IMO best way to level up during early levels are 2-1 ---> Secret Garden till around 50%-80% exp bar filled (changes depending on your current level) then use ALL your gathers and stamina on either manyu daily (if it's up) or presents and leveling up on the last stamina spent. Personally i don't like the manyu daily, rather prefer SGs. They are a more consistent way of getting manyu spirits.

TLDR: Newer players do manyu daily before levelling up, otherwise stick to 12 stamina secret gardens