Chapter 1
"Ugh, my body feels like lead. I don't even remember having any drinks last night." I mumbled while struggling to get my eyes open.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in complete darkness, floating amid nothingness.
In panic, I tried to open my eyes even wider, but nothing came into sight.
"Oh my god! I am blind!"
I tried to rub my eyes, but found I didn't have any hands. Actually, I don't even feel any of my limbs. Instead, I feel like I've turned into a sort of cloud that floats in the sky.
"Ahhhhh?!?!?!" After a few silent screams, I slowly calmed down.
"What's the matter with this floating feeling. Did I get sent to space while sleeping? Or am I being kidnapped and used for some kind of alien experiments?" I commented as I observed the pure black emptiness around me.
Sifting through my blurry memory, I tried to remember which event led me to this place.
The last thing I remember is sitting on my comfy couch, watching TV while waiting for my popcorn to pop. Then there is a sudden, loud explosion from my kitchen.
Did I die because of an explosion, or because I overcooked a popcorn and pulled the god's wrath?
Anyway, I've died for real.
Accepting I've died so easily might seem weird. But when I tried to recall things, the memory of being burned by an explosion also returned. The explosion has thoroughly burned my body, the kind that's burnt on the outside and crisp on the inside.
Luckily, I've died pretty quickly and neatly, so I don't feel that much trauma from my death.
Right after I looked at my surroundings and accepted my status as a deceased person, an unknown memory hit me right in the brain. The size of that memory is quite enormous and made me feel dizzy.
Slowly, those memories merged with the others in my mind, and the headache lessened.
After I sorted out those memories, I found out it actually contained information about cheats, or specifically, cheats that I've awakened.
I called it cheats because it consisted of several abilities that were connected yet distinct from one another.
First is an ability I named [Devour]. It is the ability to swallow souls and convert them into energy that can be used to upgrade or activate my other abilities. No matter how I see it, the ability to devour souls sounds demonic.
When I looked into it further, I instinctively felt there were some unknown limitations, upgrades, and hidden features to the ability. But that information is quite blurry, and I can't retrieve it from my memory no matter how hard I try.
I suppose I need to find out about it myself later.
Next, there is an ability I called [Calculate]. It's an ability that increases my calculation, memorization, and memory retention.
Thanks to the boost from the [Calculate] ability, I could clearly recall most of the details from my previous life.
What a pity, most of my memory is somehow missing.
Except for the moment before I died, the memories I could recall mostly consisted of the endless hours I spent reading online novels, manga, or watching dramas and anime. Even the memories related to my name, friends, and relatives are blurry.
At most, I know my mother is a female human, and my father is a male human. Whether they're caucasian, asian, or african, I have no memory at all.
I don't understand why I can recall those useless novels when I've forgotten even my own name. Are those novels really more important than my own name?
Also, I feel kinda weirded out because I've realized I am pretty chill about losing most of my memories. Guess when you already lost too many things, you simply stop caring about it, huh?
I think I lost my memories because of that explosion that led to my death. Maybe the blast messed up my brain a bit before I died?
I didn't have enough clues, so I decided to just push that mystery out of my mind.
Anyway, like with [Devour], I can feel some unknown limitation and possible upgrades on [Calculate].
Moving on to the next ability, I simply called it [Scan]. It is the ability to scan my surroundings and gather information. As for the specific, just like the other two, I'll need to test them myself.
Finally, the fourth ability is something I call [Anchor]. It is the ability to connect and anchor others into myself.
Through the [Anchor] ability, I could spend energy to lend my cheat abilities to other people. The abilities I lent remain within my control. I simply grant them secondary access to borrow it.
Except for that, [Anchor] also allows me to exchange thoughts with the creature I anchored as long as they have met some sort of criteria.
This ability sounds extremely overpowered, but equally weird.
Furthermore, unlike other abilities, I could vaguely sense that this one had been activated, and an unknown person had been anchored to me.
I tried to activate the ability to contact that unknown person. Yet even after a long time has passed, there's still no response. So, I just shrugged it off for now.
After I gave up on activating [Anchor], I rechecked my abilities.
Soon, I couldn't help but complain.
Why don't the memories include the limitations and upgrades of those abilities? Why must I test it on my own? Doing something halfheartedly is a bad habit, you know?
Well, at least the current four abilities are good enough.
That's right, 'current'. I found out those four abilities aren't the limit, as I could sense a few other abilities locked behind.
For example, I sense an ability that's related to sending things from one place to another. Some sort of teleportation skill, perhaps. Except for this one, there are also a few other abilities that I have no clue about.
Anyway, based on the years I've spent reading web novels and comics. The skill sets I've already unlocked feel useful for the 'kingdom building' genre or for novels where the MC has OP comprehension.
The [Calculate] skill fits the kind of novel where the protagonist has high comprehension and can learn any technique in an instant or slap faces by showing others their exaggerated learning speed.
Meanwhile, the [Anchor] skill seems extremely useful for the kingdom-building genre, as it would allow me to lend my cheat skills to my future subordinates.
Now then, I already got my cheat. So, when can I leave this place and begin my journey to build the greatest kingdom, sect, clan, nation, academy, or whatever?
Fantasy world, here I come!
I may be casual about this whole reincarnated thing. But that's because being sent to another world is my greatest dream!
My wish is to obtain supernatural power, reach the peak of the other world, and trample every living creature under me. Mwahahaha!
＼(◎o◎)／
I am already prepared to build the most enormous palace in the world and fill it to the brim with my harem members, just like what a main character always does.
Umm, now that I think about it. Actually, a palace full of a harem might be too much for me. I am afraid I might die from exhaustion if I indeed got thousands of harem members.
Furthermore, I prefer the pure romance genre between one male and one female character rather than a harem. So, even if I built a kingdom, I'll be the kind of king who only has one wife.
I continued my flight of fancy for an unknown length of time before I ran out of things to think about.
Doing nothing while getting stuck in this empty space is making me feel bored out of my mind. So I decided to spend my time testing the abilities I had and trying to sense the energy often mentioned in the instincts, like the memory I got.
First, I tried to activate [Scan] to detect my surroundings and check my current condition.
The instant [Scan] is activated, I sensed the world through a special state.
The darkness around me is still pitch black as usual. But there is now a new thing floating around the center of my [Scan]'s radius.
From what I could understand, those things are formless and shapeless yet truly exist. The reason I can see them now is only thanks to [Scan].
After slowly reviewing the information I got from [Scan], I suspect those floating things are the energy often mentioned in the memories related to my abilities.
Curious, I tried to control how that energy moved.
I didn't immediately get the ability to control them. But, after tinkering for a moment, I finally found a way to manipulate them to a certain extent.
As I willed it, that energy actually changed their trajectory.
The energy that initially moved at random has now taken a circular trajectory, with me at its center.
After a few circulations, I tried to stop them all at once.
Seeing them stopping at the same time, I played around with them for a long time before I felt bored and stopped.
Then I tried tinkering with the other skills, but I stopped when I got no reaction.
Unlike [Scan] and [Calculate], which can be used everywhere, the [Anchor] and [Devour] abilities require a target to use.
Feeling a bit irritated from such a long wait, I shouted into the nothingness. "I am bored! Let me reincarnate in another world already!!!"
***
After an unknown amount of time passes.
While I am wasting time by drawing 3d shapes with the energy I have, I sense a reaction from my [Anchor].
I don't know what's going on, but not long after I felt that sensation, the darkness in front of me slowly receded, and I finally felt something new.
It's the familiar feeling of having a physical body that's bound by gravity.
I tried to open my eyelids, but realized I couldn't control my body.
Am I in a coma? Or am I still inside my mother's belly like those usual reincarnation stories? But I don't feel the warmth of the amniotic fluid around me.
Aside from the inability to control my body, there is some kind of membrane separating my senses from it.
To say it in a comprehensible term, it is similar to the feeling of wearing a thin, full-body rubber suit.
I can still feel something soft beneath me, but the feeling is slightly dull.
I can also hear some noises, but they're pretty muffled, almost like they're coming through a thick wall.
While thinking about the whole rubber full body suit nonsense, 'I' finally opened 'my' eyes.
What comes into my view is a wooden room with stone tiles and a dressing table standing near the corner of my vision.
After staring into the surroundings, a confused voice sounded from 'me'.
"An unfamiliar room… Wait a minute, where am I? Was I kidnapped?"
Shocked by the word that 'I' uttered without any conscious command, I immediately panicked and tried to move my arms. Yet, the action proved futile and merely increased my panic.
What's happening?! Why couldn't I control my own body?
After several futile attempts at controlling this body, I somehow missed the empty space. Although there is nothing in that space, at least I could still control my own nonexistent body.
When that thought of that empty space came into my mind, I felt myself returning to the dark, empty space I am familiar with. But this time, there is a difference compared to before I entered that body.
Compared to before, I could now pinpoint that the one connected to my existence through [Anchor] is the owner of that body I previously entered.
Well, what a sad realization. I thought I had finally left that dark space, but the fact is, I have just possessed someone's body for a short time.
No wonder I couldn't control that body; it is actually someone else's body, and they're most likely still alive.
Focusing my attention toward the person connected by [Anchor], I feel the surrounding darkness change into the view of that room I previously saw.
Having already understood what was happening, I calmly watched the scene while trying to analyze it.
From the current view, the owner of that body seems to have just woken up from his bed and ceased panicking.
I saw their sight move toward the dressing table as they slowly stood up from the bed. Once they arrived in front of the dressing table, they stared into the bronze mirror located above it.
The mirror reflected a bruised boy with shoulder-length hair. That boy wore a complicated ancient Chinese garment, the kind that seems like something nobles wear in historical dramas. The kind of idol historical drama casting handsome and beautiful people who won't get dirty even during war scene.
In the mirror, that boy touched his face in disbelief as he muttered. "This unfamiliar body and clothing style… Did I transmigrate to another world?"
Hearing his words, I feel like cursing my fate. Why am I stuck in this silent darkness while this guy can easily transmigrate to another world to have an adventure and whatnot?
Furthermore, from the way this guy acted, he doesn't seem to get stuck in a dark space like me. After all, if I finally leave this dark space, the first thing I would do is shout 'I Am Free!' or at least kiss the ground around me like a madman.
Now, if only he got a cheat, then my envy might reach its limit, and my patience might snap... WAIT A DARN MINUTE!
Once the thought of cheats arrived in my mind, a sudden realization struck me.
Those amazing cheat-like abilities I have, being stuck in an unknown space, the description of [Anchor] that says I can lend my skill to creatures anchored to me, and the fact that there's a transmigrator anchored to myself already...
DID I TURN INTO THE CHEAT?!
Am I going to get stuck in this empty space forever?
Chapter 2. System Induced Psychosis.
Calming myself from the shock brought by that realization, I slowly tried to regain my composure.
No matter whether I have just turned into this unknown transmigrator's cheat or I actually misunderstood things. I'll definitely find a way to escape from this dark space.
Once I calmed down, I immediately entered a serious thinking mode and began experimenting with my abilities.
First, I tried using [Scan] through the transmigrator connected to me by [Anchor].
The result I got from [Scan] is quite complicated. It actually detected many things like sight, smell, and sound. Aside from the information I could understand, there was also a lot of incomprehensible information regarding stuff I couldn't comprehend.
Even with the help of [Calculate], the sheer amount of information makes my head - or at least its equivalent - to hurt a lot. The sharp pain forced me to deactivate [Scan] the instant I activate it.
The pain doesn't stop my enthusiasm, though.
The success in using [Scan] through the transmigrator makes me relieved. That means I could still affect the world even though I am stuck in this dark space.
Next, I wanted to test my other abilities. But, unlike [Scan]. [Calculate], [Devour], and [Anchor] require a target to be used.
As I don't want to show myself to that transmigrator yet, I decided to hold back and focus on experimenting with [Scan] instead.
After spending some time fiddling around with it, I found it's actually possible to filter the information I wish to [Scan].
With that knowledge, I filtered most of the information and set it to only receive information about lights and noises. Then, I reactivated [Scan] and continued with my experiment.
As expected, I could use [Scan] without being accompanied by that mind-numbing headache.
At the same time, I realized that the size of my [Scan] is only 10 meters radius, with that transmigrator at its center.
When I tried to extend it a little, I found that about one-tenth of the energy in the dark space I was in began to behave strangely.
The instant I tried to increase the distance of my [Scan], their movement shifted from the initial erratic ones into one that looked like a whirlpool.
Seeing that, I guessed the energy moved due to my idea to increase the distance of [Scan].
I immediately connected it to the fact that I could upgrade my cheat abilities, which made me suspect the movements of those energies were akin to purchase confirmations.
It's most likely asking whether I wanted to upgrade my [Scan] and increase its range.
After a short contemplation, I decided to grit my teeth and continue with the upgrade.
When I willed it, one-tenth of the energy instantly vanished from the empty space.
I controlled [Scan] through that transmigrator's body and found radius had increased from 10 meters to 11 meters. The minuscule increase left me a bit speechless.
Accepting the meager increase, I continued to mess around with [Scan] until the transmigrator woke up from his daze and touched the clothes he wore. "With this kind of ancient East Asian clothing. Did I transmigrate into the past? another world with Kung Fu? A murim world? Or is it a world of cultivation where I could cultivate and achieve immortality?"
Hearing the transmigrator guy's words, I wanna roll my eyes.
This transmigrator is actually a chronically online person. Just like me, he has read plenty of translated online novels and has become highly familiar with the whole transmigration trope.
Not long after the transmigrator said that, he suddenly froze in front of the mirror. His eyes are a bit unfocused, and his face slowly frowns as if in pain.
After gritting his teeth until veins began to appear on his forehead, I saw him fall unconscious on the floor.
When that transmigrator lost consciousness, I felt a massive surge of information flow through [Anchor].
With the help of [Calculate], I quickly connected that unknown information with the transmigrator's current condition and my knowledge regarding the transmigration genre.
Just like in the prologue of a transmigration novel, I guess he is currently reading the original body's memories.
Seeing as his expression turned worse from the pain caused by the massive information, I am afraid that my only chance to leave this dark empty space might be gone. So, I quickly lent a helping hand and tried to activate my [Calculate] ability through him.
Similar to how I succeed in using my [Scan] skill through this guy, I could also use my [Calculate] ability through him.
Although I am still not sure I can use my other abilities through him, given how things are going, my gut feeling says it's actually possible.
Wait, don't get distracted, me!
I helped that guy activate the [Calculate] I lent him and process the information he received.
While helping him to process the surge of information, I also tinkered around and found a way to get a copy.
Just as I expected, the information was indeed the memory of the original body the transmigrator had possessed.
As for how I know it's the original body's memory, that's because there are some scenes where the original body passes through a pond or mirrors. The reflection within them shows a boy who's similar to the body the transmigrator possessed, though a bit younger.
After ascertaining the owner of this memory, I begin to observe it.
The body that the transmigrator possessed is called Ren Qingquan, a member of the Ren family.
The Ren family is a super strong family that ruled over Burning Sky City, one of the first-rate cities located in the hinterland of the Great Azure Empire, the only empire in the world.
From the memory, I could see Ren Qingquan's status in the Ren family is pretty high, mainly because he is the only child his father has, while his father is the only child of the Ren family's second elder.
Ren Qingquan is basically the second elder's only grandson.
As for Ren Qingquan's mother, she went missing mysteriously not long after giving birth to him, leaving the father and son alone.
This part sounds like some cliche plot I often read in xianxia or wuxia novels. If Ren Qingquan is a main character, then his mother has either been kidnapped by her ex-pursuer, captured by her family, or kidnapped by enemies.
From the novels I've read, she is most likely being kidnapped and has become a damsel in distress in an unknown corner of the world. Of course, it's only if this Ren Qingquan guy is a protagonist; otherwise, her mother is probably already three feet under.
But it's not the time for me to care about such trivial things.
After watching the opening part, I quickly focused on the information from the memory I copied.
The world that the transmigrator moved into is actually a martial arts world. Here, a human could train their body until they can achieve an insane feat like smashing boulders with their bare hands.
Just like in some novels I've read, the martial arts in this world are separated into several levels. From low to high, there are Martial Apprentice, Martial Master, Martial Grandmaster, Martial Saint, Martial Lord, and finally Martial Emperor, who has power far beyond ordinary humans.
At first, I was excited. But when I remembered that I was not the one who had transmigrated into that world, I began to calm down and refocus on Ren Qingquan's memories.
As an only child, Ren Qingquan's father and grandfather have spent many resources to nurture the martial arts abilities.
Thankfully, those resources don't go to waste as Ren Qingquan has reached the first stage of the Martial Master realm while being fifteen years old. A feat that's considered a super genius among his age group, where most still spend their time in the Martial Apprentice realm.
After those memories that show the world background and Ren Qingquan's past, I arrived at the most essential part of the memory. A part worthy of being called life-changing.
Based on Ren Qingquan's reflection, this life-changing event happened not too long ago.
One day, I could see him fighting in the family's annual martial arts competition.
On top of the martial arts arena, where many important elders of the family have gathered to watch the tournament. He fought against someone called Ren Xuan, a child from the side branch of the Ren family.
In terms of bloodline, Ren Xuan's side branch is so distant that they have no right to name their member with a generational middle name, which is why Ren Xuan got a protagonist-like name with two syllables instead of a cannon fodder name with three syllables like Ren Qingquan.
During the fight, although Ren Xuan is only in the seventh Martial Apprentice realm, his ingenious usage of martial arts, extremely high combat awareness, and super strong martial arts skill actually make him suppress Ren Qingquan, who is in the first stage of the Martial Master realm, pretty easily.
After losing the fight and falling unconscious right in front of many important elders, the family's physician immediately cured Ren Qingquan's wound and left him to rest in his room.
When he woke, Ren Qingquan thought of the disappointment his father and grandfather might have felt. Combined with the self-doubt regarding his status as a genius, Ren Qingquan finally died from stress and shock while crying before sleeping.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
The ending made me extremely speechless. That's probably one of the dumbest ways for someone to die.
It's not like he killed himself or the injuries worsened. Ren Qingquan simply died in his sleep!
Are you a freaking hamster? Why are you dying a hamster-worthy death?
***
Not long after I finished watching the memories, I found the transmigrator slowly opening his eyes.
After waking, the transmigrator stood frozen for a long time.
Through [Anchor]'s connection, I could hear his internal screaming like 'Wohoo! A fantasy world!' or 'I will reach the top and trample over everyone!' Until finally, his excitement died down, and I found him trying to hypnotize himself by repeatedly saying, 'From now on, I am Ren Qingquan.'
After a few minutes had passed, fake Ren Qingquan began checking his new body and looked around as if searching for something.
Through the connection from [Anchor], I could hear him thinking, 'Aren't there some sort of memento that Ren Qingquan's mother left, which secretly contained an old grandpa that will teach me?'
I held the urge to roll my eyes when I heard his thought.
After a few minutes of futile search, I saw him extend one of his hands while muttering, "Come, divine sword!"
He stood frozen in that pose for a long time before stopping.
While looking a bit disappointed, I heard him think, 'So, I also didn't get divine items?'
He then rubbed his chin for a moment before saying, "System, activate!"
When he called for the system, my mind immediately clicked.
I know what kind of move I should make next! I decided to interact with him as a system!
From the years I spent reading online novels, systems have slowly gained prominence as a protagonist's cheats. Compared to an old expert's soul that's bound in a ring, or other cheats like a divine weapon, divine technique, or divine whatever. A mechanical systems are both more versatile and trustworthy!
Because I already decided to contact him as a 'system', and the main reason I interacted with the transmigrator will be to collect energy while finding a way out of this space I am in. I decided to call the energy around me as energy points or simply points.
After naming them, I begin to make a unit of measurement for the points I have and will gain from now on.
I thought for a moment and decided to set the energy I spent upgrading my [Scan] as 1 point.
That means I still have 9 points remaining.
With the whole point matter finished, I planned to send a screen to introduce myself to that transmigrator.
But before that, I need to find a way to craft a screen for transmigrator Ren Qingquan.
After a few minutes of tinkering around while experimenting with myself, a screen appeared in front of me.
[Name: System
Point: 9
Ability: Anchor, Devour, Scan, Calculate]
Seeing it's actually possible to create the screen, I nodded and praised myself for my own genius.
At first, I had only a vague idea of how to create the screen. I even doubt whether it's actually possible.
That's until I kept watching Ren Qingquan do silly things like someone having a psychotic fit.
Then I recalled that [Calculate] could let me view images and videos from the original Ren Qingquan's memories. So, using [Calculate], I tried to craft some information that included a screen image.
Later, I plan to send that information containing the system screen to Ren Qingquan, so he can see the screen I crafted.
Basically, through the connection from [Anchor], I shared some information that sort of caused Ren Qingquan to start hallucinating and seeing floating screens.
Furthermore, because it is essentially a hallucination, that screen can be seen only by Ren Qingquan, which is killing two birds with one stone!
Using the screen I just created as the base, I slightly edited the text and sent it to Ren Qingquan.
[Ding! Host detected. Do you wish to bind the Heavenly Comprehension System?]
"Huh? A system?! So, my cheat is a system? I am curious what kind of system it will be? From the name, it seems to be a system that can help me comprehend technique." I saw Ren Qingquan respond in shock, then grow excited as he repeated 'Yes' in his mind.
Ignoring his feelings and excitement, I immediately sent another screen.
[Ding! Detected the host has responded. Binding complete!]
Chapter 3. The Heavenly Comprehension System (Fake)
[Congratulations on binding the Heavenly Comprehension System. The Heavenly Comprehension System will help the host to reach the peak of the universe by increasing their comprehension!]
[Host may think of 'status', 'status panel', 'personal panel', 'panel', or similar keyword to open your status panel]
'Darn, there are so many keywords.' Ren Qingquan retorted.
Nevertheless, he still excitedly opened the status panel by thinking, 'Open status panel!'
Having already prepared, I quickly created another screen and sent it to him via [Anchor].
[Name: Ren Qingquan
Point: 0
Realm: First Stage Martial Master
Martial arts method: Flame Tempering Method.
Martial arts technique: Iron Palm (Beginner).
System function: Devour, Scan, Calculate.]
First, regarding the system function. Those are the abilities I allow Ren Qingquan to use.
After some thought, I decided to show all of my abilities except for [Anchor] to Ren Qingquan.
It's because I found out Ren Qingquan is the only one I am connected to through [Anchor]. So, to make sure he could survive in the dangerous martial arts world, and I could retain the ability to contact the real world. I've got to do my best to support him.
Then, after the points and system functions, which come from me, the rest comes from the original Ren Qingquan's memory.
I've already found out about his current martial arts realm while skimming through the original Ren Qingquan's memory.
Except for the martial arts realm. I've also added information about Ren Qingquan's martial arts method, which is the practice used by martial artists to advance their realm and increase their strength.
Then there is martial arts technique, a way to better harness the strength martial artists have gained from their realm.
The Martial Arts Method and Technique I wrote on the screen are something the original Ren Qingquan has learned.
As the transmigrator possessed Ren Qingquan's body, I guess he should also have gained some of the original Ren Qingquan's skills. That's why I decided to write it on the screen.
***
While Ren Qingquan was reading the screen I sent via [Scan], I saw his eyes skimming across it before he stared at the part listing system function, lost in thought.
As I am pretty bored, I decided to tinker with my ability until I heard him ask me, 'System, where's the system shop? The stat allocation screen? The leveling function? Roulette? Newbie gift pack?'
(¬_¬)
[The menu you mentioned is unavailable. Please try again later.]
'Which System doesn't have a system shop? Are you actually a failed product?'
You're the damned failed product!
I honestly wanted to curse him, but I tried my best to hold it.
Ren Qingquan tried a few times before he shrugged, 'Then, can you explain more clearly about your functions?'
To answer his question, I created several screens and sent them to him.
[Just like it's name, system functions are the functions available in the current version of the system. At the current version, there are three available system functions.]
[The first one is the 'Devour' function. It allows the host to turn souls into points that can be used to upgrade system functions.
Note: You may spend points to upgrade Devour.]
[The second function is called 'Scan'. It allows the host to detect things in your surroundings. The result from 'Scan' came from the system's database, which is being constantly updated based on what the host has experienced. Currently, the maximum distance is 11 meters around the host.
Note: You may spend points to upgrade Scan.]
[The third function is called 'Calculate'. It is the primary function of the Heavenly Comprehension System. The Calculate function will increase the host's calculation and memorization skill, granting the host a boost in comprehension.
Note: You may spend points to upgrade Calculate.]
Ren Qingquan read the whole screen and asked, 'I could still understand the upgrade for [Scan] and [Calculate]. But, what does upgrading [Devour] do?'
I created a screen and planned to answer his question, but I paused when I realized something.
Actually, I also didn't know which direction [Devour] could be upgraded into!
I rechecked the memories about my cheat abilities and found that the part about [Devour] is especially vague. It just contains information regarding how to use [Devour] to swallow souls and the fact that I can upgrade it by spending energy.
There is no mention of which part of [Devour] I could upgrade, or any similar information.
I contemplated my choice and decided to borrow Ren Qingquan's mind to help me brainstorm.
[The host may think of the direction for upgrades on your own.]
I saw Ren Qingquan stare speechlessly at my answer. 'You mean the upgrade for [Scan] and [Calculate] isn't limited to increasing their distance and calculation power?'
[Indeed.]
Ren Qingquan held his forehead and groaned. 'Are you perhaps a half finished product? Is the system I got incomplete? Or is it a defective one?'
Hey, that's rude! This is called potential, you know? With vague upgrade directions, that means I have infinite potential!
Then, I heard Ren Qingquan ask. 'Regarding [Devour], how do I activate it?'
As I've just rechecked the memory regarding [Devour], I could quickly answer his question.
[Host may use [Devour] by getting close to the corpse of a recently deceased creature and think of 'Devour'.]
Ren Qingquan read the message I sent and asked, 'How long after the creature's death does -recently deceased- include?'
W… well, here comes another blind spot in my knowledge. After the mean word Ren Qingquan gave me before, I am not in the mood to give him an excuse. So, I answered his question with a simple reply.
[Insufficient data, please experiment on your own.]
'Arghhh, whatever.' Ren Qingquan replied and thought, 'I'll just practice Martial Arts first. I am curious how it actually felt to practice martial arts.'
I saw Ren Qingquan stand up and take a horse stance. Then, his body began to twist in a way that could break any elderly person's back and hips.
Just as I thought about how those moves might cause someone to break their bones accidentally, Ren Qingquan screamed and fell to the floor.
What? Did I just jinx it? Did he actually break a bone?
Surprised, I saw Ren Qingquan pull up his clothes and check his bandaged abdomen. The initially yellowish-white bandage began to turn red with blood from his body. It seems Ren Qingquan's twisting movement has reopened his wound.
Ren Qingquan's face quickly turned pale upon seeing so much blood. Then, I heard him scream at an extremely high pitch before falling unconscious. The scream he released might rival that of a banshee from legend.
Luckily, I don't listen to the outside world through my ears. Otherwise, it might already be bleeding and shattered.
As Ren Qingquan fell unconscious, I could no longer observe things through his eyes.
Thankfully, [Scan] still worked and I can observe the scene in a 11-meter radius around him.
Less than a minute after Ren Qingquan's banshee scream, I saw a maid enter Ren Qingquan's courtyard and enter the range of my [Scan].
With a trained movement, the maid quickly moved toward Ren Qingquan's room and tended to his wound after seeing him unconscious, while blood seeped from his wound.
From the original Ren Qingquan's memory, I recalled the maid's identity as Xiao Cai, Ren Qingquan's only personal maid.
After entering Ren Qingquan's bedroom, Xiao Cai pressed her arms on Ren Qingquan's wound and began sweating as if she were doing a challenging thing.
When I grew curious about what she was doing, I saw a ball of light appear in her hand.
She guided that ball of light toward Ren Qingquan's abdomen, and I could see his bleeding wound begin to heal at a slow rate before stopping once it didn't bleed too much.
Xiao Cai then shouted with a reverberating voice, "Call a physician! The young master has fainted!"
Even though I heard Xiao Cai's loud shout, I simply ignored it because my mind is currently in chaos.
What the hell? I thought this was a world of martial arts with kung fu and whatnot. So, where does this healing ability come from?
Then, I quickly pushed away my useless thoughts and began tinkering with [Scan].
I would like to know whether or not I could detect the skill Xiao Cai used to heal Ren Qingquan. After all, I could detect the formless and shapeless energy in the empty space I am locked in.
Meanwhile, the healing power Xiao Cai released actually glowed, so it should contain some sort of energy, right? Furthermore, it should've been easier to [Scan] than the formless energy I've now come to call points.
After I willed it, the filter I have placed on [Scan] began to lax.
After doing something akin to changing frequency in a radio, my [Scan] finally got the correct 'frequency' and I could sense the energy that Xiao Cai has released.
Now, in addition to sight, smell, and sound, I could also sense the energy Xiao Cai has used to heal Ren Qingquan. Furthermore, it's not limited to that, as I found I could also detect the energy in Xiao Cai's body.
I focused on Xiao Cai's body and sensed several types of energy. Some of them are spread throughout her body. Meanwhile, the other energy mainly gathered around her abdomen.
The energy that gathered around her abdomen is the one she used to heal Ren Qingquan's wounds.
Soon, a few minutes passed, which I mostly spent observing Xiao Cai's body- wait, I mean energy! Her energy! I am not a pervert who likes to ogle at someone's body.
At this moment, an elderly man who reeks of medicine entered the room.
When that old man arrived, Xaio Cai instantly stopped sending her energy while pulling her hand away. She also urged the old man to heal Ren Qingquan quickly.
Nodding his head at Xiao Cai, the old man applied some herbs to Ren Qingquan and grabbed his wrist with a focused face.
I've read and watched enough stories to know that the old guy is definitely checking Ren Qingquan's pulse.
After checking his pulse, the old man said, "The young master's status has stabilized. His wound just reopened while forcefully trying to train in martial arts. Luckily, the herb that has been applied to him yesterday still has some of its potency as the young master's wound has already stopped bleeding. He should wake up by tomorrow."
"I've told him not to train for a few days until his wound fully heals. But children nowadays, they are truly hard headed." The old man took his leave while constantly shaking his head and continuously complaining.
Soon, he moved farther away and stepped out of range of my [Scan].
With the physician leaving, Xiao Cai placed Ren Qingquan on the bed before taking her leave.
Now, only the sound of breathing from Ren Qingquan, who has fallen into a coma, can be heard in the room.