Chapter 7: Isn't This a Great Deal?
Awakened Roast Goose: Have you guys heard of a game called My Virtual Girlfriend? The production is top-notch, character models are detailed, interaction is great, and even micro-expressions don’t repeat. The only issue is... it’s a bit of a cash grab.
Egg Cracker for Love: Never heard of it.
Uncle Shanghai: What is that? Does such a game really exist?
Pink Ferrari Cow: OP, upload the installation package here. I want to give it a try.
But searching online yielded no results.
The idea of sharing an installation package was absurd because Chen Huai'an had already discovered that this game didn’t have one. Based on his experience, a game of this quality should at least be 10GB. However, before and after installation, his modest 64GB phone storage hadn’t budged an inch.
The truth was obvious!
Chen Huai'an adjusted his glasses.
He guessed he’d been targeted by a powerful hacker organization!
This game was probably the work of that hacker group, and he was just their guinea pig!
"Sigh… But the game is really well-made," Chen Huai'an muttered as he stared at the screen.
The character, Li Qingran, had finished meditating. Her external injuries were completely healed, and her remaining lifespan had increased from six hours to three years.
At this moment, she was carefully packing up eight formation flags.
He could even hear her mumbling softly:
"That senior is so kind to me. The materials on these formation flags could even be used to make a protective charm. If I ever get the chance to meet him again, I should gift it to him."
Then she shook her head vigorously.
"But… someone as important as Senior would probably find such a gift laughable."
Chen Huai'an chuckled.
If this charm ever found its way to him—even if he knew it was officially scripted into the game—it would still be a massive emotional win.
Should he try using a transmission talisman to tell her he liked it?
But seeing the talisman back to its original steep price in the Virtual Girlfriend Shop, he silently gave up.
It didn’t matter anyway. This was just a game.
The newly unlocked Qi Refinement Stage Virtual Girlfriend Shop offered a variety of items, but the prices and quality were staggering.
The Thunderfire Talisman annoyed him the most.
The discounted version was celestial-grade, but the one for purchase was common-grade. The gap was undoubtedly massive.
And the weapons? Even worse. Mortal weapons were the lowest grade. Above them were magic weapons, spirit artifacts, innate spirit treasures, and celestial weapons.
He couldn’t even imagine the astronomical prices for higher-level items.
"The developers must be crazy for money! Who would buy a ¥9,998 sword?!" Chen Huai'an sneered. Spending on anything else was borderline acceptable, but if he ever bought a weapon from this shop, he’d write his name backward!
While he was mulling over this, the in-game Li Qingran suddenly frowned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
After briefly stabilizing her turbulent Qi, she sighed in despair.
"Thanks to Senior’s help, my spiritual energy hasn’t deteriorated further. But with my dantian shattered, foundation gone, and no spiritual root, expelling the fire poison in my body is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. My cultivation speed will only worsen…"
Her situation had two potential solutions:
The former was nearly impossible since she was no longer a Qingyun Sect disciple and didn’t want to burden her acquaintances there.
The latter was dangerous but more appealing to her.
Previously, her frail body left her waiting to die in her hut. Now, even if she encountered that demonic wolf again, she could put up some resistance.
Her voice was faint, but Chen Huai'an could hear everything, even her inner monologue.
"Return to Qingyun Sect? Explore Wanqing Mountain?!" Without hesitation, Chen Huai'an opened the top-up interface.
The character was spitting blood—what was he waiting for?
Even though he knew this was the game’s money-grabbing strategy, he couldn’t control his hands.
He purchased a monthly pass immediately.
"If I don’t buy it this month, it’ll be more expensive next month. I can only comfort myself this way," he rationalized.
[Monthly Pass Purchased Successfully! Transmission and Recovery Granted Once!]
[Elixir and Spirit Stone Supplies Delivered!]
Two pouches suddenly descended onto the table with a soft thud, startling Li Qingran.
"What’s this…" Li Qingran curiously poked one of the bulging pouches, sensing the spiritual energy emanating from within. She raised her head toward the ceiling, cupping her hands in gratitude.
"Dare I ask if these pouches were dropped by Senior?"
She wasn’t surprised by the lack of response. Over time, she’d grown used to her silent benefactor.
These pouches were undoubtedly his gifts.
Having already accepted his previous help, she didn’t hesitate to open the first pouch.
With a soft rustle, a pile of spirit stones spilled out.
Li Qingran was stunned. She counted them—50 low-grade spirit stones in total.
At the Qingyun Sect, an inner disciple in the Qi Refinement Stage received 30 to 40 low-grade spirit stones per month. Foundation Establishment disciples received 60 to 100. Spirit stones were not only currency but also vital for absorbing spiritual energy, arranging formations, and refining weapons.
These 50 stones were extremely valuable.
What she didn’t know was that this was her daily allocation.
"Thank you, Senior, for these spirit stones," Li Qingran expressed her gratitude solemnly.
While 50 spirit stones might be trivial to a Nascent Soul or Fusion Realm expert, the gratitude and etiquette were non-negotiable.
Hearing her words, Chen Huai'an couldn’t help but smirk. He instinctively wanted to stroke his nonexistent beard.
Sure, the monthly pass was pricey, but wasn’t this haul a bargain?
Li Qingran then opened the second pouch, which contained a red brocade box. As soon as she held it, a medicinal fragrance wafted out.
"What a pure medicinal aroma!"
Over the years, she’d managed spiritual herbs for her senior brother and occasionally served as a test subject for pills. She’d seen her fair share of elixirs from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment.
Her senior brother, a talented alchemist, created pills so high-quality that even the Elders praised him. Yet even his pills couldn’t compare to this fragrance, always carrying a trace of impurities.
Opening the box, she found a translucent red pill gleaming like ruby, free of any blemishes.
"Great Restoration Pill, celestial-grade!"
Li Qingran gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment. The talismans were celestial-grade, and now the elixirs too? This benefactor must be a genius skilled in every craft!
The Great Restoration Pill was a common healing elixir for cultivators from Qi Refinement to Golden Core stages.
A supreme-grade pill could detoxify poisons, so a celestial-grade pill would undoubtedly eradicate her fire poison.
Both the spirit stones and the pill were exactly what she needed, as if tailored for her.
Warmth filled her heart. The only time she’d experienced such care was from her parents.
"Regardless of whether Senior likes it, I must prepare a gift for him!" Li Qingran resolved firmly.
Meanwhile, Chen Huai'an received another in-game prompt.
[Li Qingran is about to begin healing. Would you like to use your 'Transmission and Recovery' chance to personally assist her in healing? (Enhanced Effect)]
"Wait… personally?" Chen Huai'an squinted, sensing there was more to this.