Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Twelve Cat Maidens

On Wu Yujun’s breastplate gleamed a fierce tiger’s head, Hou Mingzhao bore the mark of a stag with proud antlers, Yu Sikun’s armor was emblazoned with a wolf’s head, while Zheng Zha, a warrior of the fourth rank in yellow armor, had upon his chest a dragon, coiled and menacing, baring its talons. After twenty-seven years of cultivation, it was likely his inner strength had reached a terrifying domain. Although Qiu Shaoze was unfamiliar with the roads around him, he had no desire to remain—who knew what further twists fate would bring? The sooner he left, the sooner he’d be free. That was all he wanted.

“This monk only helps his own. Should I call him selfless or say he keeps all the good things for those close to him?” Qingjing mused at the sight before him. He did not go easy on Ye Shuo just because he was his uncle; on the contrary, he confronted him with his full strength. Not until he reached the chairman’s seat and raised his hands to indicate everyone should be seated did the senior officers in the room all sit down in a single, sharp motion.

“You must be joking!” Lin Yun hastily unleashed the Thunderclap Dance to dodge the attack, eyes wide with shock at the faint shadow before him. Was this truly a test of the Dragon Lord’s level? Was this what the woodpecker meant by saying he’d have no trouble?

Within the Black Wolf Fortress, there was one particularly audacious soul—perhaps it was precisely his nerve that allowed him to rule a section of the City of Wind, and it was this same boldness that gave him the courage to challenge Lei Li. Many failed, but many also succeeded. Among them, two masters even picked up the Dragon-Slaying Blade and performed a set of advanced sword techniques, earning the enthusiastic welcome of the Sky Eagle Sect.

If he could truly condense the Domain of Lightning-Slaying and the Imperial Flame Domain, he would have absolute confidence—even without the Nine Heavens Lightning-Slaying Dragon—of slaying a third-rank Ancestor Emperor as a first-rank Great Emperor. Such was the tyranny of elemental domains.

His skin, already aged, now showed even deeper signs of time; his hair, once merely graying, was now pure white, and much of it had already fallen. The disciples of the Evil Sect, who had originally intended to wait until after seizing the Millennium Spirit Tree, instead acted at once, stirring up a bloody storm.

Normally, breaking through from the peak King Realm to the Emperor Realm was a process of unknown duration, but in just three hours, he had achieved it. This must be connected to Ye Ji, something he never expected.

That night, sleep eluded many, but as the central figure in all these events, Mu Yi poured every ounce of energy into his cultivation. He now felt an urgent sense of crisis. He understood that danger was imminent—he could not hope for mercy from his enemies. The only solution was to become stronger.

Even Ancestor Xiao Qiu could not withstand the Devourer Clan; among all the demon clans of the Demon Domain, the Devourers were the mightiest. This was Crown Prince Du Yuan—surely, in all his years, he’d never before been slapped in public, and so exquisitely, at that.

Long Hao had absolute faith in his disciple’s talent and physique; one day Ling Tian would surely become a powerhouse in his own right.

Suddenly, Mu Yi saw several points of golden light clustering together, and more importantly, in the center, a faint, dimmer glow flashed and was gone. Mu Yi’s heart seized, and then he threw himself forward without hesitation.

Kou Yunhai suddenly spoke up, and before he even finished, Di Lao’s face changed dramatically. But even if he wanted to stop him, it was too late—the sound of Kou Yunhai’s voice rang through all of Jingzhou City.

Zuo Wushuang and General Tiger Roar frowned. They were experts at deploying armies, but against demons, the disparity in strength was too great. Only the natural defenses had allowed them to barely hold out. Who knew what methods Meng Xingchen might have?

She dared not investigate the scene at Qixia Gate herself, instead ordering Yili to inquire, dismissing Madame Liu with a few sharp words, then pacing the Penglai Hall in a fluster, anxiously awaiting Yili’s report.

Meng Xingchen pulled a Heavenly Thunder Seed from the pouch left by Yazi and tossed it coldly. Should the weak always be at the mercy of others?

Even if word spread and the world talked, they would only praise the Empress Dowager for her fairness and denounce Consort Liu as venomous.

“What?” Elder Long frowned, as though he had not heard correctly. He was surprised to find himself refused by Lin Hao.

Surveying the lively banquet, she felt a pang of loneliness. The most important people in her life were not present. Perhaps they simply did not belong in such a place.

Zhang Deshuai’s heart sank; from the soul fluctuations he sensed, the assassins were all strong Soul Kings.

“Chu Shiyu!” Hua Chen and Xu Nuo spotted her from afar. Even dressed plainly, she was the center of attention, instantly recognizable.

She would have preferred never to return to the Haiyan Hotel, but she knew—what must be faced must be faced.

“She is not surnamed Shui, but Gu. Her real name is Gu Yiran.” A faint bitterness welled in Gu Yiran’s heart. She had never expected her beloved brother to smile at the mention of Shui Qing’er.

Once she left, there was no word from her again; it was only after the struggle between two mythic ancestors that the family moved to the southern kingdom, reuniting the Duanmu clan.

Life went on as always—smoking, bantering, drinking, watching adult films.

By afternoon, there was still no sign of anyone having been transported over, no people, no radio signals. Fearing unforeseen complications, Zhao Zhiyi and Lü Xiangyang agreed to send Hao Dajian up in the North American Mustang OV-10D to begin an aerial search.

Number One’s voice was harsh: if Xiao Fei met resistance while apprehending Yan Qing, he was authorized to kill him on the spot.

Second, and most importantly, the connection between the Mountain and Sea Realm and Earth filled him with unease.

Each of them swallowed hard, neither entering nor leaving, as though calculating their odds.

With the Sacred Demon Seven in Ziqin’s company, there ought to be no real danger.

After a barrage of questions and criticism, the consensus was clear: Li Yu was a good catch—if you missed this chance, you wouldn’t find another like him. As for entanglements, if he had chosen to marry her, it meant she was more important than any past attachments.

Though he had risen to county captain, his duties had become lighter; much could be delegated, especially with Zhan Yuan also holding the post. Thus, when Lu Yuan traveled to the countryside, he kept close guard at his side.

“A ruined reputation is just as well—she’ll have no choice but to marry me. I’m curious to see what expression my father will wear when he hears of it!” At these words, Tang Ziyuan flashed a roguish grin.