In a secluded cave, a lone figure sat in the lotus position. His stillness belied the intense energy that flowed within him. Low-grade spirit stones, embedded in the cave walls, pulsed with a gentle, ethereal light. Their energy subtly enhanced his cultivation, seeping slowly into the air like a soft hum. He breathed deeply, drawing in the spiritual qi—the lifeblood of his practice—and channeled it through his meridians. Each inhale and each exhale refined his body and strengthened his spirit. Hours melted into a timeless meditation. His connection to the spiritual realm deepened with every passing moment. The cave was quiet except for the soft sound of his breath and the faint glow from the stones. Now and then dust motes floated through a beam of light, and the little movements reminded him that even stillness changed with time.
This person was Bai Xuan, the Bai family's young lord. But he was not the real Bai Xuan. His real identity had been a university student on Earth named Bai Qiang. He had been transmigrated into this world, a world that was thirty percent the same as the Martial Peak novel. In other words, the Martial Peak novel had been based on this world, but only in part. After transmigration he had been reborn four times into different bodies in different eras. Three times he had died—killed or succumbed to age—and this fourth time was his last chance. If he failed now, he would die forever. The pressure of that last chance sat on him like a weight he could not ignore.
There was another twist in his fourth rebirth. Because of so many reincarnations, his soul was damaged. He could not fully take control of the new body. The previous owner had died under a heavenly thunder tribulation, an event that struck when a cultivator broke through to the next stage. Still, a remainder of the old soul remained inside the body. If Bai Qiang wanted to take full control, he had to complete the previous owner's lustful last wish: to obtain one hundred thousand concubines. Until he fulfilled that wish, he could use only fifty-eight percent of the body's power. The limit frustrated him, but he had learned to work within it.
It was a hard task. The previous owner had not only wanted one hundred thousand concubines but demanded that many be women of seven- to nine-level beauty. The previous owner had classified attraction into nine levels inside his personal knowledge sea. Luckily for Bai Qiang, a system existed that guided him in this world and helped him find seven- to nine-star beautiful women. The system's help felt like a thin rope through a deep well — not a full rescue, but it gave direction.
One month before, he had been reborn in this body. The previous owner had successfully broken through to the lower stage of the seventh realm but had died during the thunder tribulation. Bai Xuan had entered a cave and spent the whole month stabilizing his energy. He had worked slowly, bolstering what remained and sewing small threads where the soul had frayed.
Inside the cave, the person opened his eyes and commanded the system to open the status window. The young man wore crisp white clothes and exuded an aura of unmatched charm and striking looks. A familiar window appeared before his eyes. He was not surprised. He had used this window in all his previous rebirths. The window's edges shimmered, and the words felt like an old companion.
[Status Window]
Host: Bai Xuan
Identity: Young Lord of Bai Clan
Cultivation Base: Lower stage of 7th Realm (lower layer)
Physique: Normal
Techniques: Secret Sword Art; Destructive Slash Technique
[Special Task] ← click here
He clicked the special task option. A new window opened beside the first. The second window was plain and cold, but its message carried weight.
Special Task:
"Host, your soul is injured so you cannot get full control of this body directly. To obtain full control, you must complete the previous owner's wish."
Wish: Complete 100k concubines.
Bai Xuan asked the system, "Is there an alternative way to gain total control of this body?" His voice was low. He had asked this question many times in other lives, always hoping for an easier path.
The system replied in its usual blunt style. "Yes. There is a person who has had the opportunity to be reborn, not just once but four times in the same world. This foolish individual failed to benefit from those chances. After numerous valuable opportunities, he now seeks an easy way to survive."
"If anyone else had a chance like yours, they would become the ruler of the world after just one chance. But I ended up with a host who cannot even manage to survive."
"You worthless idiot! If you cannot make it this time, I will go. Just a moment—I am leaving now, realizing you cannot survive. Goodbye…"
"No, please! I am sorry! I promise I will not ask for your help anymore; just do not leave me. I swear this time I will survive and become the strongest in this world."
"Alright. I will give you one last chance. However, your soul is damaged, and you may not have another opportunity for rebirth. Even if by some means you manage to be reborn, I will eliminate you instantly."
Bai Xuan did not know the system's origin. Why did it transmigrate souls from one world to another? How did it work? He had asked the system about that many times, but the system ignored him. The last time he pushed, the system answered only that he would learn when he condensed his Dao seal. The system said he should know only that it was not truly a system but an illusion the transmigrator used to make conversation smooth. The answer irritated him, but he had learned to accept partial truths for now.
Bai Xuan knew the path would not be easy. At minimum, he had to reach the emperor stage of cultivation to condense his Dao seal. That goal felt distant, but he had no choice—he had to plan for the long term and move step by step.
He asked, "Is there a way to regain the seventy percent control needed for a successful breakthrough?"
The window chimed. "Ding... Yes, host. According to this person's memory, his main wish could be divided into seven parts:
1. Having 10 concubines before 100 years.
2. Having 50 concubines before 200 years.
3. Having 100 concubines before 300 years.
4. Having 1,000 concubines before 400 years.
5. Having 5,000 concubines before 500 years.
6. Having 10,000 concubines before 600 years.
7. Having 100,000 concubines before 700 years of age.
Luckily, in the Tong Xuan realm a cultivator could live seven hundred years, so the previous owner had not planned beyond that.
"For every completed part of these wishes, you will gain six percent more control of this body. To reach seventy percent, you must complete at least two of the seven wishes. The system will help you find qualified girls according to this person's preferences."
Ten days later, he stabilized his spiritual energy and could use fifty-eight percent of his strength, approximately equal to the sixth stage, lower layer. He felt that steady power like a rope tied tighter around his will. Small improvements gave him hope; small holds could become bridges.
He thought, I have to go back to my clan and tell my father about my cultivation. The thought brought both relief and anxiety—relief to show progress, anxiety for the path ahead.
---
Bai Clan—Clan Leader's Residence.
A person sat in a chair and performed his duty as the clan leader. He was around one hundred and twenty years old, though he looked middle-aged; a cultivator could extend life, and it was common for elders to appear younger. He was Bai Hao, the seventy-sixth generation clan leader. His face showed experience; his eyes held the weight of many decisions.
Suddenly someone entered the room. It was Bai Xuan. "Father, I have returned, and I broke through successfully," Bai Xuan greeted and told him. He was not the original Bai Xuan but had inherited the body and its memory fragments. When a person died, much memory was lost to time. Bai Qiang had been reborn into this body an hour after the owner's death, so he had not received full memory but had enough to understand Bai Xuan's background. The previous lives' memories weighted on him; if one counted all past lives, his age might total a little over three hundred years. He understood human emotion, life, and society deeply.
Bai Hao looked at his son and said, "Congratulations. You are the next leader of our clan. From now on I will announce it. You should know clan secrets. Follow me."
Bai Hao stood, moved to a bookshelf, and triggered a formation. A secret passage opened beside the shelf. He descended. Bai Xuan followed his father into the dark path. The passage felt endless. They walked for a long hour before they reached a door. Bai Hao struck the door with his blood at a certain point. The mark glowed, and the door opened to a secret chamber.
"This is our clan's main ancestor hall," Bai Hao said. "Only the clan leader and supreme elder may enter. Look on the left side..."
Bai Xuan saw a large jade stone. Ancient patterns were carved across its face. The characters looked old and emitted a powerful aura. The air near the jade felt colder, as if time had been pressed into it.
"This jade contains our ancestor's secret technique. Our family techniques were made from it. But at present no one fully understood this language. When someone sat here, they might gain some enlightenment. Every family leader of the past tried to interpret it. Over ten thousand years we barely understood five percent. Our first ancestor was a saint-stage cultivator who founded our family. From him through the fifty-sixth generation, many were saint-stage cultivators. But ten thousand years ago, during the war with the bone race, ninety-seven percent of our family fell. The survivors continued, but none could read the ancient language of this jade fully. Over the long years we only learned a fragment."
"I brought you here so you might gain insight," Bai Hao added. "Sit in front of it."
"Okay, Father," Bai Xuan answered. He sat and commanded the system in his mind. "System, help me understand this."
The system chimed. "[Ding... Comprehending starting...]"
"Host, this is an Inner Sword technique. Do you want to learn it?" the system asked.
"What is this?" Bai Xuan asked.
"[This is an Earth-grade technique.]" the system replied.
"Earth-grade on a low-level planet—how is there an Earth-grade technique? System, give me the details."
"[If anyone masters this technique, he can perform a sword slash that can destroy one third of a planet. But that is when the performer reaches Saint Stage Peak. As host, you can only use one-fifth of its power in your current state, and you may use it only once a day.]"
"Sounds powerful... I want to learn it," Bai Xuan said.
[Comprehending started.]
After an hour the system announced, "[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully mastered it.]" His heart beat a little faster. The technique felt heavy and dangerous, but its presence made him feel richer in options.
Bai Hao looked up at his son. "Bai Xuan, time is up. We can stay here only one hour. Did you gain enlightenment?"
If he claimed mastery, his father might suspect him. He decided to hide the truth. "No, Father. I understand nothing," he said.
"It is fine," Bai Hao replied. "I barely understood a little after forty years. It is natural you would not grasp it now. Let us go; our hour is done."
---
On the road Bai Xuan walked with a plan forming in his mind. He thought, I must complete two of the seven wishes to gain seventy percent control of this body. The previous owner had left clues—friends and lovers from his memory. Bai Xuan could use those connections to move faster. He considered each step carefully, knowing small mistakes might cost him much.
Our first target, he decided, would be Fairy Qiu Shu, an outer disciple of the Soaring Heaven Sect. Her name appeared in the memory like a faint thread; he could pull it and see where it led.
He set his steps toward the clan gate.
---