—— Game Forum ——
WakingGoose: Have any of you ever heard of a game called My E-Girlfriend? The production quality is insane. The character models are super detailed, interactions are super immersive, even the micro-expressions don't repeat. Only problem… it's a massive cash sink.
ForLoveICastratedMyself: Never heard of it.
UncleShanghai: What kind of nonsense is that? That game even real?
PinkFerrariCow: OP, drop the install file. I want to try it out.
————————————
…
But you couldn't find the game on Baidu.
And as for installation files? Forget it.
Because Chen Huai'an discovered something shocking—this game had no installation file at all.
From his experience, a game of this level should be at least 10 GB in size.
But before and after "installing," his poor little 64 GB phone storage hadn't changed a single byte.
And the graphics, the smooth animations, the intricate details—no way in hell a low-end phone like his (which lagged during solitaire) could handle it.
So—there could be only one explanation!
Chen Huai'an pushed up his imaginary glasses.
He must've been targeted by some ultra-powerful hacker organization!
And this game was their creation. He was just a poor little test subject!
"Sigh… but dammit, the game's actually really well made."
Chen Huai'an slumped, murmuring as he watched Li Qingran finish her meditation on-screen.
So well made… that he willingly kept paying.
The girl's external wounds had all healed. Her remaining lifespan had jumped from six hours to three years.
Now she was carefully collecting the eight array flags.
He could even hear her muttering softly:
> "Senior has treated me far too well… The materials from these flags, maybe I can make a protective charm from them. If I ever meet him… I'll give it as a gift…"
She shook her head quickly:
> "Sigh… but a figure like Senior… receiving such a trinket from me would only be laughable…"
That dev team went too hard on the emotional bait.
Chen Huai'an thought—if she actually handed him a charm herself, even if he knew it was just scripted, his emotional defenses would be completely destroyed.
Should he try using a voice talisman? Let her know he liked it?
He opened the E-Girlfriend Shop and immediately fell silent.
Because the voice talisman was no longer discounted.
No point saying anything.
After all, this was just a game.
The newly unlocked Qi Refining Shop offered a wide range of goods… but the prices nearly gave him a heart attack.
Low-grade spirit stones: ¥50 each
Mortal-grade Thunderfire Talismans: ¥576 per talisman
Voice Talisman: ¥300 each
Low-grade mortal sword: ¥998
Mid-grade mortal sword: ¥4998
High-grade mortal sword: ¥9998
…
The Thunderfire Talisman annoyed him the most.
Promo items were all celestial-grade.
Buy one yourself? You get mortal-grade trash.
He hadn't even seen how weak a mortal-grade talisman was, but it didn't take a genius to know it couldn't hold a candle to a celestial one.
And those weapons? Pure robbery.
Mortal weapons were the bottom tier. Above them were magic weapons, spirit weapons, innate treasures, and even immortal artifacts.
He didn't even want to imagine how much the higher-tier stuff cost.
"This dev must've lost their mind. ¥9998 for a sword? Who the hell would buy that—idiot."
He scoffed. He could accept spending a little on other features, but weapons? Never.
If he ever spent a dime on a weapon from that store, he swore:
> "I'll write my name backwards!"
But just as he was thinking that, Li Qingran's expression suddenly tightened, a trickle of blood spilling from her lips.
She quickly regulated her breath, steadying her qi. Her eyes dimmed, and she muttered:
> "With Senior's help, my spiritual energy no longer deteriorates… But my dantian is shattered, my foundation destroyed, and I no longer have a spiritual root… Driving out the fire poison from my body… it's harder than ascending to the heavens. My cultivation will only get slower…"
There were only two ways to fix her body.
Option 1: Return to Qingyun Sect and beg for medicine.
Option 2: Head out to Wanqing Mountain and try her luck finding healing herbs.
The first was almost impossible—she was no longer a disciple and didn't want to trouble acquaintances.
The second was risky, but it was the one she preferred.
Her body wasn't as frail as before. Even if she ran into that demonic wolf again, she could at least put up a fight.
She spoke softly, but Chen Huai'an heard every word. Even her inner thoughts came through clearly.
> "Back to Qingyun Sect? Wanqing Mountain? What nonsense—!"
Chen Huai'an pulled open the recharge page on instinct.
She just coughed up blood!
What was he waiting for?!
Even if he knew this was the game's cash-grab tactic, he couldn't stop himself.
He bought the monthly card.
> "If I don't buy it now, next month the price goes up. No better time than now…"
That was his only justification.
> [Monthly Card Purchased! You've received one "Energy Transmission Meditation"!]
[Daily spirit stone and daily elixir pack delivered!]
With a ding, two bags fell from the sky, landing on the table.
Thud!
Startled, Li Qingran flinched.
> "What's this…"
She poked one of the bags. It was bulging and brimming with spiritual energy.
She looked up at the ceiling and respectfully asked,
> "May I ask… did Senior drop these for me?"
Silence.
But Li Qingran wasn't surprised. She was getting used to how this Senior operated.
If he didn't speak… it meant yes.
These bags were obviously another gift from him.
Having already accepted much from Senior, she didn't pretend to be coy anymore. Blushing with curiosity, she opened one of the bags.
Clatter—!
A handful of spirit stones tumbled out.
She blinked, then quickly counted them.
Fifty. Fifty low-grade spirit stones.
In Qingyun Sect, inner disciples at the Qi Refining stage only got 30–40 stones a month. Foundation cultivators got 60–100 at most.
Spirit stones were currency, but also vital resources—used for absorbing energy, setting up formations, refining weapons…
Fifty stones was a significant gift.
What she didn't know…
Was that this was just today's daily allotment.
> "Many thanks to Senior for the spirit stones."
For Nascent Soul or Integration-level powerhouses, fifty low-grade stones was pocket change.
But gratitude and etiquette must still be shown.
Chen Huai'an smiled uncontrollably. He even had the urge to stroke a beard he didn't have.
How to put it?
Sure, the monthly card was expensive.
But if a single spirit stone cost ¥50, wasn't this… an absolute steal?
Li Qingran opened the second bag. Inside was a red brocade box.
The moment she picked it up, she could already smell the potent medicinal fragrance.
> "What a pure aroma!"
She had spent years helping her second senior brother with spirit herbs—occasionally acting as a test subject.
She'd seen most Qi Refining to Foundation pills.
Her second senior was talented. His pills were praised even by the Pill Pavilion Elder.
But even his creations carried impurities—never this pure.
She opened the box. Inside lay a red pill.
It was glossy and translucent like a ruby.
Not a single blemish could be seen.
> "Great Rejuvenation Pill… Celestial-grade!"
Li Qingran covered her mouth in shock.
First the talismans were celestial-grade, now the pills too? Was her Senior a universal master of everything?
Great Rejuvenation Pills were commonly used by Qi Refining to Golden Core cultivators.
Affordable, versatile, and effective for both internal and external injuries.
A top-tier version was rumored to have detox properties.
A celestial-grade one? Her fire poison didn't stand a chance.
Be it spirit stones or elixirs,
Senior gave her exactly what she needed, like they were tailor-made.
Warmth bloomed in her heart.
Since childhood, only her parents had treated her with such care.
> "Even if Senior doesn't like it… I have to prepare a gift for him!"
She made a silent vow.
Meanwhile, outside the screen—Chen Huai'an got a prompt.
> [Li Qingran is about to begin healing. Would you like to use your "Energy Transmission Meditation" to personally assist her? (Enhanced effectiveness)]
"…Wait, personally?"
Chen Huai'an narrowed his eyes.
Something about this… felt off.