Chapter Seventy: Could He Be Planning to Take It by Force?

007 addressed the host, who had always behaved obediently and sensible in this round: [Isn’t that right, dear host?]

Xu Nuo agreed, “You’re right, Little Seven. We can’t always be fighting and killing; that’s not good, it’s the way of brutes.”

007 felt comforted—wonderful! It had always known its host was a good, obedient child, only led astray by that group of unscrupulous onlookers. If it worked a bit harder, maybe it could guide its host back to the right path.

Next, under their watchful eyes, Xu Nuo dug up a second bamboo shoot. Though they still felt dismissive, when she found a third, disbelief flickered in their eyes; by the fourth, someone had already approached her to ask for guidance… By the ninth, a crowd of curious disciples had gathered around her, and when she unearthed her tenth, a senior sister finally couldn’t hold back.

“Miss Xu, how did you manage to find so many shoots?”

The disciples chimed in, “Yes, Miss Xu, how can you tell where the shoots are?”

“Could you share your experience with us?”

Where at first most of them had looked on with derision, now they were filled with genuine eagerness to learn.

It was no small matter—these purple bamboo shoots were incredibly precious. Only a few major sects in the entire cultivation world possessed purple bamboo groves, as their spiritual demands were extraordinarily high and could not be supported by ordinary sects. The shoots could be used in alchemy, medicine, and artifact refinement; they were rare treasures.

Xu Nuo finally spoke, “I can’t really say I have any experience. It must just be good luck.”

The senior sister nearly laughed in exasperation—luck? Such arrogance! This mortal must be hiding some spiritual tool for finding purple bamboo shoots, otherwise, how could she, a mere mortal, locate and dig them up?

But this mortal had only entered the sect a day ago, and even the ancestor said to be related to her by blood had never shown his face. Everyone had witnessed his indifference toward this distant mortal relative—so where would she have gotten a spiritual tool?

Suspicion arose in the senior sister’s heart, and as she looked at Xu Nuo again, her gaze became more probing and skeptical, even as a thrill of excitement grew—good, so you’re hiding a sect artifact, are you?

The other disciples, oblivious to the senior sister’s mood, clustered around Xu Nuo, chirping like birds, either seeking her advice on digging up shoots or hoping for a share of the ones she had already found.

As for advice, Xu Nuo had none to give. To her, the vast bamboo forest seemed marked with beacons; she could spot unusual flora at a glance. Of course, even if she explained, no one would believe her. They assumed she was deliberately hiding her methods, so their only hope was to get some of the precious purple bamboo shoots from her.

Xu Nuo seemed easy to talk to, and her terms were simple.

When the disciples heard that all she wanted in exchange was for them to run errands and fetch some mundane supplies, they thought it was practically a gift.

They scrambled to do these chores, eager and enthusiastic, each fearing to miss out.

And so, the preliminary tasks set by the system were distributed among this enthusiastic group. What was meant to take at least seven days might now be finished in less than two.

007 watched this scene of harmony and cooperation with deep satisfaction. [Often, when we face difficulties, we can resolve them in gentle ways instead of confrontation.]

See? Its host was kind, generous, and sensible. With just a few purple bamboo shoots, she’d changed their attitudes and turned foes into friends.

007 reiterated: [This is a super easy beginner’s round, Host. Just focus on your tasks; ignore those cannon fodder NPCs trying to trouble you. You’re guaranteed to pass.]

Xu Nuo nodded obediently, “Mm-hmm, I’ll stick to my gentle, kind persona and avoid causing trouble.”

007: [Sob sob sob…] Its efforts had not been in vain.

“Miss Xu, don’t worry, we’ll have this well dug in less than half an hour!”

“There are grains, oil, and salt in the outer sect, but they’re low quality. I’ll tell Senior Brother Gao to bring back the best spices.”

The senior sister watched as her fellow disciples ignored her and fawned over Xu Nuo, and rage surged within her.

“Enough!”

“All this noise—what kind of conduct is this!”

She glared viciously at the mindless juniors. “Look at yourselves—half a day spent digging and not a single shoot found, and now you need a mortal’s help. Have you no shame?”

After a fierce scolding, the group hung their heads in silence. Though she hadn’t named names, Xu Nuo was not exempt from the rebuke.

When she saw the disciples cowering like quails, the senior sister finally calmed a bit, but she had no intention of letting Xu Nuo off so easily.

After a day of work, Xu Nuo returned to her small courtyard to find it already cleaned and newly furnished.

“Miss Xu.” In the moonlight, Junior Sister Yan stood alone, apparently waiting for some time.

The girl looked only about fifteen, petite, barely reaching Xu Nuo’s shoulders, with a sweet, shy face and eyes as dewy as a fawn’s, radiating innocence.

It was only now that Xu Nuo saw Yan’s face clearly, and she was thoroughly charmed.

Yan had received a bamboo shoot and had come to fulfill her promise. For a cultivator like her, cleaning was no trouble at all—most of her time had been spent waiting for Xu Nuo’s return.

Xu Nuo, being a mortal, had to traverse the mountain paths of the sect. Making it back before dark was already quite speedy. She could only blame 007 for its strict adherence to plot, forbidding her from flying back by sword lest her persona be compromised.

Yan softly reported she’d cleaned the courtyard and prepared some daily necessities before turning to leave.

Xu Nuo, sharp-eyed, noticed the marks on Yan’s arm and immediately grabbed her wrist. “You’re hurt?”

“I just fell,” Yan stammered, trying to pull away, but Xu Nuo’s grip was surprisingly strong for a mortal.

Under the lantern’s glow, Xu Nuo examined the injuries—clearly not from a fall, but the marks of a beating, likely from a whip or rod.

Xu Nuo’s heart ached at the sight. “Does it hurt?”

Yan shook her head, “No, it doesn’t—ah…”

She tried to deny it, but her wrist was dislocated and hurt terribly at the slightest touch.

Xu Nuo insisted she stay, set the bone, applied medicine, and only then asked how it happened.

Yan timidly insisted she’d just fallen. Xu Nuo didn’t press further; she could guess well enough. Likely, Yan had been punished by the senior sister for being the first to accept a bamboo shoot from Xu Nuo and for her gentle nature—a convenient scapegoat.

Xu Nuo sighed, “What a pitiful child.” Afterward, she flipped through the plot settings of the game world, searching for Yan’s character profile.

Just one word: tragic.

She had few scenes, always either bullied or fading into the background—a punching bag anyone could take out their frustrations on. In the end, she died a cannon-fodder’s death.

Seeing her host so engrossed, 007 reminded her, [Host, you should be most concerned about your main target.]

Xu Nuo replied, “How am I supposed to care about him now?” She was in the inner sect, the target was in the outer sect, and she didn’t even know what he looked like yet.

007: [You could at least look up his profile and be prepared for the future.]

“I’m not in a hurry.” Xu Nuo skimmed it—classic underdog type: bullied and looked down on early, then turning the tables and rising against all odds.

Such a character suffered, but the advantage was tremendous mental resilience; he would never give up and would only become stronger through adversity.

Xu Nuo smiled and mused, “So if the target is the type to be bullied and later rise up, what does that mean?”

007 eagerly answered: [It means he’s easy to win over! Just care for him, support him, become his first light, and he’ll love you with all his heart!]

Xu Nuo said, “It means he’s strong—possessing a tenacity and vitality beyond ordinary people.”

007: [??] An ominous feeling crept over it.

Xu Nuo went on, “So even without my care, he’ll survive just fine.”

007 was growing nervous: [Host, what exactly are you trying to say?]

“So there’s no need to rush,” Xu Nuo declared. “Little Seven, didn’t you say this round is simple, like a beginner’s tutorial? Since it’s so easy, I ought to take my time and enjoy this hyper-realistic cultivation game.”

007’s anxiety spiked. [This… isn’t ideal, is it?]

Xu Nuo replied, “What’s wrong? Have you already forgotten what you said last round?”

007 stammered: [Wh-what did I say?]

Xu Nuo replied confidently, “You promised this would be an easy, relaxing round, not like the last one.”

It seemed it had said something like that. 007 couldn’t refute her but sensed something was off.

Well, if the host wanted to play, so be it. It had eliminated all troublemakers—what could a mere mortal do to stir things up in the cultivation world anyway?

With that, 007’s worries subsided.

—

The next day, news spread throughout the inner sect that the mortal who had gotten in through connections had dug up more than ten purple bamboo shoots.

Those who had received shoots the previous night kept their word and completed tasks for Xu Nuo. Her courtyard was transformed, and now she even had visitors—most of them seeking her skill at finding bamboo shoots.

Only then did Xu Nuo truly realize the value of these purple bamboo shoots; she’d even stir-fried half of one last night, and set aside a few to pickle.

Desperate disciples now begged her to help them dig up more shoots.

Yet, though their desire was genuine, so was their disdain.

They still looked down on her, a mere mortal.

007 advised Xu Nuo not to mind. She’d finished her early tasks and now had free access to the inner and outer sects, subtly hinting she should check on the pitiable main target.

Xu Nuo refused.

007 pressed on, suggesting she focus on the next set of farming tasks.

Xu Nuo eyed the long list, “Let’s see… spirit herbs, vegetables, drawing water… so much trouble.”

007 thought: Naturally! If there weren’t enough tasks, she’d have too much free time to stir up trouble.

Fortunately, without those unscrupulous onlookers egging her on, the host was now obedient—she’d farm if told to farm.

Xu Nuo followed the instructions, searching for seeds of spirit herbs and vegetables. The vegetable seeds were easy enough, but the herbs were harder to find. She had a disciple’s token, allowing her into the herb gardens, but she wasn’t allowed to harvest.

So she had to forage outside.

And with her awkward status, she was unwelcome everywhere; no matter where she went, she was met with disdain.

Xu Nuo held her trowel and sighed pitifully, “I really am the most disliked person here. Where’s my promised good luck?”

007 couldn’t help but interject, [Why not leave some for the others?]

Her dear host was like a locust: wherever she went, she left nothing behind. There were plenty of other disciples who needed herbs too, but she never spared a single stalk. No wonder she attracted so much resentment.

If not for the sect rules, the disciples would have beaten her up by now.

Having been reminded, Xu Nuo seemed to realize her mistake. She turned to the resentful group behind her and said, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you needed herbs too. I didn’t mean to take everything.”

Her words only fanned their anger.

“Miss Xu, why do you need so many herbs? If you don’t need them, could you give us some?”

Xu Nuo replied honestly, “To plant.”

To plant? Her expression was so sincere they doubted their own ears. How could a mortal grow spirit herbs nourished by spiritual energy?

If it were that easy, why would they bother with all this foraging?

“Nonsense!” someone scolded. “Do you think growing spirit herbs is child’s play?”

“Miss Xu, as a mortal, you have no use for these herbs. Please hand them over.”

Xu Nuo shook her head. “How can you decide what I need? I worked hard to find these herbs. If you want them, you’ll have to trade.”

“These herbs grow in our sect. How can a mortal claim them all?”

Xu Nuo remained unfazed. “Does the sect have a rule forbidding mortals from picking herbs, or requiring them to hand everything in?”

“Well…” In truth, there wasn’t—whoever dug up the herbs owned them.

“So, these herbs are mine. You may outnumber me, but are you going to rob me?”