Volume 1, Chapter 365 – The System

“Bound to a system?”

Shi Lan startled inwardly. This was the first time she had encountered someone bound to another system.

“Can you tell what kind of system it is?”

“Not exactly, but its level isn’t high. It should be a low-level system with rudimentary intelligence.”

“Systems have a clear ranking too?”

“Of course. We can talk about that later. A rudimentary system cannot operate independently after leaving headquarters; it remains under headquarters’ control.”

“Find that system host first. If I can enter its core, there will definitely be communication codes there that can connect to headquarters. That would be of enormous use to both you and me!”

Samsara’s voice was urgent. If it could restore contact with headquarters, then with its high-level permissions, all the functions of the All-Heavens Samsara System could be fully unlocked; it would no longer have to act under such constraints as before.

“Low-level systems are very sensitive. If it senses danger, it may instantly sever the bond, abandon its host, and flee. You can’t make too big a move. You’ll have to judge the degree yourself.”

Shi Lan nodded and continued opening containers.

Before that, she had to fill her stomach.

Half an hour later, Shi Lan stopped, lightheaded. Most of the containers held mechanical parts. There was no food at all.

Shi Lan turned her gaze toward the rear of the cargo ship. The passenger cabins were there, so there would definitely be supplies.

But she was currently a stowaway. If she got caught, things would not end well. After all, an undocumented person without nationality was not protected by any country’s laws.

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And this was out at sea. Even if someone ruined her, no one would come to help.

By now, following Samsara’s instructions, Shi Lan had already let her previous cultivation memories gradually fade. She had thrown aside thoughts of tempering her state of mind and the like, and had begun genuinely considering matters from the perspective of her current identity.

…

The moon hung high overhead, and the salty sea breeze brushing across his face was refreshing.

Xiao Teng leaned against the railing on deck and took a small sip of the top-grade red wine in his hand.

The alcohol calmed his overactive nerves and slightly dulled the excitement in his heart.

Three months ago, he had still been a penniless orphan, struggling to survive at society’s bottom.

Now he owned several companies, had a fortune of over a hundred million, had expanded his trade business overseas, and even had several women in his life. He had completely reached the peak of life!

All of this had been brought about by the system that had suddenly bound itself to him.

Host: Xiao Teng

Physique: 13 (average for a normal person: 5)

Spirit: 8 (average for a normal person: 4)

Number of completed conquest targets: 4

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Current mission: Win over Xia Ziqian, daughter of the president of the Nanji Chamber of Commerce. Current conquest progress: 88%.

Reward for mission completion: 5% equity in the Nanji Chamber of Commerce.

The Ultimate Conquest System. So long as he completed the conquest missions issued by the system, he could obtain handsome rewards.

The Nanji Chamber of Commerce was one of the largest multinational trade conglomerates in the world, with assets measured in the trillions. Five percent of its equity was an astonishing fortune.

Looking at the system panel before him, the smile at Xiao Teng’s lips grew wider and wider. Once he finished this job, he could return inland and complete the last bit of conquest progress, gaining both the girl and the profit!

Suddenly, Xiao Teng’s eyes narrowed. Through the translucent system panel, he saw a dark figure carefully feeling its way along the side of the cargo ship toward the passenger cabins.

“Who’s that? A pirate?”

There were dedicated passageways on the cargo ship. There was no need to walk along the ship’s side, which was so dangerous. And moving so furtively, the figure was clearly not one of the ship’s people.

Xiao Teng’s heart tightened. Although completing past missions had earned him ancient martial arts from the system, giving him the fighting ability to take on ten men alone, he still felt a bit weak-kneed when faced with the notorious pirates.

No matter how good he was at fighting, he could not beat a submachine gun. No matter how fast he was, he was not faster than bullets.

Xiao Teng raised his hand and hurled the wineglass into the sea. He had barely turned and taken two steps when the system’s shrill emergency alert suddenly rang out.

“Detected: an SSS-rank conquest target exists near the host. Mission activated.”

“Mission issued: Locate the target and complete the conquest. Reward for mission completion: 100% control of the Cronin Consortium, status as the true controller of the Field family, ten top-tier diamond mines, and 40% of the world’s gold reserves…”

“Hiss—”

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Xiao Teng sucked in a cold breath, stunned by the system’s terrifying reward.

The Cronin Consortium controlled nearly fifty percent of the economic lifeline of a superpower and possessed enormous assets all over the world. It was no exaggeration to say that the wealth held by the Cronin Consortium was enough to sustain a financial storm sweeping across the globe.

As for the Field family, Xiao Teng had only heard of them after going overseas. It was a family that occupied half of the underworld forces abroad, with a vast arms trade and the world’s largest smuggling empire. In some countries wreathed in war, their shadow could be found as well.

There was no need even to mention the diamond mines and gold reserves that followed. It was a fortune great enough to bankrupt a superpower.

There was no need to mince words: if he completed this conquest mission, Xiao Teng could instantly stand at the top of the world. Not a single person would be qualified to stand on equal footing with him.

There was nobody else nearby. The only figure was the person sneaking furtively along the ship’s side.

In that instant, Xiao Teng’s courage suddenly swelled. His earlier timidity was immediately flung to the back of his mind, and his eyes burned with scorching desire.

He strode forward, swung himself over the railing onto the ship’s side eyes burned with scorching desire.

He strode forward, swung himself over the railing onto the ship’s side, and carefully followed behind that figure ahead.

…

…

Shi Lan carefully edged along the ship’s side. Only after a little while did she reach a half-open porthole.

A fragrant scent spilled out and drifted into Shi Lan’s mind, making her mouth water. Involuntarily, she pressed a hand to her stomach.

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It seemed to hurt even more now…

“I see him.”

“Who?”

Shi Lan had just pushed open the porthole. Her mind was full of food, and when she heard Samsara’s words, she did not react for a moment. Once she came back to herself, she could not help being startled.

“The system host?!”

She had not expected to run into him so quickly.

“He’s following behind you. That little thing was attracted by the fortune around you and wants to devour you.”

“What kind of system is it? Does it have a name?”

Shi Lan was having trouble concentrating. Barely suppressing the craving for food in her mind, she glanced back.

The night was too dark, and the ship’s cabins blocked much of the moonlight, further hindering her vision. Shi Lan narrowed her eyes with effort before she could make out a vague figure.

“It’s a variant of a mission-type system. It has no way to directly affect the world’s fortune. It can only steal source power scattered in corners of the world through some kind of medium.”

“As for a name, not every system is qualified to have one. Most systems randomly fabricate one based on the world’s information.”

“Wait before doing anything. I’ve already entered the little thing’s core module…”