MTL - Ace Evolution - Chapter 5 First battle

Cut through the road of life and death with one knife, and Hanren slaughtered all those who had hearts!

…

I don’t want to be a knife, I want to be a knife bearer.

I don’t want to be a pawn, I want to be a chess player.

an ordinary person.

But he wants to live out himself in this world.

The unknown road ahead is slim, and the future is unknown; just walking step by step, before you know it, it is already a journey, and there is no world.

The thorny road, the red dust is far away; the clever move, the step is high;

Flatten the sea, turn over the rivers and lakes; clear the blue sky, hold the sword of heaven.

- Description from novelbuddy

“The masterminds are cooler than heroes,” I mutter as I stare at the chess pieces before me. It is easier to be the one who sits in the shadows and moves the pieces, likewise deciding the flow of the game.Heroes will foolishly sacrifice their lives for the good cause and villains will sacrifice the world for their own gain, but masterminds will use both the heroes and villains to their own benefit.Why, you ask? Well, that's because I've lost my life once while trying to be a hero so, I don't want that anymore. I'd rather be a mastermind who molds the world as per my convenience and live peacefully. Because, why not?***[Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.]What?[Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.]Wait, what?![Propose the Grand Duke the idea of a fake marriage.]And, why would I do that?![Stop the assassination of Prince Eric.]Why would I save him?![The candidates for the throne are:... Who will you choose?]Ah! I give up...It seems like a curse that anyone who wishes for a slacker life in Isekai will have to go through the most troublesome things.In my past life, I died because of one rookie mistake but after being transmigrated in the world of fantasy I've gotten an opportunity to start afresh, but unlike the protagonists who look for their love and glory, I'd rather make money and live a life of a slacker.I have magic, I have power and I have money, what else do I need?Well, that was the plan but this damn system is getting on my nerves. I mean who in their sane mind would want to mess with the complicated royal family and political affairs? But that's not all though.I've also become the saviour of this world. Things just can't be anymore worse!Besides, the penalty of failing this quest is...[Failure: Destruction of the World.]It seems like if I screw up in selecting the right person then the destruction that is going to befall the world won't be stopped.If I speak of my reward then it's this vague thing.[Reward: Fulfillment of any wish.]“If that's the case then, I'd rather choose the person who would be the best fit for the throne.”And that's how I decided that I would become the Kingmaker.

In a world of celestial beings and monstrous cultivators, an ancient power awakens, bestowing upon all living beings the Heavenly Interface—a mysterious system that allows them to visualize and track their cultivation progress. This divine gift brings forth a new era of possibilities, forever altering the balance of power in a world governed by the strong.

Kai, a humble gardener with dreams of grandeur, unwittingly triggers the awakening of the Heavenly Interface when he stumbles upon an ancient ruin hidden in his land. With nothing but his love for gardening and an enigmatic skill called Interface Manipulator, Kai embarks on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and cultivation. As he delves into the lost knowledge of the Heavenly Interface, he uncovers traces of a forgotten civilization and their noble aspirations.

Join Kai in Blossoming Path as he uncovers the secrets of the Heavenly Interface, forges powerful alliances, and faces unimaginable challenges. In a world where the pursuit of power reigns supreme, Kai's journey will redefine what it means to walk the path of cultivation and awaken the true potential within.

Reincarnated as the first prince of the Jing Dynasty, Jiang Changsheng was transferred by a traitor as soon as he was born, and then he was sent to a temple to become an ordinary little Taoist priest.

From the prince to the little Taoist priest who no one cares about, his life has fallen. Fortunately, Jiang Changsheng has activated the survival system and has an infinite lifespan. As long as he survives the hardships of life, he can get a survival reward.

He was almost killed by his brother while practicing martial arts, but survived by luck and got the leg of the gods.

Encountered an earthquake, was nearly killed by the beam of the house, and obtained the Nine Searching Heavenly Dragon Step.

The demons roamed the capital, passed it safely, and obtained the magic weapon to conquer the demon pestle.

…

There are many dynasties, demons are rampant, and martial arts rule the world. This is a world without immortals and gods, and Taoism is hidden in the halls and mountains.

Three hundred years later.

When the Jing Dynasty was prosperous, it ushered in decline, the princes rose together, the emperor became a puppet in the hands of the heroes, split the dynasty, and fought for decades.

The puppet emperor Jiang Xuanzhen came to the Taoist temple and knelt down and cried, “My descendants are not filial and unable to return to heaven, please ask our ancestors to ascend the throne and continue my grand scene for another 300 years!”

- Description from novelbuddy