As that voice rang out, a series of system prompts resonated in Lin Chen's mind.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to the host 'Lin Chen' for activating the Popularity System. This system will make you overwhelmingly popular, become a high-earning handsome man, a CEO, marry a gorgeous rich woman, and become the man with the highest popularity in the entire universe."
"Ding-dong, detecting that the host's popularity level is excessively low, special newcomer's popularity gift pack awarded, would you like to open it?"
Lin Chen was startled by the sudden voice and sat up; he unexpectedly found that his headache was gone, the feeling of being poisoned had vanished without a trace, and in front of him appeared a golden screen showing his information:
Host: Lin Chen
Realm: None
Skills: None
Divine Skills: None
Cultivation Technique: None
Popularity Points: 0
"Ding-dong, congratulations to the host for successfully rescuing a beauty, awarded 10 popularity points."
"Cough cough, does it have to be so blunt? What's this about rescuing a beauty, can't it be called 'hero saving the beauty'?" Lin Chen said somewhat gloomily.
"Should someone with such low popularity really call themselves a hero?"
Although he was mercilessly mocked by the system, Lin Chen still converted his sorrow into strength, eagerly selecting the redeem gift button in the bottom-left corner.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to the host 'Lin Chen' for receiving the reward of the intermediate-level Xuan-stage Cultivation Technique 'Burst Step'.
"Ding-dong, congratulations to the host 'Lin Chen' for receiving the 'Shennong Hundred Herbs' reward."
Accompanied by the notification sounds, countless pieces of information appeared in Lin Chen's mind instantly.
Lin Chen's information changed as well:
Host: Lin Chen
Realm: None
Skills: Shennong Hundred Herbs
Divine Skills: None
Cultivation Technique: Burst Step
Popularity Points: 10
"Burst Step!" That sounded somewhat familiar.
Damn, isn't that the token Yun Yun gave to Xiao Yan in a certain popular novel?
Looking at the description of Burst Step, Lin Chen further confirmed his guess.
Burst Step, an intermediate-level Xuan-stage combat technique from another plane, a movement technique that accelerates speed using the explosive force of energy.
"Burst Step!"
Lin Chen exclaimed softly and felt a burst of sound from under his feet; his body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Bang!"
Because of his excessive speed, Lin Chen's body slammed hard into a pine tree.
"Damn it, that's way too fast!" Lin Chen touched his swollen forehead, his mouth agape in shock.
In just a few seconds, Lin Chen had dashed dozens of meters; this speed could leave Olympic sprint champions streets behind.
Suppressing the ecstasy in his heart, Lin Chen checked the other skill, Shennong Hundred Herbs.
Lin Chen discovered that his mind now contained a vast store of knowledge about botany and medical science.
The wild herbs around him suddenly became familiar; he recognized their names and even the medical effects flashed through his mind.
This mustard grass could invigorate the blood and dispel bruises, treat external injuries, while that thoroughwort could treat colds...
What was once a wasteland of weeds became a treasure trove in Lin Chen's eyes.
This was simply too miraculous, Lin Chen was nearly stunned by the knowledge stored in his mind.
No longer caring about weeding, with treasure all around him, Lin Chen naturally wouldn't miss out; he picked up the bamboo basket left by Zhao Xiaowen and began gathering herbs on the mountain.
Unknowingly, Lin Chen wandered into a forest that connected to Longquan Mountain, which was rich in vegetation, and therefore, also abundant in medicinal herbs.
Along the way, Lin Chen collected many precious herbs. Just as he prepared to return to the village, he suddenly saw a group of more than ten people standing beside a tree not far away, with a girl leaning against the trunk, her complexion deathly pale.
Lin Chen immediately recognized his uncle, Lin Shuang, and so he walked over.
"What happened to Second Uncle?" Lin Chen asked.
Lin Shuang sighed, "These people are hikers who came to play in Longquan Mountain, but this girl suddenly had a heart attack, and she didn't bring any medicine. It looks like she might not make it."
Lin Chen pushed his way through the crowd and saw a young man holding the girl, crying bitterly.
"Xue Ying, you have to hang in there. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have brought you to the mountains."
"The ambulance will be here soon, don't panic," said a bespectacled man cautiously beside him.
"Bullshit, she'll be dead by the time the ambulance gets here. Didn't you pack her bag? Why didn't you bring her nitroglycerin pills?" Xue Shan angrily reprimanded the young man beside him.
"I, I didn't think Xue Ying would have a heart attack, I forgot to bring them," Wang Dong stuttered.
"Aren't you a medical doctor? Did the dog eat what you learned abroad?" Xue Shan said furiously.
"Getting angry at me is useless. In Xue Ying's condition, without emergency medication, even a god would be helpless," said Wang Dong shaking his head, his face showing a hint of helplessness.
Out of everyone present, only Wang Dong had studied medicine, so his words were like a death sentence for the girl.
All faces were filled with sorrow, and some girls even cried out.
The girl was leaning against a tree, biting her lip, her face in agony, her breath growing weaker and weaker, looking as if she could no longer hold on.
At that moment, a set of hand techniques suddenly came to Lin Chen's mind that could save the girl.
Unable to bear watching such a beautiful girl perish, Lin Chen pushed through the crowd, "I can save her."
His words were like a bolt of lightning, as the dozen or so onlookers turned their eyes towards Lin Chen.
Xue Shan rushed over like seeing a lifesaver, grabbed Lin Chen's shoulder, "Are you a doctor? Can you cure my sister's illness?"
Lin Chen was just about to speak when his uncle, scared out of his wits, quickly pulled Lin Chen aside, "Lin Chen, what are you messing around for? You're just a high school student, how could you know how to treat an illness?"
Hearing his uncle's words, the hope that had just ignited in Xue Shan was quickly extinguished, and he knelt down in anguish before the girl.
Wang Dong, who was standing by, glared a fierce look at Lin Chen, "I, a returnee doctor, am helpless, and you, a high school student, think you have a way? It's a joke."
"Joking at a time like this is unforgivable."
At that point, everyone vented their anger on Lin Chen, as if the girl had had a heart attack because of him.
"She really can be saved!" Lin Chen broke free from his uncle's grasp and moved in front of the girl, ready to treat her.
"What are you doing? Xue Ying is in this condition, and you still want to take advantage of her!" Wang Dong shouted angrily.
"Where did this shameless brat come from, it's utterly inhumane."
"We can't let him off."
"Shut your mouths!" Xue Shan suddenly shouted angrily.
The woods returned to silence as Xue Shan looked at Lin Chen with hope, choking up, "Please, you must save my sister."
Although Xue Shan did not believe that Lin Chen could save his sister, since it was her only chance, he decided to let him try.
"Young Master Xue, don't listen to his nonsense. I am a medical doctor, he can deceive others but not me. In Xue Ying's condition, without medication, it's impossible to cure her!"
Wang Dong was very angry, he didn't care about Xue Ying's life or death, but being questioned by a high school student was a matter of losing face for him.
"Shut up. If you can't cure her, then let him try," Xue Shan roared at Wang Dong.
"Young Master Xue, if this little swindler really cures Xue Ying, I, Wang Dong, will call him grandfather," Wang Dong said resentfully after being reproached by Xue Shan again, unable to save face.
"If you say one more word, I will ruin you," Xue Shan said, his eyes flashing coldly.
Wang Dong, after hearing Xue Shan's words, trembled and stood aside, glaring fiercely at Lin Chen who was treating Xue Ying.
Lin Chen was gently pressing certain acupoints on the girl according to the acupoint diagram in his mind.
Seeing Lin Chen's movements, Wang Dong's mouth curled into a cold smile.
Wang Dong had some understanding of traditional medicine but had never seen Lin Chen's technique, and he became even more convinced that Lin Chen was a fraud.
Xue Shan also frowned and looked at Lin Chen skeptically.
At this time, the uncle's face was pale with fear; if the girl really died at Lin Chen's hands, that would be a disaster.
Lin Chen's father's illness had already pushed the family to the brink, and if they were burdened with this incident, the family would fall apart.
After pressing on the girl's acupoints a dozen times, Lin Chen finally let out a sigh of relief, sitting down on the ground.
The seemingly simple act of pressing on the girl's body a dozen times had almost drained Lin Chen of all his energy.
However, when Lin Chen's gaze fell back on the girl, his heart tightened; not only had she not awakened, she seemed even more lifeless.