Volume One, Chapter 40: Completely Under His Thumb

Once the wager was drawn up and sealed with thumbprints, Shen Ji wasted no more time.

"The first couplet: Listening to rain in the Rain Pavilion, listening to rain falling, listening to rain falling in the Rain Pavilion; the rain pavilion at the third watch, the rain falling at the third watch."

Huh?

The crowd froze, looking at Shen Ji in astonishment.

He actually managed to match it?

"The second couplet: Two trees make a forest; beneath the trees stands a prohibition, and the prohibition decrees: Axes and hatchets shall enter the mountain forests in due season."

As the second couplet was delivered, the expressions on everyone's faces changed drastically.

By now, the servant had no idea where his master had been taken. Unable to find him anywhere, he had no choice but to track down the Three Young Masters of Wind and Cloud all the way. The servant knew that the Three Young Masters and his master were friends. Now that disaster had struck his master, the Three Young Masters would surely help.

"You use death to threaten me? Then I shall grant your wish!" Lian Haiping's expression turned frigid as he stepped forward.

The island instantly began to fracture and split apart. Vlad's terrifying presence was now too overwhelming for this single island to withstand.

"I know what's going on in that head of yours. When you're holding me, you want to feel my resilience, and you're planning to steal a kiss from me while you're at it, right?" Lü Li looked at Xu Yuntian with a charming smile.

The setting was the Baratie restaurant in the East Blue. Today's restaurant was exceptionally bustling and packed with people, yet not a single person had any intention of eating. Everyone's eyes were locked firmly onto the glowing screen ahead, staring intently at the man holding the Den Den Mushi.

Lu Ping was instantly filled with great astonishment. He held no favorable impression of Yeliexian. Hearing Baote put it that way, a deeply ominous feeling arose in his heart—this Yeliexian would lead the Hong吉r tribe on the grassland to utter destruction.

He called out a few times, but received no response. Involuntarily rising to his feet, he suddenly lifted Li Qingzhao's chin.

"I didn't rely on the Vein-Sealing Technique to subdue you at all, or else I would have given you the chance to break through the sealed meridians!" Xu Yuntian was still untying the ropes, speaking with utter calmness.

Although it was not as well-made as what a servant could do, considering that Ji Man had personally brought it over, he grudgingly offered a word of praise.

He Feng had been struck on the head by a blunt object, leaving a wound five to six centimeters long. Although the bleeding had stopped by now, his hair and blood were matted together, making it quite difficult to treat. In the end, they had no choice but to shave off that patch of hair, apply five stitches, and wrap a large piece of gauze around his head.

Su Yi, standing on the stage, twitched his nose and circulated the Primordial Supreme Technique. Although the opposing soul pressure was intensely suffocating, Su Yi knew that Duanmu Xiaoman had no intention of killing him; it felt as though she were trying to convey something.

After sinking that shot, Xu Feng pressed his advantage. Over the next few minutes, Xu Feng launched three-pointer after three-pointer. An enraged Adams even forced Xu Feng all the way back near the mid-court line, yet Xu Feng still drained an ultra-long-range three-pointer. That scene felt like a reenactment of the Three-Point Contest.

"To be precise, you cannot have a third child," Gao Fei corrected. Wenren Yuhao already had two children, and this was the third one he wanted.

Clearly, the Honored One himself was now aware of this, which was why he had specifically dispatched this middle-aged man to take command of everyone.

The clansman who delivered the pills was extremely puzzled, wondering what on earth their ancestor was doing. And who was this outsider? What was so extraordinary about him that could possibly make their ancestor attach such great importance to him?

"I can tolerate you pulling my ear, but messing with my hair—what on earth is that about?" The guy had yanked it so hard that it hurt me terribly, leaving me howling in misery.

Looking at Nan Xuhui, who resembled rosy morning clouds reflecting snow before his eyes, Duanmu Xiongtu knew full well that this was merely Duanmu Xiaoman's illusionary barrier, yet he still refused to wake up.

Although he was already very close to Penglai Fairy Island, he chose not to return for even a glance. He trusted Fairy Miaolian implicitly; under her management, Penglai Fairy Island would undoubtedly flourish.

Even though the Heavenly Honored One knew that the Truth-Seeking Monument would collapse, he still dared to put out the word and have his avatar bring people back.

Following the intense battle moments before, Lin Yun's body temperature had now exceeded a thousand degrees, reaching the absolute limit of what his physical body could endure.

"I've failed Yaoyao... I am truly a failure of a father. I've failed her, I've failed her!" Fu Zhengyang apologized to Fu Yaoyao over and over again. His attitude only deepened Ye Xinran's confusion; she urgently wanted to know what on earth had transpired between him, Fu Yaoyao, and Gu Tingjun.

"Teacher Elena, please don't scare me. What do you mean my right hand is crippled? I don't feel a thing." So saying, Darui carefully inspected his right hand, feeling no pulling sensation or pain whatsoever.

Everyone in this mansion had been assigned by the emperor. While they were certainly extremely respectful toward her, they were also the emperor's spies, meaning she still needed to put on a bit of a performance.

Lie Jinghao spoke with utter sincerity, and when Gu Lingjin heard those words, he was genuinely taken aback—it was completely unexpected.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Hua could no longer contain his rising fury; he increasingly wanted to punch the Ye Ming standing before him, especially after such a dismissive gesture.

She was also grateful for this rebirth, which allowed her to rectify her mistakes in time and enabled this kindhearted old man to enjoy his remaining years in peace.

In a remote corner of the mountain stronghold, a stealthy figure quietly sought out a deserted spot and released a mouse.

A major purge had taken place within the beast clan. The Silver Fox had already marked the operatives belonging to the Beast God Cave and the Chief Council's branch. If they dared to rebel against the Beast God, soul-deep punishment awaited them without a doubt. Although they outwardly appeared submissive to the Chief Council, in reality, even if they were given ten times the courage, they would never dare step out of line.

After he left, Fu Yaoyao emerged from her room. Looking at the untouched breakfast, her heart ached once more. Was he still refusing to eat anything she had made?

Spiritual energy flowed within them as well. When they struck out with their palms, the azure dragon on Zhang Si's left arm and the white tiger on Li Si's right arm both lit up brilliantly.