Headquarters of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Deep within the tower.
Lu Shuyao sat alone, her expression dark as she tightly clutched a jade slip that had severed its connection.
"How audacious!"
"A mere sixth-rank Heaven-tier cultivator dares to betray me? There will be no place for you in the East Sea!"
Her beautiful face twisted with fury, her demeanor turning venomous—like a serpentine enchantress. Her chest heaved for several breaths before she could steady herself.
Yet, she was no ordinary woman.
Even in the throes of rage, she quickly regained composure.
After staring at the jade slip for a few moments, a trace of suspicion flickered in her almond-shaped eyes.
"Pei Songhe has always been obedient. For him to flee with Wu Cha in tow is beyond strange. Given his judgment, he wouldn’t abandon the greater good for such trivial gains."
"What exactly… has happened?"
As she murmured to herself, a respectful voice sounded from beyond the door.
"Reporting to the Young Mistress!"
"Young Mistress Lu Xinlan has arrived by flying vessel, and…"
Before the hesitant words could finish, Lu Shuyao’s gaze sharpened.
"And what?"
The voice outside grew more nervous.
"Pei Songhe… accompanies her."
The moment the words fell, Lu Shuyao’s delicate brows furrowed.
So.
Pei Songhe’s betrayal was to follow Lu Xinlan?
No wonder he dared to sever ties so decisively.
But upon further thought, Lu Shuyao found it even more perplexing.
In terms of resources and status, her younger sister couldn’t compare to her.
Why would a cunning old fox like Pei Songhe pledge such unwavering loyalty to Lu Xinlan?
The more she pondered, the more suspicious it became.
Her cold eyes fixed on the door.
"Aside from Pei Songhe, who else travels with Lu Xinlan? Are there any notable experts among her retainers?"
The critical question was met with an immediate reply.
"Reporting to the Young Mistress!"
"Four other experts accompany her, all confirmed to be at least fifth-rank cultivators. Among them, an elderly man seems nearly Pei Songhe’s equal—likely a sixth-rank!"
Lu Shuyao stiffened slightly, surprise flashing in her eyes.
To think…
While managing a branch on Sunlight Island, Lu Xinlan had managed to recruit such formidable figures. Even a sixth-rank expert had sworn allegiance to her? This was truly unexpected.
After a brief moment of astonishment, a cold smile curled on Lu Shuyao’s lips.
"Hmph."
"Well done! She does have some tricks up her sleeve—to find such talents in the outer islands. Who knows what promises she made to lure even Pei Songhe into betrayal? Truly, my dear sister never disappoints!"
"This makes things interesting. Now I have a reason to crush her properly!"
The subordinate outside bowed deeply, hurriedly offering flattery.
"The Young Mistress will surely emerge victorious and claim the legacy!"
Lu Shuyao gave a slight nod, her crimson lips curving with confidence.
"Naturally."
"Lu Xinlan may have some skill, but a handful of fifth and sixth-rank retainers won’t shake the foundations of power. Neither she nor that traitor Pei Songhe can fathom the depth of my influence. The gap between us is beyond their comprehension."
"If she insists on this contest, then she leaves me no choice but to act without mercy."
Rising gracefully, she strode forward with unwavering assurance.
"Make the arrangements. I will seek an audience with the Five Pavilion Elders at once."
The attendant outside swiftly departed.
Lu Shuyao stepped out, her trailing gown lifted by maids as her resplendent figure moved toward the grand hall of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Within moments, she stood before the towering, solemn gates of the main hall.
Bowing respectfully, she announced,
"Esteemed Five Pavilion Elders, Shuyao seeks an audience on urgent matters."
The massive ancient doors remained shut, but a voice weathered by time echoed forth.
"Enter."
The command resonated like a decree from antiquity, silencing all in its wake.
Boom!
The colossal gates slowly parted, unleashing an oppressive aura that rolled outward like tidal waves. Guards and servants alike bowed deeply, trembling in reverence.
Only Lu Shuyao remained composed, stepping forward with steady grace.
Entering the hall, she advanced several hundred paces.
Seated in the shadows above were five figures, their presence nearly imperceptible. Their indifferent gazes followed her every move, revealing nothing.
These Five Pavilion Elders were beings of profound cultivation and revered status—the very foundation of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Even the former Pavilion Master would never dare show them disrespect.
Under their overwhelming pressure, Lu Shuyao bowed deeply, her voice filled with deference.
"Esteemed Elders,"
"The time for the trial has come. As per the ancestral agreement, I and my sister Lu Xinlan shall compete in achievements and the caliber of our retainers to determine the victor."
"This lowly one humbly seeks your guidance."
Her words were measured, stating only facts without a hint of presumption or pride.
Yet even so, she kept her head lowered, not daring to breathe a word more.
The silence stretched for agonizing moments, each second weighing upon her like an eternity.
The pressure mounted until it felt like a mountain pressed upon her shoulders. She barely dared to breathe, her posture rigid with respect.
At last, the aged voices spoke from above, one after another.
"So it shall be."
"Our East Sea branch has always upheld ancestral traditions. This trial is rightful."
"The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion belongs to the worthy. Let the contest decide its ruler."
"Indeed…"
As their solemn pronouncements reverberated, an ethereal chant filled the air, resonating with the power of the Great Dao itself. Tens of thousands of disciples and elders bowed in unison, their voices carrying the decree across countless halls.
Only then did Lu Shuyao dare to rise and withdraw with utmost reverence.
Once she stepped beyond the threshold, the hall’s gates sealed shut once more.
Not until she had passed several courtyards did she finally exhale, her eyes gleaming with triumph.
"As expected."
"The Five Elders sanction this trial. Strength reigns supreme—this is the eternal truth. In absolute power, I will yield to no one!"
Hearing her quiet murmur, her attendants and maids immediately bowed.
"The Young Mistress is destiny’s chosen!"
Lu Shuyao acknowledged them with a faint nod, swiftly masking her satisfaction—a testament to her extraordinary self-control.
As she traversed the pavilions and gardens, elders and disciples alike bowed in her path.
Even before the trial began, nearly all had already concluded that this noble-born young mistress, with her terrifying resources and connections, was the inevitable heir to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Within hours, news of the trial spread across Black Island, stirring discussions among all factions.
In a secluded corner, several ancient experts gathered, stirred by the commotion.
"The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s trial approaches—a spectacle unseen in millennia!"
"Without doubt, Lu Shuyao will emerge victorious!"
"That girl may be young, but her cunning runs deep. With her resources and network, how could the Pavilion Master’s seat fall to another?"
"Shall we offer our congratulations in advance?"
"No need for haste. Present your gifts after the trial concludes in three days!"
Across Black Island, bets were placed, odds overwhelmingly favoring Lu Shuyao. Gifts in her honor were already prepared in secret.
To nearly all, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
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.
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
