The battlefield was still, a silent graveyard for beasts and mortals alike. Smoke curled in ragged wisps above scorched earth. Broken weapons, shattered shields, and the remains of bodies marked the aftermath of chaos. Lin Yuan stood among the ruin, alone, feeling the hum of power beneath his skin—the energy of the Devouring System coursing through him like molten iron.
Eight realms in Body Tempering. Dragon physique integrated. Dragon Vein Circulation Method stabilized. Yet, even with such power, he understood that raw strength alone would not define his rise. Mastery required knowledge. He needed to understand this system, and the system would be his greatest weapon.
A voice, smooth and resonant, echoed within his mind.
[Host detected. Devouring System operational.]
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Who created you?" he asked sharply, though his voice was quiet, almost a whisper.
[Query denied.]
[Revealing the creator's name is forbidden. Attempting to learn it will only increase your Karma for seeking what mortals are not meant to know.]
Lin Yuan smirked, showing a glimpse of the ruthlessness that had defined his former life. "So you're sentient. And arrogant. Fine."
[Sentience: Partial. Reasoning: Adaptive. Memory: Persistent.]
[Host may interact and request information within permissible bounds.]
He let the silence stretch for a heartbeat. Then, his eyes sharpened.
"Show me what I can know."
[Host, to display your current status, say: 'Stat'.]
Lin Yuan muttered, just to test the system, "Stat."
[Command recognized.]
A glowing panel unfolded before him, displaying his information in precise clarity.
Name: Lin Yuan
Age: 14 (in this body)
Bloodline: Ancient Dragon (Dormant, Filtered)
Physique: Dragon Physique (Basic Stage)
Cultivation Level: Body Tempering Realm – 8th Level
Cultivation Technique: Dragon Vein Circulation Method
Martial Arts Known: Basic Sword Technique
He scowled slightly at the martial art. "Basic Sword Technique?"
[Confirmed.]
[Due to the prevalence of beasts, the Empire standardized basic weapon arts. Every citizen has access to foundational techniques to survive common threats.]
Lin Yuan's lips twisted into a thin smile. "So even the peasants can fight beasts with a sword. Noted."
[Host, you may also access system functions. List of available functions displayed upon request.]
He considered his options. Curiosity had always been his weapon in life. Ruthless, efficient, unflinching—the system would serve him, but first, he needed to explore its boundaries.
[Functions available:]
1. Stat – Display host's information.
2. Devour – Absorb dead targets' cultivation, bloodline, physique, and energy.
3. Quest – Assigns objectives with rewards and penalties.
4. Inventory – Infinite storage for items, weapons, and treasures.
5. Skills – Tracks learned techniques and system-given abilities.
6. Milestone Rewards – Grant special bonuses at cultivation or quest progression milestones.
7. Communication – Host may interface mentally; verbal speech is optional.
Lin Yuan's eyes flicked across the list, pausing on "Inventory." He raised an eyebrow.
[Infinite storage. You may deposit and retrieve items at will.]
A flicker of amusement passed over him. "An infinite inventory? That's… useful."
[Host need not speak aloud. System responds to thought commands within range of consciousness.]
Lin Yuan nodded slowly. That meant stealth and efficiency. No unnecessary words. No revealing his position to potential enemies.
[Host. Milestone rewards activate automatically upon reaching designated cultivation, quest, or system achievements.]
Lin Yuan smirked. "So it tracks progress, grants bonuses, and doesn't care if I talk to it out loud. Excellent."
He decided to probe further.
"Devour," he thought clearly, testing the function. The panel acknowledged him immediately.
[No targets detected in proximity. Devour requires a deceased or incapacitated target. Energy and essence absorption efficiency depends on target's cultivation and bloodline stability.]
He scowled. "Fair enough. I'll test it later."
[Functions may be examined and practiced mentally. Host may request explanations.]
Lin Yuan focused. "Explain Inventory fully."
[Inventory Function:]
- Infinite storage space.
- Items placed inside do not degrade.
- Host may retrieve any stored object instantly, regardless of size or weight.
- Function linked to consciousness. Thought commands suffice. No verbal action required to bring out items stored in the inventory.]
He grinned faintly. "So I could store an army of weapons in there if I wanted."
[Correct. Inventory is not limited by the laws of conventional space.]
[But at current host level, items stored in inventory by host cannot be living. ]
[Next function: Quest.]
Lin Yuan's expression darkened. "Yes. Let's see what this Quest can do."
[Quest: It's all meant for the Devourer.]
[Host. Bloodline advancement requires external catalysts. The treasure stolen from you is needed to elevate your bloodline.]
[Quest accepted: Retrieve Stolen Treasure.]
[Reward: Full assimilation of Ancient Dragon Bloodline.]
[Penalty: Failure will reduce bloodline potential to Pseudo.]
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed. "A quest. Straightforward. Reward or death. Fine."
[Milestone rewards exist at key points: cultivation breakthroughs, quest completions, special discoveries. Bonuses include techniques, items, or energy.]
He tapped his chest mentally. "So every time I grow stronger, I get something extra."
[Correct. Milestones reinforce host growth and provide opportunities to surpass conventional limitations.]
He tested Skills next.
[Host. All martial arts, cultivation techniques, and system-given abilities are tracked. Learning progress, mastery, and proficiency levels are recorded.]
Lin Yuan's mind processed it. "So even if I abandon a technique temporarily, the system remembers. Efficient."
[Stat can display all current skills at any time. New techniques learned via quest or milestone will appear automatically.]
[Additional Note: Dragon Vein Circulation Method is system-optimized for energy absorption and foundation refinement.]
Lin Yuan flexed his fingers, testing the circulation method. The eight realms of Body Tempering vibrated under his skin, energy radiating outward. Even without combat, he could feel the refinement shaping his bones, muscles, and meridians.
[Milestone Reward Candidate Detected: Body Tempering Realm 8th Level fully stabilized. Foundation exceptionally refined.]
[Host. You may activate milestone reward immediately or wait for further cultivation.]
Lin Yuan smirked. "Activate."
[Reward Granted: Minor energy boost to circulation, increased vitality, and enhanced reflexes.]
He felt it immediately—speed, strength, and awareness all heightened. The system had refined his Dragon Physique further, even if only subtly, without exposing him to unnecessary risk.
Satisfied, Lin Yuan considered his next thought.
"Can you show me all the functions at once?"
[1. Stat – Display host information.
2. Devour – Absorb energy, bloodline, cultivation from dead or incapacitated targets.
3. Quest – Assign objectives with rewards and penalties.
4. Inventory – Infinite storage, thought-controlled.
5. Skills – Track, record, and monitor all techniques and abilities.
6. Milestone Rewards – Grant bonuses for cultivation, quest, or system progression.
7. Communication – Mental interaction; verbal speech unnecessary.]
Lin Yuan's lips curved into a rare, cold smile. He had the world in his mind. A system that tracked, rewarded, and protected him. No one else had this. No sect could stand against it—not yet.
[Host. Remember: Bloodline advancement requires effort. The stolen treasure is critical. Use resources wisely, and proceed with caution.]
Lin Yuan's eyes darkened. "I understand. Every obstacle will be an opportunity. Every foe, a resource. And the inner disciple… will be a corpse."
The system hummed faintly, acknowledging his ruthlessness.
Lin Yuan's gaze swept the battlefield. Broken weapons, scorched earth, faint traces of the wyvern's bloodline energy… and the mountains in the distance where the inner disciple had fled.
[System Reminder: All milestones, quests, and functions will remain active. Optimization and efficiency will maximize host growth.]
[Further functions of the system will be unlocked as host grows stronger.]
Lin Yuan exhaled. Eight realms. Dragon Physique integrated. Devouring System active. Infinite inventory at his disposal. A quest that could elevate his Ancient Dragon bloodline to full potential.
A cruel smirk crossed his lips. "This world isn't ready for me. But I'm patient. Everything stolen will be reclaimed. Every obstacle will be consumed."
The system pulsed, and the battlefield seemed to acknowledge it—the first step on the Path of Devourer had begun.