Currently, Alex was in a daze; the last thing he remembered was being sent to the hospital after trying to commit suicide by jumping in front of a truck when he got fired from his job. Knowing that he was broke, had no food, and the rent was due, Alex decided to skip being homeless and jump right to killing himself, literally. Unexpectedly, he wasn't dead; also, unexpectedly, he wasn't isekai'd. As a veteran internet dweller himself, he expected that getting hit by the truck and suddenly waking up in a strange new environment would mean a fantasy world and overpower cheats; he was kinda right.
From what he could tell, he was in his mother's womb, and the glowing blue screen in front of him was either a schizophrenic hallucination, or he had a system.
[Equivalent exchange system activated.] [Damage detected] [initiating repairs... repairs failed.] [Retrying... failed. Retrying... failed. Retrying... failed.] [Analizing damages... minor defects in exchange process detected, costs of usage may be unexpected.] [Atempting to minimise defect... successful.] [Cost: reincarnation instead of isekai.] [Cost acceptable. Initiating...] [defect minimisation successful. Reincarnation is successful. System updated. Be aware costs of equivalent exchange may be unequal.]
[Name: Alex
Titles: none
Cultivation: basic mortal
Body forging: basic mortal
Stats:
Strength: none
Speed: none
Dexterity: none
Constitution: none
Intelligence: 3
Vitality: 1
Spirit: 2
Resistance: none
Traits: [fetus(temporary)] [untainted(conditional)] [pure heart and clean mind(conditional)] [transcendent intelligence(conditinal)]
Status effects: [immobile] [submerged in amniotic fluid] [undeveloped] [being nurtured by mother]
Spells: none
Techniques: none
Equipment: none
Exchange points: none]
'That's, insulting. Did I die for this? And what do you mean by 'system damaged'? How unlucky can I be? First fired from my job because the boss gave his son my promotion, fucking nepotism, and now my cheats are broken? Oh well, might as well see what my system can do.'
[Host, the system is capable of exchanging anything for either something else or exchange points, the system currency. Example: exchanging the materials of a sword, for a sword made of said materials. However, the sword's quality will be based on the host's knowledge of blacksmithing and applicable Traits/statues/techniques/spells/equipment. Alternatively, these could be forgone with the use of exchange points, or you could use a mix of both for greater results. Anything can be exchanged, techniques, cultivation, stats, souls, or even other systems.
It is also possible to alter things using exchange points. Example: the usage of rare materials and or exchange points to change a trait/status/item. Esoteric things such as 'comprehension' or even 'fate' can also be exchanged.]
'Huh, neat. But now what? I'm stuck in my mother's womb with nothing to do. I can't even understand what my mom is saying to me. Wait, hey system, can I exchange my knowledge of the English language for the knowledge of the world I'm currently in?'
[Does the host wish to exchange [knowledge of the English language] for [knowledge of the common language]?]
'Yes'
[Exchanging... exchange complete, due to damaged exchange processer, unequal exchange has occurred, exchange point 10* has been added]
Surprised that he had gained exchange points for what was supposed to be an equal trade, at least in his eyes it was, he checked the system window, and sure enough, it said [exchange points: 10].
'nice! Now, to use these points, it's not like I have any reason to save them for now anyway. First things first. System, how much would an analyse skill cost?'
[Under the assumption that the host wishes for the same [analasis] from the host's memories, [analysis] would cost 5,000 exchange points or something of equal value.]
'What if it was only a version that let me get more information from my system window?'
[That would cost 50 system points]
Surprised at the massive cost difference, Alex asked, 'Why such a price difference?'
[The ability to gain most if not all information about anything the host can observe is considered incredibly powerful, whereas knowledge of the host's capabilities, while useful, is considered 'low tier'.]
Reading this Alex started to consider how to gain more points. What else from my last life can I throw away?
Quickly brainstorming on how to gain the points needed to have an idea of what half this stuff meant, he came up with a couple of things he wouldn't need in his new world.
'system, how much would the memories of my parents, siblings and friends ' identities be worth? Along with part of my old moral compass?'
[Memories of the host's previous connections identities would be worth 70 points, and part of the host's previous moral compass would be worth 15 points.]
'Great, exchange them.'
[Exchanging, compleat. Exchange unaffected by the defect. Total exchange points: 95]
Glad that he didn't lose out on any points from his systems defect, but sad he didn't get a bonus. Alex mentally sighed, 'Ah well, beggars can't be choosers. Anyway, exchange for downgraded analysis. Also out of curiosity, how much would adding a stat point cost?'
[Exchange complete. Total exchange points: 45. Cost of increasing points of host basic stats before 100 artificially gained stat points each is 10 exchange points per stat point. The cost of increasing advanced stats before 100 artificially gained stat points each is 25 exchange points per stat point. However, while the host may increase their foundation using exchange points, it is recommended that the host gains stat points naturally.]
Understanding that for the time being, he shouldn't beef up his stats, Alex thought, 'Noted, now. To check what all this stuff on my window means.'
[Titles: achievements acknowledged by the system that typically give bonuses related to said achievement, can not be bought using exchange points]
[Cultivation/ body forging: hosts progress in either power system]
[Basic stats(strength/speed/Dexterity/Intelligence/Constitution): the mundane characteristics of the host quantified. Strength, speed and dexterity are the physical capabilities of the host and are self-explanatory, while intelligence is the mental prowess of the host, finally, constitution is the host's overall durability and stamina along with resistance to poison/venom, as well as the recovery speed for hosts physical body]
[Advanced stats(vitality/spirit/resistance): are the quantification of the esoteric values of the host. Vitality is the host's life force, which is deeply tied to the host's physical stats and constitution as well as the host's lifespan. Spirit is the host's spiritual prowess and is deeply tied to intelligence, comprehension, learning rate, enlightenment, and soul state, as well as the recovery speed for the hosts' mystical aspects. Finally, resistance is the host's magical durability, it affects host resistance to spells, bewitching, magical toxins, and Qi poisoning/deviation]
[Trates: are statuses that are deeply tied to the host or are effects that are considered 'permanent' by the system, such as a much higher than average talent in something, unique abilities tied to the host specifically, or permanent status. Temporary traits, while still traits are considered lesser, as while they fall under the category of 'traits', they are not permanent. Conditional traits are also considered lesser as while they can be more powerful than regular traits on occasion; they are reliant on specific conditions.]
[Statis: a state the host is in; this includes paralysis, bewitching, poisoned, or Qi deviation; if under their affect for too long, it could lead to a trait, both negative or positive.]
[Spells/techniques/: Abilities that the host has learned.]
[Equpment: items the host owns judged valuable enough to be counted by the system.]
Most of this was the same as what Alex had expected, with only a couple of unexpected parts, such as different stats having different costs. Next, he moved on to his traits and status as he was curious as to how they affected him.
[fetus: a unique status caused by not having been born or artificially caused by unique methods. In this state, host stats can grow nearly limitlessly so long as sufficient resources are provided. Special resources such as medicines or heavenly/earthly treasures have twice the effect with half cost. Traits may be added through special cultivation methods, techniques or resources. Additionally, traits related to the development of the host's physical body are easier to gain; most physiques are only available in this state.] 'So if I make it permanent I don't stay a baby? Nice.'
[Pure heart and clean mind: a unique status caused by the host being untainted by karma from the outside world. Host Intelligence and spirit stats grow at twice the speed with half the effort. Comprehension and learning speed are increased greatly and overall talent is increased marginally. Enlightenment is also minutely less rare.] 'That's definitely staying, if enlightenment is what I think it is, I am very happy.'
[Untainted: a unique status caused by the host being untouched by the world. Spirit and physical stats grow much faster, and comprehension is greatly increased. Cultivation talent is marginally increased and body forging talent is greatly increased. Additionally, enlightenment is minutely less rare.] 'Hell yeah, another one.'
[Transcendent intelligence: a unique achievement acknowledged by the system for having three times the average intelligence stat of the host's current life level(fetus) that is only barely unworthy of a title. The growth speed of the intelligence stats is massively enhanced, and the effect of the spirit and intelligence stats marginally increased. Comprehension, learning speed and talent in mental techniques are greatly increased. Additionally, enlightenment is minutely less rare.] 'I smell something crazy overpowered. I am making that permanent; all I need to do is make some very small changes.'
Alex took a small break after looking at his traits. 'Well, these are impressive. I'm 100% going to try and keep these. Now for the statuses. Pretty sure I can guess what some do.'
[Imobile: host can not move.] 'Called it.'
[Submerged in amniotic fluid: affect of [fetus] traits marginally increased.] 'I'm keeping that.'
[Undeveloped: host body not fully formed. The effect of physical stats greatly decreased. Growth of physical stats minutely increased.] 'Ouch, not keeping that.'
[Being nurtured by mother: host is being fed all the nutrients needed to grow a healthy body. The host does not need to actively intake food. The host does not produce waste.] 'Oh, that's just broken if I can make it permanent. Definitely keeping it.'
'Damn, that's one big info dump. Now, What to do next?' After a short contemplation session, he had four goals. 'Long-term goal 1, be born. Long-term goal 2, create a very strong foundation. Short-term goal 1: make traits and good status permanent. Short-term goal 2: get more exchange points; the only cheap goal I have is being born. System, How much would it cost to make all my traits permanent, along with. [submerged in amniotic fluid] and [being nurtured by mother] status?'
[Fetus trait: 30 points. Untainted trait: 70 points. Pure heart and clear mind trait: 75 points. Transcended intelligence trait: 100 points. Submerged in amniotic fluid status: 10 points. Being nurtured by mother status: 20 points. Total cost: 305 exchange points or anything of equal value.]
'What would the price of editing [transcendent intelligence] so that 'current life level' is changed to just 'fetus life level' be?'
[100 exchange points.]
Wincing, he thought, 'and making it permanent on top of that?'
[250 exchange points.]
Seeing that editing [transcendent intelligence] would cost as much as making it permanent and more than twice as much to do both. Alex realised he needed more points and fast. 'Well, no time like the present to start, I guess.'