Then, just as despair threatened to consume me, a new sensation arose in my mind. It felt mechanical.
A translucent blue screen appeared in my vision, visible only to me.
[System integration complete.]
[Host synchronization with 'Arya Chen' was successful.]
[Welcome, Host, to the System Maker.]
I stared at the text, my breath catching in my throat. A system. My own golden finger. In a world where a protagonist with a golden finger was destined to kill me, I had received one of my own. The irony hit me like a physical blow.
[System Name: System Maker]
[Core Function 1: The Host can design and create unique subsystems with specified functions.]
[Core Function 2: Subsystems can be granted to any chosen target anonymously.]
[Core Function 3: Upon the death of a subsystem recipient, the Host will inherit 100% of the recipient's Cultivation Realm, Bloodline, Physique, and Talent.]
[Core Function 4: All subsystems operate by consuming the luck of their recipient. When a recipient's luck is fully depleted, they will inevitably face a fatal calamity.]
[Core Function 5: The Host can trigger a fatal calamity for any subsystem user to initiate an early harvest.]
I read the descriptions repeatedly, my mind racing with the implications.
Jin Hao had the soul of an ancient alchemist. It was a powerful guide and a source of knowledge. But my system was on another level entirely. I didn't need to hunt for treasures myself. I could create a "Treasure Hunter Subsystem" and give it to some ambitious cultivator. I could wait for them to gather a fortune, then reap the rewards when their luck inevitably ran out. I could create a "Sword God Subsystem" for a martial fanatic, a "Pill Emperor Subsystem" for an alchemy genius.
The world was a farm. Everyone else, including the protagonist, was my potential crop.
The pieces of my new reality fell into place, forming an exciting picture.
I was Arya Chen, the villain destined to die.
I was a transmigrator who knew the entire plot.
I had a system that could devour the destiny of others.
A slow smile spread across my face in the mirror. The fire in my obsidian eyes fueled by ambition and ruthless determination.
I had one week. It was a head start.
"Jin Hao," I whispered, my voice low but steady. "You think this world was written for you. You have no idea who the real protagonist is."
I walked to the table and poured a cup of tea. My hands were steady. The initial shock had faded. I had to play my part perfectly. To everyone else, I was still Arya Chen, the proud genius of the Chen Family, friend of Meira Su. I would maintain that facade. I would let the plot begin to unfold as it should.
But in the shadows, the System Maker would be at work.
I took a sip of the tea. It was fragrant and calming. I felt the immense power swirling in my Dantian. A sea of molten gold energy marked an Initial Stage Golden Core. By the standards of this domain, I was a powerhouse, an expert beyond my years. But I knew the truth. This power was nothing compared to the growth a protagonist with plot armor could achieve. This power wasn't enough to oppose a hero favored by the world.
A soft knock came at the door. "Young Master, are you awake? The Patriarch wishes to see you."
I set the cup down, my expression shifting instantly. The calculating transmigrator was replaced by the slightly cheerful face of Arya Chen.
"I will be there shortly," I called, my voice smooth and authoritative, just like the man I now was.
I stood and began to dress.
Leaving my personal courtyard felt like stepping onto a stage. The Chen Family Estate was a sprawling masterpiece of classical architecture, with jade-tiled roofs curving elegantly toward the sky, serene gardens where spiritual energy condensed into a visible morning mist, and wide corridors patrolled by guards in polished iron armor. To any outsider, it symbolized immense power and prosperity.
But I saw it through the eyes of a reader who knew the ending. The grand spiritual formations beneath the flagstones were old, their energy flow sluggish. The guards were fewer in number than a clan of this stature should possess. I noticed the cracks in the facade, the signs of a slow decline that the novel had detailed.
As I made my way toward the patriarch's study in the heart of the estate, servants and junior family members paused to bow. Their expressions showed a mixture of awe, respect, and a healthy amount of fear. I was Arya Chen, the 21-year-old genius who had already entered the Golden Core realm. I was the family's greatest hope, their shining pillar. I returned each of their bows with a cheerful smile and a slight nod, a gesture that inspired loyalty while maintaining authority. I played the part of the Eldest Son perfectly.
A young woman in a maid's uniform bowed deeply. Chen Yue, my memory provided. In two years, she will be caught selling information to the Jin Family. Executed for treason. A guard captain saluted crisply. Captain Fei. He dies in the first wave of Jin Hao's assault on the estate, defending the main gate. I passed my cousin, Chen Wei, who was practicing his sword arts in a small clearing. He paused to greet me with an envious smile. Chen Wei. In the book, he's the first of the main family line to betray us, surrendering to Jin Hao in exchange for his life. He doesn't even get that.