Worm (Parahumans #1) - Chapter 194: Arc 18: Queen - Bonus Interlude #1; The Most Powerful Man in the World

A cultivation story about how a declining sect is restored by a narcissist, a troublemaker, a meanie, an idiot, and a wimpy kid.

- Description from Novelupdates

College was like a wake-up call for most people. Especially the likes of Christopher Owen, who spent the rest of his high school years messing around and pining for the boy he never had.Having had a frustrating high school year, he decided to dedicate himself to his studies in college.He flew many miles away from home, changed his looks, and hid his real identity from everyone. His plans were simple: study hard, pass well, no dating.But then he realized two things: life was anything but easy without the backing of his last name.And... he wasn't sure how long he could last before he jumped his roommate, who was obviously not gay.But lust wasn't love, right?Maybe he could indulge a little? Just a little, I promise.

“What I want, the Heavens shall not lack! ”

In a world intertwining magic, knights, and burgeoning technology, young Leonard grapples with memories of a past life in the modern world after waking up reborn in this new, tumultuous reality. Separated from his family amidst a devastating conflict, Leonard's life takes a precarious turn when he is taken under the wing of Alfonso, a reclusive and somewhat deranged wizard. Under Alfonso's tutelage and the rigorous demands of a daily task panel that rewards him for mundane chores with experience points, Leonard finds himself thrust into a harsh survival regime, far removed from his previous life's comforts. His daily life oscillates between mastering arcane spells, learning the delicate art of Earth Ring meditation, and handling the meager sustenance at the prison-like estate where he and Alfonso reside.As Leonard's skills grow, so too does his awareness of the wider conflicts that plague this world, blend of industrial revolution-era technology and dark magical forces. The task panel becomes a strange companion, guiding him through tasks that blend the mundane with the magical, pushing him to grow stronger. Amidst the backdrop of this grim reality. The complex interplay of power, survival, and the echoes of his former life drives Leonard to not only master his new abilities but to unravel the mysteries of this world and perhaps find a way back to his family, despite the cold indifference of his master. Each experience point earned and each new ring formed in his meditation brings him closer to understanding this world's brutal truths and his own place within it.