The Slender Waist - Chapter 21 - 17: Even Thieves Have Their Code

In a world where everyone awakens a Trait to start their cultivation, Rhys's was considered a joke: he would never age.In a world that worships raw combat power, a Trait granting eternal youth was worthless. To his powerful family, Rhys was a talentless failure, a stain on their name. With disgust, they cast him out onto the streets, leaving him with nothing.Alone and powerless, Rhys's life was shattered when he was caught in the crossfire of a terrifying battle between two god-like cultivators.Mortally wounded and left to bleed out in an alley, he faced a lonely, pathetic end.But as Rhys's vision faded and his last breath drew near, a new power roared to life within him.[Lifespan Burning System Activated]Suddenly, his useless Trait became Rhys's greatest weapon. His infinite lifespan was now the ultimate fuel source.A divine martial art that takes a genius a hundred years to master?[Consume 100 years of lifespan. Skill comprehended to Maximum Level.]A fatal wound that no healer can mend?[Consume 10 years of lifespan. Body restored to peak condition.]An ancient, unreadable text holding the world's greatest secrets?[Consume 500 years of lifespan. All knowledge unlocked and understood.]From the brink of death, Rhys rises with a burning purpose.The world saw him as trash, but now he will trade his endless years for the strength to stand above all.(Posting this on RR under pen name Unnikuttan)

Intellectual Villages are old fashioned rural villages recreated with cutting edge technology. Those villages attract the Japanese monsters known as Youkai.

The high school boy Jinnai Shinobu lives in one of those villages and has a Zashiki Warashi living in his house. He tends to run across Youkai with unnerving frequency and this often leads to trouble for him.

The era of global dungeon has descended.Lu Wenwu awakens Eye of Insight, gaining the ability to see detailed information of creatures in dungeons.“Having met the Tathagata, why not worship?”In the dungeon, looking at the plump man with a wrapped head sitting on the lotus throne, Lu Wenwu frowned and protected the crowd in front of him.【Tathagata Buddha/Celestial Demon (S)】hp: 1000/100000000【Current Status】: Extremely Weak, Flesh and Blood Disguise, Pretending to be Calm, Skill Seal, NervousHeh, so the Celestial Demon Tathagata Buddha is pretending to be strong. Take a punch from your Grandpa Lu!

In a world torn apart by rifts that release dangerous monsters, Espers—humans imbued with powerful abilities—serve as humanity's last line of defense. But the power of an Esper comes with a price. Overuse of their abilities leads to dangerous corruption, a force that can destroy them from the inside out. This is where Guides come in: individuals with the unique ability to calm the corruption within Espers and restore their balance.Rowan Mercer, an S-class Guide, is one of the best in his field, capable of stabilizing even the most dangerous Espers. He has worked quietly behind the scenes, helping those in need, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he is called to work with Lucian Vaughn, an S-class Esper whose immense power and unstable corruption levels make him a dangerous threat to himself and others.Lucian, a tall, stoic, and enigmatic figure, has long fought against the growing corruption within him. At first, his relationship with Rowan is purely professional—Rowan as his Guide, helping him to stay in control. However, as their interactions grow more frequent, their bond deepens in ways neither expected. What started as a simple duty soon turns into a complex relationship where power, trust, and vulnerability collide.As the world around them faces escalating threats from rifts, Rowan and Lucian must navigate not only their personal challenges but also the dangerous world of Espers and Guides. Their bond will be tested as they fight together against the corrupting forces that threaten them both.In Corrupted Bonds, survival isn’t just about battling monsters from the rifts—it's about fighting the darkness within themselves and finding a way to stay connected in a world that’s constantly pulling them apart.