A Journey of Black and Red - Chapter 12: Acte I, scène finale

Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was the Crown Prince of the Xian Le kingdom. He was beloved by his citizens and was considered the darling of the world. He ascended to the Heavens at a young age; however, due to unfortunate circumstances, was quickly banished back to the mortal realm. Years later, he ascends again–only to be banished again a few minutes after his ascension.

Now, eight hundred years later, Xie Lian ascends to the Heavens for the third time as the laughing stock among all three realms. On his first task as a god thrice ascended, he meets a mysterious demon who rules the ghosts and terrifies the Heavens, yet, unbeknownst to Xie Lian, this demon king has been paying attention to him for a very, very long time.

- Description from Novelupdates

Yue Xuexia is just an ordinary salted fish that rarely lives in her house, but suddenly one day she woke up, received a sign-in system, and thought she was dreaming.The sign-in system rewarded her with multiple things, including houses, money, cars, and talent scrolls, which led her to the life of the richest lady in the world.She could sign in once a day.One morning, with her eyes groggily and blurry, Xuexia was welcomed by a holographic screen only she could see. Yes, like the ones in the novels and manga.Ding!Xuexia waves her hand in the empty air and mumbles, “Noisy, I told you to turn off the damn alarm, whoever owns it!”When a robotic voice lingered near her ears saying,Signed in successfully. Congratulations to the host, and you've received [1 Million RMB in cash!]Xuexia, who is currently in need of great money, was in disbelief as she looked at the words one million and laughed.“Heh~ even in my dream, I was wishing to receive free money. What nonsense, let's go back to sleep. Yue Xuexia was about to close her eyes back to sleep when the old touch screen phone near her pillow vibrates.Bzzt~ Bzzzzzt~“Urg~ who the hell is calling now?” complained Yue Xuexia in her half-asleep state.She picked up the phone only to see a message notification saying the following words:[Your bank card account ending with 5567 had received a deposit transfer from XXXX at 6:45 am. You had received a 1 million deposit and your current saving balance is 1,003,000.00 RMB (Autumn Field landbank)]Yue Xuaxia mumbled in disbelief and said, “Fucking hell! This is awesome.”Who doesn’t like free things?~' This lady wants it too!!!

August Clementine was once Reacher, a wealthy and thrill-seeking businessman who had everything but satisfaction in life. After a fatal adventure, Reacher awakens on a parallel Earth, in the body of the destitute and troubled 19-year-old August Clementine. With his new identity, August finds himself burdened with debt and responsible for his beloved younger sister, Sophia. Desperate to change their fate, August immerses himself in Enders Light, a cutting-edge VRMMORPG that blurs the line between virtual and reality. In this fantastical game world, players can bring specific items that meet certain requirements into the real world and even gain a fraction of their in-game abilities and strength. Stuck at level 12 and unable to progress past his starting village due to a rare armor shortage, August must rely on his wits and determination. A breakthrough comes when he retrieves a mystical purification stone from a river teeming with magical aqua beasts and uses it to cleanse an ancient, corrupted altar. His reward includes the legendary Fruit of Corruption, a priceless item with the potential to grant supernatural abilities in the real world. Caught between the allure of selling the fruit for financial security and the temptation of gaining extraordinary powers, August must make a choice that will define his and Sophia’s future... “What? I gained the ability to extract any item from the game into the real world without restrictions?”

Plot Summary: This novel combines the popular “villainess” genre with the contemporary concept of VTubing, where the protagonist, a typical villainess character, becomes a VTuber—an online persona using a digital avatar. As she navigates her dual life, her influence extends beyond the virtual world, leading to increasingly violent and chaotic consequences in reality. The story delves into the psychological impact of living a double life and explores themes of power, manipulation, and the dark side of internet fame.Why Read It: The novel offers a fresh and thrilling take on the villainess trope by incorporating modern digital culture elements. It’s particularly appealing to readers who enjoy stories that explore the darker aspects of fame and influence, with a unique blend of fantasy and real-world issues. The narrative's intense and sometimes graphic nature sets it apart from more conventional stories in the genre, making it a compelling read for those looking for something different.