The Male Lead’s Substitute Wife - Chapter 405

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.

Qi Condensation. Foundation Establishment. Core Formation. In the current world, only these three realms are known to be achievable. Nascent Soul is but a legend and the realms above it lost to the the long river of time. The modern era is known as Cultivation Civilization, a balance of power and civility, excess and moderation. While cultivation remains a secret practice, it has long since exposed itself to the mundane world, quietly intertwined with each facet of society. While the world appears to be at peace, what lies underneath is a conflict between human, cultivator, and demon, brewing for ages and waiting to implode. Yet in the wake of humanity’s rapid industrialization, qi—and consequently cultivation—is dying.

In another world called Blue Star, the famous son of wealth, Dorian D. Tian, is thrown into a whirl of unfortunate circumstances, resulting in his death.

His parents had a brutal car accident that left them in a coma, and his uncle had quickly taken over the company, seized the company, making sure that he was financially crippled for good.

With that, the famous young master struggled desperately.

And in the end, he gave in to his despair and depression, leaving the sad, lonely world.

The end?

Heh... Think again!

Because in that brief moment, the lifeless corpse suddenly opened its eyes, revealing a deep calm look.

That's right. Another mysterious soul had entered the body.

But if one thought that this story was just about revenge, then sorry... that wasn't even the half of it!

....

The mysterious entity suddenly triggered an exorcist system.

And from then on, both humans and even those from the underworld shuddered in fear and despair at the mysterious soul's cruelty.

[Humans]: “Demon! Demon! You're definitely a demon!”

[Demons]: “Help! Help! The famous demon wants to eat me!”

[Evil Spirits]: “You!... Are you the one who is an evil spirit or us? Why the hell did it seem like you're the demonic one instead?”

[Ghouls]: “You stay away from me! Stay away from me now, you evil entity!”

[Hellhounds]: “Are you sure that you're not the son of hades?”

The system couldn't help looking at its host in doubt.

Its indicators said that its host was indeed mortal. But why did it feel like something was wrong with its host?

Dorian lightly chuckled in amusement.

He would also like to ask the same question.

What exactly was his identity?

Well, this would be the biggest mystery of all.

But Dorian wasn't in a hurry.

Who were his enemies, and who were his allies?

Soon, he would find the truth.

In the meantime, why not play a little?

“Demon! stay back!”

“Oooo~~~... I... I want to go back to the underworld where it's safe.”

“Run for your lives! The demon is here!”

…..

Humanity’s immortal path has been severed. Absorbing spiritual energy directly was no longer an option.While humans despaired, ghosts thrived. With their connection to the other side, they grew stronger by the day, turning humans into nothing more than prey and livestock.But to every rule, there is an exception.“That’s why, my son, if you ever see the man with the straw hat… run as fast as you can.” — Mamma Ghost.“But Mommy… aren’t humans weak? Aren’t they just our food?” — Ghost Boy.Mamma Ghost sighed, looking at her fatherless son with pity.“Ah, child… your father thought the same.”Feng Fan never wanted this life. He never asked for this mission. But fate had other plans.Witness his journey as he ascends to immortality and restores humanity’s lost Dao.“In this universe, there is no ghost I can’t seal!”#tsundere #transmigration #r18 #no-harem #horror