x
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Lu Feng jolted awake from his computer screen, only to find himself sprawled in an utterly unfamiliar and desolate place. Thick fog swirled around him, obscuring most of his vision, though he could vaguely make out rolling hills in the distance and a dense forest. A chilling wind swept through the air, making him shiver involuntarily.
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He scanned his surroundings, but there was no trace of modern civilization—only a wild, primitive landscape stretched before him.
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*Where the hell am I?* A wave of unease crashed over him.
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He tried to recall what had happened, but his mind was filled only with fragmented images of *The Chronicles of Ten Thousand Spirits*, the game he had been testing. He remembered a sudden surge of electricity coursing through his keyboard, then—nothing. The next thing he knew, he was here, in this unknown world.
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He attempted to stand, but his legs felt weak. The unfamiliar environment left him disoriented and terrified. The terrain was nothing like Earth’s, and the air hummed with an energy he had never encountered before—strangely familiar yet alien, as if he had sensed it in a dream.
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Just as he was searching for a way out, a low growl shattered the silence.
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He spun around and saw a group of massive, grotesque creatures lumbering out from the nearby woods.
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Each stood over three meters tall, their bulging muscles covered in rough, mottled skin. Their faces were hideous, twisted with malice, and they wielded crude stone hammers and spears.
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*Ogres.* Brutal, savage monsters known for their cruelty.
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At the forefront was the largest of them all—a hulking beast whose greedy, bloodthirsty gaze locked onto Lu Feng as it advanced.
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*What kind of nightmare is this?!* Panic surged through him. He scrambled backward, desperate for cover, but the barren landscape offered no refuge. Forcing himself to stay calm, he racked his brain for a solution.
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Then, by sheer chance, his fingers brushed against a crumpled piece of paper in his pocket—a fragment of a game log.
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It looked like an ordinary scrap, but the moment he touched it, a faint tremor ran through his fingertips.
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Curious, he unfolded it and found densely packed text detailing crucial information about the laws governing two worlds.
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The words acted like a key, unlocking something deep within him.
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Suddenly, an inexplicable power surged through his body—one that felt eerily connected to his in-game character. A thought struck him: *What if this log holds the answer to surviving this nightmare?*
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Focusing his mind, he channeled his energy into activating the log fragment.
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In an instant, intricate symbols and text flashed before his eyes, piecing together into a coherent image in his mind.
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He understood now—this was the **"Simulation Engine,"** a mysterious tool capable of accelerating the development of cultivation techniques and the evolution of spirit beasts.
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*If this thing really works… I might just make it out alive.* A spark of hope ignited within him.
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Concentrating, he activated the Simulation Engine’s **3x Speed Mode**.
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Warmth spread from his fingertips, coursing through his body. His mental energy rapidly drained, but in exchange, a flood of knowledge filled his mind.
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With this power, he quickly grasped the essence of the **Basic Beast Taming Art**.
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Closing his eyes, he reached out with his senses, searching for nearby lifeforms.
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And there it was—a faint, flickering presence in the shadows nearby.
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A small, elusive creature, brimming with intelligence, as if it shared some inexplicable bond with him.
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Lu Feng opened his eyes, his gaze locking onto the source of that energy. Softly, he called out, "Come out. I know you're there."
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After a brief pause, a sleek, obsidian-black cat with gleaming eyes emerged from the darkness. Its movements were fluid, almost ethereal, as if it could vanish into thin air at any moment.
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A **Shadowstalker Cat**—an incredibly rare spirit beast.
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Taking a deep breath, Lu Feng focused his energy, attempting to form a contract with the creature. He extended his hand, gently stroking the cat’s head and neck. A warm, harmonious energy flowed between them.
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*"Contract established!"*
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Elation surged through him. He could feel a new power merging with his own—the Shadowstalker Cat’s spiritual energy intertwining with his, making him stronger than before.
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But just as the bond solidified, the ogres closed in.
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The largest one, **Gromm**, roared and raised his massive stone hammer, preparing to strike.
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Lu Feng’s eyes hardened with resolve. Gripping the Shadowstalker Cat’s paw, he whispered, "Get ready. We fight."
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The cat let out a low growl, its form blurring before vanishing into a streak of black lightning.
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Meanwhile, Lu Feng melted into the thick fog, his presence blending seamlessly with the environment.
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Gromm’s hammer came crashing down with enough force to shatter stone, the impact sending tremors through the ground.
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Lu Feng barely dodged in time, adrenaline surging through his veins.
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*This isn’t a game anymore. One wrong move, and I’m dead.*
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Through their mental link, he commanded the Shadowstalker Cat: *"Flank left—distract him!"*
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The cat responded with a fierce *"Mrow!"* before darting forward like a coiled spring released, its speed defying the eye.
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**BOOM!**
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Gromm’s hammer cratered the ground where Lu Feng had stood moments earlier, debris flying everywhere.
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*Too close.*
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Seizing the opportunity, the Shadowstalker Cat struck—its razor-sharp claws slashing across Gromm’s thick calf.
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**"ROOOAAAR!"**
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Gromm howled in pain, green blood gushing from the deep gashes. Enraged, he abandoned Lu Feng, turning his fury on the elusive feline.
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But the Shadowstalker Cat was too fast, weaving between Gromm’s legs, striking at joints and weak points. The other ogres tried to intervene, but their attacks only added to the chaos, nearly hitting their leader instead.
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Lu Feng wasn’t idle either. Spotting a dim-witted ogre lagging behind, he hurled a rock and taunted, "Hey, ugly! Over here!"
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The ogre turned—just in time to take the stone square between the eyes.
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**"GRAAH!"**
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Infuriated, it charged.
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*"Switch targets—take that one down!"* Lu Feng ordered.
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The Shadowstalker Cat disengaged from Gromm in a blur, pouncing on the new threat.
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**SCHLICK!**
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Its claws found the ogre’s throat. The beast clutched its neck, choking on its own blood before collapsing.
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*Dead.*
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Lu Feng stared in shock. *Damn. This cat is no joke.*
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Gromm and the remaining ogres froze, realizing their prey wasn’t as helpless as they’d thought.
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**"Retreat!"** Gromm bellowed, unwilling to lose more of his kin. Clutching his wounded leg, he and his group fled into the forest.
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Only when their footsteps faded did Lu Feng finally collapse, gasping for breath. His clothes were drenched in sweat, his nerves frayed.
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The Shadowstalker Cat padded over, purring as it nuzzled his hand.
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"Heh… good job, little guy." He scratched behind its ears, relief washing over him.
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This victory was thanks to the **Simulation Engine** and his newfound bond with the spirit beast. But he knew the truth—he was still weak. In this world of dangers, he was barely surviving.
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*I need to find shelter and get stronger. Next time, I might not be so lucky.*
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Just as he was lost in thought, an aged but robust voice spoke from behind him—unexpected and eerily calm.
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"Well, well… not bad, kid. To tame a spirit beast so soon after arriving in the rift between worlds? You’ve got quite the luck on your side."
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