System

"Trade?" Three enormous question marks popped up over Shen Mo's little head.

[Sorry, Host. Due to insufficient energy, an error occurred during the memory transfer. The Heavenly Dao has now set its sights on us, and the system can no longer retransmit the memories to Host.]

"...Memories?"

How had this become about memories again? Did these memories refer to the memories between himself and this so-called system? Or some other memories?

Whether he believed this so-called "system" or not, Shen Mo felt like he had two heads and two brains right now.

"What exactly do you mean by this trade? Could you explain it in a little more detail? You can tell me whatever part you're allowed to." Shen Mo found a chair in his spatial storage, took it out, and sat down.

He also pulled out a bag of potato chips, tore it open, and ate while asking. He did not look anxious in the slightest, leisurely and unhurried.

System: ...

[Although the system cannot tell Host too much, we have signed a soul contract. The system will absolutely not harm Host.]

Shen Mo (cracking sunflower seeds): I'll just smile without saying a word. Go on, see if I believe you.

Seeing his attitude, the system was somewhat helpless and continued explaining.

[This world is very dangerous for Host. While surviving, Host must also complete the tasks issued by the system.]

[Although Host has not recovered the memories, the system has already fulfilled what it promised Host. The contract has been formed; from here on, it depends on Host.]

[Host only needs to know that this is a fair and just trade.]

"Tsk... I don't have my memories, so I can't tell whether what you're saying is true or false. That alone makes this unfair to me. But I really did sense this contract. However..."

After finishing the potato chips, Shen Mo opened another bag of rice crackers. Hearing the system's words left a trace of displeasure in his heart. Even as his mouth acknowledged it, his tone abruptly changed.

"The memories could originally have been transferred successfully. Your side made a mistake, so shouldn't you compensate me?"

The system fell silent for a moment.

[That is true, but the system's energy is about to be exhausted. There is no way for it to help Host. Sorry.]

"Fine, let's set that aside for now. Those jade stones I worked so hard to collect—you were behind that too, weren't you?"

System: ...

[The system did absorb a portion of the jade stones' energy, but most of the energy was given to Host's Ashen Ruin Cauldron.

There is a space inside the Ashen Ruin Cauldron that Host may be able to use in this world.

This is the only help the system can provide Host. The system lacks energy and is about to enter dormancy. It hopes Host can actively complete system tasks.]

"After all that, I still don't understand. What exactly are these tasks you're talking about? And how am I supposed to collect the energy you need?"

Unfortunately, the system did not continue answering.

"Hey, System, don't tell me you're going dormant right now?" Shen Mo poured the last bits of rice crackers into his mouth, irritation rising in his heart.

Unfortunately, he still received no reply.

"This system is way too unreliable, isn't it?"

Shen Mo dusted the crumbs from his hands and put away the stool beneath him, thinking over what the system had just said.

"The system seemed to say there's a space inside the Medicine Cauldron?"

No way. Was it really what he thought it was?

Shen Mo closed his eyes and sensed the Medicine Cauldron within the deep sea. Aside from the crack that had originally split it, it did not seem to have changed much.

His soul within the deep sea brushed over the patterns on the cauldron's surface, then leaned closer to examine them more carefully.

But the instant his soul touched the cauldron, white light burst forth.

When he opened his eyes again, Shen Mo found himself standing on an unfamiliar patch of grass.

He raised his head and looked around.

Only then did he realize the air here was fresh, carrying a faint trace of spiritual energy. Looking up, he could see no boundary; only hazy white mist shrouded the distance. Within sight lay countless medicinal fields, and a small river wound its way down beside them.

Everything here was utterly out of place with the apocalypse, like another world entirely.

It seemed the system had not lied after all. He had truly stumbled upon a bargain. No wonder it could provide medicinal herbs on its own—there was a space inside it.

No! This could not even be called a space anymore. It was practically a small world. Though it could not compare to those secret realms filled with rare treasures, for Shen Mo now, it was like sending charcoal in the snow—nothing could have been more fitting.