Chapter 2 | Cultivating Through a Game, Becoming Unstoppable

“An in-game NPC actually asking what an ‘NPC’ is? Isn't this reaction a bit too smart?”

In the Nan family's house, the dark and sturdy young girl stood still.

Outside the game screen, the young girl holding the tablet looked stunned.

Nan Zhi had always loved playing games.

Whether it was single-player, multiplayer, role-playing, story-driven strategy, adventure farming, action puzzle-solving, or even some niche horror-mystery games, she had dabbled in them all.

This single-player game, 《Path to Immortality》, was something she had accidentally purchased after misclicking in the app store.

—The publisher was a small company called “Honghe Entertainment.” It wasn't very well-known, and the game's download count was pitifully low.

With the mindset of “since I already bought it, not playing would be a waste,” Nan Zhi opened this single-player game, which had an incredibly simple interface.

But as soon as she entered the game, she was completely hooked.

The character sharing her name, “Nan Zhi,” stood in place, surrounded by a highly realistic bedroom of a young woman.

Rotating the camera angle, everything around her seemed exceptionally real:

The plain bed curtain hanging from the corner of the bed bore fine needlework where it had been mended—a thin line that looked like a tender willow branch wrapping around it.

The tea set on the table had simple colors and clear textures, and even the chip on the spout was clearly visible.

The table, chairs, and benches were covered in marks left by time. The scratches were clear, and upon closer inspection, one could even discern their varying depths.

There was an apricot tree outside the window. It was currently the height of early spring, and the apricot blossoms were in full bloom. Whenever the wind blew, the pinkish-white blossoms fell to the ground with a soft rustling sound.

As the wind rustled the trees and the clouds rolled by, the scenery outside the window felt exceptionally vivid.

“Hiss... this lighting, this background realism, I hit the jackpot!”

Nan Zhi excitedly licked her lips. “Real-time dialogue with the player, and the NPCs can react accordingly based on different player answers. This game is amazing!”

She tapped the little figure on the screen, and the character bearing the name 【Nan Zhi】 moved two steps forward:

【Cultivator: Nan Zhi】

【Bone Age: 18】

【Cultivation: Mortal】

【Level: 1】

【Constitution: 3 (+1+1) (Congratulations, you might be slightly stronger than a stray dog)】

【Combat Power: 1 (+1) (You can't even beat the wild fox next door)】

【Reputation: 5 (+2) (As a simpleton, you are slightly famous)】

【Planting: 1 (You can tell wheat apart from chives)】

【Gathering: 1 (A meaningless stat)】

【Currently Equipped: “Butcher’s Daughter” (Constitution +1, Reputation +2, Deterrence to Beasts +1), “Rusty Knife” (Combat Power +1, Constitution +1)】

In the upper right corner of the screen was the player's avatar, and to its right was a health bar representing the player's HP: 【100】

The stat panel was outrageously simple.

Nan Zhi strongly suspected the programmers of cutting corners.

But with this ultra-high-definition graphic quality, she estimated that the game company had poured all their funds into the art department.

Nan Zhi completely forgot that she had spent eighteen minutes choosing her identity before entering the game.

She tapped the character's avatar. The skill trees representing combat, meditation, spirit herb planting, alchemy, artifact crafting, and talisman drawing were completely grayed out.

【Friendly Reminder: This game offers 100% freedom, featuring thousands of gameplay styles, including adventure, dress-up, simulation, nurturing, romance, farming, puzzle-solving, strategy, combat, action, and more.

Cultivators must explore on their own to increase various stats.

We wish you an early entry into the path of immortality and success in your cultivation!】

“This is so hardcore? They could have at least given me a basic cultivation method! Or at least let a cultivation sect fall from the sky to test my spirit roots and recruit me like in web novels!”

Nan Zhi couldn't help but complain.

—But wasn't this game a bit too realistic and free?

Let alone leveling up, she hadn't even managed to step out of this room over the past three days.

Whenever she approached the wooden door, an NPC would step forward to stop her.

【Chen Jingui: “Eldest Daughter, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Be good and stay in your room these few days. Just tell me whatever you want to eat or drink.”】

【Nan Ye: “Eldest Sister, Mother said your body hasn't recovered yet, so you can't go out.” / “Eldest Sister, stay here and be good, I'll buy you some sweetened lotus seeds to eat.”】

【Nan Dazhuang: “What does my eldest daughter want to eat? Dad will go buy it for you.”】

After trying acting cute, reasoning, and playing dumb, she still hadn't succeeded in leaving this room.

Nan Zhi had even tried to manipulate her character to squeeze between the NPCs and the door, attempting to exploit a bug to slip out.

—Although she succeeded once, she was ultimately caught and brought back by Nan Dazhuang.

Three points! Her Constitution was only three points!

Even with the 【Butcher’s Daughter】 title equipped, it was barely four points!

Is this how one cultivates?

Where were her cool skills and special effects?

Where was the spirit root testing, the sect grand selection, and the apprenticeship process that were absolute staples of cultivation novels?!

She was beginning to suspect that this entire game only had this one well-drawn map, and once she went outside, it might all turn into pixel art.

Complaints aside, Nan Zhi still diligently logged on every day for the past three days to interact with the NPCs and chat to boost their Favorability.

She had rummaged through every single corner of the room, not even sparing the wild flowers on the table.

Like any open-world exploration game, after knocking over the water jar, wooden chest, and table, Nan Zhi had found quite a few items:

【hemostatic grass*5: Average quality hemostatic grass. Restores 5 HP upon use】

【Yin Niangzi Brand Stinky Tofu*10: Liu'er's favorite, incredibly smelly. Increases cultivation by 10 points upon consumption. Extremely effective when used on certain specific targets.】

【Severed Rat Tail*1: This is a rat tail】

【Sweet Steamed Bun*5: Delicious sweet steamed bun. Increases satiety by 1 point upon consumption】

【Rusty Knife: Constitution +1, Combat Power +1】

“But the broken items actually don't respawn? Did the developers really have to be this ruthless?”

Nan Zhi muttered to herself as she looked at her room, which looked as if a swarm of locusts had just swept through:

“The path to repeatedly farming items is cut off. I also have to be careful not to let rummaging through chests affect the NPCs' Favorability.”

This game was truly realistic to a fault.

Every single move Nan Zhi made would trigger a reaction from the NPCs.

【Nan Ye】 would initiate chats with the player, 【Nan Dazhuang】 would buy snacks for the player, and 【Chen Jingui】 would even seek out a physician to treat her illness.

On the panel representing NPC Favorability, 【Chen Jingui】 and 【Nan Dazhuang】 both had nine hearts of favorability, labeled “Loving Mother” and “Loving Father,” while 【Nan Ye】 had eight hearts, labeled “Deep Sisterly Affection.”

There was also the character 【Nan Yi】, who only existed in dialogue, whose Favorability toward the player was actually at a full ten hearts.

This was exceptionally bizarre.

“This game is too realistic. Even background NPCs have a Favorability system? But why is only 【Nan Yi】 at full favorability? Is there a hidden quest?”

Nan Zhi manipulated her character to wander around the room. Through the window, she could see Chen Jingui cooking in the yard.

As Nan Ye passed by carrying a bucket of water, she saw her eldest sister standing in front of the window. Even though there was no expression on her face, Nan Ye somehow managed to sense a hint of pitifulness in her.

—The water jar at home had just been smashed by her eldest sister a few days ago, and they hadn't had the time to buy a new one yet.

“Mom, why don't we let Eldest Sister come out and walk around? Didn't the physician say that for Eldest Sister's illness, interacting with more people would help her recover faster?”

Nan Ye stole another glance and couldn't help but advise Chen Jingui:

“Eldest Sister is doing much better now. It's not right to keep her locked up in her room all day.”

Chen Jingui's movements came to a halt. She hesitated and said, “That makes sense... How about we take her out for a stroll?”

She was just afraid that her eldest daughter would revert to how she was before—stiff and silent, like a dead wooden post.

“I think Eldest Sister's illness is almost completely cured. Although she still doesn't recognize people, we can teach her slowly. It's much better than before anyway.”

Nan Ye said seriously, “Just make sure you don't treat Eldest Sister like a child, Mom. Otherwise, even a healthy person would fall ill from being cooped up.”