Chapter 24 - 24: 024, [What does cultivation feel like]
Lu Xun was a bit disappointed that his second elder sister did not look like a
cute girl.
Instead, she had a cold demeanor akin to the vibes of a big sister, seeming to clash a bit with her cute name, Gu Xiaoman.
He had a feeling she might be a formidable character who would ruthlessly slaughter gamers in later stages.
Lu Xun glanced at the Qi Consumption Technique in his hands, feeling touched. Indeed, this gift was fitting for someone just stepping into the world of cultivation, but to him… it wasn’t that useful.
All he needed was to accumulate experience points and level up. This Qi
Consumption Technique, densely annotated, was more suitable for Ji Li.
However, this was the goodwill from his second elder sister. Lu Xun couldn’t bear to ask for another gifted item… although he really wanted to.
—But he could have the nerve to ask from Mao Nanbei.
The second elder sister has given hers, shouldn’t you, who also are an elder sister, give something as well?
Being stared at by him, Mao Nanbei felt goosebumps and finally gritted her teeth, tossing him a storage ring.
“[You have obtained a yellow storage ring. Would you like to put it on? Wearing it will increase your backpack space by +30.]”
This was something Lu Xun could actually use, saving him a lot of trouble daily.
“Ah, it’s not that I’m thrifty, your cultivation base is too low, a magic artifact suits you better, using a spiritual artifact would be too burdensome for now, just use this,” Mao Nanbei said.
What she said indeed made sense. In Heavenly Dust, the equipment didn’t have a level limitation, but if your level was too low, putting on the equipment wouldn’t unleash its potential, making it useless.
Standing aside, Ji Li was clearly envious, but she was more genuinely happy for
Lu Xun.
Previously she had been worried that Lu Xun’s poor qualifications would make him bullied in the Demon Sect, but it seemed like she didn’t need to worry about it anymore.
The second elder sister seemed not wanting to chitchat much, waving her hand to signal that everyone could leave.
On the way back, Lu Xun ruminated, “Second elder sister doesn’t seem to like talking. ”
More precisely, she hadn’t said a word, which was a bit weird.
Could she be a mute?
However, he was pleased to have received two gifts tonight, a smile unbiddenly surfaced on his face.
Lu Xun glanced at Ji Li, under the dim light of fireflies, found her smiling wider than himself.
Seeing her silly look, Lu Xun reached out his hand and flicked her head without any reason.
“Why did you flick me?” Ji Li covered her forehead, her eyes wide open.
“The Young Elder flicks if he wants to flick, why ask so many questions?” Lu Xun said.
He wasn’t going to admit he felt that her soft peach-like head was addictive to touch, compelling him to feel it more.
Yet, right after the words left his lips, his own forehead was also flicked. The one who did it was Mao Nanbei.
“So, it’s alright for me to flick you, right?” Mao Nanbei was grinning broadly, standing up for Ji Li, a look of ‘I’m the big sister’ on her face.
Lu Xun was speechless. He secretly fantasized about the day when his cultivation base would greatly increase and he could lay Mao NanBei across his knees, ruffling her hair and cat ears with one hand and spank her cute little behind with the other!
Nevertheless, this little interlude lightened the mood and the journey back was filled with laughter.
The usually quiet mountains felt more lively, and even the nearby fireflies seemed to fly more enthusiastically.
It wasn’t until they reached the Small Study that Ji Li paused and thought, “What am I following them back for?”
Her task was to take care of Lu Xun, now that he was awake, her task was completed.
The Small Study was where the master and elders live. Were they going to set up a guest room for her?
She did have some secret longing towards Lu Xun, but her courage fell short. If Lu Xun invited her to spend the night in his room again, she would be willing, but it depended on whether Lu Xun would invite her.
Lu Xun looked at her and smiled. He was too lazy to tease her again and asked Mao Nanbei, “Fourth elder sister, can I lend the Qi Consumption Technique book that the second sister gave me to Ji Li to read?”
Mao Nanbei casually waved her hand and said, “It’s already your possession after the Second Elder Sister gave it to you. Manage as you please.”
After saying this, she went inside, it was not clear whether she was going back to sleep or to cultivate.
On the other hand, Ji Li was slightly stunned to hear this.
Ordinary people, after getting such a treasure, even if they were willing to lend it, wouldn’t they first study it themselves? Yet, Lu Xun had thought of her first, which warmed her heart.
Of course, she had no idea that this book was a bit redundant to Lu Xun, and if it hadn’t been a gift from the second elder sister, he might have even auctioned it off at the Outer Sect…
However, he needed to keep up appearances. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain how he learned the technique without even going through the Qi Consumption Technique once. Even so, he mustered the courage to read it.
“Come in,” Lu Xun said to Ji Li as he walked into the room.
Ji Li followed him in without any hesitation.
It’s late at night, and Ji Li can’t fly yet. Making her trek down the mountain again would be too exhausting.
Once inside, Lu Xun asked her to begin her practice, while he pretended to read the Qi Consumption Technique.
Truthfully speaking, as someone who used to game and now has transmigrated, he was quite curious about cultivation methods.
Normally, cultivation methods would seem cryptic at first glance, but his reading was smooth as if everything was already known to him.
He couldn’t help but admit, apart from being thin, the handwriting of the second elder sister was indeed beautiful.
After finishing the whole book, he handed it to Ji Li.
“Won’t you read it a few more times? You don’t have to give it to me in such a hurry,” Ji Li hastily rejected.
In her view, Lu Xun, with his poor talents, would treasure this book, consulting it from time to time.
“No need,” Lu Xun responded, adding, “Your head might be dull, but I’m different. I have a photographic memory.”
Ji Li was skeptical, to which Lu Xun retorted, “Then ask me anything, we’ll see if I really do remember.”
Ji Li asked several places and Lu Xun answered all correctly.
Of course, she didn’t know that the game system had already recorded all the content of the Qi Consumption Technique, including the second elder sister’s annotations, in the List of Cultivation Techniques. The entire content was accessible by clicking the ‘Details’ button.
“A…amazing!” Ji Li admitted in her mind.
Then, Lu Xun watched, completely bewildered, as Ji Li’s Favorability Number shot up: [+1…+1…+1…]
He couldn’t help sighing inwardly: “This silly girl’s favorability is too easy to build up.”
It couldn’t be helped; handsome men often seemed more eye-catching even when they boast.
Now, he could finally level up honestly. As long as he gently clicked on the ‘Upgrade’ button, he would reach the first level of the Qi Consumption Technique.
However, before that, he wanted to try and see what it felt like to cultivate on his own.
When he used to read web novels, after the protagonists began their cultivation journey, they would experience transformations, losing all their impurities, becoming tall, handsome, strong and smart. Even the process of cultivation was described as very satisfying, often ending with feeling refreshed and expelling a mouthful of stale air.
That… sounded pretty good.
So… should he give it a go?