Chapter 1: The Omni-Talent System

Liang Chen sat slumped on a park bench, his eyes dull and lifeless.

The cool evening breeze did nothing to lift his spirits as he stared blankly at the ground, wondering how things had gone so wrong so quickly.

Just two days ago, he had been a normal university graduate—average grades, no special skills, and no real plans for the future.

Now, he was jobless, humiliated, and stuck in a city where dreams were shattered as easily as glass.

"Maybe I'm just not cut out for this," he muttered under his breath.

He had spent the entire day going from one job interview to another, hoping to land something, anything, that could give him a break.

But with each rejection, his confidence had crumbled a little more.

The final straw had been the last interview at a marketing firm, where the hiring manager had barely glanced at his resume before dismissing him.

"Sorry, we're looking for someone with more experience. Maybe try back after you've gained some real-world skills."

Real-world skills. That's what everyone kept saying. But how was he supposed to gain experience when no one would give him a chance? The frustration boiled in his chest, and he clenched his fists in his lap.

He had always been a good person, a hard worker, but in a world where talent and connections ruled, hard work didn't seem to be enough.

He looked up at the sky, the city lights reflecting off the few clouds drifting by. "If only I could become good at something—anything."

A sudden ding echoed in his ears, and Liang Chen jumped in surprise. He looked around, confused.

There was no one nearby, just the empty park and the soft rustle of trees. Then, out of nowhere, a translucent screen appeared in front of him, hovering in the air. His eyes widened.

Congratulations! You have been selected to activate the Omni-Talent System.

Initializing system… 1%... 5%... 20%...

Liang Chen blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. A system? Was this some kind of prank? He rubbed his eyes, but the screen remained, its text glowing faintly in the dim light.

50%... 80%... 100%!

System initialized. Welcome, Host.

Host? What was going on?

Before he could fully process what was happening, the system continued.

The Omni-Talent System has been activated. You will now be able to gain mastery over any skill, field, or talent.

To unlock a new talent, complete the designated challenges assigned by the system.

Your first challenge: Prepare a dish for someone within 24 hours.

Liang Chen stared at the screen, dumbfounded. Was he dreaming? No, this felt too real to be a dream. The Omni-Talent System? Master any skill? He'd read enough online novels to recognize the setup.

It was the kind of thing that happened to protagonists, not ordinary people like him.

"Wait, wait," he said, waving his hands as if that would stop the system. "What is this? Why me?"

There was no response. The screen blinked, waiting for him to accept the challenge.

Liang Chen exhaled slowly, his mind racing. Was this really happening? A system that could make him a genius at anything? His heart began to beat faster.

This could be the break he needed. If he could master skills instantly, he wouldn't need to worry about job rejections ever again. But first… cooking?

He glanced at the task again: Prepare a dish for someone within 24 hours.

Liang Chen frowned. He wasn't a cook. He could barely make instant noodles without messing something up.

But if this system was real—and he was starting to believe it might be—then this was the first step. The first challenge.

He stood up, his determination slowly returning. There was no time to waste.

Back at his small apartment, Liang Chen searched through his kitchen cupboards, trying to figure out what he could cook.

The place was sparsely stocked—some rice, a few vegetables, a couple of eggs. He groaned. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

"Alright," he muttered, setting the ingredients on the counter. "Let's see what this system can do."

The moment he spoke, another screen appeared in front of him.

Would you like to unlock basic cooking skills?

Liang Chen didn't hesitate. "Yes!"

Suddenly, a strange sensation flooded his mind. It was like a rush of information, but not overwhelming. Instead, it felt natural, like something he had always known but had forgotten.

Techniques, recipes, the feel of the knife in his hand—it all clicked into place as if he had been cooking for years. His hands moved instinctively, and before he knew it, he was chopping vegetables with precision, frying the rice with perfect timing, and seasoning the dish just right.

In less than 20 minutes, a plate of fragrant egg fried rice sat on his table, steaming and golden.

Liang Chen stared at it, amazed. He had never cooked anything that looked or smelled this good in his life.

His stomach rumbled in approval, but he knew he couldn't eat it himself. The task was to cook for someone else.

His phone buzzed on the counter, and he picked it up. It was a message from his neighbor, Mrs. Wang, an elderly lady who lived down the hall. She often struggled to cook for herself and had mentioned her health problems the last time they'd spoken.

A smile spread across Liang Chen's face as an idea struck him. He quickly packed the dish into a container and left his apartment, heading to Mrs. Wang's door. He knocked gently, and a few moments later, the door creaked open.

"Liang Chen? What a surprise," Mrs. Wang said, smiling weakly. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Wang. I actually made some extra food and thought you might like some," he said, holding up the container.

Her eyes lit up. "You cooked? How thoughtful of you! Please, come in."

Liang Chen entered her cozy apartment and placed the food on the table. Mrs. Wang took a bite, her eyes widening in shock.

"This… this is delicious!" she exclaimed. "How did you make this?"

Liang Chen grinned, his confidence growing. "I've been practicing."

Mrs. Wang chuckled, finishing the plate with enthusiasm. "You could open a restaurant with cooking like this!"

Challenge complete!

Congratulations! You have unlocked the Intermediate Cooking Skill.

Reward: Celestial Dragon Shrimp Recipe.

Liang Chen nearly choked. A recipe for Celestial Dragon Shrimp? He quickly checked the details, and his eyes widened.

The dish was described as a gourmet-level recipe, something that could only be made by the best chefs. How could the system reward him with something so advanced so quickly?

As the information about the dish filled his mind, he realized just how incredible the system really was. It wasn't just going to make him a good cook—it was going to make him a culinary genius.

New Task: Serve a meal to a paying customer. Reward: Restaurant ownership.

Liang Chen's jaw dropped. A paying customer? A restaurant? Was the system serious?

His heart raced with excitement. Things were about to get interesting.

That night, as Liang Chen lay in bed, his mind was filled with possibilities.

The Omni-Talent System was real, and it had already started changing his life. Tomorrow, he would find a way to complete the next challenge. A paying customer… how hard could that be?

As he drifted off to sleep, the screen faded into the darkness, waiting for him to take the next step in his journey.