CHAPTER 8: QI YUAN'S ONLINE FRIEND

Qi Yuan held onto the vegetable knife as he strolled through the Divine Radiance Sect. Along the way, he could hear laughter and the occasional whisper between couples. What a harmonious world of cultivation!

He gazed up at the sky and muttered, "Time to head back to the peak."

Since it was still early, he could play another game on the gaming jade before turning in.

By the time he returned to the Seven-Colored Peak, night had already fallen. At the mountaintop, a half crescent moon shone above a white jade palace. Through the veil of night, a faint and graceful silhouette emerged, bathed in cold moonlight. It vanished after a brief glance in Qi Yuan’s direction.

He averted his gaze, glancing at the straw hut Jiang Lingsu had built. A thought rose in his heart. If I had these Stabilizing Talismans back on Blue Planet, houses wouldn't collapse during earthquakes.

Sighing softly, he returned to his little hut with his knife. His courtyard was empty and quiet save for the sound of his footsteps.

He unfastened the rope from the leash. “We’re home. No need to tie you up anymore. As long as you don’t wreck the place, no one’s going to beat you.”

As he spoke, he brushed his fingers over a small chip in the blade, slipping into the world within the gaming jade slip.

Then, he froze. "She's online?"

When Qi Yuan first obtained the gaming jade slip, he’d treated it like a game console. [1] Back then, the game map hadn’t been unlocked yet, and he somehow managed to add a friend to his list.

He assumed she was just another gamer. Since falling sick, he had lived in solitude, with no one to talk to except this in-game friend. They often chatted about everything under the sun, with Qi Yuan as the listener most of the time. However, he couldn’t help but notice that the gamer’s words were a little strange. She’d occasionally mention Imperial Guards and Grand Chancellor.

If he had to guess, she was likely a rich heiress who had inherited her family’s business but had yet to fully take control of it.

After chatting a lot, Qi Yuan suggested, “Let’s team up in a game.”

Unfortunately, his friend list disappeared after the game map was refreshed. He never saw her again, much less teamed up.

Since he’d transmigrated into a cultivation world, there was a chance she wasn’t even online anymore. Seeing her reappear in his friend list, he hesitated before sending a message.

Qi Yuan: You there?

***

Mist filled the air as the ink painting on the screen blurred with streaks of fine, elongated lines.

"Leave," someone said in a cold, commanding voice that echoed through.

The servant girls, dressed in court attire, bowed their heads and silently withdrew. Only after they left did the Empress of the Southern Qian Empire show a trace of weariness on her stunning face.

Ten years ago, the Demon Race invaded, and the emperor—her father—fell in battle. She ascended the throne at the age of seven, the weight of the vast empire resting entirely on her small shoulders. For a decade, she’d struggled with enemy nations eyeing her lands, demons attacking from beyond, and treacherous ministers undermining her from within.

Though she was barely holding the kingdom together, her burden grew heavier with each passing day. A single misstep could cost her life. Lately, Chancellor Sima Ting no longer bothered to hide his collusion with the Northern Khan Court, making her situation even more precarious.

Just three days ago, her most reliable and trusted protector, Aunt Qin, was ambushed by a group of black-clad assassins. Despite being a King realm cultivator, she was still gravely wounded in the attack.

No matter how well the attackers had concealed their origins, everyone in court knew exactly who had sent them. And yet, there was nothing she could do, leaving her with a bitter, helpless feeling.

The empress stood before the screen, clad in a refined, pale blue gown embroidered with golden phoenixes at the hem. She loosened the white jade belt around her slender waist, revealing flawless skin that glowed like polished jade. Though still young, her figure was perfect and graceful, her delicate waist accentuating her elegant curves.

She stepped into the bath, her snowy shoulders glistening just above the water’s surface. Her skin shimmered like fine porcelain through the steaming water.

Closing her eyes, she felt her weariness gradually dissipate.

Just then, a flash of red light flared across the desk.

A glimmer of delight sparkled in Jin Li's eyes. "Qi Yuan?"

Lying on the table was a rare treasure, Linglong Xi Jade, a legendary twin artifact. It was said that whoever held one could communicate with the bearer of the other, no matter the distance between them. Such treasures were famed in ancient times, but in this age, long-distance communication talismans were commonplace. As such, the Linglong Xi Jade lost most of its value and ended up in the Imperial Treasury.

A year ago, Jin Li had casually taken one out while visiting the treasury, meeting an interesting person as a result. His name was Qi Yuan. His stories were fantastical, filled with strange things she didn't understand.

Since they didn't know each other and seemed to be separated by mountains and seas, she felt free to pour out her heart. After all, as an empress, she couldn’t afford to show weaknesses to her surroundings.

Unfortunately, half a year ago, Qi Yuan disappeared without a word. She’d felt a little anxious and lost at the time. Seeing him again now, she felt a weight lifted from her chest.

Clutching the Linglong Xi Jade tightly, she wasted no time to reply to his message.

Jin Li: I’m here.

After sending it, she thought for a moment and followed up.

Jin Li: You’ve been gone for a while. Where did you go?

Qi Yuan: I was going to invite you to grind monsters last time, but then I suddenly entered the game map. I couldn’t contact you at all.

Jin Li: Isn’t that place really dangerous?

She pictured Qi Yuan as a carefree monster hunter, where his talk of ‘grinding monsters’ and ‘game maps’ really meant fighting demon beasts.

On the other side, Qi Yuan shrugged.

Qi Yuan: We players are the fourth calamity. How dangerous can it be? Those monsters are just our XP bags.

His familiar tone made her feel at ease. No matter how nonsensical his words were, she felt at peace whenever they chatted.

Qi Yuan: While you were away, I spent six months grinding monsters solo to finish the quest. Want to team up? It’s less tiring with a male-female duo. I bet we’d hit level 100 in no time.

Jin Li: Things are hectic at home right now, I can't leave.

Qi Yuan: Too busy to even play games? Geez, you rich heiresses, so hard-working. What are we poor folks supposed to do?

Jin Li couldn't help but smile.

Qi Yuan: Wanna come help me grind monsters now? I just switched to a new map, there are tons of mobs here.

Qi Yuan: I need your help, Beauty Jin.

Seeing his light-hearted reply, Jin Li knew he wasn't in danger. A smile tugged at her lips.

Jin Li: I'm not free right now.

Qi Yuan: What are you doing? Don't tell me...overtime work?

Jin Li: I'm...

After hesitating, she finally typed it out.

Jin Li: Bathing.

Qi Yuan paused upon seeing this. His expression remained calm as he began typing.

Qi Yuan: How about we team up after your bath?

Jin Li smiled wryly on the other end.

Jin Li: I can’t make it.

Just then, a thought occurred to her.

Jin Li: Where are you now?

Qi Yuan gave a truthful reply.

Qi Yuan: I was at the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone. Now I’m headed toward the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone.

He was at the game’s teleportation portal, preparing to head to the next map.

Jin Li gasped.

Jin Li: Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone? Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone?

Aren’t those two of the Four Great Forbidden Zones?! Rumor has it that even King realm cultivators will be slaughtered if they enter, and even Emperor realm cultivators risked being killed there. Wait... no. Even Emperor realm cultivators can't enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone...

1. The MC has an abnormal thought process, abnormal behavior, and is mentally unstable. ☜