A holographic window materialized before Kai, its harsh blue light splitting the dappled sunlight filtering through the forest canopy. He braced himself for another round of the system's taunts, a familiar knot of frustration tightening in his gut. This time, the notification wasn't a snide remark, but a full-blown quest, displayed in stark white text against the glaring blue background.
First Quest
Task: Recruit your first disciple/student.
Condition: Talent of disciple must meet system requirements (unknown).
Time Limit: 1 week.
Rewards: Based on system mood (Ugh, that can't be good).
Penalty: Loss of manly hood (Okay, this is definitely bad).
Kai stared at the window, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. Disbelief battled with frustration. "Recruit a disciple? In a week? With my pathetic cultivation base? And what kind of messed-up reward system is based on your mood?" he yelled, his voice echoing through the silent trees.
The system, ever the sarcastic companion, materialized its voice in his mind. "Well, you can always reject the quest," it chimed, its tone laced with a mocking amusement that grated on Kai's nerves.
He narrowed his eyes. "Really?"
"Absolutely," the system replied, its voice dripping with fake sincerity. "However, upon rejection, the penalty will be automatically applied. So, are you feeling lucky?"
Kai squeezed his eyes shut, his imagination conjuring a horrifying image of his future without certain, well, functionalities. He clenched his fists, frustration morphing into a grimace that contorted his face. "Like I have any choice," he muttered, defeat coloring his voice. "Alright, I accept the quest."
The window flickered for a moment, then reappeared with a new line added to the notification:
Beginner's Welcome Gift:
You will be promoted to the last stage of the Body Refinement Realm.
This unexpected turn of events caused Kai's anger to momentarily recede. He blinked, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "Why didn't you offer this before? You could have saved me a lot of pain!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with a hint of accusation.
"You didn't ask," the system replied smugly, its amusement palpable.
Kai's jaw clenched. He'd never met a more infuriating entity. "You… You…!" he sputtered, his frustration threatening to boil over.
Sensing his rising temper, the system cut him off with a chuckle. "Relax, host. Consider it a lesson. Sometimes, the best rewards come after a little struggle. Now, get out there and recruit your first disciple! Remember, time is ticking, and so is… well, you get the picture."
With a final, annoying chirp, the window disappeared. Kai took a deep breath, trying to tame the anger simmering beneath the surface. He was a cultivator now, well, a barely-there cultivator. But with a newfound power coursing through his veins and a ridiculous quest hanging over his head, he had no choice but to embrace the unexpected.
The next week was a whirlwind of desperation. Kai scoured the surrounding villages and towns, desperately searching for anyone who might possess the mysterious talent the system craved. He interrogated children playing in dusty streets, observed young men and women practicing basic martial arts, and even interviewed elderly folks with rumored connections to the supernatural.
Each interaction felt futile, each rejection like a punch to the gut. The taunts of the system echoed in his mind, fueling his determination even as his confidence dwindled. He spent countless hours meditating, trying to unlock some hidden talent within himself, some spark that might satisfy the system's unknown criteria. But his efforts were in vain.
With a single day left before the deadline, Kai found himself slumped against a weathered tree on the outskirts of a small village. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally. The thought of facing the system's penalty filled him with dread.
Just as despair began to consume him, a flicker of movement caught his eye. A young girl, no older than ten, was practicing a series of clumsy sword swings in a nearby clearing. Her determination was admirable, but her movements were uncoordinated and weak. Kai sighed. Another dead end, he thought, ready to close his eyes and resign himself to his fate.
But then, something unexpected happened. As the girl swung her wooden sword, a faint ripple of energy pulsed around her. It was subtle, barely perceptible, but it was there nonetheless. Kai's eyes widened in surprise. Could this be...?