Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King - Chapter 52: Fortress of thorns

Song Yang was a Mercenary King in his previous life, killed by a stray bullet. He transmigrated to a world of cultivation, where the ability to control clouds and move mountains is commonplace.In this life, after taking over the body of a prince who had lost everything, he awakened a system that granted him a legion of thousands of cultivators in the Saint Realm from the start, and thus his story began.Creating a Shura Palace that made the whole continent tremble as soon as it heard his name.Be it a Saint from a Holy Land, an Emperor from a Powerful Empire? An ancestor from a powerful family?No matter who it is, as long as they pay the corresponding price, Shura Palace can kill.

Lao Chen was just an old, underpaid security guard in a rundown apartment complex, living a miserable life under a stingy, ungrateful boss.His wife left him, his daughter wanted nothing to do with him, and poverty was his only constant companion.In the end, death came in the form of a drunk driver, leaving him broken and forgotten on the cold pavement.But fate wasn’t done with him. In his final moments, he prayed—desperate, pleading to any deity who would listen.And someone did.The God of Wealth and Love took pity on his wasted life and granted him a second chance.Wake up again as Zhao Yiming, a 25-year-old gambler and alcoholic drowning in debt with nothing but a good face and a strong body to his name, he was given the Affinity Money Maker System—a mysterious power that let him gain wealth and influence by forming relationships, whether as lovers, friends, or even enemies.Before he knew it, he had stumbled his way into unimaginable riches.But things never go as planned. One moment of recklessness—one affair with the wrong woman—led to an unexpected murder.Now, the system has thrown him onto a new path: The Villain Route. With a negative perk that keeps the police off his trail but tightens the noose around his future, Zhao Yiming is faced with an impossible choice.Will he claw his way to the top and become the billionaire he was meant to be? Or will his second life end behind bars, just as tragic as his first?

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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In the fantasy world ruled by Matriarchy, Kael of the Ancient Moonstone House, was working as a guild receptionist. Throughout his life, he was protected by his mother and later, younger sister, who was considered one of the highest potential individuals in the Queendom of Elyria. One day, he hears that his sister has gone missing and his family has accumulated debts of over 127 million gold coins to the Bank. The Queen comes to his rescue, paying off his debts and in exchange, he has to marry her five daughters, who each excel in a domain of their own.Having the five imperial princesses and the Queen herself as the backing, Kael has become one of the most protected individuals in the Queendom. Little did his wives know that Kael had another identity. He is the most dreaded yet noble Assassin of the imperial city, “K,” one who hunts down the criminals who escape punishment either because of insufficient evidence or using their connections.Follow Kael's journey, as he navigates his life as the protected figure in the light and protector of justice in the shadows.