The morning sun peeked over the horizon, casting warm light into Taryn's room. He was just about to sit up and stretch when—
"WAKEY-WAKEY, BRAINY-BAKEY!"
Taryn groaned as the System's face appeared once again, far too close.
"System… do you ever not hover inches from my face?"
"Intimacy builds stronger teacher-student bonds!" System beamed. "Anyway! Before you begin today's journey to become the next cultivation legend, there's something we must do."
Taryn blinked. "What now?"
"A quiz!"
Taryn frowned. "A what?"
"Yes, yes—a quiz to test your vast and glorious understanding of Cultivation 102!" System cleared his throat. "Let the Great Enlightenment Quiz begin!"
Question 1:
What are spiritual meridians primarily used for in cultivation?
A) To transport spiritual energy
B) To transport snacks directly to your stomach
C) To win at board games
D) To impress girls at sect gatherings
Taryn: "...A."
System: "Correct! Though I still maintain snacks-through-meridians should be a thing."
Question 2:
What is the most important posture for beginner meditation?
A) Lotus position
B) Flamingo stance
C) Upside-down turtle pose
D) Lying dramatically on a chaise lounge
Taryn: "Definitely A."
System: "Correct again, but dramatic chaise lounge does help if you're aiming to cultivate drama."
Question 3:
What happens if spiritual energy is forced into blocked meridians?
A) Pain and internal damage
B) You unlock your secret dance powers
C) Your body explodes into confetti
D) You scream like a banshee at a rock concert
Taryn: "...I don't even know what to say. It's A."
System: "Yes. But now I'm curious what would happen if D were true…"
Question 4:
What is the difference between elemental affinity and cultivation technique?
A) One is your natural alignment, the other is your chosen path
B) One bakes cookies, the other burns them
C) No difference. Everything is a scam.
D) Ask your local fortune-teller
Taryn: "Option A."
System: "That's four correct answers! You're dangerously close to being competent!"
Question 5:
How long should a beginner cultivate per session?
A) 30 minutes to 1 hour
B) Until the spirit beast chases you away
C) Forever! Who needs food or sleep?!
D) One deep breath and call it a day
Taryn: "A. I like food and sleep."
System: "Perfect answer! We value balance here—unlike those maniacs who meditate for three days straight and forget they have eyebrows."
System spun dramatically. "With a glorious score of 5/5, I now declare you an officially average cultivator with promise! Clap for yourself!"
Taryn rolled his eyes, smiling despite himself.
"Ahem," System said, floating closer with a mischievous grin. "Now that your brain's warmed up… you're ready!"
"Ready for what?" Taryn asked, immediately suspicious.
"Oh, did I forget to mention?" System adopted a theatrical voice. "The quest you completed yesterday—train body, meditate, read theory—wasn't just a one-off."
Taryn blinked. "Wait…"
"It's a DAILY QUEST!" System beamed. "You'll be doing it for at least a week! But worry not, my disciple of destiny! If you complete it each day, you'll witness transformation! Muscles! Spirit flow! Maybe even glowing abs!"
Taryn buried his face in his hands. "Glowing abs aren't even a thing…"
"Not with that attitude," System quipped. "Now! Go, go, make me proud!"
With that, the System vanished in a flash, leaving behind the echo of "Run, run, run!" and an exaggerated whistle.
Taryn sighed deeply, tied his hair back, and stepped out into the morning light once again.
"…This is going to be a long week."