Substitute - Chapter 38

Eric Maddox, a 70-year-old American retired football coach once hailed for his tactical brilliance, now forgotten by time—closes his eyes for what he believes is a normal nap in his quiet Florida retirement home.But when he opens them, he's not staring at ceiling tiles, instead, he's on a touchline.Wearing boots in the rain.With players running on the pitch, fans jeering behind barriers, and the smell of cheap turf pellets in the air.“What the hell is this?”He’s twenty-five again, but it’s not Earth. It’s a world where football reigns supreme. A world where the sport is religion, its practitioners, deities in cleats. Coaches are revered, players are worshipped, and even the kit man gets treated like royalty.But there's one catch: none of it is familiar. The clubs, the players, the leagues, the competitions, and even the currency—they're all different. Alien. Like waking up in a dream where the rules are the same, but the language is foreign.As if that wasn’t enough, the body he’s now in? A youth coach with a laughable win record, a looming divorce, and a measly fifty thousand in the bank that his ex-wife is fighting tooth and nail to take. All of it.Just when the spiral seems inevitable, a monotone chime pierces the noise.[Initiating Golden Finger…][…45%… 75%… 100%][System Integration Complete.][Welcome, host. You are now bound to the Pro Manager System. Objective: Dominate the Football World. A new era begins]From washed-up has-been to chosen one of destiny, Eric Maddox is about to trade arthritis pills for tactical boards, and shuffleboard for Prestigious Cup glory.Because in this world, tactics are power.And on this touchline, he’s about to become a god.

The ancient Divine Beast Susu descended to endure trials and became the youngest daughter of the Qin Family, who were nearing eighty years old; young in age but high in seniority, even the men in their twenties had to call her auntie.Susu was also the only girl in three generations of the Qin Family, cherished by her parents, doted on by her brothers, and her nephews would fight over holding their auntie and protecting her.Protect her? Susu said she didn't need it, for she was a mighty and ferocious Divine Beast!With her around, no one would dare to bully the Qin Family members!Those who bullied her family got sent flying; those who coveted their fortune got sent flying; those who tried to kidnap her got sent flying.The kidnappers who captured Susu were frightened by her and willingly handed over their cell phones for her to call the police.“How do I unlock the cell phone?” Susu asked.“It requires fingerprint unlocking, you can use my finger,” explained the kidnapper.“How do I use your finger? Chop it off?” Susu asked again.“No! No need to chop, it can be used while still attached to my hand!” the kidnapper wailed.Chop off a finger! What kind of thought process was that?Way too scary!Ever since the lucky-buff-carrying Susu had come to their home, the family's luck had improved, their business prospered more each day, and the previously naughty young masters had become much better behaved, truly a little lucky star.It was just that boy from the neighbor's house, who kept thinking about kidnapping Little Susu, causing the Qin Family men quite a bit of concern.Maybe they should just break his leg again?

A female military doctor is reborn in ancient times and faces drought and famine. Her grandfather is a scoundrel, and her grandmother is vicious; they want to sell her entire family for food.Gu Jinli says: It's a small matter, first deal with the rotten grandpa and evil grandma, then find water to exchange for food, and lead the family through the disaster.Escaping to settle in Dafeng Village, outsiders struggle to fit in and face various oppressions, how to solve it?Gu Jinan says: No problem, brother is a scholar examination master, excelling all the way, from scholar to presented scholar, bringing glory to the family, looking down on scum.Just as life seems to be going well, military chaos erupts, Gu Jinli flips the table, this girl just wants to farm, wars and such, get lost!The young man picked up during the escape: My lady, fear not, your husband is a battlefield maniac, turning from a small soldier to a marquis, ensuring your ten thousand acres of medicinal fields and lifelong peace.PS: A face-slapping, scumbag-abusing farming novel, the main male and female characters are pure in body and mind, with mutual pampering, and a happy ending. [The female lead does not practice medicine but uses medical knowledge to get rich^0^]

# consume

Lu Yu, a foodie, transmigrated to a parallel world where all living beings on Earth had awakened to superpowers.

Fearsome Beasts rampaged everywhere and the lives of mankind were threatened.

When they came of age, youths would awaken their talents at the various martial arts dojos. They would then use their talents to protect their homeland.

Lu Yu awakened the power of Gluttony, an SSS-class talent.

His strength would increase every time he consumed the flesh of Fearsome Beasts. His spiritual soul would grow stronger every time he consumed their cores.

In other words, he was what he ate and he grew stronger by eating.

Apparently, the effect of Gluttony would even intensify when he consumed more high-end raw ingredients and better cooking methods.

As such, he embarked on the journey of becoming stronger through eating.

[Ding! Detected that host has consumed the flesh of a B-class king cobra. Acquired: Attribute of Poison Immunity.]

[Ding! Detected that host has consumed the heart of an A-class firebird. Obtained: Skill of Erupting Lava.]

[Ding! Detected that host has consumed the nerves of an SSS-class white dragon. Acquired: Talent of Endless Rebirth.]

While the others wailed, “The monsters are here! Run!”,

the monsters howled, “Lu Yu is here! Run!”

Lu Yu thought, “Standing at the top of the food chain feels nice!”