Li Ren spent the next hour pretending to sweep the courtyard.

  In reality, he was studying the floating numbers above everyone’s heads.

  The more he looked, the more he realized something important.

  Not all debts were equal.

  Some servants had tiny debts—half a spirit stone, maybe one at most. Others had numbers that had grown strangely large over time.

  One old man in the corner had this above his head:

  Debt: 1 spirit stone

  Interest: +600% (10 years unpaid)

  Total: 7 spirit stones equivalent

  Li Ren stopped sweeping.

  One stone… became seven?

  His collector instincts immediately kicked in.

  “That’s not just a debt,” he whispered. “That’s compound interest.”

  He felt an odd sense of nostalgia.

  Back on Earth, compound interest was the backbone of every credit system. Mortgages, loans, credit cards—it was all built on time increasing value.

  But here…

  Time didn’t just increase money.

  It increased power.

  Li Ren glanced at his system interface.

  Debt Qi: 15/100

  Realm: Ledger Initiate (Stage 1)

  He still didn’t know what the next realm would bring, but if eight spirit stones’ worth of strength gave him this much improvement…

  Then seven from a single old debt wasn’t bad at all.

  He slowly approached the old man.

  The servant was thin and hunched, with gray hair tied into a loose knot. His hands trembled as he scrubbed the stone floor.

  “Old man,” Li Ren said gently, “what’s your name?”

  The servant looked up, surprised.

  “Eh? You’re talking to me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Name’s Wu,” the old man said. “Just call me Old Wu. Been here longer than most of these brats have been alive.”

  Li Ren nodded.

  “You borrowed one spirit stone ten years ago from someone named Zhao, didn’t you?”

  Old Wu’s eyes widened.

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  “How did you—”

  He suddenly looked around in panic.

  “Keep your voice down!” he whispered. “If the steward hears that, I’m finished!”

  So it was true.

  Li Ren felt a familiar calm settle into his chest. The same calm he used to feel when a debtor accidentally confirmed their own case.

  “Did you ever pay it back?” Li Ren asked.

  Old Wu lowered his head.

  “No… The boy I borrowed it from died during a sect trial two years later. After that, no one ever came to collect.”

  Li Ren frowned.

  “So the debt just… stayed?”

  Old Wu nodded weakly.

  “I always meant to repay it. But every year, there was less food… more work… less strength.”

  He coughed lightly.

  “I doubt I have much time left anyway.”

  Li Ren glanced at the system window.

  Available Collateral:

  - 2 years lifespan

  - Minor vitality

  He hesitated.

  Back on Earth, he had collected from desperate people before.

  But this… felt different.

  If he took the old man’s lifespan, it might kill him.

  He studied Old Wu for a moment.

  “Who was Zhao?” Li Ren asked.

  “A junior disciple,” Old Wu said. “Kind boy. Helped me when I was sick. I promised I’d repay him in a month… but I never could.”

  His voice trembled.

  “Debt like that… it weighs on the heart.”

  Li Ren felt something shift inside him.

  The system suddenly flickered.

  Debt Nature Analysis:

  Type: Honest Debt

  Emotional Weight: High

  Collection Method Recommended:

  - Gentle extraction

  - Non-lethal collateral

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “So even the system has ethics,” he muttered.

  Old Wu blinked. “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  Li Ren crouched down.

  “You still owe the debt,” he said calmly. “But I won’t take your lifespan.”

  Old Wu looked stunned. “You won’t?”

  “No.”

  Li Ren checked the system again.

  “Minor vitality… that should be safe.”

  He extended his hand.

  “Let’s settle it properly.”

  The golden chain appeared again between them.

  Debt Collection Initiated.

  Collateral: Minor Vitality

  Old Wu shivered slightly, but he didn’t collapse like Liu Bo had.

  Instead, a faint glow left his body and flowed into Li Ren.

  Warmth spread through Li Ren’s chest.

  Stronger than before.

  Collection Successful.

  Debt Qi Gained: +12

  Li Ren’s eyes widened.

  “Twelve?”

  That was more than double what he got from Liu Bo.

  The system displayed another message.

  Interest Bonus Applied:

  Old Debt Multiplier: +140%

  Emotional Weight Bonus: +60%

  Li Ren let out a low whistle.

  “So older debts really do grow stronger…”

  Old Wu touched his chest.

  “…Strange,” he murmured. “I feel lighter somehow.”

  Li Ren looked at him.

  “The debt is gone,” he said. “You’re free of it now.”

  Old Wu’s eyes grew moist.

  “After ten years… it’s finally settled.”

  He bowed his head deeply.

  “Thank you.”

  Li Ren felt slightly uncomfortable.

  Back on Earth, no one ever thanked him after he collected a debt.

  They usually threatened to sue.

  Or worse.

  He cleared his throat and stood up.

  “Just… don’t borrow things you can’t repay next time.”

  Old Wu chuckled weakly. “At my age? I’ll be lucky if I borrow another breath.”

  The system window appeared again.

  Debt Qi: 27/100

  Realm: Ledger Initiate (Stage 1)

  Passive Insight Unlocked:

  Compound Interest Awareness

  - Older debts yield higher rewards

  Li Ren’s eyes gleamed.

  So time is power.

  That meant somewhere in this world…

  There had to be debts hundreds, maybe thousands of years old.

  He felt his pulse quicken.

  Ancient sect betrayals… forgotten promises… broken oaths…

  Those would be worth unimaginable power.

  He forced himself to calm down.

  “One step at a time,” he whispered.

  That was another rule of debt collection.

  Big targets required preparation.

  Leverage.

  Timing.

  And patience.

  His gaze drifted back to Steward Han. The golden text above the man’s head practically shone.

  Debt: 5,100 spirit stones equivalent

  Status: High Priority

  Li Ren smiled faintly.

  “Now that,” he murmured, “is a long-term investment.”