Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail - Chapter 45: Mining Away

This novel is also known as Gu Daoist Master

Humans are clever in tens of thousands of ways, Gu are the true refined essences of Heaven and Earth.

The Three Temples are unrighteous, the demon is reborn.

Former days are but an old dream, an identical name is made anew.

A story of a time traveler who keeps on being reborn.

A unique world that grows, cultivates, and uses Gu.

The Spring and Autumn Cicada, the Venomous Moonlight Gu, the Wine Insect, All-Encompassing Golden Light Insect, Slender Black Hair Gu, Gu of Hope…

And a great demon of the world that does exactly as his heart pleases!

—

*Gu (蛊) referred to poisonous insects in various cultures in South China while in folklore Gu spirits could transform into all kinds of species.

- Description from Novelupdates

❗[Current Writing Contest-WebNovel Spirity Awards 2025 Fantas]❗Flain grew up in a futuristic world. When he was born his parents didn't want him because he didn't live up to their expectations and so he ended up very badly.Flain was employed as a slave. He was forced to mine radioactive iron deep in the mines. It was drilled into his head that he existed only to obey orders.Young Flain was obedient. He doubted some of it but knew nothing else. For years, he never saw a single ray of light; light was only spoken of among the others as a legend.The routine was the same: in the morning, he would take a nutrient tablet and water. Then he would mine all day, sleep eight hours, and repeat.Flain worked like this from childhood until he was ten years old. He even found a friend, but that friend died of radiation poisoning right in front of Flain. Flain couldn't stop mining. He kept mining with tears streaming down his face.Before bed, Flain cried. “I will become the strongest. I will kill you all, and you will become my slaves.”Flain stopped crying, stared blankly at the rocky ceiling, then looked ahead. A manic grin appeared on his face, one that would often adorn it from that moment on.At the age of ten, Flain was assigned to a military camp due to his endurance in the mines and his survival against radiation.In the camp, Flain was trained. The regime was much looser; he even had an hour of free time each day. However, Flain didn't make any more friends. Even during his free time, he trained with a smile. He would achieve his goal at any cost, even if it meant training himself to death.Experiments were conducted on Flain. He lost his hair, two long gray arms grew on his back, and a third red eye appeared. Flain became a mutant.Flain was then sent to war. He fought with sharp katabas. He performed quite well in the war, earning himself command of ten soldiers and becoming a small commander.But one day, everything changed.Flain then dies, is swallowed by darkness, and Flain refuses to die, thus appearing as a skeleton in a fantasy world.

The people of Earth have been summoned once again

Scientists document six extinction events in Earth's history, but none of them were as natural as they claimed.

Sylas and his family have been called back to the Browns, a family of billionaire elites with assets reaching into the trillions. He isn't sure what to expect until he touches a floating bronze cube that changes his life.

[Bronze City Stele]

[Status: Dormant]

[Time to Activation: 04:13:38]

Unfortunately, there's only one Stele and the Browns have already decided upon their candidates. If Sylas wants to control his own fate, he'll have to enter the Trial.

Now, woefully unprepared, and stuck in a world filled with the extinct creatures of Earth, he'll have to carve out his own opportunity... whether the Browns like it or not.

“From today onwards you are no longer my son. Get out” Being born into a noble family that is aiming to become the ‘strongest’, at his aptitude ceremony held on his 12th birthday it was discovered that Igni could only use fireballs. Igni who can only use beginner level magic was kicked out of his house.

With no where to go and without much magical ability, Igni is scraping by through life. However, one day he has miraculous reunion. “What? Is that Igni there?” “Gr-grandpa!?” It was a reunion with his grandfather, the man who was once called the strongest [Kyokuten] but was banished from his noble family because of his excessive womanizing…! “Grandpa! You said strong men are popular, but I can’t be strong!!” “Igni, listen carefully. Strong men are popular but, hard-working men are even more popular!!” “Grandpa! I’ll try my best!!!” Igni whose parents who banished Igni from the house, didn’t yet know of his obsession with being popular under the guidance of the strongest [Kyokuten] magician…!

“Igni that magic!” “This? It’s a fireball” “With this you can aim for [Kyokuten]! Come back here!!” “Nobility isn’t popular” “What are you saying?” This is a story where a young magician becomes the strongest by honing his skills all in order to become popular.