Waking up from a nightmare before dawn, Yun Qingyue was still recovering from the shock when she was stunned by a message from the system.
System: "Congratulations, Host! The beginner task has been successfully completed, and the main system has given it a very high rating. You have been awarded 3000 points (which can be used to purchase mall items), an exploration map radius of five kilometers (area can be expanded for purchase), 10 bottles of hemostatic powder, 20 bottles of detox pills with ten pills per bottle, 20 bottles of Stamina Enhancement Potion, 20 bottles of Body Recovery Potion, one primary medical pod with 50 matching repair fluid doses, and 500 bottles of interstellar primary nutrient solution (each provides a full day's worth of energy). There are also 300 bottles of intermediate nutrient solution (each provides three days' worth of energy), and five primary light energy guns (solar-charged for unlimited use)."
Yun Qingyue thought to herself, *So many things? There's definitely a catch!* She immediately asked, "Is the next task going to be extremely dangerous? Look at all these supplies—something is definitely wrong. I don't think this body of mine can possibly handle whatever task is coming next. Could it be that you guys want to swap hosts?"
System: "I don't know. The system cannot know about upcoming tasks in advance; we are only responsible for relaying the main system's messages. Please organize your supplies as quickly as possible and begin the next task!"
*Ha! Handing over this many items can only mean the next task is taking me somewhere terrible. I need to squeeze them for everything I'm worth!* Thinking this, Yun Qingyue said, "Tongzi, you know my physical condition. Talk to your main system and get me some body-repairing and healing medicine. Otherwise, it won't matter if I drop dead, but if the task fails, you guys will have to recruit someone all over again. What a waste of time, right?"
System: "There has never been a precedent for this. The main system will not agree."
Yun Qingyue: "Just try and see if it works! What if it does? The more tasks I complete, the faster you level up, right?"
System: "Alright, I'll go ask."
With the system gone, it was the perfect opportunity to take care of some personal business. Yun Qingyue rushed out and took a taxi to the largest market in the capital. Finding an agency, she pulled out a list of items she had already prepared in advance.
The list left the agency manager completely dumbfounded: "Young lady, all that apocalyptic talk is just rumors. Our country has weathered so many hardships; what is all this for? Do you have any idea how much this will cost? You're not even that old—where are your parents?"
Yun Qingyue: "Manager, just get me everything on this list, money is no object. My parents told me to prepare these; they're busy with other things!"
Manager: "Well, I can get it all ready, but you need to be certain—this is going to cost a fortune."
Yun Qingyue: "I'll wire a one million deposit right now, and we'll settle the rest when the goods are ready. Write up the contract quickly; I need everything prepared by tomorrow evening at the latest. I can pay an extra five percent agent fee, I'm in a hurry."
After sorting out the daily necessities, Yun Qingyue planned to custom-build and modify an oversized luxury RV, along with several bulletproof off-road vehicles. As for fuel, she would wait for the system to return and handle it!
She prepared everything at double the quantities described in doomsday novels; she refused to let a mysterious system control her fate!
Since she couldn't get her hands on firearms, Yun Qingyue found a cold weapon manufacturing factory to order some self-defense weapons.
Stepping through the merchant's doors, Yun Qingyue was left completely speechless. The selection was dazzling—things she had only seen on television or read about in books, long and short, intricate and simple, far too many to take in! Fortunately, a staff member was on hand to give a guided tour; otherwise, she would have stood there like a fool.
In the end, Yun Qingyue ordered 20 fine sabers and 20 fine swords that were both stunning and practical, along with 20 long knives, 20 short knives, 20 daggers, 20 repeating crossbows, 20 sleeve arrows, and 10,000 matching arrows for each!
As for the business's background checks and qualifications, she had the system to thank for preparing all sorts of documents beforehand to make task execution easier. Although the system was a bit abnormal, it certainly delivered when it mattered!
During the two days while waiting for the supplies to arrive, Yun Qingyue scoured every restaurant large and small across the capital, ordering countless gourmet meals. She packed all kinds of snacks, pastries, street food, and milk tea into her Pendant Space.
She also bought every available medicine from online stores and pharmacies across the entire city! Although the Pendant Space could only store items, time stood still inside it. It was about the size of five or six football fields, with a hazy, misty expanse overhead of unknown height.
Just as the agency called to inform her that all supplies were ready, she finally stopped her buying spree and rushed to the warehouse location.
Manager: "Hello, Miss Yun. Every single item on your list is accounted for in these warehouses. Many merchants saw how much you ordered and threw in a lot of extra freebies, so there's actually much more than what you requested. These are the four largest warehouses around. I've rented them for three days—do you think that'll be enough?"
Seeing the manager's beaming, wrinkled face, Yun Qingyue looked away and said calmly, "Let's settle the bill."
After paying the full amount and sending the manager off, Yun Qingyue took the inventory list and set to work.
First, she found shelves to assemble and stack, then began unpacking everything by category and arranging it neatly for easy access.
By noon the next day, she had barely managed to organize two-thirds of all the items into her space. She left the remainder in one of the warehouses to put on a show for the system!
After finishing lunch, buying numerous accessories, clothes, cosmetics, and snacks, and nearly clearing out a local vegetable market, she was too exhausted to walk another step when she finally heard the system's familiar, mechanical voice.
System: "Hello, Host. The main system has approved your request, adding the following one-time compensation: 10 low-grade genetic enhancement potions, 5 intermediate ones, 1,000 bottles of crop nutrient solution (each bottle can be mixed with 10 tons of water), two pairs of solar-powered flight wings, 150 types of ores (100 tons each), 20 miniature surveillance devices, and 20 versatile robots capable of farming, construction, housework, and combat."
Yun Qingyue: "*Ahem...* Only that little bit? You guys are so stingy! Fine, fine, I won't make things difficult for a newborn Tongzi, I'll just take the loss. Ah, it's just that I'm kind-hearted; anyone else wouldn't have agreed, you know?"
System: "Understood, Host. Thank you."
Yun Qingyue: "Here's the thing—I need to custom-order some vehicles, yachts, and other boats, and you need to help me sort out the fuel. I'm a minor and can't get these things on my own. Also, I need to sell some items I brought back from the other side to raise funds. I can't do anything while you're gone. I miss you so much~"
System: "Don't worry, Host. I will assist you to the fullest. The system has unlocked your permissions to the maximum; no matter where you are, you can retrieve items from inside at any time without needing this system's approval. After all, this system sometimes has its own tasks and cannot always stay by your side. Is that alright?"
Yun Qingyue: "Alright, I suppose that's the only way. Tongzi, you're so good to me! Working together like this, we'll definitely complete the task brilliantly. You're amazing! I'll work hard so you can upgrade quickly and turn into a mature system!"
System: "Thank you, Host. I'm off to solve those problems so we can start the task as soon as possible. Goodbye!"
Yun Qingyue thought silently to herself: *This system is still pretty easy to fool, but what should I do in the future? Ask Uncle Government for help? No, I still don't know what kind of problem we're dealing with.*
*I'll figure things out first. For now, let's stockpile as many good things as possible so I can save my own skin if things go south! I just wonder what the next task is. I've got food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medicine, and weapons all prepared. Keep it up, Yueyue—fight for your life!* She pumped her fist.
Time passed slowly as Yun Qingyue studied and waited for the system to sort out the vehicles and fuel. Even the cold weapons were finished, which she secretly collected.
One day, she finally heard that familiar mechanical voice: "The items requested by the Host last time have been completely manufactured according to your specifications. The Host can now go to Hong Kong to pick up the vehicles, boats, and fuel. By the way, this system also managed to acquire firearms of this world for the Host!"
"I've had the vehicles and boats remodeled according to my own specifications and added a few extras. Now, the internal equipment and drive systems of all these items are powered by infinite solar energy!"
Yun Qingyue was a mix of shocked and speechless. Seeing such thoughtful service only proved that the upcoming mission was indeed perilous. And firearms, too?!
*Ha! Things I've never even seen before, and I don't even know how to use them—what good is getting your hands on them?* Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she smoothed her breath and said with feigned excitement: "Wow, Tongzi, you're incredible! This is amazing, you managed to get all this? I totally admire you! Let's go, let's go, let's set out, gogogo!" Without giving the system a chance to speak, she grabbed her ID and sprinted out the door!
...
System: "Is the Host ready to set out? This time, we are heading to a parallel world of Blue Star, 1,500 years in the future during the doomsday era—a period of life-and-death for all humanity. Task objective: Prevent human extinction and restore the Blue Star ecosystem!"
Yun Qingyue: "What? How could a little kid like me accomplish something like this? You're going to get me killed! Is this the kind of task a beginner is supposed to handle?"
System: "The Host said she wanted to fast-track her upgrades. This task offers high points, and since you took so much compensation, this is the price!"
Yun Qingyue: "...Fine, I got scammed after all... Let's go, let's go. Whether I live or die is up to fate—start!"
System: "Starting task. Please prepare, 3, 2, 1. Space teleportation commencing, arrival at the mission location in ten seconds... *Hiss... hiss...* System... error... positioning... *hiss... hiss...*"
"Ahhhhh... help!" *Splash.* Yun Qingyue plunged straight into the ocean.
"*Cough, cough, cough!* Help! *Cough, cough, cough!* I'm drowning! System? Tongzi? What happened? *Blech...* Where is this? Isn't this supposed to be a doomsday? It doesn't look like it... *Blech...* Is the post-novice period supposed to be this thrilling? I almost lost my life! *Blech, blech,* where is this? System, say something!"
While silently complaining and fighting off dizziness and nausea to observe her surroundings, Yun Qingyue wondered: *Is the doomsday ocean always this pretty? What just happened? Where did the system go?*
Fortunately, her system backpack and space were still accessible, so her life should be relatively safe. She pulled out an inflatable raft (not daring to use anything louder) and began searching for a way out!
She rowed for a long time without seeing any people or monsters, though she did catch plenty of good-sized fish, which she cleaned and stored away just in case.
Finally, at the very moment the sun was about to disappear, Yun Qingyue spotted land. Fueled by the determination that she would rather cripple her arms than fail to set foot on solid ground, she packed up the raft the moment it bottomed out, stepped into the water, and waded ashore step by step... and finally saw people!
Wait, what kind of clothes were those? And what were those hairstyles? What were those people doing? Were they on wire rigs? Had she crossed over into an ancient world again?
Looking at the group of people flying back and forth with various weapons in hand, Yun Qingyue was momentarily dumbfounded.
"There's someone in the sea! How did she come out of the water?"
"It's a woman. Could she be looking for someone too?"
"She must be one of Sect Master Li's admirers!"
"Go ask her if she saw anything!"
...Chirping voices rose from all around, leaving Yun Qingyue bewildered and utterly overwhelmed.
What should she do? With so many people talking at once, maybe she should just listen a bit more before deciding? With that thought, Yun Qingyue decisively fumed up a fake faint and carefully picked an angle to tip over!
"Hey, hey, she's fainted!"
"Quick, quick, give her a hand!"...
The space instantly became even noisier with endless chatter!
Finally, a crisp, clear female voice rang out: "Stop making a fuss, all of you! I'll take this young lady to rest first. If you have any questions, wait until she wakes up!"
The next moment, Yun Qingyue felt someone scoop her up horizontally and start walking.
As it happened, someone who felt sick enough to vomit was already exhausted enough, so she simply went with the flow and drifted off to sleep. Just as she dozed off, she hazily thought: *This big sister smells so nice!*
"Miss, you're finally awake! You must have been searching for a long time—the doctor said you were completely exhausted!" That crisp female voice rang in her ear once more.
Following the sound, she saw a striking and refined-looking beauty. Yun Qingyue put on a groggy expression and asked, "Where am I? What happened to me? Who are you?"
Wang Panpan: "This is an inn near the East Sea. You must have spent too long looking for Sect Master Li in the sea and passed out from exhaustion. My name is Wang Panpan, I'm 20 years old, and I've been traveling the jianghu for five years. I'm even the same age as Sect Master Li!"
*Ha... Big sis, I didn't ask about any of that.* Before Yun Qingyue could say anything, Wang Panpan's voice continued: "Tell me, how is it that so many of us have been searching for days and still can't find him? It's all the fault of that big demon Di Feisheng from the Jinyuan Alliance. While challenging Sect Master Li to a duel, he used underhanded schemes to harm so many heroes of the Sigu Sect—he's just awful!"
*What? What did she just hear? Not only did she go to the wrong place, but she crossed right into a drama?!* The East Sea Great Battle had already happened? They'd been searching for days? No way! Yun Qingyue abruptly sat up, ready to leap out of bed and leave.
Seeing her trying to get down, Wang Panpan hurriedly said, "Hey, hey, hey! You haven't recovered yet, why are you in such a rush? With so many people looking, they won't miss one person who doesn't know martial arts!"
Yun Qingyue felt a twitch in her brow: "I have other things to do. Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister. May I ask how many days it takes to get to Yunyin Mountain?"
Wang Panpan looked surprised: "Ah, you're going to Yunyin Mountain too? There are people guarding the place, and Sect Master Li hasn't been found! If you ride a horse from here, it takes three or four days!"
"Thank you, Sister Wang, for telling me all this. I have to go to Yunyin Mountain, or I won't have peace of mind! This is for the room and the doctor's fee. If we cross paths again in the future, I'll treat you to a nice meal to properly thank you!"
With that, Yun Qingyue pulled out a ten-liang silver ingot, placed it on the table, and hurried out the door!