The Lazy Sovereign

Xu Tian leaned on the broom handle, sweating under the midday sun. The villagers had left him to clean up alone, muttering about how the "mighty cultivator" should handle his own messes.

"This is ridiculous," Xu Tian grumbled, sweeping up charred wood and ash. "I save the village, and this is how I'm treated?"

The Heavenly Seal on his palm shimmered faintly. "Task progress: 43% complete. Deadline approaching."

"I heard you the first time!" Xu Tian snapped, tossing a broken barrel into a pile. "What happens if I don't finish? Stomach cramps? Please, I've had Auntie Wu's dumplings. I'm immune."

The seal's voice was unmoved. "Penalty for failure: Persistent stomach cramps. Duration: One week."

Xu Tian winced. "Alright, fine! You win."

As Xu Tian swept the last of the debris into a pile, he noticed a figure approaching from the forest. It was an elderly man dressed in tattered robes, leaning heavily on a cane. His long, wispy beard swayed in the breeze, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Ah, young man!" the elder called, hobbling closer. "Are you the one who scared off those rogues?"

Xu Tian straightened, puffing out his chest. "That's right. Who's asking?"

The elder chuckled. "Impressive! Most impressive. You must be a rising star in the cultivation world."

Xu Tian waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, you know, just doing my part."

The elder leaned in, lowering his voice. "Then you won't mind helping an old man with a small problem, will you?"

Before Xu Tian could refuse, the elder continued, "You see, I've been searching for a rare herb in the mountains. The Snow Vein Orchid. It blooms only once every decade, and this is the last day of its cycle. If I miss it…"

He sighed dramatically, clutching his chest. "It could mean the end of my cultivation path."

Xu Tian narrowed his eyes. "And why should I help you? What's in it for me?"

The elder's eyes gleamed. "I happen to have a treasure—a Spirit Refining Pill. It's a rare and valuable item that can boost one's cultivation immensely."

Xu Tian's interest piqued. He'd heard of Spirit Refining Pills before. They were worth a fortune and could save months, even years, of effort.

"Alright," Xu Tian said reluctantly. "But if this is some kind of trap, don't blame me if I'm not nice about it."

The elder led Xu Tian into the mountains, rambling about the orchid's unique properties and the dangers of the journey.

"Of course," he added, "there's always the chance we'll encounter fierce beasts or rival treasure hunters."

Xu Tian groaned. "Why does everything involving cultivators have to be so complicated? Can't we just pick flowers like normal people?"

The elder laughed. "Ah, young one, the cultivation world is anything but normal."

After an hour of climbing, they reached a narrow pass guarded by a massive, snarling beast. The creature had the body of a tiger, the head of a dragon, and eyes that glowed with an eerie green light.

"Let me guess," Xu Tian said, eyeing the beast. "That thing is standing between us and the orchid."

The elder nodded, his face pale. "Indeed. That's the Guardian of the Snow Vein Orchid. A Tier 2 beast, no less."

Xu Tian turned to leave. "Well, it's been fun. Good luck with your flower hunt!"

"Wait!" the elder cried, grabbing Xu Tian's sleeve. "You're a cultivator, aren't you? Surely you can handle this!"

Xu Tian hesitated, glancing at the beast. Then the Heavenly Seal glowed on his palm.

"New Task: Assist the elder in retrieving the Snow Vein Orchid. Deadline: Two hours. Penalty for failure: Severe headache."

Xu Tian groaned. "Of course. Fine. But you owe me big time, old man."

As Xu Tian prepared to face the Guardian, the elder muttered something under his breath. A faint smile crossed his lips, but Xu Tian didn't notice.

"Let's see if this so-called Sovereign lives up to his reputation," the elder whispered.