Volume One, Chapter 48: The Retired Emperor Seeks Qin Bao's Aid

Xingqing Palace!

Before an alchemy furnace, the Retired Emperor was wholly absorbed in refining elixirs. The golden elixir he consumed was specially formulated by a Celestial Master and boasted exceptional effects. Each time he took the medicine, he felt as if he were about to ascend into immortality.

In a daze, he seemed to witness everything in the heavens—immortal beings, celestial emperors, landscapes of otherworldly beauty, all blurred between reality and illusion, captivating beyond measure.

"Yes, strike at the seven-inch mark. A snake’s weakness lies there. Although this isn’t truly a snake, it ought to have its own weak spot. Let’s give it a try," Jiang Mengrou affirmed.

On the first day of the second month, the academy distributed spiritual herbs and pills once again. Sun Haoci, as before, received three times the amount allotted to others.

"Wait for me. It won’t be long before I bring you back, and then our family will be reunited," Sun Haoci whispered softly to Wang Nan as he leaned over the ice coffin. He then closed the lid and slipped the coffin into a black storage bag capable of holding living beings.

After being rejected by Su Xin, Zhao Yunxuan felt somewhat downcast. The atmosphere was awkward, but it was just as well for Su Xin to return alone.

After dinner, with the evening still young, the whole family gathered to make dumplings and sweet potato pockets, shaping them while watching the Spring Festival Gala.

In the ancestral hall, incense continued to burn, white smoke curling through the air, as the dim glow of lanterns cast a warm light across the surroundings.

Upon hearing the question, Ling Xuan fell silent. He needed to give it serious thought and answer with care.

Retreat and surrender had never crossed Ling Xuan’s mind; he disliked those words. Much less so when his opponent had come to kill him.

But Han Qianyu was not about to relent. Riding the momentum, she unleashed another punch—this one even more ferocious, the wind from her fist buzzing with a turbulent hum.

Yuan Mo’s brow twitched slightly. Naturally, he was aware that humans were forbidden from entering the Inferno. Bingchen’s words were true—should humans enter, it would indeed plunge the Inferno into chaos. Even he could not shield the entire realm and ignore its stability.

Just yesterday, Jiang Feng had experienced Shuang Yi’s shamanic blessing firsthand, and found its effects far superior to any elixir he had previously purchased.

They seemed to have gone mad, hurling themselves at incoming blades without care. Even when their throats were slashed in an instant, they continued to struggle, biting at anything within reach.

Qian Duoduo had been at Hanjiang Academy long enough to be considered a veteran, but Sha Fengxue was recognized by all as the undisputed leader. Everyone, regardless of seniority, had to address her as “senior”—it had nothing to do with their years at the academy.

As they spoke, they arrived before a mountain valley. They’d planned to keep driving, but for some reason, the road ahead was suddenly blocked by boulders.

Guo Yang and Anu slowly made their way toward the bottom of the river. Along the way, frightened fish darted frantically into the distance.

"Ask me anything; I promise I’ll answer every question," Yu Lingche said, gently stroking Yuge’s hair.

"He’s beautiful. I don’t think anyone in this world is more beautiful than him. Besides, he’s already taken up residence in my heart," Yuge said, clasping her hands tightly.

Su Meng’s electric grid was vast enough to trap an army of a hundred thousand—covering several football fields. The surviving soldiers of the Heavenly Dynasty fled desperately in every direction.

Lin Xi had heard of Lu Ming’s reputation long ago, and had idolized the unseen top student of her year, dreaming of the day they might meet and converse. By a stroke of luck, that day had come, but now her heart brimmed with questions, and Lu Ming seemed even more unfathomable to her.

The leader of the Beggar Sect died without a single cry; pale intestines spilled across the floor, and blood stained the whole ground crimson.

"Go into the system first, get a rough understanding and feel for its workings, and note anything lacking that needs to be revised. Report back to me, and I’ll inform His Majesty."

"I don’t care if you’re sick or not—hand over the money, now!" The man wielding a broadsword was growing impatient.