Seized by the System

“Our First King had met his demise before he could finish his great vision. However, the conflict within our clan had begun right after that. It is currently a critical period for us. Petty people had risen, while the brave and righteous had fallen fighting for their ideals. Our city is under siege, with an external threat risk of losing our electrical power source and an internal concern of food shortage. On a higher level, there is an evil entity masterminding the fall of our beloved city, on a lower level, our brethren are living in chaotic confusion.

“Let us hark back to mere several years ago when our people were struggling to survive while picking scraps in human cities. It has only been a couple years, we have managed to provide for ourselves and own this land as beautiful as paradise. Everyone had been working hard to attain this level of liberation and autonomy.

“The situation now is dire. A catastrophe was going to be sprung onto us without further notice. Can we watch as all our medals of achievements be washed away?

“Do you want this to happen?

“Do you want to return to the dark ages?”

Bai Shixin’s speech echoed in the lightless underground city of the Greater Rats through his spiritual force.

In the darkness, countless pairs of eyes slowly began to moisten.

Streams of faint white auras gathered from each of their bodies.

This was the Clan Energy, the only other energy that could rival Morality!

“I can’t, I never want to be beaten by humans again, never want to survive with the scraps we only get from dumpsters, I never want to relive the dark, wet caves where we constantly cower in fear!” muttered a Greater Rat.

“I can’t either, I can’t live without a computer or the internet, I want to keep watching humans’ live streams, movies, and cartoons!” echoed another.

“Even though Elder Ancestor had fallen, we should charge forward with even more conviction and continue the dream of our founder, so that us Greater Rats can live honorably and gloriously on our own!

“The bright future and freedom that we enjoyed, are we to endure the prospect that we will never move forward without Elder Ancestor Bai? Without him, will we return to the age of old and give up on all these that we achieved?

“Elder Ancestor Bai would not want to see a Greater Rat Clan like this, it would only sadden him and his holy spirit!”

Bai Shixin kept his voice resounding.

At the same time, Elder Ancestor Bai who was being locked up in Morality City kept hearing people whispering his name, to his confusion. All of the words were praises, but it seemed out-of-place…

He was still a Lake-level powerhouse on a path of godhood. As long as someone who believes in him mentioned his name, he would sense it.

As for those who doubt him, he could still sense them, just not as easy.

Those words were still continuing.

“We need to accept this with chins up and eyes forward, keep our pain and agony in the deepest parts of our hearts, and march forward with all the willpower we have. That would be what Elder Ancestor Bai had hoped for!

“Tomorrow, we will hold an official funeral march for him, and his divine gaze will be upon us!

“His soul in the Heavens will always be observing the Greater Rat Clan, standing tall on this planet, and forever existing in this universe!

“He had moved on, but he will forever live in the hearts of every one of us. The weight of his death will be heavier than Mount Tai!”

“How did he die…” asked a voice weakly.

Bai Shixin seemed to be able to hear these voices in the darkness, so he answered them.

“Elder Ancestor Bai had developed an entire land for our clan, but his talents were envied by the Heavens, who cast misfortune and death upon him. Like many others that came before us in building the city, his sacrifice is one of utmost nobility that was made for an entire clan!

“However, some petty people were trying to fish in troubled waters, holding their personal benefits above the clan. Their deaths will disappear faster than weeds!

“Let this be a reminder to us all. Only when the whole clan thrives can an individual thrive.”

The night passed with everyone contemplating Bai Shixin’s words in the darkness or under dim candlelight.

The loss of power citywide had forced them to accept the reality. Elder Ancestor Bai was gone, and they need to continue their lives.

Novels were enjoyable, games were fun, and rice was fragrant, but without Elder Ancestor Bai, they would need a new leader before they could maintain the enjoyment of their lives…

No matter what, they should not panic. Their neighbors above ground had repeatedly given them examples through action.

…

The next day, power was reconnected suddenly and light flooded the entire city.

All the citizens were dressed in white mourning outfits…

Bai Shixin had led the procession himself in representation of Elder Ancestor Bai’s direct descendants.

The real descendant was, however, nowhere to be seen. It knew its father was alive and well, after all…

It was a grand and extravagant procession…

Vigilante A stood on the city wall, observing the procession.

The System mused in boredom, “I didn’t kill that Old Man Bai, why would these people have a procession for him?”

“Heh, he has to appear dead even if he didn’t. Five hundred years under that rock, it would be easier for those ambitionists to portray them as dead…” Fang Ning laughed, not feeling surprised by the march.

“Why?” The System was totally confused.

“Easy, if he doesn’t die, how could the power transfer over to the new administration? Would they want to reign behind a curtain ¹ ? Do you want them to run all the way to Morality City to make any major decisions? Who would do that?” Fang Ning explained.

“That so complicated. I’m just an honest system, I can’t do that.”

“That’s right. You can continue to farm monsters and cultivate your techniques. Just leave these complicated things to me,” said Fang Ning as an idea come into his head.

“Hm? You’ve always been a procrastinator and would try and get out of doing work, why are you so different this time? Are you planning something now?” The System caught the hint.

It did not know the changes in politics, but it knew Fang Ning. After all, it had lived in his body for close to two years…

“Don’t just accuse me, do I look like the type to stir the pot? I advocate peace to the world. If the world is not in peace, can I find a place to play?” Fang Ning retorted.

“Oh, I know. You must be planning to play… I know, the underground network of the Greater Rats are so advanced as they prioritize their information industry, so you’re trying to make them develop the gaming industry, aren’t you? Just like how you made the Spiritual Insect Clan develop their novel industry,” said the System sharply.

Fang Ning immediately surrendered and said, “You’re good, just like theproverbial insect inside my stomach ² , you guessed everything I was thinking.”

“Oh, you don’t have an insect inside your stomach, so I’m not an insect. I replayed your thoughts while you have the proverbial lightbulb moment,” quipped the System.

“Damn,” Fang Ning could not retort, “you’re so proud about it.”

“Can I not? A wise man once said, your body is like a bodhi tree, your heart is like a vanity, only by wiping them clean frequently can you avoid a dusty destiny. You have too many resources with you, I gotta nip your deviousness in the bud.”

“Just relax. I spend all of my days inside the System Space, even if I have devious thoughts, I would have no way to execute them.”

…

Wearing hemp ³ at the procession, Bai Shifu was pretending to cry, but inside, he was admiring his brother.

He was the finest strategist among us after all. Everything that he had done before was so that our clansmen could realize a truth.

Only by his immediate rise to power can they maintain their current lifestyle.

Indeed, the one inciting a riot outside the city had the royal secret technique, but he was not someone who knew to maintain order.

Everything that Bai Shixin had done was to win their clansmen over so that he could officially rise to power.

The word “official” was inconspicuous, but it made a huge difference.

It could sway the silent majority who would never make noise but hold the majority of power.

With that, the target at which the Clan Energy was focused would slowly shift from Elder Ancestor Bai to Bai Shixin.

This tactic was a powerful one, as it basically cuts off the old rat’s main source of power.

After that, the old rat would really become the archetype of “Spent All the Money Before Achieving Godhood”…