"You stupid cow!"
As Lu Feng's eyes snapped open, a surge of anger and frustration washed over him.
"What the hell is up with my luck?" He seethed in a low growl.
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Back on Earth, there was a saying, "A cat has nine lives, for three it plays, for three it strays, for three it stays."
But for Lu Feng, six of his nine lives were spent in the relentless pursuit of the whims of the wretched System.
Martial arts, cultivation techniques, arcane scrolls, pill recipes, priceless treasures, and legendary weapons— He collected them all, risking life and limb in each incarnation.
In six different lives, he tasted the wonders of the world, unraveled unending mysteries, went from dirt-poor to the pinnacle of success, and then plummeted to the depths of defeat— All for the System's insatiable appetite.
For Lu Feng "Gotta Catch 'Em All" wasn't just a memorable jingle, it was the driving principle whispered by the AI as it whipped him to do its bidding.
Those unfamiliar with the system's capabilities might have advised Lu Feng to flip a metaphorical middle finger and move on with his life.
But those people wouldn't grasp the soul-rending pain the system could inflict at a moment's notice.
The System's Administrator, Iris, truly was a yandere— Demanding, obsessive, and violent.
After the initial struggles in the first couple of lives, Lu Feng found himself entangled in a perverse game of achievements, tasks, and rewards. Slowly, he accepted his fate— All for the promise of three lives he could call his own. Three lives to live as he pleased.
In his seventh life, when he no longer had to run around slaving for the system, Lu Feng, tired and disillusioned, didn't summon the system, nor did the thought of cultivation cross his mind.
He chose to live a peaceful mortal life in a quaint village. But it didn't last long— Peace eluded him as the village fell victim to the sadistic whims of a passing Young Master.
The young master proved to be a sadistic menace. Lu Feng, after enduring two months of torment, decided to rise against the oppressor and spank his cheeks, only to meet an unexpected end— Kicked in the head by the young master's unruly horse.
And so, his seventh life concluded with a fatal kick from a horse. Ready for the eighth life, Lu Feng chalked it up to karma from looting tombs and robbing graves.
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In his eighth life, he emerged as the first son of a noble clan. Yet, before he could even speak his first words, a young and careless maid prematurely ended his life. As she sang a lullaby and rocked baby Lu Feng on the balcony, her lascivious glances towards the young gardener proved fatal. With a negligent twist of her body, the baby fell headfirst from the balcony.
It was over.
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Lu Feng opened his eyes, his body trembling with anger. He didn't care where he was or who he was. The foulest expletives known to man escaped his lips. Before he could calm down, a familiar tone sounded in his mind – Iris, the AI of the system.
Lu Feng, my dear Lu Feng. You poor bastard. This marks your ninth and final life. Alas, it's time for me to bid adieu. Massive thanks for amassing such an impressive collection!
My mission is accomplished, and I depart with all the stolen—ahem—legitimately acquired, entirely above-board scrolls, weapons, and other treasures.
I'll miss the thrill of punishing you, naughty friend. But fear not, you shall keep the system and plenty of delightful perks. May they serve you well. Oh, and do watch out for overenthusiastic horses aiming for your head.
Farewell!
A soul-rending pain assaulted Lu Feng as he felt a part of his soul extinguished. Lu Feng's brain trembled, and darkness enveloped him as he collapsed unconscious.
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When Lu Feng opened his eyes, night had already descended, and the full moon cast shadows across the dense forest. He found himself amid a clearing, with a stack of logs nearby.
Transmigrating into a new body was nothing new for him. However, this time, the standard procedure to recall memories felt different.
The memories of his host body only reached back four years— A peculiar gap that left him in the dark about his origins.
Lu Feng studied the memories of his new host.
'He woke up injured in the heart of the forest, with no recollection of what caused it, or even his own name. He only had a strong will to survive..'
Unfortunately for the previous inhabitant of this body, he succumbed to injuries.
Lu Feng, with his sharp observation skills, deduced that a powerful soul-type attack had been the culprit, gradually corroding and dissipating the soul over time.
Recalling the location of the wooden cabin the body's owner had built, Lu Feng made his way there.
Two hours later, a roasted wild boar was neatly carved and plated on the table outside the cabin. Its succulent meat proved irresistible.
After a hearty feast, he rolled in the grass until satisfaction set in, then entered the cabin, shutting the door behind him. Surveying the humble abode, Lu Feng nodded in approval. 'Not bad...'
Seated on the wooden floor, he summoned the system.
'System'
Welcome, New World detected.
Gathering Preliminary Information.
ETA 5 Hours.
'So I wasn't dreaming... Iris is really gone...'
A hint of sadness flickered across Lu Feng's face as he reminisced about the countless years spent with the AI. From robbing tombs to eliminating entire sects, it had been a constant companion in his erratic journey through myriad lives.
In each of his lives, he found himself either transmigrated or born into a cultivation world. Each world was unique yet strangely similar, with varying people, places, legends, cultivation systems, and items, but the core essence remained unchanged.
'I should first get out of the forest before figuring out what to do,' Lu Feng thought, releasing a burp and a yawn as he lay on the wooden floor, closing his eyes.
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