Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’ Chapter 2: The Peerless Genius System: Punishment for the Defeated

The neighboring suite.

Little Li was sprawled across his mattress, fixated on the ceiling with a vacant expression.

There was good news: his childhood friend possessed the aura of a peerless monarch.

There was also bad news: their bond was strained, and he had been playing the part of a persistent, irritating fool.

Her brilliance would surely be unrivaled once they entered the Clear Abyss Sect.

Li Mo couldn't help but envision a classic scenario: the main character undergoes a talent test, causing the measuring stone to shatter with a thunderous blast.

Following that, the low-level bullies who had once tormented her would shake with terror, queuing up for their inevitable disgrace.

Suddenly—

[Investment successful. Investment: One bowl of aged mountain ginseng chicken soup.]

[Calculating reward...]

[Congratulations, Host. Reward: A Heavenly Spirit Restoration Pill.]

[Heavenly Spirit Restoration Pill]: "Refined through six spiritual veins, this top-tier elixir is capable of repairing innate flaws."

A box made of jade appeared out of thin air on the desk, its cover already ajar.

Inside was a translucent pill enveloped in a purple haze, emitting a divine, suppressed radiance that was impossible to ignore.

Li Mo’s mouth hung open. His face turned rigid, and he stopped breathing for several moments in shock.

He had heard tales of such a treasure before.

He had been born prematurely.

Because his mother had been frightened during her pregnancy, he was delivered before he was fully developed.

Consequently, he had been weak and prone to illness since birth, even struggling to walk until a year after his peers. Rumors trailed him—he was mocked as the "feeble runt of the powerful Li family."

Though his father never said it aloud, his anxiety was obvious. He had searched everywhere for a cure.

One of the items he sought was this specific medicine—the "Innate Restoration Pill."

However, such artifacts were beyond any price tag.

Even if the Li family sacrificed half their wealth, they might only obtain a two-veined version—and that was only with extreme luck.

Many influential clans hungered for these pills, prepared to pay any cost to improve the potential of their heirs. After all, everyone desires a more robust Foundation before beginning the path of cultivation.

Because of this, Li Mo had never seen one.

He never imagined in his wildest fantasies that he would acquire it like this.

And it possessed six veins!

Despite his limited experience, Li Mo grasped the sheer magnitude of this gift.

The value of the pill increased several times with every additional vein; higher grades were exponentially more difficult to find.

Six veins? Such a thing was unheard of to him. Its true worth could not be calculated.

"Gulp—"

"Huh, it doesn't actually have a flavor."

Li Mo licked his lips.

No matter how rare an item was, it only belonged to him once it was consumed.

The pill dissolved instantly upon hitting his tongue, sliding down his throat into his belly.

A moment later—

A glowing warmth flooded his body, feeling like schools of fish darting through his Meridians, organs, and bone marrow.

It felt like a parched desert receiving a torrential rain, or a dead tree suddenly blooming with life.

"Haa..."

Li Mo let out a long breath, his eyes snapping open with a fresh spark.

His frame felt as though a massive weight had been discarded. The world looked sharper, as if a layer of grime had been wiped away. The very air tasted sweet, and a tireless power flowed through his veins.

To use an analogy—

He felt like a dying old man who had suddenly regained decades of youth.

If he began his Cultivation training now, he would be as solid as an unbreakable rock, even if he wasn't a natural genius.

"A six-veined pill… it truly lives up to the hype."

"And all I gave was a bowl of soup?"

Li Mo was internally stunned.

The profit from this investment was staggering.

Of course, the primary factor was the person he had "invested" in.

Ying Bing.

Based on his memories, Ying Bing was exactly like her name—

A block of ice.

Repairing their bond would be a difficult and long journey, but the potential gains made it essential.

A red-destiny genius? If he let this opportunity slip, he wouldn't find another in eight lifetimes.

"Steward Xu!"

"Young Master, what do you need?"

The steward rushed into the room.

Li Mo spoke in a low tone. "Does Ying Bing have any foods she particularly enjoys?"

The steward blinked in confusion, pausing to think. "Not that I know of. Lady Bing has never expressed an interest in fine dining."

"What about other hobbies?"

"Well… I couldn't say, Young Master."

The steward made a face. What kind of trouble was the Young Master cooking up now?

In the past, Li Mo had commanded the staff to make Ying Bing's life miserable. Why would he suddenly care about what she liked?

"Forget it. Sorry for the bother."

Li Mo felt a wave of embarrassment at his past actions.

As the steward began to exit, he recalled an instruction.

"Oh, Young Master, the Master mentioned that when we arrive at the city below the Clear Abyss Sect, we should take Lady Bing to see a doctor. He gave me two hundred taels for the visit. What are your orders regarding…?"

"Go ahead. If the funds are insufficient, use my own money."

Li Mo gestured for him to leave.

If spending coin could bring such massive returns, he would do it without hesitation.

"We leave early tomorrow. Go rest."

"I understand..."

The steward scratched his head and nodded.

What had changed with the Young Master?

Recently, he had been strangely civil—not just to the help, but to Ying Bing as well.

Perhaps the travel had matured him and opened his eyes?

---

The following morning.

The dawn's early light filtered into the room, reflecting off the frost on the stone walls.

A girl sat on the bed with her knees pulled to her chest—looking like a sleeping spirit of the snow.

Ying Bing was lost in a dream.

It was a dream of her former life.

When she first arrived at the Clear Abyss Sect, she was told her Meridians were obstructed. It took a lucky break six months later for them to finally open.

After that, her incredible talent left everyone behind.

By the age of eighteen, she had surpassed even the Sect leader.

She traveled beyond the Eastern Wasteland Domain to see the greater world.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were limitless.

Secretive Sects, ancient geniuses, the chosen heirs of empires, and even the reincarnations of old masters—prodigies were everywhere.

It was a magnificent time to be alive.

Yet, she remained the most brilliant light in that chaotic era.

She took the top spot on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, then the Human, Mystic, Earth, and finally the Heaven Ranking…

Eventually, she stood in the Nine Heavens, an equal to the Martial Emperor of the Central Yu Dynasty, known to all as the Phoenix Heaven.

The Nine Heavens—

The nine most powerful beings in existence.

And yet, beyond them, there was a legendary, higher state of being.

Ying Bing’s eyes slowly opened.

Everything proved it—she had indeed traveled back in time.

And she had found something that never existed in her first life.

"It's still there?"

Floating before her were rows of strange, glowing text.

It was invisible to everyone else, waiting for her to make a move.

A… system?

She had never encountered such a phenomenon in either of her lives.

"The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths are vast. I do not know everything."

"Perhaps this is a power that exceeds even my understanding."

After considering it, she made her choice through her will.

[Ding. Binding complete.]

[Host: Ying Bing.]

[This is the Peerless Prodigy System, created to lead the host toward the Dao of invincibility.]

Ying Bing’s face remained calm.

The path of invincibility?

She had already conquered that road once.

Her ascent had been unstoppable, eclipsing every other star.

In her previous life, even the Martial Emperor could only stand against her by using secret techniques.

At her height, she would have needed to look through ancient history to find anyone who could challenge her.

In this life, she would surpass even that.

[Fulfill all requirements, and you will receive the chance to achieve immortality.]

The next notification made her heart skip.

Immortality.

That was a word spoken only in myths!

Legend said that in every age, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths would produce one single "Immortal."

A being above all others, existing beyond death, eternal and unchanging.

However, since the Yu Dynasty took control, the path to immortality had vanished, as if the connection had been severed—making it even more mysterious.

This was the ultimate secret sought by every master across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Because that path was closed, she had used her immense confidence to choose the hardest road possible—one that almost no one in history had ever completed.

But in the end, she had still failed by a hair's breadth...

Could this "system" truly provide the way to immortality?

Ying Bing calmed herself and asked:

"What is the 'challenge'?"

[The system will track every gifted martial artist of your generation in a specific area and rank them once a month.]

[Once the list is revealed, rewards will be granted based on the host’s rank.]

[Current area: Eastern Wasteland Domain.]

Suddenly, a flood of information entered Ying Bing’s mind.

It contained the system's rules and its many limitations.

For instance, no one could interfere with the challenges.

She could not reveal the system's existence to force others to give up.

These rules ensured there were no easy ways to cheat.

But even so...

A ranking of geniuses?

In her past life, she was already the definition of a monster throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Now, with all her memories intact, walking the path of martial arts again would only make her even more powerful!

If the system was telling the truth, it would significantly speed up her return to her peak—and maybe even push her into that unknown realm.

Even if it was boasting, she had nothing to lose.

A penalty for losing?

She had never known what it felt like to be second best in either life.

The Central Divine Continent was famous for its heroes, but after she showed up, the youth of that land lived in her shadow, trembling at the name "Bing."

Even ancient masters had tried to humble her by hiding their identities and suppressing their Cultivation to challenge her as "prodigies."

They were forced to show their true power.

And they still lost.

[Prompt: Turn on the defeat punishment system?]

[Turning this on will increase the quality of rewards, but the host must accept a punishment from the top-ranked challenger if they are not first.]

"I accept."

Ying Bing did not hesitate.

She would certainly be number one.

To her, this penalty didn't really exist.

This wasn't just pride.

Since she had already proven her worth, why wouldn't she take the better rewards?

[Defeat punishment system activated!]

Ying Bing opened her door and walked out.

"Good morning."

Nearby, a young man had also just stepped out of his room.

Their gazes met, and Li Mo gave her a bright smile, as warm as the spring sun.

The darkness that usually hung over him was gone, replaced by a clean, handsome look.

In just one night, he had become a cheerful, vibrant young man.

It felt as though he had changed slightly from the person she remembered.