Childhood Sweethearts

"The first-floor shop had opened. Would you like to browse?" Two options followed: "Yes" and "No."

Li Mu closed his eyes and solemnly chose "Yes."

The scene in his mind shifted, and an ancient circular altar appeared. Stone steps slowly stretched out before Li Mu.

At the center of the altar lay a massive yak, its back piled with assorted backpacks and jars.

Before the yak stood a long wooden table. A small Silver-haired Old Woman sat behind it, smiling at Li Mu.

"...Did I get this wrong? Isn't this the shop from that Canyon Game? Isn't this granny the shop owner, that Yordle Merchant? I heard she's even the grandmother of that famous Yordle Pet."

Ten million alpacas galloped through Li Mu's heart. The sight before him was completely beyond his expectations. He had never imagined that the Simulation System he had inexplicably activated after crossing over would appear in such a form.

"What would you like to buy, young man? My shop has everything you could possibly need."

As the Silver-haired Old Woman spoke, a product list appeared out of thin air before Li Mu. Even its design style was identical to the shop in the Canyon Game he knew so well.

The first page of the shop displayed more than a dozen dazzling items, while the second, third, and later pages all bore lock icons and could not be viewed.

Li Mu turned his gaze back to the items on the first page.

Black Iron Short Sword, a sharp weapon forged by Yordle craftsmen. Cost: 100 gold.

Fine Iron Armor, high-grade protective gear forged by Dwarf Clan blacksmiths. Cost: 100 gold.

Heart of Gold, a mysterious turtle shell that could earn 20 gold every day. Cost: 200 gold.

There were also daggers, long spears, Sage's Stones, and many other items. Yet every single one had a clearly marked price. When Li Mu looked at the bottom-right corner of his shop screen, there was a huge number there: zero.

"What would you like to buy, young man? My shop has everything you could possibly need," the Silver-haired Old Woman said to Li Mu again.

"Granny, I'd really like to buy something, but I don't have any money. How can I obtain gold?"

Simulation System first-floor shop gold exchange list activated. The system supported exchange for all the following currencies. Exchange rates were as follows.

Cangyun Coins, 1:1

Penglai Stone, 1:25

Black Demon Gold, 1:100

The moment Li Mu finished asking, a currency exchange list popped up before his eyes. It recorded the rates at which dozens of currencies could be exchanged for shop gold, and those rates were constantly changing. Cangyun Coins were the legal currency of the Cangyun Empire, while Penglai Stone was the currency of the Immortal Kingdom of Penglai. The others were clearly beyond Li Mu's knowledge; he could only guess that they were currencies from other nations, perhaps even other worlds.

"Cangyun Coins, 1:1. So I need 100 Cangyun Coins to buy this Black Iron Short Sword? This is already the cheapest weapon on the first page. Wouldn't the ones after this cost astronomical sums?"

Li Mansion possessed vast wealth and controlled the largest commercial port of the Cangyun Empire. Its accumulated fortune was astonishing. Even so, Li Mu's monthly allowance was only 50 Cangyun Coins. To exchange for the cheapest weapon in the shop, he would still need a full two months.

"Forget it, forget it. I won't look at these for now. I'll come back to buy them once I have money. The urgent matter is that I need to start cultivating. This Li Mu still hasn't reached Core Formation even now. He really is weak beyond belief."

Li Mu shook his head and closed the shop interface, his consciousness returning to the side room.

From the memories he had inherited, Li Mu learned that this world's cultivation system was centered on immortal cultivation. From weak to strong, one's strength was broadly divided into five major realms: Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Boundless, Tribulation Transcendence, and Ascension. Each realm was further divided into three minor stages: Entry, Great Completion, and Perfection.

Li Mu had never been well regarded within the Lineage since childhood. Over time, his personality had become withdrawn, and he had never seriously cultivated. Thus, even now, he had yet to touch the threshold of Core Formation.

"I need to find a way to start cultivating first." After getting up and dressing, Li Mu pushed open the door while pondering how to take his first step onto the path of immortal cultivation.

Bang! Ah! With a crisp sound, the door he pushed open struck a young girl squarely on the head.

The young girl stood at the doorway, rubbing her aching forehead. Her skin was fairer than snow, and her eyes resembled a clear pool of water. She was exquisitely beautiful, like a pearl haloed in light or fine jade gleaming with luster. Her pale yellow dress was elegant and refined, outlining her graceful figure.

"Brother Mu, you hurt Zhu'er," the young girl said with a coquettish pout, though there was clearly no blame in her eyes.

The girl before him was Lin Qingzhu. Her father was Lin Yu, Li Yubai's foremost strategist. He had followed Li Yubai for many years and rendered immense service in building the Li family's household into what it was today.

Lin Qingzhu had grown up alongside the two Li brothers, making them childhood sweethearts. Yet unlike the rest of the Li family, who treated Li Yue like the moon surrounded by stars while looking coldly upon Li Mu, Lin Qingzhu had always gotten along exceptionally well with Li Mu since childhood. Li Mu had also always treated Lin Qingzhu like his own younger sister.

"Qingzhu, I'm sorry. I didn't notice you outside the door." Li Mu looked at the stunningly beautiful girl before him and instantly blushed. In his previous world, he had never come into contact with such a beauty, much less had one act coquettishly before him.

"Hehe, I was only teasing you, Brother Mu. You were unconscious for so long that Zhu'er was worried sick. The moment Aunt Liu said you had awakened, I hurried over to see you. Now it seems that Brother Mu really has no serious problems."

As Lin Qingzhu spoke, she came over and touched Li Mu here and there, as though checking whether he was truly unharmed.

"Cough, cough. Right, Qingzhu, I remember you always wanted me to join the academy before. After surviving this disaster, I've thought things through. I promise you—I'll join the academy and cultivate."

Li Mu, flushed red from being stirred by Lin Qingzhu's girlish scent, hurriedly changed the subject.

Over the years, Li Mu had always refused to truly begin cultivating. Watching his cultivation fall far behind those of his peers, Lin Qingzhu had been anxious for him as well and had constantly urged him to join the academy with her to study.

"Brother Mu, you're finally willing to start cultivating? That's wonderful! I'll go tell Teacher Mu right away. Tomorrow, we'll handle the enrollment procedures."

Li Mu's sudden change delighted Lin Qingzhu. As his childhood sweetheart, she knew Li Mu was absolutely not the wastrel the outside world claimed he was. Even when he drank flower wine, he had never touched women, and he often went alone to the slums in the north of the city to help the poor living there.

Li Mu had always been the kind older brother she had known since childhood. It was only the criticism of the outside world that had gradually caused him to close off his heart.

"Second Brother, did I hear that right? You're going to start cultivating?"

Suddenly, an discordant voice from the entrance to the courtyard interrupted Li Mu and Lin Qingzhu's conversation.