"At once, Your Highness. This servant will bring it immediately."
Yuan Gui scrambled to his feet, bowing low before turning to rush toward the vanity table across the room.
The moment the eunuch stood up to execute the order, the world seemed to freeze.
A sharp, digital chime rang out inside Long Xiaoyao's skull
Ding!.
Before Long Xiaoyao could blink, a semi-transparent, azure panel materialized in mid-air, hovering directly in front of his face. It glowed with a soft luminescence, obscuring his view of the rushing servant.
Then a robotic voice spoke directly in his mind
[System Initialization Complete]
[Congratulations, Host!]
The text scrolled rapidly, forcing Long Xiaoyao to focus.
[Reincarnation Successful.]
[Identity: 6th Prince, Long Xiaoyao]
[Current Cultivation: None]
Long Xiaoyao's heart thump skipped a beat. It wasn't a hallucination. It was real. He had transmigrated, and like the novels he used to read, he had come equipped with a cheat-like system
A new line of text popped up, accompanied by the sound of coins jingling.
[Domination Detected]
[Details: You issued a direct command to a subordinate Eunuch Yuan Gui, and the subject obeyed without hesitation.]
[Reward Granted: +1 Domination Points]
Long Xiaoyao stared at the floating screen, a slow, grin spreading across his face.
"'Domination Points.' Is this some sort of currency? Can I exchange them for gold?" Long Xiaoyao muttered
Yuan Gui, still holding the heavy bronze mirror, began to sweat coldly. As he thought 'Is the Prince talking to himself? Was his brain really damaged? Oh heavens, please tell me that it is not so'
"Eunuch Yuan, you may leave first"
Seeing the expression on eunuch Yuan Gui's face Long Xiaoyao decided to send him out. Preventing him from finding out about the system
With tears in his eyes upon the realisation that he might be right, Yuan Gui replied "I understand your highness" then slowly left the room
[Domination Points are the currency of a Supreme Ruler. Gold is trash used by mortals. Domination Points are the currency of a Supreme Being]
The mechanical voice didn't speak aloud but resonated directly against Long Xiaoyao's eardrums
[Acquisition Method: Absolute Authority.]
[Rule 1: You command. They obey. You profit.]
[Rule 2: The Domination Points you could earn depend on the target's Cultivation Base.]
[Rule 3: The system will give a quest with Domination Points as a reward]
A chart materialized on the screen.
[Mortal: 1-9 Domination Point]
[Qi Refining Realm: 10-90 Domination Point]
[Body Refining Realm: 100-900 Domination Point]
[...and so on]
[The stronger the ant you crush under your thumb, the bigger the pay-out]
[You received 1 DP earlier because this Eunuch is a mere Mortal]
Long Xiaoyao stared at the translucent panel, his breath hitching in his throat. The strange headache that had assaulted him upon waking began to fade, replaced by a sudden, jarring clarity.
"Qi Refining... Body Refining..." he muttered. In his past life on Earth, he had been an avid reader of web novels. He knew these terms.
He was in a world where the laws of physics were mere suggestions. A world where people could fly on swords, split mountains with a wave of their hand, and live for thousands of years. A world where the strong devoured the weak, and the weak were no better than ants.
Long Xiaoyao stroked his chin. "I see. So if I tell the strongest being in this world to fetch me a cup of tea, and he obeys, I become a millionaire?"
[Correct. However, the System calculates the probability of you surviving that attempt is 0.00001%.]
"Fair point," Long Xiaoyao mused. "And what do I do with these points?"
The screen rippled, changing into a grid of icons.
[Domination Shop]
The window expanded. Long Xiaoyao rubbed his hands together as soon as he read the word 'shop' in front of him
Expecting divine swords, pills that grant immortality, or perhaps a manual on how to slap faces with spiritual energy
Instead, he got a spreadsheet.
[Item #0001] ......... [LOCKED]
[Item #0002] ......... [LOCKED]
[Item #0003] ......... [LOCKED]
...
[Item #9999] ......... [LOCKED]
Long Xiaoyao blinked. He scrolled down. It went on forever. Just numbers and the word 'LOCKED'
"System, "Long Xiaoyao said, his eyebrow twitching. "What is this? Is this a shop or an inventory list for a prison? Where are the names? The pictures? The 'Divine Dragon Slaying Saber Art'?"
[The System operates on absolute fairness. You lack the necessary qualifications to purchase consumables.]
"Qualifications?"
[Utilizing items beyond your comprehension leads to energy deviation, spiritual combustion, or death. The System Shop operates on a 'Knowledge-Based Unlocking Protocol]
"Explain. Simply."
[To unlock specific categories of goods, the Host must possess a book, scroll, or a technique with the corresponding theoretical or practical knowledge of it]
Long Xiaoyao stared at the wall. "Let me get this straight. To buy an item... I have to already have the item?"
[Correct]
"That is the stupidest business model I have ever heard! That's like going to a restaurant and the chef saying, 'I can only cook this steak if you come back to the kitchen and show me how to grill it first!'"
[The path of cultivation is hard. Work harder.]
"I thought I got reincarnated to abuse cheat codes!" Long Xiaoyao flopped back onto his bed and stared at the wooden ceiling. "So my Domination Points are useless as hell!"
[There is an alternative.]
Long Xiaoyao sat up so fast he nearly pulled a muscle. "I'm listening"
[System: You may expend Domination Points on the 'Cards of Destiny'. Also known as the Gacha.]
[Chances]
[God-Tier: 0.00001%]
[Legendary: 0.05%]
[Epic: 1%]
[Rare: 10%]
[Common: 40%]
[Literal Garbage: 48.94999%]
"I appreciate the honesty of the last category," Long Xiaoyao sighed
[Pricing Rules:]
[Single Draw: 1,000 Domination Points.]
[Ten-fold Draw (10+1 Bonus): 10,000 Domination Points.]
[You have a 'Newbie Welcome Package' pending. It contains a 3x Free Draw plus a guaranteed Bonus Item. Would you like to draw?]
"Do I have a choice? I'm currently a mortal in a palace full of people who can punch through walls. Draw!"
The screen exploded into a kaleidoscope of colors. Orchestral music swelled—epically, triumphantly—as three cards materialized face down. They spun with golden sparks flying everywhere.
The first card slowed down. The back was a majestic gold. It flipped over.
It turned gray instantly.
[Item: Stone]
[Tier: Common]
[Description: A geological formation found on the side of the road]
[Damage: 1/10 (Unless thrown at eyes)]
Long Xiaoyao stared at the card. "A rock? You gave me a rock? With 1 damage?"
[It is a very solid rock, Host. Don't underestimate the fundamentals]
"Open the next one!" Long Xiaoyao barked.
The second card flipped. Another gray border.
[Skill: Tier 1 Alchemy Book (Volume 1)]
[Tier: Common]
[Description: Contains basic pill refinement]
[Host can now purchase tier 1 alchemy pills from the System Shop using Domination Points]
"I can become an alchemist and sell pills with this right?. I can work with this. But is this thing really considered just a common grade on the gacha?"
[The system possesses the secrets of breaking and reforming space-time, the formulas for pills that grant true immortality and allow one to physically slap a deity—compare to those things, this book is essentially trash]
Long Xiaoyao was speechless and just stared at the system prompt for a moment. "Damn, you're so awesome"
[However, with this, you have unlocked some items at the System Shop]
"Eh, it's that easy?"
[Those are trash items host. But it might be useful for a country bumpkin]
"Surely you're not referring to me right?"
[…Of course…Not]
The third card flipped.
[Item: Minor Healing Pill]
[Tier: Common]
[Description: Cures papercuts, stubbed toes, and bruised egos of country bumpkins.]
Long Xiaoyao groaned "System, this game is rigged, where is my God Slaying Saber?"
[Please wait, Host. The Bonus Item is flipping]
The final card shimmered. It wasn't gray! It was... okay, it was still gray, but it had a slight shiny gloss to it.
[Item: High Grade Qi Refining Pill]
[Tier: Common]
[Description: Contains a burst of spiritual energy. Capable of helping a mortal forcefully break through their meridians and enter the 1st Stage of Qi Refining.]
Xiaoyao sat up straight, his eyes widening. This was it. The entry ticket. In this world, if you weren't a cultivator, you were an ant. With this pill, he could finally start his journey to immortality, slap the faces of young masters, and fly on swords.
He reached out, and a small, fragrant white pill materialized in his palm. "My first step towards immortality!"
He brought the pill to his lips.
[WARNING!]
A red text box slammed into his vision, freezing his hand in mid-air.
[Host do not consume this item.]
"What?" Long Xiaoyao froze. "Why? It says right there, 'helps a mortal break through.' I am a mortal. I would like to break through."
[Host's physique is unique. You have the Primordial-Yang Body. Consumption of the Qi Refining pill will have no effect on the host]
Long Xiaoyao paled. "So... I can't cultivate?"
[Incorrect. You can cultivate. But your method is...a bit different]
"Please enlighten me, master"
[You cannot generate power internally. You need a Yin essence to increase your cultivation]
[As for the pill, you could give it to a female cultivator, who will increase her cultivation. Then Dual Cultivate with her. As her cultivation rises, yours will rise in sync]
Long Xiaoyao looked at the pill, then at the System screen. "Let me get this straight. To get stronger... I have to be a sugar daddy?"
[Technically, yes. Or find a sugar mommy. Someone with a cultivation base higher than yours]
"I have to give away this pill—my only way to become a cultivator—and feed it to someone else?"
[Correct. Even if you take it, it will not have an effect on the host. But if you give it to a partner, you both level up. It is the ultimate investment strategy]
Long Xiaoyao looked at the pill with heartache
[Do not despair, Host]
The System console
[The world is vast. I'm sure the host will be able to find a lot of talented cultivation cauldrons]
"Excuse me!?" Long Xiaoyao blinked.
[I meant to say: Good cultivation partners]
"You definitely said cauldrons"
[I said companions. Cherished, romantic companions whom you will stuff full of pills until they become goddesses of war]
"That sounds incredibly suspicious!"
[It is efficient! Now, stop holding the pill. It will melt. Go forth, Host! Find a woman, dual cultivate, and become the strongest leech in history!]