Volume 1, Chapter 47: Chu Mian Issues a Challenge

The magistrate of Wannian County instantly found himself caught in a profound dilemma, utterly at a loss for what to do. Inwardly, he could only curse Liu En, wondering why on earth that fool had nothing better to do than provoke someone as reckless and obstinate as Yuchi Baolin. To make this stubborn brute travel dozens of miles out of the city just to smash up his estate—was this not deliberately courting trouble for him?

The difficulty design of the abyss game was exceptionally smooth. To help novices adapt to dungeon trials and acquire self-preservation abilities during the early stages, opportunities to learn skills within F-grade and E-grade dungeons were abundant.

By now, Xu Miao had seen quite a few jade pendants. With just a fleeting glance at the one hanging from the man's waist, he knew it was an exceptionally valuable treasure—far more precious than the piece Zhangsun Wuji had given him previously. Simply beholding its color and luster made Xu Miao's mouth water uncontrollably.

"We martial artists cultivate true inner qi, whereas cultivators practice spiritual energy," Feng Tiansheng explained earnestly. "Spiritual energy originates from heaven and earth, and the difficulty of cultivating it is far greater. For a spiritual energy cultivator to achieve major success, they must possess a uniquely gifted physique, and even then, they can only hope to attain mastery by the age of sixty or seventy."

If he were truly pinned with charges of abusing his power and arbitrarily passing judgment by He Yuzhu, not only would his position as courtyard elder likely be in jeopardy, but he might even face disciplinary action from the neighborhood committee, ultimately stripping him of his right to reside in the courtyard.

The creature seemed to sense Sun Yang's anxiety as well. With a shuddering motion and a low hiss, it plunged directly into the blood-red lake.

Inside the assembly hall, the mages who had been forcibly summoned managed to regain a modicum of composure. Some quietly attempted to cast spells to escape the perilous scene, only to discover that all spatial-related magic had been completely neutralized.

In that instant, the physical body underwent a profound transformation, and a vast, surging true qi erupted from within, echoing grandly in all directions.

Ning Zhe's brow furrowed. He felt as though he had managed to grasp some crucial thread of clues, yet he could not clearly articulate the exact shape of that thread.

First, he waved the soul-cleansing spirit banner, severing the connection between Liu Ning's surviving soul and the crimson speck of light, while guiding the soul back toward its physical vessel.

The galaxy surged once more, reignited by supreme and mighty power to burn anew. Yet, this would be its final swan song.

Zhang Daqiang tactfully shifted the topic, pointing toward the young gentleman who had just mocked Ximen Zhu.

Jiang Yu abruptly straightened his posture, his eyes gleaming brightly as though he had been stimulated by a performance enhancer, his words dripping with honeyed sweetness.

The man dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. Coincidentally, at that exact moment, his freed subordinates rushed in en masse, only to freeze in utter astonishment at the sight before them.

Ji Yue, kneeling on the ground, wore a dazed expression. Confused by the abrupt shift in Zhao Yayi's demeanor, a trace of helplessness flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Just as now, they remained intensely curious about what choice Fu Jie would make, and how Feng Lingling would decide.

Xueyu's delicate lips parted and moved silently for a long moment until, sensing the body of the elder sister before her begin to tremble, she forcibly steadied her mind.

Before long, Xiong Jiushan emerged from the room draped in a thick outer garment, keeping his head lowered with a gloomy expression.

It was not until those clear eyes entered his field of vision that he finally believed love could happen in a single fleeting moment.

"Well, visiting each other like this must be quite convenient," I continued with a cheerful laugh. Only after the words left my mouth did I realize how inappropriate the remark truly was.

"Have a seat and tell me about it," Lin Zhao said, holding Qingling's hand as they walked over to the couch, gesturing for her to make herself comfortable.

The Seven-Star Eyes of Gods and Demons, once considered a divine-tier mystical technique, had undergone numerous evolutions and transformations through Shao Yixuan's refinements. To ancient gods, it practically ranked as an esoteric art, possessing extraordinary efficacy.

"I don't have any family," the old man declared, plumping himself down onto the sofa and turning on the television to watch it with complete comfort.

He had never once held the child. Whenever the baby cried in Huangshi's absence, he would even throw whatever object happened to be within arm's reach to silence her.

"No. In short, if you refuse to do it, while everyone else enjoys a feast of rich food this evening, you will be left with nothing but a single bowl of noodles," Uncle Fu said before turning and walking away.

Meanwhile, before a gravestone inscribed with the image of a smiling, sweet-faced girl, a figure wearing a smiling mask operated a data terminal.

Su Lengjiu wondered what it would be like if she, too, were ever painted into a scroll. She cared little whether her lifetime deeds were heroic or grand; she only wished to be depicted as beautifully as a nine-tailed fox or a flower spirit.

I was never particularly adept at geomancy and feng shui, but fortunately, I had packed a luopan compass before setting out this time; otherwise, I truly would have been at my wits' end.

"These people are clearly here to pick a fight. Let's just shut the door and ignore them," Ning Wei said with unexpected backbone, though her approach lacked finesse. Matters like this could not be simply avoided, nor could one dismiss the public outcry with such a crude and obstinate denial.

Even I was utterly astonished, to say nothing of the other two. Old Liu, holding his cup mid-drink, left his mouth half-open as water spilled from the rim across his lips, splashing onto the floor and staining his shoes; Sister Xue wore an expression of profound shock as well, staring blankly at Old Qin.

After inquiring with people nearby, the four of them learned that the White Tiger Academy hosted a welcoming bonfire party for new students after every enrollment examination to celebrate their arrival.

"Very well, this ghost will follow you from now on. You must guide it well," the grand general said with a hearty laugh.

The courtyard was small, and a single sweeping glance revealed everything. Aside from a few crape myrtle trees that still retained a vestige of vitality, the pharmaceutical plots once tended by Mama Gao were now entirely covered in barren yellow soil. With a furrowed brow, Zhen Sanniang searched Mama Gao's former residence, finding nothing whatsoever, and could only squat down before the former medicinal plots to ponder carefully.

Pan Long sat in the seat of honor, while the newly promoted hall masters and elders arranged themselves orderly in the seats below, all bearing grave expressions.

Feeling that something was deeply amiss, Luo Yu hurriedly invoked the system to summon Chu Mo, who was far away in another region of the Water Empire, asking him to help analyze the situation.

One man and one beast gazed from afar at the fair maiden beneath the tree. As she turned her head back, it seemed she had sensed Ouyang Tian's arrival.

Could this be a live photo from the concert venue? Why wasn't it published publicly online for everyone to see, but instead sent to me privately to share the joy? I thought, feeling both flattered and bewildered.

After all, at a time like this, the most crucial priority was to gather all the living and the dead alike, and then sit down together to devise a solution.