The Girl Who Struggled Through Palace Intrigues to Become the Empress - Chapter 158: A Thorough Investigation of the Princess

Outer yard disciple of the Tiansang Spirit Palace, Xu Xiaoshou, had average talent. However, after coming out of his death seclusion, he realized that everything had changed. He had received a Passive System with many strange, miraculous passive skills: He would become stronger with every breath. He would become stronger when he got attacked. He would become stronger when he got mocked… Xu Xiaoshou was forced to shout, “Oh God, I don’t want to be like this either. Everything I did was because I was being forced to! I am so passive!”

[The System has arrived on your habitable planet, known as ‘Earth.’][In five seconds, monsters from countless realms will invade Earth.][Remaining Time: 5 seconds.][You can now view your attributes, talents, abilities, and skills by simply thinking about them.][Kill monsters, and you might survive.]“Monsters?”Damian’s breathing quickened as the pain in his chest grew sharper.On the day of the Awakening, humanity was forced to defend against an invasion of countless monsters from the towers that connected realms across the multiverse.While billions of people died helplessly, billions more seized the opportunities hidden behind the horrors spilling out of the gates.Leveling up, growing stronger, awakening talents, learning supernatural skills, changing one's very race, and even achieving immortality all became possibilities.But for Damian, who was suffering from a sickness that would kill him within a few years, the Awakening was a curse.While other humans awakened powerful talents, hunted monsters, and evolved, Damian remained talentless, a liability and a burden the awakened had to carry.Damian never wanted to be seen as weak or useless, but what could he do?He was dying.If only he had awakened a talent or at least possessed a stronger body, he might have been able to level up and cure his sickness. But he couldn’t.All that would change when a mysterious figure set him on a path that would lead him to his true destiny.Witness the rise of a warrior who would make countless men tremble in fear.Witness the rise of a monster who would force every race, every being, and every existence to kneel.Witness the rise of the Champion.Tags: [System], [Towers], [level up], [Classes], [Monsters], [Vampires], [Werewolves], [Yokai], [Dragons], [Demons], [Angels], [Gods]. [Rare Bloodlines], [unique Abilities], [Regression], [Survival], [Mystery], [Time Travel], [reincarnation], [Overpowered], [Martial Arts], [Magic], [Cultivation], [Murim], [Hell & Heaven], [Progenitors].

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

After five years, Ning Xi has returned and is out to take revenge on the sister who turned her parents against her and the childhood sweetheart who betrayed her for her sister. She aims to fulfill her childhood dream and become a famous actress. However, her sister is still out to get her, and she has to avoid all her underhanded schemes.