The Runesmith - Chapter 560: Months Later.

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.

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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?

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One day, a silver-haired goddess appeared before him.“Heaven-Defying Star. The one who goes against fate. The sole savior of a world doomed to end—”What the hell is this woman even talking about?“You must be the Regressor.”“… What?”No, I’m not.

Ever since Su Tian had transmigrated, she received a “Villainous Bosses Mentoring System” that could automatically identify villainous bosses IN THE MAKING.

As for her missions, they were a little more complicated. For example:

Stopping the boy in her class from deviating onto the path of becoming a villain;

Turn the boy who was going to create a global financial crisis into Jack Ma of the new world;

Talk the strange girl working at the toy shop out of her spending habit, because she will be the cause of hyperinflation!

And the boy from the countryside that she ran into, please give up on developing bioweapons! Why don’t you focus on the Nobel Prize instead?

Just when Su Tian thought all the little villains were growing straight up into upstanding people under her “education of love”, the small villains brought about a big villain…

The young man has slender arms and legs and he cornered her into the restroom. He looked deeply into her eyes said, “I also need …”

Su Tian shuddered, “What… what do you need?”

“The education of love,” said the young man meaningfully!

Ten minute later, Su Tian… was educated.

System: This system is only responsible for identifying villains IN THE WORK. Matured villain are outside of its parameters.

- Description from Novelupdates

In novels with a stud there is always a Senior Martial Brother like this:

In the early stages of the novel, his innate talent is high, his cultivation is good, his appearance is handsome, and he has an intelligent, cute younger Martial Sister as a fiancée.

In the middle stages of the novel, he is caught unprepared and defeated by a young disciple (the protagonist) in the sect who’s hardly remarkable at all. From then on, he falls from his godly altar and loses his brilliance. Even his young Martial Sister leaves him for someone else.

In the late stages of the novel, he continues to turn dark, going down the Demonic Path and becoming the major villainous boss. However, the protagonist still ruthlessly defeats him and his soul is eternally sealed.

Once Qin Mo opened his eyes, he discovered that he had become this Senior Martial Brother.

- Description from Novelupdates