The moment Chen Huaian opened the golden jade slip, an aura of a top-tier item washed over him.
["I am the madman of Chu, singing of phoenixes and laughing at Confucius. Wielding a three-foot sword, I point directly at the sorrows of the heavens." The Lotus Sword Manual was created by the Lotus Sword Immortal. It contains 36 foundational sword chapters and 12 sword forms. Its grade is immortal. Anyone with unblocked meridians can practice the Lotus Sword Manual, but to reach its pinnacle, one must possess a sword bone, a sword spiritual root, and a sword heart!]
The item was indeed extraordinary.
But after reading the description, Chen Huaian's expression turned strange.
Was this Lotus Sword Immortal… Li Bai?
Wasn't Li Bai the "Poetry Immortal"?
Since when did he become a "Sword Immortal"?
"Whatever, these days, creative adaptations are too common. If Tang Sanzang can wield a Gatling gun, then Li Bai becoming a Sword Immortal isn't that far-fetched," Chen Huaian muttered, shaking his head. He then thought of Li Qingran—wasn't she a sword user? This Lotus Sword Manual could be perfect for her.
An immortal-grade sword technique had to be impressive, right?
The Lotus Sword Manual had already opened to its first page. Chen Huaian had assumed it was just a game item, but to his surprise, the first page actually contained text and even small ink-drawn figures.
"Damn! This is what a small studio can do? Absolutely terrifying!!"
[Chapter One: Crane Stance
Stand with legs together, bend one knee and lift one foot, imitating a crane (beginners may skip lifting the foot). Keep the body straight, the sword held vertically in front of the body, parallel to it. The hilt should be horizontal, parallel to the ground, and the blade should remain close to the arm, maintaining a vertical position. Breathe steadily, calm the mind, and focus on the connection between the sword and your inner energy…]
An accompanying illustration made it easier to understand the specifics of this chapter.
Chen Huaian continued flipping through the manual and found more.
[Chapter Two: Pine Stretch]—also with explanations and images.
[Chapter Three: Holding the Edge]
…
[Chapter Thirty-Five: Returning to One]
[Chapter Thirty-Six: Freedom]
He stubbornly flipped to the end, only to find that every single chapter was accompanied by detailed text and illustrations—no fluff at all!
By now, Chen Huaian was in awe of the game developer's dedication and hardcore approach. The frustration of being scammed out of so much money earlier was slightly alleviated.
The 36 sword chapters seemed to focus on building a foundation.
There were also 12 sword forms afterward.
Just as he was about to flip further, a prompt popped up on the screen:
[You have not yet mastered Chapters One to Twelve. You cannot proceed to the sword forms!]
"What the hell? I have to learn it? How am I supposed to do that?" Chen Huaian instinctively looked for a recharge window but found none. It seemed the Lotus Sword Manual wasn't something you could upgrade by spending money.
[Would you like to begin learning Chapter One?]
Chen Huaian didn't hesitate and clicked "Yes."
He wanted to see what this game was all about.
[Camera flipping…]
The game screen disappeared, and the camera automatically opened, switching to selfie recording mode. The game window continued to overlay the screen.
[Please follow the instructions for Chapter One: Crane Stance in the Lotus Sword Manual. Current progress: Beginner (0%)]
"Wait, what? Seriously?"
Chen Huaian stared at his own image on the screen, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
If he wasn't mistaken,
the game was asking him
to perform the Crane Stance right now,
and record himself doing it?
Is this some kind of sick joke? If I don't spend money, you're just going to mess with me, huh?!
Chen Huaian felt that if he actually followed the game's instructions, he'd be the one who was insane.
Was the game developer some kind of sadist who enjoyed watching players make ridiculous, awkward movements while sitting on their server, eating takeout and laughing maniacally?
"I, Chen Huaian, won't let someone like you get your way."
Chen Huaian snorted coldly.
By now, he had figured out the developer's intentions.
He just needed to refuse, and soon a recharge button would appear.
It's all part of the套路 (routine)!
For example, some games offer rewards that require an insane amount of grinding. When players can't keep up, they naturally choose to spend money instead.
However, after waiting for a while, Chen Huaian still didn't see a recharge button.
"Tsk, then can't I just give this sword manual to Li Qingran?" He closed the page and dragged the [Lotus Sword Manual] toward Li Qingran's icon.
[You cannot directly teach Li Qingran the . Please first master the 36 sword chapters to the level to unlock the ability to teach the sword technique!]
"What the hell?!"
Chen Huaian was losing his mind.
What kind of game is this stubborn?
There was a circled question mark in the top right corner of the pop-up.
Desperate, he clicked it:
[ The purpose of this game is to provide players with the most authentic nurturing experience. Players can provide resources and assistance to their electronic girlfriend, or become her guide and spiritual anchor. However, to teach effectively, one must first master the skills themselves. Please work hard to improve yourself!～]
After reading this reminder,
Chen Huaian fell silent.
In the past, he wasn't interested in games not only because they were expensive but also because they lacked immersion. No matter how good your aim was, you weren't the first one charging into Site A. No matter how skilled you were at jungling, you weren't the king of the jungle.
Games and reality were ultimately disconnected.
But this electronic girlfriend game seemed to be trying something new.
It was innovative, but it could easily flop in today's gaming industry.
However, Chen Huaian had to admit.
He was intrigued.
The sense of accomplishment from personally teaching an electronic girlfriend.
Learning the skills first, then guiding the clueless girl, watching her use the techniques you taught to overcome challenges and defeat enemies…
Wasn't this exactly the immersion that modern games lacked?
Sure, it was expensive and hardcore.
But he liked this kind of game.
Chen Huaian reopened the learning page for the Lotus Sword Manual.
He propped his phone on a live-streaming stand, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, to teach Li Qingran a peerless sword technique, I'll let the game developer laugh at me! It's not like I can see them anyway."
Without a sword, he used a clothes hanger as a substitute.
Chen Huaian found that the text and illustrations were simple,
but actually performing the movements was anything but.
First, the sword couldn't wobble. In the past, his hands would shake even holding a bottle of water, but today, for some reason, his hands were steady. However, he also had to maintain two points of alignment: the sword with the ground and the sword with his arm. At the same time, the sword had to remain parallel to his body.
Holding the stance for a short time was manageable,
but after less than two minutes, his arms started to ache.
What was worse, Chen Huaian discovered that after sweating profusely for half an hour, the progress for Chapter One: had only increased by 1%!
But his determination was astonishing.
Chen Huaian stubbornly persisted for an hour,
only stopping when his back was drenched in sweat.
"Damn, I can't do this anymore. I'm falling apart." He shakily put down the clothes hanger and stretched his stiff body.
It was already late, almost midnight. He hadn't washed his clothes or taken a shower, and he reeked of sweat.
"If I treat this training as exercise, it's not so bad."
Chen Huaian rubbed his sore arms, unwilling to give up. He decided to rest and continue practicing tomorrow morning.
Just then,
there was a loud thud at the door.
It sounded like something had bumped into it.