Chương 53: Introducing The Super Awesome Stalkin- *Ahem* Subsystem Function!

After Ren Qingquan read the Cultivation Method for a few seconds, he asked me, 'System, can you help me learn this cultivation method?' Although personally I want to help him, I am a professional System who separates my work and personal life. [Yes. But first, please repay the points you owe. Or you can spend the one chance to learn any technique that System rewards for completing one of your missions.] Lending him more money is off the table. I don't want him to get used to borrowing from me.

Well, unless it's to reimburse my own experiment. Then, I'll gladly add more negatives to his points.

'Alright. Wait a moment, let me ask an important question.' Ren Qingquan hesitated before agreeing, then asked, 'After I take this opportunity, will I only learn the first part of the method, or will I master it up to the Nascent Soul stage?' Tsk tsk tsk, Ren Qingquan, how little do you think of me? Although I briefly considered only teaching him the Qi Refining and Foundation Building sections, it's hurtful that he said it out loud. [How greedy and heartless do you think the System is? Naturally, you'll master the Qi Refining section up to the Nascent Soul level of the 'Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method'.]'Alright, then please help me learn it,' Ren Qingquan finally agreed. [You have used one chance to learn any technique or method. Please wait while the System processes the information related to the 'Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method' before sending it to the host. This may take a while.] After sending that message, I began studying the Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method.

Actually, I studied it out of boredom before, but at the time, I just skimmed it. Now I need to study the cultivation method thoroughly, so Ren Qingquan won't accidentally enter qi deviation and die or spit a fountain of blood. While I studied the cultivation method, Ren Qingquan silently read the novels we had scanned in the Martial Arts World. The silence was broken when the formation plate on his house suddenly sounded an alarm.

"Huh? What's going on here?" Ren Qingquan stopped reading his novels. [Your fatty friend is standing outside, knocking on your house's formation.] Ren Qingquan leaves his room and opens the door to his house. Stepping outside, he sees Fatty Zhang asking, "Young Master Ren, have you eaten your breakfast? I heard from the guidebook that the outer sect members have their own canteen with absolutely amazing food." Ren Qingquan is indeed feeling a little hungry.

With nothing else to do, he nods and follows Fatty Zhang to eat. Once they finished eating, Fatty Zhang and Ren Qingquan once again entered their respective houses. Coincidentally, I've also finished relearning the Qi Refining, Foundation Building, and Golden Core sections of the cultivation method. As for the Nascent Soul section, the difficulty jumped several times over that of the earlier sections, and I still need more time to study it. [Ding! System has completed the analysis of the Qi Refining to Golden Core section of the 'Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method'. Please read the book while System assists you in mastering the method. Because there's insufficient data for the Nascent Soul section, it will be sent separately at a later date.]'Alright, the Qi Refining to Golden Core section is good enough for now.' After Ren Qingquan said this, I opened the 'Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method' in the system library for him to read.

Then, I used [Calculate] to repeat how I mastered the 'Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method' and copy my understanding to him. Because the data is so large and takes quite some time to send, I spend that time checking my status panel. [Name: System Points: 856 [Scan] Range: 100 meters [Calculate] Calculation power: 110 (+1. 000 initial calculation power) [Devour] Selective Devour: 1500 points [Transfer] Unknown upgrades [Anchor] All Abilities Anchor: Ren Qingquan 3 Abilities Anchor: Ren Xuan (Scan, Devour, Transfer) 1 Abilities Anchor: Ren Shiluo, Ren Wangzhen, Azure Emperor, Palace Librarian, Sect Master, Miscellaneous Hall Master, 3 other Pure Wave Sect higher-ups (Scan)] As I watched my status panel, I felt a bit indecisive about something. Except for my [Anchor] ability, I've already shared most of my abilities with Ren Qingquan.

But after what happened with the one-hit kill function, I realised that two brains are still better than one, or none if we want to get to the specific, because I don't have any physical brains. Especially when it came to creativity. Ren Qingquan's crazy idea is no joke; if it were on Earth, his ideas could be considered war crimes. Anyway, this made me think of telling Ren Qingquan about [Anchor] too. My gut feeling told me I hadn't used this ability to its full potential and had wasted much of its potential.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. But I also didn't want to show all my abilities to Ren Qingquan. After all, keeping one or two trump cards is a must, even against someone you trust. Well, now that I think about it, I felt like such a jerk. Especially after I recalled how Ren Qingquan had trusted the nonsense I'd given him when he found out I wasn't just a simple mechanical system but had my own sapience.

Or is it possible that Ren Qingquan has guessed there will be a time when I gonna fall into this sort of dilemma and has planted a seed of trust in my mind to make me willingly leak my secret to him? Nah, I'd only believe Ren Qingquan could play this sort of mind game with me when pigs fly. Wait a moment, I think I chose the wrong idiom, especially since this is a world with cultivation, and a flying pig definitely won't be a rarity. Anyway, I think I am overthinking things.

When I reflect on it, in the relationship between Ren Qingquan and me, I was in an absolutely advantageous position. When it was necessary, I could make Ren Qingquan bite the dust, both literally and metaphorically. What's important now is to make sure this small ship we're sailing doesn't sink under the massive ocean called the cultivation world. Especially with the Pure Wave Sect higher-ups' stance against a child of destiny like Ren Qingquan.

Although the Sect Master seems to greatly fear a child of destiny and is busy observing Ren Qingquan through the Heaven Prying Mirror even now, I never know whether he'll suddenly get his brain kicked by a donkey and decide to turn hostile to Ren Qingquan. The strength difference is too great, and I am not sure that removing a part of his brain will kill someone at the Sect Master's level. So I need to find a way to gather as many points as possible in case I need to teleport Ren Qingquan far away in an emergency.

With that thought, I sent a message after helping Ren Qingquan master the Basic Fundamental Cultivation Method. [Ding! Background update completed.] [Congratulations on arriving at the Cultivation World. You've been rewarded with the Subsystem function.]"Eh"? Ren Qingquan let out a confused sound when he saw my message.

'What is this suddenly appearing Subsystem function?' [The Subsystem function allows the host to add system functions like 'Scan', 'Devour', 'Calculate', 'Transfer', and any future function you've unlocked to other living creatures by paying some points. The target may use the system function through the subsystem. Subsystems are currently separated into four levels. Every increase in levels allows the host to add one more function. Note 1: Through the main system, hosts may choose to block, weaken, or control a certain subsystem's ability. Note 2: The host may collect all or a part of the energies absorbed by the subsystem. Note 3: The host may upgrade the level of the subsystem already attached to a certain creature without being nearby. Note 4: When choosing a subsystem host for the first time, the target must be within the range of the main system's scan. Note 5: When the main ability is upgraded, the subsystem's ability will also be strengthened. Note 6: Please experiment with it more to find other hidden usages.] This might be just a simple psychological cue, but I named it the Subsystem function and did not allow him to grant others the [Anchor] ability. This is to give Ren QIngquan comfort and confidence that he's my only host. This way, he wouldn't doubt whether I'm actually two-timing. Wait, that sounds a bit weird.

I mean, he wouldn't feel 'special' if he could also grant the [Anchor] skill, which allows others to grant 'Subsystem'. What if he suspects he isn't the only system host and starts overthinking? What if he begins to doubt me? Especially since I indeed often lied to him or told half-truths. Ren Qingquan might be a silly, impulsive guy most of the time, but the occasional moment when he uses his brain fucking scares me. Like that moment when he suspected I had my own sapience.

After reading the message I sent, Ren Qingquan thought, 'Sudden update? Subsystem?' Then, he asked me, 'System, you mentioned I can give this subsystem thing to others for a cost. Can you tell me the exact price?' [Here is the cost of granting a subsystem based on the level: Level 1: 1 point Level 2: 10 points Level 3: 100 points Level 4: 1. 000 points (probably)]'Why is the word 'probably' in a bracket?' Ren Qinqguan asked. Ooops. I guess I shouldn't add that 'probably'. This is a bit troublesome.

Should I tell him that I know it from the people I've anchored with before, and that I don't know the exact price for the level 4 subsystem because I've never experimented with it? Or should I make up some nonsense reason? Well, let's tell him about the others I've anchored, because I'm absolutely curious about what Ren Qingquan will do after learning how trope-savvy the Sect Master of the Pure Wave Sect is and about Ren Xuan, the regressor.

Of course, while at it, I'll also add some nonsense to hide the fact that I've had the anchor ability from the start and simply haven't told him. [System has been experimenting to stabilize the function. System first discovered this function when it activated by accident during your meeting with your father and grandfather.] [Since then, System has conducted a few experiments, and it only became fully debugged around the time you recently arrived in the Cultivation World.]'You still need to program your own function?' Before I could answer, Ren Qingquan asked another question, 'Also, where did you get the points to experiment with it? Didn't you just say it costs points to use the subsystem function? Did it cost you anything to use that function yourself, or do you have your own point storage somewhere? Or... did you actually embezzle my points?' Ren Qingquan: (≖_≖) Darn it, I think I've turned stupid, or am I actually starting to trust Ren Qingquan?

Why did I say all that, and why did he suddenly turn smarter and ask that question? Or is this the effect of that intelligence-reducing aura the Pure Wave Sect's Sect Master once mentioned? Is it so scary that it can even affect me, who exists in the dark space that's located at God knows where? [Ding! System won't say embezzle, but prefers calling it an 'emergency saving'.]'Emergency... saving? So, you did take some of the points I earned. How much did you take?' Look at the peak of my lies!

I shall use all of my experience in lying to give him the most devious word I've ever spoken. [10%] [System uses it to update, maintain, or experiment with certain system functions to further assist the host. It's also used as a reward for the system mission.] Ren Qingquan: (≖_≖)'Sigh, whatever' Ren Qingquan finally sighed after maintaining his suinted eyes for a few minutes.

'As I've said before, you're my cheat, and I don't think I could do anything against you in case you ever want to harm me. So, let's just use each other while maintaining this kind of civilized relationship. Furthermore, I am too lazy to use my brain except during important moments.' [Thank you for your trust! Would you like to give the System a rating while at it? ☆☆☆☆☆]'I'll give you a one-star.'

After a short silence, Ren Qingquan asked another question, 'Anyway, can you list the people you've granted the Subsystem?'

I sorted the people I've anchored and listed it to Ren Qingquan [Level 3 subsystem: Ren Xuan (Scan, Devour, Transfer) Level 1 subsystem: Ren Shiluo, Ren Wangzhen, Azure Empire's Palace Librarian, Pure Wave Sect's Sect Master, Pure Wave Sect's Miscellaneous Hall Master, and 3 other Pure Wave Sect higher-ups (Scan)] I removed the Azure Emperor's anchor from the list because he is temporarily disconnected.

Meanwhile, all the Martial Emperors I anchored in the Azure Empire's capital are now dead, except for the librarian and the Azure Emperor.