The next week was the most bizarre and wonderful of my life—both of my lives, in fact.
Uncle Feng, the kind old man who looked after the outer disciple dormitories, kept giving me
worried glances. He expected me to be frantically practicing my forms in the courtyard, or sitting
cross-legged for hours on end, turning blue in the face from trying to force Qi into my stubborn
meridians.
That's what the old Lin Yun would have done.
The new and improved model, however, was embracing the sacred art of doing absolutely
nothing.
Well, not nothing. I was very busy.
I was busy watching the ants build a colony near the well. I was busy figuring out which cook in
the mess hall gave the biggest portions (it was Sister Lotus, a smile went a long way). I was busy
napping in a secluded, sunny spot behind the archives.
And all the while, in the corner of my vision, my faithful system toiled away.
[ Auto-Cultivate: ON ]
[ Whispering Cloud Primer: 12% to Next Insight. ]
It was beautiful. While other disciples grunted and sweated, their faces masks of intense
concentration, I was just… living. The system pulled in trace amounts of Qi so gently that no one
could even sense it. I was the ultimate undercover agent.
Of course, my apparent laziness didn't go unnoticed.
"Look, it's Lin Yun," a sneering voice cut through my peaceful afternoon nap. I cracked an eye
open to see two older outer disciples, Zhang and Li. They were the class bullies, the kind of guys
who peaked in high school—or in this case, the outer disciple compound.
"Given up already?" Zhang, the broader one, kicked lightly at my foot. "Smart move. Save
yourself the embarrassment. Some people are just meant to carry water, not wield swords."
I gave him a slow, sleepy blink. "Is that what you're doing? Wielding swords? From over here, it
looks like you're wielding a serious case of envy. Did you want my sunny spot?"
Li, the weaselier one, scowled. "You have a mouth on you for someone with a Mortal Grade
spirit root. The monthly evaluation is in three weeks. I hope you enjoy your new duties in the
laundry yard."
They stomped off, muttering about "wasted resources." I just closed my eyes again. Ah, the
sweet, unbothered life.
[ Ding! ]
[ Quest Complete: 'A Humble Beginning' ]
Objective: Reach Qi Gathering Stage, Level 2. Status: COMPLETE.
A surge of warmth, far more potent than the trickle from the auto-cultivate, flooded my body. It
felt like drinking hot cocoa on a cold day, the warmth spreading to my fingertips and toes. My
senses sharpened. The rustle of leaves sounded crisper, the colors of the world seemed more
vibrant. The persistent, dull ache that had been Lin Yun's constant companion simply vanished.
I pulled up my status screen.
Name: Lin Yun
Cultivation: Qi Gathering Stage, Level 2 (Initiate)
Health Points (HP): 80/80
Spiritual Energy (SE): 150/150
Constitution: 12 (Average)
Spirit Root: Mortal Grade (Low)
Cultivation Technique: Whispering Cloud Primer (Basic)
Skills: None
Inventory: Beginner's Gift Pack (Unopened)
I'd done it. In less than a week, I'd broken through a barrier that had stymied the original Lin Yun
for years. And I'd done it without even trying.
[ Reward Claimed: 10 System Points. ]
[ Reward Claimed: Beginner's Gift Pack. ]
With a thought, I opened the gift pack.
[ Received: Minor Qi Restoration Pill x3. ]
[ Received: Low-Grade Spirit Stone x5. ]
[ Received: Skill: 'Observe' (Novice). ]
Nice! The pills and spirit stones were standard cultivation fare, but the skill was a game-changer.
I focused on a nearby tree.
[ Observe: ]
Target: Ancient Cypress Tree.
Status: Healthy. Contains faint, dormant Wood Attribute Qi.
I then glanced at a passing senior disciple, quickly looking away before he noticed.
[ Observe: ]
Target: Senior Disciple Wang
Cultivation: Qi Gathering Stage, Level 7 (Adept)
Status: Confident. Slightly annoyed.
This was incredible. An identification skill! In a world where punching above your weight class
could get you killed, this was a priceless tool.
A new quest notification popped up.
[ New Quest: 'A Show of Progress' ]
Objective: Reach Qi Gathering Stage, Level 3 before the Monthly Evaluation.
Reward: 50 System Points, Unlock System Shop.
The System Shop! My heart raced. What wonders could I buy there? Better auto-cultivation
speeds? Rare techniques? Maybe even a way to improve this lousy Mortal Grade spirit root?
I looked at the spot where Zhang and Li had been standing, a slow grin spreading across my face.
They thought the monthly evaluation would be my end. They thought I was lazy.
They had no idea that I was cultivating while they were wasting their energy on insults. By the
time the evaluation came, I wouldn't just be avoiding the laundry yard.
I was going to turn every condescending face in this sect a brilliant shade of green with envy.
Idle hands, it turns out, are the devil's workshop. And this devil was just getting started.