## Chapter 1: Death by Coffee, Life by Chaos
The last thing Fang Lin remembered was the smell. Rich, dark, promising a much-needed jolt to combat the soul-crushing monotony of a Tuesday afternoon audit. Then came the sound – a guttural, metallic *KER-CHUNK* that seemed to vibrate his very bones, horribly out of place in the sterile office air. Not the familiar gurgle of the temperamental espresso machine, but something deeper, angrier. Pain, blinding and searing, erupted from his chest, accompanied by the horrifying sensation of hot liquid – far too much liquid – soaking his cheap polyester shirt. Darkness swallowed him, not peaceful, but punctuated by the fading screams of his colleagues and the acrid tang of burnt coffee and… something metallic. Iron. *Blood*, his accountant's mind supplied, even as consciousness fled. *How inefficient.*
---
Consciousness returned not gently, but with the brutal force of a sledgehammer. Fang Lin gasped, choking on air thick as soup, heavy and alien. It tasted of damp earth, crushed vegetation, and something… electric? He blinked, vision swimming. Twin violet moons, impossibly large and hanging low in an indigo sky, cast an eerie luminescence over a landscape of towering, unfamiliar ferns and gnarled trees with bark like obsidian. He lay on coarse, scratchy grass, his body aching in places he didn't know could ache.
"Where…?" His voice was a rasp, unfamiliar, younger. Panic, cold and sharp, began to prickle at his skin. This wasn't the ER. This wasn't Earth.
Memories, not his own, flooded his mind like a corrupted data stream: *Heaven Star Realm. Azure Ridge Continent. Verdant Cloud Sect. Fang Lin. Outer Disciple. Orphan. Died… tripping into the Beast Taming Pits during cleaning duty?*
Fang Lin groaned, pushing himself up onto trembling elbows. He looked down. Thin arms clad in rough-spun grey robes met his gaze. Hands calloused from menial labor, not keyboard tapping. "Died by exploding coffee machine," he muttered, the sheer absurdity warring with the bone-deep terror. "Reborn… by tripping over my own feet into a monster pen? The cosmic HR department has a *terrible* sense of humor and even worse risk assessment protocols." Cautious by nature, honed by years of navigating corporate bureaucracy and avoiding blame, his first instinct was assessment. *Survival. Priority one.*
He tried to stand. His legs buckled immediately. Not just weakness, but an oppressive, crushing force pressing down on him. *Gravity.* This planet… thousands of times bigger than Earth? The math was terrifying. He felt like a fly trapped under glass. He managed to crawl a few feet, his new body protesting every movement. He was in a ditch near the edge of a dense, shadowed forest. Ahead, torchlight flickered from imposing stone structures built into the side of a colossal mountain – the Verdant Cloud Sect, his new "home." According to the fractured memories, it wasn't exactly welcoming. Outer disciples were glorified janitors and cannon fodder.
`[ Ding! ]`
The sound was crisp, digital, utterly alien in this primeval setting. A shimmering blue interface, like high-definition glass, materialized before his eyes, superimposed over the violet moonlight.
`[ Graphic Omniverse Gacha System (G.O.G.S) activated! ]`
`[ Host: Fang Lin. Status: Mortal (Grain Tempering Realm - Late Stage). Physical Integrity: 78%. Threat Level: Critically Low. ]`
`[ Primary Function: Grant powers/items derived from Multiversal Graphic Narratives (Designation: Comics) via randomized Gacha Draws. ]`
`[ Host Note: Cultivation Talent Assessment... Null. Zero Qi Affinity Detected. Alternate Power Source Required. G.O.G.S designated Primary Power Source. ]`
Fang Lin stared, his analytical mind kicking into overdrive despite the panic. *System? Comics?* This was… unexpected. Suspicious. Deeply suspicious. A lifeline thrown into shark-infested waters. But also, potentially, his *only* advantage in a world where, according to the memories, even the sect's herb-gathering spirit rabbits could probably kick him to death.
`[ Points Required for Gacha Draws. Acquisition Methods: ]`
`[ 1. Emotional Resonance: Trigger strong emotional reactions in sentient beings. Point yield scales with intensity and target power level. ]`
`[ 2. Annihilation: Eliminate hostile lifeforms (Spirit Beasts, Demons, Devils, hostile cultivators). Point yield scales with threat level. ]`
`[ Welcome Bonus: 1x Premium Draw Token! Equivalent to one draw from the Rare Pool (Cost: 1,000 Points). Use now? (Y/N) ]`
His heart hammered against his ribs. A free draw? From the *Rare* pool? According to the system info flooding his mind, that meant something *actually* supernatural. Not just peak human, but potentially world-bending. Hope warred with his ingrained caution. *What's the catch? Is this a Trojan horse? A cosmic joke?* But the memory of dying, the crushing gravity, the sheer vulnerability… he had no real choice. "Y," he whispered, the sound barely audible.
The blue interface shimmered violently. A spectral slot machine, ornate and glowing, materialized before him. Its reels spun furiously, a dizzying blur of fragmented images: a web, a green ring, a shield, a star, a clenched fist wreathed in fire, a pair of katanas, a glowing eye... It clanged to a stop with a sound like shattering crystal. The image solidified: a stylized red-and-black masked face, grinning maniacally, flanked by crossed katanas.
`[ Congratulations! Acquired: Card - Ability: Regenerative Healing Factor (Deadpool Variant - Basic) ]`
`[ Type: Permanent Ability Card. Consume to gain ability. ]`
`[ Description: Grants accelerated cellular regeneration. Heals non-fatal wounds rapidly. Immunity to most diseases and poisons. Note: Does not prevent pain. Basic level - severed limbs require significant time/energy to regrow. Mental stability not included. ]`
A small, crimson card shimmered into existence in Fang Lin's hand. It felt warm, pulsing with a strange energy. *Regeneration? Like that annoying red-suited guy?* Before he could process it further, a gruff voice shattered the silence.
"Oi! Brat! What are you doing skulking in the ditch? Lazy worm! Get back to the Beast Pits! You think just because you tripped and nearly became Shoat food yesterday you get a holiday?"
Fang Lin flinched, hastily palming the crimson card as a burly figure clad in the same grey outer disciple robes stomped into view. Zhang Wei. According to his new memories, a bully who enjoyed tormenting the weaker outer disciples, especially the clumsy orphan Fang Lin. Zhang Wei was solidly built, already at the peak of the Grain Tempering Realm, muscles straining the cheap fabric. He radiated a crude, physical menace amplified by the oppressive gravity.
"Senior Brother Zhang," Fang Lin rasped, adopting the subservient posture ingrained in his host body's memories. "I was just… recovering my bearings."
"Recovering?" Zhang Wei snorted, closing the distance. "Looked like you were napping! Lazy trash!" He raised a meaty hand, calloused knuckles aimed squarely at Fang Lin's face. The blow came fast, fueled by casual cruelty. Fang Lin, weakened and disoriented, couldn't dodge.
*SMACK!*
Pain exploded across his cheekbone. He stumbled back, tasting blood where his teeth had cut the inside of his lip. Stars danced in his vision. Zhang Wei laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "That'll wake you up, worm! Now move! Elder Huo wants the western pits scrubbed before moon-high, and *you're* doing it!"
Fang Lin touched his throbbing cheek, his fingers coming away smeared with red. Rage, cold and calculating, warred with fear. But beneath it… curiosity. *Regenerative Healing Factor (Deadpool Variant - Basic).* He focused inward, picturing the pulsing crimson card. *Consume.*
The card dissolved into shimmering red motes that sank into his palm. A sudden, intense warmth flooded his body, centering on his face. The sharp pain receded almost instantly. The coppery taste in his mouth vanished. He subtly ran his tongue over the cut lip – smooth, healed skin. *Incredible.*
Zhang Wei, expecting tears or cowering, frowned. "What? Cat got your tongue? Or did I knock the last bit of sense out of you?" He took another menacing step forward.
Fang Lin kept his head bowed, hiding his eyes. *Emotional Resonance. Trigger strong emotional reactions.* Zhang Wei was annoyed, maybe slightly amused. Low intensity. But what if…? He let a small, seemingly involuntary smirk touch his lips. Not defiant, just… knowing. Absurd in the face of the blow.
Zhang Wei stopped. The smirk confused him. It didn't fit the narrative of the cowed victim. "What's so funny, worm?" he demanded, irritation rising.
`[ +5 Points: Emotional Resonance (Confusion - Zhang Wei) ]`
`[ +10 Points: Emotional Resonance (Rising Annoyance - Zhang Wei) ]`
*It works.* Fang Lin suppressed a surge of triumph. He kept his voice low, submissive, but laced with a subtle, inexplicable undertone. "Nothing, Senior Brother. Just… contemplating the efficiency of motivation through blunt force trauma. Surprisingly direct." The words, analytical and utterly out of place coming from the simple "Fang Lin" Zhang Wei knew, deepened the confusion.
Zhang Wei blinked. "Wha…? Are you mocking me?" His face darkened. The confusion was rapidly morphing into anger. He raised his hand again. "Need another lesson, do you?"
`[ +15 Points: Emotional Resonance (Anger - Zhang Wei) ]`
Fang Lin ducked instinctively, but this time, his movements felt… fractionally smoother. His body, while still weak, seemed to respond faster, the healing factor perhaps subtly optimizing basic nerve function. Zhang Wei's swing missed cleanly, throwing the larger disciple slightly off balance.
"Trying to dodge now, are we?" Zhang Wei roared, genuinely enraged now. His pride was stung. This insignificant worm was acting… different. Unsettling. He lunged, aiming a clumsy grab.
Fang Lin sidestepped again, the movement fueled by adrenaline and the nascent edge granted by the healing factor. He didn't fight back – that was suicide. He just… avoided. Like dodging a poorly thrown office chair. Zhang Wei stumbled past him, growling.
`[ +25 Points: Emotional Resonance (Frustration/Humiliation - Zhang Wei) ]`
`[ Total Points: 55 ]`
"Enough!" a new voice, sharp and laced with authority, cut through the night. A thin, severe-looking man in slightly better grey robes appeared. Disciple Overseer Chen. He looked perpetually displeased. "Zhang Wei! Stop harassing the other disciples! Fang Lin, stop provoking him and get to the Beast Pits! Now! Or both of you will be cleaning the latrines with your tongues!"
Zhang Wei shot Fang Lin a venomous look but backed down under Overseer Chen's glare. "This isn't over, worm," he muttered before stomping away.
Overseer Chen fixed Fang Lin with a cold stare. "Don't think your little stumble yesterday earns you sympathy, Lin. The pits need cleaning. Move." He radiated the controlled power of someone solidly in the Blood Boiling Realm. A significant threat.
Fang Lin bowed deeply. "Yes, Overseer Chen." He kept his eyes downcast, his mind racing. *55 points. Common Pool draws cost 10.* He needed resources, options. He needed *points*. Cleaning Beast Pits sounded like prime Annihilation territory… or prime *get-eaten* territory. He needed an edge before facing whatever lurked in those pits.
As he shuffled towards the ominous stone archway leading to the Beast Taming grounds, he focused on the system interface. `Analyze Function Activated.` He willed it towards Overseer Chen's retreating back.
`[ Target: Disciple Overseer Chen ]`
`[ Cultivation: Blood Boiling Realm (Mid Stage) ]`
`[ Affiliation: Verdant Cloud Sect (Outer Disciple Oversight) ]`
`[ Emotional State: Predominantly Annoyed, Minor Fatigue ]`
`[ Threat Assessment: High. Physical confrontation not advised. ]`
Basic, but useful. He tried it on a nearby, fist-sized rock.
`[ Target: Common Granite Boulder Fragment ]`
`[ Composition: Primarily Silicate Minerals ]`
`[ Structural Integrity: Low. Easily shattered. ]`
`[ Potential Use: Improvised projectile (Low Effectiveness). ]`
Okay, mundane. He needed to test its limits later. For now, the Beast Pits. Memories surfaced: dank, foul-smelling caverns carved into the mountain, housing various low-level spirit beasts used for training, labor, or parts. Razorback Shoats were the most common – aggressive boar-like creatures. Dangerous for Grain Tempering disciples, hence the "cleaning duty" often being punitive.
He reached the entrance. The smell hit him first – ammonia, dung, and the coppery tang of old blood. Torches flickered, casting long, dancing shadows on slime-streaked walls. Grunts and shuffling sounds echoed from within. His heart pounded. *Survival. Points. Secrecy.*
He needed a way to draw cards without being seen. He recalled the host Fang Lin possessed one meager belonging: a small, worn leather pouch containing a single, almost worthless item – a chipped, dull bronze ring. A failed artifact attempt, utterly mundane. Bronze Tier, barely. He slipped it onto his finger, a thought forming.
Focusing on the system, he visualized drawing a card from the **Common Pool**. It cost 10 points. He had 55. He could afford several. He needed something… practical. Non-flashy. `[ Initiate Common Draw. Cost: 10 Points. ]` The spectral slot machine appeared briefly, spinning its mundane symbols. It stopped on a stylized bat silhouette.
`[ Acquired: Card - Item: Smoke Pellet (Batman Variant - Common) x3 ]`
`[ Description: Creates a dense cloud of non-toxic smoke upon impact with a hard surface. Duration: 15 seconds. Radius: 3 meters. ]`
Three small, spherical pellets appeared in his pouch. *Perfect.* Distraction, concealment. He drew again. `[ Cost: 10 Points. ]` The wheel spun, landing on a symbol of a grappling hook.
`[ Acquired: Card - Item: Basic Grapnel Launcher (DC Variant - Common) ]`
`[ Description: Spring-loaded launcher with 30 meters of high-tensile cord. Reusable. Pulls user towards anchor point. Requires moderate upper body strength. ]`
A compact, utilitarian device appeared in the pouch. *Mobility. Escape.* One more draw. `[ Cost: 10 Points. ]` The wheel landed on a stylized eye.
`[ Acquired: Card - Ability: Enhanced Night Vision (Daredevil Variant - Basic) ]`
`[ Type: Permanent Ability Card. Consume to gain ability. ]`
`[ Description: Grants significantly improved vision in low-light conditions. Does not provide thermal imaging or true sight. ]`
He consumed it immediately. The dim torchlight suddenly seemed brighter, details in the shadows sharpening. *Invaluable.* He now had 35 points left. And three useful tools.
Taking a deep breath (regretting it instantly due to the smell), Fang Lin stepped into the Beast Pits. The first cavern housed several large pens. In one, a massive Razorback Shoat, easily the size of a small car, snorted and pawed the stone floor. Its beady eyes locked onto him. Memories flashed – this was likely the beast his predecessor had stumbled into.
`[ Analyze: Razorback Shoat (Juvenile) ]`
`[ Threat Level: Low-Medium Spirit Beast ]`
`[ Cultivation Equivalent: Grain Tempering (Peak) - Blood Boiling (Early) ]`
`[ Weakness: Slow turning radius. Sensitive snout. ]`
`[ Annihilation Points Estimated: 150-300 ]`
*Too strong for a direct fight. Even with regeneration, being gored repeatedly wouldn't be fun.* He needed points. He needed to survive. He needed to *trigger* something. An idea sparked, dangerous but potentially profitable.
He moved cautiously along the edge of the pen, keeping his distance from the Shoat, which tracked him with low grunts. He spotted his objective near the back wall: a large, semi-translucent green husk, roughly the size of his torso, discarded near a pile of dung. `[ Analyze: Discarded Jade Cicada Molt ]`
`[ Grade: Low-Grade Natural Treasure ]`
`[ Value: Moderate (Alchemy ingredient, weak Qi conduction) ]`
`[ Note: Possession by Outer Disciple highly suspicious. ]`
*Perfect.* Selling it could fund more draws, or supplies. But getting it meant getting closer to the Shoat. He glanced at the smoke pellets. *Distraction. Emotional Resonance?*
He picked up a small stone. Enhanced Night Vision made targeting easy. He threw it, not at the Shoat, but at the metal bars of the pen *behind* it. *CLANG!*
The Shoat jerked its head towards the sound, letting out a startled snort. Fang Lin moved quickly but quietly, darting along the wall towards the molt. He was halfway there when the Shoat swung its massive head back, spotting him. A low, warning rumble built in its chest. *Not good.*
`[ +20 Points: Emotional Resonance (Alertness/Agitation - Razorback Shoat) ]`
Fang Lin froze. The beast took a step forward, tusks gleaming. *Time for Plan B.* He pulled a smoke pellet from his pouch. He needed to startle it, confuse it, *frighten* it. He threw the pellet not at the beast, but at the ground directly *between* them.
*POOF!*
A thick, grey-white cloud erupted, instantly filling the space. The Shoat bellowed in surprise and confusion, the sound echoing off the cavern walls. It backed up a step, snorting violently.
`[ +50 Points: Emotional Resonance (Sudden Fear/Disorientation - Razorback Shoat) ]`
`[ +30 Points: Annihilation Bonus (Minor Distress - Razorback Shoat) ]`
*Profit!* Fang Lin didn't hesitate. He lunged through the edge of the dissipating cloud, grabbed the surprisingly light Jade Cicada Molt, and turned to sprint back towards the entrance. The smoke was thinning fast. He heard the Shoat's angry squeals turning into enraged bellows as it realized its "treasure" was gone.
He burst out of the cavern entrance just as the smoke cleared enough to reveal the enraged beast charging towards the bars. He kept running, clutching the cicada shell, heart pounding like a drum. `[ Total Points: 155 ]`
He ducked into a shadowed alcove near the pit entrance, catching his breath. He'd done it. Survived his first real encounter. Gained points. Acquired a potentially valuable resource. All without revealing his new abilities – the smoke pellet was mundane enough, the night vision invisible, the regeneration untested in combat but thankfully not needed. He carefully wrapped the Jade Cicada Molt in some loose sacking and hid it beneath a loose stone. He'd figure out how to sell it later.
As he leaned against the cold stone, the twin violet moons bathing the sect grounds in their eerie light, Fang Lin allowed himself a small, grim smile. He had no talent. He couldn't cultivate. He was weaker than a disgruntled boar in a world of continent-sundering monsters.
But he had a system. He had cards to draw. And he had an accountant's mind honed for spotting opportunities and exploiting inefficiencies. Chaos, it seemed, was a currency he could understand. This world was drowning in it. And Fang Lin? He was just starting to learn how to trade. He focused on the system interface, the blue glow reflecting in his newly enhanced eyes. 155 points. Time for another draw. The **Uncommon Pool** beckoned at 100 points. What would the Gacha of Fate grant him next? He selected the option, the spectral wheel beginning its mesmerizing spin once more.