Volume 1, Chapter 23: The Gilded Cage for a Hidden Beauty

Later, he began raising chickens, ducks, geese, and fish within his space. His steady clientele in the capital consisted of the second and third generations he had befriended while selling talismans. Making money was secondary; the primary purpose was to have a legitimate excuse to provide healthy, home-grown produce and meat to his elders to nourish their bodies.

To have escaped back from the north during this period—those in the dark would not know, but those in the know certainly understood the individual's identity: they were inevitably a member of the Three Nets organization. Given the proximity of their location, it was even more likely that they were an ordinary member of the Human Net.

She was a prominent figure within the Shadow Kill team. Although her actual combat strength was not exceptionally high, her value could not be underestimated due to her unique "Thousand Faces" skill; her utility even surpassed that of an average 3S-level esper.

Naturally, witnessing the moment that power was released—the vacuum created in that area and the collapse of the spiritual domain—was absolutely shocking, causing one to tremble at the terrifying intensity of such force. Following it came the aura unique to a Sovereign.

Therefore, when this terrifying fist struck the mountain-like, sea-deep mass of skeletons, something unbelievable to the King’s Guard occurred. The indestructible fist and the razor-sharp blade dissipated after merely shattering the physical forms of a few dozen skeletons.

The Life-and-Death Arena is a cruel elimination mechanism. Missioners enter the same world together, and the one with the fewest points not only suffers severe damage to their vitality but also has their entire point balance wiped out, presented to the winner as a reward.

As they went back and forth, those waiting to buy flowers were delighted, naturally eager to snap up the bargains.

Against opponents of equal combat strength, one could easily immobilize them; even a Martial King expert could be held in place for several moments.

Third Young Master Lu did not have many friends, and Ninth Master Shen was arguably his closest. If Third Young Master Lu were willing to speak on his behalf, then his son would be saved.

"I don't know about that; my elder brother didn't say." In truth, everyone had their own speculations about this omen. The auspicious date for appointing the Crown Prince had been calculated by the Imperial Board of Astronomy long ago. Originally, the weather was clear and bright the day before the ceremony, but on the very day of the appointment, an unprovoked rainstorm broke out, which was considered quite inauspicious.

If the blue skeletons were mages, then what were those skeletons wearing pitch-black armor?

Therefore, while Huang Lulu was enthusiastic and attentive toward Su Yang, she always maintained a certain distance from him.

The one who entered was Jiang Tianyue. Compared to before she entered the sect, her temperament had changed significantly; she looked like a graceful, upright lotus, untainted by even a hint of worldly dust.

Her face held no obvious expression, yet it was not the calm, ripple-less look of the past; it was a sort of numbness and hollowness that made one’s heart ache to behold.

They were very respectful and hospitable to guests. Whether they were familiar faces or not, as long as they were not malicious—be they passersby or visiting friends—the entire village treated them with the same warmth one would show their own kin.

Still couldn't kill it! Jiang Yao gave a bitter smile. However, the monster must have been severely wounded, otherwise, it would not have chosen to flee.

Na Ze's gaze shifted from her face to her hands, staring at the chili sandwich for a long time without saying a word.

At this moment, Yue Ying suddenly turned her head. A streak of light from the Biyou Sword slashed behind her. With a "squeak," before the sword light could fully land, a flash of radiance erupted, and a strange, flying serpent darted up and down, actually engaging the Biyou Sword in combat.

Fu Chai slowly returned to the stone table and pointed a finger into the air several times. With a few soft sounds, the colorful light in the air vanished completely.

"Bad!" Douglas was struck with terror. Having studied the war footage of the failed expedition of the Philip Army at the Moore City Administrative Office over twenty times, he suddenly recalled in his mind that sliver of silver thread that had shot down the Philip Legion Commander.

"Tch, Master, you are always doing unnecessary things for no reason," Ester said, pouting in dissatisfaction.

Chen Xing’s words could have two meanings. The first was that he still wanted a proper explanation from Gu Lian regarding the Li Chunnian affair. The second was that the matter could be put to rest, and he would not mind, but any future actions of Gu Lian must be cleared with him first.

He knew that the reason Long Yuan cooperated with him was merely because he coveted the team behind him. But that was the last of his father's and his own life's work, and he relied on that team to make a comeback; how could he easily let him find the evidence for mobilizing the troops?

"You're the one stripping!" Qin Lan's face flushed red upon hearing this. She hadn't expected herself to be so wild when drunk. No, that wasn't right—how could one take anything this man said seriously?

The words of the Ming woman successfully lifted the brows of Helan Lengchun, which had been furrowed in sorrow for many days. After making up her mind, Helan Lengchun smiled without a word, though her heart was already busy with her own calculations.

Something was quietly approaching in this silent, soundless manner, with a completely brazen air.

He was entirely enveloped in a black, tight-fitting suit of strange texture, even his head covered, with his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose completely hidden. At first glance, one would think it was some kind of faceless monster.

"I’ve made my wish again. This way, the Buddha will be more likely to hear my voice, right? If things really go as I wish, I would naturally be willing to come and kowtow a thousand times, because it would be worth it." After finishing her prayers, Pei Yueyue stood up and said to Chen Xing with a confident and beautiful smile.

Unless Gu Meng died, her body was brought back, and all of the Feng family's potential heirs perished, only then could Feng Yu possibly "kill" himself and then enter under the name of a Feng family member.

Tang Ye saw Ye Tianyu appear and her heart raced. Just as she was about to run away, she found her body pinned against the wall by him. She struggled hard, only to find that the friction brought a strange sensation to her body, and since she couldn't break free, she immediately settled down.

Xue Huai sighed: "Yin Mountain sits five hundred miles north of Yaizhou. Because it is shrouded in clouds and fog year-round and never sees the sun, it is named Yin Mountain. Inside, there is a lake, known as Black Dragon Lake."

Although Shen Xi had seen much of the world, to be honest, hearing him say such things to her made her heart tremble involuntarily.

Time passed just like that, and all the procedures for the wedding were completed step by step. Finally, the day of the wedding arrived.

From afar, the soft, melodic dialect drifted across the water mist into her ears. Seeing the increasingly bright and colorful lanterns outside the window, Xie Shi’s hands trembled, clenching and kneading together in excitement.

Returning home, Xu Anmo feigned having business and called Shu Ya directly into the room. Zhao Liying did not say much, merely assuming the two had matters to discuss.