I Want to Become Immortal

Xiao Jie took the Firewood Knife and was about to leave when someone else entered the Blacksmith Shop: a young man around twenty, bare-chested and carrying a stick. He had rather delicate features.

One look at his getup told Xiao Jie he was a new player.

Xiao Jie casually glanced at the man's name.

I Want to Become Immortal (Returnee), Level: 1.

After entering the Blacksmith Shop and looking around, the man headed straight for Wang Kai.

"Excuse me, are you Brother Wang Kai, the one who sells gold?"

Wang Kai answered, "That's right. And you are? What can I do for you?"

"I want to buy some gold. I'm I Want to Seal the Heavens' younger brother."

"Oh, oh, oh, so you're little brother Feng Tian's brother. No wonder your names look so alike. How's your brother doing these days? I haven't seen him in ages."

"He's dead."

"Ah—my condolences, brother."

The fat man spoke with some regret.

Xiao Jie watched their conversation coldly, yet he could not help feeling somewhat moved as well.

"I want to buy gold," I Want to Become Immortal said.

"Sure. How much?"

"Five thousand copper coins."

Damn, was a newbie really this rich? Xiao Jie was a little shocked. Five thousand copper coins meant fifty thousand yuan. What did he need that many copper coins for? Was he planning to gear up and leave the village to adventure?

Right. Hadn't he himself been thinking the same thing earlier?

"No problem. For little brother Feng Tian's sake, I'll give you a five-percent discount. Oh, are you gearing up? How about I convert it directly for you? I'm an apprentice at the Blacksmith Shop, so I get internal prices. Besides, some hidden items require reputation to purchase. I can help you get them directly."

Sure enough, money talked. Wang Kai was exceptionally enthusiastic toward I Want to Become Immortal, completely unlike the way he treated a poor miser like Xiao Jie, who even haggled over repairing a Firewood Knife.

"Um, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Should I make up the difference?" I Want to Become Immortal seemed a little embarrassed instead.

"Oh, come on, little brother, why are you being so formal? Brother Feng Tian and I were good buddies. His younger brother is my younger brother. Come, let your big brother introduce the good equipment in this shop. Oh, right, let's add each other on WeChat first..."

"That's why I need to prepare properly. I'm spending money to buy gold. As long as I have a full set of equipment, I won't be afraid."

Before long, I Want to Become Immortal was fully equipped.

He wore Thick Skin armor, Leather Boots, and a Horned Leather Helmet—not because he could not afford iron armor, but because he lacked the carrying capacity. Wearing iron gear would incur an encumbrance penalty, so he could only use leather equipment.

For weapons, he chose a Serpent Spine Longbow, a refined steel sword, an Iron-Inlaid Shield, and a Cold Iron Spear... He was armed to the teeth.

For a newbie without skills, no weapon offered any special advantage, but likewise none came with any particular disadvantage. Naturally, the more the better. He could choose based on the monsters he faced, and switch during battle anyway.

The whole set cost over three thousand copper coins. Wang Kai directly traded the remaining money to I Want to Become Immortal. All he needed now was some Wound Medicine and food supplies before he could leave the village to adventure.

Xiao Jie thought this guy was really going all out. He spent fifty thousand yuan without a second thought. Still, he did look far more formidable in that set of gear. But at only Level 1, wasn't this too risky?

He could not help reminding him, "Buddy, I think you should be more cautious. It's dangerous outside the village, and if you die in this game, you really die. You know that, right?"

I Want to Become Immortal replied confidently, "I know, but I have a reason I must become stronger. Besides, with my skills, I'll be fine as long as I'm careful. I'll start by slowly exploring from the weakest monsters, so you needn't worry about me."

(Brother, don't worry. Since this game has immortals, there must be resurrection spells. I'll definitely bring you back to life.) The young man before the computer stared at his imposing in-game appearance, his eyes filled with determination.

There was still a trace of childishness in his voice, but it was exceptionally resolute.

Xiao Jie sighed inwardly. Fine, then I shouldn't meddle. With that thought, he said no more.

This sort of thing was a personal choice to begin with.

Watching the man leave the Blacksmith Shop without hesitation, Xiao Jie could not help feeling emotional. Kid, I hope you make it back alive.

"You were so close to I Want to Seal the Heavens. Why didn't you try to talk his younger brother out of it?" he could not help asking Wang Kai beside him.

Wang Kai was utterly unconcerned. "It's useless. Good advice can't save someone determined to die. What player in this game isn't skilled and bold? If he knows the truth about this game and still dares to go out and kill monsters, then either he has confidence or he has a reason he must take the risk. What's the point of persuading him?

Besides, how do you know he isn't some hidden expert? Maybe he really can kill gods in his path and slaughter Buddhas in his way. He might leave wearing beginner gear and come back covered head to toe in top-tier equipment.

And danger is something you can never truly understand unless you experience it yourself. So what's there to persuade him about? If he wants to adventure outside, he'll have to go through this sooner or later. At least with this set of equipment I got him, his chances of survival have gone way up. We can count it as looking after him for his brother's sake."

Xiao Jie was speechless. So your whole thing is equality for all and respecting everyone's choices, huh?

Still, he was not wrong.

At least that guy had a decent set of gear. When it came time for Xiao Jie himself to leave the village and adventure, he might not even have those conditions.

Enough dawdling. He should go chop firewood.

Since he had decided to take the cautious route, he should stick with it.

After leaving the Blacksmith Shop, Xiao Jie did not immediately head up the mountain to chop trees.

Instead, he began pondering where exactly he had gone wrong. Why was he not making money?

He needed to study this firewood chopping business. Logically speaking, the game could not possibly make players lose money. He had to be doing something wrong somewhere.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Jie suddenly smiled. Why was he wasting effort on this? Why not just ask online?

Since the game was so realistic, there had to be real-world principles for something like chopping firewood that he could learn from.

He logged out of the game, went straight to a knowledge forum he frequented called Boundless Sea of Knowledge, and made a post asking for everyday advice.

[Question: Does anyone know any tricks for chopping firewood? I keep damaging my Firewood Knife when I chop wood. There will be a generous reward if the answer is useful.]

He casually put up a fifty-yuan bounty.

Now all he had to do was wait for the forum users' answers.

While waiting for replies, he might as well take care of lunch.

Even his in-game character got to eat his fill. He could not let himself go hungry either.

He opened the refrigerator. There was nothing inside except a few eggs. Looking at the empty fridge made Xiao Jie feel miserable again—today had originally been Han Luo's turn to buy groceries.

Forget it. He would just cook some noodles.

He skillfully boiled water on the induction cooker, threw in noodles and eggs in one smooth motion, then added two fish balls to vary the flavor.

Soon, a huge bowl of steaming noodles was ready. Just as he was about to dig in, the phone rang at a most inopportune time.

Xiao Jie picked it up and saw an unfamiliar number. His heart skipped slightly as he vaguely guessed who it was.

After hesitating for a moment, he answered the call anyway.

Xiao Jie said in a low voice, "Hello."

"Hey, Brother Xiao, remember me? It's Liu Qiang. You been doing okay lately? Yesterday, I had Han Luo bring a game back for you. Have you played it?"

Sure enough, it was that bastard!