Desolate Era: Hatching a Phoenix at the Beginning - Chapter 172 - The Leader of the Feather Dragons Acknowledges a Master

The tale of Oliver.
An orphan boy from a Mine, in 19th century Europe, filled with Magic.

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

The mighty heavens exist, ruling over all things. Those favored by its will are granted power and fortune, while those who dared to oppose it perished, leaving none behind. This is the tale of a man who once defied the heavens, underwent multiple reincarnations, and returned once more to the cultivation world. But here’s the twist. This young man remembers nothing of his past lives and is simply a teenager from Earth. How will he who has no knowledge of cultivation and experience in fighting, survive this grim world while being an inner disciple of a lower realm force—or so Xiao chen, the teenager thought till he heard a systematic sound in his mind. [Ding! Host has awakened the heaven’s destined villain system!]

Xiao Yu transmigrates into a comprehensive xianxia universe, becoming the senior brother of Tianyong City and activating the Immortal Emperor System. Starting from the Foundation Establishment stage, he ascends through the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Spirit Transformation stages, ultimately achieving immortality! This universe seamlessly integrates multiple xianxia classics, such as Chinese Paladin 1, Chinese Paladin 3, and Gu Jian Qi Tan, among others.