3: Background auto-running system!

Darkness, boundless darkness.

Lin Ye's consciousness seemed to float in a void ocean, without light, without sound, without the concept of time. There was only extreme fatigue and cold, like eternal dormancy.

The struggles, pain, and despair from before seemed to have become distant, blurry fragments. This complete nothingness, on the contrary, brought a strange tranquility.

However, this tranquility did not last too long.

"Ding — — Detecting that the host's vital signs are extremely weak, and consciousness is on the verge of dissipating, meeting the emergency binding conditions..."

A cold, stiff, emotionless mechanical voice suddenly rang out in this darkness of consciousness, like a stone dropped into a dead lake, stirring up ripples.

"Beginning to scan host's Soul wavelength... Scan complete, uniqueness confirmed."

"Beginning to link to unknown energy source... Link successful."

"Cultivation Backend System is Awakening... 10%... 50%... 100%!"

"System binding successful! host: Lin Ye."

A series of notification sounds, like a grand bell, shook Lin Ye's scattered consciousness, causing it to re-condense.

"What... is that?" A vague thought struggled to surface. Was it an illusion? A final burst of lucidity before death?

He tried hard to "open his eyes," but saw nothing, only "heard" the mechanical voice continue:

"This System aims to assist the host in automated Cultivation, freeing him from the time and energy constraints of traditional meditation and arduous Cultivation. The host can input Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills he has mastered or acquired into the System to create backend hanging-up tasks. Once a task is created, the System will automatically simulate the Cultivation process, accumulate proficiency, and Breakthrough Realms, without requiring active control from the host."

"Current System Version: 1.0 (Basic Edition)."

"Newbie guide starting. Please host, concentrate your Mental Energy and try to summon the System panel."

System? Hanging-up? Automated Cultivation?

These words combined, for Lin Ye, who came from modern society, were both unfamiliar and strangely familiar. Could it be... this was the legendary Golden Finger? Has it finally arrived in my most desperate moment?

A strong will to live and a glimmer of unbelievable hope, like wild grass, grew wildly from the ashes of despair. He almost used all of his re-condensed Mental Energy, silently chanting in his mind: "System panel!"

Om — —

It was as if a beam of light pierced the eternal darkness.

The next moment, a translucent, faintly blue glowing ethereal interface was clearly projected before his consciousness's "eyes." The interface design was simple, with a cold, technological feel, completely out of place in this Cultivation world.

At the top of the interface were several prominent tabs:

"[Status]", "[Cultivation Technique]", "[Task]", "[Log]", "[Shop (unlocked)]".

The currently displayed tab was "[Status]":

host: Lin Ye

Race: Human Race

Bone Age: 16

Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage One (Weakened State)

Vitality: 11% / 100% (Extremely Dangerous, Nearing Exhaustion)

Mental Energy: 8% / 100% (Consciousness Blurry)

Cultivation Techniques Mastered: None

Martial Skills Mastered: None

Looking at the "11%" vitality and the "Extremely Dangerous" prompt, Lin Ye's heart tightened. He had no doubt that if this System hadn't suddenly appeared, his vitality would probably have truly returned to zero.

"It's not an illusion... It's really not an illusion!" Immense ecstasy surged through his consciousness, almost causing him to faint. The excitement of escaping death was inexpressible.

He tried to calm his turbulent emotions, focusing his Mental Energy on the "[Cultivation Technique]" tab.

The interface switched, displaying a blank screen. Below it was a virtual button: "[Input Cultivation Technique]".

Cultivation Technique... The only one he had ever come into contact with was the most basic Martial Skill taught to every Outer Sect Disciple upon entry, used to temper the body — "Iron Sand Palm." This thing wasn't even considered the lowest grade Cultivation Technique; it was more of a means to strengthen the body and assist in certain chores (like chopping wood).

The Cultivation method for "Iron Sand Palm" was very simple: through special striking methods and medicinal baths (Outer Sect Disciples could only use the lowest grade medicinal dregs), the skin, muscles, and even bones of the palms would gradually become tough, containing a trace of faint Qi. The original host had also tried to Cultivate it, but progress was minimal.

"Input 'Iron Sand Palm'!" Lin Ye made the choice without hesitation. This was his only option at the moment.

"Please host, recall in your consciousness the complete Cultivation mantra, force exertion method, and visualization diagrams of 'Iron Sand Palm,'" the System prompted.

Lin Ye concentrated his spirit and began to recall. Fortunately, the original host's memory was still clear, and all the details about "Iron Sand Palm" replayed in his mind like a movie.

"Detecting Cultivation Technique information... Analyzing..."

"Cultivation Technique Name: Iron Sand Palm (Low Grade Mortal Rank)"

"Cultivation Method: External Palm Martial Skill"

"Current Realm: Not yet initiated (Proficiency 0 / 100)"

"Confirm input into System?"

"Low Grade Mortal Rank... as expected, it's the trashiest stuff." Lin Ye chuckled self-deprecatingly, but still firmly confirmed: "Yes!"

"Cultivation Technique successfully input! Added to Cultivation Technique list."

"Ding! Detecting host's first Cultivation Technique input, granting newbie reward: one free backend hanging-up task creation (Task duration: 10 hours). Immediately create a hanging-up task for 'Iron Sand Palm'?"

"Create!" Lin Ye almost roared with his Mental Energy.

"Please set task parameters:"

"Hanging-up Cultivation Technique: Iron Sand Palm (Sole choice)"

"Hanging-up Efficiency: Standard (Proficiency gain: 10 points / hour)"

"Optional Auxiliary Mode: None (Shop unlocked)"

"Estimated Hanging-up Duration: 10 hours"

"Estimated Harvest: Proficiency +100 (Standard efficiency), small chance of comprehending Move insights."

"Confirm task creation?"

"Confirm!" Lin Ye had no hesitation.

"Backend hanging-up task successfully created!"

"Task Target: Iron Sand Palm"

"Remaining Time: 9 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds"

"Current Status: Running..."

As the notification sound faded, Lin Ye saw a new entry in the "[Task]" tab, displaying the "Iron Sand Palm" icon and a countdown clock symbol.

The moment the task started running, he felt an extremely faint, yet truly existing warm current, born from somewhere unknown, slowly flowing through his parched Meridians, eventually converging faintly towards his palms.

This feeling was very strange; he made no movements, didn't deliberately guide anything, yet his body internally began a faint operation that conformed to the "Iron Sand Palm" Cultivation route.

"It really... can Cultivate automatically?" Lin Ye's shock was beyond measure. This System was actually so Heaven-Defying!

Just as he was immersed in the immense impact brought by the System, some sounds and movements came from outside.

"Hey, Lin Ye? Lin Ye! Are you alright?"

"He seems to still have Qi, quick, carry him in!"

"Really, how did he get so exhausted..."

Muffled human voices and the sensation of his body being moved came, indicating that the Disciple in the same room had discovered him collapsed outside the door and carried him back inside.

Lin Ye's consciousness gradually withdrew from the System interface, returning to his physical body. The heavy fatigue and weakness still existed, but the despair of imminent death had dissipated, replaced by a sense of dazedness after escaping disaster and an uncontrollable anticipation.

He was placed on his hard plank bed, and someone covered him with a worn-out thin blanket. He tried hard to open his eyes, but his eyelids were as heavy as a thousand catties, and in the end, he only wiggled his fingers slightly.

No one noticed his subtle movements. The Disciples in the same room discussed for a few moments, then dispersed to rest. In the Outer Sect, as long as a person wasn't dead, it wasn't a big deal.

In the darkness, Lin Ye lay on the cold bed board, his body still extremely weak, but a blazing flame ignited within him.

In his mind, the translucent System panel still floated, the "Iron Sand Palm" hanging-up task silently counting down.

"Remaining Time: 9 hours 58 minutes 01 seconds"

"Hanging-up... Cultivation..." Lin Ye repeatedly chewed on these two words in his heart, the corners of his mouth, unseen in the darkness, struggling to form a barely perceptible arc.

"Steward Zhang... Qingyun Sect... this world..."

"My life, it seems, is about to become different."

With this thought, and the continuous, faint warm current of Cultivation deep within his body, Lin Ye, for the first time, did not fall asleep in fatigue and anxiety, but rather, with a hidden glimmer of hope, sank into a deep sleep.

He didn't know where this System came from, or what the future held, but at least at this moment, he had grasped a lifeline.

A straw strong enough to leverage fate.