Chapter 7: The Rise of Unpredictability
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The Aftermath of Victory
Xu Tian walked through the sect grounds with the Orb of Uncertainty tucked into his robes. He tried not to look smug, but the glances he received from other disciples made it difficult to maintain his usual nonchalance.
"That's the guy who beat Senior Disciple Lu."
"Did you see the way he dodged those attacks? It was like the heavens themselves were guiding him!"
Xu Tian sighed. He wasn't a fan of all this attention. Sure, the win was great, and the orb was a nice reward, but the last thing he needed was for people to start viewing him as some prodigy. That would just invite more trouble.
[(Host's reputation within the sect has increased. Current status: Rising Star.)]
"Fantastic," Xu Tian muttered under his breath. "Now I'm a target for every jealous moron around here."
[(Host is advised to remain vigilant. Increased reputation often attracts challenges from rivals and unwanted attention from higher-ups.)]
"Thanks for the pep talk, System," Xu Tian grumbled.
Guo Fan jogged up beside him, his face flushed with excitement. "Xu Tian! You're the talk of the sect! I've never seen anything like that final duel—it was like you were untouchable!"
"That's called luck, Guo Fan," Xu Tian said, patting the Orb of Uncertainty hidden in his robes. "And it's not something I want to rely on forever."
As Xu Tian reached his dormitory, he noticed a small group of disciples waiting near the entrance. They were all wearing the insignia of the Jade Serpent faction, one of the more notorious groups in the sect.
"Xu Tian," their leader, a tall and wiry man with sharp features, called out. "We need to talk."
Xu Tian raised an eyebrow. "If this is about me borrowing your lunch money last week, I already spent it."
The group didn't laugh.
"Our faction leader, Senior Sister Mei Ling, has taken an interest in you," the man said coldly. "She wants to see you immediately."
Xu Tian blinked. "Mei Ling? Isn't she the one who—"
"Yes," the man interrupted, his tone impatient. "And she doesn't like to be kept waiting."
[(New task initiated: Meet with Senior Sister Mei Ling of the Jade Serpent faction. Task rewards: Unknown.)]
"Well, isn't this my lucky day," Xu Tian muttered, following the group reluctantly.
The Jade Serpent Faction
The Jade Serpent faction's headquarters was nestled in a secluded area of the sect grounds, surrounded by tall bamboo trees. The air felt heavier here, as if the very atmosphere was charged with tension.
Xu Tian was led into a grand hall where Senior Sister Mei Ling sat on an ornate chair, flanked by her loyal followers. Her beauty was as striking as her reputation was fearsome—long black hair, sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through any facade, and a smirk that promised trouble.
"So, you're Xu Tian," Mei Ling said, her voice silky yet commanding.
"That's me," Xu Tian replied, trying to sound casual. "What can I do for you, Senior Sister?"
Mei Ling leaned forward slightly, her smirk widening. "You've been making waves lately. Defeating Senior Disciple Lu was no small feat. I'm curious—what's your secret?"
Xu Tian shrugged. "Good old-fashioned hard work and perseverance."
Mei Ling laughed, a sound that sent chills down Xu Tian's spine. "Spare me the clichés. You don't strike me as the hard-working type."
"Fair point," Xu Tian admitted. "So, what do you want from me?"
Mei Ling's eyes gleamed. "I want you to join the Jade Serpent faction. With your... talents, you could rise quickly through the ranks. And trust me, having our protection would make your life a lot easier."
[(Host has received a faction recruitment offer. Decision required: Join the Jade Serpent faction or decline.)]
Xu Tian hesitated. Joining a faction could provide some benefits, but the Jade Serpent faction's reputation was... complicated, to say the least.
"I'll think about it," Xu Tian said carefully.
Mei Ling's smirk faded slightly, but she nodded. "Very well. Take your time, but don't keep me waiting too long."
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Back in his dormitory, Xu Tian finally had a moment to himself. He pulled out the Orb of Uncertainty, its faint glow illuminating the room.
"Alright, let's see what this thing can do," he said, holding the orb in his palm.
[(Orb of Uncertainty activated. Current effect: Amplifies host's luck temporarily. Duration: 30 minutes.)]
Xu Tian decided to test the orb's power in a practical way. He grabbed a set of dice from his drawer and began rolling them.
Every roll was a perfect result.
"Okay, that's mildly terrifying," Xu Tian muttered.
Feeling emboldened, he decided to push his luck further. He ventured into the sect's training grounds, where various disciples were practicing techniques.
One of the training dummies was enchanted to resist attacks, making it nearly impossible for lower-level disciples to leave a mark on it. Xu Tian approached the dummy, his Orb of Uncertainty still active.
"Here goes nothing," he said, channeling his Qi into a basic palm strike.
The impact was accompanied by a loud crack as the dummy splintered into pieces.
The surrounding disciples stared in shock.
"Did... did he just break the indestructible dummy?" someone whispered.
Xu Tian grinned nervously. "Must have been defective."
[(Host's reputation has increased further. Current status: Rising Star—Potential Prodigy.)]
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An Unexpected Encounter
As Xu Tian left the training grounds, he bumped into none other than Senior Sister Luo Ying. She was carrying a stack of scrolls, her usual composed demeanor intact.
"Xu Tian," she said, her tone neutral. "I heard about your performance in the tournament. Impressive."
"Thanks," Xu Tian replied, trying to sound humble. "It was mostly luck."
"Luck or not, you've caught the attention of many," Luo Ying said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Be careful. Not everyone will be as forgiving as Senior Disciple Lu."
Xu Tian nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
As she walked away, Xu Tian couldn't help but wonder about her warning. The sect was becoming more dangerous by the day, and his growing reputation wasn't helping matters.
[(New task initiated: Survive the increasing challenges of sect life. Task rewards: Growth in cultivation and system progress.)]
"Survive, huh?" Xu Tian muttered. "Easier said than done."
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To Be Continued...
Xu Tian's use of the Orb of Uncertainty has propelled him further into the spotlight, but it's also drawn the attention of powerful figures within the sect. As alliances form and rivalries grow, the path of the Fool's Ascension becomes even more unpredictable. What new challenges await? Only time—and the System—will tell.