Ill-Starred Persona

Zhao Hai's mind was flooded with unfamiliar memories, as if a program that didn't belong to his computer had been suddenly installed, overwhelming his brain and forcing him to process the new information.

After an unknown period of time, Zhao Hai finally woke up, realizing that his brain now contained memories that didn't belong to him. According to these memories, his name was Adam Buda, born into a Military General aristocratic family in the Aksu Empire on the Ark Continent. The Buda family had served the empire for three generations and held a prominent position as Marquis. However, Adam himself was a reckless playboy. With his mother's passing and his father constantly away leading troops, he indulged in unruly behavior, showing no regard for others and taking advantage of women without hesitation. But his father, who commanded a large army, covered up for his misdeeds, thus protecting him from any consequences.

However, his father made a grave mistake when the old and new Kings of the Aksu Empire changed places. He ended up siding with the wrong team. The old King, at the age of 47, had a total of 15 princes, of whom five had the potential to succeed to the throne. They were the Crown Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Seventh Prince, and thirteenth prince.

According to the empire's laws, only the children born to the King's empress and noble concubines had the right to succeed to the throne. However, not every child of the empress and noble concubines had the chance to ascend the throne. Only those deemed exceptionally talented by the Grand Duke or above could be considered for succession. A child of royalty would be given the title of Count, and if they failed to achieve any significant accomplishments for the empire, their title would remain as Count, without any fiefdom. Only through meritorious service could their title be elevated, with the highest possible achievement being the Crown Prince.

Of course, children born to the Queen or noble concubines would not be limited to the title of Count. They were typically designated as Dukes, and with a minor mourning established or any excuse found, they could be promoted to the rank of Grand Duke, ultimately aiming for the position of Crown Prince and succession to the throne.

The five princes who had the potential to succeed the 47th Aksu King were the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince (born to the empress), Third Prince and Seventh Prince (born to Consort Karin), and the thirteenth prince (born to a less favored consort). The Crown Prince, being the son of the empress, was considered legitimate and had the support of many nobles who believed he was the rightful heir. However, the Fourth Prince and Seventh Prince formed an alliance, with the support of the influential Karin Clan. The Seventh Prince had gained significant popularity at the Imperial Court. As for the thirteenth prince, being the youngest and the weakest in terms of strength, he was largely disregarded and lacked support.

Adam's father, belonging to the Crown Prince faction, was aligned with the expected heir. This was a natural choice as the Crown Prince had the highest standing at the time. The Buda Family, not being an established noble lineage, had gradually risen to the position of Marquis through military exploits, hoping to quickly infiltrate the ranks of the established nobles. By supporting the Crown Prince, who had the potential to become King, they aimed to penetrate the core of power in the Aksu Empire. Their ultimate goal was to be recognized as noble within the empire.

On the continent, there were two types of nobles: established nobles and new nobles. The distinction between them was evident, with new nobles often being regarded as nouveau riche and lacking the approval of the established nobility. They were unable to enter the core of the country's power. Over the centuries, established noble families had played significant roles in shaping countries, and some even had the ability to influence the rise and fall of imperial authority. These established nobles formed the core of power in the empire, and any new noble seeking their approval needed to possess corresponding strength.

The swift rise of the Buda Family had alarmed the established nobles, who saw it as a threat to their own positions. Since the death of the 46th King, the Buda Family had faced a difficult time. The new King wanted to promote them, but the old nobles sought to suppress their influence, supporting the new King only to ensure the Clan's continued development under advantageous circumstances.

However, Adam's father made a grave mistake by supporting the Crown Prince, who ultimately did not become king. Instead, it was the low-key and seemingly weakest thirteenth prince who ascended the throne. The Crown Prince was forced to commit suicide, and those associated with his faction met tragic ends. Adam's father, being part of the Crown Prince's party, was arrested on false charges and died mysteriously in prison. However, due to the existence of Green and their formidable strength as several 8th level Experts, the empire feared provoking them. Additionally, with the new sovereign ascending the throne, a certain level of tolerance was shown towards Adam. Although he was entitled to inherit the Marquis title, it was demoted to Viscount. Their once fertile fief was transformed into Black Wasteland, and Adam was fed the Water of Nothingness, rendering him completely disabled.

Typically, even if a noble has a fief, they entrust the management to a trusted butler or person. While the fief serves as their roots, their people remain in the imperial capital to monitor any changes within the empire. This is advantageous for the clan. However, Adam and his family were different. After their fief was traded, they were ordered to leave the imperial capital within three days and were prohibited from leaving the fief for the next three years, a situation unprecedented among all clans.

The current King of Aksu Empire, who was originally the thirteenth prince, suppressed the Buda Family for two reasons. Firstly, the Buda Family had supported the Crown Prince. Secondly, they faced pressure from the established nobles. As the newly crowned king, he needed to exert full power to suppress the Crown Prince and Seventh Prince factions. However, he did not dare to directly confront the influential established nobles. Instead, they indirectly pressured the Buda Family. Thus, the decision to give Adam the Water of Nothingness was made.

The reason behind Adam drinking the Water of Nothingness was connected to a unique Battle Qi cultivation method inherited by the Buda Family called Wild Dragon Battle Qi. This Battle Qi cultivation method was famous on the continent and was obtained by Adam's great-grandfather. It allowed for three times faster cultivation speed and enhanced attack strength compared to ordinary Battle Qi cultivation methods. It was a highly sought-after Battle Qi cultivation method that various great clans in the empire desired. If Adam had learned and mastered Wild Dragon Battle Qi, and also remembered the enmity he faced today, it would pose a threat to these great nobles and imperial clans. Hence, under the indirect pressure of the established nobles, the decision was made to administer the Water of Nothingness to Adam.

Flatter Wrestle did not intend to kill Adam due to several reasons, including the fact that Green gave him the Battle Qi cultivation method and made a solemn oath that no members of the Buda Family would study Wild Dragon Battle Qi in the future. This assurance made Flatter Wrestle spare Adam's life.

Green's intention in secretly entering the Royal Palace and offering the cultivation method to Flatter Wrestle was twofold. Firstly, he sought to gain favor for Adam, ensuring his safety. Secondly, he aimed to demonstrate his own strength, dissuading Flatter Wrestle from harboring any thoughts of harming Adam.

Flatter Wrestle, who genuinely feared the potential repercussions of crossing paths with an expert like Green, accepted Green's request. However, the demotion of Adam's title and the trading of the fief were not intended to end Adam's life. Green also complied with the arrangement, acknowledging the formidable strength of the Imperial Family. He was able to enter the Royal Palace due to his familiarity with its layout and the weakened state of the palace following the recent shuffle of power. Additionally, the unique nature of his cultivation method helped him avoid detection.

Green had initially refrained from saving Adam's father because he believed Flatter Wrestle wouldn't kill him. He assumed that Adam's father, being a valuable asset in the Imperial Family's dealings with the established nobles, would not be easily discarded. However, they underestimated Flatter Wrestle's desire for power and the support he received from the established nobles. Once Flatter Wrestle ascended the throne, he deemed Adam's father expendable and had him killed. By the time Green learned of this, it was too late, and he had to find a way to protect Adam, the last surviving member of the Buda Family.

Indeed, Green decided to hand over the Wild Dragon Battle Qi practice method due to the implications of the Water of Nothingness. The Water of Nothingness is an unparalleled magical treasure on the continent. Not only does it prevent individuals from practicing magic and Battle Qi, but what makes it even more formidable is that this effect extends to their descendants. In other words, if someone drinks the Water of Nothingness, their descendants for the next ten generations will be unable to practice magic or Battle Qi. This situation poses a significant challenge for the clan's continuity and survival over multiple generations.

Green's reasoning behind handing over the Wild Dragon Battle Qi was influenced by the fear of the Water of Nothingness. He understood that if Adam and the subsequent generations of the Buda Family couldn't learn Wild Dragon Battle Qi, their prospects would be uncertain. They would be unable to practice magic or Battle Qi for ten generations, leading to an unknown fate for the clan in the long run. The Water of Nothingness posed a significant threat, which justified Green's decision to exchange it for Adam's life. He believed that it was better to save Adam and sacrifice the practice method.

The outcome proved that Green's decision was indeed correct. If he hadn't handed over the Wild Dragon Battle Qi, Adam would likely not have survived and escaped the imperial capital. However, unbeknownst to them, someone had tampered with the Water of Nothingness. Due to Adam's incompatible nature with the Water of Nothingness, he passed out after consuming it. When he regained consciousness, he had transformed from the playboy Adam into a simple and unremarkable person named Zhao Hai.