Volume 1, Chapter 67: How About a Wager?

The Grand Duke's gaze was drawn once again.

Knowing that the tables could now be turned, Shang Yinqiong held the image reflected in the bronze mirror flat in her palm. "Father, this Daoist priest is spouting utter nonsense. Is he just here to swindle money?"

"My Lord, please discern the truth. Ever since the Young Miss returned from the palace, she has been deeply depressed for a long time. If it were not for the Old Madame's frequent consolations, I fear we would no longer be able to see the Young Miss today."

Ling Wei spoke with immense emotion, tearfully accusing the injustices Shang Yinqiong had suffered. "Perhaps the Young Miss was indeed a bit willful in the past, but it was nothing more than harmless behavior. If not for someone deliberately spreading rumors—"

The servants served a light breakfast. Xi Xichen drank two large bowls of porridge; she had no appetite, but she was truly starving.

This fellow was clearly the ringleader of this group. Once he started making a fuss, the others chimed in right along with him. There was definitely something fishy going on here.

Though not a genius when it came to imitation, his physical endurance was an absolute standout among talents—no one could match him, and no one else possessed his particular fortitude.

"First Madam, Eldest Brother he..." She could understand the First Madam's feelings at this moment; she, too, felt heartbroken for Eldest Brother.

"Yan Xiaoxiao, you must not get excited. Your wound just reopened this morning, so you need to rest quietly," Jin Guangyan said with concern.

His voice was very familiar, still as clear and refreshing as ever to the soul, yet hearing it now, it felt so distant and unfamiliar.

An oppressive melancholy still weighed heavily upon her chest, as if a stifling breath was trapped inside, making it hard for her to catch her breath. Ruoxin stood quietly, her heart aching as if her intestines were being twisted and torn apart. She clenched her fists so hard that her fingernails dug into her palms, yet the pain could not compare to the bitter ache in her heart.

Yan Xiaoxiao finally relaxed, though her eyes stung slightly. "Xu Yi, thank you for your concern and understanding. This moment truly brings warmth to my heart."

"Nothing much, just chatting—about saving lives, about how your younger sister is her younger sister..." Yu Zichen patted the dust off Yun Ze's clothes while Hua Shuo nodded repeatedly in agreement at the side.

Just as Fuxi was in a dilemma, another voice from the crowd of humans behind them rang out.

The four of them stood aboard the tall merchant vessel, sipping fine wine and tasting delicacies as majestic peaks glided past along the way, refreshing both body and mind.

"Hahahaha!" Having successfully landed a blow and retreating unscathed, Zhu Yu's face was plastered with a smug smile. He took several steps back in succession, and his dozen or more subordinates immediately stepped forward to shield him. Not only that, but many other men in black also rushed forward to protect Zhu Yu's front.

In the end, everything came to a close. Hentian had survived the Great Saint Tribulation and was now a true Ancestor-level figure, capable of looking down upon the Primordial Continent from above.

As for the two low-grade spirit stone veins of Autumn Peak, after being mined for so many years, very little remained.

The city's consumption level still made Han Lekang inwardly click his tongue in astonishment; based on his earning capacity, it was simply not enough to cover his expenses.

"Elder Tian, calm your mind first; you are not healed yet!" Su Ling reminded him with a smile.

It was just that Wu Xixuan and her three siblings said nothing, or deliberately avoided the topic, while Xue Lingshuang and the other two, though harboring suspicions, would not deliberately expose it.

Although it had yet to air, the search popularity of this show had already claimed the top spot among [Variety Shows].

With a loud thud, the flame-engulfed city gate was finally battered open. Consumed by the raging fire, the gate could no longer support its own weight and collapsed directly to the ground. As for the last five soldiers, after crashing through the gate, they all fell to the ground, letting the flames on their bodies consume them until they moved no more.

"What?" Du Yu couldn't help crying out in surprise, and Li Lingzhu was equally bewildered, having no idea what was actually happening.

Although the males of the Demon Spirit Tribe in the city were already elderly, all of them hoped to be selected into the army to once again contribute to the defense of Qingrang and the Demon Realm; no one wished to be screened out.

Thinking of this, Xia Mengning secretly regretted that she shouldn't have forgiven the Wang family so easily. If not for Madam Deng's attentiveness, she would likely have been driven to absolute ruin this time. Bringing out a dead fish at the New Year's Eve dinner—neither her father nor Madam Xie would have forgiven her.

There would always be a boy much taller than her who stayed behind to keep her company—that was Feng Lan. Though she had never asked him to do so, he would always silently appear by her side, pulling her up when her strength failed her, or encouraging her with a smile.

After putting it on, Xia Mengning was about to withdraw when she saw Changsun Yun lean forward, and a gentle kiss fell upon her forehead.

"Lan Yuchen, take care of yourself! Wen Liangyu and I are truly in love, we are doing very well, and we are looking forward to the birth of our baby."

However, things often fell short of expectations; Leng Yu was bold and fiercely curious, and within a few days, she actually ended up sitting at the same table playing mahjong with the Exalted One.

Acuo still seemed unable to wrap his head around it: Her Majesty the Queen of Xiasia was actually sworn sisters with his mother, and the man in the portrait was the Queen's and his mother's second older brother. How could they have had no contact whatsoever for eighteen years?

He Danggui readily accepted Zhu Yunwen's good intentions, leaned on Peng Shi's arm to descend from the branch, and after exchanging a few bland pleasantries, returned to her room.

Long Xiao leaped aside, dropped to one knee, and taking advantage of the opening, nodded slightly toward Adi's head before raising his sword and charging at the Demon Lord Knight.

Xuan Junyao blinked and glared at him, then bared her teeth in a threatening gesture. In the dead of night, a young maiden appearing in a man's room—even if they were married—was improper nonetheless. Besides, she did not want to become entangled in any more messy relationships with him.

Wu Ming thought about it; anyway, he didn't seem to have much to do this afternoon, and with Grandpa Yang now entirely under the care of the doctors and nurses at the General Hospital of the Three Services, his mission to the capital could be considered fulfilled.

"If you don't sing soon, I'm going to fall asleep," Ze's lazy voice carried a hint of exhaustion and a smile.

But things were different now. A single word from Su Quan's father, Su Decheng, had removed the Huairui Company from his management, placing Su Yang, the general manager of Huairui Company, on almost equal footing with him.

In the center stood a pillar made of a colossal screen, thousands of meters high, which allowed anyone to control the displays with a swipe of their fingers anywhere.

"You know Olsen?" Hearing this, Lin Fan revealed a trace of curiosity and asked aloud. It seemed this mentor of his was truly of great age, to even know someone who had been imprisoned by the King of the Barbarians several millennia ago.

Apart from the acquired secret manuals and techniques, the thing Jiang Zaiyuan desired most was the amplification pill mentioned by Coach Zeng. This was simply the best solution for his lack of internal energy.

The next day, led by Guitong and Guiqian, the fire fiends embarked once again on the journey to hunt phantom beasts. Guitong and Guiqian still walked at the very front, while the fire fiends followed closely behind them.

This test took a total of three hours. Following the trial, only a meager ninety-three people passed, with well over half being eliminated.