Oath of the King - Chapter 38: Ashes and Embers

# mastermind

Tang Wen was transmigrated to the Da Chu dynasty and became a deadbeat noble and the lord of an abandoned island.

Fortunately, he had the Landlord System and was able to return to the modern era. After making his first pot of gold, he returned to the dynasty to make even more money.

He built waterways, expanded farms to plant herbs, and raised tigers and red-crowned cranes.

“I have to build roads as well… I can keep coming back and forth between two different times to make money, but I need more people to work for me…”

“Come and work for me. I can provide food and shelter. I even have pills for you to get stronger and I can even help you find the love of your life. Become my slave.”

Just like that, millions of people started to work for Tang Wen.

“Sir, don’t you know? Almost 80% of Linghai County now belongs to Tang Wen.”

“My liege! Tang Wen has taken almost all of our land…”

As Tang Wen’s influence started to spread even further, he said, “I don’t know how big my land is. All I know is that I have a new title, the Landlord.”

Zhao Du'an, a government official leading a cautious life, finds himself transported to another world where he becomes the favored 'pretty face' of a female emperor and an oppressive, power-abusing villain. Before he can relish the moment, he faces mortal danger for releasing a national criminal. Cornered and desperate, he plans to soothe the female emperor to seek mercy, only to discover his 'leading gigolo' role is a sham.Worse still, his notorious reputation prompts officials and heroes alike to impeach and eliminate him; and martial artists and clerical magicians consider him a disgrace. Overwhelmed, Zhao Du'an decides it's better to stop being human to survive.Starting by betraying his allies, he becomes the Emperor's top lackey. Years later, amidst heavy snowfall in the capital, the female emperor Xu Zhen Guan sighs atop the city tower, 'It was supposed to be a pretend companionship, how did it turn real...'Also known as 'Deceiving and Flattering at the Court of Great Yu', 'The Record of a Villain Going White'.

Lin Wudao has traversed, and there is an invincible corpse collection system.

As long as you collect the corpses for the strong, you can get the things they owned or touched as rewards during their lifetime, and the obtained items are still strengthened.

Lowest, ten times stronger!

[You collected the corpse of the great emperor Jiang Taichu, and gained ten thousand years of cultivation! 】

[You collected the body of your fiancée Jiang Qingxue, obtained the Zichen Sword, a humane spirit weapon, and after strengthening it ten times, it was upgraded to become an extreme spirit weapon, the Xuantian Ancient Sword! 】

[You collected the bones of an immortal, obtained a ray of immortal origin, enhanced it by 100,000 times, and upgraded it to become the original origin of Hongmeng. After refining it, you can be promoted to the immortal emperor! 】

…

Since obtaining the invincible corpse collection system, Lin Wudao has embarked on an invincible road that can push through the ages and suppress the heavens.

- Description from novelbuddy

Guys here is my pitch.....In the sprawling world of fantasy, we’ve often been treated to tales of heroes reincarnated with divine blessings, legendary powers, or cheat-like abilities, thrust into magical lands as shining saviors—or chaotic terrors. But what happens when the very concept of reincarnation becomes a curse? When the divine boon is a big fat joke, and the “cheat system” doesn’t quite… cheat?Enter John, the unluckiest reincarnate. Blessed by a god and thrust into a fantasy world, he dreams of glory, power, and adventure—only to wake up as a normal, utterly powerless bird. Not a mythical phoenix, not an ancient thunder eagle. Just… a bird.To make matters worse, this world is no ordinary realm. It's a land scarred by the devastating legacies of past isekai’d heroes and villains, whose reckless exploits piled skeletons into mountains and turned their cheats into harbingers of chaos. Fed up with these unruly intruders, the ancients of the realm banded together to create a world-shaking seal: all reincarnated souls are trapped in the bodies of harmless animals, confined to isolated sanctuaries that function more like fantasy zoos.Here’s the twist: this isn’t mercy. It’s a resource grab. The powerful beast tamers of this realm have turned these reincarnated souls into exotic pets, prized for their cheat-like potential.John finds himself at the bottom of the food chain in every sense. His cheat doesn’t work. His human form is gone. And his world is filled with predatory cultivators who see him as either a snack or a tool.But John isn’t one to give up so easily. What starts as despair quickly turns into cunning survival. With wings and wit as his only tools, John must navigate layers of misfortune, dodge fate’s sharp talons, and cheat his way through a world determined to keep him grounded.Get ready to join John on a wildly unconventional journey—one where reincarnation isn’t a ticket to greatness, but a death sentence he’s determined to rewrite. His story is one of humor, wit, and persistence, as he explores a world where he is the joke and his survival is the punchline.Main tags: reincarnation/isekai, beast taming cultivation system, comedy, action, adventure.Of course No-harem!