Mark of the Fool - Chapter 29: Selecting One’s Path

In his previous life, everyone envied Lu Ye, the Nine-Lives Celestial Lord, not only because he had nine lives, but also because he had eight stunningly peerless beauties.Who could have imagined that when Lu Ye was striving to become a Heavenly Dao Saint, all eight of his partners would strike together, delivering a fatal blow!Nine Heavens Sword Maiden: “I am the Lord of the Nine Heavens Sword, but because of you, everyone thought I was just a sword servant. Lu Ye, you deserve to die!”Red Lotus Fairy: “Senior Brother, don’t blame me. If it weren’t for you, I would have long become an immortal couple with him. I don’t want to become an immortal; I just want to be with him forever!”Vermilion Bird Demon Empress: “Lu Ye, hahaha, when you slaughtered the demon clan, did you ever think that I am also a demon? You said they would harm me, but did you know that the one who has always harmed me is you!”***When time reverses, the eight empresses return to the past.Lu Ye finally realizes that if the melon is forcibly twisted, it won’t be sweet. So, he decides not to twist it anymore.Now, he wants to see how these women will live their stunning lives without him!

“Mana to breathe, mana to eat, mana to fucking live,”Inhale: -0.001 MP… oops! You're out of mana points.(Pay-to-breathe RPG.)Humanity's last walled stronghold._____In the world Elio lives, every gasp of air comes at a price.A floating indestructible book for every human, a magical system that turns survival into a pay-to-breathe RPG.Here, poverty isn't just being broke, it's choking.Surrounded by barren land and a sea of monsters on top of it (No water, just literal monsters), each day is a suffocating dance of survival, a balancing act between mana for air and mana for food.In this economy, holding your breath isn't just a game, it's a retirement plan.Driven by desperation (and the city's miserly rulers that don’t cut anyone a break), Elio dives into the Book System’s trials to save his family.Along the way, he unlocks powers he didn’t ask for and starts to figure out... Who he really is.Immerse yourself in an adventure where one young man's stubborn refusal to become a statistic could spark a revolution. Who knew being a pain in the system's rear could change the world?Because in Elio's world, breathing is just the beginning of the revolution and... he's gasping for change.But hey, who said saving the world had to be all doom and gloom? Join Elio as he kicks monster butt, uncovers ancient secrets, and maybe, just maybe, figures out how to grow a tree or two along the way.__________Warning:May contain traces of world domination, an unhealthy obsession with the periodic table, damage points, progression math, and yes, even a sprinkle of that old “power of friendship” magic. Because sometimes, you need a buddy to help you remember which element does what or even help you calculate those sweet, sweet stats.A quick heads-up:Despite what the cover might suggest, this isn’t a hack-and-slash adventure. Think more along the lines of a turn-based RPG, where strategy and choices matter as much as action. Get ready for a different kind of challenge!If you want to know more about the cover:Yep, that's our first FL crying and crossing the transparent barrier straight into a pixelated, indistinguishable sea of monsters. Because why not mix emotions with chaos? She's crazy like that! (Not really... or is she?)Discord to check the visuals: https://discord.gg/W3CjfC2cw4I’m still working on it in the little moments I find between writing, editing, making more character images, etc.Little by little, we’ll have a Poked... uh, a full SummonDex! Meanwhile, you can check out the ones on Fandom with their... funny descriptions? Or at least I hope so... orzWarning 2 (Privilege 4 and 5):I just wanted to stick to the novel’s level system, so I had to add those '0s'!!! Don’t be an elephant... unless you’re an enormous one... A whale! Seriously, nooooo!You’re going to make me die from the pressure, and I’ll feel terrible!! It’s just one chapter!!! You can wait... But if you’re dirty rich and really, Really, REALLY want to support, well... okay, though I’ll still feel bad!!! orz

Shen Yuqing and the Emperor had a secret arrangement––

She was his pampered consort, and she would hit wherever the Emperor directed her to strike;

The Emperor “loved and favored her forever”, and she could do whatever she wanted.

Later, she set her eyes on the Empress who had the same type of marriage only in name…

- Description from Novelupdates

She was an illegitimate daughter in a wealthy family, with a lowly status. By chance, she discovered that her ex-boyfriend had sold her out. In order to hide, she accidentally injured him and fled in a panic. From then on, they were bound by an inextricable bond...