The Trial Tower's glow faded.
Floor after floor had been conquered.
Brains shattered.
Posture corrected.
Souls emotionally vacuumed.
Now…
The disciples lined up before Miyu, trembling with equal parts terror and greed.
Today was reward day.
Dozens of glowing Rubik Cube Weapons floated behind Miyu like a halo of judgmental toys.
Tien whispered:
"This is it…
My destiny…
My power…
My—"
Auntie Bao smacked him with a ladle.
"Don't build it up too much, child."
Solene cleared her throat.
"All who passed the Trial Tower's final floor will receive a cube."
The disciples swallowed in unison.
Even the birds shut up.
Aurelius inhaled deeply, glowing with honor.
"This is truly the day Dustwind ascends."
Jin Haru coughed.
"This is truly the day Dustwind explodes."
---
⭐ 1. The Ceremony Begins
Miyu floated forward.
One cube drifted down to her palm.
She held it out.
"…Rewards."
The first cube flew toward Lin Ruyin.
She squeaked, catching it with both trembling hands.
The cube clicked.
Rotated.
Then—
BWOOP!
It transformed into a perfectly straight, glowing wooden staff.
Lin Ruyin stared.
"...A staff?"
Miyu nodded.
"...Your posture is still crooked."
Lin Ruyin collapsed.
---
⭐ 2. Lin Ruyin's Staff Gains Sentience
She held it tight.
The staff glowed.
A message appeared:
[POSTURE CORRECTION STAFF — FORM 1]
Smacks you every time you slouch.
Lin Ruyin: "NO—!!"
She slouched.
The staff hit her head.
*BONK*
Everyone nodded approvingly.
---
⭐ 3. Tien Receives His Cube (Mistake #1)
Tien stepped forward dramatically.
A cube floated down into his hands.
Tien grinned.
"Yes… yes… my ultimate weapon shall—"
The cube hummed.
Transformed.
And became…
A giant cooking wok.
Tien shrieked.
"WHY A WOK?!"
The wok vibrated.
A message appeared:
[YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD TOO MUCH]
[YOU ARE 85% SOUP-BASED AS A PERSON]
The disciples screamed laughing.
Tien wept.
"I WANTED A SWORD—!!"
The wok expanded, became a shield, then a spatula, then a frying pan with glowing runes.
Tien blinked.
"…Wait.
Actually… this is kind of cool."
The frying pan blasted a beam of light and yeeted him backward.
Tien: "NOT COOL—!!"
---
⭐ 4. Elder Orchid Receives a Cube
A cube drifted to Elder Orchid, glowing respectfully.
She gently touched it.
It transformed into a long ruler made of heavenly jade.
The disciples froze.
Lin Ruyin whispered:
"Oh no…"
A message appeared:
[ANCESTRAL RULER OF POSTURE JUDGMENT]
Orchid smiled calmly.
"I accept."
The disciples collectively backed away.
---
⭐ 5. Aurelius Receives His Divine Cube
The cube floated down like a ceremonial sword being knighted.
It hummed reverently.
The air trembled.
Every disciple stepped back instinctively.
Aurelius caught it.
The cube transformed instantly—
Into a glowing, five-formed blade:
• Sword
• Halberd
• Spear
• Cleansing beam cannon
• Sterilization guillotine
The disciples screamed in awe.
Jin Haru fainted.
Solene whispered:
"This is the worst idea we've ever had. Also the best."
Aurelius saluted with fiery pride.
"I SHALL CLEANSE THE WORLD."
The cube cannon activated automatically and vaporized a nearby pebble.
Auntie Bao: "Not the landscaping!"
---
⭐ 6. A Surprise Reward — A Cube for Auntie Bao
Auntie Bao waved her hands.
"Oh, no no no, I don't need one. I really don't—"
A cube gently tapped her forehead.
She caught it by reflex.
It instantly turned into…
A mop.
Not just any mop.
A mop made of starlight, silk threads, and ancient heavenly fibers.
Auntie Bao gasped softly.
"Oh…
Oh, it's beautiful."
The mop glowed warmly.
A message appeared:
[MATRIARCH MOP — CLEANS ANYTHING]
[EVEN YOUR SOUL]
Every disciple took five steps back.
Tien dove behind a rock.
---
⭐ 7. The Most Unexpected Recipient — Solene
Solene blinked as a cube floated toward her.
"Master… I am not a disciple—"
The cube politely tapped her hand.
It transformed into a shining architect's compass
that could reshape reality with cleanliness.
Solene looked at it, stunned.
"…Master trusts me this much?"
Miyu nodded once.
Solene bowed deeply, touched.
---
⭐ 8. The Tower Reacts — And the World Trembles
Suddenly the Trial Tower began glowing.
Not normal glowing.
**Overtime glowing.**
The sky cracked with white lightning.
A massive divine message appeared above the entire valley:
[REWARD DISTRIBUTION COMPLETE]
[DUSTWIND SECT — CLEANLINESS ARMORY ACTIVATED]
[WARNING TO ALL NEIGHBORING FACTIONS:
DO NOT APPROACH]
Tien screamed:
"WE'RE A MILITARY POWER NOW?!"
Aurelius, glowing with pride:
"We were always a military power."
Jin Haru whined:
"No, we were not!"
Lin Ruyin:
"We are now…"
Auntie Bao, swinging her new mop:
"I like this new era."
Solene giggled.
"This is chaos."
And Miyu floated quietly, pillow in arms.
"…Tomorrow.
We begin outside training."
The disciples screamed.