Delve - Chapter 20: Outcast

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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Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

*WELCOME TO THE STORY OF THE SWEETEST GIRL WITH THE SEXIEST CHARM*

After being struck by a crazed driver, Eden found himself reincarnated into another world as the last heir of one of the three most powerful clans.Immediately after birth, he was declared a powerful god known as 'Doom'. However, he soon realized that he had been reborn into a world from a novel he had never read, only seen advertised.In this world, evil souls and exorcists existed in secret, hidden from the citizens who lived in ignorance of their presence. Exorcists were born to rid the world of evil souls, maintaining the balance of the world.Eden was born with the power of Doom, and his eyes were meant to be covered at all costs, for anything they gazed upon would meet its demise.Determined to control his power, Eden struggled but failed. Everything changed when the inevitable finally arrived...[Ding! You have obtained the Doom system]A system that shall create the pact for him to tame his power and successfully defeat the evil souls.[Special ability! Host has the special eyes of doom from birth][Ding! Reversing weak aura into......]Eden was reborn with the most chaotic power and it is only a matter of time before we know what this ability shall cause upon this world.

The Immortal Dao is ethereal, and Immortals are hard to find.

Li Nianfan had descended into the cultivation world as a mortal. After learning that he has no hope in cultivation, he only wants to live a peaceful life.

However…

The dog he adopts becomes a demon king of a generation when it sees his poems and paintings. It manages to suppress an entire world.

The tree he plants behind his house becomes a World Tree after listening to his zither music, forming a bridge between heaven and earth.

He meets a passerby who is enlightened by him and becomes an immortal sage who leads an entire generation.

When he looks back—

It turns out that the scholar who had been pestering him for his calligraphy and paintings despite having crappy chess skills, is a chess saint from the Immortal Realm. The beautiful woman who comes to listen to his music every night is the number one saintess of the Immortal Realm…