A Practical Guide to Sorcery - Chapter 172: Fear of the Dark

After waking up from a car accident, not only was I alive, I had also gained a new ability. If I stare at someone or a photo for three seconds, I’m able to see whom and when they shall marry… The 18th tier small-time actor Shen Chuchu knew that with this skill, her mother would never have to worry that she will starve to death again. She would put down her roots on Weibo first, then open a matchmaking store on Taobao.* “Your husband is a close friend and you will be married in March next year. You will have a happy marriage.” “Your husband will appear at your company’s dessert store soon, so remember to keep a close watch every day.” …… *Note: Weibo is a popular social media app in China with functions similar to Twitter. Taobao is basically the Chinese eBay/Amazon. A certain amateur celebrity is already married? A certain director’s wife is going to have an accident soon? One day, someone came to her for matchmaking. “Sorry, lady. Fortune-telling requires fate, and it seems like we don’t have that between us.” “Isn’t this just about money? As long as you can figure out my son’s marriage, I can pay you tenfold. No matter how much!” F***ing hell, it wasn’t that she wouldn’t predict the match. The arrogant CEO’s future spouse was actually her.

In the year 2057, the world has become a corporate-run utopia for the super-rich, and a hellhole for all the rest. Catherine 'Cat' Leblanc is an orphan that is about as far from super-rich as one can be. When the Incursion alarms start blaring and the sky starts raining hungry xenos, it's just another blemish on an already piss-poor afternoon. A cyberpunk magical-girl alien-invasion LitRPG.It’s exactly as wild as it sounds.

World DescriptionA sprawling, untamed cosmos reshaped by the Supreme Empress, a cosmic entity poised to ascend to an unknown plane. Before leaving, she transformed her cosmos into a merciless proving ground—a Lord World where beings from countless races and factions fight for supremacy. Lords awaken on infinite continents with a single talent, tasked with forging empires from humble beginnings. The twist? The Supreme Empress and her council of 10 Major Beings (all female, just below cosmic power) observe from the shadows, seeking a successor to rule the cosmos. Magic thrums beneath the surface, invisible to the weak, while ancient factions—elves, dragons, humans, and more—wield vast advantages. Kael El, an Earth transmigrator, steps into this chaos with two unparalleled talents, his sights set on total domination.Power System OverviewThe Lord System rules all: each lord gains one talent at birth (F to SSS, S+ being unique), driving exponential growth through conquest and kingdom upgrades. Kael’s talents—SSS: 100% Drop Rate (every loot drops, from talents to bloodlines) and EX: 10,000x Drop Multiplier (boosts quality or quantity per item, including summons)—shatter the system’s limits. Stats (Strength, Speed, Aura/Magic) scale across Three Planes of Existence: Mortal Ascension (Initiate to Infinite Lord), Universal Mastery (Universe to Omniversal Architect), and Void Transcendence (Void Seeker to Nihility Incarnate). Kingdom levels cap a lord’s potential (e.g., Territory Lv. 2 limits Kael to Mighty Lord, Lv. 30), unlocking higher tiers via rank-specific conditions. Subordinates benefit from loot, fueling Kael’s rise.MC’s Starting PointKael El awakens on a modest plot, Territory Lv. 1, with a rickety hut (upgradable), basic resources, and food for 8 days—no Summoning Altar yet. A former Earth gamer, he’s chill yet relentless, radiating unwavering confidence and a cool, dominant vibe. The 7-day peace period bars attacks on rival lords, forcing him to strategize with what he’s got. His 10,000x Drop Multiplier triggers on summons once unlocked, promising an explosive start. Calm under pressure and fiercely determined, Kael aims to build the ultimate kingdom, crush all rivals, and claim the cosmos, his flirty smirk hiding a “don’t mess with me” edge.

Tao Tao has transformed into Yang Peimin from the 1970s, a spoiled and arrogant original character who is the princess of her family. She is pampered by her parents, indulged by her brother and sister-in-law, and even her younger sister dares not raise her voice against her.Being waited on hand and foot is not an understatement, all because she possesses a unique skill – she falls ill whenever asked to work or scolded!She is known in the village as a lazy girl, and families looking for a daughter-in-law shake their heads and waive her off upon mentioning her. Apart from her looks, she has nothing but flaws, and she is certainly not a worthy ancestor to marry. It's foreseeable that her marriage will be a major issue.So, for the newly arrived Tao Tao, is this a good hand or a bad one?Until someone who saw some sparks beneath her notoriously bad reputation.Yes, she is someone who can be molded.