Chương 9: Tests & Trials (I)

[Quest completed] [Reward: 15 Creation Points] [...] [Note: The Host can earn more Creation Points by not only completing assigned quests but also achieving great things--either through your own means or through your Disciples'. For example, any time any one of your Disciples breaks through a major realm, you will receive the proportional amount of Creation Points. Good luck!] Oh, that's quite alright, System. I don't plan on achieving many great things--no such aspirations, no.

After all, this was a world of cultivation, and though I wanted to lord over everyone just a tiny little bit (doesn't everyone?), I'm too weak! Ah, not just too weak, this body is too trash! But... I do have a monster disciple! That kid--yeah, let's just call him a kid; it might be easier to breathe next to him that way--if I just latch onto that thick thigh... won't all my future troubles be resolved? After all, even if I do something to elicit the ire of others, I can always hide under his umbrella!

And just silently create things in the background... Though it wasn't a genius plan, it was still a plan. For now, however, that was in the distant future; it all hinged on my Disciple becoming strong. As for right now, he was... nothing. Though the Spirit Sword Sect wasn't a major force, it was still a tiny little hegemon of the surrounding area. From this body's memories, it's easy to assume that the kid will skyrocket to the top position in a matter of years, but what if he was one of those low-key protagonists?

Haah, I need more Disciples! But getting a new Disciple, outside the selection ritual, was... difficult. It wasn't as though I could just walk out and come upon some talented kid; just my luck of having stumbled upon Long Tao had already likely drained most of the reserves, even if he chose me simply due to my reputation. Speaking of reputation, that would be the reason why other Disciples won't choose me.

Those who are talented but also legitimately need guidance would never choose me of all other Elders or even Deacons. After all, not only was I the weakest, I was marked as a hedonist! And, truth be told, that was selling it a bit short. The memories... ah, I truly do want to erase them. So, so, so much. One day! Yes, one day when I have surplus Creation Points, I will create an Art for selective memory erasure! Won't that be a blessing not just for me but for others?

In this world, too, inner demons and doubts often manifested during the breakthrough and ended many a promising life. If I created a way to resolve that and then sold it to people--no, no, no. In order to sell things like that, you needed strength! Or, in my case, I needed Long Tao to become strong. But... one wasn't enough. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. I needed more Disciples.

On my way out of the house, I passed by the meditating Long Tao--the kid had finally stepped into the path of cultivation... and immediately reached the second stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. Aah, seriously, man?! Even the most talented kid of the previous batch will likely take half a year to reach the second stage, and that was if the Sect fed them elixirs non-stop! Oh well, whatever. If he has the means to ascend so quickly, then he has the means to hide it. Has nothing to do with me.

Stepping out, I breathed in and, for the first time since coming into this world, fully took in the sight of it. The sky above was azure blue, beautiful and cloudless, with the singular sun sitting perched at the zenith. It wasn't particularly hot or warm, and per the memories, it should be early spring. The calendar here was a bit different--there were 411 days, though the length of a day was the same. According to the memories, we're living in the 'Age of Humanity', and have been for the past 2, 000 years.

However, that was about where the knowledge ended. Old Lu Qi wasn't so much interested in the secrets of the world as he was in the secrets of bedding--khm, anyway, the point is that I know little to nothing of this place. However, compared to the modern cities, this place was... shabby. Though there was some majestic luster, most of it was in the nature itself. The buildings were all shoddily constructed, mostly of wood and some of stone, with rather simple designs.

There were a couple of grander ones, but that was about it; terraced roofs layered over the six or seven floors, though their age was quite evident still. It seemed that most Disciples resided in the caves--nearby mountains revealed a shocking amount of holes in their sides, lined up neatly in a clearly unnatural pattern. What saved the place was definitely the nature--there was a singular river peeking from the peak furthest back where the Ancestors as well as the sect's Hallowed Tomb were.

It cut directly through the heart of the sect and out past its walls; it was fast yet as clear as a baby's tear, endowed with rich spirituality. Sects in this world were built on top of places precisely like this one, where Spiritual Qi was far thicker. Major sects were built on top of Spiritual Veins, or even something called 'Primordial Sea', while the smaller sects, like the Spirit Sword Sect, were built on spiritually suffused rivers or within the forests or other auspicious places with somewhat abundant Qi.

Just as I considered writing a poem to illustrate the beauty of this world, I was rudely interrupted by a figure descending rapidly from the sky and landing not ten feet from me, kicking up dust directly into my face. I would scream--truly--but what if he was strong? And killed me? So, I endured.

"Hm," the newcomer seemed to be middle-aged, his gaze indifferent and cold, as though he were looking at a beast rather than a fellow cultivator. From my memories... ah. Why? Why did this asshole come here?

"Still a shithole."

"... fellow Daoist Mu, to what do I owe this pleasure?" I have to endure! Not because the person in front of me is stronger--though he most likely is--but because he, too, was a nepo-baby like me! And his backing was even greater, being the grandson of one of the Ancestors!

"Fellow Daoist? Pu!" he spat! He actually spat at my feet!

"Never, ever compare the likes of you to the likes of me again, if you value your pathetic life! Pah. You think that the Sect Master will shield you forever? Heh. Just you wait. So far, you were clever and never took in a Disciple... but now that you did... he he he..."

"..." What was this moron laughing about by his lonesome?

"Once you guide him astray--and you will --and I inform the Elders... would the Sect Master be able to protect you? It is one thing to merely be a talentless nobody, but guiding a Disciple astray... would that not tarnish the reputation of the Sect?" Ah. So it was that. I almost wanted to pity him... and I would have if he wasn't a jackass. A myriad of problems I indeed did have, but leading a disciple astray... yeah, that wasn't one. Especially Long Tao.

I could spend sixteen lifetimes trying to actively guide him astray, and I would still fail. No, this entire sect could spend all its past, present, and future time on trying to guide him astray, and the only thing we'd do is piss him off even more...