Li Wei was in the middle of cultivating when the air around him suddenly changed.
It wasn't pressure.
It was… warning.
His heart skipped a beat.
Before he could react, the System's voice descended—cold, absolute, without emotion.
[Alert]
Extreme Hostility Detected
Target: Zhao Yuan
Distance: Outside effective kill range
Judgment:
The target cannot be killed within one second.
Li Wei's blood turned cold.
"What—?"
The next instant, a crushing sensation slammed into his body.
[Heavenly One-Second Law Activated]
Condition Violated:
Host detected by an enemy with Extreme Hostility while lacking guaranteed one-second kill capability.
Penalty:
• Cultivation fully sealed
• Duration: 30 minutes
Li Wei coughed violently.
The qi he had just painstakingly gathered scattered like smoke. His meridians went silent. His dantian felt like an empty, locked box.
Thirty minutes.
If anyone attacked him right now—
He clenched his fists.
"So this is how it works…" he muttered.
He finally understood.
It wasn't just about fighting.
It was about being noticed.
At that very moment, far away in the outer courtyard, Zhao Yuan frowned.
"Didn't that trash die already?" he scoffed.
A thin, sharp-eyed disciple beside him hesitated, then lowered his voice.
"Senior Brother Zhao… I heard something."
Zhao Yuan looked at him.
"That Li Wei," the disciple continued carefully, "someone saw him alive. Injured, but alive."
Silence.
Then Zhao Yuan laughed.
"Alive?" His smile twisted. "Good."
His eyes darkened.
"I was worried I didn't hit hard enough."
The instant that thought formed—
Extreme hostility was born.
And Heaven noticed.
Back in the shabby room, Li Wei sat motionless, cold sweat soaking his back.
He didn't dare move.
Didn't dare cultivate.
Didn't dare even think about Zhao Yuan.
Only when the crushing pressure finally lifted did the System speak again.
[Penalty Ended]
Cultivation seal removed.
Li Wei exhaled slowly.
"That was too close…"
Before he could settle his breathing, another window appeared.
[New Exercise Issued]
Objective:
Cultivate continuously for 1 hour
Restrictions:
• No combat intent
• No hostility generation
Reward:
All-Elemental Affinity (Basic)
Description:
The host may cultivate all elemental attributes.
Li Wei's eyes widened.
"All… elements?"
In this world, most cultivators were born with one elemental affinity.
Two meant genius.
Three meant heaven-defying.
All of them?
He swallowed.
This reward alone could shake sects.
He didn't hesitate.
Li Wei closed his eyes and entered cultivation again—slower than before, steadier. This time, something strange happened.
The qi around him responded differently.
Gentle warmth.
Sharp currents.
Heavy, grounding flows.
Subtle vibrations.
Metal. Wood. Water. Fire. Earth.
They all answered.
His cultivation speed surged.
Not explosively—but smoothly, naturally, as if the world itself was feeding him.
As the hour ended—
[Exercise Completed]
Reward Granted: All-Elemental Affinity (Basic)
Li Wei opened his eyes, breathing steadily.
A grin crept onto his face.
"So this is what talent feels like…"
"I'll just cultivate quietly… grow stronger…"
Then a thought crossed his mind.
Once I'm strong enough… I'll show them.
He froze.
The grin vanished instantly.
He remembered the System.
The curse.
The law.
Showing off meant being noticed.
Being noticed meant hostility.
Hostility meant seals.
Seals meant death.
Li Wei let out a dry laugh.
"…Right. No showing off."
A knock came at the door.
"Li Wei?"
It was Su Qing.
She stepped in with a small basket of food. "You need to eat. Cultivating on an empty stomach isn't good."
She set the food down, then started tidying the room without being asked—sweeping dust, folding old cloths.
Watching her, Li Wei felt his heart calm.
As she was about to leave, she hesitated.
"Oh—one more thing," she said. "In two weeks… the Azure Sect Outer Courtyard Competition will be held."
Li Wei looked up.
"All outer disciples will participate," she continued. "Ranking decides resources… and survival."
She smiled weakly. "You should be careful."
After she left, the room fell silent.
Li Wei sat there, eyes lowered.
Two weeks.
Zhao Yuan would be there.
Heaven would be watching.
And one second—
Would decide everything.