Chapter 26

For Huangpu Junye, wasting time on a casual stroll like this would have once been an unthinkable extravagance, but now, it felt entirely different.

Her most frequent tactic was the "monkey stealing the peach," along with various adaptations of the move—essentially, she would ruthlessly target his most vulnerable areas. Both her feet and her blade struck the same mark, yet she showed no sign of discomfort, attacking without blushing or missing a beat. Even so, Ding Qiang managed to parry every strike.

If he could not produce a quality work, he would rather stop updating than betray his principles by filling the space with mediocrity.

"Whether it’s effective depends on the ammunition, but at close range, the lethality is still decent," Yan Yi admitted, lacking much confidence.

However, Yixinwan was likely no match for her seventh brother. How good was Xiu Yangxi’s acting? Beyond just deceiving others, he had likely deceived himself. As for Ai Yian, his performance at the bottom of the sea was already enough to invite contempt.

In the first round, Liu Yefei faced a middle-aged swordsman who hailed from no notable sect. His swordsmanship was unremarkable, and Liu Yefei defeated him within five moves.

He then sought out the master of ceremonies to clarify the nine ritual procedures, learning in detail about each step, the emperor’s designated position, and where the ministers were to stand.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang nearly gave Wan Yu a beating; he felt a sense of exasperation, as if the other was failing to live up to his potential.

The Yin-Yang Art was a superior internal cultivation method, but each cycle of channeling required too much time. Since every human has a limited lifespan, those who truly practiced this art according to the method created by Yi Kongjin would reach the end of their lives just as they attained profound mastery.

"How do you know that?" Xing Lai looked at Wan Bang with vigilance, suspecting it was mostly a bluff.

"Clang!" The condensed immortal essence transformed into a sharp blade, slicing into the sea beast’s body and occasionally emitting the sound of clashing metal.

She then pulled the old woman aside to inquire about when the schoolhouse would dismiss. Having received a tip, the old woman answered every question thoroughly. Hearing that the children would not return for another hour or more, the village head’s wife opened the large cabinet her son had brought home, selecting a few soiled garments bundled together to wash.

Ling Tian grabbed the Green Bamboo God’s serpentine body, gave it a forceful tug, and hurled it violently toward Shen Kun.

"What? How? Why is the great formation not absorbing the explosion? Could it be that these things do not rely on spiritual energy?" Ji Zhihuang asked himself inwardly.

Xue Jian could not fathom where Liu Yatong had found the sudden enthusiasm to meddle in whether the Zhou family was getting along. Was it her own dark nature, or had she been slighted by the Dong family?

Bai Yitian took a spot as a matter of course, insisting on sitting next to Zhou Bo, who naturally agreed.

Bai Jie was speechless. Was he really so lucky that he could encounter a king-level creature everywhere he went?

"Yes, it must be very important; it is our spiritual pillar!" the Great Elder declared with absolute certainty.

"Oh, that is wonderful! Aunt Nine is so generous with the feed, the pigs she raises are always the fattest," Chun Ni’er said, hugging her mother’s arm and acting spoiled, which made Taohua giggle as well.

"Can you promise that this is the only time?" Hu Li wiped the tears from her cheeks, casting a reproachful glance at Fang Ao.

Well, since someone had chosen to believe Li Yutong’s words, the others found it difficult to argue. Whether or not to get a beauty treatment was a personal choice; they decided to wait and see the results on others first.

Watching the young lady leave the estate with Ping’er in a carriage driven by Uncle Zhong, Yuehong bit her lip, twisting her handkerchief as she retreated into the house. Sooner or later, she would surpass Ping’er and win the young lady’s trust.

"You aren’t the son of Yan Lisi and me, so how would I know what they are thinking?" Lin Yueqin frowned and retorted.

Even if the Emperor no longer favored him, he was still a third-rank general. He had neither been rewarded for merit nor punished for wrongdoing, which showed that the favor was still there—some people simply only saw the surface.

Looking out at the bustling, clamorous Ghost Street, which stretched endlessly in both directions, one felt a deep sense of unease. Along the way, brawls, robberies, and even rapes occurred in the open streets. Everything felt like an uncivilized civilization, creating a stark contrast with the vibrant activity of the thoroughfare.

After finishing these tasks, she gathered Shen Luoyao’s soul in her palm and guided it back into her body through her mouth. She recited the Soul-Calming Mantra several times before carefully buttoning up Shen Luoyao’s sleepwear.

At this moment, a trace of surprise finally appeared on Jing Huaqian’s face. Although the Seven-Star Trapping Array could not truly kill him, breaking through such a formation would be enough to give him a headache. He had not expected Mu Qianluo to be so resolute.

"My sister is ignorant; I hope the Princess will be magnanimous and not take offense..." Yu Hao said, looking at Ming Hui, who wore a smile while her eyes remained as cold as frost.

After exchanging polite pleasantries, everyone sat on the sofas. Once the tea was poured, a heavy silence fell upon the group.

"Strange, how is there not a single trace?" He withdrew his spiritual sense, his eyes flickering with wonder.

"Grandpa Jiang is right. We, the younger generation, should learn from the revolutionary elders—learn your selfless spirit of serving the people wholeheartedly, and practice working with our feet on the ground and living with diligence," Luo Zhiyuan said with a gentle smile.

Several god-cultivators exclaimed and stumbled back, peering closely, but there was no movement. This left them particularly unsettled, and they exchanged nervous glances.