Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System! - Chapter 14: For Aphrodite’s Sake, I’m Handsome.

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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Aurelia Holt had quietly sacrificed her career to be a stay-at-home wife for her husband, Blake Carson, so that he could work full time while also pursuing his dream of becoming a successful producer in the future.But on the night of their second wedding anniversary, she watched her husband come home with another woman in his arms. It was Stella, his first love whom he was never really over.“She is already upset, you don’t have to make her feel worse. Is it wrong to show care and concern for my friend?” He argued as he clenched his jaws and kept his gaze steady on my face.“She isn’t just your friend, she was your ex, your first love. And isn’t it so convenient that everytime she needs you or something happens whenever I just want to spend some time with you?”He had always chosen Stella over her, putting her needs and feelings above hers. And that night, she finally had enough.“All you ever care about is Stella!” I continued to yell so loudly that I could practically hear my voice ringing in my ears. “You always do this! You always choose her over me, you always put her feelings above mine.”I watched as a smirk tugged at Stella’s lips as she watched me argue with my husband over her. Blake walked to her side, wrapping his arm around her as she curled her fingers around his arm with a pitiful look.“Stop yelling, you are scaring Stella. Why can’t you be more understanding and stop being so self-centered? Not everything is about you!”The last thing she remembered was her running out into the pouring rain and the next thing she knew, she was asking a stranger to marry her. That stranger was Xavier Wilder, the billionaire CEO of one of the most successful companies in the country. But there was more to him that Aurelia didn’t know just yet, something he was hiding from her.Together, she vowed to make her ex-husband’s life a living hell. There were only two things he cared about the most―his reputation and his ego. And she planned to destroy it all, bit by bit.

Victor can’t wait to get the hell out of high school, go to the local community college on a sports scholarship, and start his own life. But that’s all put on hold when he enters his abuela’s house and somehow ends up stepping into a world unlike anything he’s ever known, filled with fantastical meta-humans; walking, talking devils; and other creatures one usually needs some serious pharmaceuticals to see.

Fanwath is no dream, though. In fact, it’s a nightmare. Sold into slavery as a pit fighter, Victor quickly learns his new home is controlled by the “System,” and the only way to get ahead is to fight, kill, and collect the precious “Energy,” which means the difference between a long life and an early grave. And according to his stats, Victor’s starting out at a solid zero.

Lucky for him, no one in this world has ever met his kind before—which means they have no idea what he’s really capable of. But they’re about to find out . . .

Release Schedule: 3k+ word chapters every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

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At a low point in his life, Xia Ruofei discovered that a scroll that was passed down in his family had a hidden secret: it contained its own independent world.

In the space, there was a spiritual pond that enhanced the growth of plants. There were mysterious spiritual flowers that could cure illnesses. Time in the independent world flowed at a pace ten times that of the outside world. Everything he planted there was of supreme grade and grew at a rapid pace. Everything he raised gained sentience.

From that day forth, Xia Ruofei began a different, brilliant life of planting succulent plants and vegetables, raising animals and flirting with beauties.