CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47 THE MATING PROCESS? DELETED?

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

When the late-night delivery person rang the doorbell, Ren Suo was finally about to complete his first task.

Logically speaking, the combat in this game wasn’t particularly challenging. Ren Woxing’s Sword Control Technique was almost like a sniper rifle in open areas. Furthermore, Ren Changsheng’s Flame Magic Technique basically resembled throwing fragmentation hand grenades, exploding over a large area.

Ren Feifan was even more invincible in close combat, sweeping through large groups, his spear piercing a path through their lines, and causing a bloodbath whenever he penetrated enemy ranks.

Overall, the three brothers each had their strengths and weaknesses. The eldest, Ren Woxing, with his Sword Control Technique, attacked over a large range but could only target individuals. The second brother, Ren Changsheng, whose Flame Magic Technique had a medium range, could attack groups. The youngest, Ren Feifan, had a smaller attack range but could attack groups at a high frequency and was nearly invincible in close combat.

Thus, Ren Suo knew how to develop their skills. Ren Woxing should naturally focus on Attack and Move for long-range damage. The second brother, Ren Changsheng, who often stayed at home, should learn Healing and Management. Since Ren Feifan easily found himself engulfed in enemy ranks, he must cultivate both Attack and Defense.

Interestingly, the Offensive Spells they learned were set from the beginning and would not change. For example, even after Ren Suo had Ren Woxing practice three times, his Attack column still displayed "Sword Control Technique."

「The game time was now the winter of 191 AD.」

In the Ren Family, apart from the three Ren brothers, there were also 28 ’villagers’. These villagers, aside from Zhuo Yu and her servant, Xiao Cui, also included some commoners rescued by the three Ren brothers during their expeditions.

These villagers were extremely important, even more so than Spirit Crystals or Gold and Silver. The most noticeable change was during the Ren brothers’ Cultivation: the rate increased from +1 to +1.1 or +1.2. Each person had slightly different additional bonuses, which generally increased with the number of villagers.

Ren Feifan was the most impressive. Ever since Xiao Cui arrived, his Cultivation speed started directly from +2. In terms of combat power, Ren Feifan was now the strongest in the Ren Family.

When Ren Suo queried the ’villagers’ data, he would receive a hint: "Increasing the number of villagers will increase the cultivatable land, and may also produce special professionals like physicians, tailors, blacksmiths, hunters, and miners. Moreover, most Cultivators do not like loneliness; they need the cheers of commoners to affirm that their Cultivation is utterly correct."

Simply put, Cultivators somewhat enjoy showing off in front of commoners; the more commoners there are, the greater their motivation to cultivate. And Ren Feifan is the most evident example—he probably wants to impress Xiao Cui.

Also, Ren Suo discovered that among the six Attributes of a Cultivator, ’Management’ was particularly distinct as it was linked to the number of villagers. When the number of villagers increased, the Management Attribute would also rise. This increased the amount of Gold and Silver, and provisions obtained each quarter, and could even result in special rewards—

For example, in the summer of 191, a villager discovered a Spirit Crystal in the wild and decided to give it to the Ren Family. This triggered a special system prompt: "Ren Changsheng’s Management Attribute met the conditions, triggering the Spirit Crystal offering event."

Furthermore, this wild Spirit Crystal was enormous. Common Ghost Soldiers generally yielded only one portion of Spirit Crystal, while Ghost Generals typically yielded 5 to 10 portions. Yet, this retrieved Spirit Crystal was worth a full 100 portions!

Consider that the Ren Family Brothers fought Demons to the death at Hulao Pass for an entire quarter and only gathered about the same amount! But now they could simply pick them up!

If, in the future, the number of villagers increased, resulting in miners, hunters, and other professions, then the probability and frequency of obtaining Spirit Crystals would also significantly increase, making it a surefire profit.

Moreover, aside from Spirit Crystals, some individual villagers also had special skills. Zhuo Yu, for instance, had the ’Affinity’ Trait, which reduced the chance of villagers leaving.

In the past three quarters, Ren Suo had the three brothers cultivate for one quarter. Then, he split them into two teams to campaign at Hulao Pass. One team, composed of Ren Woxing and Ren Feifan, encountered a powerful Great Ghost General with a defensive power of 3 points. Ren Woxing and Ren Feifan couldn’t defeat him in one round. Then, the Great Ghost General hit Ren Feifan with an Attack Power of 3 points.

Ren Suo thought a casualty was finally about to occur. However, Ren Feifan was only seriously injured and unable to fight. After returning home, Ren Changsheng quickly healed Ren Feifan.

However, in Ren Feifan’s character card, it displayed that his maximum Lifespan was reduced to 22 years; in his character image, his hair also appeared to have turned slightly white.

Player Ren Suo could check the information of all villagers and Ren Family Members. Most villagers had a Lifespan of over 50 years, while the three Ren brothers were all 23. Ren Feifan’s Lifespan was now reduced to 22 years, apparently due to the defeat.

Ren Changsheng also said, "Family Head, according to inherited knowledge, as possessors of the Champion Bloodline, we naturally have a Magic Technique called the Strong Heart Technique. It can temporarily save our lives when we face a fatal blow and even allow us to recover enough to move after some time. However, when the Strong Heart Technique is automatically activated, it directly reduces our Lifespan."

Combat is risky, but for the sake of propagation, the Ren Family must acquire Spirit Crystals by slaughtering Demons. If Spirit Crystals could be obtained by developing the village and establishing multiple sources, it would greatly reduce how often the Ren Family Cultivators needed to fight.

Therefore, Ren Suo understood the game’s management strategy: there must be one member with high Management and one with strong combat power. As long as the family had these two types of characters, they could always make a fresh start.

When they returned from an expedition in autumn, the total number of Spirit Crystals exceeded 300. Ren Changsheng then said, "These Spirit Crystals now meet the requirements of the Taibai Plains Earth Spirit. Family Head, please do it for our family’s propagation!"

Ren Woxing said, "We brothers put our utmost effort into obtaining these Spirit Crystals... Are we really just going to give them away?"

Ren Changsheng laughed, "Big Brother, these Spirit Crystals are treasures that aid Cultivators in their Cultivation. However, we possess the Champion Bloodline and naturally master Spiritual Energy. As we age, our Cultivation level continuously climbs. The only thing limiting our Cultivation is time."

"We don’t need Spirit Crystals to assist our Cultivation. Isn’t it wonderful to exchange these items we don’t need for what we do?"

In the game interface on the left, above "Expedition," a new option appeared: "Spiritual Exchange."

Selecting "Spiritual Exchange," a list appeared. However, it contained only one item: "Taibai Plains Earth Spirit, 300 Spirit Crystals, Trait: Earth."

Why does this feel like soliciting a prostitute... Ren Suo quipped. He then chose the Taibai Plains Earth Spirit and had to select which Ren Family member would perform the Divine Communion with it.

Selecting ’Ren Feifan,’ his portrait actually made a sound: "Hey, hey, hey, Big Brother, I don’t want to do this so soon..."

Selecting ’Ren Changsheng,’ he said, "Family Head, we are now the first generation of Ren Family Cultivators. As the direct bloodline and the eldest of the second generation, it is only right that I, representing the Family Head’s line, do this."

Alright, Ren Suo then chose ’Ren Woxing’ to perform the Divine Communion with the Taibai Plains Earth Spirit.

The Taibai Plains Earth Spirit said, "As you wish. I hope that when this local Earth Spirit awakens, it can still see my bloodline and yours."

Here it comes! Ren Suo thought, his eyes wide with anticipation, eagerly watching the scene of the Cultivator and Spirit’s Divine Communion—

Suddenly, the screen burst into blinding light!

Damn, that’s blinding! Ren Suo winced and shut his eyes. The next moment, the scene unexpectedly returned to the family hall.

Ren Changsheng announced, "The child conceived from the Family Head’s Divine Communion with the Earth Spirit will take a quarter to be born. I will now take charge of family affairs."

Nothing to see? Ren Suo was a bit disappointed. He quickly settled the affairs of the winter of 191.

「It was now the spring of 192.」

"WAAH, WAAH..." The cries of a baby echoed in the family hall as Ren Woxing appeared on screen, holding the child.

Ren Feifan exclaimed, "Wow, this child looks just like you, Big Brother! Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?"

Ren Changsheng said, "Welcome back. Our Ren Family finally has the next generation! Big Brother, have you named the child?"

Ren Woxing replied, "This child is a baby girl born from my Divine Communion with the Taibai Spirit... I’ve already thought of her name. As for me... COUGH, COUGH... our Divine Communion with a Spirit also depletes our essence. It seems I’ll only be able to rest and recover for the next quarter."

Ren Suo sighed. No input field popped up, so it seems I can’t name the child. I was planning to name Ren Woxing’s kid ’Ren Woke’...

"This child was born in winter, so she shall be called—" Ren Woxing passionately declared, "Ren Xiaobai!"

Ren Suo, who was eating his late-night spicy hot pot, almost spat out the gluten he was chewing.

What on earth does winter have to do with ’Xiaobai’ (Little White)!

This game AI’s naming talent is on par with my own!

At this moment, the task information on the right side of the interface updated, and a new icon appeared: Family Tree.

In the Family Tree, the first column naturally listed the three Ren brothers. Under Ren Woxing’s portrait and name, a line extended to a baby’s portrait in the second column, named ’Ren Xiaobai’.

"Vanquish Demons, obtain Spirit Crystals, and continue the Ren Family Bloodline until at least AD 266, ensuring the Ren Family has at least one direct descendant remaining."