Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 623: A new dawn(2)

Reborn in a frail body disgraced by its family, Zhuang Xing—the once-legendary Pill God—awakens to a brutal world where martial prowess defines destiny. Surviving an attempt on his life by his own family’s henchmen, he realizes he’s been reborn in the Great Qi Country as the despised son of the Zhuang family.Three months before the prestigious Hidden Dragon Ranking, Zhuang Xing must rise above his limitations to claim his birthright and reclaim his former strength. With enemies surrounding him, will Zhuang Xing overcome his frail shell and silence those who doubt him?

Rex was an ordinary salaryman, resigned to a dull life of monotony in a towering megacity. But his world shatters when he’s conscripted by Nexum Dynamics, a ruthless megacorporation, and thrust into a brutal war for a barren, alien world. The planet holds unimaginable riches, but it’s also swarming with the Krhyssari, an insectoid race that dominates the surface with their hive-mind precision and relentless aggression. Amid the carnage, Rex had an extraordinary encounter with Cleo, an ancient AI, a survivor of a long-extinct civilization. Cleo isn’t just an artificial intelligence; she’s a consciousness imbued with memories of her people’s interstellar empire and equipped with advanced bio-nanotechnology. Offering Rex a new purpose and unmatched power, she transforms his fragile human body into a hybrid of living metal and flesh, making him the ultimate weapon. But Cleo is more than a tool of war. As she journeys alongside Rex, her cold, logical algorithms evolve, shaped by his humanity. Together, they form a bond that transcends the boundaries of man and machine, discovering love in the midst of chaos. As Rex and Cleo fight for survival, they uncover a shared ambition, to rise as intergalactic overlords, uniting or conquering the galaxy.

# SPATIAL # FOOD # FIGUREHEAD # AGRICULTUREThe only daughter of General Dingguo was lost the year she was born, and everyone thought she had very bad luck. Who would have thought that more than ten years later, they would find her? The young master and ladies of various families in the capital gossiped a lot about it, saying this young lady from the General’s house must be stupid, poor, ugly, and unwanted. Hearing this, the new champion sneered, “They call her stupid?” The richest man in Jiangnan mocked, “They call her poor?” The jade-face divine doctor scoffed, “They call her ugly?”The Imperial Army’s commander was puzzled. “They say she’s unwanted?”These men captivated all women everywhere, but when they saw that mountain girl, they were all smitten and had eyes for no other. The blood-stained, cold, and aloof prince held his sword and gave a chilling smile. “Who will you choose, my fiancee?”

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT!Ahmet's laughter was like a slap in the face. “You think you're in a position to negotiate with me?” he sneered. “I don't think so, Asli. You'll do what I say, or suffer the consequences. Do you want more time to outsmart me? No.”She could play his game. She certainly could do that before she finally killed him. A mischievous grin formed on her lips. “What would you gain from sleeping with me?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral. “You're not exactly known for your romantic conquests. And we're rivals, not to mention the fact that our families would kill us if they found out.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “So, what's the real motive here? What could you possibly gain from this?”There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Asli wondered if she had caught him off guard. But then, Ahmet's smooth voice came back, dripping with confidence. “I’m glad to know you are well-informed about my romantic conquests. Let's just say, Asli, that I have my reasons. And as for what I'd gain… well, that's for me to know and you to find out.” His tone sent a shiver down her spine, and she knew she had to tread carefully. She wasn’t going to win this against him.“Show me what proof you have and I will give in to your demands.” With that, she hung up the call, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at being the one to end the conversation this time. She was the only woman in the male-dominated Mafia world. Did he think he could subdue her so easily?