The morning sun, warm and gentle, slanted through the cave entrance and fell right across my face.
I frowned, groggily rolling over, only to feel the hard, cold ground beneath me, making my bones ache a little.
“Ugh…” I groaned, reluctantly opening my eyes.
My ice-blue eyes were still heavy with sleep, and the first thing I saw was the rough ceiling of the cave.
Last night’s memories rushed back: a strange body, a desolate valley, a lonely night.
I propped myself up and sat, stretching my stiff neck and shoulders.
My jade-white Dragon Tail instinctively unfurled, its mane brushing against the ground.
“This ‘bed’ is way too hard,” I couldn’t help but complain softly, my voice raspy from just waking up, echoing in the empty Cave.
It seemed I’d have to find a way to improve my living conditions, at least by getting some dry grass or something.
Still, this body’s endurance seemed stronger than I’d expected; though it felt hard, it hadn’t actually caused any real harm.
I stood up and brushed the dust off my robes.
Inside the Cave, the ember from last night had completely died out, leaving only a small pile of cold, grayish-white ash.
The morning light made the interior much brighter than the night, also making it feel more spacious and desolate.
I walked out of the cave, and the fresh, dew-scented air immediately washed over me, instantly refreshing my spirit.
The morning valley was shrouded in a thin, golden mist, the distant peaks clearly visible, and the birdsong rose and fell, bringing infinitely more life than the night.
I walked down the stone steps to the riverbank, crouched down, and scooped up a handful of the cool, clear river water to splash on my face.
The icy water stimulated my skin, instantly dispelling the last remnants of sleep.
I ran my fingers through my somewhat messy long hair, my gaze naturally falling upon the mirror-like, calm surface of the water.
The reflection in the water was crystal clear.
My long, off-white hair hung smoothly, the creamy yellow and cobalt blue highlights at the tips appearing exceptionally soft in the morning light.
My ice-blue eyes were clear and bright, still glistening with moisture from the wash, their expression calm yet seemingly holding a trace more of composed adaptation than yesterday.
My porcelain-white skin was nearly translucent in the morning light, and the pair of pale gold Dragon Horns on my head, adorned with ice-blue crystals, shimmered with a delicate luster in the sun.
My ear fins were faintly visible, and the Dragon Tail behind me trailed naturally on the bank, its jade-white scales reflecting a faint glow.
I blinked, and the “she” in the water blinked too.
“Truly…
no matter how many times I look, it still feels so unreal.” I sighed softly, my fingertips unconsciously tracing the water’s surface, sending ripples that blurred my reflection. Follow the newest chapters on novelping dot com.
“Such a grandly beautiful face, though it’s a bit of a flat chest.” My tone held a hint of self-deprecation, as well as a trace of undisguised amazement.
Even knowing this was myself, I still felt a moment of disorientation every time I saw this beauty that far exceeded the average person’s, along with these singular features.
Wiping the water droplets from my face with my sleeve, I stood up and gazed at the tranquil and fertile valley before me.
Yesterday’s panic and survival pressure had eased slightly, bringing longer-term problems to the forefront of my mind.
What should I do today?
Food was temporarily secured (the Earth Yam and fish), the water supply was ample, and my dwelling…
though crude, was still passable.
The System’s first main quest, “Submit 100 Kilograms of Jade-Needle Rice Grains,” hung there like a heavy goal.
To complete it, relying solely on those few wild Jade-Needle Rice plants by the river would be absolutely impossible; I had to start planting systematically.
So, today’s goals seemed clear: find more suitable land for cultivation, clear it, and try to obtain Jade-Needle Rice seeds (perhaps I could force those wild plants to ripen early and save the first batch of grains for planting?).
Also, improving the living conditions in the cave had to be put on the agenda.
Just as I was organizing my thoughts and preparing to take action, that steady voice echoed from the depths of my consciousness right on time:
[ Ding~ Daily quests have been refreshed.
Host, please check.
]
A pale blue translucent interface unfolded in my vision:
[ Today’s Optional Daily Quests ](Completion will grant System Points and random rewards)
1.
First Trial of Cultivation: Clear and level a piece of cultivable land no less than 10 square meters in area.
(Reward: 15 points, random common tool or seed ×1)
2.
Seed Collector: Successfully collect mature seeds or reproducible parts of at least three different local plants (such as Jade-Needle Rice grains, Earth Yam tuber buds, or other edible or medicinal plant seeds).
(Reward: 10 points, Novice Plant Growth Accelerator ×1)
3.
Homestead Prototype: Add at least one basic living facility to the cave I live in (e.g., a dry straw mat for bedding, a water storage container, a simple storage shelf). Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.
(Reward: 12 points, rough but comfortable straw mat ×1[ if this item is chosen and completed ])
4.
Environmental Survey: Explore unexplored areas of the valley, record at least two new animal or plant species, and mark a potential resource point (e.g., mineral vein outcrops, special plant communities, etc.).
(Reward: 18 points, temporary expansion of environmental scanning range to 100 meters (lasting 3 hours) ×1)
5.
Ability Practice: Successfully use the “Leyline Perception” or “Water Essence Guidance” ability to complete a specific minor goal (e.g., guiding water flow to irrigate a small patch of land, sensing differences in soil fertility in a certain area).
(Reward: 8 points, trace amount of mental power recovery potion ×1)
Hint: A maximum of two daily quests can be selected and completed each day.
Quest difficulty and rewards adjust with the Host’s progress.
Looking at these quests, a thoughtful light flashed in my ice-blue eyes.
These quests coincided exactly with my plan, providing even more specific guidance and additional rewards.
“First Trial of Cultivation” and “Seed Collector” are the top priorities.
“Homestead Prototype” could improve my quality of life.
“Environmental Survey” would help me understand the valley better.
“Ability Practice” is the foundation for improving my own strength.
After a brief consideration, I quickly made my decision.
“System, I choose ‘First Trial of Cultivation’ and ‘Seed Collector,'” I confirmed in my mind.
[ Quests accepted: ‘First Trial of Cultivation’, ‘Seed Collector’.
Wishing the Host a successful day.
]
The interface faded.
I clenched my fist, feeling the warmth brought by the morning sunlight and the calm power within my body.
A new day, my struggle in this other-worldly world, has officially begun.
My goals are clear, and my motivation…is sufficient for now.
I turned around and walked toward the potential “experimental field” and those key Jade-Needle Rice plants on the other side of the river.
My jade-white dragon tail swayed gently behind me, cutting through the dew-covered grass.