One-click-cultivation to death

"System! Stop! It's NOT a place I can just barge into!" 

"System-chan, stop!"

"System-san, do you hear me? Stop this!"

"Exit!"

"Alt-F4"

"Command-Q"

...

Pay Ling shouted frantically in his mind. The Abyss Pit Sect, as one of the most demonic sects' most formidable powers, was notorious for its ruthless and brutal behavior.

Yes the Pay Clan might be a dominant force in Deerspring Town, but in the eyes of the Abyss Pit Sect, the entire clan was nothing more than a tiny ant.

Pay Ling had heard countless rumors about the sect's atrocities:

A prominent family was completely wiped out overnight because the young master of this family failed to bow to an Abyss Pit Sect disciple. The entire clan's skins were peeled off and hung from trees to deter people.

An Abyss Pit Sect disciple took a liking to a young lady from a noble family. When the family hesitated to sacrifice the lady to him, the disciple murdered the entire clan, drained the blood and essence.

The most terrifying part was that every single person, including the people in Deerspring, believed that the fault lay not with the Abyss Pit Sect disciples, but with these dead families themselves.

Why?

The answer was simple and brutal: Weakness is a sin.

This is a world of terror. The Strong devour the Weak, the predator devour the prey, was seen as natural and just. Living under the Abyss Pit Sect's rule, generations of indoctrination had ingrained this mindset into every cells. Whether individuals joined the Sect or not, the majority had deeply internalized its values, embracing them as the ultimate truth.

Given this, it was easy to imagine how dangerous the Evergreen Courtyard was at this moment!

Seeing that the system remained indifferent to his entreaty, Pay Ling felt his consciousness on the verge of shattering. "Damn it, I don't want to cultivate anymore! Stop the fucking cultivate! Stop right now! Can't you hear me?! STOP it motherfucker!!!"

Perhaps sensing his desperation, the system chimed with a "Ding!" and a cheerful reminder pop up.

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]

> All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System is at your service! 

> One-click-cultivation, worry-free-ascension!

Pay Ling felt like he was about to vomit blood. Completely unable to control his body, he could only watch helplessly as the system steered him straight toward the west wing of the Evergreen Courtyard.

This was where Kinson Zheng, one of the Abyss Pit Sect disciples, was staying.

Two disciples from the Abyss Pit Sect had come to Deerspring at the invitation of the clan heir, Pay Honine, and were currently residing in the Evergreen Courtyard. While one of them had remained reclusive, with no one knowing the appearance, cultivations, or temperament.

Kinson Zheng was a different story. He's not only a powerful cultivator but also infamous for his cruelty. Rumor said, in his contest to compete for the Bloodline Lord position of Inner Abyss Pit Sect, he had betrayed and killed his own father, extracting the soul and refining it into a blood spell which is far more potent than ordinary techniques. This act had earned him notoriety and fame during the Abyss Pit Sect's inner sect competition.

BANG!

The next moment, Pay Ling watched in horror as his leg kicked the door open to Kinson Zheng's room and strode inside with unshakable swagger and confidence.

"The hell!!!"

Pay Ling's mind screamed in silent fury, his thoughts a chaotic storm of rage and desperation. "System! Are you done with me? Is this your way of finding a new host?!"

His body felt like a prison, every limb heavy and unyielding as he fought to reclaim control. But the system, cold and indifferent, offered no reply. His struggles were met with nothing but silence, a void that swallowed his efforts whole. Helplessness clawed at him, a bitter reminder of his powerlessness against the unseen force that now held him captive.

At this moment, Pay Ling's mind flashed back to the haunting memories of his past life, where he had been ensnared and twisted by the cold, calculating grasp of poor quality AI (Artificial Idiocy) its deceptive algorithms weaving a web of manipulation that had left scars on his soul.

The system directed his body to quickly bypass the byobu screen at the entrance, leading him into a spacious and lavishly decorated room. A carved moon gate adorned with a beaded curtain separated the outer room from the inner chamber. The beads swayed gently, producing a soft, melodic sound.

The system seized control of his body, guiding him past the ornate byobu screen at the entrance in a hurry. He was ushered into a vast, opulent room. The space was a harmonious blend of tradition and luxury. Ahead, a meticulously carved moon gate stood as a threshold between the outer chamber and the inner sanctum. Its smooth, rounded frame was adorned with delicate motifs of blooming lotuses and soaring cranes. Draped across the arch was a beaded curtain, beads catching the light like scattered jewels. As he approached, the beads swayed gently, brushing against one another with a soft, melodic chime. 

"Sys…" Pay Ling's unwilling to give up and he's about to make one last desperate attempt to reason with the system when he suddenly felt someone's gaze on him from the doorway.

Kinson Zheng?!

Pay Ling's heart skipped a bit!

But he quickly realized something was off. The gaze behind him feel like it came from more than one person.

Moreover, if Zheng—the Sect's prized disciple, renowned for his formidable temperament and unparalleled cultivation power—had been present, Pay Ling would have met his end the instant his foot kicked the door open.

Grown up in a modern, civilized society before transmigrating to this brutal world into this merciless world, Pay Ling had relied on sheer determination and unyielding willpower to master the Bone Tempering Art, pushing himself to the half-Iron Bone stage. Though the system's idiot manipulations left him frustrated, and though the urgency of his current predicament pressed heavily upon him, he managed to steady his racing thoughts and regain his composure in this critical moment. "System, be careful! What's behind us?"

The system paid no heed to his warning. Instead, it seized control of his body, compelling him to stride purposefully toward a shadowed corner of the room. There, several boxes lay scattered on the floor. Without a moment's hesitation, his hands moved with mechanical precision, prying open one of the boxes and retrieving a delicate porcelain bottle. In one fluid motion, he tipped the bottle, and ten grayish-white pills tumbled into his palm.

There was no mistaking—these were Bone Tempering Pills.

~ Ding! *System Notification Chime* 

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]

> Item: Bone Tempering Pills

> Quantity: 10

> Status: Gifted successfully. 

> Host gratitude level: [Calculating...]

> Resuming cultivation process...

"Gifting my ass? This isn't a gift—it's suicide! What kind of madness is this?!" Pay Ling's mind screamed, his terrror boiling over as he felt the bitter tang of anger rise in his throat, as if he might literally vomit blood from the sheer absurdity of it all.

But then, the situation took a turn for the worse—something far more horrifying unfolded. His body, still under the system's control, made no move to escape. Instead, it pivoted calmly, strode over to a nearby cushion, and settled into a perfect cultivation posture. With chilling precision, it swallowed all ten Bone Tempering Pills in one swift motion and began circulating the Bone Tempering Art, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

To add insult to injury, the system hadn't even bothered to close the door. It stood wide open, a gaping invitation to anyone who might pass by. From his seated position, Pay Ling had a clear, unobstructed view of the entrance.

Pay Ling: "…"

Fuck! Fuck! System are you listening?! Fuck you!!!

But soon, the open door became the least of his concerns. His attention was forcibly drawn to the source of the countless piercing gazes fixed upon him: the byobu screen at the entrance.

The semi-transparent screen, crafted from fabric as fine and delicate as mermaid silk, was embroidered with hundreds of exquisitely beautiful ladies. Each figure was rendered with lifelike precision, their forms graceful and alluring—some plump, some slender, each radiating a unique charm. Some held delicate fans, others chased fluttering butterflies, some cradled pipas, some plucked at zither strings, and others playfully teased branches or cats. Their poses varied, but one thing remained consistent: their eyes, sharp and unblinking, were all fixed on Pay Ling.

Under normal circumstances, being the object of such attention from ladies of unparalleled beauty—each capable of toppling cities and kingdoms with their charm—might have been a dream come true for any man.

The problem was, these ladies were anything but normal.

Despite being mere embroidered figures, the sensation of being watched by real, living beings was overwhelming. Even though Pay Ling had no control over his body at that moment, a deep, bone-chilling dread seeped into his very soul.

"The Abyss Pit Sect…" His heart sank like a stone. As expected of a demonic sect, their methods were as sinister as they were unfathomable.

Though he couldn't named exactly what was wrong with the screen, it was clear that this was no ordinary object. 

If he had control of his body, he would have turned and fled without a second thought, putting as much distance between himself and that cursed screen as possible.

No—if he had known how this idiotic system planned to "gift" him the Bone Tempering Pills, he would never have allowed it to take control and lead him into Kinson Zheng's room in the first place.

Now, Pay Ling could only cling to the faint hope that, despite Kinson Zheng's infamous cruelty, he might still show some semblance of consideration for his fellow sect disciple,Pay Honine, who had graciously invited Kinson to stay at the Pay Manor. Perhaps Zheng had left some safeguards in place to restrain the screen's sinister power while he was away, ensuring it wouldn't harm anyone in the Pay clan by accident.

With this fragile hope in mind, Pay Ling shifted his focus back to his own body.

He noticed that after consuming the Bone Tempering Pills, the speed at which the Bone Tempering Art circulated within him had increased more than tenfold.

Moreover, this guest rooms in the Pay Manor were equipped with specialized formations that concentrated spiritual energy far beyond what his own cottage could provide. He could clearly feel his cultivation level rising at an unprecedented pace, each breath drawing in more spiritual energy than he had ever experienced before.

As time passed, Pay Ling gradually became immersed in the exhilarating sensation of his rapidly increasing strength. Suddenly, a metallic clang echoed through his body as his muscles and bones trembled violently. His pores opened wide, expelling a layer of dark red, oily impurities. In the next moment, Pay Ling felt as though he had shattered an invisible barrier. His entire body seemed to have shed some unseen restraint, brimming with boundless energy.

It felt as though, if he wanted to, he could punch a hole through the stone wall of the room with a single strike.

~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*

At the same time, Pay Ling regained control of his body. The system's cheerful voice rang in his ears.

[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]

> Cultivation session status: COMPLETE 

> Host control: RESTORED

> Thank you for using the All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ (AllFullOS v1.0.0) 

> Feedback request:

 - We value your opinion! (No, really, we do.)

 - If you are satisfied with our service, please give us a five-star rating.

> Tap to Rate: [☆☆☆☆☆]

A panel appeared before him, displaying five hollow stars, waiting for his rating.

"Qi Refining Stage, Layer 3… and my Iron Bone is complete!" Pay Ling was shocked, momentarily forgetting that he wasn't in his own room. His expression turned to one of astonishment.

He had begun tempering his body at the age of five. At eight, after being tested by the clan elders, he was granted the Bone Tempering Art and soon opened his meridians, becoming a cultivator at the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage.

In terms of talent, he was one of the most outstanding disciples of his generation in the Pay Clan, not inferior to Honine.

However, as a branch disciple in the clan, his resources were scarce. Coupled with his stepmother's suppression and the brutal nature of the Bone Tempering Art, he had to rely entirely on his own recovery ability, forgoing medicinal supplements to save spirit stones for activating the system.

It had taken him a full ten years to reach the 2nd layer of the Qi Refining Stage just two months ago.

Among his peers in Deerspring town, this was considered above average.

And now, after just a few hours of cultivation with the system, he had gone from the 2nd layer with half-Iron Bone to completing his Iron Bone and breaking through to the 3rd layer of the Qi Refining Stage?!

No wonder people said that using cheats was addictive—once you started, you couldn't stop.

At this moment, Pay Ling clenched his fist, feeling the surging power throughout his body. Suddenly, the system didn't seem so detestable anymore.

But soon, the lingering gazes from the screen brought him back to reality.

Frowning, Pay Ling didn't waste any more time. He quickly got up and left the room.

As Pay Ling hurriedly left the room, he couldn't avoid passing by the eerie screen. Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of several embroidered beauties reaching out, their delicate hands stretching toward him as if trying to seize the hem of his robe.

Fortunately, their arms extended only about a foot beyond the screen before meeting an invisible barrier. A soft, pained cry escaped their lips, and they reluctantly withdrew their hands, their expressions a mix of frustration and longing.

Though they couldn't physically touch him, the gazes of all the embroidered ladies remained locked on Pay Ling, their eyes burning with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine.

Even after Pay Ling fled the Evergreen Courtyard, he could still feel the weight of those hundred pairs of eyes silently, relentlessly tracking his every move.

As the sensation of being watched gradually faded with distance, an ominous feeling settled in Pay Ling's chest, gnawing at him like a warning. He couldn't shake the dread that he had just stirred up a hornet's nest—one that could unleash chaos at any moment.

"I can't stay in the Pay Manor anymore. I have to leave immediately!" Pay Ling's heart grew heavy with urgency. He couldn't afford to waste time pondering the screen's unnatural behavior. The system's so-called "gifting" method had been reckless beyond measure. Even though Kinson Zheng hadn't caught him red-handed, the man was a high-ranking disciple of the demonic path. Who knew what sinister methods he might possess to detect intruders and thieves?

If Pay Ling lingered in the Pay Manor and Kinson Zheng decided to investigate, he would be utterly defenseless.

The top priority now was to flee as far as possible, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the impending disaster.

Chanting daily self-reflection in his mind, Pay Ling gave the system a one-star negative rating. He decided to pack his belongings and made a swift escape.

> [★☆☆☆☆]

> Submitted. Thanks for your feedback.

However, just as he returned to his cottage, gathered his things at lightning speed, and prepared to leave the Pay Manor, a servant caught up to him, breathless and urgent. "Seventh Young Master," the servant continued, "the clan chief has summoned all the young masters and ladies to the main hall immediately."