Reward, Star Tower
The next morning.
A grand wedding was held in the manor.
Wanda Maximoff, dressed in a flowing white gown, walked down a crimson carpet that stretched across the garden.
Her mind was blank.
Even now, she felt as if she were dreaming.
Married? To someone I've only known for less than two days?
She turned her head slightly, glancing at Xu Mo beside her.
He was young, handsome, wealthy, and confident—everything society would call "an ideal match."
And yet, Wanda's heart sank.
What a pity he's a scumbag.
She sighed quietly, resigning herself. With both her parents gone, there was no family to stop this. The ceremony was stripped of traditions, reduced to bare essentials: vows, rings, and then—the kiss.
As Xu Mo leaned closer, Wanda's heartbeat quickened. She gripped her bouquet tightly until the brief kiss ended, sealing their marriage.
"Hey, Xu," a familiar voice rang out. "I couldn't figure out why you were so eager to step into the grave of matrimony. But after seeing the beautiful lady next to you, I get it—smart decision!"
Tony Stark appeared, champagne glass in hand, smirking.
Of course, he drew all eyes wherever he went—ever since he had stood before cameras and declared: "I am Iron Man."
As for why he was here, the story was complicated.
When Tony announced the shutdown of Stark Industries' weapons division, Xu Mo had seized the moment, buying up massive shares at rock-bottom prices. After Obadiah Stane's death, he purchased even more from the Stane family, ultimately holding 30% of Stark Industries—second only to Tony's 39%.
But their connection didn't begin with business. Oddly enough, both men shared an eccentric hobby: collecting rare stamps, from iconic U.S. models to celebrity-issued editions. That unusual passion, paired with their business ties, had turned them into unlikely friends.
Beside Xu Mo, Wanda's expression shifted the moment her gaze fell upon Tony.
Tony noticed immediately, frowning.
"Sorry… do we know each other?"
Xu Mo caught the change too, and his face tightened. He knew well: Wanda's parents had died in an airstrike using Stark-manufactured weapons. No matter Tony's personal reforms, to her, the name Stark carried pain.
Quickly, Xu Mo took her hand and squeezed gently, offering comfort.
"She hasn't met you before, Tony. Just… old memories resurfacing."
This wasn't the time for explanations. With a polite smile, Xu Mo steered Wanda away before things escalated.
Obediently, Wanda let him lead her. Still, she cast him a sidelong look.
"You seem… familiar with him."
"Of course," Xu Mo replied smoothly. "You know I have Stark Industries shares. But I only bought them after the weapons division shut down."
Wanda nodded quietly. She had been briefed last night about his background; this much she already knew.
Back at the bar, Tony watched them leave, muttering to himself.
"Bad memories, huh?"
Then he shrugged it off, eyes already drawn elsewhere.
"Jenna! Over here!"
---
Night.
The bridal suite at the top of the villa.
Wanda sat on the edge of a luxurious bed worth millions, fidgeting nervously with the lace hem of her dress.
The door creaked open. Xu Mo entered, watching her hands tremble.
"You seem nervous."
"I… I…" Wanda stammered.
"Don't worry," Xu Mo said softly. "I'll be gentle."
Then he kissed her.
Moments later, as blood stained the sheets, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Xu Mo's mind:
> Ding! The host has completed marriage. The Devouring Exchange System is now active.
Reward unlocked: Devouring Starry Sky Technique.
Marriage partner bound: Wanda Maximoff. Passive unlocked: Eternal Oneness.
In an instant, torrents of knowledge surged into his brain—cultivation methods, cosmic techniques, and battle secrets: Gene Energy Cultivation, Spiritual Master Basics, Nine Tribulations Secret Manual, Broken East River, Lie Yuan Technique…
The levels stretched out before him: apprentice, planetary, stellar, cosmic…
Even an apprentice peak could punch with a force near 1,000 tons—enough to collapse skyscrapers.
Xu Mo steadied his breath, suppressing his excitement as he examined the passive ability.
> Eternal Oneness: Wanda Maximoff and the host are locked as the only versions of themselves in the entire multiverse. Their life trajectories are frozen; no being can alter their past or replace them.
Xu Mo immediately understood.
Marvel's multiverse meant endless Wandas, endless duplicates of himself. He didn't care about other Xu Mos—but Wanda was his wife. He couldn't stomach the thought of another version of her loving, marrying, or bearing children with someone else.
Now, that possibility was erased forever.
And beyond that, no enemy could ever travel back in time to strike at their weaker past selves. Their lives were secured against all temporal manipulation.
For Xu Mo, this ability was priceless.
Then came the next prompt.
> Would you like to open the Newbie Gift Pack?
"Open!" Xu Mo muttered eagerly.
This was what he had schemed and bribed for—marrying Wanda Maximoff, whose potential with Chaos Magic was unmatched.
The system's voice chimed again:
> Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Star Tower (Enhanced)!