In the vast expanse of the mortal realm, where countless planets orbited ancient stars like beads on a cosmic string, the Azure Veil Planet stood as a jewel of prosperity and peril. It was a world divided into mortal domains and hidden immortal enclaves, where cultivators harnessed the essence of elements to defy the heavens. Clans rose and fell like tides, their power rooted in bloodlines, artifacts, and the whims of fate. Among them, the Eclipse Clan reigned supreme in the Eastern Star Continent, their lineage tracing back to legendary ancestors who wielded shadows as weapons and stars as allies. Wealth flowed through their veins like spirit stones through a marketplace—endless, unyielding, and guarded by formations that could shatter mountains.
But on this fateful night, under a blood-red moon that cast eerie shadows across the clan's grand estate, a young boy stirred in his lavish chamber. His name was Lian Voss, the third young master of the Eclipse Clan, born into opulence that lesser families could only dream of. Servants attended his every whim, spirit beasts roamed the gardens as pets, and his family's vaults brimmed with elixirs and treasures that could forge empires. Yet, at this moment, Lian Voss was no ordinary child. His small body, barely six years of age, convulsed slightly as memories flooded his mind like a torrent from the void.
"I... I'm alive? No, reborn?" Lian's eyes snapped open, wide with shock. In his previous life, he had been a nameless wanderer in a distant realm, scraping by as a rogue cultivator amidst endless wars. Betrayed by allies, poisoned by envy, he had perished in obscurity, his dreams of ascension crumbling to dust. But now, here he was—thrust into the body of a child from a powerful clan, his soul intact, his regrets burning like unquenched fire.
The room around him was a testament to his new status: walls adorned with glowing spirit jade, a bed carved from ancient starwood that hummed with latent energy, and windows overlooking vast training grounds where clan elders drilled disciples in elemental arts. Lian sat up slowly, his tiny hands clenching the silk sheets. "This body... it's weak, but the potential. The Eclipse Clan? Riches beyond measure, connections to immortal sects... This is my chance."
As the memories settled, Lian realized the peculiarities of this rebirth. He wasn't alone in this world. Whispers from the void during his transmigration hinted at others—"protagonists" from shattered tales, drawn here by some cosmic anomaly. Some had been reborn like him, carrying grudges from past lives. Others bore ancient rings housing ethereal female mentors, guiding them toward glory. And a few wielded mysterious systems, granting them cheats against the heavens. But Lian? He had nothing yet. Or so he thought.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, like the toll of a distant bell. Then, a translucent screen materialized before his eyes, visible only to him.
**[Villain Novel System Activated]**
**[Host: Lian Voss]**
**[Age: 6]**
**[Objective: Rise as the ultimate sovereign by subverting fates, stealing luck, and mastering elements. Do not kill heroes—ruin them in the eyes of the world.]**
**[Initial Gift: Unique Spiritual Root Unlocked – Eclipse Aether Root (Absorbs and twists all elemental affinities, hidden from detection).]**
Lian's heart raced. A system? And a villain one at that? He had read ancient scrolls in his past life about such legends—artifacts of fate that turned mortals into legends. But this one was tailored for subversion, not brute conquest. "Steal luck from heroines? Make heroes villains in reputation?" A sly smile crept across his childish face. It fit perfectly. No more playing the hero's shadow; he would eclipse them all.
The system continued:
**[Scanning World... Multiple 'Protagonists' Detected: 3 Reborn Types, 2 Ring-Bearers with Female Soul Guides, 1 Elemental System User.]**
**[First Mission: Awaken Your Elemental Power. Reward: Luck Theft Technique (Target heroines to siphon their destined fortunes, converting to your cultivation boosts).]**
Lian nodded inwardly. No time skips here—every moment counted. He closed his eyes, focusing on the warmth building in his dantian. The Eclipse Aether Root stirred, a vortex of shadowy energy that drew in ambient elements from the air: wisps of fire from the lanterns, droplets of water from the humid night, earth essence from the ground below. It twisted them, fusing into something new—Aether, the primordial bridge between void and creation.
"Begin the Ancient Elemental Cultivation System," he whispered, recalling fragments from his past life, now amplified by the system. This wasn't the stale qi gathering of old tales; it was elemental harmony, starting from the foundation.
He entered the Element Foundation Realm's first stage: Spark Ignition. A tiny spark ignited in his core, not of fire, but of eclipsed light—dark yet radiant. Pain lanced through his veins, but Lian endured, his reborn will unyielding. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the spark grew, awakening seeds of power.
Hours passed in meditation, the night deepening. By dawn, he had stabilized the Seed Awakening, his body humming with nascent energy. He was no longer a mere child; he was an Element Adept in the making.
But as the sun rose, a knock echoed at his door. "Young Master Lian? The clan elders summon you for the awakening ceremony. It's time to test your spiritual root."
Lian's eyes gleamed. The ceremony—where clan youths revealed their affinities. In his memories, the original Lian had a mediocre root, destined for mediocrity. But now? With the Eclipse Aether Root hidden and enhanced, he would shine subtly, drawing no suspicion yet.
As he rose, the system pinged again:
**[Luck Target Detected: Clan Heroine – Elara Voss, your cousin. Destined to bond with a reborn protagonist. Steal her luck to accelerate your realm.]**
A grin spread. "Let the games begin." He stepped out, the weight of worlds on his small shoulders, ready to weave reputations into ruin and fates into his own empire.
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(End of Chapter 1)