C1 The System
In S City, nestled within an aging neighborhood, a security guard with bleary, drunken eyes watched the residents come and go. The community's trash bins were overflowing, with excess garbage piling up and flies buzzing incessantly.
From his window, Qin Buyi observed the squalor below—a stark contrast to the life he once knew. "Sigh, I'm running low on funds for electricity, water, and gas," he lamented. "And in just a few days, it'll be time to pay off my credit card." His phone displayed a balance of merely two yuan, prompting him to anxiously rake his fingers through his hair. "I never imagined I'd be fretting over such matters," he mused with a hint of irony.
Qin Buyi's life had taken a dramatic turn. At eighteen, he was admitted to Huaxia's most esteemed institution, only to abandon his studies in his junior year, much to the bewilderment of his mentors and peers. He delved into the study of human anatomy, combat, poisons, bladed weapons, and firearms. Within two years, he had transformed into Southeast Asia's deadliest assassin, known as Night Yama.
An assassination gone awry six months prior had nearly cost him his life. The entire operation was a ruse of his own making, and he narrowly escaped death, heavily wounded, amidst a sea of adversaries. Forced to adopt a prearranged alias, he sought refuge in S City to heal. With his injuries too severe for a hospital visit—and the risk of exposing his true identity too great—he relied on his acquired knowledge to recover. Now, his modest savings were depleted.
"If it weren't for that incident in college... I might have enjoyed a pleasant campus life," he reflected wistfully.
*Beep! A suitable host has been detected.*
*Beep! The system is now bound!*
*Beep! Assessing physical condition...*
"Who's there? Who's speaking?" Qin Buyi was startled by the unexpected voice in his room.
*Beep! Host, you have been linked to the Multiverse Unrivaled System.*
*Beep! Activating all system functions...*
"A system? Like the ones in novels where you get stronger just by lying down?" he questioned, a mix of skepticism and curiosity in his voice.
All functions were now active.
As a first-time bind, the host is granted one free opportunity to ask a question.
*Ding! Insufficient host authority to provide an answer.
"Then... let me ask something else. What's in it for me if I bind with you?"
*Ding! Your free question opportunity has been exhausted.
"Feels like I've been duped."
Be advised: slander against the system will result in punishment. Consider this your first warning.
*Ding! Initiating the first mission.
Commencing forced teleportation of the host...
"Wait! What the..."
Qin Buyi's world went black as he lost consciousness.
Upon arrival at the destination, he was abruptly roused.
Regaining consciousness, Qin Buyi found himself suspended two meters above the ground.
"Bang!"
"Ah!"
A cloud of dust rose as Qin Buyi, covered in grime, clambered to his feet.
"Damn it, where... where is this?"
His gaze took in the surrounding forest, fallen leaves, underbrush, venomous insects, and wild beasts...
The information has been delivered to the host. Please review it thoroughly.
Blood-red characters floated before Qin Buyi's eyes.
After thirty minutes, having digested the information, Qin Buyi gained a basic grasp of his predicament.
He was in the Falling Star Mountain Range, a place of legend where celestial meteors were said to have fallen. The nearest city, Azure Sun City, was two hundred kilometers away.
Stripping down, Qin Buyi observed the system's imprint over his heart—a blood-red tattoo in the shape of a small sword the size of his palm.
Concentrating on the mark, five options materialized in his mind:
1. Mission.
2. Personal Information.
3. Storage Space.
4. Cultivation Technique.
5. Equipment.
He accessed the mission panel.
Main Mission: Reach Azure Sun City within two days.
Mission Reward: 1.5 attribute points. Failure will result in a deduction of three attribute points.
He closed the mission panel and opened his personal information.
Personal Information:
Name: Qin Buyi
Cultivation: First Rank (0.5/10)
Strength: 0.5
Speed: 0.5
Physical Strength: 0.5
Attack: 0.5
Defense: 0.5
Fortune: 0.5
......
Beneath fortune, a series of values were listed, each one at 0.5.
The earned attribute points needed only to be allocated to his cultivation; all other attributes would then rise to match the new cultivation value.
Qin Buyi harbored some lingering doubts. If he failed the mission and three attribute points were deducted, wouldn't that send his current attributes into the negative? He pondered the consequences of such an unknown outcome and resolved to put all his effort into completing the mission. Given his unfamiliarity with the area, a negative attribute point tally was a prospect far from optimistic.
He had perused numerous system novels, often finding their intricate methods of attribute allocation headache-inducing. Fortunately, the method provided by his system was refreshingly clear-cut: simply increase his cultivation base.
Closing the information panel, Qin Buyi explored the remaining three options: Storage Space, cultivation techniques, and equipment—all were starkly empty. Without dwelling on his situation, he adjusted his mindset and set off in the direction indicated by the system.
A day later, Qin Buyi emerged from the Falling Star Mountain Range, his clothes tattered from the relentless thorns and vegetation. "Ah! Finally out," he exhaled deeply, looking back at the mountain range.
"Boss, boss, someone just came out of there."
"Hey, you there, the kid, come here!"
Two burly men in black called out to Qin Buyi. Eyeing the gleaming blades in their hands, he steeled himself and approached.
"Hand over anything of value, kid, and you can keep your life," one of them demanded.
"Try any smart moves, and you'll wish for death," the other added, licking his lips with a murderous gaze that sent a shiver down Qin's spine.
"Gentlemen, I really don't have anything valuable on me," Qin Buyi replied.
"Every time, it's the same story with you lot coming out of the Falling Star Mountain Range," one scoffed. "We're not cut out for the risks in there, so we make our living robbing those who do."
"Enough chat, big brother. Let's just finish him and take what he's got," the other urged, advancing with his blade raised.
Just then, a notification chimed: A temporary mission was issued.
Temporary Mission: Survive for ten minutes while being pursued by two assailants.
Mission Reward: Gain 1 attribute point; failure results in a loss of two attribute points.
"Damn it!" Qin Buyi cursed under his breath upon seeing the temporary mission.
A long blade whistled toward Qin Buyi's neck. In a frantic move, he tumbled to the side, narrowly escaping the lethal strike.
Scrambling, he snatched a handful of sand from the ground and flung it into the face of the burly man wielding the blade.
"You're asking for it, kid."
Qin Buyi scrambled to his feet and bolted into the depths of the Falling Star Mountain Range.
"Second Brother, after him!"
"That little rat! When I catch him, I'll slice him into a thousand pieces!"
Five minutes into his desperate sprint, Qin Buyi was gasping for air, exhaustion clawing at him.
The relentless pursuit of the two men behind him spelled certain death if caught.
Relying on his memory of the terrain, Qin Buyi managed to maintain a slight lead over his pursuers.
Despite his regular training, his physical strength was waning, and the gap between them was closing.
Sweat drenched his clothes as he ran.
"Huff! Huff!"
Qin Buyi panted, the image of the gleaming blade spurring his survival instinct to its zenith.
"Damn! How can this kid run like this!"
"Huff! I'm exhausted. When I catch him, I'm going to make him suffer before I let him die."
Casting aside all other thoughts, Qin Buyi focused solely on one goal: endure for ten minutes.
Unsure of the significance of a single attribute point, he nonetheless clung to the hope of the system's promised reward.
His steps grew heavier, the world around him fell silent, and just as the two were about to overtake him, the system's alert chimed in.
Ding! Ten minutes have elapsed; mission accomplished.
Ding! Mission reward has been distributed.
Ding! Temporary Mission 2 activated: Your unwavering will to live has earned you a chance to survive. Eliminate the two pursuers.
Ding! Temporary Mission 2 Reward: One growth weapon and activation of the Probing Eye. Failure will result in the loss of two attribute points!
Upon completing his mission, Qin Buyi swiftly accessed his personal information panel to allocate the newly earned attribute point.
Name: Qin Buyi
Cultivation: First Rank (1.5/10)
Strength: 1.5
Speed: 1.5
Physical Strength: 1.5
Attack Power: 1.5
Defense: 1.5
Fortune: 1.5
......
With the points distributed, a surge of strength coursed through his muscles, rejuvenating his nearly depleted stamina. Qin Buyi pivoted to face the two assailants brandishing knives behind him.
"Boss, why's the kid stopped running?"
"He's probably winded. Let's finish him off."
"Something feels off about him now, doesn't it?"
As a premier assassin, Qin Buyi's physical stats were already impressive. The recent enhancement doubled his bodily attributes compared to before. Closing in, the attackers, knives in hand, aimed for his head and legs. But to Qin Buyi, their once-blistering strikes now crawled at a snail's pace.
"The speed that once blurred before my eyes now seems so slow. This surge in power feels incredible."
His body tensed like a bow at full draw, his fists rocketed towards their chests with full force.
"Boom!"
Their bodies were catapulted like tattered sacks upon impact.
"Clang!"
The knives, released from their grip, spun through the air. Qin Buyi advanced, effortlessly seizing one of the blades.
"Chi!" "Chi!"
The sound of steel cutting flesh echoed as blood sprayed across Qin Buyi's face. The burly men in black died without understanding how Qin Buyi, who seemed like a lamb to the slaughter moments before, had transformed into a lion capable of tearing men asunder.
Drip! The second mission is complete.
The mission reward has been distributed.
The Probing Eye is now activated.
