The First King of Beasts - Chapter 40 Mountain Side

This novel is also known as Gu Daoist Master

Humans are clever in tens of thousands of ways, Gu are the true refined essences of Heaven and Earth.

The Three Temples are unrighteous, the demon is reborn.

Former days are but an old dream, an identical name is made anew.

A story of a time traveler who keeps on being reborn.

A unique world that grows, cultivates, and uses Gu.

The Spring and Autumn Cicada, the Venomous Moonlight Gu, the Wine Insect, All-Encompassing Golden Light Insect, Slender Black Hair Gu, Gu of Hope…

And a great demon of the world that does exactly as his heart pleases!

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*Gu (蛊) referred to poisonous insects in various cultures in South China while in folklore Gu spirits could transform into all kinds of species.

- Description from Novelupdates

A character with extreme difficulty and the worst performance, Baek Yu-Seol was considered tr*sh in the game because he couldn’t use magic in a fantasy world where everyone else could.

However…

[Due to the wrong ending, 90% of Aether World has been destroyed.] [Please reach the ‘True Ending.’]

Suddenly, those words echoed in my mind before I was transmigrated to the Aether World.

[You can use the skill ‘Flash’.]

“Why did I possess this character?”

Flash was the only magic skill I was given.

Surviving in Stella Academy where many genius mages ran rampant, I became the notorious Flash Mage.

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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In a world where the interstellar era has brought both promise and disappointment, Michael Fang dreams of becoming a Lord in the mysterious realm.

He longs to explore ancient ruins of fallen civilizations and build a territory loved and supported by his subjects.
But his aspirations are shattered when he realizes that he is nothing special and just an ordinary boy in a world full of heavenly prodigies.

That is until he stumbles upon the Gate leading to the Origin Expanse, a mysterious realm that promises to change everything he thought he knew about himself and his destiny.

With newfound power and unwavering determination, Michael vows to turn his misfortune into opportunity, no matter how perilous the path is.

"Watch, and witness as I extract everything!"

Follow Michael Fang on his journey through the Origin Expanse as he battles through obstacles and enemies to achieve his dreams and become the Supreme Lord he was always meant to be.