The Unknown Territory

After finishing a late-night barbecue with Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke, it was already past one or two in the morning.

On the way home, Ye Chuan noticed Bai Qianshuang’s gaze lingering on the surrounding night scenery, her eyes carrying an unreadable emotion.

Seeing this, Ye Chuan couldn’t help but ask, “Homesick?”

Bai Qianshuang gave him a deep look before shaking her head. “Yes and no.”

She wanted to avenge her mother and her master, but it wasn’t as if she truly missed that world of deceit and schemes. On the contrary, she greatly preferred the peaceful atmosphere here.

There was delicious food, fun things to do, good drinks, and—most importantly—delicious food.

Yes, the most important thing was the delicious food.

Bai Qianshuang withdrew her gaze and moved a little closer to Ye Chuan. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, her delicate features took on a fragile quality as her eyelashes fluttered slightly. She voiced the question weighing on her heart:

“Ye Chuan… if I stayed here forever, would you let me stay by your side?”

Bai Qianshuang didn’t know whether Ye Chuan had taken her in on a whim or out of curiosity about immortals. In this unfamiliar world, she couldn’t shake the lack of security.

She didn’t belong here. She didn’t understand the culture, nor did she feel any sense of belonging.

“Of course. I’ll teach you everything—no need to worry. I need you.” Ye Chuan smiled warmly, his tone softening with sincerity as he spoke those last words.

He was just short of adding, You’re my precious money tree.

Bai Qianshuang froze for a moment before slowly lowering her head, her long bangs obscuring her expression.

Ye Chuan only heard a soft, barely audible “Mm,” carrying a hint of bashfulness before it dissolved into the night breeze.

Ye Chuan chuckled to himself.

He could feel his phone vibrating—Bai Qianshuang’s affection level must have risen again. Now that’s my precious money tree.

“Hey, hey, hey! I’m still here, you know?” Lan Xiaoke interjected, feeling a little left out after listening to their exchange.

Had they forgotten about her?

Was she not human? Wait, was she even human?

Oh, right. She wasn’t.

“Even if I’m a ghost, you can’t just ignore me like this!” Lan Xiaoke grumbled, floating around Ye Chuan in circles.

Even ghosts couldn’t stand being given the cold shoulder.

Seeing the white-haired, big-boobed ghost throwing a childish tantrum, Ye Chuan couldn’t resist teasing her. “Aren’t you a bit old to be acting like this?”

“I died when I was eighteen!” Lan Xiaoke huffed, indignant at being called old. She had been a youthful beauty when she passed, and her appearance hadn’t changed since.

As Lan Xiaoke continued her dramatic whining, Ye Chuan waved her off. “Alright, stop screeching in my ear, or I’ll pinch those big melons of yours until they swell.”

Hearing this, Lan Xiaoke immediately quieted down, muttering under her breath as she eyed Ye Chuan’s claw-like hand gesture.

Fine, fine. Being a ghost clearly meant having no rights.

Once they got home, Bai Qianshuang and Lan Xiaoke retreated to their rooms to rest.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuan checked his bank balance—since it was past midnight, his daily 5,000 yuan had been deposited.

Moreover, Bai Qianshuang’s affection had increased again, likely due to their conversation on the way home, and he had also completed the last beginner quest.

[Daily Income Generated: 4,000 → 8,000, with a high chance of obtaining cultivation-related items.]

[Obtained: Divine Ability Upgrade Card]

[Main Quest: Raise one tenant’s affection to the maximum level.]

Huh?

It doubled?

This is amazing!

Seeing his money tree’s output double, Ye Chuan quickly did the math—9,000 a day meant over 270,000 in a month.

Compared to Bai Qianshuang’s earnings, Lan Xiaoke’s measly 1,000 seemed pitiful. But then again, she was just a ghost who had choked to death on instant noodles—her prestige was nowhere near Bai Qianshuang’s, a reincarnated Great Emperor.

Still, the system claimed Lan Xiaoke had high growth potential, so she might still be useful.

Setting aside the income for now, Ye Chuan turned his attention to the new item in his inventory.

[Item: Divine Ability Upgrade Card

Upgrades one divine ability, regardless of quality.]

Oh?

Ye Chuan stroked his chin. Does this mean I can upgrade my Shadow Clone?

One Qi Avatar was a high-grade divine ability, and he was curious about its upgraded effects, so he used the card immediately.

[Upgrade successful. Obtained: One Qi Avatar (Supreme Grade)]

[Divine Ability: One Qi Avatar

Supreme Grade

Creates a doppelgänger with 80% of the user’s power in spells and techniques.

Slain enemies can be stored as permanent clones, their strength influenced by their original power.]

Huh?

Killed targets can be stored as clones?

Ye Chuan rubbed his chin. This ability is pretty interesting. Does this mean I can build an army of minions?

But where would I even find targets?

As he pondered, a thought struck him—

Adventure Mode!

Right, he could recruit followers from there.

Just as he considered this, he remembered his adventure attempts had refreshed, so he immediately opened the interface.

This time, instead of auto-clearing, he chose to adventure manually.

[Adventure Begins]

[You survived the first day. This is an unknown city ruin—barren, littered with monster carcasses, and devoid of any other discoveries. You choose…]

[1. Leave this place]

[2. Continue searching]

So this was where I was on the first day?

Ye Chuan thought back. No wonder auto-clearing only gave me some random junk and that ring with the old man inside.

The ring’s spirit required 200,000 to awaken. Ye Chuan had earned a fair amount from Qiao Xin, and now that he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he could afford to summon it.

Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that every penny he earned ended up being devoured by the system.

But since it gave decent rewards in return, he couldn’t bring himself to resent it.

Shaking off the thought, Ye Chuan continued adventuring—

[You choose to search the city ruins.]

[The dilapidated modern-style buildings feel oddly familiar. Beneath a crumbling structure, you find a broken stone tablet engraved with the words: “2099. They…” The rest is illegible. You choose…]

[1. Keep searching]

[2. Leave]

Ye Chuan frowned at the text.

What does this mean? Why is there a “2099” on the Tianxuan Continent? Isn’t this supposed to be another world?

Or does the Tianxuan Continent also use the Gregorian calendar?

Puzzled, he opted to keep searching.

[You scour the area, finding shattered glass, broken sculptures… but then a strange noise comes from behind you. The moment you turn around, an unknown monster tears you apart.]

[You have died.]

[Adventure concluded. Items retrieved: 0.]