Under the towering structure, Zhao Wuxie's dark and grim expression, illuminated by the flickering firelight, appeared especially menacing. He turned on his heel, each step as if treading on the verge of an erupting volcano, accumulating anger that could incinerate everything.在高耸的建筑下,赵无邪阴暗阴沉的表情,在摇曳的火光的映照下,显得格外凶狠.他转过身来,每走一步都像是站在火山爆发的边缘,积聚的愤怒足以将一切化为灰烬.
Inside the stone hall of the council of elders, the atmosphere was heavy as iron.在长老会议的石头大厅里,气氛沉重如铁.
"This youth must not be left alive!" Zhao Wuxie's voice echoed through the spacious hall, filled with unmasked malice. "I saw with my own eyes that when summoned, he was sound asleep atop the tower! His soul wandered, his mind unfocused, clearly a sign that his mental state has been eroded by the dark tide's influence! Have you all forgotten the lesson from a hundred years ago? That so-called prophet who claimed to communicate with monsters, how did he bring about the tribe's near destruction?""不能让这个年轻人活着!"赵无邪的声音在宽敞的大厅里回荡,充满了赤裸裸的恶意."我亲眼看到,当我召唤他的时候,他在塔顶上睡得很熟!他的灵魂徘徊,他的思想不集中,这显然是他的精神状态被黑暗浪潮的影响所侵蚀的迹象!你们都忘了一百年前的教训了吗?那个所谓的先知,声称能和怪物交流,他是怎么让部落几乎毁灭的?"
His words, like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, stirred a thousand waves. Several elders who were already skeptical about Lin Xiuyuan's origins instantly showed shock and whispered among themselves.他的话,就像一块巨大的石头扔进平静的湖中,激起了千层波浪.几位原本就对林秀媛的身世持怀疑态度的长辈,立刻露出震惊的表情,互相窃窃私语.
"Indeed, the hero is the shield of the tribe and should always be vigilant, ready for battle. Such laziness is truly unsettling," an elderly elder with white hair agreed, his eyes filled with worry.的确,英雄是部落的盾牌,应该时刻保持警惕,随时准备战斗.这样的懒惰确实令人不安,"一位白发苍苍的老人表示赞同,眼里充满了担忧.
Another fiery-tempered elder slammed his hand on the stone table: "Why waste more words! The divine decree only mentioned the arrival of a hero, not that this hero is necessarily good! What if he's a spy sent by the demon god, intending to divide us from within? I propose we immediately use the 'Purifying Fire' to drive out evil! If he is truly the chosen one, the holy flame will only refine his spirit; if he is evil, it will make him disintegrate!"另一位脾气暴躁的长者用手猛击石桌:"何必多费口舌!神谕只提到一个英雄的到来,并不是说这个英雄一定是好的!如果他是恶魔之神派来的间谍,想从内部分裂我们呢?我建议我们立即使用"净化之火"来驱逐邪恶!如果他真的是被选中的人,圣火只会净化他的灵魂;如果他是邪恶的,这将使他崩溃!"
The mention of "Purifying Fire" seemed to raise the temperature in the hall.一提到"净化之火",大厅里的气氛就顿时紧张起来.
This was the tribe's most severe trial ceremony, where even a slight mistake could result in the complete destruction of both soul and spirit.这是部落最严厉的审判仪式,即使是一个小小的错误也可能导致灵魂和精神的彻底毁灭.
"No!" "不!"
An old but powerful voice halted the commotion. All eyes turned to see the tribal patriarch, Bai Shan, rising slowly from his stone seat, leaning on a staff carved with ancient runes.一个苍老而有力的声音止住了骚动.所有的目光都转向部落族长白山,他倚着一根刻有古代符文的手杖,慢慢地从石凳上站起来.
His cloudy eyes scanned everyone present, not sharp but with an piercing force that cut through hearts.
"The divine decree never stated that the hero must immediately engage in battle upon arrival," Bai Shan spoke calmly. "Those chosen by fate have their own ways, beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals. The Purifying Fire is the tribe's ultimate safeguard; it cannot be easily used based on mere speculation. If we mistakenly kill a divine selection, who will bear the consequences of the dark tide's arrival?"
Zhao Wuxie's eyes flickered, bowing humbly. "Patriarch, you're mistaken! The signs of the dark tide are increasingly evident; we cannot afford to gamble. What if..."
"There are no 'what ifs'," Bai Shan firmly tapped his staff on the ground, silencing all debate. "The divine decree is our sole guide. If the gods have made us wait, we must have the patience to do so. I decide, we will observe for seven more days. If he remains inactive or reveals signs of evil within seven days, then we can proceed with judgment."
The patriarch's authority was unsurpassed. Though Zhao Wuxie was reluctant, he had to comply.
"Since that's the case," he shifted his tone, his gaze falling on a serene woman in the hall. "To ensure the hero's safety and to monitor his condition at all times, I propose that the tribe's chief witch-doctor, Su Wanqing, be assigned to guard the tower around the clock. Su Wanqing excels in soul-soothing techniques; if the hero has any evil influences, she can detect and assist immediately."
This was an irrefutable suggestion.
Su Wanqing, upon hearing her name, her clear face flashed a hint of reluctance but ultimately stood up and accepted the order: "Wanqing... obeys."
On the top floor of the tower, Lin Xiuyuan was oblivious to the turmoil outside. He sat cross-legged on the ground, repeatedly recalling the cold mechanical voice from the night before.
Initially, he thought it was a hallucination caused by the aftereffects of his transmigration, but the cold touch and subtle glow of the "Flame Rest Sword" in his hand told him everything was real. Moreover, the fleeting red light from the window last night bore a striking similarity to the sword's aura.
"System?" He tentatively called out into the air, "Are you there? Since I'm the hero, shouldn't I get a newbie gift package or something?"
The room remained silent, no response.
Lin Xiuyuan rubbed his chin, lost in thought. Since directly asking had no effect, he needed to find patterns from known conditions.
Where did last night's reward come from? He had slept for eight hours and completely avoided any cultivation-related activities.
A bold idea sprouted in his mind: Could the activation method of this "Hero System" be to slack off? Cultivation reduces merit, while sleeping increases rewards? The more he thought, the more plausible it seemed! This was like a golden finger tailor-made for him!
"Someone!" Lin Xiuyuan called out to the door.
Soon, two tribal servants entered.
"Get me the softest animal fur cushions and some seasonal fruits and wine," Lin Xiuyuan ordered seriously. "From today, your hero will enter a deep 'seclusion mode' to contemplate the mysteries of the universe. No one is to disturb me!"
The servants glanced at each other, puzzled by the need for cushions and wine during seclusion, but respectfully complied.仆人们面面相觑,对隐居期间需要靠垫和酒感到困惑,但还是恭恭敬敬地照办了.
Soon, the room was comfortably set up. Lin Xiuyuan lay contentedly on the thick cushions, taking short naps during the day and going to bed early at night, firmly avoiding the mountain of tribal cultivation texts in the corner, as if they were fierce beasts.很快,房间就布置好了.林秀远心满意足地躺在厚厚的靠垫上,白天小睡一会儿,晚上早早上床睡觉,牢牢地避开角落里堆积如山的部落修养文本,仿佛它们是凶猛的猛兽.
In the deep night, all was silent. As Lin Xiuyuan fell into deep sleep again, the familiar cold voice returned.深夜里,万籁俱寂.林秀媛又进入了梦乡,那熟悉的冷冷的声音又回来了.
[Ding!Continuous sign-in day 2, achieved "Deep Slack" achievement.
Reward:Junior Mage Transfer Scroll（Fire Ball）×1, gold coin×50 Pieces.]
Lin Xiuyuan shot up, seeing an ancient scroll and a weighty purse appear beside his pillow.林秀远突然跳了起来,看见枕边出现了一幅古卷轴和一个沉甸甸的钱包.
He picked up the scroll, unfolding it to reveal a complex magic array and a small line of text: After use, can be promoted to a Junior Mage, mastering basic fireball magic.
His mouth opened, his lips twitching involuntarily: "Mage class? I can promote by slacking off? Is there any justice in this world?"他张开嘴,嘴唇不由自主地抽搐着:"法师课?我可以通过偷懒来提升自己吗?这个世界上有正义吗?"
Initially, he wanted to burn the scroll to avoid trouble. But then he thought, if the dark tide really comes, he couldn't rely on just a sword and talk. An additional ranged attack wouldn't hurt.起初,他想烧掉卷轴以避免麻烦.但他转念一想,如果黑潮真的来了,光靠剑和说话是不行的.额外的远程攻击也没什么坏处.
So, he casually stuffed the scroll under the bed. As for the gold coins, he indulged his old habit, running to the windowsill and burying the coins one by one in a decorative flower pot, patting the soil seriously, naming it: "Planting money trees, waiting for more money in autumn."于是,他随手把卷轴塞到了床底下.至于金币,他又恢复了老习惯,跑到窗台前,把金币一个个埋在一个装饰用的花盆里,认真地拍着土,给它起了个名字:"栽金钱树,等着秋天更多的钱."
Just as he finished, a faint footsteps sounded outside the door. Su Wanqing, holding a softly glowing moonstone lantern, was on her nightly patrol. Through the crack, she saw the room was tidy, the bed neatly made, and the pile of cultivation texts untouched in the corner.他刚说完,门外传来了微弱的脚步声.苏万清拿着一盏月光石灯笼,正在夜间巡逻.透过缝隙,她看到房间很整洁,床铺得整整齐齐,墙角的那堆修行书没动过.
A light sigh escaped her.
Others said he was hopelessly lazy, but to her, this might be another form of fear. An ordinary person suddenly named a hero, burdened with the hope of saving the world, facing the unknown dark tide and the pressure of the entire tribe, how afraid and helpless must he be?
This so-called "laziness" could just be a protective color to escape reality.
With this thought, Su Wanqing pulled out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, placing it on the stone stand outside, muttering softly: "This is a Soul Calming Elixir, one of the tribe's most precious medicines. If you are truly torn by this heavy fate, may it help you sleep soundly."
She turned to leave, unaware that in the shadows, Zhao Wuxie was secretly observing everything.
A cold smile curled at his lips, his gaze sinister: "So, our chief witch-doctor has developed feelings for a waste. Excellent, this is a good leverage."
On the third morning, Lin Xiuyuan, after eight hours of sleep, woke up refreshed. Sitting by the window, munching on a bright red fruit, he suddenly heard commotion outside the tower.
Initially, it was the voices of children, then merging into a neat and uniform recitation sound, growing louder, as if trying to penetrate the stone walls of the tower.
"Rule of the Hero No. 1: Diligent cultivation, be the shield of the tribe!"
"Rule of the Hero No. 2: Sacrifice for righteousness, protect the homeland to death!"
The noise was unbearable, disrupting his peace. Lin Xiuyuan's good mood vanished, anger rising.
He grabbed the "Flame Rest Sword," charging down the tower. At the base, Zhao Wuxie had organized a group of seven- to eight-year-old children, led by a tribal warrior, loudly reciting the "Hero Rules" he had compiled overnight.
Seeing Lin Xiuyuan storm out, Zhao Wuxie...
However, Lin Xiuyuan didn't waste words. He flicked his wrist, the tip of the "Flame Rest Sword" lightly touching the ground, releasing a burst of subtle power.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
A series of pebbles were precisely flicked up, as if with eyes, hitting the ground half an inch in front of each child's feet, kicking up small puffs of dust. The force was perfectly controlled, a strong warning without harming anyone.
The children scattered in a chorus of "waahs," the recitation stopping abruptly. Lin Xiuyuan stood with his sword, his icy gaze sweeping over the stunned Zhao Wuxie and the crowd, coldly declaring: "Whoever dares disturb my sleep next time will get more than just stones."
The crowd fell silent, retreating. Satisfied, Lin Xiuyuan ignored Zhao Wuxie, returning to the tower, collapsing back to sleep, continuing his "seclusion mission."
As he drifted into sleep, the cold voice whispered again.
[Ding! [丁! [丁! [丁!Continuous sign-in day 3, achieved "Defend Sleep Rights" achievement.
Reward:Silver Knight Bracelet（enchant :strength+3）.]
In his sleep, Lin Xiuyuan felt something added to his wrist, mumbling indistinctly: "This... job is really worth it."
Under the tower, Zhao Wuxie watched Lin Xiuyuan's disappearing back, his face ashen. Monitoring and public pressure were ineffective against this impervious individual. Not only did he not submit, but he retaliated with direct, humiliating actions.
Zhao Wuxie took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. He realized that conventional means were futile against someone who played by different rules. His gaze slowly turned to the ancient and sacred altar at the center of the tribe, his eyes deep and cold.
If brute force and soft tactics failed, he would trap him with rules. The Moon Sacrifice Festival... a grand ceremony that everyone, including the "hero," must attend. It would be a grand stage and a perfect trap. There, personal might would have to bow to the traditions and divine authority passed down for a thousand years.
This time, he would set a trap that would leave Lin Xiuyuan with no way to resist or argue in public.