The Noble Lady of Lust - Chapter 14: Skills

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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Lin Beifan traversed to a world filled with countless nations and masters, becoming the emperor of a nation with the “Empire Sandbox” as his golden finger (Cheat).

This “Empire Sandbox” allowed him to mobilize all domestic resources for rational allocation. The stronger the nation became, the stronger he became.

In order to become stronger, Lin Beifan did many things that seemed foolish to others.

“Your Majesty, the Mo Kingdom is willing to trade the most beautiful woman in their kingdom for an iron mine!”

Lin Beifan: “The Mo Kingdom is truly sincere. Let’s trade!”

As a result, after the Mo Kingdom acquired the iron mine, it collapsed, burying 200,000 troops!

“Your Majesty, the Grand General intends to stage a rebellion!”

Lin Beifan: “I admire those with ambition. Let him fight!”

As a result, the Grand General’s food supply vanished into thin air. His army starved to death on their way to the Capital City, never making it to battle.

In the end, Lin Beifan walked further and further down the path of a foolish emperor, yet the territory kept expanding, the country became stronger, and his harem grew increasingly…

Everyone was dumbfounded: “How did such an incompetent ruler become the legendary emperor throughout the ages?”

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Lao Chen was just an old, underpaid security guard in a rundown apartment complex, living a miserable life under a stingy, ungrateful boss.His wife left him, his daughter wanted nothing to do with him, and poverty was his only constant companion.In the end, death came in the form of a drunk driver, leaving him broken and forgotten on the cold pavement.But fate wasn’t done with him. In his final moments, he prayed—desperate, pleading to any deity who would listen.And someone did.The God of Wealth and Love took pity on his wasted life and granted him a second chance.Wake up again as Zhao Yiming, a 25-year-old gambler and alcoholic drowning in debt with nothing but a good face and a strong body to his name, he was given the Affinity Money Maker System—a mysterious power that let him gain wealth and influence by forming relationships, whether as lovers, friends, or even enemies.Before he knew it, he had stumbled his way into unimaginable riches.But things never go as planned. One moment of recklessness—one affair with the wrong woman—led to an unexpected murder.Now, the system has thrown him onto a new path: The Villain Route. With a negative perk that keeps the police off his trail but tightens the noose around his future, Zhao Yiming is faced with an impossible choice.Will he claw his way to the top and become the billionaire he was meant to be? Or will his second life end behind bars, just as tragic as his first?

I was a genius in the Earthen Plane.