MTL - The Great Merchant in the Cataclysm - Chapter 6 Drowning fish

Ethan was betrayed, he was broken, left crippled by those he trusted most: Zachary and Ivy, the people who ruined his life. Stripped of everything, Ethan crawled through three grueling years in the abandoned depths of despair, desperate to regain what he lost.Until one final act of defiance opened the door to something greater.When Ethan completed a hidden quest, fate granted him a miraculous reward: a second chance.He awakens years in the past, on the eve of a revolution: the launch of Ethereal, the world's first fully immersive VR game and humanity’s obsession. Armed with memories of four years in Ethereal, he’s no longer the helpless pawn who lost everything.This time, Ethan knows every secret, every hidden quest, every exploit to climb back to the top. But when he steps into the game, the system unveils a shocking twist: a divine bloodline, legendary abilities, and a class no one believed could dominate.Ethan vows to rise once more, but this time, he knows where the paths of glory begin, where betrayal lurks, and where to find legendary treasures that will crown him king in this brutal new world.The stakes are higher than ever. Factions are forming, alliances are shattering, and the clock ticks toward an event that will rewrite reality itself.The weak will perish, and the strong will thrive.They betrayed him once.They won’t live to do it again.

Chen Sha came to a world of immortal martial arts and was ordered to take charge of the world’s first sect.

Before his death, the previous chief told him:

“If you don’t become the best in the world for one day, you are not allowed to go down the mountain for one day.”

So he closed himself in painstakingly, crossed the heaven gate in his body, and faced off against the ancient and modern powerhouses…

…

Many years later, Chen Sha recalled the day he went down the mountain,

From the moment he descended the mountain, he was number one in the world.

In the next ten epochs, any gods and demons have returned, immortals and Buddhas have lived in the world, ancient powers and ancient gods have appeared one after another.

No matter how the times change, he has always been No. 1 in the world and has never changed.

- Description from novelbuddy

“There are no heroes. In life, the monsters win.”

...

In 2106, [Mayhem Online], a fully immersive VRMMO game, was released. Soon, it dominated the world's economy when people could exchange the in-game currency with real-life currency and vice versa.

In the year 2107, Flynn Grey, a 22-year-old college dropout with an ambiguous history, joined in the fray of billions of people that had already started playing [Mayhem]. Hoping to uncover the game's secret and earn a fortune, he spent months on adventures without fruitful results.

For better or worse, Shura, Flynn's in-game character, ends up in a great Wyvern's den, acquiring a hidden class and a monstrous race. Join him as he defeats his past and paves his way into becoming a true legend in both worlds.

Survival is easy. Life is very difficult. My family wants not to live in humility, but to live a proud and glorious life. My family, will not be slaves!

- Description from Novelupdates