Chapter One: Trying to Fool a Ghost?

Chapter One: Fooling a Ghost?

“Oh, this angel is pretty, but I still prefer humans,” the teenager muttered as he frantically tapped his screen.

In a small room, a boy reclined on his bed, scrolling through Douyin. On his screen, a young woman with a pair of pristine white wings appeared. Someone had just declared he only liked humans.

That’s right—this is our protagonist: Yunyang. His name is inspired by Emperor Liu Bang’s “Song of the Great Wind”: “A great wind arises and the clouds fly high.”

Ah, is there a new episode of Hero League today? I have to check.

Gazing at the beauty on his screen, Yunyang thought Hero League really was a fantastic anime—after all, it had contributed several wallpapers to his collection. Especially Rose, the patriotic girl, and the policewoman Qilin with her stunning looks—both had been lucky enough to grace his phone.

As he watched episode eight, Yunyang wondered, why has the Tianhe battle changed again? It’s boring to keep seeing the same event. If only I could see future episodes.

Watching Lena stand alone against a massive laser, Yunyang thought the scene was downright heroic.

But then, a mechanical voice sounded in his mind, prompting him to mutter under his breath.

“I think I just heard something unbelievable.”

He felt he might be about to strike it rich—a system! The main character’s standard equipment.

Ding, special constitution target confirmed...

Activating the Life Lord inheritance...

“What in the world? Life Lord?” Hearing the mechanical voice in his head, Yunyang’s mind raced.

Looks like I really am about to make it big. Life Lord—sounds like something out of Western fantasy.

Recalling all he knew about gods in Western fantasy, Yunyang figured he was about to embark on the path of idolhood.

But that would be tough, being watched by so many people, singing and dancing on stage—just thinking about it was terrifying. He quickly shook off the idea.

After ten minutes or so, Yunyang noticed his system had gone silent, and grew anxious.

Could the system have left because I didn’t want to be an idol?

No, please don’t go! I’ll do it, anything you want—don’t leave me. With your help, I’ll gain divine power, immortality, and reach the peak of life.

“System? System, please respond.” He called several times, feeling he might have hallucinated. What kind of system is this aloof?

Ah, if I gain it, I’m lucky; if I lose it, that’s fate.

Lying back on his bed, Yunyang thought lazily.

He closed Hero League, glanced at his phone—already 11 o’clock. He should sleep; he’d just had a hallucination anyway.

But just as he closed his eyes, a voice prompted him to open them again, his spirit suddenly invigorated.

Ding, Life Lord system installation complete...

Before Yunyang could ask about the system’s functions, a grand yet gentle voice echoed in his mind.

“Hello, little one.”

“Are you the system’s intelligence?” Yunyang asked, a bit bewildered.

“No, the system is merely an auxiliary device I created to help you grow,” said the mysterious voice.

“Are you the Life Lord mentioned by the system?” Yunyang boldly guessed, based on what he’d heard.

After all, it was said the system was made by him.

“I’ll grant you a wish. Do you have any wishes?” The gentle voice didn’t answer Yunyang’s question, but continued on its own.

“I don’t have any wishes. I already have a system, I shouldn’t be greedy. Thank you.” Yunyang figured this must be a test from the Life Lord. He couldn’t fall for it—greed leads to ruin.

“You have a good attitude. Well then, I’ll give you a small gift.”

Originally, the Life Lord wanted to say Yunyang had a lazy attitude, but he couldn’t break character; he had to maintain dignity, a fitting exit.

“Thank you,” Yunyang replied sincerely.

Indeed, his choice was right—refusing, then being given something anyway, he couldn’t lose either way.

If he’d asked recklessly and the other couldn’t deliver, it might be seen as an insult, and he could be wiped out—what a loss that would be.

“Hahaha, you’re an interesting one. Don’t walk my old path. Farewell…”

Thanks to the system, Yunyang’s thoughts were laid bare before the Life Lord, who found them amusing.

He decided to give Yunyang the opportunity he’d spent his life creating—a chance to break through the cosmic barrier. He no longer needed it himself.

Too late, truly too late, alas...

After the kindly old man’s farewell, Yunyang heard a “ding.”

Though he sensed the old man’s voice was tinged with regret, he had no way to pursue it now. Such a great being vanished in a single conversation.

Ding, received novice gift pack...

Ah, the system is quite considerate—even a novice gift pack. Must be a system with real affection for its host. Happy.

He silently summoned the system in his mind, and the interface abruptly appeared before his eyes—so simple it was almost offensive.

Random Task: None...

Life Points: 0

Novice Gift Pack: 1

Seeing the gift pack, Yunyang excitedly asked the system to open it. Unboxing was always thrilling.

Ding, received Life Points: 2, received a Dimension Bomb That Doesn’t Like Exploding: 1

What’s the use of Life Points? And as for the bomb—what’s with not liking to explode? Is it a metal ball?

Upon seeing the bomb’s name, Yunyang’s inner critic blazed to life.

To see what this non-explosive bomb looked like, Yunyang obediently summoned it from the system.

Seeing the one-meter-long fuse, he suddenly understood why the bomb didn’t like exploding.

He glanced at the fuse, then at the lighter on his nightstand, and a bold idea formed.

With a fuse over a meter long, lighting it should be fine, right?

“Click”—a flame sparked in Yunyang’s hand.

The moment the flame touched the fuse, it burned away instantly. Yunyang’s last thought was, to hell with “doesn’t like exploding”—what a scam!

Super Seminary, outskirts of Tianhe City.

Above an abandoned gas station, a figure suddenly appeared.

He landed straight onto the roof with a thunderous crash.

A cry of pain followed.

Within a minute, Yunyang regained himself.

Surveying his situation, he wondered if he’d been blown up and transmigrated.

How else to explain the floating spaceship above the distant city?

As Yunyang prepared to see if 119 would connect, the system chimed in.

Ding, new random task updated...

Escape the gas station: Leave the gas station by 50 meters. As a model youth of the new era, with all limbs intact, how could you be trapped by a mere gas station? Run...

Task reward: Random-grade Life Transition Voucher: 1

His smile froze instantly. Did the system want his legs? The roof was at least seven or eight meters off the ground—jumping down would mean a trip to orthopedics.

Better to wait. The reward is precious, but life is more so.

He turned his gaze to the two Life Points from the novice pack. There was no manual—what were they for? Life Points—if he extrapolated, perhaps they extended life? But as a future god, needing extra lifespan would be embarrassing.

Still, Yunyang obediently selected the Life Points with his mind.

Suddenly, he saw transparent plus signs appearing everywhere—on his phone, his watch, even his clothes, but not on himself.

Alright, so they’re not for personal use.

After pondering for a while, Yunyang decided to try adding a Life Point to his phone.

The watch could tell time, but if the phone ran out of battery, he couldn’t do anything.

Ready to act, he moved his finger to a plus sign and tapped.

Ding, “Do you wish” to allocate a Life Point to this item...

“Yes,” Yunyang replied without hesitation.

The phone leapt from his hand, glowing faintly with white light, a countdown of 3:54 displayed.

Yunyang guessed this was a timer—after 3 minutes, the phone would finish upgrading.

He sat down and waited for the countdown to end. In a flash, it did.

A “ding” sounded.

Upgrade successful...

Intermediate Life Transition triggered...

Intermediate Intelligence acquired...

Material transformation acquired...

Virtual space acquired...

The ordinary smartphone transformed into a pure glass device, even the side buttons disappeared.

The intelligence wasn’t obvious, and Yunyang had no idea what the virtual space was.

Clutching the glass slab tightly, he feared dropping it would shatter it.

Inspecting the exterior, he turned on the screen—a tiny figure appeared.

Dressed in a blue and white floral dress, she lay atop the WeChat icon, fiddling with her nails.

Yunyang looked at the little figure, thinking: Did I just get a phone pet from the upgrade? Doesn’t seem useful.

Wait, with intermediate intelligence, could it be artificial intelligence?

“Hello,” Yunyang called tentatively.

The tiny figure in the screen suddenly looked up, her pale blue eyes meeting Yunyang’s, his face reflected in her gaze.

“Master, is that you?”

Yunyang was secretly pleased to be called master, though he pretended embarrassment.

“It’s the 21st century now, all that master stuff is outdated and undesirable. Just call me Brother Yang.”

“Okay, master.”

“Fine, call me whatever you want,” Yunyang sighed.

“By the way, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you ‘you.’”

“I don’t have a name yet, master.” The figure’s tone was unchanged, calm.

“How about I name you? Let’s call you Xiaoyi.” Yunyang named her after his phone model.

“From now on, I’ll be Xiaoyi, master,” Xiaoyi replied, a hint of joy in her voice.