Chapter 33

The four students hailed from the Three Thousand Dao Academy, representing the finest talents within its inner sanctum. Arrogant and haughty, they held Li Xiaoyao, a student chosen on a whim, in utter contempt.

Hu Qi and the ministers arrived just outside the palace gates, their hearts leaping into their throats at the sight. Though Gu Changsheng was a man favored by destiny, he would still meet a premature end should he encounter a danger beyond his reach.

"Creak—" The prison door was pushed open from the outside, revealing the familiar, sinister face.

Yet, who could have guessed that by unleashing a single celestial space-palace tonight, he had walked into his own trap, only to be captured, besieged, and refined like a lowly ant.

When he finished his task, Jing Tan, who had been by his side, had fallen asleep. Thinking she must be exhausted, he chose not to wake her.

Reflecting on her life, she realized that apart from descending to the mortal realm to scatter flowers during the peony season each year, she spent all her time in idle play. She had never considered, nor did she know, what else she could do as a Flower Immortal.

Blood dripped down the tiger’s neck. The massive beast twisted its body incessantly, nearly throwing White Emperor off several times.

The leader in black was unwilling to miss such a prime opportunity. Every time Chen Xi made a move, his inner energy would rise to match her level.

With the data transferred, Jin Li promptly initiated a transfer of 500,000 from the computer. It was a bargain, covering the loss of the base’s vegetables and the mental distress caused.

Lin Hanshan chuckled. Though still reeling from shock, he found it miraculous; the youth before him had returned in less than half a year, and could no longer be viewed through the lens of an ordinary person.

This could not go on. After some thought, Lin Yin could not set her mind at ease. She comforted Zhou Qiongxi for a moment, then, ignoring her protests, grabbed a flashlight and plunged into the dark of night.

"He Jingjing, is dinner ready?" Ye Haixuan went straight to the kitchen and called out. To his surprise, he was met with a crowd of people gathered around He Jingjing, peering at something.

"The Bone Cultivator! It’s the Bone Cultivator! His cultivation is heaven-defying; in his presence, no demonic beast can survive a single breath! He has saved so many of us on this battlefield!" another soldier said, gazing at Ying Tian’s receding back with reverence and fervor.

***

Livestock farming and agriculture on Mars continued to follow the old industrial models of Earth. Fortunately, the Martian soil was bountiful, and its output was sufficient to sustain the needs of the three stars.

Zhou Sining was a pragmatist; given the current conditions, functionality was what mattered, and aesthetics were of secondary importance.

Feeling the heavy loss, Jin Li was too lazy to waste words. She ordered Kun Jie to gag the three men and move them to her own tree-shed to be kept under guard.

"Smack!" A sharp slap cut off Gao Shenghan’s words. Though Geng Feng did not hit him with full force, the blow landed squarely on Gao Shenghan’s cheek.

Jiang Ruo cast a displeased glance at Zhou Ye before handing the menu to the waiter, then waited quietly for the meal to be served.

Gu Yunrong opened her mouth, only to realize she actually wanted to offer an explanation. But what status or face did she have to justify one?

Hua Qingluo carefully recalled the events in the main hall. Those who had offended him today included Zhi Nan and Yun Zeying, but certainly not himself.

Lin Shengqian was frantic. He shook off Lin Youcai’s hand and gazed toward the direction of the sky where he had just been staring.

Watching Nangong Yuan’s ashen face, a grim premonition rose in Luo Shiqing’s heart. She followed his gaze toward the glow of fire outside the city, and her own expression turned ghastly.

Ye’s family members were all bound and roasted over flames; Hei Yuezi was being carved up, cut by cut; Dong Feng was kicked to the ground, trampled by countless feet.

Though being a reporter was her dream, guarding the Shanghui Department Store was equally her responsibility. Hindered by the store’s development, Li Mo had no choice but to temporarily suspend her work at the newspaper.

His gaze swept over the surroundings, landing on the hundreds of thousands of Silent Sword soldiers, a look of fatalism appearing in his eyes.

Who was the Nine-Life Demon Lord? Did anyone not know what he intended by abducting Yue Xiqing? Lin Qingjue simply had not expected the Demon Lord to kill her anyway. The man was too cruel and heartless; it was no wonder he had offended every expert across the continent.

"Your grandmaster, the Tribulation Sword Immortal, was truly a legendary figure in his time. The so-called 'Sword that Shook the Heavenly Tribulation' was merely the world’s final send-off for him. Yet, long before that, he was already an object of admiration and reverence among countless sword cultivators in this Yaosuo territory," the black-robed elder said, glancing at Li Xing as he recounted the past of the Tribulation Sword.

***

The aura they exuded was not unfamiliar to Xu Qi; it was the distinct aura of the Five Sun Dao cultivators.

They were still in the market district. High in the sky, along the streets below, and in the low air beside him, people flew by in haste. Guangzhu Prefecture was indeed lively. Mi Dou sighed in the cool breeze of late autumn, slowing his flight speed a fraction.

As the last thread of consciousness faded, Li Yunchen felt only despair, believing there was no hope for recovery and that he would die with regrets. But at that moment, several rays of seven-colored light appeared on his body. Gradually, the glow grew from weak to strong, bathing the entire cave in dreamlike hues.

Throughout the battle, although Yan Chikuang was wounded and bleeding, Ji Wufeng had not gained much of an advantage. He was sent into a frenzy by Yan Chikuang’s heavy sword strikes, coughing up blood in his agitation.

"What exactly is their background?" Song Jingzhi, abandoning all concerns for status or face, pulled Song Jingxiang aside and asked with grave seriousness.

The demon tribes of the Agricultural Domain were generally unable to forge powerful hundred-mile artifacts. However, through decades or centuries of accumulation, or by roughly processing natural treasures or excavating ancient hoards, they occasionally possessed one or two troublesome demonic treasures.

Xiao Wuxie took Meng'er and fled the city. Whoever could pull off a kidnapping in the dead of night must be a hegemon of this region; finding them in the city would be effortless. His most pressing priority now was to treat Meng'er’s internal injuries.

Mo Liu relied on his intuition to dodge the attacks of the war-blades. But the frequency of the strikes was too high, and he could not withstand them, leaving him no choice but to evade. For a time, Mo Liu was locked in a bitter stalemate with the blades.

Then, the flute music shifted abruptly, its momentum grand and sweeping, like ten thousand galloping horses. The melody, sharp as a blade, tore through the void and flew toward Leng Qiuyi.

He could not simply vent his anger on Zhou Yin. Setting aside the question of whether he could defeat him, they were currently within the Feathering Sect.

Alas, a mere demon monkey, with a cultivation of only the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm and yet to step onto the path of the Great Luo, had managed to throw the Heavenly Court into such chaos and disgrace.