Gu Xian'er had never imagined that a cultivator like her could ever experience the life of an ordinary person.
But upon reflection, had it not been for following Chen Chang'an, she would likely never have stepped foot inside a gambling den in her lifetime.
She would never have known the thrill of winning a bet, nor the adrenaline of being chased by the den's enforcers, fleeing in disarray.
"Young Master, is this your way of amusing yourself in the mortal world, experiencing different lives?"
"I truly never expected Young Master to have already reached such a profound state of enlightenment." Gu Xian'er gazed at Chen Chang'an with admiration.
Seeing her adoration, Da Huang curled his lips in disdain. To spin idleness into something so lofty—this Gu Xian'er was certainly no ordinary person either.
Talented!
Both of them were downright talented!
"The world is full of suffering. If I do not descend into hell, who will?"
"Young Master possesses great wisdom. Xian'er is ashamed of her ignorance."
"No matter. In time, when you reach a certain level of cultivation, you will understand."
"Yes, Young Master. Xian'er will strive diligently."
"Good. I have high hopes for you."
Da Huang watched with undisguised contempt. Could they at least pretend to have some shame?
"Can we go already?"
"I'm asking—can the two of you finally move?" Da Huang snapped impatiently.
"Xian'er, remember—do not be like Da Huang, restless and impatient. Such a temperament will never achieve greatness."
"Yes, Young Master. Xian'er will take it to heart."
"Damn it, I can't take this anymore. Just kill me already, you two."
"Alas, some pupils are beyond teaching."
Chen Chang'an sighed helplessly, his gaze toward Da Huang filled with disappointment and pity.
That look stirred something in Da Huang—an urge to swallow Chen Chang'an whole once more. But this time, he’d make sure to digest the bastard properly, not spit him back out!
"Why here? Why not a brothel?"
"I don’t care—I want to go to a brothel!"
Chen Chang'an chose a tavern instead, much to Da Huang's displeasure. Yet both Chen Chang'an and Gu Xian'er ignored him completely, letting him roll on the ground in protest without so much as a glance.
"Da Huang, brothels are places of fleeting pleasure. Do not linger in such distractions."
"Bah! I’ll linger all I want! Without a fair maiden by my side, food loses all flavor—utterly tasteless!"
Chen Chang'an chuckled and shook his head. He knew full well that Da Huang’s obsession with brothels wasn’t purely for indulgence—it was mostly out of sheer boredom.
If he had something worthwhile to do, Da Huang would never clamor for brothels.
"Hmm?"
"How interesting. I never expected to run into an old acquaintance here."
Suddenly, Chen Chang'an sensed a familiar presence—one that even Da Huang picked up on.
Da Huang’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Isn’t that… Fang Yunxi?"
"What’s he doing here?"
"Not sure, but we’ll find out soon enough."
At the same time, Fang Yunxi also detected a familiar aura. Unsure, he approached the private room where Chen Chang'an was seated.
"This humble one is Fang Yunxi. Might I ask—"
"Come in."
"Ah! It really is you!"
Hearing Chen Chang'an's voice, Fang Yunxi brightened and eagerly pushed the door open.
"It’s been a long time, Brother Fang. I trust you’ve been well?" Chen Chang'an greeted with a faint smile.
"Hahaha! Who would’ve thought I’d run into you here, Brother Chen!"
"Brother Chen, after all these years, you remain as distinguished as ever."
Fang Yunxi made himself at home, taking a seat without ceremony. Truth be told, it had been over two thousand years since they last met.
"The Fang Clan’s territory is quite far from here, isn’t it? What brings you to this place?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.
"An invitation. Besides, after centuries of secluded cultivation, it was time for a change of scenery."
"Had I not come, who knows when I’d have seen you again?"
"Meeting you alone makes this trip worthwhile!"
"By the way, Brother Chen, what brings you here? Were you invited as well?" Fang Yunxi inquired with a smile.
Chen Chang'an shook his head. "I’m merely wandering the world. My arrival here was purely coincidental."
"Whoever managed to invite you must be no ordinary figure, then?"
Fang Yunxi nodded. "Indeed. It was the Supreme Elder of the Qingyun Sect who extended the invitation. A favor like that couldn’t be refused."
"Do you know of the Qingyun Sect?"
Qingyun Sect?
Chen Chang'an searched his memories. The name sounded vaguely familiar, though it must have been from a long time ago.
After a moment of contemplation, it finally came back to him.
"You don’t mean the sect founded by Lu Qingyun all those years ago, do you?"
"Exactly. The Qingyun Sect’s founding patriarch was none other than Lu Qingyun."
Suddenly, Da Huang snickered mischievously, leaving Fang Yunxi puzzled.
"Brother Da Huang, why the laughter?" Fang Yunxi asked, confused.
"Ask him," Da Huang replied with a sly grin.
"Hmm? Brother Chen, does this… have something to do with the Qingyun Sect?"
Something to do with it?
Oh, it had everything to do with it.
The Qingyun Sect was established five thousand years ago, and the sole reason Lu Qingyun founded it was because of Chen Chang'an.
"Lu Qingyun back then—"
"Ugh, if you won’t say it, I will. That kid Lu Qingyun pestered Chen Chang'an relentlessly, begging to become his servant. Chen Chang'an got so fed up that he gave him a task."
"He told him to establish a sect and build it into a supreme powerhouse. Only then would he consider taking him on as a servant."
"The kid swore on the spot—he’d return, found the Qingyun Sect, and not bother Chen Chang'an again until he met the requirements."
"And that’s how the Qingyun Sect came to be."
By the time Da Huang finished, Fang Yunxi was utterly dumbfounded.
What kind of absurdity was this?
The founding patriarch of the Qingyun Sect had once begged to become Chen Chang'an’s servant?
That was Lu Qingyun—a legendary powerhouse at the peak of the Immortal Realm Ninth Layer, just one step away from the Emperor Realm!
"Brother Chen, just… what kind of being are you?"
"You knew Lu Qingyun over five thousand years ago?" Fang Yunxi stared at Chen Chang'an in shock.
"Me? I’ve just lived a long time. Naturally, I’ve met quite a few people."
"But that doesn’t change anything between us. We’re still friends," Chen Chang'an said with a smile.
Friends?
The man whom Lu Qingyun had groveled before was calling him a friend?
Fang Yunxi suddenly felt his entire existence elevated. His very spirit seemed to shine brighter.
Damn—this was Lu Qingyun they were talking about! A figure of immense renown!
Though Fang Yunxi himself was no slouch—having risen to the status of an elder in the Fang Clan—the Fang Clan paled in comparison to the Qingyun Sect.
Not only did the Qingyun Sect boast Lu Qingyun, a half-step Emperor Realm expert, but the number of Immortal Realm cultivators within its ranks far surpassed the Fang Clan’s.
Although the Qingyun Sect has yet to become a top-tier force—given the absence of a Great Emperor-level powerhouse to anchor it—no one would dare underestimate its standing.
"By that logic, could I consider Lu Qingyun and myself friends?" Fang Yunxi remarked with a hint of excitement.
"Well... you could always try asking him when you see him."
"Whether Lu Qingyun agrees or not is one thing, but I doubt the rest of the Qingyun Sect would be on board."
Da Huang shot Fang Yunxi a disdainful look—this guy really had a knack for wishful thinking.
Hearing Da Huang's remark, Fang Yunxi chuckled awkwardly. He knew the odds were slim; it was just idle daydreaming on his part.
"By the way, why did the Qingyun Sect invite you? What’s the occasion?"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
