Ye Shen looked around, making sure nobody saw the bluish screen before his eyes. Just as Dr. Wang had explained before, nobody couldn't see what's in his system unless he registered that person into his system. As his gaze returned to the screen, another message popped up. This time, each line of text was in a different color, emphasizing its importance.
[SSS-Ranked MMA System has been fully calibrated with your nerves. The system has detected that your body is capable of performing ancient Martial Arts.]
[Therefore, you will receive the following rewards upon victory:]
[10 Strands of Pure Yang Qi]
[100 MMA Coins]
[Universe's MMA Rule Books]
[Basic Training Manual]
[You can spend MMA Coins to purchase Fighting Techniques and Martial Skills to use during fights in the SHOP.]
[Check the shop to see what interests you]
[Penalty for losing a fight: -100 Pure Yang Qi]
'What?! This freaking system can actually provide Pure Yang Qi for me to cultivate?! If this is true, I might be able to bounce back to my prime and even surpass my old self!'
Ye Shen was bewildered. 'Hold on—if I lose the fight, my body will suffer from Qi Deviation Sickness! Tsk… why is this system so vicious?!'
On the other hand, Meilan turned her head, realizing that Ye Shen was several steps behind her.
"Ye Shen, are you alright?"
"Oh, yes, I'm fine, Miss Meilan." Ye Shen trotted a bit faster to catch up with her. "Though I would like to ask you something…"
"Sure, ask away…"
"Does everybody else who has ID CHIP implanted in their brains are capable of upgrading and customizing their System?"
Meilan placed an index finger on her chin, pondering the simplest answer. "I guess so… But, the features for each system are limited, depending on the system's rank. Systems are divided into nine different ranks, starting from F Rank all the way up to SSS Rank. There are three main categories; Offensive, Defensive, and Auxiliary."
"Each system is unique to each person. Therefore, the system will move up to higher rank if the user constantly trains their talents, skills and wits."
"Unique? Like… everybody gets to choose what system that suits them the most or install the system into the newborn babies?"
"Yes, that would roughly sum it all. Nowadays, you can get the system from any Developer of your choice. The technology itself is free, but the programs are what make them very expensive." Meilan added.
"For example, I have an A Ranked Trainer System. Though it couldn't be compared with the professional trainer, it's enough to get me by. FYI, my ears could hear even the slightest movement in someone else's muscles, analyzing their body to provide the best training routine. Othen than that, I could tell if someone else is lying from their heartbeat, fufufu."
"Urgh, I feel sorry for your boyfriend."
"I have none, fortunately." Meilan quipped back. "The system exists solely to assist humans to achieve what was seemingly impossible due to the limitations of organic brains, in this case, our limited consciousness. Henceforth, we introduce ID CHIP into our brains' stem to access the internet, and do the complex computation beneath our subconscious mind."
Ash was fumbled, he didn't expect that common humans of this world were capable of creating technology to surpass their worldly limitations.
"Does every person have a system installed into their mind once they are born?"
"Not all…" Meilan glanced down, unsure how to explain the current social hierarchy on Earth.
"An organic human who was born in poverty couldn't possibly afford an ID CHIP. Even an F Rank system would cost them arms and legs. They were stuck with external devices to keep up with the digital world that moved so fast."
Ye Shen shook his head. "As long as Yin and Yang govern the universe, there will always be disparity in life, I guess? We can't control someone else's fate unless they choose to do so."
"Moving up into higher rank without an integrated system? That would be very unlikely. The conglomerates and billionaires made sure that common people, us, and every human who were born below them, would never climb up the ranks unless they were willing to buy it or sell their soul for it. As for the Systemless, their future is bleak."
Ye Shen massaged his nose bridge, sighing in resignation. 'Truly, common mortals are just foolish, selfish, creatures through and through. No wonder why this planet was forsaken by the Gods. If the humans in this world grasped the art of cultivation, they'd blow up the whole planet instead!'
"Nevertheless, that's just how this universe works, milady. The strong rules, oppress, and herd the weaklings. You may glaze the poor life of common people with whatever you want. In the end, we can't do anything unless we climb up the ladder. Haiyaa, now I'm greatly indebted to Dr. Wang."
Meilan chuckled girlishly instead. "Fufufu… sometimes, you speak like Grandpa Wang, Ye Shen."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, you are…" Meilan's eyes narrowed as she smiled. "Enough with the chat. Let's go, my gym class is about to begin."
As he entered the main hall, the gym's goers glanced at the tall and long haired man in a black leather jacket. Though he had a nonchalant and indifferent facade, the women wouldn't stop glancing at him.
Ye Shen, however, fixated his gaze into the octagon arena at the gym's corner. Seeing the two fighters sparring each other made Ye Shen's heart beat a tad faster than before. He saw every movement in slow motion. Something within him sparked, it reminds him how it feels like when he exchanged blow after blow in his first ever fight when he was just an Outer Disciple.
Unbeknownst to him, Meilan was calling his name multiple times yet he didn't budge even an inch till she poked his cheek.
"Ye Shen! Ye Shen!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was in a daze…"
"I can see that much."
"What do you think about MMA? Do you want to give it a try?"
"Eh? May I?!"
"Of course you can. Wait here, I will talk with the owner!"