Volume 1, Chapter 29: The Light of Merit

"Speaking of the An family twins, I haven't heard any news about them lately. Where have they gone off to have fun this time?" Bai Ze asked with a touch of curiosity.

These words filled Yin with immense shame. Where else could one find such team members? They were truly dedicated to training at every waking moment—she simply couldn't compare.

Immediately, he changed into the formal attire inside the room. He deftly removed his clothes and was just about to put on the ceremonial outfit when he heard a sound from outside.

Perhaps because everything had been arranged yesterday, Mo Zun appeared to be in high spirits, a mood that even Rong Qian could inexplicably sense.

"Is this the mortal realm?" With names that sounded so much like those of mortal kingdoms, a few of them couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Will you stay here to recover, or will you come with me to save the others?" Wang Yue looked at the overjoyed young man ahead, then asked Old Ghost Sun and the others with a headache.

"Would everyone like to hear some more good news?" the poker-faced teacher shouted once again, with a stern and righteous air.

With a flick of his mind, he opened the "store" to see if anything new had been added following the event upgrade.

"Then I suppose I have no choice but to send you back first," Duan Shui Tan said with a sigh of regret, looking at the stone statue of a large dog not far ahead.

Gong Lingjun's birthday banquet ended in a fizzle. His Imperial Uncle didn't hold him in high regard, and aside from some decorations in the Empress's Fengluan Palace, the entire palace remained devoid of any festive atmosphere.

Zhang Ruofeng leaned back into his chair and propped his feet up; at this moment, he finally tasted the life of a boss.

Seeing Ye Tingchen arrive, color finally returned to Zhao Wanqian's face. She rose from the sofa and said, "Brother Tingchen, I didn't think you would come back," her words overflowing with joy.

Following that, another ninja, as agile as an ape, slipped into the car through the opening.

Sitting in the Third Master's chair, he had to consider the big picture and could not easily reveal his stance. His subordinates had also debated for a long time without reaching a suitable conclusion.

"Seal!" Lu Chenyuan shouted in a low voice. All the Calamity Insects gathered into his palm, forming a black sphere containing hundreds of billions of them—at least a hundred billion in total.

***

Wu Chi spoke in plain, colloquial language, forming a sharp contrast to the bureaucratic jargon favored by the authorities in the Heavenly Court. Clearly, the audience preferred simple, direct speech over official platitudes.

Lin Mu had originally intended to bring Yanzi to the studio to brief her on the current situation, but as soon as Tang Wei heard that the studio had been finalized, she insisted on coming to see it for herself.

In truth, given Ning Hao's current situation and credentials, he was already capable of striking out on his own. In fact, according to Yanzi, he did have such intentions; the only reason he hadn't brought it up yet was because he wanted to use *Red Turtle* as a practice run.

At that moment, over thirty armed agents, clutching submachine guns, surged in like a tide, instantly surrounding the large office.

This was the team left behind by the previous internet company, which Zhang Ruofeng had acquired for a mere 250,000.

"Yes!" Dugu Fulan laughed. "Sister has indeed returned, returned... as a cold corpse. A living, breathing person, just gone like that. Because she was defiled, she hanged herself."

The tall villa gates were tightly shut, closely embraced by walls built to be impenetrable.

Zhao Xiaoyang, having nothing to pack, simply followed Sun Sheng and Wu Bo to the main road, where he hurriedly joined one of the rows of people already forming.

The Yangpo camp was ablaze with lights and bustling with shadows; the triumphant army naturally exuded an air of prosperity.

Xiao Ke poured a glass of wine using Nan Ruifeng's cup, swirled it gently, and then returned it to its original spot.

"The current Prefect of Shangdang Commandery is from the Qinghe Cui clan; his name is Cui Ming. Cui Yu belongs to a branch of the Qinghe Cui clan, and ever since he became the Magistrate of Anping County, he has sent a generous gift to Cui Ming and the Qinghe Cui clan every year. That is why, for all these years, he has remained as steady as Mount Tai, with no one daring to interfere," He Yan replied.

In the eyes of the cowardly Lin Mu, the kindly Mother River began to automatically acquire a filter of horror.

"Don't give me that. Everyone knows that as long as the Elite Battalion is around, it makes no difference where you go. I am different from you. Now that the bandits are wiped out, heading down the mountain to Anping County is where I can truly put my talents to use," Sun Hao said testily, knowing Wang Qing was just teasing him.

When the time came, Lin Gui's strength would surely advance by leaps and bounds. More importantly, now that Lin Gui had the Yanxia Sect as a backer, the Great Elder would never dare send anyone to harm him again.

Of course, since he did not wish to harm the three cultivators, disrupting their combined formation and capturing the old man first was the most appropriate course of action.

***

Beneath the blue lake water, apart from the terrifying pressure, Yun Yu did not encounter any other dangers.

"It seems that's all we can do." Knowing the captain's personality, Nami nodded with a tearful face.

"Wan'er, listen to me. How could I ever harm you? This medicine is truly for treating insomnia," Murong Feng argued.

While Ye Zhuo was busy in the secret chamber of Li Huang Valley, Hua Yang was not idle. After half a day of scouting, he finally obtained results, though they were not enough to make him happy. He walked with a dark expression all the way until he stepped into the Qingniu Valley medicine garden, unable to soften his gaze.

On the plaza, the crowd was still discussing the gains and losses of the secret realm trial. Amidst the clamor, few noticed what was happening here, but the three figures on the high platform saw it all quite clearly.

Neither side was in a rush to strike. When masters clash, victory often hinges on a single move. The first contest was one of aura; if one could overwhelm the other in spirit, they would seize the initiative in the ensuing battle.

Just as everyone thought it was ink, Zhong Mushan opened the package to reveal a lotus heart.

If the atmosphere found in the Yin Mist were absent for a hundred years, it was quite possible for a soul to simply perish. Yun Yu could guess a thing or two about what that strange aura was.

"We're here!" Ge Yunsong finally stopped. Yang Jian didn't know how long they had walked, but in his memory, it felt like an eternity. Because he dared not disturb Ge Yunsong, he hadn't spoken a single word the entire time.

Unexpectedly, before he could finish his sentence, he felt an intense itch all over his body, as if countless wriggling, horrific insects were gnawing at him, bringing both pain and nausea.

Gao Ming stood there, stunned, unable to move for a long time. Only then did he suddenly realize that he was currently facing a tremendous crisis.