Chapter 3: A Fool's Journey Begins
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A Morning of Consequences
The sect was abuzz with rumors the following morning. Xu Tian could hear snippets of conversation as disciples passed by his dormitory.
"Did you hear? Elder Zhao nearly destroyed the tea pavilion yesterday!"
"Some say it was sabotage by a rival sect!"
"Others say it was a celestial omen!"
Xu Tian smirked as he lounged on his bunk. The whole ordeal had gone better than expected. Sure, he'd almost been caught sneaking out of the kitchen, but in the end, the sect leader's bizarre interpretation of events had saved his skin.
[(Host's previous task completion has resulted in minor recognition from the system. Task evaluation remains Adequate. Current progress toward the Fool's Ascension: 0.1%.)]
Xu Tian groaned. "Zero point one percent? You mean I have to pull off nine hundred ninety-nine more insane stunts like this?"
[(Progress milestones are determined by the host's performance. Further actions may increase progress exponentially.)]
"Exponential progress, my ass," he muttered. "You're just making this up as you go, aren't you?"
The system, as always, remained silent, leaving Xu Tian to stew in his frustration.
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A New Task
As he mulled over his situation, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[(New task assigned: Convince a sect member that their cultivation method is fundamentally flawed. Task difficulty: Intermediate. Reward: Minor Spiritual Energy Boost. Time limit: Five days.)]
Xu Tian blinked. "Convince someone their cultivation method is flawed? What kind of nonsense is this?"
[(Host is encouraged to utilize logic, persuasion, or creative deception to achieve task success. Failure will result in a loss of spiritual energy and sect reputation.)]
"Great," Xu Tian muttered, rubbing his temples. "Another impossible task."
He stood and began pacing, his mind racing. The sect was full of stubborn cultivators, each convinced their method was the best. How was he supposed to change someone's mind, especially when he barely understood cultivation himself?
His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Xu Tian!"
He recognized the voice immediately—Guo Fan.
"Go away," Xu Tian called.
But Guo Fan, ever persistent, opened the door anyway. "Why are you hiding in here? Everyone's talking about yesterday's incident. Aren't you curious?"
"Not really," Xu Tian lied.
Guo Fan frowned. "You're such a recluse. Come on, let's go spar. Maybe some physical activity will clear your head."
"Sparring sounds like a terrible idea," Xu Tian said.
"Too bad," Guo Fan replied, grabbing him by the arm. "You're coming with me."
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The Sparring Grounds
The sect's sparring grounds were a wide, open space lined with training dummies and wooden platforms. Disciples of all levels practiced their techniques, their grunts and shouts filling the air.
Xu Tian immediately felt out of place. Most of the disciples here had been training for years, their moves fluid and precise. In contrast, Xu Tian's only experience with combat involved dodging flying slippers back at home.
Guo Fan led him to an empty platform and handed him a wooden sword. "Let's see what you've got."
Xu Tian stared at the weapon like it was a venomous snake. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"Don't worry," Guo Fan said, grinning. "I'll go easy on you."
"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel better."
Before Xu Tian could protest further, Guo Fan charged, his sword whistling through the air. Xu Tian yelped and ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow.
"Come on, Xu Tian!" Guo Fan said, laughing. "You've got to fight back!"
"I'm more of a pacifist!" Xu Tian shouted, rolling to the side as Guo Fan swung again.
The match quickly devolved into a game of cat and mouse, with Xu Tian scrambling around the platform while Guo Fan chased him. Nearby disciples stopped to watch, some laughing at Xu Tian's antics while others shook their heads in disapproval.
"Stop running!" Guo Fan yelled.
"Stop swinging that thing at me!" Xu Tian shot back.
The chaos came to an abrupt halt when a new voice cut through the air.
"What's going on here?"
The crowd parted as Luo Ying stepped onto the sparring grounds. Clad in elegant robes and exuding an air of authority, she was the epitome of a model disciple. Her sharp eyes swept over the scene, landing on Xu Tian and Guo Fan.
"Care to explain this... spectacle?" she asked, her tone icy.
Guo Fan scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "We were just sparring, Senior Sister."
"Sparring?" Luo Ying's gaze shifted to Xu Tian, who was still clutching the wooden sword like a lifeline. "It looked more like a farce."
Xu Tian straightened, forcing a smile. "I was just... warming up."
Luo Ying raised an eyebrow. "Warming up? For what? A comedy routine?"
Several disciples snickered, and Xu Tian felt his cheeks heat up.
Luo Ying sighed, clearly unimpressed. "If you're going to waste time, do it elsewhere. The sparring grounds are for serious training."
"Yes, Senior Sister," Guo Fan said, bowing his head.
Xu Tian hesitated, then offered a bow of his own. "Understood, Senior Sister."
As Luo Ying turned to leave, an idea struck him.
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A Risky Gambit
"Senior Sister!" Xu Tian called.
Luo Ying paused, glancing over her shoulder. "What is it?"
"I couldn't help but notice something... odd about your cultivation technique," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
The sparring grounds fell silent. All eyes were on Xu Tian, and he immediately regretted his decision.
Luo Ying's eyes narrowed. "Odd? Explain."
Xu Tian swallowed hard. "Well, it's just... the way you channel your energy. It seems... inefficient."
"In what way?"
Xu Tian's mind raced. He had no idea what he was talking about, but he couldn't back down now. "Uh... your energy flow is too rigid. You're focusing too much on control and not enough on adaptability."
Luo Ying stared at him, her expression unreadable. "Are you suggesting my cultivation method is flawed?"
"Not flawed," Xu Tian said quickly. "Just... suboptimal."
The tension in the air was palpable. Guo Fan looked like he wanted to bury himself in the ground, while the other disciples exchanged nervous whispers.
Finally, Luo Ying spoke. "Prove it."
Xu Tian blinked. "Prove it?"
"Yes," she said, crossing her arms. "If you're so confident in your assessment, demonstrate a better method."
Xu Tian's heart sank. He was officially screwed.
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To Be Continued...
This chapter brings Xu Tian face-to-face with Senior Sister Luo Ying, setting the stage for comedic misunderstandings and further system hijinks. His attempt to complete the task spirals into a high-stakes challenge, leaving readers eager to see how he'll talk (or bluff) his way out of this one.