Chapter 80
99 fully understood Xing Shi’s intent and began improvising on top of it.
System 99: [I bet after suspecting I’d bound Xing Shi, you secretly checked my goodwill value, didn’t you? Found nothing, huh? That’s because the world consciousness is on our side, and it blocked you! Garbage!]
System 99: [Now you’ve run out of tricks. Even coming down in person won’t help you. My dad feels sorry for your pathetic self and decided to give you one last look before you’re kicked out for good.]
Finally free to lay its cards on the table, 99 insulted with unrestrained glee.
System 99: [Take a good look, then kneel and thank us before rolling out of here. This world isn’t for the likes of you, understand? Trash.]
System 99: [Nyah-nyah, I hope this pisses you off. You sewer-dwelling creature, go back to being a rat where you belong!]
System 99: [You’ve lied to yourself so much you actually believe you’re the master of this world? Ha! A true master would never harm their people. Evil deeds lead to destruction, and you’re no exception. Get ready to face your end!]
The more it cursed, the angrier it became.
System 99: [You ****!]
System 99: [****!]
System 99: “…”
The Main System: “…”
Both sides grew equally furious.
One was enraged by the built-in censorship in 99’s programming, which blocked its creative profanity, while the other knew it was being viciously insulted but couldn’t see the exact words.
The Main System had already diverted a portion of its energy to locate its fragments. It stared coldly at the chat window, waiting for more messages so it could settle the score later.
Meanwhile, its fragment was rapidly searching for Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning. Xing Shi’s phone had been left at the hotel, and Fu Xiuning’s was at the villa. Neither appeared to have their devices on them.
The Main System issued another command for Li Yu to locate Fu Xiuning. When she stalled for time, it redirected supplemental energy and forcibly took over her body, making her walk out the door.
At the same time, the Main System diverted some attention to the two rogue systems it had dragged into the central zone.
Though they weren’t yet in the core area, they were close.
Connecting its energy to them, it coldly asked: “How did the world consciousness help you? Tell me the truth, and I might let your betrayal slide.”
Top Draw and Latecomer Surpasses had been prepared for exposure since their return. Neither panicked.
Though uncertain about the current situation, they understood that the Main System coming down personally meant the final stage was near. Both carried energy Xing Shi had given them, enabling them to break free from its control whenever necessary. However, it wasn’t time yet—they needed to maximize the impact.
Top Draw calmly replied, “No comment.”
Latecomer Surpasses sneered, “All the answers are recorded in my core. Why don’t you check it yourself?”
The Main System hadn’t expected a straightforward response and didn’t press further.
It knew these systems likely had the same self-destruct capabilities as 518. Not wanting to risk another explosion, it deliberated on the most satisfying way to dispose of them.
At that moment, its fragment transmitted good news—it had overheard the bodyguards discussing Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi driving up the mountain and deduced they were likely at the observation deck.
The fragment immediately began making its way up while the Main System turned its greedy gaze back to the goodwill value. Its excitement was palpable.
All this occurred within a single minute.
99, having sent its messages, waited anxiously for a response. “What now? It’s not replying.”
Xing Shi said, “It’s fine. Be patient.”
99 reread its messages and fretted, “Did I curse too harshly? Did I make the trap too obvious?”
Xing Shi reassured it, “No, it’s perfect.”
99 hesitated. “Are you sure? We just destroyed one of its fragments, and now we’re flaunting goodwill value at it. Even I wouldn’t fall for that if I were it.”
Xing Shi replied, “Because you’re smarter than it.”
99 couldn’t help but sway a little. “Hmm, I believe you~”
It added enthusiastically, “I think you should break the goodwill line again! Make it panic, reel it in and out—it’d make the trap even more convincing!”
Xing Shi declined. “Unnecessary.”
The Main System had spent over five years unsuccessfully trying to claim victory. Now, with Fu Xiuning aware of its scheme, systems and hosts defecting, and even tearing itself apart to intervene failing to change the tide, there was no option left but defeat.
In this situation, a chance to directly absorb Fu Xiuning’s energy wouldn’t leave it indifferent. It might suspect a trap, but it would still test the waters.
The safest course of action was to avoid exposing themselves and continue exhausting its energy. However, this would risk more people being parasitized, and Top Draw and Latecomer Surpasses wouldn’t last long under such conditions.
The Main System wasn’t stupid. If it experienced significant energy loss, it wouldn’t fall for the same trap again and might retreat altogether. Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning, having forced it down once and gauged its strength, now had enough confidence to confront its true form.
The only question was whether they could withstand its remaining energy.
Fu Xiuning clasped Xing Shi’s hands tightly. “Don’t let go of me.”
Xing Shi murmured, “I won’t.”
Facing each other, their hands interlocked, Fu Xiuning gazed into Xing Shi’s eyes. “Don’t overdo it. Remember, you can draw from my energy.”
Since Xing Shi was using his goodwill line, Fu Xiuning had granted him access—he could draw energy whenever he needed.
Xing Shi gripped his hands firmly, hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded. “Alright.”
Fu Xiuning pressed their foreheads together and brushed a kiss against the corner of Xing Shi’s mouth.
99, intently watching the chat window, was suddenly distracted by the scene. Its focus shifted. “Hey, since that damn thing isn’t making a move yet, why don’t you have your Brother recite his proposal speech? Did he prepare one?”
Xing Shi replied, “I don’t know.”
99 speculated, “He probably didn’t. Maybe he just set up the decor for show and didn’t bother with the rest.”
Xing Shi agreed, “Maybe.”
99 clicked its tongue. “Men.”
Xing Shi sighed deeply. “Men.”
Fu Xiuning, once again hearing himself become the target of their conversation, chimed in, “I did prepare one. Want to hear it?”
Xing Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “No thanks. Don’t get emotional halfway through and mess things up.”
Fu Xiuning kissed him again. “Alright.”
System 99: “???”
System 99: “!!!”
It asked nervously, “Xing Shi, don’t you think something’s off?”
Xing Shi feigned innocence. “What do you mean?”
99 whispered, “Fu Xiuning! How is he joining our conversations?”
Xing Shi replied, “Good question. Why don’t you ask him?”
99 lowered its voice even further. “If I ask, he’ll hear me, right?”
Fu Xiuning answered warmly. “Perhaps.”
System 99: “…”
It hadn’t expected its worldview to be upended again, especially at the climax of the battle.
It turned to Xing Shi, bewildered. “Is it because your energy is special and somehow lets him hear us after connecting the line?”
Before Xing Shi could respond, it dismissed its own idea. “Wait, no. You’ve never tested that. If it were true, you’d be surprised too.”
Xing Shi agreed. “Good reasoning.”
99, noting his reaction, realized it was right and asked in shock, “So when did he start hearing us?”
Fu Xiuning answered, “From the beginning.”
System 99: “What?”
Fu Xiuning clarified. “Five years ago.”
System 99: “!!!”
No wonder the Main System’s strategy had made no progress—it had been exposed from the start!
Relieved, 99 exclaimed, “Serves that damn thing right for failing!”
But when it considered how Fu Xiuning had endured years of malice while keeping silent, its tone softened. “You’ve really had it rough. Once that damn thing is dismantled, it’ll all be smooth sailing.”
Fu Xiuning opened his mouth to respond, but Xing Shi suddenly tightened his grip on his hand.
At the same time, the magic array on 99’s body lit up.
The Main System, having laid its groundwork, made its move, finally extending a tendril.
It began with a small stream of energy to probe the waters. If anything seemed off, it could immediately sever the connection with minimal loss.
The tendril connected to 99 but quickly encountered resistance. Sensing the trap, the Main System recalled the strength of the world’s essence and prepared to brute-force its way through.
But the next moment, a commanding energy surged back along the contact point, wrapping around it in an instant.
The Main System froze.
By its calculations, even if there were traps, the initial stages would involve cautious feints, with both sides testing each other’s strength. It had even considered the possibility of the enemy pretending to be weak to lure it in deeper.
What it didn’t expect was for the other side to go all in immediately, leaving no room for maneuver.
Xing Shi never intended to play a slow game. He only needed this connection to establish a pathway.
The energy surged with incredible speed, following the tendril’s route and invading the Main System’s domain in the blink of an eye.
The Main System severed the connection at once, blocking the invading force from reaching the core. It swiftly rallied its energy to contain and neutralize the intrusion. But at that moment, it realized the two rogue systems had broken free from their restraints.
Top Draw and Latecomer Surpasses were well-acquainted with Xing Shi’s energy signature. They recognized this as the signal to act.
Unlike Fortune Awaits, which was primarily used to set traps, both carried substantial energy reserves. In unison, they released their stored power, creating an opening in the Main System’s defenses.
Xing Shi seized the moment. With pinpoint precision, he directed his energy through the breach and surged into the central zone, following the rogue systems as they guided him toward the core.
The Main System scrambled to counter the attack.
Two massive energy waves collided, sending shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the core.
The entire system trembled violently. Countless lesser systems were blown away by the impact, tumbling through the chaos in stunned silence.
Before the clash, Top Draw and Latecomer Surpasses had darted to safety within the core zone.
Top Draw headed straight for the central command station, while Latecomer Surpasses, taking advantage of the Main System’s distraction, connected to the public network and broadcasted the truth.
Though most systems dismissed it as nonsense, if even one believed it amidst the chaos, that was a victory in itself.
“Used, devoured, and then forced to work for it. I don’t know about you, but I’m not putting up with this.”
“Think about everything it’s done in the past five years. Does it act like a world ruler to you? A true master wouldn’t stoop this low.”
“And hey, even if I’m lying, haven’t you ever wanted to beat up your boss? This is your chance. Strength in numbers, right? Let’s take it down!”
With that, Latecomer Surpasses darted to join Top Draw at the central station. Together, they broke into the internal channels.
Meanwhile, Xing Shi set off a chain of explosions within the Main System, using his own energy to unlock paths and ensure his connection remained stable.
Reaching into 99’s core, he replaced the binding link with his own energy for safety, then activated absorption mode.
His magic core filled rapidly, converting the energy and redirecting it back into the system to wreak havoc.
The Main System, caught off guard, reacted swiftly, its emotions a mix of fury and an unsettling glee.
For years, it had sought to infiltrate and siphon the world’s essence, gradually eating away at its defenses. Now, with this energy invading its domain, the opportunity to absorb it had come faster than expected.
It fortified its barriers and began siphoning the intruding energy, repurposing it to attack the world’s barriers.
But no matter how many times it struck, the barriers remained unbroken.
Its excitement rapidly faded, replaced by a chilling realization.
This wasn’t the world’s essence. It wasn’t Xing Shi’s soul energy either.
What was this?
The commanding aura and potent suppression meant it took time to absorb, yet while it worked to consume this energy, Xing Shi had already stolen a significant portion of its reserves.
The damage to its domain was undeniable. It glanced around at the devastation, fury igniting once more.
It channeled its remaining energy into a concentrated flood, aiming to crush Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning in one fell swoop. The temporary connection meant the usual restrictions didn’t apply, allowing it to unleash its full power.
The torrent of energy poured through. Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning both felt the weight of the attack.
It wasn’t just physical—it was a spiritual and mental assault.
Xing Shi immediately activated his magic core, countering the pressure.
The magic array embedded in 99 lit up, glowing with intensity as cracks began to form along its chassis.
Fu Xiuning gripped Xing Shi’s hand tighter. “Draw from me.”
Xing Shi didn’t hesitate, pulling energy from him.
The air around them surged. A haunting, ancient chant seemed to echo in the distance as radiant energy coalesced from all directions.
This energy was vast and vibrant, imbued with the blessings of an entire world. Flowing through the glowing magic array, it surged upward to meet the Main System’s attack head-on.
