A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

Almost simultaneously, a prompt appeared in the mini-game frame in the field of vision: a fish-shaped icon appeared near the fishhook and began to move left and right and pull.

"Here it comes!" Xia Xun perked up, quickly grabbed the fishing rod, and forcefully lifted his wrist upwards!

"call out--"

The fishing rod suddenly bent into a breathtaking arc, the tip trembled violently, and a heavy pulling force was clearly transmitted to my hand through the fishing line. The fish underwater began to struggle fiercely, darting left and right, trying to escape.

"I got it! I really got it!" Xia Xun's heart was pounding, and the excitement overcame her physical fatigue.

Thanks to the little experience he had accumulated from occasionally going to the fishpond with friends, he didn't panic like a complete novice. Instead, he calmed down, leaned back slightly, and held the fishing rod steadily with both hands. Based on the feel and the direction and strength of the fish's movement displayed on the mini-game interface, he constantly adjusted the angle and force, patiently pulling the rod.

"You can't pull it too hard, you have to let it run around a bit." He silently recited the techniques he had learned, sometimes loosening the reel to let the fish run around, and sometimes tightening the fishing line to wear it down.

The mini-game interface became an excellent aid at this moment, allowing him to see the underwater opponent's condition more intuitively.

After a stalemate of four or five minutes, the force underwater finally began to weaken.

Xia Xun seized the opportunity and began to steadily reel in the line. As the fishing line was slowly pulled back, a golden figure broke through the water's surface, reflecting a dazzling luster in the afterglow of the setting sun!

It's a strong carp! Look at its tail splashing so hard on the surface and the way it's struggling, it must weigh at least four or five pounds!

"Good buddy!" Xia Xun was overjoyed, but he didn't dare to relax his grip on the silk.

Because fish often struggle one last time when they surface for light and air, sure enough, the carp suddenly flicked its tail and plunged back into the deep water. The fishing line tightened instantly, making a sickening "whoosh" sound.

Xia Xun was prepared and immediately pulled the fishing rod to the side to dissipate the impact, continuing to maneuver against it.

A few more minutes passed, and the carp's explosive power finally ran out, and Xia Xun steadily pulled it towards the shore.

He seized the opportunity, quickly reeled in the line, and with a flick of his wrist, lifted the exhausted carp directly onto the grassy bank.

The carp, now ashore, was still wriggling its body unwillingly, its tail slapping the ground. Xia Xun darted forward, accurately grabbing the back of its gills with both hands, firmly controlling it, with a thought.

Carp +1

The weight in my hands vanished instantly, and my spoils were safely stored in my backpack.

"Hehe." Xia Xun smiled sincerely and wiped the sweat from his forehead, whether from exhaustion or excitement, he couldn't tell.

He calmed his breathing, hooked another wriggling earthworm onto the hook, and with a flick of his arm, the hook traced a beautiful arc and landed precisely back in its original spot.

The fishing mini-game interface in the field of vision lights up again, floating quietly, waiting for the next opponent.

Time slipped away quietly as I focused on fishing.

The sun finally sank completely below the horizon, and the evening glow on the horizon changed from a brilliant orange-red to a deep crimson.

The light near the Magic Forest quickly dimmed, and the outlines of the dense trees gradually blended into the deepening twilight. Some rustling, faint sounds, whose source was difficult to discern, began to emanate from the forest.

Xia Xun looked up at the sky, then glanced at the dark edge of the forest, feeling a chill run down her spine.

Remembering Reimu and Akyuu's advice to "not go near the forest at night," he was reluctant, but he still decisively began to reel in his rod.

"It's time to go back. Safety first."

He dried the water off his fishing rod, carefully put it away, and looked back on his catch over the past hour, a smile returning to his tired face.

Carp +1, Crucian Carp +3, Small Whitebait and other miscellaneous fish +8

"A pretty good catch," he muttered to himself, putting the fishing rod and other odds and ends back into his backpack.

Although most of the fish were small and worthless, the large carp and three crucian carp had already filled him with anticipation for tomorrow's market trip.

Patting her pants, which were covered in mud and grass clippings, Xia Xun took one last look at the willow tree glowing faintly in the twilight, then turned and headed towards the warm lights of the Human Village, beginning her journey home.

Chapter Eleven: Introduction to Magical Theory

Crackling sound.

Inside the simple stove, the firewood crackled softly, and the dim yellow flames flickered on the walls.

In the iron pot, the milky white fish soup was bubbling and boiling, and the rich and fragrant aroma, along with the rising steam, filled the small kitchen, dispelling the slight chill of the spring night.

Gulp.

Xia Xun couldn't help but swallow, her Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

He leaned closer to the pot, took a deep breath, and a satisfied look immediately appeared on his face. He reached into a small earthenware pot next to the stove, pinched a pinch of coarse salt, sprinkled it evenly into the boiling soup, stirred it with a wooden spoon, carefully scooped up a spoonful to taste the saltiness, nodded in satisfaction, and then lifted the whole pot of soup away from the stove.

Carrying the steaming pot of fish soup, Xia Xun returned to the front hall. A low table, simply pieced together from a few flat pieces of wood, was placed in the center of the tatami mat, and a ceramic oil lamp on the table was emitting an orange glow.

squeak

Setting down the heavy soup pot, Xia Xun turned around and opened the brand-new wooden box leaning against the table. From it, she took out a sturdy ceramic steamer, lifted the lid, and found a pot full of perfectly cooked white rice.

This was the "wooden box" he had crafted using the wood he had cut down that day, shortly after returning home, through the Stardew Valley system.

The magical chest with thirty-six independent storage compartments instantly freed up his previously cramped system backpack space, allowing him to neatly store all kinds of living supplies and gains.

Hungry, Xia Xun eagerly scooped up a large bowl of rice, not caring that it was still hot, and took a big bite. Then, she used her chopsticks to pick up a small fish that had been stewed in the soup until its flesh was tender and put it into her mouth.

The piping hot, fresh fish melts on the tongue in the savory broth, while the slightly elastic fish skin and tender fish meat create an exquisite texture.

The hot food slid down the esophagus into the stomach, dispelling the fatigue and hunger accumulated throughout the day, and the empty stomach let out a comfortable sigh.

"See? I haven't lost my skills!" Xia Xun squinted, her tone carrying a long-lost sense of pride.

Although he hadn't used this traditional wood-fired stove for many years, the basic skills he had learned from his grandfather during his childhood, combined with his years of cooking experience, made this simple dinner quite successful.

While enjoying his meal, Xia Xun had a sudden thought and brought up his Stardew Valley character panel, quickly browsing through his daily gains.

The changes in the skill bar caught his attention; two skills had been upgraded today.

[Gathering Lv.0 → Lv.1]

【Fishing Lv.0 → Lv.1】

"It's normal for gathering to level up, after all, I harvested so much grass and cut down so many trees today. I didn't expect fishing to level up as well," Xia Xun thought with some surprise.

He remembered that after a skill was upgraded in the game, it usually took overnight for its effects to become apparent the next day, such as improving the efficiency of related activities or unlocking new recipes or abilities.

Xia Xun couldn't help but look forward to tomorrow morning: what specific and wonderful changes would the real-world skill upgrade bring?

However, when his gaze fell upon the balance displayed in the upper right corner of the panel, the prominent "96" made him frown slightly, and the slight joy that had just risen in his heart was somewhat diluted by the sense of urgency of reality.

After returning from the riverbank in the evening, he made a special trip to the general store in the Human Realm and gritted his teeth to spend three hundred coins to buy two sturdy cast iron pots, a spatula, and a basic set of bowls and chopsticks.

These are the tools we use every day to make a living, and we can't skimp on them. But as a result, the already meager start-up capital shrank drastically, dropping to double digits.

“This little bit of money won’t last long.” Xia Xun put down her chopsticks and tapped her fingers unconsciously on the rough wooden table. “I need to find a way to make money quickly.”

Fortunately, Gensokyo seems to have abundant fishing resources, and the fishing spots are surprisingly good.

This evening's catch, which lasted over an hour, consisted mostly of small whitebait, but the two large carp and three crucian carp were real cash cows.

"I'll go to the market first thing tomorrow morning to sell my catch. That should bring back some money and ease my immediate financial crisis."

After dinner, Xia Xun quickly and efficiently cleaned up the dishes.

He shaped the extra rice he had cooked into several firm rice balls, then carefully poured the remaining half of the fish soup into another earthenware pot and placed them together in the wooden box.

In this way, breakfast and lunch for tomorrow will be taken care of, and they can be kept fresh from being made.

A space where time stands still, a god forever!

Having finished tidying up, Xia Xun, finally having a moment of leisure, sat down by the oil lamp.

He adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable, and then took out the three introductory magic textbooks he had just bought from Xianglintang that afternoon from his system backpack.

"Introduction to Magic Theory", "Basic Elemental Echoes", and "Introduction to Magic Perception".

The covers of all three books looked slightly worn, with minor wear and curling at the corners.

Xia Xun took a deep breath and first picked up the thickest book, "An Introduction to Magic Theory".

He knew that if he wanted to learn a completely new and extraordinary system that was so different from real technology, the first step was not to try blindly, but to establish a systematic and clear overall understanding of it.

Turning the pages, the yellowed paper displays neatly printed text that systematically explains the basic definition, historical origins, and philosophical foundations of magic.

However, what brings these somewhat dry theories to life are the doodles and handwriting in the blank spaces of the pages, full of childlike fun: crooked stars, oddly shaped mushrooms, and questions written in childish handwriting.

These were undoubtedly created by Marisa Kirisame during her childhood, like a time tunnel, vividly presenting her path of enlightenment to Natsumi.

As she read on, a grand and meticulously crafted picture of a magical world slowly unfolded in Xia Xun's mind.

The book states clearly at the outset that magic is essentially a vast and systematic system of supernatural arts.

It is not absolutely superior to science and technology in the outside world; both are "tools" used by intelligent life to explore the essence of the world, understand its nature, and utilize it.

However, technology focuses on the macroscopic laws of matter and energy and repeatable experiments, while magic focuses more on the spirit, soul, and the more hidden and idealistic laws and connections in nature.

The magic branch is unloaded.

However, the "five basic elements" that form the foundation of most magical phenomena are very familiar to Xia Xun—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

The book explains that this does not refer to simple matter, but rather to five properties that symbolize the basic composition and changing trends of the universe, which are the fundamental templates by which magic is shaped and manifests its myriad effects.

Successfully casting a spell is not as simple as just chanting an incantation or waving a wand. The book systematically summarizes the six essential elements required:

The spellcaster's skill level includes their knowledge and understanding of magic, their proficiency in incantation chanting, hand gestures, rune drawing, and other specific operational techniques.

The qualities that symbolize the soul: the caster's own mental strength, concentration, emotional resonance, and certain innate magical affinity.

Tools and materials for casting spells: wands, magical artifacts, gems, herbs, special powders, etc., which can be used as magical conductors, amplifiers, or catalysts for specific effects.

The space required for casting spells includes: a specific ritual space, the drawing of the magic circle, the concentration of magic in the surrounding environment, and even the influence of celestial bodies.

Time required to cast a spell: The time required to chant the incantation and use magic. Some spells require specific times, seasons, or astronomical cycles to achieve their best effect or be activated.

Luck: A touch of elusive chance. Even with perfect preparation, the magical effect may deviate slightly, or fail or mutate due to the slightest accident.

After closing "An Introduction to Magic Theory," Xia Xun let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes gleaming with understanding and contemplation.

This book clearly outlines the structure of the magic system for him. It is by no means a child's play or a whimsical fantasy, but a profound subject that requires a rigorous attitude, systematic learning, a lot of practice, and a considerable investment of resources.

A true magician needs not only talent and perseverance, but also years of research, experimentation, and corresponding material support.

Chapter Twelve: Skill Upgrade

Then, Xia Xun opened the next book—"Echoes of the Basic Elements," which elaborates on the profound meaning of the five major elements that constitute the foundation of magic.

From a magical perspective, "metal, wood, water, fire, and earth" are not only the components of the material world, but also symbols of the laws of spirit and energy.

The world is like a giant yin-yang symbol, with two sides that are both opposed and restrictive to each other, yet also interdependent and transformative, in an endless cycle.

The "qi" flowing between heaven and earth rises and shines in the yang direction, transforming into the "spiritual qi" that nourishes all things; while it sinks and sinks in the yin direction, condensing into the dark "evil qi".

"Qi" can be further subdivided into Yang Wood Qi, Yin Wood Qi, Yang Earth Qi, Yin Earth Qi, etc., based on its fundamental nature, each with its unique attributes and manifestations.

The same principle applies to the spiritual realm. The yang aspect of the spirit is clear and ascends, manifesting as "spirituality," "reason," and "sublime emotions"; while the yin aspect is turbid and sinks, transforming into "desire," "stubbornness," and "primitive emotions."

For example, the yang aspect of the fire element represents enthusiasm and cheerfulness, while the yin aspect represents irritability and destruction.

The book emphasizes that the elemental forces on the material level and the emotions and will on the spiritual level are closely intertwined and jointly influence the process and final effect of magic.

A mage's state of mind and the depth of their understanding of the nature of the elements often directly determine the power and form of magic.

Xia Xun's head was spinning, but these concepts had a long history in Xia Kingdom, so he was able to barely understand the logical framework by relying on the illustrations in the book and the interesting annotations from his "predecessors".

Then, with a mixture of anticipation and solemnity, he opened the last and most crucial book, "An Introduction to Magic Perception".

With the groundwork laid by the first two books, Xia Xun felt as if he were standing in front of a mysterious door, ready to knock on the door and step into the realm of cultivation.

Magic is defined as the core "energy" for casting all magic.

According to Xia Xun's current understanding, a complete spell can be roughly broken down into three components: matter (attributes and medium), information (spell model and effect), and energy (the magic power that drives everything). What governs these three, enabling them to combine organically and exert their effects, is the spellcaster's spirit.

Matter determines the basic attributes of magic (such as fire and water), information is the solidified "blueprint" of spells after countless studies and verifications, and energy is the driving force that turns the blueprint into reality.

Within this framework, Xia Xun discovered that the essential processes of the science and technology he was familiar with were surprisingly similar: defining the goal (information), preparing materials and equipment (materials), and inputting energy (such as electricity).

The only fundamental difference may lie in the source of "energy": one relies on external objects for transformation and transmission, while the other discovers and refines the inherent potential of life, namely "magic".

The book clearly states that magic does not arise out of thin air. It is a more refined, malleable, and directional extraordinary energy obtained by living beings through specific meditation methods, which refine, transform, and sublimate their inherent "life force."

By consuming magic power, one can activate pre-constructed spell information and achieve various incredible magical effects through corresponding material mediums or symbols.

Here, in the corner of the page, there is a note in slightly neater handwriting: "Attention! Meditation and the extraction of magical power will consume a lot of physical energy (meaning you will get hungry very quickly!), so be sure to eat a full meal before and after your practice! It's best to prepare some snacks! Remember!"

At the same time, the book also points out the virtuous cycle of spiritual practice: the magic power successfully extracted nourishes the spirit and enhances perception, while in turn nourishing and strengthening the physical body, promoting a slow improvement in the level of life.

The body and magic are like an intertwined, upward-pointing double helix, mutually reinforcing each other.

Of course, the book also objectively points out that how high one can go on this spiral path depends on one's innate talent, the degree of effort one puts in, and unpredictable opportunities, and varies greatly.