As Lu Feng emerged from slumber, morning light filtered through ancient trees, casting a warm glow across the wooden cabin. Dust motes danced in golden beams, suspended like tiny universes frozen in time.

  His throat parched, Lu Feng's gaze settled on the wooden bucket in the corner. The water inside reflected dappled light, creating a mosaic of luminescence that rippled with each air current—much like Lu Feng's existence across his many lives.

  He cupped his hands and dipped them into the cool liquid, bringing the water to his lips. Each sip washed away not just thirst but the lingering fragments of dreams that clung to his mind.

  Stepping outside, fresh air enveloped him, carrying the scent of wildflowers and damp soil. The fragrance of pine and decaying leaves created a complex bouquet speaking of life and death—a cycle Lu Feng knew intimately. Cool dew greeted his feet, each blade of grass bending then recovering as he walked.

  A smile formed on Lu Feng's face as he breathed deeply, feeling invigorated. The simple act of existing—breath flowing, muscles moving, blood coursing—filled him with profound gratitude despite his circumstances.

  "Another day, another life," he whispered, his words carried away by the morning breeze.

  After clearing last night's charred remains from the fire pit, he sat at the rough-hewn table and called forth the system. "System."

  The blue interface materialized before his eyes, stark against the natural surroundings:

  Cultivation Levels Deduced -

  1.Core

  2.Innate

  3.Origin

  4.Master

  5.Sovereign

  6.Empyrean

  7.Demi-Saint

  8.Holy Emperor

  ???

  Information limit reached. This info doesn't establish the norm or standard for any forces at any level, please exercise caution as you navigate the world.

  Compiling knowledge from the repository. Compiling world laws and specifications. Generating Attribute and Skill Tree.

  ETA 72 Hours.

  "Three more days..." Lu Feng mused, his thoughts drifting to the mysteries of the system and this new world. The blue text hovered coldly, lacking the sardonic commentary he'd grown accustomed to in previous lives. Without Iris's mocking voice, the interaction felt strangely incomplete.

  "With Iris gone, I doubt the system can answer queries or provide guidance..." Lu Feng chuckled, a wry smile creating fine lines at his eyes. "...Funny—I miss the straightforward tasks and checklists."

  The system's formal tone contrasted sharply with Iris's sarcasm, like exchanging a witty companion for an expressionless servant. Lu Feng found himself adjusting to the change, adapting as he always did.

  "System. Host Info," he commanded, his voice firmer.

  Name: ??? Age: 19 (Approximated from bone age)

  Cultivation: Innate level cultivation. Indeterminate stage.

  Please wait 72 Hours for further info.

  Lu Feng closed his eyes, searching through his host's memories for clues. They came in disjointed fragments—flashes of a life not his own yet now bound to his essence. Despite the absence of memories beyond four years, he sensed an impressive temperament in his host. A depth that intrigued him.

  "A young man surviving alone in the wilderness for four years," he said thoughtfully. "Not just surviving, but maintaining dignity. Who were you? What drove you to this solitude?"

  After glimpsing something intriguing—a hidden treasure—Lu Feng entered the cabin. The interior, sparse yet organized, revealed much about its former occupant. Searching methodically, he discovered a crudely carved wooden box hidden beneath the straw bed. Its craftsmanship suggested hands unused to such work—perhaps the young man whose body he now inhabited.

  Opening the lid revealed a token nestled among dried wildflowers. Though faded, they retained a faint sweetness. Lu Feng picked up the token, feeling sudden excitement course through him like lightning.

  Outside in better light, he examined the token closely. Crafted from pure gold with purple gemstones inlaid along the edge, it featured a lifelike pouncing white tiger carved from silver and an unfamiliar black metal at its center. The tiger seemed almost alive, muscles bunched for attack, jaws open in silent roar. The reverse side bore silver characters reading 'Baihu,' their strokes flowing with calligraphic precision. The symbol shimmered, radiating power beyond mere material value.

  Turning it over, Lu Feng felt its satisfying weight—not just of precious metals but of heritage waiting to be reclaimed.

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  Despite unfamiliarity with this world, Lu Feng's keen observation—honed through eight previous lives—told him this token indicated his host's origins were far from ordinary. "Baihu must be his surname..." he whispered to the forest. "Anyone with common sense could guess that this is a powerful faction..." The implications swirled in his mind, raising countless questions.

  Yet he couldn't understand why such a prominent family hadn't found the young man. The Baihu clan clearly possessed resources—the token alone spoke of tremendous wealth. Why abandon one of their own to the wilderness?

  "Maybe the family faces trouble or has been eliminated," Lu Feng theorized, brow furrowed. "Or perhaps they're too distant from here... Something to investigate later." The mystery deepened, fueling his determination to uncover his host's past.

  Drawing from vast experiences across multiple lives, Lu Feng deduced that living four years without resources while severely injured meant the host must have originally been at peak Origin level to still retain Innate cultivation. Like a mighty dragon reduced to a serpent, yet still commanding respect. Although unaware of world standards, Lu Feng recognized it must be extraordinary for a fifteen-year-old to have cultivation just short of Master level—not merely uncommon but miraculous.

  "Lost memories, mysterious background, powerful cultivation... A single precious token..." The pieces swirled in his mind, a tantalizing puzzle with the larger picture still obscured.

  "Damn, this Young Master's Halo Is Too Bright... It would've been a good origin story had he not died." A moment of silence passed, tribute to the departed host—a potential unfulfilled. The forest seemed to join his vigil, momentarily still.

  After his contemplation, Lu Feng returned inside, examining the cabin meticulously for additional clues. In a corner, beneath a loose floorboard, he discovered a luxurious set of robes neatly folded in an ornate chest. The fabric flowed like water between his fingers, dyed in deep blues and purples with intricate golden embroidery depicting tigers hunting among mountain peaks. The stitches were impossibly precise, speaking of masterful craftsmanship.

  Beside the robes lay a simple ring that radiated subtle energy. Curious, Lu Feng slipped it onto his right hand, feeling an unexpected surge of power course through him, powerful and untamed.

  "This must be a space ring..." he realized. Space rings were treasures capable of storing items in a separate dimension, accessible only to the owner.

  Sitting cross-legged, he attempted to circulate energy through his body. The energy moved sluggishly, resisting his will. He tried various methods from past lives to open the ring, but with limited success—just flickering light and whispered power before it sealed again.

  'There's a cultivation level restriction,' he realized, jaw tightening in frustration. 'Damn, this must be what finished the owner... If there was no restriction, he could have used whatever's inside to heal himself.' The ring represented both treasure and tragedy—salvation locked behind unattainable cultivation.

  Keeping the ring on, Lu Feng searched the cabin once more, finding nothing else significant. His mind constructed theories from fragments, like a poet creating verses from scattered words.

  The morning had advanced, and his body reminded him of practical needs. After soaking in the nearby stream—the cool water washing away both dirt and heavy thoughts—Lu Feng turned to securing food. The forest provided abundantly for those who knew where to look.

  He caught several rabbits, their soft fur concealing tough meat—a reminder that appearances often deceive. He also gathered dark berries he recognized as edible from his host's memories, their sweet-tart flavor promising to complement the meat.

  Returning to the cabin, Lu Feng rekindled embers from the previous night's fire. After efficiently butchering the rabbits—his hands moving with the memory of countless similar tasks—he placed the fatty meat from last night alongside fresh rabbit meat into a clay pot blackened from use.

  As the meat sizzled, releasing irresistible aromas, Lu Feng's mouth watered. The smell triggered memories across all nine existences, each with its own relationship to hunger and satisfaction.

  Though tempted to eat immediately, he added the foraged berries, creating an unusual blend of savory and sweet. The berries burst in the heat, their juices mixing with meat drippings to create a rich, dark sauce.

  While the mixture cooked, filling the air with wilderness scents, Lu Feng attempted to circulate energy again. The response was immediate and excruciating—his body seized with intense pain as if every muscle were being torn apart and reconstructed.

  Despite high pain tolerance built through countless deaths and rebirths, Lu Feng groaned as energy surged through damaged channels. Sweat beaded on his forehead, each droplet carrying away fragments of strength.

  "Damn, I can't even circulate energy," he gasped as pain subsided, leaving him trembling. "Guess I'll have to wait for the system." The realization was bitter—time without cultivation was opportunity forever lost.

  An hour later, his mixture had transformed into something greater than its components. He removed the pot with a cloth-wrapped hand and set it aside to cool. The aroma was alluringly meaty and sweet, promising both sustenance and satisfaction.

  'This is what kept me alive in dire times throughout previous lives,' he reflected, watching thick sauce cling to meat. 'I'll set out this afternoon... need to leave this forest soon.' The thought of exploring the unknown world beyond filled him with excitement and trepidation—the familiar feeling of beginning a new adventure.

  Fatigue settled over him, his body demanding rest after exertion and failed cultivation. Lu Feng entered the cabin for a nap, lying on the straw bed with only the token and ring as companions. He drifted into dreams filled with tigers, mountains, golden palaces, and battles among clouds.

  Upon waking, he found the sun had shifted. With renewed purpose, Lu Feng returned to find his mixture cooled and solidified. He cut it into dense, sticky bars—ugly but valuable energy sources for his journey.

  He gathered his belongings, taking inventory with practiced precision:

  "Daggers, check," he murmured, testing each blade's edge. Though crude compared to weapons from past lives, they would serve their purpose.

  "Gourd full of water, check." The dried calabash was sealed with beeswax, a simple solution to a universal need.

  "A set of luxury robes, check." He folded them carefully, knowing they might serve as status symbols in this world.

  "Mysterious token, check." The golden token went into a small pouch at his waist, its weight a constant reminder of unanswered questions.

  "Space ring, check." The ring remained on his finger, its potential locked away but not forgotten.

  "Energy bars, check." The food, wrapped in large leaves tied with plant fibers, went into a simple sack.

  "Let's go."

  After silently thanking the cabin for its shelter and secrets, Lu Feng set off downstream, leaving footprints that would soon vanish in nature's cycle. The path was narrow but clear, worn by years of passage. Water burbled over rocks, creating a soothing melody that accompanied his thoughts.

  He hoped to leave the forest and uncover the secrets of his host's past—a future where knowledge accumulated across nine lifetimes would finally fulfill its purpose. Sunlight filtering through trees cast patterns across his skin, reminding him that mysteries awaited discovery.

  As he walked, the token in his pouch seemed to warm, as if responding to his movement—or perhaps to something unseen in the distance. The mystery of Baihu, the white tiger, and the young master's past awaited beyond the forest's edge, where civilization would replace the simple truths of survival.

  Lu Feng smiled genuinely despite the uncertainties ahead. Nine lives had taught him one truth above all: every ending was also a beginning, and this journey was merely the first step toward a destiny yet to be written.