Li Ling's turbulent thoughts slowed as he watched the screen before him and the black aura that rose off him slowly receded into his body, revealing his figure that was drenched in sweat from the heat. He was like a person who had been asleep while his house was burning down around him, only waking up at the last moment when the fire was about to leap onto his body.
Immediately, Li Ling's heart became cold as he discarded his thoughts about the situation, realizing that he had almost ended his second life with his own hands. The sheer horror he was feeling now caused him to breathe heavily, because he had never experienced something like this, a situation where just thinking negatively could cause physical reactions.
Cultivation… something desired by many, but it also had its own hidden dangers that had nothing to do with the external world, but was intrinsic to the practice itself.
Calming himself down forcibly, Li Ling focused on the panel, not caring about anything outside. He even turned on the Grade 1 Minor Isolation Array he had repaired himself which eliminated the effects of the five senses for those within, ensuring a stable environment for cultivation.
Immediately, the commotion from outside was gone… but not forgotten.
But in the face of what appeared before Li Ling just now, it took second place. He still had the alerts in his field of vision, telling him that he had met some unknown conditions and had awakened a slaughter system.
Immediately, Li Ling thought of a character or system panel in his mind, and the newly awakened system seemed to respond to his thoughts naturally.
｢Infinite Slaughter System
Owner: Li Ling
Status: Unstable.
Slaughter Points: 0
Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement level 1 (0/1)
Cultivation Technique: Qi Circulation Mantra
Skills:
1. Fireball Technique – Entry (0/1)
2. Li Family Spear Technique – Entry (0/1)
3. Qi Restraining Control – Advanced (0/15)｣
It was simple, almost insultingly so. None of those famous forced system quests of which failure led to death, nor were there any tutorials or free gift packs to get the user started, just a status screen with "Slaughter Points" listed like currency.
Li Ling's eyes fell to his Slaughter Points value which was empty, and his heart couldn't help but itch. He almost immediately wished to rush out and start a crazed killing spree, upgrading himself step by step until he slaughtered the entire Qing Shan province, but he managed to restrain the urge.
Li Ling stood up and breathed out once more, firming his mind. Now that the system had awoken and rescued him from Qi Deviation, he would resume his cautious life and slowly grow his power until he…
Suddenly, Li Ling's pupils constricted as a black aura began to rise from him again, this time more intense than before, right where it left off previously and on the cusp of explosion.
He quickly discarded his thoughts about being overly cautious, and the black aura receded rather slowly, as if resentful that he hadn't let it come out to play.
Li Ling was silent for a spell, then his eyes narrowed with a hint of cold understanding. He finally understood that the system hadn't actually saved him from his previous fate, but had rather simply shafted it to the side.
Or rather, the problem itself was not something the system could solve, but was something reserved for himself to clear.
The problem entirely originated from him, from his subconscious mind, in which the awakening of the system - despite being an exciting event - did not change the truth.
A system did not make him all powerful and unkillable under heaven. Even if he walked the path of a turtle and slowly rose his power while also hiding it, it was entirely possible to still encounter disaster unless the system came with the famous 'IQ' debuff for all rivals and competitors.
But Li Ling did not believe in this in his heart, not because he thought he was not a protagonist or did not have cosmic luck, but mainly because he did not know exactly how much of it he had. Every banquet had to come to an end and no matter how popular, even a story had to reach its epilogue.
Where did his story end? What would happen to him afterward? Was it at Core Formation? Nascent Soul? Or in the immortal levels? If he reached the peak and his 'cosmic luck' ran out, what would he do if he encountered an unsolvable fatal situation?
More importantly, why was he even seeking power? Why be excited about a system appearing? Previously it was just to survive, but he understood that wasn't enough.
He could seek power for self preservation, but he would always be weaker than someone else in his life, that was a hard fact.
If he reached Core Formation, there would be Nascent Soul fellows crawling out of the woodwork. If he reached Immortal Emperor, there would be Celestial God level fellows who would seek to kill him.
Even if he reached the ultra perfection of Heavenly Celestial, or the highest level of known cultivation with no 'upper world', he would still be weaker than the person or thing who created that final upper world, not to mention the person who created this very system that would allow him to reach that point.
It simply felt… pointless.
Li Ling raised his head with bleakness in his eyes. He hated the fact that due to his nature as an Earthling and his expertise as an architect, he liked to think too much about the nature and function of things, as well as build a working model of them in his mind.
Because of this, he couldn't just grit his teeth and grow his power slowly while taking it one step at a time, because he had to see the value of it and the possibility of reaching the final goal to be motivated.
Suddenly, the messages from earlier reappeared in his field of vision as he looked up.
｢All things in the universe have a natural lifespan, contained in body, soul and spirit.｣
A chill passed through him, but not from fear as his dazed eyes began to clear and become brighter, his thoughts galvanizing rapidly.
That's right, everything had a lifespan, even reality itself! At a point in time, everything would fall at the hands of death and move on, even himself!
So what was the use of being worried about survival? What was the point of being fixated on living? Especially when one was living an existence that was a few levels higher than just being dead?
The point of living was not just to exist and then try to exist longer. It was to completely milk the value of living, enjoying all it had to offer to its fullest, and then going to milk death of all its value after you die with no regrets or burdens!
Hah, the cultivation world of Firmament Heaven was dangerous? That's fine, they were free to come and try to take his life! Li Ling was happy to meet them on the road and take what was theirs!
｢It is now your prerogative to seize what was given by the laws of the universe for yourself, to become the God of Slaughter that stands above all.｣
Every breath, every lifespan, every shred of meaning, Li Ling swore to take from the world that wished to take from him!
He would carve the value out of corpses if he had to, because he was not here just to survive, but to dominate!
That was his dream, his desire, the reason why he existed till now!
And now everything he did would be geared toward achieving that dream, no matter the cost!
The black aura completely receded and disappeared from him as a warmth spread from the center of his brain that was hot, domineering and extremely empowering.
Li Ling's spirit surged, and a system notification quietly updated in his vision.
｢Mental Status: Stabilized. Slaughter Path Accepted.｣
｢Slaughter Points may now be accumulated.｣
Li Ling stood up with a grin so wide it almost looked unhinged. He didn't feel numb anymore, his soul and spirit having never been clearer than at this moment!