The greatest clan in the cultivation world had a generations-old wish: for one of its own to become the greatest cultivator of all.
The heir, Jing Mian, had the best chance of achieving that. Unfortunately, his Primordial Body was flawed, leaving him a short-lived good-for-nothing who could no longer cultivate.
Until one day, he woke from a deep sleep with something called a System in his ear and learned that this was a power fantasy about a heaven-defying protagonist's rise to greatness.
The protagonist would overcome his tribulation, break through his delusions, comprehend the Dao, sever his attachments, and ultimately claim the title of Venerable.
As for Jing Mian, he was just a disposable character, made useless by the protagonist and dead before the story's end, not even fifty chapters in.
Jing Mian sat by the cold spring and listened, then asked, "Who's the protagonist?"
The System replied without hesitation, "Why, it's Ying Xu, whose parents both died, who suffered every injustice imaginable, yet through sheer hard work became the greatest cultivator in the world!"
Jing Mian: "?" What a small world, my fiance.
-
Jing Mian hurriedly said goodbye to his family and set off alone to find Ying Xu.
In the original story, the protagonist had a lifesaving benefactor he admired. With the protagonist's plot armor keeping the villain from killing him, the System assumed Jing Mian wanted to take the benefactor's place to get revenge. It kept urging him not to get in the protagonist's way and to turn back before it was too late.
Jing Mian ignored it. Sitting on a tree branch, he looked down at the boy being ground into the mud and asked, "Want to come with me?"
The boy's muddy hand, wiping against his clothes, clearly betrayed his hesitation. But his eyes, fixed stubbornly and intently on Jing Mian, seemed to be memorizing him. Before the boy could answer, Jing Mian closed his eyes and jumped.
As he expected, someone caught him. The boy held him, his hands and voice trembling. "...Okay."
Many years later, just as the book foretold, Ying Xu comprehended the Dao among the immortal mountains and mastered the Path of Ruthlessness.
When the tribulations finally passed, Ying Xu pressed his forehead to Jing Mian's. Jing Mian looked up and saw the joy of surviving the ordeal in his eyes.
Then Jing Mian suddenly seized Ying Xu's sword and pressed it against his own heart. The System screamed, trying to stop him. "Aaaah! What are you doing? The tribulation's over, you can both survive now!"
Jing Mian said coolly, "I was the one who broke off our engagement. We have a grudge. Besides, if I kill the greatest, won't that make me the greatest?"
The System: "..." So that was his plan!
-
By the cold spring on Maple Mountain, Jing Mian reclined on a couch, watching snowflakes drift down.
The System asked, "Didn't you want to become the greatest prodigy?"
Someone came up behind him, wrapped their arms around his waist, and tilted up his chin. The stern, restrained Immortal Venerable pressed a warm kiss to his lips.
Jing Mian tilted his head back and welcomed it, answering coolly, "I did. The greatest beauty in the Three Realms."
[Devoted, loyal, overpowered top x cool, beautiful bottom]
A knight-and-princess feel, and the couple is endgame
A serious novel that tried to be funny and failed. Poor writing and no logic.
----Please follow my upcoming novel----
An upcoming modern fluffy animal story, The Lost Migratory Bird Care Guide. Here's the blurb:
Ye Mu is not only a bird with a terrible sense of direction, he's also a bit dim. When his flock migrates, a freak tree branch knocks him off course. After getting separated from his family for good, he accidentally injures a wing.
Ye Mu: QWQ
Fortunately, Mother Nature takes pity on him. He meets a man who takes him home and treats him to good food and care. Ye Mu is very happy.
His parents told him that a bird should repay kindness, so as not to let Mother Nature down. Ye Mu decides to follow the stories his older siblings told him and repay the man with his whole self.
But things don't seem to be going the way he expected.
After recovering and leaving the isolation room, Ye Mu stares in shock at the little wooden cabin, now packed with animals of every size.
D-do I have to sign up and wait in line to repay him?
-
After retiring, Cheng Xian chose to live in seclusion in the mountains as a forest ranger.
His daily work involves patrolling the mountains and gathering wild produce to sell. Sometimes he picks up injured animals and nurses them back to health.
One day, while on his usual patrol, he found a bird. Once it had recovered and he was about to release it, he discovered that the bird couldn't find its way around and had transformed into a human.
The slender young man huddled in the covers and looked at him. "Husband! I can repay you now!"
Cheng Xian: . I must really be ill.
Firmly believing in science, Cheng Xian took the young man to seek medical help.
-
Ye Mu, determined to repay his kindness, watched as Cheng Xian took him to hospitals and psychiatrists, then tried to find his family, and later brought in a sorcerer to perform a ritual and make him drink talisman water.
Ye Mu: "..."
Ye Mu was so angry that he buried his head in his round body, its feathers glossy from all the care. He decided to go on a hunger strike!
For the first time, the gentle coaxing and food therapy that had always worked on the young man failed. Cheng Xian finally tasted panic and anguish.
Cheng Xian pulled the young man into his arms and said sincerely, "I was wrong, my wife."
Even if he was sick, so be it. He was willing.
[Retired, laid-back powerhouse top x single-minded, directionless migratory bird bottom]
They share a past, with a fairytale feel and plenty of cuddly couple moments
Premise: You are my second spring
Okay, Dad, I'm waiting for you 💪
Now, I think it matches the copywriting better.