[Faced with your little pet’s clueless questioning, you really want to snap off a vine branch and, with the force of paternal love as firm as a mountain, teach them what it means when adults are talking and children should stay quiet.]
[But then you remember—you’re not only their dad now, you’re also their master. It wouldn’t do to damage your image by unjustly scolding a disciple.]
[After thinking it over, you decide to go with a more roundabout explanation.]
[First, you weren’t actually knocked out by the drug. It was merely your illusion technique—a tactic to infiltrate the demonic cultivators’ ranks.]
[Second, you had already been tracking these demonic cultivators for a while. If Su Xiaohei and the others hadn’t interfered, you would’ve dealt with them more swiftly and thoroughly. That Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn’t have gotten away.]
[Thanks to your dual identity as both master and parent, your words hold tremendous authority in your little pet’s heart. They believe you completely.]
[Still, deep down, you remain bitter about being knocked out by a mere bottle of knockout powder, despite being a Foundation Establishment cultivator.]
***
“So tell me—how could a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator like me get taken down by some drug?”
In the bedroom, Su Bai held his phone and stroked his smooth chin, his heart full of confusion.
Suddenly, as if something clicked, he quickly opened the character card slot in the simulator.
[Named and Important Supporting Character Halo]
[You’re not a background extra, nor a disposable side character. You’re a named, important supporting character! Be happy—so long as you don’t run into the protagonist, you are the protagonist! Things like parental sacrifices, party wipes, or conveniently timed plot events? All of it! Of course, during certain special moments, this halo may also come with some minor side effects.]
‘Supporting character halo? Minor side effects?’
Connecting the dots with how he had been knocked out by that drug…
Su Bai’s mouth twitched.
He could now say with near certainty that being taken down like that—despite his full Foundation Establishment cultivation—was absolutely due to this so-called halo.
‘But… this halo seems like it came from a female-targeted story, doesn’t it?!’
Just like in those xianxia romance dramas—no matter how powerful the heroine is, one bottle of knockout powder is enough to incapacitate her, all so the male lead can swoop in and save the day.
Su Bai felt a herd of galloping grass mud horses stampeding through his heart.
[You’ve successfully figured out the true effect of the supporting character halo. In response, you fall silent for a moment. Then, before your little pet can say anything else, you send them out of the room and begin meditating.]
***
[The next morning, you bid farewell to Su Xiaohei and the rest. When your little pet looks at you with reluctance and hesitation, you simply flick your sleeve and walk away without a second glance.]
[Upon returning to the sect, the usually quiet Qingyang Peak is unexpectedly bustling. Elders—both those you’re close to and those you’re not, even those from rival factions—are all here bearing gifts to congratulate you on reaching peak Foundation Establishment and being on the verge of forming your Golden Core.]
[You feel no emotion about it. In fact, you expected it.]
[In this world, DaoNet functions like the internet—information and intel spread fast and unhindered. Anywhere DaoNet reaches, no news can stay hidden.]
[The elders are offering gifts to curry favor. This ties into your understanding of the faction dynamics within the Three Mountains Sect. Wherever there are people, there is strife—this is just as true here as anywhere else.]
[The sect is divided into two major factions: the Elders’ faction and the Sect Master’s faction. The power struggle between them is ongoing, though for most of the time, the Sect Master’s side holds the upper hand—thanks to one reason: a Golden Core cultivator.]
[But that has now changed. The sect’s Golden Core elder is nearing the end of his lifespan, and with that, the power dynamics have shifted. The balance has tipped.]
[In response to the two sects trying to win you over, your attitude was: “I’ll accept all the gifts, but as for siding with anyone—don’t even think about it. I’m just rebellious like that!”]
[Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.]
[After sending away another batch of Foundation Establishment elders bearing gifts, you didn’t notice a young man approaching the mountain peak from halfway down the slope.]
***
Inside the cave residence.
Su Bai was busy sorting through his recent acquisitions.
One by one, he laid out the cultivation manuals he had received: Nine Star Tyrant Body Technique, Cloudwater Eighteen Strikes, Light Body Carefree Skill—each one placed carefully on the table.
These were all high-grade techniques gifted by various elders within the sect who were trying to win over Su Bai, a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Each was of immense value.
In the past, Su Bai wouldn’t have even dared to dream of possessing such things.
‘The reason?’ He had no spirit stones.
Why had he been dubbed the most reclusive and unambitious elder in the sect? Partly because he held no authority and disliked conflict. But mostly because he never profited off the sect like others did, living year after year on a fixed, meager salary.
As a result, his offensive techniques amounted to nothing more than a single Falling Star Sword Art.
He had nothing else worth showing.
***
“Master! Mom! I’m back!!”
Just then, the cave door burst open.
Su Bai looked up to see a tall, handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows and bright starry eyes running in.
The boy looked excited and radiant, but the moment he stepped into the cave and met Su Bai’s calm, indifferent gaze, his pace subconsciously slowed.
Then, as if remembering something, he bowed respectfully.
“Disciple Su Xiaohei greets Master.”
Seeing his little pet so formal and polite, Su Bai couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Xiaohei was no longer as clingy as he had been when he was little.
In the past, he would always beg for hugs and to be lifted high into the air.
Still, to maintain his image as a dignified master, Su Bai gave a composed nod and responded coolly.
“What is it?”
“Disciple has something to offer Master.”
As he spoke, Su Xiaohei removed a storage pouch from his waist and handed it to Su Bai.
Su Bai opened the pouch and peeked inside.
Inside lay a palm-sized water jade, etched with countless fine runes that glowed faintly with a soft blue light.
“This is…”
Seeing Su Bai’s confusion, Su Xiaohei quickly explained, “This is a legacy we discovered while exploring an ancient cultivator’s cave. I was with Senior Brother Bai and the others. At first, we thought it was a Foundation Establishment-level site, but later I realized that it was merely a disguise. The cultivator who left it behind had already perished long ago—he was actually a Core Formation expert.”
“The item in your hand is a Core Formation legacy!”
“I present it to you, Master, with the hope that you will soon reach Core Formation and step into true longevity!”
After speaking, Su Xiaohei gave Su Bai another respectful bow.
Su Bai, however, didn’t feel a surge of excitement or gratitude.
Instead, a single thought kept echoing in his mind.
‘My little pet has grown up… and turned into a Pal who produces resources!!’
“Lit—” The word pet almost slipped out but was quickly swallowed back.
For the sake of maintaining his image, Su Bai simply nodded slightly, half-pleased.
“Your filial devotion is acknowledged. Now, tell me—what resources do you need for your future cultivation? I will make sure you have them all.”
“I want Mom’s peach blossom stew,” Su Xiaohei replied, head tilted, eyes full of hope. In that moment, Su Bai’s identity as ‘Mom’ clearly outweighed that of ‘Master’ in his eyes.
Hearing this, Su Bai was stunned.
“That’s all?”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t you want to study the Core Formation legacy together?”
“Why would I? You go ahead and become Core Formation first, then you can teach me. That way, the senior Core Formation leads the junior.”
“Senior leads junior?”
At those words, Su Bai’s expression turned strange, as if something rather inappropriate had crossed his mind.