The training yard of Xingyun Sect lay shrouded in the gray mist of a Qingdong dawn, the air heavy with an unspoken threat. Lan Xue stood at its center, her Tielian Sect robes immaculate, her Qi Condensation aura a silent command. Her eyes, cold as the Tianhan peaks, fixed on the dilapidated hall where Liang Feng, the Xingjun Laoshi, lingered. The Xinglu Pendant at his chest pulsed faintly, a reminder of his dual life, but its 12-hour cooldown rendered it useless now. Her disciples formed a disciplined line, their swords gleaming, a stark contrast to Xingyun's scattered, sleepy trainees.
"Xingjun Laoshi," Lan Xue's voice was steel, "your sect's survival hinges on this week. The Canglong Empire faces a demonic beast uprising in the north—your negligence endangers us all."
Liang Feng emerged, his starry robes creased, a half-eaten dumpling in hand. "Demonic beasts? Can't Elder Liu handle it?" The System Interface chimed in his mind:
[ System Interface ]
Name: Liang Feng
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Title: Xingjun Laoshi
Status: Sect Leader, Reluctant
Vitality: 440 / 450
Mana: 290 / 300
Strength: 40
Dexterity: 35
Magic: 60
Abilities: [Xinglu Pendant Travel], [Disciple System], [Lazy Qi Manipulation]
Skills: [Core Formation Techniques: Level 3], [Noodle Dao Insight: Level 1], [Basic
Teaching: Level 2]
Resistances: [Mental Fatigue : Level 2], [Minor Physical Damage: Level 1
Task: Impress Lan Xue
Reward: High-Grade Spirit Stone
Status: In Progress (Favorability with Lan Xue: 32)
System Note: "Host's defiance detected. Task urgency increased due to external threat."
Liang Feng sighed, pocketing the dumpling. "System, you're no help."
Lan Xue stepped forward, her scroll unfurled. "Today, you prove your sect's worth. Zhang Wei, begin qi circulation."
Zhang Wei shuffled forward, his hands trembling. "Y-Yes, Senior Lan." He focused, qi flaring—and a weak fireball erupted, scorching his sleeve. Lan Xue's expression darkened. "Incompetence. Liang Feng, intervene."
---
[Realistic Passage: 62 words]
Lan Xue gripped her scroll, the training yard's damp mist clinging to her robes. The air bore the scent of burnt cloth and distant pine, the stream's murmur a somber undertone. A cold wind rustled the rickety fence, its wood groaning under frost. Her breath fogged, eyes scanning the disheveled disciples, their failure a weight on her mission to save the empire.
---
Liang Feng stepped up, his lazy grin fading. "Zhang Wei, steady your breath—channel it slow."
The boy nodded, qi stabilizing slightly.
Lan Xue's gaze softened, but only for a moment. "Adequate. But this is war preparation, not a game. Tomorrow, you face me in combat."
"Combat?" Liang Feng's voice cracked. The Xinglu Pendant pulsed, offering a tactical whisper:
[ System Interface ]
Task Update: Impress Lan Xue
(New Sub-Task: Survive Combat)
System Note: "Host's leadership tested. Failure risks sect dissolution."
Mei Hua approached, her voice low. "Feng, this is serious. The north's threat is real."
He met her eyes, the weight sinking in. "I know… but I'm no warrior."
That night, back in Chicago, he told Mei Hua, "My hero faces a real battle."
She gripped his hand. "Then fight, for us."
Duty loomed larger than ever.