Beneath the enlightenment tree, Noah Drake was currently lying on three round stone tables lined up in succession.
"Why is thinking of a suitable name so hard...?"
This enlightenment tree was truly remarkable. The fragrance it emitted had an incredible calming effect, making him both relaxed and alert, as if nothing was beyond understanding...
Sitting beneath the tree, names flooded into his mind uncontrollably like a river overflowing a village: Heavenly Dragon Manor, Cloud Dream Manor, Heavenly Wind Manor, Yellow Flower Manor, Clear Water Manor, Vast Sky Manor, Milky Way Manor, Snow Moon Manor, Sunlight Manor...
All of these names were excellent and powerful, but something was missing... It lacked my personal mark. The name must reflect my ambition and willpower... Yes, think again...
Under the tree, memories flooded back — sleepless nights reading novels, the times when the protagonist was weak, hunted down, feeling frustration and sympathy for their helplessness. I am a reincarnated emperor... There's no way I should walk such a difficult path. The path I walk must be famous throughout the ages... it must be domineering, straight, without weakness... I need a name that represents strong will, dominance, fearlessness, and walking the path of invincibility... Dominator Manor? Too mindless... Invincible Manor? Too vulgar... Tiger Manor? It fits like my group of friends... Yes, this fits my situation perfectly...
"This estate shall be named Tiger Manor...Tigers Leopard Manor--symbolizing fearlessness and strength to face all challenges..."
"Blood? When did I get a nosebleed... feeling a bit dizzy... exhausted..."
He fell asleep...
When he woke up, it was already dusk.
Looking at the peaceful sunset, the last rays of light filtered through the leaves, and birds flew in flocks back to their nests.
Noah Drake.
"System, how long have I slept?"
"You have slept for 4 hours."
"From noon till dusk?"
The system reported: "Three hours ago, an injured person arrived seeking help from the manor, and this person is now close to death. Would you like to assist?"
An image appeared: a middle-aged man, covered in dirt, his clothes torn and bloodied, leaning against the door, seemingly unconscious...
Noah Drake... "Three hours ago?" ... He took a deep breath... and instantly woke up.
"Quick, save them!"
A series of windows appeared.
"Rescue confirmed... Successful.
"The contract has been established.
"Congratulations, host, for accepting your first member and achieving the 'First Handshake' milestone. You have been awarded 10 gatherings with the heavens.
"The guild function has been unlocked...
"Reminder: The manor is divided into five hierarchical levels by default.
"The highest is the ruling level, followed by enforcers, members, residents, and at the lowest, those with debt contracts with the manor. Members can rise in rank once they contribute enough.
"This is the initial setup, and you can modify it as the manor's level increases.
"Reminder:
"The new member has a contract with the estate. As the manor lord, you may assign various positions, but their status will not change."
Noah Drake...
"Saving someone... and now a contracted manor member? Explain?"
"Note: The system's rescue function cannot be free. The price this person must pay is serving as a resident of the manor for three years."
Character note:
Name: Zhao Yu (the manor's debtor)
Status: Resident (for three years)
Background: The youngest elder of the War God Temple, considered the successor to the temple master.
Cultivation: Core Formation stage.
Locked information (will unlock as your level increases).
Core Formation stage... Elder of the War God Temple...
Is this guy a big shot...?
A profile appeared: Middle-aged, dignified, handsome, tall, with a face full of authority. Just by looking, you could tell this person was upright and trustworthy...
"He has to serve the manor for three years? I start off with the support of a Core Formation stage elder?"
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the screen in front of him.
"You are my first subordinate. As long as you are loyal, I will not treat you unfairly."
"Yes... First impressions are crucial... I will be a reasonable and reliable manor lord."
After all, a Core Formation stage cultivator, having him as a regular servant lacks dignity. I'll make him the manager... that way, he won't feel too wronged.
...
Lying on the bed, Zhao Yu slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I...?"
Next to him, Noah Drake saw that the elder had awakened and spoke softly but seriously.
"You are in my manor. I saved you after finding you injured outside. What happened to you?"
Zhao Yu lay on the bed, realizing his wounds had completely healed, even old internal injuries gone. His eyes were filled with disbelief as he looked at the young man sitting beside him. Dressed oddly, his face unremarkable, no spiritual power emanating from his body, yet his eyes were as deep as the sky itself.
Realizing the person before him might be a reclusive senior, Zhao Yu knelt down.
"Junior Zhao Yu, thank you, senior, for saving my life."
Noah Drake. ??
He's calling me a senior...? Must be the system...
Noah Drake straightened up, waved his hand, and calmly replied.
"It was nothing. This place is very safe. Can you tell me what happened to you?"
Zhao Yu thought to himself, "This senior is really kind."
"Senior, during an exploration of some ruins with my disciples, we accidentally encountered a spatial rift. To ensure my disciples escaped safely, I sacrificed myself to protect them and was swept into the rift. Fortunately, within the chaotic space, I found this manor. At first, I called for help, but received no response for a long time. I thought I was going to die, but in the end, thank you, senior, for saving me. I will never forget this kindness."
Hearing this, Noah Drake felt a little guilty and patted him on the shoulder to console him.
"Surviving is what matters... Can't blame me for this, I was... busy at the time."
"Alright, you can repay me by staying at the manor for three years and helping me out. How does that sound?"
Zhao Yu's face lit up with joy.
"Serving by senior's side is an honor for me. However, may I first return to my sect to report my safety and handle some affairs? After that, I will return to the manor to serve you."
The sound of the system echoed.
A warning for debtors of the manor: they cannot leave the boundaries of the estate until their debt is fully repaid or permission is granted by the creditor. Currently, the creditor of Zhao Yu is the Divine Order, meaning Zhao Yu's servant cannot leave the manor until the heavenly law agrees. Attempting to leave will result in the contract being revoked.
Noah Drake remained silent... then turned to look at Zhao Yu, shaking his head:
"For now, you cannot leave this manor. If you need to inform someone, you can use sound transmission or send a letter, right?"
Zhao Yu fell silent... Entering the spatial rift would cause his storage bag to shatter immediately, and all his belongings would be lost. As for sound transmission, where was he? Could sound transmission even work here? The elder must not believe him...
"Elder, I swear I will return, I have no intention of running away..."
...
Noah Drake...
"Well, look at that, you confess before even being questioned, planning to run away, huh? Outwardly, you say you'll repay your debt, but behind my back... truly, you can't be trusted. In the world of cultivation, everyone deceives one another; you can't afford to be naive. Only absolute power is the real truth."
"No... perhaps it's still too early for this person to fully submit to me. I need to be a bit tougher."
"For now, you cannot leave this manor. If you leave, your injuries will immediately return. Stay here, and after three years, you'll be completely free."
Hearing this, Zhao Yu realized something was off. He was about to explain further when the back of his hand suddenly heated up. On it, the word "debt" was blood-red, imprinted without him noticing...
Confused...
"Elder, what is this?"
Noah Drake looked at Zhao Yu's confused expression and knew this was the time to show authority...
"I saved your life. You've now become a member of the manor for three years. This is the life-saving transaction; if you reject it, you'll return to the state you were in before entering the manor. Do you think my manor is unworthy of you?"
Zhao Yu panicked and shook his head.
"Elder, you misunderstand... I absolutely didn't mean that."
Noah Drake nodded at this and then stood up, speaking seriously.
"Do you know that in the past, many people begged to serve me, but they were denied... And yet you... I just finished my seclusion, and I took pity on you because of your determination."
... He sighed...
"Just work diligently for three years, and this debt will be repaid. You won't owe me anything anymore."
"Or are you afraid? Do I look like a villain to you, or do you have such a high status that you look down on this manor?"
Seeing the elder before him getting angry, Zhao Yu had no choice but to lower his head and apologize.
"Please calm down, Elder. It was my fault for not thinking thoroughly. I've misjudged your kindness. What can I do to assist you?"
"For now, I appoint you as the steward of the manor. Your daily tasks will be to carry out my orders, manage the servants, and take care of the manor. This will also count as part of your fortune."
"Do you have any questions?"
Zhao Yu, feeling a huge sense of relief, firmly said:
"No, Elder."
Seeing that this person seemed more obedient, Noah Drake felt secretly pleased. His scare tactic had worked. "I really do have leadership qualities," he thought.
... Patting his shoulder...
"Good, I need you to maintain this attitude."
Noah Drake looked down from above at a golden core cultivator kneeling before him, thinking to himself, "Strike while the iron is hot. A wise person once said that."
"Now, go sweep the fallen leaves in the yard."
...
Sitting at the round table under the enlightenment tree...
"System. Why does he call me elder?"
The system informed him that the Butler AI function was active. All images of the manor's lord must be imposing, so the Butler AI had adjusted and modified his appearance accordingly. Thus, everything others saw had been carefully curated.
"Hmm, is that so... very well."
Watching the golden core elder prepare to use magic to sweep the yard...
"So I'm starting out by ordering a big shot to sweep... I wonder how grand sweeping a yard will be in the cultivation world."
Zhao Yu looked at the front yard filled with fallen leaves... After a while, he cautiously approached Noah Drake.
"Lord, where are the other people in the manor? Where have they gone?"
Noah Drake.
You mean the bandits?
"They're all dead... Now, it's just you and me in this manor."
... Silence...
Zhao Yu hesitated, lowering his head.
"Elder, I'm truly sorry..."
Noah Drake waved his hand dismissively.
"They're not worth pitying... They followed a foolish path they shouldn't have... Well, what's done is done. Do you need anything else?"
Zhao Yu's face reddened slightly as he cautiously said,
"Lord, I couldn't find a broom..."
"What, you've been fumbling around because of that?"
"Sweeping doesn't require a broom... Why didn't you just use your spiritual power?"
...
"I tried, but it didn't work. The leaves didn't budge."
Noah Drake silently reflected. "System, what's going on?"
The system explained that in the manor, all magic above the master's cultivation level was restricted. Nothing in the manor could surpass the lord's power. This beginner's protection lasts for seven days. To extend it requires 100 spirit stones per month.
... Taking a deep breath... Noah Drake looked intently at Zhao Yu, then at the yard...
"It's not that your magic doesn't work, it's that your mind is too chaotic... Just like the leaves in the yard, scattered and disordered."
Saying this, he closed his eyes in silence, signaling that he wouldn't continue the conversation.
...
The faint fragrance in the air calmed his mind, and Zhao Yu, slightly panicked, thought, "Is my mind really that chaotic? Surely the elder wouldn't lie to me... How could the elder deceive me?"
Thinking...
Since I arrived at this manor, I wasn't seriously injured. Just a simple healing pill would've sufficed, but three hours later, my injuries worsened. Then, the lord saved me with the condition of working for this manor for three years, unable to leave... The more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems. A chill ran down his spine... I've fallen into a scheme, a trap, not a lucky opportunity. Oh no, I must find a way out. This person is deeply calculating and incredibly powerful... staying near him is extremely dangerous...