Thanks to GreenKiTea on Kofi for the kofis. Enjoy this bonus chapter!

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Although he felt that way, Qiyu still carried a small flowerpot outside. 

He carefully controlled his strength, gently removing the seven-colored flower from the pot without damaging the roots.

He then prepared to transplant it into a vacant plot of farmland.

【That’s so lame!】 

Qiyu: …

He changed his mind and selected intermediate-level farmland.

This time, the Chatterbox Flower didn’t show any obvious resistance.

However,  as Qiyu carefully placed it into the dug-out hole, he could still sense its incessant grumbling.

The entire exchange could be summed up in one word: disdain. Qiyu cast a blessing spell on it.

The seven small leaves of different colors wiggled happily; after being blessed by the spell, their colors all seemed to become much brighter.

【So nice! I want more!】

Although it was quite chatty, the little guy was indeed very cute.

Qiyu chose to spoil it rotten. 

He cast the blessing spell once more.

It finally quieted down. Qiyu observed it for a moment; it seemed to be in a drowsy state, as if it had just eaten its fill. 

A proper lord doesn’t play favorites; everyone gets the same share as the seven-colored flower. A wide-area blessing spell fell upon his subjects. 

He received 120 emerald crystal peaches and 120 red maple wood (green) in his backpack, along with an additional drop of 30 red maple wood (blue). On the trade screen with Qiyu and God Has No Form, he sent the emerald crystal peaches to him.

【God Has No Form: Are you hungry? Dinner will be ready in a little while.】 

【I Love Survival Game: It’s okay, I’m not hungry.】

He wasn’t exactly lying.

The longer he spent in the survival game, the less his body craved food—whether because his stats had greatly improved or because, as a mage, he could replenish his energy with mana, Qiyu wasn’t sure.

Even when it was time to eat, he didn’t feel hungry, and his stamina bar remained full at all times.

The only reason he ate every meal was simply his pursuit of delicious food.

Or perhaps there was another reason—the obsession with food that a former post-apocalyptic survivor might have?

He took out a packet of seeds he’d bought in Gold Hole City from his backpack.

【Carrot Seeds: Plant to yield carrots.】

They were all unfamiliar plants, and Qiyu couldn’t be bothered to pick one—he’d just go with these.

He planted the carrot seeds in the basic farmland.

But to his surprise, the familiar countdown didn’t appear above the farmland. Huh?

Qiyu could sense a faint vitality in the carrot seeds. He boosted the “Whispers of Nature” spell by one level and discovered that the carrots’ emotions were so faint—so faint they were almost imperceptible. 

What’s going on?

Could it be that the Survival Game had released another update without any notification? Or had something gone wrong with his plant-based ability? He checked his character panel but found nothing out of the ordinary.

Qiyu pondered for a moment, then took a rainbow pumpkin seed from his backpack and planted it.

The 72-hour countdown appeared again. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He took out another watermelon seed he’d harvested earlier and planted it. The countdown showed 24 hours.

No problems at all.

If the seeds obtained from the survival game were fine, then… He pulled out another packet of seeds—this time, rose seeds.

He carefully took out a few seeds and scattered them on the farmland.

Sure enough, he could sense the vitality, but there was no visible countdown. Qiyu fell deep in thought.

So, are the seeds purchased from Gold Hole City different from those obtained from the survival game system?

Qiyu put the seeds away.

He visited the Magic Guild’s shop, trying to find a book like *A Guide to Plant Cultivation* to take a look.

Of course, he couldn’t find anything at the Guild Shop, which only sold magical items. After much deliberation, Qiyu opened the chat page for “Tranquility Yields Transcendence.”

【I Love Survival Game: Hello, I’d like to ask—how long does it take for carrot seeds to mature?】

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: Have you obtained carrot seeds? If you’re on Earth, it might take a few months from planting to harvest. But in the Survival Game, I’m not sure.】

He also managed to acquire a few plots of farmland and bought seeds from the trading page, but the harvest times were completely random—there was no discernible pattern. 

A few months? That’s a good harvest.

【I Love Survival Game: What about rose seeds?】

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: Roses—are there even seeds? If you’re starting from seed to bloom, it might take several months—or maybe even longer.】

【Tranquility Yields Transcendence: But I’m talking about normal circumstances. Since you can grow such miraculous mutant plants, the time might be significantly shorter.】

【I Love Survival Game: I understand. Thank you.】

His by-the-book attitude made it hard for Tranquility Yields Transcendence not to think of the well-behaved students he used to teach. He instinctively blurted out:

He instinctively sent a message:

【If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me anytime.】

Qi Yu was taken aback.

【I Love Survival Games: Okay, thanks.】

【Your friend “God Has No Form” sent you a gift】

It must be a delicious breakfast! Qiyu eagerly selected “Accept.”

【Received: Rice x10, Spicy Crab x2, Steamed cold pool snow fish x2, Blanched green salt shrimp x2, Seafood in Spicy Sauce x2, Seafood Noodles x2, Braised Pork Ribs x2, Boiled Sliced Pork x2, Chilled Cucumber Salad x2, Stir-Fried Vegetables x2……】

Qiyu was stunned, staring at the table piled high with delicious food. If the table hadn’t been big enough, it might not even have fit it all.

【God Has No Form: I’m heading out for a bit, and I might not be able to cook for a while, so I’m making extra for you.】

High-level backpacks have a food preservation feature. If you put cooked meals in your backpack and take them out a few days later, they’ll still taste just like they’re fresh off the stove. 

Qiyu was curious: 【Are you going to explore a new area too?】

Exploring a new area?

Dan Xingyu mulled over those words. Maybe the food he had was something he’d obtained while exploring a new area?

【God Has No Form: Maybe, but it might not be the same thing you’re talking about. I’ll talk to you about it when I get back.】

【I Love Survival Game: Okay.】

【God Has No Form: I’ll bring you a souvenir when I get back.】

Qiyu stared at the words “souvenir” for a moment. Even though the other person hadn’t even set out yet, he was already looking forward to it. 

【I Love Survival Game: Okay.】

After ending the chat, he looked at the table piled high with food and felt torn. 

His dilemma was this: everything smelled so good, and every dish looked delicious—he couldn’t decide which one to try first.

In the end, he chose the seafood noodles, which looked especially hearty, and packed the rest of the food into his backpack.

Not only did the seafood noodles look tempting, but he felt that on a damp, chilly morning like this, eating a bowl of steaming hot noodle soup would truly be a blissful experience.

Even with such high expectations, when he finally tasted it, Qiyu was still blown away.

How could it be this fresh! 

Every strand of noodle is coated in seafood broth, with a chewy, springy texture. The dish is topped with shrimp and crab, as well as fish slices as thin as a cicada’s wing.

Since he hadn’t eaten much good food before, Qiyu’s highest praise for food was limited to “delicious” and “extra delicious.” 

His verdict on the seafood noodles was that they were even more delicious than “super delicious.”

He declared that from that moment on, the seafood noodles would surpass everything he had ever eaten to become the best food in the world.

After finishing every last drop of soup, Qiyu reluctantly set down his bowl.

He decided he’d have another bowl for lunch!

Back in the post-apocalyptic world, after the Foundation collapsed, he began wandering alone. Occasionally, he’d encounter others like himself, but everyone was cold and numb, wary and on guard, keeping their distance.

He would hear all kinds of complaints: why they had to be born into such a cruel world, resenting their parents for bringing them into the world to suffer. Later, he heard that a certain religion had emerged; desperate humans turned to faith as a spiritual refuge to sustain themselves.

He didn’t really have time to think about all that—living was just living, and if he could survive, he would.  

It wasn’t until he entered the survival game that he realized: there’s a difference between simply living and truly living. 

It turned out that life could be so carefree and happy. 

With each passing day, he felt even happier than the day before.

Since it was a rare day without rain, Qiyu decided to go explore the Star Forest. 

He’s no longer very worried about the safety of the energy he’s currently receiving.

Judging by the intensity of the magical fluctuations from the advanced magic energy tower, if an enemy were to breach a fully charged advanced magic energy tower and destroy it and his territory, Qiyu felt that even with him included, they would most likely just be another meal for the mutated creatures.

Today, he’ll head in a different direction—toward the north of the refuge.

Since it was an unexplored path, Qiyu walked a bit slower, using magic to clear away the rotting twigs and fallen leaves as he went.

While clearing away some debris, a thought suddenly popped into his head: all the players in his region were in the Star Forest, and when he went to Gold Hole City, Leslie and the others were also aware of the Star Forest’s existence.

Moreover, exploring the Star Forest can lead to finding treasure chests. So, does that mean the Star Forest counts as a level in the Survival Game?

He’d brought gifts for each of his friends when he left home, but unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to prepare a gift for the Survival Game. 

Of course, the Survival Game probably didn’t even know who he was, but he was truly grateful that it had brought him here! 

Qiyu tried to cast a blessing spell on the forest before him—the widest-reaching one he was currently capable of—as if he were blessing his own domain. 

The magic of nature gently settled upon every creature of the forest. 

A flood of joy washed over Qiyu. 

Infected by this seemingly endless joy, he couldn’t help but let out a relaxed smile.