As Feng Chen finished reading the letter, the fragile paper crumbled into dust before his eyes. He stood there, utterly still, staring blankly at the space where the letter had once been, as if his mind had short-circuited. The entire world seemed to slow around him, leaving him lost in the haze of what he had just read.
For what felt like hours... maybe even days... he stood like a statue, frozen in place. His face remained oddly serene, almost childlike, his eyes slightly glazed over as if he was processing something far beyond the ordinary. But in reality, his mind was stuck on one very important question.
Finally, he blinked, and after what seemed like an eternity, a single, innocent sentence slipped from his lips, like a curious child asking his mother about a missing toy.
"So… where's the technique?"
Silence.
Then, almost immediately, the system burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. It wasn't just mocking laughter... it was the kind of laughter that made you want to punch someone square in the face. The sound echoed around Feng Chen's mind like the most annoying bell in the world, louder and louder.
-----
System Notification:-
HAHAHAHA! Oh, this is too good! You really thought you'd just get the technique like some kind of magic scroll from an old video game? Pffffft!
-----
Feng Chen blinked again, his confusion turning quickly into irritation. His innocent expression twisted into a sour grimace as the realization began to dawn on him.
"Wait… what do you mean there's no technique? You can't be serious, right?" His voice took on an almost pleading tone, but beneath it, his frustration simmered.
The system only laughed harder, as if enjoying his growing despair.
-----
System Notification:-
Oh, poor little Feng Chen, reality is tough, isn't it? What, did you think you'd just get a magical download into your brain? Welcome to the real world, pal!
-----
Feng Chen stood there in disbelief, his mind whirling. Slowly, the tension in his muscles began to build, and his once-childlike expression darkened considerably, as if the weight of the universe itself had suddenly wronged him. His eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and his lips curled into a tight frown.
"Are you telling me…" he started slowly, his voice shaking with suppressed anger,
"that I just went through all of that… and got SCAMMED?!"
He clenched his fists, his body trembling with barely contained fury. The sheer audacity of it all was almost too much to bear. He had just faced down the murderous aura of one of the strongest cultivators in history, almost lost his mind in the process, and now… there was no technique? No mystical revelation? Nothing?
The system, clearly delighted by his misery, continued to mock him.
-----
System Notification:-
Hey, not everything comes with a neat little bow, alright? Sometimes you have to work for it! But man, that face! Priceless.
-----
Feng Chen's irritation grew by the second, and it was taking everything in him not to start shouting. But then, suddenly, something shifted in his mind. His frustration melted away, replaced by something far more sinister... a devilish grin that stretched across his face like a man who had just come up with the most devious plan.
"Alright, System," Feng Chen whispered darkly, his voice low and menacing,
"since you find this so funny… why don't I show you what I can do with the techniques I DO have?"
The system faltered for a moment.
-----
System Notification:-
Uh… wait, what are you planning?
-----
But it was too late. Feng Chen had already made up his mind. If the Fist God wasn't going to hand him the technique on a silver platter, then he'd take matters into his own hands... quite literally. And there was no better way to start than by testing the incredible techniques he had already learned.
The first technique, Supreme Origin of Chaos, was a powerful and unique ability that allowed him to absorb and accumulate every kind of energy... whether it was Qi, elemental energy, or even life force... and convert it all into a singular form of energy that could be unleashed with devastating force. It was, in a word, terrifying.
The second technique, Heavenly Devouring Technique, was even more dangerous. It allowed him to devour the Qi and lifeforce of others, but with a terrible price... it increased the chance of awakening his inner demon, the dark presence lurking deep within him, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
Luckily, the third technique, Nine Heavens Soul Purification Art, provided a counterbalance. It was designed to purify his mind and soul, suppressing the inner demon's influence and allowing him to maintain control of his own destiny. It was an intricate and delicate balancing act... one that had to be handled with great care.
These techniques were powerful... far more powerful than anything he had ever imagined. They were the kinds of techniques that legends were made of, and he could feel it in his bones.
He had the potential to achieve immortality, to rise above the heavens and become one of the most feared and respected cultivators in existence.
In fact, the system was so overwhelmed by Feng Chen's newfound abilities that it had practically lost faith in the fairness of the world. The balance of power had been shattered, and Feng Chen was the one holding the pieces.
-----
System Notification:-
Dear gods above, someone please smite this man before he becomes even more overpowered than he already is…
-----
The system was practically praying for Feng Chen's downfall, muttering curses under its breath. But Feng Chen was already moving on. He approached the skeleton of the Fist God, Lie Zhang, with renewed determination. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light as he knelt beside the remains.
In this world, everything was made of Qi... whether it was living beings, plants, or even the bones of long-dead cultivators. And Lie Zhang's bones, which had been strengthened through countless tribulations, were practically overflowing with the purest, most refined Qi imaginable. Qi that would be incredibly beneficial for his cultivation.
"Sorry about this," Feng Chen said with a grin, placing his hand on the skeleton's skull,
"but this is just too good to pass up."