MTL - Mercenaries and Adventurers - v4 Chapter 174 , the desolation and hidden dangers of the eastward road

When her once-wealthy family falls into ruin, Elara Vance has only one option to protect them: marry the man responsible for their downfall, Damien Arclight, a ruthless business tycoon with a hidden vendetta.What begins as a cold-blooded deal soon spirals into a web of secrets, betrayals, and dangerous desires. Elara must navigate high society, corporate warfare, and her growing feelings for the enemy she swore to hate, all while uncovering the truth behind her family's collapse.Is love even possible when the marriage starts as a trap? And will the truth destroy them both?Genres: Romance, Drama, Enemies-to-Lovers, Revenge, High SocietyThemes: Arranged marriage, family loyalty, slow-burn romance, power play

Long Chen, a crippled youth who cannot cultivate, is constantly targeted and bullied by his fellow noble heirs. After a particularly vicious beating, he wakes up and realizes a Pill God’s soul has somehow merged with him, giving him some additional memories. Within those memories is the mysterious Nine Star Hegemon Body Art, a cultivation technique that even he can train in, but whose secrets and origin are still a mystery to him. Relying on his improved instincts as he finally begins to cultivate, he realizes a huge conspiracy is underfoot within the Phoenix Cry Empire, one involving his father, members of the imperial family, and even the Emperor himself.

Stricken with a dull, boring life, Gael has already discarded his ambitions as a high school dropout. However, a chance encounter with death leaves him a choice:[“Meet your end accomplishing nothing, or continue on in an unforgiving world and learn what it is to live.”]Wishing not to die, he accepts the offer, being granted a new life in a fantastical, mysterious world of Gaia. In this new world, he is not granted an easy life, instead hunted as those like him, transported from Earth–”Outlanders”--are deemed to be executed on sight.He is not helpless, though, granted a unique gift upon being reborn in this world–[Integrating system into body.][...10%...][....45%...][....87%...][Integration complete.][Gacha System initiated.] [Level: 1]

Although born in a wealthy, powerful family, Shangguan Ning is motherless and loveless. Throughout her growing years, people use her for their own interests.