Chapter 2: The System’s Secrets

The night was cold and still, the stars like silent witnesses to Lin Tian's newfound power. Beside him, Li Xue slept fitfully, her bruised body wrapped in a thin cloak, the golden mark of the Loyalty Contract still glowing faintly on her chest.

Lin Tian rose and stepped away from the dying embers of their small campfire. His mind buzzed with questions about the Divine Fortune System. He focused inward, calling forth the System's interface.

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[Divine Fortune System Interface]

[Welcome back, Lin Tian.]

[Accessing: System Codex, Wealth Treasury, Loyalty Contract Management.]

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"System," he murmured. "Show me your true purpose."

The panel flickered, then expanded—panels sliding aside to reveal deeper layers of information. A scroll of ancient text unfurled, its words burning in his mind like a divine edict:

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[System Codex: Origins & Purpose]

The Divine Fortune System was born from the final wish of the God of Commerce and Dominion—an entity who believed that wealth and loyalty were the true pillars of sovereignty.

> "Wealth is the root of influence. Loyalty is the seal of fate."

The System was sealed away by the other gods, fearing its power to bend nations to a single will. Now awakened, it seeks a new Sovereign to reshape the world.

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A shiver ran down Lin Tian's spine. To bend nations? To reshape the world?

Another panel bloomed open, illuminating the night with its glow:

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[Core Functions]

1️⃣ Wealth Accumulation:

All gold, artifacts, and treasures acquired fuel the Divine Treasury.

Wealth unlocks System Credits—resources that strengthen the Sovereign's skills, combat abilities, and trade dominion.

2️⃣ Loyalty Contracts:

Forged through a binding ritual—different for men and women:

— Women: Must offer their body and soul, forging an intimate, unbreakable bond.

— Men: Must obey every order, surrendering their will completely.

Loyalty is measured from 0%–100%. At 100%, betrayal becomes impossible; their soul is bound eternally to the Sovereign's will.

3️⃣ System Rewards:

— Skill Points: Enhance combat, business, or strategic talents.

— Divine Artifacts: Rings, weapons, and relics with unique abilities.

— Soulbound Followers: Gain powerful abilities, fully loyal.

— Wealth Generation: Merchant networks, trade monopolies, or spiritual mines.

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Lin Tian's eyes gleamed as he read each line. Wealth. Power. Loyalty. These were more than tools—they were weapons forged by the gods themselves.

The panel continued:

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[Loyalty System: Betrayal & Punishment]

— Loyalty below 30%: Follower may defect under threat or bribe.

— Loyalty 31%–70%: Moderate risk; betrayal possible under extreme duress.

— Loyalty 71%–99%: Strong loyalty; betrayal requires powerful external forces.

— Loyalty 100%: Soul-Binding Threshold. Betrayal impossible. Their fate is sealed.

[Punishments for Betrayal]

— Curse Mark: Causes searing pain or disables abilities.

— Soul Burn: Damages or destroys a portion of their soul.

— Death: For those at higher loyalty, betrayal is met with instant death.

[Divine Treasury: Wealth Management]

— Coins, precious metals, spiritual artifacts, and even cultivation treasures can be stored.

— Treasury funds can be spent on summoning followers, upgrading personal abilities, or enhancing domains.

[Host Benefits]

— Cultivation Speed Boost

— Charisma Enhancement

— Strategic Skill Unlocks

— Ritual Upgrades

— Domain Control: Shape territories, cities, or realms.

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Lin Tian's lips curled into a cold smile. This was no mere system; it was a throne waiting to be claimed. Every coin, every contract, every soul was another step toward that throne.

He turned back to Li Xue, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The Loyalty Contract mark glowed faintly, a promise—and a threat.

"Rest well," he murmured. "Your loyalty is my foundation."

The night wind carried his words into the darkness, and the System hummed in his mind:

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[System Alert]

[Mission Updated: Amass Wealth, Forge Followers, Claim Territories.]

[Reward: System Credits x500, Skill Points x5.]

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Lin Tian's eyes burned with ambition. Let the world tremble before his wealth and loyalty.

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End of Chapter 2.