shadows before the gala

This is an era where heroes emerge in great numbers! This is an era where death and hope exist side by side! This is an era where the old order and the fires of new civilizations collide! What kind of grand epic will be written by the decaying federation, the fanatic empire, the obstinate theocracy, and the stirring foreign races?

Jiang Chengxuan accidentally transmigrated to the immortal cultivation world and accidentally obtained the immortal cultivation heritage. However, his qualifications were really low, and after a hundred years of hard work, he was still unable to advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Just when he was discouraged, he came to a mortal city in silence, ready to end his life. That was when he got the long-awaited cheats. Detected that the host has achieved 100 years of immortal cultivation, hereby granting a life extension fruit, which can increase the life expectancy by one year. The next achievement task was now issued. Please complete the quest a hundred times. Complete it to achieve the honor of completing the quest a hundred times and you can get a chance to complete the quest smoothly. Ding! Please complete 100 times of technique practice, and achieve it to obtain a sense of perfection in technique inheritance jade talisman. Please complete 100 times of energy training to enhance the foundation bone. Please complete 100 times of talisman-making achievements... Please complete 100 times of enlightenment achievement... Please complete 100 times of alchemy achievement... Please complete 100 times of poisoning achievement... Please... Unknowingly, when Jiang Chengxuan heard the system's prompt again, he was told that there were no more achievements worthy of him to complete, because his existence itself was already an achievement that could never be surpassed.

Most people are born ordinary, but there are always some who, despite being born ordinary, aspire to greatness. From an exploited undocumented worker to the godfather of the dark; From those who obey the rules at the bottom of society, to the emperor behind the scenes who makes the rules; The country belongs to the federation when the sun shines, but it belongs to me when the night falls! "Sometimes, shadows can not only be as vast as light but can even cover it!" "We never extort anyone, every penny we make can pass through our conscience." If someone knocks on your door at night, they either bring my regards or brings the destruction for your arrogance. As for what you will get, it depends on how you choose, my friend!

"I should have stayed home and played video games." This was Ray's last thought before darkness engulfed him after he was hit by a car. But surprisingly, instead of finding himself before the gates of hell after dying, Ray found out he was transmigrated into another world. The world Ray was transmigrated to was called Arora World, a place where you can use different kinds of skills, magic, and even acquire powerful classes. Ray found himself in the body of a young boy named Evan, who was studying in a hunter academy after awakening his abilities at the age of fourteen. At first, Ray was happy that he was transmigrated into the body of someone who had awakened his abilities and could use the magic he always wanted to use. However, as Ray went through Evan's memories, he finally realized that everything was not as simple as he had expected. Evan had a unique physique that didn't allow him to increase his power like other people. Because of this useless unique physique, Evan was the weakest hunter in the entire academy. And that was not all; the more Ray looked at Evan's memories, the more he realized just how troublesome his situation was. "I know I entered this body without buying a ticket, but isn't this too much?" Ray said in a depressed voice after going through Evan's memories. Will Ray be able to survive in this new world? Is the physique of his new body really useless? Join Ray on his adventure to find out.

Kisha Aldens is a normal office worker with average earnings, not until she suddenly sees a system countdown in front of her. Her mind suddenly received a prompt warning about the apocalypse and urged her to integrate with the system to assist her with her survival. "Have I overworked myself again?" She thought while pinching the bridge of her nose. She blinked a few more times but the system interface is still there. Little did she know that this system would be her last lifeline in the upcoming apocalypse where human morals would be the lowest, trust is only a word and betrayal could happen in the blink of an eye. A naive person like her had to learn her lesson the hard way on how to survive and navigate in the zombie-infested world. And the worst part, she had to die 99 times to harden her heart and learn how to read the human heart. How will her 100th time be different from the previous lives, will she survive this time? And will survival be her only problem in the heart of the Apocalypse? No, there was a deeper scheme in play which she has to uncover moving forward.

In a world where everyone is a slave, someone is born who cannot be controlled. At the same time, an unstoppable villain rises on a quest for revenge. But the truth is darker than he ever imagined, and now he must face an unbeatable enemy — including himself. *** Bruno was a young man born on Earth, the son of an influential modern Emperor. Despite having everything money could buy and receiving the best and most rigorous training to succeed his father, he chose the opposite path, defying his family’s ruthless rule. The price of his innocence? A merciless death and the complete erasure of his existence by the deity controlling his fate. On Earth, the law of the powerful was absolute; a slave could never rebel. But then, he wakes up again. He’s reborn in a world of cultivation, where freedom was promised to those strong enough to claim it. Now, he could soar like a free bird and carve his own destiny... or so he thought. The harsh reality of this new world soon showed him how insignificant he still was. He realized he had only changed masters. The freedom he sought was an illusion. The heavenly laws treated everyone as servants, and their rules were unbreakable. Bruno learned this bitter truth after losing everything that made him happy due to an unjust rule. But who was he to question? Hopeless, Bruno died... and was reborn as Alm, an unstoppable villain. With a soul poisoned by pain and vengeance, he sowed chaos across the universe. Planets were destroyed, countless lives taken, and his name became synonymous with terror. A hero rose to oppose him, wielding a sacred sword of hope. People from all corners of the universe united against Alm, raising their voices and weapons to stop the villain who defied the heavens. But Alm was no longer just fighting for revenge. He was challenging the heavenly laws that sought to control him, fighting fate and all living beings. And against all odds... the sacred sword shattered. The alliance of the entire universe was defeated. The villain won! Now, Alm found himself alone in the empty void of a dead universe, facing his own inner demons. Who could be more ruthless to him than himself? “What have I done?” At that moment, the doors of truth opened to him. Everyone was a puppet of a supreme figure, an entity that manipulated minds and even the heavenly laws. “I will find you, no matter where you are!” Thus, the last emissary of the true Heaven’s Will awakened. Alm, who once only relied on his sheer will and rage, now had a system to guide him. But his opponent was an immortal existence, above even the heavens. The villain who destroyed an entire universe now faced a new beginning. He discovered that the universe he devastated was just a tiny grain of sand in an infinite cosmos, where countless other universes existed. And so begins the legendary tale of the villain’s rise... and the Sacred Round God? A strange Duality of Shadows existed within one person. But this time, he wouldn’t be alone. *** To clear up any potential confusion or frustration, here are some key points about the story. I’ll avoid major spoilers, but a few things will be revealed. You might find this concerning at first, but just check the book cover—it shows the main character and his only partner. She first appears at 10 years old, but rest assured, there’s no inappropriate content or early romance. At around 13, SHE starts developing feelings for the protagonist, but he doesn’t respond until she’s an adult. With her determined personality, she tries to seduce him at 17/18, but it doesn’t work. Their relationship only happens much later. The book has nods to other works, with my own spin on them, and focuses on avoiding elements I find problematic in other stories. Lastly, the beautiful book cover was commissioned and created by HDIArt.

Jiang Ning limped out of her quarters one day and entered the Jiang family's second courtyard, just as the Emperor was selecting a concubine for Prince Yu.  Noble ladies from high-ranking families put in their best efforts to participate in the selection, but the flower fell on Jiang Ning, who was merely there to watch the spectacle.  Jiang Ning was confused. She dared not let Prince Yu be a scapegoat, so she tried every possible way to tell everyone she was pregnant. However, no one believed her.  When she vomited after eating, they laughed at her for feigning illness. When she felt tired, they laughed at her for pretending to be delicate. When her belly grew larger, they laughed at her for overeating.  When Jiang Ning wanted a doctor's confirmation, all eighteen doctors she consulted had the same opinion: "You're just eating too much!" The fifth prince, Prince Yu, was a dashing and handsome young man. He exuded an air of sophistication and regal beauty. This was how the common people of Chang'an City typically described him.  But the real Prince Yu was cold and ruthless, using women without any emotional attachment.  He knew that the second madam of the Jiang family was the Emperor's secret love, and he also knew that the daughter recently brought back by the Jiang family looked exactly like the second madam in her youth.  So, even though the girl had a limp, he still tossed the embroidered flower in his hand into her lap. After their marriage, he knew she was just a pawn. But for the sake of the throne, he had to pretend to cherish her even though he detested her, until...

Bai Xiqin only survived for three years in the apocalypse before dying. Returning to the time before the apocalypse, she unexpectedly unlocked a Personal Space, which even came with an ancient Mountain and Sea Exotic Beast. To her surprise, this time around, her whole family became elites. Before the apocalypse—— Bai Yifan asked his sister, "Did you dream the apocalypse is coming? What happened to me?" "You didn’t run as fast as mom and dad, but it's alright – better to keep it in the family!" Bai Xiqin responded calmly. Bai Yifan: ??? After the apocalypse—— Funeral Master Bai Mother waved her hand casually, and the Zombie was roasted crispy on the outside and tender on the inside by the Thunder Ability. Bai Mother frowned instinctively, "I really want to give them a makeup touch-up!" The forensic doctor Bai Family Grandma calmly dug out a Crystal Core, "Its lower jaw protrudes, clearly an underbite, even with makeup it wouldn't look good." Bai Yifan shook while holding a sack to collect Crystal Cores, bravely holding back tears. The teacher Bai Family Grandpa and top lawyer Bai Father heated oil in the pan, using the strongest Superpower to withstand the harshest blows, to make the most delicious meals. The Mountain and Sea Monsters with extraordinary skills—— Qin Yuan, being rubbed against the ground by Bai Xiqin: "Master, today you seem as gentle and kind as ever!" Taowu: "Move aside, you are blocking me from hanging clothes for the master." Water Python: "Someone, tie me to the tree as a clothesline." Leng Yebai's Chapter—— Recently, Leng Yebai keeps dreaming, dreaming that he is being experimented on and sliced, along with an elegant girl. He always thought it was just a dream until one day, the person from his dreams appeared right in front of him.

Cowardly yet Mischievous Pixie vs. Gentle yet Ferocious Dragon vs. Cunning Kid Polly married Victor Parker in a case of mistaken identity. After the wedding, Victor Parker vanished without a trace. Three years later, they crossed paths again at a gala. Polly was so stunned she felt her heart skip a beat. Victor Parker, the CEO, coolly asked, “Miss Song, have we met before?” Polly regained her composure and smiled, “Never.” On the way back, Victor Parker closed his eyes to rest but murmured, “Polly... that name sounds familiar.” His assistant hesitated before replying, “She’s your wife, sir. Technically, your ex-wife. Your mother had you both divorced a year ago.” Victor Parker: “...” He leaned back and closed his eyes again. “It’s getting hot. Time for a divorce.” Meanwhile, a mini version of Victor Parker was at home, munching on snacks. “Mommy, we don’t need Daddy.”

Alex, the Unseen Blade, wasn't supposed to steal the spotlight. In the grand tapestry of fate, he was merely a supporting color, a whisper in the shadows against the hero's blazing sun. Gifted with powers that defied logic and shrouded in an aura of enigma, Alex could bend time, dance with death, and erase himself from existence. Yet, he yearned for a life on the sidelines, a quiet escape from the chaos destined for the "chosen ones." But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor. When an ancient prophecy awakens a slumbering evil, the hero falls short, his light sputtering in the face of darkness. Thrust into the unwilling limelight, Alex must choose: embrace his extraordinary abilities and forge his own path, or watch the world crumble under the weight of a prophecy he never asked for. https://discord.gg/KGDCdNnW