Chapter 5

I stretched out, popping noises echoing out. I slept in a different area of the cellar last night. My Emergency Shelter basically. The pallet I made down here was severely uncomfortable. Well, time to get back to accumulating Ki. While I can IDLE, actively cultivating typically leads to larger gains. The IDLE System supplements me, or that is what I thought originally. Frankly the immense amount of Refined Ki flowing through my body makes me think that thought isn't that accurate. Also, I'm pretty sure I passed some sort of realm. Wait a moment… can't I just ask?

"IDLE System, what is it that you actually do?"

[IDLE System is a Support System designed to assist the host's natural life so they would live without regret.]

"Huh? Why?"

[IDLE Systems creator Dimensional Sovereign requires Karma to breakthrough into the next realm. As such the Dimensional Sovereign sent out several hundred systems into the multiverse inorder to gather Karma.]

"So I have to gather karma?"

[No. Dimensional Sovereign gained the Karma needed the moment the Systems were dispatched.]

"Are they all IDLE Systems?"

[No. IDLE System is of the Silver Tier Systems dispatched.]

"What tiers are there?"

[Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper, Wooden]

"Why is it you don't hide anything from me?"

[Systems made from the Dimensional Sovereign were never told to hide the Sovereigns intentions.]

Then… "Why haven't you talked to me in the past?"

[System has displayed the upgrade menu and status?]

"That's not what I mean."

[I don't understand. Isn't that conversing?]

"No, this is conversing, that is displaying… Don't tell me it's because I never asked you."

Silence…

"FUCK!"

— Small Time Skip

A few minutes later I had calmed down. This time I was actually conversing with the System. It didn't take me long to realize, The System was not that intelligent. I mean, it could talk, have thoughts, and converse. But it didn't understand anything beyond that. Emotions? Nope. Empathy? That's an emotion isn't it?

The System had a few things that I didn't actually know about, aka functions. For one, Mapping. It had mapped out the entire mountain from wherever I had explored. Another thing is the scanning and constructing feature. It allows it to consider how to do things. For example, How to advance my Ki to the next level. My next step? Dantian Forming. Refined Ki isn't completely formless like a normal Ki, and under normal circumstances, a Ki Dantian doesn't actually exist till one forms it. What is a Ki Dantian? Well it's an addition to the already existing Dantian. Basically it forms an isolated space within the dantian that will hold immense amounts of Refined Ki that would form a feedback loop and constantly strengthen the body. Bringing me even further beyond Superhuman levels.

According to the System, I'd actually be beyond Kim Sun in pure physical strength before she got the treasure at her peak state. Course that is if she didn't use any techniques or skills. That means if I form the Ki Dantian I would be the equivalent of a Ki Gathering 9th stage in terms of pure physical strength. If I am smart with my use of refined Ki? I could probably go up against a realm beyond Qi Gathering Formation, whatever that realm may be. The System sadly can't assist me in my formation of a Ki Dantian, but it can give me a guideline to follow.

"Hey System, why is the prices on the upgrades fluctuating so much?"

[Transference Time and Energy Loss.]

"Uh… can I have a more detailed explanation?"

[Using the Dimensional Sovereigns' power, an Extra-Dimensional Soul Body has been added to your body. This body is filled with formations as you upgrade. The more you upgrade the bigger it gets. Ki is used to form the veins of the Extra-Dimensional Soul, Refined Ki is used to form the nerves. The price changes depending on how far from the center the Extra-Dimensional Soul the Ki needs to go as some Ki is lost to the rest of the Extra-Dimensional Soul.]

"I don't understand at all."

[That means your cultivation is insufficient.]

It always reverts to that excuse! Fine. "If that is the case, where is my Ki and Refined Ki stored?"

[Within the Extra-Dimensional Souls Core, there is a stacked dimension specifically made to store accumulated energy types. IDLE System can hold up to fifty nine thousand different energy types.]

"So there is a limit?"

[100^120 Units of Power per type.]

Ok… that is a huge number.

"How powerful was this Dimensional Sovereign again?"

[The Dimensional Sovereign has the power to destroy entire universes and create new ones.]

Ok ok. So the creator of the system is stupidly powerful. I wonder, "Can you show me a Ki Accumulator?"

[With Ki or Refined Ki?]

"Let's go with normal Ki."

I felt my consciousness being pulled within myself, suddenly I was in an extremely bright space with Fire everywhere. Then I looked at the fire, it was shaped into a giant cylinder shape. Filled with thousands of tiny circles with details. It's a massive generator. If I look past it there are several more massive flaming constructs that were slowly growing a small amount of flame at the center. The constructs were massive and complicated.

"System… how did you build this?"

[The Dimensional Sovereign made a database of information on energy and how to make more of it from nothing among other things. As the IDLE System was I was granted access to the Passive Generation part of the Dimensional Sovereigns Database. Unfortunately I was not given access to the Item Creator.]

"This is insane. All of this is within me?"

[That and more.]

"Are all systems like you?"

[Unfortunately no. Most are… arrogant? That's the word you would use right? Most are too arrogant to do anything beyond telling their hosts what to do. They won't harm the hosts, but they will push them to do interesting things.]

"How do they get them to do these things?"

[Quests. Because they have access to the Item Creator and the database, they are able to issue quests with great rewards. Especially the systems programmed to use XP.]

"I have so many questions. Return me to my body for now. I'll ask you more later. I can't spend all day cultivating and asking questions. I got to rebuild my home. I'll use stones this time. Less burnable."

I returned to reality. It was kind of disorienting. Hmm. This reveals a lot. I wonder what the other systems are actually like. IDLE System is relatively similar to it's name, it won't do anything unless asked. It also has access to some sort of database, likely filled with techniques the Dimensional Sovereign accumulated over time. I wonder if the Sovereign is in this universe? There is no use in worrying about it. If the IDLE System isn't lying, everything should be fine.

For now let's go cut some stones. With refined Ki I can make a blade around my hands that cuts normal stone like butter. Should be useful to make a couple dozen bricks. Then I can get to working on some cement. Hah… This is going to take a while.