Chapter 10: Further Deception

[Your enemy: Wu Guan, the estate master, slandered you to your friend: Wu Xiu, the scholar, but they did not see eye to eye. Wu Xiu, the scholar, believed Wu Guan, the estate master, was talking nonsense.]

“…”

“My goodness, at this hour, the father and son should be having breakfast. They’re discussing me so early in the morning, but why isn’t there any Hostility Level or Favorability related to me this time?”

“Is it because I am not the main subject?”

Chen Xiyi was not very clear about this either. He had just obtained the Friend System and Enemy System functions. Previously, it had been a single-player version with no tutorial or manual, so naturally, he was unfamiliar with them.

He was still exploring these functions.

“However, Wu Xiu’s father is an estate master. Can I use Wu Xiu, this NPC, to find the information I need?”

Chen Xiyi pondered this matter. He needed Iron Ore and Coal. He did not know if this world had already developed and utilized Coal. If it had, things would be much easier. If not, it might be a bit more troublesome.

As for Iron Ore, based on what Chen Xiyi learned from Wu Xiu, it seemed it had already been developed and utilized.

“Besides Iron Ore and Coal, I also need sand, sulfur, and various other materials. I need too many things. If I search aimlessly alone, it will probably take a lot of time.”

“Only by making good use of the NPCs in this world can I develop better.”

The idea was good, but the problem was that Chen Xiyi felt if he straightforwardly pursued these matters, he might not be able to outsmart the people of this world.

Ancient people had limitations due to their era, which made many things unclear to them. This did not mean they were foolish or naive.

“Therefore, I must establish my persona as the immortal Qingxu Funyaozi. Then, I can use information asymmetry and mystical tricks to deceive them.”

Chen Xiyi knew his own limitations, so he had to leverage his strengths.

“Moreover, I don’t just need resources; I also need items with Historical Connotation, preferably those related to gods and spirits. I am just a Sandbox Game Player, not a true immortal. Only the spirits related to gods and ghosts, which I can enlighten, can help me continue the deception.”

Chen Xiyi had already devised a strategy for this.

According to Wu Xiu’s earlier introduction, the Great Li Kingdom valued literature over martial arts and revered gods and spirits. The path of a scholar could be set aside for now. With his identity as the Great Immortal Qingxu Funyaozi, he could first go to temples to obtain the enshrined statues or ritual objects, then use secondary deception to acquire the hereditary items of military officials.

Once his influence grew, he could then target civil officials.

After all, those who could become officials were generally shrewd individuals; otherwise, how could they survive in officialdom?

“There are green dots and three white dots? It must be Wu Xiu coming. It seems I need to put on a show.”

At the bottom of the mine, Chen Xiyi hurriedly climbed up. After returning to the Stone House, he sealed the entrance with a stone slab, then sat cross-legged on the bed. After a moment of thought, he put on the attire of the Qingxu Sect leader.

…

Wu Xiu stood outside the Stone House with three servants and could not help but marvel at how this was truly the dwelling of an immortal. In just one night, a Stone House had risen out of nowhere.

“I, Wu Xiu, along with my servants, pay respects to the Great Immortal Qingxu.”

After straightening his clothes, he bowed and spoke outside the door.

However, no sound came from inside. Instead, the stone door abruptly opened on its own.

Wu Xiu looked closely and was startled. The door seemed to have opened by itself, not by the Great Immortal Qingxu.

“Come in,” a casual voice sounded from within.

“Yes, Great Immortal.”

With that, Wu Xiu entered. He saw the immortal sitting cross-legged on a wooden bed, exuding an aura of divine elegance that seemed detached from the mortal world. Vaguely, it felt as if he did not partake of worldly desires, and one could almost see the mountains and seas shifting in the human realm.

More importantly, upon entering, it felt as if he had stepped into a paradise. All the burdens on his body instantly lifted, and he felt much more comfortable than outside. Even his fatigue diminished by a third.

Fortunately, Wu Xiu quickly regained his composure and hurriedly bowed to apologize. “I was impolite. Please forgive me, Great Immortal.”

The three servants behind him, hearing this, naturally knelt down as well. Since their young master had apologized, they had to follow suit.

Chen Xiyi opened his eyes and slowly stood up. A large amount of stone appeared around him, forming a suit of armor.

“Rise. I was just in meditation, gathering energy, and revealed my true form. It is not your fault,” Chen Xiyi said as he stood up and walked to the side.

When Wu Xiu and the three servants looked up, they no longer saw Chen Xiyi wearing the Qingxu Sect leader’s attire. Instead, they saw Chen Xiyi clad in stone armor, fully covered.

Witnessing this, the four of them could not help but exclaim in admiration—truly an immortal.

Otherwise, how could he transform into such a form in an instant? Moreover, he resembled a stone-carved deity.

“Yes, Great Immortal.”

“Great Immortal, yesterday I left in a hurry. When I returned home, it was already night. This morning, I brought…”

Before Wu Xiu could finish, Chen Xiyi interrupted him. “No need. I have attained the Dao and do not eat grains or drink ordinary water. You should take these items back.”

“If I wish to indulge my cravings for food, your offerings are far from sufficient.”

These words made Wu Xiu feel somewhat embarrassed. He realized he had been too presumptuous. The noodles he had eaten yesterday were a divine delicacy, and the items he had brought were downright shameful.

“I was too presumptuous. I will take them back, take them back,” Wu Xiu could only say sheepishly, though he felt a bit displeased inside, as he had been belittled.

“It is fine. You came to my place so early and probably haven’t eaten. I happen to have some leftovers. Why not share them?”

Chen Xiyi took out some steamed buns, bread, soy milk, and fried dough sticks. These were all made in the large kitchen of his Homestead.

Looking at the steaming hot food, Wu Xiu initially wanted to refuse. But remembering how his father had argued with him early in the morning, causing him to leave without eating, and now feeling quite hungry after the walk, he had no choice but to say sheepishly, “Then I thank the Great Immortal.”

He then began stuffing the food into his mouth.

Chen Xiyi chuckled lightly. “These foods are for us, fellow practitioners, to satisfy our cravings. But you should not eat too much. Seventy percent full is enough. If you eat too much, the energy in the food may backfire.”

Wu Xiu, who was eating, paused for a moment. Was there such a saying?

But then he remembered that these foods were meant for immortals. Especially with every bite, he felt exceptionally refreshed and comfortable. It must be the energy in the food nourishing his body.

“I understand. This is the principle of ‘the weak cannot withstand strong tonics’,” Wu Xiu hastily agreed.

Chen Xiyi’s words were, of course, meant to deceive him. They were primarily used to reinforce Wu Xiu’s perception of him as an immortal.