Chapter 23 Xie Ya

Ling Xuan had been missing for ten years, during which time there had been no word of him. In fact, save for a few persistent souls like Zeng Nianyu and Zi’er, most had come to believe that Ling Xuan had already ascended to the heavens. When he suddenly reappeared, the crowd of one hundred thousand stood stunned for a full quarter-hour before erupting into a joyous, thunderous roar.

Twelve cast a glance at Penglai. A simple “Sister Fairy” was enough to make her beam with delight; it was clear that a few kind words were all it took to make her lose her bearings.

Although He Xuan had endured a life of hardship, she had never been struck, and certainly never slapped in such a manner. When the guards stepped aside from Zhu Ze, she was startled by the lingering afterimage he left behind.

“Understood.” After receiving these instructions, Liao Yong turned to relay them. Eventually, only Yu Mo and Yu Qing remained in the room, while the rest of the household were ordered to vacate the courtyard and wait outside the gates.

“General, I request to lead five thousand troops to pursue Ji Ling’s forces!” a commander suddenly shouted from within the tent.

Row upon row, ring upon ring—every complete row or ring was composed of the exact same variety and the exact same color.

The Lady Lan had lived in the grand estate, so she knew that one must rely on one’s own people. Though she could not command the servants of the ancestral home, fortunately, she still had the Ding family at her disposal.

Yue Dailei would take advantage of the intervals between his morning and evening shifts to help out in the fields, and Sister Xiu’s two children would occasionally assist as well.

Dozens of squadrons comprised of Heaven-tier warriors resisted the Blood Demon Spirits within the city. Yet, given the terrifying numbers and the soaring, scaled bodies of the demons, these warriors were like tiny specks of gold in a sea of blood, slowly being swallowed by the crimson tide.

Jin Se sat on the zither stool, stealing a glance at He Xuan, who sat on a round stool, lost in deep thought.

He felt bewildered and reached up to touch his forehead, only to discover that his entire body was aching. At that moment, the figure of a red leopard appeared before him. He Wu attempted to scan the area with his divine sense, only to discover with frustration that he could only perceive five meters ahead—he could not even reach a distance of two zhang.

Lu Yu returned the salutation, tidied his robes, and stepped inside with the utmost reverence. Regardless of how carefree he might usually be, at this moment, his heart was filled with solemnity and respect.

He Wu felt momentarily annoyed by this discovery, but he was not a man easily discouraged, and he continued to watch.

After living in the cave for a few days, Xu Sheng grew familiar with the yakshas; they no longer blocked the entrance when they went out. Gradually, he and they gathered together like a family.

According to market rates, a low-grade Daoist treasure was worth ten thousand units of Array Wood divine power; one thousand such treasures were equivalent to ten million units.

The first barrier stood ahead, as imposing and soul-chilling as the Gate of Hell. People bustled to and fro, while Qing soldiers conducted strict inspections of all who passed.

The room was in shambles; not a single piece of furniture remained intact. Amidst the debris, only the altar stood unscathed. From this alone, it was clear who the culprit was. He had offended many Daoists, but only one was capable of such behavior: Huang Huixin, the descendant of the Immortal Huang.

Li Yifan had never experienced such a scene; even if he wanted to retort, he could not find the words.

Moreover, even if one achieved enough military merit, as in the previous instance where one had to choose from a pile of Five Elements immortal arts, there was no guarantee of finding one suitable for oneself. If only there were a safer way to acquire them.

Now, the game of Life and Death Chess was set; only two things were missing: the players and the case to store the pieces.

Furthermore, he exuded an intimidating aura that made one feel fearful and heart-stricken at a single glance.

Even Wangcai was rolling on the ground with laughter, continuously slapping the floor with its paws, looking for all the world as if it might die from amusement.

The next person who could not proceed was Liu Yuxi. Having defied the heavens to reach the ninety-sixth step, she could go no further and received a divine infusion of power. At that moment, everyone was curious: what level of divine power had she attained, and how great were the benefits she had received?

The Demon Kings sitting here were all renowned figures of the West Niu He Continent, and naturally, none were willing to bow to another. Before long, only seven or eight remained on the mountaintop.

Great Brahma was one of the very first Asuras he had created. Although he was burdened by karmic debt, he also possessed the heavenly merit bestowed at the birth of the Asura race; his inherent talent was far beyond that of ordinary Asuras.

“Overestimating your abilities.” As Mu Chen’s voice faded, he appeared eerily before the scarred man. His speed surpassed the man’s imagination, and before he could think, he instinctively threw a punch.

Taishang Laojun watched Yang Jian, who had the upper hand in his battle against Sun Wukong, and could not help but feel a twinge of envy toward the Chan Sect. If he had such a disciple under his tutelage, he could have long since retired to peaceful cultivation instead of fretting as he did now.

The Prince’s Club had merely been sealed; its facilities remained perfectly intact. Under Ye Xiong’s direction, it could be reopened immediately, though the name would need to change. Since Zhao Yafu was now the owner, it was only fitting that she should choose the new name.

Ever since the incident with Zhang Xiaohu, He Manzi had not seen the Dean. Now that she had been summoned alone, she felt somewhat uneasy.

He Manzi could not help but shake her head. It seemed that none of these people were to be trifled with; they had clearly already investigated her background thoroughly. In other words, had it not been for Zhang Xiaohu, she might not even have succeeded as a pharmaceutical representative, let alone attained her current position as manager.

As the saying goes: whatever does not kill you will eventually make you stronger.

The commander of the twenty-thousand-strong army in the city was a sensible man; realizing the situation was hopeless, he opened the gates to surrender.

The two chatted for a while longer. Zixuan took an access token for Thousand Cave City from his robes and gave it to Ye Feng, explaining that he still had a mission from his master to complete and could not stay long, promising to enjoy wine and conversation another time.