Chapter 5: The Contradicting Instinct

Chao Lingxi narrowed her eyes, squeezing them as though carefully weighing every word he had spoken.

"Clarify yourself."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the ruined courtyard, loosening the tie in Kai Tianxie's hair and sending the strands floating around his face.

Kai met her gaze steadily.

"Only I know about this."

He continued in a calm, measured voice.

"This is an ancient sect founded by an ancestor who has already transcended to the upper realms."

Within their sacred lands, all flourished —
For abundance was as common as breath.

There lay a realm where no hand was empty,
And every heart found its season to bloom.

Beneath their ancient banners,
Prosperity flowed like an endless spring,
And none were left to wither.

It was a land where coin and kindness walked together,
And every soul stood tall in shared fortune.

In their dominion, hunger was forgotten,
And wealth was not hoarded — but harmonized

After he finished reciting the passage, both Chao Lingxi and Lan Mei stared at him, their expressions shifting toward belief.

Kai thought to himself: One final push.

"Their enemies were legion; their equals were a myth."

Only later would the two women learn it was not a single "upper realm," but countless upper realms layered above one another.

Chao Lingxi's voice broke the silence.

"Who told you that?"

The system hummed softly in his mind.

It never happened.

An experienced liar.

Kai noted internally: Side quest triggered.

He answered smoothly,

"When I inherited the sect, the previous sect leader left behind a will. The moment I read it, the words vanished as though they had never existed. The most astonishing part is that he himself had never opened it—it was a one-time read."

Lan Mei interrupted, glancing around at the crumbling ruins.

"Then why did such a great sect become… this? A trash-dumping ground?"

Kai gave a faint smile.

"Everyone faces hard times. The sect simply reached its lowest point. But I will make this sect the strongest of all time and carry on our ancestor's will."

A soft hum sounded in his mind.

Side Quest Completed.

Both Lan Mei and Chao Lingxi now fully believe the story.

Rewards granted. Power descriptions revised.

Strongest Sovereign System — Not a combat system, mage system, knight system, construction system, or any single-type system. It is the Strongest Sovereign System. It encompasses every parameter and will automatically adjust to the user's preferences.

Eye of Wisdom — Understand anything down to the molecular level with a single glance (minor mode active; full scan costs Insight Points).

Power of Sect Members — Can borrow and use any sect member's abilities without their knowledge or consent.

Beside the third ability, a line of extremely small text appeared. Kai mentally asked the system what it said.

The system replied:

"Sect Leader can only borrow a small portion of other members' power. When using borrowed skills, the Sect Leader expends his own qi as though employing his own techniques."

Kai thought: That restriction wasn't there before.

System: "The text was always there, Host. perhaps you just didn't read the Terms and Conditions."

Kai pressed internally,

"You said I traded all of this power in exchange for 1,000 years of my previous life, right?"

System: "Yes."

Kai: "Was that trade bound by destiny?"

System: "No."

Kai's eyes widened in shock. He had expected a confirmation. Heart pounding, he asked,

"Then how?"

The system explained calmly:

"Destiny is fixed. The gods granted you free will, but the result was predetermined—countless possible outcomes already mapped. However, the path you ultimately chose did not reside in any of those branches. Your free will altered what was supposed to be predetermined."

Kai stood frozen. A chill raced down his spine as he wondered—truly wondered—who he had been in that forgotten past life.

He no longer remembered the autobiography of his encounter with the Creator as Dvandva.

Yet the instinct remained.

The instinct of a contradicting existence.

He remembered how he had tried to manipulate Li Yun…

Meanwhile, at the Azure Peak Sect, Li Yun and the other disciples seemed to be preparing for an event. Some disciples murmured among themselves.

"They're leaving."

"Yeah, looks like it."

"What's different this time? It's always the same every year."

"No, I heard Bai Yunho is coming."

"Isn't that just a rumor?"

"Of course he is—he's the direct descendant of the Bai Sect, the sole heir. I've heard his talent is A-rank."

Meanwhile, on the sect grounds of a second-rate sect, Bai Yunho stood in the garden, looking at the plants and some squirrels.His hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist—Tranquil Moon Sword, its scabbard a deep indigo that seemed to hold the stillness of a moonlit pond, reflecting his calm and unhurried demeanor.

A servant called to him,

"Master Yunho, the sect leader has summoned you."

Bai Yunho went inside the sect and looked at the sect leader—his grandfather.

Bai Ren, the Bai Sect leader, spoke.

"Bai Yunho, it's time for the event. You have to be present this time. You are the direct heir; you have to handle the sect duties properly from now on. Our sect, Azure Peak Sect, and Red Lily Sect have always been on good terms and held a power-display match every year. I hope you will make the sect proud."

Bai Yunho spoke,

"Yes, Sect Leader. If we are done, I will take my leave."

Bai Yunho stepped forward to the door and whispered to the air; Sunlight falling on his skin

"The goal is not wealth—not strength, not even fighting. They are just tools. The real goal is freedom."