unesco silk roads photo contest

LONER MEETS GODDESS Takei Tanaka, an average high schooler, goes about his life in an uninterested manner until he stumbles upon a girl in need of help. That girl turned out to be Akari Akazawa, the number one beauty of his school. Due to some circumstances, they end up spending time with each other which results in their relationship blossoming into something new. A romantic comedy filled with 99% fluff and 1% seriousness is about to start! Written in the style of Japanese web novels. This is the original work of an amateur writer, so feedback would be greatly appreciated. Illustration by @dotturndot Discord server: https://discord.gg/ReZFWxjNS2

-- A small heads, early chapters have a quite bad grammar, I am fixing them asap, also the MC doesn't start as OP, he go through cultivation before it. -- "I always wondered until the day I died, why humans are such filthy creatures?" A Noble status, money, and power were the things that ruled this world, but Aaris Ralkier had nothing since the day he was born. His childhood was ridiculed by poverty and bullying by the nobles, hoping to change his world one day after becoming a great mage, his dreams were shattered because of his unique and miserable condition of possessing no mana. What he had in his life was his mother, the lowest witch who never wanted anything but his happiness, but she was taken away by the hands of aristocrats and the kingdom that was supposed to protect them. He lost everything, struggling to find his existence again he was betrayed and left to die at the hands of a dreadful demon and was framed even after his death. Reminiscing his life on his last breaths, he decided to take the demon soul along with his with the spell his mother forbid for him, Blood Silk. He lost his life too, but fate doesn't take mercy on him, his eyes opened once again, maybe a choice was given to him, suffer or fight. Like cursed blessing in his body, he set out on a journey to find his existence, lingering regrets, and goring grudges, in the realm ridiculed with divine curses & diabolical graces, everything is laid in front of him to quell or win. But red strings of fate only take it to weave a War, waiting to meet its End. P.s:- English is not my first language I am still a fledgling writer. reach to me on insta....zushe_sensei_016. Dis.:- I don't own the cover pic.

A story of adventure and discovery. A story of bonds and fellowship. A story of mysteries and mantras. A story of a world only the brave dare to brave. The adventure of a simple young man, brave and strong. A seeker of fun, one who understand the beauty of creation. A creature shrouded in enigma, as deep as the universe. The pursuit of mankind and all creatures in existence. A game of survival, a struggle for dominance. A contest of the braves. Additional tags: Realistic fantasy, Mature, Ecchi, Faction Creation, Romantic Subplots.

A girl who has been losing her faith in many aspects of life especially love or friendship came across a bunch of friends who revived her faith in friendship but couldn't help her broken heart and then came Aaron with his own broken heart. So how these two broken people mend each other hearts when there is friendship and love of someone else who loved Hayley and supported her is at stake. Deep down Aaron know that the other guy is better man for Hayley but still he wants her to stay by his side forever and there was still some parts of his past who came to haunt him as well.

After barely surviving the chaos of the Citadel Streets, Luke is drafted into the Fire Nation military, enrolled in their academy, and must find a way to survive the war to come.

On this day, Blue Star entered the era of the Ten Thousand Realms Contest. The selected humans will board the floating island as professionals, hunt monsters, and upgrade to gods. And among all professions, the lord profession is the most expensive! Lin Yu was fortunate enough to obtain the lord profession, and was randomly assigned an exclusive unit that was more powerful than the top-level unit—Angel. From then on, Lin Yu started his own great cause of fighting for hegemony in ten thousand realms! Several years later, Lin Yu sat on the throne of the god king, looked back and overlooked...

In a fractured empire where loyalty is a mask and survival is an art, a woman known only as Lena Sanders hides a past soaked in blood. Once a feared assassin and underworld ruler of Riverford City, she now sails north under a false name, posing as the leader of a small band of mercenaries. Her mission seems simple: escort a minor royal advisor, William Chen, to safety for ten thousand taels of silver. But when the night turns red at North Hollow County, Lena learns that her employer is far more dangerous than the enemies chasing them. The ambush on the moon-lit pier is swift, merciless, and executed by master killers. Lena’s men fight like ghosts in the rain—silent, efficient, and doomed. Yet in the chaos, William Chen’s blade moves with the precision of a general, not a bureaucrat. When the smoke clears, he confesses the truth: he is Prince Heir Gavin Shea, heir to the northern throne, hunted by traitors within his own court. What began as a business contract becomes a desperate flight through the empire’s bleeding heart. Haunted by the ruin of her past and the betrayal that destroyed everyone she once loved, Lena must decide whether to protect the prince for gold—or for something she no longer dares to name. Each skirmish pulls her deeper into the web of imperial intrigue: a crippled crown prince who knows too much, a hidden army that moves in shadows, and a mysterious noble family whose power could topple the realm. As Gavin and Lena cross from the lawless Southlands into the glittering heart of Castleton, their fragile alliance burns with unspoken tension. He needs her cunning and her ruthlessness. She needs his title to survive. But secrets have teeth—and the empire is watching. In the marble courts of the capital, betrayal wears silk, and even love is a weapon. When Lena comes face to face with William Chen, the real strategist whose name Gavin borrowed, old memories surge back—of the one man she wronged, the one man who once saved her life. To protect Gavin, she must confront the ghosts of who she used to be and the price of every sin she’s ever buried. Ink of the Fallen is a sweeping tale of revenge, loyalty, and redemption set in a world that blends dynastic intrigue with the steel-and-shadow intensity of wuxia. From rain-soaked docks to imperial palaces, it follows two broken souls bound by fate and divided by secrets. Beneath the clash of blades and the whisper of poisoned court politics lies a single question: Can a woman built for killing ever learn to save?

In the majestic empire of Great Liang, peace dies with the Crown Prince. Behind the crimson walls of the Vermilion Dragon Palace, twenty-six princes turn into predators as they compete for the dragon throne left behind by a dying emperor. Alliances crumble, noble clans betray one another, and the imperial harem becomes a battlefield of secrets, poison, and blood. Among the ambitious princes stands the most overlooked of them all— Mo Yun Chen The quiet Sixth Prince. Elegant. Scholarly. Unassuming. A man the court believes too gentle to survive the throne war. But beneath his calm smile hides a master strategist who has spent years building power within the shadows. Then there is— Gu Xuan Rou Daughter of the Minister of Revenue and granddaughter of a legendary general. Beautiful, intelligent, and impossible to control. In a palace where women are treated as political tools, Gu Xuan Rou refuses to bow to anyone—not even princes. But when the Crown Prince’s mysterious death exposes a deadly conspiracy, fate forces her into Mo Yun Chen’s dangerous world. What begins as a political alliance slowly becomes something far more terrifying: Love. Together, they must survive assassination attempts, palace conspiracies, ruthless brothers, hidden enemies, and a war for the throne that threatens to destroy the empire itself. Yet in a palace where power corrupts every heart… Can love truly survive? Or will the crimson throne demand blood from them both?

Vivienne Moreau was born into luxury, destined for a charmed future. But one scandalous mistake stole everything—her fortune, her family’s favor, and even the man she risked it all for. Forced onto the streets in shame, she rises from ruin by embracing the only weapon left to her: an irresistible allure that ensnares society’s most powerful men. Reborn as Madame V, Vivienne captivates a wealthy baron hungry for her charms and a spirited young marquis who worships her every move. Each patron drowns her in silks and coins, fueling her climb back to wealth. Yet secrets coil in every corner of the grand ballrooms—jealous rivals scheme to see her fall, blackmailers stalk her private affairs, and the gossip-hungry elite watch her every seductive step. Determined never to kneel before anyone again, Vivienne plays her dangerous double life with cunning and poise. By day, she’s a dazzling widow waltzing on society’s arm; by night, she’s a master manipulator whose bedroom deals reshape noble alliances. When a captivating prince lures her into the glittering world of royal power, Vivienne must decide how far she’ll go—and who she’s willing to betray—to reign supreme among the city’s corrupt and lustful elite. In a realm of forbidden desires, shadowy intrigues, and steamy midnight rendezvous, Vivienne’s ambition knows no limits. But with enemies closing in and hearts on the line, can she outmaneuver every threat and seize the life she craves? Or will the secrets she’s spun cost her everything—even her newly won freedom? The Hidden Courtesan is a riveting tale of passion, power, and survival, where one woman’s sexuality becomes her strongest shield in a society that casts her aside. Perfect for fans of scandalous historical romances and high-stakes intrigue, this story draws you into a world of lavish balls, clandestine affairs, and a heroine who refuses to be tamed—no matter the cost.

Two souls, tangled between saffron and silk. Se-Ri, an ambitious Indian-Korean entrepreneur, builds her dream against all odds. Leo Wu, the heir of a ruthless empire, hides his wounds behind silence and shadows. She is fire. He is ice. What happens when destiny tangles them together?