A visually stunning architectural complex came into view. The central building consisted of seven white spires spiraling upwards. At the peak where the seven spires converged, a gigantic magic crystal hovered, looking like seven silver dragons fighting over a rare treasure with their fangs.
Beneath the giant towers, tall buildings stood in great numbers everywhere else. The outer walls were constructed from matte silver stone, which could block magical probing, while sturdy mage towers built from starlight rock were neatly arranged inside.
Profound runes floated on every mage tower, surging with powerful magic.
"Identity verified... Supreme Authority, Lady Aina... Access granted..." The tall golem guard at the entrance emitted a cold, mechanical voice.
Xia Lun took a few extra glances at the golem guard. It wore a full suit of armor, and if one didn't look closely, they might mistake it for a living person.
Aside from a normal pair of hands, the golem guard had four additional mechanical arms on its back, which were folded and retracted under normal circumstances. Various weapons hung at its waist, making it look quite formidable.
However, in terms of intelligence, it was clearly far inferior to Serry.
"This golem is the latest work of the Truth Magic Academy. If placed on the outside market, it could probably sell for hundreds of thousands of gold coins," Aina said indifferently. "Ordinary high-tier warriors wouldn't be a match for it."
"Is that so?"
Xia Lun couldn't help but look at it a few more times. Just from its design, this golem was quite attractive. The silver armor, the tall stature, the gleaming swords... It indeed gave people a strong sense of security.
But Aina seemed somewhat dissatisfied with it. "However, the guys in the Golem Development Department still have somewhat limited thinking."
"How so?"
"Making a golem humanoid doesn't provide any benefits for combat," Aina explained to Xia Lun. "Making a golem stand upright like a human while maintaining balance is a very difficult task... If it were made into other, more stable forms, its combat power could be elevated by several levels. This golem looks majestic, but in reality, it is no match for Serry."
Aina glanced at the swords equipped at the golem's waist again. "Furthermore, there is absolutely no need to use these weapons. It could easily be equipped with more lethal magic firearms... I think I told them about these things last time, yet they still haven't improved it."
"Aina," Xia Lun interrupted her and patted her head. "Let me guess... the people in that Golem Development Department are probably all men, right?"
Aina was slightly taken aback. "How did you know?"
"It's nothing. Just let them be; don't interfere anymore," Xia Lun said with a smiling face. "This is a man's romance."
"Incomprehensible," Aina muttered in a low voice, furrowing her brows slightly, clearly baffled by this romance that couldn't be explained by logic and efficiency.
Xia Lun reached out and pinched Aina's cheek.
Smack—
Xia Lun's hand was slapped away mercilessly by Aina.
Such a nostalgic feeling... Xia Lun looked at his slapped hand thoughtfully.
"Don't get handsy outside. What if someone sees us?" Aina warned Xia Lun. "The people here are all top-tier mages in the world."
"Yes, yes, yes, Lord Demon King."
Xia Lun took the initiative to fall half a step behind Aina.
Xia Lun followed Aina all the way to the Round Table Council Chamber at the very top.
Aina walked up to the main doors. As if sensing her, the doors engraved with magic circuits automatically slid open to the sides.
In front of them was a giant round table large enough to seat dozens of people. It was already fully occupied, but upon entering, one could see an empty seat on the outermost edge, clearly reserved for Aina.
There was no extra seat for Xia Lun.
Xia Lun didn't feel awkward at all. After Aina took her seat, he stood behind her.
Fortunately, he wasn't the only one standing. Behind many mages' seats stood several young faces, likely their respective students.
The seated mages suddenly revealed expressions of sudden realization.
So that was it.
Where had their minds wandered earlier? This man was actually Aina's newly accepted student!
Exactly, how could Lady Aina be that kind of person?
The few mages who had been gossiping earlier looked at each other, seeing the embarrassment in one another's eyes.
Others cast envious glances at Xia Lun.
To be able to study and research by her side was such a fortunate thing.
"Let's begin."
Aina spoke coldly, and subsequently, stacks of materials and blueprints were handed to her.
Aina's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly.
The massive round table venue was very quiet. Only Aina's clear and crisp voice flowed like an icy spring, elaborating on profound magical constructs and theoretical breakthroughs. Her speech was well-organized and logically rigorous; every point she made was like a massive boulder thrown into a lake, stirring up stormy waves in the hearts of the attendees.
From time to time, gasps of astonishment could be heard across the room.
Xia Lun stood behind Aina, his gaze lingering on her smooth silver hair for a long time.
It was a bit of a pity. He should have conveniently tied her hair up before the meeting so he could see her side profile and swan-like neck... Now he could only see the back of her head.
Whatever, the back of her head looked nice too.
Professional magical academic terms tumbled from Aina's lips one after another. The surrounding archmages listened with rapt attention, unwilling to miss a single word... Many even had recording magic devices placed in front of them.
What Aina was saying... Xia Lun couldn't understand at all.
When it came to magic, Xia Lun couldn't even be said to have scratched the surface; he was completely clueless.
Xia Lun had never formally studied any magical knowledge. The few most basic low-tier spells he knew were forcefully condensed through sheer magic power, such as conjuring a flame to light a fire... He was entirely self-taught in an unorthodox way, entirely inadequate in front of proper mages.
Back in Olifendo, Xia Lun had absolutely been an out-and-out bad student. He didn't study properly, and instead, in the washroom with his female classmate Aina... ahem.
Xia Lun looked up at his surroundings and couldn't help but chuckle. He wasn't the only one who didn't understand. The young faces standing behind the seats like him also had bewilderment in their eyes.
Professor Manrid's eyes shone brightly the whole time, and he occasionally spoke up to discuss a point or two with Aina.
Aina spoke in one breath for nearly three hours before letting out a long sigh of relief.
A round of applause erupted in the room.
"Next, please discuss among yourselves." Aina took a sip of the clear tea that a servant had handed to Xia Lun, who then brought it to her.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Aina," Xia Lun said with a beaming smile.
Hearing Xia Lun's form of address, Aina's hand paused slightly. What novel game did this guy want to play with her tonight?
The surrounding archmages, meanwhile, wore expressions of as expected.
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
y came from. The chests contained supplies, currency, class-change scrolls, skills, talents… and even godhood! The laws of the world were completely rewritten. This became a world where everyone gambled with their fate! Some people, despite having nothing, opened a divine artifact and rose to the top, eventually ruling the world. Others went bankrupt, opened nothing but worthless junk, and leaped from skyscrapers in despair. Lin Ye arrived in this world from another reality, utterly bewildered. “What is going on? Why is everyone a gambling addict?!” “Opening chests? No way. I refuse to gamble. I’ll start with myself!” Until— On his first chest, he obtained a Mythic Talent: Void Incarnation! He could become completely intangible, pass through all things, and reduce everything to nothingness! … On his fiftieth chest, he obtained a Mythic Weapon: Blade of Karma! With a single slash, karma shattered, twisting the universe and overturning the myriad phenomena of creation! … On his ninety-ninth chest, he obtained a Mythic Divine Treasure: Primordial Purple Energy! It could split open the heavens and earth, create all things, and evolve countless worlds with a single thought! Lin Ye: “Now that I think about it… shouldn’t someone have told me that every chest is guaranteed to contain something Mythic?!”
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
