"I wonder what criteria they're using to judge this selection process."
As Li Mo's worldview underwent some shifts, he couldn't help but feel curious.
Was it a straightforward battle? That method sounded fitting for the combative nature of demonic beasts, but upon reflection, it seemed unlikely. After all, with so many aquatic creatures gathered here, a one-on-one competition would take weeks, if not months, to complete.
Soon after, the woman continued:
"This selection will test two main aspects."
"First, bloodline power. Second, combat prowess."
"Only those who pass the bloodline assessment will qualify for the combat trial."
"Those who wish to participate may now line up to receive their numbers."
With that, she walked over to the "judges' panel" near the center of the lake. Soon after, members of the Mingjiao clan arrived, distributing numbered shells to the participants.
Li Mo naturally intended to join.
His identity for entering the Floating Temple didn’t matter much, but securing an entry ticket was crucial for him.
Murong Xiao, eager to reunite with his parents and unable to wait a moment longer, also signed up.
Wu Dameng, knowing his own limits, decided against participating. He’d rather find a quiet spot to enjoy some beef and mutton. Silently, he prayed that they wouldn’t end up short on participants and drag him in as a last-minute filler...
As for our dear Huang Donglai...
Mounts weren’t eligible to compete.
The two of them inscribed their information on the shells and handed them in, only to bump into a two-headed youth whose gaze was icy and brimming with hostility—especially when he saw Li Mo submitting his shell.
The disdain in the youth’s eyes grew even more pronounced. If this weren’t the Mingjiao clan’s territory, a classic round of taunting might have ensued.
"Hmm?"
Li Mo, stared down by two pairs of eyes, was utterly baffled. Where was this hostility coming from?
Have we even met before?
If we’re strangers, why keep glaring at me like that? Do you have any manners? You’re practically asking to get beaten up...
Well, maybe you’ve already been beaten up before.
His Heavenly Eye revealed the truth—this was the Xiangliu clan’s young master, the one who’d lost a head to that ice block (the Qingluan Goddess).
Though Li Mo didn’t understand the source of the hostility, he paid it no mind and simply returned to his seat with Murong Xiao.
After they left, a Mingjiao clan prodigy approached the Xiangliu young master.
"That serpent isn’t from our territory. Rumor has it he came from beyond the Southern Border. His background is unclear, but he’s likely stronger than Wu Dameng."
"Thanks. You’ve got some sense."
"Tsk tsk tsk, if he faces you, he won’t stand a chance." The Mingjiao prodigy, Wu Han, performed a Central Divine Land-style bow.
The Xiangliu young master was thoroughly pleased. "Last time, I survived an encounter with the Qingluan Goddess. What’s one measly serpent to me?"
"You’ll surely achieve a swift victory, Young Master."
"Naturally."
With a cold laugh, the Xiangliu returned to his seat, picking up chopsticks in both hands and devouring the feast voraciously. The Xiangliu clan was infamous for their gluttony—and their speed. Not a single aquatic creature at the table could out-eat him.
The Blackwater Marsh selection began in full swing.
Before it even started, musically inclined aquatic creatures performed, as if advertising the event.
"Greetings, esteemed elders. I am Zhen Bang, a river clam from the northern Blackwater Marsh."
A clam maiden stepped into the... well, lake center.
The hopeful gazes of her clansmen made it clear—she was undoubtedly a genius among clams.
"Please introduce your bloodline power and demonstrate it."
Murong Xiao’s mother, Wu Qing, held a conch shell as she spoke.
"My bloodline power is incredibly potent. If I join the team heading to the Floating Temple, I can guarantee that our group will never have to worry about logistics—and may even increase our chances of obtaining the Celestial Jade."
"Oh?"
Li Mo straightened up, focusing intently.
"Begin your demonstration."
"Alright!"
Zhen Bang took a deep breath, her expression deadly serious. Her entire body trembled slightly—clearly, she was giving it her all.
The phantom of her clam ancestor materialized behind her!
Then, her navel began emitting a crystalline glow—and...
The light grew brighter and brighter, dazzlingly radiant! Almost tangible!
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd—
Plink—
The light condensed into a pearl the size of a baby’s fist, dropping to the ground.
"I’m done." Zhen Bang weakly lifted the pearl, her face drained.
"And this pearl... what’s so special about it?"
After Wu Qing’s question, the gathered demons burst into murmurs. Some speculated it could explode with immense force, others claimed it contained mirage-like illusions to bewitch the mind—opinions varied wildly.
Zhen Bang declared proudly:
"Look, this pearl glows. And it’s beautiful. No human woman could resist it."
"So?"
"It’s valuable!"
"?"
Li Mo and the others fell into deep thought.
The luminous pearl was indeed more radiant than a night pearl—undoubtedly worth a fortune. Selling it could solve the team’s financial concerns...
They could even use it to bribe other factions competing for the Celestial Jade...
Something felt off, but they couldn’t quite pinpoint what.
"Judges, please score!"
Fish in the lake swiftly swam into formation, arranging themselves into a visible number for all to see.
"Three points. Failed. Next."
Wu Qing—Murong Xiao’s mother—sighed helplessly.
Zhen Bang ran off in tears.
Next, several more geniuses from different clans took the stage.
A sea cucumber prodigy showcased his incredible regenerative abilities—any flesh cut from his body regrew within ten minutes. He also boasted that his meat was delicious (self-proclaimed), ensuring the team would never go hungry.
Just as he was about to take a bite of himself, he was escorted offstage.
Then came a dreamweaver jellyfish genius, skilled in hypnosis... herself. Yes, she could fall asleep in the blink of an eye—and did so mid-introduction.
"No wonder the aquatic clans have always been suppressed by the avian clans."
Li Mo mused that perhaps it wasn’t just the Qingluan Goddess’s rise to power that tipped the scales.
Could it be that the aquatic clans’ abilities were just... inherently bizarre?
Or had they degenerated over the long passage of time?
Ahem. Well.
The odd ones were in the minority. Most of the later participants were far more competent.
There was a carp that spat water-prison bubbles, a water hog whose sonic waves could shatter metal and stone...
Even a Mingjiao clan genius took the stage and passed with flying colors.
"The Mingjiao clan’s bloodline power is hydrokinesis—externally manifested as summoning wind and rain. The scale of the summoned storm reflects the strength of their bloodline?"
Li Mo quietly calculated.
After transforming into a Mingjiao, he’d not only retained his human physique but also gained the ability to manipulate water vapor.
However, he’d only recently acquired this power and hadn’t practiced it much...
"Ah, right."
"I think I’ve got an artifact I’ve been saving for a while."
Li Mo checked his system inventory.
Wind and Rain Summoning Talisman.
...
(To be continued.)
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."
g Yu was preparing for retirement when her organization decided to eliminate her. She transmigrated to a zombie apocalypse world. However, a tiny unexpected situation occurred: She somehow transformed into an adorable little girl?!
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
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.
