In his hut, the night was still and quiet once more. Yet the silence was broken by the faint shimmer of light as several panels hovered before Lao Xie's eyes.
The first displayed the familiar task description:
[System Task - Main Task]
Task: Gain the trust of Ling Ruxin, she must willingly rely on you.
Time Limit: 1 Month
Failure Penalty: Cultivation will drop by one major realm.
Completion Rewards: 300 Spirit Stones, 3x Mystery Box, 1x Low Grade Artifact.
Beside it, a second panel displayed the ongoing measure of his progress.
[Main Task – Ling Ruxin]
Progress: 60% (+10%)
Time Left: 15 Days
Lao Xie leaned back, his expression unreadable as the glowing words reflected in his eyes.
"Sixty percent already…" he murmured.
The progress bar was moving faster than expected. At this rate, it was no longer a matter of if he would complete the mission but simply when.
"Fifteen days left… no, I'll finish it in seven," he decided, a faint curl tugging at his lips.
The panel dissolved into scattered motes of light, vanishing into the still air. Silence filled the hut once more, broken only by the steady rhythm of his breathing as he sank back into cultivation. Another night passed in the blink of an eye.
By dawn, Lao Xie had yet to move from his seat. His posture remained firm in lotus position upon the wooden bed, as though the long hours had never touched him.
Clink!
A crisp sound echoed within his mind as a new panel shimmered into existence before him.
[Sect Tournament Brackets]
Round of 32 — Match 1: Zhang Weiren vs Chen Fuya
Round of 32 — Match 2: …
Round of 32 — Match 3: Su Ruyu vs Mei Yan
Round of 32 — Match 4: …
"Here are the brackets for the next round, host." The system's calm voice rang out.
Lao Xie slowly opened his eyes, pupils reflecting the floating script. He scrolled down with a flick of thought until his name appeared.
Round of 32 — Match 15: Lao Xie vs Ming Yu.
"Ming Yu…?" he murmured, the name stirring something long buried.
"System, use Observe on Ming Yu."
A second panel flickered to life at once.
[Observe Activated]
Name: Ming Yu
Race: Human
Cultivation Stage: Body Tempering, 8th Stage
Age: 14
Affiliation: Silver Crescent Sect, Azure Edge Peak
Spiritual Roots: Verdant Soul Root
Lao Xie's eyes narrowed slightly as recognition dawned.
"…It's him."
A thread of memory tugged him back almost a decade. The stillness of the hut blurred, and in its place came the echo of childish laughter.
"Brother Lao, Brother Lao—what do you think the talent evaluation test will be like? How many lights do you think you'll light up?"
A boy's voice, young and brimming with excitement.
"Talent evaluation test?" The younger Lao Xie had looked puzzled for a moment, then forced a laugh. "Oh, that one… maybe two? Or three?"
"Stop lying!" the boy huffed, puffing his cheeks. "Elder Yao said Sect Master himself brought you here. There's no way you don't have some amazing talent."
"Hmph. Elder Yao told you that?" Kid Lao Xie's brow twitched.
"Why? You don't want me to know?"
"It's not that, Ming Yu… It's just… I came from the mortal world. Unlike you—born here, destined for the path of immortality."
The boy only grinned wider. "Everyone can be a cultivator! That's what my mother always said, Brother Lao!"
The memory dissolved, leaving behind only the faint aftertaste of innocence long lost. Lao Xie blinked, and the present came rushing back.
"I haven't seen you for nine years… especially after that incident," he muttered, voice low, touched with something he couldn't quite name. "To think we'd meet again in the arena."
He paused, a strange light flashing in his gaze.
"When we were children, you said we'd be friends forever… yet when I failed the evaluation, you weren't there."
"There's no need to be sentimental, host. Just crush him like you always do." the system's voice echoed, calm yet carrying a trace of mockery this time.
"I'm not sad, you stupid system. And what do you mean by crush?" Lao Xie scoffed.
"Isn't that what you enjoy? Crushing others, belittling them, toying with them?"
The reminder struck deeper than expected. His past battles, his easy victories, the way disciples whispered his name with fear and awe—it all unfolded in his mind.
He clicked his tongue. "Are you mocking me now, system?"
"Mocking? No. Perhaps my actions were simply influenced by the kind of host i have." The response was calm, almost indifferent, yet it made things worse—as if pouring oil on open flame.
Lao Xie's eyebrow twitched. "Tch. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
The system fell silent for a few breaths.
"…I don't know what you mean, host."
Lao Xie exhaled slowly, choosing not to pursue it further.
A new panel shimmered into view beside Ming Yu's profile.
[INFORMATION]
Name: Lao Xie
Age: 15
Cultivation Stage: Qi Refinement, 6th Stage
Physique: Heaven-Piercing Sword Physique
Race: Human
Luck: ???
Spiritual Root: Primordial Ancient Spirit Root
Traits: Observe Lv1
"Congratulations, host. Your realm has increased again."
The system's tone had returned to its usual neutral calm.
"Thanks to overnight cultivation, I've reached the sixth stage," Lao Xie muttered, glancing at the warped reflection of sunlight on the bronze mirror hanging inside his hut.
"The sun has already set. Not much time left before the next fight. I need to settle into this new stage before stepping into the arena."
He adjusted his posture, ready to return to meditation, but his tongue clicked again before he shut his eyes.
"Ming Yu…" he murmured, his voice low and sharp. "Should I treat you as a mere stepping stone—or as the shadow I should've cut down long ago?"
The name carried a weight that pressed against him, both familiar and unwelcome. For all his confidence, he couldn't ignore that Ming Yu was different from the others—someone who stirred both memory and unease.
"The system was right. Sentimentality is useless." His gaze cooled, as if cutting that thought apart. "But even useless things can leave a scar if left unchecked."
With that, he closed his eyes, sinking back into silence as his qi began to flow.
….
Hours slipped by in silence until a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"Host, it's almost time for your match."
Lao Xie's eyes opened, the evening light spilling faintly through the hut's small window. The sky outside was already tinged with orange and violet. Sixteen matches were set for today, and his own would be the second to last.
He exhaled once, then ended his cultivation. With calm movements, he tidied his robes, brushed the dust from his sleeve, and reached for the sword resting against the wall. A simple gesture, yet the blade vanished into his storage ring with a flicker of light. Once ready, he stepped out of the hut and made his way toward the Martial Hall.
By the time he arrived, the place was already buzzing with noise. The Martial Hall was always lively during tournaments, but today it was brimming to the edges. Disciples clustered around the entrance, chatting excitedly, while others hurried in and out.
Stepping into the main lobby, Lao Xie took in the sight without much thought. Counters were lined up as always, disciples swarming them to check brackets, place their bets, or argue loudly about the day's results. Further in, the familiar passage stretched toward the colosseum within, where the arena platform stood surrounded by tiered seats and the roar of countless voices.
None of it was new to him, yet the atmosphere was undeniably more heated compared to the earlier rounds.