The Godsfall Chronicles - Book 7, Chapter 125 - Elder Intrigue

I Will Live as an Actor is a heartwarming story of a young man who grows up poor as the son of a widowed fishmonger.Fueled by a passion for acting, he neglects his mother and her sacrifices, only to regret it when she passes away.In a twist of fate, he is reincarnated back to his youth, just before he went down the wrong path.Determined to live a better life and honor his mother’s memory, he embarks on a journey to become a successful actor while also being a filial son.

After being reincarnated as the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Zhou, Zhao Yao was not favored much. In order to survive the bloody power struggle for the throne, he had to bide his time. Finally, he grew up and was granted a title of nobility, only to be exiled to the distant region of Lingnan by his dear father.It was said that Lingnan was incredibly poor, but Zhao Yao was not afraid. He focused on infrastructure and production. Under Zhao Yao's management, Lingnan transformed from a place of exile into a prosperous land.Just when Zhao Yao was happily living his carefree life in Lingnan, the ministers traveled a thousand miles to beg him to ascend the throne.Zhao Yao was baffled. Had these ministers lost their minds?

Eli Turner had perfected the art of coasting through life, gaming, lounging, and vibing with no grand ambitions beyond the next high. But his laid-back existence is upended when his laptop inexplicably transforms into a gateway to another world. What starts as a surreal escape becomes a perilous journey as Eli finds himself wielding a mysterious system that allows him to level up, fight monsters, and gain abilities beyond his wildest dreams.At first, the portal world feels like a haven, offering purpose and adventure Eli never knew he craved. Guided, or manipulated, by Azrael, a mischievous god orchestrating the game, Eli rises as one of the system's chosen players. But as the quests grow more dangerous and Azrael’s true intentions begin to surface, Eli struggles to balance the fantasy world with his life back home. His girlfriend, Sara, and his friends are left grappling with a version of Eli they hardly recognize, as the lines between his two lives blur.When the system expands to players worldwide, Eli crosses paths with others drawn into Azrael’s cosmic experiment: Yumi Tanaka, a fiercely disciplined Japanese student with a perfectionist streak, and Arjun Mehta, a charming Indian playboy with secrets of his own. Each carries their own burdens and ambitions, but all three must face the harsh truth: Azrael’s game is far more than it seems.As alliances are forged, rivalries ignite, and the stakes escalate, Eli must confront not only the dangers of the portal world but the growing rift between the person he is and the hero he’s becoming. In a game where every move is a test and every choice ripples across both worlds, the question remains: can Eli, Yumi, and Arjun uncover the truth before the system consumes them all?