Stars In His Eyes - Chapter 980: The Abandoned Toy 4

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this.

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange?

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was.

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word.

You.

Notes:
(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here.

- Description from Novelupdates

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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Enjoy a sweet love story of fun, with a scheming, domineering yet cute male lead, and a cunning, greedy and untamed female lead

[ OVERPOWERED MC ] || [ WORLD DOMINATION ]================================[ EXILE STRENGTH ACTIVATED.... ][ GAINING IMMORTALITY.... ]SUCCESS!!================================They exiled him to die. He'll rise to conquer.When Renji's mother is brutally murdered before his eyes, his world is shattered. But that was just the beginning. Dragged into the Land of Exile—a realm ruled by divine tyrants and taboo desires—Renji awakens in a world that wants him broken, bleeding, and begging for mercy.Too bad for them… Renji doesn't bow. He dominates.Armed with a sharp mind, unmatched charisma, and an unquenchable thirst for power (and pleasure), Renji carves his path through fallen kingdoms, cursed women, and wicked conspiracies. With Zach, a silver-haired half-devil and walking catastrophe at his side, Renji unravels the truth of his origin: the lost heir of the legendary Grand Order, born to rule, bred for war.As lust and blood mix in a world where every pleasure has a price and every beauty hides a dagger, Renji must decide—will he become the hero they need… or the villain they deserve?Warning: DTE is not for the faint of heart. Expect dark romance, forbidden power, deadly MILFs, and morally gray decisions wrapped in high-octane action and unapologetic smut. Reader discretion (and maybe a cold shower) is advised.[ TABOO || HAREM || MILFS || DARK AND FORBIDDEN ROMANCE || TWISTED FANTASIES ]