Undying Warlord - Chapter 4 Essence

James, a brilliant mechanical engineer and passionate history enthusiast, loses his life in a tragic house fire—only to find himself in a mysterious world as the ruler of an island nation. Armed with his modern knowledge and unwavering ambition, James embarks on a bold mission to industrialize his kingdom and build an empire on which the sun never sets.

In the world of cultivation, countless tales follow righteous protagonists, fated heroes blessed by destiny, or those chosen by heaven to walk the path of immortality.But what of those who stand in their way?What of the villains? The so-called obstacles to the hero’s journey—do they not bleed, dream, and struggle as well?Xiao Ning was never meant to succeed.From the very beginning, the Grand Dao wove him as a stepping stone—a necessary sacrifice to elevate another. His path, like that of all designated ‘villains,’ was doomed to failure by design.But what happens when that design is defied?After death, Xiao Ning awakens—not in the cycle of reincarnation, but in the cold silence beyond it. There, he is offered the Eternal Paradox Codex—a forbidden artifact containing the hidden truths of the Grand Dao System itself.Rules. Loopholes. Vulnerabilities.Knowledge not meant for those like him.With this power, Xiao Ning is granted a single, impossible choice: accept oblivion, or step outside the Grand Dao entirely—to abandon fate, sever karma, and cultivate a path unbound by heaven or law.It is Xiao Ning’s journey, from ashes to something beyond comprehension.Not to become an Immortal among men.But something even the heavens dare not bind.If fate is a chain…Then let him forge his own path in the void beyond.Welcome to this humble tale.The cultivation world is vast and unkind.Let us begin again—on our terms.

“This world is built on lies. If you want to keep it alive, make sure none of them are exposed. They must never reach his ears.”As long as Shuu could remember, these words had governed his life.Abandoned at the grand temple and forsaken by the gods, Shuu grew up powerless in a world that valued nothing else. Survival was never guaranteed, especially for someone like him. Yet he had one talent-he could read fortunes, and he never got them wrong.His future was decided early. He would serve the temple until his debt was paid, then fade away.But during the Hero’s fortune reading, Shuu made a single mistake. One moment was enough to strip him of his place and throw him into exile-only to be taken in by the very Hero who caused it, a man whose presence turns Shuu’s life completely off course.And as Shuu is pulled deeper into the Hero’s path, he begins to realize that something about the Hero and his companions is deeply wrong-something he cannot yet name, but cannot ignore.__________Please leave a review. Also warning, will have Mpreg (around ch 70ish) . If it's not your cup of tea, just be careful

A skilled thief gets a system in an Alternate Wizarding World. The system seems useless in the beginning since he hasn’t unlocked any features. But…

[The very first feature of the System has been unlocked.]

[Congratulations. You’ve unlocked the class feature. Due to your existing skills and experience, you have gained the Special Class "Arcane Thief" as your starting class. There’s nothing an Arcane Thief can’t steal. The more you steal, the more your Class will progress.]

[The fields of expertise include:

— Stealth Magic
— Wards
— Traps
— Enchantment
— Pickpocketing
— Knife/Short-Sword Wielding]

Wait…this is just the first feature?