"I..." Ye Chen paused, his mind racing through his limited options.
Wu Tao clearly wasn't the type to accept rejection gracefully.
The threat had been delivered with the kind of cold tone one would expect from tyrants, and the spiritual pressure still pressing down on him made the power dynamic painfully clear.
If he couldn't reject the offer, then he simply had to buy himself time.
"Can I have time to think about it?"
Wu Tao's expression remained unchanged, his eyes still hard and calculating. Silence stretched between them as the professor considered the request.
Internally, Wu Tao weighed his options.
Even if Ye Chen ultimately rejected him, he couldn't actually harm the boy directly. Not without severe consequences.
Fourth Grade physiques were precious resources, and the university administration would investigate any "accidents" befalling such a talented student. The political fallout wouldn't be worth it.
But the fact that Ye Chen was asking for time rather than outright refusing meant there was still hope.
The seed of doubt had been planted. The boy was young, poor, and vulnerable. All Wu Tao needed to do was maintain pressure and wait for desperation to do the rest.
A plan crystallized in his mind. He would monitor Ye Chen closely, ensuring no other professors could poach him during this "thinking period."
Simultaneously, he would make good on his threat, quietly spreading word through his network that Ye Chen was off-limits as a cultivation partner.
Then, perhaps arrange for a few unsavory characters to "accidentally" create problems for the boy. Nothing too serious, just enough harassment to make Ye Chen understand how dangerous the cultivation world could be for someone without powerful backing.
When Ye Chen came crawling back for protection—and Wu Tao was certain he would—the terms of apprenticeship could be even more favorable to himself.
"Very well," Wu Tao said finally, his voice returning to a more cordial tone.
The oppressive aura receded slightly, though it didn't disappear entirely.
"You may have time to consider. But don't take too long, Student Ye Chen. Opportunities like this don't wait forever, and neither do I."
He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small jade slip, infusing it with a trace of his spiritual energy. The slip glowed briefly before settling into a dull green sheen.
"This contains my spiritual signature. If you decide to accept, or if you find yourself in need of... assistance, simply channel your qi into it, and I'll know."
Wu Tao's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Now, you're dismissed. I'm sure you have other orientation activities to attend to."
Ye Chen stood, accepting the jade slip with a respectful bow that masked the tension in his shoulders. "Thank you for your time, Professor Wu."
He turned and walked towards the door, forcing himself to maintain a steady pace rather than the sprint his instincts screamed for.
The moment he stepped into the corridor and the door clicked shut behind him, he felt the remaining pressure lift from his shoulders.
Ye Chen moved quickly through the building, down the stairs, and out into the open air.
Only when he was well away from the Faculty Offices building did he finally stop, leaning against a tree and drawing in deep, steadying breaths.
That had been far too close. Wu Tao was dangerous. He was not just powerful, but cunning and ruthless.
The threat about blocking his access to dao companions hadn't been an idle boast. A professor with connections could absolutely make his university life miserable.
Ye Chen straightened, nodding decisively to himself. He'd have to find a way to deal with Wu Tao.
The man had just made himself an obstacle, and obstacles needed to be removed.
That was when his phone chimed with a notification. He pulled it out and found an email from the university administration.
His student profile had been finalized, and he'd received his dorm assignment, class schedule, and a detailed map of the campus were all attached. At least something was going smoothly today.
His stomach chose that moment to growl loudly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the previous night.
The meager breakfast he'd planned to grab had been forgotten in the chaos of the system awakening and the confrontation with Professor Wu Tao.
Grinning at his own body's perfect timing, Ye Chen opened the map on his phone and located the nearest cafeteria.
It wasn't far, just across the main courtyard and past the library building.
The cafeteria was enormous, easily capable of seating several hundred students. The lunch rush was in full swing, with freshmen and upperclassmen alike filling the space with animated conversation.
Ye Chen grabbed a tray and joined the line. When he reached the counter, his eyes widened at the selection.
Spiritual beast meat, qi-infused rice, and even vegetables grown in formation-enriched soil. These were delicacies he'd never been able to afford before.
With 10,000 spirit stones in his account, he could actually order what he wanted rather than scraping by on the cheapest options.
He selected several dishes he'd only ever dreamed about, paid, and looked for a place to sit.
Finding an empty table near the windows, he settled down and began eating.
The food tasted even better than it looked. Each bite seemed to invigorate him, the spiritual energy contained within and nourishing his newly transformed physique.
From a nearby table, female voices carried over the general cafeteria din.
"Did you hear? There's a freshman with a Fourth Grade physique!"
"I know! Pure Yang Sacred Body, supposedly. Can you imagine?"
"But isn't that a dual cultivation physique?" another voice chimed in, filled with interest.
"Exactly! Which means practicing dual cultivating with him would boost our own progression. And it's a Fourth Grade physique, which means incredible spiritual energy reserves."
"I'd definitely be willing to be his dao companion," someone laughed. "For the sake of my cultivation, of course."
The group dissolved into giggles.
Ye Chen couldn't help but grin as he continued eating. At least some aspects of having a Pure Yang Sacred Body seemed promising, even if Professor Wu Tao had threatened to sabotage his prospects.
He was reaching for his drink when he noticed something odd.
The cafeteria's constant buzz of conversation was fading, replaced by an expanding pocket of silence.
Students were turning to look in one direction, their expressions ranging from curiosity to apprehension.
Ye Chen looked up just as something, or someone, slammed into his table with devastating force.
CRASH!
His tray launched into the air. Food exploded across the table surface. His carefully selected dishes splattered everywhere as the table buckled under the impact, one leg cracking completely.
Ye Chen jumped back, his chair scraping loudly against the tile floor as he barely avoided being crushed.
"Hello, Freshman."