The sky blazed with light, casting a golden halo around the Suspended Temple atop Golden Summit Mountain, creating a breathtaking spectacle of grandeur.
At the foot of Golden Summit Mountain, the scene was bustling as usual, with numerous demon clans gathered, the air thick with tension—just like every other year.
But this time, the reason for the tension seemed... a little off.
The fishbone boat slowly drifted toward the shore. Little Li the Heavenly Serpent gazed at the sky, as if searching for something in the distant horizon.
Murong Feng’s bald head gleamed so brightly that one might mistake him for a monk descending from the Suspended Temple.
Wu Qing and Murong Feng stood tall and proud, their chests puffed out. Seeing the aquatic clans waiting there, they couldn’t help but feel that the Mingjiao Clan was no longer what it used to be.
"Aunt Wu, can we take a detour?"
"All aquatic clans must wait here for the monks of the Suspended Temple to guide them in. We are cultured serpents—we can’t just barge in and break the rules."
Li Mo observed the grand spectacle nearby.
He had imagined that if his human identity were ever exposed, he might be torn apart by the demon beasts.
But now, even before his identity was revealed, that risk seemed all too real.
"When I was your age, I was already with Xiao’s mother," Murong Feng said with a chuckle. "If you meet the right one, it’s best to settle down early."
Wu Qing blushed and lightly smacked her husband’s arm.
"How did you and Aunt Wu get together back then?" Li Mo couldn’t help but ask, curious.
Murong Feng looked at his wife and child with tenderness, reminiscing:
"In my youth, I was full of ambition, determined to journey to Central Divine Land, testing my sword against the world’s heroes and witnessing the wonders of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Along the way, I met Xiao’s mother."
"We roamed the rivers and lakes together, righting wrongs, robbing the rich to aid the poor. Qing was far stronger than me—she even made it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking and once deciphered the Hengyun Sword Mark."
"Do you know of the Hengyun Sword Mark?"
Murong Feng stroked his beard, lost in nostalgia for his younger days.
Wu Qing, too, recalled the sunsets of Yun Province, the days of running freely under the setting sun...
"Ahem... Sword Mark? What sword mark? Never heard of it."
Li Mo decided it was best to play the ignorant country serpent.
He couldn’t very well say, Uncle, Auntie, your youth is now just a hammer...
"What happened next?"
"On our way back to the Eastern Wasteland, my wife and I discovered something unusual in a temple—someone was using the ‘Observe Oneself as Divinity’ technique to siphon the faith of mortals to nourish their spirit. It drew the pursuit of the Demon Summoning Sect."
"To save me, my wife had no choice but to reveal her true form. That was when I learned she wasn’t human."
Li Mo nodded.
He could almost guess how things unfolded afterward. Discovering that his beloved was one of the so-called "disaster beasts," Murong Feng must have been shocked, wrestled with his conscience, but ultimately chose love over convention, defying the world’s scorn.
Truly, the man had guts.
"After finding out Aunt Wu was a serpent, Uncle must have faced an incredibly difficult decision, right?"
"Not really."
"Huh?"
"He got even more excited."
Wu Qing shot her husband a reproachful glance.
And thus, Murong Xiao was born.
Li Mo: "......"
A tiny question mark popped up above Little Li’s head, refusing to fade.
Murong Feng declared proudly, "My wife and I have lived happily ever since. So when it comes to true love, species shouldn’t be a dealbreaker."
"......"
Li Mo decided words were unnecessary and simply gave a thumbs-up.
You really have the right to be proud. You’re something else.
Murong Feng glanced at the distant commotion and added, "As for quantity..."
"Hmm?"
Wu Qing narrowed her eyes, her vertical pupils flickering as her smile turned unnervingly serene.
"We’ll let quality triumph over quantity. A real man should be devoted to one!"
At that moment, the fishbone boat docked at the shore.
Li Mo stepped off, intending to slip away unnoticed. But before he could make his escape, a cold voice rang out from nearby.
"Wu Mo, you’ve finally arrived!"
"Shut your beak."
Little Li the Heavenly Serpent clenched his fists.
The speaker was a golden-armored, golden-haired, golden-eyed youth. His feathered wings and aura marked him unmistakably as a member of the Roc Clan, with several other Roc clansmen flanking him—though none matched his power.
His emotionless golden eyes carried a faint trace of bloodlust.
The feud between the Roc Clan and the Mingjiao Clan was common knowledge throughout the Southern Border, so this confrontation was expected.
Yet, at this moment, no one cared about their rivalry.
"Is that Wu Mo? Not only does he have majestic horns, but his features are strikingly handsome too."
"No wonder they say he carries the bloodline of a True Dragon. Look at his horns, his scales."
"I suspect he doesn’t just have a trace of True Dragon blood."
"Oh?"
"He is a True Dragon in the flesh—a peerless Heavenly Serpent!"
The aquatic clans buzzed with excitement.
The allure of the True Dragon bloodline was too great.
Take, for example, an ordinary clan of conch and mussel demons from the South Sea. By some stroke of fortune, they once caught the favor of a True Dragon, inheriting its bloodline.
That clan, now known as the Jiaotu Clan, had thrived ever since.
Then there were the Qiu Niu... Ba Xia... Chi Wen...
These mighty demon clans, all flourished after receiving the Dragon’s blessing.
If not for the fact that this was the Suspended Temple’s territory, where no demon dared cause trouble, some would have already lunged at Little Li to drag him away by force.
What was supposed to be a tense battle for the Celestial Jade had turned into a frenzied aquatic matchmaking event.
It was all... rather sudden.
"The Rock Shrimp Clan has prepared ten chests of rare treasures, hoping to invite the Heavenly Serpent of the Mingjiao Clan for a chat!"
The Rock Shrimp Clan specialized in burrowing through earth and stone, hiding within it.
Thus, they had suddenly emerged from the ground near the docks—clearly having lain in ambush for this very moment, eager to be the first.
"Sorry!"
Looking at the shrimp maiden, Little Li felt a headache coming on.
The Rock Shrimp Clan was reluctant to give up, trailing closely behind.
"Wait! If your True Dragon bloodline merges with our Rock Shrimp lineage, the offspring will surely be extraordinary! We’ve even picked a name—"
"Lobster!"
"......"
Little Li quickened his pace to escape.
Before the other aquatic clans could swarm him, a group of towering figures—muscular even in human form, standing half a head taller than ordinary men—barged through the crowd with brute force.
Their garments were strung with clattering seashells, blocking out the sunlight as they stood there.
"My name is Guo Jing. The Giant Whale Clan’s bloodline is already mighty. If we join forces, it’ll be a union of powerhouses."
The muscular maiden Guo Jing spoke shyly.
She, too, was a genius of her clan, bearing the bloodline of a Dragon Whale. She wasn’t just looked strong—she could truly lift mountains with her might.
With them blocking the way, the other aquatic clans couldn’t get close.
Wu Qing and Murong Feng exchanged intrigued glances, though they kept their thoughts to themselves.
"We’re... too different."
"Different how?"
Li Mo’s lips twitched.
Sister, are you blind?
Your arms are thicker than my thighs—and that’s in human form. If you shifted to your true body...
Meanwhile, twenty miles outside the Suspended Temple...
From this vantage point, the massive golden ring atop Golden Summit Mountain could already be glimpsed in the distance.
Under the clear sky, the Qingluan Clan soared through the heavens, their presence adding a touch of splendor to the boundless, cloudless expanse. Among the many avian tribes and bird demons journeying toward the Hanging Temple, none dared obstruct their path.
At the forefront of this noble and graceful clan was a young maiden.
It was as if the sky itself had cleared just for her.
The name "Divine Maiden of the Qingluan" had long echoed across the Southern Border, earned through her countless battles against calamitous beasts and malevolent demons.
Her serene, distant eyes rippled faintly as she gazed toward the Hanging Temple.
Was she anticipating the sight of the Celestial Jade from beyond the heavens—or perhaps...
Something else entirely?

] [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!"

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

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."

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!