Kael Arin greeted the dawn in silence. Not the melodramatic kind where you pose like a tragic hero while the wind blows your hair back – no, this was more like "I didn't sleep and now I'm stuck watching the sun because I'm dramatic" silence.
The first light of morning crept over the eastern horizon, spilling gold and purple across the sky. High on the east side of Verdant Sky Sect's outer mountain, he stood at the edge of a narrow cliff, alone but for the crisp wind that tugged at his plain gray disciple robes – robes that never stayed clean longer than a day. Below him, the sect stretched out like a scene from a fantasy painting: tiled rooftops, winding stone paths, and ancient pines glowing in dawn's radiance. It was breathtaking, majestic… and cold. Very cold.
Kael shivered and muttered, "Spiritual enlightenment doesn't come with a coat, apparently."
For a long moment, he just stood there, soaking in the view. His mind wandered back to his past life – the glorious age of spreadsheets and awkward Zoom calls. Office Kael had been a model employee: ignored, overworked, and underpaid. The kind of guy who'd hold the elevator open and still be blamed for everyone being late. The kind of guy who brought cupcakes to office parties… and nobody remembered his name.
"I gave more than I took," he muttered to the rising sun, like some martyr for Excel. "And all I got was lower back pain and existential dread."
But this world? This world had rewards. Absurd, mysterious, power-scaling rewards – courtesy of his very own miracle machine: The System. Its premise? Give something up, gain something better. He hadn't fully tested its limits yet, but after last night's power-up, Kael was feeling borderline invincible.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the strength crackle in his veins. Peak Qi Gathering Realm. He was, officially, dangerous. Secretly dangerous, because the System even let him mask his cultivation level. To the outside world, he still looked like a glorified janitor with a weak punch. Inside? He was an armageddon burrito wrapped in humble robes.
"I walk the Dao of Loss, but gain all things," he whispered dramatically.
A nearby squirrel stared at him from a branch.
Kael gave it a solemn nod. "You get it."
But alas, even chosen ones must follow sect routines. With one last heroic squint at the sun, Kael dusted off his backside and made his way toward the Outer Sect's main hall. It was resource distribution day – the sect's version of payday, except instead of cash, you got barely enough stuff to avoid dying.
Collecting the Monthly Stipend
The line was already long when Kael arrived. Disciples milled about, grumbling and trying to look important while freezing their Qi buns off. The Outer Sect Main Hall was as glorious as ever – wide beams, carved dragons, and absolutely no heating. The sect emblem, a green lotus under pale clouds, hung above the entrance like it judged everyone's cultivation level.
Kael joined the queue, nodding at a few fellow outer disciples. Most responded with exhausted smiles. Everyone was here for the same thing: survival supplies.
At the front of the line, two disciples handed out monthly stipends with the enthusiasm of sleep-deprived librarians. Each disciple walked up, got their wooden token scanned, and left with a tiny sack of "good luck with that."
When Kael reached the front, the quartermaster raised an eyebrow that had its own gravitational field.
"Next. Token."
Kael handed it over. The quartermaster pressed it to the glowing verification stone. "Kael Arin. Outer disciple. One share."
He shoved a pouch across the counter. "Sign here. Try not to spend it all on spirit noodles."
Kael scribbled his name and opened the pouch as he stepped aside. Inside were the staples of poverty:
- 100 low-grade spirit stones (basically pocket change)
- 5 Iron Grade Body Tempering Pills (chalky marbles of mediocrity)
- 1 Iron Grade Qi Circulation Pill (aka placebo for your meridians)
He sighed and tied the pouch to his belt. "At least they remembered the circulation pill this time. Last month I got a rock with a note that said 'believe in yourself.'"
Around him, other disciples griped and bartered.
> "Only one Qi Circulation Pill?"
> "I'd trade my left boot for a mid-grade."
> "Don't. I've seen your feet."
Kael kept a straight face. Internally, he was already scheming. The System rewarded sacrifice. The bigger the sacrifice, the better the reward. Last time he'd given away something he hadn't even received yet and still hit the jackpot. What would happen if he gave away something real?
He patted the pouch thoughtfully. "Let's find out."
Because Kael Arin wasn't going to claw his way to the top the normal way. He wasn't here to be average. He was here to lose gloriously… and win ridiculously.
And maybe get a better robe. Seriously, this one was itchy.
Next stop: The arena. Time to gamble like a madman.