The moment he opened his eyes, Feng Zhi knew something was wrong.
"…This isn't my apartment."
Sunlight. Blue skies. Trees swaying. And a crowd of young people. Too many of them infact, all in neat rows like they were extras on a set.
He squinted.
Everyone was wearing robes. Some white, some blue. A few looked like discount wizard cosplay. Cultivation robes. Cultivation.
He looked down.
White sleeves. Loose fit. Thin fabric. A symbol stitched on the chest.
He sniffed.
"…Yup. Smells like incense and repressed emotions. This is definitely a sect."
Before he could spiral into full panic, he noticed his hands. Pale. Bigger than he remembered. More elegant. Not his.
"…Did I get transmigrated into a pretty boy?"
He was still processing when he noticed the guy in front of him. Bald, shiny, unmoving. The dude radiated monk energy. Like he was born kneeling.
'Maybe I should ask him for the exit…?' Feng Zhi reached forward hesitantly.
Right as his finger almost tapped chrome dome—
"Kneel."
A voice rolled through the courtyard like thunder that hadn't eaten in days. Not loud. Just powerful. Calm. Dangerous.
Feng Zhi's hand snapped back like he'd touched a stove.
He looked toward the front.
Twenty or so people in darker robes stood before the crowd. One man in black robes stood at the center; his beard so long it could be used as a rope to climb out of a well. Hair white and flowing. Aura ancient.
'Oh shit. That's the Sect Master, isn't it?'
The man didn't speak again.
He just stared.
The entire crowd dropped to their knees like synchronized sheep.
Pomf. Pomf. Pomf.
Feng Zhi stood there.
Frozen.
Brain buffering.
'Bro, this is real. I'm in a cultivation novel. A real-life, sword-flying, sect-joining, dragon-wrestling cultivation world.'
Then he glanced around.
'Wait. Everyone's kneeling? Even Baldy? Damn, peer pressure's wild out here.'
He took a deep breath.
'Okay. I'm blending in. Just breathe. Don't say anything stupid.'
Ding!
A blue screen popped up in his vision. He jerked slightly—no one else seemed to notice.
[System Notification]
Quest Acquired: Commit Blasphemous Nap During Ceremony
Objective: Sleep for 60 seconds during sacred rites
Reward: +3 Free Attributes, +3 Sleep Qi, +1 Evasive Slumber
'..What?'
Before he could react further, the screen updated.
[Accept Quest?]
[Yes] — [No]
Feng Zhi squinted.
'Wait. Is this a prank?'
'Still, the rewards looked tempting. Attributes? A new stat called Sleep Qi? And 1 Evasive Slumber?'
'Bro…This better not be malware'
He mentally tapped [Yes].
Ding! Quest Accepted.
Initializing Support Gear…
Poof.
Something dropped into his lap.
He looked down. A pillow. A silky, embroidered pillow with tiny lotus designs stitched into the corner.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
'Still…'
'Well, it's not like I can do anything else.'
Feng Zhi adjusted the pillow, leaned forward, and slowly lowered himself onto the ceremonial stone like he was lying down in a five-star hotel.
'Alright… nap time.'
He shut his eyes.
Directly behind Feng Zhi, a skinny outer sect disciple shifted uncomfortably on his knees.
His back was straight, hands properly clasped, expression serious. Just like the manuals said.
But then…
Pomf.
A subtle puff of air hit his face.
The boy blinked. Slowly.
Then leaned ever so slightly forward to peek.
The disciple in front of him was still, face lowered… suspiciously low.
Too low.
'No way…'
He tilted his head.
There it was. A pillow. Embroidered. Fancy. Fluffy.
The guy was face-planted onto it like it was bedtime.
And then…a snore. A real one. Light, soft, but undeniably the sound of someone deep in a good-ass dream.
'You've gotta be kidding me.'
Everyone else in the courtyard was frozen in reverence.
Robes fluttered gently. Qi pressure hummed in the air. The Sect Master hadn't moved an inch.
And this guy… brought a pillow?
The kneeling disciple inhaled slowly.
'Bro really min-maxed disrespect.'
He looked left.
He looked right.
No one else had noticed.
He went back to staring straight ahead, expression completely deadpan.
'I didn't see anything. I don't know him. If we all get lightning tribulationed, I'm pointing to someone else.'
Just then—
DING!
[Quest Complete: Nap for 60 Seconds]
[+3 Free Attribute Points]
[+3 Sleep Qi]
[Skill Gained: Evasive Slumber Lv.1]
Feng Zhi blinked awake.
He yawned like a well-rested sloth, sat up halfway, and stretched his arms with the kind of peace only a disrespectful nap could bring.
Inside, something surged.
Warmth ran through his veins. His breath felt smoother. His muscles lighter. He could feel himself getting stronger.
"…This system actually works?"
He looked down at the glowing panel before him.
Sleep Qi: 3
Attributes:
Physique 1
Spirit 1
Free Points 3
Skill: Evasive Slumber Lv.1
(Automatically dodge weak attacks while unconscious or calm. Basically, nap-fu.)
The boy nodded in approval.
"Nap-based breakthrough cultivation," he muttered. "Truly, I walk the forbidden path."
The courtyard remained as still as ever, a thousand disciples locked in devout silence, heads bowed to the ground. No one had seen anything. Good.
He casually reached beneath his chin, grasped the silk pillow, and slipped it up his sleeve with expert grace.
Like a man concealing a murder weapon.
Just as the last corner of embroidered fluff vanished into his robe—
The Sect Master's voice boomed again. Calm, resonant, and absolute.
"Stand."
A single command.
Everyone moved at once.
Robes rustled. Knees lifted. A collective motion of reverence and discipline.
Feng Zhi rose with them, blending in like a seasoned outer sect disciple.
No guilt. No hesitation. Just quiet composure and the faintest upward curve at the corner of his lips.
Behind him, the skinny white-robed disciple — the one who'd been kneeling directly behind him — was sweating bullets.
'I knew I saw that guy napping. No one believes me, but I know what I saw. That was a pillow. A damn pillow. Who brings a pillow to a tribute ceremony!?'
The disciple's eyes twitched. His mouth opened slightly. But he said nothing.
Not because of fear.
But because he had no idea how to even begin explaining what he'd just witnessed.
Feng Zhi, meanwhile, stood tall and serene, gazing forward like a man of profound insight.
Inside, he was celebrating.
One quest down. A few stats gained. Still breathing. Didn't get struck by lightning. Solid start.