Chapter 46: No Matter What, At Least I Can Cultivate Normally Now!

[Cultivation technique reward confirmed as side quest reward. If you have any questions, please report the error log.]

Alright!
You win, System.
Even the original game is gone, leaving only this brain-damaged game interface.
Acting so lawless and unrestrained...
This system is simply not afraid of customer service, nor is it afraid of complaints!
Because there isn't even any customer service to begin with!

Ye Hui could do nothing about it.
"The greatest misfortune among misfortunes is that it was merely misappropriated rather than directly embezzled. At least I can still cultivate normally now..."
Once Ye Hui had cultivated the basic breath-gathering technique to its upper limit, his progress had basically stalled completely.
Now, having acquired the sect's foundational cultivation technique, at least the path up to the Foundation Establishment stage would be unobstructed.
He felt that this Dao Affinity Gift Bag likely contained the foundational techniques for various cultivation realms.

"If my guess is correct, when I reach higher realms later, will I end up being completely blocked by quest rewards?"
A bad premonition suddenly arose in Ye Hui's heart.
With an immortal cultivation system, he would undoubtedly act like a typical gamer, rapidly rushing his cultivation technique to the breakthrough bottleneck.
However, Tomoyo's defection quests would also inevitably become increasingly difficult!
When a person's attitude toward someone else reaches a certain stage, it usually becomes very difficult for it to change further...
Eating a dish, you find it delicious the first time, and delicious the second time.
By the third time, it might just be decent, all right...
Until finally, you grow accustomed to the taste, and that initial sense of breathtaking wonder simply vanishes!
Therefore, Ye Hui was somewhat worried.

"I hope I can trigger more quests and unlock more maps. Who knows, maybe I'll stumble upon a fortuitous encounter?"
The premise of a casual game is to use rich storylines to increase the player's game time.
In this world, mystic realms, opportunities, and fortuitous encounters were countless.
The sect's foundational technique was merely a safety net.
What player would only ever practice a single cultivation technique?
Naturally, one grinds the experience to the max and then switches to a better technique.
Ye Hui only hoped that in the future he could farm more superior cultivation techniques, or perhaps obtain the techniques for the next realm...
That way, at least he wouldn't get stuck in his quests!

...

After completing a session of cultivation, the sense of refreshing ease was indescribable.
The next day after school, Ye Hui continued his cultivation.
Suddenly, his phone rang.

"What? To provide moral support?"
Sakura pleaded over the phone, "Please~ Ye-同學, Tomoyo agreed to come with me too, and I was thinking that since we're going, we might as well all go together..."

Ghost stories?
Forest exploration?
Ye Hui had some impression; this seemed to be related to another Clow Card.
In other words, wherever a Clow Card appeared, system quests were likely to follow!
He had originally been hesitating whether to pause his cultivation and join a group of little girls on a forest exploration adventure.
Since a Clow Card was involved, Ye Hui decided to go check it out.

"Alright, setting off at four o'clock? I'll be right there!"
Ye Hui decisively agreed, prepared some talisman papers and gear, and mounted his trusty steed to set off.
Previously, after using the inventory expansion item, his system inventory capacity had doubled.
Now, he could carry even more supplies with him.
Coupled with his storage notebook, he could double that capacity once more.
Even if he encountered danger, got lost, and was trapped in the forest, the food and water he carried would last him a very long time...
When Ye Hui did things, he always preferred to be thoroughly prepared.

...

In the forest at a little past four in the afternoon.
Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled spots of golden light, while the breeze rustled the foliage, creating a soothing sound.
Ye Hui walked slowly behind the girls, accompanied by a few other elementary school students from the investigation club.
From time to time, he pushed aside obstructing twigs.
The girls chatted softly, occasionally stopping to gaze at the wild flowers by the roadside.
Naoko, who was leading the way, stepped lightly around stones as she talked about a paranormal event she had encountered previously...
That day, she had returned home late and wanted to take a shortcut, only to see a point of light in the forest behind the school.
She had thought it was a firefly.
Instead, she ended up seeing something terrifying...

Ye Hui turned his head and found that Sakura had been frightened into trembling by Naoko's simple words, causing him to pause briefly.
"Sakura, are you scared?"
"Yes!"
Sakura's eyes welled with tears; someone had finally noticed her.
Could they please stop telling ghost stories in a forest like this?!
And it was a real-life experience... it was so terrifying!
[Tomoyo Daidouji's emotional value +9]

Yet Ye Hui suddenly broke into a wide grin.
"Sakura, no matter what we encounter, we mustn't be afraid. We must face it bravely. You can do it!"
"Eh?"
Sakura froze. Were words like these of any use at a time like this?

Sakura pouted, trembling and nearly curling up into a ball.
It seemed Ye-同學 didn't understand her at all!
[Tomoyo Daidouji's emotional value +16]

It was still early.
The small forest was not yet completely plunged into darkness; instead, patches of sunlight still filtered through, making for a rather pleasant sight.
None of the elementary school students in the investigation group felt scared by Naoko's story.
Except for Sakura.

At this moment, Chiharu spoke up, "My mother's birthday is coming up soon. What do you guys think I should give her as a gift?"
Rika suggested making her a handmade dessert plate.
Chiharu pondered for a moment, then asked Sakura for her suggestion on what would be best to give for a mother's birthday.
As soon as she finished speaking, however, she blinked and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.
She had momentarily forgotten that Sakura's mother had passed away!
Discussing this topic with Sakura and pressing her for answers was terribly impolite!

Sakura snapped out of her daze, blinked, and then waved her hands with a smile, saying to everyone, "Ah, don't worry about it! I'm fine. I think a bouquet of flowers would be nice; I've always wanted to give my mom a bouquet of cherry blossoms."
Chiharu nodded awkwardly, "That's a great suggestion. I'll give it serious consideration."

As time passed, the surroundings grew increasingly quiet.
Ye Hui checked his map.
This area was still an unlocked region, so no secret routes were visible.
It was hard to imagine that the elementary school students at their school sometimes took this grove of trees to walk home.
This was considered the back mountain of the school; though called a small grove, it actually spanned a vast and continuous area.
In his past life, a forest this large would likely have been bulldozed long ago, and a group of elementary school students would never have been allowed to walk through it.
It was simply too dangerous.

Ye Hui suddenly felt a surge of mischief and spoke in a low, eerie tone.
"Have you guys ever heard the legend about walking through the forest at night?"
Tomoyo blinked her dark purple eyes and played along, "What legend?"
"It's said that if a group of people go out to play in the mountain forest, they must constantly keep count of their heads. Otherwise, before you even realize it, an extra person might suddenly appear in the group..."
"Ah? What? Where did an extra person come from?!"
Sakura's eyes widened in fright, and she let out a shriek.
[Tomoyo Daidouji's emotional value +24]

Seeing this, Tomoyo quickly embraced Sakura's shoulders.
The latter instinctively burrowed straight into her arms.
Tomoyo gently patted Sakura's back, then shot a sideways glance at Ye Hui.