Eighteen Years Old and Abroad, Selling Fried Dough Sticks as Baguettes

After Elysia finished organizing the clothes and groceries she had bought into the wardrobe and kitchen of the small building, it was already late. She cooked dinner for the research institute again and then went to bed early with the other three people in the institute.

Originally, Mobius had planned to develop a reagent that could temporarily resist sunlight based on the body tissues of Xu Ziling she had collected. However, she didn't expect her idea to be met with joint protests from the other three.

Xu Ziling's reason was that Mobius was currently his target, and as her "boyfriend," he naturally had to be responsible for her health and couldn't stand by and watch her overwork herself.

Blanca had no particular reason; he was purely forced by Elysia.

Elysia's reason was: If Professor Mobius stayed up all night, Little Ziling would definitely stay up with Professor Mobius. If Professor Mobius and Little Ziling didn't sleep, Little Blanca would definitely not be able to sleep either. And if the other three slept, Miss Elf would be very lonely at night without anyone to hug, so she wouldn't sleep either.

Under the persuasion of the other three, Mobius, who hadn't had a good night's sleep since discovering Xu Ziling's dusty stone statue and had spent the entire day conducting high-intensity biological experiments, felt physically and mentally exhausted. So, for the sake of "Little Mouse begging me so much...", she agreed to the request of the other three in the research institute.

It's worth mentioning that tonight, at Elysia's knowing glance and Xu Ziling's strong plea, Xu Ziling successfully slept on the floor of Mobius's... room.

But it didn't matter. Even if it was just the floor, it was at least inside the room. They had only known each other for a few days, and their relationship had already developed so rapidly, far surpassing that of some white-haired boy who never even got into his girlfriend's bed before dying.

There was nothing to report overnight.

The next day.

As Xu Ziling habitually got up early to brush his teeth, a familiar yet unfamiliar crisp sound suddenly echoed in his mind.

It was his system, which didn't have much of a presence.

Speaking of which, his system had been silent since it said it was going to update the day before yesterday. Today, it was finally finished updating. Xu Ziling wanted to see what this system, with a size comparable to a certain game's 40GB update, had updated.

[Ding~ Star Rail Cultivation System 2.0 has been updated. The update panel is as follows.]

[Host: Xu Ziling]

[Inventory: Galactic Lottery, Stellar Jade*300, Realgar Wine*1, Serpent Antivenom*1]

[Talents: Pillar Man (crossed out), DNA Mimicry, Strength, Speed, Precision Coordination, Endurance, Recovery MAX+++]

[Unique Flaw: Fear of Sunlight]

[Ding~ Given that the Host's strength is no longer what it used to be, the Trailblaze Missions and Archon Missions have now been refreshed in advance.]

[Trailblaze Mission: Survivor of the Honkai World]

[Mission Requirements: Survive in the Honkai World for seven full days and adapt to this world.]

[Mission Rewards: Stellar Jade*1600, Random Item Rewards*3.]

[Mission Progress: 2/7 (excluding today).]

[Archon Mission Refreshed: God of the Honkai World]

[Mission Requirements: Survive in the Honkai World for thirty full days and hunt a Honkai Beast of Chariot class or higher (regardless of method) to prove your strength.]

[Mission Rewards: Star Rail Special Ticket*10, Stellar Jade*1600, Simulated Universe Dungeon unlocked, System Shop unlocked, Simulated Universe Survival Guide*1.]

[Mission Progress: 2/30 days, Chariot-class Honkai Beast (0/1)]

[Note: The Simulated Universe generally consists of boss battles. After clearing, you will receive a large number of Stellar Jade, Special Tickets, etc. Stellar Jade can be exchanged for various rare items or blessings in the System Shop, and Star Rail Special Tickets can be used to draw character abilities. Please participate actively, Host.]

After brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth, Xu Ziling carefully read the system's updated panel and fell into deep thought.

There was nothing to say about the Trailblaze Mission; it was just surviving for seven days with no extra restrictions. Xu Ziling could even pass by lazing around in Mobius's research institute for seven days.

The first condition of the Archon Mission was the same. The Honkai Previous Civilization hadn't even given birth to the Herrscher of Reason yet, so Xu Ziling had plenty of time.

As for hunting a Honkai Beast of at least Chariot class, Xu Ziling glanced at the "Pillar Man" that had been specifically crossed out in his talent list and recalled the scene of him tearing apart alloy with his bare hands just two days after waking up from the stone statue. He figured that with his current strength, it shouldn't be difficult to knock a Chariot-class Honkai Beast unconscious with a single punch.

System, does my body have Honkai energy resistance?

To be safe, Xu Ziling decided to ask the system a few more questions.

[Hmm... Host, please have more confidence in your body. Although... uh... although I don't know how I did it... your body should now be immune to all poisons. As for Honkai energy radiation, 3000... no, no, it's 2000, Honkai energy radiation below 2000hw will absolutely not cause any discomfort to your body.]

[Subsequently, as you continuously complete system missions, this resistance will gradually increase.]

2000hw?

Xu Ziling clenched his fist. This was an unexpected surprise.

He remembered that the Honkai energy radiation emitted by the first few Herrschers was only around 2000hw. Now that his resistance was also 2000hw, it was equivalent to Xu Ziling = Herrscher = one rank higher = being able to easily crush an ordinary Chariot-class Honkai Beast.

The problem now wasn't even whether he could win, but in this era, at this point in the Previous Civilization where the understanding of Honkai was still limited to natural disasters, where could he find a wild Chariot?

Perhaps after he became more familiar with Elysia and Mobius, he could use the excuse of "experiencing the Honkai intensity of this era" to ask Elysia to take him to find one?

But that was clearly a matter for later. After all, defeating the Chariot was only one of the mission conditions; there was still the condition of lazing around... no, surviving for thirty days before that.

[Uh... Host, the daily mission has been refreshed. Would you like to take a look?]

Hearing this, Xu Ziling was stunned, then gave a wry smile and said in his mind, System, this is my first time transmigrating, and you're also the first time being a system. But look at me, am I as stiff as you in my actions? Don't ask me about some things.

[Hmm... I know that... it's just that you might... have some trouble accepting today's daily mission, so I'm confirming with you again. If you refuse it, I'll try harder to see if I can get you another one.]

Hmm?

Xu Ziling raised an eyebrow. He had felt that the daily missions the system gave him were abnormal before, and now it wasn't even pretending? It directly said that Xu Ziling might have trouble accepting it?

However, people are creatures who like to do the opposite, and Xu Ziling was no exception in such trivial matters. So, he waved his hand and said:

It's fine. Let me see what it is first. If I find it unbearable, you can change it then.

[Oh, oh... Okay.]

[Ding~ Daily quests have been refreshed.]

[Daily Quest: Wear a nice outfit and perform a tearful crying session in front of any Valkyrie/Flame-Chaser.]

Xu Ziling: ???

What the heck?

Xu Ziling looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, resembling a female version of the Overseer. He brushed back a strand of his brilliant gold hair and said, "Hey, System, do you really think 'tearful crying' suits me?"

[That's why I said you might not be able to accept this quest...]

This...

[Hmm... But Host, you don't have to rush to refuse this quest. The System's daily quests are issued based on the premise that 'you will be able to complete this quest today'...]

What I'll experience today?

Xu Ziling was a bit confused. The System's words implied that today he would be wearing a nice outfit and put on a tearful crying act in front of some Valkyrie or Flame-Chaser?

But there's no reason for that?

His relationship with Serpent and Elysia was going well. He shouldn't have any reason to cry in front of them?

As for Senior Blanca... Although it was sad that she was about to leave the institute, she wasn't a Valkyrie, nor was she a future Flame-Chaser, so she didn't meet the System's quest requirements.

Just as Xu Ziling was racking his brain, a knock came from outside the bathroom.

"Little Mouse, are you awake?"

The knocking was accompanied by Mobius's sinister, playful laughter.

"Or... are you taking care of your personal physiological needs again? Little Mouse? Don't rush to come out, I'll get you another measuring cylinder."

Mobius's words made Xu Ziling stumble. He quickly tidied his clothes and walked out of the bathroom, saying, "I was just washing my face, Doctor... And, what I did before was just to cooperate with your experiment. Don't always think of me so badly."

"Yes, yes, yes~"

Mobius looked at Xu Ziling's delicate face, still dotted with water droplets after washing, and his striking brilliant gold hair. She couldn't help but lick her lips, then her eyes darted, and she said, "Come to the institute with me, Little Mouse. You guys stopped me from doing all-night experiments yesterday, so I'll just have to do it this morning. Your body's aversion to sunlight is a major drawback, and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

But it's not like you're that much of a bother. I'm not doing all this just for your own good. It's just that once you overcome this final weakness, it'll be more convenient for me to carry out the extreme tests I have planned for you. Understand?"

"Extreme tests?"

"Come with me and you'll know."

As they passed through the living room on the first floor of the small building, Xu Ziling saw Blanca with a look of utter despair, and Elysia, who was hugging and petting Blanca.

"Hi?~ Dr. Mobius, and Little Ziling, good morning."

Elysia waved at Xu Ziling and Mobius with a smile, then pointed to the chairs in the living room not far away and said, "There's local Shenzhou breakfast I just bought in the insulated bag over there? A new day, Miss Elf wishes you a happy life?~"

Mobius completely ignored Elysia's joke. Xu Ziling smiled and nodded in thanks to Elysia before going to get the two breakfasts from the insulated bag and taking a look.

This was a familiar breakfast.

Soy milk cups, fried dough sticks, and eggs.

Mobius took a bite of a fried dough stick and frowned, looking back at Elysia and saying, "Elysia, did you buy the wrong thing? Why does it taste so oily?"

"Hmm?"

Elysia leaned over, took a bite of the fried dough stick Mobius was holding in a plastic bag, and said, "Dr. Mobius, Shenzhou's fried dough sticks taste like this?"

"Fried dough sticks?"

A flicker of confusion crossed Mobius's eyes as she subconsciously asked, "Aren't these small baguettes you bought?"