Magic Farm 168

Chapter 168: You Were the First One I Thought Of

Qi Yu had no idea that, at the very moment he sent his message, someone was repeatedly rereading the picture he’d just shared.

Dan Xingyu was grinning foolishly at that line in the image: “Go out with family, friends, or lovers.”

It was obvious that the Spring God Festival was a lively, grand occasion.

At times like this, even a local like him could think to invite him—didn’t that mean, in his heart, he was at least a little bit special?

Then, he saw the next message from Qi Yu.

Dan Xingyu was stunned.

It took him a long moment before he cautiously asked:

[Shen Ben Wu Xiang: Why do you ask that?]

Qi Yu, after sending it, also felt a little strange.

[I Love Survival Game: I don’t know. Maybe when I saw the Spring Festival, you were the first one I thought of.]

He hadn’t even seen the fireworks yet, but in Dan Xingyu’s heart, little fireworks were already going off.

Dan Xingyu: !

[Shen Ben Wu Xiang: I’ll come!]

[Shen Ben Wu Xiang: Of course I have to come.]

Even through the survival panel, Qi Yu could almost feel his happiness.

He couldn’t help but smile as well.

He suddenly wanted to hear Dan Xingyu’s voice.

But before he could take out the communication orb, the orb on him lit up.

“Hello, Dan Xingyu.”

Jinqian, sitting beside him: ???

He stared, wide-eyed, at the thing in Qi Yu’s hand.

A clear, fresh voice came from within: “Looks like you really like Golden Cave City. It’s a pity I can’t be there with you.”

Qi Yu asked, “Aren’t you worried about wasting a party scroll?”

He was clearly still on the previous topic.

Dan Xingyu’s tone was tinged with laughter. “You can always get more party scrolls, but this is your first time attending a festival in Survival Game!”

“Think about it—when the fireworks and parade happen, everyone else will have someone with them, and you’d be standing there alone. Wouldn’t that be lonely?”

Jinqian, standing nearby: ?

Hello? Am I not a person?

Thankfully, his game boss hadn’t forgotten him.

“I’m not alone. I teamed up with a friend from our region to come here.”

Dan Xingyu: ?

“Then I have even more reason to come!”

Dan Xingyu gently ground his teeth. “How could I miss out on such a lively occasion?”

What a joke.

When the little local looked back on this Spring Festival, how could the person by his side not be him?

He asked, as if casually, “By the way, which friend from Zone 01 is with you? Are they there now? Should I say hello?”

Before he finished, Jinqian’s cheerful voice had already come through:

“Hello, Shen Ben Wu Xiang! I’m Jinqian—so honored to finally meet you!”

“You’re really famous in our Zone 01.”

“The last time you scolded that ‘My Fate, Not Heaven’s,’ I became your fan on the spot.”

Shen Ben Wu Xiang: “Hello, hello, just call me Ershen.”

Dan Xingyu glanced at the winding, shadowy tunnel ahead. From the darkness came the sound of €€€€€€€€. He said, “I’ve still got something to take care of here, so I’ll have to hang up for now.”

“Then,” he said softly, “Lord, see you this afternoon.”

“See you this afternoon.”

As the orb’s light dimmed, Qi Yu met Jinqian’s bright gaze.

Jinqian stared at the orb in Qi Yu’s hand. “What is that? Some kind of otherworldly smartphone?”

Qi Yu answered cautiously, “Mm, you can use it to talk remotely.”

“That’s great, that’s great!” Jinqian looked like he wanted to examine it but was too shy to ask. “But it’s amazing that you can use it to talk to players in Survival Game even while in the native world!”

“Doesn’t this orb need a network? How does it work?”

And, seeing how easily the boss chatted with the other top player, he asked, “Can you call across regions too?”

Qi Yu nodded. “Yes.”

He handed the orb to Jinqian. “If you want to look, just ask.”

But the orb itself wasn’t much to see. Aside from a slot for energy beads, it was just a seamless sphere.

Jinqian turned it over and over in his hands, but couldn’t figure anything out.

Qi Yu told him, “It’s an alchemical product too. I got it by chance last time I was in the resource zone.”

Remembering Jinqian’s class as an alchemist, he encouraged, “Keep working hard and leveling up. Maybe you’ll be able to make something like this yourself one day.”

Jinqian was moved. “Boss, you have more faith in me than I do in myself.”

He was still at the stage where he blew things up every other day, and the boss was already dreaming big for him.

“But this orb really is convenient. I’ll ask Leslie later if they’re for sale.”

Soon, Leslie arrived.

Hearing Jinqian’s question, he said, “Communication orbs? Of course, there are plenty for sale, all sorts of types.”

He looked at Qi Yu. “May I take a look at yours?”

He wanted to confirm which kind it was.

Qi Yu handed it over.

Leslie recognized the emblem at a glance. “This is a Dawson Chamber of Commerce product.”

He examined it closely and smiled. “And it’s a classic high-end alchemical model.”

Leslie told Jinqian, “Lord Qi Yu’s communication orb is one of Dawson’s signature models, famous for its excellent connectivity.”

“This model, once bound to your spiritual power, can cover the entire continent.”

“It’s really top-notch, but it’s also pricier than most on the market.”

“Most people don’t need such a wide range, but those who can afford it don’t mind paying extra.”

Jinqian was curious. “So, how much does it cost?”

Leslie replied, “Here in Golden Cave City, if you need it urgently, it’s about 120 gold coins for a pair.”

Qi Yu, listening, remembered that Gareth and his sister had said they bought theirs for 100 gold coins. But they lived in Ambunel’s main city, while Golden Cave City was relatively remote in the Blackrock Mountains, so a markup seemed normal.

Jinqian asked, “Can this orb do group voice chat?”

Leslie was puzzled. “What’s group voice chat?”

“Like a virtual room where everyone can join in and talk together.”

Leslie suddenly understood. “Ah, you mean like the internal networks the associations use?”

Jinqian was curious. “What’s this association internal network?”

Leslie knew they were from Star Forest and didn’t know much about the outside world, so he wasn’t surprised.

He explained, “Many associations have internal networks, built by the leaders using their spiritual power. Members can register using their badges, and then communicate on the internal platform.”

He thought for a moment. “But I don’t think any association’s network supports voice chat.”

Jinqian tried to understand. So, something like… a forum?

Leslie looked at Jinqian’s expression and shook his head, sighing. “When I told you 120 gold coins, you didn’t seem surprised. Do you not think it’s expensive?”

Jinqian replied confidently, “Brother, you know I’m just a bumpkin fresh out of Star Forest. It’s not that I think it’s cheap—I just don’t have a real sense of prices yet.”

Besides, compared to what he was selling, 120 gold coins really wasn’t much.

Leslie explained, “Communication orbs were invented mainly for ordinary people. Besides them, it’s the low- and mid-level professionals who use them.”

“Professionals are fine, but for ordinary people, 120 gold coins is a fortune.”

Qi Yu already knew this. “You’ll understand when Leslie takes you shopping this afternoon.”

Most everyday goods unrelated to professionals were actually very cheap.

Jinqian still didn’t get it. “Why do only ordinary people and low- to mid-level professionals use them?”

Leslie glanced at him, a little puzzled by the question.

Jinqian saw the look and his heart skipped—had he said something wrong?

But since Qi Yu’s identity was so solid, Leslie didn’t think much of it, assuming Jinqian had grown up in a remote, traditional place. He was young, so lacking some common knowledge was understandable.

He patiently explained, “No matter the profession, those who reach high levels have very strong spiritual power.”

“For those lords, their spiritual power can cover several cities, even farther. And high-level professionals usually have even better tools and treasures—ordinary communication orbs are just chicken feed to them.”

Jinqian was still a rookie alchemist, and in all of Zone 01, Qi Yu was progressing fastest.

But Qi Yu wasn’t one to show off.

So, Jinqian only vaguely knew “high-level experts are amazing,” but had little concept of just how amazing.

Hearing Leslie, he thought of the only—no, the group of—high-level professionals he’d ever met.

He asked, “The president of the Magicians’ Association we met today—would he count as a high-level professional?”

Hearing they’d met the association president, Leslie’s impression of Qi Yu’s status rose yet again.

He laughed. “Of course. President Frederick is a seven-star magician.”

Magicians were the very top among professionals.

“If he wanted, nothing in Golden Cave City could escape his notice.”

Jinqian blinked and lowered his voice. “So if I quietly badmouth him right now…”

Leslie: “…”

He lowered his voice to match. “President Frederick probably wouldn’t care, but my father would definitely break my legs!”

The two burst into laughter in perfect sync.

Qi Yu: “…”

It was a bit rude, but these two together really were noisy.

He hoped afternoon would come quickly.

He was starting to miss Shen Ben Wu Xiang.

[Author’s Note]

[Food][Food][Food]

Debt repayment progress: 320,000/690,000 [plus one]