The Western Sea Grand World.
Boling City, Hitt Empire.
An Lan, clad in a patched-up priest's robe and carrying a large burlap sack, swaggered into the empire's bank branch with an air of unbridled arrogance.
Bypassing the crowded masses, he headed straight for the vacant VIP service window.
Thud!
In the blink of an eye, he slammed the sack onto the counter and bellowed at the top of his lungs:
"Exchange a thousand jin of third-tier energy ore into gold coins—all of it!"
Instantly, every eye in the room snapped toward him.
"Look at this fool of a first-tier priest. Did he hold up an umbrella when the Goddess of Wisdom rained down knowledge? Such idiocy is almost charming."
"Oh? Isn’t that Priest An Lan from the northern outskirts’ unofficial chapel?"
Someone in the crowd quickly recognized the identity of this walking target.
"Wasn’t he so broke he couldn’t even pay his nuns? Where’d he get so much third-tier ore?"
"Wait, is he that bold? Flaunting wealth without any backing?"
"Something’s off—no, scratch that, something’s way off!"
"Enough chatter. Hey, friend, let’s talk privately..."
Many exchanged glances before subtly retreating into the shadows.
An Lan had anticipated this reaction, but he couldn’t care less. In fact, he was practically thrilled.
Perfect!
This is the rush I wanted!
Here he was, a measly first-tier priest, sitting on a fortune—a plump, juicy sheep just begging to be slaughtered!
Come at me! The stronger the hunters, the wilder the thrill!
"Esteemed VIP, after verification, the one thousand jin of third-tier energy ore is confirmed. We’ve converted it into 100,000 gold coins and deposited them into your account. Here is our premium gold card—please keep it safe."
The teller beamed as she respectfully handed over the savings card.
But instead of taking it, An Lan smirked and seized her delicate hand, declaring with faux solemnity:
"Fair maiden, has anyone ever told you your hands are like divine relics lost to the mortal world? So exquisite, one can’t help but yearn to touch them. Given how scorching it is today, might I treat you to some iced tea?"
The pretty teller flushed crimson. "Mr. An Lan, please behave. I’m still on duty. But... tomorrow’s my day off. If your offer is sincere, I might consider a date."
An Lan knew she was subtly warning him, but fear was the last thing on his mind. He pushed further:
"Fair maiden, might I interpret this as your concern for me?"
"Concern for every VIP is my duty. That said, I strongly suggest you seek the guards’ protection—or handle things yourself, if you’re confident." With practiced grace, she pried his wandering hand away.
"Very well. Then I’ll have to invite you to dinner tomorrow. By the way, are you... available for iced drinks lately?" An Lan remained steadfast in his mission.
The teller nodded, cheeks still pink.
Grinning roguishly, An Lan finally took his leave, strutting out the door without another word.
By now, at least ten second-tier experts were likely already en route, tipped off about his windfall.
But that’s not enough.
His real target? The third-tier leader of the Phantom Beast Hunters!
A hundred thousand gold might not tempt your average third-tier powerhouse, but the notoriously greedy and ruthless Phantom Beast leader? Oh, he’d bite.
Too scared to go all out in the city with the garrison around? Fine—I’ll head straight for the outskirts!
At this moment, An Lan was no longer the cowardly backline healer.
Today, I charge into battle as the vanguard!
------
Meanwhile...
Chen Yi had long prepared a doppelgänger imbued with 30% of his true strength.
Currently, he was idly scrolling through the public task board’s archives.
[Group 66 Help Request: Member ‘Xuanyuan Qingtian’ transmigrated into an era of withered spirituality and is about to be refined by a demonic cultivator. Exceeds our group’s capacity. Assistance requested.]
Power requirement: 30,000+
Reward: 100,000 points, 3,000 group EXP.
[Status: Completed]
------
[Group 85 Help Request: Member ‘Spicy Crispy Snack’ reincarnated as a black dragon. Due to its blood’s... virility-enhancing properties, it’s now imprisoned and drained daily, nearing death. Assistance requested.]
Power requirement: 130,000+
Reward: 200,000 points, 20,000 group EXP.
[Status: Completed]
------
[Group 6 Help Request: Member ‘Believe in the Light’ transmigrated into a world besieged by a dark upheaval. A longevity-starved grand cultivator is about to harvest their life essence. Assistance requested.]
Power requirement: 80,000,000+
Reward: 300,000,000 points, 50,000,000 group EXP.
[Status: Expired. Member deceased. Task void.]
------
"Thought other chat groups had hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Turns out none could field an 80-million combatant?"
Chen Yi arched a brow, eyeing the two avatars before him.
One housed the chat group’s core, while the other was for missions—both at 30% of his full power, each clocking in at 900 million combat strength.
And he could summon 47 more such clones, totaling 49—a deliberate nod to the forty-nine divine lightning strikes of the damned Immortal Ascension Tribulation.
The fiftier, Primordial Chaos Lightning? That one stumped him.
His clones couldn’t tank it, and while his true form could, the tribulation’s cunning left him wary. After 81 failed attempts (each ending in a tactical retreat), he knew the provoked heavens would not let him off easy this time.
Just then, the chat pinged.
[Ding!]
[Group 108 Help Request Generated: Member ‘The God of Light is Unemployed’ carelessly flaunted wealth and is now cornered by predators. Assistance requested.]
Power requirement: 100,000+
Reward: 150,000 points, 20,000 group EXP.
[30-second decision window. Unclaimed tasks escalate to the public board.]
[Countdown: 30, 29, 28...]
As group leader, Chen Yi had priority—for the first 15 seconds, others were locked out.
[The God of Light is Unemployed: AHHHH! Group leader! HELP! Big scary men are circling me! Their eyes are glowing! So terrifying! So... exciting...]
[Runner-up in the Immortal Cultivation World: Dude. What is wrong with you?]
[The Sword Immortal with Clean Hands: My blade is straight. I am straight. You, my friend? Your vibes are crooked.]
[Chen Yi (Group Leader): Fear not. I shall quell the chaos you’ve incited!]
[The group leader has claimed the task. Spatial gateway activating.]
u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker 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?!!!"
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!