would have been hers?’

"AHH, I’ll kill you! No, there has to be another way! Grandmother, please, help me capture her! We share the same bloodline! As long as I drink her blood, I can immediately advance to B-Level! I can even feel it—my Flame Bird will be able to evolve, too!"