Smiling Under Lanterns - Chapter 720 - 242 Return to the Capital_3

#Cannon Fodder, Second Chance, Male lead fall in love first, Bloodline Awakening, Possessive ML, Weak to Strong FL, Business World#In a world with a clear hierarchy between powerful Awakened bloodlines and weak humans, Severine Vale never believed in miracles.That is, until a sudden series of dreamlike memories forces her to awaken to a truth she was never meant to know:She is living inside a novel.Her Awakened dorm-mate, Alina Hart, is the protagonist.Meanwhile, Damien Rhodes, the cold young master of a Wolf bloodline, is the male lead—one whose love story with Alina begins through a twisted cycle of “I bully you because I hate you” and ends with “I bully you because I love you.”And Severine?She’s nothing more than cannon fodder—a side character who dies five years later under the male lead’s 'revenge'.Determined to change her fate, Severine avoids the original plot at all costs—only to discover that even the smallest flutter of her actions sends the entire story spiraling off course.The main characters begin knocking on her door one by one.Worst of all, fate pushes her into a moment that never existed in the novel.On the night she tries to escape humiliation, Severine barges into a forbidden room… and straight into the territory of a Monster—Killian Rhett King, a villain so ruthless that even Damien fears him.Severine only wanted to stay far from the story.But how is she supposed to escape when Killian’s presence in her supposedly peaceful life keeps growing… and growing?

World DescriptionA sprawling, untamed cosmos reshaped by the Supreme Empress, a cosmic entity poised to ascend to an unknown plane. Before leaving, she transformed her cosmos into a merciless proving ground—a Lord World where beings from countless races and factions fight for supremacy. Lords awaken on infinite continents with a single talent, tasked with forging empires from humble beginnings. The twist? The Supreme Empress and her council of 10 Major Beings (all female, just below cosmic power) observe from the shadows, seeking a successor to rule the cosmos. Magic thrums beneath the surface, invisible to the weak, while ancient factions—elves, dragons, humans, and more—wield vast advantages. Kael El, an Earth transmigrator, steps into this chaos with two unparalleled talents, his sights set on total domination.Power System OverviewThe Lord System rules all: each lord gains one talent at birth (F to SSS, S+ being unique), driving exponential growth through conquest and kingdom upgrades. Kael’s talents—SSS: 100% Drop Rate (every loot drops, from talents to bloodlines) and EX: 10,000x Drop Multiplier (boosts quality or quantity per item, including summons)—shatter the system’s limits. Stats (Strength, Speed, Aura/Magic) scale across Three Planes of Existence: Mortal Ascension (Initiate to Infinite Lord), Universal Mastery (Universe to Omniversal Architect), and Void Transcendence (Void Seeker to Nihility Incarnate). Kingdom levels cap a lord’s potential (e.g., Territory Lv. 2 limits Kael to Mighty Lord, Lv. 30), unlocking higher tiers via rank-specific conditions. Subordinates benefit from loot, fueling Kael’s rise.MC’s Starting PointKael El awakens on a modest plot, Territory Lv. 1, with a rickety hut (upgradable), basic resources, and food for 8 days—no Summoning Altar yet. A former Earth gamer, he’s chill yet relentless, radiating unwavering confidence and a cool, dominant vibe. The 7-day peace period bars attacks on rival lords, forcing him to strategize with what he’s got. His 10,000x Drop Multiplier triggers on summons once unlocked, promising an explosive start. Calm under pressure and fiercely determined, Kael aims to build the ultimate kingdom, crush all rivals, and claim the cosmos, his flirty smirk hiding a “don’t mess with me” edge.

As the heir apparent of the Ye family, Ye Xuan went through fire and water for his family, but Ye Lang, who had just awakened his Divine Soul, usurped his place. In order to keep his position, Ye Xuan challenged Ye Lang to a Life-death Duel. With a broken Dantian, would he be able to win this fight?

Li Xiaofei, thrust 500 years into the future, finds himself as a young orphaned man in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world. Raised by a woman only slightly older than himself in the unforgiving slums, he quickly learns that survival requires both strength and cunning.In a world ravaged by alien star beasts, where gangs rule the streets and political factions vie for control, chaos is the order of the day. Amidst this turmoil, Li Xiaofei must carve out his own destiny. Armed with the mysterious Moonlight Treasure Box, he embarks on a perilous journey to make a name for himself and protect the ones he loves.Will Li Xiaofei rise above the chaos to bring peace to his world, or will he be consumed by the darkness that surrounds him?Official BlurbThe star beasts invaded, and Earth’s civilization collapsed. A young man, wielding the artifact Moonlight Treasure Box, drew upon the legacy of three thousand martial arts techniques from various worlds. He protected humanity, won the hearts of beautiful women, slew star beasts, suppressed myriad races, ruled the universe, and commanded the heavens. In the vast cosmos, he was invincible!