Gala Village.
A dashing young lad dressed in simple clothes came to Grandma Sun's house with two buckets of water.
"Grandma Sun, the water tank is filled up. Is there anything else I can help you with? I noticed you're running low on firewood, I can go and collect some from the mountain!"
The young lad’s eyes were clear and bright, staring at Grandma Sun, as if yearning for something.
"There's no need, there are still some bundles of firewood in the shed. It's enough." Grandma Sun quickly waved her hand, "You must be exhausted, let grandma get you a bowl of water."
A slight trace of disappointment flashed in the lad’s eyes. "No need, Uncle Chen's old mother pig was sick. I need to go there and check if it's okay."
"Wait a moment, Xiaofan. Grandma has some grains for you." Grandma Sun, aware of the boy's upright nature, quickly called him and shoved a small bag of grain into Bufan's hand.
"I still have some grain at home.”
Before Bufan could finish, Grandma Sun's kind face became more stern, "Take it when I give it to you, otherwise I wouldn't dare to let you help me in the future."
Hearing this, Bufan quickly accepted the rice, "Thank you, Grandma Sun."
"Why are you being polite to me?" Grandma Sun's smile became even warmer, "Xiaofan, the celestial master from the mountains came down to take apprentices today, and many people from the village went. Won't you give it a try? If chosen, you could become a celestial disciple."
"It's not that easy to get chosen. If it were that easy, everyone could become a celestial master." Bufan stayed silent for a moment before shaking his head, disinterestedly.
"Yes, that's true. I remember the last few times the celestial master came to our village to choose apprentices, no child from our village was chosen. I wonder if any would be chosen this time?" Grandma Sun agreed.
After chit-chatting with Grandma Sun for a while, Bufan said goodbye and left.
"This child…"
Looking at the hastily departing figure, Granny Sun sighed.
In the village, only this child was willing to patiently listen to her, an old crone, ramble on. It was a pity she didn't have a granddaughter; otherwise, it would be great to have Xiao Fan as a grandson-in-law.
After that, she shook her head and turned to go inside.
Just as Bu Fan left Granny Sun's house, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Task Completed: Granny Sun's Request]
[Task Reward: 800 experience points, a high-grade Immortal Cultivation Escape Technique - Mini Asura Escape Technique]
[Ultimate Oblivion Sutra Upgraded]
[Congratulations, you have advanced to the eighth level of Qi Refining stage, rewarding a high-grade Immortal Cultivation Sword Technique - Ocean Sword Technique]
[Granny Sun's goodwill towards you +50]
Bu Fan was not surprised. He had been here for a year now, and he had a pretty good understanding of his Golden Finger, a term in Chinese fantasy novels often referring to some special power or cheat-like ability that the protagonist possesses.
His Golden Finger was like a role-playing game character. As long as he completed the tasks assigned by people, he could obtain corresponding task rewards and favorability levels. The favorability could also be used for lucky draws.
"The higher the cultivation level, the better the rewards and items received."
Looking at the two cultivation techniques, Bu Fan felt thoughtful.
He remembered when he first started, the item rewards he received were all sorts of odd books like "Effective Pig Raising," "A Million Postures for the First Rule of Safety," "Teacher Bai and Principal Gao's Daily Life," and so on.
At that time, he was truly flabbergasted.
Later on, things were much better, with the books he obtained mostly about musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, and martial arts.
At first, he was pretty excited.
After all, if he could master these books, he could certainly make a decent name for himself as a scholar in a foreign antique world.
However, after he had fully mastered these skills, he was surprised to discover that this world was actually the legendary world of immortals and demons, which dampened his spirits and the desire to leave the village.
In this world of cunning creatures and survival of the fittest, going out without any real strength was akin to courting death. Even with absolute strength, who could assure that there wouldn't be anyone stronger?
In any case, in the novels Bu Fan had read in his previous life, the protagonist always found out that there were higher-level bosses just when they were about to reach the pinnacle.
For the sake of safety, Bu Fan chose to continue to stay in the village and keep collecting task rewards.
As long as there were tasks, he accepted them all.
Fortunately, those outlandish books he previously encountered later helped him to receive many tasks.
With his help, the infertile sow at someone's house suddenly gave birth to thirty or forty piglets, a constantly bickering couple started to show affection, the elderly woman next door named Wang started producing children and grandchildren, and so forth.
Nowadays, whenever someone in the village saw Bu Fan, they'd raise their thumbs in praise, exclaiming what a good boy he was.
Bu Fan didn't hesitate to choose to learn two of these skills.
Memories, complete with images and words, flooded into his mind.
After a short while.
He checked his status.
【Character: Bu Fan】
【Race: Human Race】
【Introduction: You were born in an ordinary small village, blessed with loving parents. But it seemed like fate played a cruel joke on you. Your father went hunting in the mountains and disappeared forever, and your mother vanished as well when she went out searching for him. Despite this, you did not lose hope for the future. You bravely faced life, growing up helped by the villagers and the food they provided. You are determined to find your missing parents. Youth, keep going!!】
【Talent: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth -- the Five Element Spiritual Roots】
【Bloodline: None】
【Titles: The Eighth Level Qi Refining Cultivator, Martial Arts Master, God of Medicine, Virtuous Scholar, Zither Immortal, Chess Saint, God of Painting...】
【Skills: Light Body Technique
Mastered
4000/4000,
Eight Trigrams Palm
Basic
800/2000,
Grasping Hand
Mastered
4000/4000,
Vajra Fist
Basic
2800/3500,
Ruo Yan Step
Mastered
4000/4000,
Turtle Breathing Technique
Beginner
500/1000,
Tai Chi Sword Technique
Mastered
4000/4000,
Supreme Forgetting Scripture
Eighth level
0/8000,
Fire-controlling Spell
Fifth level
3100/5000】
Quicksand Technique
Level 6
1800/6000,
Breath Concealment Technique
Level 9
9000/9000
Mini Asura Vanishing Skill
Level 1
0/1000
Ocean Sword Technique
Level 1
0/1000
…】
【Offline Skills: The Ultimate Sitting and Forgetting Scripture, Flame Control Secret, Quicksand Technique
Note: Only three skills can be offline
】
Compared to other skills that need to be leveled up through tasks, the skills placed in the offline skill column can gain experience points anytime and anywhere. This is literally gaining experience even while lying down.
Bu Fan rudely cancelled the Flame Control Secret and Quicksand Technique, replaced them with Mini Asura Vanishing Skill and Ocean Sword Technique, then prepared to continue his tasks.
"Bu Fan, why are you still here? Don't you know the immortals in the mountains have come down to take disciples? Hurry up and follow me, or you'll miss this opportunity."
The speaker was Wang Changgui, the village chief of Gagalag Village. Bu Fan wanted to refuse, but a mission panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.
【Village Chief of Gagalag Village's Mission】
【As the chief of a village, no one should be left out. Please follow the village chief to the village entrance to participate in the Tianxuan Gate's acceptance of disciples】
【Rewards: 2000 experience points, one unparalleled cultivation manual】
【Accept! Refuse!】
Bu Fan’s eyes lit up.
An unparalleled cultivation manual, this was an opportunity that could not be missed.