I Idle in the World of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 6: Return to the Sect
The next morning, Lin Luo was woken by his phone vibrating.
He fumbled it out of his sleeping bag and squinted at the screen.
[Idle Cultivation complete! Breakthrough successful!]
[Current cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7]
A wave of warmth surged from his chest—stronger than any before. Lin Luo could feel his meridians widening, as if they had doubled in capacity. Spiritual energy rushed through his body like a stream that had suddenly become a river.
He tapped open his status panel—
[Character: Lin Luo (Player)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7 ↑]
[Attack Power: 85 → 110]
[Defense Power: 65 → 85]
[HP: 580 → 720]
[Spirit Stones: 550]
[Idle cultivation automatically started. Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 8: 24 hours]
Lin Luo stared at the screen, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7. Only three layers left until Foundation Establishment Stage.
He tucked his phone away and crawled out of his sleeping bag. Outside the tent, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Wisps of smoke still rose from the campfire. A few disciples on night watch huddled near the fire, fighting off drowsiness.
Lin Luo stretched and walked over to sit by the fire.
"Brother Luo." One of the Chores Hall disciples on watch spotted him and immediately straightened up, his eyes filled with a mix of awe and respect. "You're up early?"
"Couldn't sleep." Lin Luo poked at the fire. "Any trouble last night?"
"No, no." The disciple shook his head quickly. "Ever since you killed the Wolf King with that axe swing yesterday, who would dare cause trouble? Even those Inner Court disciples have been keeping their voices down."
Lin Luo grunted in acknowledgment and said nothing more.
After a while, the camp slowly came to life. Everyone noticed Lin Luo sitting by the fire, but no one dared approach. Those who had mocked him as a waste now looked at him with completely different eyes—some in awe, some in fear, some curious. But none looked down on him anymore.
Zhao Tian was the first to walk over.
He sat down across from Lin Luo, silent for a moment, then spoke: "Lin Luo, there's something I want to ask you."
"Ask."
"What stage are you really at?"
Lin Luo glanced at him. "Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1."
Zhao Tian's expression didn't change. "I don't believe that."
"Then what do you think I am?"
"I don't know." Zhao Tian shook his head. "But killing a mid-phase Foundation Establishment Wolf King with one axe swing isn't just luck."
"Maybe I'm just strong?"
"Strong enough to kill a mid-phase Foundation Establishment?" Zhao Tian's voice carried a note of helplessness. "Lin Luo, I'm not here to pressure you. I just want to know—have you been lying to us this whole time?"
Lin Luo was quiet for a moment.
"Yes," he said.
Zhao Tian blinked, clearly not expecting such a blunt admission.
"Since when?"
"From the very beginning."
"So you actually have a spiritual root?"
"No." Lin Luo said. "I still don't have a spiritual root."
"Then how did you—"
"That I can't tell you."
Zhao Tian stared at him for a long moment, then let out a bitter laugh.
"Fine." He stood up. "You won't tell, I won't ask. But you owe me an explanation."
"I'll give it to you someday."
Zhao Tian nodded and turned to leave.
After he left, Su Xiaoxiao came over. She didn't sit—just stood by the fire, looking down at him.
"What did you say to Zhao Tian?"
"He asked if I'd been lying. I said yes."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Su Xiaoxiao studied him for a few seconds, then smiled.
"You're surprisingly honest about it."
"There's no point hiding it anymore." Lin Luo poked the fire. "Better to admit some of it than have you all guessing."
"Some of it?" Su Xiaoxiao caught the key word immediately. "So you only admitted to part of it."
Lin Luo looked up at her.
This woman was too sharp.
"You ask too many questions," he said.
Su Xiaoxiao didn't get angry. Instead, her smile deepened.
"Fine. I won't ask. But remember—I said I'd be watching you."
She turned to leave, then stopped after a few steps.
"Oh, by the way. What happened to that Ironback Bear from yesterday?"
"It left."
"Left? Didn't you tame it?"
"Only temporarily," Lin Luo said. "The control wore off, so it went on its own."
Su Xiaoxiao didn't say anything else. She walked away.
Lin Luo watched her go and let out a quiet breath.
Talking to smart people was exhausting. Every word had to be careful, or they'd catch you slipping.
He pulled out his phone and checked the game interface.
[Tame skill: Cooldown in progress. Time remaining: 23 hours 59 minutes.]
It really was only temporary. The game's Tame skill could control a demon beast for just one hour before it wore off. The Ironback Bear from yesterday was probably roaming the mountains again by now.
But one hour had been enough.
---
In the morning, the sect elder announced the mission was over. Everyone was to return to the Cangxuan Sect.
On the way back, Lin Luo's position in the group had changed.
When they'd come, he walked at the very back, ignored by everyone. Now, he walked somewhere in the middle, but no one came within three meters of him—not out of exclusion, but out of awe. Those who had mocked him before couldn't even bring themselves to look at him.
Ma Biao, however, shamelessly stuck close to his side, looking immensely pleased with himself.
"Brother Luo, you're famous now. You know what they're calling you?"
"What?"
"'The Cangxuan Sect's Number One Chores Disciple.'"
"…That's not much of a title."
"Better than 'waste,' right?" Ma Biao grinned. "And you should've seen the faces of those Inner Court disciples after you killed the Wolf King. The one who made you chop firewood? His face turned green."
Lin Luo didn't respond.
He was thinking about something else.
After yesterday's reveal, his "waste" persona had half-collapsed. Even though he still appeared to be at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1, everyone knew he was more than that. What would the Sect Leader think? How would Zhou Ming's master, Zhou Tong, react?
Trouble was coming.
---
His premonition proved true as soon as he returned to the Cangxuan Sect.
No sooner had he passed through the mountain gate than a middle-aged man in a black robe blocked his path.
Zhou Tong. War Hall Elder. Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase. Zhou Ming's master.
He stood in the middle of the road, hands clasped behind his back, his face expressionless as he looked at Lin Luo.
"You're Lin Luo?"
The surrounding disciples fell silent instantly. Everyone could feel the tension in the air.
"Yes," Lin Luo said.
"Yesterday, you injured my disciple, Zhou Ming."
"I didn't injure him," Lin Luo said. "He hit me. He broke his own wrist."
Zhou Tong's eyebrow twitched.
"Sharp tongue." His voice was cold. "Regardless, Zhou Ming's wrist was broken because of you. That debt must be settled."
"How do you want to settle it?"
"Simple." Zhou Tong held up three fingers. "Take three strikes from me. If you survive, the matter ends. If you can't—you lose a hand, as an apology to Zhou Ming."
A collective gasp went through the crowd.
A late-phase Foundation Establishment against a Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1? One strike alone would turn him to pulp.
Zhao Tian's expression shifted. He started to speak, but Su Xiaoxiao grabbed his arm.
"Don't be impulsive," she whispered. "Let's see how Lin Luo handles this."
Lin Luo looked at Zhou Tong, his expression unchanged.
"Three strikes?"
"Three strikes."
"Fine."
Another wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Are you insane?!" Wang Hao shouted from somewhere in the crowd. "He's at Foundation Establishment Stage, late phase!"
Lin Luo ignored him.
He walked up to Zhou Tong and stopped.
"Go ahead."
Zhou Tong's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Lin Luo to agree so readily.
"You're not going to prepare?"
"No need."
Zhou Tong's expression darkened. He felt insulted.
"Looking for death."
He struck with his palm.
Late-phase Foundation Establishment spiritual power wrapped around the force of his strike, whistling through the air as it hurtled toward Lin Luo's chest.
Seventy percent of his strength. Against a waste at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1, it would shatter at least three ribs.
Lin Luo didn't dodge.
He took a deep breath and pushed the Nine Cycles Mystic Art, First Cycle to its limit. His spiritual power was only at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7, but his physical body had already surpassed the mid-phase Foundation Establishment.
Thud.
The palm strike slammed into Lin Luo's chest.
He staggered back three steps. A dull ache radiated through his chest, but he didn't fall.
He looked down at his chest—his robe was torn, but his skin only showed a red mark.
Zhou Tong's pupils contracted.
"You…"
"First strike." Lin Luo looked up and wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Two more."
Dead silence.
Everyone stood frozen, unable to process what they'd just seen.
A late-phase Foundation Establishment cultivator's palm strike at seventy percent power—and a waste at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1 had barely staggered back three steps?
Zhou Tong's expression had soured. He had expected three strikes to be an execution. Now, he wasn't so sure.
"Second strike."
He held nothing back this time. Eighty percent. Ninety. One hundred—
This strike carried everything he had.
The force of his palm came with a sound like rolling thunder, the very air trembling around it. Disciples nearby were pushed back by the shockwave.
Lin Luo's expression changed.
He could feel the power in this strike—more than twice as strong as the first.
If he took it head-on, he'd be hurt.
But he had no way out.
He clenched his jaw, pushed the Nine Cycles Mystic Art to its absolute peak, and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
CRASH.
The strike slammed into him like a truck.
Lin Luo flew backward, crashing into the stone wall behind him. The wall cracked. He slid down to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Brother Luo!" Wang Hao rushed toward him.
Lin Luo raised a hand, stopping him. He pushed himself up off the ground.
His arms were trembling. His chest screamed with pain. Blood covered his chin. But he was standing.
"Second strike." He was panting now. "One more."
Complete silence.
Zhou Tong stared at him, his expression shifting.
Not anger.
Awe.
A waste at Qi Refining Stage, Layer 1 had taken a full-power strike from him—and was still standing.
This was impossible.
"Who are you?" Zhou Tong's voice came out hoarse.
"Chores Hall disciple," Lin Luo said, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Lin Luo."
Zhou Tong was silent for a long moment.
Then he lowered his hands.
"I'm not taking the third strike."
"Why?"
"Because if I did, I'd kill you." Zhou Tong said. "But you took two strikes from me. That's enough."
He turned and walked away.
After a few steps, he stopped.
"Lin Luo. Remember this—the matter is settled. But if you harm Zhou Ming again, I won't hold back next time."
He strode off without looking back.
Lin Luo leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.
Wang Hao rushed to his side, frantic. "Brother Luo, are you okay? Should I call a healer? You're bleeding!"
"I'm fine." Lin Luo waved him off. "Not dying."
He pulled out his phone and glanced at it secretly—
[HP: 720 → 210]
He'd lost over five hundred HP. One more strike and he really would have died.
But he'd taken it.
And—
[Combat detected. Host withstood a full-power late-phase Foundation Establishment attack without falling.]
[Assessment: Physical strength exceeded expectations.]
[Reward: Spirit Stones +200.]
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Unyielding Iron Bones.]
[Reward: Random gacha draw x1.]
[Gacha draw in progress… Congratulations! Obtained: SR-grade elixir "Life Extension Pill" ×1.]
[Life Extension Pill: Restores 100% HP instantly upon consumption. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
Lin Luo tucked his phone away, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
A full-heal revive pill.
Worth it.
---
That night, Lin Luo lay on his cot in the Chores Hall, staring at the ceiling.
His chest still ached, but it was already much better. The Nine Cycles Mystic Art's recovery ability was stronger than he'd expected, and the spiritual energy from Qi Refining Stage, Layer 7 accelerated his healing.
He pulled out his phone and checked the idle countdown.
[Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 8: 18 hours.]
In less than a day, he'd be at Layer 8. Then Layer 9. Then Foundation Establishment Stage.
Almost there.
He turned off his phone and closed his eyes.
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Lin Luo. Are you asleep?" Zhao Tian's voice.
"No."
Zhao Tian pushed the door open and stepped inside, holding a small porcelain bottle.
"Healing elixir. I got it from the Sect Leader."
Lin Luo took it and glanced at it. "Thanks."
Zhao Tian sat down on the edge of the cot and was quiet for a moment.
"You shouldn't have taken those hits today."
"What was I supposed to do? Run?"
"You could have conceded," Zhao Tian said. "Zhou Tong is an elder. He wouldn't have actually killed you."
"Maybe." Lin Luo said. "But if I'd conceded, everyone would think they can walk all over me. I don't like trouble, but I like being constantly troubled even less."
Zhao Tian looked at him and smiled.
"You're a strange person."
"Strange how?"
"You're strong, but you pretend to be weak. And then when someone pushes you too far, you just… stop pretending."
"It's not that I stopped pretending." Lin Luo said. "It's that I couldn't keep pretending anymore."
Zhao Tian was quiet for a moment.
"Lin Luo… what are you really trying to do?"
"Nothing." Lin Luo said. "I just want to quietly stay… I mean, stay put. Don't cause trouble. Don't draw attention. Just quietly get stronger."
"Why?"
"Because trouble is a hassle." Lin Luo closed his eyes. "Being a waste is great. No one pays attention to you. No one challenges you. No one wants to kill you. Just quietly cultivate. It's comfortable."
Zhao Tian stared at him, then let out a bitter laugh.
"You know, when you say things like that, it really makes me want to hit you."
"I know."
Zhao Tian stood up and walked to the door.
"Lin Luo. Whether you believe it or not, I'm not your enemy."
"I know."
"Then why won't you—"
"I just don't want to make friends," Lin Luo said. "Making friends is too much trouble."
Zhao Tian was silent for a long moment.
"Suit yourself."
He left.
Lin Luo opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
Making friends was too much trouble.
But it seemed he'd made a few already.
He pulled out his phone and looked at the chibi figure on the screen. It sat quietly in meditation, the progress bar above its head inching forward.
[Idle Cultivation in progress… Time until breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage, Layer 8: 17 hours 45 minutes.]
Lin Luo turned off his phone and closed his eyes.
A faint smile on his lips, he fell asleep.
---
(End of Chapter 6)
Current Status
Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 7
Auto-Cultivation: In Progress (Time until Breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage 8: 17h 45m)
Nine Revolutions Profound Art: First Revolution (Mastered); Second Revolution requires Foundation Establishment to unlock
Attack: 110 (+50 Black Iron Axe)
Defense: 85
HP: 210/720 (Regenerating naturally)
Spirit Stones: 750
Disguise Talisman: Active (Displayed Stage: Qi Refining Stage 1)
Possessions: Spirit Recovery Pill ×3, Life-Sustaining Pill ×1, Black Iron Axe ×1, Blackwind Wolf King Inner Core (Mid-Grade) ×1
Instance Progress: Blackwind Ridge Trial Stage 2 Cleared; Stage 3 requires Foundation Establishment to unlock
Resurrection Cost: 1 Spirit Stone / use