Li Tian woke up to the sound of frantic knocking on his door.
"Brother Li! Emergency!"
He groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "If it's a demon invasion, tell them I'm busy. If it's breakfast, tell them to leave it by the door."
"It's neither! The Sect Master says you're representing us again today!"
Li Tian sat up slowly, his bed hair forming what looked like a bird's nest. "Again? Didn't I just do that yesterday?"
Senior Brother Zhao's voice was urgent. "Today is the Inter-Sect Sparring Meet. The whole region will be there!"
Li Tian sighed. "The whole region? Wonderful. More people to misunderstand me."
---
At the Sparring Meet grounds…
The crowd was twice as large as the day before. Colorful banners snapped in the breeze, and disciples from every sect in a hundred-mile radius were milling about. Li Tian noticed merchants selling "One-Move Expert" headbands and even tiny figurines of him standing motionless.
> [You have been commercially exploited without consent: Cultivation +10]
The first match was announced: "Eastern Cloud Sect's Li Tian versus Golden Crane Sect's Wu Jian!"
Li Tian reluctantly climbed onto the stage. His opponent, Wu Jian, was a muscular man with a fierce glare.
Then something strange happened.
Wu Jian's glare faltered. His hands began to tremble. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Li Tian, confused, scratched his head. "You okay?"
Wu Jian screamed, "I'M NOT FIGHTING HIM!" and leapt off the stage.
GONG!
The crowd roared.
"Such overwhelming presence!"
"His mere gaze shattered his opponent's spirit!"
> [Aura of Intimidation triggered: Cultivation +30]
Li Tian walked offstage in a daze. "Wait… that worked?"
---
Second match…
His opponent this time was a tall woman from the White Lotus Sect. She stepped onto the stage, met Li Tian's eyes for half a second, and promptly fainted.
The referee hurried over. "Winner: Li Tian!"
GONG!
> [Aura of Intimidation triggered: Cultivation +40]
Li Tian sat down in the corner, eating sunflower seeds while wondering if this meant he'd never have to actually fight again.
---
Third match…
The challenger from the Flame Tiger Sect was so nervous that he dropped his weapon before the match even began. It clattered to the ground, bounced once, and somehow stabbed into his own boot.
He screamed, hopped around, and fell off the stage.
GONG!
> [Aura of Intimidation triggered: Cultivation +50]
Li Tian covered his face. "This is getting ridiculous…"
---
By now, the audience was losing its mind.
"He's untouchable!"
"His enemies can't even approach him!"
"Is this the legendary 'Silent Death' technique?"
Even the Sect Masters were murmuring among themselves.
"His control over fear energy is… unprecedented."
"No… his control over nothingness is unprecedented."
Li Tian tried to protest, but Senior Brother Zhao clapped him on the back. "Brother Li, you are a living inspiration. Tomorrow, the Grand Provincial Tournament begins. You must attend."
Li Tian felt his soul leave his body. "Do I get a choice?"
"No."
> [Received unwanted commitment: Cultivation +20]
---
Later that evening…
Back in his quarters, Li Tian addressed the System. "This 'Aura of Intimidation' is broken. People are losing before we even start."
> [Correct. This is optimal for your Slacker Path.]
"But doesn't it seem… unfair?"
> [Host, fairness requires effort. Effort contradicts your cultivation method.]
"…You make a compelling point."
He lay back on his bed, hands behind his head. "So tomorrow, I just show up, look at people, and go home?"
> [Affirmative. Minimal energy expenditure, maximum gain.]
Li Tian closed his eyes. "Perfect. Wake me up when I'm rich and immortal."
---
The next day – Grand Provincial Tournament
The arena was the largest Li Tian had ever seen, with tiered seating packed to the brim. Rumors of his "silent killing intent" had spread so far that the crowd was buzzing before he even arrived.
The announcer boomed, "First match: Li Tian versus the Thunder Peak prodigy, Xie Long!"
Li Tian stepped onto the stage, his robes still slightly wrinkled from sleep. Xie Long was a tall, imposing figure with lightning crackling faintly around him.
The two locked eyes.
Xie Long's confident smirk vanished. His pupils shrank. He dropped his sword, muttered, "I value my life," and walked offstage.
GONG!
The stadium erupted into chants of "ONE MOVE! ONE MOVE!"
> [Aura of Intimidation triggered: Cultivation +60]
---
Second match…
Li Tian faced a masked fighter from the Black Moon Sect. The man took one step forward… then turned around and dove headfirst into the audience, disappearing into the crowd.
"Winner: Li Tian!"
GONG!
> [Aura of Intimidation triggered: Cultivation +70]
---
By the end of the day, Li Tian had "defeated" seven opponents without moving more than twenty steps in total. His reputation was now bordering on mythical.
Children were pretending to be him in the streets. Vendors sold "Li Tian's Secret Stillness Tea" (which was just lukewarm water). Bards were already composing songs about "The Man Who Conquered Without Trying."
Li Tian, however, was lying on the grass behind the arena, staring at the clouds.
"System," he murmured, "if this keeps up, I might actually reach the top without ever lifting a finger."
> [Affirmative.]
"…I'm both thrilled and terrified."
---