[First, after players formally enter the game, the system will officially restore senses such as [Fatigue], [Hunger], [Pain], etc.]
[Second, skills are not rigid. I believe everyone has experienced this in the novice village, so proficiency will determine the damage level of player skills.]
[Third, every NPC is just like a normal person and will not respawn unless under special circumstances.]
[Fourth, please do not act recklessly, or you will be wanted.]
[Fifth, and most importantly, this game is absolutely real. You can treat it as if you’ve been reborn in another world.]
—
The above was the red bold text the system displayed in the player status bar. After reading it, Luo Taozhi was indifferent.
‘She had long known this game was no ordinary one. There was actually no need to read these; they only explained one thing.’
‘Aside from not being able to die, everything else was exactly the same as reality.’
‘Is this to make players start adapting to the merged world…’
Luo Taozhi glanced at the system panel with mixed feelings.
‘To be honest, she couldn’t imagine what kind of existence created this game.’
‘Nascent Soul? Transformation God? Crossing Tribulation?’
She had seen the Supreme Elder of the Sacred Land at the Crossing Tribulation realm take action. When she was sent back by the Heavenly Tribulation while building her Nascent Soul Dao Foundation, the Supreme Elder had intervened. That hand blotted out the sky, and the Heavenly Tribulation before that hand was like dust in the air—dispersing at the slightest touch.
Even during the process of being sent back to modern society, she had seen that hand countless times. Time, space, all concepts seemed nonexistent before that hand. Having come into contact with the Enlightenment of True Self Method, she could even sense that the hand was actually reaching out at the same moment across countless parallel timelines, trying to pull her out from within.
But as for the result… it was obvious. The Supreme Elder of the Sacred Land at the Crossing Tribulation realm had failed.
‘Then the ones who created this game seemed to be only Immortals above Crossing Tribulation, or even the legendary Dao Fusion! No… she couldn’t think about it anymore.’
Luo Taozhi shook her head and turned her gaze back to the system panel.
‘At least for now, everything the game brought was good. Since “this one” had given them resources, they just had to enjoy them. If she wanted to transcend and be free, she first had to make herself useful to those above.’
Her gaze fell on the system inventory. She still had a Golden Treasure Chest unopened. Her fingertip landed on the Golden Treasure Chest, gently tapping it open.
[Open treasure chest?]
Yes.
[Congratulations, player! You have obtained: Random Skill Book × 1]
It was a random skill book. Luo Taozhi was a bit speechless.
‘This is the third time, isn’t it? Why even call it a Golden Treasure Chest? Might as well just give her a random skill book directly!’
But complaints aside, she still had to use it.
[Use]
[Player [Xiao Taozhi] uses [Random Skill]]
[Congratulations, player! You have obtained skill [Sword Heart]]
\[Sword Heart\]
\[Passive Skill\]
\[Description: Upon use, gain a Sword Heart. (All attributes increased by 20% when wielding a longsword.)\]
It was another very strong skill. Although it wasn’t the attack method she currently lacked the most, directly increasing attributes was still good.
She used it directly, gently patting it onto herself just like before.
But what Luo Taozhi didn’t expect was that the moment she learned it, [Sword Heart] suddenly changed!
[Detected that player already has Sword Heart, &•%]
[Player *Â¥……%&……]
[Congratulations player &%] [Congratulations, player! You have obtained skill [Lucent Clarity]!!]
\[Lucent Clarity\]
\[Passive Skill\]
\[Description: Swing the sword to sever worldly ties and avoid trouble. Heart like crystal, whole body luminous and uncontaminated by dust. (All attributes increased by 50% when wielding a longsword.) (All objects will be regarded as longswords by you.)\]
After a string of garbled code and noise, the [Sword Heart] that should have appeared on Luo Taozhi turned into [Lucent Clarity].
Although Luo Taozhi didn’t understand why, since she had become stronger, that was a good thing. Dwelling on such matters wouldn’t find any answer.
The clearly strengthened attribute panel in front of her now was the best answer!
\[ID: Xiao Taozhi\]
\[Level: LV10\]
\[Class: Traveler\]
\[HP: 1800 (1000+200)\]
\[MP: 1755 (1000+170)\]
\[Mental Power: 82 (35+20)\]
\[Qi Attack: 202 (45+90)\]
\[Qi Defense: 105 (35+35)\]
\[Available Attribute Points: 0\]
\[Skills: Basic Swordplay MAX, Basic Footwork MAX, Longsword Mastery MAX, Weakness Insight MAX, Qi Gathering MAX, Critical Strike MAX, Lucent Clarity MAX\]
\[Equipped Gear: Hannya Kitetsu (Purple), Hannya Breastplate (Blue), Hannya Helmet (Blue), Wolf Tooth Necklace (Green), Wolf King Belt (Green), Wolf Skin Boots (White)\]
MAX? It seemed to be because it was a passive skill; when Luo Taozhi learned it, it immediately became MAX. She nodded. She was very satisfied with her attributes now.
—
Just as she finished everything, Luo Taozhi arrived at the largest clothing store—the one that the Immortal Cake vendor had described as “a shop in front of which there are many pretty girls in beautiful clothes.”
Indeed, just as the vendor had said. The shop entrance was crowded with young and pretty girls, their skirts swaying, laughter and chatter filling the air, making it the most eye-catching sight on the entire street.
The shop’s facade was elegant and grand, with vermilion doorframes and carved window lattices. Under the eaves hung a blue satin sign embroidered with gold thread, bearing the three gracefully written characters “Cloud Garment Pavilion.” On wooden racks and in display windows by the door, all kinds of ready-made clothes were arrayed in dazzling variety. Silks and satins shimmered with flowing colors. The skirts of ruqun were embroidered with entwined lotus and butterflies playing among flowers. Xiapei and pibo were soft and ethereal. The color schemes ranged from elegantly plain to brightly luxurious. Every piece was well-tailored and exuded a lively charm.
Those coming and going were all daughters of wealthy families or nobles in the city.
As Luo Taozhi, the only “weirdo” in the crowd, walked in, the other girls fell silent as if their mouths had been covered. The chirping discussions instantly quieted down.
Although the gear Luo Taozhi was currently wearing had decent stats—the best she could find so far—in terms of appearance… it wasn’t very pleasing. It could be said that in the eyes of these wealthy and noble girls, Luo Taozhi’s clothes were no different from those of beggars in the lower districts.
But Luo Taozhi exuded such a strong aura of authority that they couldn’t utter a single word. Even the clerk at Cloud Garment Pavilion, who was used to noble guests, didn’t dare to speak first.
“Do you have any ready-made clothes that fit me and are easy to move in? The style doesn’t matter.”
In the end, it was Luo Taozhi who spoke first, and only then did the clerk at Cloud Garment Pavilion find the courage to reply hurriedly.
“Yes, we do! This way, please! See which one you like!” The clerk stumbled away, taking on work that was not originally hers to do.
“Look over here, these are all…”
The clerk had finally mustered the courage to speak to this person, but was interrupted halfway through.
“That’s enough. I’ll take this one.”
Luo Taozhi casually picked a narrow-sleeved, form-fitting pantsuit that looked decent, abandoning cumbersome skirts for a neat and efficient style.
“How much?”
“5…5 silver!” The clerk was still a bit stuttering, but it was clear she was really trying her best. “This is already the lowest price I can offer!”