Chapter 24

Kresu, gaunt and skeletal, his frame reduced to skin and bone, cast a cold gaze at the youth before him and demanded an answer. He certainly did not know why his wife had insisted on that six-month business trip, nor could he fathom why her attitude toward her career had undergone such a drastic reversal.

Across the table, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Zhou Ruikang’s face, filled with skepticism. This was unexpected; usually, when a new superior arrived, there would at least be whispers of dissent within the ranks. Yet this time, there was nothing but fervent anticipation.

After consulting with Song Yuhua, Lan Fei led her directly to the training grounds. Originally intending only to introduce the upcoming training program, Song Yuhua expressed such eager interest in entering the cockpit that Lan Fei, grateful for her role in averting a crisis for the military, made an exception, allowing this novice—who had joined the Air Force less than a day ago—to step inside.

The stubborn old man remained silent, still feeling a bit piqued. He thought to himself that if she would only kowtow to him once more and plead, he would forgive her.

Could it be that this seemingly ordinary hotel was, as in the movies, a secret base, and that every staff member here was potentially an elite operative?

High in the air, a ripple like a curtain of water shimmered, and a black rift appeared in the void. Where, then, was this mysterious Baron? Why had he not yet revealed himself? Was he being held back by some sort of restriction?

She tried to flee, but he pulled her back onto the bed, pinning her hands behind her back with his large hand, and held her fast in his embrace.

"What is to be done?" Xintian had never encountered such a predicament and felt utterly at a loss.

The tip of the spear touched a fallen leaf, withdrew instantly, and struck another, continuing the rhythm until the final leaf hit the ground and Lin Feng finally came to a halt.

Meng Ke’s momentum vanished instantly. If a sage decreed it, it was the will of heaven, irreversible, and the consequences of defying a sage were dire.

He projected his divine sense to envelop the entire stele of merit. Because he had already grasped the essence of this formation base, the stele resonated with his consciousness; such resonance suggested that refining it would be much easier.

Surveying the battlefield, Gekali exhaled softly. Just as he was about to speak, another breeze blew past.

The branches atop the shack were loose. With a leap, Nanfeng cleared the ground by eight feet, burst through the roof, and grabbed the branches to scale the large tree behind it.

Zhao Guohuai and the others had been keeping a close watch on Chen Xu and Zhao Guolin. Just as Chen Xu channeled his "primordial vitality" to repair Zhao Guolin’s veins, the latter’s pale complexion suddenly began to flush with color.

In the blistering, rapid-fire combat, Qi Lin exhausted every skill at his disposal, even unraveling the Hunyuan Five-Element Lock, but the Mithril Guardian simply absorbed his attacks and redirected them. It was a feeling of profound helplessness, as if Qi Lin were engaged in a futile battle against his own reflection.

"Of course, what else did you think? Well? Why don't you just give in to me?" Li Fei'er replied with a playful smile.

This was a place of sorrow for the fat man, and it was inevitable that the sight would stir up painful memories. Nanfeng did not press him further but sat down beside him.

Furthermore, Sun Ce knew that the wealthy clans of Jiangdong possessed both wealth and grain; a mere trickle from their fingers would be enough to secure seeds, farming tools, and oxen for the tens of thousands of acres of lakeside fields in Chaohu.

With a thunderous shout, surrounded by the power of Buddha, he pushed his Indestructible Golden Body to its limit. He swung his black broadsword with his left hand, cleaving the two silver giant wolves at the waist in a spray of blood, while his right hand, veins bulging, gripped the pitch-black giant axe. Golden fractured patterns shimmered on its surface, radiating an invisible, crushing pressure.

Esino naturally conquered all his subordinates through sheer, overwhelming strength. In the eyes of these demon guards, Lord Esino was an invincible existence in this region. But what had that last strike been? How could any creature in the lower realms possess the power to scatter Lord Esino’s attack?

Princess Yuanyang also admired An Yan for his polo skills, but she never intended to pursue a close relationship with him, as she was already betrothed.

A keen observer could tell that these two troop types possessed a strong synergy; they had likely been specifically developed to fight in tandem. At this rate, by slaying a few more, he should be able to gain enough experience to raise the Shield Guardian by one level.

The process was not slow, but everyone, including Ye Xiao, watched with bated breath, their faces flushed, only exhaling a long sigh of relief once the base had fully moved in.

Behind the middle-aged cultivator, a giant wolf with blue fur let out a roar, surrounded by gusts of wild wind.

The soldiers immediately stood at attention, acknowledging the order. They were truly impressed by Master Sergeant Hong Yi, partly because of the immense strength he had displayed, and partly because he had completed their daily training at three times the intensity—leading by example.

These people had no spine; knowing that further resistance meant death, they all knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy. Hong Yi could not be bothered with them; he had received word from Wang Bing two days prior that these men were planning a surprise attack.

When they left, they were filled with both hope and a paralyzing uncertainty about what the outcome of their departure would be.

Du Kang looked at Lin Yu. Lin Yu saw the look on Du Kang’s face; she was no fool and could see his discomfort. She had Du’s mother step away for a moment so she could watch over him. The mother moved aside, prioritizing her son’s condition.

The sound emanating from the throat of the corpse-pupa was filled with the aura of death, like the final, blood-gurgling chant of one who has had their throat slit.

"I don't see it that way. If it were me, even after I started dating or got married, I would still come out to gather with you whenever you reached out," Huang Xin said suddenly, blinking her eyes after a moment of silence.