Astral Pet Store (WN) - Chapter 842: The Four Best Academies

Wang Yi gets a key, opening a door in 2022 will lead to 1982, and opening a door in 1982 will return to 2022.

Two very different great eras appeared before him:

Abundant dietary protection, developed industrial products, miraculous medicines, and explosive information, this is 2022.

Simple folk customs, rich wild resources, scattered antiques, and treasures of the age, this is 1982.

Traveling between these two eras, Wang Yi didn’t think much of it, he just wanted to live a good life.

- Description from novelbuddy

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

=========================================

I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

What if the balance of the world depended on a single awakening?In the ancient land of Bathalumea, a once-mighty civilization now fractured by time and turmoil, whispers of a forgotten power begin to stir. Haraya, the fabled ability to shape reality itself, was long thought to be a myth, buried alongside the sovereign bloodlines that once wielded it. But Haraya was never truly gone—it only waited.Now, as a new age dawns, the power begins to resurface. Across the sacred grounds of Bathalan, through the storm-laden waves of the Bagyuna Ocean, and into the shadowed ruins of Gintara, the resurgence of Haraya sends ripples through a divided world. The balance between order and chaos begins to tip, drawing the attention of powerful factions who see in it the key to domination—or destruction.Among them, a descendant of the lost power emerges. Haunted by tragedy and driven by the dream of rebuilding what was lost, they find themselves entwined with Haraya’s awakening. But as the forces of greed, fear, and ambition converge, they must decide: will they wield Haraya to heal a broken world, or will it unravel under the weight of those who seek to claim it?From the volcanic heights of Kaluyara to the enchanted forests of Aralyon, and into the unfathomable depths of the Diwang Abyss, Bloodline: Sovereign’s Awakening weaves a tale of hope, sacrifice, and reckoning. As ancient powers clash and the threads of fate tighten, one truth becomes clear: the return of Haraya may save the world—or destroy it forever.“Bloodline: Sovereign’s Awakening” is a tale of reckoning and renewal, where a power lost to time could unite a fractured world—or be extinguished forever, leaving its promise unfulfilled.

Billions of light years away, on a planet where magic flows through every creature, two dominant species battle for supremacy, 'Humans and Ants'.In this world, Ants aren’t just insects, they are the most intelligent and powerful race who challenged humans, wielding magic and evolving in ways no one can predict.Reborn as an ant in this brutal, predator-filled realm, Kai refuses to accept a life of insignificance. With a sarcastic system, ultimate skills, bizarre evolution choices, and a talent for chaos, he sets out to defy fate.From dodging death against Dragon Men, Ape Men, Wolf Men and Termite Kings, etc to building his own army, Kai’s journey is one of relentless growth, cunning strategy, and outrageous battles.Survive! Evolve! Conquer! The world isn’t ready for the rise of the most overpowered ant in history.