That alone separated him from most cultivators.
The moment someone discovered a powerful opportunity, they usually charged forward—afraid the chance would disappear if they hesitated. But Li Ren had spent years dealing with desperate people and unstable situations.
Rushing into a large debt without preparation was how collectors disappeared.
So instead of seeking out the inner disciple immediately, he spent the next two days doing something far less impressive.
He gathered information.
Mei Lin proved invaluable.
She moved through servant routes unnoticed, exchanging small favors for small pieces of knowledge. A cleaned uniform here. A shared meal there. Quiet conversations near water wells and storage halls.
By evening of the second day, she returned with a folded scrap of paper.
“Everything I could confirm,” she said, handing it over.
Li Ren read silently.
Zhao Wei — Inner Disciple
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Recently advanced cultivation
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Known for entering inheritance sites
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Close to Inner Elder Fang
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Rarely leaves inner grounds alone
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Reputation: talented but opportunistic
Li Ren nodded.
“Any enemies?”
“None openly,” Mei Lin said. “But people avoid partnering with him twice.”
That told Li Ren enough.
A cultivator who broke agreements without consequences eventually ran out of willing allies.
“That means the inheritance story is believable,” he said.
She leaned against the wall.
“What’s the plan?”
Li Ren folded the paper carefully.
“We don’t confront him yet.”
Mei Lin frowned slightly. “Why not?”
“Because inner disciples don’t fear servants,” he said. “And they don’t fear outer disciples either.”
He looked toward the distant inner peaks.
“But they do fear exposure.”
That evening, Li Ren met Zhou Ke again near the training grounds.
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“I need something,” Li Ren said.
Zhou Ke crossed his arms. “Depends what it is.”
“Witnesses,” Li Ren replied. “Anyone who knows Zhao Wei entered that inheritance site.”
Zhou Ke hesitated.
“That’s risky.”
“I’m not asking them to testify,” Li Ren said. “Just confirmation.”
Zhou Ke considered it.
“…I might know two people,” he said. “They won’t speak publicly, but they’ll confirm privately.”
“That’s enough.”
Zhou Ke nodded once.
“I’ll arrange it.”
The confirmations came the next night.
Two outer disciples met Li Ren separately.
Neither stayed long.
Neither wanted their names mentioned.
But both confirmed the same thing:
Zhao Wei had returned from the inheritance site alone.
And much richer than before.
That was all Li Ren needed.
Because debts weren’t enforced by accusations.
They were enforced by truth.
Late that night, Li Ren opened his system.
Divine Debt Ledger
Host: Li Ren
Realm: Interest Gatherer (Stage 1)
Debt Qi: 144/200
The new entry pulsed faintly.
Major Target: Zhao Wei
Debt: Inheritance default
Value: 48 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Validated
A new option appeared beneath it.
Collection Authority Available
Li Ren exhaled slowly.
Now it was official.
The system recognized the debt fully.
Which meant karmic law would respond.
But inner disciples were dangerous outside lawful collection.
So timing mattered.
He closed the interface.
“Tomorrow,” he murmured.
The inner disciple grounds were quieter than expected.
Tall pavilions rose above carefully maintained gardens. Spiritual energy was noticeably denser here, making breathing feel lighter and thoughts clearer.
Li Ren walked calmly along the path.
Several inner disciples glanced at him with mild confusion. A servant walking here was unusual—but not forbidden if assigned errands.
Zhao Wei stood near a stone platform overlooking a small pond.
He looked exactly as Mei Lin described: composed, confident, and completely at ease.
Above his head, golden text appeared.
Target: Zhao Wei
Debt: Inheritance default
Creditor: Ren Tao
Total: 48 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Li Ren approached and stopped several steps away.
“Inner Disciple Zhao Wei,” he said.
Zhao Wei turned slowly.
His gaze swept over Li Ren, assessing him in a single glance.
“A servant?” he said. “You’re lost.”
“No,” Li Ren replied calmly. “I’m here regarding an unpaid inheritance share.”
Zhao Wei’s expression did not change.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
“You should be careful with accusations,” he said.
“I’m not accusing,” Li Ren said. “I’m collecting.”
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the air shifted.
The system activated.
Lawful Collection Initiated
Karmic Protection Active
Zhao Wei’s brow furrowed.
A faint pressure settled over him.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
“…What technique is this?” he asked quietly.
“No technique,” Li Ren replied. “Just balance.”
Zhao Wei studied him more carefully now.
“You think you can enforce a claim against an inner disciple?”
Li Ren met his gaze.
“The inheritance was shared between three participants,” he said. “One died. One was abandoned. You took the full reward.”
Silence stretched between them.
The pressure grew heavier.
Zhao Wei’s fingers twitched slightly.
He could feel it.
An invisible weight pressing against his qi circulation.
He tested his killing intent.
Instantly, pain flickered through his meridians.
He stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
“…Interesting,” he murmured.
“So the debt is real,” Li Ren said.
Zhao Wei exhaled slowly.
“How much?”
“Forty-eight spirit stones equivalent.”
Zhao Wei chuckled softly.
“You aim high.”
“It’s accurate.”
Zhao Wei turned toward the pond, thinking.
Unlike the outer disciples, he didn’t panic.
He calculated.
After several seconds, he spoke.
“I won’t deny the inheritance,” he said. “But I won’t hand over that amount either.”
Li Ren waited.
Zhao Wei turned back.
“We negotiate,” he said.
Li Ren raised an eyebrow.
“On what basis?”
Zhao Wei smiled faintly.
“Because collecting from me will have consequences outside this… karmic protection.”
A fair point.
Li Ren nodded slightly.
“Then make an offer.”
Zhao Wei considered him carefully.
“Twenty spirit stones now,” he said. “And a future favor.”
Li Ren didn’t answer immediately.
The system flickered.
Partial Settlement Proposal Detected
He looked at Zhao Wei.
The real collection had begun.
Not through force.
But negotiation.