The sky was clear and boundless.
The architecture within the inner city each had its own distinct character. For instance, the House of Moonlit Pleasures resembled an exquisite porcelain vase, while the Everbloom Pavilion maintained a perpetual spring, with flowers of every kind competing in brilliance.
Through its intricate latticework, one could faintly glimpse blossoms suspended mid-air, each displaying its own unique charm.
Even the night-soil collector couldn’t help but lift his head with pride at the thought of working in such a refined and high-class establishment.
"Esteemed guest, you—ah, Young Master Li Mo!"
The servant lowered his proud chest, his face instantly shifting into a perfectly practiced expression of sycophantic flattery, a testament to his impeccable professionalism.
"The proprietor is waiting for you upstairs. Please, this way."
"Thanks."
"Oh no, no! You’ll shorten my lifespan with such words! Guiding you is this humble one’s greatest honor..."
The servant hastily slapped his own cheek, his expression tinged with panic.
In his experience, when guests uttered words like "thanks," it was usually a sign of displeasure.
"...Let’s just go."
Li Mo glanced to the side, where a familiar scene from the House of Moonlit Pleasures played out—beautiful women treated as mere ornaments.
He said nothing more, slipping the servant a silver note as they ascended.
Word must have spread, for as he passed, the workers of Everbloom Pavilion cast uneasy glances his way.
If the ownership changed hands, where would they go?
Would this premier establishment of the imperial capital still provide them a livelihood?
At the top floor, in the Peony Chamber.
Pushing the door open, the mess from last night’s revelry had vanished, replaced instead with fresh fruits and delicacies.
A middle-aged beauty sat alone, her eyes appraising the young man who entered.
"Fading charm" didn’t suit her—her allure was a perfect blend of seduction and maturity, with a vermilion beauty mark at the corner of her lips serving as the dangerous yet enchanting finishing touch.
A truly wicked woman!
"Young Master Li Mo, what skillful maneuvering. Several high-ranking officials have written to me—a group of grown men bullying a lone, helpless woman like me, is that the act of heroes?"
The beauty took a slow drag from her pipe, exhaling a wisp of smoke that veiled her face in a hazy mist.
The smoke wasn’t acrid but carried a faint scent of roses—the kind with thorns and poison.
[Name: Luo Ji (alias Su Yao)]
[Age: 39]
[Constitution: Venomous Allure Physique]
[Cultivation: Late-stage Dharma Body]
[Fate: Gold tinged with Gray]
[Evaluation: Fifth Heavenly Slayer of the Misty Rain Tower, branch master of the imperial capital, ranked tenth on the Hundred Flowers List. Entered the capital fifteen years ago, married a wealthy merchant, then slowly poisoned him to death over the years, inheriting his assets and renaming the establishment Everbloom Pavilion, turning it into a crucial node in the Misty Rain Tower’s intelligence network. Beneath her beguiling charm lies a venomous thorn...]
[Recent Events: Received letters from court officials demanding she relinquish her business. Plans to collaborate with Yin Mianmian to ensnare the instigator, Li Mo, as her latest conquest...]
"......"
Li Mo leaned back slightly.
It was pure instinct that made him activate his Heaven’s Eye to assess her.
He hadn’t expected to uncover something so explosive.
Could he now just say—"Never mind, I don’t want Everbloom Pavilion anymore, it was all drunken nonsense"—and expect her to let him walk away?
Obviously not.
Late-stage Dharma Body—he stood no chance in a direct confrontation. Even escaping into his pocket dimension would require her not keeping her full attention on him...
How to handle this?
"Enough with the petty tricks, Su Yao."
Li Mo plopped down across from her, pouring himself tea with an air of icy nonchalance.
The Qingyuan Sect’s best actor had silently taken the stage.
The transition was seamless—enough to make seasoned thespians break into a cold sweat.
"Or should I say... Luo Ji?"
"?"
Luo Ji’s expression froze for a split second before she chuckled.
"Young Master Li Mo, you jest. Do I resemble some woman you fancy? But I don’t recall any..."
Li Mo shook his head. "This poison won’t work on me."
The moment the words left his lips, the atmosphere in the chamber turned glacial, leaving only the faint strains of string and wind instruments in the background.
Li Mo realized the beauty across from him had vanished.
In the silence, vibrant flowers bloomed one after another, their fragrance intoxicating, lulling the senses into a sweet, eternal slumber...
A bottomless abyss of sweetness unfolded as vines crept up Li Mo’s limbs, sprouting buds that soon blossomed.
"......"
Li Mo frowned slightly, as if displeased, yet made no move to resist—clearly allowing her to proceed.
Luo Ji, now merged with her external manifestation, narrowed her eyes.
His demeanor suggested he was unafraid of her poison, as if he had a countermeasure prepared.
"What method in this world could allow a mere Spectator-stage cultivator to resist my external manifestation?"
Had someone told Luo Ji this before, she would have scoffed.
But the man before her was currently the brightest rising star across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands.
Moreover, if he hadn’t come prepared, how could he have so casually revealed her true identity?
She hesitated to act recklessly now.
This was the imperial capital, and they were near the royal palace.
If exposed, she’d be lucky to escape with her life intact.
But—
Rustle—
The first flower on the vines entwining Li Mo finally bloomed.
This poison didn’t target the body—it targeted the heart.
It lulled its victims into an eternal slumber by exploiting the deepest malice in their hearts.
The Divine Hammer Young Tyrant, the Prosperous Wife’s Battle Soul—what darkness lurked in his heart?
The flower fully unfurled.
The scene within showed a young Li Mo tossing a firecracker into an outhouse, followed by the shrill, outraged shriek of the elderly gentleman inside...
Luo Ji: "?"
This was the deepest malice in his heart?
What in the world?!
But soon, Luo Ji relaxed slightly.
Rustle—
Another flower bloomed.
"He must have more..."
Her smirk hadn’t even fully formed before it stiffened again.
In this vision, Li Mo was massaging a slender, jade-like foot—its owner none other than the Frost Fairy.
This seemed to trigger a chain reaction.
One after another, the flowers burst into full bloom.
Each petal bore the same face—a flawless, celestial beauty that put even the most splendid blossoms to shame.
To be fair.
The slightly blurred visage appearing on the flowers made the surrounding splendor seem dull in comparison.
Luo Ji: "......"
After a long silence.
Li Mo, who had been growing increasingly tense, suddenly felt the pressure lift.
When he opened his eyes, the Peony Chamber had returned to normal, and Luo Ji sat across from him, her expression a mix of deep contemplation and disbelief.
"See? I told you..."
"I believe you came prepared."
Luo Ji narrowed her eyes, her husky voice still laced with danger. "Young Master Li Mo, ah, Young Master Li Mo... I’ve truly witnessed your prowess today. No wonder you’ve managed to sway even court officials to your side. I’ve learned much."
This had to be some kind of trick! And Li Mo had undoubtedly done it on purpose!
Who in their right mind had their deepest malice revolve around throwing firecrackers into outhouses, massaging the Frost Fairy’s feet, or wanting to nibble her ears?!
The latter scenes were too much for her to even look at!
This Prosperous Wife’s Battle Soul was downright bizarre!
......
PS: Please consider supporting with a power-up (charging), mwah! -3-

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'!"

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?!!!"

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?

end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia