"What's wrong, Brother Yuan?" Xiao Hua asked him who looked dazed while staring at the sky.

"Oh, the announcement…" He pointed to the words in the sky.

"I don't see anything, though?" She said.

"Hm? You cannot see the words in the sky?"

She shakes her head, prompting Yuan to ponder. "Perhaps NPCs cannot see it?"

—

—

—

"Xiao Hua, what is Qi?" Yuan decided to ask her, who he considers is an expert despite her young age.

"Qi is the essence of this world, it is what people use to cultivate."

"Cultivate, huh. That old man had said the same… Let me try this…" he closed his eyes and positioned himself to sit in the lotus position before activating the skill.

Ding!

His Qi Experience increased by 5 for every second he cultivated. Additionally, when he activated the Consuming Heaven Technique, his breathing naturally became calm and rhythmic, and his entire body felt refreshed, as though it was breathing through every existing pore.

Within just a few minutes, Yuan suddenly felt his entire body explode with a cool feeling like he had been thrown into a pool of cool water on a hot day.

"All I have to do is sit here and cultivate to grow stronger in this game? How boring!" Yuan ignorantly thought to himself. "But it does feel pleasant."

—

Name: Yuan

Cultivation: First Level Spirit Apprentice

Legacy: None

Bloodline: None

Physique: Heaven Refining Physique

Physical Strength: 134

Mental Strength: 375

Soul Strength: 1,310

Physical Defense: 110

Mental Defense: 1,221

—

"Congratulations on becoming a cultivator, Brother Yuan." Xiao Hua said to him with a smile.

"It is all because of you, Xiao Hua. You have my gratitude."

"Then let's continue to play!" She stood up with the ball already in her hands, ready to be thrown.

Yuan smiled bitterly, but he didn't refuse and continued to play with her.

Surprising, when he stood up, all the fatigue he had just moments ago were gone; he had fully recovered the moment he became a cultivator.

The two began playing again, but the speed the ball was being thrown seemed to be at a much faster pace than previously.

—

Meanwhile, the world was in turmoil from the game's first world announcement.

Rich and powerful companies in the real world began looking into this player named Yuan with hopes to find his real identity. However, it was a near-impossible task due to the way the game handled the players' privacy.

Unlike other games where one can see the players' name at glance, Cultivation Online did not have that feature. Unless the individual allows it, nobody would be able to see their name, not even their friends.

After spending many resources and time into looking for Yuan, people quickly came to a realization that unless Yuan willingly reveals himself, his identity would remain unknown forever. But that alone was not enough to force these people into giving up on trying to find him.

The internet, game forums, even newspapers, people began offering real money for information on Yuan, even outright paying thousands for the person himself to reveal himself.

Virtual reality has become so deeply involved in the real world that it would not be an exaggeration to say that professional gamers and top rankers have more fame and respect than even top celebrities.

Some professional gamers, in fact, earn seven digits every month just from advertisements alone!

In fact, many casual gamers earn more than the majority just by selling in-game items for real money!

With so much advertisement and appeal, it would only be obvious for people to want to become a gamer where they can have fun and earn money instead of choosing work that involves labor.

Furthermore, according to last year's gaming report, at least half of the world's population is a virtual gamer!

—

After throwing the ball for a few hours without breaking a sweat, Yuan suddenly stops.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling tired again?" Xiao Hua asked him.

"My sister is calling for me; it is time for dinner," he said.

"You are going to leave?" Her expression instantly turns gloomy upon hearing his words, feeling reluctant to let him leave. She was afraid that he wouldn't come back if he left.

"Don't leave Xiao Hua alone!" She hurriedly said.

Yuan patted her head with a smile. "I will be back to play with you later, I promise."

"...You promise?"

"If I break my promise, then I shall swallow ten thousand needles!" He swore clearly in a loud voice.

"Okay… then Xiao Hua will wait for Brother Yuan here." She took a seat by the same tree and closed her eyes to rest.

"Log off!"

Yuan's vision blurred, and the warmth in his limbs gradually disappeared. Darkness surrounded his view, and he could no longer see.

—

"Brother, how was the game?" His sister's voice resounded beside him.

"It was… fun." He showed a gentle smile, but deep inside, he felt reluctant to leave that bright world.

"What's for dinner today?" He asks her despite already knowing the answer.

"Chicken soup!"

Yuan smiles bitterly. He has been eating soup for the past year, after all.

"Here, let me help you up." She takes off the helmet on his head before lifting his head and adjusting his body to a sitting position.

She begins feeding him warm soup with a spoon soon later. "How is the temperature?"

"Perfect…"

The room became quiet with Yuan drinking soup being the only sound that could be heard.

After Yuan finishes dinner that was only one large bowl of soup, she lays him back down. "I will be right back for your cleaning," she said.

Moments later, she returns to the room with a towel, bucket of warm water, and new clothes.

"Excuse me, brother." She said before stripping him completely naked.

"...Yuehai…"

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry…"

"..."

The room instantly turns silent.

"What are you saying now? You are being weird, brother," she chuckled, breaking the silence.

"I know, but I am — Mmm?!" His words were interrupted by a finger pressing down on his lips.

"You don't have to worry about me, brother. When you cure your illness one day, then you can pay me back."

"...Un…" An indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.

"Okay! You are all clean now, brother! Even your precious thing! Hehe..." Teased Yuehai with a sheepish laugh.

"Ah! You little! Don't play around with my body because I can't feel anything!"

"Eh? What are you talking about? I definitely did not touch anything!"

"You definitely did!"

Laughter filled the room.

"Yuehai, thank you." Yuan suddenly said, "I will repay you one day, this I promise…"

Putting his clothes on for him, Yuehai smiled, "I won't be humble when that time comes."

—

"Alright brother, we are done for tonight. I will be back in the morning."

"Ah, can you put the helmet back on before you leave?"

"You want to continue playing? What about sleep?"

"I don't think I can sleep tonight, and playing the game is already considered sleeping, you know?"

"What am I going to do with you if you get addicted? Only tonight, okay?"

"Un."

—

"Brother Yuan, you're really back!" Xiao Hua instantly stood up with a happy expression upon seeing him appear out of nowhere like a ghost.

"I did make a promise," he patted her, who was poking her head at him with clear indications, "What do you want to do now that the stars are already out?"

"Play games!" She answered without hesitation.

"I figured." He smiled.