Chapter 37: We Are Not Short on Points!

The night was like water, its limpid moonlight spreading over the beach of the Immortal Island like a thin veil, casting a faint silvery glow. A sea breeze brushed by, carrying with it a touch of chill. From the thickets came the chirping of insects and birds, their overlapping voices weaving into a harmonious nocturne that lent this quiet night a sense of vibrant vitality. Not far away, the constant calls of animals and the faint sound of laughter could be heard.

Amidst this peaceful atmosphere, Sui Fu and his group quietly appeared on the shore, some distance from the inn. Because mortals could not stow away their rafts, the shoreline had become somewhat crowded with wooden vessels. Consequently, Qin Yueran had opened up limited landing permissions, though these were restricted to regular customers or those accompanied by experienced ones who were familiar with the island’s conditions and the inn’s location, sparing them from panic. Should new customers arrive alone, they would still be required to land in areas where the inn was immediately visible.

Trailing behind Sui Fu were the newcomers he had brought back: a mix of mortals, demons, and cultivators, numbering about a dozen in total. Their faces displayed the nervousness and curiosity of those arriving in a strange land; those who knew one another whispered among themselves, discussing their surroundings.

"When I first stepped in, information about the Immortal Island popped up right in front of me—it’s so magical! And this island is just as normal as Senior Sui described!" one person remarked.

"Does the island keep animals?" another asked, having heard the sounds.

"I don't know. I thought I heard bursts of laughter; could it be an animal performance?" a third chimed in.

"Perhaps. I haven't felt such a normal, reassuring environment in so long," someone else replied.

At these words, everyone fell silent. They truly felt as though they had returned from another lifetime. Seeing that they had stopped talking, Sui Fu remained calm, his voice steady. "The island is perfectly safe. You may proceed to the Yujian Inn on your own." He raised a hand, pointing toward the brightly lit building. "It is right there."

Tao Wanying stepped onto the island with a light gait, her heart full of gratitude. She bowed gracefully to Sui Fu once more and said softly, "Thank you, Immortal, for saving my life. I shall take my leave now."

Sui Fu nodded slightly, his expression indifferent. A simple "hm" was his only response. Soon after, as if waking from a dream, the group thanked him one after another before heading toward the inn.

The Black Fog Realm was mysterious and unpredictable, pulling people into its depths at random. The realm itself was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to locate those who had been dragged inside. Moreover, few people survived the initial period after being pulled in, which made the search even more challenging.

Naturally, even those who survived the initial phase rarely lived long within the realm. There was no way to recover spiritual energy or heal wounds, and any medicinal pills brought inside became ineffective, leaving them to merely linger on the brink of death. Consequently, the number of cultivators, demons, and mortals they had managed to bring back over the past few days was pitifully small. Including the dozen or so Sui Fu brought tonight, the total had barely crossed one hundred.

Once the portal opened today, the new arrivals did not need to stay at the inn; they had come solely to deliver resources and points. For those on the island whose supplies were nearing exhaustion, this was a timely blessing; they successfully replenished their stores, and their point balances surged.

Upon learning that registered members received navigation assistance, Yu Lishu and his kin encouraged all their members to register and purchase pills, talismans, and other supplies just in case. If they were ever pulled into the realm, these items sold on the island—which actually functioned within the fog—would be life-saving treasures.

For a time, the items in Qin Yueran’s vending machines sold rapidly. Her earnings for the day were substantial, and she was overflowing with wealth. Although the modified pills and talismans did not count toward her management level, the points were hard, tangible gains that kept increasing. And these points could actually be spent! For Qin Yueran, as long as she didn't obsess over levels and maintained a relaxed, "Buddha-style" approach to business, she could live a peaceful life—having points to spend was enough for her.

Watching her points and the number of guests rise, Qin Yueran felt a surge of joy. She immediately spent 240,000 points to unlock all the double rooms on the fifth floor. This way, the inn could accommodate more guests. The more guests she had, the more points she would earn—who could say this wasn't a virtuous cycle?

Qin Yueran lay on her bed, happily counting her points: "Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... oh my, oh my! Hehe, I'm rich again!"

With her heart fluttering with excitement, she opened the forum to see why her dear guests were tagging her. Ah, it turned out her stock of modified talismans and pills was completely depleted, leading to a flood of posts urging her to restock.

Seeing this, Qin Yueran quickly edited a post and sent it to the forum:
"Boss Qin: Restocking tomorrow, and purchase limits will be implemented."

Implementing purchase limits would allow more people to get their hands on supplies! After posting, she didn't dwell on the forum but instead edited the restock news into an official notification to be sent out. She had to ensure everyone received the news, as she couldn't rule out the possibility that some might not check the forum. Qin Yueran bounced off her bed and headed to the workshop to get to work.

She set aside one-third of the stock just in case and proceeded to modify the rest. Looking at the twelve-hour countdown on the panel, she sighed softly and muttered, "Looks like I’ll be pulling an all-nighter." She was fortunate that the modifications didn't require her to wait until the very end to collect them all; they appeared on the modification table as they were completed. This saved her from having to wait for the entire batch to finish and spending extra time injecting purification power for a second round of refinement.

Qin Yueran worked in her room for several hours, while on the beach at one in the morning, people were still frolicking, with strange, joyous cries echoing continuously. Happy laughter and shouts intertwined, reverberating through the night sky. Others were chatting with family and friends, reminiscing and dreaming of a day when they could safely leave the Black Fog Realm. In the past, they would never have dared to dream of such a thing.

Elder Liu’s remains had already been taken back by Yu Lishu for burial. Gu Yuanyuan watched as Yu Lishu passed through the portal, his eyes filled with envy. On the other side of that portal was home; he wanted to return, too. He looked up at the starlight in the sky—it was wonderful. Elder Liu could go home, and so could the countless predecessors who had fallen in the Black Fog Realm!

Everything was changing for the better now... Gu Yuanyuan looked toward the Yujian Inn; all of this was because of Boss Qin. Seeing Gu Yuanyuan’s actions, the others suddenly realized what to do and brought out the ashes or remains they had carefully stored away, asking others to carry them back.

"Friend Gu, I heard from your junior brother that Boss Qin can restore contaminated remains?" someone asked with a glimmer of hope.

Gu Yuanyuan nodded. "Yes... Elder Liu was restored to normal by Boss Qin."

"Thank you, Friend Gu. We shall ask Boss Qin tomorrow," the person replied, bowing in gratitude.

Upon learning that Qin Yueran could restore remains to a normal state, they decided to take the ashes back first while leaving the bodies behind. If they could return with dignity rather than in the form of monsters, the predecessors would surely prefer to wait a little longer to go home, they reasoned.

As for the issue of points... they now had people providing funds, and their spines felt rigid with confidence. They felt they could even boldly shout at Qin Yueran: "Speak! Just name the price in points! We are not short on points!!!"