The Black Tower.
Lin stood at the summit, her eyes closed as she sensed everything within the forbidden zone.
Once she confirmed that everyone had dispersed according to Lord Nether King’s plan, she finally exhaled softly in relief.
*Phew… Good thing I borrowed the throne His Majesty once sat on. Otherwise…*
Lin opened her eyes, a faint trace of embarrassment flickering in her gaze. Otherwise, she might not have been able to conjure such an expansive crimson mist.
That’s right.
The scarlet mist was, in fact, Lin’s innate ability—**[Red Mist]**, a fusion of her spiritual energy and blood.
She could freely manipulate the positions of those within the mist.
However, the more people she controlled and the farther they were, the greater the strain on her power.
Unlike the rest of the Netherkin, Lin’s source of strength was unique.
Her power was fueled by emotional intensity—the stronger her emotions, the greater her strength.
Before the operation began, she had already "replenished her magic" while sitting on the Nether King’s throne.
As for the specifics of this "replenishment"... Lin swore she would never reveal them.
Though such matters were considered casual among the Netherkin, Lin was… different.
Her feelings about it aligned more with those of ordinary humans—she couldn’t help but feel deeply embarrassed.
"Alright, alright…"
Lin lightly patted her cheeks, snapping herself out of her thoughts.
After taking a deep breath, she turned her gaze toward the towering, tightly closed flower bud in the distance.
His Majesty had decreed that this time…
*All humans except those in black uniforms… can be killed.*
*And they can all serve as nourishment for the newborn Netherkin.*
Then…
*Let’s begin.*
---
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the ominous and eerie atmosphere of other regions…
By a small stream, the scenery was unexpectedly serene and beautiful.
The water was crystal clear, its bed paved with fine golden sand like an artist’s canvas.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse mist, casting dappled reflections on the rippling surface, as if countless tiny stars shimmered gently.
Lush flowers and grass of various hues lined the banks, their faint fragrance soothing the soul.
Tall, sturdy trees surrounded the area, their dense canopies intertwining to form a natural green dome, leaving the place dim even in daylight.
Yet, this dimness didn’t feel oppressive—instead, it carried an indescribable warmth and tranquility.
Occasionally, a few stray beams of sunlight pierced through the gaps in the foliage, descending like divine grace, adding a touch of mystique and tenderness to the scene.
"Oh dear, we got separated."
Gu Yan sat on a rock by the stream, his tone complaining but his expression amused.
Leng Qingqiu had sensed something amiss even before the crimson mist appeared.
But upon realizing the mist’s sole purpose was to isolate Gu Yan from the crowd, she chose not to intervene.
Now, seeing this place, she was glad she hadn’t stopped it. After all…
The scenery was breathtaking, and it was just the two of them here.
*Perfect.*
Yet, the moment she realized they were truly alone, an odd restlessness stirred within her.
*Hmm…*
*Does this count as our first time being alone together outside?*
Before, they’d always been in places with people around. But now… it was just him and her.
Moreover, she noticed that while everywhere else pulsed with unsettling, sinister energy, their little haven remained untouched.
Strangely, this realization sent a thrill of excitement through her.
She walked over to Gu Yan, subtly straightening her posture before stealing a glance at him.
Though all she could see was his life essence, Leng Qingqiu found it fascinating nonetheless. After a moment’s thought, she remarked, "So what if we’re separated? This place is safe enough."
"Once the danger’s passed, I’ll take you out."
Gu Yan chuckled inwardly. *Danger? Hardly.*
This place had been specially arranged by Lin to give him and Leng Qingqiu some alone time.
With that in mind, he looked up at her curiously and asked, "Really, Qingqiu? There’s something I’ve been wondering about."
"Is your ability some kind of technique?"
"Why haven’t you mentioned it before?"
Leng Qingqiu, still oblivious, replied dismissively, "Tsk. Little brother, prying into someone else’s abilities is—is—… *Huh?!*"
Mid-sentence, her expression froze as realization struck.
*Xiao Leng*: *[... Tch. I told you not to do this.*
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Bai Jun had already pieced together the gist of the situation.
First, this crimson mist has the ability to teleport people. Some martial artists were transported here the moment they stepped into the forbidden zone. Others were shifted mid-battle against demonic creatures.
Bai Lian was no exception. Originally a support member, she found herself relocated to this area due to the mist.
He glanced at the surrounding martial artists, their eyes gleaming with ill intent, and felt a chill run down his spine.
If he hadn’t coincidentally been grouped with Bai Lian, the consequences would have been unthinkable!
Bai Lian herself was bewildered by the sudden teleportation, but for someone of her caliber, adapting on the spot was child’s play.
And just her luck...
She hid behind Bai Jun, her eyes darting furtively toward the sect martial artists not clad in black combat attire.
Hehe, what fortune! So many sect martial artists here—if she killed them all, her master would surely reward her!
What a shame her master wasn’t present. Otherwise, he’d see just how hard Lian was working!
Then, suddenly—
**Hummm!!**
A suffocating, oppressive sensation weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.
At the same time...
A deep, hellish voice echoed throughout the forbidden zone.
**[Welcome to the playground of the Netherworld, humans!]**
**[As punishment for trespassing into our domain, I’ve prepared four little games for you!]**
**[Clear all four, and you’ll earn the right to stand before me. Only with my permission may you leave this place.]**
**[There is no other way out.]**
**[There are 203 intruders in total. Refusal is not an option.]**
**[Now then... let the Netherworld Games begin!!]**
Bai Jun stiffened at the voice, momentarily stunned.
Netherworld... games?
Just what was going on in this forbidden zone?

u serious?" Chen Feng watched helplessly as his painstakingly trained disciple, fresh off a championship victory, publicly abandoned him. "You had your chance, but you didn’t appreciate it. Now, face the consequences of your choice!" Chen Feng possessed the "Master System," a treasure trove of supreme martial arts techniques, capable of molding ordinary individuals into peerless prodigies. "Legs like yours? A shame not to train in the Crippling Kick." "Ever heard of a palm strike that descends from the heavens?" "Auntie! I see extraordinary bone structure in you—a martial arts prodigy, one in ten thousand." The once-defiant senior disciple, now watching her juniors rise to fame one after another, dominating the internet, was consumed by endless regret.

d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!

agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)

+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!