Finally, Gu's father took out the small world he obtained from a secret realm. This small world might be a defective product refined by a great figure from the Immortal World using an Innate Spiritual Treasure. The great figure originally intended to build a portable cave mansion, but due to an error in absorbing spiritual energy during refining, this small world only contains a thin trace of spiritual energy. Although the Innate Space Spiritual Treasure is hard to come by, this thin trace of spiritual energy is merely a burden for the great figure. However, this is only true for high-level cultivators; for low-level cultivators and ordinary people, this spiritual energy is a good thing. It was this small space that helped Gu's father make continuous breakthroughs and eventually become a high-level cultivator. But now it is of little use, merely serving as a portable medicine field for growing ordinary spirit plants, as high-level spirit plants cannot be grown.
Since the space was no longer of great use to him, Gu's father decided to give it to Gu Qing as a memento, fearing that this farewell might be their last. In the final year, Gu's father planned to fill the space; the wooden building already existed, with a basement below incorporating Jiezhi Space used as a warehouse, which had an area of one hundred thousand square feet.
The spring to the right of the wooden building is a low-level spiritual spring containing spiritual energy that can quickly replenish a low-level cultivator's spiritual power and expel impurities from the body. If ordinary people drink it in small amounts multiple times, they can expel impurities and strengthen their bodies. Moreover, if they practice martial arts, they can enhance their inner strength with outstanding effects. The pool is used for soaking to treat external injuries.
In front of the wooden building, there are one hundred acres of land for growing ordinary crops, which grow about fifty times faster than outside. Behind the wooden building is a specially developed area for planting spiritual medicine. A mountain peak in the distance was developed for planting precious trees.
The couple arranged the space properly and filled it with endless gold and silver treasures before severing Gu's father's connection to the space. Since Gu Qing lacked divine sense, she could only make the space recognize her as its master by dripping her blood. Subsequently, they carefully selected a merchant family's illegitimate son for Gu Qing. An illegitimate son does not inherit the family business, nor can he take the imperial examination. Gu Qing had no backing, and once the Gu couple left, she would have no one to support her. Although Wang Sheng, the illegitimate son, did not achieve much, he and Gu Qing lived a carefree life, not worrying about food and clothing, due to Gu Qing's apparent wealth. After half a year, seeing their daughter and son-in-law living harmoniously and their daughter pregnant, the couple left for another Immortal Cultivation World.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last, and Gu Qing lived such a life for only three years. Originally, with the shops, land, and silver that Gu's father left Gu Qing outside of the space, she could live a prosperous life even without using the space. However, two years after Gu's father and Mrs. Gu left, although Wang Sheng was an illegitimate son, he was ambitious. Relying on a few years of schooling, he wanted to donate money to become an official, selling all of Gu Qing's shops and land, eventually securing a County Magistrate position in a remote county two prefectures away.
Because the family assets were sold, the couple took their child, packed simple luggage, and went to take up the post. Gu Qing initially thought that once they arrived, she could use the space's resources to supplement the household and live comfortably, so she didn't give it much thought. When they arrived, they discovered the county was a poor area. As soon as she took office, Gu Qing thought of buying land and property, socializing with colleagues, and gifting to superiors. How could she manage without silver? But using gold and silver treasures there couldn't be explained to her husband, so after much thought, she decided to confide some, truthfully and falsely, in Wang Sheng. She also mentioned that her parents were cultivators and had already gone to another realm, with an uncertain return date. She also said that before leaving, her parents left her a storage bag containing some treasures as a precaution. Gu Qing still had some reservations, being vague about the details of the space.
Wang Sheng was greatly surprised upon hearing this and asked what was inside the storage bag? Was there any cultivation technique? Could he take a look at the bag? Why didn't Gu's father and Mrs. Gu let Gu Qing cultivate as well? Gu Qing explained to Wang Sheng the reason she couldn't cultivate, and that her parents hadn't left any cultivation techniques. This was true; Gu Qing had no spirit roots, and there was no spiritual energy in this place anymore. Even if future descendants had spirit roots, how could they wait a thousand years to go to other realms? As for Wang Sheng, without spirit roots, the Gu couple wouldn't care; if the son-in-law went for cultivation, what about the daughter? Regarding the storage bag, it had already recognized Gu Qing as its master, and it couldn't be taken out.
After listening, Wang Sheng was again disappointed and asked when the in-laws might return. Gu Qing didn't know either. In fact, they most likely wouldn't return, so the matter was left unresolved. However, Wang Sheng felt dissatisfied with Gu Qing for concealing the truth initially, as Gu Qing realized in the days that followed. Therefore, Gu Qing barely touched the space's riches, only taking out about two thousand silver coins for Wang Sheng to handle affairs.
In the following six months, Wang Sheng observed signs of Gu Qing's reluctance to use silver coins for him and began coveting the storage bag. He didn't know how much wealth it held, yet he knew it was a treasure. Though Gu Qing said it had merged with her essence, if she died, wouldn't the bag be his? Moreover, without the bag, Gu Qing still had to step aside, rather than let someone with no roots occupy his wife's position, having wealth but unwilling to honor his superiors.
Because Wang Sheng harbored murderous intentions against Gu Qing, she slowly began to perceive it, coupled with hearsay among her colleagues and subordinates' wives. Gu Qing learned that Wang Sheng's superior greatly appreciated him and intended to marry off his most beloved illegitimate daughter to Wang Sheng. Gu Qing was heartbroken; before becoming an official, Wang Sheng was harmonious and immensely loving with her. Now, to advance in his career, he intended to eliminate her and seize her space. He was truly despicable; how unfortunate that her once-loved one became her enemy.
The superior was a person of insatiable greed. Did he truly appreciate Wang Sheng? Clearly, he had his eyes on Wang Sheng's money. Saying he would marry his daughter to Wang Sheng was just a scheme to extract silver from him to bribe higher-ups and get promoted. The little daughter was merely an illegitimate girl. Alas, Wang Sheng was deceived by the superior's grand promises, dreaming of promotion. If it weren't for her son, Gu Qing would have long separated from Wang Sheng.
Initially, when Wang Sheng arrived, he persuaded Gu Qing to present many gifts to the superior. Later, he even sent gifts twice more, ignoring Gu Qing's advice. Gu Qing eventually stopped trying to dissuade him but refused to spend more money to grease connections, as she realized it was futile. Wang Sheng wasn't from an aristocratic family; without foundations, how could he rise? That superior only had made some small connections above through money; how could promotion be so easy? It was better to do a good job as County Magistrate; even without promotion, they could live well. But Wang Sheng grew more and more impatient with Gu Qing, seeing her as the roadblock to his career path. In his view, the superior saw him as a capable person, a thousand-mile horse meeting a discerning master, while Gu Qing was the obstacle preventing a smooth career. The in-laws were unlikely coming back; otherwise, they wouldn't have arranged for their daughter so thoroughly. Surely the storage bag held more than just that wealth.
During this period, Gu Qing and Wang Sheng guarded against each other, nearly tearing each other's faces. Gu Qing was physically and mentally exhausted, but she persevered for the sake of her son. With nowhere to express her anguish, she returned to the space to write her journals.
One day, Wang Sheng feared the child would grow up alienated and seek revenge, and cruelly killed their son. Even a tiger does not eat its young; Wang Sheng was worse than a beast. Gu Qing, utterly heartbroken, lost all will to live. After writing her journals, she took her own life. The Space Jade Pendant bound to the Gu Family bloodline, could only be opened by their descendants. After its mistress's death, it would find the next space owner, so Gu Qing wasn't worried about the pendant falling into Wang Sheng's hands.
Gu Chengyu quickly finished reading, sighing: "Indeed, how easily people's hearts change! In the face of power and money, who can resist temptation?"