You Thought I Was Cultivating, but I Was Actually Sleeping

A faint pearly glow appeared on the horizon.

On a hundred-meter-tall hill behind Holy Soul Village.

A small, slender figure was climbing toward the summit.

Having transmigrated here as a talented outer disciple of the Tang Sect, Tang San had never slackened for even a day.

Every morning, when the purple qi came from the east, it was the best time to cultivate the Tang Sect's supreme technique, Purple Demon Eye.

However, when Tang San reached the summit and was about to sit down to cultivate, his movements suddenly froze.

Because someone was already sitting atop the hill.

It was a boy who looked slightly older than him, around six or seven years old. He had sharp brows, bright eyes, and handsome, refined features.

At that moment, the boy was sitting cross-legged.

His eyes were lightly closed, his breathing long and steady, as though he had merged with the surrounding morning mist.

"Brother Lin Chuan!"

Tang San stopped in his tracks.

Deep admiration filled his eyes, along with a hint of shame.

"I thought I'd gotten up early enough, but Brother Lin Chuan was already cultivating on the mountaintop!"

Tang San looked at the droplets of dew on Lin Chuan's body, and his heart trembled even more.

"This state of unity between man and nature... even the elders of the Tang Sect's inner branch had never reached such a level!"

"Brother Lin Chuan does not have the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, yet he has reached this realm through his own comprehension alone. He truly is an unparalleled genius!"

He did not dare disturb him and quietly walked to one side before beginning his own cultivation.

At that moment, Lin Chuan, seated on a large rock, had his eyelids twitch slightly.

Damn it, this rock is so hard. My back hurts from sleeping on it!

Lin Chuan cursed inwardly.

As a transmigrator who had bound himself to the [+1 System], he did not need to cultivate at all.

The system had bound itself to its target, Tang San.

As long as Tang San improved in strength, Lin Chuan would automatically receive feedback one level higher than Tang San's.

When Tang San cultivated the first level of Purple Demon Eye, Lin Chuan automatically obtained the second level.

When Tang San reached the first level of Mysterious Heaven Skill, Lin Chuan automatically reached the second.

So, cultivation?

He would never cultivate in this lifetime.

But he had to maintain an image.

The image of a hardworking elder brother whom Tang San respected and admired, someone Tang San could not help but desperately chase after.

Because only when Tang San worked himself to the bone and cultivated desperately could Lin Chuan grow stronger while lying down.

Lin Chuan had actually carried his bedding up here in the middle of the night yesterday and gone to sleep.

All for this very moment.

He wanted Tang San to feel the pressure of knowing that someone more talented than him was also working harder than him.

As the sun rose, Tang San finished cultivating Purple Demon Eye, and the purple tint in his eyes gradually faded.

The instant he opened his eyes, he saw Lin Chuan conveniently finish his cultivation as well.

Purple light flowed through Lin Chuan's eyes, several times denser and deeper than Tang San's!

Tang San's heart shook violently.

"Purple Demon Eye, the Overview Realm?! No, he may have even touched the threshold of the Microscopic Realm!"

"Brother Lin Chuan had only watched me cultivate a few times and never learned any incantations. Not only did he master it, he even surpassed me by an entire major realm?"

What monstrous comprehension was this?!

"Xiao San, you're here?"

Lin Chuan smiled faintly, his expression unfathomable.

"Today's purple qi seems a little thinner than yesterday's."

Tang San hurriedly rose to his feet and respectfully bowed.

"Good morning, Brother Lin Chuan. It seems your cultivation has improved again."

Lin Chuan stood up, stretched lazily, and lightly tapped Tang San on the head.

"Improved? I still have a long way to go."

"Xiao San, while you were cultivating just now, your mind wandered for a moment, didn't it?"

Tang San's face reddened with embarrassment.

"You are right to reprimand me, Brother. I merely..."

"Cultivation is like rowing upstream. If you do not advance, you will fall behind."

Lin Chuan spoke earnestly, his gaze carrying the air of someone disappointed by another's failure to meet expectations.

"Your talent is already inferior to mine. If you still refuse to work twice as hard, how will you survive in this world where the strong devour the weak?"

"Look at me. I sat here all night. Did I complain even once?"

Tang San's eyes reddened with emotion.

Brother Lin Chuan had actually set such an example just to encourage me!

Tang San's father, Tang Hao, was a useless drunkard who spent every day in a drunken stupor.

If Tang San had not matured early and stood on a stool to cook for himself, the father and son would probably have starved to death long ago.

As for Lin Chuan, he was an orphan who had grown up in the village without parents, living off the charity of many households.

Yet he often shared the eggs and dried meat given to him by the village chief with Tang San, and he even mended Tang San's clothes.

In Tang San's heart, Lin Chuan was like his own biological older brother.

He seemed even more like family than that unreliable old man.

Tang San clenched his fists, and determination returned to his eyes.

"I understand, Brother Lin Chuan!"

"I will definitely work twice as hard!"

Lin Chuan nodded in satisfaction, delight blooming in his heart.

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully encouraged Tang San. Tang San's will to cultivate has increased, and his cultivation efficiency has improved. Host has received feedback: All attributes +1.]

"Let's go. Down the mountain."

Lin Chuan clasped his hands behind his back.

"Remember, use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track on the way back. Do not waste any opportunity to train."

"Yes!"

Watching Tang San move over the rugged mountain path as though walking on level ground, Lin Chuan also used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

Only, his steps were even more graceful.

Every step looked casual, yet he was still slightly faster than Tang San.

Tang San followed behind him and looked at that figure ahead, silently swearing to himself.

One day, I will surpass Brother Lin Chuan! I absolutely cannot let him down!

After returning to the village, the two headed straight for Tang San's home.

It was a shabby mud-brick house, with a damaged blacksmith shop sign hanging outside.

The room was filled with the sour stench of a hangover.

"Dad, breakfast is ready."

Tang San skillfully served the thin porridge and set out the pickled vegetables.

The curtain to the inner room was lifted, and a tall, burly but dispirited and unkempt middle-aged man walked out.

He was none other than the reclusive Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao.

Tang Hao's eyes were bleary with sleep as he grabbed a bowl and gulped down the porridge.

As for Lin Chuan, who stood to the side, he merely gave him a glance and grunted through his nose in greeting.

Tang Hao's feelings toward Lin Chuan were complicated.

As a Title Douluo, his senses were extraordinarily sharp.

Lin Chuan possessed a maturity far beyond his age, and Tang Hao could not see through him.

But more importantly, this child sincerely treated Xiao San well.

"Good morning, Uncle Tang Hao."

Lin Chuan greeted him with a smile, completely unafraid of the fierce-looking drunkard.

Just then, Old Jack's voice sounded from outside.

"Xiao San! Is Xiao San here? And Xiao Chuan!"

Old Jack walked in, glanced disdainfully at Tang Hao, who was drinking porridge, and waved his cane.

"Tang Hao, have you forgotten what day it is? It's the annual Spirit Awakening Ceremony!"

"Hurry up and have Xiao San get ready to come with me!"

Tang Hao did not even raise his head. "So what if he awakens one? Can it put food on the table?"

"You!" Old Jack's beard trembled wildly with anger.

He said bitterly, "You good-for-nothing, it is one thing for you to waste your own life as a blacksmith, but are you going to ruin Xiao San's future too? Holy Soul Village once produced a Soul Sage!"

"A Soul Sage? That was ancient history from who knows how many years ago." Tang Hao snorted disdainfully.

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Lin Chuan stepped forward.

He stood between them and smiled gently.

"Grandpa Jack, don't be angry. It isn't worth harming your health."

"Uncle Tang Hao simply can't bear to see Xiao San leave home. We'll go with you right away."

As he spoke, Lin Chuan gave Tang San a look.

Tang San immediately understood and hurriedly took Old Jack's hand.

"Grandpa Jack, let's go."

Tang Hao watched Lin Chuan handle matters so tactfully without losing his manners.

A sharp glint flashed through his clouded eyes.

Then it vanished, and he lowered his head to continue drinking his porridge.

The Spirit Hall branch in the center of the village.

In truth, it was only a slightly larger wooden house.

At that moment, aside from Lin Chuan and Tang San, the village's other seven children had already arrived.

Standing in the center was a young man in his twenties.

He wore a fitted white outfit.

He was the famous "Blind Douluo" and "beginner village guide," Soul Grandmaster Su Yuntao.

"Since everyone is here, we'll begin."

Su Yuntao sounded somewhat impatient.

He had already visited six villages and had not encountered a single child with Soul Power. He had long since stopped hoping for much.

"Sickle, useless martial soul, no Soul Power."

"Hoe, useless martial soul, no Soul Power."

"Blue Silver Grass? This useless martial soul is even worse than a sickle."

One child after another walked away in disappointment, while Su Yuntao's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

Old Jack had become used to it. It happened every year, after all!

Finally, it was the eighth child's turn: Tang San.

Tang San walked into the hexagonal formation, and Su Yuntao skillfully injected Soul Power.

Amid flashing golden light, Tang San extended his right hand. A small stalk of pale-blue grass gently swayed in his palm.

"Blue Silver Grass again?"

Su Yuntao was completely speechless.

"Did Holy Soul Village poke a Blue Silver Grass nest or something?"

"Fine, next. There's no need to test your Soul Power. Blue Silver Grass cannot possibly possess Soul Power."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Tang San's eyes.

"Wait!"

Lin Chuan suddenly spoke.