The disciples held their breath. Everyone awaited one of two outcomes.
One — the boy wakes up, apologizes, and kowtows five hundred times.
Two — the Sect Master expels him, and the elders get to watch the show.
No one really knew what would happen… except for one person.
The bald, grey-bearded elder.
He didn't care what happened—he just wanted an excuse to kill the boy. The sooner, the better.
The Sect Master, expression unreadable, finally spoke again.
"…Feng Zhi."
No response.
Just a gentle snore.
The boy was still smiling in his sleep, clearly having a good dream.
The Sect Master's tone hardened. It wasn't angry in the way a father scolds his child, nor furious like a martial artist before battle—it was calm, clear, and final.
"Feng Zhi. If you do not awaken within three breaths, you will be expelled from the sect."
One breath.
Two.
Three.
…
Still nothing.
Cultivators were known for sharp hearing and discipline. No one ever slept through their name being called. Especially not during the most sacred ritual of the year.
The silence was suffocating.
The Sect Master turned. "Elder Hai. Take him inside. Do not act rashly—he is from the Feng family. We do not need unnecessary trouble."
"Yes, Sect Master," Elder Hai said, his face twitching with restraint.
He flicked a sleeve.
Fwoosh.
The boy's body lifted gently into the air, still face-down on the pillow, snoring.
Elder Hai's expression soured. He still hadn't forgotten how his last palm strike had missed by a hair.
He began walking, the sleeping disciple floating behind him like a disgraceful kite.
The Sect Master turned back to the crowd.
"The interruption has been handled. Continue the ceremony."
The disciples resumed, beginning to chant hymns.
But Feng Zhi… began to stir.
His eyes blinked open slowly.
"…Huh?"
He couldn't move.
The sky above was drifting.
Wait, no—he was moving.
Clouds floated lazily overhead. In the corner of his vision: a long white beard… and a shiny bald head.
A grumpy old man?
Feng Zhi's gaze wandered past him—massive floating islands, waterfalls spilling through the air, radiant spiritual plants glowing with life.
He blinked.
"…This ain't my apartment."
"You disgraceful disciple," Elder Hai snapped, sensing his awakening. "Finally awake, are you?"
Feng Zhi blinked again, unfazed. "Uh… where am I being taken?"
"To be punished for your actions."
"…What actions?"
"Do not play dumb!" the elder barked, his eyes flaring.
Feng Zhi sighed.
"System," he whispered in his mind.
Ding!
A blue holographic panel appeared in front of him.
[System Activated]
[Slumber Quest Complete]
[+3 Free Attributes]
[+3 Sleep Qi]
[Skill Acquired: Evasive Slumber Lv.1]
"…It wasn't a dream, huh."
Then the system's full panel expanded:
Name: Feng Zhi
Age: 17
Qi: Sleep Qi (4)
Physique: 1
Spirit: 1
Free Attributes: 3
Skills:
— Evasive Slumber Lv.1
(Automatically dodge weak attacks when at peace. Effectiveness decreases when not calm. Only works on attacks within host's current cultivation realm.)
[Quests] [+]
[Unlocked Daos] [+]
"So this is a cultivation world…" he muttered. "Neat."
He glanced at the old man beside him, still carrying him with Qi.
Feng Zhi squinted.
"System. Can you talk?"
A cold, emotionless voice echoed in his thoughts.
[Yes, Host. I can respond to your mental prompts.]
It sounded like a flat mechanical tone—distant, yet somehow inside his skull.
"…Cool. What's the point of these attributes?"
[Host. These stats represent the foundational parameters of your currently unlocked Daos. You have only one at present—granted from your first quest: 'Commit Blasphemous Nap During Ceremony.']
"So that's why I'm here now, huh."
Feng Zhi looked at the angry elder again.
Bald head. Grey beard. Wrinkled and red with fury.
"…Classic cultivator grandpa."
He focused again.
"So these stats… they came from the Dao of Laziness?"
[Correct, Host.]
"What's one unit of an attribute equal to?"
[One unit is the standard for a healthy mortal. Doubling any attribute significantly increases corresponding performance.]
"…Let's test that."
He mentally selected one point.
Physique: 2
His body immediately surged. Muscles tightened. Reflexes sharpened. He felt… alert.
Then he noticed Elder Hai glaring.
Feng Zhi gave him a sheepish smile.
The elder frowned, sensing the change—but brushed it off. Probably just a fluke, he thought.
Feng Zhi relaxed.
He opened the Skills tab.
Evasive Slumber Lv.1
"Evade attacks when at peace. Effectiveness decreases with emotion or alertness. Only works on attacks within host's cultivation level. Upgrade to increase dodge range and tolerance."
He looked down again.
"Are you serious?"
Then he opened Quests. Nothing there.
"…Why can I even open this if there's nothing—whatever."
He opened Unlocked Daos.
Immediately, the screen exploded with text.
Unlocked Daos:
— Dao of Laziness (Active)
— Dao of Anger (Locked)
— Dao of Friendship (Locked)
— Dao of Sweeping (Locked)
— Dao of Masturbation (Locked)
— Dao of Bread-Making (Locked)
…
…
Dao of Procrastination… Dao of Socks… Dao of Dust…
"…Dao of Masturbation?!"
He stared.
"System. What the hell is this?"
[These are all potential Dao paths. Each is valid. Each is powerful.]
"…You're kidding."
[I am not.]
Feng Zhi shook his head.
"Am I doomed? Is this system broken?"
He kept scrolling. The list went on. And on. And on.
"…System. How many Daos are there?"
[Infinite, Host.]
"How do I unlock them?"
[Each time you break into a new cultivation realm, one Dao will be registered.]
Feng Zhi froze.
"Wait… infinite Daos. One per realm…"
"…Does that mean there are infinite realms?"
Silence.
"…Probably not," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
He sighed and looked at his Free Attributes again.
"Let's try one more."
Physique: 3
Another surge.
Now his body felt explosive. Ready to sprint, punch, flip, fight.
The old man twitched slightly—Qi control disrupted.
Feng Zhi stiffened.
He gave the elder another fake smile.
The elder narrowed his eyes but turned away.
Whew.
"Still can't move, though," Feng Zhi muttered. "Guess I'll see where this goes…"