2026-03-25 19:27:48
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Quinn focused. That lingering thread of power from the Rotten Root activated in his veins, tightening his reaction time. He twisted past another swing and slammed his palm directly into Bao’s gut.The older disciple flinched.[Qi Interference: Successful. Muscle Lock triggered.]Bao stumbled just for a second.It was enough.Quinn sprang up, using both feet to launch a flying kick straight into the brute’s chest. With a sound like collapsing lumber, Bao staggered backward and over the platform’s edge.There was silence at first.Then cheers.“Winner: Quinn.”Elder Yan arched an eyebrow.[Bonus Objective Complete.][Hidden Reward Unlocked: Elder Yan is… mildly curious.]Quinn stood there, chest heaving, arms shaking.Bao roared from where he landed, fury in his eyes.Quinn didn’t look at him. He just turned, bowed to the elder, and walked off the platform.His knees almost gave out the moment he was out of sight.[Would you like to activate Recovery Mode?][Estimated Muscle Trauma: 36%
Root Residue
The next morning, the entire outer sect buzzed with tension. Bamboo leaves fluttered underfoot as disciples whispered and sprinted between courtyards. Quinn barely stepped outside his dorm before catching wind of it.“The trial’s been moved forward,” a girl muttered as she raced past him.“Grand Elder’s orders, something about an inner sect disciple getting involved in something…”Quinn tightened his belt. “That’s… ominous.”He made his way to the outer sect square, where a red banner now flapped high above the main platform.“ANNOUNCEMENT: OUTER SECT QUALIFICATION TRIAL — TODAY.”A crowd of over a hundred disciples had gathered. Most looked nervous, some thrilled. A few had bloodlust in their eyes.A stern elder with a goatee stood at the edge of the platform, arms behind his back. “Three rounds,” he barked. “Sparring, spirit-control, and endurance. The top twelvr will receive access to the Inner Gate and become an inner disciple.”That sent a ripple through the crowd.Quinn’s heart
Thank You
Quinn backed away from the board before anyone could notice his name, his heart racing. His palms were sweaty, knees moderately weak, and breakfast, a half-burnt mantou bun was already regretting being eaten.Disciples began pointing at the board.“Someone new signed up…”“Quinn Ma? Who’s that? Sounds like a laundry disciple.”“Isn’t that the guy who got pecked half to death by a chicken?”“He’s entering? Oh, this’ll be hilarious.”“Great,” Quinn muttered, slipping back toward the servant quarters like a shadow. “Now I’m a joke and a target. Perfect.”[Quinn's Resolve – Quiet Determination]That night, Quinn sat alone under the cracked roof of his quarters. The System hadn’t said much since the board.Perhaps it was letting him think.Finally, Quinn exhaled. “Fine. You want serious? Let’s do serious.”He cleared the space around him, sat cross-legged, and started cultivating again.A surge of energy shot up his arms, wild and untamed like a river of bees. Quinn gritted his teeth. Pai
No Title Yet
[Presence vanished.][Threat level undetermined. Proceed with extreme caution.]Quinn let out a breath that sounded more like a whimper. “What… in all the seven stinking heavens was that?”[Unknown. But you’re being watched.] He staggered backward out of the ruins, heart still racing fast. The pocket of his robe pulsed faintly and the rotten spirit root was practically vibrating.“I should hurry up,” he muttered.[You think?]By the time he reached the outer disciple quarters, Quinn was dripping sweat and had earned +4 Stamina Points for "running like a rat." He slammed his door shut, barricading it with the broken chair leg he usually used to hang his clothes.Quinn sat cross-legged on the floor and pulled out the root. [Item Identified: Rotten Spirit Root – Degraded.][Grade: Sub-tier. Condition: Putrid.][Effect: Temporary spike in qi absorption. Possible side-effects include nausea, mutation, and an increased desire to scream internally.][Risk of Death: 13%. Chance of Profound B
Rotten Spirit Root
The sect quieted at night.Gone were the hollers of sect seniors chastising outer disciples, the clang of wooden buckets against stone, the endless sweeping. In their place came whispers of wind brushing dry grass. Quinn had never been afraid of the dark. He just had an understandable fear of being murdered in it.Tch. Understandable? Yeah right. But still, here he was. Wearing a damp robe, a borrowed lantern with a vague sense of impending doom.He was already asleep when the sub-quest came. [Sub-Quest Activated: Rotten Opportunity]Retrieve the Rotten Spirit Root from the Forbidden Greenhouse.Time Limit: Dawn.Reward: +2 Spirit Veins / +1 Passive Trait (randomized)Warning: The Rotten Spirit Root is sentient. And a little mean.He stood just outside the crumbling arch that led to the Old Greenhouse, a building so long abandoned it had become part of outer disciple horror stories. According to lore, it once grew immortal peaches. Now it mostly grew rumors and possibly mold demons
Dignity Down
Quinn woke up to the delightful sensation of every joint in his body staging a revolt.His neck cracked when he turned it. His spine creaked when he sat up. His legs threatened to unionize. He was a walking advertisement for Why Not To Get Hit By Life Repeatedly.[Ding! You have awakened. SP bonus for persistent discomfort: +7]He blinked, groaned, then faceplanted back into the straw mattress.“System,” he mumbled, voice muffled by hay. “Please let that all have been a dream.”[Negative. However, the dream you did have is eligible for a flashback.]And oh, it was a gem.In the dream, he stood shirtless on a stage made of noodles while thousands of spirit boars in tuxedos hurled tofu at his head, chanting, “Sing, fungus, sing!” Just before a giant sandal descended from the heavens to slap him into the dirt.[SP Gained: +15 – Residual trauma (dream-based)]Quinn sat up, hugging his knees. “I’m losing my mind.”[Correction: You are gaining madness-based resilience. Side effect: increase
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