The Rural Beauty's Rise - Chapter 156: Pay Twice the Amount

Aric Valerian was born a curse.The fourth prince of the Valerian Empire. A bastard. A cripple. A forgotten shadow in the court, mocked as a stain on royal blood.But when the gods reached down, healing his body and allowing strength into his veins, Aric tasted hope for the first time. He fought for honor, clawed for recognition—only to be betrayed by the brother he trusted most. Cast into a slaughter pit, abandoned to die.And in the moment when despair and death should have claimed him, the world offered something else.[Would you like to change your fate?]From that line, Aric Valerian was reborn—sent back to the past not as the forgotten prince, but as a weapon. A sovereign forged in agony, guided by a system of relentless ascension:[Ki Circulation Mastered: Strength +10][System Upgrade: Tactical Genius Acquired][Hidden Fortress Constructed: Security +15%]Every scar became a push. Every betrayal, a reason. With blood-soaked hands, Aric began carving a path through enemies, kin, and gods alike. The empire that spat on his name would kneel or burn. The brother who betrayed him would drown in his own crown.Yet with every victory came sacrifice. Every step forward dragged him closer to the abyss, until vengeance and damnation became one.But Aric does not care.Because the cursed prince has only one destiny left:To rise as the sovereign who will shatter gods, break empires, and tear fate itself apart.Or die trying—and take the world with him.

As a top manager, everyone constantly tries to curry favor with Li Xiwu. And due to her identity as Mrs. Pei, the rich and the powerful would always greet her politely. A celebrity instructor, and the wife of a man from a rich family… Is there anyone who would not envy her? However, only Li Xiwu knows that she is a substitute for Mr. Pei’s unrequited love, and none of her titles or privileges have anything to do with her.***

Losing yourself after being someone else’s substitute is a tedious thing. Having gained that epiphany, Li Xiwu began to ponder how she should claim alimony of astronomical proportions from Mr. Pei. However, while she was obsessing over how to get rich from the divorce, her mother-in-law, who had always disliked her, invited her to take part in a variety show, while promising to make her rich. Li Xiwu’s lips curled into a grin. “Fortune favors the brave!”At first, her mother-in-law constantly attempted to embarrass her, and netizens were all moaning about how she was the most pitiful rich daughter-in-law! Later, her mother-in-law was inseparable from Li Xiwu, and would keep bragging about her to everyone she met, leaving the netizens cheering: Leave the face-slapping to Mrs. Pei! Li Xiwu did not expect herself to shoot to fame in the variety show either. However, while she was convinced that she could get a smooth divorce afterward, her mother-in-law called her son immediately as soon as the variety show ended.“Divorce my baby, and I will disown you!”Mr. Pei: ???

She woke up from her sleep to the divorce papers that the original owner’s husband tossed at her.

Su Li, an ordinary person who lived for 30 years, surviving on social welfare as a laid-back slacker.Occasional pointless complaining and self-defeating philosophical platitudes didn’t bring any meaning to his 30 years.Until he was transported to another world…Su Li, who had no elemental talent, Su Li, who was labeled as useless, lived an unremarkable life.One day, Su Li picked up a person in distress and told them: “The reason you think light is important is only because darkness pervades the world. When light fills the world, darkness will become important.”The Son of Light Saint who was betrayed by the Bishop of Light— He’s right!He is the sage who guides people forward, the signpost standing before the people, my faith, my everything!He is not a god, yet he far transcends gods.Su Li saved an injured mute bird. As birds sang outside the window, he told the bird: “The reason people like things that make beautiful sounds is only because they happen to understand that sound. Because of ignorance, there is no sin.”The Level 9 demon beast Raven, severely injured by the Mercenary Association:— All people are ignorant and foolish, thinking that ravens represent evil, even labeling me as a natural disaster. I hate humans the most, but he is the exception.If the world is what he wants, I too will aspire towards it.Su Li told his young friend who wanted to go to the big city to strive for success: “Moving upward is human instinct. If one day you fall due to reality, please don’t hate yourself.”The friend who eventually amassed enough gold coins to fill a city:I once thought that a child from a remote countryside would never understand everything I pursued. However, heaven blessed me, allowing me to witness true great wisdom…