"Oh no, Miss!" Uncle Fu reacted, his face filled with urgency.
"There are still remaining demonic beasts on this cruise ship, and Qin Yao is nowhere to be found."
"I—I'm here."
Qin Yao's voice came through as she supported Yan Zhi's unconscious body, struggling to walk out. "I found Officer Yan unconscious and brought her out."
An Yi quickly stepped forward, taking Yan Zhi into his arms, his brows furrowed. "Poisoned? What happened?"
Qin Yao shook her head in confusion. "I don’t know. She was already unconscious when I found her."
After checking Yan Zhi’s pulse, An Yi’s expression darkened.
"The poison is potent! Lucky she ran into me—there aren’t many in this world who could treat this."
"What happened to Lin Chen?"
Seeing Lin Chen unconscious, Qin Yao tensed up and pressed for answers.
An Yi reassured her, "No danger. Just some injuries. He’ll wake up soon."
Qin Yao let out a slight sigh of relief before adding urgently, "We need to leave now! The ship’s keel is cracked—it’s going to sink."
"Sink?"
Only then did An Yi notice the rising water level.
"No wonder the ship’s course felt erratic—there’s no one at the helm."
"Where are we?" Katies asked nervously.
Qin Yao pulled out a peculiar device from her waist and checked it. "We’re close to the imperial capital’s harbor, but the shore is still a fair distance away."
An Yi patted Hongtian’s head. "Big Hong, it’s up to you!"
"No way, not a chance! You can hang me, but I won’t do it!" Hongtian immediately protested.
Was it kidding? Why should it, a ferocious beast, act as a mount for these mere snacks?
Besides, with so many people and the shore so far, it’d be exhausted!
"One fourth-tier spirit core!" An Yi took out a spirit core—the one from the hippo demon.
Hongtian’s eyes gleamed with greed, but it still refused. "Not even for a spirit core. Swimming in seawater for a whole day? Too tiring."
"Damn it!" An Yi’s veins bulged on his forehead.
This lazy mutt! One fourth-tier core clearly wasn’t enough motivation.
"Fine, I’ll add this!" Reluctantly, An Yi pulled out Chi Xiao’s spirit core.
Hongtian wavered.
But it wanted to push for more—it knew An Yi had other stashes!
Just then, a silver flash streaked through the air.
A silver dragon, straight out of ancient mythology, appeared out of nowhere and snatched the spirit cores right from An Yi’s hand!
An Yi was stunned.
Everyone who witnessed this was equally dumbfounded.
A silver dragon—something only seen in legends—had just materialized on the deck.
Who wouldn’t be shocked?
"Is… is that a dragon?" Qin Yao covered her lips, her eyes sparkling with awe.
Katies nodded. "A dragon. Just like the ones in the books!"
Having studied Chinese mythology, she was familiar with the legendary creature.
Uncle Fu wiped his glasses, astonished. "In my seventy years, this is the first time I’ve seen one."
Hongtian was the first to recover, roaring in fury.
"Damn it, those were MY spirit cores! You scaly thief, spit them out! Spit them out!"
The silver dragon yawned, utterly ignoring Hongtian’s outburst.
"Fine! Let this overgrown lizard carry you all! I’m out!" Hongtian huffed, turning away.
The silver dragon glanced at An Yi and raised its head slightly.
An Yi seemed to understand. "You’re offering us a ride?"
The dragon gave a bored nod, another yawn escaping its maw.
"Perfect! Everyone, climb on and hold tight!"
An Yi grinned, securing the unconscious Lin Chen, Yan Zhi, the cat-eared girl, and Fang Jueming (who was too exhausted to move) onto the dragon’s back.
Then, he helped Qin Yao and Katies up.
Katies sat carefully, releasing An Yi’s hand with a blush. "You… didn’t have to carry me."
An Yi replied seriously, "Safety first."
Uncle Fu looked at An Yi expectantly.
An Yi: "..."
The silver dragon ascended, spiraling toward the imperial capital.
A black dog transformed into a majestic wolf, chasing after them through the air.
"Dragon sis! Wait for me! Wait for me!"
"Holy crap, did you hear? A silver dragon appeared at the imperial capital’s harbor!"
"Don’t listen to that nonsense. These shameless media outlets will say anything for clicks."
In a newspaper office in the imperial capital…
A scruffy middle-aged man sipped his tea, mustering the energy to type out the day’s article.
This wasn’t just any newspaper.
Their audience? Martial artists!
Few would guess that this unassuming office was the headquarters of the Martial Artists’ Alliance app.
Chang Qing’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure how to phrase yesterday’s bombshell news.
The revelations were staggering.
Chi Xiao, one of the Four Demon Lords of the Hundred Ghosts Sect, had been slain by the Night Emperor—An Yi, leader of the Asura Sect.
Gabriel, an SSS-ranked assassin from the Paradise Organization and one of its twelve leaders, had been killed by Lin Chen, the Asura Sect’s "Wolf Fang."
The editorial team had been floored.
Chang Qing took a deep breath.
Chi Xiao and Gabriel were world-class powerhouses.
Who could’ve imagined the Asura Sect taking both down simultaneously?
"The winds are changing," Chang Qing muttered, shaking his head.
The martial world of Great Xia had been stagnant for too long.
He’d watched the Asura Sect grow from an obscure faction into a force capable of reshaping the landscape.
"Hey, has the boss finalized the Heavenly Rankings yet?" another editor asked.
This was huge—they needed the latest updates.
Chang Qing opened the file—and his pupils shrank.
"An Yi: Rank 19 on the Heavenly Rankings."
"Lin Chen: Rank 25."
Both men were stunned.
So high! And on the Heavenly Rankings, no less!
Meanwhile, in a modest apartment on the outskirts of the imperial capital…
"Yun, I’ll wash the dishes. You handle the cleaning, okay?"
A stunningly beautiful girl hugged Long Aoyun from behind, her voice tender.
"Okay," Long Aoyun replied flatly.
The girl pinched his cheeks, smiling blissfully. "I still can’t believe we’re married. It feels like a dream."
"Mhm."
Long Aoyun gave a slight nod.
"Mhm? Mhm your big head! Here, take the broom!"
The sound of water dripped from the kitchen as Long Aoyun began sweeping the living room.
Knock, knock, knock!
The girl peeked out nervously. "Aoyun… could it be my stepmother—?"
"Don’t worry. I’ll handle it."
Long Aoyun’s voice softened, but his eyes turned icy the moment he looked up.
He opened the door.
A thin, black-clad man stood outside.
The man froze upon seeing Long Aoyun.
This apron-wearing homemaker… was the mighty War God of Great Xia? The master of the Pantheon?
Recovering, the man bowed. "My Lord—"
"Not here."
Long Aoyun removed his apron and set it aside.
"Zi Kui, you’re here about An Yi’s group slaying Chi Xiao and Gabriel, correct?" Long Aoyun mused.
He’d been keeping tabs on the Asura Sect. Their rise was nothing short of meteoric—breaking into the Heavenly Rankings’ top thirty in just a year.
Zi Kui, however, shook his head excitedly, whispering, "My Lord, it’s something else. A dragon has appeared—a silver dragon at sea!"
"A… silver dragon?!"
Long Aoyun’s eyes sharpened, burning with intensity.
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
