Volume One, Chapter 27: You Shameless Woman, How Dare You Betray Me

Cuihua kept the last part to herself, pursing her lips; after all, she was just a maid, and they were the masters. Except for Lin Daiyu, all the others paled in comparison to Wang Xifeng! The bond between husband and wife grew stronger with time; though there was no oath as solid as a rock or as enduring as reeds, their affection remained fresh, mutual, and as sweet as it was at the beginning.

The next morning, amidst Meng Yu's incessant yawns, Jinli led the disciples of Qingjue Mountain to the divine realm for the Six Realms Martial Tournament. The elder mentioned by Jin Nihong was likely this person; her rise to power at such a young age was probably due to him. After all, it was always “better the other suffer than oneself”—when trouble arose, someone had to take the blame, and the entire Jiangnan River Office made for a perfect scapegoat.

The private dining room was lavishly furnished and the food tasted excellent, yet the atmosphere remained lukewarm throughout the meal. Lyu Shuang’er halted, turned gracefully with her hand holding her skirt, the sweep of white fabric catching the eye. The pale yellow cherry blossom embroidery shimmered as it danced with the wind against her white robes. Qin Ming had fallen asleep, but after Honghong and the white monkey returned and tugged at the door, he awoke.

Chiwan lazily opened one eye; she had never intended to deal with Mu Xuan, especially since he so closely resembled her own brother—she simply couldn't bring herself to act against him. Once the Blood God's golden body was forged, not only would its defense be greatly enhanced, but strength, speed, and all other attributes would surge as well—a true metamorphosis.

Zhang Zhen and Yan Fei conversed while keeping a close eye on their surroundings, surveying this city that was both familiar and strange. Qian Ruhua breathed a sigh of relief, not rushing the lottery—after all, what was drawn would be useless, since the chaotic temporal currents meant there was a high chance the transmission would fail.

Signaling Huang Jiu, who nodded and strode forward, his burly frame poised to knock on the door, only to be stopped by Yu Xiu’s iron skeleton fan. Every cultivator who received the Dragon Gate’s enlightenment reward could enter and seek out a law stele that resonated with their own path, accelerating their comprehension of the laws. However, his complexion was deathly pale, utterly devoid of color, giving him a weak appearance—clearly a result of depleted vitality.

Now, Tang Mu had no such concerns and was determined to scour every corner of the herbal market, leaving nothing unchecked. Ye Yu could only helplessly assist, having pledged himself to Tang Mu. Generally, city walls of over ten zhang—over thirty meters tall—were nearly impossible for ordinary people to breach without specialized siege equipment like scaling ladders, battering rams, or trebuchets; any attempt would exact a terrible cost.

“Heh!” Qingqing glanced at the fat man, a flicker of another emotion in her eyes; a psychologist would recognize her scorn—she clearly thought his money would be wasted. “Didn't mother say she wanted to build a temple in the city? Why not let Uncle manage it?” Tuoba Yan suggested to Mu Yan. If magical materials were everywhere, then magical products wouldn't be so expensive.

Yet, after that calamity, the ancient Li tree sprang back to life, vigorous wood spirit energy lingering for ages, transforming millions of miles into a lush spectacle that became a celebrated scene in the Western Mountain Realm. The Stone Demon, a mechanical defensive formation, had its weakest point in its abdomen. Over sixty percent of formation connections lay there—when struck by the ferocious slicing of the Winged Tiger, the Stone Demon collapsed at once.

From Xingning Town to Falling Star City was just thirty li—a round trip could be made in a day—but Starshine City lay nearly six hundred li away. Walking would take half a month, the journey fraught with towering mountains, dense forests, treacherous cliffs and waters, star beasts, and robbers; so the safest way was to hire a carriage from a transport company. Zhao Yanran followed closely, and though she had initially avoided battle, thinking the youth no match for her, she soon realized his evasions hid a deeper strategy.

Having confirmed there were neither passersby nor patrolling soldiers nearby, Shi Jingtian threw caution to the wind. He leaped from the rooftop, gripping the railing for momentum, and landed squarely in the center of the street. “Not thirsty, not hungry, and don’t need the restroom! Go wherever you want!” Mo Yan replied without opening his eyes.

When Long Yang poked his head out of the passage, he found himself trapped; his position midway in the stone wall left him unable to go up or down. “No! There’s something strange here—and a greater conspiracy. We mustn’t act rashly,” Long Yang quickly stopped Dogwa’s move; having just met him, he didn't want Dogwa risking himself for his sake.

Stonegate Town bustled with people—caravans, merchants, and mercenaries crowded the streets, and the buildings seemed more numerous. Countless restaurants and taverns lined the roads, their signs pressed together; among them were magical pet auction houses, clinics, and supply shops—an endless array. The appearance of the Galaxy Sword Intent plunged the entire martial arena into stunned silence; ten thousand spectators were left speechless.

Shen Xin finally revealed a joyful smile; in the palace, nothing could hinder her steps—especially since the crown princess held little status. As long as she remained in the prince's palace, no matter how favored she was, it wouldn't matter. “It's already seven o'clock—why are you still not up?” he asked; didn't he usually rise at five for morning exercises?

Ding Lingxu was in high spirits. Seeing this person—who didn't even have the courage to sit before him—he realized they were nothing like the scheming, deep-minded sort he had imagined, so he decided to ask one final question. Leng Yanran spoke again, and Meng Changsheng, Li Mu, and Lu Qingqing sat down as well. With the earlier probing and Meng Changsheng's satisfactory display of strength, matters proceeded simply from there. Meng Changsheng smoothly joined the Martial Guard, becoming one of their ranks; afterward, everyone ate and chatted, getting to know one another.