Arc of Fire - Chapter 40: The Calm Before the Storm

In a quiet corner of the world, the mortal delight you indulged for me is my most romantic of my eternity.

A never-isolated city I received, a mini forever I shall return.

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“Gifting You With a City That Will Never Be Isolated details the romance between an awkward, quiet, introverted and socially handicapped female lead and a good-natured and sweet male lead.

Their romance, in fact, is a steady stream that flows unnoticed slow if one doesn’t pay attention.

This novel isn’t the most exciting, nor the most captivating – but it’s a sweet, lovely novel detailing the sweet and ordinary love between two common folks, and perhaps best expresses what healthy, ordinary relationships should aim to be like. It’s a story about growth, about trust, and about how a healthy relationship can really help one to change for the better.”

- Description from Novelupdates

"It's my first time. I'm afraid of pain. Be gentle…" Fang Xinxin's body is stiff with anxiety.Bai Qinghao pinches her dotingly. "We're just swimming. I didn't pull you with too much force; how did you manage to flop into the water like that?"In their previous life, she had been overweight. Her face was covered in acne. Yet, he still forcefully ate her up. Exactly how much did he love her? However, she never noticed his sincerity and blindly pursued a scheming bastard. In the end, she was left blind and half-paralyzed.After receiving a second chance, she finally understands that her poor appearance was caused by the 'drugs' her sister had added into her skincare products. In this lifetime, she chooses to distance herself away from the bastard, to lose weight, and to 'treat' her face. She recovers her seductive figure and outstanding looks, treasuring her husband's love. They then sweetly collaborate to torture the bastard and give birth to a little 'dumpling'…

In humanity’s final war against the Demon Lord, the strongest heroes fell—not by the enemy’s hand, but by their own, twisted into madness by a cruel illusion. Betrayal. Bloodshed. Despair… and then, silence.Only one person remained: Riley—the weakest warrior of them all. Powerless. Ignored. Forgotten.But he saw through the Demon Lord’s deception. The tyrant was on the brink of death—so weak even a fly could’ve finished him off.And Riley did just that, drawing every last ounce of strength to bite off the demon’s head.Victory? Not quite. A final, desperate strike from the Demon Lord pierced him from behind, killing him instantly.But fate wasn’t done with him yet.Riley awoke ten years in the past—when the online game [Apocalypse] was launched. Before demons descended. Before monsters overran the world.And this time, he wasn’t starting from nothing. He had a decade of experience—and a second chance.Even more shocking, he didn’t awaken his old D-rank Strength Boost talent. This time, he received something far more terrifying: an SSS-Rank Gluttony talent!He could now devour anything—monsters, items, talents, even traits—and gain their power.Ding![You have devoured: Iron Fang Wolf][Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill: Bite (F-rank)][You have devoured: Goblin ShamanAcquired: +8 Intelligence, Skill: Mana Bolt (E-rank), Talent: Minor Spellcasting Efficiency][You have devoured: Flaming Salamander Drake][Acquired: +22 Endurance, Trait: Dragon’s Resilience, Skill: Flame Breath (C-rank)]Now, there is no demon, no god, no monster who will stand in his way. He will devour everything—and save the world.But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword. If he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.

The challenges a female cultivator had to overcome on her life journey were countless.