Lying in his carriage, Nie Li couldn't help but gaze at the poster of the Holy Orchid Institute.

As he read through the lofty promises, a snort of derision escaped him.

"The Holy Orchid Institute," he mused, "the so-called cradle of every young cultivator's journey in Glory City."

According to the poster, the institute was a beacon of hope, a place where the future guardians of humanity were shaped and honed.

Yet, to Nie Li who had lived through the institution, these claims barely scratched the surface of the truth.

Beneath its veneer of equality and opportunity, the institute was, in reality, a clever mechanism designed to maintain the fragile trust between the powerful elite and the vast majority of the weaker commoners.

"The starting line, the great equalizer," Nie Li scoffed internally.

From the outside, it seemed like a noble premise—that both noble and commoner children could start their cultivation journey on equal footing.

But the reality was starkly different. Noble children were groomed from a young age, equipped with every advantage to succeed, while commoners were left to flounder in the institute's extensive curriculum.

This notion of a fair start was a farce, only holding true for a brief initial period. Soon enough, noble offspring were whisked away to elite classes, leaving their less fortunate peers struggling in the dust.

"And then there's the idea of treating everyone equally," Nie Li continued his silent critique.

On paper, the dormitory system suggested a semblance of equality, mixing students from all backgrounds. But the reality was a segregated existence where the natural divide between the strong and the weak was merely reinforced by the institution's tacit rules and biases. Teachers, too, played their part, often favoring nobles over commoners.

The claim that the Holy Orchid Institute served the people was perhaps the biggest joke of all.

In truth, it catered to the strong. Talented commoners were often absorbed into noble families through arranged marriages or other means, reinforcing the status quo where strength and lineage dictated one's fate.

As Nie Li sifted through his memories, he noted the institute's claim of fostering unity and brotherhood among its students.

Yet, the reality was a culture of fierce competition and isolation, where students were pitted against each other, and friendships were often casualties of ambition.

"Unity? Only if you're fighting for the scraps left by the nobles," he concluded.

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These reflections made it clear to Nie Li that the Holy Orchid Institute was, in many ways, a microcosm of Glory City itself—a place where the rhetoric of equality and opportunity clashed with the practice of privilege and power.

Nie Li paused, his gaze lingering thoughtfully on the horizon. "In my previous life, I was at the bottom, yet now I have the opportunity to stand among the strong. But does gaining strength make me right, just because I hold the stick?" he pondered, the idiom "might makes right" echoing in his mind.

"Or will I choose a different path, one that doesn't repeat the mistakes of those before me?"

Nie Li let out a groan.

"This introspective, thoughtful guy isn't me. I was always the one goofing off with Lu Piao," he reminded himself, a hint of nostalgia coloring his thoughts at the mention of his best friend's name.

But life had taken a sharp turn, and with this second chance and the powerful system at his disposal, he found himself standing where he had always dreamed of being. Yet, this dream came bundled with an existential crisis he hadn't anticipated.

The root of it all was the Heavenly Dharma Technique—a cultivation method so potent it bordered on being overwhelming.

While its strength was a boon, especially in his quest to save Glory City from the looming threat of demon beasts, it also cast a long shadow over what might come after.

"If I stop the horde, I could essentially hold control over Glory City. And that's a terrifying thought," Nie Li mused, the weight of potential future decisions pressing down on him.

He recalled the heir competition, a moment when his anger nearly led him to kill an innocent.

"What if I lose control again? What then?" he questioned himself, the fear of becoming the very thing he despised—a noble cloaked in power and arrogance—looming over him. The possibility of his future actions mirroring those he hated was a pill too bitter to swallow.

Staring at the system that had granted him the Heavenly Dharma Technique, Nie Li couldn't help but lament, "Why did you have to give me such a strong cultivation technique?" Now, along with the power it bestowed, he was burdened with the responsibility of wielding it wisely. "Dealing with these thoughts, this fear of what I might become, wasn't part of the plan," he admitted to himself.

[ Skill: The Heavenly Dharma Cultivation Technique ]

[ Category: Martial Art ]

[ Description: Originating from the enlightened practices of Buddha, The Heavenly Dharma Cultivation Technique is a transcendent pathway designed to shed the confines of humanity and ascend to godhood. It requires practitioners to navigate through 8 distinct cycles of Dharma, each representing a step closer to divine existence. This journey transforms the cultivator's essence, enabling them to embrace the true form of a deity. ]

[ Effects: ]

- [ 8 Pin Dharma Wheel: Within the cultivator's dantian resides a physical manifestation known as the 8 Pin Dharma Wheel. This sacred artifact allows for the accumulation of 8 unique demon spirits, each embodying different facets of enlightenment. ]

- [ Adaptation: Enlightenment through combat. This technique empowers the cultivator with the wisdom to adapt and prevail, embodying the philosophy that every battle is a step towards transcendence. ]

- [ 8 Godly Weapons: The acquired demon spirits materialize into 8 divine weapons, each offering distinct abilities reflective of the paths to godhood. These armaments are not only symbols of power but also of the cultivator's mastery over their spiritual journey. ]

[ Warning: The Heavenly Dharma Cultivation Technique is currently inaccessible. Creation of the 8 Pin Dharma Wheel is required, necessitating a material of significant power and resonance. It is imperative that player Nie Li selects an extraordinary material for the wheel's forging to unlock the technique's potential. ]