To Be a Power in the Shadows! - Chapter 188 - Epsilon’s Secret Recipe

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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With the Heavenly Medical Skills and Peerless Martial Arts under his belt, his master had made him descend the mountain to become a live-in son-in-law, all to temper his character! And his wife was an ice queen, who wouldn't even let him touch her, always wearing a cold expression and even expecting him to fetch water for her footbaths!Now, three years had gone by, and the agreed period had come to an end. Surprisingly, the ice queen of a wife decisively asked for a divorce. But the moment he stepped out of the civil affairs office, he found six stunning beauties standing at the door, whose loveliness made even her feel inferior!The ice queen of a wife, “President Su! You, why are you here?”His senior sister, Su Yumei, “I'm here to pick up my little junior brother! Your former husband!”

Youyou is a mother’s precious daughter. The word she often talks about is: “My mother said…” Therefore, many people laughed at her for not being weaned, but Xu Youyou didn’t care, she still went her own way, determined to be the best mother’s baby girl.
In high school, Xu Youyou was pressed by the domineering school grass against the wall to confess. Xu Youyou frowned and refused: “No, my mother said that the most important thing for students is to study! Otherwise, they will become the scum of society in the future!” Someone who has a single-digit score and hates studying: “….”
In college, a rich and handsome president He wanted to use favorable conditions to help Xu Youyou, but got a contemptuous look from Xu Youyou: “My mother said, there is no such thing as getting something for nothing, if there is, there must be a conspiracy!” The president who wanted to find white moonlight substitute: “….”
*5874 is a system whose mission is to change the miserable fate of the abused heroine Xu Youyou and make her happy. But, look at the little beany who is only three years old in front of her, and look at the terrible environment of the orphanage. The system decides to tell a lie “Youyou don’t be afraid, I’m your mother.”
After fifteen years of conscientious teaching, the system fell into a deep sleep due to a lack of energy. When it woke up again and found Xu Youyou living in a beautiful villa with countless jewels and beautiful clothes. The system was heartbroken: “Baby, why are you still …” Xu Youyou is excited: “Mom! You finally woke up! You were right! The best money in the world is money earned from loving a brainy man! System: “… Did I say that?”

- Description from Novelupdates

Shi Qing Xia is practically an angel.

Kind, sweet-hearted, and good at her studies, she was admitted to the top university in Taipei.

However, the living expenses for the metropolitan city were far greater than she had ever imagined, so she started to work as a private tutor for wealthy families to make ends meet.

On her first day of work, she met Zhao Yi Bo and Zhao Yi Xuan, a pair of neglected 16-year-old genius twins whose prosperous and wealthy parents heartlessly abandoned in Taiwan. Shi Qing Xia found them to be gentle, compassionate, friendly, clever, mysterious, pitiful and attractive.

But appearances can be very deceiving…

Because behind those sweet smiles…

Deeply twisted and cruel demons lurked, waiting to rip apart the wings of this angel, condemning her to an eternity of conflicted bittersweet suffering — a rollercoaster ride of a heart-wrenching, twisted, and tragic romance more extreme than what someone so innocent could possibly imagine.

- Description from Novelupdates