Chapter Fifteen: The Granary Crisis

The sun had just climbed past the treetops in the hour of the morning. The four lacquered characters of "Qingxi Academy" dazzled in the sunlight, shining so brightly that it was almost blinding.

Li Fei even felt that, without needing to absorb all the Earth Fiend energy here, he could break through to the sixth stage.

Li Junxiu smiled with restraint, gently concealing the thread of sorrow that surged within his heart. His slanting, long, phoenix eyes—soft and radiant as peach blossoms—seemed to intoxicate the very breeze.

The first discordant note came from Zheng Xinghua, the Minister of External Relations, whose words stirred up a thousand ripples; soon, whispers spread among the crowd, each voice tinged with indignation.

No matter how formidable a professional assassin might be, none would dare directly challenge a government. With the official power of Liangdu stepping in, even the assassin would have to consider his actions more carefully.

He cared little if Xu Yuan learned about his past foolish deeds. What mattered was that Xu Yuan should not be dragged into this danger. He could no longer protect himself—death might come at any moment—but he would do all he could to protect Xu Yuan, for nothing was more important to him.

So, when Wenrou Qianhua was bullied by Zheng Feng, she naturally sought revenge. Zheng Feng hadn't even approached Wen Qianhua before Ye Mo Ying kicked him, sending him flying to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.

Xu Yuan muttered to herself as she gently opened the wardrobe, examining each garment one by one. She hoped to find something less expensive among the many high-end pieces, so that even if Cheng Jin grew angry, she'd be able to afford the compensation.

Qiu Lei, Tian Sen, and Zhu Xin nearly simultaneously spat blood and fell to their knees, half-doubled on the ground. As their protective shields were gradually compressed, they refused to retreat even a single step.

"Speak," Shuo Ming leaned back in his chair, settling into a comfortable posture. If Nie Kun brought good news, then simply having a meal was happiness enough—what other news could fail to be good?

"Brother Mo, if I'm not mistaken, this must be the legendary celestial treasure?" Old Huang glanced at the Blood Jade Heavenly Pearl in his hand, then turned to Mo Ke.

It was likely that the Northern King had already reached the level of divine consciousness—or even higher. The divine sense he released was irresistible even to Lin Ye.

"And the cruelty of his methods, the venom in his actions, are truly rare in this world," Jingxin continued.

Liao Bing'er wanted to refuse, since Sun Ruoyu was present, which meant she couldn't discuss matters with Ling Chen. But before she could speak, Ling Chen gave her a look and a slight shake of the head.

It had little to do with him, but he was beaten for no reason. Liu Xiaomang was the sort to repay any wrong; Zhao Lao's beating was something he'd remember. Whenever he found the chance, he'd make trouble for him—even if he couldn't win, he'd at least disgust him.

Jin Ze stubbornly broke free of Baozi's arm and rushed toward the private room. Baozi, seeing the time nearly right, did not stop him and followed close behind.

Murong Feng and the Evil Young Master, upon hearing the news, leapt up and in the blink of an eye arrived before the ball of fire. Yet the flame seemed to possess its own intelligence; seeing them approach, it scattered in all directions.

"So that means, among the Thirty-three Heavens, there must be supreme saints. Perhaps even cultivators beyond the realm of supreme sainthood! Just that Hongjun Daoist alone is unfathomable—this Xuan Tian is indeed complex," the Evil Young Master deduced.

Zhan Peng, seeing his father's anger, dared not say another word. As soon as his father issued the order, he hurried to comply.

Night fell, shrouded in mist. Tang Shi finally drifted into deep sleep, breathing in the familiar scent, and opened her eyes to see his face—handsome beyond compare, marked with loneliness and exhaustion. Yet his gaze was as deeply gentle as ever, filled with love and tenderness. Overcome, Tang Shi threw herself into his arms.