Chrysalis - Chapter 2: Coming to grips

The young man was so ridiculed for his wasted blood aptitude. Once he awakened the supreme bloodline, the dragon flew into the sky!

From then on, the geniuses and martial arts giants all bowed their heads, and the nine heavens and ten earth trembled!

Condensing the supreme Taoist body to achieve supreme power!

One finger penetrates the plane, one sword slashes the galaxy, one thought swallows the starry sky, and holds the avenue for eternity!

- Description from MTL

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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Entering the mortal world for a hundred generations, do not compete for the youth of one life, but only for the day and night of a hundred generations.

Seeking immortals in the world of mortals.

My name is Li Qing. I have escaped from the mortal world in the third life, entered the Tao in the ninth life, and become immortal in the hundredth life.

(longevity stream, non-simulator, non-reincarnation rebirth)

(Bai Shi Shou Yuan, One Life Life)

- Description from novelbuddy

After being reincarnated in a world called Neron, and destined to be an Average Joe, a common D-Rank Adventurer.

Tyler quickly learns the cruelty of life, after being used as a pawn in a selfish and ruthless war, he ended up being captured by the very thing he was fighting against, demons, without any hesitation he was bombarded along with the demons.

Caught in the destruction of the demon king, he was unable to save himself and fell to his death.

Fate, however, had other ideas, it wasn't done with him yet. After being reawakened in a new era, in the center of the demon territory, he finds himself caught in a rapidly growing and dangerous situation.

Swept in his newfound strength, and caught in the greed of his formal self. What will he do next?

Will he return to the people who used and betrayed him, will join the enemy against the human race, or will he forge a new path.