Surviving on the highway, I have a best friend who was reborn.

Chapter 7 Searching for the Star Fruit

Along the forest path, Yuanqiao carefully observed each fruit tree.

The name of this orchard is quite straightforward; at a glance, all the fruits on the trees are bright red.

The mission description does not provide a detailed description of the "Star Fruit," only stating that it is a mutated special fruit found in the Red Fruit Forest.

From time to time, the sounds of players searching for quest fruits could be heard in the forest. Every few meters along the path, there was a sign reminding people entering the orchard to protect the environment, not to pick the fruit at will, and not to damage the fruit trees.

We walked for a long time across Yuanqiao Bridge but still didn't reach the end of this path.

I figured this red fruit forest must be quite large, with many players, as I kept running into one. I wondered if all the players who received invitations in the game had come here in the same batch to find the Star Fruit.

I have absolutely no clue what to do. I've carefully observed many fruits, and they all look pretty much the same. Staring at them for too long can even make me dizzy and lightheaded.

The fruit trees are about 1.5 meters tall, and they are arranged very neatly. Each fruit tree bears less than ten fruits.

"I don't even know if this fruit is edible! I haven't eaten anything all day, and I can't even open my system inventory."

The male player on the right, separated by two rows of fruit trees, complained to his companion.

His companion comforted him:
"Just bear with it. The signs clearly state that you can't pick them. What if you pick them and eat them, and the mission fails? It's better to be cautious!"

Yuanqiao silently observed the two of them through the gaps in the leaves, bending down as if carefully examining the fruit.

They weren't speaking quietly; did they know each other?

"Do you think all the players here are from server 522733?"

"I don't know. Who cares which region they're in? Right now, we can only see other players in dungeons. Normally, it's like playing a single-player game on the highway."

"Ever since I got into this damn game, I haven't been able to eat or sleep properly. I wonder how my son is doing! Is he in the game too? Sigh!"

"Don't worry, your son has been lucky since he was a child and loves to study games. Even if he enters the game, he might do better than you."

"That's true, my son and I are incredibly lucky. We never expected to be assigned to the same server in the game and even run into each other in a dungeon! After we finish our quests and get back, pop up in the chat lobby and I'll add you as a friend."

The two walked and talked, getting further and further away from Yuanqiao.

Their conversation shocked and envious Yuanqiao.

Yuanqiao is also in this district, so the male player's guess might be true; there's a high probability that the players in the vicinity all come from the same district.

When will I be able to see my best friend again? I wonder when the servers will be merged. Only players in the same server can add each other as friends. Yuanqiao sighed as she looked at the fruit tree.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Red Fruit Forest planet, Qiao Nanxi, whom Yuan Qiao had been longing for, was picking fruit.

Having survived in the game for three years in my previous life, I roughly guessed its origin. The Red Fruit Forest in the beginner dungeon is an entire planet planted with red fruit trees, and the fruit they bear is very special.

Red berries have the effect of cleansing the marrow and improving physical and mental strength. The more you eat, the more benefits you receive. They are a rare and precious treasure that is extremely difficult to find outside the game. The beginner dungeon is the only way to enter the secret realm of the Red Fruit Planet.

The mutated red fruit, also known as the star fruit, is of unknown use, but it is certainly more precious than the regular red fruit.

As for the signs prohibiting picking, Qiao Nanxi sneered, knowing there were ways to exploit loopholes.

Then he quickened his pace, trying to pick as many as possible to feed Yuanqiao after the area was merged.

"The mission to find the Star Fruit has three days, but after a whole day my eyes are almost crossed and I still haven't found any mutated fruit!" Yuan Qiao slumped on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk to rest, and complained helplessly.

Fortunately, all my food is stored in my inventory, so I can eat whenever I'm hungry. I wonder if other players who don't have an inventory and haven't found Star Fruit yet will try to steal the Red Fruit.

Yuanqiao had a strange intuition that these red berries were something good, but every time he had the urge to pick them, a chill ran down his spine. This feeling was so strong that Yuanqiao was still wary and dared not even entertain the thought of picking the red berries.

"Star Fruit... Star Fruit... Where are you... When will you appear before me..."

Yuanqiao, who was frantically searching for fruit, murmured to himself.

Star... Star Fruit! Could it be that it displays differently when stars appear at night? Otherwise, why are other fruits called the common name "Red Fruit," while this mutated special fruit is called this?

Yuanqiao thought about it more and more and it seemed to make sense.

After carefully observing hundreds of trees during the day without finding any clues, and with nightfall fast approaching, it's time to rest and check again tonight.

……

Shi Kaixuan rolled up his sleeve to reveal his festering arm, which emitted a foul stench. He stared intently at the wound, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Although the system inventory is unusable, the system panel is still there, but many functions cannot be opened and display "Currently in a dungeon".

The contamination level in my personal information has increased again!
Health Points: 67 (Contamination Level: 31%)

I'm determined to find the Star Fruit! I must complete the mission! Once I'm out of here, I'll find a way to buy the Purifying Agent!

You can't become a monster! You can't die!
Shi Kaixuan had previously obtained the invitation by completing a mission to kill monsters and protect the town. In the town, he had also learned about the origins and dangers of the monsters! If you get infected and don't cleanse your wounds, there's a high probability that you'll become a monster yourself!

I inquired around the town and found there was no purification agent. When I submitted the task, the mayor's daughter discovered my festering wound after the contamination and tried to expel me. I almost didn't get the invitation to complete the task.

Thinking of this, Shi Kaixuan gripped the pendant tightly in his hand, forcing himself to calm down.

Cheer up and continue searching for the Star Fruit.

As night fell, the exhausted Shi Kaixuan felt a sense of despair.

My health is getting lower and lower. I haven't eaten all day. I've been searching all day on high alert, but I haven't found anything.

The sky gradually became deep and mysterious, with stars twinkling. He had no time to notice the unusually faint red fruit under the starlight shining on the fruit tree; his stomach felt like it was on fire, and he was so hungry that he felt weak all over.

Shi Kaixuan sat on the ground, clutching the pendant tightly, his eyes vacant. After a long while, his gaze finally focused on the fruit tree.

He slowly stood up, picked a red fruit, and took a bite out of despair.

The fruit melts in your mouth, generating a warm current that circulates throughout your body!
This change caught Shi Kaixuan's eye, and he immediately opened the system panel to check his body data.

……

Yuanqiao rubbed his eyes, certain that he hadn't misread it; some of the fruits were indeed absorbing the starlight!

Fruits that receive little sunlight appear dull and unappetizing at night, while fruits that receive ample sunlight are plump and juicy, making them very appetizing.

After examining several trees, Yuanqiao was now quite certain that starlight at night could cause the red fruit to mutate. But how could he distinguish which fruits absorbed starlight and mutated into special varieties?

He took out a regular carrot from the spatial kiss and gnawed on it, feeling a bit like pinching Tuanzai's rabbit butt.

I wonder if the big gray rabbit will feel lonely being left alone on the road, or if it will miss me. Luckily, I've prepared several days' worth of food for it.

After thinking it over, Yuanqiao decided to stay up all night and continue walking, focusing on observing the fruits whose starlight was not blocked by the leaves.

One of the side quests and cheat codes planted earlier has finally appeared!

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(End of this chapter)