A Peaceful Morning
The morning sun rose gently over the horizon, casting its golden rays upon a young man sleeping soundly in a large wooden bed. The warm light filtered through the delicate curtains, illuminating the handsome face of the slumbering youth. His black hair fell messily over his forehead, his breathing was calm, and his relaxed expression exuded a quiet charm that could make any woman's heart flutter.
The chirping of small birds outside filled the air with a soft, melodious tune. The world outside was already awake, but inside the room, Alex remained lost in sleep, completely oblivious to the morning's beauty.
Then, a soft yet firm voice called out from behind the door.
"Young Master, have you woken up?"
Silence.
The voice called out again, this time a little louder.
"Young Master, have you woken up?"
Still no response.
A moment of hesitation passed before the wooden door slowly creaked open. A familiar figure stepped inside—it was Lila, the maid who had attended to him the day before.
Her movements were careful and graceful, her dark eyes observing Alex with slight concern. She stepped closer to the bed and gently called out once more.
"Young Master… Young Master, wake up!"
This time, her voice was closer—right by his ear.
A groggy muffled groan escaped Alex's lips as he slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight. His vision adjusted, and he instinctively rubbed his face, his voice still heavy with sleep.
"What time is it?" he asked lazily.
Lila, maintaining her calm and professional demeanor, replied, "It is 7:20, Young Master."
Alex sighed, sitting up and stretching his arms. His body still felt weak, but at least he wasn't bedridden anymore. Turning his gaze toward the window, he took in the sight of the clear blue sky and the towering mountain peaks in the distance.
"Ohh…" He let out a tired breath, taking in the morning view.
Lila, noticing that he was now fully awake, stepped forward and spoke softly.
"I have brought your breakfast, Young Master."
She placed a tray of steaming food on the bed beside him—a meal consisting of tender meat, fresh fruits, and warm bread. The scent was heavenly, filling the room with its rich aroma.
Then, standing straight, Lila asked in her usual polite tone, "Is there anything else you require, Young Master?"
Alex looked at her for a brief moment, his mind running through possibilities. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he spoke.
"Bring me some books."
Lila blinked, slightly taken aback. "Books?"
"Yeah, I want books about this world and anything related to cultivation."
For a brief second, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and bowed slightly.
"Understood. I will bring them shortly. Please wait here—it will not take too long."
With that, she turned and left the room, her footsteps light and silent.
Alex watched her go, then leaned back against the headboard, exhaling deeply.
Just as he was about to relax, a sudden sound rang inside his mind.
[Ding!]
A blue transparent screen appeared before his eyedeep
[Daily Quest: Work Out]
Description:
Your body is weak! A cultivator must maintain their physical form. Complete the following exercises to strengthen yourself.
1. Run 3 kilometers.
2. Perform 10 push-ups.
3. Hold a plank position for 30 minutes without interruption.
Rewards:
+2 Stamina points
+1.3 Strength points
Penalties:
✘ Failure to complete the objective within 24 hours will result in a -0.4 Stamina penalty.
✘ If you fail, you will be unable to attempt this quest again for 3 days.
Alex stared at the screen in disbelief.
"What the hell?!"
His jaw nearly dropped as he reread the task list.
"How the hell am I supposed to work out with this messed-up body?!"
His mind raged against the absurdity of it all. He was literally recovering from injuries, his body was still weak as hell, and now the System was ordering him to run 3 kilometers?!
"Fucking hell…" he muttered, rubbing his temples.
But despite his complaints, he knew one thing:
If my strength drops any lower, I'm screwed.
Gritting his teeth, he mentally accepted the quest.
The first thing he did was eat his breakfast. He devoured it quickly, his hunger driving him to finish every last bite. The food was warm, rich, and satisfying—even better than last night's meal.
But once the meal was over, he had no more excuses.
"Alright, let's do this."
He took a deep breath and began the exercises, starting with the easiest ones.
He dropped to the ground and slowly forced himself to do 10 push-ups. Each one felt like torture, his arms burning, his muscles weak.
He gritted his teeth and held his body in a plank position for 30 minutes. The seconds stretched painfully long, sweat forming on his forehead. His body trembled by the end of it, but he pushed through.
But then came the worst part.
"Three kilometers… inside my room?! Are you kidding me?!"
There was barely any space for actual running! But he had no choice.
So, he ran.
He ran in circles like a lunatic, pacing back and forth across the room. His breathing became ragged, his heart pounded, and his legs ached as he struggled through every step.
After what felt like an eternity, he collapsed onto the bed, drenched in sweat. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his body aching from head to toe.
"I… swear… this… is… bullshit…"
But then, another screen appearedques
[Quest Completed!]
+2 Stamina points
+1.3 Strength points
Alex grinned weakly, feeling a rush of satisfaction.
"At last it wasn't for nothing."
Lying on the bed, still catching his breath, he decided to check his status.
[Status]
Name: Alex Midnight
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Age: 17
Bloodline: ????
Title: [None]
Cultivation Level: First Level of Body
Awakening Realm
Cultivation Type: Qi Cultivation / Dual
Cultivation
Status: Weak (Recovering)
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 0.7→ 2
Agility: 1
Stamina: 3→ 5
Intelligence: 5
Charm: 4
Soul Strength: 10
Mental Strength: 10
Affinity: [None]
Skills: [None]
He exhaled in relief. His strength and stamina had increased—not by much, but it was progress.
But before he could celebrate, he heard it—
The sound of footsteps approaching his room.
Someone was coming.
Was it Lila with the books?
Or was it someone else?