Two days had passed since the fire meditation, and Arin was right back where he belonged: being roasted by his system and literally roasting his breakfast with a fireball he barely controlled. A dumpling sat in midair, spinning slowly over a floating ember like some kind of cultivation BBQ skewer.
[New Item Unlocked: Infernal Underpants of Focus]
[Effect: Boosts spiritual concentration. Warning: May combust during emotional instability.]
Arin groaned. "Why does every system gift feel like a prank with paperwork?"
[Reply: Host's energy signature fits 'experimental' parameters.]
He was about to respond with something appropriately insulting when Yue Lan appeared on the platform, her calm expression as pristine as always. She didn't walk—she practically glided, like her feet refused to associate with the ground.
"You're one of the five," she said.
"One of the what?"
"For the Grand Sect Tournament. It begins in a week."
There was a long pause as Arin stared, dumpling forgotten and now on fire. "I thought that was just gossip."
"It's real. You've been selected."
He blinked. "Why would anyone do that?"
A few hours later, Arin stood awkwardly among a group of disciples gathered before the elders. A golden scroll unfurled in the air and began announcing names with spiritual flare.
Elder Mushi's voice carried over the courtyard. "The representatives for the Intersect Grand Trials will be Yue Lan, Jun Bai, Yura, Serenya, and…"
He hesitated just long enough for Arin's stomach to twist.
"…Arin."
There was silence. Then the faint sound of Jun Bai audibly choking on his own ego.
Arin blinked, looked down at his dumpling-stained robes, then up at the heavens. "God? Are you drunk again?"
Jun Bai stomped over, veins bulging like spirit worms under his skin. "What cosmic mistake got you selected?"
Arin shrugged. "Maybe the universe finds me charming."
"Or wants to watch you explode dramatically."
"Possible."
Yura patted Arin's shoulder sympathetically. "If it makes you feel better, you're the first trash-ranked disciple in history to be selected for a major sect tournament. It's kind of inspiring."
"Is it though?" Arin whispered.
Later that evening, Arin found himself standing in the training courtyard with the rest of the chosen team. Yue Lan was sharpening her focus like it was a blade. Yura spun a qi-threaded dagger lazily in one hand. Jun Bai was shirtless for no reason and flexing aggressively. Serenya, as always, stood like ice carved into elegance.
Serenya looked Arin over and said, "You're weaker than the rest of us. But you are… unpredictable. I'll allow it."
Arin blinked. "That sounded like encouragement."
"It wasn't."
Yura grinned. "She likes you."
"I'm scared."
Jun Bai muttered, "I'd rather spar with a spiritual beast than team up with this idiot."
Arin smiled. "That can be arranged."
The system pinged.
[New Quest: Train with your team without being hospitalized.]
[Bonus Reward: Moderate Respect from at least one teammate.]
Arin sighed. "That's impossible."
[Correction: Slightly improbable.]
Far away, in the territory of the Silver Flame Sect, two elders stood within a frozen palace surrounded by quiet flames. One of them stared into a crystal screen watching Arin laugh with his teammates.
"He's adapting. That's dangerous."
The second nodded. "Serenya is too close to him. She's already hesitating."
"If the corruption inside him awakens…"
The screen flickered. A glimpse of a silver flame hidden beneath Arin's aura shimmered, then disappeared.
"We'll act soon. Let him grow. He'll either rise… or fall spectacularly."
Back in the Brightmoon Sect, Arin lay on his bunk, staring at the ceiling.
"I'm part of something now. Kind of terrifying."
[Reminder: Your teammates are far stronger than you.]
"Thanks for that."
[But at least you're not boring.]
"…I'll take it."
He turned over, pulling the blanket over his head.
"Tomorrow's training. I'm probably going to die."
The system beeped comfortingly.
[You've said that 38 times this week.]