"System, today's check-in."
[Check-in successful. Reward: 500 years of cultivation]
Lu Changsheng pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly. "It's been over twenty years. Every day, I check in and get cultivation as a reward. Doesn't this system have any other functions?"
When he first came to this world and learned that he had awakened a system, Lu Changsheng had been excited too, thinking he could reach the pinnacle of the immortal path and tower over all ages.
But who could have known that, for over twenty years, the system would only allow him to check in daily, with cultivation as the reward every single time?
Day after day, year after year.
It had already left Lu Changsheng numb.
He wasn't even particularly clear on what realm his strength had reached.
As though aware of Lu Changsheng's helplessness, the system spoke up to explain.
[The host has not yet been detected triggering the main quest. No other functions are currently available]
"Then can't you tell me how to trigger the main quest?"
[Heaven's secrets must not be divulged]
"..."
With no other recourse, Lu Changsheng picked up his brush and sketched a painting of a sword immortal performing a sword dance on the desk.
This was Lu Changsheng's daily life now. Since he received cultivation as a reward every day anyway, he had no need to cultivate himself.
With nothing to do.
He could only plant Willow Trees, raise chickens, paint a few pictures, and write a few pieces of calligraphy...
Failing that, he would casually refine some pills himself or study formations...
When Lu Changsheng finished the final brushstroke.
Clang!
A bell rang out through the space.
Lu Changsheng looked up. "Today seems to be the day the Hidden Dao Academy takes in new students..."
Thinking it over, he had nothing else to do, so going out for a stroll and a look around would be nice.
With that, Lu Changsheng set down his brush, turned into a wisp of blue smoke, and vanished from the spot.
Some time after Lu Changsheng left.
The little bird in the garden actually flapped its wings, red as blazing fire, and came before the painting, its eyes fixed on the sword immortal performing a sword dance within it.
The sword immortal in the painting seemed to move. Then strands of Sword Qi actually shot out from the painted sword immortal!
In an instant, Sword Qi crisscrossed the entire garden, slicing through space!
Alarm flashed in the little bird's eyes. It flapped its wings and retreated, flames igniting on its wings as though it wanted to block this strand of heaven-shaking sword intent.
In a flash.
The flames were cleaved apart by the sword intent, which continued unabated, slashing straight toward the little bird!
Just then, the Willow Tree beside it actually extended a branch, blocking all of the sword intent.
"Little bird, don't be so rash in the future. Though this painting was made casually, its artistic conception is still beyond what you can withstand."
With that, the Willow Tree fell silent.
Dejection appeared in the little bird's eyes. Seemingly agreeing with the Willow Tree's words, it took a long look at the painting on the desk and withdrew.
The Hidden Dao Academy.
Countless powerful figures had emerged from it.
It was the Southern Region's acknowledged place for imparting the Dao.
It stood aloof from worldly strife and took no part in any disputes between sects or aristocratic clans.
Nor did it seek profit from dynasties or sacred lands.
Whether they were emperors, the offspring of feudal lords, or descendants of aristocratic clans, all who entered the Hidden Dao Academy were treated equally.
Only strength mattered here.
It was precisely because of this that the Hidden Dao Academy could stand above the rest.
At that moment, at the academy's mountain gate.
Dozens of young people stood gathered.
These were the people who had passed the academy's assessments and could ultimately be admitted.
Next, the academy's elders would choose disciples.
Once an elder took a liking to them, their prospects would be boundless.
They would all be heaven's chosen whom aristocratic clans and dynasties competed to recruit.
Thus, excitement shone in every young person's eyes as they hoped an elder would accept them as a disciple.
"There are quite a few promising seedlings this year."
"Mm. I heard that direct descendants of Heavenly Origin City's four great lineages have come too."
"Hehe, then we'll have to choose carefully. Perhaps we'll finally find someone to inherit our mantles."
"It's not that easy. Even if their talent is sufficient, we still have to examine their character. We can't pass down our legacies carelessly."
"True."
Just then, the elders all looked behind them, where a young man in blue robes was approaching at an unhurried pace.
One elder frowned. "Why has he come out?"
Some of the stewards, however, looked bewildered.
Clearly, they did not recognize the young man.
They asked, "Elder, is this man from the academy?"
One elder said with a complicated look in his eyes, "Yes and no. He belongs to the Cottage."
"The Cottage?!"
Countless people were astonished.
Of course, some also looked bewildered. Clearly, they knew nothing about this Cottage.
The Hidden Dao Academy was divided into the Martial Academy and the Confucian Academy.
But apart from the Martial Academy and the Confucian Academy, there was another faction.
The Cottage!
One could say that the Cottage was not under the academy's jurisdiction, yet it could still enjoy the academy's resources.
Everyone found this baffling, but with the academy head suppressing the matter, no one dared voice it openly.
Now that the Cottage had changed hands, it had not taken in any new disciples for decades.
Lu Changsheng was the only person in the entire Cottage.
And Lu Changsheng usually kept an exceedingly low profile, almost never going out, which was why people had forgotten that such a person still existed in the Cottage!
Thus, it was perfectly normal for some people not to know of the Cottage's existence.
Lu Changsheng walked up to the elders and greeted them with a light smile and a bow. "My greetings to you, elders."
"Lu Changsheng, what brings you here today?"
"We never saw you come on previous recruitment days."
Lu Changsheng shook his head. "I was simply bored and came out to watch the academy recruit students. I have no intention of taking any disciples. Please don't mind me, elders."
Bored...
The elders all shook their heads helplessly. This brat occupied the academy's resources yet refused to take disciples. Honestly...
After all, they were an academy faction and took pride in accepting disciples and imparting the Dao. With Lu Changsheng acting like this, there was nothing they could do.
One particularly elderly elder said, exasperated at his failure to make something of himself, "As a member of the academy, spreading the Dao throughout the world is your duty. Why are you unwilling to take disciples or bring fresh blood into the Cottage?"
Lu Changsheng spread his hands. "I haven't even figured out my own immortal cultivation. Why should I hold anyone else back? Besides, teaching disciples is such a chore. I'm quite happy amusing myself alone. Why ask for suffering?"
"But how can you use the academy's resources without imparting the Dao?"
"As the master of the Cottage, even if you won't think of yourself, you should at least think of the Cottage's future!"
Seeing the elders begin their earnest persuasion, Lu Changsheng felt a headache coming on.
He was just about to speak when a voice in his mind abruptly interrupted him.
[The host has triggered a quest. Please proceed to Heavenly Origin City to take a disciple] [Name: Ye Qiubai] [Talent: SSS rank] [Aptitude: Clear Sword Heart, Primordial Sword Physique, potential to become an emperor]
Upon hearing this.
Lu Changsheng vanished on the spot, leaving only a single sentence behind.
"Elders, I'm off to Heavenly Origin City to pick up my disciple. Carry on!"
The elders were left standing there in a daze.
Hadn't this brat said he hadn't even figured out his own immortal cultivation and didn't want to hold anyone else back?
Hadn't he said teaching disciples was too much of a chore?
Like hell I believe you!
Besides, with so many promising seedlings here to choose from, why insist on running off to Heavenly Origin City?
The heaven's chosen from Heavenly Origin City's direct lineages are all right here!