The new strength coursing through Jiang Chen's veins made the usual servant tasks feel less like torture and more like a tiresome chore. Carrying heavy buckets of water for the Outer Sect disciples, scrubbing the dust from endless corridors, hauling firewood – each motion now felt crisp, his body responding with a newfound efficiency. He was still 'Ming' to everyone else, but inside, a quiet revolution was brewing.
[Host, your physical output has increased by 75% compared to baseline Li Ming. Your efficiency in mundane tasks is... commendable, if somewhat uninspiring. Perhaps you'd prefer a mission involving explosive martial arts?] The System's voice offered, a hint of playful impatience.
"Not yet," Jiang Chen thought back. "I'll take the easy System Points from daily tasks. No need to draw attention before I'm ready."
He spent the morning moving like a blur among the other servants, finishing his duties with surprising speed. He avoided Young Master Li's usual haunts, sticking to the sections of the sect grounds where only the lowest-ranked disciples or other servants dared to tread. His goal was simple: survive, cultivate, and earn System Points.
After his tasks were done, and before the evening meal, he found a secluded spot behind a crumbling wall near the sect's outer training grounds. The ambient Spirit Qi here felt a bit thicker, perhaps due to the leftover energies from practicing disciples. He sat down, crossing his legs, and instantly began to cultivate.
The Body Tempering Stage 4 felt stable now. He pulled in the Spirit Qi, guiding it along his meridians. The process was no longer just about filling his dantian; it was about refining, compacting, making his very flesh and bones denser, tougher. He could feel subtle changes, like his skin becoming more resilient, his muscles coiling with springier power.
He cultivated for nearly two hours, pushing himself. The faint hum of energy within him grew stronger, a clear sign of progress. He wasn't quite at the cusp of Stage 5 yet, but he was getting there.
[Daily Cultivation mission complete! Reward: 5 System Points. Current System Points: 95.]
A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Just 5 more points until a Divine Fortune Wheel spin. He wondered what kind of treasure – or trash – he might get.
As dusk began to settle, a group of overseers, led by the same scarred man who had intervened in the mess hall, gathered the servants. Their faces were grim.
"Listen up, scum!" the scarred overseer barked, his eyes sweeping over them. "A shipment of medicinal herbs from the Northern Valley was ambushed last night. Bandits, it seems. We lost a junior disciple and most of the herbs."
A murmur went through the crowd of servants. Bandits were a common threat outside the sect's protected walls, but usually, disciples handled them.
"Normally, this would be a task for Outer Sect disciples," the overseer continued, his voice heavy. "But with the upcoming Grand Tournament, most are in seclusion. So, you will go."
Jiang Chen's blood ran cold. Servants? Going out into bandit territory? This was a suicide mission.
"You will go to the Whispering Ravine, collect any remaining medicinal herbs, and look for clues," the overseer stated, pointing towards a narrow, dark path leading away from the sect's main gates. "You are just fodder, but do your part! Anyone caught trying to run will be hunted down and turned into fertilizer for the training grounds!"
The servants exchanged terrified glances. Whispering Ravine was known for its shadowy reputation, a place where dangerous creatures and rogue cultivators sometimes lurked.
[Urgent Mission detected! Engage in the 'Whispering Ravine Scavenge' for remaining medicinal herbs. Time limit: Until midnight. Success Reward: 50 System Points, Chance for Rare Item Drop. Failure Penalty: Severe injury or death. (Note: High risk, high reward. Typical for Host's new life.)]
Fifty System Points! That was a massive leap. And a "Chance for Rare Item Drop" was even more tempting. But the "Severe injury or death" part was very real.
Jiang Chen quickly scanned the other servants. Most were frail, easily scared. Some were shaking. None seemed to have any cultivation base. He was probably the strongest among them, which was a terrifying thought.
The overseers pushed them forward, urging them towards the ominous ravine. Jiang Chen took a deep breath, his hands clenching at his sides. This wasn't just about scraps anymore. This was about survival, opportunity, and the cold, hard reality of the cultivation world. The path to power often led through dangerous places. He would have to be more than just a survivor here; he would have to be smart.