Perhaps it was because System's gaze at this moment was too gentle and kind, and since it was not a real person, Evan Carter had originally intended to answer with the words his master had taught him. But facing such a gaze, he slowly spoke what was truly on his mind.

"Human life between heaven and earth..." he said, "is like a drop of water... in a river, either flowing downstream or upstream; this is the way of human striving."

System nodded slowly, its gaze gentle, encouraging him to continue.

"However, all rivers eventually flow into the sea; this is the constant law of nature."

System asked softly, "Fellow cultivator, is there more?"

Evan Carter answered honestly, "I don't know what else to say."

System asked again, "If the laws of nature are constant, what should people do?"

"Nothing in particular."

System asked once more, "If the laws of nature are constant, what about you?"

"Nothing in particular."

System burst out laughing.

It looked Evan Carter up and down: "The laws of nature are constant, and you do nothing in particular. Fellow cultivator, you have a pure and innate Dao heart, born apart from the crowd, destined to seek the Great Dao."

Evan Carter didn't want to speak.

He used to think he had a mental illness and should see a doctor. His master also said it was because he had an innate Dao heart and need not worry.

But his master's words couldn't be taken as gospel—just like he thought his master probably had some physical illness and should see a doctor, but the old man insisted it was his time approaching, that the Dao of Heaven was calling him. In the end, he died suddenly of a cerebral hemorrhage, an accidental death, not of old age.

System continued, "The Dao of Heaven is a cage for you, a river current—so why not break free from the Dao of Heaven?"

Evan Carter said, "Whatever."

But System seemed to take this as tacit agreement, stood up, and bowed to him: "Your heart is like iron, unwavering and unmoving. Fellow cultivator, your path is the Great Dao. The Great Dao is lonely, with neither kin nor friend—take care."

Its gaze was gentle and clear, filled with deep concern and expectation, which made Evan Carter feel a faint, bewildered sense of grievance.

He thought to himself, I really don't, I truly don't care.

Author's note:

—And then he encountered the Buddhist-style triple response of the withdrawn youth Little Evan Carter: I don't know what to say, nothing in particular, whatever.

Chapter 10: The Flow of the Vast Sea

"Fellow cultivator, you don't seem to like talking much," System said.

Evan Carter: "...Mm."

"To cultivate the Dao, one must have a calm heart. Not speaking is also good," System said with a smiling face.

Evan Carter just quietly listened to System praise him.

Other than his master, he really hadn't been praised by anyone else, so for a moment, it felt a bit strange.

He saw System close its eyes in contemplation. After a few breaths, it opened them again, sighed, and said, "Originally, the second part of the second trial should begin, letting you debate the Dao with others. But the one most suitable for debating with you in this Shangling trial is a real nitpicker, always entangling and never letting go. I'm afraid no matter what, you wouldn't be able to out-argue him."

After saying this, without waiting for Evan Carter to respond, it continued, "He only likes to argue for the sake of arguing, and since you don't like to talk, it would be quite boring. I'll make the decision to exempt you from this trial."

Evan Carter couldn't be happier and said, "Thank you very much."

He knew well his own limitations when it came to conversation; he couldn't even talk normally with people, let alone debate with a nitpicker.

This System being able to directly exempt him from a trial was quite interesting.

System stood quietly at the mountain peak, in wide robes and flowing sleeves, looking very much like an immortal, and said, "The first part of the third trial: Morning. It is now morning—fellow cultivator, please begin."

Suddenly, Evan Carter saw that he was wearing a pitch-black three-foot-long sword at his waist.

He was extremely familiar with the sword's shape and pattern—it was exactly the one he used to use.

He looked at himself and saw he was dressed in a very simple white robe, just like the attire from his old sect.

So this "Shangling Dreamscape" could reflect what was in a person's heart; the clothes he wore and the sword he used during his cultivation days would all appear in the illusion.

With a thought, the sword disappeared. He silently recited in his mind, and after a moment, it appeared again.

System smiled, "Fellow cultivator, you really like to play."

Evan Carter stopped playing and drew the sword from its sheath.

The pitch-black scabbard and the sword inside were both cold and without luster, quite heavy in texture. If it were the little fool, he would surely struggle to lift it, but since Evan Carter was in a dreamscape, it was much easier.

Since coming to this world, Evan Carter hadn't touched a sword in two months, but the feeling of holding it was still very familiar.

System said, "Fellow cultivator, please begin your swordplay."

Evan Carter raised the sword tip at an angle as a starting pose. He had already decided two months ago that in the third trial, he would perform a basic sword technique called "The Flow of the Vast Sea." This sword form had no tricky or strange moves; it was very upright and balanced.

What happened next, Evan Carter didn't want to recall.

He finished performing "The Flow of the Vast Sea" once in the morning light, and System clapped and praised, "The morning sun rises, the vast sea flows—what a fine scene."

He finished performing "The Flow of the Vast Sea" once at dusk, and System praised, "The evening sun is about to set, all rivers flow to the sea—fellow cultivator, what a fine state of mind."

He finished performing "The Flow of the Vast Sea" once in heavy rain, and System continued to praise, "The wind howls and rain lashes, yet the vast sea neither rises nor falls—fellow cultivator, what a fine heart you have."

......

Heaven knows, he was practicing the exact same sword form every time, not a single move different.