The clouds above the Blue Mist Sect were perpetually gray, heavy with dampness and the faint metallic scent of spirit energy.
It was a mediocre sect in a mediocre corner of the Azure Cloud Continent.
For Wei Yuan, it was perfect.
Wei Yuan sat on a small wooden stool outside his crude hut, calmly tending to a patch of Spirit Jade Cabbages. Their leaves glimmered faintly under the morning mist.
To any passing disciple, he was painfully ordinary.
Twenty years old.
Third level of Qi Refinement.
An outer disciple who had clearly given up on the Great Dao.
A waste.
In reality, Wei Yuan was staring at a translucent screen visible only to him.
[Current Ripple Value: 0.001]
[Status: Absolute Stillness]
[Daily Reward Pending:
10 Hours of Pure Qi 1 Month of Lifespan]
Three years, he thought calmly.
Three years since transmigrating into this world.
In that time, Zhao Feng—the "genius" of their recruitment batch—had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, fought multiple life-and-death duels, and even survived an expedition into the Black Wind Cave.
Wei Yuan, meanwhile, had not spoken to anyone for months.
His Ripple Value had not exceeded 1.0 since.
A red warning suddenly pulsed.
[Warning: Destiny Event Approaching]
Event:
Senior Brother Zhao Feng is returning from the Black Wind Cave,
wounded and pursued.
He seeks a location to hide a Heaven-Defying Treasure.
Wei Yuan's gaze sharpened slightly.
Then the options appeared.
Option 1:
Assist Zhao Feng and earn his gratitude.
Potential Reward: Fragment of the Heavenly Thunder Scripture
Ripple Cost: 850
Risk: 92% chance of being hunted by the Blood Fiend Cult
Option 2:
Close your door and pretend to be in seclusion.
Reward: 1 bottle of Spirit Gathering Pills
Ripple Cost: 0.05
Option 3:
Move three meters left and begin composting cabbages
using extremely pungent fertilizer.
Reward: Small Success in Breath-Concealing Technique
Ripple Cost: 0.002
Wei Yuan stood up without hesitation.
Minutes later, the smell hit first.
A truly offensive stench spread through the area as Wei Yuan poured fermented spirit-beast manure over his cabbages.
Even birds fled.
A streak of bloodied light descended from the sky.
Zhao Feng landed near the fence, pale and breathing heavily. His eyes scanned the area desperately.
Then the smell reached him.
His face twisted.
"This place…!"
His Qi circulation faltered.
Wei Yuan stood nearby, stirring sludge with a wooden pole, looking blissfully stupid.
Zhao Feng's lips twitched.
"This fool's hut is too filthy. Even hiding a treasure here might corrode its spirituality."
Without another glance, he shot toward the inner peaks.
[Destiny Event Avoided]
[Breath-Concealing Technique — Small Success Integrated]
Wei Yuan exhaled softly.
Within an hour, the Blood Fiend Cult would arrive.
By refusing kindness, he had saved his life.
That night, the sect burned.
Explosions echoed. Screams pierced the sky.
Wei Yuan activated a deliberately weakened defensive talisman and hid.
He did not look up.
The next morning, Zhao Feng was missing an arm.
The treasure was gone.
Wei Yuan watered his cabbages.
[Karmic Ripple: Negligible]
[Longevity +1 Day]
One day at a time, he thought calmly.
In a thousand years… I will still be here.