CG C126: Tell me, does anyone here have a system?

The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon when a group of cultivators from the Boundless Earth Sect were a few hundred kilometers away from the clearing. A tall man with a long gray beard, Elder Song, led the group.

"We should have been here hours ago," he grumbled. "This delay is unacceptable."

Beside him, a younger cultivator named Dong Xin nodded wearily. "That spatial tear was unlike anything I've ever seen, Elder. Do you think we should send word back to the sect about it?"

Elder Song's frown deepened. "Once we've concluded our business here, yes. Such anomalies are rare and dangerous. The Sect Master will want to know."

As they walked, the cultivators behind them muttered among themselves.

"I still can't believe we made it out," one whispered. "When that tear started pulling at us, I thought for sure we were done for."

Another nodded vigorously. "If it weren't for Elder Song's quick thinking with that earth barrier technique, we might all be lost in some twisted dimension right now."

Elder Song glanced back at them, his expression softening slightly. "You all performed admirably in the face of an unprecedented threat. Take pride in that. But now we must focus on the task at hand. Our delay may have already complicated matters with the Crimson Phoenix Sect."

The group fell silent at that, sobered by the reminder of their mission, they pressed on.

As they neared their destination, a clearing in the heart of the forest, Elder Song suddenly held up a hand, signaling the group to stop. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the area ahead.

"Something's not right," he muttered. "Be on your guard."

Cautiously, they entered the clearing. What they saw made them freeze in their tracks.

The ground was littered with bodies, the unmistakable robes of the Crimson Phoenix Sect stained dark with blood.

"By the heavens," whispered one of the Core Formation cultivators, her hand flying to her mouth. “They’re all dead!"

Elder Song nodded grimly. "Take a closer look at the ground around them."

Dong Xin looked closer and gasped. The earth was torn and twisted, great furrows carved into the soil. In some places, jagged spikes of stone jutted out at odd angles.

"These... these are Earth techniques," Dong Xin said, his voice shaking. "Our techniques."

"But that's impossible!” the female Core Formation cultivator’s face paled. “We were delayed, we only just arrived!"

Elder Song's expression darkened. "This is bad. Very bad. We need to-"

His words were cut off by a sudden surge of powerful qi. The air shimmered as three figures materialized in the clearing. Their robes proudly showed off the emblem of the Crimson Phoenix Sect. The one in the center, an elderly man with a short white goatee, radiated an aura at the Peak Nascent Soul realm.

"Song Huai!" the Crimson Phoenix Elder bellowed, his eyes blazing with fury. "What in the name of the heavens have you done?"

Elder Song stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Elder Hu, please, this isn't what it looks like-"

"Isn't what it looks like?" Elder Hu scoffed. "We rushed here the moment Elder Bu's soul lamp was extinguished, and what do we find? You and your Boundless Earth Sect disciples standing over the bodies of our fallen brothers and sisters!"

One of the other Nascent Soul cultivators flanking Elder Hu spoke up, his voice dripping with disdain. "Look at them, Elder Hu. They didn't even have the decency to flee the scene. Such arrogance!"

Elder Song's face paled. "No, you don't understand. We only just arrived ourselves. We were delayed by-"

"Delayed?" Elder Hu's qi flared. "Do you take us for fools, Song Huai? The evidence of your Earth techniques is written all over this battlefield!"

Elder Song took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Elder Hu, please listen. We're being set up. Someone is trying to pit our sects against each other. If you'd just let me explain-"

His words were cut off by a rumbling from beneath their feet. The ground between the two groups suddenly burst upward, showering them with dirt and stones. As the dust settled, a figure emerged from the newly formed hole.

It was a young man, no more than twenty years old, with wild black hair and piercing violet eyes. Despite his youth, he radiated the unmistakable aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator. But there was something... off about him. His gaze was unfocused, darting around as if reading something only he could see.

"Another dead end," the young man muttered to himself, frowning at the empty air. "Are you sure the trail leads here? I'm not sensing any other system users."

The cultivators from both sects stared at the newcomer in bewilderment. The young man seemed oblivious to their presence, continuing his one-sided conversation.

"What do you mean, 'keep looking'? I've been searching for days! If your detection abilities are so great, why can't you pinpoint the exact location?"

Finally, Elder Hu cleared his throat loudly. "Young man, who are you? And what are you talking about?"

The youth's head snapped up, his eyes focusing on the group for the first time. A slow smile spread across his face, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, hello there. I didn't see you. Tell me, does anyone here have a system?"

The cultivators exchanged confused glances. Dong Xin was the first to speak up. "A... system? What do you mean?"

The young man's smile widened. "You know, a system! A magical interface that shows you your stats, skills, and quests. Surely one of you must have one?"

Elder Song stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Young man, I'm afraid we don't understand what you're talking about. Perhaps you could explain?"

The youth sighed dramatically. "It's simple, really. A system is like... a personal cultivation assistant. It helps you track your progress, gives you quests, and even provides rewards for completing tasks. Some are more advanced than others, of course. Mine is quite impressive, if I do say so myself."

He paused, cocking his head to the side as if listening to something. "What? No, I'm not bragging. I'm just explaining... Fine, fine, I'll ask them directly."

The young man turned back to the group, his violet eyes scanning each face intently. "So, none of you have experienced anything like that? No mysterious voices in your head? No floating screens showing your cultivation progress?"

The cultivators looked at each other, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern. The scarred elder from the Crimson Phoenix Sect leaned close to his peers, whispering, "The poor boy has clearly lost his mind. It happens sometimes when one reaches the Nascent Soul realm too young."

The flame-haired woman nodded solemnly. "Such a waste. He must have been a prodigy to reach this level at his age."

The young man's eyes narrowed, having clearly heard their whispered conversation. "I assure you, I'm perfectly sane. But I can see you don't believe me. It doesn't matter, really. System or no system, it seems you all need to die now."

Before anyone could react, purple qi began to leak from the young man's body. It swirled around him, growing denser and more opaque until it completely engulfed him. Then it continued to expand, taking on a massive humanoid shape.

When the transformation was complete, the young man stood encased in a colossal purple construct, easily twenty meters tall. It resembled an ancient warrior, complete with armor and a helm that obscured the youth's face.

"What... what is this?" gasped Dong Xin, stumbling backward.

Elder Hu gritted his teeth. "I've never seen anything like it. Even at my level, I've never encountered such a technique."

The young man's voice boomed from within the construct, tinged with amusement. "Oh, this? Just a little something my system cooked up for me. It’s inspired by my favorite anime. Neat, isn't it?"

The elders from both sects exchanged glances. Without a word, they seemed to come to an agreement. Whatever their differences, this new threat took precedence.

Elder Hu stepped forward, his qi flaring around him. "Young man, I don't know who you are or what your quarrel is with us, but I suggest you stand down. You may be powerful, but you face four Nascent Soul cultivators. You cannot hope to win, let alone survive."

The purple construct's head tilted slightly.

"Hmm, you might have a point there," the young man murmured. "But you know what I see when I look at you guys? Walking XP banks. Bags of loot just waiting to be cashed in." He chuckled, the sound disturbingly light-hearted. "And I can't have my payday running off, now can I?"

Elder Song's brow furrowed in confusion. "XP banks? Loot? Payday? What in the name of the Heavenly Dao are you babbling about, boy?"

The young man ignored him, raising one massive purple hand. "So, let's set up the arena, shall we? Can't have a proper boss fight without walls! Domain Expansion!"

A wave of qi exploded outward from the construct, far more potent than should have been possible for an early Nascent Soul cultivator. It spread rapidly, forming a rectangular prison of purple energy that enclosed the entire clearing.

"There," the young man murmured. "Now we can have some real fun. I'll even let you make the first move. Come on, show me what you've got!"

Elder Song glanced skyward, as if seeking answers from the heavens themselves. "What kind of dog shit luck," he muttered under his breath, "do you need to have to run into a lunatic like this?" He shook his head. "If I survive this, I'm retiring to a nice, quiet mountain. Far, far away from any of this nonsense."