Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord - Chapter 56: A Seemingly Normal World

It’s the 3rd of March of the Immortal Martial era.Under the Sect Leader’s unremitting efforts, the Qingyun Dao Sect finally welcomes its eighth disciple, Ye Ping.In order to make Ye Ping stay and to earn his respect, everyone in the sect resorts to all sorts of tricks to deceive him.They boast and pretend to be peerless Sword Dao experts, geniuses in cultivation, alchemy, refinement, divination, alchemy arrays, treasure appraising, and sons of destiny.For the sake of maintaining the image of geniuses, they teach Ye Ping all sorts of nonsensical things.They make Ye Ping try to gain an epiphany out of a random sword mark.They take out a random big pot and make Ye Ping refine supreme-grade pills with it.They take out a random copper coin and make Ye Ping deduce the ultimate heavenly secret.They initially hope to just delay the time that Ye Ping discovers the truth so that he would stay in the sect for a while longer.However, to their surprise, their new little Junior Brother… manages to learn everything.

After nine years of traveling with her parents, Long Shiyan’s family encountered a group of bandits. Although her parents died, Long Shiyan was able to escape from them with the help of a system. From it, she learned that she was stuck inside the world of a harem novel! In order to revive her parents, Long Shiyan must prevent the protagonist of the original novel, Long Aotian, from capturing wives and attaining a harem. Otherwise, the world would end!

But, after saving a future harem member from Long Aotian’s clutches, why did this girl obtain a more terrifying characteristic than blackening into a villainess…

- Description from Novelupdates

Chen Wu, an ordinary man from Green-mount Town, never expected his life to end in tragedy—or to begin anew in a treacherous world called the Ten Thousand World. Here, humans are prey to powerful Demonic Beasts, and survival hinges on cultivating Spiritual Energy and forming bonds with formidable creatures. For ten years, Chen Wu struggled to make a mark, his dreams of discovering a “”Golden Finger”” fading into despair.But fate takes a cruel turn when Hu Wang, a ruthless Demonic Pet Master, learns of Chen Wu’s rare Contract Spiritual Talisman—a legacy from his father. Ambushed and gravely injured, Chen Wu plunges into the deadly Gold-sand River, escaping only to find himself cornered, starving, and on the brink of death.When all hope seems lost, an electronic voice suddenly rings out:“”Ding! The Super God Evolution System has been activated!””With his Golden Finger finally in hand, can Chen Wu turn his misfortune into triumph and rise to claim his destiny as a Demonic Pet Master?Or will he succumb to the perils of this unforgiving world?

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]