Chapter 5: Crazy Thursday Deals

— Identity and Medical Report (Li Qingran) —

Name: Li Qingran

Current Realm: Qi Refinement Level 1

Identity: Former Qingyun Sect, Chixiao Peak Disciple

Age: 19 (Female)

Special Talents: Single Water Spiritual Root (Abolished), Taiyin Dao Body (Unactivated)

Status: Severely damaged foundation, ruptured dantian, fire poison invasion, inner demons growing, severe internal injuries (severed meridians), moderate external injuries

Background: Once an inner disciple of Qingyun Sect’s Chixiao Peak, Li Qingran was betrayed, leading to estrangement from her sect. Her cultivation base was crippled by her senior brother, Lu Changtian. Her spiritual root was stripped by her master, Daoist Qingxuan. The fire poison resulted from defective pills concocted by her second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng. Later, she was expelled from the sect through collusion between her third senior brother, Yun Zimo, and an outer sect elder. Finally, she was abandoned in a dilapidated hut by her fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, and left to fend for herself. The first of her inner demons was planted by her betrayers, while the second arose from her own despair. (Click to expand detailed version)

After reading Li Qingran’s identity and medical report, Chen Huai’an was stunned.

He himself was burdened by cancer—a single debuff. Li Qingran had five!

And her life? It was pure misery! What kind of grudge would warrant such treatment? All she did was injure her junior sister’s shoulder during the sect tournament. Wasn’t that normal for the cultivation world? Swords have no eyes in combat! Yet the entire Chixiao Peak seemed to have gone berserk over it.

“No wonder she’s holed up in this broken hut. If I hadn’t arrived in time, she’d probably be dead by now.”

On the screen, Li Qingran was meditating on a chair, her eyes closed. Somehow, Chen Huai’an couldn’t help but imagine her as a real person instead of a mere game character.

“Is she cultivating? But her foundation is destroyed, and her spiritual root is gone—can she even cultivate?”

Respectfully, Chen Huai’an clicked on Li Qingran’s shoulder rather than anywhere inappropriate.

【Status: Cultivating】

【Cultivation Progress: 39/99】

This probably meant she needed to accumulate 99 units of Spiritual Qi to advance to Qi Refinement Level 2.

As Chen Huai’an speculated, he didn’t notice Li Qingran’s slightly reddened ears.

He stared at her cultivating for half an hour.

But instead of progressing, her cultivation dropped by one point, falling to 38.

On-screen, the girl’s brow furrowed, her pale lips turned down, her pitiful expression tugging at his heartstrings.

“She must have realized her Spiritual Qi is depleting instead of increasing…”

Chen Huai’an began searching the interface for any way to help her speed up cultivation.

Her numerous injuries couldn’t be ignored either—they’d only worsen if left untreated.

After rummaging through options, he finally found something useful in the formation section at the top-right corner of the screen.

【Basic Spirit Gathering Formation: Unlockable for one hour by watching an ad.】

【Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation: Unlockable for 10 minutes by watching an ad.】

【Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation: ¥188/hour (requires watching an ad). ＜Crazy Thursday Deal (Original Price ¥488/hour)＞】

Aside from Spirit Gathering Formations, there were numerous other formations, like Concealment Formation, Mystic Armor Formation, and the intimidating-sounding Immortal Execution Formation. Some required money, while others demanded rare conditions—most of which Chen Huai’an didn’t understand.

One of the top-tier formations, the “Tenfold Bloodbane Heaven-Slaying Formation,” required 12 malevolent spirit artifacts of at least Spirit Weapon grade, along with a long list of complicated materials. Where would anyone find those? Buy them? Get them as game rewards? Or send Li Qingran on a scavenger hunt, like in some idle adventure game?

“Another ‘deal’? And on Crazy Thursday, no less?” Chen Huai’an gritted his teeth.

If he waited until tomorrow, the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation would revert to its original price. It’d be a waste not to use the discount.

Sighing deeply, he made his decision.

“Charge it!”

With ¥1888 added to his account, Chen Huai’an slumped in his chair, an inexplicable emptiness washing over him. But the feeling passed quickly. He only had a few days left to live—why not enjoy himself?

For the next 10 hours, the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation would remain active, just in time until midnight.

But first, he had to watch an ad.

【The Dao is ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. For cultivators like us, walking against the heavens, how can we go without a good weapon? Treasure Pavilion’s Spirit Weapons—premium brand of the cultivation world—is now running a promotion! Click below to claim celestial subsidies and enjoy up to 25% discounts. When buying weapons, choose Treasure Pavilion!】

Chen Huai’an: “...”

...

Inside the hut, Li Qingran sighed in frustration.

Her cultivation base was destroyed, her foundation severely damaged, and her spiritual root gone. Even with perfect technique, cultivation was near impossible now. Her Spiritual Qi continued to drain away—at best, her efforts were delaying the inevitable.

She had been practicing Chixiao Peak’s unique cultivation method, the Chiyun Technique, which was known for its speed. It was a low-tier Mystical-grade technique, a lower version of the superior-grade Chixiao Technique.

If even the Chiyun Technique couldn’t restore her Qi, her only hope was a Spirit Gathering Formation.

She was skilled at setting up formations, having done it frequently for her fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, in exchange for half her monthly Spirit Stones. Over time, she became proficient.

But Spirit Gathering Formations required significant resources:

Basic Formation: 100 low-grade Spirit Stones.

Intermediate Formation: 500 mid-grade Spirit Stones or 50 high-grade ones.

Advanced Formation: Required Spirit Crystals, typically only used by sect elders or leaders.

Now, she didn’t even have Spirit Stone scraps, let alone Spirit Crystals.

At that moment—

“Thud—!”

Something fell to the ground.

Li Qingran looked over and froze, her mouth forming an "O" of disbelief.

On the ground were ten Spirit Crystals, translucent and cyan, each the size of a baby’s fist, exuding an intense Spiritual Qi. She couldn’t mistake them.

Spirit Crystals that Daoist Qingxuan used sparingly were now casually tossed onto the ground!

“Senior, you’re wasting such precious items!”

Following the crystals, eight faintly glowing golden formation flags appeared. These were Immortal-grade flags, maximizing material efficiency without a shred of waste.

The flags hovered as if guided by an invisible hand, arranging themselves around her.

In moments, they formed an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation.

Buzz—!

As the formation activated, the Spiritual Qi within the crystals was drawn out, enveloping Li Qingran in a vortex.

The Qi density increased rapidly, forming a fog, then condensing into liquid droplets that fell within the formation. Even without using the Chiyun Technique, the Qi rushed into her body.

She had needed a Spirit Gathering Formation—and the senior had given her the best.

Li Qingran’s eyes stung with tears.

From shelter, to food, to Thunderfire Talismans, and now an Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation—the senior’s generosity had far exceeded her worth.

Was he grooming her for something sinister? Even if that were the case, the sheer value of what he’d provided made no sense.

This might truly be her fateful encounter.

The senior could be an unfathomable wandering master, casually sowing karma.

The only way she could repay him was to cultivate diligently and not waste his efforts.

“Senior, rest assured, Qingran won’t let you down.”

Wiping her tears, Li Qingran composed herself and resumed her meditation. Every second within the Advanced Spirit Gathering Formation was precious, and she wouldn’t squander it.

...

【Status: Cultivating】

【Cultivation Progress: 41/99】

【Current Favorability: 20 (Reverence) (Increasing favorability may trigger small gifts.)】

“Still feels a bit slow,” Chen Huai’an muttered, scratching his head. He stared at her progress for ten minutes, occasionally poking her shoulder to check.

Finally, he consoled himself: at least her Qi wasn’t depleting anymore.

Satisfied that nothing unexpected would happen, he repositioned the Thunderfire Talisman from the roof to the door.

Once everything was secure, he opened his computer.

In the past, he didn’t care about earning money—what was the point when he was dying?

But now, his perspective had shifted.

For this game, for Li Qingran, for this spark of color in his otherwise bleak existence, he decided to start earning.

As a terminal cancer patient, there was no better way to make money than by putting himself in the public eye.

He’d start live streaming.

But first, he needed to prepare:

A cancer diagnosis from the hospital.

A shaved head to mimic the effects of chemotherapy.

No makeup was required—his sickly pallor spoke for itself.

As for the stream’s theme? He already had an idea.

“Flipping off fate and mocking the Grim Reaper with a smile.”

His first stream? Climbing Mount Tai on cancer-stricken legs.

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