Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World - Chapter 17 Planning

“What? The wild chickens I raised are pure blood phoenixes? ““What? The carp I raised are true dragons?”With a wave of hand, the river was cut off; with a slight stamp of foot, the mountain collapsed.A group of incredibly powerful cultivators knelt in front, worshipping and calling ‘senior’.“What the hell wrong with this world?”Li Fan shouted,” Oh no, that’s impossible!”“How could I possibly be a Supreme Master?!”

Lumberling, a 42-year-old civil engineer, grew numb to the monotonous rhythm of modern life. Hoping to rekindle his sense of wonder, he set out on a solitary nature trip, only to stumble upon an ancient, forgotten pyramid. A strange red light burst forth, killing him instantly… and binding itself to his soul.Cast adrift in the void, his soul found no rest, until he awoke in the body of a young foot soldier, bleeding and broken on a war-torn battlefield in a world not his own.Determined not to die again, Lumberling fights to survive in this brutal new realm where knights clash with monsters, kingdoms rise and fall, and mysterious powers shape the fate of nations.Armed with a strange ability to devour the essence of those he slays, he begins to carve out a new path, one forged by blood, strength, and sheer will.But power alone may not be enough. In a world where danger lurks in every shadow, and ancient forces stir in the dark, can a lost soul rise above fate… or will he be consumed by the very essence he seeks to control?

“Xiao Chen, please give us another chance!”Xiao Chen stared at them with a loathing gaze. “Ten years ago, you looked down on me. You showed up at my doorstep, forcing me to break off the engagement. My dad was so enraged that he was hospitalized. Now you're actually here to beg me?”It started off as an ordinary decline of a rich family. However, to everyone's surprise, the insignificant Xiao family actually gave birth to a bigwig who was powerful in the politics, military and business world. Just when all the major families could not stand the pressure brought forth by Xiao Chen and were forced to apologize, they discovered that he had disappeared!At the same time, in a small family of a small town-Xiao Chen exclaimed, “Mother-in-law! I am really here to repay your daughter's kindness. There's nothing else between us!”In order to pay back his debt of gratitude, Xiao Chen hid his identity and came to this small town. But his mother-in-law treated him in a totally unexpected way!

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?