Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One - Chapter 6: Night before battle

For the once dead Hua Yu Man, she has to do three things this lifetime: kill those who harmed her, kill the man who said he loved her, and protect a place called “home.”

She seems docile and gentle, with the air and temperament of a beautiful young lady. But in fact her heart is cold, overbearing, and black belly, with a mysterious identity that can drive the world crazy.

He is the Thirteenth Prince, but also the country’s disgrace; a cold and ruthless man who doesn’t put human lives in his eyes. But only towards a sometimes gentle, sometimes willful and sometimes disobedient woman, would this man be ceaselessly doting and spoiling.

- Description from Novelupdates

Anton is a great-grandfather. He is living quite a happy life, despite his advanced age and declining health… until a group of cultivator bandits moves into the area. The nearby guardians of the area, the Order of Ninety-Nine Stars, are unable to track them down as they continue to ravage nearby towns. During one desperate winter Anton is out on a hunt when his family- his entire village- is killed or taken as slaves by the bandits. He lacks the strength to fight them, and he wasn’t even present for their arrival to die with his loved ones. At the pit of his despair, he wonders if he ever had any chance to change things. What could he even do? He cannot even pull his best bow, and his eyesight is failing. If he had been a cultivator… perhaps there might have been a chance, but he was decades- perhaps even most of his life- too late.Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge (2022)Notes on cultivation levels:There are five general stages of cultivation, though the fifth is extremely rare. Each cultivation style might have their own name for the stages.1. Body Tempering2. Spirit Building/ occasionally System Creation (Ninety-Nine Stars)3. Constellation Formation (Ninety-Nine Stars)4. Life Transformation/Galaxy Construction (Ninety-Nine Stars)5. Ascension

“Stripped of his power, betrayed by those he trusted, and abandoned by fate itself, the young master of the Celestial Clan faces a choice: cling to the tattered remnants of his righteous path or to embrace the darkness blooming within. When a catastrophic fall strips him of everything, he, along with his fiancée by his side, abandons the righteous path. Witness the birth of an anti-protagonist couple, as they forge contracts with ancient, terrifying beasts and carve a new destiny from the bones of their enemies.”In the heart of the Azure Star Continent lies the legendary Celestial Clan, rulers of an unbroken legacy of power, wealth, and influence. At its helm stands Xian Tianyang, a prodigy born with unparalleled talent and destined to inherit the mantle of leadership. Calm, calculating, and relentless, Tianyang has forged a reputation as an unshakable force, a young master whose genius is rivaled only by his ambition.But the path to supremacy is fraught with danger. In a continent where alliances shift like desert sands and rival factions sharpen their blades, Tianyang must navigate a world of intrigue and betrayal. When his childhood fiancée, Lin Yuqing, the “Blooming Empress” of the Eternal Bloom Clan, enters his life, their union threatens to spark both alliances and rivalries that could reshape the continent.With ancient secrets lurking in the shadows, enemies plotting from every corner, and the weight of his family’s legacy on his shoulders, Tianyang must prove that he is more than just a prodigy—he is the heir to the Celestial Throne.Will their fates intertwine as destined rulers, or will the fires of ambition and duty tear them apart? Prepare for a tale of genius, power, and forbidden emotions, where every choice has the power to change the fate of nations.

The protagonist, a renowned gamer/YouTuber aka [TorchDancer] is a master of the game “Tril Trilo Trilogy.” When offered a chance to playtest the prequel, “Part 0,” he jumps at the opportunity. But a twist of fate plunges him into the game itself, transforming him into the series’ ultimate villain, Frank Wonderstein. Trapped in a monstrous body, he must navigate a dangerous world, unraveling the secrets of the game and his own destiny. Can a hero become a villain? Or can a villain find redemption? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out.