I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a truck. Again.

The morning sun was barely peeking through my window as I lay there, staring at the ceiling of my small disciple quarters. My entire body ached from the month of intense cultivation, but my mind was surprisingly clear. Maybe too clear, because it kept circling back to something I'd been trying not to think about since arriving in this world.

"Azure, I think I might be a protagonist."

There was a moment of silence before Azure's presence stirred in my mind. "An interesting conclusion to reach first thing in the morning…"

"I've been trying to avoid thinking about it, honestly. I didn't want to get my hopes up." I shifted on my bed, wincing as my sore muscles protested. "You know how these stories go. Sometimes people reincarnate as side characters and end up getting killed off for dramatic effect. Or worse, they're the young master antagonist whose only purpose is to be a stepping stone for the real protagonist."

"And you're certain you're not one of those?"

"Well, not completely certain. But I'd say I'm about ninety percent sure at this point." I started counting off on my fingers. "First, I'm reincarnated from another world - classic isekai protagonist setup. Second, I have what's basically a LitRPG system showing me stats and levels. Third, I have you - a mysterious spiritual helper.”

"I prefer 'appropriately enigmatic guide,' but continue."

"Fourth, I have this strange ability that lets me walk between worlds, and when I die there, I just pop back here instead of actually dying. And finally..." I gestured at my dantian, where the newly transformed Genesis Seed sat. "Yesterday I completed the first stage of a technique that's supposedly beyond Heaven-rank, something that's been impossible to cultivate for generations."

"Hmm, you do seem to be accumulating quite a few protagonist traits.”

"At this rate, we'll probably discover the World Tree Sutra creator was my past life ancestor or something equally ridiculous." I covered my face with my hands. "I refuse to think about it anymore. I'm just going to lay here and pretend I'm not a walking cultivation novel cliché."

"As you wish, Master. Though I should point out that denial of one's protagonist status is also a common trope."

"...I hate that you're right about that."

I lay there for a while longer until my stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl. Right. For the past month, I'd been surviving on nothing but cultivation energy bars - specially designed supplements for lower realm cultivators who still needed mortal nutrition. They contained everything the body needed to survive, but after a month of the bland, compressed squares, I was desperately craving real food.

The Celestial Repast Hall – because of course a cultivation sect couldn't just call it a cafeteria – was on the other side of the Outer Disciple quarters, which meant a bit of a walk.

"While we head there," Azure chimed in as I made my way down the path, "I've been analyzing the other disciples' cultivation bases. Would you like to see the data?"

"Hit me with it," I said, curious about how I measured up after the breakthrough. Numbers and calculations were always a good distraction from an empty stomach.

"Most interesting," Azure began, pulling up what looked like a spiritual spreadsheet in my mind's eye. "Among Qi Condensation disciples, there's quite a range in how they distribute their essences. The majority favor spiritual essence over physical, with soul essence consistently being the lowest."

He showed me a breakdown of the averages:

Qi Condensation

Stage 1:

* Spiritual: 100-150

* Physical: 80-120

* Soul: 60-90

Stage 2:

* Spiritual: 200-250

* Physical: 150-200

* Soul: 100-150

Stage 3 (where most of my peers were now):

* Spiritual: 300-350

* Physical: 250-300

* Soul: 150-200

Stage 4:

* Spiritual: 400-450

* Physical: 350-400

* Soul: 200-250

"And with your current stats," Azure continued, "especially factoring in the Genesis Seed's boost... you could theoretically hold your own against a Stage 4 cultivator. Not quite the 'defeating enemies three realms above' protagonist level, but..."

"But it's a start," I finished, allowing myself a small smile. I wasn't aiming to be overpowered yet – that kind of attention this early usually led to a quick end. But being able to defend myself against higher-stage cultivators? That was just practical survival.

The morning air was nice and cool as it hit my face, it carried the scent of spiritual herbs from the nearby gardens. Other disciples were starting their day too, heading to various training grounds or study halls. And where there were disciples, there was gossip.

"...haven't seen him in a month..."

"...the servants' quarters, but he never showed..."

I slowed my pace slightly, catching fragments of conversation from a group ahead.

"My senior sister in the Archive says Wu Kangming hasn't been seen since his demotion," one disciple was saying. "Some say he couldn't take the shame and..."

"Don't spread rumors," another cut in. "He's probably just gone into seclusion. You would too, if your fiancée—"

"Ex-fiancée," someone corrected quickly.

"Right, ex-fiancée. If she suddenly started showing interest in another disciple right after your cultivation was crippled..."

I kept walking, not wanting to get pulled into that particular drama. Though I couldn't help wondering if this was setting up for the classic 'presumed dead young master returns with mysterious power-up' plot. It would fit the usual pattern – humiliation, disappearance, dramatic return...

Well, whatever Wu Kangming was planning, I wanted no part of it.

"Ke Yin!"

I looked up to see Lin Mei waving from near the Celestial Repast Hall's entrance. She was still wearing her herb garden work robes, dirt stains and all, looking exactly like someone who prioritized practical cultivation over appearances.

"Breakthrough buddy!" She grinned as I approached, then punched my shoulder. Hard. "Also, what's this I hear from Wei Lin about you picking the World Tree Sutra? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I rubbed my shoulder, wondering if she'd been practicing some sort of herb-enhanced strength technique. "It felt right," I said with my best mysterious cultivator expression. "Sometimes on the path of cultivation, one must follow the heart's calling, letting wisdom flow like a river through—"

"Oh stop it," she laughed. "You sound just like Senior Sister Liu with all that profound nonsense."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You would." She shook her head, but her expression turned more serious. "Really though, what made you choose something so risky? Wei Lin said Elder Chang practically begged you not to try it."

I shrugged, careful to keep my expression neutral. "Just felt an affinity for it. What about you? Which method did you pick?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"The Flowing River Method," she said, brightening. "Elder Chang said it would complement my work with spiritual herbs – something about the water circulation principles helping with essence extraction." She demonstrated a flowing hand movement that carried a hint of liquid grace. "Still getting used to the whole 'inner world full of water' thing though. Feels like I'm cultivating in a spiritual fish tank sometimes."

"It suits you," I said honestly. Lin Mei had always been practical about cultivation, focusing on steady progress over flashy techniques. A method based on natural water flow seemed perfect for her style.

Our conversation was interrupted by a commotion from a nearby group of disciples. They were clustered around someone who seemed to be sharing particularly interesting news.

"...rejected the Azure World Sutra!" the disciple was saying, voice pitched with excitement. "Can you believe it? The only Heaven-rank technique in the sect's collection, and he turned it down!"

"Song Xiang did?" someone asked. "But why would he..."

"Maybe the Sect Master's personal teachings are even better," another suggested. "I mean, he is a Legacy Disciple now..."

I tuned out the rest, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Of course Song Xiang would reject a mere Heaven-rank technique. That was classic young master protagonist behavior – turning down what others would kill for because you already had something better. He probably had some ancient inheritance or secret manual waiting in the wings.

"You're making that face again," Lin Mei observed.

"What face?"

"That 'I know something but I'm not saying anything' face. The one you get when you're overthinking things."

I smoothed my expression. "Just thinking about cultivation politics. Speaking of which, we should probably get food before the morning rush hits."

The Celestial Repast Hall lived up to its grandiose name, at least architecturally. Soaring columns rose to a ceiling traced with formation arrays that kept the temperature perfect and the air fresh.

The food itself was more practical – hearty congee, steamed buns, various side dishes designed to support cultivation. But after a month of energy bars, it might as well have been a celestial banquet.

We found a quiet corner table, away from the main crowd. Lin Mei had already finished her breakfast but joined me with a cup of spiritual tea. The aromatic steam carried traces of herb-enhanced qi – probably her own blend, knowing her attention to detail with plants.

"So," she said once I'd taken the edge off my hunger, "what's it really like? The World Tree method?"

I considered how to answer without revealing too much. "Different," I said finally. "Most methods teach you to build your inner world piece by piece, right? This one... it's more like planting a seed and letting it grow naturally."

"That doesn't sound too bad."

"The hard part is getting the seed to sprout without exploding."

She winced. "Yeah, that would be a problem. But you managed it?"

I nodded, taking another bite of congee to avoid elaborating. Lin Mei was trustworthy, but the fewer people who knew the details of my cultivation, the better. In a world of cultivation prodigies and hidden young masters, sometimes the safest path was to just blend in with the crowd.

"You're doing it again," Lin Mei said.

"Doing what?"

"Analyzing everything like you're reading a cultivation manual. You know, not everything has to be about training and techniques."

I raised an eyebrow. "Says the person who spends her free time experimenting with herb combinations?"

"That's different! I actually enjoy working with plants. You..." She paused, searching for the right words. "Sometimes it feels like you're always preparing for the worst, like you just know something is going to go wrong."

"Speaking of preparing for the worst," I said, changing the subject, "how's the herb garden rotation going? Still dealing with that batch of particularly aggressive spirit herbs?"

Lin Mei's eyes lit up, and she launched into an enthusiastic explanation of her latest gardening adventures. I listened, letting her enthusiasm wash away some of my heavier thoughts. This was nice – just sitting with a friend, eating real food, not worrying about cultivation politics or protagonist plots...

Lin Mei suddenly perked up, waving at someone behind me. "Wei Lin! Over here!"

"His spiritual essence is impressive," Azure noted as Wei Lin approached our table. "Around 450 units. He must have got his hands on an Earth-rank cultivation method."

Wei Lin looked me up and down as he joined us, a grin on his face. "Well, well. I'm surprised you're still in one piece. I take it you succeeded?"

I nodded, swallowing a mouthful of congee. "It was difficult, but I got lucky."

"Sure," Wei Lin drawled, "I'm sure that's all it was." His tone suggested he didn't believe in luck any more than he believed in fair prices.

"What about you?" I asked, deflecting. "Which cultivation method did your father's connections provide?"

"The Merchant's Path," Wei Lin said, settling into what I recognized as his sales pitch posture. "It's an Earth-rank method that shapes the inner world into a spiritual marketplace. Each shop represents a different aspect of cultivation, and the flow of spiritual energy mimics trade routes."

I nearly choked on my congee. "Wait, there's actually a cultivation method that lets you build a marketplace in your inner world? I was joking when I said—" I stopped myself, shaking my head. I should know better by now. Of course there would be a cultivation method like this. There was probably one for every possible thing you could imagine, and quite a few things you couldn't.

Wei Lin's grin widened at my reaction. "The best part is how it naturally enhances resource absorption and energy conversion rates. Perfect for someone who understands the true value of efficient cultivation."

"That..." I paused, still processing the fact that my joke had somehow been actual cultivation reality. "That actually sounds exactly right for you."

"Of course it does! Father's connections never disappoint." He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Speaking of which, I might be able to get you a copy for a very reasonable—"

"Wei Lin," Lin Mei interrupted, "he already has a cultivation method. One that hasn't killed him yet, surprisingly."

"Ah, but backup methods are always good to have! You never know when—"

"How's your inner marketplace developing?" I asked quickly, before he could launch into a full sales pitch.

Wei Lin brightened. "Wonderfully! I've already established the main trading district and started work on the auction house. Though I did have a small issue with some rebellious spirit stones trying to establish their own black market..."

We spent the next hour trading cultivation stories and sect gossip, Wei Lin described how his first attempt at establishing a spirit stone exchange nearly destabilized his entire inner world ("The conversion rates were all wrong!"), whilst Lin Mei talked about her latest experiments with aquatic spirit herbs.

As for me, I mostly listened, offering the occasional comment while being careful not to reveal too much about my own cultivation.

Eventually, I scraped the last bit of congee from my bowl and stood up. "I should head out. Need to get some practice in."

"Watch your back for Wu Lihua," Wei Lin warned. "She's been snooping around more than usual lately."

"I'll do my best, but she'll find me soon enough,” I sighed. “She always does."