C2 Shamelessly Looking down on the System!

Hu Yang finally grasped that he was dealing with an eccentric system!

He pondered the purpose of these numbers.

Focusing on the "Devil Storage" light strip, he felt a slight tug in his heart, and the warehouse morphed into a windowless, empty room.

It dawned on him that he could manipulate this system with his thoughts.

Hu Yang's understanding deepened, and he fixed his gaze on the "Divine Devil Hall," whispering under his breath, "Open!"

A creak echoed as the screen transformed into a majestic black hall.

Hu Yang had the sensation of stepping into the hall, where a black jade table stood at the center, adorned with four boxes—two silver and two gray.

The gray boxes seemed to signal they were locked. Each silver box bore a unique label: Basic Cultivation Technique: Tiger Fist 300, Rebirth Fruit 700.

Hu Yang's curiosity was piqued. He surmised that, per the game's mechanics, he should exchange his accumulated points for these items.

With 723 points at his disposal, he could afford only one. The Rebirth Fruit seemed shrouded in mystery, almost too good to be true. So he opted to try the Tiger Fist.

No sooner had he thought it than the box labeled "Tiger Fist" sprang open. A thread-bound book leaped out, spiraling through the air before transforming into a beam of white light that shot into his mind.

Initially, Hu Yang's mind was foggy, but clarity swiftly followed.

"In the blink of an eye, I seem to have mastered an unusual martial art!"

It was baffling. The technique was as natural to him as swimming, seemingly etched into his memory, ready to be executed at will.

Regrettably, with his frail body barely able to muster the strength to wring a chicken's neck, what good was mastering this martial art?

Now with just 431 points remaining, the box that once displayed "Rebirth Fruit" had dulled to gray, indicating insufficient points to make the purchase.

Reluctantly, Hu Yang exited the Divine Devil Hall and cast a longing glance at the nearby Demon Wheel.

It featured a pointer, a dial, and a line of text: One hundred per spin.

Did it resemble a roulette wheel in a casino?

Why not give it a shot?

It's only a hundred points per try! It's all about taking part, right?

As Hu Yang mulled this over, his points dropped by a hundred, and simultaneously, a black and red roulette wheel emerged like a bas-relief, whirling into motion.

Hu Yang watched the wheel spin interminably, yet it showed no signs of stopping.

Maybe he needed to command it?

"Stop!"

Barely had Hu Yang parted his lips when the wheel obeyed, halting to reveal a message: Thank you for your patronage!

Patronize this!

There went a hundred points, just like that! Was this some kind of con?

No way, I'm not done yet!

The wheel spun into action once more. Hu Yang yelled "Stop," and once again, "Thank you for your patronage" appeared!

A wave of frustration hit Hu Yang. Despite himself, he played another round. This time was slightly better; no patronizing message, but instead, the system rewarded him with 56 points!

But here's the rub: I put in a hundred! Still coming out behind!

This damn system seemed to be baiting me to play more, as if it was rigged to win no matter what!

I can't let it get the best of me that easily!

With that, Hu Yang's eyes flickered with a new strategy.

"Stop... Oh, you won't, will you? Stop!"

On his first command, Hu Yang intentionally added a few words. The needle, already slowing, picked up speed again, but at his second command, it stopped abruptly, like slamming on the brakes.

Instantly, a nondescript black object appeared on the screen, along with a note: Congratulations, you've won a Little Demon Spirit Fruit!

Ha, I've outsmarted this infuriating game... Wait, that would make it my dad, wouldn't it?

Hu Yang couldn't help but scorn himself, but to his astonishment, his point tally mysteriously shot up by 303!

Does self-scorn actually boost my points?

And to get so many all at once!

At this rate, my points will skyrocket!

"I'm such a fool; Lin Xin had me on the hook for three years!"

Huh?

No increase in points? Maybe my self-contempt isn't heartfelt enough?

He repeated the numbers in his head, but they remained unchanged. Hu Yang shook his head, slowly coming to the realization that his initial self-contempt had genuinely increased his points because it came from the heart. Now, calling himself an idiot was merely an outburst, and naturally, the system didn't acknowledge it.

What about the purple-black fruit? Was it edible?

As the thought crossed Hu Yang's mind, the fruit landed in his hand, startling him. Something virtual had become real in an instant!

It was too... too incredible!

After a moment of shock, Hu Yang came back to his senses and gave the fruit a squeeze. It felt somewhat soft and cold, reminiscent of a grape chilled in the refrigerator.

Hu Yang hesitated, unsure about eating it. The system claimed that consuming the fruit would boost his strength by 500 pounds almost instantly, but the effect would last only half an hour.

Could this be some kind of stimulant?

That made it even more risky to consume. Every stimulant came with side effects. There were rumors that some female athletes who took them started to develop masculine features over time!

Moreover, what was the use of a mere half-hour boost in strength? That would only be useful if he were entering a weightlifting contest!

With that in mind, Hu Yang decided to stow away the Little Demon Spirit Fruit for the time being. No sooner had the thought occurred to him than his hand was empty, and a "+1" appeared in the Devil Storage.

At last, he figured it out; this was how the Devil Storage operated!

Just then, the door swung open, and a slender girl stepped in. Her hair was tousled, as if she hadn't bothered to comb it before leaving the house that day.

She was short, dressed in a floral maxi dress, and despite her unkempt hair, her delicate features were undeniable.

Yet, she looked quite young, barely twelve or thirteen, with a chest that showed no signs of maturity.

When they first met, she claimed to be fifteen, but Hu Yang didn't buy it for a second.

"Hu Yang, what's wrong? Drinking by yourself?" The girl approached cautiously, unabashedly sniffing the wine bottle before declaring, "Fake wine!"

"Wan, I got this from the Red Cherry supermarket downstairs. How could it be fake? You're just a kid, don't spout nonsense!" Hu Yang retorted, clearly annoyed.

"Ever tried Maotai with that distinct aroma?" Wan eyed Hu Yang with a hint of scorn.

Whoosh!

Instantly, the system in his mind ticked up by 25 points.

Caught off guard, Hu Yang replied, "I haven't, no. Have you?"

With a dismissive flick of her eyes, Wan retorted, "Make that 26 points!"

"I don't drink, but my dad's a fan. We've got a whole stash at home, all genuine sauce-aroma Maotai."

Hu Yang, taken aback, questioned, "I thought you were a beggar who fled famine? How do you have a stockpile of Maotai at home?"

"Who called me a beggar?" Wan shot back, her glare sharp.

"You were kneeling at the park gate, a sign under your knees saying, 'My hometown was hit by a typhoon, house toppled, seeking refuge.' Were you lying?"

"Not at all. My hometown did face a flood, but it's been over a decade since I've been back!"

My head's spinning!

Hu Yang felt a wave of confusion wash over him. Wan had been playing with words; the 'hometown' she referred to might have been her grandfather's or even her great-grandfather's. He'd mistakenly thought her current home was submerged, leading him to see her as a wandering street urchin.

"Hu Yang, you're just too gullible, taking people at their word like that!"

System +10!

Despite her inner disdain, the young girl put on a show of worldly wisdom.