After being tossed out of the main hall like a ragged spirit beast, Meng Tao made his way back to his room. The path was lined with blooming spirit orchids and shimmering qi crystals, but Meng Tao paid them no attention.
He was too busy muttering.
"System," he asked lazily, flopping down on his bamboo bed. "What's in my newbie package?"
[Ding! Host, why burden your divine thoughts with such trivial matters? Just rest, follow your Dao, and let go of worldly distractions.]
Meng Tao stared at the ceiling blankly.
"System, you scammer! You dare hide my newbie gift? Hand it over now or I swear I'll meditate on your grave!"
[Ding Ahem. Host, this behavior is highly inappropriate]
Meng Tao squinted dangerously at the system window.
[Ding! Host's murderous gaze has been detected. Confirmed: Newbie Package available. Do you wish to claim it?]
"YES!" Meng Tao shouted, sitting upright.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have received: Divine Clone.]
Meng Tao's interest piqued instantly. "A clone? System, show me the stats!"
[Divine Clone]
• Cultivation: Qi Gathering Level 5
• Qualification Grade: Immortal Emperor
• Function: Can cultivate on behalf of the host
• Restriction: Clone only activates when the host is ahem fooling around or 'following his Dao'
Meng Tao blinked at the screen.
"So you're telling me the clone only works when I'm not cultivating?"
[Ding! Affirmative. Please continue upholding your noble Dao of Lying Around.]
Meng Tao ignored the sarcastic tone and rubbed his hands together. "Hah! You dog system! You actually had such a gem hidden and were just sitting on it?! You deserve a beating!"
[Ding! Host, please mind your language. The system has feelings too.]
But Meng Tao was already reclining with a smug look. "Whatever. Let it cultivate. This is a historic breakthrough in Dao comprehension!"
[Ding! Divine Clone cultivation initiated.]
As the clone began meditating in a lotus position somewhere in the spiritual realm, Meng Tao snuggled into his blanket and drifted off to sleep. Warm qi began surging toward his dantian as the clone absorbed and refined it at alarming speed.
By morning, when Meng Tao opened his eyes with a lazy yawn, he nearly jumped off the bed.
"I broke through?!"
He sat up, eyes wide. The dense spiritual power circulating in his meridians was unmistakable.
Qi Gathering Peak Stage.
In one night.
Meng Tao blinked at his trembling hands. "Is the difference in qualifications really this ridiculous? It's like the gap between a pig and a scholar!"
[Ding! Host has spoken a rare truth. The system encourages you to remain humble and grounded in the future.]
Meng Tao: "_"
He sighed, stretching with satisfaction. "Ah well, I'm in a good mood today. Let's take a walk."
As he strolled through the sect, Meng Tao passed through the Inner Disciple Hall and into the Outer Disciple Hall, nodding to the occasional disciple who greeted him with mild surprise surprised that the lazy ghost was out of his cave.
Suddenly, the system's voice echoed again.
[Ding! Alert: A Son of Luck has been detected nearby. Do you wish to view his details?]
Meng Tao's eyes lit up. "Definitely! Show me the goods!"
[Target Identified: Lin Fan]
• Cultivation: Qi Gathering Level 6
• Constitution: Sword Bone (Unawakened)
• Golden Finger: Wears a ring on his right index finger containing the sleeping soul of a Deva Realm cultivator. The soul absorbs spiritual energy passively, causing Lin Fan's current cultivation to appear weaker than it truly is.
Meng Tao sucked in a breath. "Holy crap, A ring grandfather? In the outer sect?! That's textbook protagonist behavior!"
He looked at Lin Fan from afar, who was currently meditating near a lotus pond.
Meng Tao squinted thoughtfully and then turned away. "Not my problem. I've got my own Dao to follow."
After wasting a few more hours "comprehending the mysteries of heaven" (read: watching butterflies), Meng Tao made his way back to his room.
Only to find someone waiting at his door.
A tall, serious-looking youth with sharp features and crossed arms stood silently.
"Senior Brother Wang Yu?" Meng Tao blinked.
"Master sent me," Wang Yu said curtly. "From now on, I'm responsible for your cultivation schedule. You'll train with me for eight hours every day."
Lightning struck Meng Tao's soul.
"Eight hours?!" He took a step back. "Senior Brother, our Daos are different. You can't interfere!"
Wang Yu narrowed his eyes. "Brat, it's an order from Master. You will cultivate."
Meng Tao's lips quivered. "Senior Brother, I… I'm a boy. I think you misunderstood my intentions."
Wang Yu stared at him, dumbfounded.
"You bastard! What are you thinking?! I'm a man too!"
Meng Tao dodged his glare, pretending to wipe sweat off his brow. "But Senior Brother, I must follow my Dao!"
Wang Yu exploded. "WHAT DAO?! You've been fooling around for five years!"
"That's not fooling around," Meng Tao said solemnly. "I'm comprehending the Truth of Heaven and Earth."
Wang Yu took a deep breath. "Fine. What truth have you discovered?"
Meng Tao smiled faintly. "Wait five more years. I'll tell you then."
Wang Yu's patience snapped.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll cultivate with me for eight hours. No arguments. If you don't like it, go ask Master."
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off.
Meng Tao watched him go, then slumped to the ground with a look of despair.
"This world truly does not understand my Dao"