The Transmigrated Alchemist's Revenge System

Chapter 3

# **Chapter 3: "System Activation"**

Alex sat in stunned silence for several minutes after Xiao Long's hasty departure, staring at the translucent interface that hung in his vision like a holographic display. The blue screen pulsed gently, waiting for his input, filled with options and information that defied everything he thought he knew about reality.

**[REVENGE SYSTEM - MAIN INTERFACE]**

**[HOST: ALEX CHEN / XIAO FENG]**

**[INTEGRATION STATUS: COMPLETE]**

**[BODY CONDITION: SEVERELY DAMAGED]**

**[CULTIVATION LEVEL: CRIPPLED]**

**[SYSTEM LEVEL: 1]**

**[ACTIVE MISSIONS:]**

**[PRIMARY: DEFEAT LIU WEI IN SINGLE COMBAT]**

**[REWARD: BASIC CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE + 100 SYSTEM POINTS]**

**[TIME LIMIT: 7 DAYS]**

**[SYSTEM SHOP: ACCESSIBLE]**

**[ANALYSIS MODE: AVAILABLE]**

**[REVENGE TARGETS: 1 IDENTIFIED]**

"This is insane," Alex muttered, reaching out tentatively to touch the floating display. His finger passed through it, but somehow the interface responded to his mental commands. "A video game system in a cultivation world. What's next, respawn points?"

**[CLARIFICATION: THIS IS NOT A GAME. THIS IS A TOOL FOR JUSTICE.]**

The text appeared in response to his thoughts, confirming that the System could read his mind. Alex felt a chill run down his spine. Having his consciousness transferred to another world was one thing, but having something actively monitoring his thoughts was another entirely.

"Justice?" Alex said aloud. "Or revenge? Because those aren't the same thing."

**[QUERY: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUSTICE AND REVENGE WHEN THE LEGAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT?]**

The question hung in the air, and Alex found himself without an immediate answer. In his old world, he'd believed in due process, in legal systems and institutional justice. But Elder Han's crime had been covered up, hidden behind the authority of the cultivation world's hierarchy. Xiao Feng had been denied any form of redress for three years of suffering.

"Point taken," Alex admitted. "But I still don't understand what you are or why you chose me."

**[SYSTEM ORIGIN: CLASSIFIED]**

**[SELECTION CRITERIA: COMPATIBLE SOUL SIGNATURE + SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE + PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH INJUSTICE]**

**[PURPOSE: RESTORATION OF COSMIC BALANCE]**

"Cosmic balance?" Alex laughed bitterly. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of chosen one. I'm just a pharmaceutical researcher who got too close to something he shouldn't have."

**[CORRECTION: YOU ARE A PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCHER WHO SUCCESSFULLY SYNTHESIZED IMPOSSIBLE COMPOUNDS THROUGH INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURES. YOUR DEATH WAS ORCHESTRATED TO PREVENT DISRUPTION OF NATURAL ORDER IN YOUR ORIGINAL WORLD.]**

That brought Alex up short. "My death was orchestrated? By who?"

**[THAT INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY BEYOND YOUR CLEARANCE LEVEL. FOCUS ON IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES.]**

"My clearance level?" Alex felt his anger rising. "I'm the one stuck in this situation! I think I deserve to know why!"

**[KNOWLEDGE WILL BE REVEALED AS YOU PROGRESS. CURRENT PRIORITY: SURVIVAL AND MISSION COMPLETION.]**

Alex clenched his fists, frustrated by the System's evasiveness. But he had to admit it had a point. Whatever cosmic conspiracy had led to his death and transmigration, his immediate problem was much more practical: how to defeat Liu Wei in combat when his meridians were crippled.

"Fine," he said. "Show me what you've got. How exactly am I supposed to win a fight against someone who can actually use qi?"

**[ACCESSING SYSTEM SHOP...]**

The interface shifted, displaying a list of options that made Alex's eyes widen. Items, techniques, and abilities were arranged in categories, each with a point cost and description.

**[BASIC TECHNIQUES:]**

**[MERIDIAN REPAIR PILL (GRADE 1) - 500 POINTS]**

**[TEMPORARY QI BOOST - 50 POINTS]**

**[COMBAT ANALYSIS - 25 POINTS]**

**[POISON RESISTANCE - 75 POINTS]**

**[KNOWLEDGE DOWNLOADS:]**

**[BASIC ALCHEMY - 100 POINTS]**

**[HERBAL MEDICINE - 150 POINTS]**

**[PRESSURE POINT TECHNIQUES - 200 POINTS]**

**[SPECIAL ABILITIES:]**

**[MOLECULAR SIGHT - 300 POINTS]**

**[CELLULAR REGENERATION - 1000 POINTS]**

**[SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT - 2000 POINTS]**

"And how many points do I have?" Alex asked, though he suspected he wouldn't like the answer.

**[CURRENT SYSTEM POINTS: 0]**

**[POINTS EARNED THROUGH MISSION COMPLETION AND REVENGE ACTIONS]**

"Perfect," Alex said sarcastically. "So I need to complete a mission to earn points, but I need points to complete the mission. Classic catch-22."

**[ALTERNATIVE METHODS AVAILABLE. ANALYZING HOST CAPABILITIES...]**

**[ANALYSIS COMPLETE: HOST POSSESSES ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE APPLICABLE TO CULTIVATION WORLD CHEMISTRY]**

**[RECOMMENDATION: UTILIZE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE ADVANTAGES WITHOUT SYSTEM EXPENDITURE]**

Alex paused, considering this. The System was right—he didn't need magical pills or special techniques if he could apply his pharmaceutical knowledge to this world's materials. He'd already proven that his scientific understanding worked here when he'd analyzed the concept of meridians as bioelectric pathways.

"Show me a detailed analysis of my current physical condition," Alex commanded.

**[DETAILED BODY ANALYSIS INITIATED...]**

The interface expanded, displaying what looked like a full-body medical scan. Alex's breath caught as he saw the extent of Xiao Feng's injuries. The meridian network was mapped in red, showing dozens of blockages and damaged pathways throughout his body.

**[MERIDIAN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT:]**

**[PRIMARY CHANNELS: 73% BLOCKED]**

**[SECONDARY CHANNELS: 89% BLOCKED]**

**[TERTIARY CHANNELS: 100% BLOCKED]**

**[DANTIAN: SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT FUNCTIONAL]**

**[RECOVERY ASSESSMENT: IMPOSSIBLE THROUGH CONVENTIONAL MEANS]**

"But not impossible through unconventional means," Alex mused, his scientific mind already working on the problem. "Show me the cellular structure of the blockages."

The display zoomed in, showing him the molecular level damage. What he saw made him gasp. The meridian blockages weren't just scar tissue—they were organized crystal formations that had grown within the energy pathways, completely disrupting the flow of qi.

"This wasn't an accident," Alex said with growing certainty. "This is deliberate sabotage. Someone introduced crystalline structures into the meridian network to create permanent blockages."

**[ANALYSIS CONFIRMED: ARTIFICIAL MERIDIAN POISONING DETECTED]**

**[POISON TYPE: CRYSTALLINE QI DISRUPTION COMPOUND]**

**[SOURCE: ELDER HAN'S SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUE]**

**[REVERSIBILITY: POSSIBLE WITH CORRECT DISSOLUTION AGENT]**

"A dissolution agent," Alex repeated, his mind racing. "Something that can break down crystalline structures without damaging the surrounding tissue. In my world, we'd use specific acids or enzymatic compounds, but here..."

He closed his eyes, accessing both his own memories and Xiao Feng's knowledge of local herbs and materials. The cultivation world had plants and minerals that didn't exist on Earth, many with properties that seemed to defy conventional chemistry.

"Uncle Chen," Alex called out, his voice carrying a new authority that he didn't entirely recognize.

Within moments, the gardener appeared in the doorway, still looking worried. "Yes, Young Master?"

"I need you to gather some materials for me," Alex said, sitting up straighter. "Dragon's Blood Root, Celestial Dew Grass, and Moonstone Powder. Can you acquire these without drawing attention?"

Uncle Chen's eyes widened. "Those are expensive alchemical materials, Young Master. Dragon's Blood Root alone costs fifty silver coins. And why would you need—"

"I'm going to cure my meridian damage," Alex said simply.

The silence that followed was deafening. Uncle Chen stared at him as if he'd claimed he was going to fly to the moon.

"Young Master," the gardener said carefully, "the physicians have said your condition is incurable. Even the sect elders confirmed—"

"The sect elders caused this," Alex interrupted. "And I'm going to prove it. But first, I need those materials. Do you trust me, Uncle Chen?"

The older man looked at Alex for a long moment, studying his face. Whatever he saw there seemed to convince him, because he nodded slowly.

"I've watched you suffer for three years," Uncle Chen said quietly. "If there's even a chance... yes, I trust you. But those materials will cost nearly two hundred silver coins. Where will we get that kind of money?"

Alex smiled, and it was the confident expression of someone who'd just solved a complex equation. "We're going to make it. I'm going to show this family what real alchemy looks like."

**[MISSION UPDATED: PROVE ALCHEMICAL SUPERIORITY]**

**[REWARD: 50 SYSTEM POINTS + REPUTATION INCREASE]**

**[OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE: IDENTIFY ELDER HAN'S POISON]**

**[BONUS REWARD: 100 SYSTEM POINTS]**

"Perfect," Alex said, addressing the System. "Two birds, one stone. I prove my worth to the family, earn points, and start building the foundation for my revenge."

**[WARNING: ADVANCED ALCHEMY WITHOUT PROPER CULTIVATION BASE IS DANGEROUS]**

"Everything worth doing is dangerous," Alex replied. "Besides, I'm not using their primitive techniques. I'm going to introduce them to real chemistry."

Uncle Chen looked confused by Alex's one-sided conversation, but he didn't question it. "What do you need me to do, Young Master?"

"First, see if you can acquire some basic alchemical equipment. A cauldron, temperature regulation tools, measurement devices. Second, I need you to spread word that I'm taking special commissions for healing pills. Nothing too dramatic—just let people know that the Xiao family's youngest son is... exploring new approaches to medicine."

"And if they ask questions?"

Alex's smile turned predatory. "Tell them I had some very enlightening dreams. Sometimes a near-death experience can open one's mind to new possibilities."

As Uncle Chen hurried away to carry out his instructions, Alex turned his attention back to the System interface. The mission timer showed six days remaining to defeat Liu Wei, but Alex was already planning several steps ahead.

"System," he said, "I need to understand something. This Elder Han—he's not just some random villain, is he? He's connected to whatever organization killed me in my original world."

**[QUERY NOTED. INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR CONFIRMATION AT CURRENT LEVEL.]**

"But you're not denying it," Alex observed. "Which means I'm right. This is all connected. My death, my transmigration, Elder Han's sabotage—it's all part of some bigger game."

**[FOCUS ON IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES. SURVIVAL FIRST, QUESTIONS LATER.]**

Alex laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You know what? Fine. I'll play along. But I'm going to do this my way. I'm going to use every advantage I have, including knowledge you probably didn't expect me to retain."

**[CLARIFICATION REQUESTED.]**

"In my world, I didn't just synthesize impossible compounds," Alex said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "I also studied military applications of pharmaceutical research. Chemical weapons, biological warfare agents, targeted toxins. If this Elder Han wants to play with poisons, I'm going to teach him what real poison looks like."

**[WARNING: EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE MAY RESULT IN SYSTEM PENALTIES]**

"Don't worry," Alex said, standing up from the bed despite the pain in his damaged meridians. "I'm not planning to kill anyone. I'm just going to make them wish they'd never been born."

The System's interface flickered, and for a moment, Alex thought he saw something like approval in its response.

**[ACCEPTABLE PARAMETERS. MISSION CONTINUATION AUTHORIZED.]**

"Good," Alex said, moving to the window and looking out at the family compound. "Because Liu Wei is about to learn that there's a difference between being crippled and being helpless. And after him, it's Elder Han's turn."

As he watched, Alex saw his brother Xiao Long in the courtyard below, practicing sword forms with mechanical precision. The elder brother was skilled, but he lacked imagination. He fought like someone who'd been trained in traditional methods, following established patterns and techniques.

Alex, on the other hand, was about to introduce the cultivation world to something it had never seen before: scientific warfare.

"System," he said, "start recording everything. Every technique, every reaction, every result. We're going to need detailed data for what comes next."

**[RECORDING INITIATED. GOOD LUCK, HOST.]**

Alex smiled, feeling truly confident for the first time since his awakening. He had six days to prepare for Liu Wei, and he intended to make every one of them count.

The Revenge System pulsed with anticipation, and somewhere in the depths of the cultivation world, forces that had remained hidden for centuries began to stir.

The game was about to begin.