Rotting Land: Survive - Chapter 5: Corpse Driving

DESTINY GAMES. It has been 85 years since Earth-11 became aligned with Yggdrasil and 73 years since Icon became the first demigod from Earth. Icon, as the first demigod, was privileged to weave the thread of fate for everyone. He was supposed to cut off Yggdrasil and free Earth-11 from the grasps of the other Earths and their god kings. That’s why everyone helped him climb the tower of Destiny. But instead of ridding earth of Yggdrasil, he turned the destiny of mankind into seven rings of immortality. The first ring was for the immortality of power. The second was for the immortality of the knowledge. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth were for the immortality of the mind, energy, body, and soul. The last ring, the ring of the paragon, was made to rule them all. Icon kept the ring of the paragon for himself and became a dictator. He ruled with an iron fist for many years. His was a reign of terror. But he was eventually vanquished by the collective effort of the world. It has been 62 years since then. Icon is no more, but the damage he had done still remains. Earth-11 is still connected to Yggdrasil. The deadly games of the Tower of Destiny still remain, and the fight for the seven rings of immortality still continues. Kelvin Thorn has just awakened his ability. It came at a good time too since he is running for his life. The ability he awakened saved him, but it came with a cost. He must climb the tower of destiny under the witness of the whole world and accumulate destiny, or he will die. His situation is not unique. Everyone that awakens, which is mostly everyone, must climb the tower of destiny. It is one of the curses that Icon left behind before he died. But Thorn is different because the seventh ring found him. The tower of destiny is where everyone granted power by destiny, be they humans, non-humans, or otherworlders, must fight in games of might, skill, and knowledge to gather the power of destiny. They will either die or eventually overcome death. Kelvin will be one of the latest in the line of billions of others in this struggle.

[Warning! Slice of Life at Core!]“Are you trying to tell me that the man who made the entire Northern continent tremble works in a flimsy bar? And he's a Water Mage???” The Emperor asked his knight.“Yes, sir. I saw him with my own eyes. He has two pet dragons and—”“Good gods! The legendary dragons that historically disdain humans as his pets?! We must have this man as our own at all cost!” The Emperor screamed in amusement, “Say, when you approached this man to speak with him, what was his reaction?”The knight gulped.“He... offered my men and I drinks, and told us to tell you, the Emperor, to visit his bar sometime.”The Emperor's eyes widened, and narrowed back as he smiled. “Well, I just might.”______Maxwell Duvon Belognia was once a reject, kicked out of his noble house for his lack of talent.His noble family was one that had produced reputable flame mages for ages, and Maxwell, who had an affinity to the water element, was a good-for-nothing.Disowned by his family, he ventured out into the world to build his own solid ground, and discovered that his talent in the path of water was much more than his family had ever imagined.Along his journey, he made friends that he loved more than his own blood, allies that could give their lives up just for his sake, and the best of all — he fell in love with a woman who gave him her heart and her soul.Until an unfortunate, world ending disaster struck on his world, ending everything dear to Maxwell in just a few seconds, including the love of his life.Luckily — or unluckily — Maxwell and his friend barely survived, thrust into a different, ruthless world where they had to grow stronger and struggle to survive.Years later, they became transcendent beings who ventured into the vast cosmos where they still fought to claim a place.They became gods.During all his years of constant struggling, fighting and ascending, Maxwell never the love he lost.Regret ate at him. If only he was strong as he was now that he steadily approached the end of his being.Just when he thought his soul would fade away without ever seeing his love again...“Why don't we break one of the ten absolute rules proffered by the Celestial King?” His friend suggested.Maxwell's eyes widened.“What rule?”“Regression.”And so, after fighting to go against the will of fate and the heavens themselves, Maxwell's soul finally regressed with eons worth of knowledge to the time when he was just a mortal, kicked out of his noble house.The best part?All his divine authorities as a god — although weakened — were still linked to his soul, including his pocket dimension which held his treasures.And because of this, to the eyes of everyone in his world, Maxwell was a ridiculously overpowered being.As news of this enigmatic, overpowered water mage spread amongst the four continents of the world Cryst, every monarch and every major power desired him for themselves.But the man in question?“I've lived a life full of suffering, battles and wars. Now, with this second chance, I just want to live a calm life. To do that, I'll have to stop the world-ending disaster coming in a few years. But for now...” He opened the door to his bar, smiling as he gazed at his customers which consisted of legendary mages, legendary mercenaries, divine healers, knights and the rest, all waiting to recruit him. Finally, his warm gaze rested on his wife, waiting for him behind the counter. “This is enough.”

He is invincible and invincible, has the ultimate beauty, and captivates people.

She has a top-level appearance and a top-level life, but she was hit by a car accident and turned into a fool, which is shocking.

No one knows that he once saw the woman called a fool stepping on the ground in a mess, with a sharp face, in the chaos, saving the people around him from the fire and water, just one look, he was set for life.

There is a kind of person who is a drug that you can’t get rid of, you can’t get rid of it…

What do you do when your beliefs run counter to what you love?

[Chongwen, the heroine is very strong, very strong, and the hero is not weak, the battle of blood, the collision of beliefs. 】

The introduction is weak, mainly to read the text, favor the text, strong men and strong women, not abuse.

- Description from novelbuddy

Bad news: Xu Yanmiao traveled back to ancient times, but he himself is lazy and uninterested in anything but internet cybersecurity, which is useless in ancient times.Good news: He’s bound to a system.Bad news: The system is called the Gossip System, not the fortune-telling kind, but the kind that contains other people’s private information and scandals. Utterly useless.More bad news: This system is also glitchy, and the extent of the bugs is unknown.Even more bad news: This body is that of a minor official who can attend court meetings, while Xu, the time traveler… doesn’t understand the classics, can’t write with a brush, and is at risk of being exposed for cheating in the imperial exams.Xu Yanmiao: “…”Forget it, just lie low, wait to die, maybe dying quickly could lead to another time travel.…In the court, the emperor was furious about state affairs, and the courtiers trembled in fear.Xu Yanmiao pretended to listen attentively but was actually focused on browsing the Gossip System.[Wow, the emperor just took in a 16-year-old noblewoman yesterday! A beautiful addition! He’s getting stronger with age! And he was tossing and turning in bed all night but still has such a powerful voice now! Amazing!] [This noblewoman used to be the crown prince’s concubine! And the crown prince even knows how to write passionate love letters!] [Wow wow wow! The crown prince sneaked into the grandpa’s harem… hiss—got intimate while the old emperor was attending court! Do it quickly! Why isn’t there any video…] [Huh? Why is there no sound?]Xu Yanmiao cautiously raised his head and glanced around.[What happened? Why is everyone kneeling? Where’s the emperor?]—The emperor went to catch adultery in the harem.The “imperial exam cheating” bomb finally exploded.Xu Yanmiao couldn’t explain why his handwriting on the exam paper didn’t match his usual handwriting, nor could he answer why he didn’t understand the classics.The evidence prepared by the ousted crown prince of the emperor hit the nail on the head, and his personal bodyguard was ready to drag Xu Yanmiao away to the prison, awaiting execution in the autumn.Xu Yanmiao held onto the gossip that proved his innocence but was in a quandary:How do I explain the source of my information…[Say that I secretly met with the Chief Examiner, the Minister of Rites, three nights before the exam? Impossible, that night, the Minister of Rites was dressed as a woman, spent the night at the General’s Mansion, with the general…]The general’s body shook, and he interjected: “Your Majesty!!!!”“Although the evidence of exam cheating is solid, I believe there’s still something fishy about this. It should be re-investigated! Especially Xu… Xu… Xu Yanmiao’s attire is neat and tidy! Someone who cares so much about their appearance, how could they tarnish their reputation!”The crown prince, who couldn’t hear his thoughts: ??[Also, what’s with saying that the examiner faking yawning and tiredness was intentionally leaving me a gap for cheating? He spent the night before the exam in the pigsty without sleeping, how could he not be tired the next day? But, surprisingly, the Imperial Academy lecturer actually believed in pig’s milk…]The Imperial Academy lecturer’s face went pale, and he burst out: “Your Majesty!!!!”“I… I agree with the General’s words! How could Xu Lang cheat in the exam! He… he… he deliberately drank a glass of pure water before the exam, believing that only good-hearted people can use pure things, such a kind-hearted person, how could he cheat in the exam!”Thinking he had everything under control, the crown prince: ??Xu Yanmiao was deeply moved.[They’re all good people, even if their brains don’t work well, they’re trying their best to find reasons and excuses for me.] [But I really have no way to turn the tables, alas, it’s a pity that I haven’t finished watching the TV series I’ve been following. The old emperor angered the empress last night and got kicked out of the bedchamber, and now I’m going to die before seeing the ending. He seems to be planning to paint his face with ink and pretend to be a cat to cheer up the empress…]“Bang—”The old emperor slammed the table, forcibly interrupting the continuous stream of thoughts: “I believe Xu Yanmiao did not cheat in the exam! Release him, innocent!”The civil and military officials couldn’t wait to echo, fearing that if they were too slow, Xu Yanmiao might spill more gossip.“Yes yes yes! Release him innocent!”“Long live Your Majesty!”“Your Majesty, please end the court session! Let Xu Lang go home and rest! You’ve tired him out by making him stand for so long!”The crown prince: ??Did Xu Yanmiao drug them with hallucinogens or something?