This was the face of Arya Chen, the tragic villain of Alchemist Sovereign.
The moment I recognized him, a rush of information flooded my mind. It felt like a tidal wave, a lifetime of experiences, emotions, and knowledge crashing into my consciousness. I gritted my teeth, my hands forming fists as my mind struggled to process the sheer volume of it all.
I saw a privileged childhood riddled with immense pressure in the esteemed Chen Family of Clearwater City. I felt the sharp pain of merging a mortal body with spiritual energy, the thrill of awakening my spiritual senses for the first time, and the heavy burden of being seen as a prodigy. I relived the challenging journey of mastering the family's Heaven Grade cultivation technique, the Vermillion Sunheart Scripture, feeling the ghost of a "Sunheart Cauldron" igniting within my Dantian.
I sensed the natural power of this body, the Scorching Sun Divine Body, a Heaven Grade physique that made me a natural leader in flame. The ancient power sang in my veins, the Vermillion Bird Bloodline, a Heaven Grade inheritance that whispered the secrets of fire mastery directly into my soul.
Then came softer memories. I saw a girl with intelligent eyes and a calming presence. Meira Su, the eldest daughter of the Su Family. We had grown up together. I remembered sparring with her in the Chen Family's training grounds, her water-based techniques frustratingly countering my explosive fire. I recalled sitting with her by the Jade River, sharing comfortable silences. She was the only one who didn't see just the "genius of the Chen Family" but the boy struggling under expectations. She was a true friend.
The memories of the original Arya Chen settled in, merging with my own. But then, a more terrifying flood of knowledge hit me: the entire plot of Alchemist Sovereign replayed in my mind like an unavoidable fate.
I saw Jin Hao, the downtrodden transmigrator from the fallen Jin family, his eyes filled with resentment as he waited for his moment.
I witnessed his chance encounter with Su Lian, Meira's younger sister, a beautiful and manipulative girl I hardly knew in this timeline. I saw his "love at first sight" and the jealousy he would feel for the man she would inevitably pursue: me.
I observed the awakening of the ancient alchemist's soul in Jin Hao's ring. I watched the plot unfold as his power surged, fueled by ancient pill recipes and a protagonist's luck. He would stumble upon ancient ruins by tripping over a rock, discover legendary herbs while fleeing a beast, and defeat every opponent with last-minute breakthroughs.
I saw Su Lian, the master opportunist, recognizing Jin Hao's rising fame. I watched her weave her trap, pretending to be an innocent maiden to ensnare both me and Jin Hao, fanning his jealousy and framing me as the arrogant tyrant standing in the way of their "true love."
I witnessed the climax of the first major arc: the Clearwater City tournament. Jin Hao would publicly challenge me. The original Arya Chen, confident in his abilities and unaware he was fighting against fate, would accept. The fight would be brutal. Jin Hao would use techniques never seen before, his power far exceeding what his realm should allow.
The end was swift and merciless. Jin Hao would shatter my Golden Core, leaving me crippled in front of the entire city.
But it wouldn't end there. The novel's cold prose described what followed. Fueled by his victory and Su Lian's tears, Jin Hao would launch a ruthless attack on my family. He would use his alchemy skills to ruin our business, form alliances with our rivals, and systematically dismantle the ancient Chen Family. The final pages of that arc depicted Jin Hao storming my family's estate, killing my father, and executing me while I was crippled.
As I died in the story, I saw Su Lian standing beside Jin Hao, her face displaying cold triumph.
I even remembered the tragic epilogue for Meira. After my death, my quiet friend would unleash a terrifying power, revealing herself as a hidden genius. She would relentlessly hunt Jin Hao, nearly killing him, only to be betrayed at the last moment by her own sister, Su Lian, who would stab her in the back to protect her new man. Meira would die, her loyalty and strength never recognized.
The memories and plot finished their assault, leaving me trembling in the quiet room, cold sweat forming on my forehead. The sandalwood scent felt suffocating.
I was Arya Chen. I was in the body of the tragic villain. And the betrayal, the crippling, the destruction of my family and my death was set to happen.
I stumbled over to a calendar hanging near the desk. The characters were unfamiliar, yet the memories in my head let me read them clearly.
Era of Ascension, Year 7,888. Month of Awakening, Day 23.
My blood ran cold. I recognized the date from the novel's opening.
Jin Hao and Su Lian were set to arrive in Clearwater City on the 30th day of the Month of Awakening.
I had one week.
One week until the protagonist of the book arrived and the gears of fate began to turn, crushing me and my family into dust.
For a moment, pure terror gripped me. How could I fight against destiny? Jin Hao had plot armor. He was the chosen one, the hero of this story. I was just the villain, a pre-written casualty.