"What did you say?"
"The one currently in charge of the Alchemy Emperor Manor is a dog?"
"Hahahaha!"
"Interesting, truly interesting."
"Who would have thought that Yao Niming would fall so low? With no one to help him, he turned to demon beasts?"
"And a dog, at that?"
Upon hearing the report from the Left Dharma Protector, the Blood Slaughter Emperor burst into uncontrollable laughter.
He recalled how, in the past, he had to tread carefully under Yao Niming’s gaze in the Alchemy Emperor Manor, and the thought filled him with frustration.
Now, at last, he could finally hold his head high.
"Lord, are we truly going to act tomorrow?"
"But according to our rules, the time set in the Blood Slaughter Edict hasn’t yet arrived," the Right Dharma Protector asked doubtfully.
"It’s just two days early. After all, this is the Immortal Alchemy Emperor we’re dealing with—delays invite complications."
"Still, today’s reconnaissance gave us a good idea of the strength of Alchemy Emperor City."
"Only one Emperor-level expert stands with him?"
"It seems the news of the Immortal Alchemy Emperor’s impending demise has indeed worked in our favor."
"Kid, I don’t understand—why are you helping me?"
The Blood Slaughter Emperor glanced at Yun Xiao nearby, deeply puzzled.
After all, Yun Xiao was a rising star in the alchemy world, with extraordinary talent—so much so that even Yao Niming had considered taking him as a disciple.
He had the chance to become Yao Niming’s successor, with the Immortal Alchemy Emperor even intending to pass on his legacy to him. Why, then, would he make such a choice?
Hearing the Blood Slaughter Emperor’s question, Yun Xiao smiled faintly.
"I have no interest in the Immortal Alchemy Emperor’s legacy."
"What he can achieve, I can achieve as well."
"My legacy, I will forge myself."
"But I wish for the Xuanhuang Realm to have only one Alchemy Emperor—me, and no one else."
The Blood Slaughter Emperor frowned slightly as he studied Yun Xiao. The young man had ambition, but something about his reasoning seemed off.
If the Immortal Alchemy Emperor was nearing his end, why the rush? Even if Yun Xiao wanted to carve his own legend, what did that have to do with the Immortal Alchemy Emperor?
It was unnecessary, completely unnecessary.
The Blood Slaughter Emperor suspected Yun Xiao’s true motives might be different, but since the young man wasn’t forthcoming, he didn’t press further.
After all, the Blood Slaughter Emperor didn’t see Yun Xiao as a threat. What storm could a mere youngster like him possibly stir?
Whatever his real intentions were, they no longer mattered.
In any case, the Blood Slaughter Emperor’s decision to crush Alchemy Emperor City would not change.
"By the way, you mentioned that Chen Chang’an isn’t in Alchemy Emperor City."
"Is he really as formidable as you claim?" the Blood Slaughter Emperor asked.
The Blood Slaughter Emperor had first learned of Chen Chang’an’s name from Yun Xiao. Initially, he hadn’t paid it much mind, but when Yun Xiao mentioned that Chen Chang’an had withstood divine retribution, he couldn’t help but take notice.
Today, he had sent the Left Dharma Protector to the Alchemy Emperor Manor with one objective—to see if Chen Chang’an was present and, if so, to test his strength.
Unfortunately, the Left Dharma Protector had not encountered anyone matching Yun Xiao’s description.
"Blood Slaughter Emperor, I wasn’t the only witness to what happened that day."
"Do you think someone who can defy divine retribution would be weak?"
"If it were you, could you face such a calamity with absolute confidence?"
Yun Xiao’s words made the Blood Slaughter Emperor frown again. The remark was unsettling, but when he searched his heart, he had to admit—did he truly have the confidence?
The Blood Slaughter Emperor had never witnessed divine retribution, but if it was anything like the legends, it would surely surpass even the might of heavenly tribulations.
He doubted he could withstand it as effortlessly as Chen Chang’an had.
"If this man is truly so monstrous, then acting sooner might indeed be the right move."
"Should we… move even earlier?"
The Blood Slaughter Emperor hesitated. Chen Chang’an’s absence now didn’t guarantee he wouldn’t return.
With the Blood Slaughter Hall already at Alchemy Emperor City’s doorstep, retreating would only invite ridicule.
"Lord, now that we’ve come this far, we cannot retreat."
"We’ve already moved the timeline forward—why not go all the way and crush Alchemy Emperor City outright?"
The Left Dharma Protector had always been impulsive, and after the treatment he’d received at the Alchemy Emperor Manor, he was itching to lead a charge into the city and unleash carnage.
"No!"
"Lord, if Chen Chang’an truly possesses such power, what would be the consequences of destroying the Alchemy Emperor Manor?"
"We still need to clarify the relationship between Chen Chang’an and the Immortal Alchemy Emperor."
"Are there people within the Alchemy Emperor Manor whom Chen Chang’an cares about? That must also be ascertained."
"We cannot afford to be careless or reckless."
"One misstep could lead to disaster."
"I implore you to reconsider!"
Unlike his hotheaded counterpart, the Right Dharma Protector was the strategist of the Blood Slaughter Hall—thoughtful, thorough, and cautious.
"What kind of talk is that?"
"Are we supposed to retreat just because Chen Chang’an is strong?"
"Wouldn’t that make our Blood Slaughter Hall a laughingstock?"
"If he’s formidable, does that mean our Lord is weak?"
"You’re always so timid—have you forgotten you’ve already broken through to the Emperor realm?"
"Our Blood Slaughter Hall now has three Emperors. Are we to fear a single Chen Chang’an?" the Left Dharma Protector retorted angrily.
"Enough!"
"What are you two arguing about?"
"Both of you make valid points."
"We must probe, but we cannot retreat."
"Here’s what we’ll do—send someone into Alchemy Emperor City to gather intelligence discreetly."
"Right Dharma Protector, I’ll give you half a day."
"After that, I will lead our forces to attack Alchemy Emperor City."
The Blood Slaughter Emperor’s tone was firm.
"Understood. I will make the most of this time."
The Right Dharma Protector couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what.
Thus, he resolved to enter Alchemy Emperor City personally to investigate.
After the Right Dharma Protector left, Yun Xiao glanced at the Blood Slaughter Emperor and said with a smile, "My role here is done. I’ll take my leave."
"Oh? Don’t you want to witness the fall of Alchemy Emperor City and the death of the Immortal Alchemy Emperor?" the Blood Slaughter Emperor asked.
"I truly don’t care about such things."
"I merely found it amusing and lent you a hand—nothing more."
"My task is complete. There’s no reason for me to stay."
With that, Yun Xiao turned and walked away, much to the Left Dharma Protector’s displeasure.
"That brat is far too arrogant. Does he really think he’s someone important?" the Left Dharma Protector fumed.
"Let him be. He’s just an ambitious young man."
"Still… we shouldn’t let our guard down."
"Send someone to tail him discreetly. See where he goes."
"As you command, Lord."
Though Yun Xiao had provided crucial intelligence, the Blood Slaughter Emperor couldn’t shake the feeling that the young man had ulterior motives. Yet Yun Xiao had been evasive, offering no clear answers.
If not for Yun Xiao’s negligible strength—posing no threat—the Blood Slaughter Emperor might have eliminated him on the spot.
Meanwhile, the Right Dharma Protector disguised himself and slipped into Alchemy Emperor City.
After some inquiries, he came to a conclusion: Chen Chang'an was a mysterious and formidable figure, not one to be trifled with.
Though these people didn’t know much about Chen Chang'an, rumors about him had spread throughout Alchemy Emperor City following the last heavenly punishment.
Sitting in a corner of the tavern, the Right Dharma Protector began carefully retracing the origins of this entire affair.
He needed to calm himself and think clearly—how had the feud with Alchemy Emperor City escalated to this point?
Something about the situation felt off. Moreover, the Blood Slaughter Hall wasn’t entirely confident they could emerge unscathed from this conflict.
As the brains of the Blood Slaughter Hall, it was his duty to weigh the pros and cons and make the most prudent decision.
While the Right Dharma Protector was deep in thought, a large yellow dog suddenly appeared beside him without warning.
Seeing the dog, the Right Dharma Protector was taken aback—such creatures were a rare sight here.
"Someone in Alchemy Emperor City actually keeps a dog?" he muttered in surprise.
"You’re the dog."
"Your whole family are dogs!"
Huh?
Holy shit, the dog’s a spirit?
It can talk?!
Wait… no… this—this damn thing is a demon beast?!
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...
] [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!"
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?"
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!
