The Dao of Reincarnation (104-106) (Patreon)

Chapter 104: Witness of the Era (Part 1)

Su Chen opened the Reverse Fate Scripture.

[Ninth Life: On the surface, you were an ordinary member of the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land. In secret, you carried the Primordial King Bloodline of the Primordial Remnant Clan. You soon discovered that while the clan's surviving elders outwardly treated you with utmost respect, they truly regarded you as nothing more than a puppet for their revenge. You did not care. As long as they could be used, their hidden motives were irrelevant.]

[You began your own schemes. Using borrowed momentum, you eliminated numerous true disciples of the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land. Just when you believed everything was proceeding smoothly, devastating news arrived: the Sacred Lord had uncovered your secret. To protect his own greatest secret from exposure, you decisively betrayed the Primordial Remnant Clan's elders and remnants, earning Zhou Hao's trust.]

[You feigned submission to Zhou Hao's control. Moving between the Western Regions and Northern Deserts, you single-handedly ignited war between the two domains.]

[In the end, full-scale conflict erupted. Under the banner of the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land, you slew the divine physique of White Cloud City, igniting irreconcilable hatred. When the old Saint King of White Cloud City clashed with the sacred land, you quietly reaped the benefits, your calculations flawless. With a Nirvana realm body, you slew a Saint.]

[Yet… you never anticipated that your transformation had been noticed long ago by this life's younger sister, Zhou Hanchan. No matter how much you improved, you could never replace the ordinary brother who once held the deepest place in her heart. Zhou Hanchan carried a mysterious inheritance. Perhaps you had already sensed it, but… perhaps a part of you was still Zhou Chen. Though thousands of years of memory dominated, the affection Zhou Chen felt for his little sister had never truly vanished. In the end, you chose to fulfill her wish.]

[You understood that a far more terrifying existence had woven the entire fate of the Western Regions. Resistance was futile.]

[In this life, you provoked war between the Western and Northern Deserts, annihilated an entire sacred land, and single-handedly altered the course of history. Though your lifespan barely reached two hundred years, you sent ripples through the long river of time.]

[Evaluation: Two Stars (Purple )]

[Reverse Fate Points: 20,000]

Su Chen stared at the final reward, eyes wide.

Twenty thousand Reverse Fate Points! Though this life had been short, he had rewritten the destinies of countless people. The tide of the era had shifted because of him.

"All in… or hold back?"

Gaining so many Reverse Fate Points in one breath left Su Chen hesitating. Central Continent still harbored an even greater threat. This life's little sister was clearly no ordinary person. If he reincarnated again within the Heavenly Profound Domain… The situation looked grim.

After a long moment of consideration, Su Chen chose not to spend every last point.

[Talent: 0 (+)]

[Comprehension: 0 (+)]

[Family Background: 0 (+)]

[Dao Heart: 450]

Talent +5000

Comprehension +5000

Family Background +5000

Five thousand points remained. Su Chen kept them in reserve against unforeseen disaster. Should calamity strike and end his life prematurely, five thousand Reverse Fate Points—combined with the accumulation of many lifetimes—would still allow him to rise swiftly once more.

"This life… become a Saint!"

Su Chen turned to the next page.

…

Su Chen opened his eyes. In his arms lay a stunning beauty, all charm and allure, her body soft and fragrant against him.

The surroundings were elegant beyond measure. Dense spiritual qi filled the air. Every inch of wall, floor, and pillar had been built from top-grade spirit stones. Auspicious dragon-and-phoenix carvings adorned the chamber, creating a dreamlike and otherworldly.

Su Chen quickly rifled through this life's memories. Fortunately, no protagonist like Lin Zhan had appeared yet. In this incarnation, he was the youngest son of the current patriarch of the Wang Clan—one of Central Continent's sacred clans.

Wang Chen was a young genius of his generation. At his age, he had already reached the Profound Connection realm and earned the title of King.

The Wang Clan of Central Continent…

A faint impression surfaced in Su Chen's mind. Back during the Alchemy Assembly, one of the monstrous alchemists who had lasted until the very end came from this very clan, suppressing all the other alchemy prodigies of the Central Continent.

This was an ancient, colossal family. Their ancestor had been a Great Saint. Within the clan today stood several Saint Kings and even a single Alchemy Saint. In the Central Continent, they flourished without rival.

The beauty lying beside him came from another major power—one of its direct-line successors. She had been sent here deliberately to form a marriage alliance and bind their families closer together.

To Su Chen, such arrangements were nothing new. What truly drew his attention was the older brother of this life.

Wang Yunfei.

Known as the Young Great Emperor. Bearer of the qualifications to become a true Great Emperor. Born with an ancient taboo divine physique. On the day of his birth, strange phenomena filled the sky.

At the age of ten, the most mysterious and ancient force in Central Continent—the Emperor Palace, a power that had genuinely given birth to Emperors—personally came knocking and took Wang Yunfei as their direct disciple.

Wang Yunfei was undeniably number one among the younger generation of the Central Continent. And because of him, even Su Chen—this younger brother—rose in status. Countless people racked their brains for ways to curry favor with him.

Yet something about it felt off to Su Chen.

"Talents of a Great Emperor…" Hmm. Those words were never a blessing.

The beauty beside him let out a soft murmur in her sleep.

Su Chen rose without the slightest ripple of emotion and left the chamber, heading straight for the Wang Clan's scripture pavilion. There, the clan stored every secret and hidden record they had ever uncovered.

This life had placed him in the Central Continent. But Su Chen had not forgotten that Central Continent still harbored its own supreme overlord. In his previous life, he had heard rumors that the Yu Clan declined after a great war. He never learned the exact details—nor did he know who ultimately obtained the Spirit Communion Emperor Scripture.

"Two hundred years have passed since my last death…"

Before he could locate any trace of the Yu Clan, he first stumbled upon records of his previous incarnation. The Sun-Devouring Sacred Land's Primordial Remnant Clan survivor had, single-handedly, ignited war between two domains. More than ten Saints had perished. Several sacred-level orthodoxies had fallen into ruin. Even the Sun-Devouring Sacred Land itself had vanished from the river of history.

The records further described that demonic remnant as bearing the Primordial Taotie Physique and cultivating an evil art capable of slaying other prodigies and devouring their origin essence. Should such an evil technique ever reappear, all five domains were to unite and exterminate its practitioner without mercy.

"Peerless Great Demon. Extreme danger. Capable of overturning the heavens and annihilating all living beings." That was the Wang Clan's evaluation of Su Chen's previous life.

Clearly, his actions in that life had thoroughly alarmed every major orthodoxy in the Heavenly Profound Domain. They had resolved to strangle the threat in its cradle.

Yet… Su Chen knew the true danger had likely never been him. Stepping outside the chessboard, he began to reconsider the truth behind his death in the previous life.

"Most likely… someone used me to divert the attention of every orthodoxy in the world. What a ruthless method."

Su Chen felt genuine admiration. More and more threads began to surface. He gradually understood that the shadowy existence behind everything probably wanted him to stir chaos across the world—either to distract everyone from something else, or to help conceal someone's true identity.

The specifics still eluded him. But whatever those ancient monsters were plotting, it was certainly no simple scheme.

Su Chen continued searching for information on the Yu Clan. After a week of tireless effort, he finally uncovered the relevant records.

The Yu Clan's Great Saint ancestor had wielded a Quasi-Emperor weapon and invaded the Western Regions. In his battle against a Great Saint of the West, both he and the weapon vanished without a trace.

At the exact same moment, calamity struck the Yu Clan.

Annihilation.

Chapter 105: Witness of the Era (Part 2)

After losing their Great Saint ancestor and Quasi-Emperor weapon, the Yu Clan became prey in the eyes of the Central Continent's most powerful forces, led by the Emperor Palace. They joined hands to carve up the clan's resources and territory.

The once-glorious great clan declined rapidly. Yet Yu Shukuang—their divine physique prodigy—had vanished without a trace. No further news emerged of the Emperor Scripture either.

Su Chen felt a trace of regret. Yu Shukuang's survival meant the Spirit Communion Emperor Scripture's whereabouts remained unknown. Should that ancient existence ever seize control of such an unparalleled divine physique and start anew, the consequences would be catastrophic.

When Su Chen left the scripture pavilion, he received a summons from this life's father—the current patriarch of the Wang Clan.

"My so-called ‘older brother’—the one with Great Emperor qualifications, Wang Yunfei—has returned?"

Su Chen was mildly surprised. In his memory of this life, Wang Yunfei had rarely set foot in the Wang Clan since the age of ten. Su Chen himself had only met this legendary brother a handful of times.

To Wang Chen, Wang Yunfei had always been a figure of awe and myth—more legend than family. His image remained hazy and distant.

Su Chen arrived at the clan's grand hall. There he saw the fabled Wang Yunfei.

A figure of pure gold stood at the center of the hall. Ancient dragon patterns shimmered faintly along the sleeves of his robe. His features bore some resemblance to Su Chen, yet where Su Chen's demeanor was calm as still water, Wang Yunfei radiated absolute dominance. A faint golden divine mark flickered between his brows. With every breath he took, the laws of heaven and earth seemed to tremble in response.

Very strong…

That was Su Chen's most immediate impression. What truly stunned him, however, was the unshakable belief radiating from Wang Yunfei—an invincible conviction. He carried the absolute self-assurance that no peer in the world could stand against him. This unyielding faith surpassed anything Su Chen had witnessed across nine lifetimes.

In nine cycles of reincarnation, Su Chen had encountered countless divine physique prodigies—some of whom had already stepped into the starry void. None of them could compare to the sheer presence Wang Yunfei exuded.

Wang Yunfei also noticed Su Chen's arrival. The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile.

"Little Chen, you've come."

Though the words carried warmth, Su Chen clearly sensed the truth beneath them: this was merely the pity a supreme being felt toward someone weaker—someone who happened to be his own younger brother. From beginning to end, not a single ripple of genuine emotion had stirred in Wang Yunfei's eyes.

‘This is a domineering, heartless man. In his world, there are only two kinds of people: enemies and defeated foes.’

Su Chen gave a slight nod. "Greetings, Elder Brother."

The two exchanged brief formalities.

The clan elders, filled with curiosity, asked why Wang Yunfei had returned to the family at this time.

Wang Yunfei answered calmly. "I came back because the Emperor Palace has arranged a marriage for me. In the near future, I will wed Fan Qingyin. From that day forward, the Wang Clan, the Emperor Palace, and the Fan Clan will be bound together as eternal allies."

The elders exchanged astonished glances, then broke into delighted smiles.

The Fan Clan was another transcendent power in the Central Continent, once on par with the Yu Clan. Though it had declined from its peak, it had still produced a Quasi-Emperor in its history and remained one of the continent's foremost great clans.

Fan Qingyin—Central Continent's number one beauty—was herself a divine physique genius. Her suitors numbered in the tens of thousands. A marriage alliance between the Wang Clan and the Fan Clan was undoubtedly a joyous event.

"There is one more matter."

Wang Yunfei continued. "I have already spoken with the Emperor Palace. They have agreed to allow me to bring one person into the palace for cultivation. In the future, that person will serve as my left and right arm—a general capable of standing beside me to reign supreme across the starry void."

The elders' expressions lit up with unrestrained joy.

The Emperor Palace was the undisputed strongest force in the Central Continent, with no exceptions. Even ordinary divine or sacred physique prodigies had no right to enter its gates. Every single cultivator who walked out of the Emperor Palace was destined to dominate an entire era. Its foundation was on a level the Wang Clan could never hope to match.

Su Chen remained silent, observing everything with calm detachment.

Yet Wang Yunfei paid no attention to the elders' delighted expressions. He turned directly toward Su Chen.

"Little Chen, are you willing to follow me to the Emperor Palace for cultivation?"

Under the gazes of Wang Yunfei and every elder in the hall, Su Chen shook his head.

"I am not willing."

The hall fell into stunned silence. Even a flicker of surprise passed through Wang Yunfei's usually impassive eyes.

The Wang Clan patriarch—this life's father, Wang Yaochen—immediately rebuked him sharply.

"Nonsense! An opportunity to cultivate in the Emperor Palace is something countless people can only dream of! You are Yunfei's younger brother—that is the only reason you were granted this chance. A once-in-a-lifetime fortune like this, and you dare refuse?"

Wang Yaochen's voice trembled with urgency. He had been the one to raise the suggestion with Wang Yunfei in the first place. Wang Yunfei had spent considerable effort and resources to bend the Emperor Palace's ironclad rules and secure this single slot. For his youngest son to reject it so flatly—how could Wang Yaochen not panic?

Su Chen remained unmoved. Facing the hall full of expressions—some gloating, some disappointed, some anxious and furious—he spoke calmly.

"The chance to cultivate in the Emperor Palace is indeed excellent. But it is not suitable for me. I, Wang Chen, am also a genius of the Wang Clan. I do not wish to spend my entire life living in my brother's shadow. I want to walk my own path."

What a joke. Entering the Emperor Palace?

Su Chen didn't even need to think twice—he knew nothing good would come of it.

To spend the rest of his life as Wang Yunfei's follower?

Even if this man was his elder brother in this life, Su Chen refused. Whatever the Emperor Palace could offer him, he did not need. Whatever he truly lacked, the Emperor Palace could never provide. And worst of all, stepping inside meant placing himself under the constant surveillance of those terrifying existences.

The others in the hall did not understand the real reason behind Su Chen's refusal. But his words rang out like a thunderclap. The grand hall fell deathly quiet. One by one, the gazes upon him began to change—shock, admiration, newfound respect.

For the first time, a genuine emotion appeared in Wang Yunfei's otherwise still eyes.

Appreciation.

He had always viewed this younger brother as little more than a blood relation—someone he would protect out of familial duty, but never someone he truly valued.

Now, after hearing those words, Wang Yunfei looked at Su Chen with fresh eyes. For the first time, he felt something close to pride.

This… truly is my younger brother.

Wang Yunfei gave a slight nod.

"I will wait for the day you forge your own path. From now on, I, Wang Yunfei, will no longer shelter you. You are my brother—you must carry the same invincible belief that I do. Little Chen… I will be waiting for you on the road to becoming a Saint."

Su Chen smiled.

"Very well."

Wang Yaochen watched the exchange, his heart filled with both pride and melancholy. His eldest son, Wang Yunfei, possessed talent so monstrous it appeared only once in tens of thousands of years. He was proud beyond measure of Yunfei.

But his youngest son was also his own flesh and blood. Wang Chen had always lived in Wang Yunfei's shadow—how could Wang Yaochen not know? Yet living in the shadow was still better than dying. Now… his youngest son had finally grown up.

Wang Yunfei's wedding to Fan Qingyin was set for ten years from now.

Su Chen, too, made his decision. He would leave the Wang Clan. He would journey across the five domains, challenging the geniuses of every land. He would retrace the martial path once more—fusing every technique and insight he had gathered across lifetimes into a single, unique road of his own. He would complete what he had failed to achieve in his previous life. He would become a Saint.

Of course, he had other goals as well. To see if old acquaintances still lived. To search for any lingering clues about the Spirit Divine King. So Su Chen departed the Wang Clan alone, without fanfare.

A single white horse.

A jug of strong wine.

A plain green robe.

A three-foot azure sword.

He walked the five domains.

Chapter 106: Witness of the Era (Part 3)

Su Chen left Central Continent. His first destination was the Southern Barbarian Lands. The Southern Barbarian Lands were the weakest. When picking soft persimmons, one always started with the easiest. After stepping through a spatial tunnel, he arrived in the Southern Barbarian Lands.

Thousands of years had passed. The land had changed beyond recognition.

Revisiting old places, Su Chen learned that the once-arrogant Imperial Sword Dynasty, which had dominated an era, had long since crumbled into dust along with the flow of history. In its place rose one new dynasty after another.

In his sixth life, he had offended far too many people. Standing at the pinnacle meant that even death did not erase debts. Though Shen Daoyuan had ultimately broken through to the Nirvana realm, he had still perished under the joint assault of the Imperial Sword Dynasty's enemies. The Shen Clan's bloodline had been extinguished completely.

Su Chen let out a soft sigh and headed toward the former site of the Imperial Sword Manor. He passed through mountains and rivers until he reached the foot of a lush, verdant peak. Along the way, he encountered an old man.

When the elder saw Su Chen walking toward the mountain, he quickly called out, "Young hero, are you heading up that peak to search for the ruins of the old Imperial Sword Manor in hopes of finding some opportunity?"

Su Chen nodded. "Does the elder know of the Imperial Sword Manor?"

The old man sighed. "How could I not know? Every year, young people like you come here hoping to uncover the legacy left behind by the Imperial Sword Manor, dreaming of becoming a legend like Emperor Shen. But without exception, they all end up in the jaws of the Tiger God that guards the mountain. That Tiger God… is the protector of the mountain. It allows no one to covet the ruins of the Imperial Sword Manor!"

Su Chen was mildly surprised.

Tiger God? Could it be Hu Mao? Was he still alive?

He shook his head. "Thank you for the warning, elder. Still, I intend to go up the mountain and take a look."

The old man's expression filled with regret. He looked at Su Chen the way one looks at yet another young life about to vanish forever. In his youth, he too had harbored such ambitions. After watching friend after friend enter the mountain and never return, he had finally awakened. From then on, he tried to stop others from throwing their lives away.

Yet no matter how clearly he explained the truth, every single person made the same choice as Su Chen—stepping into the mountain, never to be seen again.

After Su Chen disappeared into the mountain without a trace, the old man turned and left. If another young cultivator came seeking the ruins, he would appear once more and speak the same words.

Inside the mountain, Su Chen did not meet the fate the elder feared. He followed the path all the way to the former site of the Imperial Sword Manor.

Everything had vanished. Wiped clean by the passage of time.

"Human, leave now—or I will eat you!"

A massive white tiger suddenly emerged, baring its fangs and opening a blood-drenched maw large enough to swallow Su Chen in one bite.

Su Chen remained calm and unruffled. "So you are the Tiger God that guards this place? What relation do you have to Hu Mao?"

The towering white tiger's eyes narrowed with caution the moment it heard the name. It let out a low growl. "Who are you? How do you know my grandfather's name? Speak—or I will devour you!"

Su Chen cast it a faint glance. He extended five fingers.

In an instant, the world within a hundred meters changed. A colossal palm descended from the sky, pressing down toward the white tiger with overwhelming force.

The tiger sensed mortal danger. Fear flooded its eyes. It had never imagined this seemingly frail, aura-less human could be such a terrifying expert. It turned to flee, but the five fingers pinned it in place, rendering it immobile.

Su Chen rode his white horse up beside it.

The horse lowered its head. Golden pupils flashed with undisguised contempt—as if to say: a mere little wild demon dares show disrespect to its master?

The white tiger shuddered violently under that gaze. The suppression came from deep within its bloodline. Even with its limited intelligence, it understood instantly: the young man on the white horse was no ordinary person. He was far beyond the miscellaneous trash it had encountered before.

The ferocity in the tiger's eyes vanished. Its menacing growl transformed into the crisp, clear voice of a young woman.

"Meow~ Young hero, spare me… actually, I'm a cat demon, not a tiger demon at all! My meat is sour, and I can't help with yang deficiency!"

Su Chen: "…"

"You tiger demons really do know a lot."

Same personality as Hu Mao.

Su Chen was now certain—this white tiger was a descendant of the Hu Mao who had once followed him.

The white tiger lowered her voice to a near-whisper.

"These are all things Grandfather told me… he said these words could save my life. Great hero, you're a good person. You definitely won't kill a little demon like me, meow~"

Looking at the gradually clearing eyes of the white tiger, Su Chen could not help but chuckle.

"I won't kill you. But I am not a good person."

The tiger blinked in confusion.

Su Chen continued calmly. "What is your name? And where is your grandfather now?"

Faced with the question, the tiger hesitated. Remembering that Su Chen had just said he was not a good person, she obediently answered from the heart.

"This little demon is called Hu Miaomiao… As for Grandfather…"

A rare trace of sorrow appeared in her tiger eyes.

"Grandfather passed away ten years ago. A group of people forced their way into the Imperial Sword Manor. Grandfather fought them to protect this place and suffered mortal wounds. He died ten years ago. Before he passed, he told me I must stay here and guard the Great Lord forever."

Su Chen felt a slight stir in his heart.

Shen Chen had countless descendants, countless kin. In the end, the one who remained most loyal turned out to be this rebellious-brained tiger demon. There were far too many people in the world who could not even compare to a single demon.

"Take me to the Imperial Sword Manor."

Su Chen withdrew his five fingers, releasing the suppression on Hu Miaomiao. The tiger shrank back in fear of him and obediently led the way. They arrived at the former site of the Imperial Sword Manor.

All that remained was a single dilapidated house, a simple grave mound with clothes and a hat placed upon it, and the standing corpse of a tiger demon—covered in scars, fierce and unyielding, staring into the distance as though still alive.

Hu Miaomiao spoke sadly.

"There are no treasures here at all. Grandfather only guarded this place because it was the Great Lord's home. Every year, outsiders come trying to plunder it. Fifty years ago, people from the Heavenly Sword Sacred Land broke in. They took the sword from above the Great Lord's grave. Grandfather fought with his life but could not stop them…"

Su Chen listened quietly to her recount the past. He already knew—the sword those people took was almost certainly the one forged from his sixth-life body. He stepped forward and gently sensed the lingering aura on the dead Hu Mao's corpse. From it he clearly detected a deeply familiar yet profoundly hostile sword intent.

"Heavenly Sword Sacred Land…"

Hu Mao had been mortally wounded by the Heavenly Sword Sacred Land's signature sword intent—an injury that could never be healed. That was what ultimately claimed his life.

The calm surface of Su Chen's state of mind suddenly surged with irrepressible killing intent.

"Hu Miaomiao… are you willing to leave this place and follow me?"

The tiger froze. A flicker of longing appeared in her eyes. She glanced back at Hu Mao's remains, then hesitated.

"Great hero… are you a good person?"

Su Chen smiled faintly.

"I am not a good person."

Hu Miaomiao lowered her head in submission.

"Then I am willing to follow the Great Hero. Grandfather once said: No bad person will ever admit they are bad, and no good person will ever claim they are good."

Su Chen's eyes burned with cold killing intent as he looked into the distance.

"Then come with me… to take revenge."