Chen Mo, top of his year in the computer science department, switched to the Taoist Studies program on a whim in his sophomore year. Only after graduation did he discover that cloudwalking was fake, turning stones into gold was fake, and even the System was something he'd written himself.
A glitchy AI named "Which One" runs on ghost money burned by people's families, weaving wish-fulfilling dreams to ease the grievances of those who died violently. Its paper-crafted divine sword is afraid of water, its cultivation manuals require VIP access, and its Dao companion failed to load because one arm wasn't glued on properly. Customer service is never online, because he's the only one there.
Every time he takes a job, he says without expression, "All right, tell me your dream."
"I want to become the Dragon King."
"Sure. That'll cost extra."
Sharp-tongued, stingy programmer Taoist × glitchy AI System
Equal exchange, pay later and keep a tab. The Pixiu only takes in, never gives out.
He treats his clients like rich benefactors, and they give him banners that say, "This System is such a rip-off."
A row of banners hangs on the wall: the ones insulting him on the left, the ones thanking him on the right, and the clients' own in the middle.
What's your dream? Tell me, and I'll weave it for you.
