"Has Shen Qingqiu already descended the mountain?" Jiang Che asked curiously.
The story begins with Ye Chen descending the mountain to investigate his origins in Tianhai City, while incidentally flirting with his several senior sisters…
"Yes, Host. And Ye Chen will descend the mountain in seven days," the system replied.
"What should I do then?"
"Host only needs to change the plot repeatedly, and then you can obtain rewards."
"Changing the plot includes but is not limited to intercepting the protagonist's opportunities, connections, and suppressing the protagonist's fate, among others."
"The system will award 'villain points' based on the extent of your changes, which can be used to enhance cultivation, enter lotteries, and more."
"Can I just kill Ye Chen directly?" Jiang Che asked with a flicker of coldness in his eyes. Having received the plot, he knew that Ye Chen was skilled in martial arts, and quite formidable at that.
But how formidable can one be? Unless they were an unsurpassed martial artist, Jiang Che could easily use his family's influence. The moment Ye Chen comes down the mountain, just kill him! End of the book! After all, he and Ye Chen were enemies; it was either him or me!
"You can, but the system does not recommend that the Host do this."
"Why?"
"Because killing Ye Chen directly would significantly reduce the rewards. As a beginner, you need Ye Chen, this 'leek,' to enhance your cultivation. And if the protagonist is killed outright, it would completely disrupt the plot."
"After Ye Chen's death, a second protagonist will appear. It could be a security guard or an immortal emperor reborn… Due to these many uncertainties, the system does not recommend that the Host kill Ye Chen directly."
…
"So, what should I do now?" After a moment of silence, Jiang Che finally spoke. He knew the system was looking out for his best interest.
Simply killing Ye Chen might sound easy, but the consequences were unknown. If Ye Chen died and was replaced by a protagonist who was a reborn immortal emperor, he might just be slapped to death… and then he would really have to report to the King of Hell…
Having been given a second chance at life, Jiang Che didn't want to play it away so quickly.
"Host need not ask me. You have already received the plot, and you can do as you please. The system will not restrict any of your actions. As long as you change the plot, the system will reward you."
"Okay." Jiang Che nodded in satisfaction. This system was quite to his liking! If everything he did was restricted by the system, he would really have to reconsider.
…
"Do you have any beginner's gift pack?" Jiang Che asked expectantly. Every beginner deserves some support, right?
"Ding, a beginner's gift pack has been issued. Would the Host like to open it?"
"Open it…"
"Ding, congratulations to the Host for obtaining the cultivation technique 'Limitless Pure Yang Cultivation'."
"Ding, congratulations to the Host for obtaining 500 million in cash."
"Ding, congratulations to the Host for reaching the peak of Light Energy stage in cultivation…"
(Light Energy – Dark Energy – Innate – Transformation – Unity of Heaven and Man – Shattering Void)
"Light Energy at its peak?" Jiang Che said excitedly. Having just absorbed the entire plot, he naturally understood what this level of cultivation meant.
Most martial artists would need to start training from a young age, and it would take half a year just to get started! Now that the system had directly granted him the peak of Light Energy, how could he not be thrilled?
"Does the host need to infuse the cultivation now?"
"How long will the infusion of cultivation take?"
"Three seconds."
"That fast?" Jiang Che was somewhat astonished. Truly a real system in just three seconds! "Infuse…"
Three seconds later, Jiang Che distinctly felt some changes in his body. The small belly that used to be on his lower abdomen was gone, replaced by eight perfectly sculpted abs.
"Is this the feeling of power?" He clenched his fists, feeling the surging power throughout his body, and was extremely excited.
"What's this?" Looking at a layer of black viscous substance on his arm, Jiang Che frowned.
"This is the impurity expelled from your body during the infusion of cultivation, Host. It's akin to undergoing a process of 'cleansing the marrow and renewing the veins.'"
"I see…" Jiang Che didn't say much more and turned to enter the bathroom.
…
"System, if I go out now, will I be immediately recognized as an impostor?" After coming out of the bathroom, Jiang Che voiced his biggest concern. He was afraid of being exposed as soon as he went out…
After all, he was no longer the previous Jiang Che.
"Host need not worry, the system has already modified everyone in this world's impression of the host. In their memory, the host is as you appear now."
"You're that amazing?" Jiang Che was somewhat shocked. Was this akin to altering people's memories? And not just one person!
Considering Jiang Che came from a top family in Linjiang City like the Jiang family, he had certainly encountered many people and situations.
"A trivial matter… Host will realize the power of this system in time. If the host wants to know more, it's better to focus on dealing with the protagonist!"
…
"Young master, the madam asks that you come home this afternoon," said two young maids respectfully as Jiang Che descended the stairs.
"Okay, I know." Jiang Che glanced at the two young maids. To serve as maids for the young master of the Jiang family, they definitely weren't lacking in appearance.
The two maids were quite delicate-looking, with standard melon seed faces, willow-leaf eyebrows, bright eyes and white teeth, and skin as white as snow. The most important thing was, these were all their original features.
How had the previous Jiang Che restrained himself in front of such maids? Perhaps it was to maintain his image as a loyal follower…
After all, the Jiang Che in the book had been infatuated with Shen Qingqiu for eight years, and during the years she was away, someone of his status hadn't sought out any woman?
Indeed, love can really cloud one's judgment… He didn't understand the world of a 'loyal follower.'
"I'll head over now…" Jiang Che smiled slightly and walked out of the living room, heading towards the parking lot.
Without being told, Jiang Che knew what his mother wanted. It was nothing more than visiting the Shen family to see Shen Qingqiu and then mention their childhood engagement.
Jiang Che's mother was eager for him to get married as soon as possible. And since Jiang Che and Shen Qingqiu were childhood sweethearts with both families' approval, their marriage seemed like a foregone conclusion to everyone.
Although Shen Qingqiu had left to learn martial arts at the age of thirteen and only returned this year, it didn't matter much.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
"The young master just smiled at me!"