Chapter 23

The path they had been walking on moments ago suddenly gave way to a flight of stone stairs, winding and twisting ahead like a giant dragon.

Qian Jie slowly tightened his grip on his blade. The enemy in this ninth round was far beyond any they had faced before, and he felt the immense pressure mounting.

"I can take shelter within your Lightning-Fire Peachwood Sword, enhancing its power. Then, if you strike the Black General at the root of his ear, he will surely perish!" Bai Yu said to me.

Terrified, Han Yanyue felt an indescribable sense of security as I pulled her into my embrace, her heart calming instantly.

Suddenly, the man in black, who had been lying on the ground, sprang up. Clutching a short sword, he slashed viciously at the middle-aged man’s wrist.

"The most popular brand abroad? This instant noodle brand is exported?" Mo Qianqian’s pouted lips curled even further, her face drooping in disbelief. "If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Don’t think you can bully me just because I haven't been abroad."

Next, the Monkey King let out a roar. The other monkeys emerged from the treetops and leapt down to his side. The Monkey King directed them to go to the cliffside and lash together the sturdy vines.

Immediately after, Nie Tian’s dark form descended slowly from mid-air, landing on the ground. With his main dantian’s Profound Sky True Energy nearly exhausted after that final strike, rising into the air again would be extremely difficult.

"Seal!" Nie Tian formed a seal with his hands, and a powerful force instantly imprisoned Mo Qingcheng. She struggled, her face streaming with tears.

"Let’s go in." Zhang Yuanhang brushed off any further attempts at persuasion and led the group into the entrance of the mountain wall.

However, most of those present were non-ordinary experts of the Divine Ability and Spirit Transformation realms—individuals with powerful backgrounds, significant connections, and deep pockets. Combined with their recent gains on Earth, they had substantial wealth, and they competed for any valuable treasures that appeared without the slightest hesitation.

Longgang Volcano resembled a massive antique market; whether one could acquire a true treasure depended entirely on one’s eye for detail. Those looking to swindle and those hoping to strike it rich all gathered here, making for a bustling and chaotic scene.

By the end of the day, Lin Yi felt sore all over. More importantly, his nerves had been stretched thin for the entire day. Exhausted, he collapsed the moment he found a place to sleep.

Things remained the same on the outside. Such situations were constant; after all, the entertainment industry was defined by endless competition between people.

The main point was that even if wild flowers weren't as fragrant as those at home, they still offered a different flavor that one might want to taste. Yun Shuang felt it necessary to nip such situations in the bud whenever possible.

Zhu Yixiang had only heard rumors and did not know the true situation regarding Li Tianchen. Had she known that Li Tianchen already had a child with Chen Lingling, she likely would have felt even more regret.

They knew Lin Yi was wealthy—otherwise, he couldn't afford a Bentley worth millions—but they did not know the true extent of his fortune. Lin Yi never brought it up, as showing off was not in his nature.

I hung up the phone and sent the mysterious number to Guo Siwei via text message.

This sword strike was faster than a blink of an eye; even the onlookers could barely perceive how Jian Ge had made his move.

Brick pulled out another brick, ready to strike again. The naked foreigner stepped back and shouted, "Everyone, get over here and deal with this lunatic!" The foreigners in the room quickly huddled together, surrounding Brick in the center.

"Are you talking about me?" He seemed to be in a good mood today; he had been wearing a smile ever since he arrived by my side. I only hoped that smile would last through the night.

"I trusted you back then, and that is why Cheng Jun has ended up in this state. Can I still trust you now?" Han Zeng knew he had no power to change Liu Bingyi’s mind, but even in leaving, he sought some peace of mind.

He knew all too well that this was an opportunity. Even if he refused the extra grain offered by the farmer, a good man like him would not go unrewarded; the farmer would surely compensate him twofold.

Everything had finally settled. Shao An let out a long sigh, feeling that the heavy burden on his shoulders could finally be laid down. He had paid too much for his atonement; he was too tired to continue walking alongside his brother. The rest of the road would have to be walked by Li Hongyi alone.

The thrown stones seemed to come alive; they made a sharp turn mid-air and, as if reflecting off a mirror, shot back in the opposite direction.

"If the inner court were filled with the likes of Liu Rui and Yang Song, I’d be ruined within half a month."

"My thanks to all my senior brothers for their kindness, but I have always preferred to walk alone. Please forgive me for not joining you." Su Miaoyin’s tone was cold; she had no desire to be entangled further.

Still, after the fourth golden bell was struck, the genius cultivator who had endured several hours of agony inside the bell finally emerged, drenched in sweat.

This meant that whoever held the walkie-talkie could potentially be an operative of the Night Demon Society.

If the Xiwangmu clan was renowned for its virus research, why then were they wiped out by a virus in the first place?

Ji Jingxi opened his mouth, feeling a strange surge of emotion pierce through his mind. It was overwhelming, yet strangely, it left him feeling steadied. He simply looked at her with an indescribable expression.

Ye Shu and Yan Changlan sat on a standard high platform. Beside them sat Mu Yanqing and Xu Jingzhi, with a vacant space around them that no one dared to approach. It was not out of ostracization; a closer look revealed the awe on the faces of the others, who had clearly left the extra space out of respect.

As a top student from a prestigious university and a long-time MVP in various murder-mystery games, he integrated the clues, analyzed the situation, and formed his own theories.

Seeing everyone turn to look at her, Fu Yunlai immediately waved her hands awkwardly at her older brother and sister-in-law.

Seeing him say he didn't intend to raise pigs but wanted to do farm work instead, Fu Yunlai almost couldn't stop herself from calling him a pig-brained fool in the middle of the day.

"Then I won’t disturb Officer Liu and the others any further. Goodnight!" Having established her persona as a good citizen, Shi Hui had no choice but to play along to the end. She only hoped that once the court proceedings began, this matter could be resolved.

Upon hearing this, Yan Changlan felt a warmth in his heart and did not decline Ye Shu—after all, as Ah Zhuo had said, there was truly no distinction between them.

"Becoming a medicine conduit is no easy task. Let me see your constitution!" The grass root gave a faint sigh and spoke.

Then, a cold, ethereal voice rang out: "Glacial Wave." A thin layer of ice, visible to the naked eye, began to spread upward from the feet of the ten men. Within moments, they were transformed into ten gleaming ice sculptures.