The name of the body he had taken over was Shen Yuan.
He was the son of the patriarch of the Shen Clan—one of the Eight Ancient Clans that stood at the very peak of the Azure Wave World, famed for their Elemental Eyes and unparalleled Ocular Arts.
Shen Yuan himself was a genius seen once in a millennium, born with Five Elemental Eyes—a gift that only the founder of the Shen Clan had ever possessed.
At the young age of sixteen, he had already reached the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, an achievement that few in history had matched.
Unfortunately, his brilliance came to a tragic end.
He had perished under the influence of a mysterious curse, one that flooded his meridians with Death Qi, tearing apart his foundation and body from within.
Cultivation Realms of the Azure Wave WorldMortal Vein
Qi Gathering
Foundation Establishment
Resonant Core
Heavenly Soul
Emperor
Void Lord
Each realm was further divided into ten stages, marking a cultivator's steady climb from the mortal to the divine.
Suddenly, Alex's expression darkened as the memories of the original Shen Yuan replayed in his mind.
Three years ago, the original Shen Yuan had gone to visit his fiancée, Bai Rouxi, the young miss of the Ancient Bai Clan. She had despised the arranged marriage and openly resisted it.
During their heated exchange, a servant named Xiao Chen had barged into the room.
Offended by the intrusion, Shen Yuan slapped him to the ground. Yet, with sheer determination, the servant forced himself to stand and shouted—
"Three years from now, I'll defeat you! Thirty years east, thirty years west—don't bully the young and poor!"
That three-year period was now nearly over—only three months remained until the duel.
Rumors had already spread: Xiao Chen was now a prodigy, an unparalleled genius who had reached the Peak of Qi Gathering within a single year and even slain multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Alex's face grew pale.
He knew this trope all too well—after all, he'd read countless web novels.
This is the Bonafide Protagonist setup… and I'm the stepping stone.
His jaw clenched.
"Am I really going to die again? To become someone else's stepping stone in this new life too?"
No—he refused.
With newfound resolve, he muttered through gritted teeth,
"Not again. This time, I won't dance to someone else's whims… even if I have to go against fate itself."
His eyes burned with determination.
"I'm not Alex anymore. From this day forward—I am Shen Yuan!"
Suddenly, a clear chime echoed inside his mind.
[Conditions met… Initializing Fate-Defier System…]
DING!