Chapter 1: I Wish to Cease Cultivation!

It's happening, it's happening!

Bai Lian was stirred by the chilling prompt that reached her ears. She had assumed that after losing her special status as a player, she would become a mere background character in this new world. To her surprise, the "entity" responsible for her transmigration still retained some semblance of conscience. It had swiftly granted her a golden opportunity soon after she regained her memories.

"Seems like this sort of thing is standard these days!"

Bai Lian, who had landed from her flying sword, mumbled to herself.

Times had certainly changed!

Recalling the novels she had read prior to her transmigration, Bai Lian realized that some protagonists were forced to drift aimlessly across the realm for over a hundred thousand years after their transmigration. Others woke up only after they'd become memorial tablets. Some even ended up with bizarre systems, like the NTR system.

"Hey..."

Life was tough for everyone.

With these thoughts in mind, Bai Lian opened the recently acquired system.

Its name was somewhat perfunctory and unremarkable.

[Task System]

Well, at least it was accurately named.

Whatever. As long as there was a system, there was hope.

The first thing that appeared on Bai Lian's interface was her personal information, no different from the game interface she saw in "The Battle of the Gods."

[Name: Bai Lian]

Gender: Female

Age: Eighteen Spiritual

Root: Water-type Heavenly Spiritual Root Cultivation

Level: Late Foundation Establishment

Basic Skills →

Techniques →

Morality: None

"???"

Even if I lack morals, must you emphasize it?

Bai Lian was indignant.

She perused the system interface multiple times and had to admit that she was indeed a person without morals. Though it was low, it was still better than nothing!

This stupid system had a glitch!

[There are no glitches in this system. Rest assured!]

Huh?

Seeing the words from the system, Bai Lian became wary.

Something isn't right with you!

She expanded the options using the arrow → .

As expected, this system seemed to have directly imported the game interface from "The Battle of the Gods."

Basic Skills were essentially the martial arts she had learned before she began her cultivation journey. The four core attributes were Hard Skill, Soft Skill, Light Skill, and Focus.

One could equate them to Strength/Endurance, Agility, Energy, and Concentration.

Any player familiar with "Ho Tu Lo Shu: The Books of Dragon" would understand.

Bai Lian's current basic stats were as follows:

[Hard Skill: 87]

[Soft Skill: 90]

[Light Skill: 83]

[Focus: 95]

If she recalled correctly, these skills had an upper limit of 100 points, yet the system didn't indicate this.

"It's not a big deal."

Bai Lian shook her head.

She was already a cultivator. Basic skills were now largely irrelevant to her. She continued her examination.

In the "Moves" section, the most prominent move was the [Water Dragon Dance].

This technique allowed her to manipulate the power of water, using it for offense, defense, and even suppressing an opponent's cultivation base. It was a magical skill from Bai Lian's chosen discipline.

Though it sounded impressive, in reality, it was merely a water-spraying technique. The greater the volume of water sprayed, the more powerful the effect.

Rumors claimed this spell was inspired by the Dragon King.

Bai Lian knew those rumors were true.

A descendant of the Dragon King existed within the Duxian Sect. Bai Lian had engaged in combat with her during the game. This descendant could summon water sprays over ten miles high, submerging vast plains.

The power was sufficient to raze a small kingdom!

Bai Lian then turned her attention to the "Techniques" category. It included music theory, chess, medicine, painting, calligraphy, cooking, tea ceremony, Taoism, and more.

If she ever chose to leave the cultivation world, these skills could provide her a comfortable life among mortals.

Only fools would invest time in these skills!

"I want to cultivate, soar through the Immortal World, and find 100 lovers!"

Bai Lian smiled.

Now, the question was how to utilize this system to enhance her strength. Given its name, the [Task System], she surmised that completing tasks would yield rewards.

"Show me the way!"

[The system will issue tasks in due course to help my esteemed master enhance her strength!]

Having read the instructions, Bai Lian nodded in understanding.

She grasped the concept.

At that moment, excited voices filled her ears.

"Ah, it's Martial Sister Bai Lian, the Qiongming Peak Goddess!"

"Martial Sister Bai Lian truly lives up to the rumors. Her grace and charm – oh, I'm swooning!"

"She's indeed Master An Lan's first disciple!"

"Martial Sister Bai Lian glanced at me, Martial Sister Bai Lian glanced at me!"

Bai Lian smiled and nodded at her fellow disciples. In no time, her figure vanished from Qiongming Peak.

Though she was gone, her presence lingered like an aftertaste.

One junior martial brother extended his hand, as if trying to capture the lingering fragrance in his palm.

Ever since An Lan accepted Bai Lian as her disciple, even the sect leader had been taken aback. Thus, everyone in the Duxian Sect believed that Bai Lian was destined for greatness and would eventually ascend to the Immortal World.

With this identity, Bai Lian was free to act however she pleased across the various routes of the game.

Passerby A: Did Martial Sister Bai Lian bully you?

Passerby B: I think you're just envious of Martial Sister Bai Lian and are trying to frame her!

Passerby C: Apologize to Martial Sister Bai Lian on your knees!

Instances like these were countless...

— On the summit of Qiongming Peak.

A languid voice sounded, "My dear disciple, you're here."

Bai Lian raised her gaze, spotting a young girl in a delicate, water-blue gown. A serene smile graced her beautiful countenance. Deep blue eyes resembled boundless oceans, and the yin-yang symbols at the corners of her eyes were especially eye-catching.

An Lan!

In her past life, she had been the Immortal Heaven Lord, renowned as the Queen of the Immortal World!

Her favored phrases in the backstory were: "Hmph!", He's trash!", "This queen won't be humiliated," and "Try it, then. Even if I hold XXX in one hand and carry XXX on my back, I, An Lan, remain invincible!"

Subsequently, the two supreme masters waged a cosmic battle, shattering star rivers and annihilating the will of the Tao!

In the end, An Lan was defeated, leading to her current form.

Reclining on the blue stone, wind caressing her face, An Lan reclined beside a freshly cut watermelon.

∠(ᐛ」∠)＿

"The will of the Tao? Is it edible?"

Evidently, she was quite the homebody.

An Lan picked up a slice of watermelon and remarked idly, "I have a task for you."

Bai Lian inquired humbly, "Master, what task is it?"

She couldn't help but recall the scenes of "fighting" with An Lan in the game and the latter's famous lines.

Promptly, Bai Lian shook her head, dispelling those bizarre images.

Still munching on watermelon, An Lan said, "I encountered a promising young girl earlier. I intend to take her as my disciple. Fetch her for me."

As anticipated.

This was the central plot of the game.

Bai Lian felt a headache coming on. She had no desire to embark on this task, so she forced herself to ask, "Master, why don't you go fetch her yourself?"

"Inconvenient." An Lan tossed the watermelon rind off the peak. "And besides, I hadn't intended to take her as my disciple initially. Off you go. You haven't been up to much lately, anyway."

Before she could even process this, Bai Lian was immediately presented with three options.

[Task 1: Embrace An Lan from behind and say, 'Master, am I not enough for you?' (Reward: Cultivation base breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage)]

[Task 2: Cross your arms over your chest, glare at An Lan, and declare, 'You may be my master... but I refuse!' (Reward: Bone-cleansing Elixir)]

[Task 3: Agree with An Lan. (Reward: +1 Soft Skill)]

"Ah, this..."

Bai Lian gawked dumbfoundedly at the three options.

How on earth could in-game task options manifest in real life?

Though Tasks 1 and 2 offered tempting rewards, she didn't have the courage to pursue them! She vividly recalled that, in the game, Task 1 resulted in her being kicked off Qiongming Peak by An Lan, followed by being devoured by a passing airborne creature. This system seemed to follow the rule that the more extravagant the task's reward, the greater the potential peril. By selecting a task with outrageous rewards, one was almost guaranteed a gruesome demise.

Bai Lian understood this all too well.

The [Task System] was unmistakably a "Villain's Task System"!

As long as I bully my peers according to the system, acting like a cunning scoundrel, I'll grow stronger.

What a nightmare!

Bai Lian sensed malevolence emanating from the world.

Cold sweat trickled down her brow.

There's no way. I want to survive!

This world isn't worth my efforts. I'll just stop cultivating!

Hmph!