At You Family Manor, the dimwitted Cheng Yaojin practiced day and night after receiving the Eight Trigrams Manifestation Axe from You Junda. But hopeless fool that he was, he made a complete mess of it no matter how much he practiced. With the day of the raid on the imperial convoy fast approaching, both men were growing anxious.
That evening, as Cheng Yaojin practiced, his eyelids drooped shut, and he fell asleep.
In his dream, a white-bearded old man taught him an axe technique called the Heavenly Dipper Thirty-Six Axes. Cheng Yaojin practiced with his eyes closed, only for You Junda's shout of approval to interrupt him and send the axe flying from his hands.
"Brother, that axe technique was exquisite-something rarely seen in this world. Could you demonstrate it again and let me broaden my horizons?" You Junda asked.
Cheng Yaojin got up from the ground and dusted himself off. "That shout of yours made me forget the whole thing."
With that, he picked up the Eight Trigrams Manifestation Axe, thought for a moment, and began practicing.
"Split the skull, scoop the ears, little demon picks its teeth, catch the foot..." After three and a half moves, Cheng Yaojin could not remember another thing.
Suddenly, a voice sounded in his mind. "The fourth form: Sweep Across a Thousand Armies."
"Who? Who's talking?" Cheng Yaojin shouted.
You Junda looked bewildered. "Brother, there's only the two of us here. Nobody said anything."
Cheng Yaojin waved him off and listened closely. The voice in his mind said, "Cheng Yaojin, I am the System. I have come to help you pacify this troubled age and establish your dominion. Tell no one of my existence."
"What's a System? Are you joking? Even I, old Cheng, can establish a dominion?" Cheng Yaojin asked.
You Junda