"Master, tell You'er about spirit tools and systems." Qian Renyou tugged gently at Chen Qingxuan's sleeve.
Chen Qingxuan glanced down at her and began slowly, "Above magic tools are spirit tools—tools with a spirit. This 'spirit' isn't a living being, but an independent consciousness born within an object. It can act on its own and absorb energy from its surroundings to temper itself."
"If a cultivator has a spirit tool at their side, their combat strength will rise considerably. Some can even fight opponents of a higher level."
Chen Qingxuan paused. "There's one kind of spirit tool that's especially unusual: a system."
"They aren't known for their combat strength, but they can perfectly adapt to the laws of the myriad minor worlds."
"By borrowing the power of those laws, systems can accomplish all sorts of astonishing things."
"Many high-level cultivators forge systems and send them into minor worlds to collect fortune, then use that fortune to steal the world's origin."
"The system refines a small portion of the origin to level up, while most of it is returned to the high-level cultivator, helping them advance their cultivation."
Qian Renyou blinked and pressed on, "Why don't those high-level cultivators seize the world's origin themselves? Why go to all the trouble of using a system?"
"That's a good question." A trace of approval flashed in Chen Qingxuan's eyes. "The mightiest thing in existence is called the Dao. It governs the laws by which all things operate."
"If a cultivator leaves their own world and enters a foreign realm, they'll inevitably be rejected by it. They won't be able to absorb energy from their surroundings to replenish what they've spent, and, over time, they'll be drained to death."
Qian Renyou's little mouth fell open as she listened. "Doesn't that mean the stronger someone is, the weaker they'll become in an unfamiliar world?"
"The Dao is fair. There are three ways to adapt to a foreign realm." Chen Qingxuan nodded.
"First, forcibly rewrite the laws of the world you're in. Second, entrust your soul's origin to its laws in exchange for a legitimate identity. Third, steal the world's origin through a system."
"Wouldn't changing the laws directly be easier?" Qian Renyou furrowed her little brows. "Using a system sounds like such a hassle. And why can a system steal the origin, but a person can't?"
"This is a restraint the Dao places on living beings," Chen Qingxuan explained. "If high-level cultivators could plunder minor worlds at will, the strong would only grow stronger while the weak grew weaker, until the world's order ultimately collapsed."
"If a high-level cultivator forcibly changed the laws, they'd inevitably attract the Dao's attention and might even suffer its backlash."
"But a system is different. It's a spirit, not a living being, so it can bypass the Dao's restrictions."
His fingertip twitched, and the captured Karmic Thread quivered faintly. "Once a system binds to a host, the host can absorb the world's fortune openly and legitimately."
"As long as the host has enough influence on the world, the system can continuously draw in fortune and convert it into origin."
"What happens to the people whose fortune gets taken?" Qian Renyou pressed.
"Excessive absorption will deplete their fortune. At best, nothing will go their way; at worst, disaster will strike." Chen Qingxuan spoke calmly.
"But this system is too low-level to dare steal much, so for now, it has very little effect on those it drains."
As he spoke, he flicked a finger. The Karmic Thread followed his guidance and slowly connected to Qian Renxue's Sea of Consciousness, its aura resonating subtly with her soul.
"Master! What are you doing?" Qian Renyou cried in alarm. "Didn't you say this thing was dangerous? Why are you connecting it to her?"
Chen Qingxuan's lips curled into a wicked smile. "It's a crisis for others, but for me, it's fortune delivered right to my doorstep. This system can absorb other people's fortune, so naturally, I can turn around and absorb its fortune instead."
Under his smile, Qian Renyou drew in her neck, a timid look on her face. "Master, you're... kind of scary."
Chen Qingxuan glanced at Qian Renyou and said no more.
Qian Renyou's eyes darted about before she leaned closer and asked curiously, "Master, did you make systems before, too?"
"I did." Chen Qingxuan nodded without hesitation. "Before I became an immortal, I made a few. Later, I decided the returns were too low and abandoned them. After becoming an immortal, something like a system was beneath notice."
He looked at Qian Renyou and lightly tapped the Karmic Thread. The faint trickle of fortune that had been flowing toward Li Taibai began to flow in reverse. "Li Taibai is still useful, so I'll keep him around. I've reversed the Karmic Thread. From now on, half of the fortune this system absorbs will flow into you two."
"I understand, Master!" Qian Renyou beamed, then called out into the air, "Xiao Xue, did you hear that? Make good use of it!"
In the outside world, Qian Renxue's soul synchronized with Qian Renyou's, and she immediately learned Li Taibai's origins and the secret of the system.
She lowered her eyes to the ground, already making plans.
At the same time, the system's prompt finally sounded in Li Taibai's mind. "Ding! Binding successful!"
His heart leapt with joy, and he hurriedly called out in his mind, "Open the system panel!"
A virtual panel unfolded, clearly displaying:
[Host: Li Taibai] [Binding target: Qian Renxue] [Affection: 10] [Available check-in: Qian Renxue (estimated current reward: 1000 points)]
Li Taibai's pupils contracted, and disbelief spread across his face.
He instinctively looked at Qian Daoliu, silently checking in his mind—the affection his teacher had for him was 80, and a single check-in earned him only 800 points. Yet Qian Renxue's affection was only 10, and her check-in reward was already 1000 points?
The difference was enormous! It seemed Qian Renxue's potential was even more terrifying than he'd imagined!
"System, check in with Qian Renxue!" he immediately ordered.
But the points he'd expected never arrived. Instead, a shrill error sounded. "Error! Error! System reorganizing... Due to Qian Renxue's exceptional aptitude, her affection must reach 80 before a check-in is possible. Current affection too low. Check-in unavailable!"
"What?!" The joy on Li Taibai's face froze, his brows knitted together, and a storm of shock surged through his heart.
An affection score of 80 was required to check in?
The system had never imposed a restriction like this before!
He looked discreetly at Qian Renxue. The young woman stood quietly, golden strands of hair falling over her shoulders. She looked obedient, but he couldn't guess what was on her mind.
Deep in the Sea of Consciousness, Chen Qingxuan's voice rang out. "Xiao Xue, your Spirit Hall has plenty of geniuses. But too many geniuses will dilute your own fortune. Suppressing them a little will instead draw fortune toward you."
At his words, Qian Renxue smiled.
She raised her eyes to Li Taibai and said with a bright smile, "Li Taibai, I haven't been back to Spirit City in years. I've heard there are many geniuses here now, and I'm curious. Could you gather them all so I can see for myself?"
Li Taibai's heart stirred. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to raise her affection for him!
An affection score of ten was far too low. He had to make himself useful.
"Your Highness, I'll do as you ask. Where would you like to hold it?"
"On the Martial Arts Platform at Worship Mountain," Qian Renxue said coolly.
"Understood! I'll take care of it right away!" Li Taibai perked up and hurriedly bowed to Qian Daoliu. "Teacher, I'll take my leave and gather everyone."
Qian Daoliu waved a hand. "Go. Don't hold up Xiao Xue's plans."
"Yes!" Li Taibai replied, then turned and hurried away.
After he left, Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue with curiosity. "Xiao Xue, what are you planning?"
Qian Renxue walked over to Qian Daoliu, linked her arm through his, and said with a grin, "Grandpa, there are too many geniuses in Spirit Hall. It's time to put them in their place and show them who the real center of it all is."
Qian Daoliu chuckled at her words and shook his head, his eyes full of indulgence. "You've only just broken through, and already you're restless. But it's probably for the best. Let those youngsters see what you can do, so they stop thinking so highly of themselves."
Before you continue