Chapter 24

To individuals like Pei Yuanqing or Zhangsun Wuji, a mere bodyguard is disposable; if one dies, it is enough to provide the family with silver or support their livelihood for the remainder of their days. Rarely would a noble, general, or official go to great lengths to personally seek vengeance for an ordinary guard.

In truth, Liang Yizhen was aware of the fire. Back at the West Corner Tower, Liang Nanzhu had already explained it to Yan Lingbo.

Meanwhile, at the original site of the Leifeng Pagoda, points of light blossomed, condensing into a spectral image of the pagoda, ensuring that the average person would perceive no flaw.

Time ticked away, second by second. Although the medicinal herbs within the Spirit Gathering Array had been fully absorbed, the array continued to draw in spiritual energy. Taking a desperate gamble, he consolidated the array once more, causing the spiritual energy to rush into his body like a headless fly.

After a long moment, she remembered to strike Liang Yizhen’s arm with her fan. Liang Yizhen slowly released her, grinning.

Chen Lian saw through this. "Since you are all so united, there is nothing more to be done." His goal was not to kill them all at once, but to transport the entire group away in one fell swoop.

Xiu Mei was not idle either; she set up numerous traps and mechanisms throughout the woods, ensuring that even if she had to retreat, those bastards would not get off easily.

Enraged, he slammed his monk’s staff onto the ground. The earth shook and the mountains swayed, the immense power releasing a thunderous roar that shattered the air and abruptly cut off the Green Snake’s next words.

"How bold! Who are you? These Golden Sand Spirit Fruits belong to my Potuan Sect," the lead middle-aged man declared.

The Imperial Household Department's revenue came from several "Imperial Manors": lands that served as models for various new technologies, as well as monopolies on distilled spirits and glass. The money was neither too much nor too little—sufficient to patch the holes left by war, but doing so would delay improvements to glass production technology by another year.

Upon hearing this, Cha made a move to untie Tang, but Li Shang immediately summoned his Tang saber from his belt and pinned Tang down.

At this, Oliveira extended a finger, upon which a golden flame slowly emerged.

A frail body implies an inability to resist physically, while a gentle and compliant nature suggests a tendency to become emotionally dependent on others.

Lu Tingyan did not manage to pull Ye Wanqing back in time. He frowned, feeling that this matter should not be decided in haste, especially not based solely on Sun Hao’s one-sided account.

***

Xu Qing did not rush to decide which items to sell. First, she scouted the area around the Imperial Forbidden Park and inquired about the situation from passersby.

After all, Tang Hao was a child of destiny, and his fortune was linked to Shen Hengkong, which served as a legitimate justification for Shen Hengkong’s existence.

He had never intended for Delin Kowalt to assist him against the Pu'ang Empire. He was already a god-level entity; as long as the god-level beings from other factions did not intervene, there was no way the Pu'ang Empire could stop him.

In this battle, they annihilated over four thousand enemies, captured ten thousand, and left nearly two thousand scattered or missing—a resounding victory.

Xu Qing stood up, called the proprietress, and said she would take the remaining third of the eggplants in the crate.

Lei Dong signaled to Li Shang, who understood the gesture as consent and handed the cat to Lu Lingyan. Xiong He snapped his fingers in secret, and the cat was free to move.

"Minister Wang, not only are you bullying the young with your age, but you also resorted to a sneak attack. Is this the conduct of a dignified Minister of our Chu State?" Chu Yu’s fair face flushed with anger.

Lie Kong glanced at Li Mengmeng; he had not expected her to be so desperate, so he moved to strike, intending to finish her off once and for all.

"Listen to me, go inside! Staying here will only lead to your deaths and achieve nothing. Wait until you are stronger to protect the family!" Xia Taichang waved his hand, and the dozen or so people felt their bodies lighten and their minds swim. When the scenery before them shifted, they found themselves in a courtyard.

***

Ye Yang held the head-sized flame leaf in disbelief. Mysterious veins pulsed with life across its surface, and endless fiery energy surged into his body, yet it failed to clear his chaotic thoughts. Had he really obtained a leaf from the Fire Parasol Tree, the herb of immortality, so easily?

Lin Zheng nodded. "This shows that most of you are feeling the pressure. You should realize that although you haven't graduated from the training camp, field missions are not as far off as you think, and there is still too much you have yet to learn."

Bai Hao’s expression was ghastly, one might even say pale. He had gone to such lengths to reach the Valley of Lost Hearts, only to be met with this sight.

Li’s laughter had not yet ceased when the Demon Emperor’s body suddenly shuddered. Instantly, the spectral image of the Ancestor appeared behind him.

In such a dark environment and under such unfamiliar circumstances, I did not pull back.

One should not open their eyes when they should be closed, yet when there is no need to close them, one chooses to shut them and remain ignorant.

From then on, when I look at horoscopes, I usually check two: Sagittarius and Aries.

"Since you are not afraid, I shall let you see." As the voice spoke, it drew closer and closer. Bai Hao steadied himself, eyes fixed on the path ahead.

This left them no choice but to exhaust every available resource to search for any information they could find.

Rarely, they abandoned their assault on the defensive tower and circled back to the high ground of the EDG team to regroup.

Li Shigao, however, did not care. He would show off as he pleased; at the very least, when members of his guild met others in the future, they would be able to say: "My boss’s mount is a Wind Dragon; does your boss have one?" Just thinking about it was exhilarating.