Seized by the System

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

"Accepting that some things are uncontrollable is a sign of maturity…"

"If you can't defy the pain life brings you, you might as well learn to enjoy it…"

"When one door closes, a window opens…"

Fang Ning used several quotes to bring the black dog from the edge of a breakdown, avoiding the tragic fate of the wishing lamp being broken by the black dog.

"Being nice doesn't always pay," mumbled the wishing lamp as Fang Ning stashed it away in the System Preservation Area.

Fang Ning stared at the black dog whose eyes were brimming with hate and decided to keep the wishing lamp away from the metallic black dog for the rest of his life.

At the same time, he promised himself to carefully choose the words for his wishes when he does use them…

For example, wishes like "raise my power level to Lake-level" can never be used.

Fang Ning realized that the wishing lamp was really useful, but it might turn the wisher into something other than his original form… as long as the power level is reached.

That was because it might be difficult for a human to attain that level, but it would be easy for another form to achieve.

A little later, Brett came out of its depression, hanging its head low.

Fang Ning asked after deliberating, "Blackie, what do you think of your strength, did it improve?"

The black dog took a breath and replied, "Master, my strength has improved a lot. It's still a little way before attained Lake-level, but there's no longer any bottleneck stopping me. As soon as I stored enough power, I will immediately advance to the next level."

At that point, its metallic body cranked loudly, scarily.

Fang Ning reached out and a dozen jade bottles appeared accompanied by a whiff of sweet scent.

Smelling that, Brett's eyes widened in excitement, flooding over the depression it had been exuding.

It was the Dragon Clan's Honey-flavored Pills, rare even among the Upper Realm.

As the saying goes, food and sex are the nature of men. Food was listed first, so no wonder it recovered upon hearing about food.

It looked at the jade bottles with its puppy eyes. "Master, is this for me?"

"Mm, you're not far from Lake-level, and we need strong fighters to maintain control of the battlefield. Try having a hundred pills and see if you can achieve Lake-level?" Fang Ning explained.

What? A silly dog like it could have such a great opportunity?

The yellow dog could not help but think, 'A hundred Dragon Clan Honey-flavored Pills? That's just like a certain novel on Earth in which the main characters consume divine pills like we do rice…'

It did not know that its master, Fang Ning, had actually done that… The System kept saying that it was keeping count, but it had never asked to settle the tab…

Unable to resist the urge, it opened its mouth. "Master, Brett has a mythical metal body now, its affinity with the vitality of the realm was at least a Grade S and above. As long as it would cultivate a hundred days in a place like the Land of Heritage, it would save up enough energy to achieve Lake-level, so I don't think you need to waste these pills."

"Uh…" The black dog heard it and pulled its gaze reluctantly from the jade bottles and said, "Xue Ba is right, Master, I shouldn't waste these rare herbal pills."

Fang Ning was moved. 'It's a systemically certified loyal dog after all. Even though it was looking forward to it, it stopped itself in order to not waste its Master's food…'

"Time is money. Many things may happen in three months. Brett, Xue Ba, don't fuss on the details. Remember, everyone was born into the world for a reason, while resources that were spent will surely come back again."

Having said that, he sent the pills in the direction of the black dog.

Tears welled in the black dog's eyes.

It did not speak. Instead, it inhaled the entire collection of a hundred jade bottle of pills, crushing even the bottles with its metallic teeth. In the future, it no longer has to wash plates…

Immediately after that, it spaced out. Golden lights bloomed from its black body, enveloping it in a swirl of golden color.

The System said, "I can't close my eyes this time, give me your little treasure chest…"

"Uh… wait!

"My instincts told me something good is about to happen?" Fang Ning immediately tried to wiggle his way out.

"You're tricking me again, my instincts didn't…" Before the System could finish, a system notification appeared.

[The Host gave his followers a huge treasure and achieved Unique Heroic Achievement: Unparalleled Generosity. Effect: In all unlocked maps, all neutral creatures would slowly, but automatically, show favorability to the Host. Opposing creatures would show increasing hostility. Followers and allies would have increased loyalty.]

"Hehe…" Fang Ning saw the system notification and turned smug. "Look, I told you not to be so money-minded, or you wouldn't be able to earn any more than what you have. I followed my heart and it activated new achievements, so you shouldn't suppress me in the future."

"…" The System had nothing to say, so it said nothing.

System Notification: [The Host's instinct was raised, the System's instinct was lowered.]

"Hmph, you should be learning more things. Rely on your instincts less and trust science more." Fang Ning reprimanded the System.

"…" The System was still quiet.

Fang Ning felt something was wrong. 'Did this idiot really freeze?'

"Hey, Sir, are you still alive? Or are you just taking a break?"

"Nonsense, when did I ever take a break? Stop pestering me, I', upgrading the System Map, it requires a long time, so I can't take you over for a while. Take good care of my body…"

System Notification: [The System paused its control of the Host, duration unknown.]

"Uh, Sir System, what are you doing? Don't you only need to consume experience points to upgrade anything? No matter how long the duration would be, as long as you have enough experience points, it would be instantly done?"

Fang Ning was hiding his smugness, as it would be inappropriate to show it in case the idiot trapped him again.

"Oh, this is a major update. After all, the System Map is the most important module of my existence. Without it, I wouldn't be here, so I have to be careful…"

"Is that so? Don't hurry then, I can handle the stuff at home. Now that I have four Lake-levels protecting me, it should be fine if I don't do anything with tinier incidents." Fang Ning knew how important it is, so he stopped urging.

The System Map was a central module. A mobile game without a System Map would not attract any players no matter how good it was…

"That's good. Don't call on me to take over you unless it's an emergency." The System reminded.

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person to plant flags all over the place, so nothing of the sort will happen." Fang Ning said dismissively.

"Mm, I believe you would be safe. You'd stay in the System Space the whole day, and you believe in safety first. You won't mess up anything, so I'll go an upgrade my module."

"Go, have fun." Fang Ning thought, 'Without its constant surveillance, I won't need to cultivate in my dreams. It's pretty fun in the beginning, but after a few months, it's getting pretty repetitive.

'I'll find something fresh to play. Of course, I'll need to finish my things first.'

Fang Ning set down the matters with the System and turned his gaze to Brett.

The black dog, Brett had started to change after it had consumed a hundred bottles of pills. The golden light swirling around it slowly transformed.

The blackness of its fur slowly faded away as golden details appeared in place of that.

Fang Ning sighed, "The old dog has disappeared, changed into a new set of clothes. Time is really like a river, youthfulness would slip away from our hands just like that."

He finished speaking and stared as the golden fur faded back to inky blackness.

"Uh… What is—" At first, Fang Ning felt a curiousness in his mind before it was replaced with emotions.

'It's indeed my dog. To keep close to its master, to please me, it was willing to abandon its golden fur…

'Those hundred bottles of pills is worth is.'