Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Puppet Retrieval

Shuitan was genuinely surprised that a hidden quest had found its way to him, a new player, so soon.

Besides, he had come with a mission of his own.

The mission his superiors had given him was primarily to build good relationships with the other players.

Shuitan was conflicted. "Can I think about it?"

The System replied, "Of course."

Shuitan immediately turned to Zhen Weida and the others. "Sorry, something urgent came up. I need to log off for a bit."

Zhen Weida readily agreed. "Yeah, yeah, of course. Go ahead and log off. We’ll watch over you."

After Shuitan logged off, the System remarked to Song Jiu, "That Shuitan seems a little different from the other players."

When Song Jiulai had first met the new players, she was too focused on maintaining her cool, aloof image to get a good look at the crowd of default faces. Hearing the System’s comment, she asked, "What kind of different?"

The System explained, "Compared to the other, less serious players, he seems far more professional. His skills are also incredible—among the current players, he’s in a league of his own. His talent and comprehension are top-tier."

An alarm went off in Song Jiulai’s head. ’Could he be from the national team?’

"It’s possible," the System replied. "His IP address is also very close to the base that was trying to snipe spots earlier."

The System could now access some modern internet data, but not too much.

"Oh? So the national team had a lucky one who slipped through the cracks?" Song Jiulai’s eyes lit up. "Isn’t that even better? Sending him makes our chances of success that much greater."

’It would be a waste to let such great skills stay cooped up in the Longevity Sect.’

The System said, "He logged off after I offered him the hidden quest. If he came into this game with a pre-existing mission, he’s probably consulting with someone right now."

Song Jiulai stroked her chin thoughtfully. "I think he’ll agree."

’Going to Liu Xian City means getting to see more of this game and learn more about the situation. There’s no reason for him to refuse.’

Song Jiulai’s guess was correct. After Shuitan came back online, he immediately accepted the terms of the hidden quest from the System.

However, he was still a little puzzled. "Why me?"

The System replied, "Because you are currently the only player in our Sect with an Orange Talent."

"..."

That was an unassailable reason.

Shuitan indicated that he understood.

He already understood the basic rules and knew that with his level of talent, joining a Major Sect would promise a better future.

"But," he began, "if I go, will I still be a member of the Longevity Sect?"

"Of course you will be!" the System boomed.

Shuitan hesitated. "So, if I’m going to another Sect... does the Sect Master want me to be an undercover agent?"

"Oh heavens, of course not," the System declared in an exaggerated, booming announcer’s voice. "With your Orange Talent, you’ll have much better prospects for development in Liu Xian City! Once you’re there, you don’t need to pass any intelligence back to the Sect. Just focus on your cultivation, and you’ll be fine."

Shuitan wasn’t a fool. "You can monitor me directly. You’ll know everything I’m doing over there anyway."

The System posed a question: "Do you want to explore a wider world, or do you want to stay here and grow with the Sect?"

Shuitan pursed his lips. "I’m willing to go."

His superiors had already told him to accept, so he didn’t have much room to refuse.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling, either. He just had a vague feeling that this whole operation of sending him to another Sect was a bit... unexpected.

Shuitan was still confused. "Will I need to send resources back to the Sect?"

"No need," the System said. "You just need to become a Core Disciple of their Sect. In addition to enjoying all the benefits of a Major Sect, you’ll still have access to the Longevity Sect’s resources. You’ll also receive points for completing missions out there, just like before."

Shuitan asked, "In the future, will other players like me get this kind of opportunity?"

The System didn’t hide it. "Correct. The Sea View Sect isn’t the only one."

Shuitan understood.

He nodded. "When do I need to leave?"

"Please wait a moment," the System replied. "I will get back to you soon."

’The Sect Master is currently moving heaven and earth trying to figure out how to get you to Liu Xian City.’

Song Jiulai went to find Su Huanli to ask how one might get to Liu Xian City.

Su Huanli said, "Oh, that’s easy. There’s a Cultivator in the county named Zhai Xiaotian who can send people to Liu Xian City. Just give him a few Spirit Stones and you’ll be set. If you don’t have any Spirit Stones, a bottle of wine will do. Hasn’t your Longevity Sect been producing a lot of wine lately? He’s one of the few Cultivators who actually enjoys such mortal delicacies. He’s probably tried all your recent creations, though, so you’ll need to bring him something new."

"But are you trying to go again? It’s not like you can stay there."

Song Jiulai shook her head but didn’t elaborate. "Thanks, Senior Sister Su. You’ve been a huge help."

"Don’t mention it," said Su Huanli.

Song Jiulai had the System issue a quest to Fan Guzhou.

The quest was to brew a bottle of wine with a completely new flavor.

She was feeling generous and offered a reward of 100 points.

Fan Guzhou was taken aback for a moment when he saw the quest was assigned specifically to him, but he didn’t ask any questions.

He completed it right away.

It just so happened that right after the merchant had taken his latest shipment, Chen Miaomiao had made a breakthrough. By combining it with local Yunzhou Continent techniques, she had created a new batch of ’Hidden Fruit Wine’ with a unique flavor.

The wine was rather sour, but incredibly potent.

It went to your head very easily.

Since the Sect Master needed a unique flavor, Fan Guzhou decided he would hold off on bringing it to market for a while.

In other words, he had just effortlessly fleeced Song Jiulai for 100 points.

Three seconds later, the wine appeared in Song Jiulai’s hands. She slapped her thigh. "Damn it, I got scammed out of 100 points!"

’I should have just offered 10 points.’

The System: "..."

Song Jiulai had the System transfer the bottle of wine to Shuitan, instructing him to take it and seek help from the Cultivator named Zhai Xiaotian.

Whether he succeeded or not was now up to him.

Song Jiulai couldn’t get involved personally at the moment.

She had other matters to attend to.

She needed to start practicing the Puppet Secret Technique.

The one she had just gone out and bought today.

The previous one hundred puppets had all been made by Shui Ping and Su Huanli.

While it was true that puppets couldn’t possibly have Spirit Roots or consciousness, she couldn’t keep her plans a secret if she continued to outsource their creation.

Thankfully, many of the players weren’t in the Sect at the moment. The ones who were present usually just tended to the Spirit Fields and rarely showed their faces.

Shui Ping and the others rarely came down the mountain either. At most, they might see a few familiar-looking puppets and have their suspicions, but they wouldn’t dare to think too deeply about it.

The biggest problem was that once Shuitan arrived at the Sea View Sect, his puppet body would become inanimate whenever he logged off. He would have to find a safe place to log off every single time.

Song Jiulai was actually a little worried about this herself. She asked the System, "Is there any way to solve this?"

’If I’m going to send Shuitan over, I have to make sure there are no loose ends.’

"Of course,"

Who would have thought the System would answer so decisively.

Song Jiulai was silent for five seconds before snapping, "Damn it, why the hell didn’t you say so earlier?"

The System replied, "You’ve always insisted on having them ’survive in the wilderness’ and have been acting very stingy. Besides, we only recently accumulated enough energy for this, so I didn’t mention it."

Song Jiulai retorted, "What’s that supposed to mean?"

The System explained, "Don’t forget their bodies are puppets. And because they’re puppets, they can be recalled by me. Before they log off, just have them ’donate’ themselves. I’ll retrieve their bodies and store them in the Sect, then deploy them back when they log on."

"The reason I didn’t mention it is because long-distance transport requires energy. As a player’s cultivation grows, the puppet’s strength also increases, which in turn means the energy cost for transport gets higher and higher."