The Origin of the System

"Master, tell You'er about Spirit Artifacts and Systems." Qian Renyou tugged on Chen Qingxuan's sleeve, shaking it gently.

Chen Qingxuan looked down at her and spoke slowly: "Above Dharma Artifacts are Spirit Artifacts—artifacts that possess a spirit. This 'spirit' is not a living soul, but an autonomous consciousness born from the object itself, allowing it to act independently and absorb external energy to temper its own form."

"If a cultivator has a Spirit Artifact by their side, their combat power will soar, sometimes even allowing them to fight against those of a higher rank."

Chen Qingxuan paused: "There is one type of Spirit Artifact that is particularly unique: the System."

"They do not excel in raw combat power, but they can perfectly adapt to the rules of various small worlds."

"By borrowing the power of these rules, a System can accomplish many things that defy imagination."

"Many high-level cultivators refine Systems and cast them into small worlds to harvest luck, then use that luck to steal the origin of the world."

"The System keeps a small portion of the origin to complete its own evolution, while the majority is fed back to the high-level cultivator to assist in their cultivation progress."

Qian Renyou blinked, pressing further: "Why don't those high-level cultivators just seize the world's origin themselves? Why go through the trouble of using a System?"

"A good question." A hint of approval flashed in Chen Qingxuan's eyes. "The most powerful force in the world is called the 'Dao'; it is the law that governs all things."

"If a cultivator leaves their own world and steps into a foreign realm, they will inevitably be rejected by it. They will be unable to absorb external energy to replenish their consumption, and over time, they will exhaust themselves and die."

Qian Renyou's mouth hung open slightly as she listened: "Does that mean that when a powerhouse enters an unfamiliar world, they actually become weaker?"

"The Dao is fair. There are three ways to adapt to the outside world," Chen Qingxuan nodded.

"First, forcibly rewrite the rules of the world you are in. Second, entrust your soul's origin to the rules in exchange for a legitimate identity. Third, use a System to steal the world's origin."

"Isn't it easier to just change the rules directly?" Qian Renyou frowned. "Using a System is so much trouble. And why can a System steal the origin while a person cannot?"

"This is a restriction placed by the Dao upon living beings," Chen Qingxuan explained. "If high-level cultivators could plunder small worlds at will, the strong would only grow stronger and the weak weaker, eventually leading to the collapse of world order."

"If a high-level cultivator forcibly changes the rules, they will inevitably attract the attention of the Dao and may even suffer its backlash."

"But a System is different. It is a spirit, not a life form, and can bypass the restrictions of the Dao."

His fingertips moved, and the captured Karmic Thread trembled slightly: "Once a System binds to a host, the host can legitimately absorb the world's luck."

"As long as the host exerts enough influence on the world, the System can continuously draw in luck and convert it into origin."

"What happens to the people whose luck is sucked away?" Qian Renyou asked.

"Excessive absorption leads to the exhaustion of luck. In minor cases, things will simply go wrong; in severe cases, one will encounter fatal disasters," Chen Qingxuan said indifferently.

"However, this System is of too low a grade and only dares to steal in small amounts, so it currently has little effect on the victim."

As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and the Karmic Thread was guided by him, slowly connecting into the Sea of Consciousness of Qian Renxue, creating a subtle resonance with her soul's aura.

"Master! What are you doing?" Qian Renyou was startled and quickly said, "Didn't you say this thing was dangerous? Why did you connect it?"

A wicked smile curled the corners of Chen Qingxuan's mouth: "For others, it is a death trap, but for me, it is luck delivered to my doorstep. Since this System can suck other people's luck, I can naturally suck it back from it."

Qian Renyou shrank her neck at the sight of his smile, a timid expression appearing on her face: "Master, you... you're scary."

Chen Qingxuan glanced at Qian Renyou and said nothing more.

Qian Renyou's eyes darted around, and she leaned in again, asking curiously: "Master, did you ever make a System before?"

"I did," Chen Qingxuan nodded candidly. "Before I became an immortal, I refined a few, but later I felt the returns were too low and abandoned them. After becoming an immortal, such things as Systems are not even worth mentioning."

He looked at Qian Renyou and tapped his fingertip on the Karmic Thread; the faint luck that had been flowing toward Li Taibai began to flow in reverse: "This Li Taibai is still useful. I have reversed the flow of the Karmic Thread. From now on, half of the luck this System absorbs will flow into your bodies."

"I got it, Master!" Qian Renyou beamed and shouted into the void, "Xiaoxue, did you hear that? Use it well!"

In the outside world, Qian Renxue's soul was synchronized with Qian Renyou's, and she instantly understood Li Taibai's background and the secret of the System.

She lowered her eyes to the ground, her mind already made up.

At the same time, a notification sound finally rang in Li Taibai's mind: "Ding! Binding successful!"

He was overjoyed and hurriedly called out in his mind: "Open System panel!"

A virtual panel unfolded, clearly displaying:

[Host: Li Taibai]

[Binding Target: Qian Renxue]

[Favorability: 10]

[Current Available Check-in: Qian Renxue (Estimated reward: 1000 points)]

Li Taibai's pupils constricted, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

He subconsciously looked at Qian Daoliu and silently checked—his teacher's favorability toward him was 80, and a single check-in only yielded 800 points. Yet, Qian Renxue's favorability was only 10, and the check-in reward was 1000 points?

The gap was simply too large! It seemed that Qian Renxue's potential was even more terrifying than he had imagined!

"System, check me in for Qian Renxue!" he ordered immediately.

However, the expected points did not arrive. Instead, a harsh error message rang out: "Error! Error! System recalibrating... Due to Qian Renxue's exceptional aptitude, favorability must reach 80 to check in. Current favorability is too low; check-in failed!"

"What?!" The joy on Li Taibai's face froze instantly. His brows locked tight, and a stormy sea surged in his heart.

It required 80 favorability to check in?

This System had never had such a restriction before!

He looked at Qian Renxue calmly, only to see the young girl standing there quietly, her golden hair draped over her shoulders. She looked obedient, yet it was impossible to guess what she was thinking.

Deep within the Sea of Consciousness, the voice of Chen Qingxuan rang out: "Xiaoxue, your Martial Soul Hall has no shortage of geniuses, but having too many will dilute your own fortune. Suppressing them appropriately will, instead, cause that fortune to converge upon you."

Qian Renxue heard this and immediately broke into a smile.

She raised her eyes to look at Li Taibai and spoke with a beaming smile: "Li Taibai, I have not returned to Martial Soul City for many years and have heard that there are many geniuses today, which has piqued my curiosity. Could you help me gather them all so I may see them for myself?"

Li Taibai's heart stirred; this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to farm favorability!

His current favorability of ten points was truly too low; he had to put on a better performance.

Li Taibai said: "Since Your Highness has commanded it, I shall naturally comply. May I ask where you would like to set the location?"

"Let it be at the Martial Arts Platform on Worship Mountain," Qian Renxue said indifferently.

"Understood! I shall attend to it at once!" Li Taibai's spirits lifted as he hurriedly bowed to Qian Daoliu: "Teacher, this disciple shall take his leave now to gather everyone."

Qian Daoliu waved his hand: "Go, and do not delay Xiaoxue's affairs."

"Yes!" Li Taibai acknowledged, turned, and strode away.

After he had left, Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue with a hint of curiosity in his eyes: "Xiaoxue, what are you planning to do?"

Qian Renxue walked over to Qian Daoliu's side, took his arm, and said with a giggle: "Grandfather, there are too many geniuses in Martial Soul Hall. It is time to suppress them properly and let them know who the true core is."

Qian Daoliu chuckled at her words and shook his head, though his eyes were filled with indulgence: "You, you just had a breakthrough and are already restless. But that is fine; let those little ones witness your prowess so they stop thinking so highly of themselves all day long."