He was practically shaking with pent-up frustration and a sense of entitlement. "But fine," he said, taking a deep breath and trying to stand tall. "I'll forgive you. Because I always knew it. I am the protagonist."
He looked at the interface, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Alright, System," he said, his voice brimming with confidence. "Show me my amazing functions."
The system interface responded without delay.
[System Name: Treasure Devourer System]
[Core Function 1: The system can scan a 1-kilometer radius and show the location of all spiritual treasures on a mental map.]
[Core Function 2: The system can consume any spiritual treasure and convert 100% of its essence directly into the Host's cultivation, with no risk and no waste.]
Jin Hao's grin widened, feeling like it might split his face. It was perfect. An unbeatable combination. It was a cheat code for cultivation. All the legendary herbs, hidden inheritances, and priceless artifacts were his for the taking.
"Yes! I knew it!" he laughed. "With this, who needs natural talent? Who needs a powerful family? I'll feast my way to the top! Arya Chen, just you wait. That beautiful Su Lian, she will be mine! Every treasure, every woman, and every bit of glory in this world belongs to me, Jin Hao! Anyone who stands in my way…" His eyes gleamed greedily. "...will be crushed."
He was in the middle of his villainous speech when a jarring notification appeared on the screen, its text written in blood-red.
[WARNING! WARNING! A HIGH-LEVEL PARASITIC SOUL ENTITY HAS BEEN DETECTED! ENTITY IS DEVOURING HOST'S CULTIVATION AND LIFE FORCE TO REBUILD ITS OWN SOUL!]
The triumphant grin vanished from Jin Hao's face, replaced by pure terror. "What?! What are you talking about?!"
[Analysis: The ring on the Host's finger contains a powerful soul fragment. This entity is the source of the Host's cultivation stagnation. It has been using you as a nutrient source. At its current rate of absorption, it will have enough power to attempt full soul possession within three months.]
Soul possession. The words hit him like a physical blow. He stumbled back and instinctively grabbed the simple ring on his finger. He had found it in a dusty market stall five years ago, drawn to its ancient feel. He thought it might be a hidden treasure, a spatial ring, or something similar, but it had never shown any special properties. It was just a ring.
But his lucky find turned out to be a soul-sucking demon in disguise?
The terror was overwhelming.
"What do I do?! What do I do?!" he screamed in his mind, his previous arrogance completely gone. He frantically tried to pull the ring off, but it was stuck, as if it were part of his flesh. "System! Get it off me! Help me!"
[Warning: The parasitic entity is aware of your mental state. Any sudden attempt to remove the ring will alert it. It may trigger a premature possession attempt. The Host's spiritual defenses are insufficient. Probability of successful possession: 99.9%.]
"No, no, no, no!" Jin Hao whimpered, collapsing against the alley wall, his body shaking uncontrollably. He was going to die. He was going to lose his body to some ancient monster. "System, please! You have to help me! You're my system! You're supposed to be my cheat! You can't let me die like this!"
The system remained silent for a moment.
[...A solution is possible,] the voice finally said. [But it will require a massive expenditure of my primary energy. This is a one-time emergency intervention. It will not happen again.]
"Yes! Anything! Just do it!" Jin Hao cried, relief flooding his soul. "I'll be a better host! I'll find you many treasures! Just save me!"
[Understood. Initiating Emergency Soul Purification Protocol. Do not resist.]
The ring started to vibrate violently, a foreboding hum filling the alley. It grew warm, then hot, searing against his skin. Black smoke seeped from the old metal, twisting and writhing in the air before him. The system dramatically shaped the smoke into a monstrous figure. It resembled a human, but its features were distorted and demonic. Its mouth was a gaping maw of screaming shadow, and its hands were sharp claws filled with malice. It was an illusion meant to show the true horror of the entity, created to instill maximum fear.
The spectral form flickered, its shadowy eyes fixed on Jin Hao.
"Child, what is this?! What is happening?!" the soul-form cried, its voice a jarring mix of panicked whispers. It looked from the glowing ring on Jin Hao's finger to him, its monstrous face a mask of complete bewilderment. "The energy… it's tearing me apart! What are you doing? Stop this! Stop this now!"
Jin Hao only saw the demonic nightmare the system showed him. He heard a monster. He screamed, a terrified sound, and scrambled backward on the grimy alley floor, crab walking away to escape the horrifying apparition.
"System! Kill it! Devour it! Erase it!" he shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at the struggling soul.
The spectral form's head snapped back toward him, its shadowy features twisting in disbelief. "Who are you talking to?! What is that energy?! My soul essence… it's being drained! You can't do this to me! I am your destiny!"
The panic in the soul's voice sounded like a patient predator that had nurtured its prey for years, only to see that prey suddenly produce venom dissolving it from the inside out.
[Purification in progress.] The system's voice in Jin Hao's mind was a cold response to the soul's terrified screams.
The system's power surged. Golden chains of light erupted from the ring, wrapping around the demon's shadowy form. The demon roared in agony, struggling against its bonds.
"You cannot do this! I am a master of alchemy! I am…"
Its words were cut off as the system's power intensified. Ancient pill recipes, profound cultivation insights, a lifetime of alchemy knowledge was ripped from the spectral form, pulled from it like thread from a spool. The knowledge, power, and very essence of the "Grandfather Alchemist" was funneled away by the system.
The demon's form flickered and faded, its substance being devoured. With a final agonizing scream, it imploded and vanished into nothingness.
The golden chains dissolved. The ring on Jin Hao's finger glowed white-hot for a moment, then crumbled into a pile of grey dust, scattering in the light breeze.
Silence.
Jin Hao lay on the grimy alley floor, panting and drenched in cold sweat. He stared at the spot where the demon had been, his heart racing.
A wave of relief washed over him. It was like the relief of a man who had just escaped a fatal traffic accident. Thank god for the system. I almost became food for that thing. I nearly turned into one of those side characters who die early in the story just to show how cruel the cultivation world can be.
He felt a new lightness in his body. The constant drain on his spiritual energy was gone. He focused inward. His cultivation remained at the Third Layer, but it felt… stable. For the first time in five years, the Qi he absorbed from the air was staying.
He pushed himself to his feet, a new resolve in his eyes. The world had tried to trick him into being a victim. But he had survived. He had a loyal system.
"Arya Chen," he whispered, the name a venomous promise. "Su Lian… I'm coming."
He stepped out of the dark alley and back into the world.