My new quarters were ridiculous.
Where my outer sect room had been a glorified closet with a bed and cracked mirror, my inner sect residence was practically an apartment. A main room with actual furniture. A separate bedroom with a real mattress. A dedicated cultivation chamber with Qi-gathering formations built into the walls. Even a small bathroom with running water.
"This is absurd," I said, looking around.
[THIS IS LUXURY]
[EMBRACE IT, BOSS]
[YOU EARNED THIS BY ALMOST DYING REPEATEDLY]
Yun Xia smiled from the doorway. "Inner sect disciples are considered the sect's future. They invest in your comfort and cultivation." She hesitated. "I should go. You need rest, and I have patrol duty tonight."
"Patrol? The war just ended three days ago."
"Exactly. The sect is paranoid about follow-up attacks or infiltrators. All disciples are rotating through guard shifts." She made a face. "I got stuck with the midnight-to-dawn slot tonight."
"That's terrible."
"It's not so bad. At least I'm alive to complain about it." She moved toward the door, then paused. "Lin Tian? I'm really glad you're okay. And... congratulations on inner sect. You deserve it."
Before I could respond, she hurried out, leaving me alone in my absurdly nice new home.
[SHE LIKES YOU]
[LIKE, REALLY LIKES YOU]
[THE SYSTEM SEES ALL]
'Can you not analyze my relationships?'
[I'M AN AUTOMATED CULTIVATION SYSTEM]
[ANALYZING THINGS IS LITERALLY MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE]
[ALSO, YOU LIKE HER TOO]
[DON'T DENY IT]
I decided to ignore the system's commentary and explore my new residence properly. The cultivation chamber was particularly impressive, sitting inside it, I could feel the ambient Qi density was at least three times higher than anywhere in the outer sect.
[QI DENSITY: EXCELLENT FOR CULTIVATION]
[IF WE USE THIS SPACE OPTIMALLY, YOU COULD REACH STAGE 6 IN TWO WEEKS]
[STAGE 7 IN A MONTH]
[YOUR PROGRESSION IS GOING TO BE STUPID FAST]
'Won't that attract more attention?'
[YES]
[BUT YOU'RE ALREADY FAMOUS]
[MIGHT AS WELL BE FAMOUS AND POWERFUL]
Fair point.
I was about to settle in for some cultivation when someone knocked on my door. Not the polite knock Yun Xia had used, this was sharp, authoritative.
[DETECTING: INNER SECT DISCIPLE, STAGE 7]
[HOSTILE INTENT: MODERATE]
[THIS SHOULD BE FUN]
I opened the door to find a young man in pristine white inner sect robes. He was handsome in a sharp-featured way, with perfectly styled hair and an expression of barely-concealed disdain. His cultivation aura radiated Stage 7 power.
"Lin Tian?" he said, looking me up and down like I was something unpleasant he'd stepped in.
"That's me."
"I'm Feng Zhao, inner sect disciple and representative of the Eastern Pavilion Residential Committee." He made it sound like he was announcing royalty. "I'm here to inform you of the rules and expectations for inner sect disciples."
[RESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE?]
[THAT'S A THING?]
[CULTIVATION SECTS HAVE HOAS NOW?]
I barely suppressed a laugh. "Of course. Please, come in."
Feng Zhao stepped inside, his nose wrinkling slightly at my still-unpacked belongings. "First, inner sect disciples are expected to maintain a certain standard of appearance and conduct. Slovenly behavior reflects poorly on all of us."
"I literally just moved in an hour ago."
He ignored me. "Second, cultivation resources are distributed monthly based on contribution points. As a provisional disciple, your allocation will be reduced until you pass the formal examination."
"Understood."
"Third, combat training is mandatory. You'll be assigned to a training group led by a senior disciple. You're expected to attend daily sessions."
[DAILY COMBAT TRAINING]
[ACTUALLY USEFUL]
[ASSUMING THE INSTRUCTOR ISN'T A JERK]
"And fourth," Feng Zhao continued, his expression growing colder, "there's an... unofficial rule. Inner sect disciples who advance through exceptional circumstances, such as wartime promotions, are expected to prove they belong here."
"Prove how?"
"Challenge matches. Other disciples will want to test your abilities." His smile was sharp. "To ensure you're not just lucky trash who got promoted above their station."
[OH, HE'S ONE OF THOSE]
[ELITIST CULTIVATOR WHO THINKS YOU DON'T DESERVE YOUR POSITION]
[SPOILER: HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU]
"Let me guess," I said. "You're one of those disciples who wants to 'test' me?"
Feng Zhao's smile widened. "Perceptive. Yes. I formally challenge you to a sparring match tomorrow at the inner sect training grounds. Noon. Non-lethal, but full-contact. Refuse, and everyone will know you're a coward hiding behind wartime luck."
[CLASSIC INTIMIDATION TACTIC]
[ACCEPT OR LOSE FACE]
[CULTIVATION WORLD REALLY LOVES THEIR FACE]
I considered my options. Feng Zhao was Stage 7, two stages above me. But I'd blocked a Stage 8 attack during the invasion, and my Infinite Qi constitution let me punch above my weight class.
"Fine," I said. "Noon tomorrow. I'll be there."
Feng Zhao looked slightly surprised, like he'd expected me to refuse. "Good. Don't be late." He turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Oh, and Lin Tian? The inner sect isn't like the outer sect. We have standards here. Try not to embarrass yourself too badly."
He left before I could respond.
[WHAT A DICK]
[CAN WE BEAT HIM?]
'Can we?'
[PROBABLY]
[HE'S STAGE 7, BUT HE'S ARROGANT]
[ARROGANT FIGHTERS MAKE MISTAKES]
[PLUS, YOU HAVE ME]
[AND THE INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE]
[ODDS: 60/40 IN YOUR FAVOR]
I closed the door and leaned against it, sighing. Less than a day in the inner sect and I was already being challenged to prove myself.
"This is going to be my life now, isn't it?" I muttered.
[YEP]
[WELCOME TO BEING FAMOUS]
[IT'S GOING TO BE ANNOYING]
That evening, I explored the inner sect area properly. It was significantly nicer than the outer sect, better maintained buildings, prettier gardens, disciples who walked with confident swagger instead of nervous uncertainty.
The training grounds were impressive: multiple sparring arenas, weapon racks stocked with quality gear, formation arrays for safe high-intensity combat. Several disciples were practicing even at this late hour.
[RESOURCES HERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER]
[IF YOU CAN SURVIVE THE POLITICS, THIS PLACE IS GREAT FOR CULTIVATION]
I watched a pair of Stage 6 disciples sparring, their techniques fluid and powerful. This was the level I'd be expected to compete at. These weren't desperate survivors like Team Three, these were elite disciples who'd trained for years.
"Lin Tian?"
I turned to see an unfamiliar face, a girl around my age with short hair and a friendly smile. She wore inner sect robes and radiated Stage 6 cultivation.
"That's me," I said cautiously.
"I'm Su Mei. I heard about your promotion." She offered her hand in a surprisingly modern gesture. "Congratulations. Provisional inner sect in a week is impressive."
I shook her hand warily, waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Thanks?"
"I know everyone's probably been either hostile or trying to use you for something," Su Mei said with a laugh. "So I'll be direct: I'm not here to challenge you or recruit you for some faction. I just wanted to say welcome, and if you need help navigating inner sect politics, feel free to ask."
[DETECTING: GENUINE FRIENDLINESS]
[NO HOSTILE INTENT]
[SHE'S ACTUALLY BEING NICE]
[RARE IN THIS WORLD]
"Why help me?" I asked suspiciously.
"Because I was provisional too, once," she said. "Advanced during the Three Peaks Conflict three years ago. I know how overwhelming it can be, everyone testing you, judging you, waiting for you to fail." She shrugged. "Someone helped me back then. Figured I'd pass it forward."
I studied her face, looking for deception, but found only genuine warmth. "Thank you. That's... actually really kind."
"Don't mention it. Literally, Feng Zhao and his crowd would give me shit for 'coddling' new disciples." She glanced toward the training grounds. "I heard he challenged you for tomorrow?"
"Word travels fast."
"Inner sect is smaller than outer sect. Gossip spreads like wildfire." She grimaced. "Feng Zhao is skilled but arrogant. Stage 7, specializes in lightning techniques. Fast strikes, overwhelming offense. He'll try to end the fight quickly to make you look weak."
[TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE]
[THIS IS USEFUL]
"Any advice?" I asked.
"Play defensive at first. Let him overextend. His lightning techniques burn Qi quickly, if you can weather the initial assault, he'll tire." She smiled. "And I've heard rumors about your technique. The one that makes Qi spiral like water? If that's as powerful as people say, save it for a counter-attack."
"Why tell me all this?"
"Because Feng Zhao is an entitled prick who needs to be taken down a peg," Su Mei said cheerfully. "And watching a provisional disciple beat him would be hilarious." She waved and started walking away. "Good luck tomorrow!"
[I LIKE HER]
[SHE'S COOL]
[MAKE FRIENDS WITH HER]
'I think I will.'
I spent the rest of the evening in my cultivation chamber, running through the Infinite Tide Scripture's forms and preparing for tomorrow's match. The enhanced Qi density made my practice incredibly efficient.
[TECHNIQUE PROFICIENCY: 67% → 74%]
[YOU'RE IMPROVING QUICKLY]
[BY TOMORROW, YOU'LL BE EVEN BETTER]
As midnight approached, I decided to take a walk to clear my head before sleeping. The sect was quiet at this hour, most disciples already in bed.
I found myself near the eastern wall, the same section where Team Three had fought. Memorial plaques had been erected for those who fell, including Chen Wu.
"Still can't sleep?"
I turned to find Yun Xia approaching, wearing light armor and carrying her weapon. She must be on patrol duty.
"Too much on my mind," I admitted. "You?"
"Technically I'm supposed to be patrolling, but this area is quiet." She stood beside me, looking at the memorial plaques. "I keep thinking about them. Chen Wu. Zhao Min. The others. We're alive and they're not."
"Survivor's guilt," I said quietly.
"Is that what this is?" She touched Chen Wu's plaque gently. "He saved us. Threw himself at that Blood Reaver Captain so we could live. And I didn't even thank him."
"He knew," I said. "He knew we appreciated him. That's why he did it."
We stood in silence for a moment, paying respects to the fallen.
"I heard you got challenged already," Yun Xia said eventually. "Feng Zhao?"
"News really does travel fast."
"Inner sect disciples love gossip. It's like their second favorite hobby after cultivation." She looked at me seriously. "Be careful tomorrow. Feng Zhao is strong, and he'll have an audience. Don't let pride push you to take unnecessary risks."
"When have I ever taken unnecessary risks?" I asked innocently.
She punched my shoulder. "You blocked a Stage 8 attack three days ago. Don't even start."
"Fair point."
We walked together through the quiet sect, her patrol route conveniently aligning with my aimless wandering. It was comfortable, peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos of battle.
"Lin Tian?" Yun Xia said eventually.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're here. In the inner sect, I mean. It'll be weird not seeing you in the outer sect area, but..." She smiled. "You deserve this. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
[HEROINE FLAG +3]
[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: CONTINUING TO DEVELOP]
[SERIOUSLY, BOSS, JUST TELL HER YOU LIKE HER]
'Not now, System.'
[YOUR LOSS]
By the time I returned to my quarters, it was past midnight. I needed sleep if I was going to face Feng Zhao tomorrow.
But as I lay in my absurdly comfortable new bed, I couldn't help but smile.
Inner sect politics, challenges, hostile disciples, it was all complicated and potentially dangerous.
But I had allies. Resources. Power that was growing daily.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt like I might actually belong here.
[GOOD MINDSET, BOSS]
[NOW SLEEP]
[TOMORROW, WE SHOW FENG ZHAO WHY YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE AFK IMMORTAL]
[STATUS UPDATE:]
[TIME IN INNER SECT: 14 HOURS]
[CHALLENGES RECEIVED: 1]
[NEW ALLIES: SU MEI]
[RELATIONSHIP WITH YUN XIA: PROGRESSING]
[CULTIVATION PROGRESS: STEADY]
[TOMORROW'S MATCH: HIGH STAKES]
[RECOMMENDATION: KICK FENG ZHAO'S ASS]
[RESPECTFULLY, OF COURSE]
[...OKAY, MAYBE NOT RESPECTFULLY]
[JUST KICK HIS ASS]