MTL - The Rumored Second Son - Chapter 32 challenge

Li Yao, a retired assassin, woke up one day to find herself transmigrated to ancient times and became a famous shrew far and wide.

With hands on her hips, she wailed loudly. Villagers called her the bane of ghosts, and even dogs would circle around when they saw her.

She had four children, her husband had passed away, and it was a disastrous year, leaving them poor as church mice.

Fortunately, River Bay Village was nestled against a big mountain, with wild chickens, wild boars, wolves, tigers, herbs, spices, corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes… it seemed to have everything.

Rely on the water to eat, and rely on the mountain.

With her skills that exceeded the times, Yao Li quickly became the wealthiest person in River Bay Village.

She was determined to stick to her original aspirations – retire and live out her remaining years in peace.

But as a widow, there were many things at her doorstep.

Her maiden family coveted her wealth; local ruffians lusted after her beauty; the magistrate admired her talents; the prefect wanted to rely on her to build up his political achievements; the scholar admired her literary talent; the chancellor respected her breadth of knowledge…

Wave after wave, wearing down her doorstep.

Even a Prince was amazed by her, finding all kinds of excuses to frequently visit and neglect his palaces.

Li Yao adapted to the circumstances, sparring back and forth, just wishing her retirement life would remain undisturbed.

But unknowingly, the world was changing because of her.

Tsunderes are refreshing at times but having to chase a wife is hell. Oppress the tsunderes!

In ancient times, oppressive scums were boring old stories. It was pure crap, only for entertainment, having neither escalated or was serious plot. Everyone just enjoyed reading it.

- Description from Novelupdates

Thirty Years East, Thirty Years West. Don’t you bully the young and poor!Split open the sky!Go against Heaven!Sick and tired of that kind of cultivation quote and troupe? The never-ending long grind that seemed to have one world after another once you supposedly reached the false apexes?Well, it’s time to broaden your horizons! You shall now be blessed with the perspective of someone who’s at the top of the top: Ye Ming.Someone who had foolishly decided to experience mortal life before realizing how crap it was. It was time to return to his real life.“I wasn’t born with a diamond spoon, but born with the endgame life.” Ye Ming laughed sinisterly. He was the sole Young Master of a family who dominated everything already.Trash cultivation? Trash spiritual roots? Trash background?Sorry, but that ain’t Ye Ming!However, he does have one great and relatable trait: procrastination.

Facing extinction, humanity seeks salvation in the Astral Verge, a dangerous dimension accessed via portals that threatened to wipe out the entire planet.Few years later, aspiring recruit Daniel Vance enters the Verge for his final assessment, hoping to Awaken a Talent and secure his future. While others gain common abilities, Daniel secretly Awakens the mythical SSS-Grade Talent: [Soul Assimilation]. This allows him to absorb essence, enhancing gear, gaining stats and EXP from slain creatures, and crucially, absorbing attributes and skills from fallen Awakened.Witnessing the swift death of the arrogant Jaxon Rex, Daniel makes a grim choice: he assimilates Jaxon, gaining his first skill, [Kinetic Pulse]. This sets his path: scavenging the aftermath of others’ battles. He enhances gear and, after achieving his first kill on an injured beast, waits patiently to assimilate two more fallen recruits, acquiring [Quick Step] and the invaluable passive [Aura Sense].Starting as average, Daniel rapidly gains power in secret, enhanced gear, multiple skills, and boosted stats , far exceeding his peers while remaining outwardly unremarkable. He navigates the lethal Verge alone, using its inherent dangers to fuel his growth, wrestling with the moral cost of his unique, overwhelming power.