Magic Farm 172
by CristaeChapter 172: The Reputation Rankings Soar
Zone 01.
After six in the evening was the most leisurely time for players in the Survival Game, and also when the regional channel was at its liveliest.
Tonight was even more so.
Because just before 5:50, Jin Qian, who had been livestreaming all day in the regional channel, popped up again.
[Need a Little Money to Save Me: Tonight, I’m going to spend the night outside! My first time staying out overnight away from the shelter—I’m so excited, everyone!]
[Grind King: The native world isn’t the same as ours, right? There’s no restriction about not going out after dark? Otherwise, last time, if My Fate Boss had gone out, he wouldn’t have made it back.]
[Reaching for the Moon: That’s a bit of a shame.]
[ILoveSurvivalGame: It gets dark as usual, but there are no monsters, and the night doesn’t eat you.]
[Cockroach Tastes Weird: Even the game bosses are coming out. Only after seeing the pictures Money Boss posted today did I realize just how low-key the top player is.]
Jin Qian had confirmed with Qi Yu several times, but he was still worried.
But Qi Yu understood Jin Qian’s anxiety; when he’d first gone out exploring, he’d been just as nervous. He just wasn’t as fond of sharing as Jin Qian.
Jin Qian was so tense, he didn’t even post pictures in the group chat.
Until six o’clock arrived, right on time.
Nothing happened, and he saw a Jindong City even more beautiful than in the daytime.
Street lamps shaped like flowers, passersby dressed in splendid, radiant clothes, flowers everywhere.
He sniffled and took a photo.
[Need a Little Money to Save Me: (image) Let me show everyone the native world at six o’clock! I’m at the Spring God Festival with the Game Boss and Second God from Zone 88! It’s so lively!]
[Cockroach Tastes Weird: Wow, what a scene. The Spring God Festival—it sounds like a grand holiday.]
[Grind King: I’m jealous. When will the Forest of Stars lift the night curfew?]
[Reaching for the Moon: This is great. It reminds me of some festivals I attended back on Blue Star. Thank you, Money. The photos you post make me look forward to exploring outside even more.]
[IAmLily: Looking forward to it +1. Before, after what happened to My Fate, I thought all the natives were vicious bandits.]
In the pictures Jin Qian posted, it wasn’t about whether everyone was good or bad, but all the players could clearly see: this was a complete, properly functioning city, and the natives were living their lives in earnest.
That was good enough.
[Grumpy Bro: You know, is it possible that this is a special matching mechanism in the Survival Game? Good people get sent to good places, and those with bad intentions naturally end up somewhere else.]
Grumpy Bro’s words had no real basis; he was just taking the opportunity to jab at a few scumbags in the region.
[Grind King: Haha, if that’s true, I have to praise the Survival Game.]
Jindong City.
Qi Yu was asking what he needed to do for the “Spring God Blessing.”
Elder Roland smiled and said, “There aren’t really any fixed rules. The Mage Association is just adding a touch of blessing to such a festive day.”
“Whatever blessing magic you know, just use that.”
Qi Yu understood: just improvise as you like.
Jin Qian tugged at his sleeve in secret.
He asked, “Boss, this Spring God Blessing seems pretty awesome. Can I take a picture of you casting the blessing magic and post it in the regional channel?”
Shan Xingyu immediately chimed in, “Me too, me too!”
Qi Yu: “…Whatever.”
His looks and mage identity had already been thoroughly exposed during the speedrun festival.
There was nothing left to hide.
Jin Qian was immediately delighted. “Don’t worry, Boss, I’m a pro! I’ll make sure you look handsome and cool—no ugly shots at all!”
Shan Xingyu: “Then can I post a picture of you casting the blessing magic in the regional channel?”
Qi Yu didn’t get it. “It’s fine if Jin Qian takes photos, but why do you want to?”
Shan Xingyu replied righteously, “Of course it’s so my godchildren can admire their game daddy’s stunning skills.”
Jin Qian nodded vigorously at the side, “Exactly, exactly!”
Qi Yu: “Then go ahead.”
Shan Xingyu was satisfied.
Since arriving in Jindong City, this was the first time he opened the survival panel. He casually snapped a picture of Jindong City and posted it in the regional channel.
[The God Has No Form: (photo).]
[Eternal Night: You’re outside now? In the native world, there’s no night restriction?]
[Retired: No wonder I haven’t seen you pop up all day, Second God.]
[No Phone Is So Hard: Ahhh, where is this? So beautiful, so lively. Second God, can you really live such a happy life in the Survival Game?]
[The God Has No Form: Went out with the Game this afternoon, attending the Spring God Festival.]
[The Future Is Long: Boss, in such a lively city, have you thought about doing some shopping on our behalf?]
[The God Has No Form: I actually did. The Game knows a chamber of commerce boss here, and I used his channel to order ten thousand sets each of men’s and women’s summer pajamas. They’ll be on sale tomorrow.]
[The God Has No Form: That’s all for now, busy, no time.]
Cool summer clothes—Zone 88 players really did need them.
And summer pajamas could be worn for sleeping or as everyday loungewear.
Everyone wanted to buy a set.
[The God Has No Form: Do you know who you should thank?]
[Retired: Wishing my Game Dad eternal glory, unifying the Survival Game!]
[Retired: Second God, work hard and find a way to bring our Zone 88 in as in-laws!]
…
The float parade was about to begin.
Qi Yu had already figured out the rules.
All the large floats would line up in a long procession, with nearly a hundred meters between each, and then, following the planned route, circle Jindong City several times.
The Mage Association’s float was second in line, right after the main float from the city lord’s mansion.
Each float represented a different power, so their content varied.
For example, the Mage Association would have mages cast blessing magic.
Leslie said the Shawn Chamber of Commerce had a float too. He’d originally planned to invite Qi Yu and the others to ride his float, but now, of course, riding the Mage Association’s float was far more prestigious.
As the largest chamber of commerce in Jindong City, Shawn Chamber of Commerce was lavish on such occasions. They specially arranged for several martial artists to scatter “flower bags” from the float.
A flower bag was a gift pouch embroidered with flowers, filled with Shawn Chamber of Commerce’s flower-flavored candies and snacks, along with some copper, silver, and even a few gold coins.
The entire float parade started around seven and lasted until midnight, continuing for a whole month.
The wealth consumed was unimaginable.
In short, powerful forces could make a real spectacle out of the float parade.
Those with less to spare would have their “Spring God” on the float scatter petals as they passed, and the crowd below would still cheer.
Qi Yu suddenly asked, “Does the Martial Artists’ Association have a float? What’s their theme?”
Shan Xingyu perked up his ears. There was a Martial Artists’ Association in Jindong City, and he’d been wondering whether to find a chance to get certified there too.
Leslie laughed, “I know. Every year, the Martial Artists’ Association is about the same. They have a few of the year’s most outstanding young martial artists perform martial arts or spar on the float.”
“People really enjoy watching it.”
Shan Xingyu: …Getting certified as a martial artist could wait. The Martial Artists’ Association didn’t offer the kind of benefits or salaries the Mage Association did, so there was no rush.
Leslie’s excitement was plain to see. “Anyway, the most popular float every year is always the Mage Association’s.”
After all, mages were rarely seen, and blessing magic was even rarer.
Every year, people would stake out spots along the parade route early, and some would even calculate the timing of the blessing magic, willing to pay a hefty price for a spot where they could receive the blessing.
As the group chatted, a series of explosions suddenly sounded in the sky.
Qi Yu looked up, his eyes reflecting a cascade of brilliant fireworks.
He stared, unblinking, until the last spark faded away.
Leslie said this was the signal that the float parade was beginning.
At some point, Shan Xingyu had come to stand beside him, watching the fireworks shoulder to shoulder.
He quietly asked, “Do you really like fireworks that much?”
He seemed utterly entranced.
Qi Yu broke into a delighted smile and nodded. “Mm! This is my first time seeing them.”
Shan Xingyu’s heart trembled. He suddenly found himself doubting the local boy’s origins.
Qi Yu had no idea what he was thinking. As the float started moving, he, as the host of the Mage Association’s Spring God Blessing, stepped up to the small platform at the front of the float.
It was the most prominent spot, and all the residents gathered below could see him clearly.
Almost as soon as Qi Yu stepped up, a chorus of exclamations rose from below.
Shan Xingyu leaned on the railing to the side, listening to the natives marvel:
“This year’s Spring God from the Mage Association looks even better than the one on the main float.”
“He looks so young. So young, and already representing the Mage Association for the Spring God Blessing?”
“Who is he? Does anyone know?”
Qi Yu looked at the crowd below and took a gentle breath.
It wasn’t nerves, but from this angle, he realized he was a little crowd-shy.
So many people.
He raised his right hand, and the Heart of the Greatwood staff appeared in his grasp.
This scene drew another round of cheers from the crowd.
With the staff in hand and magic surging, the stray thoughts about the crowd vanished.
A white halo appeared at the tip of his staff, radiating outward from the float, expanding until it covered even the outermost onlookers on both sides.
A surge of vibrant life force burst forth.
“Blessing of Life.”
Elder Roland, sitting on the float, felt the pure vitality and stared in astonishment.
She lowered her head to look at her hands.
She was very, very old—the kind of age that would give Qi Yu quite a shock if he heard the number.
So her hands were covered in wrinkles.
But under the nourishment of this life force, several wrinkles faded away.
A four-star mage’s magic could even affect a seven-star mage. What did that mean?
Not good!
She flashed to Qi Yu’s side and looked down.
Sure enough, the crowd below was stunned.
A Blessing of Life potent enough to affect high-level mages would have an obvious effect on ordinary people.
After a moment of daze, the cheers began:
“My injured right leg feels healed!”
“By the Spring God, my skin is so much firmer!”
“What kind of magic is this? I feel so light, like I’m years younger!”
“My grandfather can walk on his own without help!”
A voice sounded in Qi Yu’s ear: “Ancestor, you should hold back a little.”
He turned—it was Elder Roland’s voice, but her mouth hadn’t moved, nor had she looked at him.
Qi Yu: Yikes! Was this the legendary mental voice transmission?
But what did she mean?
Then he heard Elder Roland announce loudly, “To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Jindong City’s Spring God Festival, our Mage Association has specially invited Mage Qi Yu from the Forest of Stars to cast blessing magic for everyone.”
“Mage Qi Yu is very devoted to the Spring God Festival, and started off by giving his all to cast the Blessing of Life. The changes you’re experiencing are all normal and positive—please don’t get too excited, so as to avoid any stampedes.”
Her words, accompanied by a stabilizing force, spread throughout Jindong City, quickly calming the excited crowd.
She’d swiftly found an excuse to smooth things over, and when she turned her head, she met Qi Yu’s grateful gaze.
Elder Roland—a truly good person!
Qi Yu had been wondering whether he should introduce himself and the Forest of Stars, but Elder Roland had already done all the publicity for him.
He didn’t know that behind him, Jin Qian was already dumbfounded.
From the moment the boss cast the blessing magic and Elder Roland spoke, he realized something and hurriedly opened the survival panel.
He saw that on the reputation rankings, the number behind the Forest of Stars was climbing rapidly.
[Author’s Note]
Late-night snack [food][food][food]
Debt repayment progress: 340,000/710,000 [heart]