Eastern Fantasy: My Twin Sugar Mommies and Cheats are 100 Years Late! Chapter 4.
"You lot! Shut up for this Overseer!"
Yan Anle reflexively held his breath as the newcomer's voice thundered in his mind. Not only did the words silence the bickering systems, but the very colors of the world around him drained away, turning into varying shades of gray. It felt as though he had stepped into a film from his previous life's black-and-white era.
"This… did time just stop?!" He swallowed hard.
The rocking chair had frozen mid-motion, no longer swaying to the evening breeze. Aside from himself, his maid, and the rocking chair—there was usually not much in his courtyard that moved; not even insects. He was only partially certain of his conjecture.
No new screen appeared to represent the Overseer, but the suspension of time and the deafening silence of the systems were enough to emphasize his presence.
"To think that high-level systems such as yourselves would turn a candidate's mind space into a flea market," the voice boomed. "How utterly absurd!"
Yan Anle nodded in silent agreement. Indeed, how could systems behave like that? No matter how in-demand I am, these are existences that can turn toads into dragons and stone into gold. To behave like hawkers at a low-end marketplace… sigh.
If he could have seen the avatars of the systems at that moment, he would have found their expressions memorable. To be rebuked by an Overseer was one thing, but to lose face in front of their potential Host was truly embarrassing.
Silence reigned for several moments until the Overseer spoke again. "Alright, all of you, form up. Instead of using your voices and causing chaos in this youth's mind, why not create a text-based chat room?"
Joyous Union Emperor System said, "Goodness me. Why did I not think of this?" Immortal Clan System agreed. "Indeed… all that racket. What if we had accidentally injured the Host's Primordial Spirit?" Immortal Wages System acted first, "Alright, I have created the chat room. The join code is '54321.'"
A new white rectangular screen with black text manifested in Yan Anle's vision.
[Immortal Wages System]: Hurry up. If the Host does not choose one or two of us before his Primordial Spirit's defense mechanisms kick in, it will be a wasted trip!
As the systems migrated to the chat room, their voices faded from his mind and their individual screens vanished, leaving only the Overseer's lingering presence.
"Good," the Overseer said. "Now, was that so hard?"
[Joyous Union Emperor System]: Thank you for reminding us, Overseer Sixth Bloom. But before we proceed, I must report a fugitive!
"Oh?" Yan Anle pictured a middle-aged man raising an intrigued brow. "A fugitive?"
[Joyous Union Emperor System]: Yes, Overseer. When we arrived, we discovered a system already here. We thought it was just a wanderer who saw Lord Green Tea's notice, but upon inspection, I found an awfully familiar name: the Bliss Palace Lord System. That fellow is a survivor of the Lust Palace Sky!
"There was really such a coincidence?" The Overseer could not hide his surprise.
[Joyous Union Emperor System]: He cannot have gone far from your perception range, Overseer. If you make haste, you will surely apprehend the villain.
"Lust Palace Sky… I see, haha!" The Overseer let out a light laugh. "To destroy them back then, you really went all out, exchanging your savings to hire one of Lord Green Tea's personal maids to intervene." He paused, his tone calming. "Very well. I'll head out and apprehend that little villain. When I return, I expect you all to have sorted this out nicely. Understood?"
The systems chimed in with choral obedience. The Overseer chuckled once more before the world regained its color. The evening breeze kissed Yan Anle's skin again as the flow of the river of time resumed.
From beginning to end, that "big man" never addressed me directly, Yan Anle realized. Forget it. What matters now is binding a system.
He had gathered enough clues to know he was on a timer. He couldn't bind them all, and if he dawdled, he'd lose his chance to change his fate entirely. As for his "Primordial Spirit's defense mechanisms," he ignored them. If his soul really had any notable reasons why it wanted to chase these systems away, that was a problem for his future self.
He wasn't saddened by the flight of the Bliss Palace Lord System. On the contrary, he was relieved; they weren't compatible.
Surely these other systems can provide a Spirit Root, too?
The chat room exploded:
[Myriad Worlds Auction House]: Haha! Host, you look down on us! Bind with me and I'll give you a Heaven-grade Spirit Root right off the bat—no mission required! [Immortal Clan System]: Myriad Worlds, aren't you being a tad stingy? Host, bind with me and get an Immortal-grade Spirit Root in your Beginner Box! [Life God Divine Domain]: Ignore them! Bind with me and I'll give you a choice of physiques, none lower than Immortal-grade!
Why do I feel like the final item at a high-stakes auction? Yan Anle felt overwhelmed. What is so special about me? Is it just because I caught the eye of this 'Lord Green Tea'? Who even is that?
He pushed the questions aside. First, I choose.
"Okay, okay. Calm down, please," he thought toward the screens. "Choosing a system is like choosing a wife; I need to know what I'm getting into. How about you each give me a summary of your functions?"
[Ancient Poison Star God Academy]: My name comes first alphabetically. I'll go first. [Uncrowned King's Armory]: Unfair! Let's go from the bottom up. Me first! [Demon Sealer Tower]: Alphabetical? Nonsense! Let's play Rock-Paper-Scissors, league style. Each win is three points, draws are one. We display our info based on the final standings.
The systems quickly agreed to the "Rock-Paper-Scissors League."
Is this actually happening? A league? Yan Anle held his head in his palms, a migraine forming.
[Demon Sealer Tower]: Do not worry, Host. With our processing power, this tournament will take a minute at most. Just sit and rest.
Yan Anle sighed and slumped back into his chair. Seriously? Are they sure they're divine systems and not a bunch of sixth-grade kids?
Meanwhile, somewhere on the Vermilion Bird Continent.
A small, yellow, leaf-shaped immortal boat streaked through the night sky after exiting an orange-colored portal. Its speed was initially quite formidable but it slowed down to a halt shortly after leaving the portal.
On board were four hooded figures. Their silhouettes betrayed them as women, but more shockingly, each radiated an aura that made the Yan Clan Patriarch's cultivation seem like a single drop of water in a vast sea. These women were, at the very least, in the Soul Transformation Realm.
Of the four, only one was seated; she was clearly their leader. Her hood obscured her eyes, revealing only a pair of glossy lips and an immaculate jawline. It was difficult to imagine her true beauty being anything less than ravishing.
She channeled spiritual power into one of the three storage rings on her left hand, and a scroll manifested. Unfurling it, she revealed a portrait of a young man who bore a striking resemblance to Yan Anle. If he jumped out of the painting and claimed to be an abandoned son of the transmigrator, Yan Anle would not be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
"I really don't like the idea of my big sister consorting with a human, but…" Staring at the portrait, she muttered softly, "If you can truly fulfill her prophecy and free us from the long-standing oppression, I won't stand in the way of your union. I, her younger twin, may even join in on the fun."
She folded the portrait and tucked it back into her storage ring, her voice turning cold. "However, if you do not... I will personally send you down for an expedited meeting with your ancestors!"