Threads of Fate
Michael Head
A cultivation world destined for destruction. A man fated to destroy it. There's a prophecy to ignore. Jim was a 650-year-old cultivator who watched his world end — betrayed, broken, and complicit in its destruction by the Nox and the gods' machinations. Thrust back in time to his 10-year-old body at the moment he first started cultivating, he retains all his memories, techniques, and lifetimes of combat experience. Now a terrifyingly powerful child hiding godlike knowledge, Jim must re-cultivate from the bottom through the realms, keep a low profile to avoid those who would steal his future-knowledge, save his clan, outwit ancient conspiracies, and assemble a fellowship strong enough to close gates, defeat demon incursions, and defy fate itself before the gods destroy the planet to contain the Nox. Published by Mountaindale Press (Dakota Krout's press), 4 volumes (2021-2022, hiatus/completed arc), cultivation progression with reincarnation/time-travel, 4.24 avg on 2,500+ ratings.
Progression: Explicit cultivation progression central to plot: Jim re-cultivates from mortal child through structured cultivation realms/tiers, re-mastering techniques, meridians, and mana/dark-mana manipulation he mastered over 650 years. Advancement is measured by cultivation base, realm breakthroughs, technique mastery, and ability to channel and fortify body/soul with magic. The system parallels Xianxia tiers (low-level clan cultivation → sect/empire trials → god-watched ascension), with regression advantage (lifetime of knowledge in a child's body) allowing rapid but stealthy advancement while suppressing display to avoid elders and godly attention. Each volume marks a stage: Reincarnation (return to foundation), Winter Trials (clan/sect advancement trials), Ocean of Tears (empire-level confrontation), Cenotaph of Bones (necromantic/gate-closing ascension challenges). Verified via Goodreads book descriptions (cultivation world, started cultivating, top of the cultivation world) and reviews noting cultivation mechanics and realm progression.
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