Chapter 26

A translucent form drifted through the air, exuding a power so formidable it seemed to transcend even that of a Saint Emperor.

When two armies clash, if the leader of one side is slain, it is inevitable that the morale of their troops will falter. Regardless of the nature of the army, such a blow almost invariably leads to chaos or total rout.

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Yun consumed the medicinal pills he had purchased through the Universal Trading System. He had already dealt with the staff at the training facility he shared with Hua Yang.

It was a tragic tale, one Ye Kai had always been reluctant to tell, knowing that the truth would surely wound many.

Fahai walked straight to the throne usually occupied by Ghost Tang San and began fumbling behind the seat.

On another note, he recalled the strength Xiao Chong possessed in his earlier years, yet the current Xiao Chong felt even more terrifying.

As soon as the Wolf God regained consciousness, he found himself adrift in an endless ocean of profound celestial mysteries. Before him stood the enraptured figure of Zhang Zhipei, with all his other avatars manifested behind him. Lost in this state, the Wolf God had long since forgotten the crisis at hand.

She possessed the strength of a late-stage Profound Realm martial artist, and more importantly, Su Chen was by her side.

Yet at this moment, he discovered with horror that the residence’s defensive arrays showed no reaction. The manor seemed trapped in a silent, dead space where even the art of celestial calculation failed.

However, Chi Tian and his companions remained unaware of this. In their minds, these so-called Crystal Defense Towers were merely decorative, especially since they had already passed several at close range without incident.

Watching the arrogant group depart, Zhuang Hua could no longer suppress his fury. He struck out in frustration, his fist shattering the empty air.

Unless a miracle occurred, her fate was sealed; regardless, Han Bing would never stand by and watch Lu Qingyu die.

In those days, the Xiongnu cavalry often invaded to plunder the western tribes and the people along the central and eastern borders, severely threatening the security of the Great Han. To campaign against the Xiongnu, Su Wu’s father implemented a militia system in Dai Commandery that combined agriculture with military service.

***

Since they had already met, Cui Ruolan and Zhou Haotian were familiar with Zhang Ling and Zhou Cuihua, so there was no need for formality. Cui Ruolan, however, was quite surprised by the changes in the two women.

"You big fat pig, still claiming you weren't peeking? Come here and let me hit you!" Xiao Fei shouted angrily.

Feeling the blade’s wind approaching, Jiang Kailan froze. His gaze locked onto that hand—or rather, that blade. He did not panic, nor did he dodge; instead, his heart grew gradually tranquil. Despite being enveloped by a monumental sense of crisis, his mind remained as still as water.

Witnessing such a satisfying scene, the leaders and teachers were eager to welcome him. Beyond the students and faculty, local internet enthusiasts also joined the welcoming queue.

The male salesman looked at Chen Hao with undisguised contempt. In his mind, someone like Chen Hao could never afford a BMW, especially while accompanied by a mutt—even if the dog did look a bit sturdy.

"Besides, this is a new technique you've just learned and haven't used yet," Chen Mengqi offered as a justification.

Furthermore, Minister Han was also a Fourth-Rank official, which placed significant pressure on Gu Yu.

The secretary spoke while leading Qi Feiyan into the main hall, making sure to have servants serve tea so no one could complain about the oversight later.

Fairy Mirror Spirit flipped her hand, and miraculously, a golden headband appeared. "I shall put this on you," she said, placing it on Du Wei’s head herself. Once it was set, she flipped her hand again, and a dress and a pair of fuzzy yellow tiger-head shoes appeared.

"I was afraid you might misunderstand me!" Du Wei said with a faint smile, causing Guo Huai to chuckle in his honest way.

Li Hao watched helplessly as that beam of light shattered, causing the earth to tremble incessantly.

The two entered the grand guest room. Du Wei saw four strangers sitting with Tianya and Shen Shi.

"And who are you people? Are you truly princes or nobles? If so, how did you end up on Fengming Mountain, and how did you fall down this cliff?" Kuiwei Feng set down his paulownia zither and murmured.

Black Xi Ruohua flew out and landed at the edge of the sinkhole. Du Wei, overcome with a mix of grief and joy, rushed forward and threw himself into her arms, tears of happiness streaming down his face.

***

"Right!" Zhang Cai agreed, carefully examining the outer wall. Du Wei went upstairs and saw that the floor had collapsed. Inspecting the edge of the ruin, he thought to himself, "Good heavens, this is serious. A hole like this in the floor isn't something an ordinary person could make."

As she went to fetch food, she thought about what her brother had said the night before: "Only by keeping a low profile can you eat your fill." Since keeping one wasn't enough, she decided she would keep two this time.

I stood up and walked to the door, tapping on it. Danny was standing outside, and I knew he could hear me.

"Damn, this maze really is huge. I suspect Chiyou turned the entire inner palace into a labyrinth," Li Daniu said, retracting his fist after smashing through a wall.

"Daniu, do you really think my inheritance is stronger than this Tiger Soul Blade?" Mu Hongling looked at the Human King Ring in her hand, feeling a bit uncertain.

"So you're blaming me? I didn't know that meant 'turn'!" Li Daniu retorted, sounding even more aggrieved.

"Oh no, it's terrible! Something terrible has happened!" A sharp-featured man in black robes scrambled into the hall, terrified out of his wits.

The night was beautiful, the lantern festival was bustling, and people were everywhere, filling the air with a cacophony of sounds. Yet, Luo Xi remained listless, her mind filled with the image of Guo Feiyu. She wondered if he had returned, if he knew she had left, and if he was looking for her.

"Daniu, have you named these two scythes yet?" Mu Hongling turned to ask.

The bed’s swaying slowed significantly. I struggled to rise, but the chilling glare from Rilad made me abandon the thought.

Lady Han truly did not know, but she had long since anticipated it: before she was relegated to the cold palace, she knew the Empress had not died. Since she was still alive, she would return to the palace sooner or later.

"Wait, I've been thinking. To avoid complications, let’s act tonight," Luo Xi decided, feeling that finishing the task early was better than letting potential trouble grow.