The Lazy Sovereign

Xu Tian sat cross-legged on the dirt floor of his small room, chewing on a piece of stale bread. He had barely escaped the wrath of the villagers, placating them with half-hearted promises to help rebuild their sheds "once his cultivation stabilized."

"Stabilized?" he muttered between bites. "What cultivation? The Heavenly Seal's more demanding than Auntie Wu when she's mad about her soup recipe!"

The glowing symbol on his palm flickered, the now-familiar voice echoing in his mind:

"New Task: Meditate and absorb spiritual energy for two hours. Deadline: Tomorrow. Penalty for failure: Temporary loss of cultivation ability."

Xu Tian nearly choked on his bread. "Temporary? How temporary?"

"Three days."

"Three days!" Xu Tian shouted. "Might as well paint a target on my back!"

As Xu Tian reluctantly settled into a meditative posture, the events from the mountain replayed in his mind.

"That old man," he mused, recalling the elder's sinister grin. "Who was he? And why do I get the feeling he's not done with me yet?"

The thought sent shivers down his spine, but Xu Tian forced himself to focus.

The village might have calmed for now, but trouble brewed on the horizon.

Meanwhile, high in the mountains, the elder limped into a shadowy cave, his once-pristine robes in tatters. The Guardian's claws had left deep gouges on his arm, and his face was a mask of rage.

"Xu Tian!" he spat, his voice echoing through the cavern. "That insolent brat will pay for this humiliation!"

A figure emerged from the darkness, clad in flowing black robes. His presence was cold and commanding, his gaze like ice.

"You failed to retrieve the Snow Vein Orchid?" the man asked, his tone sharp.

The elder bowed his head. "The boy… he's not what he seems. He has the Heavenly Seal."

The black-robed man's eyes narrowed. "The Heavenly Seal? Are you certain?"

The elder nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. He may be untrained, but if left unchecked…"

The man's lips curved into a chilling smile. "Then we must ensure he doesn't live long enough to unlock its true power."

Xu Tian's meditation was interrupted by a loud knock on his door.

"Xu Tian!" shouted a familiar voice. It was Auntie Wu, her tone as sharp as her cooking knives. "Open up this instant!"

Xu Tian groaned, dragging himself to his feet. He opened the door to find Auntie Wu holding a basket of vegetables and a scowl.

"You promised to help with the fields today," she said, shoving the basket into his hands. "And don't even think about running off again!"

"But Auntie Wu," Xu Tian protested, "I'm on the verge of a breakthrough!"

"Breakthrough, my foot!" she snapped. "If you don't help, you'll be on the verge of starvation!"

Xu Tian sighed, trudging after her toward the fields.

As Xu Tian worked, pulling weeds and cursing his luck, a stranger strolled into the village. He was tall and lean, with a carefree smile and an air of mischief.

"Excuse me," the stranger called, approaching Xu Tian. "I'm looking for someone named Xu Tian. Would you happen to know him?"

Xu Tian froze, the hoe slipping from his hands. "Who's asking?"

The stranger's smile widened. "Oh, just a traveler passing through. Heard some interesting rumors about a certain young cultivator with a Heavenly Seal."

Xu Tian's heart sank. "Rumors, huh? Sounds like someone's been drinking too much wine."

The stranger chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble. Quite the opposite, actually. I think we might be able to help each other."

Xu Tian raised an eyebrow. "Help each other? What's the catch?"

The stranger's eyes gleamed. "No catch. Just an opportunity you won't want to miss."

As Xu Tian debated whether to trust the stranger, a shadow passed over the village. Looking up, Xu Tian saw a massive, ominous bird circling overhead, its sharp cry echoing across the fields.

The villagers scattered in fear, shouting warnings of a beast attack.

The stranger's smile never wavered. "Looks like things are about to get interesting."

Xu Tian groaned. "Why can't I have one peaceful day?"