Dan Xingyu muttered something under his breath. 

Qiyu waited a long time for his reply and couldn’t help but wonder, “Is he really that upset?”

【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a gift.】

Now the Divine Avatar was reacting.

【God Has No Form:? How come there’s more?】

【I Love Survival Game: Just to cheer you up.】

【God Has No Form: …I’m not upset!】

【God Has No Form: It’s just that it’s so hot today,  I’m feeling a little under the weather.  I think I might have heatstroke.】

If the heat hadn’t fried his brain, how could he possibly think a guy of the same sex who’s more than a decade older than him was cute? 1This is just crazy!

【I Love Survival Game: Then hurry up and use the gift I gave you.】

【God’s True Form: I’ve used them—lots of them.】

【God’s True Form: Have you had dinner yet? Should I make you something to eat?】

【I Love Survival Game: I still have plenty of the food you gave me earlier—enough to last a long time. You should get some rest.】

He still has a lot to do tonight.

【I Love Survival Game: Got it—the gift is some really delicious snacks.】

Convinced he’d successfully cheered up his friend, Qiyu felt relieved as he opened the chat window for his next friend: 【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a gift.】

The Civil Engineering Brother froze when he saw this message. What’s going on? Are there new mutant plants for sale again?

He selected “Accept” and, upon seeing the item details, froze in shock.

【Civil Engineering Brother：？？？】

【Civil Engineering Brother: Game Master, what’s this?】

【I Love Survival Game: I went out for a bit and brought you a gift.】

Civil Engineering Brother wasn’t sure whether to be delighted by the gift’s usefulness, shocked that the Gaming Expert had actually “gone out,” or touched that the Gaming Expert had gone out of his way just to bring him a souvenir. 

He was completely stunned for a few seconds before he came to his senses.

【Civil Engineering Brother: Oh my gosh, thanks, big shot. This is such a pleasant surprise.】

He really hadn’t expected this—they were friends who’d met in a survival game, and besides, his interactions with the Gaming Expert had basically been limited to trading items.

The top player had actually taken the time to carefully pick out a gift for him—this abacus was so perfectly suited to his innate skill; it was clear a lot of thought had gone into it.

It almost flustered this smooth-talking businessman—he just stood there grinning like an idiot, clutching the abacus. 

Check-in complete. Next friend.

【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a gift.】

【Dare Not Open My Eyes：？？？】

【Dare Not Open My Eyes: Aaaah, Big Shot! You’re my dad! What is this?!】

【Dare Not Open My Eyes: Is this a newly added item? Thanks for thinking of me—I’ll see if I have something of equal value to trade with you.】

“Dare Not Open My Eyes” immediately thought of trading supplies. He was amazed by the Gaming Expert’s trust in him—sending the gift directly without any hesitation, completely unconcerned that he might take it and then deny receiving it.

【I Love Survival Game: It’s not a trade—it’s a gift for you.】 

Dare Not Open My Eyes: Huh???

He sat there dumbfounded, completely baffled, while Qiyu had already smoothly moved on to the next shop. 

【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a gift.】

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: Do you need me to craft some gear for you?】

Even after meeting Chairman Sean—who was “a ripe old age of seventy-nine”—Qiyu still showed Tranquility Yields Transcendence a bit more respect than he did others.

【I Love Survival Game: No, I was out for a bit—this is a gift I brought back for you.】 Tranquility Yields Transcendence broke into a smile.

He had received many gifts in his life, but in Survival Game, this was the first “gift” he’d ever received that was completely free of any ulterior motives. 

He had also noticed that ever since his age and status had been revealed, the number-one player in Server 01 of “I Love Survival Game” had shown him an unusual degree of respect. 

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: Thanks for the gift—I really like it.】

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: I’m guessing you brought gifts for Civil Engineering Brother and Xiao Yan, too.】

【I Love Survival Game: Well, they’re all friends, so they’re all here.】

Tranquility Yields Transcendence thought that before entering the survival game, he must have been the kind of kid everyone liked—smart, diligent, and sincere.

In addition to his four friends, Qiyu’s friend list included a “creditor” he’d added on a whim. Need A Little Money to Save Me.

Aside from that one transaction and the “debt,” the two weren’t particularly close. But he was indeed one of the few “friends” on Qiyu’s list.

Qiyu remembered that he could never conjure up food, so he simply sent him a bunch of food. 

【Need A Little Money To Save Me:? Gaming Pro, you already sent me today’s food this morning.】

【I Love Survival Game: I sent gifts to everyone on my friends list today—here’s yours.】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: I have drifted aimlessly for half a lifetime, lamenting only that I never met a wise lord. If you do not deem me unworthy, I wish to acknowledge you as my foster father!】

【I Love Survival Game: ?】

Is running around asking people to be your dad some kind of trendy custom among you Earth people? People in the post-apocalypse just can’t wrap their heads around this kind of love.

【I Love Survival Game: No need—just speak normally.】

“Need A Little Money To Save Me” chuckled twice and immediately started rummaging through his backpack.

【Your friend “Need A Little Money To Save Me” has sent you a gift.】

【I Love Survival Game: What’s this?】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: A gift!】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: This is also a return gift. As the old saying goes, “It’s impolite not to reciprocate.” Gaming big shot, please accept this.】 

Seeing that Qiyu accepted the gift, “Need A Little Money To Save Me” clenched his fist tightly. 

Yay! My grip on this big shot just got a little tighter.

He’s the number one player on all three leaderboards! If I don’t seize this chance to suck up to him, I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight! 

Need A Little Money To Save Me sent to Qiyu was a golden gemstone flower.

【Gem Flower: An exquisite work of art.】

It’s not exactly a useful resource, but it’s very beautiful. 

Qiyu held it in his hands, examining it from every angle. He loved it so much that he decided to display it on the table in the main hall. After giving the gift, he opened his personal panel.

Survival ID: I Love Survival Game 

Age: 19

Shelter: Level 2, upgradeable.

Class: Level 3 Mage, Farmer. 

Talent: Planting·Exotic (Beginner).

Since becoming a Level 3 Mage, he hadn’t had a chance to check his personal panel yet.

Health: 615 (Level 3 Mage base health: 500; Emerald 3-piece set bonus: 115.) 

Attack: 33

Defense: 26 

Agility: 35

Mana: 1371

Although he had sensed the changes in his body, seeing the actual numbers still came as a pleasant surprise to Qiyu.

After advancing past Level 3 Mage, his Attack, Defense, and Agility stats each increased by 10 points, while his Mental Power jumped by a full 30 points. Thanks to the 20% bonus from the three-piece jade equipment set, his Health more than doubled compared to the 291 he had as a Level 2 Mage.

Qiyu took out the two white jade fruits that Chairman Sean had given him.

True to their name, the white jade fruits had a milky-white skin, resembling a lustrous jade fruit.

Qiyu rinsed them, picked one up, and took a bite.

The sweet, refreshing juice flowed down his throat into his body, transforming into a warm, soothing sensation.

【Attack Power +3.】

It actually added three points of attack power? Qiyu ate the second one as well.

【Attack Power +2.】

It was still an attack boost, but this time it was only two points.

But Qiyu was quite satisfied; his Attack Power had now reached 38 points. The Heart of the Great Tree Staff felt even more comfortable in his hand.

Qiyu tried casting a spell; a tiny flame appeared in the void before him and slowly grew larger.

“Cheep—”

A crisp birdcall rang out, and a tiny flame bird flew out of the light, circling Qiyu once.

Level 3 Fire Magic: Spirit of Flame.

As long as he had enough mana, Qiyu could keep this little bird floating indefinitely, hanging it above his head as a nightlight. 

At the same time, he closed his eyes, letting his mental energy and magical power radiate outward.

He could “hear” the faintest sounds throughout his domain and vaguely sense the “emotions” of all its inhabitants.

The gold apple sapling buried in the ground seemed to be sleeping, quiet and still.

Mist star flower was happy.

Screaming lily of the valley was quiet, bright sunflower was full of energy, and irritable tomato was, well, irritable.

The demon vine… was hungry. 

Gentle green sparks radiated outward from his senses, and all the plants joyfully accepted his soothing touch.

Only the demon vine was greedily gulping down the magic.

The emotions it conveyed gradually shifted to: eat, eat, satisfied, happy. 

Level 3 Wood Magic: Whisper of Nature.

It allows for a basic sensing of plants’ emotions. As a spell, it doesn’t seem particularly impressive, but as a support skill for a farmer, it’s excellent.

Qiyu tried a few more spells.

Magic—fun. 

If he didn’t have other things to do, he felt he could play around with them all night.

He opened the mages association shop.

In addition to the magic crystals and gold coins he’d already received, his salary included one set of Tier 3 or lower magic materials of his choice each month. He chose to claim a year’s worth all at once, which meant he could receive up to 12 sets of Tier 3 magic materials.

Qiyu clicked on it with anticipation.

He was surprised to discover that magic crystals were included among the magical materials, with each portion containing 10 crystals.

That makes sense—if he doesn’t choose any other materials, he can get an extra 10 third-tier magic crystals every month.

Qiyu didn’t currently have any use for a large number of third-tier magic crystals. Among the three rows of items, the quality increased from bottom to top. He went straight to the third-tier magic materials.

30 ml of Nether Moon Owl Blood, 1 unit of Aomori Giant Python Flesh Essence, a pair of Magic-Winged Beast Claws… 1 hundred-year-old Soul-Devouring Grass, 10 ml of Ancient Tree Spirit Elixir, 1 hundred-year-old Poison Shark Wood Root…

Qiyu：“……”

He looked as if he couldn’t make head or tail of it. 

He had absolutely no idea what these things were or what they were used for. 

Never mind, he’ll just set them aside for now. He has a year, so he can take his time choosing.

Next time he goes to Gold Hole City, he’ll borrow more books from the mages association and read through them at his own pace. He logged out and opened the mages association shop. 

The food and gifts he’d bought in Gold Hole City earlier had cost him a total of just 1,527 gold coins. Now, he still had 87,463 gold coins in his backpack. 

He was rich!

Time to go spend some money at the Mages Association shop!

He opened the Mages Association Shop homepage.

The top item on the first page that loaded.

【Elemental Array: Ranked No. 1 on the Mages Association’s best-seller list for a thousand consecutive years. Effect: Increases cultivation speed.】

This Elemental Array comes in three tiers: green, blue, and purple.

Green tier: 10,000 gold coins. Blue tier: 50,000 gold coins. Purple tier: 80,000 gold coins. 

Furthermore, elemental arrays cannot be used immediately after purchase; you must use magic crystals to set up the array points.

“……”

He thought to himself, “Being a mage really is expensive.”