**
Yuan Lin was feeling something he hadn't felt in a long time: pure satisfaction.
He was sitting in front of his computer, which was now running faster than the speed of sound, Browse the internet with a smoothness he never thought possible. He had used demonic power, born from the very core of chaos, to perform the best computer maintenance in human history. His hands still had a faint tingle from the `[Minor Chaos Grip]`, and he was smiling the smile of a victor.
"Well, this is useful," he thought happily. "Maybe next time I can use it to clean the dust from hard-to-reach places, or maybe to cool my coffee when it's too hot."
"Evil" ideas were beginning to swirl in his head, but they weren't evil in the sense of world domination, but in the sense of using cosmic power to solve the problems of a lazy man.
But his satisfaction with his small achievement soon faded, replaced by a larger, more dangerous curiosity. His mind's eye was drawn once again to that grayed-out icon on his system's interface, the icon that had flashed for a moment and revealed its tempting name.
[Dimensional Gate]
That name alone was enough to send a shiver of excitement down his spine. This was no longer about fixing electronics. This was... the next level.
"System," he said in his mind, his inner voice now more confident than ever. "I saw a notification. Dimensional Gate. What is that exactly?"
The blue screen appeared, as cold and logical as ever.
`[The Dimensional Gate is an advanced system function that allows the host to create a temporary rift in the fabric of reality to navigate between interconnected dimensions.]`
Yuan Lin felt his heart pound. "Navigate between dimensions... you mean I can go to... the gray Chaos World? The world of my followers?"
[Theoretically, yes.]
"Awesome!" he thought excitedly. "So how do I do it? Is there a button I have to press?"
`[Negative. The core requirements have not been met. The function is currently locked.]`
He felt as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy.
"Alright," he muttered in his mind, feeling like a gamer trying to understand a complex skill tree. "So what are the requirements? Do I need more Chaos Points? Or a certain cultivation level?"
`[Chaos Points are fuel consumed during dimensional travel, not the key to unlocking the function. The host's current cultivation level is too negligible to survive the initial transit pressure. The core requirements to unlock the function are: 1. Lord Authority Level. 2. A World Anchor.]`
Yuan Lin's eyebrows furrowed. "Lord Authority? World Anchor? What the hell are those?"
`[Lord Authority Level is a metric representing the host's recognized power, influence, and control over the Chaos Lineage. This level increases by completing major quests, demonstrating profound wisdom (as perceived by your followers), expanding the sect's influence, and achieving legendary accomplishments. Current Level: 1 (Nominal Figurehead).]`
Lin felt a sting of insult. "Nominal Figurehead?" Was the System making fun of him? Well, it was accurate, but it didn't have to say it like that.
"And what about the World Anchor?" he asked, ignoring the insult.
`[A World Anchor is a stable physical and psychic connection point in the target dimension. Without an anchor, entry into a dimension is random, unstable, and likely fatal, as the host may materialize inside a volcano or at the bottom of an ocean of mercury. An anchor can be created through a high-level, loyal subordinate who acts as a beacon, or by placing a physical "Chaos Obelisk" in the target world.]`
Yuan Lin took a moment to process all of this. So, he needed to become a real leader in the eyes of his followers, have someone very powerful on the other side to guide him, or find a way to send a massive artifact across dimensions. It all seemed distant and impossible.
He was so lost in thought about "Chaos Obelisks" and "oceans of mercury" that he didn't hear his real phone ringing at first. Not his broken one, but the old landline he kept in his apartment for emergencies.
Rrrrring! Rrrrring!
He flinched, the sharp sound pulling him out of his cosmic daydreams. He rushed to pick up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Lin!" The voice of his manager, Mr. Zhao, came through the line, angry and sharp. "Where in heaven's name are you?! You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago! The marketing department's server is down, and Su Ling and her team are about to have a nervous breakdown!"
Yuan Lin looked at the clock on the wall. It was 9:20 AM. He was late for work. Late because he was interrogating a demonic system about the physics of interdimensional travel.
"Ah! Mr. Zhao!" he said in a panicked voice. "I... I'm on my way right now! Sorry, the alarm... the alarm didn't go off." It was a pathetic lie, but it was all he had.
He hung up and rushed to get dressed, cursing his luck. A moment ago, he was the "Lord of Chaos" planning his future among the stars, and now he was just Yuan Lin, the late IT support guy who was about to get chewed out.
As he was hastily closing his apartment door, the mental interface flashed before him one last time with a "helpful" message.
`[Analysis: The host's "Lord Authority Level" is insufficient to control the subordinate "Mr. Zhao." It is recommended to raise the authority level to effectively manage all subordinates.]`
Yuan Lin stared at the message in disbelief for a second before slamming the door shut behind him.
So, even his annoying boss was considered a "subordinate" he couldn't control yet.
He felt a sudden urge to laugh and cry at the same time. His life had become an absurd and dangerous farce.