Lin Wei made it exactly halfway to the dining hall before the system dropped the next bomb.
[NEW MISSION UNLOCKED!]
He stopped walking.
"Already? I just finished the daily mission."
[This isn't a daily mission—this is a SPECIAL EVENT MISSION! Much better rewards!]
A screen materialized in front of him:
[SPECIAL MISSION: Demonstrate Physical Cultivation Superiority]
Objective: Engage in a competitive physical challenge with a rival. Prove your cultivation progress through measurable results.
Requirements:
- Challenge must be public (minimum 20 witnesses)
- Challenge must be physical/athletic in nature
- Must WIN or show significant improvement
- Must be recorded for content
Suggested Approach: Find a low-tier bully, challenge them to something simple, emphasize your advantages.
Rewards:
- Strength +3
- Endurance +2
- Unlock "Flex Appeal" (temporary charisma buff)
- +50 Subscribers (if content is compelling)
Failure Penalty:
- Public humiliation (again)
- Lose 20 subscribers
- -5 to confidence stat
Time Limit: 48 hours
Lin Wei read it twice.
"You want me to pick a fight."
[Not a FIGHT fight. A challenge! A competition! Show off your progress! Viewers love a good rivalry, gives them someone to root for.]
"I don't have rivals, I have bullies."
[PERFECT! Pick one of the weaker bullies, challenge them to something you can win and document the whole thing. Easy content!]
"There's nothing easy about this."
[Come on, Host! You've gained 150 subscribers in two days! You're getting stronger! Your Qi circulation is better than it's been in years! Show people what you can do!]
Lin Wei wanted to argue, but the system had a point. His meridians were responding, this morning's stretches had been easier than expected. His body felt... better, Lighter.
Maybe he could actually win something.
"What kind of challenge?"
[Something simple! Strength test, endurance contest, speed trial, pick whatever plays to your advantages.]
"I don't have advantages."
[You have FLEXIBILITY now! And your core strength is improving! Plus, you have ME—I can provide tactical advice during the challenge.]
Lin Wei sighed. "Fine, but I'm picking the challenge AND the opponent."
[Deal! Now let's find you a victim—I mean, worthy competitor!]
The dining hall was packed with outer disciples eating breakfast. The moment Lin Wei walked in, conversations died.
Everyone stared.
He kept his head up and walked to the food line, but aware of every whisper.
"That's him."
"TrashPhoenix."
"Did you see the livestream this morning?"
"His form was actually pretty good, though—"
"Doesn't matter, he's still trash."
Lin Wei grabbed a bowl of congee and a steamed bun then looked for a place to sit.
Most tables had at least one person who immediately looked away when he made eye contact. The universal sign of "don't sit here."
He found an empty corner table and sat alone.
[Sad. But strategic! Eat quickly, we need to scout for a challenge target.]
"I'm eating."
[MULTITASK.]
Lin Wei ate his congee and scanned the room. Most of the outer disciples here were around his level—Qi Gathering, early to mid stage. A few stronger ones at late stage.
Then he spotted a familiar face three tables over.
Zhao Kun. Low tier bully, early Qi Gathering, known for talking shit but not actually being that strong. He'd been one of the ones laughing loudest during Lin Wei's trial failure.
Perfect.
[Ooh, I see him! The one with the unfortunate facial hair?]
"That's him."
[What's your plan?]
"Plank contest."
[...What?]
"It's a simple endurance exercise. You hold a plank position—basically a push up position but static, and whoever holds it longest wins. Pure core strength and willpower, no Qi techniques allowed, so it's a fair test."
[That's... actually brilliant. You've been doing core work with the flexibility exercises, your endurance is improving and he looks like he skips training to drink.]
"Exactly."
[I LOVE IT. When are you challenging him?]
"Right now."
Lin Wei stood up and slowly walked straight to Zhao Kun's table, and stopped in front of him.
He didn't know where the courage came from.
The conversations around them died.
Zhao looked up, mid bite of his bun. "What do you want, Trash Wei?"
"I want to challenge you."
Silence.
Then Zhao laughed. "Challenge me? To what, a stripping contest? You've already got practice with that."
His table mates snickered.
Lin Wei kept his voice low. "Plank contest. You and me, pure endurance no Qi techniques. Whoever holds the position longest wins."
Zhao's smile faltered slightly. "Why would I waste my time.."
"Because you've been talking shit about me for four years and I want to see if you can back it up."
"Ooowww..." (From his mates)
More people were watching now, Lin Wei could feel eyes on them from every direction.
Zhao's face reddened. "Fine. You want to embarrass yourself again? Let's do it. Right now, training grounds."
"Agreed."
[CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Recording array ready! This is going to be GREAT!]
Twenty minutes later, half the outer sect had gathered at the training grounds.
Word spread fast. "Trash Wei challenged Zhao Kun to a plank contest" had become "Trash Wei and Zhao Kun are having a duel" which became "There's about to be a fight."
By the time they arrived, there were at least sixty disciples watching.
Lin Wei set up his recording array at the edge of the marked area, angled to capture both of them.
[Perfect positioning! Now remember: focus on your breathing, engage your core, and DON'T LOCK YOUR ELBOWS. That's how people fail these.]
Zhao was already in position, looking confident. He had more muscle mass than Lin Wei but that didn't always translate to endurance.
An older disciple, acting as informal referee stepped forward.
"Rules: Hold plank position until failure. No Qi enhancement. No movement except to collapse. Ready?"
Both nodded.
"BEGIN!!!"