“What’s wrong?”
Lost in thought, she inevitably drifted off. Her cheap older brother ahead turned back, his gaze questioning.
When pursuing the male leads, dialogue would increase or decrease favorability points. Whenever Su Tangxing was forced to follow her brother’s storyline, she simply looked up the answers online and copied them.
So, in truth, she knew nothing about this brother of hers. Now, immersed in disbelief over “Did I really transmigrate?”, she wasn’t in the mood for conversation either. She simply hummed in response.
Mu Liuyun glanced at her a moment longer.
Having stolen the spotlight today, it was only natural that some would be displeased.
The game liked to stir emotions with conflicts at the beginning. So, when they were led to the main hall, some clueless cannon fodder would inevitably step forward to provoke them, questioning the authenticity of Mu Liuyun’s Spirit Measuring Jade results.
The player would then need to choose: step forward to defend their brother, or watch coldly from the sidelines.
Different choices would affect Mu Liuyun’s favorability.
Su Tangxing had no patience for drawn-out plots back then, so she simply copied the answers. Even without thinking, it was obvious which choice would earn more favor.
Seated in the main hall were sect leaders, elders, and other important figures. Su Tangxing’s gaze swept over the crowd and landed on a rather conspicuous chubby young man.
Dressed in dazzling gold, his face practically screamed, “I’m an arrogant rich second-generation heir, here specifically to get slapped.”
That must be the character model.
He was sizing them up along with everyone else, but Su Tangxing waited a while without seeing him step forward to say anything.
…Come to think of it, what person with a normal IQ would stir up trouble in front of so many sects?
Game characters might be dumbed down, but that didn’t mean the people themselves were brainless.
Su Tangxing withdrew her gaze.
Her expression remained calm and composed, but inwardly, her mind was in turmoil.
As the older brother, Mu Liuyun was being questioned. Meanwhile, she mentally opened the game panel.
The level indicator had turned gray, showing it was locked.
Staring at that LV0, she tapped it a couple more times and discovered a pop-up introduction.
【*Unlock by reaching maximum favorability with any illustrated character.】
【*Shout “I want to fall in love” three times in public to unlock your original level for three minutes. Note: At least three people must be present, and the volume must exceed 30 decibels. Usable times: 3】
It truly lived up to its name, 【Die Without Love】—just as advertised.
Even if it were two thermoses leaning against each other, they’d have to stand up and have a romance before leaving.
Su Tangxing chose to level up again.
Surely a second playthrough would be easier than the first.
Her titles were still usable. Tapping on them revealed their effects.
【Transcendent Wanderer Amidst Mist and Glow, Azure Bird Descending as Auspicious Immortal (Supreme-Grade Title): Transcending the mortal world, unburdened by worldly attachments. The divine bird descends, banishing the mundane.
When equipped, grants a state of serene composure, immune to all external disturbances, dispels negative effects, and can influence the mental state of those nearby. The closer the proximity, the stronger the effect.】
Excellent. Emotional stability was beneficial for both mental and physical health.
【Protagonist Halo: You are the electricity, you are the light, you are the one and only Mary Sue. All members of the opposite sex are unconsciously drawn to you. (Note: A special cheat provided to meet player demands, permanently bound and cannot be removed. Please leave a five-star review after you’re satisfied, sweetie~)】
A five-star review was out of the question.
Originally unattached and carefree, now that she had finally escaped Earth, she’d have to be insane to go back and rate it.
Since she was here, she had no intention of leaving.
It was time to let the system know what “easier to invite a god than to send one away” truly meant.
I tried again, but I really can’t change this 【Protagonist’s Halo】 title right now.
I’ll try again when my level is higher.
She doesn’t want to pursue others, nor does she need to be pursued by others.
…
Among the seven top-tier sects in the game, four are located in the Inner Sea Continent, with the Taiyi Sword Sect being the foremost. In the original storyline, her brother joined this sect.
Su Tangxing waited for him to finish choosing so it would be her turn.
Given Mu Liuyun’s talent, he could go anywhere. The Taiyi Sword Sect elder at the head of the platform had already extended an olive branch to him.
Under everyone’s gaze, Mu Liuyun turned back to look at his sister.
He asked softly, “Tangxing, do you have a sect in mind?”
Su Tangxing looked up at him.
According to the setting, she was two years younger than her brother. The player character was an orphan, picked up by the Mu family as an infant, but her relationship with this nominal brother was only average—it required the player to gradually get closer and pursue him later.
Moreover, despite Mu Liuyun’s outwardly gentle and good-tempered appearance, his initial favorability toward the player had always been zero and was difficult to increase. He was a tricky smiling tiger.
These thoughts flashed through her mind as Su Tangxing looked toward the direction of the Leisurely Immortal Abode.
This sect focused on contracting Spirit Beasts and fighting alongside them, which required a special emphasis on affinity.
Their sect had few elite disciples, and this generation was particularly lacking in talent. In the last Grand Unity Assembly, a competition among all sects, they placed last.
Today, only two people had come from their sect.
The two Yuanjuns were draped in colorful robes. One of them had a parrot perched on her shoulder, its feathers green like an unripe mango.
Su Tangxing met the parrot’s eyes.
Its beak opened and closed.
Guanlan Yuanjun turned her head to look. “What?”
Under the effect of 【Spirit Beast Affinity: May the years pass together, and may we be friends forever】, the parrot flapped its wings and took flight. Under the watchful eyes of all the Cultivators, it flew past the front row and landed above Su Tangxing’s head.
It circled in mid-air, and Su Tangxing’s head followed its movement.
“Hello! Hello!”
The parrot cried out loudly as it landed on Su Tangxing’s shoulder.
Beside her, Mu Liuyun also looked over.
Since this parrot could accompany a Cultivator, it was naturally a tamed Spirit Beast with high intelligence and the ability to speak many words.
“It’s rare to see your Qingmang take such a liking to a stranger. It seems this little girl has quite high affinity.”
The accompanying Guanshui Yuanjun laughed:
“People who are naturally able to get close to Spirit Beasts are few. Let my Spirit Beast take a look too.”
As she spoke, she took out a palm-sized flying ant from her sleeve.
The flying ant rested on her palm for a moment before flying toward Su Tangxing as if drawn to light.
Seeing this, the others’ expressions shifted.
Someone spoke up: “What’s the use of high affinity? With such Spirit Root purity, going to the Leisurely Immortal Abode… tsk tsk. Isn’t it a bit of a waste?”
The speaker was a square-faced Zhenren, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Guanshui Yuanjun snorted coldly. “A waste? What waste? Why don’t you explain, Zhenren, how joining our Xianju is a waste?”
Guanlan Yuanjun added, “What do you mean by that? If we can’t teach her, can your sect, which ranks lower than ours, teach her? If you feel that way, Zhenren, why don’t we step outside for a match or two?”
The square-faced Zhenren’s expression darkened, and he was left in an awkward position with no one to help him out.
Although the Leisurely Immortal Abode didn’t like to meddle in affairs, it was an old-established sect with deep foundations and two ancestors still alive. Not to mention them, even the Taiyi Sword Sect wouldn’t dare provoke them lightly.
In the end, he only stiffly said, “I misspoke.”
Guanlan Yuanjun ignored him and kindly asked Su Tangxing if she would like to visit their Myriad Beast Sect.
Affinity was something intangible and untouchable, with no spiritual orb to test it, relying solely on the judgment of the spirit beasts one carried.
Apart from that, it involved having disciples walk through their sect’s gate tower.
The archway-style stone structures of the Leisurely Immortal Abode stood in a row, with rugged stone pillars supporting the crossbeams, carved with countless birds and beasts. At the forefront of the crossbeam protruded a dragon’s head, its eyes closed and horns majestic.
On either side perched the “Feng” and “Huang,” adorned with six symbols and nine treasures, elegant and noble.
Those with high affinity would pass through smoothly, but if the myriad beasts were displeased, it could only be said that they had no connection with the Leisurely Immortal Abode.
Before Su Tangxing could respond to the invitation, the square-faced Zhenren tried to speak again but was interrupted by someone nearby who asked, “I think she would also do well in our Sword Sect. Child, would you be willing to wield a sword?”
“Why engage in all that fighting and killing? It would be better to come to us,” a woman’s voice chuckled lightly, drawing Su Tangxing’s gaze.
A group of cultivators sat there, all dressed in flowing, colorful robes. The women had cloud-like hair and mist-like tresses, graceful and elegant, while the men were handsome and refined, standing tall like jade trees.
They were disciples of Witch Mountain.