Chapter 5: The Sign-In System
Can someone please tell her what just happened? The stone that had been shattered into four pieces a moment ago suddenly turned into a pile of powder before her eyes.
Then, an inexplicable gust of wind blew in from who-knew-where and carried away even the tiny bit of powder left in her hands. Not a single speck remained — clean and empty, as if it had never existed at all.
Ning Xiyue stared blankly at her now-empty palm, unable to believe that a spiritual spring space — one that could grow plants — had just vanished into thin air.
[Energy accumulation complete. Sign-in system successfully bound. Would the host like to activate the sign-in feature?]
A mechanical voice echoed in Ning Xiyue’s ears, and she could even faintly hear a hiccup between the words.
Still reeling from shock, Ning Xiyue turned toward the source of the sound — the grayish-blue brick. With her finger jabbing at it and gritted teeth, she snapped, “Did you absorb my space? Spit it out! And why did it bind itself to me automatically? Explain yourself — where did you come from?”
“Host, please calm down. I’m your life-saving System No. 3333. We are now one entity. I come from a higher plane. While searching for a suitable host, I happened to witness you being hit by a falling person. I used the last of my energy to save you and bring you here, but then I fell into hibernation. It wasn’t until I sensed an energy fluctuation nearby that I used the brick in your hand to absorb the energy and awaken.”
The system cautiously glanced at Ning Xiyue. Seeing that she wasn’t reacting violently, it continued:
“As for the space you mentioned, it’s already been converted into my energy and can’t be returned. But don’t worry — now that I’ve absorbed it, I can activate the Sign-In System. From now on, you can have anything you want. Infinite possibilities await you. That so-called ‘space golden finger’ is nothing compared to this.”
On the surface, Ning Xiyue kept a cold expression, but inside she was absolutely delighted.
What could make a person happier than having their very own golden finger? Just the name “Sign-In System” already sounded better than some planting space. She wouldn’t have to grow anything herself. And besides, she was still alive — the system had indeed saved her life. Whatever its origins were, this was a net win for her.
Yes, this was a good system.
But she couldn’t show it too easily.
Ning Xiyue kept a straight face. “Introduce the sign-in system to me.”
Ding! [The Sign-In System is an auxiliary growth system designed to help the host reach the pinnacle of life.]
[All you need to do is sign in. You have three chances to sign in each day — morning, noon, and night. Unused sign-ins can accumulate for up to three days. The rewards differ depending on where you sign in, and you’ll need to explore locations on your own. You can sign in at the same location repeatedly, with a cooldown of one day.]
[Each time you sign in, the system will automatically capture a photo of you and the location as proof. A complete photo means a successful sign-in.]
[All sign-in rewards will automatically be stored in the system’s backpack. The backpack’s space is massive — you can store your own belongings in it. Time inside the backpack is frozen, so items will stay fresh and preserved. Note: living things cannot be stored yet. Additional features will unlock later.]
[Other system rules are for the host to discover.]
Ning Xiyue was quite satisfied with the mention of a system backpack.
It was essentially a personal storage space — and anything she put inside would come out in the exact same state. That meant she could stockpile cooked food inside and enjoy it fresh and hot whenever she wanted.
Ding! [Would the host like to activate sign-in now?]
Ning Xiyue knocked on the brick. “Hold on. Isn’t there supposed to be a newbie gift pack? Every system gives one. Since you absorbed such a rare treasure, shouldn’t you reward me with a gift? I won’t ask for much — just give me, say, a hundred or so catties of flour or white rice.”
The system froze for a second. As expected of Host 3333 — she’d take anything she could get. It quickly responded in a fawning tone:
“Dearest host, we do have a gift pack! After you activate the sign-in system, you’ll receive three bonus sign-in chances. Use them well, and you could turn a losing hand into a winning one!”
“Fine, activate the sign-in system.” Ning Xiyue decided to quit while she was ahead. There was no need to make things difficult for the system. After all, it had saved her life — and they were partners now. There was plenty of time ahead.
Ding! [Sign-in system activated. Current sign-in chances: 5.]
Ding! [Sign-in location detected: Machinery Factory Residential Compound. Would the host like to sign in?]
Ning Xiyue thought for a moment. She had five chances now, plus one more later in the evening, making six total. With so many opportunities, it wouldn’t hurt to test the waters and figure out the rules. “Start sign-in.”
Ding! [Sign-in successful. Congratulations, Host. You have received: Weapon – One Brick, Industrial Vouchers ×5. Items have been placed in the system backpack. Please check them promptly.]
Ning Xiyue watched as the brick she had been holding vanished from her hand. At the same time, a system backpack appeared, floating in midair.
Inside it, the “weapon – brick” looked extremely familiar — almost identical to the chipped green brick she had just been holding. Even the crack pattern was the same.
Ning Xiyue: “???”
Was this some kind of joke?
She took the brick out and examined it closely. Sure enough, it was the same brick she’d been using to prop up her table — the surface still covered in dust, complete with her fingerprints.
“System, what’s the meaning of this? Explain. I’m starting to doubt your professionalism.” Ning Xiyue shot a suspicious look at the system, which had now manifested as a small turtle floating in the air.
As System No.3333 — an award-winning system of the year — how could it tolerate its host doubting its capabilities? The turtle straightened up, puffed out its chest, and said solemnly:
“Host, the real sign-in reward is the five industrial vouchers. This brick is an extra bonus for your first sign-in.
“Don’t underestimate it. It’s no longer an ordinary brick. When I absorbed energy through it, it transformed. After further system enhancements, it’s now incredibly durable — nothing on this planet can break it. It also comes with a buff that enhances your strength. Think of it as spinach for Popeye — only better.”
The little turtle’s beady eyes “casually” glanced at the wound on Ning Xiyue’s forehead. “With this brick, you won’t have to worry about being too weak to win a fight. It’s the perfect weapon for dealing with scumbags. Moms everywhere can rest easy knowing their kids won’t be bullied again.”
Ning Xiyue ignored the system’s teasing remark and weighed the brick in her hand with interest.
Everyone online said that anything produced by a system was guaranteed to be top-notch. A system-enhanced brick had to be the same. If Zhang Yuanjin didn’t repay his debt this afternoon, she could test out her new weapon on him.
“How much of a strength boost can it give me?”
“Host, the brick’s power enhancement has no limit — the stronger your opponent, the stronger you’ll become. You’ll always be stronger than them. You can even adjust the strength level at will, for a fully customized experience.”
“As expected of my life-saving system. Five stars, highly recommended.”
Ning Xiyue was thoroughly pleased with the reward — it was exactly what she needed. The most important thing when out in the world was safety — the ability to protect herself.
From now on, anyone who dared to mess with her would get a nice brick massage to the face.
And if one brick didn’t solve the problem? Well, two bricks surely would.
After studying the brick for a while and getting a general idea of its properties, Ning Xiyue pulled out the five industrial vouchers from the backpack and examined them.
In this era, everything required ration tickets, and everyone was short on them. Even though the original owner’s parents were both factory workers, their family was always lacking in tickets. The fact that she could get such scarce items just by signing in made the system truly the greatest golden finger she could have in this time period.
However, Ning Xiyue still had some doubts about the industrial vouchers she received from the sign-in system…
