Volume 1, Chapter 32: Going with the Flow

Seeing that the fine performance had failed to come to fruition, Sima Qingwan closed her eyes in regret. Though still unsatisfied, she stepped forward and, feigning intimacy, straightened Li Shangyan’s clothes.

Before the first crater had even healed by a fifth, another identical hole appeared on the phantom beast’s body.

Ever since the martial arts competition at the Imperial Court, Gou Zihua and his associates had witnessed Ling Tiancheng’s prowess and grown wary. For a time, they restrained themselves, not daring to provoke him too brazenly at court.

"The Cold Jade Pearl!" Ling Duanshang felt a shock in his chest, and then a cold radiance pierced through his body, knocking the flying sword away. Only then did he recall the Cold Jade Pearl within him; it must have activated on its own to protect him from mortal danger.

Having gained experience in farming with magic while inside the Map of Mountains and Rivers, he was now adept at the task. He first used earth magic to raise the ridges of the fields, then waved his hand to summon rain with water magic to irrigate the seeds, and finally used wood magic to accelerate their growth, causing the rice to ripen overnight.

Refining pills required an open flame, so Ling Yun had to construct a secret chamber specifically for alchemy. This was partly to avoid disturbance and partly to remain discreet, so as not to attract unwanted attention.

The Wind-Fire Beast stopped not far from Kaya, stretching out its head to sniff the ground. Seeing the creature’s ferocious appearance, Kaya turned pale, her hands and feet icy, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. She pressed her left hand firmly over her mouth, forcing herself not to scream in terror.

After Zhao Yue and Celestial Master Zhang reunited with their two disciples, they went straight to the long-distance bus station and took a coach to Chengyang City. Chengyang was the hardest-hit area; news reports stated that over three hundred people had already died, all of them from thirst.

Zhou Lin froze them, then had no choice but to trigger a nuclear blast, blowing the surrounding Fire Tribe members away before escaping through the gap.

The scarred man opened his mouth uneasily, wanting to advise his boss not to provoke that mobile suit, but seeing the look on his boss’s face, he grimaced and swallowed his words.

"Damn it," Lin Feng felt an urge to curse. "Could one expert at a time show up, please? Three at once—how is a man supposed to survive this?"

Zhang Cuishan was in a good mood; it was his first time setting up a street stall to sell wine, and he had finished before Zhao Chen. The only thing bothering him today was a tavern nearby, whose proprietor kept glaring at him, looking furious, as if he had no right to be selling there.

Ping Tianshuo was talking to Zhu Bujie, while Yu Nuo was having a similar conversation with Gu Qingshan and Jiu Xun.

Watching Huolin Xue depart, Sheng Lou was filled with absolute regret. He regretted everything he had ever done to her; he was truly remorseful.

"What if we secretly take Jiang Zhanjun’s body out?" Zhang Gong contemplated taking the risk.

Blood choked his windpipe, and his throat burned with a searing pain. His neck had just been struck by Wu Wu’s elbow, and at this moment, there was not a single part of him that felt at ease.

"Watch closely; this is the first gift I am giving you today." A flame flared once more from Zhao Jian’s right hand, igniting the cold-light silver flowers in his left. The central garden brightened under their glow, illuminating the pitch-black void beyond the balcony.

"Do not draw upon your spiritual reserves. Slowly retract the power of your spiritual shield as well; it will temper your body," the voice of the Evil Soul echoed from within his sea of consciousness.