"System, today's sign-in."
[Sign-in successful, you've been awarded 500 years of cultivation.]
Lu Chang'sheng rubbed his forehead helplessly. "It's been over 20 years, and every day is just signing in and getting cultivation. Doesn't this system have any other features?"
Back when he first arrived in this world and found out he'd awakened the system, Lu Chang'sheng was pretty excited, thinking he'd climb to the peak of the Immortal Path and dominate throughout the ages.
But who could've guessed—the system, for more than 20 years, could only do daily sign-ins, and each reward was just more cultivation.
Day after day, year after year.
Lu Chang'sheng was basically numb to it all by now.
He didn't even really know what realm his strength was at anymore.
Almost as if it sensed Lu Chang'sheng's frustration, the system's voice chimed in.
[Main storyline not yet triggered, no additional functions available.]
"Can't you give me a hint on how to trigger the main storyline?"
[Divulging future events is prohibited.]
"..."
Out of options, Lu Chang'sheng picked up his brush and began sketching a painting—a Sword Immortal Sword Dance—across his desk.
This had pretty much become Lu Chang'sheng's daily routine; after all, with free cultivation every day, he didn't even have to bother actually cultivating.
With nothing better to do.
He could only plant some willows, raise a few grass chickens, paint a few scrolls, do some calligraphy...
And if things got really dull, he'd casually refine some medicinal pills or study up on formations...
Finishing the last stroke of his painting, Lu Chang'sheng set his brush down.
Clang!
A bell rang throughout the space.
Lu Chang'sheng looked up and said, "Today's the day Hidden Dao Academy takes in new students, isn't it..."
He thought it over. He didn't have much going on anyway, so might as well head out, take a look.
With that, Lu Chang'sheng put down his brush and turned into a wisp of blue smoke, vanishing on the spot.
Shortly after Lu Chang'sheng left,
a little bird in the garden flapped its crimson, flame-like wings, flying up to the painting and staring hard at the Sword Immortal wielding his blade within the scroll.
It was almost as if the painted Sword Immortal began to move, and suddenly, streaks of sword qi shot out—right from the figure in the painting!
In an instant, sword qi crisscrossed the entire garden, slicing space itself!
The little bird's eyes widened with shock; it flapped its wings and retreated, flames igniting along its feathers as if trying to block that terrifying sword intent.
But in a single instant—
those flames were slashed apart by the sword intent, the force undiminished, striking straight for the little bird!
At that moment, a nearby willow tree extended a branch, effortlessly blocking all traces of the sword intent.
"Little bird, stop being so reckless. The painting may have been done offhand, but the scenery within it—you're not equipped to handle that yet."
With that, the willow tree fell silent once more.
The little bird looked dejected, as if it agreed with the willow, giving the scroll on the table one last deep look before hopping away.
...
Hidden Dao Academy.
Countless powerhouses have emerged from here.
The Southern Region's recognized cradle of cultivation.
Unconcerned with worldly disputes, never involved in any tussles between neutral sects and aristocratic families.
Nor did it ever profit from the Sunset Dynasty's Holy Lands.
Whether royalty, nobles, or heirs of prestigious families—for anyone who entered Hidden Dao Academy, everyone was treated equally.
Strength was all that mattered here.
Which is exactly why Hidden Dao Academy could stand so far above the rest.
At this very moment, at the Academy's mountain gate,
stood dozens of young talents.
These were the ones who'd passed the Academy's entrance exams—the lucky few who'd actually get in.
The next step was for Academy elders to select their disciples.
Getting chosen by an elder meant a sky-high future ahead.
All were prodigies, fiercely courted by both families and dynasties.
So every one of these young men and women had excitement written all over their faces, desperately hoping to be picked as a disciple.
"Got a lot of promising seedlings this year, huh?"
"Yeah, word is even the direct heirs from the Four Families of Tianyuan City showed up."
"Heh, better pick carefully—maybe our legacies will finally find a worthy inheritor."
"Not so easy! Even if the talent's there, character's gotta be checked, too. Can't just hand over our traditions to anyone."
"True enough."
At that moment, the elders all glanced to the rear—where a young man in blue robes was sauntering over at a snail's pace.
One elder frowned. "What's he doing here?"
Several staff members just looked confused.
Clearly none of them recognized this guy.
So one of them asked, "Elder, is this guy part of the Academy?"
One of the oldest elders replied, a look of complicated emotion in his eyes, "Yes and no. He's from The Cottage."
"The Cottage?!"
A wave of shock rolled through the crowd.
Of course, mixed in, there were people still looking lost—clearly clueless about what The Cottage even was.
See, Hidden Dao Academy is split into Martial Academy and Confucian Faction.
But besides those, there's another group.
The Cottage!
The Cottage technically isn't under the Academy's jurisdiction, but gets full access to Academy resources anyway.
No one really understands how that's allowed. Still, with the headmaster keeping things in check, nobody dares make a fuss out in public.
These days, The Cottage hasn't brought in new disciples for decades, ever since it changed hands.
And now there's only Lu Chang'sheng left in the whole Cottage.
Lu Chang'sheng is notoriously low-key, almost never going out—so folks have just forgotten that The Cottage even had anyone like him!
No wonder some people had no idea The Cottage existed.
Lu Chang'sheng strolled up to the elders, flashed a playful smile, and gave a formal bow. "Chang'sheng greets all the elders."
"Lu Chang'sheng, what brings you here today?"
"You've never shown up for disciple selection before."
Lu Chang'sheng shook his head and said, "Just bored, figured I'd watch the Academy pick students. Not looking to take anyone on, though, so don't mind me."
Bored...
The elders could only shake their heads in resignation. This kid's hogging the Academy's resources and refuses to accept disciples—seriously...
It's the Academy's tradition, after all, to recruit students and spread knowledge. With Lu Chang'sheng acting like this, they just couldn't do a thing.
One especially elderly elder couldn't help but scold, "Being part of the Academy, spreading the Dao to the world is our purpose. Why aren't you open to taking in disciples, or recruiting fresh blood for The Cottage?"
Lu Chang'sheng shrugged. "Hell, I can't even figure out how to cultivate immortality myself. Why mess up someone else's future? Besides, teaching's a pain in the ass—I'm happier just goofing off by myself. Why volunteer for torture?"
"But you're sucking up Academy resources. You can't just refuse to pass on knowledge!"
"You're the head of The Cottage. If not for yourself, at least think about The Cottage's future!"
Seeing all the elders start in on their heartfelt advice, Lu Chang'sheng couldn't help but get a headache.
He was just about to retort when a voice popped up in his mind, cutting him off.
[Mission triggered—please head to Tianyuan City to take on a disciple.]
[Name: Netherworld King]
[Talent: SSS rank]
[Aptitude: Sword Heart Profundity, Chaos Essence Sword Body, Potential to Become an Emperor]
As soon as he heard that—
Lu Chang'sheng vanished on the spot, leaving behind just one sentence.
"Elders, I'm heading to Tianyuan City to recruit my disciple. You guys carry on!"
The elders were left staring, flabbergasted.
Didn't this kid just say he can't figure out cultivation and doesn't want to ruin anyone else's future?
Didn't he say teaching disciples is too much trouble?
Old man, I trusted you for nothing!
And with all these promising seedlings right here, you just have to run off to Tianyuan City? For what?
The direct lineage prodigies from all the Tianyuan City families are right here!