She gulped and squeezed Izzy's hand. She knew she had to greet her properly.

  “I humbly bow to the Great Matriarch."

  "Matriarch? I haven’t held that title for a long time. What has that rascal told you? You don't need to address me formally.”

  The woman was dressed in long, light blue robes that touched the floor. They were exceptionally beautiful, more beautiful than anything she had ever seen.

  “I don't like to waste time, so let's get down to the point. Do you know why I made you come here?”

  “Izzy summarized the situation for me, but she didn't know herself why I would be visiting."

  The woman stared straight into her eyes the entire time. May felt her power and knew how strong she was. After all, she had been at the Nascent Soul stage in her human life. People at that stage could start their own sects and rule over hundreds of thousands of people. Even though she had probably lost some of her power, she was still extremely dangerous.

  "It makes sense, I didn't tell her anything after all. I sensed something... unusual in you."

  "Unusual... You say?"

  May gritted her teeth. She knew she shouldn't have detected the system, as Minnie had assured her. But she still felt afraid.

  That damn Minnie called her a second-rate ghost?! She can't be serious!

  “I guess that little girl told you a bit about my past?

  May wondered if she should answer, as it might be inappropriate. Her story was quite tragic.

  “Don’t worry about it, she mostly told you the plain truth. However, even most of the higher-ups in the sect don’t know the whole truth. Now can you show me what you're hiding?”

  May was confused. What was she talking about? She couldn't be referring to the system, could she? But apart from that, there was nothing unusual about her, except perhaps her talent.

  “What's the matter? I already know about it, so don't waste my time. At first, I only noticed your good talent, but then I noticed something else.”

  But May didn't really know what she was talking about. So she just looked at her dumbfounded.

  “I sense that you have something of a mage in you. Your hair indicates it, as does the strange energy in your body.”

  I have something of a mage in me? Of course, my mother is a mage, but there are many like me, so why... Oh, is that what she meant?

  Apart from her blood, she had something that no cultivator should have. A mage's ability, which she had won in a lottery from the system. Until now, she hadn't used it even once... Could that be what she meant? She decided to check the skill description.

  “Are you referring to the mage ability I possess?”

  “Ability...? Hmm, perhaps. If you are a cultivator who could use the abilities of mages, then you would truly have achieved something impossible.”

  She fell into deep thought and only after a moment continued her thoughts.

  “Skills are among the things that are imprinted within the soul. You possess the energy typical for mages, despite being a cultivator. Can you show me this ability?”

  She had never used this skill before, but she was quite confident. The system had fed her all the necessary information, and she was sure she could use this ability perfectly. However, in order to do so...

  “To do that, I need some kind of potion. A healing potion, for example.”

  “A potion? Wait a minute. Here. It's called Princess Kim's Vermilion Potion.”

  She took it in her hand. She instinctively knew how to use this skill. It was completely different and much more complex than her other skills.

  She felt a strange power within her. Then her Qi flowed out and merged with the potion the spirit had given her. She decided to use about 50 units of Qi energy.

  She threw the mixture from her hand onto the ground. However, it did not break, but stood still for a second, then glowed with light. She imagined the shape of the shelter she wanted it to take.

  Then the light from the potion expanded and formed a small, translucent red tetrahedron. The ability worked.

  “Unbelievable! What a complicated skill! It allows you to connect the physical and quasi-dimensional characteristics of a potion and blend them with reality, stripping the potion of its properties while simultaneously separating a specific path of the potion? While not powerful, it should have numerous applications. There’s no way you learned that on your own!” She paused than added: "It's really a mage's skill, but it's been adapted for use by cultivators... Strange."

  She didn't understand half of what she said. Although she knew the words, they didn't make sense to her in that context. She didn't learn it herself, so she only knew the result, not how it came to be.

  Am I fucked?

  “Hmm! I see the look on your face. I don't give a damn where you learned that. Now I see that I need you. Everyone has their secrets, and dead people like me shouldn't be interested in such matters anymore. As long as you're not a threat to the sect, I won't do anything about it. Just don't show it to anyone else until you reach the Golden Core stage.”

  Golden Core! In the entire sect, this signified the position of High Elder! The Island Mountain Sect had only eight people at this level. All of them were over a hundred years old.

  Despite her words, she still didn't feel calm. May couldn't trust her completely. They might have belonged to the same sect, and perhaps she really wanted to stay out of the affairs of the living, but May still felt she had to be cautious around her.

  “You need me you said?” She felt uncomfortable talking about her abilities, so she decided to talk about something else.

  “Yes, I see potential. But tell me, how is it possible that you connected with chaos while being a cultivator?”

  “Chaos?” She had no idea what she was talking about.

  “What? Are you telling me you don't know what you did? How could you use Qi to force your way into...? Nah, forget it.”

  “Honestly, I don't know what I did... I felt some strange energy inside me. Is that the chaos you were talking about?”

  The ghost stared at her and sighed as if she was talking to the biggest moron in the world.

  “Yes. It was chaos remains I sensed earlier in the arena. Do you know the difference between mages and cultivators?”

  “Um, I think so? I know they have different systems that are incompatible with each other. They also have a different ranking system. I know that mages indicate their strength with numbers, like first circle mage or second circle mage.”

  “Hmph. That's just the result. The real difference comes from the source from which a person derives their Qi energy, or mana in the case of mages. Do you know where Qi comes from?

  She hadn't expected that question. To be honest, she had thought about it before, but she didn't know the clear answer. So she decided to play dumb.

  “Qi energy is simply in the air, isn't it?” She said. She repeated her father's words from when she had asked him about it.

  “Qi energy is all around us, but where does it come from? There are actually a few sources. The first one is in the heavens and is called the Sun.”

  The Sun? So that’s the source of Qi... Interesting, if that’s true, it must have some special qualities. Could it be some kind of special type of star?

  “That's where most of the Qi in the world comes from. Thanks to this power, plants grow and life can exist here. We cultivators absorb this Qi from the air - which comes from the Sun.”

  “And what about mages?”

  “Mages derive their energy from somewhere else. There are different names for it: chaos, or sometimes the Void. A small portion of the qi energy in the environment also comes from this so-called chaos. It's... a sort of metaphysical world that is connected to ours. That's enough for now. You'll have to find out the rest yourself. I didn't ask you to come here to explain everything to you. I'm just surprised you don't know this, since you use this power yourself.”

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  She didn't know because it was the system's fault. She shouldn't have been able to use the power of mages, but because of that stupid lottery, she gained that ability.

  She didn't plan to ask anything else. She had learned a lot already.

  But chaos and void? Thatis quite unsettling. So that explains why cultivators can't use mage abilities; they have different sources.

  “How much have you heard about me? Tell me briefly.” Spirit asked.

  May hesitated for a moment but decided to answer honestly.

  “I heard that you were once the leader of a sect. You were wounded on the battlefield and died during labor, which is how you became a spirit.”

  “Hmm, yes, essentially. But there are many details missing, so let me explain for context.”

  Lin Yun was the third leader of the sect after her father. Her reign started during tough times of endless wars. It was a time of rapid expansion for the Imperial Love Sect, which took over the nearby sects. Lin Yun was the most talented person of her generation in the sect. On top of that, she was the daughter of the current leader. She was the obvious choice to be his successor. She was known at the time as the Demonic Fairy of War.

  Known for her extraordinary beauty, but also for her ruthlessness, she was extremely cruel and merciless on the battlefield. She grew up on the battlefield, which allowed her to develop her cultivation level at an frightening pace. However, she was deprived of parental love and friendship. She knew only slaughter.

  Finally, after only 80 years, she reached the Nascent Soul stage. She replaced her old father as leader. She wanted to start a new era in the history of the sect. Unfortunately, only more wars awaited her.

  For the next thirty years after taking over as leader of the sect, she fought relentlessly. She had never known love in her life.

  But one day, everything changed. For the first time in her life, she fallen in love.

  How could a monster that had lived for hundreds of years fall in love so easily? She was like a desert that was experiencing water for the first time, replacing the heat with a pleasant coolness.

  It was not an ill-fated love, nor was it a conspiracy. It was true love, the kind so rare in this world. For the first time in hundreds of years, she was truly happy. For the first time in her life, she slept peacefully, without worrying about the fate of the sect. For the first time, she learned to cherish music, because he loved it too. She became interested in art, rather than just swords and cultivation. She noticed the beauty of the world for the first time.

  What is the point of living 500 years if I have to spend 490 of them locked in a room cultivating?

  However, it was forbidden love. Between a mage and a cultivator.

  Hundreds of years ago, before the Witch from the Stars and the Silent Destruction, such relationships were not commonly accepted. However, she was at the top of the sect. She could do whatever she wanted, and no one had a say in the matter. However, the war did not end. She had to continue fighting for the sect so that she could see her happy ending.

  She finally got pregnant. She had waited so long for this. But it happened at the worst possible moment. Right in the peak of the war and the final battle for everything. She had to take part in this fight. If she hadn't, she would have died anyway. It was her only chance. Her beloved also took part in it, despite her pleas.

  “You already know the end of the story.”

  May listened attentively to the whole story. She felt a little moved. If she was being honest, she really wasn’t a bad person. She sympathized with her.

  “Yes, I know. But I don't know what that has to do with me.”

  “Because that was just the beginning of the story. You see... I'm not the only spirit who was born out of this whole situation.”

  She's not the only ghost? She began to wonder. After a moment, she remembered that her beloved had also taken part in that battle.

  “Could it be your husband?” she asked.

  “No. Besides, we never got married. It's about... my child. It is still alive... Or rather not alive."She stopped and then continued. “Tiyanak. That's exactly what happened to my beloved child. That's the name of this type of evil spirit. Normally, it would be easy to perform an exorcism, but... Not in this case.”

  “Can you explain?”

  “You see, in order for the soul of a deceased spirit to return to the cycle of reincarnation, it must be exorcised. Alternatively, the spirit can be eliminated, but that would result in the complete destruction of the soul... I cannot do that to my child; I want him to find peace; I cannot allow his soul to be destroyed!”

  “I understand and I'm sorry, but I don't know...”

  “Hardly anyone knows about the monster my child has turned into. My child is trapped in the sect's headquarters. Even most Elders don't know this. You must keep this a secret.”

  “I won't tell anyone about this.”

  “Of course, either that or I’ll kill you. Anyway, aren’t you yourself the child of a mage and a cultivator? Are you aware of a certain unique physique that can arise from such a pairing?

  Some people were born with something known as Unique Physique. It was a special type of body. There were different types of this phenomenon—some gave superhuman strength, others made it easy to control mana, or granted special abilities. They were extremely rare. Not all of them had positive effects.

  “I've never heard of such a Unique Physique.”

  “My child was born with a Unique Physique known as Dual Energy True Body. It only happens once in a million, exclusively from the union of a powerful mage and a powerful cultivator.”

  One in a million? That's really rare...

  “But you know what's funny about that? Children like that never live to see adulthood, they always die shortly after birth. So my child was doomed to die anyway.” She said with sadness, her eyes staring into nothingness.

  “Once again, I'm sorry.”

  “You don't have to be sorry. It was bound to happen anyway. Unfortunately, my anger and despair turned it into a spirit. You see, babies with such a unique physique are born with their bodies imbued with Qi and mana. This would normally cause their death, but because my child turned into a Tiyanak, it was able to live with this condition.” She said.

  After a moment's thought, she continued.

  “You see, exorcists specialize. Some spirits draw their strength from chaos, while others draw it from their surroundings. However, due to its unique physique, it possesses both. I searched for hundreds of years for the right exorcist, dozens died, no one was able to give my child peace because it possessed two different types of energy. That's why it's so difficult. Exorcism is a bit like untangling a knot. However, when there are two types of energy, they are like multiple tangled knots at once. It's easier to cut them than to untangle them. But I don't want to do that.”

  May finally understood. She was a cultivator, but she was able to use the abilities of mages. Although only indirectly, she used her Qi to draw from chaos.

  Spirits usually used one type of energy, but her child possessed two. It also required exorcism with two types of energy, but that was physically impossible. A cultivator could not be a mage, and a mage could not be a cultivator. At least, not until now.

  “I see you understand.”

  “Yes, but... I'm sorry, I don't think I have the skills to...”

  "Of course you don't. I brought powerful exorcists in the Nascent Soul stage from the Xian continent, and even they were helpless. Once, five 6th-level mages and two Golden Core stage cultivators pondered this dilemma."

  “So what should I do?”

  "Become stronger. I thought there was no hope... Even when I saw you and felt that strange energy, I didn't think you could do it. But then you revealed that you could sense my presence... That means you have the potential to be an exorcist. Your spiritual awareness may not be as strong as that girl's, but it should still be enough. When you reach the Golden Core stage, come to me. I have studied exorcism for hundreds of years. I will teach you everything."

  May was shocked. That woman may have been dead, but she was once at the Nascent Soul stage! That's more than three major stages higher than she is now!

  However, after a moment, she began to think more deeply.

  On the other hand, she only cares about exorcising her child. She doesn't want to teach me powerful techniques, and I never wanted to be an exorcist myself. Besides, so many experts couldn't do it... What if I waste decades on it?

  “I can see you're worried, but don't worry. I'll compensate you. First of all, I can guarantee that you'll become an Inner Disciple in the sect in two years.”

  May was shocked! Every year, only a few, maybe four or five people from the Outer Court could get into the Inner Court! Not only that, but she would become not just a Disciple, but an Inner Disciple! It was a significant difference. Every cultivator dreamed of this, as it meant that she would only be subordinate to the sect and could focus solely on cultivation.

  "And that's just for your cooperation. If you manage to carry out the exorcism, I'll give you all my money, as I won't need it anymore, because I'll finally find peace. Let me just say that even the High Elders would be impressed by such a sum. We're talking about a million in cash. In addition, my possessions are worth tens of millions if you decide to sell them."

  May trembled. That amount was exactly what she needed! Her Pay-To-Win system required huge sums of money, and this task could make that possible.

  “I agree!”

  “Hmph! Children these days! All they care about is money. Now go away and leave us alone. Come back when you reach the Golden Core stage.”

  May stood up and was about to leave when she realized that she should take advantage of the situation even more. After all, the ghost was on her side and couldn't do anything to her as it needed her.

  Standing before the spirit, she decided to ask.

  “May I ask a few more questions unrelated to this topic?”

  “How dare you! Kids these days... But you did let me regain hope, so I'll let it slide. Ask away, but you only get three questions, and only because I'm being generous.”

  Only three... I had at least fifty questions, but never mind. That's enough.

  “Deng Zhifang, one of the children at the tournament, could you tell me his secret? I suspected he had unique physiques because of his slight purple glowing hair and unnaturally black eyes.” She had suspected him for quite some time. Izzy had also said something strange to her, so for peace of mind, she decided to satisfy her curiosity.

  “Deng...? Oh, I know. I was surprised by that. He doesn't have a unique physique. What makes him special is his race. He's a Cambion. The sect hasn't decided what to do with him yet.”

  “A Cambion?! So he's the child of a human and a Succubus?!” May was shocked. She had heard of such things, but she had never expected it. Why was she coming into contact with ghosts and demons on this one day?! What was going on?

  “Is that your next question?”

  May quickly shook her head. She was still shocked by this information, but decided to think about it later.

  “What would happen if someone discovered my secret?”

  "It depends. You would probably be safe within the sect itself, but someone might try to get rid of you. People with unique physiques, special abilities, or absurd talents are often victims of hostile Sects. You possess both a rare ability and remarkable talent. Therefore, until you reach the Inner Court, it is best not to reveal your talent too much, and it is best not to reveal your ‘magical’ abilities until you reach the golden core stage." She nodded and decided that from now on, when she returned to Academy, she would act cautiously.

  "Last question."

  “Yes. I heard that our sect is in a difficult situation. I want to hear the truth. Are we facing war? If so, when? With whom? No one wants to reveal any details to us.” She had to know the answer to that question. It had been bothering her for a long time. If her sect was on the brink of collapse, it would be better to escape. She had no attachment to this sect, so she preferred to save her own life.

  "This isn't just one question, but whatever, I just want to get rid of you. You weren't told about this because you're kids and no one wants to cause panic. Not to mention that you don't belong to the Inner Court, so you don't have access to restricted information. And finally, I'll just add that you phrased it in such a way as to imply that the sect is in crisis and that you want to escape. Don't you dare ask anyone else that question again, or you could be accused of treason." Said the woman. May was frightened because she immediately recognized all her hidden thoughts about escape.

  "However, I won't be like that and I'll answer you. The Sect really isn't in the best situation. All the neighboring sects have at least a few people at the Nascent Soul level, we only have our leader. But don't worry, as he still has at least 100 years left. Of course, for people at this stage, that's a very short time. However, at least nothing should happen during that time. Of course, there's more, but I'm not going to tell you anything else. Now go away. I don't want to see you here anymore. And don't forget, you can't tell anyone about this meeting."

  May stood up, bowed to the spirit, and was about to leave when she remembered something.

  “I know it's not appropriate to ask another question, but why did you tell Izzy to surrender? Even if I had lost, you could have met me.”

  The spirit frowned. She was clearly annoyed.

  Had I gone too far?

  “I just don't like that girl. Now go away.”

  May left the basement and walked back through the garden, thinking about the whole encounter. When she returned to the mansion and lay down on her bed, she was unable to fall asleep and watched the sun rise in the morning.