Celebrating the New Year

Lying on his comfortable bed, Zhou Sining eagerly opened the system.

[Zhou Sining]

[Life points: 3.6 (self)/8032 (Demon Beasts)]

[Fire element, intermediate level, tier one][Innate fire element devouring seed]

[Demon-slaying]

[Level: 4 (1377/1500)]

[Current lottery draws: 9 (requires 200 life points)]

In the shop, the [Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain], which could only be redeemed once, had disappeared, while the [Nether Separation Shield] now had an additional note: "Available for redemption in 15 days."

"I grinded for half a month and still couldn't reach level five. This system is a real pain to level up." Zhou Sining wasn't entirely satisfied.

Fortunately, the system's products really were top quality, and their prices weren't particularly high. Other than being unable to resell them, there wasn't much to complain about.

After grumbling a little, he continued scrolling through the shop, indecision creeping into his gaze.

Eight thousand wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a small amount either.

If he saved a little more, he could exchange it for a year of life.

But there were several items in the shop he really wanted.

[Star Scar: provides guidance for Star Map Drawing. Required life points: 25]

[Star Chart Book for a specified element: infuse magic energy to cast intermediate magic. Required life points: 125]

[Fire element spirit seed: one random fire element spirit seed. Required life points: 588] (Only three redemptions available)

[Nebula Magic Tool: provides a 20% boost to cultivation speed. Required life points: 555]

The Star Scar was a must-buy. It was a piece of support Magic Equipment.

Mages who had just reached the intermediate level desperately needed a Star Scar to guide and standardize their work. Otherwise, if they connected the stars into some nonsensical pattern, they wouldn't be able to cast any magic at all.

A Star Scar cost fifty thousand. The three hundred thousand he had still needed to cover living expenses and emergencies, so he would save money wherever he could.

He also needed to stock up on three to five Star Chart Books.

Drawing a Star Map wasn't something he could learn overnight, but he needed to get onto the Outer City Wall as often as possible to earn life points. Some danger was inevitable.

With a Star Chart Book, however, he could cast intermediate magic in just two seconds, faster than most mages. Used properly, it could absolutely save his life.

A fire element spirit seed was essential too. Gangsha was already badass, but if he wanted it to become even more badass, he had to absorb other fire element spirit seeds to upgrade it.

As for the Nebula Magic Tool, that went without saying. Every mage loved those.

After some thought, Zhou Sining decided to spend the points for peace of mind.

It wasn't as though he would die anytime soon.

Twenty-five for the Star Scar, 250 for two Fire Element Star Chart Books, 588 for a Flame Seed, and 555 for a Nebula Magic Tool.

The total came to 1,418. After redeeming the whole pile, he still had 6,614 left.

When he closed the interface, the redeemed items appeared before him, piled on his bed.

A bright red Flame Seed also appeared before his eyes, its dazzling flames swaying and flickering.

Its restless liveliness was completely different from Gangsha, and it also looked healthier and happier than the artificial spirit seed, Orange Flame.

Zhou Sining was a veteran gamer. One look told him this was something good.

Sure enough, Blazing Flame's information confirmed his intuition.

[Fire element spirit seed • Blazing Flame]

[Effect: doubles fire element power. Its flames possess a degree of elemental penetration, allowing them to partially bypass elemental magic defenses.]

"Getting reborn in another world can turn your luck around too?" Zhou Sining laughed at himself. "Well, a run-in with a truck was what got me reborn. Of course my luck would turn."

Besides, Gangsha wasn't particularly efficient at absorbing spirit seeds.

Otherwise, that Orange Flame from last time should have let him break through to the intermediate level with ease.

Whether it could gain the other seed's effects during absorption was also a matter of chance. He couldn't force it.

Whatever. Having one was better than nothing. A single spirit seed could save him several months of painstaking cultivation.

He drew Blazing Flame into his Spiritual World. Amid the tranquil white clouds, the Gangsha Flame Seed still sat firmly at the center.

Sensing Blazing Flame's arrival, it used its old trick again. Without warning, a spike of fire pierced Blazing Flame, pinned it in place, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Honestly, Zhou Sining was starting to wonder how someone as gentle as him had drawn such a violent Flame Seed.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Perhaps it sensed his thoughts. A second later, the previously quiet nebula began spinning faster, and the white Flame Seed at its center sent up a tall tongue of flame to display its displeasure.

Zhou Sining immediately backed down. "Yes, yes, you're the best. You're the best. My fault, my fault."

Only then did Gangsha settle down.

Leaving his Spiritual World, Zhou Sining sat cross-legged and began cultivating to refine Blazing Flame.

As the end of the year approached, great swaths of festive red appeared throughout the Ancient Capital, which was usually weighed down by the aura of death.

As though determined to wash away an entire year's bad luck, the Ancient Capital became exceptionally lively during those days.

At night, people crowded the streets shoulder to shoulder, shopping in groups of three or five. The aromas of food from all kinds of snack stalls filled the air, while familiar songs played constantly in the shops lining the streets.

Most of the people coming toward him wore smiles, their eyes sparkling with an anticipation even they hadn't noticed.

The world looked peaceful and beautiful, yet Zhou Sining could only watch from a distance, never becoming part of it.

After ten years of living like that, he had grown used to it.

On New Year's Eve, Zhou Sining gave himself a rare night off instead of immersing himself in cultivation.

With only him there, even the modest living room felt a little lonely. To chase that loneliness away, he turned on the television as usual and switched to the most popular variety show.

Then he picked up his phone, ready to start a game and wage a thrilling war with his teammates to defend their parents' honor.

But before the match could begin, Zhou Min called.

"You're home, right?" Zhou Min asked.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"If you're feeling lonely, come to the street Mu Bai opened. He said he'd treat everyone to a reunion dinner. Lots of people from Bo City are here. Zhang Xiaohou and He Yu even took leave to come. We've been scattered for so long, we should get together. Besides, Mu Bai's paying. Why turn down a free meal, right?"

It was a little noisy on Zhou Min's end, but Zhou Sining still heard her clearly.

Only then did he remember that right after their exams, over twenty days ago, Zhou Min had mentioned Mu Bai's plan to treat everyone for the New Year.

He hadn't paid much attention to it in the first place. After spending another half month on duty at the Outer City Wall, he'd forgotten all about it.

Zhou Sining smiled and replied, "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

"We're classmates. What's there to stand on ceremony for? Hurry over. I've sent you the address."

After hanging up, Zhou Sining left home with a smile and hailed a car. Half an hour later, he arrived at the street Mu Bai had opened.

Most of the shops on the street sold magic items, but there were also a few restaurants. One of the hot pot restaurants was the venue for tonight's gathering.

Before he even entered the restaurant, Zhou Sining could feel its exuberant atmosphere.

People filled every seat, inside and out. A steaming hot pot meal in this freezing weather warmed both body and heart.

He strode into the hot pot restaurant and reached the private room on the third floor without even getting winded. When he pushed open the door, he found nothing but familiar faces.

Mu Bai, Zhao Kunsan, Zhou Min, He Yu, Zhang Xiaohou, Xu Zhaoting, and Wang Sanpang had all been members of the vanguard back then. They had been through life and death together.

"You're the only one we've been waiting for. Sit down. Order anything you want. It's my treat today," Mu Bai greeted him.

Those words instantly livened up the room.

"Woo!"

"Everything tonight is on Young Master Mu!"

Someone shouted it out, and the whole room burst into laughter.

"Then we won't hold back, Young Master Mu."

"Young Master Mu is so generous! Don't forget us when you strike it rich!"

After several rounds of drinks, everyone began reminiscing, and before long, the conversation drifted elsewhere.

"Too bad Teacher Xue couldn't make it, and Brother Fan wasn't free either," Zhang Xiaohou said regretfully.

"Mo Fan's whole family went to Magic City. They're probably celebrating the New Year right now. No need to feel bad about it. If you really want to see him, just make a video call."

"Exactly."

"How about putting his photo up? Then we can count him as being here too," Zhou Sining added mischievously.

"Right! Zhang Xiaohou, find a photo of Mo Fan and prop it up in front of that bowl."

"Yeah, yeah, exactly. Stand it up."

"It'd have more atmosphere in black and white," Zhou Sining added with a laugh.

His proposal quickly received unanimous approval.

"Here, give him a bowl of rice." With the alcohol going to his head, Mu Bai loosened up too.

"Stick three chopsticks into the rice."