They could never have imagined how quickly they would be proven wrong.
Just moments ago, they had been boasting about how formidable the formation here was, claiming that Yi Feng would never be able to enter. Yet in the very next second, Yi Feng simply pushed the door open and walked in.
This blatant disregard for the formation left them questioning whether the defenses here were merely for show.
But the fluctuations of energy radiating from the treasure tower constantly reminded them that the formation was still very much active.
It just couldn't stop Yi Feng.
......
Inside the treasure tower.
The grand hall displayed numerous weapons, all of them heavenly-grade divine artifacts, their faint glows shimmering in the air. Had there been any onlookers, they would have been awestruck, marveling at the profound heritage of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
There was a time.
When Lu Shuyao had also yearned for this treasure tower, taking pride in the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's legacy.
Never did she imagine.
That when she finally had the chance to sit here alone, all that remained was loneliness and despair...
In just a few short days.
This once-proud young mistress of the Lu family had first lost her chance to compete for the position of Pavilion Master, watched her former status and glory vanish without a trace, and now found herself reduced to a "Celestial Maiden," destined to become a servant to the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan.
The contrast between her past and present circumstances was like falling from the clouds into the mud.
No greater upheaval could befall a person's life.
All her former pride was gone, leaving only bitterness and resentment burning in Lu Shuyao's eyes as she sat alone in this treasure-filled hall.
She was the young mistress of the Lu family, once a goddess admired by thousands!
And now? She had reached a point where neither heaven nor earth would answer her cries.
A wave of desolation rose in her heart, tears glistening in Lu Shuyao's eyes.
In the silent isolation of the treasure tower, cut off from the world, she could only wait for fate to arrive, with nothing but endless loneliness and despair spreading through her, slowly devouring the last remnants of her defiance...
From the anguish of first entering the tower to this moment of hopeless desolation.
No one knew of Lu Shuyao's suffering and humiliation.
Even if this was her destined fate, she refused to submit!
The mere thought of those repulsive merman features looming over her, of being humiliated by those who would lord over her, made the so-called "fate" utterly unacceptable.
All her past glory and radiance had vanished like fleeting smoke.
Only this endless solitude remained.
Half a day had passed, yet it felt like ten thousand years.
A clear tear traced down her delicate cheek.
The stubborn Lu Shuyao had completely given up. A shimmer of light flashed in her hand as an exquisitely crafted dagger materialized.
Gazing at the cold gleam of the blade, she forced out a bitter smile.
"Who would have thought... in the end, only this faint light could bring me comfort. The admiration and reverence of others was just an illusion. All the so-called talented elites of the island are nothing but slaves to the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan."
"Heh... hahaha..."
Lu Shuyao laughed until tears streamed down her face, her eyes finally seeing the truth of everything.
Even if she had achieved what she once desired—becoming the master of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, even attaining unimaginable power—she would still have been unable to escape the dominion of the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan, living without a shred of dignity!
All her naive fantasies of freedom had now shattered completely.
Such was life.
Only by personally experiencing the despair of darkness could one understand how illusory the light of hope truly was. The might of the Heavenly Dragon Merman Clan was something no one dared challenge.
This darkness that had shrouded the East Sea for millennia would continue endlessly.
"There is no dawn... only a fleeting dream..."
As her laughter faded.
Lu Shuyao gripped the dagger with both hands, raising it slowly into the air as she closed her eyes in serene acceptance, the blade poised above her heart.
Just as she was about to plunge it down, ending this life she no longer cared for—
Suddenly!
At the very moment the dagger descended, the tightly sealed doors burst open with a thunderous crash.
There, standing in the doorway, was a figure bathed in a radiance like the morning sun. His tall, jade-like silhouette seemed almost unreal, yet against the sunlight streaming behind him, he appeared magnificently imposing.
Lu Shuyao nearly dropped the dagger in shock, her head snapping up.
To her utter astonishment, the person who had arrived was none other than Yi Feng!
Her face paled with disbelief.
This terrifying gentleman who had once aided Lu Xinlan—why would he come here?
What was his purpose?
Could it be that he didn't know about the rules established by that so-called Third Prince?
Her mind reeled in confusion.
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Yi Feng to appear before her like this.
Yet, as she struggled to comprehend the situation, Yi Feng stepped forward with steady determination.
In one swift motion, he grasped her delicate hand.
"Come with me."
Three simple words, yet they struck like a resounding bell!
Lu Shuyao's heart trembled violently. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared, her delicate body shaking, at the white-robed young man before her.
The ashes of her despair suddenly ignited with light, her gaze locking onto Yi Feng with desperate intensity.
This gentleman...
Had he truly come to save her?
This was more unbelievable than any dream!
Why would he do this?
Didn't he understand the consequences?
But as she met Yi Feng's clear, unwavering gaze, tears immediately spilled from her eyes.
He really seemed to be here for her!
Though she didn't know the reason, Yi Feng's appearance was like the first light of dawn breaking through endless night.
Even if it was just a sliver of hope, she couldn't let it slip away.
Clenching her teeth, she rose to her feet and tightly clasped Yi Feng's hand in return.
She could distinctly feel it—his palm was so warm and strong, filling her with a sense of security and strength she had never known before.
Like a drifting weed suddenly pulled from the current, she had been rescued.
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
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?
Heart] Chen Yi traversed the cultivation world for eight hundred years, charging his way to the Tribulation Transcendence stage. Just as he was outwitting his 81st Heavenly Tribulation to ascend to immortality, he was suddenly pulled into a chat group called the "Multiverse Transmigrators Support Group." To his surprise, the group was filled with nothing but fresh-faced newbies who had just transmigrated. [Help! I transmigrated into a disgraced concubine in the cold palace, and the tyrant emperor is about to execute me!] [I ended up as a cannon-fodder villain, and the protagonist is still chasing me—WTF!] [I woke up as the protagonist’s father, but I’m about to be sacrificed in a ritual! What do I do? Urgent!!!] Chen Yi stared at the chaotic flood of desperate pleas in the group and fell into deep thought. "Seriously? You drag me into a newbie transmigrator chat group… only after I’m one step away from becoming an immortal?"
