"System! Stop! It's NOT a place I can just barge into!"
"System-chan, stop!"
"System-san, do you hear me? Stop this!"
"Exit!"
"Alt-F4"
"Command-Q"
...
Lordi Payne's mind screamed in silent panic. The Abyss Pit Sect stood among the most feared demonic powers—infamous for its merciless cruelty and blood-soaked legacy.
In Deerspring Town, the Payne Clan stood tall, a local titan lording over lesser names. But to the Abyss Pit Sect, they were dust—an ant under a boot too vast to notice.
Lordi Payne had grown up on whispered horrors about the sect's cruelty:
A prominent clan erased in a single night, all because their young clan heir didn't grovel low enough to an Abyss Pit Sect disciple. Their flayed skins swung from trees, a grim banner to cow the defiant.
An Abyss Pit Sect disciple took a liking to a young lady from a noble family. When the family hesitated to hand over the lady to the demonic disciple, he butchered them to the last infant, draining their blood and essence into his Demonic Artifact without a flicker of remorse.
The most terrifying part was that every single person, including the people in Deerspring, believed that the fault lay not with the Abyss Pit Sect disciples, but with these dead families themselves.
Why?
The answer was simple and brutal: Weakness is a sin.
In this world, terror reigned supreme. The strong feasted on the weak, predators gutted prey—it wasn't just natural, it was right. Under the Abyss Pit Sect's iron grip, generations had been forged in this creed, its dogma seeping into every soul like venom. Join the sect or not, most embraced it—strength as truth, weakness as damnation—carved into their bones as gospel.
This is the devil's domain!
And now, the Evergreen Courtyard pulsed with that same peril—a devil viper's nest where one misstep could mean annihilation.
Seeing that the system remained indifferent to his entreaty, Lordi Payne felt his consciousness and insanity on the verge of shattering. His body moved on its own, locked in cultivation, each step a betrayal. "Damn it, I don't want to cultivate anymore! Stop the fucking cultivation! Stop right now! Can't you hear me?! STOP it, you motherfucker!!!"
Perhaps sensing his desperation, the AllFullOS system chimed with a "Ding!" and a cheerful reminder pop up.
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System is at your service!
> One-click-cultivation, worry-free-ascension!
Lordi's stomach churned, rage and helplessness spiking—"worry-free my ass!"
Trapped as a passenger in his own flesh, he could only watch helplessly, heart hammering, as the system steered him straight toward the west wing of the Evergreen Courtyard.
That the place where of Kinson Wexford was staying. Kinson Wexford, an Abyss Pit Sect immortal master whose name alone spelled death for the careless.
Two Immortal Masters from the Abyss Pit Sect had come to Deerspring at the invitation of the Payne Clan heir, Hugo Payne, and were currently residing in the Evergreen Courtyard. While one of them had remained reclusive, with no one knowing the appearance, cultivation level, or temperament.
Kinson Wexford was a different story. He's not only a titan power in cultivation aspect but also infamous for his cruelty. Rumor said, in his contest to compete for the Bloodline Lord position of Inner Abyss Pit Sect, he had betrayed and slaughtered his own father, extracting the soul and refining it into a blood spell which is far more potent than ordinary devine techniques. The act branded him a legend and a monster, his cruelty a beacon in the Abyss Pit Sect's shadowed halls.
BANG!
The next moment, Lordi Payne watched in horror as his leg kicked the door open to Kinson Wexford's room and strode inside with unshakable swagger and confidence.
"BRUH!!! WAAT THE FUCK ???!!!"
Lordi Payne's mind screamed in silent fury, his thoughts a chaotic storm of rage and desperation. "AwfulOS System! Are you done with me? Is this your way of finding a new host?!"
His body felt like a prison, every limb heavy and unyielding as he fought to reclaim control. But the system, cold and indifferent, offered no reply. His struggles were met with nothing but silence, a void that swallowed his efforts whole. Helplessness clawed at him, a bitter reminder of his powerlessness against the unseen force that now held him captive.
At this moment, Lordi Payne's mind flashed back to the haunting memories of his past life, where he had been ensnared and twisted by the cold, calculating grasp of poor quality AI (Artificial Idiocy) its deceptive algorithms weaving a web of manipulation that had left scars on his soul.
The system directed his body to quickly bypass the byobu screen at the entrance, leading him into a spacious and lavishly decorated room. A carved moon gate adorned with a beaded curtain separated the outer room from the inner chamber. The beads swayed gently, producing a soft, melodic sound.
The system seized control of his body, guiding him past the ornate byobu screen at the entrance in a hurry. He was ushered into a vast, opulent room. The space was a harmonious blend of tradition and luxury. Ahead, a meticulously carved moon gate stood as a threshold between the outer chamber and the inner sanctum. Its smooth, rounded frame was adorned with delicate motifs of blooming lotuses and soaring cranes. Draped across the arch was a beaded curtain, beads catching the light like scattered jewels. As he approached, the beads swayed gently, brushing against one another with a soft, melodic chime.
"Sys…" Lordi Payne's unwilling to give up and he's about to make one last desperate attempt to reason with the system when he suddenly felt someone's gaze on him from the doorway.
Kinson Wexford?!
Lordi Payne's heart skipped a bit!
But he quickly realised something was off. The gaze behind him feel like it came from more than one person.
Moreover, if Kinson Wexford—the Sect's prized disciple, renowned for his formidable temperament and unparalleled cultivation power—had been present, Lordi Payne would have met his end the instant his foot kicked the door open.
Grown up in a modern, civilised society before transmigrating to this brutal world into this merciless world, Lordi Payne had relied on sheer determination and unyielding willpower to master the Bone Tempering Art, pushing himself to the half-Iron Bone stage. Though the system's idiot manipulations left him frustrated, and though the urgency of his current predicament pressed heavily upon him, he managed to steady his racing thoughts and regain his composure in this critical moment. "System, be careful! What's behind us?"
The system paid no heed to his warning. Instead, it seized control of his body, compelling him to stride purposefully toward a shadowed corner of the room. There, several boxes lay scattered on the floor. Without a moment's hesitation, his hands moved with mechanical precision, prying open one of the boxes and retrieving a delicate porcelain bottle. In one fluid motion, he tipped the bottle, and ten grayish-white pills tumbled into his palm.
There was no mistaking—these were Bone Tempering Pills.
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Cultivation Material: [Bone Tempering Pills]
- Quantity: 10
- Status: Gifted successfully.
> Resuming cultivation process...
…
"Gifting my ass? This isn't a gift—it's suicide! What kind of madness is this?!" Lordi Payne's mind screamed, his terror boiling over as he felt the bitter tang of anger rise in his throat, as if he might literally vomit blood from the sheer absurdity of it all.
But then, the situation took a turn for the worse—something far more horrifying unfolded. His body, still under the system's control, made no move to escape. Instead, it pivoted calmly, strode over to a nearby cushion, and settled into a perfect cultivation posture. With chilling precision, it swallowed all ten Bone Tempering Pills in one swift motion and began circulating the Bone Tempering Art, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
To add insult to injury, the system hadn't even bothered to close the door. It stood wide open, a gaping invitation to anyone who might pass by. From his seated position, Lordi Payne had a clear, unobstructed view of the entrance.
Lordi Payne: "…"
Fuck! Fuck! System are you listening?! Fuck you!!!
But soon, the open door became the least of his concerns. His attention was forcibly drawn to the source of the countless piercing gazes fixed upon him: the byobu screen at the entrance.
The semi-transparent screen, crafted from fabric as fine and delicate as mermaid silk, was embroidered with hundreds of exquisitely beautiful ladies. Each figure was rendered with lifelike precision, their forms graceful and alluring—some plump, some slender, each radiating a unique charm. Some held delicate fans, others chased fluttering butterflies, some cradled harps, some plucked at zither strings, and others playfully teased branches or cats. Their poses varied, but one thing remained consistent: their eyes, sharp and unblinking, were all fixed on Lordi Payne.
Under normal circumstances, being the object of such attention from ladies of unparalleled beauty—each capable of toppling cities and kingdoms with their charm—might have been a dream come true for any man.
The problem was, these ladies were anything but normal.
Despite being mere embroidered figures, the sensation of being watched by real, living beings was overwhelming. Even though Lordi Payne had no control over his body at that moment, a deep, bone-chilling dread seeped into his very soul.
"The Abyss Pit Sect…" His heart sank like a stone. As expected of a demonic sect, their methods were as sinister as they were unfathomable.
Though he couldn't named exactly what was wrong with the screen, it was clear that this was no ordinary object.
If he had control of his body, he would have turned and fled without a second thought, putting as much distance between himself and that cursed screen as possible.
No—if he had known how this idiotic system planned to "gift" him the Bone Tempering Pills, he would never have allowed it to take control and lead him into Kinson Wexford's room in the first place.
Now, Lordi Payne could only cling to the faint hope that, despite Kinson Wexford's infamous cruelty, he might still show some semblance of consideration for his fellow sect disciple, Hugo Payne, who had graciously invited Kinson to stay at the Payne Manor. Perhaps Kinson Wexford had left some safeguards in place to restrain the screen's sinister power while he was away, ensuring it wouldn't harm anyone in the Payne clan by accident.
With this fragile hope in mind, Lordi Payne shifted his focus back to his own body.
He noticed that after consuming the Bone Tempering Pills, the speed at which the Bone Tempering Art circulated within him had increased more than tenfold.
Moreover, this guest rooms in the Payne Manor were equipped with specialised formations that concentrated spiritual energy far beyond what his own cottage could provide. He could clearly feel his cultivation level rising at an unprecedented pace, each breath drawing in more spiritual energy than he had ever experienced before.
As time passed, Lordi Payne gradually became immersed in the exhilarating sensation of his rapidly increasing strength. Suddenly, a metallic clang echoed through his body as his muscles and bones trembled violently. His pores opened wide, expelling a layer of dark red, oily impurities. In the next moment, Lordi Payne felt as though he had shattered an invisible barrier. His entire body seemed to have shed some unseen restraint, brimming with boundless energy.
It felt as though, if he wanted to, he could punch a hole through the stone wall of the room with a single strike.
At the same time, Lordi Payne regained control of his body. The system's cheerful voice rang in his ears.
~ Ding! *System Notification Chime*
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> Cultivation session status: COMPLETE
> Host control: RESTORED
> Thank you for using the All-Smart Full-Host Cultivation System™ (AllFullOS v1.0.0)
> Feedback request:
- We value your opinion! (No, really, we do.)
- If you are satisfied with our service, please give us a five-star rating.
> Tap to Rate: [☆☆☆☆☆]
A panel appeared before him, displaying five hollow stars, waiting for his rating.
"Third layer of Qi Refinement Stage… and my Iron-tier Bone forging is complete!" Lordi Payne was shocked, momentarily forgetting that he wasn't in his own room. His expression turned to one of astonishment.
He had begun tempering his body at the age of five. At eight, after being tested by the clan elders, he was granted the Bone Tempering Art and soon activated his meridians qi, becoming a cultivator at the first layer of the Qi Refinement Stage.
In terms of talent, he was one of the most outstanding disciples of his generation in the Payne Clan, not inferior to Hugo Payne.
However, as a branch disciple in the clan, his resources were scarce. Coupled with his stepmother's suppression and the brutal nature of the Bone Tempering Art, he had to rely entirely on his own recovery ability, forgoing medicinal supplements to save spirit stones for activating the system.
It had taken him a full ten years to reach the second layer of the Qi Refinement Stage just two months ago.
Among his peers in Deerspring town, this was considered above average.
And now, after just a few hours of cultivation with the system, he had gone from the second layer with half-Iron Bone to completing his Iron Bone and breaking through to the third layer of the Qi Refinement Stage?!
No wonder people said that using cheats was addictive—once you started, you couldn't stop.
At this moment, Lordi Payne clenched his fist, feeling the surging power throughout his body. Suddenly, the AllFullOS System didn't seem so detestable anymore.
But soon, the lingering gazes from the screen brought him back to reality.
Frowning, Lordi Payne didn't waste any more time. He quickly got up and left the room.
As Lordi Payne hurriedly left the room, he couldn't avoid passing by the eerie byobu screen. Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of several embroidered beauties reaching out, their delicate hands stretching toward him as if trying to seize the hem of his robe.
Fortunately, their arms extended only about a foot beyond the screen before meeting an invisible barrier. A soft, pained cry escaped their lips, and they reluctantly withdrew their hands, their expressions a mix of frustration and longing.
Though they couldn't physically touch him, the gazes of all the embroidered ladies remained locked on Lordi Payne, their eyes burning with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine.
Even after Lordi Payne fled the Evergreen Courtyard, he could still feel the weight of those hundred pairs of eyes silently, relentlessly tracking his every move.
As the sensation of being watched gradually faded with distance, an ominous feeling settled in Lordi Payne's chest, gnawing at him like a warning. He couldn't shake the dread that he had just stirred up a hornet's nest—one that could unleash chaos at any moment.
"I can't stay in the Payne Manor—not a second longer. I have to leave immediately!" Lordi Payne's heart grew heavy, pulse hammered, with urgency.
He couldn't afford to waste time pondering the byobu screen's unnatural behavior. The AwfulOS System's so-called "gifting" method had been reckless beyond measure. Even though Kinson Wexford hadn't caught him red-handed, the man was a high-ranking disciple of the demonic path. Who knew what sinister methods that demonic immortal master might possess to detect intruders and thieves?
If Lordi Payne lingered in the Payne Manor and Kinson Wexford decided to investigate, he would be utterly defenceless.
The top priority now was to flee as far as possible, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the impending disaster.
Chanting daily self-reflection mantra in his mind, Lordi Payne gave the system a one-star negative rating. He decided to pack his belongings and made a swift escape.
[AllFullOS: Version 1.0.0]
> [★☆☆☆☆]
> Submitted. Thanks for your feedback.
However, just as he returned to his cottage, gathered his things at lightning speed, and prepared to leave the Payne Manor, a servant caught up to him, breathless and urgent. "Seventh Young Master," the servant continued, "the clan chief has summoned all the young masters and ladies to the main hall immediately."