Chapter 34

Long Lie, however, heard him clearly. His eyes widened in disbelief; heaven knows how much trouble this face of his had brought him, and he never expected that a hulking man of Zhao Seventeen’s stature would envy his own frail appearance.

When Ku Zhu caught sight of the long river, the ruyi, and the precious pearl above, he realized at once that he had been outmaneuvered by Yuan Qingwei.

"So, you went through all that mystery and fanfare just to show me this lawnmower?"

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Si Mu wanted to step forward to stop him, but Shi Jian shot him a cold glare. Lightning shimmered in his palm, easily suppressing him. Monk Yixiu, who lived nearby and had come over to avoid suspicion, heard the commotion and rushed over to intervene.

Until one day, when both Obi-Wan and Qiao Lü sensed a subtle tremor in the ground—not the thunderous roar of another Imperial fleet bombardment, but more like the vibration of Imperial walkers on the move.

"I don't mind breaking a sweat carrying you," Su Zhichen said. Tan Ruoyu stared at his profile, feeling a warmth spread through her heart.

The roar of the aircraft carrier’s engines could already be heard, accompanied by a booming sound of water as the massive bow pushed waves against the banks of the canal.

Long Yan’s cultivation path would imitate Long Qingyue’s, focusing on mutation. As for what specific attributes might manifest, that would depend on her destiny. If necessary, the family still hoped she would marry and have children, just in case of unforeseen circumstances.

"No way!" Su Yueshu snatched the tissue from her nose and threw it into the trash can. Sure enough, there were traces of blood on it.

"Don't worry, I'll draft a few strong men to help hold the line first," Qiao Lü said, half-jokingly.

Taoist Jinzhong was no longer of the demonic path; he had become a cultivator of the righteous path. His golden core was condensed from true essence and the power of sound, not demonic energy.

For Xu Kai, however, this was an incredibly heavy question. He feared that if he answered incorrectly, the deal might not be completed.

***

Qi Qi pointed a finger, and walls of sand rose from the ground like a labyrinth. The scorpions, now locked in, felt the world go dark as all their connections were severed.

"Silly girl, what is there for me to worry about?" Li Tian said, flicking her on the forehead.

"No, I have things to discuss with Feiteng after dinner. Let's eat another time." Xing Luo waved a hand and said goodbye to Zhang Tian and Zhang Shili. Gong Jiaojiao politely bid them farewell as well before leaving with Xing Luo.

Ye Sanlang glanced at her charming back and sighed softly. It was unclear what this sigh meant—was it concern for a future conflict with the Heavenly Star Palace, or worry about his future with Li Sihan?

Upon arriving at the regimental headquarters, we joined up with the sharpshooters from other battalions, and Gao Da directed us to a military truck.

Li Ying looked as if she had lost her soul, staring blankly with a trace of fear in her beautiful eyes.

"Tian, is what Zhao Xie said about Brilliant Real Estate going bankrupt true?" Fang Yurou found it hard to believe. Having worked there for several years, she knew exactly how large the company was and couldn't fathom how it could face bankruptcy in just a few days.

"Fate brings together those a thousand miles apart; without it, one may stand face-to-face and never truly meet." The melodic voice of Murong Yan'er rang out.

Cheng Moyu came home with injuries several times. Dou Dou never asked questions, simply tending to his wounds, and he would usually fall asleep while she was doing so.

For instance, if he left without giving her an explanation, it would be impossible for her to live the rest of her life well.

"It’s not like that, it’s not like that!" Ning Qian screamed in desperation, reaching out to embrace Shen Chengren, but she grasped at thin air. Shen Chengren suddenly vanished, turning into a butterfly that flew away, never to linger over the lavender field again.

At that moment, a merchant in gray robes entered and walked straight toward Mistress Chu. She nodded slightly and led him to the back parlor. The merchant signaled his porters, who hoisted two heavy, tightly sealed wooden barrels and moved them toward the back.

***

The night grew deep, and everyone returned to their rooms, leaving the newlyweds to fully enjoy their wedding night.

Chu Xi embraced her from behind, and Mo Li did not move, letting him hold her. Eventually, Chu Xi held her as they went out to watch television, waiting for their son to wake up.

"Grandma and Mommy brought things for Dad and Grandpa but didn't think of Lirui. Lirui is unhappy," Lirui said poutily.

Chu Xi looked at her. Her long hair was tied up, and she wore a white trench coat. Beyond her usual arrogance, there was now an added sharpness to her expression. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking directly at her.

"Just got back. Spleen rupture. Director Ling is still in surgery." So, she was the only one who could perform this procedure.

"Do you have that much confidence in them?" Ancestor Hongjun asked, noting that there was no trace of nervousness on Li Shaofan’s face.

After scraping together a batch of divine sources, he turned his attention to the Primordial Life Stone.

Upon arriving, Liu Qian found a cliffside, used his immense power to carve out a large cave, stepped inside, found a meditation cushion, and sat down in the lotus position.

Of course, there were many who possessed an iron will, refusing to collude with Shi Tian even at the cost of their lives; they died on the spot, becoming food for the others.