Anthesis of Sadness - Chapter 21: By the Firelight

In an apocalyptic world where resources are limited and only the rich gets to survive, money is not a want; It's a need.Terrence Ardwil is a man who has been loyal to the government his entire life. He is part of the “Mission for Life” unit— a unit created to lessen the human's total population in the hope of making humanity survive even longer.He was already satisfied with how he lived until an incident happened that resulted in his unfortunate death.When he thought he had died, he suddenly fell from the sky and woke up 2 years back in time.Be it getting rich, saving humanity, or building his own empire? With the special system he acquired, he is determined to make everything possible in his second life![Ding! The Money Making System has successfully chosen you!]

Unite the Clans? Create an Empire?Atrox Soryu thought he was destined for greatness… until he wasn’t.Born into the smaller Soryu Clan, Atrox was a prodigy, praised for his unparalleled swordsmanship and relentless ambition. He vowed to become Emperor of the Eternal Skies, a title that hadn't been claimed in centuries. But on the day he was to manifest his Order Mark—the source of every knight’s power—everything went wrong.Instead of the revered Holy, Elemental, or Mystic Orders, Atrox was branded with a Forbidden Order: Something twisted and wrong. A death sentence in the eyes of the world. Branded a monster and exiled by his own father, Atrox was cast into a brutal labor camp where the weak are crushed, and the strong are barely tolerated.But exile isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. In the harshest of conditions, Atrox awakens the full potential of his forbidden powers, powers that could rival even the strongest Knights. He will forge alliances with the forgotten, turn his enemies into allies, and rise from the shadows to build an empire from nothing.Betrayed, exiled, and broken? No. Atrox Soryu is building an empire—and the Eternal Skies will bow to him.

Initially, Lin Mo intended to become stronger through cultivating diligently. However, he discovered that staying idle was more comfortable. Most importantly, he could level up by doing nothing! Since he could achieve his goals by lying idle, why would he trouble himself to stand and work?

Lin Mo transmigrated to a martial arts world and realized that he had no talent in cultivating at all. Fortunately, he awakened the Idle Upgrade System. He could become stronger by staying away from the rat race and enjoying life.

Lin Mo lamented, “It’s not that I don’t want to work hard, but truly, there is no opportunity for me to do so.” As such, the most bizarre Martial Arts Saint in human history was born.

He became the Emperor when he was just a boy and was beheaded before reaching adulthood. It was a tragedy brought about by his fate as the first noble wizard.“Ian, don’t be born in your next life.”He thought everything was over, listening to the traitor’s heartless words. He knew, but…“You are a symbol of peace. Where else would you find such honor as a lowly one?”He became the Margrave’s bastard son, whose family went extinct 100 years ago.A lowly, unsophisticated one, destined to be sold as a hostage to the barbarians across the border.