Beyond The Crimson Gate - Chapter 8: Gravity Chamber

In the world of cultivation, countless tales follow righteous protagonists, fated heroes blessed by destiny, or those chosen by heaven to walk the path of immortality.But what of those who stand in their way?What of the villains? The so-called obstacles to the hero’s journey—do they not bleed, dream, and struggle as well?Xiao Ning was never meant to succeed.From the very beginning, the Grand Dao wove him as a stepping stone—a necessary sacrifice to elevate another. His path, like that of all designated ‘villains,’ was doomed to failure by design.But what happens when that design is defied?After death, Xiao Ning awakens—not in the cycle of reincarnation, but in the cold silence beyond it. There, he is offered the Eternal Paradox Codex—a forbidden artifact containing the hidden truths of the Grand Dao System itself.Rules. Loopholes. Vulnerabilities.Knowledge not meant for those like him.With this power, Xiao Ning is granted a single, impossible choice: accept oblivion, or step outside the Grand Dao entirely—to abandon fate, sever karma, and cultivate a path unbound by heaven or law.It is Xiao Ning’s journey, from ashes to something beyond comprehension.Not to become an Immortal among men.But something even the heavens dare not bind.If fate is a chain…Then let him forge his own path in the void beyond.Welcome to this humble tale.The cultivation world is vast and unkind.Let us begin again—on our terms.

While enjoying the favor of a handsome man, she learned that her country was ruined and her family was destroyed. What should a fallen princess do?Xiang Ying says, of course, she should use space to her advantage, empty the palace, and leave nothing for the enemy army!As the captain of a post-apocalyptic infrastructure team, she was thrown into a book by an explosion.The enemy army entered the palace, famine was impending, and she was encircled as a prisoner of war, taking care of three children.Such a catastrophic beginning made Xiang Ying exclaim, the good days are coming!Compared to the post-apocalypse, what is this?On the road to exile, while others suffered, she enjoyed melons. When everyone else was munching on dry bread, Xiang Ying and her children were savoring sumptuous meals.Everyone grew thinner, except for the three children who remained plump and cheerful, patting their bellies and saying wildly: Mother, we can’t eat any more, really!Xiang Ying, holding hot pot, milk tea, and roast chicken, enjoyed the scenery along the road, hoarding supplies as they fled, making life more flavorful.The villainess mocked her: What use is only having food? You're still a conquered slave!Xiang Ying pulled out the Imperial Jade Seal: Right, from today onwards, I will be the Empress.The enemy army was dumbfounded; she never said the thirty thousand wanderers she brought were elite troops!On the day Xiang Ying restored her country, the man who accompanied her through hardships held her hand.Jie Chen: For the sake of our three children, can we finally become official?Xiang Ying: Men should keep to their places, not seek a title.Jie Chen: ...With the country as my betrothal, my Jade Seal and my nation are all yours.Xiang Ying: Deal! Tonight's our wedding night!

Nemesis!

If Arianna had known that irritating man would change her life in the worst way possible, perhaps she would have poisoned his coffee the first day they met. Arianna who was tricked and about to be married off to a Loan shark by her uncle’s family, finally found a way to escape. However, that was all ruined when Marcel, the feared lord of the underworld captured her. The one thing she desired the most – her freedom – was taken from her.

Marcel prided on the fact that he was well feared, respected, and revered in the city. His name caved terror in the hearts of people, however, his reputation is put to test when a familiar stranger relieved him of his property right under his nose. Anger simmers in his veins as he goes on a manhunt against the pickpocket who robbed him.

When he gets Arianna, Marcel is sure to show her that nobody steals from Marcel Luciano and goes scot-free. On the other hand, Arianna loathes him so much and would do everything to escape that crazy Mafia. Unfortunately, what if she ends up stealing his heart as well. Read to find out.

~~~~~

“You’re a monster, Marcel,”

“Don’t monsters deserve to be loved too?”

*Note – this book has strong sexual themes, strong language, violence, and gore. It would leave you on the edge and get you screaming for more. So if you can’t handle the burn, drop it without abusing me in the comment box (I won’t take it lightly if it does happen). If you can handle the burn, then welcome to the Mafia world!

.....

“But this feels real,” She whispered.Curiosity got the best of her as she went around the coffin, luckily, it wasn't locked. She took a deep breath before pulling it open.“Jesus Christ!” Rose exclaimed, putting her hand over her chest as she breathed hard.She stood frozen beside the coffin, staring at a young man with the most beautiful face she'd ever seen, lying still and comfortably inside the coffin.Was he dead? He looked so pale like he was dead and yet so beautiful to be called dead. Talk about gothic beauty.Rose knew she should be running for her life at that moment, but she felt something drawing her closer to the man in the coffin, she flashed her light closer to his face as she reached her hand down and placed it right under his nose to check if he was still breathing. No air, his nose bridge was cold as ice too.Rose was still busy staring at the man's face when she felt something very icy touch her arm, she felt her heart drop to her stomach as she slowly turned her head to look at her arm, that's when she saw the white, slim, masculine fingers wrapped tightly around her wrist.Her soul left her and her heart completely stopped beating, before starting to beat like a parade band in her chest.“Hail fucking Mary!” Rose whispered in a frightened tone, her lips quivered and her eyes widened unnaturally.She felt her legs become paralyzed from fear and unable to move or run.She dared to fearfully turn around and look at the man's face again, just to find his blood-colored eyes, staring icily at her.She was about to scream when the young man suddenly pulled her into his coffin with incredible speed, and the last thing she remembered was feeling how cold his body was before she felt an unnatural sleep overtake her.***Rose Thiago was an ordinary human girl who loved reading dark fantasies but never believed in them.She suddenly gets warned by her best friend never to read those kinds of books again if she doesn't want to make herself visible to the dark creatures or evoke their world to herself, but she calls her bluff and reads them over and over again.On a field trip, Rose suddenly finds herself falling into an endless hole, and when she finally meets the solid ground, she discovers that it is no longer familiar ground. She gravely realized that just as her friend said, she'd finally drawn the dark world to herself.She somehow manages to bump herself into a beautiful man lying inside a coffin and dared to touch him just for the dead man to suddenly hold her hands and disappeared with her. In that moment, she came to believe that magical creatures did exist.And she was about to discover that she had the blood of the sun.Two thousand years ago, to survive a dreadful poison, The prince of the dark world, Cassius Levi, sought refuge in his healing grave, only to awaken when the right time for his revenge came.What he didn't expect was to be forcefully awakened by an undeserving mortal.