[ Time Skip: 1 Week Later ]
The peace didn't last. It never does in cultivation novels.
A massive bell tolled across the Soaring Cloud Sect, waking Jiang Fan from a particularly good nap on his new floating bed.
[ SYSTEM ALERT ][ Mandatory Quest: "The Culling" ][ The Spirit Beast population in the Misty Forest has spiked. All Outer Disciples must participate in the hunt. ][ Minimum Requirement: 10 Beast Cores. ][ Penalty for Failure: Expulsion. ]
"Expulsion again?" Jiang Fan groaned, rolling over. "Can't they just fire me peacefully? Why does it always involve monsters?"
Fatty Wu burst into the hut, fully armored in mismatched leather gear. He looked like a panicked turtle.
"Brother Jiang! Get up! We have to group up! The Misty Forest is dangerous this time of year. There are rumors of a Stage 5 Iron-Hide Bear roaming the perimeter!"
Jiang Fan sighed and sat up. He checked his stats.
[ IDLE CULTIVATION SYSTEM ]
User: Jiang FanRealm: Qi Condensation Stage 4 (Early)Skills: Sleepwalker Step (Lvl 3), Iron Skin (Passive)Inventory: Sloth's Coffin (Bed), Self-Cleaning Talisman.
Reaching Stage 4 was a big deal. He was now officially stronger than 90% of the Outer Sect. But fighting beasts meant running around, getting dirty, and potentially sweating.
"I need a way to do this without moving," Jiang Fan muttered.
He opened the System Shop. He had accumulated 1,200 Idle Points from sleeping in Gu Ling's workshop.
He scrolled to the [Consumables] tab.
Beast Lure Incense (High Grade): Attracts all beasts within 1km.Auto-Turret Array (Blueprint): Too expensive.Thorn-Mail Aura (Skill Book): Returns 50% of damage taken back to the attacker.
"Perfect."
Two Hours Later - The Misty Forest
The forest was dark, humid, and filled with the screams of disciples fighting for their lives.
"Die, you wolf scum!" "Help! I'm out of Qi!"
Groups of disciples were fighting in tight formations, desperately fending off packs of Wind Wolves.
Meanwhile, in a secluded clearing near a small stream:
Jiang Fan set up his Sloth's Coffin under a large tree. The barrier shimmered to life, creating a safe bubble.
"Brother Jiang..." Fatty Wu whimpered, holding his shield. "Are we really just going to... sit here? We need 10 cores! We haven't killed anything!"
"Patience, Wu," Jiang Fan said, climbing into bed and pulling up the silk covers. "I bought a new skill. I need to test it."
Jiang Fan opened his menu and activated two things.
Item:Beast Lure Incense (He placed a stick on the ground outside the barrier).Skill:Thorn-Mail Aura (Active).
"Wu, stand inside the barrier. Do not go out. Whatever happens, just loot the bodies."
"Loot the... what bodies? There's nothing he—"
CRACK.
A twig snapped. Then another.
From the shadows of the trees, five pairs of glowing red eyes appeared. Then ten. Then twenty.
A massive pack of Wind Wolves (Stage 2) emerged, drawn by the irresistible scent of the incense. They saw Jiang Fan sleeping in the bed. To them, he looked like a free meal.
"Oh gods," Fatty Wu squeaked. "We're dead."
The Alpha Wolf howled and lunged. It flew through the air, jaws snapping, aiming for Jiang Fan's throat.
It hit the invisible barrier of the bed. BANG.
At the exact moment of impact, Jiang Fan's Thorn-Mail Aura flared.
A shockwave of red energy blasted outward from the sleeping Jiang Fan.
BOOM.
The Alpha Wolf didn't just bounce off; it exploded. The recoil damage, amplified by the system, shattered its ribs instantly.
[ System: Enemy Self-Destructed. XP +50 ]
The other wolves, driven mad by the incense, didn't stop. They swarmed the bed.
Bang. Bang. Crunch. Splat.
It was a massacre. Every time a wolf bit the barrier or swiped at Jiang Fan, the damage was reflected back at them with double force.
Jiang Fan slept peacefully through the noise, the Cloud-Silk mattress dampening the sound of breaking bones.
Fatty Wu stood there, mouth agape, watching the carnage.
"He... he's killing them by sleeping," Wu whispered, terrified and awed. "He's Weaponized Napping!"
After ten minutes, the forest was silent. Twenty dead wolves lay in a circle around the floating bed.
Jiang Fan turned over in his sleep, muttering, "Five more minutes..."
Fatty Wu looked at the pile of valuable beast cores scattered on the ground. He looked at his sleeping boss.
He pulled out a sack and started looting, weeping tears of joy. "I chose the right boss! I'm going to be rich!"
Just as Fatty Wu finished collecting the loot, the ground shook.
THUMP. THUMP.
Trees snapped like twigs. A massive shadow blotted out the sun.
The Stage 5 Iron-Hide Bear had smelled the incense. It roared, a sound that shook the leaves off the trees.
Fatty Wu froze. The barrier could take a Stage 5 hit... but only one.
Jiang Fan's eyes snapped open. The System screamed a warning.
[ DANGER. Enemy Level Exceeds Passive Defense Capabilities. ][ Auto-Battle Mode: UNLOCKED. ][ Initiate? (Cost: 500 IP) ]
Jiang Fan looked at the massive bear charging at him. He looked at his pillow.
"Fine," he sighed. "System, take the wheel."
His eyes rolled back into his head. His body went limp... and then, it stood up.
But the expression on his face wasn't lazy anymore. It was cold, mechanical, and terrifying.
[ AUTO-BATTLE ENGAGED. ]