10: Chapter 10: System V1.0 Fully Unlocked

Main Peak, Law Enforcement Hall main hall.

The air here was always three degrees colder than elsewhere, and the pillars around were carved with ferocious Taotie beasts, as if ready to chew up any intruder at any moment.

"Is this the explanation you've come up with?"

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai sat high on the dais, his turbid yet sinister eyes staring fixedly at the two people below.

His fingers tapped forcefully against the table, emitting an annoying "tap-tap" sound.

"A piece of... trash paper titled 'Refusing to Fill the Pit, Stopping the Bleeding for the Sect'?"

Shen Xingzhou stood in the center of the main hall. Although his legs were trembling slightly, his back was straight.

He presented a three-page briefing with both hands.

"Reporting to Elder, this is not just a briefing, but also the 'Survival Plan' for Hengchuan Peak for the next three months."

Shen Xingzhou's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the spacious hall.

"We analyzed the data from the past five years and found a serious imbalance between the battle attrition rate and resource allocation. It is not that Hengchuan Peak does not want to fight, but that it cannot."

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai snorted coldly: "That is because you are trash. Look at Zhijian Peak; with the same resources, why is their battle attrition only 9%?"

"Because Zhijian Peak throws all their messes at us."

A lazy female voice came from behind Shen Xingzhou.

Peak Master Luo Qingyi, who had been keeping her eyes closed to rest, slowly opened them.

She did not stand up, not even changing her posture, but the sharp Sword Intent that erupted in that instant caused the temperature in the hall to plummet, making even Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai stop his tapping hand.

"Elder Lu."

Peak Master Luo Qingyi looked at the old man on the dais, the corners of her mouth curling into an extremely perfunctory smile, "Since you are so good at calculating, why don't you calculate how many people would die if there were no buffer like Hengchuan Peak, and the next wave of Devilish Qi backlash charged directly into your Law Enforcement Hall's backyard?"

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai's face turned livid as he stared fixedly at this "discarded pawn" he hadn't seen in ten years.

"Are you threatening the Sect?"

"I am stopping the bleeding for the Sect."

Shen Xingzhou added a timely blow, pushing the briefing forward an inch, "As long as you give us three months, we will use the 'Scrapyard Restructuring' method to suppress the battle attrition rate of Hengchuan Peak. Furthermore, we will not ask the Sect for a single penny of additional resources."

"Three months."

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he sneered, waved his hand, and the briefing was swept onto his desk by a gust of palm wind.

"Fine. Since Peak Master Luo Qingyi has such confidence, I will give you three months."

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai's voice was sinister, "But I will say the ugly words first. After three months, if the battle attrition rate does not drop but rises, or if you play any tricks..."

"At that time, not only will there be a reckoning, but I will personally go to Hengchuan Peak and throw you all into the Merit Furnace, leaving not even a scrap."

Shen Xingzhou and Peak Master Luo Qingyi looked at each other and bowed in unison.

"As you command."

...

The moment they walked out of the Law Enforcement Hall, the sunlight outside was somewhat blinding.

Shen Xingzhou let out a long breath, feeling that the cold sweat on his back dared to emerge only now.

"Three months... This old thing really wants us to die."

"Three months is enough."

Peak Master Luo Qingyi stretched, walking lightly down the mountain, "As long as you don't miscalculate the accounts, I can kill enough people."

The two walked one after another on the mountain path back to Hengchuan Peak.

Just as they were about to step into the territory of Hengchuan Peak, the System in Shen Xingzhou's mind suddenly emitted a crisp "ding" sound without warning.

The sound was crisp and pleasant, like the clinking of a money bag when a transaction was successful.

[System Notification:]

[Critical task chain detected as complete:]

Successfully established "Restructuring Pilot" qualification under the high pressure of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Successfully pulled in a "High-Authority Responsible Entity" endorsement (Peak Master Luo Qingyi).

Established "Three-Month Bet Agreement."

[heavens m&a reorganization system V1.0 Layoff Self-Rescue Edition — Fully Unlocked.]

Shen Xingzhou paused his steps, and the world before his eyes was instantly enveloped by a huge pale blue light screen.

This interface was much more complex than the previous crude semi-finished product, and also more... despair-inducing.

[Congratulations Host, System upgrade complete.]

[Current Version: V1.0 (Full Version)]

[Core function modules unlocked:]

① Sacrifice List Visualization (Activated)

Real-time viewing of liquidation priority at the peak and Sect level.

② Sacrifice Priority Fine-tuning (Activated)

Daily available quota: 1 person.

Note: Can only be postponed, not deleted.

③ Hengchuan Peak Disciple Performance and Sentiment Reading (New)

Real-time monitoring of work status and mental health of all signed Disciples.

Warning: When sentiment value is below -80, the System will automatically mark them as an "Unstable Factor."

④ Small Project Initiation and Settlement (New)

Allows the Host to initiate "Restructuring Projects" and automatically calculates the input-output ratio.

Current maximum concurrent projects: 3.

"Performance and sentiment..."

Shen Xingzhou looked at the newly appeared icon, and his head suddenly began to ache faintly.

He knew that the so-called "sentiment reading" meant that in the future, he would not only have to calculate money but also act as a psychological counselor for this group of resentful Disciples.

"System, open my personal panel."

[Host: Shen Xingzhou]

Identity: Hengchuan Peak · Temporary Person-in-Charge (Observation Period)

Cultivation: Spirit Gathering Realm · Late Stage (↑, expected Breakthrough probability in three days: 31%)

Lifespan: 23/78 (Severely overdrawn)

Personal Credit Rating: D+ (↑ Participating in Restructuring Project 1, partially fulfilled)

Asset Status:

Karma Balance: 5 points

Debt: 37 points

Team Status:

Resentment Pool: About to open

Hengchuan Peak Total Resentment Value: 83% (Extremely high)

Unlocked Permissions:

See above (already listed)

Shen Xingzhou stared at the "Cultivation: expected Breakthrough probability in three days: 31%" and the corners of his mouth twitched.

"Hey, System, you even calculate when I can have a Breakthrough?"

"And you even give me a probability? Do you really take me for the protagonist, who can level up just by taking a sip of water?"

[System Reply:]

[This System is based on big data model calculations.]

[Host's recent Spiritual Qi intake has increased (due to binge eating caused by anxiety), and you have been in a high-pressure environment for a long time, with Mental Energy at a critical point, fitting the characteristics of a "Passive Breakthrough."]

[Suggestion: Prepare painkillers. The failure rate of the Breakthrough is 69%, which may be accompanied by damage to the Meridians.]

"...Shut up."

Shen Xingzhou rolled his eyes, feeling that this System was not only a black-hearted boss but also a prophet of doom.

He continued to look down, his gaze landing on the shocking "Hengchuan Peak Total Resentment Value: 83%."

"What does 'Resentment Pool is about to open' mean?"

[Explanation:]

[Resentment is one of the important fuel sources for the Three Realms and is also a direct cause of the 'Quantified Tribulation.']

[When the Resentment Pool accumulates to a certain level, the System will open the 'Resentment Mall.']

[Host can use the Resentment generated by Disciples to exchange for special items (e.g., Talismans to temporarily suppress Heavenly Tribulation, forced calmness potions, etc.).]

[But please note: Resentment is a double-edged sword. Once the Resentment value explodes, the Host will face 'Heavenly Dao Backlash.']

Shen Xingzhou felt that the road in front of him was floating a bit.

"So not only do I have to do work for everyone, but I also have to collect their Resentment to exchange for life-saving Talismans?"

[Friendly Reminder: If the restructuring fails and the "Three-Month Bet" goal is not met,]

[Host will be liquidated together with the Hengchuan Peak project.]

[At that time, your Resentment value will become the highest record in the System.]

Shen Xingzhou stopped abruptly.

Peak Master Luo Qingyi in front turned to look at him: "What? Can't walk anymore?"

"No."

Shen Xingzhou took a deep breath, looking at the azure sky above, and suddenly revealed a smile that was uglier than crying.

"I almost thought just now... that I really had a future."

He looked at the cold red text on the System interface: [Friendly Reminder...].

"Thank you, System. Every time I just think I can do it, you give me a slap in the face."

[System Reply:]

[Please do not have unrealistic expectations of the System's personality.]

[This System only provides tools and is not responsible for comfort.]

[Our goal is: Restructuring after bankruptcy liquidation, not spiritual massage.]

Shen Xingzhou sighed and resignedly started walking again.

"Fine, a tool is a tool. As long as I can survive, I'll be a hammer if I have to."

At this time, the two had already walked back to the Hengchuan Peak territory.

Shen Xingzhou subconsciously looked up toward the peak.

Suddenly, his pupils contracted slightly.

Just above the dilapidated mountain gate of Hengchuan Peak, in the originally empty sky, an extremely faint, extremely obscure golden halo had appeared at some point.

That halo was like a huge eye, silently overlooking the entire mountain peak.

Was that... Heavenly Dao?

Or some kind of mark left by the System?

[Detection: "Experimental Field" mark has taken effect.]

[Hengchuan Peak status: Being piloted.]

[Connecting to the entire Three Realms data interface... Progress 1%.]

Shen Xingzhou felt a chill all over his body.

He felt that he had not returned home, but had walked into a huge, invisible glass tank.

Outside the tank, countless eyes were staring at this group of ants struggling in the trash heap.

"Shen Xingzhou, what are you looking at?"

Peak Master Luo Qingyi's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Nothing, Peak Master."

Shen Xingzhou withdrew his gaze and lowered his head, looking at the soil under his feet, where countless scrap iron was buried, and countless hopes were also buried.

"I just feel... these three months might be very long."

"Long is good."

Peak Master Luo Qingyi waved her hand, carrying her broken sword toward the Immortal Cave, "Only by living long can you watch more of the play."

Shen Xingzhou stood in place, watching her back, with the cold System interface appearing in his mind.

V1.0 Fully Unlocked.

Performance Hell, officially opened.

"Let's go."

He said to himself.

"Time to settle the accounts."