This… what is this?
Wan Zheng thought as he picked up a piece of jewelry, the gold necklace, with his left hand.
It felt light and smooth.
He wanted to see clearly if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
At the moment his hand touched the jewelry, his eyes caught the unknown snake tattoo on his skin faintly glowing.
He frowned.
His eyes cast down on the numbers and English words, knowing this was neither normal nor ordinary for a mere cultivator.
Even without a true understanding of what being a cultivator entailed, Wan Zheng knew the original body owner wasn't strong enough to possess such an ability.
After all, this body had been disowned by the noble Wan Clan due to broken meridians and a thin spiritual root.
The original Wan Zheng could not cultivate and could not technically be called a true cultivator.
In other words, he was considered a waste in the world of immortals.
Before he could investigate further, all the questions racing through his mind demanding answers were answered at once.
A familiar artificial intelligence male voice spoke inside his head.
To a modern person like his soul from another world of technology, it sounded like a machine talking.
On the other hand, someone from this ancient world could easily mistake it for a demon possessing them or even a god.
"Gold Necklace, 24-carat purity, valued at 100 Taels of Silver. Mortal item, no cultivation value, ranked as a low-grade mortal artifact. "
Wan Zheng couldn't believe he was actually hearing someone else's distinct voice inside his head for a moment.
It was surreal.
Still, his transmigration had been even more otherworldly, so he accepted this moment almost effortlessly.
The information about the jewelry was laid out before him, and Wan Zheng realized that if this applied to every material he could see, it would be a great help for him in the future.
After all, in his original modern world, his profession was called a Professional Private Bidder.
Others simply referred to his work as a Private Bidder.
He was also sometimes considered an Auction Specialist, Professional Auctioneer, Asset Broker, and even Investment Collector.
He had been working in this field for the past twelve years of his previous life.
Since waking up in this world, Wan Zheng had been wondering what work he could do to earn money to support this family.
Now, he thought that perhaps he could return to his modern profession here.
Wan Zheng's could still remember that his nephew had mentioned many times that there were auction houses in most cultivation worlds.
This was one of the reasons that boy enjoyed reading such stories so much.
Now, thinking that he would experience firsthand what his nephew had always wished for in this world, Wan Zheng couldn't help but imagine his nephew crying out loud with jealousy and bitterness.
To add salt to the wound, Wan Zheng realized that the voice he was hearing was that system thing his nephew had been blabbering about every day.
Wan Zheng remembered his nephew happily listening to a male's upgrade novel as they studied a new item for auction at their office.
"Wow! He has such a cool system! I wish I had my own system too, so I could easily see the value of items in the auction. Ah, hey uncle, don't you think that would make our life easier?"
"Lower your voice and focus on your lot."
"Uncle, you're always so stingy. You're so outdated, you don't even know the current trend..."
The only thing Wan Zheng could think of was that this must be the system his nephew had always wished for.
Based on the countless novels he had been forced to listen to, he was certain this voice could be nothing else but that System thing. Just like the kind he used on his computer desktop.
"Are you… a system?" Wan Zheng asked directly within his thoughts.
A sound like static buzzed in his ears, as if a strange circuit was moving, and the cold reply followed at once.
"Yes, Host. I am a high-level intellectual System."
"What's your true purpose in being with me?"
"I was created under the authority of the Universal Beings who govern the small worlds. My purpose is to assist chosen souls, with you, Host, as an example, in completing missions and guiding them through their new lives."
No. That's not enough.
Wan Zheng wanted to know the reason why he was connected to this being he had never asked for.
If he can remember it correctly, people with this unscientific system basically like a main character in those novels.
He will not become someone to be manipulated by an unknown thing, nor serve as another's stepping stone.
"At this moment, you're not giving me the answer I demand." Wan Zheng's eyes closed as his fingers brushed over the rough surface of the jewelry.
"...."
"If you cannot answer, then we shall not converse any further." Wan Zheng said, setting the jewelry aside and only taking the string of copper coins in a small pouch.
Sensing his seriousness on the matter, the artificial voice relented and revealed everything he needed to know.
"I am known as the SSS-Ranked Treasures Bidding System. I bound myself to you when you died from the fall, killed by your private client. To preserve your soul, I chose a world from your favorite novel, based on your memories, which also aligns with my objective."
Now, that's interesting.
Wan Zheng realized that all of his nephew's wishes had fallen onto him instead.
If that boy ever found out, he would be tearing his hair out in frustration.
"Objective. Speak about it."
"My objective is to upgrade as a system. To achieve that, I must find a host who can complete my primary missions and sub-missions, generating enough energy points for me to unlock the required upgrade package."
"Mnn. By all means, you are forcing your host to bind with you?"
"Host's accusation is baseless. We are systems with integrity. The binding occurred with your own consent. When your blood fell on the system's chosen vessel, it automatically created a soul contract between Party A and Party B."
Wan Zheng chuckled lowly.
If he remembered correctly, his blood had only ever fallen on two things, first on a tissue when he had a nosebleed, and second when he was shot while holding the snake ring jewelry he had bid on just before he died.
"What's your vessel?"
"I placed my activation bind on the jewelry the host purchased."
Now it make sense for him but he found this system's process are still illegal as he doesn't even want to bind with it.
"Can I dissolve this contract with you?"
"Yes, Host. But be severely informed that once the contract is dissolved, your soul will leave this world and you will die."
"...."