Morning sunlight spilled through the dusty window of Lin Tian's small apartment. He sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, hands forming ancient seals.
The System's mechanical voice broke the silence:
[Meditation attempt #43 failed.]
[Reason: Ambient qi concentration still equivalent to "diluted cow breath."]
Lin Tian's eyelids twitched. "System, must you describe it like that every time?"
[Affirmative. Humiliation is the first step toward progress.]
He exhaled slowly, suppressing his irritation. "Even the Celestial Emperor dared not mock me this way…"
[Celestial Emperor: not found in Earth database.]
"Enough!" He rose to his feet, glaring at the invisible interface floating in front of him. "If qi cannot be found, I'll create my own path!"
[Ambitious but currently impossible.]
[Reminder: You are late for university orientation.]
"University?" Lin Tian frowned. Then it struck him — this mortal body's memories. Right… this world values learning rather than cultivation. He sighed. "Very well. I shall descend into this… 'academy.' Perhaps it hides wisdom I can use."
Entering the Mortal Academy
The campus of Star City University buzzed with students. Some carried glowing tablets; others sipped from cups labeled "Latte." The air smelled faintly of perfume and exhaust.
Lin Tian stepped through the gate wearing the same jeans and white shirt as before. His divine posture made him stand out — tall, sharp-eyed, an aura of quiet dominance that didn't fit a normal student.
"Whoa, who's that guy?" a girl whispered.
"New transfer student maybe? He looks… intense."
He ignored their chatter, scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes. So many souls, yet so little spiritual flow… how does this world survive without qi?
[Observation: Humans on Earth rely on electricity, not spiritual energy.]
"Electricity? Hmph. A poor substitute for lightning cultivation."
The Lecture of Confusion
Lin Tian took his seat in a large hall. A teacher entered, carrying a laptop instead of scrolls.
"Good morning, class. Today we'll study Newton's Laws of Motion."
"Newton?" Lin Tian murmured. "A mortal sage?"
The teacher began explaining force, mass, and acceleration. Lin Tian listened, brow furrowing.
"So… this Newtonian Dao teaches that an object remains in motion unless acted upon by an external force." He nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, similar to the Law of Heavenly Flow… this mortal might have glimpsed a fragment of truth!"
"Uh… bro, are you okay?" whispered a classmate beside him.
Lin Tian looked at him. "Tell me, fellow cultivator — does this Newton still walk among men?"
The student blinked. "Cultivator? Bro, he's been dead for centuries."
[System Note: Host should avoid discussing cultivation to prevent suspicion.]
"Fine," Lin Tian muttered. "Then I shall honor this mortal sage in silence."
Modern Tribulations
At lunchtime, Lin Tian followed the crowd to a cafeteria. Rows of food steamed under bright lights.
"Energy… I sense faint vitality here," he murmured, eyeing a bowl of noodles.
He picked it up, took one bite — and his eyes widened. "Incredible! Such mortal craftsmanship!"
[Congratulations. You've consumed 'Spicy Chicken Ramen'. Energy restored: +0.0002 Spirit Points.]
"So weak… yet oddly satisfying." He devoured the rest quickly.
From across the room, Mengyao spotted him and waved. "Hey, Lin Tian! Feeling better today?"
He stood gracefully. "Indeed, my meridians have stabilized."
She blinked. "Your… what?"
"Ah. I mean, my body has recovered."
She laughed. "You talk weird sometimes."
He smiled faintly. "So I've been told — by gods and demons alike."
The Challenge
As they left the cafeteria, a loud voice echoed.
"Hey, Mengyao! Who's the new guy?"
A tall youth with dyed red hair approached, followed by a group of friends. His name — Zhao Chen, local campus troublemaker.
Mengyao frowned. "Zhao Chen, don't start again."
Zhao smirked. "Relax, I just want to know who this cosplay boy is. What's with the weird way he talks?"
Lin Tian met his gaze calmly. "You reek of arrogance. In my world, such pride would be crushed beneath a single strike."
Zhao laughed. "Oh yeah? Then strike me." He shoved Lin Tian's shoulder.
In an instant, Lin Tian's expression changed — the faint trace of an ancient immortal flickered in his eyes. He sidestepped smoothly, tapped Zhao's wrist, and twisted gently. Zhao yelped, the phone in his hand falling to the ground.
Students gasped.
Lin Tian released him at once. "You are lucky I walk the mortal path now. In another realm, you'd already be kneeling."
Zhao stepped back, red-faced. "You… you'll regret this!"
He stormed off, muttering threats.
[System Notification: Mortal dominance established.]
[Reward: +1 Spirit Point.]
Lin Tian smiled faintly. "Even the Heavens reward discipline."
Mengyao stared at him, half-amused, half-shocked. "You actually fought Zhao and didn't get punched back… What kind of martial arts was that?"
He glanced at her. "A forgotten art — one that mortals cannot comprehend."
Night Meditation
That night, Lin Tian stood on the rooftop of his dormitory, gazing at the moon. The city lights twinkled below like fallen stars.
He spread his arms, breathing deeply. "Even this world's air… carries whispers of Heaven."
[System Analysis: Trace energy signatures detected in electronic waves.]
[Hypothesis: Modern technology might contain spiritual resonance.]
"Technology… holds qi?" Lin Tian mused. "Then perhaps this world's path of cultivation lies not in mountains and rivers, but within these metal constructs."
[New Quest Unlocked: "The Dao of Technology."]
[Objective: Research electricity, computers, and 'internet.']
[Reward: Spiritual Resonance Skill (Level 1).]
A breeze swept through his hair as he looked toward the skyline — towers glowing in the night like pillars of a new civilization.
Lin Tian's eyes gleamed. "Very well, Earth. You have your own Dao. Let me master it and ascend once more — this time, beyond both Heaven and Machine."