Seized by the System

One dawn in the summer, the first rays of sun spilled onto a deserted factory in the east of Qi City.

White light flashed on the steel bars full of rust, waste materials mounded on the ground with no one to clean them up.

Train tracks used to transport goods were left in the factory, displaying several old red or blue locomotives, unattended.

It was a steelworks that was stopped several years ago due to the local authority wanting to upgrade the city.

They had wanted to use the Eastern Pharos’ name recently to develop the land into a new apartment residence building. The land was already auctioned out to its new landlord.

However, because of the moon crashing saga, no one had the heart to buy a house…

The project was left alone after that, it even almost disabled a huge real estate company.

Due to that, the cleaning up of the old factory was stopped.

The real estate industry was heavily affected. Even Qi City which housed the Pharos and was having a steady growth had its fair share of sharply falling transaction volume.

In the recent months, the transaction volume sometimes stopped at single digits.

All the citizens understood. If they had bought a house now, they would not be compensated when the flood comes.

Qi City was not very close to the sea, but it was not that far either, so it was a little awkward.

A group of fearless people took the opportunity to buy some nice houses that were on sale.

Even in times like this, choices that people make were different.

In crises, some people see dangers, while others see opportunities.

Right now, the old factory was filled with people.

A golden train appeared on one of the lengthy tracks, slowly making its way from afar.

People crowded about five meters away from the tracks, waiting for the train to arrive impatiently.

In front of them, a large number of men-in-black patrolled, keeping the order. Occasionally, they would push the citizens who crossed the safety line back.

There were people of all ages in the line. Most of them, however, were young adults.

The only thing they all had in common was that they were carrying heavy backpacks or oversized luggage.

Their faces were grim with a sliver of hope. Around them were some old people and children.

A middle-aged man in black robe smiled slightly as he stood by himself away from the crowd.

No one seemed to be able to see him as gazes glossed over where he stood, continuing their own conversation.

“I hear the Venerable Dragon God was hiring with limited admission. How did you all get in?”

“Oh, my local Special Affairs Department sent me the recruitment notice. With the Venerable One and the Special Affairs Department working together, I believe they wouldn’t delay paying us our wage.”

“Similar. Where are you from?”

“I’m from Xu City, you?”

“Lan City, we live so far apart.”

“Isn’t it? I don’t even know what the criteria for admission are. I’m just a normal man who just wants to earn an honest living.”

“Same, I just got fired, I don’t wanna talk about it.”

The people discussed among themselves and immediately found the similarities between them.

None of them were recruited by regular means. They were chosen mysteriously and decided to heed the call after they saw the offer letter.

Not only that, they all simultaneously just wanted to earn an honest living…

Their biggest reason to heed the call was surprisingly similar as well: One, the reward was rich; Two, security.

The world would be descending into chaos soon. Security would be more valuable than gold and silver.

The golden train screeched to a halt before the door slowly opening.

Special Affairs Department staffers ordered the crowd to board the train in an orderly manner.

They were all honest people. All of them followed obediently.

At the same time, huge spiritual machines were parked and lined up not far away.

Right beside the machines, building materials were gathered and piled up into huge heaps.

Just by looking at the amount of the materials and machines gathered, it seemed apparent that the train could not fit them in.

However, some people noticed that a few doors on the back of the train opened and devoured all the machines and building materials like black holes.

The cars completely defied the laws of physics. They were like the artifacts oft-told in myths and legends that can store an unlimited amount of items and carry people.

“Wow, it’s really different from the world before.”

Sighing, many people let out their musings.

Even though everyone had seen enough of supernatural events in the past year, they were still shaken when they witnessed the scene.

‘This golden train is just like the Purple-Gold Calabash of Taishang Laojun ¹ in Journey to the West, isn’t it?’

An hour later, everyone and everything had boarded the train.

The golden train was started up again, slowly at first, then disappearing into the void soon after.

The men-in-black finally sighed after the completion of the operation.

In the days prior to this, they had worked very hard to be able to arrive at this moment when the first batch of people and materials were successfully carted away in a long golden train.

In correspondence, a large amount of gold was taken away from a certain person.

All Fang Ning did was giving a suggestion he had imagined to work.

However, turning the idea into a reality came with countless people’s exhausted nights. Issues that would not appear in the brainstorming would come up when it was executed, forcing the team to solve before they could continue.

…

Yin Energy Realm.

The Yin Energy that filled the arcane realm had lessened a lot.

Areas that used to be clouded by darkness were slowly replaced by sunlight.

However, underground, there was a cave as dark as ink.

Only a few candles were lit in the cave, casting a veil of dim light.

In the dim light, a human and a cat sat across each other at a stone table.

Two cups of lukewarm tea were set on the stone table.

“Demon Lord, your highness, your visit to this shoddy place had made it shine ever so brightly. Forgive me for not meeting you before your arrival…”

Black Cat Tom said hesitantly.

“Heh, it’s really different. The last person I met said I had dulled the brilliance of his residence… Looks like you, little cat, is far more interesting.” Zhi Nan took the cup, looked at it, and set it down on the table.

“You must be talking about Vigilante A. This man had always been so self-important, condescendingly righteous. And he kept calling himself the Pharos of the East, and now he dared to reject a demon lord? He’s such a halfwit!”

Black Cat Tom jumped in his fury and accused Vigilante A without stopping.

“I hear he was also publicized that he was gathering people in whatever place of righteousness and morality where no evil could penetrate. He was actually just a money-minded creep. The reason he didn’t want you to stay long was simple.

“He’s not acting out of righteousness, he was afraid that his own brand was destroyed and would bring the real estate’s price down that could affect his other businesses.”

It reprimanded Vigilante A as it sucked up to Demon Lord Zhi Nan.

He was a demon lord, it was only a spokesperson of Death. Even Death was not as high-ranking as any demon lords in the Upper Realm. Naturally, he deserved the bootlicking.

“Heh, it’s the first time I’ve received flattery after my descent.

“Kitty, your talent seemed a little lackluster, but we have been fated to meet. These three scriptures, you can learn them. You might not be the best choice, but being a benchwarmer is still better than nothing.”

Zhi Nan uttered unintelligible words and clapped his palm on top of the table where the three scriptures appeared.

The three scriptures were said to help anyone becoming a dragon, alleviating the world of worry, and relieving all lives from suffering.

He gifted the three scriptures to everyone he met, to the confusion of everyone.

It could be because it was his saint-like breadth of mind and foresight, he no longer saw the power and strength of certain techniques. He only valued its ideals, its path of pursuit.

As soon as Tom heard “fated to meet,” cold sweat poured out of it.

It pretended to thank him with a blush, “Thank you, demon lord. I’m afraid my talents are inadequate to understand a text as deep as this. It’s better to not waste your precious scriptures.”

“Ah well, your talent was lacking a little bit.” Zhi Nan did not mind and took back the scriptures. He began talking business.

“You’re not quite right, but I do know someone who is. He’s your subordinate, an old man. I don’t know why, he’s not dead, but I can’t divine where he is. Kitty-kitty, can you answer me?”

After Zhi Nan asked the question, he looked at Tom expectantly.

Tom let out a sigh of relief and answered, “You must be talking about my former subordinate. He’s Huang Rui, a loyal man, but he was captured by Vigilante A into his Draconic Penitentiary.

“Sadly, my power is limited, I kept being bullied but had no way of defending myself. Every time I think of it, it was like my innards are burning. Please uphold the justice for me. All the demons had suffered enough of Vigilante A!

“Demon Lord, your descent now is like a long-awaited rain in an extended drought, like meeting someone from the same hometown, like placing the top on the name list of the royal exam…”

Black Cat Tom pretend to wipe away the fake tears it squeezed out…

“Heh, looks like I came at the right time. The entirety of the saga rests on me now. What an opportunity…”

Zhi Nan smiled again. He said, “Don’t worry. Vigilante A’s Path of Heavenly Punishment had been sealed.

“He could either stop progressing, or he could follow me, so you no longer have to fear him.”

Tom was a little taken aback, but it said while pretending to be overjoyed, “That’s… Thank you very much, Demon Lord Zhi Nan…”

“You’re welcome. I have something else to do, so I shall take my leave. This place is not bad. Work hard, and I might be able to use you in the future.”

Zhi Nan smiled and praised Tom before immediately left without any hesitation.

If Fang Ning and Gu Buwei saw it, they would be envious of Black Cat Tom.

Sometimes, it was better to have fewer talents. At least, no one would bother remembering him…

Black Cat Tom stood to show its respects.

Smiling again, Zhi Nan disappeared from the dim cave.

After he had left, Black Cat Tom maintained its posture without a single movement.

It was not until one hour later that it released its held breath.

“I didn’t think that old man still can have this opportunity. Fortunately, I had been nice to him. After he had become the demon lord’s subordinate, he might even help me a little.”

Black Cat Tom thought proudly before walking into a private chamber.

In the private chamber, a dark blue orb was enshrined on a stone table.

An uncountable amount of Yin Energy was congregating at the dark blue orb, which absorbed the Yin Energy like a gluttonous insect.

“Eat more, grow well, help your Master Tom fight against that hoodwinked, moronic Heavenly Axiom. By then, the arcane realm would still become a Holy Land of Undead.

“The situation is good now that there’s the idiot demon lord pulling Vigilante A’s legs. Your Master Tom’s chances of success will be larger, and then you’ll be more powerful yourself.”

The black cat kept talking to the orb as if he was whispering to an unborn baby.

The orb began to blink in a dark blue light as if replying to Tom.

Tom nodded and exited the chamber.