King's Awakening - Chapter 811 - : Saint Ji Xinghuai (Grand Finale)

In the Kunlun Snow Palace, a sage once said, those who pass away wander, while the living cannot let go.Once the soul departs, it will wither like the autumn grass.Those who are reborn from the dead, existing apart from the mortal realm, shall be shunned by all celestial sects and smitten as undead demons.On this day, a youth awakens from within a coffin, his blood dry and his bones chilled, to find himself a century old upon opening his eyes.A single tear from a sage awaited, a constant companion, may unravel the dreams of the past.Seeking not immortality but a mundane death, not to lament with the ages over lost love and resentment, but only wishing to grow old with tenderness in this lifetime, beneath the white clouds that hold no envy for the heavenly realms.

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

“Stripped of his power, betrayed by those he trusted, and abandoned by fate itself, the young master of the Celestial Clan faces a choice: cling to the tattered remnants of his righteous path or to embrace the darkness blooming within. When a catastrophic fall strips him of everything, he, along with his fiancée by his side, abandons the righteous path. Witness the birth of an anti-protagonist couple, as they forge contracts with ancient, terrifying beasts and carve a new destiny from the bones of their enemies.”In the heart of the Azure Star Continent lies the legendary Celestial Clan, rulers of an unbroken legacy of power, wealth, and influence. At its helm stands Xian Tianyang, a prodigy born with unparalleled talent and destined to inherit the mantle of leadership. Calm, calculating, and relentless, Tianyang has forged a reputation as an unshakable force, a young master whose genius is rivaled only by his ambition.But the path to supremacy is fraught with danger. In a continent where alliances shift like desert sands and rival factions sharpen their blades, Tianyang must navigate a world of intrigue and betrayal. When his childhood fiancée, Lin Yuqing, the “Blooming Empress” of the Eternal Bloom Clan, enters his life, their union threatens to spark both alliances and rivalries that could reshape the continent.With ancient secrets lurking in the shadows, enemies plotting from every corner, and the weight of his family’s legacy on his shoulders, Tianyang must prove that he is more than just a prodigy—he is the heir to the Celestial Throne.Will their fates intertwine as destined rulers, or will the fires of ambition and duty tear them apart? Prepare for a tale of genius, power, and forbidden emotions, where every choice has the power to change the fate of nations.

I failed and will challenge again.