《My Virtual Immortal Girlfriend Came to Life from a Mobile Game》 Chapter 1 - Small Workshops raw materials are fierce In today''s world, cancer is no longer a terminal illness with a 100% mortality rate. We have advanced technology and mature medical teams. As long as you have insurance, a supportive family, or even just yourself... Chen Huaian turned off the TV and gave a bitter smile. "But I have nothing." The critical illness notice came the day before yesterday, his girlfriend left yesterday, and today he fell apart. He was just a freshman in college. His parents were forest rangers who died in a forest fire a few years ago, leaving nothing behind but a meager compensation. Over the years, Chen Huaian had come to terms with his parents'' death and chose to face life positively. With the compensation, he lived frugally and took odd jobs, so finishing college wasn''t a problem. His grades were decent, at least good enough for a top-tier university, and it was said that graduation guaranteed job placement. He thought that even if the salary was low, he could at least survive. But when he went to the hospital the day before yesterday to check on his frequently aching ankle, he was diagnosed with mid-stage cancer. Knowing he couldn''t afford treatment, Chen Huaian simply left school and rented a place near the city''s wetland park for a year, planning to spend the rest of his life there. As for what to do when the rent was due and he had no money? He chuckled, thinking he wouldn''t live that long. He checked his bank balance on his phone, which showed just over thirty thousand left. "Food costs at most five or six hundred a month. Including other miscellaneous expenses, let''s say a thousand. After a year, there should still be twenty thousand left." Chen Huaian pondered over the balance. Life had been tough these past few years. While other students were traveling, he was working odd jobs. While others were playing games, he was working. While others were dating... his girlfriend was cheating on him. He decided to live for himself from now on. Play some games, watch the TV series he had accumulated over the years, and if his health allowed, maybe visit the seaside. [Installation Complete] [Come and claim your virtual girlfriend!] Normally, when Chen Huaian saw such ads pop up on his phone, his first reaction was to ignore or swipe them away. But today, his finger hesitated. On the main screen of his phone, there was a new app icon, a chibi-style portrait in traditional Chinese attire.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It looked like a girl, dressed in blue, carrying a sword, with flowing robes. "An auto-installed game? Could it be some kind of virus..." In the past, he would have deleted it immediately and run a scan with his phone manager, but today he was curious about what these virus apps were all about. After all, he had nothing left to lose. He tapped the app, and the screen went black, followed by a pop-up message. [This game is only for players aged 18 and above. Starting the game will bind your identity, and your account cannot be destroyed or transferred. By starting the game, you agree to these unfair terms.] "Oh, you know these are unfair terms?" Chen Huaian pursed his lips in exasperation and clicked to start the game. He was now 100% sure this was a virus app. So what would the other party do? Steal his identity information? Chat records? If they found out he was a broke mid-stage cancer patient, would the app''s operator uninstall it themselves? [Please choose your virtual girlfriend!] The game''s graphics were surprisingly exquisite. The app looked chibi-style, but inside, it was very realistic. In front of him were a dozen ''virtual girlfriends'' for Chen Huaian to choose from, and he could see their basic information. For example, the one he was currently looking at was: [Japanese Yakuza Heiress: Kotoko Kirishima] [Age: 22 Height: 158 Measurements: 89, 55, 86] From the live2D model, this character was curvy, and even the kimono couldn''t hide her figure. Plus, she had a sweet face and the identity of a yakuza heiress. This kind of big-breasted loli with a contrasting image was probably many men''s type. Too bad she was blonde and Japanese, which didn''t interest Chen Huaian. After looking at a few more characters, he found they came from different eras, and some weren''t even from Earth. It was quite imaginative, and there was even a Transfemaler! In the end, Chen Huaian''s choice landed on a girl in blue. [Azure Cloud Sect Female Disciple: Li Qingran] [Age: 19 Height: 169 Measurements: 90, 60, 91] Li Qingran seemed to be the chibi character on the app icon, but now she looked more three-dimensional. Her skin was fair, her features delicate, with long black hair cascading down her back. Dressed in blue, carrying a sword, her clothes fluttered gracefully. Even without makeup, she was as beautiful as a painting. What struck Chen Huaian the most were her eyes, cold and wooden, with a hint of brokenness and emptiness, as if staring through the screen. He began to doubt whether this was really a virus. To make a virus this detailed, were they aiming for a postgraduate entrance exam or a Ph.D.? Alright, it''s you. [Confirm choosing ''Li Qingran'' as your virtual girlfriend?] [Note! Once chosen, it cannot be changed!] [If the virtual girlfriend dies, you cannot revive her, and she will disappear completely!] "So serious?" Chen Huaian frowned, realizing this might be the game developer''s intention. He could almost predict how this game would scam money. In the past, he would have stopped immediately, but today he chose to confirm. [You have 132 days of life remaining.] A message flashed by. The screen unfolded. Chen Huaian thought opening the game would lead to low-quality graphics and a cultivation world newbie village, where he would repeatedly use one-click navigation to complete tasks, acquire equipment, mounts, and one-click dungeon clearing, the usual low-quality mobile game routine. But it wasn''t like that. The scene showed a drafty thatched hut, with the only thing resembling a bed being a straw mat soaked by rain. A ragged girl huddled in a corner, hugging her knees. Her hair was a tangled mess, covering her face, making it hard to see her features. Her exposed arms and legs were bruised, and centipede-like cuts stood out starkly against her pale skin. "Is this Li Qingran?" Chen Huaian was dumbfounded. He noticed a broken sword near the straw mat, the same one Li Qingran held in the character page. [Li Qingran¡¯ is cold and hungry, her body growing weaker] [Li Qingran¡¯ is affected by fire poison, in unbearable pain] [Li Qingran¡¯ has half an hour of life remaining] As these three messages popped up, the girl in the corner let out a painful groan. She slightly raised her head, revealing those hollow, numb eyes and pale lips. Even seeing only half her face, Chen Huaian confirmed this was the character he chose. "What to do?" A sense of urgency suddenly arose in Chen Huaian''s heart. The game''s character expressions and sounds were too realistic, including the vivid wounds, making him instinctively feel that if he didn''t take action, once the countdown in the top right corner ended, this girl would really die. At this moment, a prompt appeared: [Ding! First recharge of 6 yuan with a limited-time offer of a home renovation gift pack, giving your virtual girlfriend a comfortable home!] Chapter 2 - As long as you Top Up, you can become stronger Chen Huaian couldn''t help but laugh in frustration when he saw the top-up reminder. The game developers didn''t even bother to disguise their intentions; they just wanted players to spend money right from the start. But looking at the pitiful expression of the girl on the screen, he couldn''t help but think of himself¡ªalone, without support, unable to afford medical treatment, and even his girlfriend had left him. How much better off was he compared to Li Qingran? His former friends were all afraid he''d ask to borrow money, and he couldn''t reach any of them. Who would lend him a helping hand? But now, he could extend a helping hand to this girl. Even though she was just a program, a game designed to drain his wallet. "Just six bucks, top up!" Chen Huaian had never played games before; he''d only watched others play. This was definitely his first time spending money in a game. [Top-up successful!] He watched as the notification turned into golden light, flowing towards the dilapidated thatched hut where Li Qingran was. The golden light fell on the straw mat, transforming it into a wooden bed with bedding. The crumbling earthen walls turned into brick walls with a window that kept out the wind and rain. As the golden light enveloped the entire room, the floor, table, chairs, stove... all sorts of antique furniture appeared. "That''s more like it!" Chen Huaian felt satisfied and looked at Li Qingran, curious to see her reaction. But it was just a mobile game; it probably wouldn''t be that detailed, at most showing a bit of happiness. However, he was surprised to see Li Qingran''s expression change from bewilderment to terror, then to vigilance. The girl seemed incredulous about what was happening, cowering in the corner, too afraid to move. After a while, she cautiously circled the room like a cat in a new environment. She sat back on the bed, touched the soft mattress, and her eyes were filled with confusion. "Oh my God, the expression feedback, the interaction system..." Chen Huaian was dumbfounded by the series of reactions from the game character. When Li Qingran sat on the bed, it naturally sank a little, and the places she touched even left wrinkles. Could a mere mobile game achieve this level of detail? Even if it meant spending more money, he felt it was worth it, as a way to reward the game developers. But just as this thought crossed his mind... [ Top up 30 yuan to get a beautiful outfit for your virtual girlfriend!] "Uh..." Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran''s tattered clothes and felt a pang of sympathy. "Top up!"This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Whoosh! An antique-style blue dress appeared at the bedside. [ Top up 68 yuan to set a sumptuous nutritional meal for your virtual girlfriend!] 68 yuan for a meal? Chen Huaian usually spent no more than 15 on takeout! But so what? Top up! [ Top up 98 yuan to receive a background report and health check form for your virtual girlfriend, to better understand her status!] Chen Huaian: "Top up!" [ Top up 188 yuan to equip your virtual girlfriend''s home with three Immortal Grade Thunderfire Talismans for protection!] Chen Huaian: "Top up, top up, top up!" [Your virtual girlfriend is frightened, please wait before proceeding~~] The game stopped showing top-up prompts. Chen Huaian noticed that Li Qingran had hidden under the bed, trembling all over. The new clothes on the bed remained untouched, as did the table full of chicken, duck, and fish. A countdown for the inspection report appeared in the upper right corner, set to be ready in half an hour. The room''s door, windows, and ceiling now had three talismans, barely visible unless zoomed in. He felt slightly relieved that Li Qingran''s lifespan had been extended to six hours. "Not bad, no major issues for now." The game''s time was synchronized with real time, so he didn''t need to be too anxious. "By the way, didn''t Li Qingran have some kind of fire poison before? What was that?" It seemed like he could check her status by tapping on her, but unfortunately, the girl was now under the bed, with only a small, white foot visible. Tapping it had no effect, and it quickly retracted as if shocked. "Guess I''ll have to wait for the inspection report to get a clearer picture." Chen Huaian rubbed his stomach and glanced at the food on the table in the game. The oil from the roast duck seemed to be dripping down, looking so realistic that it didn''t feel like just a texture; he could almost smell it. It was already afternoon, and he hadn''t had lunch yet. "I''ll just whip up something simple. The game character is eating better than I am." Chen Huaian sighed, but thinking about how 68 yuan bought such a feast, it seemed quite a bargain. He felt at ease. He placed his phone on the table to charge, planning to have lunch before checking on his virtual girlfriend again. *** Li Qingran, female, 19 years old, Fifth Disciple of Crimson Sky Peak of the Azure Cloud Sect. Her life had been relatively peaceful, following a routine of cultivation and sect missions. She was protected by four senior brothers, each with their own strengths, until one day, First Senior Brother Lu Changtian brought back a Sixth Junior Sister from outside, vouching for her with his life to allow the talentless Sixth Junior Sister to join Crimson Sky Peak, and everything changed. The First Senior Brother, who used to call her for morning lessons every day, stopped coming. Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng, who was skilled in pill refining, no longer asked her to test medicines. Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo, who was always cold to everyone, even learned love songs for the little junior sister? Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao, who was keen on taking missions, stopped going out and stayed at Crimson Sky Peak to guard the little junior sister every day. Everyone revolved around Sixth Junior Sister Mu Baishuang, even the usually indifferent Master favored her, simply because her tragic background, broken family, and frail health gave the impression that she might shatter if not carefully nurtured. Li Qingran had no objections to these changes. It was normal for the sweet-talking and lovable little junior sister to be favored. As a senior sister, she should also take care of the little junior sister. Under the careful guidance and resource allocation from the four senior brothers, Mu Baishuang''s cultivation level gradually caught up with hers. At the sect''s grand competition half a month ago, adhering to the principle of respecting opponents and stopping at the right moment, she engaged in a normal duel with Junior Sister Mu Baishuang. Although Mu Baishuang''s cultivation had improved, her foundation, built through medicinal means, was unstable, and her combat experience was severely lacking. She intended to exchange a few dozen moves to make a point, then apply pressure to make Mu Baishuang concede. This way, Mu Baishuang would save face, and it wouldn''t affect rankings or fairness. But Mu Baishuang relentlessly aimed her sword at vital points, forcing her to defend with all her might. However, at a certain moment, the aggressive Mu Baishuang suddenly switched to defense and even lunged towards her sword. By then, it was too late to withdraw her sword, making it seem as if she deliberately aimed for Mu Baishuang''s vital point... The sword merely pierced Mu Baishuang''s shoulder. Yet it nearly cost her half her life. She was expelled from Crimson Sky Peak and demoted to an Outer Disciple. Did she think it was over? No, her four senior brothers had no intention of letting her go. They wanted to avenge Mu Baishuang. First Senior Brother Lu Changtian crippled her cultivation and pleaded with the Master to remove her spiritual root. Second Senior Brother made her consume a waste pill, saying it was to let her taste the pain of the little junior sister. Third Senior Brother bribed the Outer Sect Elder to expel her from the Azure Cloud Sect, and Fourth Senior Brother, claiming to take her down the mountain, abandoned her in a dilapidated thatched hut surrounded by demonic beasts on Evergreen Mountain, leaving her to fend for herself... They seemed possessed, turning a misunderstanding, a trivial matter, into a life-threatening vendetta for the little junior sister! For the past half month, she had done her best to protect herself, having recently fought off a demon wolf with great effort, sustaining serious injuries. Moreover, with her cultivation crippled, the previously non-lethal fire poison had become a life-hastening talisman, and she was already at the end of her rope. Coincidentally, a heavy rainstorm hit the mountain, as she cowered in the corner, awaiting death. A mountain sparrow flew swiftly past the rain-soaked entrance. Suddenly, a voice echoed in her ear: [Home is here!] In the blink of an eye, the dilapidated thatched hut she was in transformed into a stone-built house! Chapter 3 - This game actually has independent voice actors? Lately, Li Qingran had never witnessed such a phenomenon. For a cultivator, building a house is simple, but transforming a dilapidated thatched hut into a stone house in an instant is no easy feat. Not to mention conjuring clothes and food out of thin air. Creating something from nothing and transforming something into something else are two entirely different concepts. Initially, she thought a great cultivator was playing tricks on her, hiding and taking things out from a storage ring, but she didn''t sense any spatial fluctuations. Everything appeared out of nowhere. To create something from nothing and make the food look, smell, and taste perfect, it must be a great cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage, right? Or perhaps... Body Fusion stage? Li Qingran wasn''t sure. After all, her master, the old monster at the Divine Transformation stage, Daoist Qingxuan, couldn''t achieve this. He could only transform ingredients into finished dishes but couldn''t make food appear out of thin air. Of course, it''s also possible that Daoist Qingxuan never studied such techniques, considering that even at the Foundation Establishment stage, one could abstain from food. The aroma of the food made Li Qingran''s mouth water. After her cultivation was abolished, she could no longer abstain from food. The meat of demonic beasts was often highly toxic, and she couldn''t discern it, so she could only eat wild fruits and roots from the mountains. Hiding under the bed wasn''t a solution. Li Qingran cautiously poked half her head out from under the bed, mustered her courage, and called out, "Which senior is casting spells here? Junior Li Qingran dares to request a meeting with the senior?" The surroundings were silent, with no response, only the sound of torrential rain pounding against the bamboo window. Li Qingran remained silent for a while, deciding to come out from under the bed. Saying she wasn''t scared would be a lie, but considering the other party''s immense powers, did she have any room to resist if they intended to do something? Just now, her sole was even tapped, and the senior''s hand was warm, seemingly mocking her for hiding under the bed and still giving herself away... Thinking of this, Li Qingran bit her lip, her face turning red. Forget it, if she was going to die, so be it. She crawled out from under the bed, looked around, and saw no suspicious figure in the room. Finally, her gaze involuntarily fell on the feast on the table.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Gulp¡ª!" The sound of swallowing and the rumbling of her stomach occurred simultaneously. She awkwardly sat at the table, staring at the dishes, but didn''t pick up the chopsticks. Instead, she clasped her hands together, bowed her head, and said, "If the senior is unwilling to show themselves, could you let Qingran know if this food is edible? If the senior doesn''t speak, Qingran won''t touch the senior''s things even if she starves to death." After speaking, Li Qingran sat in front of the table full of delicacies, closed her eyes, and entered meditation. *** Chen Huaian casually whipped up some scrambled eggs with tomatoes for lunch. Returning to his phone, he saw Li Qingran had already come out from under the bed and was sitting at the dining table meditating. Her body was swaying, her calico cat-like face dotted with sweat, her nostrils flaring, clearly resisting the temptation of the food. "What kind of pose is this?" Chen Huaian chuckled. Who meditates in front of food? Training willpower? The girl''s chin was almost hovering over the roast chicken. [Li Qingran requests to consume the nutritional meal. Do you agree?] A dialogue box popped up. "This thing needs my permission? So strict?" Chen Huaian chuckled and shook his head, choosing to agree. In the scene, Li Qingran seemed to hear something, opened her eyes, and a look of joy appeared on her face. "Thank you, senior!" "Damn, there''s even sound!" The sudden crisp and pleasant female voice almost made Chen Huaian drop his phone. Mainly because he hadn''t turned on the sound earlier, thinking there was no sound since the game had no BGM. Later, he turned up the volume and realized there were realistic ambient sounds, like the crackling of a burning stove and the sound of torrential rain outside. But he never thought Li Qingran had a dedicated voice actor. As expected, the saying goes, handcrafted with overkill! Chen Huaian continued to watch the girl eat. At first, Li Qingran ate slowly, but then her chopsticks moved faster and faster, eventually turning into a ravenous pace, the speed of which left him dumbfounded. Truly, only in a game could a character eat so quickly. *** After finishing her meal, Li Qingran picked up a small towel beside her and wiped her mouth, blushing as she bowed her head in gratitude, "It''s been a long time since I''ve had such delicious food. Senior''s great kindness, Qingran will never forget!" Just when she was meditating with closed eyes, she suddenly heard a resounding ''Yes.'' The voice was like the grand sound of the Dao, penetrating her soul. When she opened her eyes, she saw a large golden character composed of spiritual energy floating above the dishes¡ªYes. This voice was clearly a sound transmission technique. Many cultivators could condense spiritual energy into words. But the appearance of this spiritual energy character wasn''t due to the surrounding spiritual energy being mobilized; it was generated out of thin air. This meant that the spiritual energy character was transmitted along with the sound transmission technique. Who knows how far away this senior was transmitting from. Hiss... Li Qingran took a deep breath, feeling that the senior she had never met was even more mysterious. But regardless, from the current situation, this senior seemed to harbor no ill intentions toward her. "Senior, I''ll clean up the dishes now." Li Qingran picked up the plates and walked outside. It was still pouring rain outside, the sky covered with dark clouds, and the dense rain reduced visibility to less than five meters. Apart from the pattering of raindrops and the occasional muffled thunder, nothing else could be heard. "The rain is even heavier than before..." Glancing at the sky, a sense of gratitude welled up in Li Qingran''s heart. If it weren''t for the house the senior provided, her dilapidated thatched hut would probably have collapsed by now. There was a small corridor outside the house. She walked along the eaves and quickly found the wooden barrel she had placed outside the door yesterday. Originally, this barrel was used to collect rainwater for drinking, and now it was full, making it convenient for her to wash the dishes. [Li Qingran is washing the dishes] [Li Qingran''s favorability +5, current 10] "Wow, she can even wash dishes?" Chen Huaian found the game more and more impressive. Not only were the characters vivid, but there were also so many interactive elements. How come he had never seen this game online before? Seeing that the identity and medical report would take a few more minutes. Chen Huaian started exploring other features and quickly discovered a new world. He initially thought the game''s scope was limited to the small house area, but he found out that wasn''t the case¡ªthe game had a map, and it was huge! When the map was fully expanded, the location where Li Qingran was was just a small circle, with a green dot representing Li Qingran. The area around the small circle was shrouded in black fog, likely because it hadn''t been explored yet. Apart from the small house area being lit, there was a sect-like building on the map not covered by fog, with three golden characters on it¡ªAzure Cloud Sect. "Huh? It''s the sect Li Qingran used to belong to." Chen Huaian frowned. Since Li Qingran was a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, why wasn''t she there? And why was she in such dire straits? Moreover, the distance from here to the Azure Cloud Sect wasn''t far; the sect was on the mountaintop of another peak, while this was at the foot of the mountain, just a few steps for a cultivator. There must be quite a story behind this... He zoomed out the map again. Then his expression changed. Five red dots appeared near the small house circle, moving quickly toward Li Qingran''s location! Chapter 4 - Ill blow it all up for you Chen Huaian usually didn''t play games, but even if he hadn''t eaten pork, he''d seen pigs run. On the game map, only enemies would be marked as red dots. These five red dots moved incredibly fast, closing in on the small house in just a breath or two. "Oh no! Li Qingran is still outside washing dishes!" In the game, Li Qingran was focused on scrubbing plates, completely unaware of the unusual activity around the small house. Chen Huaian felt a chill in his heart and quickly searched the game interface to see if there was any option to warn Li Qingran. The game interface had a ton of options, but most of them were locked. [Recharge 100 to purchase a Sound Transmission Talisman to send a message to Li Qingran.] The recharge interface popped up. Chen Huaian didn''t have time to think about why the Sound Transmission Talisman was so expensive; he just recharged immediately. The Alipay deduction notification sounded, and a talisman appeared in the center of the screen. [Please hold the talisman and speak.] Chen Huaian''s mouth twitched. He took a deep breath, pressed the Sound Transmission Talisman, and shouted as if afraid Li Qingran wouldn''t hear him, "Li Qingran, run!" Li Qingran, who was washing dishes, suddenly froze and looked around. Just now, was that the voice of a senior? Telling her to run!? "Awooo¡ª!" A sharp wolf howl pierced through the rain. Accompanied by heavy growls, three demon wolves the size of water buffaloes, completely black, charged into Li Qingran''s view. Behind them, the figures of two more demon wolves loomed. "Blackback Demon Wolves?" How could this be... Li Qingran immediately realized. The demon wolf she repelled a while ago must have been a Scout Wolf. No wonder that demon wolf didn''t fight her head-on. It retreated as soon as she resisted a little. It turned out that the demon wolf was just scouting. The nearest demon wolf was less than five meters from Li Qingran. Without any suspense, it lunged at her. Although her cultivation had been crippled and her spiritual root removed, her battle experience remained. Li Qingran seized the moment, rolled to the side to dodge the first demon wolf''s attack, and threw a plate at the second demon wolf preparing to pounce. Outside the screen, Chen Huaian''s heart was in his throat.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Seeing Li Qingran move with the agility of a cat, swift and decisive, he couldn''t help but slap his thigh, "Well done!" What he feared most was someone freezing in place when danger struck. Thankfully, Li Qingran was calm and quick to react. These demon wolves had been surviving on Evergreen Mountain for years, occasionally clashing with the cultivators of the Azure Cloud Sect. At this moment, seeing something white flying at them, they thought it was a magical artifact thrown by Li Qingran and instinctively dodged. The plate hit the ground, and nothing happened. The wolves exchanged glances, feeling humiliated, their crimson eyes turning even more ferocious. Li Qingran took this opportunity to dart back into the house and shut the door. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!" Li Qingran muttered as she dragged various pieces of furniture toward the door, worried, "It nearly cost me my life to deal with one demon wolf a few days ago. How am I supposed to handle five now?" She was already low on strength, struggling to drag even a table, her face flushed red. Before she could drag the table to the door, the vibrations of the approaching demon wolves were already audible outside. Li Qingran''s pupils contracted, and she immediately retreated to the window. Jumping out the window might be her only escape route. However, just as she thought the demon wolves were about to break through the door, "Boom¡ª!" A loud thunderclap suddenly erupted outside the door. Even through the door, a flash of lightning was visible. Then came the howls of the demon wolves, and the air was filled with the smell of burning. Li Qingran looked up in shock, seeing a talisman on the door emitting brilliant lightning. The square outline of the talisman paper was visible from the other side of the door, spewing thunderfire and turning the approaching demon wolves into charred remains. "Thunderfire Talisman!" Li Qingran immediately recognized the talisman. She hadn''t noticed the talisman on the door when entering or exiting earlier. It was undoubtedly the work of that senior. Talismans and pills were divided into five grades: Mortal, Medium, Superior, Absolute, and Immortal. Immortal-grade talismans were wrapped in golden light and possessed incredible power. Only the old monsters in large sects who studied Daoist arts could draw Immortal-grade talismans. Ordinary Thunderfire Talismans were only suitable for use against enemies in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, while Immortal-grade Thunderfire Talismans could even kill Golden Elixir stage monsters, making them treasures money couldn''t buy. The talisman before her was golden, an Immortal-grade! Most cultivators would use such a talisman as a trump card for self-defense. Yet that senior had casually stuck such a precious thing on her door? What a waste of a treasure! Li Qingran felt both grateful and heartbroken. Outside the house¡ª The two demon wolves that had approached first were already blown to bits by the Thunderfire Talisman. The remaining three demon wolves, tails tucked between their legs, stared at the scene in terror. What had they done to deserve this? They were just little demons in the Qi Refining stage, was it necessary to use such a powerful talisman against them? The talisman on the door was still glowing, clearly blocking their path. But giving up on the prey right in front of them wasn''t their style either. The three demon wolves exchanged glances, with two of them circling around to find a window, while the other prepared to climb onto the roof to see if there was a way in. However, before it could reach the roof, Boom¡ª! The two demon wolves circling to the window were also blown to ashes. This was too much! The last demon wolf no longer thought about food and turned to flee in terror. [¡´Launch Discount¡µWould you like to purchase a Thunderfire Talisman to punish the fleeing demon wolf? (Thunderfire Talisman £¤288 "Half Price")] "What?!" Chen Huaian''s face turned green. In the past, he would have uninstalled the game in a heartbeat. But seeing Li Qingran in the game, still in shock, and thinking about the possibility of the demon wolf returning with more... "If you don''t cut the weeds at the roots, they''ll grow back with the spring breeze! Just fucking top it up!" Chen Huaian clenched his fist, his face twisted, as if he were holding a Thunderfire Talisman himself. With 288 disappearing from Alipay, a talisman shot toward the fleeing demon wolf. From Li Qingran''s perspective, she heard a thunderclap in the sky, followed by a beam of golden light shooting toward the demon wolf fleeing in the rain. It exploded upon impact, leaving only raging thunder and scorching thunderfire in its wake, which persisted even in the heavy rain. "Three consecutive Immortal-grade Thunderfire Talismans..." Li Qingran stared blankly out the window. In less than half a minute, all five demon wolves were dead. Yet that senior hadn''t even shown his face, only sending a single warning. Such divine power was truly terrifying, but why would someone like that help her? She couldn''t help but think of her senior brothers and master from the Azure Cloud Sect. Before the arrival of Sixth Junior Sister, her senior brothers and master treated her well, but for her master, it was just routine, and for her senior brothers, it was more or less with ulterior motives. For example, First Senior Brother Lu Changtian, who had a Fire Spiritual Root, wanted her Water Spiritual Root as a cultivation companion; Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng, obsessed with Pill Dao, needed her to manage spiritual herbs and occasionally test pills; Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo, a martial arts fanatic, often sparred with her without holding back; Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao, with his eccentric and mischievous nature, caused trouble during sect missions, leaving her to clean up the mess as a scapegoat... So, what was this senior''s purpose? But she had nothing, just a worthless life. Or perhaps, there was no purpose, just a passing traveler who saw her plight and lent a helping hand? Li Qingran shook her head, pushing these complicated thoughts aside. No matter what, the senior had saved her life. If she could continue living, she would do her best to repay him. "Junior Qingran, once again, thanks the senior for his assistance!" This time, she said nothing more, just knelt facing the sky, bowing solemnly. [Li Qingran''s Favorability +5, Current 15] "Not bad, the favorability is rising quickly." Chen Huaian stroked his chin, smiling and nodding, "At least it wasn''t a waste of the 288 I just topped up." This game was really something. He hadn''t been playing long, and he''d already spent several hundred. He could somewhat understand those internet-addicted youths who would borrow money to top up games; probably just as addicted as he was. [Ding! Li Qingran''s medical report has been generated, detailed identity information has been generated!] [Would you like to view it?] Chen Huaian''s eyes lit up, rubbing his hands excitedly, "Here it comes, here it comes~ Hehehe~" Chapter 5 - Crazy Thursday Special Offer --Identity and Physical Examination Report (Li Qingran) *** After reading Li Qingran''s medical and identity report, Chen Huaian was dumbfounded. He only had cancer as a debuff, but Li Qingran had five! And this girl was too pitiful! What kind of grudge was this? Wasn''t it just a scratch on Sixth Junior Sister''s shoulder during the sect competition? In the Cultivation World, swords have no eyes, what''s the big deal about getting injured in a sect competition? Yet the entire Crimson Sky Peak was triggered and went berserk! "No wonder she''s hiding in such a broken thatched hut. If I hadn''t come in time, she might really be die." Looking at Li Qingran sitting cross-legged on a chair with her eyes closed in meditation, Chen Huaian couldn''t help but feel as if Li Qingran was real, and this wasn''t just a game. "Her foundation is destroyed, and her spiritual root is gone, can she still cultivate?" Chen Huaian tapped on Li Qingran, respectfully tapping her shoulder instead of any other strange place. [Status: Cultivating] [Cultivation Progress: 39/99] This probably means that spiritual energy needs to accumulate to 99 to advance to Qi Refining Level 2? Chen Huaian speculated to himself, not noticing the slight blush on Li Qingran''s ears. He watched Li Qingran cultivate for half an hour. But not only did Li Qingran''s cultivation progress not move, it even dropped by one, becoming 38. The girl in the image frowned, her pale lips slightly downturned, looking pitiful. "She must have realized that her spiritual energy is regressing instead of progressing..." Chen Huaian began searching for buttons everywhere, hoping to find a way to help Li Qingran speed up her cultivation progress. Moreover, Li Qingran had so many injuries, leaving them untreated would only make things worse. After searching for a long time, he couldn''t find an option to heal Li Qingran, but there was an electronic girlfriend shop that was locked. Finally, he found something that might be useful for Li Qingran in a formation icon in the upper right corner. [Beginner Gathering Spirit Array: Unlock by watching an ad for one hour] [Intermediate Gathering Spirit Array: Unlock by watching an ad for 10 minutes] [Advanced Gathering Spirit Array: £¤188 per hour, requires watching an ad. ]You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Besides the Gathering Spirit Array, there was a row of various other formations below. For example, Concealment Array, Mystic Armor Array, and even the Immortal-Slaying Array, which sounded impressive just by the name. Some formations required money to purchase, while others required various rare conditions, many of which he couldn''t understand. For instance, one of the top formations, the ''Ten Directions Blood Fiend Heaven-Slaughtering Formation'', required gathering 12 minimum Spiritual Artifact-level vicious weapons, along with a bunch of complex materials to activate. The key was, where to find these materials? Buy them? Game rewards? Or should Li Qingran find them, like a traveling frog? "Another special offer! And it''s Black Friday?" Chen Huaian gritted his teeth. Tomorrow, the Advanced Gathering Spirit Array would return to its original price, and it wouldn''t be cost-effective to use it then. Whether you stick your neck out or not, it''s still a knife. Just fucking top it up! 1888 topped up, Chen Huaian slumped in his chair, feeling an inexplicable sense of emptiness. But it was just for a moment, he didn''t have many days left to live, so he might as well do what makes him happy. As long as it provided him with emotional value, making him feel like a vibrant life rather than a half-buried corpse, then what did it matter if he went broke? Starting now, the Advanced Gathering Spirit Array would last for 10 hours, just until midnight. Since Li Qingran wanted to cultivate, he would give her the full experience! But before that, he had to watch an ad. [The Heavenly Dao is unkind, treating all things as straw dogs. We cultivators walk the world, defying the heavens. How can we do so without a handy weapon? Treasure Gathering Pavilion''s Spiritual Weapons, a big brand among weapons, is now having a promotion in the Cultivation World. Click the link below to receive a Heavenly Dao subsidy and get up to a 25% discount~ Buy weapons, choose Treasure Gathering Pavilion!] Chen Huaian: "..." *** "Sigh, failed again." In the room, Li Qingran sighed dejectedly. Her cultivation was destroyed, her foundation damaged, and her spiritual root gone. Even if she mastered the cultivation method, she couldn''t cultivate smoothly. The spiritual energy in her body kept decreasing, and no matter how much she cultivated, it was just a delay. Moreover, she was cultivating the Crimson Sky Peak''s unique technique, the Crimson Cloud Technique. In the entire Azure Cloud Sect, the Crimson Cloud Technique was considered a relatively fast cultivation Mystic Rank low-grade technique, a lower version of the Mystic Rank high-grade Scarlet Sky Technique. If even the Crimson Cloud Technique couldn''t boost her spiritual energy, the only solution was to rely on a Gathering Spirit Array. She was quite skilled at setting up Gathering Spirit Arrays. Three years ago, Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao helped her during a sect mission, and since then, she would give half of her Spirit Stone share each month to Zhang Hanxiao to set up a Gathering Spirit Array, becoming very proficient over time. A Gathering Spirit Array required a large number of Spirit Stones, with a Beginner Gathering Spirit Array needing at least a hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. An Intermediate Gathering Spirit Array required five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones, or fifty high-grade Spirit Stones. An Advanced Gathering Spirit Array required Spirit Crystals, usually only affordable by elders and sect leaders. But now, she didn''t even have Spirit Stones, let alone Spirit Residue. Just then. "Plop¡ª!" Something fell to the ground. Li Qingran looked closely and couldn''t help but widen her eyes, her small mouth forming an O shape. What fell to the ground were ten Spirit Crystals! The translucent azure crystals, the size of a baby''s fist, emitted a rich spiritual energy fluctuation, unmistakable to her. The Spirit Crystals that Daoist Qingxuan usually used sparingly were just thrown on the ground like this! Senior, you, you, you, you''re wasting precious resources! Following that, eight array banners emitting a faint golden light fell out of thin air, all of the highest quality Immortal Grade, capable of maximizing the utilization of formation materials without wasting a single bit. The eight array banners seemed to be manipulated by an invisible hand, surrounding her, and in no time, they formed an Advanced Gathering Spirit Array. Buzz¡ª! As the formation activated, the spiritual energy in the Spirit Crystals was instantly extracted, enveloping Li Qingran like a vortex. Under the confinement of the formation, the concentration of spiritual energy increased, first forming a Spiritual Mist, and later even condensing into Spiritual Liquid within the formation. At this point, even without operating the Crimson Cloud Technique, the spiritual energy rushed into Li Qingran''s body. She needed a Gathering Spirit Array, and the senior really gave her one. And it was the best Gathering Spirit Array. Li Qingran''s eyes stung with tears, almost shedding them. From the house, clothes, food, to the Thunderfire Talisman and Advanced Gathering Spirit Array. The things the senior gave her far exceeded her own worth. She even considered if the senior needed her as a Dual-Cultivation Vessel, but even for that, such an investment wasn''t necessary. Just the ten Spirit Crystals were enough to buy several Foundation Establishment female cultivators willing to serve as Dual-Cultivation Vessels. She realized that this might truly be her opportunity. The senior might be a Supreme Being wandering the world. Having not appeared yet, he might not require any repayment from her, merely leaving behind a cause and accumulating merit. The only way she could repay this senior was to cultivate diligently and not disappoint his nurturing heart. "Senior, rest assured, Qingran will not let you down." Li Qingran wiped the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and resumed her meditation. Every moment within the Advanced Gathering Spirit Array was incredibly precious. She couldn''t waste the senior''s intentions. *** [Status: Cultivating] [Cultivation Progress: 41/99] [Current Favorability: 20 (Awe) (Increasing favorability may trigger small gifts)] "Why does it still feel a bit slow?" Chen Huaian scratched his head, watching for another ten minutes. He occasionally poked Li Qingran''s shoulder to check the girl''s cultivation progress. Ultimately, he could only console himself that as long as the spiritual energy wasn''t regressing, it was fine, what more could he ask for? Seeing that Li Qingran''s cultivation would continue for a long time, and nothing should happen during this period, he moved the Thunderfire Talisman from the roof to the room''s entrance. Ensuring everything was foolproof, he couldn''t bear to turn off his phone, leaving it beside him, and then turned on his computer. Previously, he didn''t want to earn money because he felt it was useless, since he was going to die anyway. But now his mindset had changed. For this game, for Li Qingran, this string of ''data'' that added a bit of color to his life, he wanted to earn money. Now was the internet era, and he was a cancer patient, so there was no easier way to make money than exposing himself to the public eye. Yes, he was going to start streaming. But before streaming, he needed some preparation. Like going to the hospital to get a cancer certificate, then shaving his head to fake multiple chemotherapy sessions. Makeup wasn''t necessary; his current complexion already looked quite sickly. As for the content of the stream, he had already thought of it when he turned on the computer. ¡ªFlipping off fate, smiling and taunting death. He was going to climb Mount Tai, enduring the pain in his legs, as a bone cancer patient. Chapter 6 - What?? Theres a monthly card?! Azure Cloud Sect, Crimson Sky Peak. Mu Baishuang, who was in the midst of cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes, sensing something amiss. "Strange, how has my senior sister''s aura stabilized?" She took out a pitch-black tortoise shell and two copper coins from her storage ring, calculating for a long time without any result. According to her plan, Li Qingran, with both internal and external injuries, her spiritual root and cultivation level ruined, and afflicted by fire poison, should not survive more than half a month. Moreover, with demonic beasts rampant in Evergreen Mountain, any encounter with a slightly powerful beast would spell her death. Once Li Qingran died, the Taiyin Dao Physique would be hers. "Where did it go wrong?" Mu Baishuang frowned, only able to deduce that Li Qingran was still in the broken thatched hut without moving, knowing nothing else. This was the only somewhat comforting fact. "Sister Baishuang, are you there?" A raspy voice echoed from outside the cave dwelling. Mu Baishuang''s frown deepened, her face full of disdain. It was that noisy Zhang Hanxiao again. This guy came to her cave dwelling at least a dozen times a day! If it weren''t for maintaining the image of a cute Sixth Junior Sister, and for the item Zhang Hanxiao possessed, she would have turned hostile long ago. A good-for-nothing who idled around all day dreaming of becoming her cultivation companion? But Zhang Hanxiao was still somewhat useful. Mu Baishuang''s eyes twinkled, immediately coming up with a plan, a standard sweet smile of a Sixth Junior Sister appearing on her face as she went out to greet him. "Brother Hanxiao~" The sweet, syrupy call almost made Zhang Hanxiao''s body go numb. "Brother Hanxiao, is there something you need?" Mu Baishuang stood in front of Zhang Hanxiao, tilting her head slightly, her plain clothes as white as snow, hands clasped in front of her abdomen, her long hair gently swaying in the breeze, her eyes clear like a budding white lotus. "Ah, ahaha! It''s nothing major." Zhang Hanxiao stared straight at Mu Baishuang''s face, swallowing hard, hurriedly handing over the item in his hand, stammering, "Half a month ago, during your duel with Li Qingran, didn''t your Frost Moon Sword break? I''ve been taking on sect missions non-stop and earned some money to buy you a good sword, named Autumn Glory, better than Frost Moon."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He lied; this sword was actually a birthday gift from Li Qingran. He had indeed taken on many sect missions recently, but also caused a lot of trouble, earning not enough to cover his debts. Previously, Li Qingran always helped him pay, but now he had to handle it himself. But to develop a relationship with the Sixth Junior Sister, he needed some small gifts for flirting, so he decided to give away the Autumn Glory Sword. Mu Baishuang glanced at the Autumn Glory Sword in Zhang Hanxiao''s hand. This sword was a mid-grade magical artifact, indeed better than the high-grade mundane Frost Moon Sword, considered quite luxurious among Foundation Establishment cultivators. In fact, Lu Changtian had already given her a high-grade magical artifact, the Wind Floss Sword, but who would complain about having too many weapons? Not to mention, in a critical moment, a magical artifact could be self-detonated as a trump card. "Brother Hanxiao, isn''t this inappropriate?" Mu Baishuang pouted, looking at the Fourth Senior Brother''s waist, "Isn''t the Autumn Glory Sword your personal sword? What will you use if you give it to me?" "Ah, my strength is there, what sword isn''t a sword for me?" Zhang Hanxiao said nonchalantly, "But Sister Baishuang, you need a handy weapon for protection, so it''s settled, don''t refuse!" Mu Baishuang inwardly rolled her eyes at his words. What did he mean by her needing a weapon for protection? Was she that weak? "Alright, thank you, Brother Hanxiao~" Mu Baishuang accepted the Autumn Glory Sword with a grateful smile, pretending to cherish it as she hugged it close, "I really like this sword, Brother Hanxiao, you''re so kind~~" Zhang Hanxiao looked at the sword in Mu Baishuang''s arms, wishing he could replace it with his own arm. He also remembered his earlier plan, striking while the iron was hot, "Junior Sister, do you have time tonight? Let me tell you, there''s a great spot in the sect''s back mountain with abundant spiritual energy, perfect for cultivation. I''ll take you there tonight!" "Ah, no need." Mu Baishuang smiled politely, "First Senior Brother has already set up a Gathering Spirit Array for me." "Uh, this..." Zhang Hanxiao was dumbfounded. "By the way, Brother Hanxiao." Mu Baishuang stepped forward, hugging the Fourth Senior Brother''s arm, her fingers hooking onto his palm, blinking, "There''s an outer disciple named Song Jiaojiao, she''s a good friend of mine. Could you bring her to me? You know, it''s inconvenient for me to go to the outer sect..." With Mu Baishuang''s embrace, Zhang Hanxiao''s already half-numb body went completely limp. He only felt that the Sixth Junior Sister smelled so good, not knowing how he got out, his mind in a daze. By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing under the willow tree outside the cave dwelling. "Tsk, worth it." Zhang Hanxiao savored the lingering touch on his arm, leaving contentedly. Outer disciples were not allowed into the inner sect, and inner sect members couldn''t bring outer disciples in. That was the sect''s rule, and if caught, punishment awaited. But now he didn''t care about rules; the Sixth Junior Sister''s words were the rules! Mu Baishuang leaned against the door of the cave dwelling, instinctively touching the burning snake-shaped mark on her lower back, her pretty face filled with malice, her eyes flashing with cold light: "Li Qingran, let''s see if your luck can save you this time..." *** Midnight. Chen Huaian was jolted awake by the alarm he set. Due to his frail body, he usually went to bed around eight or nine in the evening, not waking even if the sky fell. But today, to ensure he woke up, he set his phone to vibrate, sleeping with his face on it. The alarm was set to ring every minute, determined to wake him up. The reason for waking at this hour was simple: to check on his virtual girlfriend. Opening the game, he saw the advanced Gathering Spirit Array''s effect had ended, ten spirit crystals shattered into dust, the array banner dimmed, but Li Qingran, still in breath regulation at the array''s center, looked radiant. Chen Huaian gently tapped Li Qingran''s forehead: [Status: Breath Regulation] [Cultivation Progress: 327/499 (Second Layer)] "Wow, already at the second layer of Qi Refining? Almost at the third! This money was well spent!" Chen Huaian shook his head, feeling like a parent who bought study materials for his daughter, only to see her grades soar. Before he could savor the moment, two pay-to-win notifications slapped him in the face: [Congratulations! Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' has broken through to the second layer of Qi Refining!] [ First-time monthly card with a celestial discount, purchase now to receive ''Transmission and Breath Regulation'' once! Only 1888£¤ for a monthly feedback worth 18.88 million¡ªreceive a daily spirit stone supply gift and a pill supply gift corresponding to your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran''s'' realm (for virtual girlfriend use only)] [The virtual girlfriend shop is now open! You can purchase all items suitable for the Qi Refining stage! You can also draw treasures in the ''Luck-Boosting Koi Pond¡¤Beginner'' (100 per draw, 10% off for ten draws, draw a Lucky Koi to exchange for a super prize, Lucky Koi draw probability 0.001%, guaranteed 1000 draws)] *** Chen Huaian''s smile froze. Chen Huaian stared at his phone in silence. Chen Huaian''s hand trembled slightly. Chen Huaian wanted to call the police! Chapter 7 - Isnt this also a kind of blood profit? ---Game Forum--- Awakened Roast Goose: Have you guys heard of a game called "My Virtual Girlfriend"? It''s really well-made, with detailed character modeling and strong interactivity. The micro-expressions are never the same, but it''s quite a money trap. For Love Egg Breaker: Never heard of it. Shanghai Uncle: What is this? Is there really such a game? Pink Ferrari Cow: Can the original poster share the installation package here? I''d like to try it out. *** You can''t find this game on any search engine. Talking about an installation package is nonsense. Because Chen Huaian discovered that this game doesn''t even have an installation package. Based on general experience, a game of this level should be at least 10GB, yet before and after installing the game, his pitiful 64GB memory showed no change. The game''s smoothness and detail aren''t something his thousand-yuan phone, which struggles with basic games, can handle... So, there''s only one truth! Chen Huaian adjusted his glasses. He figured he must have been targeted by some powerful hacker organization! And this game is the product of that hacker organization, with him as the guinea pig! "Sigh... but they really did a good job with the game." Chen Huaian murmured to himself as he looked at the screen where Li Qingran had just finished meditating. Good enough to make him willingly spend money. The girl''s external injuries had fully healed, and her remaining lifespan had increased from six hours to three years. At this moment, she was carefully putting away the eight array banners. He could even hear the girl''s muttering. "The senior is so kind to me. The materials on these array banners could be used to make a protective amulet or something. If I ever meet the senior, I''ll give it to him." She shook her head vigorously, "Sigh, but someone as important as the senior would probably just laugh at such a gift..." The small workshop overdid it a bit. Chen Huaian thought that if the girl really could give him a protective amulet, even knowing it was a gift from the game developers, it would be an emotional knockout. Should he try using a Sound Transmission Talisman? Tell the girl he likes it? But looking at the Sound Transmission Talisman in the virtual girlfriend store that had returned to its original price, he chose silence. Saying it wouldn''t matter, it''s just a game. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The newly opened Qi Refining stage virtual girlfriend store had many items for sale, but the prices and quality were enough to make anyone faint. Low-grade Spirit Stones were £¤50 each, Common Grade Thunderfire Talismans were £¤576 each, Sound Transmission Talismans were £¤300 each, low-grade Common Grade swords were £¤998 each, mid-grade Common Grade swords were £¤4998 each, and high-grade Common Grade swords were £¤9998 each... What left Chen Huaian speechless was the Thunderfire Talisman. The special offer ones were all Immortal Grade, but buying them yourself, they turned into Common Grade. Even though he hadn''t seen the power of Common Grade, it was obvious it couldn''t compare to Immortal Grade. And the weapons were disgusting too. Common Grade was the lowest, above it were Magical Artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, Innate Spiritual Treasures, and Immortal Artifacts. It''s hard to imagine what astronomical prices those higher-grade weapons would sell for. "Is the game developer crazy for money? £¤9998 for a sword? Only a fool would buy it..." Chen Huaian sneered at this, reluctantly accepting spending on other things, but if he ever bought even one weapon from this store, he''d write his name backward! Just as he was pondering, Li Qingran suddenly frowned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She did a bit of breath regulation, stabilizing her turbulent blood and energy, her eyes dimming as she murmured, "With the senior''s help, at least my spiritual power hasn''t continued to decline. But with my Dantian shattered and no Spiritual Root, expelling the Fire Poison in my body is as hard as ascending to heaven, and my cultivation speed will only get slower..." There were only two solutions to her current physical problems. Either return to the Azure Cloud Sect to request a pill, or wander around Evergreen Mountain to see if she could find a healing Spiritual Herb. But the former was almost impossible, as she was no longer a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and didn''t want to trouble her acquaintances there. The latter was very risky, but it was her preferred choice. Previously, she was too weak to do anything but wait for death in her room. Now, even if she encountered the Demon Wolf again, she could at least put up some resistance. Li Qingran''s voice was small, but Chen Huaian could hear everything, even her inner thoughts. "Return to the Azure Cloud Sect? Go on an adventure in Evergreen Mountain?" Chen Huaian directly opened the top-up interface. The girl was coughing up blood! What was he waiting for? Even though he knew this was just the game''s way of making money. But he couldn''t control his hand. He topped up with a monthly card. If he didn''t buy it this month, it wouldn''t be the same price next month, and the opportunity would be gone. He could only comfort himself this way. [Monthly card purchase successful! Received one transmission and breath regulation!] [Pill supply and Spirit Stone supply have been delivered!] After the prompt, two bags fell from the sky onto the table. With a ''thud,'' Li Qingran flinched. "What is this..." Li Qingran leaned over, poking one of the bags, which was bulging with obvious spiritual energy fluctuations. She looked up at the ceiling, cupping her hands, "May I ask if these two bags were dropped by the senior?" No response. Li Qingran wasn''t surprised, as she had gradually gotten used to this mode of interaction with the senior. As long as he didn''t speak, it was a tacit acknowledgment. These two bags were clearly given to her by the senior. Having already accepted the senior''s help before, she wasn''t pretentious, opening one of the bags with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. "Wow¡ª¡ª!" A large handful of Spirit Stones rolled out. Li Qingran dumbfoundedly counted them, a full 50 low-grade Spirit Stones. In the Azure Cloud Sect, an inner disciple in the Qi Refining stage would receive a monthly quota of 30 to 40 low-grade Spirit Stones, which could increase to 60 to 100 low-grade Spirit Stones after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Spirit Stones were currency and could also be crushed to absorb the spiritual energy within, essential for setting up formations and refining weapons. These 50 low-grade Spirit Stones were already quite valuable. But Li Qingran didn''t know that this was just her daily quota for today. "Qingran thanks the senior for the Spirit Stones." 50 low-grade Spirit Stones might not be much for a boss in the Divine Transformation or Body Fusion stage, but the gratitude and etiquette shouldn''t be forgotten. Hearing this, Chen Huaian couldn''t help but smile, instinctively wanting to stroke his nonexistent beard. How to put it? Even though the monthly card was expensive. But low-grade Spirit Stones sold individually for £¤50 each, so how could this not be considered a bargain? Li Qingran continued to open the second bag, which contained a red brocade box. The moment she held the box, she could already smell the medicinal fragrance inside. "The medicinal fragrance is so pure!" Over the years, she had helped her Second Senior Brother manage Spiritual Herbs and occasionally acted as a test subject. She had seen most pills from the Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment stages. Her Second Senior Brother was very talented, producing high-quality pills praised by even the Elder of the Pill Pavilion, but even so, they didn''t have such pure medicinal fragrance, always carrying a bit of impurity. Opening the box, inside lay a red pill. The pill was crystal clear, like a red jade, with no visible impurities. "Great Rejuvenation Pill, Immortal Grade!" Li Qingran covered her small mouth in shock. The talisman was Immortal Grade, and so was the pill. Could this senior be a genius proficient in everything? The Great Rejuvenation Pill was commonly used by cultivators from the Qi Refining to Golden Elixir stages for healing. It was affordable, with broad effects, effective for both internal and external injuries. A Superior Grade Great Rejuvenation Pill was said to have detoxifying effects, so an Immortal Grade Great Rejuvenation Pill would surely solve the Fire Poison in her body. Whether it was Spirit Stones or pills. What the senior gave her was exactly what she needed, tailor-made. Li Qingran felt warmth in her heart, a care she had only ever felt from her parents. "No matter if the senior likes it or not, I must prepare a gift for him!" Li Qingran secretly made up her mind. Meanwhile, outside the screen, Chen Huaian received a prompt. [Li Qingran is about to start healing. Would you like to use a ''transmission and breath regulation'' opportunity to personally help Li Qingran heal? (Enhanced effect)] "Wait... personally?" Chen Huaian squinted, realizing this matter wasn''t simple. Chapter 8 - Insufficient affection, not allowed to see "Is this the kind of personal attention I think it is?" With a hint of doubt, Chen Huaian decided to use it. "Ah, senior is going to personally channel energy to heal me?" He saw Li Qingran suddenly freeze, her pretty face immediately turning red. The girl quickly waved her hand, "Qingran''s status is lowly, how could I be worthy of such attention from senior? I can manage on my own..." Four dialogue options popped up: £¼Let''s get this over with quickly, I''m busy!£¾ £¼You dare defy me, girl? Tired of living? Heh heh!£¾ £¼Hmph, little girl, don''t be ungrateful! This is your honor!£¾ £¼Top up 300£¤ to purchase a Sound Transmission Talisman for free dialogue.£¾ Chen Huaian: "..." He felt like the game developers were about to reach into his bank account. If he had to spend 300 yuan here, he would really be crazy. After pondering for a moment, Chen Huaian chose the first option. It was the only one that seemed somewhat normal, though a bit arrogant. After selecting the dialogue, Chen Huaian didn''t hear his own voice. But it seemed Li Qingran did hear it, as fear flashed in her eyes. She took a half-step back, lowered her head in fear, and whispered while clutching her clothes as if she had been scolded, "Alright, alright... But Qingran is dirty, may I clean myself before senior channels energy for breath regulation?" As a cultivator, it''s impossible for her to have any odor. But over the past half month, she had been living in disarray, her hair unkempt, and inevitably covered in dust and mud, with dried bloodstains on her clothes. She couldn''t bring herself to let senior channel energy to heal her in such a state. She perked up her ears, waiting for senior''s response. £¼No need to wash, I prefer the original scent, heh heh!£¾ £¼Very well, go ahead, I''ll wait for you.£¾ £¼Stop wasting time, take off your top!£¾ £¼Top up 300£¤ to purchase a Sound Transmission Talisman for free dialogue.£¾ This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Uh... First and fourth options were immediately ruled out. Chen Huaian hesitated between the second and third options. What would happen if he chose the third option? Would Li Qingran really take off her top? It seemed like she was only wearing that one piece. If he chose the second option, Li Qingran would definitely go to bathe, but could he watch? No wonder the game required players to be over 18; there might really be unspeakable VIP content. But was Chen Huaian such a pervert? He played the game and spent money because Li Qingran, this data, provided him with emotional value, the last ray of hope in his despairing life! Besides, Li Qingran was already very pretty with a dirty face. She''d be even prettier after a wash. It''s definitely not because he wanted to explore the bathroom. Option two it is! Li Qingran on the screen blushed and nodded, whispering, "Then, Qingran will go now." The bathroom was right next door, though it wasn''t there originally. She had already observed it when exploring the house; it had all the necessary toiletries. As a girl who loved cleanliness, she had long wanted to wash up, but hadn''t had the chance to settle down. Entering the bathroom, she looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Just as she was about to undress, Li Qingran''s fingers paused at her chest, and her face flushed red to her ears. She bit her lip gently, her head lowered as she thought: Senior has great powers, foreseeing the Demon Wolf''s attack, and brought Spirit Stones and Pills when she coughed up blood. This meant everything about her could be seen by senior. In other words, if she bathed here, it would definitely be exposed to senior''s gaze. This... "No, it can''t be! Senior isn''t that kind of person!" Li Qingran shook her head vigorously. She even felt ashamed for thinking that way. If senior wanted to take advantage of her, why wait until now? Besides, senior was probably an elder of several hundred years, judging by his speech. A young voice doesn''t mean a young age, and such an elder surely wouldn''t be interested in someone like her. With this thought, most of her shyness and inner conflict vanished. Her clothes slipped off her bare shoulders, and as her undergarment was untied, a finely proportioned, enticing figure was revealed... *** Meanwhile. Chen Huaian stared at his phone, his eyes red. His finger hovered over the bathroom, hesitating. He had already tried before; he could switch rooms at will. Just a light tap. "Chen Huaian, don''t become someone even you despise! But, this is just a game! It''s human nature! Chen Huaian, you''re a cancer patient, you don''t need this kind of desire! So what if I''m a patient? Can''t patients have desires? I''m just worried the girl might have an accident in the bathroom, what if she slips? What if a giant Shark Demon or Octopus Demon suddenly appears in the bathroom?" With his thoughts clear, his finger landed on the bathroom. ¡¾Insufficient Favorability, unable to peek¡¿ Chen Huaian breathed a sigh of relief, his anxious heart calmed. But it quickly stirred again. So, it meant he could watch, but the favorability wasn''t enough to allow it? "Acting like I really want to watch." Chen Huaian sneered, casually opening a small website to browse. Halfway through browsing, a prompt came from the game. ¡¾Li Qingran has finished bathing¡¿ "So fast? Don''t girls usually take more than half an hour to bathe?" Chen Huaian silently put the opened tissue back, focusing on the bathroom door. After a while, the door opened a crack, faint steam wafting out. Then it opened fully, and Li Qingran emerged with bare shoulders, wrapped in a plain white towel. Chen Huaian''s view was instantly filled with her long, slender, fair feet, and as the view zoomed in, he could even see water droplets rolling off them. "Hiss! Small workshop, impressive! Matrix, impressive!" Chen Huaian praised the water droplets and steam. "By the way, isn''t the girl going to wear new clothes?" He saw Li Qingran already kneeling on the bed, her back to the camera. Her flawless back made him want to apply some fire cupping. "Senior, Qingran is ready..." In Li Qingran''s mind, senior was a kind and stern grandfather figure, so her shyness and psychological burden weren''t particularly severe. But after taking the Great Rejuvenation Pill and untying her robe, the clothes slipped down her waistline, covering her legs and hips, exposing her entire back. Her ears turned a deep purple. Channeling energy for breath regulation and healing couldn''t be done through clothes, especially on the back, abdomen, and chest. Her body had accumulated Fire Poison and various impurities, which would be expelled during the process. And Fire Poison was hot, easily igniting clothes, so exposing her entire back was the most convenient. Exposing just her back was better than being completely burned clean, right? Chen Huaian stared at Li Qingran''s back, completely dumbfounded. At this moment, the game view had zoomed in on Li Qingran''s back, showing the area from below her head to above her hips. He could even see the faint blood vessels under her fair skin. "Really, testing an me with this?" He said this, but he had to admit. That back was truly beautiful. The curves were perfect. But what to do next? Before he could wonder for a few seconds, a golden array of acupuncture points appeared on Li Qingran''s back. ¡¾Please press ''Mingmen'' with your left hand and ''Qihai Shu'' with your right hand to start channeling energy for healing.¡¿ Chapter 9 - Currently deducing Heavenly Secret "Oh, so that''s how it''s done personally." Not feeling particularly disappointed or not, Chen Huaian reached out and pressed down. "Mm..." A soft moan came from the game. Chen Huaian: "..." Well, as expected of a small workshop. He liked small workshops. The influx of spiritual energy seemed painful, as Li Qingran kept letting out suppressed moans, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down her cheeks and neck, with fine droplets seeping from her skin. Chen Huaian could clearly see that as the progress bar for healing slowly advanced, tiny black substances began to appear in the seeping droplets. "This visual is truly breathtaking." How should I put it? When spending money on a game, you not only have to see if it''s fun but also if it''s worth it. Some games are just that big, with decent gameplay, but they only release one or two chapters, and the total playtime isn''t even two hours, yet they sell for hundreds. Isn''t that just a rip-off? The game "Virtual Girlfriend" is different. He had a feeling this game could be played for a lifetime. As the healing progressed halfway, some delightful prompts finally appeared. [Li Qingran, meridians repaired, ''foundation damaged'' removed.] [Li Qingran, internal injuries healed, ''moderate internal injuries'' removed.] [Begin detoxification, please press ''Waist Yangguan'', circle-press ''Kidney Shu'', and use energy to heal.] Chen Huaian followed the instructions and switched to two acupoints. As soon as he started, Li Qingran let out an "ah." "Tsk, it must hurt a lot, right?" he thought silently. At this moment, Li Qingran''s skin began to turn red, and it wasn''t the kind of red from soaking in hot water for too long, but rather like a cooked shrimp. Look at how much pain the child is in, gritting her teeth to hold back any sound. But in reality? Li Qingran only felt the two large hands on her back were very warm, and the process of expelling the fire poison from her body felt like countless insects crawling through her limbs, itchy and numb. She bit her lip, afraid of making any inappropriate sounds that might offend the senior. To distract herself, she looked at the bronze mirror hanging by the bed. From there, she could see a small part of her back.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. She thought she might see an old man with white hair, but there was nothing, only two hands formed by spiritual energy on her back, one pressing with bent fingers, the other circling, delivering a gentle and firm force. Not seeing the senior''s appearance, Li Qingran felt a little disappointed. She felt both relieved and ashamed. The senior was indeed not someone who would take advantage of others. Even while healing her, he didn''t touch her skin at all, a true gentleman. Yet she had previously harbored such disrespectful thoughts, which was truly inappropriate. [Li Qingran, fire poison expelled, ''fire poison devouring body'' removed.] As the progress bar for healing reached the end, Li Qingran''s skin returned to normal. However, from Chen Huaian''s perspective, although the girl''s skin was covered with some impurities, it was noticeably more radiant than before, like a boiled egg with a bit of polish. "Thank you, senior, for healing me. I already feel much better." Li Qingran thanked softly, her hands awkwardly placed on either side, clutching the towel. Chen Huaian could see her blushing ears, and even the back of her neck seemed affected. "May I ask the senior a question?" Li Qingran''s voice trembled slightly, as if she had mustered the courage to speak. This time, Chen Huaian didn''t even think before choosing the first option. Receiving permission, Li Qingran felt delighted, and her tone became much lighter. "The senior has helped Qingran so much, may I know the senior''s name? Of course, if the senior doesn''t wish to say, Qingran won''t ask." Goodness, Chen Huaian thought to himself. He had already spent thousands, played the game for most of the day. Finally, it was time to create a character name? So, if you don''t spend money to this point, you''re not even worthy of creating a character name? This game''s threshold is really high. Chen Huaian thought for a moment and didn''t come up with any fancy names. ''Chen Huaian,'' he just entered these three characters. If he were to die in the future, at least this game data on his phone would record his name. This might be the only trace he could leave behind. "The sword heart drives away the long night, the scholar''s heart transforms the cold dawn. Huaian, Huaian... I will remember the senior''s name in my heart." Li Qingran turned back with a gentle smile, her eyebrows slightly raised, her black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall. Outside the window, the long night was like ink, the rain pouring down, yet she didn''t feel the slightest chill, only a soft warmth blossoming in her heart. Chen Huaian was momentarily stunned by Li Qingran''s smile, as if the phone screen disappeared. It seemed like there really was such a girl smiling at him. "The small workshop really knows how to hit hard." He quickly shook his head, dispelling those unrealistic thoughts from his mind. "Senior, Qingran has accumulated quite a bit of dirt on her body and needs to wash it off again." This time, no dialogue options popped up. Li Qingran wrapped herself in a towel, turned to the ceiling and bowed gracefully, then took the new clothes from the bedside and went to the bathroom. Chen Huaian stared at the empty boudoir for a while. He felt like he was really enchanted. To think there would be a day when he felt a flutter for a game character. "By the way, this girl only had her injuries healed, but the problem with her spiritual root and dantian hasn''t been solved, right?" He searched around the game interface again. Then he discovered a help center, where it seemed he could ask questions. [The first question of the day is free, the second question requires a 100 recharge to purchase a question ticket, the third question ticket price increases fivefold, and so on.] "Why don''t you just rob a bank, why make a game!" Chen Huaian laughed in exasperation. But since the first one is free, he''ll keep getting it for free until he dies! "How to solve Li Qingran''s dantian and spiritual root problem?" [You can only ask about one of them.] Chen Huaian: "..." Dantian and spiritual root, it seems the former is more important, as it''s a container. "Then how to solve the dantian problem?" [Heavenly secret deduction in progress...] "Still deducing heavenly secrets, making it sound so mysterious." Chen Huaian sneered. Little did he know, in the Azure Cloud Realm where Li Qingran was, the celestial phenomena suddenly changed, the stars shifted, tides moved, and the earth shook, drawing the attention of countless sect elders. "Hiss, is there a great cultivator deducing heavenly secrets!" "Nowadays, the spiritual energy in the Azure Cloud Realm is becoming increasingly scarce, such celestial changes, is there a supreme being divining the future of the Azure Cloud Realm?" "Avoid! Such a supreme being is not someone we can provoke, better to retreat and cultivate in peace." *** [Heavenly secret deduction complete!] [To repair Li Qingran''s dantian, you can use an ancient divine medicine¡ªPrimordial Heaven-Mending Pill. This pill has been lost, not only can it repair severely damaged dantian, but it can also enhance the quality of the dantian and its capacity to hold spiritual energy to a certain extent.] [The ''Luck-Boosting Koi Pond'' has captured a sliver of heavenly secret for you, draw the ''Lucky Koi'' to exchange for Immortal Grade¡¤Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill.] Chen Huaian: "..." Damn, capturing a sliver of heavenly secret. Isn''t this just putting the game item in the guaranteed prize pool? Drawing a thousand times costs a hundred thousand! Although there''s a chance to draw it directly, but what''s the difference between 0.001% and 0?! If he had good luck, he wouldn''t have gotten cancer. "Tomorrow morning, I''ll first set up the account, then go to the hospital to get proof, and without a second thought, head to Mount Tai to start streaming." Chen Huaian scratched his head. He originally planned to go to Mount Tai in a few days. But now, he''s a bit anxious. Li Qingran''s dantian must be repaired. Chen Huaian said so! Chapter 10 - Your Virtual Girlfriends small gift has been delivered Night¡ª The rain gradually stopped. Li Qingran looked nervously at the protective amulet in her hand, preparing to complete the final three steps. The first step was to replenish the amulet with spiritual energy. She wasn''t sure how much spiritual energy was needed to make the protective amulet from the remaining materials of the Immortal Grade Array Banner. All she knew was that she used up all 50 low-grade spirit stones and drained her own spiritual energy just to barely fill the amulet with the necessary energy. She rubbed her pale, delicate face and took a deep breath, "Next is the second step!" Engraving the name! The creator of the amulet must use their own blood as ink to write the name of the person to be protected on the amulet. This step was supposed to be the simplest, yet Li Qingran was even more nervous than before. "Write it well, write it well, I must write it well..." She muttered to herself, finally writing the three characters ''Chen Huaian'' on the amulet. However, her face showed a smile more awkward than crying, "It''s over, now it''s even more laughable..." The characters on the amulet were crooked and twisted, even worse than chicken scratch. Li Qingran had a natural flaw¡ªher handwriting was ugly. It wasn''t that she was uncouth or wild; before joining the Azure Cloud Sect, she was the daughter of a military general. Although her parents wanted her to learn the skills of a lady, she had no interest at all, focusing entirely on horseback riding, spear techniques, archery, and other skills useful in battle. Back then, she cried when her parents forced her to learn to write. Riding into battle didn''t require beautiful handwriting. Now she regretted it. If given another chance, she would definitely follow her parents and learn to write properly. "Father always said that the thought behind a gift is what matters most." Li Qingran pumped her fist to encourage herself and moved on to the final step¡ªbestowing fortune. As the name suggests, it means transferring one''s fortune to another. The fortune of heaven and earth forms its own cycle, with gains and losses. Fortunately, with the amulet as a medium, the fortune transferred is only temporary. However, after giving away the fortune, the giver will experience a period of bad luck due to the loss. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. But Li Qingran didn''t mind; regardless of whether the senior needed this modest fortune, she only hoped for his safety. Using a secret technique to seal the fortune into the amulet, Li Qingran''s complexion visibly worsened, but she smiled happily. "I''ll just leave this amulet on the table for now." Li Qingran bowed her head in respect towards the ceiling, not caring whether the senior could hear her, but believing he surely could. "Junior Qingran is grateful for the senior''s care. My injuries have healed, and I feel I have nothing to repay you with, so I specially crafted a protective amulet as a gift! Though small, it carries my sincere heart... I hope the senior won''t disdain it." After speaking, she lowered her head, but her eyes nervously glanced upwards, cautiously watching the amulet on the table. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Swish¡ª! The amulet disappeared. The senior accepted her gift! Li Qingran felt joy in her heart, and a smile appeared on her face as she shyly said, "Thank you, senior, for not disdaining Qingran''s foolishness, hehe." After a busy night, her injuries had just healed, and she was already physically and mentally exhausted. Turning back to her bed, sleepiness overwhelmed her. For the first time in half a month, she slept on such a soft bed, and the drowsiness immediately invaded her mind. However, she still looked at the ceiling, struggling, and mumbled in a daze. "Good night, senior..." *** "Song Jiaojiao, your cultivation has improved quite a bit recently, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining? Just in time, I have something I need you to do." "What is it?" "Help me kill Li Qingran!" "What? Kill Li Qingran?! Are you still holding a grudge over that matter?" "Hmph, so what? Li Qingran''s reputation in the sect is already ruined; it doesn''t matter if she dies, she deserves it! Besides, if you handle it cleanly, you can completely attribute her death to the demonic beasts in Evergreen Mountain... Be good~ If you do this well, I''ll get you a Foundation Establishment Pill." "Foundation... Foundation Establishment Pill? Okay, alright! You wait for my good news!" *** Early the next morning, before dawn. Chen Huaian''s first task was to start . [Your remaining lifespan is 131 days] "Nonsense!" What kind of game starts with such a statement? He knew he had a terminal illness, but for a mere game to predict when he''d die was ridiculous. However, Chen Huaian thought again, this must be referring to his ''senior'' character in the game having 131 days left to live. But since it''s a game, there must be a corresponding solution later. "Tsk, when my relationship with Li Qingran gets better, my senior character is about to die, and then they''ll want me to pay-to-win to extend my life! I''ve already seen through your money-grabbing tactics!" Chen Huaian sneered coldly. Then another prompt popped up. [Due to your deduction of the Heavenly Secret, you have suffered a backlash from the Heavenly Dao, resulting in a loss of fortune.] [Today''s divination: Li Gua - Minor Fortune - Suitable for marriage, avoid climbing mountains] [Tomorrow''s divination: Zhen Gua - Ominous - Suitable for cleaning, avoid climbing mountains] "Oh, it even calculated that?" Chen Huaian pursed his lips, "I, Chen Huaian, already have one foot in the underworld, what''s there to avoid?" Moreover, with his terminal illness, every day should be extremely unlucky, which shows that this game is just making random calculations, not to be trusted. However, Chen Huaian himself had a bit of interest in these mysterious things. So, with a bit of curiosity, he searched online: The so-called Zhen Gua indicates thunderous movement, corresponding to the feet of a person. Generally, when Zhen Gua is paired with ominous signs, it is not suitable for travel. Ominous is easy to understand; extreme ominous means death, while ominous suggests serious injury, like losing a limb. Could it be that climbing Mount Tai would get him struck by lightning?! He checked the weather forecast. For the next two days, the weather at Mount Tai was over thirty degrees, where would the rain come from? He closed the two prompt boxes, as they blocked Li Qingran''s beautiful sleeping face. Li Qingran was indeed still asleep, and this girl''s sleeping posture was excellent, not moving an inch all night. However, for some reason, her complexion didn''t look good. Last night, after he finished reading the Mount Tai strategy guide, he went to sleep and didn''t pay attention to Li Qingran''s condition. Anyway, before he went to sleep, Li Qingran was still meditating and cultivating. To be fair, this girl was really diligent, always cultivating whenever she had the chance, like a perpetual motion machine. He tapped on Li Qingran''s face and checked her information. He found a new debuff: Loss of Fortune. "Strange, could deducing the Heavenly Secret affect Li Qingran too?" After thinking it over, that seemed to be the only reason. [Status: Sleeping] [Current Favorability: 25 (Admiration)] [Favorability reached 25, triggering a small gift] [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' has made a small gift for you, and it has been delivered] "A gift system, that''s quite common." Chen Huaian stroked his chin and nodded, but he couldn''t find Li Qingran''s gift in the game''s inventory after searching for a long time. There was no such thing as a mailbox. This game was very pay-to-win, not even offering hundreds of draws at launch. "It probably hasn''t refreshed yet." Chen Huaian made this assumption. Some small workshop games were like this. The announcement updates were faster than the item updates, so maybe by eight or nine in the morning, it would be available. Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door outside. Chen Huaian, puzzled, went to open the door, but there was no one outside. Just as he was about to close the door, he glanced down and saw a palm-sized delivery box. "Huh? I didn''t order anything, and who delivers packages at five in the morning..." He picked up the box. There was no logo of any courier company on the label, nor any tracking number. Just a line of small regular script: For Senior Chen. Chapter 11 - It is the taste of Li Qingran! "Ah?" Chen Huaian was completely bewildered. Wait, they really sent it? Do all small workshops operate like this? And this game must be the work of hackers, right? Isn''t this solid evidence? They directly opened his box! The first reaction of ordinary people to such an event would be fear. But Chen Huaian wasn''t afraid. His life was already a mess, so what was there to fear? "Hey! You guys must be hiding in the hallway, right? Come out and talk! This game is too expensive, can''t you change it? I really don''t have much money!" he shouted into the dark hallway, his voice echoing down the corridor, but there was no response. "Fine, don''t come out then." Chen Huaian pursed his lips and slammed the door shut. He knew these hackers wouldn''t show themselves; he was just testing the waters with his words. "I''ll see what this is all about." He sat on the sofa, opening the box, still a bit curious. Since they had gone to the trouble of custom-making a game character''s item and sending it to him, it showed they were really invested in this game. So, the quality of this gift must be high! Inside the box was a square sachet-like object. The craftsmanship was exquisite, but when Chen Huaian turned the sachet over, he couldn''t help but twitch his lips. On the sachet were three traditional Chinese characters written vertically¡ªChen Huaian. Below that was a line of small characters: Safe and Sound. Clearly, this was a protective amulet, but the writing on it... Chen Huaian thought that even when he was in elementary school, his handwriting was better than this. It looked like it had been scratched out by a dog, all crooked and messy. At first glance, the craftsmanship seemed exquisite, but the moment he saw the writing, it lost its class. "But what''s inside this thing?" He tried to open the bag, but the material was sturdier than he expected, and he couldn''t tear it open. So, to get a preliminary idea of what was inside, he brought it up to his nose for a sniff. That sniff was astonishing.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. A faint fragrance rushed into his nose. It wasn''t sweet or cloying, elegant and subtle, without any aggressiveness, like a girl silently expressing her longing. He couldn''t describe the scent, but Li Qingran''s image naturally appeared in his mind. He even had the illusion that this was Li Qingran''s scent! "Oh, my!" Chen Huaian was shocked. What kind of game could achieve this level? He had heard of games that sent gifts, like female character''s original stockings, which his college roommate had received, and they had a scent too, but that was different. That was just the smell of tacky perfume, not evoking any association. This protective amulet was completely different. He tried several different positions to sniff it, and his mind was still filled with Li Qingran. Even when he opened his notes to face his favorite teacher and sniffed again, his mind was still filled with Li Qingran. "Amazing!" Chen Huaian slapped his thigh. Come on, buddy, with this technology, you''re scamming money in a game? You could launch the game with free promotion, establish a perfume brand, and wouldn''t you make a fortune? In the end, Chen Huaian decided to carry the protective amulet with him. No other reason, just because this amulet really gave him the feeling that it was personally made by Li Qingran! ... By late morning, Chen Huaian had everything ready. He found a random shop under the hospital to shave his head, placed his cancer diagnosis on the homepage of his streaming account, asked a doctor to help him shoot an inspirational vlog, and posted the first video, gritting his teeth and investing a thousand yuan in promotion. He found a noodle shop for lunch and had three bowls of dry noodles. In the afternoon, he boarded a plane to Mount Tai. His streaming account homepage was bold and full of adolescent delusions. "Youth has no price, life only happens once. My name is Chen Huaian, and I''ve been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In the remaining time, I will defy fate, mock death, and challenge various physical limits, making my life shine as brightly as possible. Today''s challenge: reaching the summit of Mount Tai in five hours!" By the time he arrived at the foot of Mount Tai, it was already 7 PM. His goal was to start climbing at midnight. That way, he would reach the summit just in time to see the sunrise over Mount Tai. In this way, he could fulfill a small dream of his. As for how much money he could make, he wasn''t sure yet, but the gimmick of climbing Mount Tai with terminal cancer wasn''t common. Besides, his legs were genuinely in pain, with both ankles completely swollen, making it difficult to wear shoes. In such a physical condition, let alone climbing, even walking a little was excruciatingly painful. He found a chair at the foot of Mount Tai and lay down for three hours. After 10 PM, a well-rested Chen Huaian took out his phone again. He first opened the game to check on Li Qingran. The girl was already up, meditating on the bed, with clean plates on the table and a basket of fruit with only a little eaten. These were all things he had given to Li Qingran today. What a hardworking girl. Well, he had to work hard too. His previously tense mood calmed down the moment he saw Li Qingran. Taking a deep breath, Chen Huaian smiled and opened his streaming account. After half a day of fermentation, his vlog had already caught the attention of many people. Even for tonight''s stream, there were over a hundred reservations. Although this number couldn''t compare to regular outdoor streamers, he was already very satisfied. As they say, the beginning is always the hardest. "Streamer, how can you prove you''re a terminal cancer patient? You''re not just trying to gain sympathy and make money, are you?" "Climbing Mount Tai with terminal cancer is fine, but you want to reach the summit in five hours? Did I read that right, you have bone cancer, buddy? Even scams need logic, right?" "Hahaha, it''s too fake!" ... Just as Chen Huaian expected. Shortly after opening the live stream, various doubts poured in. He didn''t speak, just patiently invested in another wave of promotion for the live stream. Until the number of people in the live stream reached several hundred. He finally spoke: "Hello everyone, my name is Chen Huaian. I will climb to the summit of Mount Tai within five hours as a terminal cancer patient, streaming the entire process without edits. My homepage has the diagnosis, payment records, and examination records. If you think my diagnosis is fake, you can apply for verification at the relevant hospital. I accept any solid evidence!" After speaking, he turned the phone to show his legs. Then he rolled up his pant legs, took off his shoes and socks, revealing swollen ankles covered with burn-like lumps, and continued to pull up his pant legs, showing that the lumps on his right leg had spread to his knee. "As you can see, my current physical condition is terrible. Every step brings immense pain to my nerves and a heavy burden to my body." Chen Huaian turned the camera back to himself, touched his bald head, and revealed a carefree smile: "But I will prove myself. I will step on the head of the disease, mock the powerlessness of fate, and give the middle finger to death. At that moment, at sunrise, I will share this with all of you watching behind the screen!" With all the prepared medical materials, The mottled lumps on his legs, the glaring bald head, And Chen Huaian''s carefree smile... All four major weapons were out. The entire live stream fell silent. Chapter 12 - We are here to be real with you ``` [Oh my god, this is so touching. I actually doubted the streamer was just trying to scam money...] [So inspiring, I feel terrible for doubting!] [Streamer, stop climbing, I''ll send you gifts!] Chen Huaian''s heartfelt words caused a partial reversal of opinions in the live stream chat, though some skepticism remained. Some accused him of faking his condition, while others claimed they would come to Mount Tai to verify his story. "To the friend who wants to verify me at Mount Tai, you can start your journey now. I''ll begin climbing at noon sharp, and I won''t go anywhere before then." This statement prompted a flurry of responses in the chat. "Climbing Mount Tai with late-stage bone cancer? Who are you kidding!" A young man, who had just lost a game and was filled with anger, muttered to himself in front of his computer, "I''m too upset to sleep tonight anyway!" He left a message in the chat. "I''m an hour''s drive from Mount Tai. Brothers, wait for me to verify the streamer!" With that, he grabbed his keys and left. There were too many scammers online; for every one reported, two more appeared, just like those cheating players. Now, with a sense of justice, he couldn''t catch the cheaters, but surely he could catch a streamer pretending to be pitiful at the foot of Mount Tai? Chen Huaian saw these messages too. He actually hoped more people would come to verify him. The more, the better. This way, not only could he prove he was genuinely a cancer patient, but it would also make his stream more popular. Once the traffic picked up and caught the attention of high-level accounts, his chance to make money would come. "Brothers, follow me so you don''t get lost. I don''t have much time left, and I''m racing against the clock. Besides climbing, I want to try more extreme sports in the future, like skydiving and bungee jumping..." Chen Huaian''s words sparked another wave of comments. There were both mockers and encouragers. But everyone was more concerned about whether Chen Huaian was truly a cancer patient and if he could reach the summit of Mount Tai in five hours. If not, they would wait for those who came to verify him and watch the drama unfold. As it neared noon. Chen Huaian checked his gear once more. As a patient aiming to summit in five hours, he had to travel light. He initially planned to bring two power banks but decided to bring just one to reduce weight, hanging it directly on his shoulder. His phone battery was already failing; after just two hours of streaming, it was down to 27%. It drained quickly, but with the power bank, it should barely last until he descended.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Are you Chen Huaian?" A voice sounded from behind. Chen Huaian turned to see a young man, two middle-aged men, and a punk girl. "Are you from the live stream?" "That''s right, we''re here to verify you." Zhang Rui spoke bluntly, a cold smile on his face. On the way to Mount Tai, he had formed a group with a few viewers who also wanted to verify Chen Huaian. To prevent him from escaping, they gathered at the entrance before approaching him, ensuring he couldn''t slip past their blockade. "Hello, hello." Chen Huaian greeted the four fans with a smile, speaking lightly, "I thought this would be a solo journey, but having company is even better." Zhang Rui didn''t respond, pointing at Chen Huaian''s leg, "That lump on your leg is special effects makeup, right? Pull up your pant leg and let me see!" Chen Huaian nonchalantly pulled up his pant leg. Zhang Rui and the other fans shone their flashlights and leaned in for a closer look. The punk girl even reached out to pinch it, then covered her mouth in surprise, "Oh my god, it''s a real subcutaneous lump... so many, how can he walk..." Is this guy for real? Zhang Rui felt a bit embarrassed, instinctively averting his gaze, muttering, "Lumps don''t necessarily mean bone cancer..." "This is osteosarcoma," Chen Huaian smiled, "You can look up information on osteosarcoma online and compare it with mine... Alright, it''s time, I''m going to start climbing." Zhang Rui opened his mouth, wanting to say something more. But Chen Huaian was already walking forward with his streaming rig. "You''re being a bit much!" The punk girl, Su Xiaoqian, glared at Zhang Rui, "Whether it''s osteosarcoma or not, his leg is definitely problematic. Considering the information, the chances of him lying are low. Show some sympathy!" "Yeah, young man," one of the middle-aged men nodded in agreement, "My father also died of cancer, from osteosarcoma. I can tell if this kid''s leg has osteosarcoma. Just standing here instead of lying in a hospital bed is commendable." "Indeed," the other middle-aged man added, "Bone cancer can easily cause pathological fractures, and high-intensity exercise should be avoided. Yet this kid is climbing Mount Tai. His courage and determination are truly admirable." Zhang Rui, feeling ashamed, scratched his neck and closed his mouth. The four of them hurried to catch up as Chen Huaian walked away. "Streamer, your rig isn''t light. How about I help you carry it?" Su Xiaoqian, feeling guilty, offered. Chen Huaian shook his head, "No need, it''s easier for me to adjust the angle myself, and carrying the rig while climbing is a promise I made to my audience." "You''re a good man!" An older man gave a thumbs up, full of admiration. "Impressive!" Everyone encouraged Chen Huaian. Zhang Rui finally chimed in, "Buddy, I''m sorry. I lost a game today, and my head''s a bit foggy. I said things I shouldn''t have." "No worries, it''s understandable to have concerns. After all, making money isn''t easy," Chen Huaian replied without looking back. "How about this, I''ll send you gifts as an apology." Hearing this, Chen Huaian immediately turned around with a friendly, pay-to-win smile, "What will you send me?" "Uh, I''ll send you a big rocket, the one that costs 2000 yuan each." "Great, thank you, you''re a good person." Zhang Rui: "..." He realized the streamer was genuinely ill and genuinely wanted to make money. But it was understandable; having a serious illness made him want to earn money for treatment, right? He was just a bit puzzled. Wouldn''t Chen Huaian''s antics make his cancer worse? But since he was well-off, and Chen Huaian needed money, he might as well send the gifts. Zhang Rui opened Chen Huaian''s live stream, followed, and sent ten big rockets right away. [Wow, the boss is generous!] [Isn''t this the guy who went to verify the streamer? He must feel guilty; it seems the streamer is really a cancer patient.] [First time seeing a live verification, front row to watch!] [Sigh, it''s not easy for the streamer. I''ll send some gifts too. Streamer, keep it up. If it gets too hard, just stop climbing. We''ll still support you.] ... The ten big rockets triggered a chain reaction of gift-giving. It also attracted more people to the live stream. The number of viewers in the stream was rapidly increasing. Seeing the rain of gifts and the headline "Late-Stage Bone Cancer Five-Hour Mount Tai Summit Challenge," many stayed to watch. "Thanks to the boss for the ten big rockets!" Chen Huaian was overjoyed, immediately giving Zhang Rui a shot in the stream. This buddy was quite shy, blushing as he dodged the camera. After the platform''s cut, he would pocket ten thousand from the ten big rockets. That''s enough for a hundred draws of the ''Lucky Koi.'' The internet really was a fast way to make money. Watching the gift value accumulate quickly, Chen Huaian couldn''t help but feel a bit emotional. Those taxi drivers, brick movers, and delivery guys worked hard all day but couldn''t earn as much as a popular streamer did in half an hour of tips. But he was putting in the effort too. As he stepped up the stairs, intense pain spread, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. The voices of doubt and mockery in the live stream grew quieter. Zhang Rui and the others silently followed behind Chen Huaian, even though his pace was slow. They watched his staggering figure, their throats feeling choked, unable to say a word. Chen Huaian was in pain. Sweat soaked the protective amulet on his chest. The faint fragrance grew slightly stronger, lingering at his nose. He couldn''t help but picture Li Qingran''s smiling face in his mind. What was that girl doing now? ``` Chapter 13 - Beastmaster "What is the senior doing at this moment?" Li Qingran propped her cheeks with her hands, staring at the ceiling. She could vaguely sense that Chen Huaian was very busy right now and didn''t have time to pay attention to her. "A person as important as the senior must be fighting for the cultivators of the entire Azure Cloud Realm, like eliminating great monsters or something..." As she thought about it, her mind painted a picture of an old man with white hair, exuding an immortal aura, riding a flying sword to slay a great monster. The thought brought a silly smile to her face. If only... If only the senior could be her master. "No, Li Qingran, don''t get ahead of yourself!" Li Qingran patted her head lightly, giving herself a warning. Today, the senior had given her a full 12 Spirit Crystals, maintaining an Advanced Level Gathering Spirit Array for six hours. He had also forcefully elevated her cultivation level to the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Thanks to the recovery of her meridians and internal injuries, the leakage of spiritual energy from her dantian had slowed significantly. However, her dantian was still broken, like a pot with a hole, and spiritual energy would always leak out little by little. "I need to find a way to solve the issues with my dantian and spiritual root." Li Qingran pondered to herself. Although the senior was powerful, she couldn''t trouble him with everything. If the senior was willing to help her, that was his choice, but she couldn''t actively ask him for help. She already had a plan. The Azure Cloud Sect was unreliable. She had to go to another sect, even if it was just a small one. Those small sects might also have some ancient texts, and maybe she''d get lucky and find a way to repair her dantian and spiritual root. If she couldn''t find anything, she''d leave the Cultivation World, find a scenic place to hide and slowly gather clues about her enemies, or perhaps return to the Southern Dynasty to become a female general? As for seeking revenge on those senior brothers who wronged her... Li Qingran hadn''t considered it. She wasn''t a match for those senior brothers before, and now her chances were even slimmer. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. It was indeed cowardly and weak, but the survival rules of the Cultivation World had always been like this. She had previously lost the will to live, so nothing mattered. But now she wanted to live a little longer, to live until the day the senior wasn''t busy anymore and was willing to meet her, even if it was just to say a word. She really wanted to thank the senior in person. ... ... "Something''s not right! Wasn''t it said that Li Qingran was thrown into a thatched hut?" Song Jiaojiao frowned as she looked at the stone house at the foot of the mountain. With the excellent eyesight of a cultivator, she could tell that the stone house was newly built, which meant someone was helping Li Qingran. But who could be helping Li Qingran? The personal disciples of Crimson Sky Peak? It''s not impossible... Even though Mu Baishuang said those people hated Li Qingran to the core, what if they still had some old feelings and gave her some care? If she killed Li Qingran, wouldn''t she be opposing those personal disciples? But she didn''t want to give up the Foundation Establishment Pill either. Song Jiaojiao pondered over it and decided to test the waters first. She also wanted to see if those people had left any means around Li Qingran''s residence. So she took out a half-zhang long red incense stick from her storage ring. This incense was called ''Beast Frenzy Lure'', its scent spread over a wide range, hard for cultivators to detect, but it could attract monsters with keen senses. Usually, this thing was used to lure monsters during hunts, but sometimes it could also be used as a murder weapon. Her original plan was to rush into the thatched hut to assassinate Li Qingran, then throw the body into the mountains to feed the monsters, which would be the cleanest way. But now the plan had changed, and she didn''t dare to approach rashly, so she could only use the ''Beast Frenzy Lure'' to kill by proxy, even though the beast riot caused by the ''Beast Frenzy Lure'' might attract the sect''s attention. "Li Qingran, when the wall falls, everyone gives it a push, don''t blame me." Song Jiaojiao lit the red incense and flicked it with her finger. The red incense flew out and landed on a tree near the house. After doing all this, she quickly set up an array to conceal her presence. In a while, when the small-scale beast riot happened, there might be a few fierce ones, and this array would ensure her safety. Next, she would hide in the dark and watch the show. It would take some time for the monsters to smell the scent and gather. And the girl sleeping soundly in the stone house was still unaware of the impending danger. ... Five in the morning. A faint line of light had already appeared on the horizon. Chen Huaian was almost at the mountaintop. But his condition was not good. The wind was strong on Mount Tai, and the temperature was low. Many tourists were sweating profusely halfway up the mountain, but as they neared the top, the cold wind dried their sweat, and they began to feel cold. To warm up, they had to quicken their pace or find a roadside restaurant for some hot porridge. But Chen Huaian was different. His face was pale, his whole body drenched in sweat, each step unsteady, with beads of sweat dripping from the soaked hem of his clothes. It was from the pain. Along the way, he had only eaten two pieces of bread, drinking water the rest of the time, constantly drinking water. Yet, despite his staggering steps, each one was firm and no longer wobbly. His back was straight, his calm gaze looking ahead, the light in his eyes making him appear as if on a pilgrimage. "Buddy, let me carry you up? Stop climbing!" Zhang Rui was almost in tears. Tonight''s experience would stay with him for a lifetime. He watched with wide eyes as a patient with osteosarcoma on his leg endured the excruciating pain, climbing step by step without stopping. Even the two middle-aged men were having trouble keeping up, and the punk girl was panting heavily. Zhang Rui, who exercised regularly and had decent stamina, felt the pressure mainly from a psychological perspective. Every step Chen Huaian took, every drop of sweat from his hem, was like a blow to Zhang Rui''s heart. Throughout, Chen Huaian never complained. He embraced their malice with a tolerant and peaceful attitude. Behind Chen Huaian were not only those four fans but also many other tourists. Many of these tourists had given up halfway, but after hearing Chen Huaian''s story, they voluntarily followed him, and the number grew. Now, nearing the mountaintop, the size of the group had formed a long dragon on the stone steps. "Almost there." Chen Huaian looked up at the mountaintop and smiled. He had to make it to the top. Because an hour ago, a level 57 big brother had said. If he could reach the top before sunrise, he would gift him 66 ''Drum and Dragon City'', each worth 2888£¤, which, after platform deductions, would amount to 95,000£¤. Combined with other tourists'' small donations, he could earn about 120,000£¤ tonight. Of course, there was also the possibility that the big brother was just bluffing. Chen Huaian took it all in stride; he was going to reach the top anyway. Whether or not he received the big brother''s gift, he would accomplish this. Climbing Mount Tai was not just about making money for him. He simply wanted to see his limits in the remaining time he had. To see how much warmth he could still generate. However, just 98 steps away from the top of Mount Tai. A sudden sharp pain shot through Chen Huaian''s right leg. His body lost balance, and he fell to his knees on the stone steps. Su Xiaoqian, who was following behind, instinctively looked at Chen Huaian''s leg, her face changed, and she covered her mouth, screaming. "Ah! His leg... his leg..." Chen Huaian gritted his teeth and looked down at his leg. He saw that his right leg, from the ankle to the knee, was twisted beyond recognition. He had fractured it. Chapter 14 - Mirage? Concurrent fractures are a common symptom in bone cancer patients. The destruction of bone tissue by cancer cells causes the bones to become soft and brittle, making fractures easy to occur. Eventually, this happened to Chen Huaian. After enduring so much pain, he became somewhat numb to it. The physical pain was still within his tolerance, and the emotional pain was nothing compared to it. Chen Huaian felt that nothing could hurt more than the incident where his parents perished in a sea of flames. So, amidst the concerned gazes and inquiries from surrounding tourists, Chen Huaian calmly adjusted the camera and said to Zhang Rui, who was supporting him, "Buddy, do me a favor, open my backpack." "Come on, buddy, call an ambulance already, why are you worried about your backpack?" Zhang Rui had never seen anyone like Chen Huaian, acting as if the fractured and deformed leg wasn''t his own. "You can shout for an ambulance, but it won''t reach here. Just open my backpack, I have my own way." Half-believing, Zhang Rui took down the backpack, unzipped it, and handed it to Chen Huaian. Chen Huaian pulled out a bag from inside and then took out a folding cane. Zhang Rui: "..." Other tourists: "???" Seriously, buddy, this is your own way? We thought you had some special painkiller or something... "Alright, let''s continue!" Chen Huaian skillfully used the cane to support himself. The probability of fractures with bone cancer is high, so he often used a cane even before any fractures occurred, just in case he needed to adapt when it happened. Now that it had happened, wasn''t it just another way to embrace fate? The viewers in the livestream silently liked and sent gifts, some advising the streamer to head back down the mountain. No one doubted the authenticity of Chen Huaian''s illness anymore, or rather, they no longer cared what illness he had. They only cared whether this brave man could make the most of his journey. That bent right leg was like the oppression of fate, the mockery of death. And the cane in Chen Huaian''s hand was nothing less than a middle finger to death and fate. Even if they wouldn''t let him reach the summit, even if they crippled his leg, he would still strive to reach the top. The tourists watched the figure struggling upward with great respect. This young man''s determination surely meant he had grand ambitions, right? "Charge ahead! We''re about to get the 90,000 sponsorship fee! 1,000 draws to explode the Lucky Koi prize pool!!!" Chen Huaian gritted his teeth as he looked at the diminishing steps, his face gradually becoming fierce: "Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill! Ha ha ha! Just a mere Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill!!" The surrounding tourists felt even more admiration. Look how much pain this young man is in, his features are all twisted!This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. At the summit of Mount Tai. When Chen Huaian''s trembling leg landed on the last step. A faint light, not yet mature, pierced through countless clouds, spreading from the dim horizon, gently brushing over his head. A flock of birds flew through the light. A bell''s toll echoed among the distant mountains. In the next second. A sunrise burst forth from the horizon, its radiant light spreading wide, illuminating the entire world. Chen Huaian''s eyes widened, his heart trembling, and the surrounding tourists stopped their conversations. Everyone quietly watched this scene, watching as the hazy mountain outlines were gilded with a layer of gold. Suddenly. "Bow¡ª¡ª!!!" A solemn shout rang out from an unknown source. A strange ripple appeared in the sunlight. The halo was like a stirred lake, rippling with waves. Within the ripples, a procession of ancient ceremonial guards emerged amidst the interplay of light and shadow. The leader stood tall and dignified, clad in a dark dragon robe, wearing a crown with tassels, a sword hanging at his waist, followed by civil and military officials. The civil officials held ceremonial tablets, the military officials wore dark armor, and attendants carried ritual vessels. They walked on clouds, with blue bricks and tiles appearing beneath their feet, step by step approaching the summit of Mount Tai. "What the heck, what is this?" "Is it a mirage?" "No, is someone filming a movie here?" The tourists were dumbfounded, watching this scene. At this moment, the ceremonial procession was still far from them, and they still had the mind to discuss. In the next second, the procession suddenly spanned several miles and appeared right in front of them. The summit of Mount Tai fell silent, not a sound could be heard, and everyone closed their mouths. Something was pressing down on them, making them unable to move or speak. Chen Huaian stood frozen, watching the majestic emperor approach him. He couldn''t see the emperor''s face clearly, only feeling something teasing his eyes, leaving them blurry. The ceremonial procession passed through the crowd of tourists, like smoke and mist, elusive and untouchable. They walked their path without looking sideways, as if a scene from another time and space appeared before them, gazing through the long river of history yet not affecting each other. Initially, Chen Huaian thought so. Until the emperor came before him. Just before passing through his body. The emperor nodded slightly, his eyes lowered, and his golden vertical pupils met Chen Huaian''s gaze. Chen Huaian''s scalp tingled, he swore, the emperor was definitely looking at him, it wasn''t a coincidence! He could even feel the scrutiny in the emperor''s gaze! But the eye contact lasted only a moment. The emperor passed through Chen Huaian''s body, and with his ceremonial procession, gradually disappeared into the thin mist at the summit of Mount Tai. ... ... The mirage at the summit of Mount Tai sparked a heated discussion across the internet, quickly reaching the top of the trending topics. Experts analyzed that it was the ceremonial procession of the First Emperor. The mirage displayed the scene of the First Emperor''s ritual at Mount Tai. As for why this ancient historical event was reflected in the modern era. Experts have yet to come up with a better explanation. But as the saying goes, "The wise do not speak of strange forces and gods," the final explanation will surely be very scientific. Chen Huaian didn''t pay attention to the online uproar, nor did he care about being glanced at by the mirage. As a staunch materialist, if someone told him there was a female ghost in his house, he would immediately go downstairs to the supermarket to buy a box of Okamoto 001. Not for any other reason, just to contribute a little to biodiversity. The level 57 boss kept his word, and 66 ''Drum and Dragon City'' gifts had been credited, expressing gratitude to Chen Huaian for letting him witness an ultra-rare mirage he wouldn''t see in several lifetimes. Just this life experience alone was worth all the gifts. He also promised to support all of Chen Huaian''s future activities. Chen Huaian felt great, he loved this kind of true fan boss. With the livestream task completed and his phone battery exhausted, he simply said goodbye and ended the stream. "Bro, how do you plan to get down the mountain? Take the cable car or get carried down?" After this incident, Zhang Rui was completely in awe of Chen Huaian. He used to not believe anyone could be called a dragon among men. Now he believed, Chen Huaian was already at a superhuman level in his mind. "Of course, I''ll take the cable car," Chen Huaian replied. Nowadays, many college students come to Mount Tai to offer climbing companionship services, and there are people who carry others down the mountain. He chose the cable car because it was cheaper and faster, eager to get down the mountain and recharge to see his virtual girlfriend. Speaking of which, he now had 120,000 in his account. Although doing this kind of livestream was tough, it showed a way to make money. However, his illness was difficult to treat, amputation was certain, and the survival rate after amputation was low. The attending physician who issued his critical illness notice didn''t explicitly say it, but from the implications, it seemed to have already spread. So, was it worth spending money to gamble on this illness? Should he work hard to earn money for chemotherapy and take a chance? Or should he just enjoy the present happily? Chen Huaian pondered this matter as he was supported by Zhang Rui and several fans to the cable car. The cable car ticket area was crowded, with both local tourists and many foreigners. "FUCK!" A curse rang out from the crowd. It turned out a foreigner who cut in line got hit on the shoulder by a falling stone. "Serves you right! That''s what you get for not queuing properly!" Zhang Rui and the others laughed gleefully. Soon it was Chen Huaian''s turn to take the cable car. This cable car could accommodate eight people at once. Zhang Rui supported Chen Huaian as they were about to board, but saw that the cable car was occupied by a few guys with dragon and tiger tattoos, who didn''t look like good people. "Bro, are we still getting on?" Zhang Rui hesitated, looking at Chen Huaian beside him. "Of course," Chen Huaian said nonchalantly. Although these guys didn''t look like good people, they just didn''t look like it. What if the boss just liked having some birds and beasts tattooed on him? You can''t judge a book by its cover~ But just then. Snap¡ª, the string holding the protective amulet suddenly broke, and the amulet fell to the ground. Chen Huaian was stunned for a moment and bent down to pick it up. His movements were slow, and the guys in the cable car immediately started hurling some insulting remarks to hurry him up. Suddenly, Boom¡ª¡ª!!! The entire Mount Tai shook violently, the ground quaking and the mountains swaying. The moment Chen Huaian grasped the protective amulet, he was thrown to the ground, rolling all the way into the ticket hall. "Holy crap!!!" "Get out of the way!" He rolled with gritted teeth, something was crashing down from the ceiling above him. "Ah¡ª¡ª! Falling rocks!" In a daze, he heard someone shouting, along with the screams of the crowd, A deafening crash, And the sound of the cable car glass shattering. ¡¤¡¤¡¤ ¡¤¡¤¡¤ Chapter 15 - If there is a next life? Mount Tai experienced an earthquake, causing a landslide. One massive boulder crashed in front of the cable car ticket office, flattening a cable car that was about to descend. Fortunately, the cableway itself was not affected, or else all the tourists on it would have been in grave danger. What was even more surprising was that the seven people crushed inside the cable car were drug traffickers, with both the buyers and sellers present. Moreover, these seven were the masterminds of two drug trafficking organizations, with many lives taken by their hands. Many people said it was the manifestation of the mountain god of Mount Tai. Some even linked this sudden event to the Mirage of Mount Tai''s sealing ceremony. ... This was something Chen Huaian learned only later. The first thing he did after descending the mountain was not to call an ambulance but to find a small supermarket to borrow a power bank. He charged his phone, opened the "Virtual Girlfriend" game, and sat on a chair as if nothing had happened. Beside him, Zhang Rui was anxiously dialing 120. He felt half responsible for Chen Huaian''s fracture that day. If he hadn''t said such harsh words, maybe Chen Huaian wouldn''t have insisted on climbing Mount Tai? "Let me see what my virtual girlfriend is up to." As soon as the game screen opened. Chen Huaian was bombarded with notifications. [You have 130 days of life remaining.] [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is under attack by a small beast tide!] [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is fighting desperately...] [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is injured.] [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is severely injured!] What the heck?! Chen Huaian felt a pang of anxiety. How did she get injured just while he was climbing? How could there be a beast tide attack at that time of night? Even if it fits the nocturnal nature of demonic beasts, this is a game, don''t players need to sleep? He quickly closed all the notification boxes and saw a heart-wrenching scene. The house was nearly destroyed under the attack of the demonic beasts. Li Qingran was surrounded by a horde of beasts, with corpses of demonic beasts scattered around her.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. She was half-kneeling in a pool of blood, her head lowered, her long black hair covering her face. She was holding a broken sword, still wearing the new clothes from the "Top Up 30 Get Bonus" event, but now they were covered in claw marks, with no alluring sight beneath the torn fabric, only bloody wounds. [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is in critical condition!] "Unfortunately, I still couldn''t... meet with... the senior..." Li Qingran felt she was about to die. She barely lifted her head, looking at the ceiling with a hole in it, her pale cheeks devoid of any color. Her hollow eyes gazed at the morning sky, growing dimmer, as everything in her view gradually turned gray. In her 19 years of life, looking back, it was all filled with sorrow. Her father died in battle, her mother poisoned by assassins from an enemy nation. She thought joining the Azure Cloud Sect would allow her to avenge her parents, but it was just jumping from one quagmire into another. The Cultivation World''s rules were strict, forbidding interference in mortal affairs. But these rules were just shackles for ordinary cultivators. So she worked hard to improve her cultivation level, diligently, hoping to one day rise above the rules and comfort her parents'' souls in heaven... Yet now she was expelled from the sect, her dantian and spiritual root destroyed, left in a miserable state. A sparrow flew past the hole in the roof. Li Qingran''s eyes gained a bit of light. In just two days, every moment with the senior flashed in her mind, Even though the senior never appeared, he gave her care and warmth without asking for anything in return. "In this life... Qingran can no longer repay the senior''s kindness... cough cough." She hunched over, blood and tears mixing as they dripped down her mouth. "If there is a next life..." A demonic beast, seeing Li Qingran on the verge of collapse and no longer a threat, rushed forward to tear her apart. At that moment. Dozens, if not hundreds, of thunderbolts descended from the sky. Boom boom boom¡ª¡ª! The majestic thunderbolts, with an aura of authority and ferocity, struck down, turning the house and its surroundings into a blinding white. Song Jiaojiao, who was about to leave, hid in a secret formation, staring in shock at the scene. What did she just see? A bunch of Thunderfire Talismans fell from the sky, shooting towards those demonic beasts! Whose Thunderfire Talismans were these? Li Qingran''s? But even the cheapest Thunderfire Talisman costs 500 low-grade spirit stones each, and this was at least tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones. Li Qingran couldn''t possibly afford that, so there was only one possibility: someone behind Li Qingran had intervened. Who could that person be? Song Jiaojiao looked at the overwhelming thunder, her face pale. The thunder continued. The Thunderfire Talismans were thrown down like they were worthless. At least two hundred were thrown, blasting all the demonic beasts inside and outside the house to smithereens, reducing their remains to ashes before stopping. The thunder gradually faded, and the house remained intact. But the area around the house was filled with countless thunder pits. Inside the house, Li Qingran lay unconscious in a pool of blood, surrounded by raging thunderfire, but a golden shield kept it at bay. "Hiss¡ª! This place is not safe to stay." Song Jiaojiao felt something was about to go wrong, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart. The next second, a Thunderfire Talisman suddenly appeared above her head. The talisman emitted a golden light, with the characters on it exuding the majesty of thunder. "This is, Immortal Grade?!" Song Jiaojiao''s eyes widened. An Immortal Grade Thunderfire Talisman, aimed at her. Aimed at her, a mere cultivator who hadn''t even reached the Foundation Establishment stage? There was no need to wonder how the other party discovered her. To someone who could throw such talismans like trash, her concealment formation was just a toy. "Ha... haha..." A wry smile appeared on Song Jiaojiao''s face. The next second, Boom¡ª¡ª! A golden thunderbolt as thick as a bucket descended from the sky. The concealment formation shattered instantly. Along with Song Jiaojiao inside, leaving no trace... ... Seeing the red dots on the map all wiped out, Chen Huaian finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. He hadn''t been this tense even when he fractured his bone and encountered falling rocks on Mount Tai. "Damn it, can''t this game have an enemy alert system? You leave for a moment, and there''s a monster raid?" He had just drawn from the Lucky Koi pool five hundred times. The items he got were either spirit stones, Thunderfire Talismans, or Sound Transmission Talismans. How to put it? Getting low-grade spirit stones is definitely a loss, but both Thunderfire Talismans and Sound Transmission Talismans are a gain. Moreover, not all the Thunderfire Talismans were of common grade; there were also a dozen high-grade and superior-grade ones mixed in. Immortal Grade is the hardest to get; after five hundred draws, he got two. He just used one to strike down that little boss hiding in the shadows. But he also got a superior-grade magic weapon, the Su Xian Sword. He didn''t know how much a superior-grade magic weapon would sell for, but since it wasn''t available in the Qi Refining shop, it must be a weapon commonly used by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. He probably made a good profit, right? But now wasn''t the time to think about that. Chen Huaian looked seriously at Li Qingran''s body. [Status: Excessive blood loss, near death] [Cultivation Progress: 1456/4999 (Fifth Layer)] [Remaining Life: A short while] [Favorability: 35 (Admiration)] "Well... the game character is severely injured, so according to normal procedures, I should give medicine first." Chen Huaian opened Li Qingran''s Storage Ring and dragged an Immortal Grade Great Rejuvenation Pill from the monthly card to her mouth. But he received this prompt: [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is critically injured and unable to swallow the Great Rejuvenation Pill on her own. Medicine administration failed!] Very much in line with realistic logic and subjective initiative. Chen Huaian thought, You made a game so hardcore, Are you trying to take a civil service exam?! Chapter 16 - Just want to poke something (This chapter is exclusively sponsored by Tania) The items purchased with money can''t be used, so you can only contact customer service for such issues. Chen Huaian directly used the Heavenly Secret Deduction, which was free for the first time today. "How can I help Li Qingran recover from her injuries?" [Deducting the Heavenly Secret for you...] Boom¡ª! The Azure Cloud Realm was thrown into chaos. Countless sect elders and old monsters were startled awake from their meditation. "Oh no! It''s been less than two days, and another Supreme Being is deducing the Heavenly Secret?" "It must be a Great Cultivator skilled in divination! Could it be the Ancestor of Anci Nian Zhai?" "Alas, the spiritual energy in the Azure Cloud Realm is becoming increasingly scarce. These Supreme Beings are getting anxious. We should focus on our closed-door cultivation and strive to break through our bottlenecks sooner..." "Avoid! Avoid! If they detect the secrets of our Demon Sect, it could jeopardize our plans!" ... [Heavenly Secret Deduction complete. You can use ''Power Transfer and Breath Regulation'' and ''Golden Needle Acupuncture'' to heal Li Qingran. The former has a moderate effect, restoring 30% of her injuries, while the latter is very effective, capable of fully healing her current injuries except for the dantian and spiritual root.] [The ''Virtual Girlfriend'' store has captured a glimpse of the Heavenly Secret for you. Would you like to spend £¤9998 in the store to purchase the lost secret technique ''Golden Needle Acupuncture''? After purchase, this skill will become a permanent skill, and you can upgrade it. Each use will only charge for the cost of the golden needles.] Chen Huaian: "..." Can''t take it anymore. Even the store is capturing glimpses of the Heavenly Secret now. Should I try capturing the Heavenly Secret with my toilet or bathtub next? And spending £¤9998 for a skill is one thing. But upgrading requires pay-to-win for sure. And the golden needle materials cost money too? Does this game even treat players like humans?! But looking at Li Qingran lying in a pool of blood, Chen Huaian couldn''t help but think of his deceased parents. His family wasn''t well-off, but his parents always tried to give him the best resources growing up. He could finally empathize with his parents'' feelings now. "Top up!!!" [Congratulations on acquiring the lost secret technique¡ªGolden Needle Acupuncture] [Technique: Flowing Cloud Hand (Activated)] [Technique: Spring Needle Technique lv1 (Activated)] [Spring Needle materials¡ª64 special silver needles, totaling £¤640, please top up first.]Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Chen Huaian clenched his fists, gritting his teeth: "Seriously, can''t you cut me some slack?" [Please top up first.] "Damn it... Top up, top up, top up!" This game is really shameless, but he couldn''t just leave Li Qingran like that. Another £¤640 vanished from his wallet. He learned the skill, and he had the materials. "What should I do next?" [Please undress Li Qingran!] Chen Huaian was stunned, slowly typing a question mark. Finally, is it happening! No, this isn''t the time to think about that! Saving her is more important now! "Who called 120? Who needs treatment?!" The ambulance arrived, and the doctor and nurse got out. Zhang Rui pointed at Chen Huaian, who was staring intently at his phone, eyes shining: "Him." "What''s wrong with him?" The doctor couldn''t immediately see anything wrong with Chen Huaian. "He''s in the late stages of cancer, bone cancer, and he developed osteosarcoma. He broke his leg climbing Mount Tai." Late-stage bone cancer climbing Mount Tai and breaking a leg? The doctor''s eye twitched. Was this even Mandarin? How did these words combine so bizarrely? He instinctively thought Zhang Rui was joking. After all, this young man was sitting there engrossed in his phone, not looking like someone with a broken leg. Shouldn''t a person with a fracture be holding their leg, pale-faced, crying out in pain? Let alone someone with late-stage bone cancer, like one of the Shaolin Temple''s eighteen bronze men? Not afraid of pain. But with a practical and dialectical spirit, he picked up Chen Huaian''s leg from the chair, pulled up the pant leg, and his expression immediately changed. "Quick, quick, quick! Get the stretcher down!" This young man''s leg was indeed broken, visibly with many subcutaneous nodules, all signs of osteosarcoma. The lower leg was already severely deformed, with a large swollen bump at the fracture site, purplish-red, filled with blood clots. If not treated properly, this young man''s leg couldn''t be saved. However, with so many osteosarcomas, it seemed it couldn''t be saved anyway... The doctor helped Chen Huaian onto the stretcher, feeling a bit bewildered. It was the first time he''d seen such a calm patient, a bit like the emperor not being anxious while the eunuchs were. "Hey, buddy, why are you still playing on your phone?!" Zhang Rui was speechless seeing Chen Huaian still holding his phone on the stretcher. What game could be so captivating? But from his angle, Chen Huaian''s screen was all black... Could this buddy also have a mental illness? Watching the ambulance drive away. Zhang Rui plugged the power bank Chen Huaian borrowed back into the charging station at the nearby supermarket, thinking more and more that it was possible. With a mental illness, not afraid of pain, not afraid of death, all these abnormal behaviors made sense. So, had he said so many rude things to someone with late-stage cancer and mental issues? Thinking about it, Zhang Rui slapped himself. "Damn it, I''m such an idiot..." ... In the ambulance, two nurses looked at Chen Huaian on the stretcher, focused on his phone, with strange expressions. They couldn''t understand what was so interesting about a completely black phone screen. But from Chen Huaian''s perspective, he was performing the Golden Needle Acupuncture on Li Qingran. The undressing was done. She was stripped bare from all angles. But seeing the countless wounds on Li Qingran''s body, he had no lewd thoughts, nor did he have time to focus on any private parts. Moreover, to assist him in acupuncture, the game had covered Li Qingran''s body with an acupoint matrix diagram, with countless acupoints floating on the skin''s surface. Wherever an acupoint lit up, he had to apply the needle there. Even the private parts were covered by the acupoint matrix diagram. Even if they weren''t, Chen Huaian didn''t have time to look. The speed at which the acupoints lit up was too fast, reminiscent of the S-level difficulty of the old Dance Dance Revolution, requiring him to concentrate fully to barely keep up. "Young man, how long have you had cancer? Do you have medical records? Which hospital did you get checked at before? Oh, your leg is too severe..." "Sir, sir?" The nurse was a bit annoyed. They were already at the hospital, in the ward, and this buddy was still poking at his phone. He looked quite handsome and didn''t seem like a fool, right? She waved her hand in front of Chen Huaian''s eyes: "The doctor is talking to you!" Chen Huaian quickly tilted his head to avoid the hand, not raising his head, nervously saying, "Sorry, I''m busy here, please wait a moment." Doctor: "..." This young man was quite polite. He gave the nurse a look, pointing at Chen Huaian and then at his head, whispering, "You go handle his admission, I''ll call Doctor Wu from the psychiatric department, and when Doctor Wu arrives, let''s have him take a look first." The doctor and nurse had just left. Chen Huaian finished the acupuncture. With the last silver needle inserted, twisted clockwise. Streams of clear energy rose from the 64 silver needles. Then Chen Huaian saw the bleeding wounds on Li Qingran''s body instantly stop bleeding, and the wounds began to gradually heal. [Please grind the Immortal Grade Great Rejuvenation Pill into powder and sprinkle it on Li Qingran''s wounds.] A stone mill appeared in the image, and Chen Huaian followed the steps. Then he saw the stopped bleeding wounds rapidly grow new flesh, and in no time, they were completely healed, leaving no trace. "Whew¡ª! Finally done." Chen Huaian breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at Li Qingran''s status, she was out of life-threatening danger, but still unconscious, needing some time to wake up. So, next... Chen Huaian swallowed. It''s time... [Low battery] Just as he was about to admire Li Qingran''s stunning figure. The phone went completely black. Come on, buddy! He had already taken out the tissue! Chen Huaian was stunned there for a full half-minute, gritting his teeth. Where was the power bank he borrowed at Mount Tai? Only then did he realize something was off, he didn''t seem to be at the base of Mount Tai anymore. Looking around, he was instantly dumbfounded. "When did I get into the hospital? Huh?!" "Did I, did I teleport?" "Young man, stop making noise, I''m trying to sleep..." An old, dry voice came from the side. Chen Huaian turned his head to look beside him, on the neighboring hospital bed was an old man, with bandages on his leg, looking unwell, with dark circles under his eyes, probably from a night of pain without sleep, now just barely getting some rest. So he quickly quieted down. However, when his gaze fell on the items on the small cart beside the old man''s bed, his eyes couldn''t move away. It was a set of silver needles. He rubbed his fingers, feeling an itch. Hiss~ That tingling little sensation~ Always wanting to poke something with a needle... Chapter 17 - Is Chen Huaian a genius?! That''s right, this intense feeling wasn''t an illusion. It even made Chen Huaian unable to control his guilty hands. He grabbed the set of silver needles. Glancing at the old man next to him, a sinister smile crept onto his lips. It was a mix of three parts unruliness, three parts sleaziness, three parts arrogance, three parts nonchalance, and 88 parts impatience. Then he opened the needle case. Inside lay 36 silver needles. As his fingers brushed over the needle tips, a familiar sensation surged through his heart, as if he were touching his girlfriend''s fingers. "Sorry about this!" Chen Huaian silently clasped his hands in apology to the old man beside him. Then he picked up a silver needle. With a swift motion, he stabbed it into his own leg. Using a silver needle that someone else had used to stab his own leg. Wasn''t this a kind of betrayal for the silver needle? This was his deep apology to the old man and the needle! As for why he didn''t stab the old man? Was he crazy? He was just driven by a feeling and interest; he wouldn''t irresponsibly stab someone else. But stabbing himself carried no psychological burden. After all, he was dying soon and dared to try anything on himself. His gaze fell on his leg, and acupoint pathways appeared before his eyes, vaguely overlapping with the acupoint array diagram in the game. His fingers moved like lightning, the needles flowing like clouds and water, and in the blink of an eye, 36 needle tips were already embedded in his right leg. Chen Huaian took a deep breath and held it. Next, he adjusted the depth of each needle, twisting the ends to stimulate the acupoints on his leg. His hands, which usually trembled even when holding a bottle of water, were now steady and frightening. After a while, the needling was complete. Chen Huaian returned the silver needles to their case and put them back in place. That tingling little feeling was finally gone. "Ah, that''s better." He rubbed his hands together, satisfied. The fracture was in his right leg, and that''s where he had needled. At this moment, the bruising on his leg had mostly subsided, though the bone was still twisted. But the fracture itself wasn''t the main issue; the key was whether the tissue bruising caused by the fracture could be treated. Relieving the bruising was naturally very important.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. In less than ten minutes of needling, he had alleviated the bruising that would have required medication or surgery. Even Chen Huaian found it unbelievable. Was this game really so hardcore? Could you actually learn something from it? But surely not everyone could understand it. Who could, like him, remember the needling method and acupoint array after just one try? But he didn''t have such a good memory before. Something was off... Chen Huaian pondered for a moment, then suddenly brightened up, clapping his hands together: "I see, I get it, hahaha!" Outside the ward, Doctor Wu and Doctor Zhang were approaching, still discussing Chen Huaian''s case. "This young man is a college student, with no history of mental illness. Are you sure there''s something wrong with his brain?" Wu Bin had already reviewed Chen Huaian''s file and questioned Doctor Zhang''s judgment. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! It''s cancer, the mysterious cancer cells have activated my Gene Lock! I''m a genius!" A strange laugh, suppressed, came from Chen Huaian inside the ward. "See~" Doctor Zhang spread his hands and tilted his head toward the ward. Wu Bin: "..." It seemed this young man might have been slightly affected after climbing Mount Tai and seeing a mirage, and indeed needed medical intervention. "Young man..." Wu Bin entered the ward. "Doctor, I''m not sick. I want to be discharged, or do you have a power bank here? If you have a power bank, I''ll stay a bit longer." "..." Wu Bin looked at the young man on the hospital bed, his face serious, wondering if they needed to increase the dosage. Doctor Zhang, on the other hand, noticed Chen Huaian''s leg and was stunned: "Hey? How did your leg get better?" He remembered clearly that when he went to find Wu Bin, Chen Huaian''s fractured calf was still swollen, the most severe part even turning black, nearing the point of necrosis if untreated. But now, the fracture site was only slightly red and swollen, and the bruising was completely gone. Chen Huaian noticed the doctor''s gaze and sheepishly pulled back his foot, chuckling: "I''ve been tough since I was a kid, with a bit of a natural gift for self-recovery." He couldn''t possibly say the bruising was resolved with the secret Golden Needle technique; they wouldn''t believe him, and it would only bring trouble. As for demonstrating the needling to the doctors, that was out of the question. The old man next to him was indeed a great guinea pig, but he might be taken to a psychiatric ward before he could even start, and besides, he wasn''t confident. Just because it worked on himself didn''t mean it would work on others. In today''s society, you have to think twice before helping someone cross the street, let alone using needles on someone. Doctor Zhang couldn''t figure it out after thinking for a long time. He could only say that for now, seeing that the osteosarcoma on Chen Huaian''s foot hadn''t disappeared, if it had, he would really have to find a way to keep Chen Huaian and report the matter to his superiors. "Young man, you need to find a way to treat this cancer. If you just leave it, it might not end well..." "I understand, but I have no money," Chen Huaian smiled. "Haven''t you bought insurance?" "No." "What about your parents?" "Gone." "...sigh." Doctor Zhang fell silent after a few questions. As a chief physician with decades of experience, he had seen many cases like Chen Huaian''s, with nothing left, just waiting to die. But there were very few who were genuinely indifferent like Chen Huaian. "Doctor, I know my situation. I don''t have extra money. Just treat it as a normal fracture." Doctor Zhang nodded and still mentioned, "If you need to raise funds, you can let me know. Maybe I can help a bit." "Thank you. If I can earn money, I''ll definitely treat my illness properly." While Chen Huaian was talking with Doctor Zhang, Wu Bin was observing. He found that this young man was clear-headed, with bright eyes, and didn''t have any mental issues. At most, he was just a bit adolescently delusional. ...Almost made them use a tranquilizer gun. A false alarm. ... Chen Huaian stayed in the hospital until the afternoon. He had surgery on his fractured right leg, which was now in a plaster cast. According to the doctor, it was best to stay for observation, but he refused due to lack of money. Before leaving, he bought a set of silver needles from the pharmacy next to the hospital. "Power bank! Power bank!!!" Leaving the hospital, Chen Huaian was like a starving wolf, his green eyes scanning the surrounding shops. He needed a power bank! He hadn''t been in the game all afternoon, and if Li Qingran was attacked by a demonic beast again, he''d be devastated. Moreover, he''d invested nearly sixty thousand into it. If his character was gone, he''d be so angry he''d jump from the second floor of the hospital. "Let go of that power bank!!!" In the terrified gaze of a female student, Chen Huaian, hobbling on crutches, swiftly snatched the last power bank from the restaurant''s charging station. He turned it on and logged into the game. Breathing a sigh of relief. Li Qingran was still safely unconscious in the Mystic Armor Array. With a power bank in his mouth, one hand on a crutch, and the other holding his phone, he sat down at a table in the restaurant under the bewildered gaze of the female student: "Boss, three portions of dry noodles." "Alright! Want a fried egg with that?" "No, but I want soup!" Boss: "Got it~" A fried egg was three bucks! Not eating it! Soup was free, so he could have it! Leaving Li Qingran''s unconscious state aside for now, he opened the Lucky Koi lottery pool. He was still 500 draws away from the guaranteed prize. "Tsk, I don''t have the luck of The Lucky One." Chen Huaian snorted coldly, and as the EasyPay deduction notification appeared, his finger tapped on the lottery. Straight in, all in! Chapter 18 - This is a very important thing Li Qingran had a dream. In the dream, she was being chased by countless demonic beasts, with no light source visible in any direction. Darkness surged towards her like an inky tide. However, just as the beasts were about to catch her, a melodious thunderclap echoed. A young man, whose features were indistinct and dressed in strange clothes, appeared on the horizon. He waved his left hand, scattering talismans like seasoning over food, and in his right hand, he brandished a spiritual artifact. The demonic beasts chasing her were either struck down by the thunder from the talismans or pierced by the spiritual artifacts falling from the sky. "Is it... is it the senior?" Li Qingran looked towards the sky. She had a gut feeling that it was the senior, and he had come to save her. Although she couldn''t see his face clearly, the senior seemed much younger than she had imagined. Before she could observe carefully, the next second, the senior had already appeared before her. Li Qingran''s heart raced, a blush spreading to her ears, and she hurriedly prepared to bow in respect. In the next moment, a pair of strong hands held her up. Then, he placed a square object into her hands. The object was entirely black, resembling a brick, but not as heavy. Three simplified characters were written on it, seemingly... "Power Bank"? What is a power bank? Some kind of spiritual artifact? While she was still puzzled, the senior in front of her began to fade, like mist gradually dispersing. "Senior? Qingran has always been grateful to you, you..." "This is a very important item." The senior''s voice echoed through the dispersing mist: "Make sure to take good care of it..." ... "This one will do, the Power Bank, sounds reliable just by the name."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Chen Huaian clicked to place the order. He couldn''t afford a three-yuan fried egg, but he could blindly buy a three-hundred-yuan power bank. After this incident, he was already scared; he must carry a power bank with him at all times from now on. And it had to be one with a large enough capacity. He had considered whether to change his phone, but if he did, could he transfer the "Virtual Girlfriend" game along with it? This was a virus program without even an installation package, and he really didn''t know how to operate it. Looking at the time on the computer, it was already nine in the evening. It had been over an hour since he got home. "Li Qingran should be awake now." Chen Huaian opened the "Virtual Girlfriend" game, and sure enough, saw that Li Qingran had woken up. The girl was huddled in a corner, wrapped in tattered clothes, hugging her knees, her vacant eyes staring at the ground, lost in thought. Chen Huaian noticed a half-burned red incense stick at Li Qingran''s feet. [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran''s'' house is broken. Top up 6 yuan to repair it.] Chen Huaian didn''t even frown: "Top up!" [Top up 88 more to get two new outfits of different styles for your virtual girlfriend~] "Top up!!" [Your virtual girlfriend ''Li Qingran'' is hungry and feeling down. Top up 68 to... ] "Top up!!!" The house was instantly renovated, new clothes appeared on the bed, and various dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and fruits clattered onto the table. If Li Qingran didn''t notice such a commotion, it would be strange. She knew the senior had come to see her. In fact, she knew the senior had already been here earlier. After all, the numerous lightning pits around the small house, the demonic beast remains burned to ash by lightning fire, and her already healed injuries all indicated this. The demonic beast horde had come in a very peculiar manner. Using the unburned lightning fire as cover, she circled around the small house and found the ''Beast Frenzy Lure'' broken in two under a tree. This kind of beast-attracting incense was a hunting tool used by various sects. But the beast-attracting incense from different sects had slight differences. For example, the Beast Frenzy Lure from the Azure Cloud Sect had azure cloud patterns at its base. These azure cloud patterns were designs carved from certain materials in the Beast Frenzy Lure, essential for its function. If scraped off, the lure''s effect would be greatly diminished. Since it was a dangerous item, the major sects naturally marked it to avoid being framed. The person who threw the incense probably thought the Beast Frenzy Lure would burn to ashes, leaving only a bit of residue. But they didn''t expect the senior to arrive halfway and turn a 500-meter radius into a wasteland. That person didn''t come to take her life, presumably because they were also struck down and turned to ash. "Senior." Li Qingran looked at the ceiling, her face full of exhaustion, her dry lips slightly parted, her whole being like a flower about to wither: "Senior, do you think Qingran is someone very detestable?" The first dialogue box had just appeared when Chen Huaian chose free dialogue directly. Having just drawn from the Lucky Koi pool, he now had over seventy Sound Transmission Talismans, feeling quite inflated. Clearing his throat, he pressed the Sound Transmission Talisman and spoke gently: "How could that be? In my eyes, Qingran is a very polite and sensible girl, who works hard in her cultivation, blah blah... Why would you think so?" The above was a nearly three-hundred-word essay by Chen Huaian. But what Li Qingran heard was the majestic voice of the Great Dao: Why do you say that?! "If not, why do the people of the Azure Cloud Sect, my senior brothers, and my master always want to kill me? Even though my dantian and spiritual root have been destroyed, even though I''ve been expelled from the sect and driven into Evergreen Mountain to fend for myself, why won''t they let me go... Did I do something terribly wrong?" Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran''s eyes, which were no longer clear, gradually clouded. He could fully understand Li Qingran''s doubts. From Li Qingran''s life, she was a typical giving personality. If someone showed her a bit of kindness, she would repay it tenfold or a hundredfold. Daoist Qingxuan took her as a disciple, and even without any formal guidance, she always regarded Daoist Qingxuan as the most respected elder. First Senior Brother Lu Changtian took care of her when she joined, so she treated Lu Changtian as her brother; Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng gave her pills he didn''t use, so she helped him manage spiritual herbs and acted as his test subject; Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo gave her a storage ring, so when Yun Zimo framed her, she kept silent and was expelled from the sect; Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao helped her once during a mission, so she used most of her monthly spirit stone share to deal with the troubles he caused. She would bloom into a radiant flower with a bit of sunshine, and even under the storm, she would still face it with a smile. But behind that smiling mask was probably a face full of tears and scars. The saying "a good person is bullied, a good horse is ridden" is not just a joke, it''s wisdom passed down by ancestors. Just like how he gave everything to his ex-girlfriend, only to be betrayed and cuckolded. There are too many similar stories, where the goddess you cherish and protect ends up being played with in a cheap hotel; the flower you nurtured with all your heart blooms on someone else''s balcony; betrayal and backstabbing... More and more people are finding solace in cats, dogs, and virtual characters, willing to spend money, time, and energy on them. Are they stupid? No. They just don''t want to be hurt again. People should have a fire in them. You, I, we, are not toys to be casually thrown into the trash. One day, that heart full of holes will be carefully held by someone. "Li Qingran." Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran, the two separated by a screen, yet their gazes seemed to cross countless times and spaces to meet. He stared into Li Qingran''s eyes, and reflected in those eyes, was himself. "Today, I will help you restore your dantian." The majestic voice of the Great Dao did not cut Chen Huaian''s words this time. Instead, it conveyed them all: "Even if your past is a mess, from now on... it will surely be a flourishing garden!"