Han Chen's previous life on Earth had been a constant loop of monotony and disappointment. His sole solace was immersing himself in movies, novels, manga, and anime. The fantastical tales of protagonists rising from nothing, villains consumed by despair, and worlds filled with endless possibilities gave him a bittersweet escape from reality. He often joked about the absurdity of overpowered protagonists, pitied the tragic backstories of villains, and quietly wished for a system of his own to break free from his predetermined, lackluster life.
But when his time on Earth came to an end, an unexpected twist awaited. As his spirit drifted along the path of reincarnation, an immensely powerful entity intervened. The figure, shrouded in mystery, plucked Han Chen's soul consciousness from the stream and granted him a unique system. It whispered cryptically, "You longed for purpose, for escape. I grant you a chance—but the road will be far from easy."
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Rebirth in a Cultivation World
Han Chen awoke in a new world, a vast realm where cultivators ruled, and the laws of heaven and earth, dictated every aspect of existence. Born once again into a humble side branch of a cultivation family, his aptitude for cultivation was dismal—his spiritual roots were incomplete, and his body was mortal physique. His name remained Han Chen, as though fate itself had tethered him to his past.
Despite his poor aptitude, he was determined to survive. His lackluster life before this transmigration gave him extreme obsession to become someone powerful. His family's lack of expectations led to him being sent off as a handyman to a grand immortal sect, a fate reserved for those with no hope of glory. At first, he resigned himself to managing mundane tasks, tending to the needs of disciples and maintaining the sect's infrastructure.
However, destiny placed him in the sect's most mysterious and expansive location: the library realm. This library wasn't an ordinary repository of knowledge—it was a small realm in itself, containing countless treasures. Jade slips, ancient scrolls, aura remnants, mystical monuments, and artifacts filled its endless chambers. The library housed millions of items, from common mortal texts to the profound legacies of ancient immortals.
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The System Awakens
It was here that Han Chen's "golden finger" finally activated: Heaven-Defying Understanding. With this ability, he could grasp the essence of anything he observed, no matter how profound or cryptic at the expense of some mental effort. Complex formations, ancient alchemical methods, runic laws, Talismans,artistic conceptions,sword realms, spear realms etc. and even the traces of heavenly laws became clear to him in moments of quiet contemplation.
But there was a catch. As a library handyman, he was bound by strict rules. He could not access or study anything beyond what was deemed permissible for his rank. Moreover, a contract tied him directly to the library's formation, preventing him from leaving unless authorized by the sect elders.
Han Chen didn't despair. Using his Heaven-Defying Understanding, he found ways to glean insights from even the most mundane texts and artifacts. By studying foundational techniques and using fragments of aura remnants, he slowly cultivated his body and soul. It took him 10 year to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, a milestone that would take ordinary disciples a decade. He took most of the time for it to refine his meridians so that he could become at least an ordinary talent. Despite his slow progress, his mastery of various fields—including formations, alchemy, weapon refinement, talismans, runes, and even swordsmanship—grew unparalleled in his age due to his profound comprehension, but it still was only derived from foundational knowledge.
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Encountering Protagonists and Villains
In his quiet existence of cultivating,comprehending,library jobs, Han Chen encountered many of the sect's prodigies—the so-called heavens' favored sons and daughters. Their talent and celestial physiques made them shine as the brightest stars of the sect, leaving no room for someone like him. He also crossed paths with future antagonists—ambitious and arrogant individuals whose desires for power and revenge would one day lead them astray. Through it all, Han Chen remained in the background, an observer in the grand tapestry of the internal sect fights in a cultivation world.
His fate changed when the elder responsible for managing handymen discovered Han Chen's latent brilliance completely by chance. Word of his exceptional talent began to spread, and he was elevated to the rank of Outer Sect Disciple by elders.
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New Challenges
While this promotion expanded the scope of his techniques and resources, it also brought new responsibilities and dangers. As an outer sect disciple, he was no longer invisible. Rivalries among disciples, sect politics, and the ever-present threat of conflict with external forces forced Han Chen to tread carefully. The sect demanded loyalty, and his Heaven-Defying Understanding became both a gift and a burden as even geniuses need time to grow.
Despite the challenges, Han Chen's resolve hardened. He continued to cultivate quietly, mastering techniques far beyond his realm, knowing that in a world filled with protagonists and villains, his own story had only just begun.
Venturing Out and Early Struggles
Han Chen's duties as an outer sect disciple often required him to leave the safety of the sect for obtaining resources. Missions to gather resources, deliver and receive information, or investigate anomalies became routine. However, his luck, or lack thereof, was a constant thorn. His ventures were riddled with unforeseen challenges: ambushes by spirit beasts, deadly terrain, or rival sect members vying for the same treasures.
Despite his misfortune, Han Chen's mastery of movement techniques and combat fundamentals allowed him to scrape through most situations. His Heaven-Defying Understanding provided him with creative ways to escape, earning him a reputation as a survivor.
One mission, however, brought him unwanted attention. During an outing, he assisted a young woman, unaware that she was closely connected to a powerful villain. This girl, intrigued by his calm demeanor and unique techniques, began taking an interest in him. Her favor sparked the jealousy of an arrogant young master—a rising villain with grand ambitions.
The villain, unwilling to let the perceived slight go unpunished, attempted underhanded schemes to humiliate Han Chen. But these plans caught the attention of the local protagonist by complete surprise, a "Heaven's Chosen" figure destined to ascend higher realms. The protagonist intervened, turning the tables on the villain in a display of dominance and pretending to be pig and eating the tiger. Han Chen, inadvertently caught in the ensuing conflict, barely escaped with injuries.
These repeated entanglements with figures of destiny marked the beginning of Han Chen's struggles with luck conflicts. The world of cultivation was inherently tied to karma and fate, and proximity to protagonists or villains often brought misfortune. Recognizing the dangers, Han Chen chose to distance himself from all associations, avoiding any entanglements with prominent figures.
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Silent Cultivation and Inner Sect Promotion
Han Chen realized the pitfalls of relying on heavenly treasures or external aids at low strength. His poor luck ensured that even hard-earned resources often slipped from his grasp or came with strings attached. Resolving to forge his own path, he focused on pure cultivation—honing his understanding of techniques, formations, and the fundamental principles of the Dao.
Though progress was slow, his persistence paid off. Over decades, he gained just enough strength to stand among the sect's geniuses as a golden core cultivator. His unwavering dedication earned him a promotion to the Inner Sect, granting him access to greater resources and responsibilities.
With access to the library's deeper chambers, Han Chen delved into esoteric techniques, deriving profound insights that others overlooked. Missions grew more perilous, but his understanding of formations and combat strategies ensured his survival.
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The Fall of the Sect
Returning from one such mission, Han Chen was met with a devastating sight—the sect was in ruins. Scattered corpses and smoldering remnants of once-mighty structures told the story of annihilation. The sect had become collateral damage in a larger conflict.
The culprit was no ordinary villain. Han Chen later confirmed the attacker was a Destiny Villain with a system of his own. Unlike typical antagonists who served as stepping stones for protagonists, this villain played by no rules, overwhelming the sect and the protagonist and leaving only ashes in his wake. The treasury had been plundered, but the sect library, deemed "worthless" by the attacker, remained intact.
As looters ravaged the ruins, Han Chen's knowledge allowed him to bypass the library's defensive formations. Once inside, he made a bold decision—he used his storage artefacts to store every technique, item, and piece of knowledge within the library, ensuring the sect's legacy wouldn't be entirely lost.
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Solitude and Mastery
Han Chen retreated to a mortal dynasty, blending into the mundane world. For 16 years, he immersed himself in the library's treasures, mastering everything from ancient alchemical techniques to forbidden sword arts. His Heaven-Defying Understanding turned even the most cryptic texts into actionable insights, and he quietly developed techniques that bordered on the divine which would take others hundreds to tens of thousands of years to truly comprehend and gain mastery.
Despite his knowledge, Han Chen remained cautious. He cultivated silently using formations to cover his tracings and found suitable locations, relying solely on his own efforts. It took him another 26 years to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, a milestone that others might have achieved in 100 years even with access to heavenly resources.
Having learned the value of anonymity, Han Chen avoided drawing attention, even as he slowly amassed power. He ventured into treasure lands, forged alliances as a guest elder of various sects, and carefully cultivated relationships while maintaining an ordinary facade and disguised looks.
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Rise and Tribulations
The cultivation world's cruelty was ever-present. Many of Han Chen's former acquaintances fell in the relentless pursuit of power and conflicts. Yet Han Chen thrived, carefully plundering the luck of lesser cultivators to tip the scales of fate in his favor using advanced techniques.
Over the centuries, he fought in battles between races, clashed with demons, and participated in the great hegemony struggles of his era. After 2,000 years, he successfully ascended to the Immortal Realm, only to face his greatest challenge yet—his heart demon.
The regrets of his previous life surged forth, threatening to shatter his soul. But Han Chen's meticulously crafted techniques allowed him to endure, granting him entry into the Immortal Realm.
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From Nobody to Immortal Emperor
In the immortal world, Han Chen once again climbed from obscurity. Over a million years, he rose to the pinnacle of cultivation, becoming an Immortal Emperor. His name carried weight across realms, but his ambitions extended further—to the Divine Realm, a legendary plane that no one had reached in 100 billion years.
As he neared success, tragedy struck. A Heaven's Daughter Lín Yǐn and the very protagonist Ye Fan, he had once crossed paths with, thought long dead, ambushed him. The girl was none other than his taoist companion for the last 550 years, he carefully helped her realize her own way. As Han Chen's luck grew he was a little more ambitious and not be so careful as in the beginning.
Afterall, what's the point of all these power if you hide away from everything. He once killed the protagonist by humiliating him and exposing his lustful behaviour and later ambushing by carefully studying his behaviour. The protagonist working in the background somehow pursued his companion and thought of this revenge plan.
But Han Chen still never chose to showcase his entire brilliance in derivative understanding to others. But how can such brilliance be hidden away permanently in the eyes of destiny children whom even the heaven and luck will give way for. Their goal wasn't just revenge—they sought the divine techniques and treasures Han Chen had accumulated over his long journey as they seem way too good.
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The Final Fall
Though gravely wounded, Han Chen overcame his enemies, proving the strength of his hard-earned abilities. Yet, just as victory seemed within reach, his heart demon struck again. The regret and bitterness in his previous life and millions of years of struggle, compounded by the unresolved emotions of his past life, surged forth.
Funnily enough, what caused the most damage to his dao heart was just like when Xu Qing betrayed his trust for a random guy Zhao Lin and made him feel helpless, history repeats over a million years later with Lín Yǐn.
The heart demon consumed him, tearing his soul apart. Han Chen's final thought was of the life he could never truly escape, no matter how far he climbed.He activated his safeguard upon death.