Invincible…
Even if she teamed up with her uncle…
Their chances of survival were at most one in ten…
Or perhaps, even if the undefeated Jiangxia Guardian were to arrive, the odds would still be no better than fifty-fifty…
What kind of terrifying existence had these invaders unleashed this time…?
And this…
Might just be a mere…
Gatekeeper of the Ashen Village?
A crushing weight of despair pressed down on Su Muxue’s heart…
Swirling smoke obscured the old man’s face, leaving only a pair of murky eyes calmly fixed on her.
No killing intent, yet more suffocating than any bloodlust.
In his eyes, she was nothing but an insignificant speck of dust—not even worth the effort of crushing beneath his fingers.
The despair threatened to shatter her spirit entirely.
Su Muxue forced herself to stay calm.
She couldn’t retreat…
Behind her was a barrier of bones and gray mist—no escape.
She couldn’t fight.
That would be suicide.
Her only option seemed to be… pretending nothing was wrong and walking past him?
Su Muxue took a deep breath, trying to steady her pounding heart and suppress the trembling of the spirit sword in her consciousness.
She slowly lowered her gaze, avoiding that soul-shivering stare.
Her footsteps were light, almost soundless, yet each step felt as heavy as a mountain.
Time stretched endlessly.
A distance of mere steps.
She could feel his eyes still lingering on her, cold and indifferent.
Sweat silently soaked through the back of her robes.
Finally, she passed the giant tree.
Not daring to look back, she quickened her pace toward the heart of the village.
Just then, Liu Yuan spoke up: "Hello, grandpa! Could you tell us how to get to that clock tower over there?"
Su Muxue and the middle-aged man’s hearts lurched in unison, their eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
The sudden question struck like a hammer to their chests.
We’re done for!
Su Muxue’s spine stiffened instantly, her instincts screaming to yank Liu Yuan behind her.
Even Lian Yunhuang turned deathly pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Though her senses weren’t as sharp as Su Muxue’s, she could still instinctively feel the terrifying power radiating from the old man—enough to crush them effortlessly.
Yet, the expected wrath never came.
Amid the curling smoke, the old man seemed to pause mid-drag.
Slowly, those murky eyes shifted to Liu Yuan.
Su Muxue could clearly sense the difference in his gaze—no soul-crushing pressure, just the look of an ordinary elder regarding a lost girl.
Noticing everyone’s eyes on her except her brother’s, Liu Yuan blinked in confusion, her expression perfectly blank.
Uh…
Did she say something wrong?
Wasn’t this an escape room?
Sure, it didn’t look much like one…
But the core gameplay was still there, right?
With such a big ‘NPC’ standing there, wasn’t asking for clues the obvious move?
Why were they all ignoring him?
…
Smoke drifted from the old man’s withered lips.
He didn’t answer immediately, his murky eyes shifting as if waiting for something.
Seconds ticked by.
Each one was agony for Su Muxue.
Finally, the old man’s voice rasped out, rough as sandpaper, slow and calm:
"The clock tower…"
"Follow this path… straight ahead… until you reach a dirt house. There, you’ll find your next clue."
What was this?
Favoritism?
Did this old bastard pick and choose who to help?
Su Muxue swiftly reined in her thoughts, suppressing the turmoil in her mind.
Whatever the reason, this was the best outcome they could hope for.
But… a dirt house?
Her gaze followed the direction he’d indicated.
A strange sound reached her ears—like someone clumsily dragging something heavy.
A hunched skeleton was struggling to plant a crooked wooden sign in the ground.
On it, white paint spelled out an arrow pointing toward the clock tower.
The skeleton’s movements were stiff and reluctant. Once the sign was up, it glanced around furtively, as if afraid of being caught.
Noticing Su Muxue’s stare, the skeleton made a throat-slitting gesture before hastily retreating into the shadows.
The sight only deepened Su Muxue’s unease.
This so-called "Lord of Ashes" and his minions seemed…
More like unwilling actors in a poorly staged play.
Liu Yuan, blissfully oblivious, tugged at Su Qi’s sleeve, eager to move.
"Brother, the grandpa gave us directions! Let’s go find the clock tower!"
Su Qi remained silent but allowed himself to be pulled along.
…
Watching the five figures disappear into the distance, the old man took three deep drags of his pipe, wheezing as if he’d narrowly escaped a supervisor’s inspection.
Just as he was about to fade back into the mist, his neck creaked stiffly—until his head toppled to the ground with a thud.
From this new vantage point, he saw two figures looming over him: a burly man and a bald one.
"Hey, old man…"
The head rolled once on the dirt. "Didn’t anyone teach you to be polite when asking for directions?"
The burly man remained unfazed. "Alright, old man, listen up—is there a shortcut to the clock tower? We ain’t got time to follow the long way like those others."
He never imagined the Lord of Sin would value his offering so highly…
To the point of descending upon Great Xia with his domain…
And that clock tower…
Surely, it was the Lord of Sin’s throne…
The lost lambs, scrambling for escape, only to face ultimate despair…
What a beautiful sight it would be…
Truly worthy of the great ‘Lord of Sin.’
He had to reach the clock tower first—to witness it all unfold.
The old man picked up his head and reattached it. "In such a hurry?"
"I don’t know any shortcuts…"
His voice dropped to a sinister rasp. "But I can send you two on a one-way trip."
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
