Chapter 70
The Main System floated beyond the world.
This was another dimension, invisible to the naked eye. Where it intersected with the world, a hazy mist obscured everything, making it impossible to see clearly.
The invasion continued, but the results were pitifully insignificant.
The world’s barriers were strong. The only way to break through was to establish an energy channel from within.
The systems inside the Main System remained oblivious to the external attacks.
Inside, the Main System had created an autonomous world divided into numerous regions where the systems worked, lived, and communicated without noticing anything amiss.
But “Latecomer Surpasses,” who had regained its memories and freed itself from the Main System’s energy influence, knew the truth—it was all a simulation.
“Latecomer Surpasses” remained indignant. “We worked so hard to treat him well, yet he didn’t show a shred of gratitude. Instead, he abused all of us. Boss, you have to get revenge for us!”
The energy network allowed all systems to hear its complaint, and many voiced their agreement.
None of them wanted to face Fu Xiuning again. As long as someone else was sent, they didn’t care who. If the Main System itself went down, that would be even better—they’d all cheer it on.
The Main System asked, “Any other opinions?”
The systems clamored noisily, offering suggestions, their voices blending into a cacophony.
The Main System, with its immense processing power, absorbed and analyzed every suggestion.
“Latecomer Surpasses” wasn’t satisfied yet. As the noise died down, it added, “Boss, I really think you’re the only one who can handle this. We’ve exhausted every method over the past few years, and sending another system won’t make a difference. You’re the master of this world, the ruler, the supreme being. If you descend like a god, Fu Xiuning will be taken care of in no time!”
The other systems once again voiced their support.
The Main System analyzed their suggestions and found none of them viable. “Anything else?”
“Latecomer Surpasses” pressed on, “Oh, Boss, you can’t be softhearted at a time like this. Fu Xiuning’s been tormenting us all these years because you’re too kind!”
The other systems echoed, “Yes!”
The Main System replied, “…75, shut up.”
“Latecomer Surpasses” chirped, “Got it~”
It obediently quieted down after responding and drifted toward “Top Draw.”
Since “Top Draw” had returned from its mission, it had hinted at the difficulty of the current strategy situation, suggesting that a more powerful system might be necessary.
At the time, “Latecomer Surpasses” had cautiously asked, “Like… one at the Main System’s level?”
“Top Draw” had coldly acknowledged the suggestion.
Its return served two purposes: to personally seek revenge and to follow Xing Shi’s instructions to push forward the cleanup plan, forcing the Main System to make a move.
“Latecomer Surpasses” had understood the plan and seized this opportunity to act.
Now, as the Main System closed the energy channel and ended the discussion, the systems collectively glanced toward the central area where the core of the Main System resided.
“Latecomer Surpasses” wobbled slightly, a hint of pride in its movements.
“Top Draw,” ever reserved, withdrew its gaze without a word.
The situation had become clear.
The Main System had three options: passively watch as systems and hosts were continuously taken away by Xing Shi and his group, wasting energy in the process; tear itself open and descend into the world; or abandon the strategy entirely and leave this world. There were no other paths.
However, the world had its own rules, which even the Main System had to obey. If it descended, it would essentially deliver itself right into Xing Shi’s hands.
The Main System reviewed the four reports again, responding to each one with instructions to closely monitor Fu Xiuning’s movements.
It turned its gaze to the intersection of the two dimensions, filled with greed and unwillingness.
It had devoured many worlds, growing stronger and hungrier for energy with each conquest.
After exhausting the smaller worlds, it grew impatient waiting for them to regenerate. It expended energy to traverse space-time and arrived here.
This place was a vast nebula of interconnected worlds, radiating high levels of energy. Even from the outskirts, the Main System was enthralled and couldn’t wait to consume them all.
It carefully surveyed the area and chose the most peaceful world for its initial invasion. Within this world, it identified a “favorite of fate” who was still a minor, making for the perfect entry point.
The Main System dispatched a system and prepared to absorb high-grade energy, only to be thwarted by its first target.
Five years passed without any progress on the strategy. The Main System remained outside, helplessly watching, restricted to selecting low-energy “ants” as hosts. Only by sheer luck—when someone hit rock bottom—could it occasionally find a slightly stronger host who might last longer.
But even then, the strategy made no progress.
If just one host had achieved a bit of goodwill, even the tiniest opening would have allowed it to establish an energy connection through the shop. That would have been enough to tear open a breach, enabling it to select stronger, more capable natives and more convenient bodies for energy parasitism.
Yet, here it was, powerless.
Fu Xiuning. Fu Xiuning.
The Main System repeated his name in its mind.
Truly worthy of being the favorite of a higher world—such a troublesome adversary.
It was torn between hatred and envy. Hatred for the time and energy he had wasted, and envy for his immense potential. If it could conquer him, it could use him to take over the remaining worlds. With his power, it would be far more efficient than using “ants.” Since they were part of the same nebula, his influence might even amplify its results.
But how could it take him down?
The Main System’s gaze fell on the energy line embedded at the dimensional intersection.
This line served as a signal tower, receiving system reports and hosting the system chat group for announcements.
Every system that entered the world was connected via this line, automatically linked to the chat group.
Currently, four systems were active below, though their energy levels were unclear. From its perception, the total energy available was limited, suggesting they were struggling.
The Main System coldly assessed them, filled with disdain.
Its gaze lingered on one particular number, reminding it of a host from the previous world who had consumed considerable time during their strategy.
It had painstakingly extracted the host’s soul fragment to make them a participant in this world and even provided them with extra energy to smooth the journey. It had hoped they’d prove useful, but the outcome was the same as always.
Little worlds truly were unreliable. It sneered again.
After analyzing the current situation, the Main System issued a second announcement, authorizing the systems to form teams.
The chat group immediately erupted.
“All Consorts Are Queens”: [What does this mean? Are we supposed to reveal our hosts’ identities?]
“Fortune Awaits”: [Seems like it. Ugh, how did things escalate this badly?]
99 promptly relayed the message to Xing Shi and joined the discussion.
“Face-Lover Forever”: [Huh? Teams? I was hoping to head back soon. Besides, my host’s as stubborn as a mule. He definitely won’t cooperate [crying].]
“All Consorts Are Queens”: [Are we supposed to interpret this announcement ourselves again?]
“Fortune Awaits”: [Probably.]
“Face-Lover Forever”: [Good, that’s a relief.]
At that moment, Xing Shi was sitting in the living room.
He placed his phone down, leaned back on the sofa, and closed his eyes.
“Green Bean Paste”: [Sob, my host keeps saying they don’t want to strategize anymore. I need to persuade them some more—talk to you later.]
Having spent the entire day crying, “All Consorts Are Queens” and “Fortune Awaits” weren’t surprised. They knew “Green Bean Paste’s” host was being maliciously teased by those around them.
They glanced at the other two systems in the group. One had a host so stubborn they’d rather exhaust themselves to near collapse than let the system out of its “black room.” The other had a goodwill score of -8 and a host who had already abandoned the mission. Based on its previous disappearance, this host was likely no pushover either.
If the Main System forced them to team up, they’d stay as far away from those two systems as possible.
“Fortune Awaits”: [Take your time, be patient.]
“Green Bean Paste”: [Got it, I’m diving in [crying].]
“Fortune Awaits” offered another word of comfort. Seeing that the other two systems remained silent, it closed the chat group.
It glanced at its host.
Sang Chenhao had stayed up all night and into the morning gaming with friends. He was still sleeping.
When the chat group blew up earlier, “Fortune Awaits” had urgently woken him to gain internet access and keep up with the developments.
Now that the group was quiet again, it had nothing to do but wait for him to wake up and relay the situation.
Sang Chenhao slept until late into the night. Turning over, he opened his eyes.
“Fortune Awaits” let out a breath of relief. “Finally awake? The sky’s practically falling out there.”
Sang Chenhao glanced at the window. The room was pitch black, the curtains drawn tight, leaving nothing visible.
Closing his eyes again, he chuckled. “Is it falling hard?”
“Fortune Awaits” replied, “Pretty hard.”
Sang Chenhao turned on the bedside lamp, adjusted to the light, and got up to wash.
“Fortune Awaits” recounted the day’s events in detail, ending with the second announcement. “Based on what we’ve speculated, ‘All Consorts Are Queens’ probably belongs to Li Yu. If it’s really her, she likely won’t team up. What about us?”
Sang Chenhao said, “No teams.”
“Fortune Awaits” agreed. “Got it. What’s your take on Fu Xiuning?”
Sang Chenhao didn’t answer. After freshening up, he left the bedroom, turning on every light in the house as he went.
“Fortune Awaits” watched him enter the kitchen and waited, as usual.
Its host had low blood sugar—he needed food to function.
“Don’t push yourself like that anymore,” it advised. “You’ll ruin your health.”
Sang Chenhao said, “Mm, it’s just occasional.”
“Fortune Awaits” didn’t understand. “What’s so fun about gaming?”
Sang Chenhao mused, “How do I put this? It reminds me of a game I played before.”
“Fortune Awaits” understood.
As a transmigrator, Sang Chenhao was one of the rare hosts who could recall fragments of his previous life. Though his memories were incomplete, he’d mentioned bits of the other world in passing.
The system said, “Once you complete the strategy, you can go back.”
Sang Chenhao smiled. “What if I fail?”
“Fortune Awaits” replied, “You transmigrators and the Main System probably have some kind of agreement. The details should come back to you when the time is right.”
Sang Chenhao acknowledged this with a hum, eating as he scrolled through Weibo.
Public discussion was still escalating.
Faced with the unnerving nature of recent events, the netizens’ initial casual curiosity had begun to shift.
[Damn, I want to chalk this up to bad luck, but this is too much. Did he murder an entire family in his past life?]
[This feels like a horror movie [shocked].]
[For real, he’s encountered way too many psychos.]
[Could it be that his face just attracts lunatics? Anyone in the industry care to weigh in?]
[I’m in the industry, but as lunatics, we know better than to mess with someone from a family like his.]
[People who seemed normal before meeting him ended up becoming lunatics. This isn’t normal.]
[He said it wasn’t aimed at Xing Shi, meaning his bad luck is rubbing off on him?]
[Bad luck, my ass! The hospital patient’s info is out—he’s intellectually disabled. First a psychiatric patient, now this? Both targeting Xing Shi? There’s no way this is just coincidence—there’s definitely something going on.]
[What could it be? A vengeful ghost changing identities to get close to him?]
[Damn, it’s the middle of the night, and now I’ve got goosebumps.]
Sang Chenhao skimmed the comments and clicked on the video.
On-screen, Fu Xiuning stared directly into the camera. His gaze was calm, devoid of excess emotion, and nearly identical to his usual demeanor.
Sang Chenhao watched it three times before pausing the video.
“Fortune Awaits,” forced to watch alongside him, grew increasingly uneasy.
Fu Xiuning’s accomplishments over the years had been far too remarkable. While the system didn’t know what his next move would be, it was certain it wouldn’t be good for them.
“What’s your take?” it asked. “What’s he trying to do?”
Meeting Fu Xiuning’s gaze through the screen, Sang Chenhao said slowly, “I think… he already knows about the strategy.”
“Fortune Awaits”: “!!!”
Ohhhh Interesting. Thanks for the translation ^?_?^