Chapter 3: Last Chance
Nie Lianfeng pushed open the door to his small room.
The old wooden slab creaked loudly, as if complaining.
Outside, the Clear Sky Sect was already buzzing with life.
Disciples walked the stone paths, their white robes bright against the green of the forest.
Laughter and casual chatter drifted through the trees, a world full of energy and promise.
But standing there, Nie Lianfeng felt like he didn't belong to any of it.
He pulled his rough, gray robes a little tighter around himself.
The color said everything.
While the other disciples wore clean white, the gray was a quiet mark of failure, a reminder that he didn't belong in the main halls, that he hadn't measured up.
As he walked, he kept his head down, hoping to go unnoticed, to just fade into the background.
But it never really worked.
"Look, it's that talentless trash again," a sneering voice said.
Nie Lianfeng didn't need to look up.
He already knew it was Li Ming from his memory, he was an older outer disciple who had just enough spiritual energy to act like he was better than everyone else.
Two of his friends stood beside him, their spotless white robes only making Lianfeng more aware of his own.
It felt like the robes were made to remind him he didn't fit in.
"Still here? I figured the sect would've kicked you out by now," Li Ming said, stepping in front of him. "The outer sect competition's next week. You really planning to show up? Or just collapse again and pretend to cultivate?"
The other two disciples snickered.
The words weren't anything new in his memory, but they still hit hard.
This kind of mockery had followed this body for many years since he had joined the sect.
Nie Lianfeng had faced bullies before, but nothing like this.
Here, it wasn't just cruelty it was a cold, brutal truth everyone accepted without question.
You're worthless.
Not just an insult, but a fact.
One wrong move, one small mistake, and you could be killed without a second thought.
And nobody even tries to hide it anymore.
Just when he was about to say something…
A cold, calm voice echoed in his mind.
[Threat level: Low. Likelihood of physical conflict: 12%. Suggested response: Ignore. Do not engage. Conserve energy.]
Nie Lianfeng took a deep breath.
The AI was right.
There was no point in arguing or fighting.
Even if he fought back, he knew how it would end, he'd be the one getting beaten.
So the best thing was to ignore them and keep his distance.
He just stepped aside and kept walking.
His quiet refusal to respond said more than any words could.
Li Ming's face twisted with irritation.
"What, no pathetic cry for help today?" he shouted after him. "Fine. Just get out of my sight, you trash!"
Nie Lianfeng kept walking. His heart didn't give up but it grew stronger.
They see me as weak, he thought.
'That's fine. I'll show them I'm not'.
Nie Lianfeng headed to the Elder Hall, a plain, simple building where the sect's everyday business was done.
Inside, an old man with a long white beard sat behind a low wooden table.
Elder Su didn't look up when Nie Lianfeng came in. His eyes stayed on a stack of scrolls, his face showing a mix of boredom and impatience.
"You're Nie Lianfeng, the worthless disciple, huh?" the Elder asked without looking up.
"Yes, Elder," Nie Lianfeng replied quietly, his voice carrying a calm resignation.
"Hmph. It's a waste of the sect's resources to keep you here.
Your spiritual root is one of the worst. In a few years, you'll be lucky to keep up with the rest of us, if you're still in the sect, or even alive.
The only reason you're still here is because your family has a small connection to the Sect Master's second cousin's third disciple. It's a weak connection, but it's still a connection I guess."
The Elder finally looked up, his eyes full of open contempt as he stared at Nie Lianfeng.
"This assignment is your last chance, one final favor before you're out. You'll clean the Library Pavilion. Every day, from sunrise to sunset.
Every floor, every book, every shelf.
No cultivation.
No talking to other disciples.
Just work.
Do you understand?"
Nie Lianfeng's mind wasn't clouded with shame. Instead, one word stood out clearly: Library.
"Yes, Elder," he said, his voice steady and calm.
The Elder's eyes narrowed, a flash of surprise crossing his face. He'd expected despair, tears, maybe even a plea. He got nothing but quiet resolve.
"Good. Now go, you can start from today. You will report to the Pavilion before dawn tomorrow. Don't be late."
Nie Lianfeng bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
As the door closed behind him, he heard the Elder sigh.
"A useless guy. A complete waste of the sect's resources," Elder Su muttered.
But Nie Lianfeng didn't hear the Elder's words.
Outside the hall, the world seemed to hum with new meaning for him.
His steps felt lighter.
The gray robes didn't feel like punishment anymore, they were now a disguise.
He didn't let their scorn bother him.
He had a mission to focus on. He had a goal to reach.
His future will no longer controlled by them.
It was in his own hands and in the quiet, sharp mind of the AI, Helios.
He walked to the tall Library Pavilion, feeling quietly excited.
Others saw him as a low servant with a simple job.
But to him, it was like an engineer entering his workshop.
With Helios by his side, the AI guiding and calculating, he felt ready to unlock the knowledge hidden within.