Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame - Chapter 20: Breaking through the mist

Xu Shulou dreams she’s a character in a bizarre storybook.The male lead is Long Aotian, a man with a “Dragon Overlord” script: treasures fall into his lap, beauties vie for his heart.The first heroine is his delicate junior apprentice sister. The second, the Demon Sect’s saintess. The third… the fourth…Where does Xu Shulou rank? She flips through the plot and realizes—despite being Long Aotian’s official fiancée, she’s nothing but a disposable pawn.In the story, her sect elders dote on her fragile junior sister.“Shulou, yield this treasure to your sister. She’s weaker and needs it more.”“Shulou, don’t be unreasonable. Your gentle sister deserves care.”Even Long Aotian prefers the junior sister. He’s a flirtatious mess, forcing Xu Shulou to compete with other women, her jealousy twisting her into a villain. Meanwhile, the junior sister blossoms into a pristine lotus.But Xu Shulou refuses to play along.When the script demands she and her junior sister be kidnapped, Long Aotian saves the “weaker” girl, saying, “Shulou, you’re stronger—you’ll understand.”In reality? Long Ao Tian arrives just in time to see Xu Shulou slaughter the villains, scoop her sister into her arms, and vanish into the sky—without sparing him a glance.When demons attack, the story expects Long Aotian to leave his fiancée and lovers in the sect’s care. The elders protect only the junior sister, letting Xu Shulou be humiliated.In reality? The elders sneer: “Our senior sister dominates the cultivation world. Why would we need you to worry about her?”When the story’s Long Aotian coaxes the Demon Saintess into betraying her clan for him…In reality, the Saintess timidly asks Xu Shulou: “You’re a righteous heroine. I’m a hunted demon. Why would you want to befriend me?”In the script, Xu Shulou claws at other women in jealous rage.In reality, she’d rather live in peace—until Long Aotian pushes too far. Then she draws her sword.In the story, Long Aotian reigns supreme, surrounded by beauties.In reality, Xu Shulou steals his allies, hoards his treasures, and occasionally beats him up—while he sulks.“My sword saves the world and shields the innocent. It’s not for fighting over men.”“See? Dreams lie. I’m the one holding the Dragon Overlord script.”

Manchester United, once a dominant force in world football, finds itself struggling under Erik ten Hag despite having the financial power to rebuild.Big-money transfers fail to restore the club’s glory, forcing Ten Hag to shift his focus to homegrown talent.Among the overlooked prospects in the U18 squad is Leo Calderon, a 17-year-old central midfielder buried deep in the pecking order.Lacking physicality and dismissed by teammates as weak, Leo endures constant ridicule from those who dominate with strength and athleticism.But during one ordinary training session, everything changes—Leo suddenly sees passing lanes no one else can, angles of play invisible to even the most talented prospects.Yet, there’s a problem. His vision surpasses his ability. The passes he attempts don’t connect, his technique unable to match his newfound awareness.Coaches dismiss his efforts as sloppy, and his struggles continue. But one unexpected observer—a visiting League One assistant coach—notices something different.He watches Leo’s movements, seeing potential where others see failure.As Leo fights to prove himself in an unforgiving system, the question lingers—can he refine his raw talent before the club moves on without him?

Ning Qingqing and Shen Zhiqian have dated for 9 years from high school to university, including 2 years after joining the workforce.

Their relationship was stable and they were financially stable. Everything seemed to be a matter of course; however, even after hinting at marriage multiple times, Shen Zhiqian never gave any response.

Finally, on Ning Qingqing’s 25th birthday, after giving her last hint to no avail, she resolutely turned around and flash married Shen Zhiqian’s nemesis.

On the day of the wedding, Shen Zhiqian attended the ceremony, eyes red.

It was also at this moment that he finally realized what he had lost.

◆This is my wedding invitation, it’s the day after tomorrow◆

◆I arrived in style, just to miss you◆

◆I chased my wife all the way, yet I’ll never catch her again◆

More often than not, there are only two outcomes during a slow marathon of love – either to get married or to break up.

Unfortunately, her’s was the latter, yet she was also very fortunate to have met someone even better ~

Author’s reading captions:

The second male lead succeeds, first marriage then love, super sweet.

After the flash marriage, there is constant battling, scum abusing and face-slapping, feel refreshed til the end.

The story begins right from the breakup, there’s no campus-life arc; it’s all set in the city.

- Description from Novelupdates

Eighteen years ago, blood stained the halls of the Full Moon Gala.The Vampires came slaughtering nearly every wolf shifter at the gala, including the visiting royal family. Blood drenched the earth, and when the carnage ended. Prince Ambrose, soaked in the screams of his people, he rose from the ashes with a single vow:Blood for blood.Eighteen years later, Ambrose is now Alpha King, ruthless, unyielding, and revered by his pack. But his thirst for vengeance never dulled. His target? Princess Odette.Odette isn’t a delicate doll. She’s fire wrapped in silk. Born of power, and unafraid to destroy. Raised by the very monsters that broke him.Ambrose wants to break her. But this princess doesn't break easily.Captured. Kidnapped. Claimed.The girl he wanted to destroy becomes the woman he can’t stop watching. Touching. Needing.Their bond is dangerous. Twisted. Forbidden.Can love be born of vengeance?What if a terrifying and dangerous threat rises from the shadows? Can a millennia long blood feud be overcome or will they destroy themselves before the enemy even has a chance?Ex:I started the shower and then looked to her and ordered her “Take off your clothes.”She almost snapped her neck with how quickly she turned her head to face me. “Excuse me?”“You heard me, Take. Off. Your. Clothes. Princess.”She looked at me dumbfounded, she couldn’t believe I was asking her to do this. The sheer audacity of me.She’s rich. Ha.“No, absolutely not.” She narrowed her eyes at me and lifted her lip a little, showing part of her fang. It was a warning glare.“I’m not a patient man. Strip or I will strip you of your clothes.” As I spoke those words, a sense of thrill shot through me. I've seen plenty of women naked. But my enemy’s daughter. Stripping her of her dignity, forcing her to humiliate herself.My wolf purred inside.“I will not.” Odette stood firm in her stance.“I will only tolerate so much disobedience.” I growled at her, I moved quickly, closing the distance between us in an instance.I grabbed her sleeve and tore it off her. She jerked back covering her arm with her hand. I moved closer to her. Ripping off another shred of her dress.She screamed “Stop it. Don’t touch me. Dog.” She napped.I snarled “Call me a dog one more time princess and see how I punish you.”“D.O.G. DOG” She said firm and slow.“I’m not actually, I am the Alpha King, the strongest and most powerful Alpha there’s ever been.” I was getting tired of the disrespect.“Keep feeding that ego of yours, maybe one day it’ll be a reality.” She hissed back.I grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. She thrashed and squirmed in my grip. But I held firm.Getting in close I whisper in her ear “Watch your little wh*re mouth. Before I shove something in it to keep it busy.”