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?
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)
] [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!"
spital. Good news: I've bound a system. Bad news: I'm still a baby. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the middle-aged for being poor — Divorce Comeback System." "Your marriage may have failed, but your luck in love has never run dry. Your childhood sweetheart, out of contact for twenty years, reappears. Her beauty remains, yet her eyes are brimming with tears." [Listen to the childhood sweetheart's sorrowful story.] Chen Zhi looked down at the diaper he was wearing, then at the little childhood sweetheart crying her heart out beside him, and fell into deep thought. Can anyone relate? I'm having a midlife crisis at an age where even rolling over is a struggle.
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
