The cold twilight of the Azure Cloud Sect's outer sect painted the distant mountains in shades of gray as Lin Mo limped toward the most desolate corner of the mountain range—a overgrown hollow hidden behind thickets of thorny bamboo. No disciple dared to set foot here, for the area was infested with low-grade spirit beasts, and the thick fog made it easy to get lost.
Perfect for a "trash" like me.
Lin Mo brushed off the dirt from his tattered gray robe, wincing slightly at the faint ache still lingering in his abdomen. The system's healing had mended his broken bones and torn meridians, but the phantom pain of Zhao Hai's kick lingered—a constant reminder of the humiliation he'd endured. He sank down onto a moss-covered rock, his eyes falling on the glowing blue system panel hovering in front of him.
Host: Lin Mo
Cultivation Base: 3rd Level of Qi Refining (100/100)
Spiritual Root: Broken Pseudo-Spiritual Root (0/1000 Steady Points for Full Restoration)
Steady Points: 100 (From Chapter 1 Mission)
Skills: Basic Body-Tempering Technique (Novice)
System Store: Unlocked (100 Steady Points Required)
Current Status: Healthy
Lin Mo's fingers brushed over the "System Store" option, and the panel expanded to reveal a small list of items—all priced in Steady Points. There were low-grade spirit stones, a basic healing pill, even a tiny fragment of a defensive treasure. But the most eye-catching entry was at the very top:
[Spiritual Root Restoration Fragment: 500 Steady Points]
Restores 50% of the broken pseudo-spiritual root. Eliminates minor cultivation bottlenecks.
His heart skipped a beat. A restored spiritual root would mean he could finally cultivate at a normal pace, no longer stuck at the bottom of the outer sect. But 500 points was a steep price. For now, he'd have to be patient.
"First, I need to understand this system's rules," Lin Mo murmured, closing his eyes to meditate. The system's core principle was simple: Steady Points = Power. Every action he took that aligned with "steadiness"—staying low, avoiding unnecessary conflict, cultivating diligently—earned him points. Reckless behavior, showing off his strength, or losing his composure would cost him points… or worse.
He activated the Basic Body-Tempering Technique, a crude but free skill he'd received as a mission reward. A faint, warm energy flowed through his meridians, far purer and more potent than the meager spiritual energy he'd absorbed on his own. For three years, he'd struggled to suck in even a trace of spiritual energy with his broken root. Now, with the system's help, the air around him hummed with qi, rushing into his body like a river breaking its banks.
Half an hour passed. Lin Mo opened his eyes, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. His qi reserves had more than doubled, and his body felt firmer, stronger. The Basic Body-Tempering Technique wasn't just a cultivation method—it was a way to turn every bit of steady effort into tangible progress.
This is the power of being steady. No flashy treasures, no reckless breakthroughs, just slow, unshakable growth.
Just as he was about to resume meditating, the sound of footsteps crunched on the dry leaves nearby. Lin Mo's eyes snapped open, and he quickly retracted the system panel, feigning a dejected and weak posture.
Three outer sect disciples approached, their robes stained with mud and blood, their faces twisted with malice. Leading the pack was a tall, stocky youth with a broken nose—Wang Hu, a disciple known for his brutality and 6th level Qi Refining cultivation. He was Zhao Hai's right-hand man, and the one who'd overseen the theft of Lin Mo's spirit herbs just a week ago.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Wang Hu sneered, stopping a few feet away. He kicked a loose stone at Lin Mo's feet, sending it skittering into the underbrush. "The great Lin Mo—hiding in the gutter again? Did Senior Brother Zhao send you to fetch more 'tribute'?"
The other two disciples snickered, circling around Lin Mo to cut off his escape. They were both at the 4th level of Qi Refining, far stronger than Lin Mo's "3rd level" facade.
Lin Mo hung his head, his shoulders shaking slightly as if trembling with fear. "I… I have no more resources, Senior Brother Wang. I've already given you everything I have."
"Is that so?" Wang Hu leaned in, his breath reeking of alcohol and spirit wine. He reached out to grab Lin Mo's collar, his fingers digging into the thin fabric. "Then why does my junior brother here smell spirit grass on you? Don't tell me you've been hiding something, trash."
Lin Mo's body tensed under the touch, but he forced himself to stay still. His eyes, hidden beneath lowered lids, blazed with cold fury. Steady Points. The system's mission was clear: endure, don't fight back, don't reveal his strength.
But this time, he wasn't just enduring for the mission. He was enduring to gather more Steady Points, to grow stronger, to plan his revenge.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about," Lin Mo whispered, his voice trembling. "I just found some wild herbs in the mountains. They're not worth anything."
"Wild herbs?" Wang Hu laughed loudly, the sound harsh and mocking. "These are Spirit Weed Grass! A single stalk is worth three low-grade spirit stones! You think I'm stupid?"
He yanked Lin Mo to his feet, slamming him against a nearby tree trunk. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he coughed up a small trickle of blood. Wang Hu's fist clenched, and he raised it high, ready to strike.
"Hand over all the weed grass, or I'll break every bone in your body!"
The two disciples behind Lin Mo moved closer, their hands raised to grab his arms, pinning him down. For a moment, Lin Mo's fighting instinct surged—he could easily knock all three of them out with his true 3rd level Qi Refining cultivation, combined with the Basic Body-Tempering Technique's boosts. But he bit his lip, drawing blood, and held himself back.
[Steady Point Alert: Host is considering aggressive action. 50 Steady Points will be deducted for each second of resistance. Current Steady Points: 100.]
The system's cold voice echoed in his mind, and Lin Mo's resolve hardened. He let go of all tension, going limp in Wang Hu's grasp. His eyes filled with tears, a perfect act of submission.
"Please… don't hit me. I'll give you the Spirit Weed Grass. Just don't hurt me."
He fumbled in the pocket of his robe, pulling out a small bundle of dried Spirit Weed Grass—stolen from Wang Hu's own storage bag during a previous encounter. He'd kept it hidden, waiting for a moment like this.
Wang Hu snatched the grass, inspecting it with a greedy grin. "Not bad, trash. You know your place."
He tossed the grass to one of his disciples, who stuffed it into their own storage pouch. Then, Wang Hu delivered a final, brutal kick to Lin Mo's knee, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Remember this, Lin Mo," Wang Hu said, leaning down to stare into his eyes. "If you ever try to sneak anything again, I'll feed you to the spirit beasts in this mountain. Understand?"
Lin Mo nodded rapidly, his face pressed into the dirt. "Yes… yes, Senior Brother Wang. I understand."
The three disciples laughed, patting each other on the back, and turned to leave. Their footsteps faded into the distance, and Lin Mo remained on the ground, his body shaking slightly—not from fear, but from suppressed rage.
A few minutes later, when he was sure they were gone, he stood up, brushing the dirt off his robe. His knee ached, but it was just a minor injury, easily mended by the system's healing energy (which he'd refrained from using to save points).
He checked his system panel again.
Steady Points: 150
A new line of text appeared at the bottom:
[Bonus Steady Points: 50 (For enduring humiliation without resistance. Bonus capped at 50 per day.)]
Lin Mo's lips curved into a cold, calculating smile. Enduring was paying off.
[New Mission Triggered: Steady Cultivation]
Mission Content: Meditate and cultivate for 3 consecutive hours in the desolate hollow. Do not be disturbed by external distractions. Earn 100 Steady Points.
Mission Reward: 200 Steady Points, Intermediate Qi Condensation Pill (x1), Minor Spiritual Energy Boost.
Failure Punishment: 100 Steady Points Deducted. If Steady Points fall below 0, host's spiritual root will be permanently damaged.
Perfect. This mission was tailor-made for him.
Lin Mo returned to his mossy rock, sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes. This time, he didn't hold back. He let the spiritual energy of the heaven and earth flood into his body, channeling it through his meridians with the Basic Body-Tempering Technique. The desolate hollow, usually a place of fear, became his sanctuary—a place where he could grow stronger in peace, away from the prying eyes and cruel mockery of the outer sect.
Time slipped by. The sun dipped below the mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, and the fog began to roll in. But Lin Mo didn't stir. He was completely focused, his mind empty of all thoughts except for the flow of qi.
Three hours later, the system's voice rang out.
[Mission Completed!]
[Rewards Distributed!]
200 Steady Points were added to his total, bringing it to 350. The Intermediate Qi Condensation Pill appeared in his virtual storage pouch—a small, glowing blue pill that would accelerate his cultivation significantly. And a surge of warm spiritual energy flooded his body, pushing his qi reserves to the brink of the 4th level of Qi Refining.
Lin Mo opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and clear. He could feel the power coursing through his veins—steady, unshakable, and growing stronger with every passing moment.
He pulled out the Intermediate Qi Condensation Pill, tossing it into his mouth without hesitation. The pill melted on his tongue, releasing a wave of pure, concentrated spiritual energy that exploded in his dantian. He immediately began to channel it, using the Basic Body-Tempering Technique to refine the energy and integrate it into his cultivation.
For hours, he meditated. When the moon rose high in the sky, casting silver light over the hollow, Lin Mo finally felt the barrier between his 3rd and 4th levels of Qi Refining shatter.
4th Level of Qi Refining!
A low, rumbling sound escaped his lips—a mix of satisfaction and triumph.
In just one day, he had gone from a bullied, broken "trash" to a 4th level Qi Refining cultivator, all through steady, unassuming effort. No flashy breakthroughs, no grand announcements, just quiet, relentless growth.
That was the power of the Steady Immortal System.
That was his path.
Lin Mo stood up, stretching his arms and feeling the newfound power in his muscles. He checked his system panel one last time:
Host: Lin Mo
Cultivation Base: 4th Level of Qi Refining (300/1000)
Spiritual Root: Broken Pseudo-Spiritual Root (0/1000 Steady Points for Full Restoration)
Steady Points: 350
Skills: Basic Body-Tempering Technique (Mastery), Intermediate Qi Condensation Pill (x0)
Current Status: Healthy
He tucked the system panel away, his eyes scanning the dense forest around him. The spirit beasts here were low-grade—weak, but a potential source of Steady Points if he handled them carefully.
Tomorrow, he would hunt. Not to show off, but to gather resources and earn more points. To grow stronger, one steady step at a time.
And when the time was right…
He would make Zhao Hai, Wang Hu, and everyone who had ever bullied him pay.
But not yet.
He was steady. He was patient.
And soon, the entire Azure Cloud Sect would learn the true meaning of a "trash" who refused to stay down.
[To be continued]