Chapter 158: Disappointment

"Your Majesty, according to our investigation, the Zhang family has no ties to the Jiangnan circuit. It is highly likely they are people of the Ninth Prince," Elder Ye reported.

"Oh, it seems the Ninth Prince indeed has quite a following," the emperor remarked.

"All these noble aristocratic families should be investigated; chances are, they are all supporters of the Ninth Prince."

...

Seeing that she was being too naive, Lee Ji-hyun hurriedly interrupted, "Young Master Wang, stop teasing Bing'er. Bing'er, how old are you this year? How wonderful it is to have parents looking after you. We wish we had parents to look after us..." But she could not go on.

Because once the origin was damaged, it would continuously drain a cultivator's vital essence, eventually leading to withered flesh and a dried-up soul, until death claimed them.

Yingjun looked somewhat like Yu'er, with a handsome face, except his eyes bore a striking resemblance to Wan Feng's, possessing a charming allure. Especially when he smiled, he was exceptionally striking. For instance, the innkeeper before them was completely dazzled by Yingjun's smile, staring at him for a long time without regaining her senses.

Seeing more people approaching, and that it was Hua Tian and his group among them, Yan Ruyu's expression turned somewhat ugly. Yet Li Yifan before him, as well as the monk Xiduoboren of the Northern Continent's esoteric sect standing to the side, showed no significant emotional changes.

Kim Min-hee and Lee Ji-hyun did not know that Dao Feng teaching them martial arts had initially been just an offhand remark, spoken casually without much thought. Little did they expect that the Qi-cultivation method Dao Feng imparted to them would not only lay an excellent foundation for them but also provide crucial support for their future fortuitous encounters—though that was a story for another time.

With his eyes closed and without looking, Wu Fan reached out his hand and touched his own towel hanging on the rack nearby.

Huo Ting did not refuse, still gazing coldly at Zhuang Qingqing as if she were merely a cup of coffee. His gaze left Zhuang Qingqing feeling utterly uneasy.

Moreover, the deeper they walked into the forest, the more Ye Zihan felt as though every withered leaf, every single tree, and even every element in the surrounding air had grown eyes and was staring right at her! It felt as though she were the most delectable prey, and they were the most consummate hunters.

Thsoran opened his eyes gently, his gaze becoming even more enchanting, brimming with affectionate care.

Every time Jiang Yang attempted to hurl an insult, Wei Xiu would slap him across the face. The crisp sound echoed clearly throughout the entire bar, striking the ears like a tolling bell and sending shocks straight to the soul.

With their bellies full and having smoked a couple of cigarettes while chatting and bantering with Geng Bo and Li Guangmang, Fenghuang returned.

"What does Lady Ye desire?" King Changping watched Ye Tanghua's pale cheeks fading softly in the moonlight, raising an eyebrow nonchalantly.

One of the warriors wielding a pair of hammers, taking advantage of the moment Xiao Zhantian was blocking the attacks of others, flashed a cold look in his eyes. He brought his hammers down fiercely toward the top of Xiao Zhantian's head like a raging storm; had that blow landed, his brains would have surely splattered everywhere.

At this moment, amidst a green bamboo grove outside the city, a group of figures in black robes stood in a circle, with a man in white standing at the center, particularly eye-catching.

Looking at Wei Xiu, who still maintained a "calm" demeanor, Cen Xueluo felt a profound sense of disappointment. This man was truly no longer the same man from three years ago.

Chou Xue felt a pang of heartache so sharp it made his liver quiver, yet knowing how exceedingly cautious the Five-Essence Fish were, he could only force a smile and utter polite pleasantries.

Abruptly, his outward-surging killing intent erupted, transforming into countless threads. A portion of it lunged toward the first assassination slave, while the rest diverted the violent stellar-ring killing intent and the slaves off to the side.

"Indeed, this matter is not difficult to deduce. If Feng Jiuge has any brains, he must have realized it. Once he thought of the possibility that there is a mastermind behind the Feng family, who would be the first person he suspects?" Feng Kunlun's eyes narrowed into a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Young Master Xiao, please dispense with the formalities! This old servant is merely a subordinate!" Elder Tian shifted his stance slightly. Compared to his previous cold arrogance when facing Xiao Tian, Elder Tian now appeared much more respectful. Who knew what reason could have caused such a drastic change in such a figure?