I woke up at dawn to the sound of a notification chime in my head.
[DING! CUSTOM TECHNIQUE SYNTHESIS COMPLETE!]
[INTRODUCING: INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE]
*BASED ON: TYRANT'S ADVANCE (40%), FLOWING WATER PALM (25%), YOUR INFINITE QI CONSTITUTION (35%)]
[SPECIAL FEATURES: ADAPTS TO YOUR LIMITLESS QI, COMBINES OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, GROWS STRONGER WITH USE]
[BASICALLY, I MADE YOU A TECHNIQUE THAT ACTUALLY SUITS YOUR CHEAT-LEVEL RESOURCES]
I sat up, immediately interested. "Show me."
Information flooded my consciousness, not like reading a manual, but like muscle memory being directly downloaded into my brain. I could feel how the technique worked. The Qi circulation patterns. The breathing rhythms. The way each movement flowed into the next.
The Infinite Tide Scripture was elegant in its simplicity. Instead of forcing Qi into rigid patterns like most techniques, it worked with my natural Qi flow. Each strike carried the weight of accumulated power, building momentum like waves crashing against a shore. Defensive movements redirected enemy attacks while simultaneously preparing counter-strikes.
"This is... actually incredible," I muttered.
[I KNOW, RIGHT?]
[I'M BASICALLY A GENIUS.]
[OR AT LEAST, A VERY SMART SYSTEM.]
[WANT TO TEST IT OUT?]
"Definitely."
I threw on my robes and headed to the training grounds. Even at this early hour, dozens of disciples were already there, frantically practicing. The air buzzed with Qi as people pushed themselves to their limits.
I found an empty corner and began running through the forms of the Infinite Tide Scripture. At first, my movements were clumsy, uncertain. But with each repetition, they became smoother. More natural.
[TECHNIQUE PROFICIENCY: 5%... 12%... 24%...]
[YOUR BODY IS ADAPTING QUICKLY]
[INFINITE QI CONSTITUTION REALLY IS BROKEN]
My fist shot forward, and the air rippled. Qi spiraled around my arm in a visible current, forming something almost like a miniature whirlpool. When I struck a training dummy, it exploded into splinters.
I stared at the destroyed dummy in shock. "I barely put any force into that."
[THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS TECHNIQUE]
[IT MULTIPLIES YOUR QI OUTPUT EXPONENTIALLY]
[AT STAGE 4, YOU'RE HITTING WITH STAGE 6 POWER]
[AT STAGE 5? YOU'LL BE TERRIFYING.]
"Lin Tian?"
I spun around to see Yun Xia approaching, her eyes wide as she looked at the destroyed training dummy.
"What technique was that?" she asked. "I've never seen Qi manifest like that before."
Think fast. "It's... a modified version of Tyrant's Advance. I adjusted the Qi circulation to better suit my reserves."
[TECHNICALLY TRUE!]
[GOOD LIE, BOSS.]
Yun Xia circled the destroyed dummy, examining the damage pattern. "Modified? Lin Tian, technique modification usually takes years of study and practice. You did this overnight?"
"I had help," I said, which was absolutely true. "And I might have gotten lucky."
She looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read, somewhere between impressed and suspicious. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Apparently," I said with a weak smile. "Want to train together? I could use a sparring partner."
Her expression brightened. "That's actually why I came to find you. I thought we could practice combination techniques. If we're going to fight together during the invasion, we should know each other's styles."
[SMART GIRL]
[COMPATIBILITY TRAINING INCREASES TEAM SURVIVAL RATES BY 23%]
---
For the next several hours, Yun Xia and I trained together. She demonstrated her Flowing Water Palm technique, and I worked on integrating it with my Infinite Tide Scripture. The two styles complemented each other surprisingly well, her flowing redirections paired perfectly with my overwhelming strikes.
"Your Qi control has improved dramatically," Yun Xia commented during a break, passing me a water flask. "Yesterday you were all raw power. Now you're actually using finesse."
"Good teacher," I said, nodding toward her.
She blushed slightly. "I'm not teaching you anything. You're just... adapting incredibly fast." She hesitated. "Lin Tian, can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"How are you advancing so quickly? It's not just talent. I've seen talented cultivators before, they don't progress like this. Stage 1 to Stage 4 in three days? That's..." She struggled for words. "That's impossible."
[UH OH]
[SHE'S GETTING SUSPICIOUS]
[WHAT DO WE TELL HER?]
I sat down on a nearby bench, buying time to think. Could I trust Yun Xia? She'd been nothing but kind to me. She'd saved my life with that protection talisman. But telling her about the system felt dangerous.
"I honestly don't fully understand it myself," I said finally, which was partially true. "Something changed when I almost died in that duel with Zhang Wei. Like my body... woke up. Started accessing potential I didn't know I had."
[VAGUE ENOUGH TO BE BELIEVABLE]
[SPIRITUAL AWAKENINGS ARE A THING IN THIS WORLD]
Yun Xia studied my face, then nodded slowly. "A spiritual awakening. That would explain it. They're rare, but not unheard of. Usually triggered by near-death experiences." She smiled. "You're lucky, Lin Tian. Most people don't survive the trigger event."
"Yeah," I said quietly. "Lucky."
[GUILT DETECTED]
[YOU OKAY, BOSS?]
'I'm lying to someone who's been genuinely good to me,' I thought. 'It feels wrong.'
[SOMETIMES LIES PROTECT PEOPLE]
[SHE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ME]
[IT WOULD ONLY PUT HER IN DANGER]
That was probably true. If people found out I had a system, I'd become a target. Better to keep it secret.
"Come on," Yun Xia said, standing up and offering me her hand. "Let's run through the combination sequences one more time. I want them to be second nature before the invasion."
I took her hand and stood. "Lead the way."
---
By midday, disciples had started gathering near the main courtyard again. Word had spread that Elder Hu was organizing combat teams and assigning roles for the defensive operation.
"All Stage 4 disciples, form up!" Elder Hu's voice boomed across the training grounds.
Yun Xia and I joined the crowd of roughly fifty disciples who met that criteria. Elder Hu stood on a raised platform, a scroll in his hands.
"You will be divided into five combat teams of ten disciples each," he announced. "Each team will be led by a Stage 7 or Stage 8 senior disciple. Your role is to support the elders and inner sect disciples in repelling the Blood Moon Sect's forces."
He began reading names, assigning people to teams. I listened carefully, hoping Yun Xia and I would end up together.
"Team Three," Elder Hu called. "Leader: Chen Wu. Members: Lin Tian, Yun Xia, Zhao Min, Li Feng..."
[LUCKY! YOU'RE WITH YUN XIA!]
[ALSO WITH CHEN WU, WHO ALREADY DISLIKES YOU]
[BUT HEY, CAN'T WIN THEM ALL]
I glanced at Chen Wu, who was glaring at me like I'd personally offended his ancestors. Great. This would be fun.
After assignments were complete, Elder Hu dismissed most of the disciples but called out: "Team leaders, remain. We need to discuss positioning and tactical assignments."
As we dispersed, I noticed someone watching me from across the courtyard. A girl I didn't recognize, inner sect robes, purple and gold, with sharp features and calculating eyes. When she saw me looking, she smiled coldly and walked away.
[DETECTING: HOSTILE INTENT - HIGH]
[IDENTITY: UNKNOWN INNER SECT DISCIPLE]
[SHE'S MARKED YOU AS A TARGET]
"Did you see that girl?" I asked Yun Xia.
"Which one?"
"Inner sect robes. Purple and gold. She was staring at me."
Yun Xia's expression darkened. "Purple and gold? That's... Lin Tian, that might have been Mei Ling. She's one of Zhang Wei's cousins. A Stage 8 cultivator in the inner sect."
[PLOT COMPLICATION DETECTED]
[OF COURSE ZHANG WEI HAS A POWERFUL RELATIVE]
[OF COURSE SHE WANTS REVENGE]
[THIS IS JUST PERFECT]
"Fantastic," I muttered. "So now I have to worry about demonic cultivators and vengeful inner sect disciples?"
"She won't be able to do anything during the invasion," Yun Xia said, though she didn't sound entirely convinced. "The sect has strict rules about internal conflicts during external threats."
"Rules," I repeated. "Right. Because people always follow those."
[CYNICISM NOTED]
[ALSO, YOU'RE NOT WRONG]
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of preparation. Team Three gathered for a brief meeting where Chen Wu outlined basic tactics, stay in formation, support each other, don't try to be heroes. His eyes lingered on me when he said that last part.
As evening approached, I returned to my room, exhausted but satisfied with the day's progress. My technique proficiency had reached 67%, and I felt genuinely prepared for combat.
[DAILY PROGRESS REPORT:]
[INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE: 67% PROFICIENCY]
[CULTIVATION: 34% → 52% TO STAGE 5]
[BODY TEMPERING: 35% → 41%]
[TEAM SYNERGY WITH YUN XIA: ESTABLISHED]
[NEW THREATS IDENTIFIED: 1 (MEI LING)]
[OVERALL STATUS: IMPROVING, BUT STILL PROBABLY GOING TO DIE]
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said dryly.
[JUST KEEPING IT REAL, BOSS]
[ANYWAY, SLEEP TIME]
[TOMORROW IS THE LAST FULL DAY BEFORE THE INVASION]
[MAKE IT COUNT]
I lay down, but sleep didn't come immediately. My mind kept running through scenarios. What would the Blood Moon Sect's forces look like? How many would there be? Would my team survive?
Would I survive?
*
[BOSS]
'Yeah?'
[FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... I BELIEVE IN YOU]
[YOU'VE SURVIVED EVERYTHING SO FAR]
[VENDING MACHINE, DUEL, SUSPICIOUS ELDERS, ANGRY RELATIVES]
[YOU'LL SURVIVE THIS TOO]
I smiled in the darkness. "Thanks, System."
[ACS. CALL ME ACS.]
[WE'RE PARTNERS, AFTER ALL]
"Partners," I repeated. "Alright then, ACS. Let's survive this together."
[DEAL]
[NOW SERIOUSLY, SLEEP]
[BIG DAY TOMORROW]
I closed my eyes and let the automated cultivation routine lull me into unconsciousness.
Tomorrow would be the final day of preparation.
Then the real test would begin.
---
[AUTO-CULTIVATION: ACTIVE]
[PROGRESS TO STAGE 5: 52% → 61%]
[TIME UNTIL INVASION: 2 DAYS, 4 HOURS, 38 MINUTES]
[SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 49%]
[WE'RE ALMOST AT 50%!]
[PROGRESS!]
Somewhere in the night, storm clouds continued gathering on the horizon.
The Blood Moon was rising.
And Azure Peak Sect had no idea what was coming.