Author Here: I deliberately didn't mention something in the Side Story, because it may break the momentum.
---
When Mo Tianxuan saw the quest, he asked the system:
"System, can't we just cultivate a Supreme Foundation Builder and then devour him?"
[Ding! No, host. Those who achieve a Supreme Foundation without deliberate guidance are all people of Great Luck, and you must devour this kind of person.]
---
Outside the simulation—
In a small house in Yongcheng City.
At the moment, Lin Chen's face was calm, but a storm raged inside his heart. He quickly stood from his seat and reprimanded the system in his mind:
"Hey System, how do you explain this? You said no one can know of your existence or interfere with it, but why did that mysterious figure know about you?"
The system responded almost instantly, as though it had been preparing its words.
[Ding! Host, please calm down. There should always be mysteries and adventures in a man's life, otherwise life would not be exciting. But don't worry, that person harbors no ill will towards you.]
Its tone was playful at first, but then suddenly turned cold, devoid of all emotion:
[And if he does harbor ill intent, this system itself will travel through countless worlds and kill every variant of him, eradicating his entire existence. If any other Golden Finger stands in the way, they too will perish. This is my word to you.]
Lin Chen's heart trembled. A question rose within him:
"System… are you really my friend?"
But he didn't voice it. Perhaps—just perhaps—if he asked, his own system would turn hostile.
Even so, Lin Chen refused to yield. He had read many novels in his previous life, and in some of them the system betrayed its host. He couldn't let that happen to him.
So, he decided to test it with questions.
"System, I want to ask you some questions, and you must answer truthfully."
[Ding! Don't worry, host. This system will answer truthfully—but only within certain limits.]
"Alright. My first question: Is Mo Tianxuan a system user? If yes, then which system does he have?"
[Yes, Host. Mo Tianxuan is a system user, and the name of his system is the Devour System.]
"Second question: What happens if I kill Mo Tianxuan inside the simulation? Will he also die in reality?"
[No, Host. Even if you kill Mo Tianxuan inside the simulation, it will have no effect on reality.]
[As for what happens if you kill him—afterward you will obtain his system origin, which has many useful features. One of them is Foundation Enhancement. However, this system does not recommend you to do that right now.]
When Lin Chen heard this, countless doubts arose in his heart. But the next words erased them all:
[Because this will be extremely useful for you when condensing the strongest Foundation in existence. You should not waste it on something you will eventually obtain through future simulations.]
"What other features does a system origin have? Could it be used to create a new system?" Lin Chen pressed.
[Yes. With system origin, the host could create another system. However, this system does not recommend it, as it would take trillions of years. During that time, you cannot divert your focus, not even once, or all progress would be lost.]
[Reminder: Even if stored in timeless space, progress cannot be preserved if interrupted.]
The reminder struck Lin Chen like a bucket of cold water. His fantasies shattered instantly.
"System, how much time did it take for you to form?" he asked, still curious.
[Ding! You can say this system took all of eternity to form—or no time at all.]
Lin Chen was shocked. A system that required all of eternity to form… what kind of existence was it?
After a pause, he asked the question that concerned him most:
"Will Mo Tianxuan retain his memories of the simulation in reality?"
[Ding! No, Host. No one retains simulation memories in reality unless you allow it. This feature will be available to you in the future.]
Lin Chen had already expected this answer. If his system couldn't even ensure that much, it wouldn't be worth trusting.
"Will there be other sub-systems after upgrading the simulator?"
[Yes, Host. After every five levels of upgrade, a new sub-system will unlock.]
Hearing this, Lin Chen's heart surged with excitement. This meant countless systems would one day be his to command.
After a moment, he calmed himself and asked another question:
"System, how many hosts have you had before me? How many succeeded?"
[Ding! Host, you are the very first host of this system.]
Lin Chen froze, then laughed bitterly. "Am I destined to die? Did you give me a beta-version system just for testing?"
[No, Host. This system is not a beta version. It is a fully upgraded system that seeks a 100% success rate. After traveling through countless worlds, times, and spaces, it finally found you—and chose you as its first host.]
[So rest assured.]
Hearing this, Lin Chen finally felt a measure of relief, and his trust in the system deepened.
Just as he was about to ask another question—"System, what are your inten—"—a chime interrupted him.
[Ding! Reward settlement completed. The host may choose three of the following rewards.]
Lin Chen took this as the system's way of telling him his questioning limit had been reached. He focused on the rewards.
---
[Purple Talent: Flawless Sword Heart]
[Cultivation: Late-stage Golden Elixir (with Supreme Foundation)]
[Experience: Marrow-Cleansing, combat experience, muscle memory, technique proficiency {Great Burning Heaven Technique, Low-grade Fire Spirit Root}, practicing experience {Sword Intent Lv.8, Killing Intent Lv.1, Flame Intent, Flame Sword Intent Lv.1}, breakthrough exp, cultivation exp, etc.]
[Resources: 134.3 million spirit stone value (including silver and gold), Blood-Devouring Demonic Sword, Qingfeng Sword, many cultivation resources, etc.]
[Detailed memory of everything seen.]
Without hesitation, Lin Chen chose Talent, Experience, and Resources.
Immediately, a burning sensation surged through him, and a strange green flame ignited within his body—birthing a Fire Spiritual Root.
Next, he turned his attention to his infinite storage space. There, resting quietly, was a blood-red sword exuding an eerie aura—the Blood-Devouring Demonic Sword. A weapon said to make mortals capable of rivaling the world's strongest.
Excitement surged through him.
"System, open panel."
[Ding! Data analysis successful.]
A virtual screen unfolded:
---
[Host]: Lin Chen
[Cultivation]: Great Grandmaster Realm, Extreme of Qi-Refining Realm (Supreme Foundation)
[Kung Fu]: Sword Intent Lv.8, Killing Intent Lv.1, Flame Intent, Flame Sword Intent, etc.
[Martial Arts]: Ten Tiger Fist, Dog-Beating Stick, Turtle-Breathing Method, etc.]
[Spells]: Burning Spell, Earth Escape, Breath-Retaining Method, etc.]
[Techniques]: Ling Jian Sutra, Great Burning Heaven Technique (Low-grade Fire Spirit Root), etc.]
[Secret Methods]: Prison-Suppressing Divine Body Condensation Method (Entry), Golden Elixir Pattern Condensation Method, Marrow-Cleansing Technique, etc.]
[Talents]: Extraordinary Bone (Purple), Top-grade Earth Spiritual Root (Blue), Prison-Suppressing Divine Body (Red, Entry), Choice Increases (Blue), Flawless Sword Heart (Purple), Low-grade Fire Spiritual Root (White), Traveler (???), Luck (???)
[Items]: ~180.5 million Spirit Stone Value, Blood-Devouring Demonic Sword, many cultivation resources, Ling Jian Sect Inheritance, Loot from Blood Demon Secret Realm, Yin-Yang Technique, Golden Elixir Pattern Condensation Method, etc.]
[Sub-system]: Combat Ranking System
[System Level]: 9
---
Just as Lin Chen studied his panel, the system prompted him again:
[Ding! Host, would you like an introduction to this weapon?]
"System, you have this feature? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
[Ding! This system always had it, but most items were either already known to the host, or explained by the Combat Ranking System.]
Lin Chen nodded. That made sense.
"Then explain."
[Blood-Devouring Demonic Sword (Inferior Grade): A sword that can be infinitely upgraded through blood. With each upgrade, the owner's aptitude for the Killing Dao will rise without bottlenecks. It comes paired with the Blood-Devouring Demonic Technique.]
[Reminder: Heavy use of the sword can collapse the wielder's mind under the burden of undead memories. Not recommended for those with weak mental strength.]
[Blood-Devouring Demonic Technique: Devours the blood of others to empower the user's qi and blood. At perfection, the practitioner's blood will be as pure as the ancestor of their race.]
[Reminder: Overuse may lock the meridians, preventing further cultivation.]
Lin Chen pondered. "Best to reserve both sword and technique for life-or-death moments—when I'm on the brink of death, I can risk everything to upgrade the sword."
"System, if this sword devoured countless people's blood in the Blood Demon Secret Realm, why is it still only inferior grade?"
[Ding! Host, that was merely energy it consumed to sustain itself.]
"Fine. Then—System, start the new simulation."
[1 Spirit Stone consumed. Remaining value: 180.5 million Spirit Stones.]
[Ding! Simulation begins.]
---
Inside the Simulation—
[...After slaughtering half of the Hehuan Sect's forces that came to destroy your family, you alarmed a Mahayana realm cultivator of the sect. He personally came to hunt you down. Knowing there was no escape, you launched a desperate assault.]
[After only two or three exchanges, you were slain by the Mahayana realm powerhouse.]
[Because of your death, this simulation ends.]