Chapter 27: The System and Favorability
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
An hour later, the group from the Five Elements Dao Sect arrived at Lantern City.
Outside the city gates, Zhou Jin Yue turned to the group and said, “Wait here for a moment. I’ll go pay the entrance fee with spirit stones.”
It was often said that scholars could disrupt laws with their words, and knights might break rules with their martial prowess. Cultivators, possessing power far beyond ordinary means, required regulation to prevent chaos.
Thus, to enter a cultivation city, cultivators were required to pay a fee in spirit stones to maintain order—a widely accepted custom in the cultivation world. The disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect nodded in agreement.
Two young cultivators guarding the city gates had noticed Zhou Jin Yue and her group as they approached. Seeing their elegant attire and imposing demeanor, the guards guessed they were sect disciples and grew nervous.
As Zhou Jin Yue approached, even before she could speak, the two guards immediately bowed. “Greetings, Senior. The entrance fee to Lantern City is one low-grade spirit stone per person.”
They dared not meet her gaze, keeping their eyes respectfully fixed on the ground.
Zhou Jin Yue paid the required spirit stones for the group, and they were allowed to enter the city without issue.
Lantern City, famous for its exquisite lanterns, wasn’t large. Beautiful lanterns hung along every street and alley.
Yu Zhao glanced at a glazed lantern hanging from a roof eave, her emotions momentarily in turmoil.
She had visited Lantern City once before.
In her previous life, when Ye Cong Xin heard of a lantern festival being held in the city, she persuaded their five senior brothers to take her there. Fang Cheng Lang and the others had gladly agreed.
On the day of the festival, the six of them left the Five Elements Dao Sect together, but Yu Zhao had been either deliberately or inadvertently forgotten.
She only learned of their trip when she saw five exquisite palace lanterns hanging outside Ye Cong Xin’s cave dwelling.
What stung most was that none of her five senior brothers had even thought to invite her, nor had they brought her even the cheapest lantern.
Later, under the pretense of training, Yu Zhao traveled alone to Lantern City and spent an entire night viewing the lanterns.
The night was indeed breathtaking, with countless lanterns lighting up the darkness. But at the time, Yu Zhao couldn’t truly appreciate the beauty.
Now, revisiting the city and its lanterns, Yu Zhao found the sight of the dazzling display—blazing trees and silver blossoms—utterly enchanting.
Zhou Jin Yue, evidently familiar with Lantern City, efficiently led the group to an inn.
The inn was short on rooms due to their numbers, but the innkeeper cleared out the back rooms for them, allowing everyone to barely settle in.
As soon as Yu Zhao entered her room, she began meditating.
In the past, she had wasted too much time on trivial matters. Now, with her foundation steady and her path clear, she couldn’t afford to squander time.
In another room.
Closing the door behind her, Ye Cong Xin retrieved a formation disk from her storage pouch and placed it on the table. Infusing it with spiritual energy, a thin light barrier quickly enveloped the room.
Relaxing slightly, Ye Cong Xin addressed the seemingly empty space. “System, check Lan Zi Yu’s favorability.”
A crisp mechanical voice responded: [Ding! Lan Zi Yu’s current favorability is 80 points.]
Eighty points—still ten short of the goal of ninety.
Ye Cong Xin’s face briefly contorted with frustration.
It was all Yu Zhao’s fault!
Three years ago, Lan Zi Yu’s favorability toward her had already reached 80 points. But because Yu Zhao gifted him that Purple Cloud Bamboo Flute, his favorability toward Ye Cong Xin had plummeted to 50 points, nearly driving her to vomit blood.
Over the past three years, Ye Cong Xin had painstakingly worked to regain his favorability, finally bringing it back to 80 points. Yet she remained short of the system’s goal.
Reflecting on the system, Ye Cong Xin couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
At the age of eight, after a severe illness nearly claimed her life multiple times, she awoke to find the mysterious system embedded in her consciousness.
Initially, she feared it was a heart demon, dismissing its guidance as devilish whispers. Terrified, she ignored everything it said.
That changed when she fell gravely ill again, and the system used her father’s fortune value to save her. Only then did she realize the system’s extraordinary nature.
The system revealed that if someone’s favorability toward her reached 90 points, she could siphon their fortune value and exchange it for anything she desired—lifespan, cultivation, beauty, even a spiritual root.
Her weak and fragile body had long been her greatest wish. Upon learning the system’s use, she immediately exchanged some of her father’s fortune for five points of physique, improving her health significantly, though she remained weaker than the average person.
The system’s miraculous capabilities filled Ye Cong Xin with both astonishment and elation.
She realized that with enough favorability points, she could transform her destiny and ascend to greatness.
Determined, she abandoned her reclusive habits, actively socialized, and crafted a persona that everyone would like. At first, her plans went smoothly. New disciples were naive and easily swayed, making favorability gains effortless.
Over the years, Ye Cong Xin had exchanged with the system more than a dozen times—physique, spiritual power, even beauty.
But she soon discovered favorability alone wasn’t enough. Fortune was the ultimate currency for her goals.
A person’s fortune value was finite. Mediocre cultivators, like her father, could only provide enough for four exchanges despite being a Golden Core cultivator.
To achieve her ambitions, Ye Cong Xin began targeting those with immense fortune.
Lone Moon Peak naturally drew her attention.
From Master Qing Yan to disciples like Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu, everyone on Lone Moon Peak radiated unparalleled fortune.
If she could elevate their favorability to 90 points, Ye Cong Xin could achieve unparalleled power and status.
Thus, she subtly infiltrated Lone Moon Peak with an almost imperceptible charm offensive.
Currently, her highest favorability came from Master Qing Yan at 88 points. Lan Zi Yu followed at 80, with Fang Cheng Lang at 75, Su Ming at 72, Cui Jue at 70, and Quan Ye at 60.
“Just 10 more points—I must achieve it before returning to the sect.”
Muttering to herself, Ye Cong Xin’s eyes glinted with determination. A plan began to form in her mind.
…
Knock, knock.
Hearing the knock on his door, Lan Zi Yu smiled faintly. Opening the door, he found a fresh and elegant figure before him. Ye Cong Xin, dressed in a flowing aqua gown with a graceful flying cloud hairstyle and a green silk sash, looked particularly serene and lovely.
“Second Senior Brother, shall we go see the lanterns?” she asked with a tilt of her head and an inviting smile.
Lan Zi Yu nodded, and the two went to find Fang Cheng Lang to propose the outing.
Fang Cheng Lang, ever amiable, readily agreed. Closing his door, he joined them as they headed out.
Just as the trio was about to leave the inn, Fang Cheng Lang suddenly halted. “Almost forgot—let’s invite Sixth Junior Sister. Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
Such a shame that they had to introduce it as a “System.” I get they need to introduce it somehow, but anything else would’ve been better. A treasure, a past life, atavism, anything else.