The courtyard glowed faintly in the morning light. Mist coiled from the cracks in the stones, rising like the breath of a slumbering dragon. The Spirit-Gathering Array pulsed gently, drawing threads of qi from the surrounding mountains.
Lin Xiao leaned on his broom like a man at the end of his rope.
"…It was just sweeping," he muttered.
Before him, his disciples were still kneeling as if they had witnessed the opening of the heavens.
"Master!" Zhou Fang's voice trembled. "Even mundane labor becomes sacred in your hands! This disciple will also sweep until enlightenment strikes me down!"
"Your sweeping wasn't just sweeping," Bai Ming said, his eyes shining. "It was the silent reordering of Dao itself. I have gained three insights already."
Wu Meiling, who had been crouching by the glowing weeds, looked up with flushed cheeks. "Master, the spirit herbs around the courtyard are ripening faster! If I cook them with the new rice… we may create food that reshapes flesh and marrow!"
Lin Xiao dropped his head into his hands. What part of mediocrity did these people not understand?
And then came the sound of panicked voices drifting up from the mountain trail.
"The Tranquil Peak Sect courtyard… it's glowing!"
"I saw it with my own eyes! They've awakened a Spirit-Gathering Array!"
"Impossible. That broken sect? I bet it's some hidden legacy finally surfacing…"
Lin Xiao's stomach dropped.
Of course. The three Flamboyant Flame disciples had run screaming down the mountain. And of course, they hadn't kept their mouths shut.
[Ding! New Rumor Detected.]
System Evaluation: Tranquil Peak Sect underestimated no longer. Adjusting parameters.
New Passive Ability unlocked: Cloak of Mediocrity (Sect).
Effect: The stronger the sect becomes, the more shabby and useless it appears to outsiders.
Lin Xiao froze. "…Wait. That's actually useful."
At that exact moment, the glowing courtyard dimmed. The cracks in the stones faded back to pathetic fissures. The weeds slumped into the shape of ordinary dandelions. Even the faint qi swirling in the air dispersed like smoke.
From the mountain trail, curious cultivators peeked into the courtyard. All they saw was a broom-wielding sect leader and a bunch of weird disciples bowing in the dirt.
"Ha! Someone tricked me. This place is as worthless as always."
"Figures. Who would believe trash like Tranquil Peak Sect could awaken anything?"
"Bah, I wasted a trip."
The voices faded as the crowd dispersed.
Lin Xiao exhaled slowly, relief washing over him. The Cloak of Mediocrity was a miracle. It was exactly what he needed: power hidden beneath layers of uselessness.
But his disciples… oh no.
Zhou Fang punched the ground, tears streaming. "Master! Even the heavens conspire to conceal your brilliance! They dimmed the array to keep your Dao secret!"
Bai Ming nodded gravely. "This is proof that your Dao transcends appearance. Only the worthy may perceive it."
Wu Meiling gripped her ladle with trembling hands. "Then I… I must become worthy! I will cook day and night until I comprehend your culinary cultivation!"
Lin Xiao stared at them, dead-eyed. "…I just want to nap."
[Ding! Side Mission Assigned.]
Mission: Spend one entire day pretending to be asleep while disciples misinterpret your wisdom.
Reward: Sect receives Hidden Technique — "Eternal Slumber Sutra."
Lin Xiao blinked. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
So now even sleeping counted as a cultivation trial?
Maybe, he thought, he could really nap his way to immortality.