C9 The System Went into Hibernation

Upon hearing Chen Bai's remarks, the woman burst into laughter as if she'd just heard the funniest joke imaginable, doubling over in mirth.

"Oh, my sides! A paragon of virtue? Little brother, you do have a sense of humor. There aren't any true paragons in this world, just a bunch of smooth talkers who deceive others to steal fame. Why strain yourself with such pretense when you could be enjoying life's pleasures with me?"

She then coyly bit her lower lip and struck a series of seductive poses. To her astonishment, however, Chen Bai remained utterly unmoved by her advances.

"Hey, little brother, are you even a man? How can you resist this? And why are you covering your nose? Don't you like the scent of your sister here?"

Chen Bai, his nose covered, responded with a nasal tone, "Sister, I won't lie to you—I really can't detect any delightful scent here. All I smell is the stench of lechery!"

Upon hearing this, the woman sniffed herself and her face, once full of laughter, turned icy in an instant.

"Hmph! You scorn the wine offered in toast only to be forced to drink it as a penalty. How dare you mock me! I had intended to grant you a pleasurable demise, but now it seems I must take matters into my own hands."

With that, she lunged at Chen Bai with claws bared.

Just as Chen Bai was about to be overpowered, a sharp voice unexpectedly echoed through the cave.

"Ptui, you vixen! Reeking of fox stench and still trying to lure an innocent young man. How delusional!"

The woman, hearing the voice, swiftly retreated from Chen Bai, her body tensed and her delicate fingers morphing into lethal claws.

"Who might this Fellow Taoist be? I am Linghu Xianer. Please, show yourself so we may converse."

"Spit! A foxy temptress dares to call herself 'Xianer,' without fear of the wind slicing through her lying tongue! You expect me to come out and meet you? You're not worthy!"

Linghu Xianer, no longer cautious but rather issuing a veiled threat, retorted, "Such bold words, Fellow Taoist! Do you even know of my origins?"

"Hehe!"

"You! What skill is there in skulking and taunting? If you're capable, come out and face me in battle!" Although the response was but two words, it was enough to deeply vex Linghu Xianer. Accustomed to being a figure of authority within her sect, where her commands went unquestioned, she was unaccustomed to such affronts to her dignity.

This time, the mysterious voice did not echo again. Instead, the void began to subtly twist, and a crack slowly formed within it. From this fissure, an unremarkable finger emerged and pointed directly at Linghu Xianer.

Linghu Xianer's pupils dilated in shock as she gasped, "To tear through the void with a single finger, you must be..." Her words were cut short as the finger, moving both slowly and swiftly, touched the top of her head. A bloody hole gradually appeared, and upon closer inspection, one could see a wisp of golden smoke drifting from the wound.

Chen Bai, still reeling from the shock, hadn't had a chance to grasp what had happened when an emotionless mechanical voice rang in his ear.

"Warning! Warning! The spirit has unauthorizedly used power exceeding the host's capabilities by three major realms. The system will now enter dormancy."

"Dormancy preparations complete. The spirit requests to leave a message."

"Message recorded. The system will now enter dormancy, retaining only the warehouse function."

"3, 2, 1. The system has entered dormancy. We wish you good luck."

Chen Bai, bewildered, watched as Meier gave him a smile before vanishing into thin air. In the spot where Meier disappeared, a sea-blue sound recording crystal lay silently on the ground.

Approaching the crystal, Chen Bai activated it, and Meier's sweet voice filled the air.

"Hee hee ~ Mr. Bai, if things are as I suspect, this will be the last time you hear Meier's voice. Surprised? Astonished? The reasons behind this are quite complex. But to put it simply, you're matched with the Heaven Soaring Auxiliary System, not the original Heaven Soaring Flying System. Therefore, the system can only offer you some support functions and cannot directly eliminate opponents several major realms above you. Hence, your account has been sealed ~"

Meier's voice paused briefly.

"I bet you're wondering about that seductive fox, right, Mr. Bai? Since you've asked so earnestly, I'll graciously tell you. Linghu Xianer is the Sect Master of a minor sect in the Great Wilderness, with her cultivation having reached the Nascent Infant Stage Level Nine. She belongs to the esteemed Celestial Charm Fox race among the Desolate Beasts. Recently, after failing to advance to the Void Discerning Stage and being pursued by her enemies, she sought refuge here and resorted to absorbing vitality through intimate acts with a virgin to restore her cultivation."

As she spoke, Meier's tone took on a teasing edge.

"Hehe, but now, all of this is going to benefit you, Mr. Bai. Wasn't your previous physique rather ordinary? I think the Celestial Charm Fox's physique is quite remarkable, so I've transferred it to you. You'll probably start a profound transformation soon. As for her remaining cultivation, you'll have to do your best to absorb it. Good luck!"

Suddenly, Meier seemed to remember something else and quickly added,

"Oh, that's right, Mr. Bai, it just occurred to me that you're quite the simpleton. Let me sum it up for you—basically, your system is gone. As for the storage function, just think about it in your mind, and you'll be able to access your items."

After saying this, Meier's voice paused for a long while before continuing in a subdued tone,

"Mr. Bai, even though we've only spent a few days together, I've really enjoyed our time. How do I describe this feeling? Mr. Bai, do you believe in love at first sight? I didn't use to, but after meeting you, I became a believer. Hehehe, but let's not dwell on that! From now on, you're on your own, Mr. Bai. I won't be able to help you. Oh, and the system will reactivate once you reach the Void Discerning Stage. You've got to keep pushing forward~"

With Meier's final words, the energy of the phonograph crystal was depleted. It turned into a pile of dust and slipped through Chen Bai's fingers.

Watching the crystal fall, Chen Bai was overwhelmed with a profound sense of heartache, so intense that he clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground.

"Hey, Meier, when the system reactivates, will you come back?"

...

Silence was the only response, as the flames in the cave's oil lamps flickered gently.

"Pfft!"

A bead of sweat dropped from Chen Bai's forehead to the ground, followed by more, each as large as a bean, emerging from all over his body.

The transformation of his physique had begun.

Yet Chen Bai seemed oblivious to the pain, murmuring to himself as his bones cracked and reformed, his tendons snapping. He was enduring a level of agony that could drive even the most resolute to madness.

Chen Bai's consciousness began to blur. Before he passed out, he whispered in his heart, "I do believe in love at first sight." Then he plunged into an abyss of darkness.

Despite having lived over twenty years in his past life, Chen Bai had never experienced romance. It wasn't because he was an orphan without the means to pursue love, but rather that no woman had ever stirred even the slightest flutter in his heart. Yet, upon meeting Meier, his heart skipped a beat with a fierce throb.

People often say that love at first sight is merely superficial attraction, but Chen Bai felt an overwhelming sensation that she was the one for him. Perhaps this was the allure of the first flutter of the heart.

...

Time passed indeterminately before Chen Bai slowly opened his eyes.

"Hey, Meier, how long was I out?"

...

Silence met his question.

A look of dejection filled Chen Bai's azure eyes.

He lay on the ground momentarily, then suddenly remembered Meier mentioning that the Celestial Charm Fox's cultivation could be absorbed. He quickly scrambled to his feet.

But as Chen Bai looked toward where Linghu Xianer's body should have been, he found only a pile of dry bones. The round hole in the skull made it easy to deduce whose remains they were.

Chen Bai surveyed his surroundings with caution, finding nothing but the lifeless bodies of Yih Qun and the others.

"Could it be that I absorbed her cultivation?" Chen Bai mused aloud.

Following that, Chen Bai began his first internal examination since his transmigration.