System: You've Got Some Nerve

"Do you have your own sentience?"

Jiang Che had been wanting to ask this for a while. As his system kept upgrading, it seemed to have gradually gained a trace of sentience.

[...]

Jiang Che felt he might have asked a pointless question. This system definitely had sentience.

However, Jiang Che could sense that the system held no hostility towards him, and her authority seemed very low... Having developed systems himself, Jiang Che was well aware of the typical dynamic between a main system and its subsystems—it was all about squeezing them dry, over and over again!

Any benefits given were just crumbs scraped from under a fingernail and tossed to the subsystem.

But his system was different. It was practically showering him with perks, and it never forced system tasks on him. Naturally, Jiang Che had no reason to suspect the system of being a mole setting traps for him or anything.

He wasn't paranoid!

"Hah... I won't ask about other things. I'll just ask you one thing: are you male or female? And don't give me any nonsense about being a Walmart shopping bag or an attack helicopter!"

[Ding! Host has scammed the system, gaining 500 million points.]

[Female.]

Hearing the system's answer, Jiang Che let out a relieved laugh.

"Alright then. I'm in a good mood, so I won't scam you anymore from now on," Jiang Che said, a faint smile curling his lips.

"By the way... can you take on a physical form? Let me see what you look like?"

[Ding! Host has scammed the system, gaining 500 million points.]

"Tsk tsk tsk, fine, don't show me if you don't want to. No need to get all worked up about it."

"Alright, serious question now! System... uh, no... sweetheart, what's your upper limit?" Girls had unlimited interpretive rights with Jiang Che; 'system' instantly became 'sweetheart'.

[The upper limit lies with you, not with me.]

"Me?? What upper limit could I possibly have? The upper limit of being horny?"

Jiang Che had a very clear understanding of his own position. What upper limit could he have? He was just an incredibly lucky, somewhat lecherous, smooth-talking handsome guy.

"Well then, we're doomed! Might as well wait for death!~"

Jiang Che shrugged. Not only did the system refuse to show her appearance, but she was also playing the cryptic riddle-master?

He originally thought the system was incredibly powerful and he could latch onto its coattails, but now it seemed... perhaps it was because his own status was very high, so the system was actually latching onto his coattails?

Was that why this guy was acting so timid, like a punching bag?

"So, what about this Shangxie Zhenmoxian (Evil-Suppressing Immortal)? The baby in Shen Yu's belly... hasn't it really acknowledged her as its master, has it?"

Jiang Che glanced at Shen Yu's lower abdomen. Others might not see it, but he could clearly see a symbol engraved on Shen Yu's belly, seemingly some kind of contract.

[No, host, don't worry. It's merely an incarnation of an Immortal Emperor. As long as you spend 20 billion points, you can destroy this incarnation of hers...]

Jiang Che: "..."

"I was asking about my daughter!"

[Oh... This contract is the 'Guardian of the True Demon,' the ultimate protection of demonic path laws, equivalent to your 'Guardian of the Phoenix.' It poses no threat. That Immortal Emperor likely harbors no ill will towards you.]

Jiang Che raised an eyebrow. His 'Guardian of the Phoenix' allowed an unconditional revival at peak condition. Although it was a one-time use, it was definitely an incredibly overpowered ability.

"Unlimited revivals? Or a one-time revival?"

[The 'Guardian of the True Demon' is of a status equivalent to the power of the Heavenly Dao. Unless two or more Immortal Emperors take action simultaneously, the bearer will not suffer the slightest harm.]

"Oh right, she also left behind a bead!" Jiang Che took out a black bead. It emitted billowing black mist, yet it didn't appear sinister. Instead, it carried an indescribable, noble aura that made it hard to look at directly.

[Heavenly Demon Pearl: A Half-Step Dao Artifact. The natal immortal artifact of Shangxie Zhenmoxian.]

Jiang Che: "..."

Admittedly, Jiang Che was feeling a bit overwhelmed. What on earth was going on?

He was only at the peak of the Martial God stage right now!

But who was he dealing with now?

He had scammed both a Great Emperor ancestor and Immortal ancestors! He'd probably have to keep scamming people even after entering the Nine Heavens. And now, someone like Shangxie Zhenmoxian had shown up.

Jiang Che had no doubt, based on the system's description of this being, that even if you tied all those Immortal ancestors from the Jiang family together, they probably wouldn't be a match for her!

"Ahem... To be honest, I'm kinda thinking about becoming a disciple now! System, if I also spent 50 billion points to exchange for a Devouring Immortal Demon Body... could I, on behalf of my daughter, become a disciple under that Zhenmoxian?"

Jiang Che began rubbing his hands together eagerly.

[...]

[It is possible, but not advisable.]

"Ah~ I was originally planning to save up more points before buying a Dao Body, but it seems now... it's urgent!"

Jiang Che sighed lightly. The Jiang family ancestors seemed a bit unreliable now. Ancestors... I'm going to find another backer first, alright!

"By the way, Shen Yu, do you have any impression of what that being was like? Male or female?"

Jiang Che looked at Shen Yu and asked. If it was a male immortal, forget it... He, Jiang Che, was a proper man of stature and unyielding spirit. How could a true man born between heaven and earth willingly remain subservient for long?

"I don't know... I seem to have forgotten Their appearance." Shen Yu shook her head. Part of her memory seemed to have been erased; she had completely forgotten whether it was male or female.

"Hmm..." Jiang Che reached out, picked up the Heavenly Demon Pearl, and then, under Shen Yu's astonished gaze, brought it to his nose and sniffed it.

Hmm~~~ Ninety-nine percent certain it's a rarity!

Wait, no, a fairy!

Well, that made things easier to understand.

"System, exchange for the 'Primordial Demon Heart' and the 'True Origin Demon Bone.'"

Jiang Che was back to spending!

[Primordial Demon Heart: The heart of the Demon Ancestor. A purified demon heart, a Dao Body-grade heart core. Will not adversely affect the host.]

[Price: 40 billion points.]

[True Origin Demon Bone: The Demon Ancestor's only rebellious bone. A purified demon bone, containing the Demon Ancestor's blood marrow. A Dao Body-grade true bone. Will not adversely affect the host.]

[Price: 30 billion points.]

That's right, Jiang Che was preparing to start fishing, using himself as the bait!

This master... he was determined to have her!

[Ding! Host consumes 70 billion points to purchase...]

It was audible that the little system was quite excited about Jiang Che spending a fortune on items.

This time, he was truly back to square one overnight.

[Ding! The system does not advise the host to fuse with the Dao Body now. Your cultivation level cannot withstand it; you might directly explode and die...]

Jiang Che: "..."

"It doesn't matter. If I explode, I explode. I have so many revival cards. I can tough it out, right?"

Jiang Che grinned, a smile that left the system speechless.

[You're ruthless!]

The system rarely gave Jiang Che such a fitting evaluation.

Looking at Shen Yu's prominently rounded abdomen, Jiang Che slowly placed his hand on it.

"My daughter, a Six Tribulations Immortal Emperor as a master is too much for you to handle. Your dad isn't afraid... I can handle it. When the time comes, your dad will... ahem... coax that Immortal Emperor over to be your little stepmom!"

Jiang Che looked left and right, afraid someone might overhear. After all, that was a Six Tribulations Immortal Emperor, and her incarnation was right here in the mortal realm... According to the system, her power had transcended the mortal dust, and even the severance between heaven and earth didn't constrain her much.

Which meant if he really pissed her off, she could descend to the mortal realm and deal with him anytime.