A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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Jiang Cheng first took out the paper figure, which seemed to be made of some animal skin, not paper. The face of the fair-skinned man was depicted on it, which was very lifelike, and there were some mysterious patterns, which seemed to be more complicated than the talisman.

  It was incredible that this paper figure could become like a living person.

  If he used the Greatmaster of the spiritual eye technique, he should be able to check the clues, but in the secular world, those warriors and ordinary people naturally could not tell the truth from the false.

  He did not use spiritual power casually, but put it into the storage bag and took out two books.

  The first one seemed to be a notebook, recording the women that the flower thief had defiled, and even detailed torture plots, including some stimulating torture methods he had researched.

Jiang Cheng roughly flipped through it, and there was also information written by the flower thief himself. This person was named Wang Shaoming. It seemed that he was abused by his master for a long time, which led to psychological distortion. In the end, he found the enemy of his master and tortured his master to death with the help of the enemy.

  There was no other useful information in it, such as his master's skills.

  He shook his head to make sure there was nothing else in it, and burned the book to ashes. Being abused by his master, he abused others crazily, and recorded it as fun. It was really not a pity to die.

Jiang Cheng then took out the second book. This one looked more worn out, as if it was often read. After reading it, he was immediately refreshed. The content of this book turned out to be the secret of making paper figures.

  However, it required the foundation-building stage to make it, and both the skin of the paper figure and the paint on it were very special materials, some of which he had never even heard of.

  And the patterns on it were very complicated, more special than the object-

  receiving talisman. It might not be so easy to learn. Jiang Cheng decided to put this book in the storage bag first, and consider learning it when he reached the foundation-building stage. Being able to be like a living person is equivalent to a puppet clone.

  Finally, there was only a jade slip of Dharma transmission that was about to break. He gently took it out of the storage bag and held it in his hand. The cracks on it indicated that he could only transmit the Dharma once more at most.

  If he guessed correctly, this should be the clone spell of the flower thief. It can create an identical clone phantom, and even the cultivation level is not much different. It can be said to be very special.

  In the Qinglin Sect's Dharma Hall, such a spell will definitely never appeare. From this paper figure, it can be seen that the master of the flower thief should be mainly based on strange techniques. The clones

  are one after another, with paper figures and spells. This is really a life-saving artifact.

Jiang Cheng thought about it and decided to try to learn it. If it is the clone phantom secret technique of the flower thief, it would be great. He can learn it directly in the Qi Refining Stage.

  If it is a spell or skill that requires a higher realm to learn, then there is no big problem. You can receive the knowledge first and then learn it when the realm is reached.

  Spells or skills that are higher than one's own realm cannot be checked after being taught. They can only be unlocked when the realm is reached.

Jiang Cheng first activated the evil-repelling talisman and pasted it on the jade slip of the Dharma transmission. After finding no movement, he picked up the jade slip and pasted it on his forehead, while activating it with spiritual power.

  Suddenly, a lot of knowledge flooded into his mind. He looked at the content and showed joy on his face. It was indeed the secret technique of the virtual shadow of the clone, called the Divine Shadow Technique.

  As the name suggests, it can create a virtual shadow like the real body to confuse the enemy. When it is refined to the extreme, it can even turn the virtual into the real and the real into the virtual.

  He carefully comprehended it and found that it was not a spell, but a secret technique similar to the method of cultivation.

  After receiving all the knowledge, Jiang Cheng slowly opened his eyes, and the jade slip of the Dharma transmission on his forehead also shattered.

  [Divine Shadow Technique]

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but shake his head and smile. It seems that this special spell still needs to be comprehended hard before it can be successfully activated.

  However, judging from the fact that the flower thief was able to learn it, it should not be difficult for him.

Jiang Cheng looked at the broken jade slip and felt that this mission was worth it.

   thousands of spirit stones were nothing. The problem was that he got the strange paper figurine making technique. The higher the cultivation level, the more the paper figurines made looked like living people, which would be very useful in the future.

After sorting through his spoils, Jiang Cheng leaned back with a satisfied grin. His first real adventure was a complete success. Spirit stones, pills, talismans—it was a proper haul.

But...

His smile gradually stiffened.

Where's the treasure for the Daughter of Destiny?

Jiang Cheng's brows furrowed. Could it be... fake? Were the countless novels he read in his past life—on pirate websites, all lies? Did those authors just make stuff up to sell more chapters? . Was that all fake?

Were those authors lying to him?

"No... impossible..." Jiang Cheng muttered, shaking his head like a man who just realized his favorite noodle shop had been serving instant ramen all along

He dove back into the spirit bag rummaging through piles of junk—broken talismans, half-eaten dry rations, and a moldy spirit herb.

Just as he was about to give up, his hand brushed against something odd. He pulled out a strange book—barely holding together, its pages yellowed and crumbling, like it had survived a thousands of years... and possibly a few water spills.

Excited, Jiang Cheng held it up like a holy artifact.

This is it! The Daughter of Destiny's treasure!

He opened the book with trembling hands... only to find nothing.

The pages were completely blank.

Jiang Cheng blinked. Flipped through again. Blank.

He squinted, tried tilting it under the moonlight. Still blank.

"Maybe it's a hidden inheritance?" He poured his spiritual power into it.

Nothing.

Maybe it needed blood? He bit his finger and smeared some blood.

Still nothing.

Jiang Cheng's face darkened. He tried tearing the book apart—nothing happened. He tried burning it—nothing. He even tried peeing on it (just a little in the corner)—still nothing. The book was indestructible, but also completely useless.

His hands trembled.

"The hell is this?!" he exploded.

A terrifying thought crept into his mind.

Could it be... only if you have plot armor that you can receive the blessings?

His soul turned cold.

Which means... I'm just a background character?!

His face went pale as he pictured the classic plotline:

_ Daughter of Destiny stumbles upon this very book.

_ Book lights up in divine radiance.

_ Boom! Heaven-defying inheritance unlocked.

_ Jiang Cheng? Just a supporting actor, a stepping stone who dies tragically to motivate her growth.

He could already see his death scene:

"Senior Brother Jiang! NOOO!" — Cue tragic montage with slow-motion petals falling, a cheap flute soundtrack, and then she breaks through to Foundation Establishment the next day like she just drank a protein shake.

Jiang Cheng's hands tightened into fists. "No... impossible..."

He could even imagine his name being mentioned offhandedly in the later chapters:

"Back then, a senior brother sacrificed his life... what was his name again?"

"Oh, Jiang... something. Anyway, let's go fight the Demon Lord!"

His breathing quickened.

No way. Hell no.

"I refuse to be a tragic stepping stone!" Jiang Cheng shot up, veins popping on his forehead.

"I'm not sacrificing myself for this 'main character halo' bullshit! Whoever wants to die for motivation, go ahead! I'm out!"

He was so angry he nearly vomited blood, clutching his chest .

Looking up at the sky with bloodshot eyes, he screamed:

"Author, you blind bastard! Why didn't you make ME the Protagonist?!"

Somewhere in the void, the Author: "..."

Jiang Cheng collapsed onto his bed, covering his face.

"Damn it... am I just an NPC...?"

He glanced at the strange book on the table.

It just sat there, blank and smug, like it knew.

Jiang Cheng raised his fist... then sighed.

"Forget it... Maybe I'll use it as a pillow."

And thus, the Heaven-Defying Inheritance Tome was demoted to a very expensive nap cushion.

For now.

But deep down, Jiang Cheng knew... this wasn't over.

He wasn't about to accept his fate as some nameless stepping stone. If the heavens wouldn't grant him the protagonist's halo, he'd steal it. If fate dared cast him as a background character, he'd write himself into the main plot with his own blood if necessary!

He clenched his fist, eyes burning with determination.

"Just you wait, Dog Author," he muttered under his breath, glaring up at the sky like a lunatic. "I'll break the fourth dimension wall of reality if I have to!"

...

Somewhere in the void...

The Author, sipping tea while brainstorming future plot twists, suddenly choked violently.

"Wait—what?!"

Tea sprayed all over the celestial manuscript. The Author frantically wiped it down, eyes twitching.

"Who gave this side character sentience?! Security! SECURITY!"

...

Back in his room, Jiang Cheng smirked, feeling a strange satisfaction in his heart—like he'd just struck a blow against an unseen enemy.

But his eyes soon turned cold. This wasn't just about proving himself. This was war.

He would rise to power, he would dominate the cultivation world... and then, he would find a way to reach the void where the Author resided.

He would drag that bastard down from his celestial chair, break his immortal pen, and force him to write the words 'Jiang Cheng, the Eternal Protagonist' in bold, golden ink!

"I hope your plot armor is thick, Author," Jiang Cheng whispered darkly, eyes glinting with madness. "Because when I ascend... we're settling this like men."

Then Jiang Cheng fall asleep using the priceless inheritance book as a pillow, muttering: "Damn protagonist-exclusive loot…"

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Earth plane .

The Author felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

Looking around nervously, he muttered, "...I should've just written a romance novel."