Chapter 18: Tedium and Turbulence
Before Fu Chen could respond, those nearby couldn’t contain themselves any longer.
Clad in snow-white, Bai Yi Shengxue exclaimed in surprise, “Is there really such a thing as cultivation quests?”
The alluring and puzzled Ye Se asked, “Bai Yi Shengxue, why are you so shocked? What exactly is a cultivation quest?”
Wandering Tianya scoffed, “Don’t read books or watch TV? No wonder you know nothing. Cultivation means training your spiritual energy.”
Bai Yi Shengxue shouted at him, “Tianya, go check what level that beauty is.”
“I’d rather not; what if they think I’m trying to steal their monster kills?” Wandering Tianya quickly declined.
Their conversation was on the public channel, completely unguarded.
Fu Chen heard every word clearly without missing a single one and replied, “No need to check; she just reached level 9.”
Turning around, he feigned curiosity and asked Qin Yumo to explain the details of the cultivation quest.
After glancing at his current cultivation progress and making a rough estimate, he said, “In about twenty minutes, I’ll level up. Then we can tackle the cultivation quest together.”
This was exactly what Qin Yumo expected, and she had no objections.
Half an hour later, a man and a woman emerged from the teleportation array in Sword Immortal City.
They were none other than Qin Yumo, freshly teleported from Hidden Heroes Village, and Fu Chen, who had just reached level 9.
[Half Love in the Mortal World, Level 9
Cultivation: 9/4635
Health: 130/130
True Qi: 130/130
Primordial Spirit: 5424
Remaining Points: 15
Talent Points Remaining: 19
Physical Attack: 42-68
Spell Attack: 8]
Upon leveling up to 9, Fu Chen immediately received a cultivation quest titled [Empty Taoist].
Additionally, there was a regular quest called [Four Directions Stronghold], which activated the teleportation point and map information for the stronghold.
The two promptly teleported back to Sword Immortal City from Hidden Heroes Village to begin the cultivation task at once.
Thanks to his past life's experience, Fu Chen saved a lot of time that would have been spent asking for directions or seeking people.
He led Qin Yumo straight to the court behind the elders, where they found the Empty Taoist.
Clad in a white Tai Chi robe, exuding an ethereal and transcendent aura, the Taoist said:
“I see that both of you are fully charged and your energies are in harmony. Your Qi refining has reached its peak. You must cleanse your muscles and marrow to strengthen your body and spirit, for only then can you establish the foundation of the Great Dao.
Go to Hidden Heroes Village and seek the elder there; he will lend you his aid.”
With the new cultivation quest [Foundation Establishment] in hand, the two left the Empty Taoist.
On their way back to Hidden Heroes Village, Qin Yumo wrinkled her nose and whispered a complaint, “Isn’t this just making things difficult? We just arrived, and now they want us to go back.”
Fu Chen chuckled, “No rush; consider it a chance to rest and relax. After all, we’ve been fighting monsters for hours.”
Hearing this, Qin Yumo immediately stopped fretting and obediently followed.
Having been in Perfect Continent for only two days, she realized she was becoming as lazy as Zero Point.
She didn’t want to think about anything and was content to follow Fu Chen’s lead blindly.
Being able to shed all responsibilities was both reassuring and liberating—a feeling she had never experienced before.
Thinking of Zero Point, Qin Yumo realized she had somehow already left the team.
She guessed, “She must have joined another group to complete quests.”
After traveling tirelessly and using the teleport array, the two arrived at Hidden Heroes Village and found the elderly village chief.
Stroking his beard with some regret, the old chief said, “Originally, I could have helped you complete the foundation establishment.”
“Unfortunately, the spiritual fields were robbed, and all the ‘续断草’ (Continuing Herb) was stolen. I need you to help retrieve it.”
No sooner had he spoken than the next cultivation quest appeared: [Continuing Herb].
The task required them to go to Ant Gathering Mountain to find the village chief’s lost Continuing Herb (0/1).
(Note: The herb must be dug up with its roots intact to ensure completeness.)
This time, Qin Yumo voiced no complaints, only smiling warmly at Fu Chen.
Fu Chen shook his head with a wry smile. “Let’s go. Teleport to Four Directions Stronghold; this quest is truly a hassle.”
In truth, Fu Chen knew the entire quest’s flow. Though tedious, there was no alternative.
Using the teleport master at Hidden Heroes Village, the two arrived directly at Four Directions Stronghold.
This stronghold was a massive camp built entirely from raw timber, exuding a primitive and rustic atmosphere.
Ant Gathering Mountain lay directly south of the stronghold, its shape on the map resembling a vivid giant ant.
Exiting the camp, the two headed straight for Ant Gathering Mountain to search for the Continuing Herb.
Qin Yumo furrowed her brow, worry etched across her face as she looked at Fu Chen and asked, “The mountain is so vast. Where exactly do we look for a single herb?”
Fu Chen lowered his head in thought, considering how to indicate the location without revealing too much.
Then his brow relaxed, and he smiled. “I’ll start at the ant’s head, you at the ant’s foot; we’ll meet in the middle. That way, we save time.”
“That sounds like a solution, but also like you said nothing at all,” Qin Yumo smirked, reluctantly accepting the reality.
They split up, one heading south, the other north, searching along the contours of Ant Gathering Mountain according to the map.
Fu Chen, having done this quest in his past life, knew the Continuing Herb grew on one of the ant’s “hind legs.”
He wandered around the “ant head” area, feigning a search, waiting for Qin Yumo to find the target.
Time flowed silently like water; nearly forty minutes passed.
Qin Yumo meticulously searched the lower half of Ant Gathering Mountain, avoiding various monsters and staying vigilant.
After nearly half an hour of scouring the leg nearest the stronghold, she found nothing.
Seeing Fu Chen’s marker continuously moving on the map, she dared not slack off.
Finally, on the other “hind leg,” Qin Yumo discovered traces of the Continuing Herb.
Overjoyed, she shouted excitedly, “Hongchen, I found the Continuing Herb! Come dig it up quickly!”
At the other end, Fu Chen, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately headed toward her position.
He carefully reminded her, “Be cautious of the monsters around. Wait for me before digging.”
Half an hour later, they reunited atop Ant Gathering Mountain.
Fu Chen smiled and teased, “Impressive, you found it so quickly. If I’d known, I’d have searched this side.”
Then he grew serious. “I’ll try first. You cover me from behind. If anything happens, we retreat immediately.”
He made this arrangement because he remembered that such herbs were usually guarded by monsters.
Qin Yumo nodded decisively, “Understood!”
Fu Chen crouched by a Continuing Herb and began carefully digging.
At that moment, two skeletal monsters—Guardian Remnants—emerged from the surrounding soil.
[Health 760/760; Level 11; Guardian Remnant; Gold; Hit Rate 86%; Dodge 3%]
The two swung their longswords, releasing two dazzling bolts of electricity directly at Fu Chen.
“Hongchen, watch out!” Qin Yumo shouted urgently.
At the same time, she wielded her magical tool and cast the Calm Heart Spell to heal Fu Chen immediately.
Just as the pure white healing light enveloped him, the two monsters shifted their attacks toward Qin Yumo.
Suddenly struck by twin lightning attacks, Qin Yumo’s health plummeted rapidly.
She panicked and instinctively dashed toward Fu Chen, as if only by his side could she feel safe.
After just a few steps, the monsters’ second strike hit her again.
Her health dropped to zero instantly, and she was killed on the spot.
The two monsters didn’t stop there; they unleashed two more electric bolts, striking Fu Chen down as well.