Refining the Mountains and Rivers - Chapter 18 – Pass

Jian rue gazed back at the ugly gray alien while stumbling and running. he clumsily tossed a stone at it “Fuck just leave me alone!!!”Suddenly a warm pair of hand grabbed his waist and tossed him over a study shoulder.“Xing yu!! let me down! you fucker!!!”The said man chuckled and playfully smacked his butt. “Honey, I'm saving your life~”“I had it under control. Now, let me go!” Jian rue bit his shoulders hard until the sweet taste of blood filled his mouth.“Hiss.. baby, you're making me hard~”Jian rue froze. “W-why are you following me! why me..”Xing yu stopped running, and with a swing of his sword, the ugly tentacle alien was slayed. He gentnly pulled him down and hugged him close. Peering into his eyes, he smirked, “Because you are my betrothed,”

“Evil God of the Universe, You are in every space and time. Present in every dimension of reality and govern the darkness of our world.Oh, almighty Atticus! Hear our plea and grant us your presence tonight, awaken my Lord!”The rain had completely stopped and the strong gale had subsided into the fading raindrops. The night had turned eerily silent and only the sizzling and cackling of the fire entered their ears.Suddenly, they all felt like floating from their feet despite setting foot on the watery, hard ground, as if they were traversing into space. The darkness of the night gradually turned darker, enveloping them, morphing into everyone, like a void eating them slowly. Sequentially, their breathing turned oddly slower. Despite exaggeratedly inhaling air to breathe, it was to no avail, as if a higher entity was limiting them from breathing.Nolan felt his throat and tried to open his mouth to gasp more air but failed. Everyone but him was in a state of indignation and panic as they struggled to breathe to fill their lungs with air. Nolan tried to calm his heart. He closed his eyes and stopped inhaling air in pure panic, instead, he put his heartbeat and breathing into a rhythm. It was hard at first, but after a minute, he found his breathing gradually went stable.His whole being was in pure anticipation of what was going to happen next.After a couple more minutes, the storm completely subsided, the night turned to normal. Nolan remained standing, taking in his surroundings with his eyes closed. Everything turned silent. The eerie atmosphere and the crackling of the fire from the hay figure didn’t even enter his ears. Nolan waited for a couple more minutes, his breathing turning normal. He was reluctant to open his eyes, afraid he might ruin their ritual.“It’s alright now, Young Master. You can open your eyes now.”Nolan’s breathing hitched. He jolted on his feet as he fluttered his eyes open.“Atticus? W-why are you here?”The butler, standing in front of him, a raincoat hung on his arm, smiled. “I am everywhere, Young Master, in order to best serve you.”****Atticus, a demi-god from the underworld, was cast out of his parents' realm and banished to the human world. The reason? He had yet to give them any grandchildren.Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and is purely the product of my imagination. Any resemblance to real people, events, or beliefs is entirely coincidental. The intention is not to disrespect or diminish any faith or tradition, but rather to explore ideas within a fictional context. Reader discretion is advised.

In a world where power reigns supreme, Zoey Monroe was born with nothing. Labeled “Mana-less” in a society of Hunters, she was the stain on the prestigious Monroe Family, a shame to one of Sunrow City's most powerful bloodlines. Ridiculed, ostracized, and treated as less than human, Zoey endured years of scorn.Until one day, at seventeen, she made a choice—to leave it all behind.Six months later, struggling to make ends meet in the city, Zoey’s life takes an unexpected turn. After another grueling day at work, she returns home, only to witness a dungeon rift tearing open behind her apartment.Drawn by curiosity—and the desperate hunger for change—she steps inside. But the dungeon is merciless. Death looms over her, suffocating, inevitable... until—[Enough Mana Has Been Accumulated!][Error! A mysterious system has already been bound to the host. Adjusting...][Ding! Installing the A Hundred Times System!]In an instant, Zoey's fate is rewritten. From outcast to overpowered, from weakling to warrior—the path to greatness has begun.This is her story.

She is the legendary queen of mercenaries whose name daunts even the big shots in society. With an ancient jade pendant in her hand, she is great at almost everything, be it seeking the truth or the art of healing.