Lin Feng crouched behind a boulder, desperately catching his breath. His black robe was torn in several places, and his hair was a tangled mess. The forest around him buzzed with the sounds of distant beasts and spiritual energy flickering through the trees.
System: "Host, are you enjoying this scenic forest escape? It has everything: majestic beasts, a bit of mortal danger, and, of course, your favorite—no money!"
"Shut up, System!" Lin Feng hissed. "If you hadn't made me challenge that disciple from the Sky Wind Sect, I wouldn't be running for my life right now!"
The memory was still fresh in his mind. An hour ago, the system had offered him a so-called "beginner mission":
[Mission: Start a Pointless Duel]
• Outcome: Get slapped around by someone way above your cultivation level.
• Reward: 10 spiritual coins and one Mystery Box!
Being broke and desperate, Lin Feng had foolishly taken the bait, only to realize halfway through the fight that the Sky Wind Sect disciple wasn't just some random cultivator—he was an inner sect genius. After barely escaping with his life, he was now hiding like a scared rabbit.
System: "Host, think about the bigger picture! You might have lost the fight, but you won their hatred! And you've learned an important lesson: Don't pick fights when you have the combat abilities of a soggy dumpling."
Lin Feng slammed his fist into the ground. "You told me I could win if I made a bold entrance! What happened to the 'momentum of the heavens' you were talking about?"
System: "Well, technically… The heavens were on break."
Lin Feng groaned and rested his head on the boulder. "I swear, I'm going to delete you one day."
System: "Good luck with that, Host! Anyway, I've got a new mission for you! This one will totally make up for the last one."
Lin Feng's eye twitched. "If it involves fighting someone again, I'm out."
System: "It doesn't! Relax, it's an easy heist! All you have to do is steal a Nascent Soul Pill from the local sect's treasury. Easy peasy."
Lin Feng almost choked on his own breath. "WHAT?! Are you insane? That's not an easy mission!"
System: "It's easy if you don't get caught."
"Obviously!" Lin Feng whispered angrily. "But the Cloud River Sect's treasury is one of the most heavily guarded places in this region! That's practically suicide!"
System: "Host, don't be so negative! Think about it: You need cultivation resources, right? With that pill, you'll leap straight into the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Lin Feng hesitated. It was tempting. His current Qi Condensation stage was a dead end without resources, and he had no family backing or magical inheritance to rely on. But robbing a powerful sect? He wasn't suicidal… yet.
System: "Besides, don't you want to make that Sky Wind Sect disciple regret messing with you? Get stronger, beat him up, and take his wallet. Revenge is just one Nascent Soul Pill away!"
Lin Feng sighed. "You know, I really hate how you make your insane ideas sound logical."
System: "That's the spirit, Host! Now, off you go. Time to commit a minor felony!"
Later That Night – The Treasury of Cloud River Sect
The moon cast a pale glow over the Cloud River Sect's sprawling compound. Lin Feng, dressed in a ragged cloak, crouched low behind some bushes outside the sect's main hall. He could feel the pulse of powerful formations covering the area, warning intruders to stay away.
"This is a bad idea," Lin Feng muttered, heart pounding.
System: "Correction: This is a fantastic idea! What could possibly go wrong?"
"Everything," Lin Feng whispered. But he was already in too deep to back out now.
He slipped past a patrol of disciples, carefully avoiding the glowing rune traps etched into the ground. The system hummed in the back of his mind, providing him with completely unnecessary commentary.
System: "Look at you, Host! Moving like a professional thief. I'd rate your sneaking 4 out of 10."
Lin Feng gritted his teeth. "Stop distracting me!"
At last, he reached the entrance to the treasury—a pair of heavy jade doors, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. They were locked tight, reinforced with powerful seals.
System: "Uh-oh. Looks like you need a password. Want a hint?"
"Wait… you know the password?" Lin Feng whispered excitedly.
System: "Nope! But I believe in your ability to improvise. Just touch the seal and hope for the best."
Lin Feng rolled his eyes. "I swear, if I die because of you…"
Bracing himself, Lin Feng placed his hand on the jade doors. As expected, the seals flared to life, and a burning sensation spread up his arm.
System: "Ouch! That looked painful. Try saying something smart—like 'open sesame' or 'I love treasure.' Cultivators love dramatic nonsense."
Lin Feng winced. "Alright… here goes nothing." He whispered, "I seek enlightenment beyond the heavens."
To his surprise, the seals flickered—and then dimmed.
System: "See? I told you nonsense works!"
The jade doors creaked open just enough for Lin Feng to slip inside. His breath hitched as he stepped into the treasury. The room was filled with glittering treasures—spiritual artifacts, rare herbs, glowing weapons—and right in the center, on a pedestal, lay the Nascent Soul Pill.
Lin Feng's heart raced as he tiptoed toward the pill. He could feel the sheer power radiating from it. With this, his future would change. No more struggling at the bottom. No more humiliation. He would finally—
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the entrance.
"Who dares break into the Cloud River Sect's treasury?!"
Lin Feng's blood ran cold. Standing at the doorway was an elder of the sect, his aura crackling with power.
System: "Oops. Looks like you triggered the backup formation. My bad!"
Lin Feng cursed under his breath. "Now what do I do?!"
System: "Simple! Grab the pill and run like your life depends on it! Spoiler: It does."
Without a second thought, Lin Feng snatched the Nascent Soul Pill from the pedestal and sprinted for the nearest window.
System: "Pro tip: Dive dramatically! It makes you 30% harder to hit."
Ignoring the absurd advice, Lin Feng threw himself through the window just as a bolt of spiritual energy blasted past him. Glass shattered around him as he tumbled through the air—and landed painfully on the ground outside.
"Ahhh… I hate this!" Lin Feng groaned, clutching the pill tightly.
System: "Congratulations, Host! You've successfully committed grand theft in record time. New title unlocked: 'Reckless Idiot.' Reward: One Nascent Soul Pill and a lifetime of enemies."
Lin Feng staggered to his feet and ran into the night, the angry shouts of the sect's elders echoing behind him.