The room was dead silent, broken only by the occasional rustle of bamboo leaves outside the window.
Shen Changqing bolted the door behind him without haste. He walked to the table, sat down, and unconsciously rubbed the dark red jade token with his fingertips.
The confrontation at the mountain gate was already over. He'd replayed it in his mind long ago. For him now, panic and fear were meaningless—he was in a state of professional calm.
"The real key to keeping this bowl of soft rice steady is the biggest sugar mommy in Red Luan Hall."
In his sea of consciousness, Shen Changqing skillfully called customer service: "System, stop playing dead. Come out and take the order."
A semi-transparent system panel slowly appeared in the darkness, its pale blue glow illuminating his deep eyes.
Staring at the panel, Shen Changqing fell silent for a moment, then asked somewhat unwillingly:
"System, be honest. Besides eating soft rice, is there no hot-blooded grind route like 'thirty years east, thirty years west'? Give me something like 'god-level comprehension' or 'ancient sacred body'? I'm still a grown man—I want to earn money standing up with my own ability."
The panel flickered, then flashed a bold red line, dripping with endless sarcasm:
[Detected severe cognitive deviation in host. Initiating data correction:]
Host's constitution: Mixed spirit roots (recommended for recasting).
Grind simulation: With host's aptitude, normal breakthrough to Foundation Establishment requires 120 years. Host's lifespan: 80 years. Conclusion: You'll die at the starting line.
System roast: Heaven gave you a golden rice bowl, yet you insist on kneeling to beg? Using your trash-tier diligence to challenge others' generational pay-to-win—you've got paste for brains?
Friendly reminder: Your face is your only "ancient sacred body."
Shen Changqing's mouth twitched wildly at the text.
"Fine… you win."
He took a deep breath, and that last shred of "male pride" vanished like smoke.
"Since life forced itself on me, I'll just find the most comfortable position to enjoy it." Shen Changqing's eyes sharpened as he switched back to professional mode. "Now, let's talk about eating soft rice with class. Besides idle cultivation, how do I conquer Red Lotus more efficiently?"
[Detected host has finally accepted reality. Core function "Client Profile (Female Limited Edition)" unlocked.]
"That's called professional ethics."
[The system will analyze the target's personality, regrets, and preferences to provide precise "persona suggestions."]
A highly professional analysis report appeared on the panel before Shen Changqing:
[Client Profile: Red Lotus Demon Sovereign]
Core tags: Extremely protective, perfectionist, emotional compensation, self-loathing.
Deep weakness: Guilt over failing to save her senior brother years ago, leading to a subconscious desire for "judgment" and "forgiveness."
Conquest advice: Reject low-level flattery. Display a "divine" aloofness. The less you need her, the more she'll feel indebted—and the more frantically she'll compensate you.
Shen Changqing read it, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
"Got it. Classic 'the unattainable is always in turmoil.'"
This wasn't cultivation—this was high-end emotional manipulation.
Just then, the courtyard's restriction rippled slightly.
[Radar alert: Detected secondary target Su Mei (Golden Core stage).]
Current status: Ordered to deliver this month's direct disciple resources, while satisfying her curiosity about you.
Shen Changqing's expression remained calm, but inside he was blooming with joy.
"Oh? Express delivery from SF arrived."
He stood, walked to the door, and waited quietly.
Knock, knock, knock.
A few breaths later, crisp knocking sounded.
Shen Changqing opened the door with composed grace.
Outside, Su Mei lowered her knocking hand. Under the moonlight, she studied the young man before her with complex eyes.
She knew this face—of course she did. She'd personally brought him to Red Luan Hall. In her memory, Shen Changqing back then was just a terrified mortal, good-looking but useless.
But now…
No groveling like an outer disciple, no arrogance from sudden fortune. He just looked at her calmly, eyes deep as pools, neither humble nor pushy—as if her Golden Core pressure didn't exist.
"Is this still the Shen Changqing who couldn't even lift his head before me?"
Su Mei was inwardly shocked. Was all that humility in Red Luan Hall an act?
"Senior Sister Su." Shen Changqing's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Is there something?"
Su Mei snapped back, hiding the intrigue in her eyes. She handed over the heavy storage pouch:
"Junior Brother Shen, Master ordered this—the inner sect resources granted to you. It includes one hundred top-grade spirit stones, ten bottles of Marrow Cleansing Pills, and…"
"Thank you."
Shen Changqing took the pouch without letting her finish listing.
Inside, his inner self screamed: "Holy shit! Top-grade spirit stones! One hundred! Jackpot! Hold it together, Shen Changqing—don't drool!"
Su Mei paused. This reaction… a bit too calm? These were one hundred top-grade spirit stones! The old Shen Changqing would've knelt in gratitude.
"Junior brother, don't you want to check?" Su Mei probed.
Shen Changqing weighed the pouch and casually hung it at his waist, tone still flat:
"If Senior Sister brought it, how could I not trust it?"
He nodded politely but distantly at Su Mei:
"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Sister. It's late—please return."
Eviction notice.
Su Mei opened her mouth, staring at this overly composed young man. Her curiosity only grew.
He'd changed.
Not only daring to make Zhao Wuji kneel, now even giving her—the direct senior sister—an eviction order.
This man… was interesting.
"…Alright. Rest early, junior brother."
Su Mei gave him one last deep look, swallowing her words, and turned into a streak of light vanishing into the night.
Only after Su Mei was completely gone—not even taillights visible.
Did Shen Changqing drop his calm facade. But he didn't break character. He just closed the door and relocked it.
This was the highest realm of eating soft rice: neither humble nor arrogant, accept everything, and make the giver feel honored to give.
He walked to the table, pouncing on the storage pouch like a starving wolf. Opening it, the radiant top-grade spirit stones made his eyes shine like searchlights.
"I love how these demonic cultivators treat money like dirt!"
"System, wake up! Time to work! This is the rich lady's hard-earned money—not a drop to waste!"
Shen Changqing pressed his hand to the pouch, commanding decisively:
"Convert everything! Charge me up!"
[Processing lossless conversion…]
[Detected high-purity spiritual energy… Conversion successful! Experience +2000!]
Boom!
A vast, gentle heat flow surged from his arm into his dantian. No meditation needed—the system's forced infusion rocketed his cultivation.
Qi Refining Layer 6!
Qi Refining Layer 7!
Qi Refining Layer 8… Perfection!
In just three breaths.
Shen Changqing clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power within, unable to hold back a satisfied moan.
"Refreshing!"
"This feeling… beats coaxing the top donor into ten black peach A sets in my previous life!"
He walked to the window, looking at outer disciples still grinding through the night for a few low-grade stones, his lips curving into an utterly punchable smile.
"All that 'diligence makes up for weakness' and 'heaven rewards the hardworking'—total bullshit."
"Hesitate and you'll lose, be decisive and you'll get nothing—but pay-to-win… only makes you stronger!"
Shen Changqing patted the now-empty storage pouch, stretching lazily under the moonlight:
"The doctor said my stomach's weak, but this bowl of soft rice… I can down three big bowls no problem!"