Return of the Runebound Professor - Chapter 9: Not for free

Eli Turner had perfected the art of coasting through life, gaming, lounging, and vibing with no grand ambitions beyond the next high. But his laid-back existence is upended when his laptop inexplicably transforms into a gateway to another world. What starts as a surreal escape becomes a perilous journey as Eli finds himself wielding a mysterious system that allows him to level up, fight monsters, and gain abilities beyond his wildest dreams.At first, the portal world feels like a haven, offering purpose and adventure Eli never knew he craved. Guided, or manipulated, by Azrael, a mischievous god orchestrating the game, Eli rises as one of the system's chosen players. But as the quests grow more dangerous and Azrael’s true intentions begin to surface, Eli struggles to balance the fantasy world with his life back home. His girlfriend, Sara, and his friends are left grappling with a version of Eli they hardly recognize, as the lines between his two lives blur.When the system expands to players worldwide, Eli crosses paths with others drawn into Azrael’s cosmic experiment: Yumi Tanaka, a fiercely disciplined Japanese student with a perfectionist streak, and Arjun Mehta, a charming Indian playboy with secrets of his own. Each carries their own burdens and ambitions, but all three must face the harsh truth: Azrael’s game is far more than it seems.As alliances are forged, rivalries ignite, and the stakes escalate, Eli must confront not only the dangers of the portal world but the growing rift between the person he is and the hero he’s becoming. In a game where every move is a test and every choice ripples across both worlds, the question remains: can Eli, Yumi, and Arjun uncover the truth before the system consumes them all?

As he transmigrates across the continent of Douqi, Gu He takes on the mantle of Alchemy King Gu He and gains an incredible power - the Ten Thousandfold disciple cashback system. This allows him to grant gifts to his disciples, which are then returned ten thousandfold.“You have gifted Liu Ling the Green Lotus Core Flame, triggering a tenfold return and granting you the mighty Green Lotus Holy Fire!” the system announces as each gift brings Gu He greater power.After three years of intense training, Xiao Yan returns proudly to the Yunlan Sect, eager to display his newfound strength.“Don't underestimate this once poor youth!” he warns his former lover Nalan Yanran. “Today I'll show you what a true genius can do!”But Nalan Yanran just smiles faintly. “Is that so?” she asks, as a terrifying Dou Emperor aura suddenly surges from her.Shocked, Xiao Yan stammers in disbelief, “How did you become a Dou Emperor powerhouse?”With an arrogant smile, Nalan Yanran replies, “With my master, anything is possible.”

Two years ago, Lin Chou Sui’s firefighter father sacrificed himself in a fire.

The last conversation between father and daughter ended in a big fight.

Lin Chou Sui woke up crying countless times in her dreams, wishing that if her dad could be reborn, she would obediently listen and never talk back.

Little did she expect that her dad would actually be reborn!

His soul possessed the body of Xiao Yan, the academic god of their high school.

…

Xiao Yan excelled in both character and academics. His total scores never dipped below 700. All the girls at their high school knew: getting into Tsinghua or Peking University was easy, getting close to Xiao Yan was difficult.

But Lin Chou Sui noticed that recently, the way Xiao Yan looked at her was very strange. His aloofness contained deep affection; his affection…was full of fatherly love?

So Lin Chou Sui’s daily life became:

Before exams, Xiao Yan would give her his notes to copy.

During her period, Xiao Yan would brew her red date tea and cook porridge.

Bad boys who blocked her path and harassed her would get kicked flying by Xiao Yan.

Lin Chou Sui was very touched. Other than her dad, no one had treated her this well.

…

On a hot afternoon, Xiao Yan sat with Lin Chou Sui on the stairwell to do homework, his gaze tender beyond words.

A light breeze blew by. The youth was about to lean in to kiss her.

Suddenly, a cold, icy male voice sounded in his mind:

“Young Xiao, may I ask what you intend to do with my daughter?”

Xiao Yan: ……

Xiao Yan crawled out from the mud. Beneath his cold and aloof appearance was a sinister and vindictive nature.

To climb from the lowliest dust to the summit out of reach, the path was filled with thorns. For this purpose he would stop at nothing, sparing no cost.

However, all the darkness and gloom in his life ended with that one strange encounter…

From then on, the skies cleared and his dead end led to new life.

A sinister genius boy meets a muddled Failure girl

Hanjun, who used to live alone, wakes up in a strange, old church in a different world called Eorera. In this world, there are two gods: the God of Light and the God of Darkness. A thousand years ago, the God of Darkness created demons and attacked humans. The God of Light was nowhere to be found, and people believed they were abandoned.Hanjun finds himself mistaken for being the God of Light by an old priest who was praying for help against the demons. Even though Hanjun is not actually a god, he ends up in a divine body on a stone throne, realizing he has lost most of his powers. He decides to help the humans by recruiting players from Earth through a game he creates called “God's Games Online.”He sends out gaming equipment for free to a few selected players, who will enter the game to help protect Ulon Town from the approaching demons. Hanjun also creates a game system and an NPC guide, using the old priest named Barry to lead the players.Hanjun hides his true identity As “Holy Son” and starts preparing to gather faith and regain his power to protect the people of Eorera.