Volume 1, Chapter 23: Quiet Advancement

In the night, Jiang Huan lunged toward Zhang Yu, who gritted his teeth and grabbed him by the waist. In the next moment, Jiang Huan was hurled forward like a cannonball. The Breeze Wolf was still charging wildly, and there was still a distance between it and Jiang Huan. As Jiang Huan was about to land, Zhang Yu shouted, "Confucian Scholar!"

Instantly, the Confucian Scholar manifested behind Jiang Huan, catching him by the waist once more. A surge of immense force erupted from the Scholar’s arms, throwing Jiang Huan forward again. He landed steadily, but the distance between him and the Breeze Wolf was now so close that the beast had no time to turn. Jiang Huan gripped the "Thousand Blades" tightly, his gaze...

The early winter night was beautiful; the reflection of the moon on the lake looked like a piece of jade. Since Princess Yunyao’s fever had not yet broken, the imperial physicians dared not all depart, fearing some complication in the night. They left one behind, and the rest exited the Juning Palace.

Er Gouzi beamed with joy, shouting repeatedly, "Thank you, Sixth Brother! Thank you, Sixth Brother!" Yang Xu waved his hand, "Go and attend to your own business."

The sudden appearance of this team of gods and demons left the three indigenous factions looking grim once news reached them. Yang Xu summoned Zhao He and gave him low-voiced instructions. Still feeling uneasy, he repeated them several times. Once familiar with the entire process, Zhao He took five family members and hurried back to Zhao Family Hamlet.

Seeing Yang Xu stroll in, He Erhu quickly stood up and bowed in greeting. Yang Xu said nothing, but with a sinister smile, he looked him up and down. Petrified by that gaze, He Erhu felt his knees go weak and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.

As dusk approached, the courtyard in front was bustling; the business of the Joyous Pavilion seemed to be doing well. Footsteps echoed from the front of the garden, and Yang Xu hurried to greet them. It was Zhang Zanan and Tan Que, accompanied by the madam of the house, who exchanged jokes with them, clearly familiar with one another.

"Did you not want to kill? Then let us kill thoroughly. Let me see who dares to act again; otherwise, execution without mercy. Today is a stark example!" Chen Fan’s voice resonated coldly for thousands of miles around.

It seemed there would be no rest for him. Yang Xu ordered Zhao He to continue the training and to take charge daily in his absence, then told Liu Sanpao to follow him back.

The Dark Monarch looked over his team; fewer than twenty men remained with any combat capability.

"Sister Qingqing, you’ve been frightened. With me here, no one can hurt you!" Long Yi walked over and released her pressure points.

As she moved, the long sword Chi Hanyan carried on her back rang as it left its sheath, transforming into a speck of starlight that struck the center of the colored glow.

"By the way, what just happened? Why is it that my physical body died, but my consciousness remains intact?" I asked.

Once pulled out, the spider frantically tried to crawl back into Chen Yuan’s body, startling Chen Yuan into backing away. Two seconds later, the black spider exploded, splattering disgusting fluid all over Jiang Ying.

"Medicine King, it has been many years, and you are as graceful as ever." Before Ding Xiang could answer, Shang Yin cut in.

"For instance, if I created a divine ring connected to a deep mountain forest, and I stored a piece of meat inside it. If a wild wolf happened to pass through that forest, could it eat the meat I stored?" I asked again.

Jiang Xue said she had been writing notices for the Gossip Hall since morning, and A-Tian had been watching her from under the eaves all morning. I was so angry I told her to have A-Tian come see me, and we agreed to meet at a coffee shop.

After unified planning and management, tax evasion decreased. Furthermore, with eyes spread throughout the city, anyone caught evading taxes faced heavy, multi-fold fines. No one dared to attempt such a losing venture again.

There were a few transit apartments, but they were dilapidated and located in a noisy, old part of the city. Even ordinary officials wouldn't want such housing, let alone the mayor.

On Falling Moon Lake, the turbulent waves continued. Jiang Yueyao and Huangfu Haoyu wove through them, and only when she saw the thunder-bombs blooming in the air did she realize she had been tricked by Huangfu Haoyu.

"Let the plan be shelved for now. I will report this to our master and let him decide," the middle-aged man muttered after a moment of thought.

"It is like the difference between a solid planet and a gaseous one." Hearing this, Xiao Yi’s eyes lit up.

The four Great Masters and Archmages spared no effort, throwing their high-level magical artifacts beneath the yellow cloth, determined to stake everything on a single throw.

He had learned his lesson well. While the expert had indeed been crucial in helping him find the Snoring Beast, the ensuing battle was not something Edward and his team could interfere in. Did they not see that none of the other contestants who came to intercept Luo Tianhua had brought an expert along with them?

While Bettina tried to find a way to summon her former subordinates, Li Yi and his group began to grow bored in Bellflower City.

Upon hearing that Xiao Xiao had defeated the Old Demon Ao single-handedly, Lie Yan and Xue Fei looked at him in utter disbelief, as if they were staring at a monster.

But Bolun Zanren had no idea that his momentary hesitation had caused his army to slow down, and that brief delay cost him his only chance at survival.

Inside Ye Qi’s world, Mo Shangdai maintained the vast net of azure light that held the world together, resisting the waves of wind and fire tribulations. Because these were Ye Qi’s tribulations, they did not harm Mo Shangdai, so although she was straining to suppress them, she was not in danger.

"The plot echoes perfectly! I must say, Brother Liang, you are a director who truly understands how to design details!" Mao Shunjun praised, expressing her admiration.

"Although the mission objective is to capture Mivilas and kill the terrorist leader, in reality, you do not need to do that," Huanyue said, putting away her card, her voice heavy with sleepiness. Her words subtly implied that they were not the main force, which made A-Lun exclaim in surprise.

With the order given, a creaking sound rose from the rear of the center formation. The ballistae and crossbowmen, who had shown their prowess at the start of the battle before retreating, stepped forward and reformed their array, aiming at the Xiongnu soldiers beginning their charge across the open ground.

Zhang Dagou nodded and said, "That’s good, that’s good. You all get some sleep; I’m heading back. Today has been damn unlucky." Zhang Dagou walked out, swaying.

The two had wanted to discuss something with Xiong Qi and incidentally check if he had fulfilled his duties as a captain that morning. However, upon reaching the training room, they found the door locked from the inside, and no matter how they tried, they could not open it.