Lu Chuan's expression shifted between gloom and uncertainty. What was Zhao Hui playing at?
Had he really been bribed by that kid?
He, Lu Chuan, a top-ten ranked disciple of the new generation from the Golden Light Hall, had been knocked out cold by a nobody. It was a disgrace to his own face.
Only Zhao Hui knew how wronged he felt at this moment. It wasn't that he wasn't attacking; it was because he couldn't see.
Hidden Veil.
Xu Mu's Earth-grade technique possessed a cloaking ability, perfect for assassination.
With his body as the center, any enemy within a twenty-meter radius couldn't see Xu Mu.
But this competition arena exceeded twenty meters.
Therefore, currently on the field, only Zhao Hui couldn't see Xu Mu; everyone else could.
"Old Wei, what's going on?"
Jiang Sheng was full of confusion. Zhao Hui was at the Divine Ability realm; bribing him wouldn't be easy.
"Not sure."
Wei Jingzhi shook his head. He had just sensed a sudden release of Qi from Xu Mu's body, likely a technique.
But nothing seemed to change around them, so he couldn't say for certain.
Xu Mu, holding the firewood chopper, walked off the field.
"Here."
He returned to Chen Xuan's side and handed the chopper back to him.
"Brother Mu, you're really fierce."
Chen Xuan took the chopper, smiling as he spoke.
"Just average, only the third best in the village."
Xu Mu sat down, crossed his arms, and continued watching the competition arena.
The second round was noticeably different from the first.
You could tell just from the duration of the fights. However, Lv Pinlong, Xue Kaixuan, and Zhao Gang still achieved instant victories.
Of course, Chen Xuan and another man named Cui Yu were also dominating from the start until now.
By the end of the second round, Xu Mu could already see that his real competitors this time were just these few people.
After a brief ten-minute break, the third round began.
The winners of the third round would advance to the finals. Only those who made it to the finals would earn a ranking.
This time, the first to take the field was Chen Xuan.
His opponent was Zhao Gang.
Seeing this, Xu Mu said to Chen Xuan, "Old Chen, just do your best."
"Brother Mu, I feel like you're looking down on me."
With that, Chen Xuan hefted his chopper and entered the arena.
Zhao Gang also stepped forward, holding a long sword, his expression calm as he faced Chen Xuan.
Suddenly, the previously noisy atmosphere fell silent.
Everyone, from the surrounding spectators to the important figures on the high platform, fixed their eyes on the arena.
Both of these contestants had been winning with instant victories until now. Their clash was sure to create sparks.
"I won't advise you to concede. If you're afraid, you'll surrender on your own."
Zhao Gang's expression suddenly turned cold. "Meeting me is your misfortune. I don't care who you are. I, Zhao Gang—!"
He abruptly charged at Chen Xuan. When he was about ten meters away, he fiercely raised his hand and swung his sword.
"Falling Leaves Slash!"
Whoosh!
A green sword aura shot towards Chen Xuan.
The aura carried a gust of wind, whipping up a large cloud of dust from the ground.
In an instant, Chen Xuan's figure was engulfed by the swirling dust.
Zhao Gang stood outside the dust cloud, continuously slashing his sword towards it.
Green sword auras shot irregularly into the dust.
"As expected of someone from the Heavenly Sword Sect, too formidable! He hasn't come out yet... could he be dead?"
"Shouldn't be. His opponent is also at the Divine Ability realm."
...
The surrounding spectators were all discussing.
Xu Mu's expression remained utterly calm because he could see through the dust to Chen Xuan inside.
Not only was he completely unharmed, he was also gathering his power.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the large dust cloud was split apart. A massive axe phantom, over ten meters long, descended from the sky.
Seeing this, Zhao Gang's face changed drastically. He quickly enveloped his body with Qi and unleashed multiple Falling Leaves Slashes towards the phantom.
Crack!
The giant axe didn't pause in the slightest; all the sword auras shattered upon contact.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed, the entire ground shaking. Even the high platform began to sway precariously.
Zhao Gang's body was sent flying backwards. As for the ground, a straight, deep trench appeared, stretching all the way to Chen Xuan's feet.
Chen Xuan, holding the firewood chopper in one hand, walked over calmly. "Firewood Chopping, Third Form: Mountain Severing."
The crowd was silent for a moment, but then erupted into thunderous applause.
Too fierce!
On the high platform, Xue Dongsheng immediately stood up and approached Jiang Sheng. "Old Jiang, which sect is this man from? Why don't you go talk to him, see if he'll join our Soaring Cloud Sect?"
Lu Chuan also couldn't stay seated, but before he could speak, Jiang Sheng vetoed the idea.
"Old Xue, this young man's grandfather is already a senior from a sect."
Jiang Sheng said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xue Dongsheng secretly thought it a pity.
On the field, Zhao Gang's left shoulder was nearly severed, blood flowing continuously.
Chen Xuan said flatly, "Concede. I held back just now. Otherwise, your arm would be gone."
"You think I don't have a top-tier technique?"
Zhao Gang glared furiously, preparing to unleash the Earth-grade technique of the Verdant Wood Mountain.
"But what I just released was only the opening move of this technique of mine."
Chen Xuan looked at Zhao Gang and said, "My Woodcutter's Art has five forms. The first three are the opening moves, but the last two hold the true essence of the technique. Are you sure you want to experience it?"
"Fuck! Who do you think you're scaring?"
Zhao Gang roared.
"Are you prepared to face death?"
As Chen Xuan spoke, golden electricity began to flicker around his body. "Fourth Form: Woodcutter's Domain."
Crackle!
Crackle...
Now, it wasn't just Chen Xuan's body; the air within a ten-meter radius around him shimmered with faint golden currents.
Zhao Gang stared in disbelief, his body trembling instinctively as he looked at Chen Xuan, not daring to use even his Earth-grade technique.
Only one thought filled his mind: if he made a move, he would die.
"I... I surrender!"
Zhao Gang threw his longsword to the ground.
The onlookers were all astonished. Even though Chen Xuan hadn't unleashed that final move, the golden currents crackling in the air alone exuded an inexplicable pressure.
Lv Pinlong narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn't taken anyone in this marriage tournament seriously until now, but this man demanded his full attention.
Fang Kui watched Chen Xuan on the stage, tightening her delicate fists.
"This Heaven-grade technique... If I'm not mistaken, he must be Old Master Chen's disciple, right?"
Guo Wenmo glanced at Wei Jingzhi.
Wei Jingzhi smiled and took a sip of his goji berry water. "That's right, it's him."
The others on the high platform were also inwardly shocked. Just who was this person that Guo Wenmo referred to as 'Old Master Chen'?
Jiang Huihui's parents were also gazing at Chen Xuan. No wonder her grandfather had always wanted Jiang Huihui to marry him.
This man was truly exceptional.
"Old Chen! You're seriously fierce."
Xu Mu smiled as he looked at Chen Xuan. Honestly, he wasn't worried at all—after all, this was the main character.
"Mainly because his strength wasn't up to par..."
Chen Xuan was mid-sentence when he suddenly looked at the large screen. "Brother Mu, you're up again."
Seeing this, Xu Mu took the firewood chopper from Chen Xuan and walked towards the arena.
"Dammit! The 'Blackscreen Brother' is back on stage!"
"Let's see how he pulls off any shady tricks this time. His opponent is Guang Peng from the Lingxiao Sect. They say he's a martial arts fanatic."
...
"Heh, Mr. Wei, this is our Lingxiao Sect's Guang Peng. Once he starts fighting, he often can't hold back. Please lend a hand later and save this Xu Mu."
Xue Dongsheng smiled as he looked at Wei Jingzhi.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
] 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.
] [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!"
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
