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

The room next door.

Little Li was stretched out on his mattress, his eyes fixed vacantly on the ceiling.

The good news was that his childhood friend possessed the aura of a supreme monarch.

The bad news was that their bond was currently disastrous, and he had spent his time playing the part of a clownish antagonist.

Her brilliance would undoubtedly shine once they reached the Clear Abyss Sect.

Li Mo couldn't help but envision the standard story beat: the protagonist undergoes a talent test, causing the spirit stone to detonate with a deafening blast.

Following that, the petty villains who once tormented her would shake with terror, forming a line just to be humiliated.

Suddenly—

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

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

[Heavenly Spirit Restoration Pill]: "Refined using six spiritual veins, this peak-grade medicinal pill is capable of repairing innate flaws."

A jade container appeared out of thin air upon the table, its lid already ajar.

Nestled inside was a translucent pill enveloped in a purple haze, radiating a divine but controlled light.

Li Mo’s jaw hit the floor. His face froze, and he even stopped breathing for a few moments.

He had heard tales of such a treasure before.

He had been born prematurely.

His mother had been startled during her pregnancy, resulting in an early labor.

Because of this, he had been weak and prone to illness since birth, even struggling to walk until a year after his peers. The local gossip was harsh—people labeled him the "feeble runt of the powerful Li clan."

Though his father never said it aloud, his worry was plain to see. He had searched everywhere for a cure.

His search included the hunt for this exact medicine—the legendary "Innate Restoration Pill."

However, such items were beyond price.

Even if the Li family liquidated half their wealth, they would be lucky to obtain a mere two-veined pill.

Many influential clans fought over these elixirs, willing to spend any sum to cultivate their heirs. After all, who wouldn't desire a sturdier Foundation before beginning their journey in martial arts?

Consequently, Li Mo had never received one.

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

And a six-veined grade at that!

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

Every additional vein increased the pill's worth several times over, with the higher ranks becoming impossibly rare.

Six veins? Such a thing was unheard of to him. Its value was simply incalculable.

"Gulp—"

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

Li Mo licked his lips.

No matter how legendary an item was, it only belonged to him once it was in his stomach.

The pill dissolved the instant it hit his tongue, sliding down his throat and settling in his belly.

In the following heartbeat—

A surge of warmth raced through his limbs and frame, like schools of fish darting through his Meridians, organs, and bone marrow.

It felt as though a parched wasteland had been soaked by life-giving rain, or a dead tree had suddenly sprouted new leaves.

"Haa..."

Li Mo let out a long breath, his eyes snapping open, brimming with new life.

He felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The world looked sharper, as if a layer of fog had been wiped away. Even the scent of the air seemed sweet, and he felt filled with boundless vitality.

To use an imperfect comparison—

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

If he began his Cultivation training now, even if he wasn't a genius, he would at least be a solid, flawless piece of jade.

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

"And I got this just for a bowl of chicken soup?"

Li Mo was internally stunned.

The return on this investment was ridiculously high.

Naturally, the primary reason was likely the person he had "invested" in.

Ying Bing.

From his memories, Ying Bing was exactly like her name—

A block of ice.

Repairing their fractured relationship would be a difficult and long process, but the prizes were worth the effort.

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

"Steward Xu!"

"Young Master, what are your orders?"

The steward hurried into the room.

Li Mo lowered his voice cautiously. "Does Ying Bing have any foods she particularly likes?"

The steward blinked, pausing to think. "Not really. Lady Bing has never shown any preference for fine dining."

"What about other interests?"

"Well… I wouldn’t know, 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 servants to harass Ying Bing. Since when did he care about what she liked?

"Forget it. Sorry for bothering you."

Li Mo winced internally at his past actions.

As the steward turned to depart, he suddenly recalled a detail.

"Ah, Young Master, the Master gave orders that once we arrive at the city below the Clear Abyss Sect, we must take Lady Bing for a medical checkup. He provided two hundred taels for the fee. What should we do…?"

"Go ahead. And if that isn't enough, use my personal allowance to cover it."

Li Mo gave a dismissive wave.

If spending gold could bring such rewards, he would make that trade any day.

"We're starting early tomorrow. Go get some sleep."

"As you wish…"

The steward scratched his head and nodded.

What had gotten into the Young Master?

Lately, he had been strangely well-mannered—not just to him, but even toward Ying Bing.

Perhaps the journey had matured him and broadened his perspective?

---

The following morning.

The first light of dawn filtered into the room, reflecting off the frost on the walls.

A girl sat huddled on the bed, arms around her knees—resembling a sleeping snow spirit.

Ying Bing was dreaming.

She was dreaming of her previous life.

When she first joined the Clear Abyss Sect, she had been told her Meridians were blocked. It wasn't until a lucky encounter six months later that they were finally opened.

From that point on, her terrifying talent left all her rivals in the dust.

By the age of eighteen, even the Sect Leader could not defeat her.

She traveled beyond the Eastern Wasteland Domain to witness a much larger world.

The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were vast beyond measure.

Hidden Sects, ancient geniuses, the chosen of imperial bloodlines, and even reincarnated Elders—prodigies appeared everywhere like bamboo after a spring rain.

It was a magnificent era.

Yet, she remained the most brilliant star in the sky.

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

Eventually, she stood atop the Nine Heavens, equal to the Martial Emperor of the Central Yu Dynasty, and was titled the Phoenix Heaven.

The Nine Heavens—

The nine most powerful beings in existence.

And yet, even above them, there was a legendary, higher state.

Ying Bing’s eyes snapped open.

Everything was confirmed—she had truly returned to the past.

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

"It's still there?"

Floating before her eyes were lines of cryptic text.

It was invisible to everyone else, appearing as if it would wait forever for her to make a choice.

A… system?

Neither in her past life nor her present one had she ever seen such a thing.

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

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

After a moment of thought, she confirmed her choice.

[Ding. Binding finalized.]

[Host: Ying Bing.]

[This is the Peerless Prodigy System, designed to guide the host toward the path of invincibility.]

Ying Bing’s face remained calm.

The path of invincibility?

She had walked that path once before.

Her ascent had been unstoppable, outshining every other genius.

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

At her height, she would have to look through history books to find a peer.

In this life, she would only become more powerful.

[Complete all milestones, and you shall receive the chance to ascend to immortality.]

The system’s next words made her catch her breath.

Immortality.

That was a word found only in myths!

It was said that in every age, the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths would produce one peerless "Immortal."

An eternal being who transcended all life and death.

However, ever since the Yu Dynasty took control, the path to immortality had become a legend, as if the way had been cut off—making it even more mysterious.

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

With the road to immortality blocked, she had confidently chosen the most difficult path—one that only a few had ever completed in history.

But in the end, she had still fallen one step short...

Did this "system" actually possess the secret to immortality?

Ying Bing calmed her heartbeat and asked:

"What is the 'challenge'?"

[This system will track all talented martial artists of your generation within a specific area and rank them once a month.]

[Once the rankings are revealed, rewards will be given based on the host’s rank.]

[Current ranking area: Eastern Wasteland Domain.]

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

It wasn't just the rules, but also the many restrictions.

For instance, no outside help was allowed in the challenges.

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

These rules effectively prevented any cheating.

Even so...

A ranking of geniuses?

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

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

If the system spoke the truth, this would greatly speed up her return to her peak—and perhaps push her into that unknown realm.

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

A penalty for losing?

In both her lives, she had never known what it felt like to be surpassed.

The Central Divine Continent was famous for its heroes, but after she arrived, the younger generation lived in her shadow, trembling at the name "Bing."

There were even old monsters who tried to humble her by disguising themselves as young talents and suppressing their Cultivation.

They were only forced to show their true selves.

And they still lost.

[Prompt: Activate the defeat punishment mechanic?]

[Upon activation, rewards will be greater, but the host must perform the defeat punishment on the top challenger after the rankings are revealed.]

"I accept."

Ying Bing’s response was final.

She would certainly hold the top rank.

To her, this penalty was basically nonexistent.

This wasn't pride.

Since she had already proven her strength, why not get the best rewards possible?

[Defeat punishment mechanic successfully activated!]

Ying Bing opened her door and walked out.

"Morning."

Nearby, a young man happened to be leaving his room at the same time.

Their eyes met, and Li Mo smiled at her, a look as warm as the spring sun.

Compared to the day before, the gloom on his face was gone, replaced by a bright handsomeness.

Overnight, he seemed to have turned into a cheerful, radiant young man.

It was as if he had changed slightly from the memory she had of him.