"In a world where only the blade and fists speak, perhaps this voice in my head... is the only thing that might save me."
Li Ming sat on the floor, his back resting against the bed, his eyes fixed on nothing. The System's voice resonated in his mind with a golden chime, carrying something childishly feminine yet simultaneously terrifying.
[Welcome again, Host. I repeat: The Heavenly Emotions System has been activated.]
Li Ming clenched his fist. This wasn't a hallucination; the voice was crystal clear, emanating directly from within him, as if echoing inside his skull.
Li Ming (whispering internally): "A System...?" he questioned hesitantly, addressing the strange entity, "What are you? And why am I here?"
The System (with a cheerful, indifferent tone): "You... died."
Li Ming froze.
Li Ming: "What? How?!"
The System (with chilling nonchalance): "Oh, your death was so ridiculously mundane that I'm still laughing. You were taking a bath, the water was warm, the lighting dim, you relaxed too much… then you dozed off. And you drowned." "Congratulations, your death will be immortalized as the most idiotic scene in the history of human fatalities."
Li Ming fell silent, his face flushing a deep crimson.
"Did I... did I come from a warm bath... to a bloody Yuri harem world?" "What a disgrace..."
He covered his face with his hands, whispering bitterly: "Even the way I died is pathetic." He had expected something more dramatic, like a heroic death or a mysterious accident. But he died like a tired university student who fell asleep in the water. Sleeping in a bathtub? "Damn it."
He let out a bitter laugh, then a sarcastic smile: "Great… A new protagonist who died like an idiot."
Li Ming (thinking): "But wait... Systems like this are rarely without a price. I've read countless novels. Some enslave their owners... some plant hidden commands within them."
He stared at the ceiling warily, then thought to himself:
Li Ming: "What do you want from me? Is there a mission? A condition? A prophecy?"
The System: "Actually... nothing. You were wandering as a lost soul between realms, and for an unknown reason, you stumbled upon this dead disciple's body and slipped into it."
Li Ming: "A coincidence? Just... like that?!"
The System (laughing): "Luck... or perhaps your fate is just as idiotic as you are."
Li Ming took a deep breath. So there was no grand calling or noble purpose. Just a strange cosmic accident.
But he wasn't foolish.
In a world like this, Systems are not always what they seem. He had read hundreds of novels. Systems could be malicious, have hidden agendas, and slowly take control of the host.
But now, he didn't have the luxury of complete doubt. If he was to survive… this System was his lifeline. "Like it or not, this is my body now... and this is my only chance."
"What can you do?"
[I am an Emotion System. The more you influence the emotions of others, the more Emotion Points you gain. Points can be exchanged for skills, techniques, tools, or upgrades.]
Li Ming's eyebrows rose. This was all too familiar. "It's like I'm in an RPG game."
Then, an idea struck him.
"Do I have a beginner's package?" he asked in a testing tone, as if the question were an inevitable trial.
The System (with sudden enthusiasm):
"Ooh, you finally asked the golden question! Here you go, your beginner's package contains three gifts..."
A faint golden light appeared in his mind, echoing in his consciousness:
First Reward: Emotion Appraisal[Emotion Appraisal Eye skill activated] "You can analyze the superficial emotions and intentions of any living being looking directly at you. It also includes a function to examine people's attributes, techniques, and talents." [Cannot appraise those three realms above the Host.]
Li Ming's eyes widened. "This... this is the original protagonist's skill! But she only obtained it after much suffering in Chapter 50!" "Now I can tell who truly hates me... and who's just pretending, even if it's a little limited."
Second Reward: Mangekyo Sharingan Eyes[Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan activated – Complete Control] "Advanced vision, relative time deceleration, reading enemy movements, dimensional teleportation (Kamui), and later partial 'Susanoo' activation." [Uchiha bloodline requirements bypassed – Full compatibility with your soul]
Li Ming (freezes): His jaw dropped in astonishment. He stared at his hands in disbelief, then back at the mirror. "Wait... what? WHAAAAAT?" "Did you give me Obito's eyes?!!" "Is this reality or a hidden crossover?!"
He felt a sudden heat in his eyes, then… He saw his reflection in the mirror — two swirling crimson patterns disturbing the stillness. His eyes suddenly glowed with a mysterious black pattern upon activating the Sharingan, and he saw the flow of energy in the room. Everything became clearer, more detailed, as if he were seeing a new world. "Huh... Sharingan? Really? I have this power here?!"
Third Reward: Absolute Sword Intent – Primordial[A shard of Primordial Sword Intent loaded] Primordial Absolute Sword Intent (Limited): The origin of Sword Intent in this universe. You can currently use a small percentage of it. "An incomprehensible mental power that makes every sword movement carry true lethality. More than 1% cannot currently be used without destroying the body."
Li Ming (mouth agape): "This... this is the level of High Realm Masters." "Sword Intent that makes even the air ignite. Its name was even mentioned in Chapter 700 of the original novel..." "And here I am, possessing it in Chapter Two..."
He raised his other hand and felt energy vibrating in his body; a phantom sword materialized in the air before him – just a shadow, but its sharpness made the air crackle. "This… the Primordial Sword Intent?!"
Though he could only activate a tiny fraction of it, the mere sensation sent shivers down his spine. The Sword Intent was pure, primordial, as if it were the embodiment of both the will to kill and to defend.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
He laughed, for the first time since waking, he laughed from his heart.
He laughed. A soft chuckle at first, then a long laugh mingled with tears.
"I've... I've hit the jackpot."
Li Ming sat in silence. He didn't speak. He just breathed.
"I swear I died in a bathtub... and came back to life with Obito's eyes, Sword Intent from another world, and emotion analysis that lets me read faces like open books..." "Oh, this world... how beautiful you've suddenly become."
He lifted his eyes to the sky – or at least the ceiling – and whispered:
"I won't die in Chapter Nine... instead, I'll rewrite the novel, and the stage before me is still just beginning."