The Inner Odyssey - Chapter 5: [???]

Alex was just trying to escape his dead-end job and overbearing family. Then the System arrived, bringing with it magic, Rifts, and the chance for ordinary people to become extraordinary. Unfortunately for Alex, his stats started out as unimpressive as his old life. But when he gains the unique trait {Primordial Will}, which only allows him to put his free points into one stat, everything changes—though not necessarily for the better.Thrown into a dangerous Rift way above his pay grade, Alex quickly discovers that surviving the chaos isn't just about having powerful skills. He'll need every ounce of his Willpower and resourcefulness if he wants to make it out alive and bring home the rewards that could finally give him an edge.This series follows Alex as he begins to master the art of Mana Threads and creates a revolutionary new magic system with Spell Circles. He starts to realize that magic isn’t just a tool—it’s a path to power that few can fully grasp. But with the world’s governments struggling to contain the rising number of superhuman threats, Alex will have to navigate more than just monsters and Rifts. In a world where “might makes right,” who really calls the shots?

Baifeng had signed in Naruto World for three years and reached the sixth level, just when he thought he could finally be salted fish, kick the dance king, and punch Kaguya.

Ding, you have been selected and invited by the Tiantian dimension chat group, do you want to join?

No, no, I’m already at level 6, so I just came to the chat group.

The beautiful monster princess: Although I lost a good chicken, the monster girl is really good.

Dagu is not Dagu: As a partner of justice, it is our duty to maintain the peace of the universe.

I’m your father: Kulala, I’ll show you a hand-torn black beard to cheer you up.

Bai Feng: This chat group is a bit indecent.

- Description from novelbuddy

She was stupidly in love with him. Because of him, she became rude and unreasonable, overbearing, jealous, insane. But he did not spare a glance to her. Married for two years, he didn’t favor her once, letting her become the laughing stock of the whole world. Eventually, she ended up in an affair, leading to her tragic death.

When her eyes opened again, it was a different person.

Since it’s an empress, then we absolutely must be virtuous, generous, correct the previous jealousy defect.

Thus begins the replacement empress’ harem life.

Taking the initiative to help the emperor look for beauties, sending them to serve in the bedroom, teaching the imperial concubines how to primp themselves to win the emperor’s favor, and even using the phoenix seal as a reward. Whoever can satisfy the emperor on the dragon bed, will have the opportunity to take the phoenix seal and sit on the phoenix seat, to experience the feeling of being the empress. Being this virtuous can really be called impeccable.

She was this virtuous, the emperor ought to be pleased in every aspect!

Hadn’t expected the emperor wouldn’t know good from bad. Not only reprimanded her, but also contradicted her everywhere. The beauties she’d sent were actually all driven away.

Since he didn’t like the beauties, apparently there’s a special interest. In that case, send over a group of beautiful men. Can top, can bottom, every option is there.

In the end, they were also driven away.

Thus the empress personally arrived to battle at the emperor’s bedroom-

“Your Majesty, do you have an unmentionable illness down there? If so, rest assured and tell me. I’ll let some people treat it in secret.” Take a look at her virtue, she could move herself to tears.

“Unmentionable illness?” The emperor’s sword-like eyebrows raised, the eyes suddenly looked dangerous. Approaching her slowly, unexpectedly ordered: “Tonight, the empress will serve me.”

“What?” Then, Mo Qiqi with lightning speed jabbed the hornet’s nest.

“Ah!” A miserable scream.

Mo Qiqi worriedly looked at the emperor to inquire: “Your Majesty. Are you alright!”

The emperor spoke with a pained expression: “Call the court physician!”

“You did have an unmentionable illness!”

- Description from Novelupdates

Elara’s first life crashed hard. Cruel tricks ruined her name, broke her dreams, and turned the whole entertainment world against her. Friends betrayed her. Lovers sold her out. Everyone she trusted stabbed her in the back. The pain piled up until she felt trapped with no way out. One night, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked to the river and ended it all in the cold, quiet water.Later, proof came out. Messages. Recordings. Everything showed she had been framed. People posted apologies online. But it was too late. She was already gone.The universe, though, clearly has a twisted sense of humor.Because somehow, Elara came back. She woke up in her own past, every awful memory still sharp in her head. Right then she made a promise she would never break: protect her gentle grandfather no matter what, and never let anyone push her to that dark place again.This time she steps into the entertainment world with her head high. She trains harder, sings better, fights smarter. The same people who once crushed her? Now they get to feel the pressure.Love? Not happening. Her heart is locked tight. But why is it that as she rises and shines brighter, handsome, powerful men start circling her—guys who never even glanced at her in her previous life were now hovering around her.The actor smiled at her during a press interview, leaned closer, and said softly, “We should have dinner sometime.”The footballer sent flowers so big they blocked her room door.The surgeon she met at a charity event checked her pulse and then forgot to let go of her wrist.The singer she collaborated with kept calling her name during rehearsals, as if the mic could not hear him well enough.Elara stared at the ceiling that night and sighed.She only wanted to sing. Why did everyone look like they wanted to adopt her, date her, or both?But the worst one came after the concert.The lights had just gone off. Her ears were still ringing. Sweat clung to her neck. She had barely stepped backstage when a shadow blocked her path.She looked up.The CEO of the greatest company in Aurelia stood there. The same man who once said her voice was “not worth investing in.” The same man who did not even know her name before rebirth.Now he held her wrist lightly, but firmly.“Let’s talk,” he said.Elara blinked. “About… sponsorship?”“No,” he replied calmly. “About marriage.”Her brain froze.“…What?”“I will give you everything,” he continued, as if asking for a glass of water. “Resources. Protection. Freedom to sing. Become my wife.”Elara stared at him, her mouth open, her thoughts running in circles.This was not how it was supposed to be.Why was the world now skipping steps?NB:This story takes place in a fictional world. Aurelia is a country. Solmere, Veston, and Starfall City are the three capital cities of Aurelia. Other cities, such as Lorien and Crelou, are smaller cities.