Volume One, Chapter 42: A Single Shot Erases All Grievances

Sometimes, Jian Shuyan truly despised her uncontrollable tendency to cry. She never wanted to weep, but simply couldn't restrain herself.

"Hahaha. It's all written out in black and white, and you’ve pressed your bloody handprint. The wager has been made—there’s no chance for you to back out now," Shang Tiangong glanced at his opponent, then sneered with utter disdain.

Ji Yun gently touched the unremarkable wooden door, feeling the subtle green glow the wood emitted. It was unexpectedly warm to the touch—Undying Greenfire Wood.

Without exposing the true intentions of the so-called Ghost King, Xu Ruowu, Ji Yun nodded, relaxing as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of Yuxi cigarettes. Lighting one, he inhaled contentedly, leaving the crowd momentarily stunned.

Among the third-generation disciples of the Black and White Academy, he was absolutely exceptional. Though he was not a reincarnated immortal, his understanding of the path of fire was profound. Three years earlier, the Fire Sage had sworn an oath to the heavens: he would not leave seclusion until he comprehended the way of flames.

Streams of fire, like shackles, continuously twisted the mesh upward, gradually lifting a strange creature from the depths of the lake toward the surface.

Especially Blooddrinker Sword, who had cultivated for years at the Black and White Academy and was highly ranked there—yet, even with full defense and assistance from a Yuanshen Daoist, he had still sustained serious injuries.

A man walked in, his cold, blade-like eyes sweeping over the ground-floor hall before ascending to the second floor. His appearance was unremarkable, that of an ordinary middle-aged man. His face was slightly gaunt, but his eyebrows were fierce and upright, like two blades pointing straight toward his brow. Between them, a strong air of hostility lingered. His lightly curled mustache stirred without wind, hinting at the aura of a master.

The entire fleet was now within range of those terrifying water-fire cannons. Fortunately, the farther back one was, the less intense the attacks; there were fewer shattered hulls and debris in the rear.

"Enough chatter. You’re not the one exhausting yourself—why have you stopped already?" Ross sneered.

Gao Zhicheng couldn't help but retort, but just as the hooked fish suddenly surged forward and tugged harder, he swallowed his words.

His bottle of red wine certainly wasn’t an authentic 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, but it still cost over thirty thousand yuan.

No wonder, back when the strongest of the Ember clan refined the Primordial Star, despite the Celestial race holding an absolute advantage, they dared not launch a direct assault.

From the perspective of Su Hongmai or the Su family, the decline of the Supreme Mystery Sect was likely due to a misguided focus—placing fame and fortune above the importance of inner teachings.

Suddenly remembering something, Bai Zongnan reached into his breast pocket and handed Sheng Jie an item—a ring he had found in Wang Jian’s pocket inside the cave.

"Who would have thought," the Supreme Daoist sighed, "that the first to learn the teacher's secret technique would be a disciple of Primordial Star."

He certainly would not admit that, though he often preached "a ninja must sacrifice himself," when the moment of truth came, he could not bring himself to do so.

She moved closer, and Bai Zongnan finally saw her clearly—she wore a miniskirt dress and heavy makeup.

Then, carrying her chair to the balcony, she took out snacks and a cocktail, eating and drinking alone.

As expected, when Liu Ping arrived, even high officials such as Rear General Dong Zhuo and those of the rank of two-thousand shi came forward to greet him.

Just as Empress Dowager Dou had said: if the King of Ji truly desired the throne, why seek what is distant and neglect what is near? Establishing the four protectorates in the east, south, west, and north as the shields of Han was an act of profound foresight. Empress Dowager Dong had no objections, and concurred: just as in the previous dynasty, four Generals of Conquest should be appointed to govern the four regions, all under the command of the Grand General who aids Han.