Chapter 1: The Almighty System

Jiangzhou City!

A young man stood in a relatively quiet residential area. As the sky gradually darkened, there were fewer people around. However, the young man's eyes were filled with fear and panic, especially after the scene that had just unfolded, which made him feel as if he had seen a ghost.

"Di di di..."

"Detecting Host..."

"Host essence matched. Almighty System binding with Host successful."

Xia Ming looked at the two yellow-haired punks lying unconscious on the ground nearby, a wave of fear washing over him. Just moments ago, on his way home from a job interview, he saw these two punks bullying an old man riding a tricycle. Anger instantly flared within him. Although he had been in fights before, he had never bullied the weak.

Especially this old man, who merely made a living by collecting scraps – how much money could he possibly earn in a month? These two scoundrels demanded five hundred yuan right off the bat. Five hundred yuan was enough to make the old man work for half a month for nothing. Driven by his Heart of Lei Feng¹, Xia Ming fiercely taught these two yellow-haired punks a lesson.

He took a brick to his back, leaving a bloody imprint. In return, Xia Ming successfully knocked both punks to the ground. However, the most terrifying part wasn't this.

It was the old man. He claimed to be an Old Chinese Doctor and offered to look at Xia Ming's back. But, just as he let the Old Chinese Doctor examine him, he felt a warmth spread across his back. The sensation was very comfortable, so he closed his eyes. This lasted for about ten minutes. When he opened his eyes again, he heard a baffling voice.

This voice terrified Xia Ming. When he turned around, he inexplicably found that the old man had vanished.

Could the old man have left on his own?

Xia Ming hastily fled the scene.

The place Xia Ming lived in was a house he rented for one thousand yuan a month. It wasn't large, but it was a one-bedroom, one-living room apartment. Being able to rent such a place for a thousand yuan in Jiangzhou City was considered quite good. In fact, this was thanks to the landlord's consideration; otherwise, a one-bedroom, one-living room apartment like this would cost around thirteen hundred yuan.

It was summer now. When Xia Ming returned to his residence, he was drenched in sweat from the heat. He took a cold shower in the bathroom, finally letting out a sigh of relief as he sat back on his sofa. His home furnishings were simple: a sofa, a TV, and other common furniture items were all present, clearly part of the original house.

Xia Ming was a very neat person and kept his home spotlessly clean. So, even though it was summer, the room still felt refreshingly cool.

"This is really like seeing a ghost. I actually heard someone talking in my head? What on earth is going on? Or did I encounter a Supernatural Event?" Xia Ming lay on the sofa, muttering to the ceiling.

The scene just now had nearly scared him to death. The old man was clearly looking at his back, then inexplicably disappeared, not to mention a voice suddenly appearing in his mind.

He wasn't unfamiliar with ghost stories, and considering the darkening sky at the time, perhaps he really had encountered a Supernatural Event.

Wait, that's not right.

Xia Ming suddenly remembered. At the time, the old man had smiled and said he was an Old Chinese Doctor and wanted to look at the large bloody imprint on his back. Because it hurt badly, Xia Ming hadn't hesitated. He remembered seeing the old man take out a stone-like object as he turned his head, then press it onto his body. Following that, he felt a wave of heat spread through his entire body, leaving him completely stunned.

This lasted for about ten minutes before he opened his eyes, by which time the old man had already disappeared.

"Congratulations Host for obtaining the world's most cutting-edge technology, the Almighty System. If you have any questions, this System will do its best to answer them for the Host. Does the Host have any questions to ask?"

Buzz!

Xia Ming leaped up from the sofa, stood up, and shouted in alarm, "Who is it? Who's talking to me?"

Xia Ming's gaze flickered rapidly, scanning his surroundings, trying to find something in the room. But the room was silent, completely empty. This made Xia Ming even more frightened.

Don't tell me I really encountered a Supernatural Event?

"Host, I am the Almighty System. I am already inside your body. We share a relationship where we prosper and suffer together. Right now, you just need to concentrate and think about what you want to say, and I will know."

Swish...

Xia Ming's body stiffened, his face turning fearful once again. He was just an ordinary person; even if he was tall and well-built, he couldn't handle something so bizarre appearing.

Xia Ming asked timidly, "Who... who exactly are you? Why did you get inside my body? What do you want?"

Xia Ming's legs trembled uncontrollably, his face pale, his lips quivering. Having just showered, he instantly broke out in a hot sweat again, beads dripping down his forehead.

Then, the voice appeared in Xia Ming's mind again, explaining:

"I am the Almighty System. My purpose is to develop the Host into the most outstanding young person. As for this System's origin, this System was created N years in the future and is a high-tech product."

Soon, Xia Ming realized this System held no malice, which relieved him considerably. However, he now felt somewhat puzzled. A System? Could it be that, just like the protagonists in certain novels, he had been possessed by a system?

"The Host thinks correctly. This System has indeed possessed the Host's body."

He had always thought such things only happened in novels. Suddenly, he realized he had struck incredible luck; he had actually been possessed by a system. Holy crap...

He had just graduated and hadn't found a good job yet. Honestly, his standards were a bit high. Because he didn't know how to do anything, coupled with his high standards, he had been without prospects for two months after graduation.

He never expected to inexplicably obtain a system. This left Xia Ming finding it hard to believe.

Just as he was feeling bewildered, the System's voice came again, saying:

"As the Host has just obtained this System, adhering to the principles of fairness and impartiality, the Host receives a Newbie Gift Package as a reward. Does the Host wish to claim it now?"

Hearing this, Xia Ming quickly mentally conveyed his intention: "Claim."

"Congratulations Host, felicitations Host for obtaining one Skill Book and one bottle of Body Strengthening Liquid. Does the Host wish to learn/use them?"

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Translator's Notes:

¹ Heart of Lei Feng: Refers to Lei Feng, a soldier in communist China celebrated posthumously as a selfless and modest person devoted to the Party, Mao Zedong, and the people. Having a "Heart of Lei Feng" implies being selfless, helpful, and having a strong sense of civic duty or righteousness.