Chapter 18

When he erupted, the air thickened with the scent of blood, his battle prowess piercing the heavens like a supreme demon lord whose roar shook the mountains and rivers.

Xu Renyu silently calculated in his mind—eight years ago? That was roughly when he lost contact with Professor Boris. It seemed the matter was indeed as he suspected. At the time, he had an ominous feeling that he dared not ignore. Now, after eight years, his premonition had been confirmed.

The Yanshan army charged without a word, blades raised. The black-clad men fought desperately to defend themselves but ultimately fell beneath the swords of the Yanshan soldiers.

Yet she dared not reveal her grievances. Her family's concubines came from noble backgrounds and were all enchanting beauties. Though she was now past her prime, she was determined to maintain her position as the primary wife for the sake of her son.

Beside her, Zuo Baocang saw the crimson red spider lilies written on the note and immediately felt relieved. He exhaled deeply and sighed.

“I don’t know if the Winter Palace ghost truly exists,” Han Jiang shared his thoughts. “I was taught not to believe in ghosts. But judging solely by the ghost we encountered, I find it hard to tell whether it was a person or a spirit.”

Pinching the thickness of the envelope, Lone Wolf smiled and patted Sun Tian on the shoulder. Seizing the moment, Sun Tian sat beside him.

While walking, Chu Qiao noticed a shed nearby used for storing hay and a simple kitchen shelter. It seemed that before, they had cooked meals in that makeshift kitchen.

Zhu Di’s methods were extraordinarily cruel! In just moments, he had stirred the people of Yanjing, seducing and manipulating them.

On the eastern side of Kunlun Mountain, at the base of a certain peak, the roaring sound of a waterfall echoed continuously.

Gu Lingling blurted out, “Nonsense.” The Red Robe Sect’s rules were extremely strict: followers were forbidden from having children, and even contact with outsiders was punishable by being tied to a pillar and burned alive—let alone the high priest.

Perhaps the former Luo Hebin bore no resemblance to his current self; in fact, they were often opposites. But something must have happened to shape Luo Hebin into the unchanging figure he was today.

---

Sakura was tightly held by Fuji, her hands instinctively resting on his arms. His dark crimson eyes glanced at the two before breaking the silence.

Inside the warship, icy blue machinery and white lights intertwined. Crew members bustled about, occasionally whispering about ship matters, sometimes interjecting with gossip about the chief commander’s quarrels.

Condovia realized he had accidentally injured a teammate and hurried to check the wound. Medel was still lying on the ground. The referee beckoned the Inter Milan substitute bench, and the prepared team doctor stepped onto the field.

Everyone fell silent, as if time itself had stopped. Outside, leaves fell without a breeze. Inside, the stillness was even more profound. Sunlight spilled on the floor, casting a pale glow.

Qian Wan pinched her brow, finished reading the final report, then took a sip from the teapot beside her. She planned to lie down in her room for a while, as she needed to rise early tomorrow to scout the newly purchased mall, making her presence known.

An Rong stepped off the coaching bench, shouted to his players at the sidelines, and made a pushing-forward gesture, signaling them to attack.

He himself didn’t know if the Old Wood Sect was superior or if these opponents were simply too weak. After so many matches, he hadn’t used any advanced techniques—just ordinary moves.

“You all?” Wang Yue frowned slightly, unaware if the three from Qingcheng could swim or what was truly going on inside.

Wei Yan immediately took the money, exited the room, then entered another private chamber to hand the silver to Hua’er.

After pacing back and forth, muttering to himself, he finally clenched his teeth and stomped his foot. Approaching the throne, he lifted the cushion and retrieved a one-foot square sandalwood box from a secret compartment beneath.

Though he was a big-time gambler who never invested in other ventures, he had put his resources into a struggling "Dockworkers Mutual Aid Society," and yet it had survived amid the treacherous streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon—that was truly a legend.

“Although it was just an accident, I still thank you for being willing to help my brothers. With this, there should be no casualties on this mission,” the elder brother said, still bowing deeply at ninety degrees, his voice low and steady.

---

The group arrived at a storefront in a Cape Town slum. Warlock looked at the dilapidated door, which bore signs advertising fishing gear, climbing equipment, and parachute supplies.

In the court hall, the ruler of Chechi Kingdom sat solemnly on the central throne. On his right lay three stools, though no one occupied them.

Xu Chunhua was startled. Not only was the barrel filthy and foul at the moment, but even ordinarily, she never dared to sift through manure. She had only stepped back after seeing the pole caught beneath the half-filled dung bucket.

Beneath Kang City, tens of thousands of flaming arrows soaked in oil whistled through the air. The fiery rain illuminated the darkness of the night.

All this made the Xu family members furious, wishing to annihilate the entire invading clan. Some even thought Xu Hong was too merciful to spare Ding Guang, a spiritual master beneath the revered Imperial Royal Family.

The scene stirred the hearts of all present deeply. Watching the mother and son weeping in despair, no one could hold back their emotions any longer. Tears of joy glistened in their eyes.

Having lived a peaceful life in Sangjiawu, faced with such extraordinary complexity, one had no choice but to grit their teeth and face the challenge alone.

“Hey, why’d you stop? Come back and keep playing—we haven’t even seen who wins or loses yet,” Ye Guyuan lamented, feeling her many efforts had been wasted.

Wu Kai looked at Chen Ying, wrapped entirely in bandages, dragging her exhausted body. After briefly instructing Lin Qinshi on some precautions, he quietly left the operating room. As he retrieved his clothes from the locker, his phone suddenly rang from within the garment.

Sang Chun smiled wryly. “Bank loans aren’t that easy. The bank requires collateral, appraisals, and many procedures. Most people in our village are illiterate and afraid of trouble, so everyone hesitates.”