In a quiet room tucked away within the serene grounds of the Vermilion Bird Sect, a young man lay sprawled across his bed, snoring softly. The first rays of morning sunlight peeked through the window, brushing against the worn robes hanging on the wall. Peace reigned.
Until,
Knock knock.
A sharp knocking shattered the stillness.
Knock knock.
"Meng Tao, open the door!" a voice barked from outside. "Master has summoned you to the Hearpeak Hall!"
Underneath a thin blanket, Meng Tao stirred, groaning. His eyes fluttered open, bleary and reluctant.
"Damn that bastard is back again. Why can't you just let me sleep in peace" he cursed inwardly, sighing.
Without bothering to rise, Meng Tao shouted lazily, "Senior Brother, why don't you let me follow my Dao?"
There was a brief pause, and then an angry reply exploded from the other side of the door. "Open the door, Meng Tao! It's Master's order! And what kind of Dao are you following by sleeping, huh? Don't try to fool me! Open it now, or I'll break it down!"
With a helpless groan, Meng Tao finally got up and dragged himself to the door. As it creaked open, a tall figure stepped into view a young man in pristine white robes, a sword hanging at his waist, his eyes narrowed in irritation.
This was Wang Shui, his senior brother.
Standing nearly six feet tall, his aura carried the sharpness of a tempered blade. He was everything the sect admired disciplined, talented, and deadly serious.
Meng Tao rubbed his eyes and said solemnly, "Senior Brother, you just don't understand. Everything is Dao. Sleep is my Dao. Why won't you let me cultivate in peace?"
Wang Shui: "…"
He stared at Meng Tao in silence, his expression unreadable.
"Meng Tao, do I look like a fool to you?"
Meng Tao blinked. Almost reflexively, he nodded.
Wang Shui: "…"
The temperature in the room suddenly spiked. A fiery aura flared from Wang Shui's body, causing the air to shimmer.
Sensing imminent danger, Meng Tao quickly stepped back and smiled nervously. "Senior Brother, why make such a fuss over small things? Let's just go to Master before we're both punished"
Wang Shui clenched his fists, calming his temper with visible effort. This lazy brat, he thought. If not for that damned handsome face of his, how could someone like him still be in our sect? Five years, and he's only reached Qi Gathering level five. He's not even worthy of being an outer disciple!
But he said none of that out loud. Instead, he growled, "Hurry up and follow me."
Meng Tao sighed, seeing Wang Shui's clenched jaw and stiff shoulders. Senior Brother is angry again
As they walked down the path leading to Hearpeak Hall, Meng Tao's thoughts drifted back to the beginning when he first arrived in this world.
He remembered waking up in this body, overwhelmed with excitement. A cultivation world! he had thought. This is my chance to become invincible, to dominate the heavens and rule over all things!
But reality had other plans.
His talent was laughable. He would've been rejected by every sect if not for the token his dying mother had pressed into his hands the same token that allowed him to enter the Vermilion Bird Sect as a personal disciple of one of the peak masters.
His master, the only female peak lord in the sect, accepted him not for his talent, but because the token once belonged to her junior brother an elder who had failed to break through to Foundation Building five hundred years ago and had died of old age. Before his death, that man had established a mortal clan, and the token had been passed down through generations until it landed in Meng Tao's hands.
But none of that could change the truth.
He was still stuck at Qi Gathering level five.
Five years, he thought with a sigh. I'm probably being summoned for the annual "progress check."
He looked at the sky with a hint of longing. Maybe I should give up. I'll cultivate just enough to get by, then find a nice village in the mortal world, marry five or six beautiful wives, and live a peaceful life.
Just as that comfortable thought settled in his mind
[Ding…]
A strange, mechanical chime echoed in his ears.
[System activation conditions met.]
Meng Tao froze mid-step.
His eyes widened. What… what was that?!