The Right Dharma Protector had been deep in thought when suddenly, a talking dog appeared, catching him off guard.
After recovering from the initial shock, he realized this must be the dog the Left Dharma Protector had mentioned—the one in charge of the Alchemy Emperor Manor.
"Are you the dog from the Alchemy Emperor Manor?" the Right Dharma Protector asked with a frown.
"You’re the damn dog from the Alchemy Emperor Manor," Da Huang retorted irritably.
"Why do you keep cursing at me?" the Right Dharma Protector said, displeased.
"Are you even speaking human language? Who else should I curse but you?"
This annoyed the Right Dharma Protector. Wasn’t this creature literally a dog? Was his statement wrong?
Taking a deep breath, the Right Dharma Protector chose not to argue with Da Huang. Instead, he was curious—how had the dog found him?
He had concealed his aura perfectly, yet he’d still been discovered?
And what was its purpose in seeking him out?
"How did you find me?" the Right Dharma Protector asked curiously.
Da Huang leaped onto a nearby chair, settling down with its paws on the table. It gave the Right Dharma Protector a shrewd look.
"You’re smart enough to scout Alchemy Emperor City for information beforehand."
"But did it never occur to you that right now, the city is in panic, with people desperate to flee?"
"Why would an ordinary person choose to enter Alchemy Emperor City at such a time?"
"Besides, this tavern has been abandoned for three days."
"You, an outsider, sitting alone in an empty, ownerless tavern—doesn’t that strike you as odd?"
"Was finding you really that hard?"
The Right Dharma Protector, being sharp-minded, had actually considered this beforehand.
But he believed that given the chaos in Alchemy Emperor City, even the Immortal Alchemy Emperor wouldn’t notice his presence.
Who would’ve thought a dog would sniff him out?
Was its nose really that powerful?
A natural talent, a racial skill?
"I came here with no ill intentions," the Right Dharma Protector said calmly, watching Da Huang.
"I just felt there was something unusual about this situation and wanted to investigate."
"Hmm… there is indeed something unusual."
The Right Dharma Protector stiffened—Da Huang hadn’t opened its mouth. Who had spoken?
His expression shifted as he saw a young man walking toward him, casually holding a wine flask.
The newcomer sat across from him, while Da Huang scooted aside to make room.
"You returned pretty fast."
"I thought you’d wait until the critical moment to make your grand entrance."
"Wouldn’t that be more dramatic? More thrilling?"
Chen Chang'an chuckled at Da Huang’s words. "If I can make it back in time, there’s no need to delay just for a dramatic reveal."
"Have you been listening to too many stories?"
This was none other than Chen Chang'an. Along the way, aside from encountering Li Qiye and Li Tang, he hadn’t wasted a single moment, fearing he might be too late.
As it turned out, his instincts were correct—unexpected events always arise. The Blood Slaughter Emperor’s premature appearance was one such case.
Had Chen Chang'an stuck to his original schedule, he truly would’ve been too late.
"You… you’re Chen Chang'an?"
The Right Dharma Protector was no fool. Just from their brief exchange, he’d already deduced Chen Chang'an’s identity.
"That’s right," Chen Chang'an replied with a faint smile.
First level of the Cave Void Realm?
Was he hiding his cultivation?
But the Right Dharma Protector was already at the Emperor Realm—how could he still fail to see through this man’s strength?
Just how powerful was he?
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
"You mentioned there’s something unusual. Have you discovered anything?" the Right Dharma Protector asked, frowning.
"Even if I have, why should I tell you?" Chen Chang'an countered with a smile.
"To be honest, I never supported the Blood Slaughter Hall’s decision to wage war against Alchemy Emperor City."
"But the Hall Master was adamant, and I couldn’t stop him."
"If there really is some scheme at play, I’d like to persuade him to seek peace instead."
From the start, the Right Dharma Protector had opposed the Blood Slaughter Hall’s reckless issuance of the Blood Slaughter Edict against Alchemy Emperor City.
Once the edict was issued, there was no taking it back.
Though the Hall Master doted on Leng Wuqing, escalating a mere verbal spat to this level seemed rash.
Moreover, that Yun Xiao fellow—the Right Dharma Protector always felt he had ulterior motives.
"Let me ask you this: Leng Wuqing may be arrogant and unruly, but what’s his usual temperament like?" Chen Chang'an inquired.
"Well… the Young Hall Master is indeed spoiled, but he’s not one to kill indiscriminately."
"Most of the time, he stays within the Blood Slaughter Hall and doesn’t understand worldly affairs."
"Even when conflicts arise, he might get angry or hit someone, but in all his years at the Hall, he’s never once ordered anyone’s death."
Chen Chang'an nodded. "That’s the first inconsistency."
"Why, upon arriving in Alchemy Emperor City, did Leng Wuqing suddenly start demanding the annihilation of the entire Alchemy Emperor Manor?"
After Leng Wuqing left, Chen Chang'an had sensed something amiss. On his way to the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, he’d investigated discreetly.
Leng Wuqing’s journey had been flamboyant, stirring up trouble wherever he went.
Given his brash personality, offending people was normal—conflicts were countless.
Yet in all those altercations, Leng Wuqing had never killed anyone or ordered his subordinates to do so.
At most, he’d beat or reprimand them.
So why had he turned ruthless only upon reaching Alchemy Emperor City?
"Are you suggesting someone manipulated him?"
"But that can’t be—the three with him were all trusted subordinates. They wouldn’t do such a thing," the Right Dharma Protector said, frowning.
"Not necessarily manipulation. What if he was controlled?"
"You’d need to look into what strange incidents or people he encountered along the way."
"But I don’t have time to investigate that."
"Second point: the Blood Slaughter Emperor may be arrogant, but does he truly not fear the influence of the Immortal Alchemy Emperor?"
"Issuing the Blood Slaughter Edict so rashly—I assume he received some news, didn’t he?"
The Right Dharma Protector didn’t deny it. "He did hear rumors that the Immortal Alchemy Emperor was nearing the end of his life, so the Hall Master no longer felt restrained."
"So you’re saying someone is orchestrating all this behind the scenes?"
"Could it be… him?"
The Right Dharma Protector’s frown deepened. The first person that came to mind was Yun Xiao.
This man had appeared suddenly, his motives unclear—yet it seemed he was the one who’d convinced the Blood Slaughter Emperor to attack Alchemy Emperor City.
With this thought, the Right Dharma Protector turned his gaze toward Chen Chang'an. From the moment he appeared until now, this man had remained calm and composed, without the slightest hint of hostility.
Was he truly so confident?
Or had he, from the very beginning, never regarded the Blood Slaughter Hall as a threat?
Chen Chang'an?
Had there ever been such a supreme powerhouse in the Tai Xuan Realm?
After much deliberation, the Right Dharma Protector still couldn’t recall any figure in his memory or knowledge that matched this man.
"Are you truly unafraid of the Blood Slaughter Hall?" the Right Dharma Protector asked doubtfully.
"Why should I be?"
"Afraid that you’ll die?"
"I’ve killed more than one or two people. I don’t mind adding your lot to the count," Chen Chang'an replied with a faint smile.
His tone was too casual, too indifferent. The Right Dharma Protector had been observing him closely and was certain—this was no bluff. He genuinely feared nothing.
"Very well, I understand."
"Give me some time. After I return, I’ll do my best to persuade the Hall Master."
"Will you grant me that time?" the Right Dharma Protector asked solemnly.
"Fine, I’ll give you that time."
"But if he insists on being stubborn, I won’t hold back."
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'!"
] [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!"
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
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)
