The morning after Operation: Continental Nap, Jin Ye was enjoying the most peaceful breakfast in history.
No noisy markets.
No arrogant sect juniors picking fights.
Not even the birds dared disturb the silence.
Then came the knocking.
It was slow, deliberate, and loud enough to shake the courtyard gates.
The Visitors
Mu Shun answered the door and froze.
Standing there were six robed figures with pale skin, sunken eyes, and unnervingly wide grins. Their robes were stitched with silver threads in the shape of open eyes.
The one in front stepped forward.
"Greetings, Sleep Emperor. We are the Eternal Wake Sect."
The Eternal Wake Sect
They called themselves "enlightened."
They claimed sleep was a weakness.
They claimed their cultivation path came from purging all drowsiness from their souls.
Jin Ye had heard rumors:
They trained under constant moonlight.
They meditated on cliffs during thunderstorms.
They injected themselves with caffeinated Qi until their blood hummed.
The Challenge
The leader, a man who introduced himself as Sect Master Eyebright, bowed mockingly.
"We are immune to your naps. You cannot defeat us with sleep. If you wish to maintain your so-called rule over this continent, you must face us in open challenge."
Jin Ye yawned. "That's great. I'm not interested."
Eyebright's grin widened. "Refusal means surrender. And when we win, we will destroy all pillows, beds, and tea leaves in the land."
Jin Ye's eyes narrowed. "…Now you've gone too far."
[Heavenly System Log]
New Quest: "Break the Wake" – Defeat the Eternal Wake Sect by any means.
Warning: Nap-based techniques have 0% effect on primary targets.
Counterplanning
Elder Ping slammed a talisman on the table. "We can't nap them, so we weaken them."
Mu Shun frowned. "But how? They're immune to drowsiness!"
Jin Ye tapped the talisman. "We make them want to sleep."
The Strategy
Overload their minds: The Lullaby Sect's musicians would play increasingly complex, looping melodies — not sleepy, but mentally exhausting.
Drain their stamina: The Pillow Division would challenge them in physical contests, forcing them to burn Qi reserves.
Starve their focus: The Tea Syndicate would replace all local water sources with hyper-sweetened tea that created energy crashes.
Once their mental and physical defenses weakened, Jin Ye would deliver the final blow: a non-sleep-based cultivation technique he had been hiding.
The Non-Sleep Technique
It was called Stillness Without Rest.
Instead of putting someone to sleep, it froze their meridians in perfect, quiet equilibrium — a state so calm it robbed them of all will to move.
It didn't count as sleeping, so the Eternal Wake Sect's immunity didn't trigger.
The Duel
The challenge took place in the Grand Arena of Silent Peak.
The Eternal Wake Sect stood on one side, jittering with unnatural energy. Jin Ye stood alone on the other, hands behind his back.
Eyebright lunged first, releasing a torrent of blinding white Qi.
Jin Ye sidestepped.
The Pillow Division engaged, throwing enchanted cushions at the other members, forcing them into constant dodges.
The Lullaby Sect played an impossible tune — seven instruments weaving melodies that spiraled into each other until even the audience rubbed their temples.
Cracks in the Wake
By the third hour, Eyebright's smile faltered.
By the fifth, one of his disciples stumbled.
By the seventh, their Qi blasts grew sloppy.
Jin Ye stepped forward, eyes half-lidded.
"Stillness Without Rest."
A wave of pure calm rolled out from him, catching the Eternal Wake Sect in mid-motion. Their eyes widened — not in defiance, but in confusion — as their bodies refused to respond.
One by one, they froze in place. Not asleep… but utterly incapable of continuing.
[Heavenly System Log]
Quest Complete: "Break the Wake"
Reward: "Restless Slayer" Title – Enemies immune to sleep now suffer 50% slower movements in your presence.
Bonus: Foundation Establishment – 7th Stage.
Eyebright's jaw clenched. "…You've… bested us."
Jin Ye smirked. "You can stay awake forever if you like. Just stay out of my naps."