Elite Mages' Academy - Chapter 624 - Black Potion

Xiao Rou, a girl growing up in a poor countryside family, finds that she’s actually the daughter of a wealthy couple. Her mother had mistaken another girl for her back at the hospital. Thinking she would change from an ugly duckling to a noble swan and live happily ever after with her real family, reality strikes her in the face.

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 .

[Apocalypse] + [Rebirth] + [Hoarding Supplies] + [Surviving] + [Infinite Space] + [Dark Revenge & Non-Saintly]The world enters an Ice Age, ushering in an icy apocalypse where 95% of humanity perishes! In his past life, Zhang Yi was killed by those he had kindly helped, due to his benevolent nature. Reborn a month before the ice apocalypse, Zhang Yi awakens a spatial ability and begins to hoard supplies frenetically! Running out of supplies? He empties the warehouse of a super-mall worth billions! Uncomfortable living conditions? He constructs a super-secure dwelling comparable to a post-apocalyptic fortress! As the apocalypse arrives, while others freeze like dogs and would abandon anything for a bite to eat, Zhang Yi lives even more comfortably than before the apocalypse.Green Tea b**ch: “Zhang Yi, let me into your house, and I promise to be your girlfriend.”Rich Second Generation: “Zhang Yi, I’m willing to trade all my wealth for a meal at your place!”Beastly Neighbors: “Zhang Yi, you should share your supplies with us, don’t be so selfish!”……Watching these people who betrayed him in his past life, Zhang Yi lies comfortably in his safe house, living a carefree life as if in a paradise.Zhang Yi: “Why should I care whether you live or die? I would rather feed my things to the dogs than give them to you!”

In a world without gods, where the laws of magic are written by the mages themselves, balance is fragile, and darkness reigns. Multiple dimensions surround it, watched by beings with dark and greedy intentions. This is a magical universe, unstable, marked by constant changes, betrayals, and bloodshed. At the center of it all, an ordinary man emerges, carrying a biochip capable of deep analysis and data recording. With it, he embarks on a relentless journey of genetic enhancement, seeking to ascend beyond the limits of existence. Without divine protection, without charms to shield him or overwhelming powers, he must survive in a world where threats are ever-present, and the fight for survival is relentless. Here, the only rule is to conquer or be consumed. A dark fantasy filled with dangers, evolution, and the relentless pursuit of supremacy.