The array's code was more complex than expected.

  Li Ming stared at those floating characters, eyes stinging like he'd been staring at a screen for hours without blinking. Unlike technique code with its linear flow, this was a web structure—dozens of functions calling each other, recursion, callbacks, event listeners, asynchronous processing...

  "Is this a fucking distributed system?"

  He'd written backend code in his past life. He knew how hard these were to handle. One wrong modification and the whole system crashed, and when it crashed you didn't know where the problem was—just line-by-line log checking until dawn.

  But he had no time for slow study.

  Chen Feng wanted an answer by midnight tonight. Old Zhou wanted an answer in three days. Cleaners still watched from the shadows—that gaze never vanished, faint but constant, like a tracker glued to his back.

  "Break this array first."

  Li Ming drew a deep breath, concentrating, searching for the array's "entry point." Every system had an entry, like every program had a main function. Find the entry, follow the thread, locate the bug.

  A quarter hour passed.

  Two quarter hours passed.

  Sweat covered Li Ming's forehead, sliding down his cheeks, dripping to the floor. His eyes burned dry, but he dared not blink, afraid of missing something. His mind filled with code like writing complex algorithms, every if-else requiring careful thought.

  Finally, he found it—in the northwest corner where floor met wall, an inconspicuous rune. The array's "main function," its core control logic.

  He reached out. The moment his fingertip touched the rune, a prompt popped up in code view, red and flashing:

  [Warning] Sect protective array detected

  [Insufficient permissions] Direct modification unavailable

  [Recommendation] Seek logic vulnerabilities for indirect bypass

  "Logic vulnerabilities..."

  Li Ming smiled, corner of his mouth twitching.

  This he knew. In his coding days, finding logic vulnerabilities was his specialty. No matter how perfect the client's requirements document, oversights always existed—assumptions like "users wouldn't do this" were always a programmer's worst enemy.

  He began analyzing the array's logic.

  The array's core function was "suppress spiritual energy," triggered by "detecting breakthrough signs." So what if... he didn't trigger that condition?

  Or, made it detect false breakthrough signs?

  Li Ming had an idea.

  He closed his eyes, beginning to circulate the *Foundation Qi Circulation Technique*. But not truly circulating—simulating? Like writing unit tests, mocking a fake data source. Making the function think it ran, when actually it hadn't.

  Spiritual power flowed slowly through his meridians, but each time breakthrough approached, he deliberately "leaked" a bit. Like inflating a balloon—pump some, release some, never letting it pop, but air accumulating.

  The room's array seemed confused.

  In code view, the array's status changed from "ACTIVE" to "IDLE," that blue-green glow dimming.

  "It works."

  Li Ming continued. He simulated cultivation while secretly accumulating spiritual power. Each leaked bit didn't truly dissipate, but... stored? Stored where?

  He didn't know. But he could feel a "cache zone" in his body, spiritual power piling up there, more and more, like a bottomless bucket that never filled.

  "Does this count as... bug exploitation?"

  Li Ming laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the empty room.

  If the cultivation world had "game administrators," his current behavior would count as cheating, right? But so what? They'd planted an array in his room first—wasn't that them cheating first?

  An hour later.

  Li Ming opened his eyes, exhaling a long turbid breath, feeling much lighter, like shedding a heavy burden.

  The system interface appeared before him:

  [Cultivation] Mortal 87/100

  [Status] Disguise active (Cleaner detection difficulty +50%)

  [Restriction] 30% system function disabled

  "Thirteen points short."

  At his previous speed, fixing one or two more technique bugs would break through to Qi Refinement Layer One. But the problem was... he only had the *Foundation Qi Circulation Technique*. Other techniques were in the library.

  "The library."

  Li Ming remembered Chen Feng's threat.

  Midnight tonight, library entrance. Chen Feng wanted his answer—whether he'd help "bring things" or not. If he refused, Chen Feng might report last night's back mountain trip to Law Enforcement Hall. Trespassing forbidden zones—that wasn't a light charge. Confinement at best, expulsion at worst.

  But if he agreed...

  Then he'd be on Chen Feng's boat. Whatever Chen Feng asked him to do later, he'd have to do, trapped with no escape.

  "Damn."

  Li Ming cursed, standing up, dusting off his robes.

  Either way, he had to visit the library first. Chen Feng wanted him to "bring things"—he had to know what things first, right? Couldn't agree without seeing the goods?

  He changed into clean disciple robes, hiding the two notes and booklet in his robes—one in the collar lining, one at his waist, the booklet against his skin. Then he pushed open the door and stepped out.

  As soon as he reached the outer sect plaza, he heard bells.

  Dong—dong—dong—

  Three tolls, long and low, echoing across the outer sect district, making the air tremble slightly.

  "Sect test?"

  Li Ming froze. The original's memories held Qingyun Sect's monthly outer disciple tests—testing... cultivation realm. All outer disciples had to participate. Those who passed continued in the sect. Those who failed... were eliminated, sent back to their hometowns.

  "What day is it?"

  He grabbed a passing disciple.

  "The ninth day of the third month." The disciple looked at him strangely, like he was an idiot. "You didn't forget test day, did you? Today's a big deal!"

  Ninth day of the third month.

  Li Ming remembered. The original feared this day most, because every test he ranked last, mocked by everyone. After each test, he'd hide in his room crying, feeling useless, sorry to his parents, sorry to himself.

  "Where's the test?"

  "Training grounds." The disciple pointed in the distance, tone urgent. "Hurry, latecomers lose spirit stones. Miss the test, one month's salary gone!"

  Li Ming looked up, seeing a massive stone platform in the distance, surrounded by disciples. The platform was paved with blue stone, surface smooth, covered in runes. Several flags stood around the training grounds, fluttering in the wind, bearing "Qingyun Sect."

  "Damn."

  He cursed again.

  The test was early—the original's memories placed tests at month-end, today was only the ninth. Chen Feng's appointment was midnight tonight. These two times... conflicted.

  "Fine, test first. If I don't go, immediate expulsion, then no more Chen Feng or Old Zhou."

  Li Ming walked toward the training grounds, heart somewhat nervous.

  He'd never experienced a sect test before. Didn't know the process, didn't know what they'd test, didn't know if he'd be exposed. Though disguised, the disguise only fooled Cleaners—the crystal detected truth. If the crystal detected his cultivation at 87/100, he'd be exposed immediately.

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

  Disciples he passed looked at him strangely.

  Some mocking, some gloating, some... sympathetic?

  "Isn't that Li Ming?"

  "The mixed five-element roots one?"

  "He dares come to the test? If I were him, I'd find a crack in the ground to crawl into."

  "Heard he went to the back mountain last night, is he crazy? Back mountain's forbidden!"

  "Shh, quiet, Law Enforcement Hall is investigating. Don't bring trouble on yourself."

  Li Ming pretended not to hear, head down, walking forward, trying to stay inconspicuous. His hand rested at his waist, gripping the wooden sword, the rough hilt bringing slight comfort.

  He stopped at the training grounds edge, not daring to approach too closely.

  In the center stood several inner disciples, presumably proctors. Chen Feng was among them, wearing inner disciple robes—white fabric far superior to the outer sect's gray, cuffs embroidered with Qingyun Sect's emblem. Arms crossed, expression bland, eyes scanning the disciples below like viewing lambs for slaughter.

  Seeing Li Ming, Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, as if saying "you actually dared come," eyes carrying something... amusement? Or challenge?

  Li Ming avoided his gaze, pretending not to see.

  "Outer disciples, line up!"

  An inner disciple shouted, voice loud, making ears buzz.

  Disciples began forming several lines, walking up to the stone platform in order. A crystal sat on the platform, semi-transparent, emitting faint blue light. Hand placement revealed cultivation realm—Qingyun Sect's standard test procedure, simple and direct.

  "Zhang San, Qi Refinement Layer One, pass."

  "Li Si, Qi Refinement Layer Two, good."

  "Wang Wu, Qi Refinement Layer One, pass."

  ...

  The test was quick, less than a breath per person. Passing disciples left excited, looking back to show off to those behind. Failing ones hung their heads, some crying immediately.

  Li Ming stood mid-line, watching those before him go up one by one. His heart raced—thump thump thump—like it would burst from his chest.

  "Zhao Kun, Qi Refinement Layer Three, excellent."

  Zhao Kun descended the platform, passing Li Ming with a meaningful glance, smile on his lips, waiting to see the joke.

  "Next, Li Ming."

  Li Ming drew a deep breath, mounting the platform.

  The crystal sat before him, semi-transparent, emitting faint blue light. He placed his hand on it, closed his eyes, circulating spiritual power.

  But the moment spiritual power touched the crystal, it... flickered?

  Like bad connection? Light flashing on and off, like a malfunctioning bulb.

  The proctoring inner disciple frowned: "Again."

  Li Ming tried again.

  The crystal flickered again, worse this time, light flashing on and off—sometimes blinding blue, sometimes nearly dark, like it might extinguish any moment.

  "What's happening?"

  "Crystal broken?"

  "Impossible, it was fine yesterday, tested hundreds without issue."

  "This crystal is a sect treasure, how could it break randomly?"

  Disciples began murmuring, voices growing louder.

  Chen Feng approached, staring at the crystal, then at Li Ming. His eyes were complex—surprise, suspicion, and... something else.

  "You..." Chen Feng paused. "What did you do to the crystal?"

  "I did nothing." Li Ming said, tone calm. "Just placed my hand on it."

  "Then why..."

  Chen Feng didn't finish. The crystal suddenly burst with intense light—blue-white, blinding.

  Then characters appeared on the crystal's surface, golden, glittering in sunlight:

  [Cultivation] Qi Refinement Layer One

  [Spirit Roots] Mixed Five-Element

  [Status] Anomaly

  "Qi Refinement Layer One?"

  "Impossible? He couldn't break through for three months, then suddenly..."

  "Cheated? Definitely cheated!"

  "But the crystal shows anomaly... if he cheated, why anomaly?"

  "Two possibilities—either he really broke through, or the crystal really broke."

  Disciples exploded, voices rising and falling like boiling water.

  Chen Feng stared at Li Ming, eyes complex: "You... when did you break through?"

  "Last night." Li Ming said, voice not loud, but everyone heard.

  "Last night?" Chen Feng laughed, mockery in the sound. "So you went to the back mountain last night to break through?"

  "No."

  "Then why did you go?"

  "Got lost."

  "Lost?" Chen Feng shook his head. "Li Ming, Li Ming, you really think I'm that gullible? Back mountain is so big, you got lost?"

  "Believe what you want."

  Li Ming's tone was flat, no trace of panic. He knew panic would only suggest guilt, and guilt meant something to hide.

  Chen Feng was silent several seconds, eyes lingering on Li Ming's face, then turned to other proctoring disciples: "Record it. Li Ming, Qi Refinement Layer One, pass."

  "Senior Brother Chen, the crystal shows anomaly..." one proctor hesitated. "Should we retest?"

  "I said pass, so pass." Chen Feng interrupted, voice cold. "Objections?"

  The disciple immediately shut up, head down, not daring to speak.

  Li Ming descended the platform, heart still racing. He didn't know why Chen Feng helped him—logically, Chen Feng should find fault, use it to threaten him, not help him pass.

  Unless...

  Chen Feng had his own purposes. Chen Feng helped him because he was still useful, like Old Zhou said.

  "Stop thinking."

  A voice came from behind, soft, like speaking in his ear.

  Li Ming turned. It was Old Zhou.

  The old man had somehow blended into the crowd, wearing outer disciple robes—gray and washed pale, no different from surrounding disciples. But no one noticed him, like he was invisible.

  "How did you..."

  "Don't talk." Old Zhou squeezed beside him, voice low. "Come with me. Not safe here."

  "Where?"

  "Leave." Old Zhou said. "That crystal anomaly already attracted attention. Stay longer, you'll be marked."

  "By whom?"

  "Cleaners." Old Zhou said. "And... those in the sect who don't want truth known."

  Li Ming hesitated, then followed Old Zhou. He still wasn't sure who to trust, but Old Zhou had saved him once, and during the test, Old Zhou told him to leave.

  They passed through the crowd, exiting through the training grounds side door to a secluded path. Few people here, dense woods on both sides, birdsong rising and falling.

  "What happened just now?" Li Ming asked. "Why did the crystal show anomaly?"

  "Because you exploited a bug." Old Zhou said. "This world's 'system' and our systems aren't compatible. After disguise activation, your cultivation data is fake, but the crystal detects truth. The conflict caused anomaly. Like... using Windows file system to read a Mac hard drive—errors guaranteed."

  "Then why did Chen Feng help me?"

  "Chen Feng?" Old Zhou laughed, resignation in the sound. "Chen Feng has his own purposes. He helped you because you're still useful. And... he might be exploiting this anomaly too."

  "Exploiting what?"

  "Exploiting your anomaly." Old Zhou said. "Your existence itself is an anomaly. To him, anomaly is leverage."

  Li Ming fell silent.

  "What about you?" he asked Old Zhou. "Why are you helping me?"

  "Because..."

  Old Zhou paused, like remembering something, then said: "What matters now is you broke through to Qi Refinement Layer One, right?"

  Li Ming nodded.

  "What function unlocked?"

  Li Ming called up the system interface:

  [Cultivation] Qi Refinement Layer One 1/200

  [Functions] Code View, Technique Analysis, Bug Fix, Counter-Tracking

  [Status] Disguise active

  "Counter-Tracking." Li Ming said. "This is the new function."

  "Useful." Old Zhou nodded. "Can trace Cleaner locations in reverse. But remember, don't use it lightly. Once used, they know you're looking for them. Then they'll target you more."

  "Should I use it?"

  "Depends." Old Zhou said. "Now you have two choices. First, cooperate with Chen Feng, help him bring things, exchange for protection. Second, come with me, I'll teach you how to truly survive."

  "What does Chen Feng want?"

  "Second floor techniques from the library." Old Zhou said. "Outer disciples can only enter once monthly, but he can enter unlimited times. He needs you to bring them out, then... copy."

  "Copy?"

  "Techniques can be copied." Old Zhou said. "Using special jade slips, technique content can be duplicated. But this process... damages the original book."

  "So the sect limits outer disciples?"

  "Right." Old Zhou said. "Books are limited, each damaged one is lost. What Chen Feng does harms sect interests. If discovered, consequences are severe."

  Li Ming fell silent.

  Chen Feng's plan was to make him a thief? Help him steal library techniques, then copy them?

  "Then your plan?" he asked Old Zhou.

  "My plan..." Old Zhou paused, eyes drifting distant, like recalling long-ago memories. "Is finding other transmigrators, then... clearing the game together."

  "What's the condition for clearing?"

  "Don't know." Old Zhou admitted. "I searched ten years, haven't found it. But I believe it exists. There must be a way to return us to our original world."

  Li Ming looked at the old man, mixed feelings in his heart.

  One said cooperate, one said clear. Two choices, two risks, two unknowns.

  "I need time to consider." he said.

  "Fine." Old Zhou nodded. "But you don't have much time. Chen Feng waits tonight at midnight, I wait in three days. These few days in between... be careful."

  "Careful of what?"

  "Cleaners." Old Zhou said. "And... the 'eyes' in the sect."

  "Eyes?"

  "In Qingyun Sect, many things watch you." Old Zhou said. "The crystal is just one. Training grounds, library, even your room... eyes are everywhere."

  Ice ran down Li Ming's back, like cold water flowing down his spine.

  "Then what should I do now..."

  "Go back first." Old Zhou said. "Pretend nothing happened. Tonight... don't go to the library."

  "What about Chen Feng..."

  "I'll handle it for you." Old Zhou said. "But you owe me a favor. Remember, favors must be repaid."

  "Why are you helping me?"

  Old Zhou was silent several seconds, like falling into memories. Wind rustled through the trees, masking his sigh.

  "Because ten years ago, someone helped me too." Old Zhou said, voice soft. "Back then, I was like you—just transmigrated, understood nothing, knew nothing. That person saved me, taught me how to survive. Later... he died, killed by Cleaners."

  Then he turned and left, walking fast, quickly vanishing into the trees.

  Li Ming stood there, watching the old man's back disappear, mind a tangled mess.

  Old Zhou helped him because someone helped Old Zhou? That person later died, killed by Cleaners? Then everything Old Zhou did now—was it to honor that person? Or complete what that person left unfinished?

  "Damn."

  He cursed again.

  This cultivation world was more complex than he'd imagined. Every step calculated, every word carrying subtext, every person holding secrets. He wanted truth, but truth seemed farther away, like a dream forever out of reach.

  He turned back, following the path he'd come. The sun had already tilted west, orange-red light spilling on the ground, stretching his shadow long.

  As he reached his room door, he found it slightly ajar—a thin crack showing darkness within.

  He'd closed it when leaving. Every time he left, he checked the door was closed—that was the original's habit, and his.

  Li Ming pushed open the door. Everything in the room seemed normal. Bed, table, wardrobe, all in original positions, unmoved. The blankets lay as he'd left them, messy. The oil lamp sat on the table, wick still burning with small flame.

  But something... was different.

  In the air, a strange scent. Very faint, nearly undetectable, but Li Ming could sense it—someone else's smell.

  He walked to the bed, crouching, looking underneath.

  Beneath the bed lay a note.

  Different from before—the previous notes were white, ordinary paper. This note was black, like... made of some special material, cool to touch like black jade.

  Li Ming picked it up. Only one line of text, golden characters glittering in the dim room, like alive:

  "Congratulations on passing the tutorial."

  "Formal game begins now."

  "First level: Survive seven days."

  "Current surviving players: 1024"

  "Eliminated players: 873"

  Li Ming held the note, palm sweating so much the paper grew damp.

  Tutorial?

  Then everything before... was just tutorial?

  Those calculations, those dangers, those life-or-death moments—all just... tutorial?

  Then the formal game...

  He suddenly looked up, toward the window.

  Sunset faded, sky darkening. The moon had risen, white and round like a plate hanging in the sky, cold light spilling on the ground like frost.

  Midnight approached.

  Chen Feng waited.

  Old Zhou said don't go.

  But that black note...

  "Survive seven days."

  Li Ming gripped the note, nails digging into flesh, palm bleeding.

  "Then let's see."

  He blew out the oil lamp, pushed open the door, vanished into the night.

  Behind him, in the room's corner, a black bug crawled from the shadows. Finger-sized, completely black, no eyes, only a mouth. It watched Li Ming's back, then... smiled?

  That wasn't a sound bugs made—more like a person's laugh, low and eerie, piercing the silent night.