Master of the System

Chapter 161

Howard received his reward from the headmaster, bowing his head as he accepted the box of pills and golden medallion. As the first person to pass the entrance exam, this was his righteven if he did have a little mishap with the door. He was given a universe pill and a great scholar medallion along with the standard thirty spirit-gathering pills that were distributed to everyone in the top ten. The headmaster placed his aged hand on Howards shoulder. Work hard.

Howard nodded an bowed his head even lower. This was the first step to his rise to greatness. When the headmasters body stopped blocking the light, Howard glanced at the other two people standing on the stage with him. The second-place student was a girl, the one who had ridden the ostrich. The testing formation outside didnt only gauge ones endurance. As long as their willpower was high enough, they would instantly pass the test. If it werent for that, Howard wouldve had to make do with second place. As for the third-place contestant, Howard wasnt quite sure what to think about him? Her? It? Simply put, the third-place student was a spiritually enlightened cactus. It was a tall cactus with a long torso, stubby green cactus legs, and stubby green cactus arms. In the middle of its body, where a humans stomach would be, there was a face made of knots and gouges.

Howard noticed the headmaster had touched every students shoulder except for the cactus. For a brief moment, Howard felt sorry for the cactus, but then he realized the cactus probably didnt care. Spiritually enlightened plants didnt care much for companionship, love, attention, or feelings; they didnt have pride or greed. All they wanted was spiritual energy, sunlight, and water. However, Howard thought he saw something in the cactus expression, but he couldnt be sure. The plants face wasnt very expressive. Howard turned his attention away from the cactus. He wasnt concerned about it. His greatest rival should be the girl who was in second place. She was staring off into space, and it made Howard wonder if she also saw floating lines of text in her vision. Speaking of which, the floating text was telling him to do something strange.

[New Mission: Building Connections!]

[What is a great student? A student who spends all his time alone in the library? A student who aces every exam? No! A great student is one who builds lots of connections whilst in school! There are only so many things a single person can achieve by themselves, and theyll find it impossible to do certain things without the help of others. As a student attending the greatest academy in the world, your current peers are bound to be future leaders of the world, moving mountains and splitting seas with one command. Having these people as your allies will help you accomplish difficult tasks with twice the result and half the effort. Before the week is over, become someones sworn brother!]

[Reward: Eidetic Memory]

Howards brow furrowed. Could something like eidetic memory even be given as a reward? Who wouldnt want the ability to remember everything they saw simply by glancing at it once? What exactly was this system that he had encountered?

[You can doubt your own eyes and ears, but you shouldnt doubt the system! Giving you eidetic memory is simply the first step, a minor reward.]

Really? Howard raised his eyebrows. What other rewards did the system have?

[User level too low! Please become a better student to unlock more information about the system.]

Howards expression darkened. When he was about to question the system some more, the girl beside him shuffled away. He turned his head to look at her, but she was staring at him as if he were mentally troubled. What was going on?

[Your expression changed three times in the span of five seconds. Itd be weird if someone didnt think you had a problem. If youre thinking of making that girl your sworn sister, I suggest you look elsewhere to accomplish your mission. The first impression you gave her is simply too strong. From now on, shell only see you as the weirdo until you do something major to change her perception.]

Howard turned his head away. It wasnt like he was planning on becoming sworn brother and sister with his greatest rival. He would use her as a whetstone, a motivational tool to keep training. If he ever slacked, then shed surpass him, and he wouldnt allow that to happen. He had to be the best!

[Being the best doesnt mean anything! Hurry up and search for someone worthy of being your sworn brother!]

Dismissed!

Howard raised his head. It was the end of the entrance ceremony. He had been distracted for most of it thanks to the system messages in his eyes, but they were unimportant anyway. What was important was going to the library to choose a new cultivation method. As new students, they were given a chance to enter the first floor of the academys library for one hour. It was said that the library contained every book in the world and was humanitys greatest source of knowledge. If one could memorize every book inside, then all of human knowledge would be at their fingertips. The first floor mightve only held some unimportant cultivation methods, but to Howard, those unimportant cultivation methods were things that could change the course of his life. Without bothering to get to know his fellow students, Howard rushed towards the library. There was a map of the academy near the entrance, and he had memorized it long ago.

[Student! Please dont ignore the systems advice. Connections are more important than cultivation methods. The system can provide you with many ways to become stronger, but it cant give you any friends!]

Peh! On the path of cultivation, who needed friends? When he became an immortal, who knew how many of his friends wouldve long turned to dust? Clearly, it was much better to become stronger first and make friends later. Howard went into the library, determined to pick the strongest cultivation technique that would change his life!

[Student, if you obtain a sworn sibling, youll be given an eidetic memory. Wont you be able to memorize all the cultivation techniques in the library that you want that way?]

***

Pravos stared at her computer screen with a blank expression. The cord at the back of the computer was connected to the microwave. She glanced to the side, and Azalea raised her head, meeting Pravos gaze. What is it? Azalea asked.

Pravos bit her lower lip. Do you want to trade users?

No, Im good, thanks, Azalea said, turning her attention back onto her computer. Why dont you just uninstall the system from Howard and replace him? Clearly, his brain is made of muscles.

But his potential is the highest out of everyone there.

It doesnt matter how good someones potential is if theyre a moron, Azalea said. She gestured towards herself. Look at me. I was supposed to reach the nascent-soul stage and slowly pass away, but Im a god now thanks to my ability of being able to read the room.

Pravos furrowed her brow and leaned over, peeking at Azaleas screen. Is that why you chose the cactus to be your user? I didnt think it was that smart.

No, Azalea said, her expression darkening. This cactus is a moron. I dont think it even knows how to read.

Pravos let out a sad chuckle. I guess were both pretty bad at picking users, huh?

Azalea glanced at Pravos from the corner of her eyes. Azalea was just testing out the system, using the cactus as a practice user. However, she didnt think itd be right to refute Pravos now. The god of justice looked so down; Azalea couldnt help but feel a little bad for her. Yeah, well, yeah. I guess.