Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 278: Chapter 158: Fifth Reincarnation, The Fated Arch-Villain

[Age 12: While hunting in the Capital Suburb, you once again encountered the black-haired youth. He didn’t even recognize you at first. Only after you blocked his path did he flash you a contemptuous smile!]

[You then realized he hadn’t given a single thought to the opponent he had once defeated!]

[You were furious. You bristled with rage and threw yourself at the black-haired youth, fighting desperately and giving it your all, determined to win!]

[But no matter how hard you tried, you were still no match for the black-haired youth!]

[At age nine, you lost to the black-haired youth. You trained bitterly for three years because of it, but when you faced him again, your defeat was even more crushing than the last.]

[You died. Your tragic life served only to pave the way for another’s success!]

Looking at the life summary on his retina, Li Chang’an felt rather puzzled.

Honestly, this life should have been the template for a winner. Not only was he a Prince, but he was also made Crown Prince at birth—a completely different start from his unloved and uncared-for beginning in the Liyang Dynasty.

Although there were twelve other dynasties in this world besides the Great Zhou, none of that mattered.

Who the hell was this black-haired youth who had appeared out of nowhere?

An orphan, black hair, mysterious…

’This sounds an awful lot like I’ve run into a Child of Destiny.’

’So if he’s the Child of Destiny, then what does that make me?’

’The destined arch-villain?’

’No, judging by this plot, I don’t even qualify as an arch-villain. I’m probably just some mid-level lackey for the Child of Destiny to kill off in the early stages.’

’This is so damn annoying!’

He had already racked his brains fighting against Cultivators in the last world.

He thought this world would be more normal, but instead, he’d stumbled into even bigger trouble, finding himself in opposition to a Child of Destiny protected by the world’s very Will.

’Oh well. Since I’m here, I’ll just have to deal with it.’

’So what if he’s the Child of Destiny? With the experience from his past lives, Li Chang’an was fully confident he could give the guy a run for his money.’

[Ding! You are detected to possess one ’World’s Favor.’ Using it will trigger a hidden quest. Completing this quest will grant a mysterious reward from the ’World Consciousness.’ Do you wish to use it?]

As Li Chang’an was lost in thought, the Rebirth Mark sent him another message.

Without much hesitation, Li Chang’an chose to use it.

No matter how strange this all was, the reincarnations had to continue!

…

「Great Zhou, Kyoto, within the Imperial Palace.」

The sound of a baby’s piercing cry rang out.

The Palace Maid in charge of the delivery, her expression one of visible excitement, emerged from the palace holding a fair and plump baby. She hurried over to a eunuch who had been waiting outside and said, “Eunuch Cai, it’s a Prince! His Majesty must be anxious. Hurry and deliver the good news!”

Upon hearing the Palace Maid’s words, the eunuch’s face lit up with joy. He carefully took the baby and jogged deeper into the Imperial Palace.

After entering Yangxin Hall, the eunuch composed his breathing and announced in a shrill voice, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty! Mother and son are both safe and sound. The Empress has borne Your Majesty a healthy baby boy! The Great Zhou Dynasty has an heir!”

Hearing the eunuch’s report, Emperor Wu of the Great Zhou, who was inside Yangxin Hall, tossed aside the Vermilion Brush in his hand. He shot to his feet and burst out laughing, “Excellent! Excellent! Truly excellent!”

“Issue the order! Every Palace Maid and eunuch who served the Empress today is to be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold!”

“Furthermore, proclaim to all under heaven that the Empress has rendered a great service to the state by bearing me my firstborn son! Heaven blesses our Great Zhou!”

As a Prince, and the eldest son born of the Empress at that—the most important heir in a feudal society—Li Chang’an was destined for the spotlight from the moment of his birth.

However, this day was destined to be one the people of Great Zhou would never forget.

Just one hour after the Eldest Prince’s birth, an immense golden dragon seemed to burst forth from the heavens above the Great Zhou Capital, its body plunging into the Imperial Palace.

Even from hundreds of miles away, people could see the brilliant golden light that filled the sky.

In an instant, the whole city was abuzz.

Rumors of a Saint Monarch’s descent ran rampant, shaking the entire Great Zhou officialdom.

The court officials, having caught wind of the news, came to court en masse, bringing cartloads of gifts to celebrate the birth of the future Saint Monarch. They also wanted to see for themselves what was so different about this newborn Eldest Prince.

The once-quiet Imperial Palace was filled with celebration. Emperor Wu, naturally, was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear as he held Li Chang’an.

When he was one year old, Emperor Wu summoned a Warlock from the Observatory to read Li Chang’an’s fortune.

Li Chang’an’s aura was contained, and he showed no sign of being anything out of the ordinary.

But after putting on a show of scrutinizing him for a while, the Warlock from the Observatory still declared with utter confidence that Li Chang’an was a Saint Monarch sent from heaven.

’Saint Monarch from heaven, my ass!’

’Telling such a bald-faced lie… doesn’t he fear retribution?’

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but secretly roll his eyes.

He’d originally thought the man could actually see something special about him. Turns out the old fraud was just a two-faced sycophant who told people whatever they wanted to hear.

In fact, according to Li Chang’an’s original plan, he wasn’t going to follow his predetermined destiny. He didn’t even want to be the Crown Prince.

Because doing so would make him look like a walking bag of EXP prepared by the world’s Will for the Child of Destiny, just waiting to be farmed once he was fully developed.

But now it seemed that the trajectory of his fate wasn’t so easily changed.

Li Chang’an was still made the Crown Prince by Emperor Wu.

At age two, Emperor Wu found a world-renowned great Confucian scholar to be Li Chang’an’s teacher.

And Li Chang’an did not disappoint, promptly falling asleep during every lesson, completely ignoring the great scholar’s incessant nagging.