Disciples hurried about. Red silk banners appeared from nowhere. A group of kids started tossing flower petals into the air. A man with a pan flute began playing a mournful tune for reasons unknown.
Li Qing stared at the chaos around him, confused.
“I… I literally just arrived.”
A junior disciple, eyes sparkling with adoration, ran up and bowed so hard his forehead hit the ground.
“Immortal Senior Li! Please allow me to carry your humble belongings!”
Li Qing looked down at his tattered cloth bag containing exactly one cracked rice bowl and a rock he thought was shiny.
“Uh… no need. It’s fine, really.”
Ding!
[Cultivation Points +500: Host’s refusal interpreted as disdain for material possessions.]
Total: 20,300 points
And just like that…
Ding!
[New Feature Unlocked: Passive Misunderstanding Aura]
[Description: As long as Host speaks or acts without intent, surrounding cultivators will instinctively interpret your actions as profound, mysterious, or awe-inspiring.]
Li Qing squinted at the floating golden text no one else could see.
“…wait, you mean they’ll just keep misunderstanding me?”
Another prompt appeared:
[Yes.]
“…That’s it?”
[Yes.]
Li Qing sighed. He wasn’t sure if this was a blessing or a curse.
Meanwhile, Elsewhere in the Sect
Sect Elder Gu Yunzhi sat on a massive stone platform carved into a cloud motif. His long white beard swayed like mystical noodles in the wind. His eyes were sharp, his cultivation deep, and his backstory sufficiently tragic.
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A messenger knelt before him.
“Reporting to Elder Gu! A prodigy has appeared in the recruitment grounds!”
Elder Gu stroked his beard.
“Prodigy?”
“Yes, Elder! A young man whose cultivation cannot be measured by mortal means! Even four Spirit Testing Stones failed to react to him.”
The elder’s eyes gleamed. “Is that so? Prepare my flying crane. I shall meet this… mysterious youth.”
Back to Li Qing
A small group of disciples surrounded him, each trying to out-humble one another.
“Senior Li, would you honor me by stepping on my back as a footstool?”
“No! Step on mine! It’s slightly more durable!”
“I—I can be the stone path you walk on for your entire life!”
Li Qing raised his hands. “Okay, okay, everyone calm down.”
Ding!
[Cultivation Points +1000: Host’s calmness amidst adoration interpreted as profound control over mortal attachments.]
He was up to 21,300 points now.
Li Qing’s head hurt.
“Listen, I’m not some ancient immortal or peerless genius, alright?”
Silence fell.
A brave disciple stepped forward. “Such denial… truly befitting one who walks the path of the Grand Dao.”
Everyone nodded solemnly.
Another murmured, “This must be what it’s like to meet a sage in mortal form.”
Li Qing opened his mouth to object, but at this point he wasn’t even surprised when—
Ding!
[Cultivation Points +500: Host’s weary expression mistaken as contemplation on the futility of life and death.]
He sighed.
Again.
“Fine. Can someone at least tell me where the bathrooms are?”
Gasps.
Someone actually fainted.
A girl clutched her chest. “T-to think he still concerns himself with worldly matters to stay connected to humanity…!”
Li Qing had had enough.
“I’m leaving,” he muttered, shuffling toward a random path.
A disciple immediately dropped to his knees. “Senior! Please trample my back as you depart!”
“I don’t want to step on your back!”
The disciple wept tears of joy. “Even rejecting me is a lesson in humility.”
Li Qing massaged his temples.
Was this hell? Or just the normal sect experience? He had no frame of reference.
Enter Elder Gu
A rush of wind scattered the flower petals still lingering in the air as a majestic white crane descended.
Elder Gu Yunzhi landed gracefully, his presence heavy and commanding.
“Where is this… Li Qing?”
The gathered disciples parted instantly like tide before a ship, revealing the disheveled young man.
Li Qing looked up, mid-yawn.
Elder Gu’s eyes narrowed. He dares yawn in my presence? Either a fool… or a sage beyond sages.
Li Qing rubbed his eyes. “Yeah, that’s me.”
Gasps again.
“He speaks so plainly!”
“To disregard formalities… truly divine.”
Elder Gu stepped forward, clasping his hands.
“Young man. I am Elder Gu Yunzhi. From this day forth, you shall be my personal core disciple.”
Li Qing blinked. “No thanks.”
Ding!
[Cultivation Points +2000: Host’s rejection of powerful mentor interpreted as desire to walk a lone, peerless path.]
Everyone present collapsed to one knee.
“Immortal Senior!”
Even Elder Gu trembled slightly.
“I see. You wish to temper yourself against the cruel world before accepting tutelage… admirable.”
Li Qing, thoroughly done with this nonsense, gave a dead-eyed nod. “Sure. Yep. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Ding!
[Cultivation Points +1000: Host’s reluctant acceptance perceived as divine wisdom.]
Total: 24,800 points
Li Qing scowled at the sky. “System… you’re messing with me on purpose, aren’t you?”
No response.
Just an ominous ding.