Volume 1, Chapter 23: The Forbidden Object

The rooftop offered little space, yet the two figures moved with such speed they were nearly blurs. The clash of weapons was rapid and dense, a cacophony of ringing steel, while the occasional bursts of frigid energy stung his cheeks.

Liu Ruoxi... this woman was absurdly strong!

His own amateur skills were likely no more than paper before her. No wonder she had been so confident in promising to protect him.

As Su Haoming’s mind wandered, a glimmer of cold, ghostly blue light broke away from the fray, silently streaking toward his face!

It was that dagger!

"You're courting death!" Liu Ruoxi snapped. Her reaction was lightning-fast; with a flick of her wrist, her longsword arrived before the attack could land. With a crisp "clang," she precisely deflected the poisoned...

I didn't know if the man could be trusted, but I gathered my courage, testing the ground with my feet, inching toward him step by step. It was only when I reached his side and he still made no move to harm me that I felt a modicum of relief.

Xu Huai shivered. Although he had never truly experienced what it was like to be tossed into a pile of ravenous beasts by the Five-Colored Lion, he knew it wouldn't be pleasant.

As a doctor, his duty prevented him from remaining indifferent when he knew so many children were in danger.

"Not at all! I heard he even rejected an invitation from the Sword Sect," Elder Zhang replied with a smile to the inquiries of the Green and Red Ghosts.

Xiao Qiang pushed the Purple Cloud Disk within him to its limit, converting vast amounts of natural spiritual energy into the toxin of the Purple Cloud Disk. It spread rapidly, radiating from his body as the center, silently enveloping the guards who were charging toward him.

Pan Feng was furious. She never imagined that her perfectly orchestrated play would be ruined by the sudden appearance of Mu Qingshan.

We martial artists do speak of the cycle of karma and retribution, but ultimately, we focus on strengthening the body and condensing our essence and energy. The notion of being envied by Heaven is far too bizarre.

Leading the group at the front was a young man of about twenty, accompanied by two others at his sides.

***

Meng Qi, the man at the center of it all, sighed deeply. After shaking off that dizzying sensation, he felt a profound sense of helplessness regarding what had just occurred.

"Come home; there’s something I need you to participate in," Lin Fei said, suppressing the urge to stay and watch the events unfold.

After waiting a few minutes, school let out. Nana was the first to squeeze out of the classroom; she had seen her father waiting at the gate from upstairs and practically ran all the way from the building to the school entrance.

Not to mention that Magistrate Bao was a historical figure she respected, the fact that her sister was still in the Kaifeng Prefecture meant she could not resort to murder.

"You..." I instinctively turned back, locking eyes with that pair of violet pupils, which held a trace of wicked charm in their depths.

"If anyone else is unconvinced, feel free to try." The Eighth Prince, Grand Tutor Pang, and Magistrate Bao were all left speechless.

Shi Zhen went on a three-day business trip, and Li Mixin didn't waste the time; she seized the opportunity to buy a ticket back to Nuancheng in five days.

Ye Zang’s eyes widened. He was indeed hovering in this space, and he grew increasingly curious about its mysterious nature.

As Miao Ruolan offered a light touch to steady her, Blood Charm, who was kneeling, felt an immense, irresistible force that compelled her to stand up.

Ma Mingjie came to his senses and spoke. He knew his brothers held a grudge against him, but he had no other choice.

Meanwhile, in the guesthouse, the group from Kaifeng Prefecture gathered in Magistrate Bao's room. "What is wrong with Magistrate Bao?" Zhan Ruowan asked with concern.

"Fine, I will go with you." Luo Yichen’s health had recovered, so he had no reason to hold back; he could accompany Gu Liuxi anywhere she wanted to go.

Coral watched her, sensing her nervousness and her hesitation to speak. Bai Ruozhu saw it all and felt a sudden pang of reflection. Her ship held many secrets—everyone had secrets, and yet, she had been completely unaware.

Xun Yi smiled without arguing. It wasn't worth the spiritual energy, and arguing over it was meaningless.

As a result, Tang Zong didn't leave; instead, he intensified his actions. He shifted backward, still keeping his back to Rong Nuo, but... he pressed her against the wall.

***

Stepping out of the elevator, Zhou Mo raised his gun and moved forward. He advanced slowly and cautiously toward the corridor, where the stairwell should be, leading up to the rooftop.

"If you have the capability, just kill me. I am merely a person of no consequence; my life belongs to the Young Master anyway—take it if you wish!" Besides, if Murong Qiqi hadn't returned to the Imperial City and saved him, he might not be in this world at all.

Water has buoyancy, but at such depths, the pressure is immense, which correspondingly weakens the strength one can exert.

Zhou Quan felt listless. This island resort really had no investment value; the foundation was decent, and the service was good, but that was all it amounted to.

Legend has it that over two thousand years ago, a family lived on this mountain plain, the man named Boyong. One day, as Boyong’s wife was about to go into labor, auspicious clouds appeared in the sky, accompanied by the sound of strings and bamboo. Boyong was astonished and immediately set up an incense burner outside the door to pray.

Everyone laughed, and I suggested we celebrate with a meal, to which everyone agreed. But then we faced a dilemma: if we all went out to eat, what if the people from the Yin Chamber saw us? Just as I hesitated, Zhao Liang suddenly slapped the back of my neck, and my vision went black as I lost consciousness.

Mo Zhongkai’s unease grew. He feared that this brief moment of dominance would come at the cost of a catastrophic failure.

Li Meng hopped onto the boulder with practiced ease. Without wasting words, she began delegating tasks to the team, clarifying the core issue of luring the monsters.

Imagine entering a city gate and having the guards salute you. It looks flashy and cool, right? But it cost eight times the effort of others to level up, and it has zero practical use! Aside from showing off, what good is it?

Then there was the true protagonist, Li Wuyou. This righteous hero immediately drew his sword and rushed toward the place where the sound originated.

For talented young men not from military academies but aspiring to join the army, the advisory group was the best path to fulfill their lifelong ambitions.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, if they practice both fire and wood-element techniques, "Foundation Fire" will naturally arise. Yet, countless cultivators are blocked here; single-element foundation establishment is easy, but dual-element is difficult. It requires not only vast amounts of spirit stones and herbs but also the guidance of a master.