Chapter 17: Brewing Trouble
The duel's decisive victory brought a rare sense of peace to the Eternal Spring Sect. Disciples celebrated their triumph with enthusiasm, relieved that war had been averted. Xu Tian, of course, basked in the glow of his success.
"This calls for a feast!" Xu Tian declared, his arm slung around Guo Fan's shoulder. "Senior Brother Xu Tian, the Hero of the Sect, deserves to be pampered."
"Hero?" Luo Ying asked, raising an eyebrow. She leaned against the courtyard gate, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Absolutely!" Xu Tian replied, throwing his free arm wide. "Did you see how I toyed with that shadow guy? Flawless. Legendary. Iconic."
Guo Fan chuckled. "You did win, Senior Brother. Even if your methods were... unconventional."
[(Host's ego inflation detected. Warning: Overconfidence often precedes failure.)]
"System," Xu Tian muttered under his breath, "why do you sound like Luo Ying now?"
Luo Ying stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Maybe because the system knows you're an idiot."
Before Xu Tian could retort, a loud cheer erupted from the training grounds. A group of outer disciples had gathered around a makeshift stage, where a boisterous elder encouraged a storytelling contest to celebrate the sect's victory.
Xu Tian's eyes lit up. "A contest? Let's show them what true storytelling looks like."
Xu Tian hopped onto the stage, much to the crowd's delight. He raised a hand to silence them, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Gather around, my dear juniors," he began, pacing theatrically. "Let me tell you the untold tale of how I single-handedly defeated not one, but three disciples of the Iron Shadow Sect!"
"Wait, what?!" Guo Fan exclaimed from the crowd.
Luo Ying facepalmed.
Xu Tian ignored them, launching into an exaggerated account of the duel. In his version, his opponents were towering monsters with devastating powers, while he was a lone warrior armed only with wit and courage.
"And then," Xu Tian continued, standing dramatically on one leg, "I unleashed my ultimate technique: the Divine Shadow Flaming Phoenix Kick of Destiny!" He mimed an absurdly complicated move, nearly toppling off the stage in the process.
The crowd roared with laughter. Even Luo Ying couldn't suppress a small smile, though she shook her head in disbelief.
[(Host's actions increase sect morale. Positive energy detected.)]
"Well, at least he's good for something," Luo Ying muttered.
As the celebration continued, Elder Feng watched from a distance, his brow furrowed. Beside him stood a messenger from the sect's intelligence division.
"Are you certain?" Elder Feng asked, his voice low.
"Yes, Elder," the messenger replied grimly. "The Iron Shadow Sect may have retreated for now, but their allies—the Black Thorn Alliance—are mobilizing. This victory might have only delayed the inevitable."
Elder Feng sighed. "Keep monitoring them. We'll need every bit of information we can get."
He turned his gaze back to Xu Tian, who was now attempting to juggle fruit while narrating another outrageous tale.
"Sometimes, I wonder if the heavens made a mistake sending us that one," Elder Feng said.
The messenger hesitated. "He did win the duel, Elder."
"With antics like his," Elder Feng replied, "the line between genius and fool grows thinner every day."
The next morning, Xu Tian woke up to a new task notification.
[(New task assigned: Strengthen foundational cultivation skills. Reward: Enhanced Qi Flow Technique.)]
Xu Tian groaned. "Foundational skills? Boring! I thought the system wanted me to do absurdly entertaining stuff, not sit in lotus position all day!"
[(Host's foundational skills are subpar. Improvement is necessary for survival in upcoming challenges.)]
Luo Ying appeared at the door to his quarters, arms crossed. "What's with the whining? You've been slacking off ever since the duel."
"I haven't been slacking," Xu Tian argued. "I've been... uh, celebrating."
"Call it whatever you want," she said. "You're coming to train. Now."
Before Xu Tian could protest, Luo Ying dragged him out by the collar.
On the training grounds, Luo Ying demonstrated a series of foundational techniques with precision and grace.
"See?" she said. "Even the basics require focus and discipline. Your flashy moves won't matter if your core techniques are weak."
Xu Tian sighed but grudgingly began mimicking her movements. His form was sloppy at first, but Luo Ying was relentless, correcting him with sharp remarks and the occasional smack with the flat of her sword.
"This feels like punishment," Xu Tian muttered.
"It's called discipline," Luo Ying retorted.
Despite his complaints, Xu Tian began to notice a difference. His movements grew more fluid, his Qi flow steadier.
[(Progress detected. Host's foundational skills improving. Task completion: 40%.)]
Guo Fan arrived mid-session, carrying a basket of food. "Senior Brother, are you actually training?"
"Don't sound so surprised," Xu Tian said, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm capable of greatness, you know."
"Capable of complaining," Luo Ying muttered.
As the sun set, the group returned to the main hall for dinner. However, they were met by an unexpected visitor—a young woman clad in dark robes, her face partially obscured by a veil.
"Greetings," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I am Mei Lian, an envoy from the Crimson Moon Sect."
The mention of the Crimson Moon Sect caused murmurs among the disciples. Known for their mysterious practices and formidable cultivators, the Crimson Moon Sect rarely interacted with others.
"I bring a message for Elder Feng," Mei Lian continued. "But first, I wish to meet the disciple named Xu Tian."
Xu Tian blinked, pointing at himself. "Me? What did I do?"
"That," Luo Ying said, "is a long list."
---
To Be Continued...
As tensions rise and new alliances come into play, Xu Tian finds himself at the center of yet another mystery. What does the Crimson Moon Sect want with him? And how will he handle the challenges ahead while maintaining his unique flair for chaos? Stay tuned for the next chapter of Ascension of the Cosmic Fool!