He chose…
Daily Check-in System.
Why?
Well, at this point, he could only choose between the Daily Check-in System and the Gacha System. None of the others could possibly give him an immediate power-up.
As for why he didn't pick the Gacha System—well, he remembered something he once saw in a comic where the main character had a gacha system:
"Congratulations, you got a toothbrush."
Yeah, no… Daily Check-in System it is.
[Confirm selection: Daily Check-in System]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes."
[DING! Daily Check-in System selected]
[Select Shop Point (SP) source:]
— Prestige (gain SP based on prestige)
— Slaughter (gain SP for every foe slain)
— Daily (automatically gain SP every day)
— Achievement (gain SP for completed achievements)
Qin Feng examined the new prompt carefully. SP is obviously the currency used to purchase items from the system shop.
'So there's a system shop... That would definitely be useful later on.'
All the options were good. Both Daily and Prestige would give him immediate SP—especially Prestige, after all, he was a Duke.
However, he ultimately chose Slaughter.
Daily meant slow accumulation. Prestige and Achievement meant sizeable gains that wouldn't trigger often. Right now, he was on the battlefield. Gaining SP through slaughter was likely the fastest and most reliable option at the moment.
Probably... Hopefully...
[Confirm selection: Slaughter]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes."
[DING! Slaughter selected]
[Select System Perk:]
— 10x Multiplier (affects both quantity and quality)
— Divine Luck (increases reward quality—every reward from the system would be in your best interest)
— Extra Shop Point source (select an additional SP source)
'Woah… there's a luck perk.'
'If I'd known this existed, I might've picked the Gacha System. Still, it's all good, it should work well with check-ins too.'
'The other perks are also good. If I weren't in such a dire situation, I'd definitely choose the 10x Multiplier. But right now, survival comes first.'
'I'll go with Divine Luck.'
[Confirm selection: Divine Luck]
[Yes] [No]
"Yes."
[DING! Divine Luck selected]
[All choices made. Configuring Divine System… 0%]
Qin Feng froze.
'Configuring… 0%… and it's not moving…'
He stared at the system panel, disbelief etched across his face.
PHEIII!
A sharp whistle cut through the night.
Qin Feng turned toward the cave entrance—toward the treeline beyond—where the sound had come from.
'They've found me… Looks like this is it.'
He forced his body upright. Gritting his teeth, he staggered toward his sword and picked it up.
'Like father, like son… right, predecessor? Let's make our last stand here. Maybe take one or two down before breathing our last.'
He propped himself up with the sword, its tip planted against the ground, barely keeping him upright. His eyes sharpened, carrying an unwavering resolve—to die standing.
Though he had been merely a web developer in his previous life, now he was also Qin Feng—Duke of Qin, Commander of the Northern Frontier.
And he would not sit still, waiting quietly for death.
Not while his hands could still grip a sword.
He closed his eyes.
Waiting.
Footsteps approached—faint at first, then clearer—converging around the cave. Whether because of adrenaline or the unnatural stillness of the night, he could hear them clearly.
Cautious.
Excited.
To them, his head was the ultimate price. A surefire path to promotion and prestige.
He steadied his breathing and hardened his resolve.
Ready for the inevitable.
However—
[DING! Configuration Complete]
[DIVINE CHECK-IN SYSTEM FULLY ACTIVATED]
[Check in once per day at various locations to receive rewards. Due to Divine Luck, all rewards will be at the higher end of the spectrum.]
[Issuing Newbie Gift Pack…]
[Gift Pack received!]
[Congratulations! You have received: 10× Restoration Pills, Innate Dragon Elephant Physique.]
[Restoration Pill: A high-grade healing elixir capable of restoring the body—externally and internally—to peak condition.]
[Innate Dragon Elephant Physique: A supreme physique granting the power of a Dragon Elephant. Provides superhuman strength (several times greater than Innate Divine Strength), extreme durability (skin tougher than heavy armour), vast endurance, and extraordinary vitality.]
Qin Feng's eyes widened.
Ten restoration pills. And a physique that eclipsed Innate Divine Strength.
He immediately retrieved a restoration pill and swallowed it. To his amazement, his wounds closed before his eyes. His chest felt lighter, and the pain that had tormented him since awakening began to fade.
Seconds later, he was back to peak condition.
No pain. No fatigue.
For the first time since transmigrating, he felt relief.
'System, fuse the Innate Dragon Elephant Physique.'
[Confirmed. Fusing Innate Dragon Elephant Physique.]
A strange energy surged into his body, flooding every pore. It coursed through his skin, tendons, bones—even his organs—reinforcing and transforming them.
Finally, it converged in his heart.
BA-DUM.
A pulse spread from his heart.
Not loud in sound—but loud in essence.
It felt as though his heart was beating for the first time. It no longer pumped just blood—but power.
Strength rippled beneath his flexible yet impossibly durable skin. He clenched his fist, feeling the overwhelming force contained within.
With this kind of strength, punching through armour would be effortless.
He turned his gaze to the sword in his hand—its grip mangled and cracked. During the fusion, he must have crushed it without realising.
He dropped the now damaged sword and opened the system interface.
[DIVINE CHECK-IN SYSTEM]
[Host]: Qin Feng
[Shop Points (SP)]: 0 (1,000 SP required to unlock System Shop)
[Special Physiques]:
— Innate Dragon Elephant Physique
[Skills]:
Archery (Divine), Swordsmanship (Elite), Spearmanship (Elite), Blademanship (Elite), Horsemanship (Master)
[Summoned Forces]: None
[Inventory]: Empty
[Skill tiers: Entry, Beginner, Proficient, Master, Elite and Divine. The system only records skills at Master level or above.]
(AN: This skill system is not wuxia-based. It is merely a realistic measurement of proficiency, similar to grading calligraphy or musical mastery. Divine merely indicates mastery beyond conventional limits. For example, elite grade archers can accurately shoot targets that are 100 meters away, while divine archers, can accurately shoot targets beyond 150 meters.)
Qin Feng studied his status, a trace of pride crossing his face.
"Truly a diligent young man."
Most generals and elite warriors struggled to train even one skill to Elite. Yet, he managed to train three skills to elite and even one to divine.
A genuine, hard-earned genius.
PHEEII—SNATCH!
He reflexively caught an arrow inches from his head.
His gaze snapped to the cave entrance.
Roughly a hundred Northern Khaganate soldiers stood there—fur-armoured, weapons drawn. Twenty archers, the rest swordsmen and spearmen.
A standard hundred-man unit.
He tightened his grip on the arrow.
Crack.
The shaft disintegrated, the broken ends dropping to the ground.
"Predecessor, rest easy," he said calmly. "Our story doesn't end here."
"This is where it begins."
---
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