The orb nodded. “Yes, random.”
Cen Yao's lips twitched. “So you're saying whether I study magic, cultivation, or something else entirely depends on luck?”
“Theoretically, yes.”
“Then... how big is the range?”
The orb said proudly, “Extremely big! This System covers learning pathways across all planes. There's nothing you can think of that isn't on the wheel.”
Cen Yao suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Like what?”
“For example, this System once had a Host who drew 'How to Become the Greatest Chef in the Universe.'”
Cen Yao fell silent.
The orb added, “However, in that Host's world, everyone loved to eat but had absolutely no idea how to cook. Later, that Host conquered the globe with their culinary skills, becoming the most beloved chef of the entire population. Their belief points went off the charts, and their happiness index was extremely high.”
Cen Yao remained silent.
“There was also a Host with incredible luck who directly drew a super rare fantasy-oriented module.”
Cen Yao's eyes lit up slightly.
“And then?”
The orb sighed. “But his Talent was too poor. He failed to complete multiple tasks within the time limit, and ultimately, the System unbound from him.”
Cen Yao: “...”
Great.
The first one made her fear drawing something completely useless, while the second made her fear that even if she drew something good, she wouldn't be able to learn it.
The way this System tried to comfort her felt a bit like an attempt to murder its Host.
Cen Yao spoke with difficulty, “What if I really draw the chef module?”
The orb gave it some serious thought. “There are cafeteria, restaurant, and fairy-tale cuisine dungeons in the Horror Game. It might actually be a great fit.”
Cen Yao's vision went dark.
She could already picture herself standing in a dungeon kitchen. In front of her was a braised human head, behind her was a steamed severed hand, and the Boss was asking her in a sinister voice, “What's today's chef's special?”
Trembling, she would present a plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
After tasting it, the Boss would smile faintly.
“Disgusting. The chef stays behind to be the next ingredient.”
No.
She couldn't think about it.
If she kept thinking, she'd scare herself to death.
“System,” Cen Yao said in a heavy tone. “Do you know about the Horror Game?”
The orb nodded. “Yes, it's a low-tier, screening-type horror survival game. It has covered your Blue Star for a year now, randomly selecting humans aged eighteen to fifty to enter dungeons.
“The dungeon runs are livestreamed, death is real, and successfully clearing them awards points and items.”
Cen Yao covered her face in agony.
“So you should know that what I need most right now isn't to become a chef, a painter, or any other random thing.”
Cen Yao's voice almost cracked.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
She couldn't afford to be picky about the System.
Having a System was already a massive stroke of luck.
Even if this stroke of luck came stuffed with mustard, chili, durian, and the malice of fate, she would still have to swallow it with tears in her eyes.
Because if she didn't spin, she would have absolutely nothing.
Not a single dungeon in the Horror Game was a place an ordinary person could easily adapt to.
She had watched too many livestreams.
Someone was dragged in by their own reflection just because they looked at a mirror for a second too long.
Someone was minced into meat filling by a restaurant waiter because they didn't finish the meat on their plate.
Someone thought their teammates could be trusted, only to be pushed forward to test the rules, unable to even let out a scream before they died.
It wasn't that Cen Yao hadn't tried.
She exercised, studied, took notes, and analyzed the reasons behind others' deaths.
But the more she watched, the more she understood her own insignificance.
She had no powerful background, no rich combat experience, no special bloodlines, and certainly not the kind of courageous heart that could remain unfazed in a terrifying environment.
She was just an ordinary person who was terrified of death.
An ordinary person who had to check the gaps in her curtains three times before going to bed.
But now, ordinary as she was, she had actually bound with a legendary System.
Even if she had to rely on luck, this was a glimmer of hope.
Cen Yao sat in her chair, her expression gradually turning solemn.
The orb thought she was finally about to start the draw.
But in the next second, it watched as Cen Yao pressed her palms together and closed her eyes.
“Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West, Taishang Laojun, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Tathagata Buddha, God of Wealth, Wenqu Star, Taibai Jinxing, Erlang Shen, Third Prince Nezha, Great Sage Equal to Heaven...”
The orb: “?”
Cen Yao's chanting grew increasingly devout.
“And my ancestors of eighteen generations, and all the passing deities and bosses, please bless me to draw a module that will let me survive.
“Although I, Cen Yao, am usually not exceptionally outstanding, I am law-abiding, respect the elderly, love the young, have uprighted shared bikes, picked up roadside trash, and even bought ham sausages for stray cats...”
The orb: “...”
Wasn't this a bit too late to start counting her good deeds?
Cen Yao wasn't done yet.
She even pulled up a photo of a little yellow dog she had taken in her phone's album and bowed to it solemnly.
“Dog Bro, you passed by my building back then, which means we were fated. If you're watching over me from heaven, please bless me too.”
The orb couldn't help but speak up, “It was just passing by. It might not even be dead yet.”
Cen Yao kept her eyes closed. “Doesn't matter. Sincerity brings results.”
The orb fell into a long silence.
It was one thing for the Host to pray to gods, Buddhas, and her ancestors.
But how could she not even spare a passing dog?
It took nearly an hour before Cen Yao finally stopped.
If she hadn't, the orb would have suspected that the gods of heaven were preparing to hold a joint meeting to kick this unfilial descendant—who only begged for favors without offering any gifts—out of their lineage.
Who begged like this?
She understood social graces even less than a System did.
Cen Yao opened her eyes and took a deep breath.
“System, let's begin.”
She patted her cheeks.
It was fine.
No matter what she drew, the only difference would be whether clearing dungeons would be slightly easier or slightly harder.
She could continue watching livestreams to gain experience.
She could lay low.
She could train herself.
And if all else failed, what if she drew a great Talent in her first dungeon?
Please, please, please.
I beg of you.
Save this child.
The orb floated higher, and a massive virtual wheel popped up in front of it.
The wheel was densely packed with words.
Some words Cen Yao could understand, like chef, doctor, mechanic, and musician.
Others she couldn't comprehend, feeling that each one looked as mysterious as the final question on the college entrance exam's math section.
The pointer hovered at the very top.
A button materialized beside her hand.
The orb reminded her, “Host, once you press the button, the learning module cannot be changed.”
Cen Yao swallowed hard.
Her finger hovered over the button, hesitating to press down.
Three seconds later, she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Here goes nothing!”
She slammed her finger onto the button.
The wheel instantly spun like crazy.
Multi-colored lights exploded in the room, dazzling Cen Yao's eyes.
She clutched her chest, feeling as though her heart was about to leap right out.
The orb stared at the wheel as well.
Although it had acted completely calm earlier, as a System, it cared deeply about what its Host would draw.
After all, the module would dictate the Host's future development.
If the Host did well, it got a performance bonus.
If the Host soared, it could get promoted.
If the Host died, it would have to write a report.
And it absolutely detested writing reports.
A few seconds later, the wheel began to slow down.
The pointer ticked past one module after another.
Cen Yao held her breath.
Please don't be a chef.
Please don't be a chef.
Please don't be 'How to Become the Greatest Pig Farmer in the Universe.'
If she really had to raise pigs in a horror dungeon, she would probably be sent to her own funeral by a ghost before the pigs were even ready for market.
Finally, the pointer stopped.
The light contracted.
Two mysterious characters materialized in mid-air.
Witch.
Rate on N.U.
