Seeking the Tao in the Mortal World - Chapter 53: Emperor and State Preceptor

Qiao Jinniang's parents passed away the moment she came of age.For the sake of inheriting a restaurant, she had no choice but to ‘recruit’ a husband who would take her family name.Who knew that her husband, who looked like a banished immortal, was an ingrate? He snatched her child away and left behind a divorce letter.Qiao Jinniang became the butt of every joke in Lin’an City. Seeing that her uncle was about to take her parents' blood, sweat, and tears for himself, the son of the Prefect of the Superior Prefecture wanted to take her in as a concubine.However, a horse carriage sent from the Marquis arrived in Chang'an City. An old lady servant clad in an embroidered robe walked up to her and called her "Young Miss".It was only then that Qiao Jinniang realized that she was the eldest daughter of the principal wife of Marquis Anyuan. Back then, when the marchioness gave birth to her, she encountered a robber. At that time, a jealous concubine switched out her daughter with the chef's daughter.Therefore, a divorced female chef who had already given birth entered the capital. Everyone was waiting to see this real heiress make a fool of herself.They were secretly guessing when the real heiress would be abandoned by the Marquis.Yet, they failed to expect Qiao Jinniang to open up a restaurant in Chang'an using her amazing culinary skills. Even His Majesty showered her with praise. She was pampered by everyone in the Marquis' residence.Those long-tongued women in Chang'an City said sourly, "So what if a woman gets pampered at home? She's long past the age of 18 and has already given birth. Who will marry her?"The Marquis found Qiao Jinniang quite a few husbands. However, despite many marriages being in discussion, none of them went smoothly.As the marchioness's face was covered in tears, the fake daughter said she wanted to give Qiao Jinniang her husband instead.Qiao Jinniang took the rolling pin and kicked open the Eastern Palace's main door. "Since you've already divorced me, why are you still ruining my marriage?"A certain crown prince said, "How can we let the mother of the royal grandson marry someone else?!"

In the era of pirate riots, who is the real overlord of the sea?

The four emperors standing at the top of the pirates?

The mighty Qiwuhai?

A revolutionary army that emerges from the strong?

Or the navy that suppresses the sea?

No, not at all, there is only one real overlord of this sea.

“That’s me, Fire Dragon Kahn!”

Kahn’s life creed is: “As long as you pay, this old man can perform a hand-splitting dragon man!”

Kahn, formerly known as Xu En, has traveled through pirates for fifty years, and has become a vice admiral from a small soldier with his own efforts.

Kahn, who is already seventy-two years old, is getting old and is no longer in peak condition. He is spending his days leisurely in the East China Sea. He has even submitted his application for retirement, and he is ready to put himself to death until the end of his life.

Congratulations to the host for reaching the system opening conditions, and the super money system is loaded!

The sound of the system interrupted his plan.

Kahn: “Can you buy life?”

System: “Yes, a portion of the water of life can restore the host to its peak state.”

Kahn: “Is it possible to live forever?”

System: “Yes, a portion of Eternal Water can completely free the host from the restriction of life.”

“Are there any devil fruits?”

“have!”

Kahn was instantly overjoyed.

“Hancock, wait for me, I’m just old, not dead!”

But then Kahn was taken aback.

“How much are these two things?”

“The water of life is 20 billion Berries, and the water of eternity is 500 billion Berries.”

Kahn:? ? ?

Then, looking at the oil and water that I had worked hard for several years, the feeling of satisfaction disappeared instantly.

In the end, he decided on a goal, first earning 10,000 small goals before considering retirement!

- Description from novelbuddy

[Warning! The MC here is the literal incarnation of evil and madness throughout the story.]Valtar Titanblood formerly known as Ethan Martin on Earth was struck by an unimaginable tragedy and took his own life at the end, his whole life filled with misery and incompetence of his own doing.Then he transmigrates to a world of infinite proportions and power that defies logic, this new world which is filled with Dragons, Titans, Ouroboros, and countless more bloodline creatures and mythical beings, also powerful humans who are known as Mystic roams here as well.Valtar in this new world has the Karma System and the bloodline of an unknown titan running through his veins, with these powers in hand he who was supposed to become the symbol of justice and equality decided to become the paragon of madness and evil.He who had the tools to become the Judge of Truth and the figure of Respect chose to become the arbiter of chaos and the embodiment of fear.

What if being the protagonist was actually the WORST possible choice?Li Hanfeng thought he'd gotten the short end of the reincarnation stick—transmigrated into a cultivation world with “only” Upper Grade spiritual roots. Sure, he joined the prestigious Shushan Sect, but compared to those Heavenly Grade chosen ones? He was clearly destined to be a background character.Then his golden finger awakened.The Karma Detection System.Suddenly, Li Hanfeng could see the true cost of every “opportunity” before him. That mysterious cave everyone's excited about?[Great Karma: Ancient Tomb][Death Rate: 97%].The beautiful junior sister asking him on a “simple” mission?[Path of Destiny][Triggers: Sect Destruction, Heavenly Tribulation, Outer Domain Demons].Wait... being the protagonist means a 90% chance of horrible death?!NOPE.While other disciples fight over “destiny” and “fortune,” Li Hanfeng discovers something incredible: his system doesn't just detect karma—it “rewards him for avoiding it”. Refuse a death flag mission? Get premium cultivation pills! Skip the mysterious inheritance? Unlock rare techniques! Dodge the protagonist route entirely?His cultivation speed actually INCREASES.“Junior Sister, I'm busy that day.”“Senior Brother, that treasure isn't for me.”“Sorry everyone, I'll pass on saving the world.”[Karma Severed Successfully! Reward: Immortal-Grade Technique]But there's a problem: the more protagonist flags he dodges, the stronger he becomes. And the stronger he becomes, the more the world tries to drag him into main character scenarios.Ancient masters want him as a disciple. Mysterious beauties keep appearing. Evil sects mark him as a threat. Even his own karma system seems shocked by how overpowered his “background character” route is becoming.Li Hanfeng just wanted to cultivate peacefully and avoid death flags.Instead, he accidentally became the most terrifying existence in the cultivation world.The kind of person who's so strong that destiny itself has given up trying to make him the protagonist.