Ye Chuan returned to the vicinity of his home very late, his entire body wrapped in shadows, pitch-black. Even though he had flown back on his sword, no one in the urban village could spot him in the dead of night.
"Sunshine, rainbow, little white horse, di-di-di-da~" Ye Chuan hummed the tune cheerfully, still cloaked in darkness, as he appeared at his doorstep.
After retracting the shadows, he felt that most of his spiritual energy had been depleted. He glanced at the time silently.
[11:59]
The moment the clock struck midnight, Ye Chuan immediately felt as if his condition had been refreshed—spiritual energy surged within him once more, endless and abundant.
"Nice, fully healed again," Ye Chuan nodded in satisfaction.
Upon entering the living room, the sound of a door opening came from nearby. Ye Chuan noticed a girl with waist-length hair stepping out slowly. She was still dressed in a simple black lace nightgown, her slender, pale legs shimmering as she walked.
When she saw Ye Chuan, she paused briefly before her expression shifted to surprise. "Early Foundation Establishment stage… How?"
Bai Qianshuang stared at Ye Chuan, her stunningly beautiful face filled with disbelief. Her eyes flickered with confusion. "What’s going on? Weren’t you just at the Qi Refining stage a few days ago?"
No one could break through an entire major realm in just a few days.
"Maybe I’m just talented?" Ye Chuan grinned. "Being around you must’ve pushed me straight into Foundation Establishment."
Unsurprisingly, Bai Qianshuang didn’t buy his explanation. But considering that everyone had their secrets, she simply shook her head and suppressed her doubts for now.
The restoration of her strength also put Bai Qianshuang in an excellent mood. She never expected that she could continue cultivating and improving her power in this place.
Just then, Lan Xiaoke poked her head out after hearing the conversation outside. Thanks to her unique ability to phase through walls, from Ye Chuan’s perspective, it looked like a disembodied head had suddenly appeared on the door.
"What are you guys talking about?"
"None of your business," Bai Qianshuang replied coldly.
"Wow! You’re seriously so mean! I didn’t even do anything to you!" Lan Xiaoke floated out indignantly, hands on her hips mid-air.
"Xiaoke is gonna get mad!"
"Hmm?" Bai Qianshuang merely glanced at her.
Lan Xiaoke suddenly remembered that her strength was nothing compared to Bai Qianshuang’s. Instantly shrinking back, she retreated into the wall. "You guys keep chatting, I won’t disturb~"
Watching Lan Xiaoke slip back into her room, Ye Chuan turned his attention back. "Xiaoke’s gonna be living here from now on. You two should get along—it’s not like you have any grudges."
Bai Qianshuang stiffened slightly before muttering, "I dislike ghosts."
"Why?"
After a few seconds of silence, Bai Qianshuang finally spoke. "My family was killed by malevolent spirits."
"Oh? So if a human killed your father, would you hate all humans?" Ye Chuan countered.
Bai Qianshuang shook her head.
"Exactly. There are good and bad people, just like there are good and bad ghosts," Ye Chuan said. "Lan Xiaoke might not be the brightest ghost, but she’s harmless at worst."
"Who said I’m dumb?!" Lan Xiaoke’s head popped out again.
"Plus, Lan Xiaoke died from choking on food, so there’s really no need to be so cold toward her," Ye Chuan added with a chuckle.
Choking… on food?
Bai Qianshuang clearly hadn’t expected such an absurd cause of death. She looked at Lan Xiaoke with mild astonishment. "Such a foolish way to die?"
Ye Chuan shrugged. "Hence, dumb ghost."
Lan Xiaoke, still peeking from the door: "..."
You two, calling me dumb right to my face? Rude much?
"I’ve been too stubborn," Bai Qianshuang seemed to realize something. Her gaze softened as she looked at Lan Xiaoke again. "My apologies, Miss Lan."
Lan Xiaoke was stunned for a second—Bai Qianshuang actually apologized to her?
The next moment, she immediately puffed up with pride. "Hmph! The magnanimous shall not hold grudges against the petty!"
"Hmm?" Bai Qianshuang raised an eyebrow.
Lan Xiaoke instantly ducked back into the room.
What a coward. Absolute coward.
Ye Chuan shook his head at the scene. Still, with this start, the two should be able to get along soon enough.
Setting Lan Xiaoke aside, Ye Chuan noticed Bai Qianshuang still standing stiffly. He gestured casually.
"Qianshuang, come sit."
"Mm."
Bai Qianshuang sat properly on the sofa, her demeanor as cool and detached as ever, her beautiful eyes calm and unreadable. Seeing her so indifferent, Ye Chuan suddenly grinned.
"Feel like going out for some barbecue?"
"Barbecue…" At the mention of food, Bai Qianshuang’s throat moved slightly, and even her usually flat hair seemed to perk up.
After all, the last time they visited the snack street, the flavors had left an unforgettable impression on her.
Pure, unadulterated… food science.
"But it’ll cost you money," Bai Qianshuang said. She still didn’t fully understand how people earned income in this world, though she had occasionally stumbled upon live streams where viewers tipped the streamers.
Was that how people made money here?
"It’s fine. Didn’t you swear to stay by my side forever? If I don’t treat you well, who will?" Ye Chuan took her stiff hand gently, his voice warm.
"Don’t break your oath, okay?"
After all, you’re my golden goose—both in money and resources. What would I do without you?
He really didn’t want to end up chasing Bai Qianshuang’s flying sword someday, screaming—
"Qianshuang, how am I supposed to live without you?!"
Bai Qianshuang’s fair cheeks flushed faintly as Ye Chuan held her hand. She quickly pulled away. "I—I made a heavenly oath. Of course I won’t leave."
She added solemnly, "Or else, my soul shall scatter."
Hearing her assurance, Ye Chuan’s smile deepened.
"Um… when we go out," Bai Qianshuang tugged at the hem of her skirt, suddenly speaking in a small voice, "can I have a cup of milk tea?"
"As many as you want."
"Then… I’ll go change." Bai Qianshuang stood up immediately. A few seconds later, however, she noticed Ye Chuan following her into the room. Her expression remained blank as she asked,
"Ye Chuan, what are you doing?"
"Helping you pick out a nice outfit for going out," Ye Chuan said innocently. "Some clothes are tricky to wear alone."
Bai Qianshuang: "..."
"Unnecessary."
The next second, the sword by her side trembled faintly under her aura.
"Alright, fine. I’ll wait outside."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
