Chapter 51: There's Something Between Them

Qi Xiangmin handed the suspects over to his colleagues at the Station Front Sub-bureau, then strode purposefully into the reception room.

“Old Song, do you know this young comrade as well?”

Qian Lai turned around, astonished—what sort of inexorable bond did she share with the Xin City Public Security Bureau?

“Old Qi, you two know each other too?”

The two men briefly recounted their connection with Qian Lai and were just about to exchange pleasantries when a police officer appeared at the door and called out, “Captain Qi—”

Regardless of whether one was a disciple of the Immortal Dao, the Demonic Sect, or a cultivator of the demon race, the most important thing besides cultivation itself was to roam the world, seeking rare natural treasures, exploring ancient ruins, undergoing all kinds of trials, and searching for fateful encounters.

Staring at the blood mist billowing through the air, Xiao Long was dumbstruck. Then, a surge of wild joy rose in his heart. He thought to himself: with the three strands of fist intent Senior Ye had sent into his body, and having used only one so far, there were still two left. With these, there was no doubt he could take the third round with ease.

This disaster, ever since Lei Xingfeng killed Master Wanlun, had ceased to matter; after all, there could be no reconciliation, so it made no difference who had started the trouble.

Yet Iron Donkey had barely entered the woods when he came stumbling back in a panic, giving us a loud warning.

With a gentle gesture, the Buddha finished speaking, sending a ray of Buddhist light into Tang Sanzang’s body. Instantly, Tang Sanzang’s form blazed with golden radiance, and he once more became the Sandalwood Merit Buddha.

Observing Qin Wanci’s pale face and frail frame, Xiao Lu also realized that Qin Wanci’s health was poor. She smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, you have suffered much in Limuo—how could Qingshui take offense at you?” With that, she drained her cup in one go.

“Ah Da, you must not speak carelessly. Here, the chief is the Ancestral God!” Ah Er said anxiously, his face filled with dread.

Although Chu Hen possessed two bloodline limits, today he was appearing as a member of the Demon Eye Saint Clan. Thus, nominally, he was counted among the Demon Eye faction.

There were far too few restriction masters in the Mingze Alliance. The reason they held such high status was precisely because they were in short supply, especially those at master level and above, who were exceedingly rare. This was also why Lei Xingfeng could so easily enter the main hall of restrictions—his display of a lethal restriction formation had been astonishing.

The Iron-Armored Vajra Ape was now sheathed in a faint golden aura of true essence, its fluctuations so fierce that all vegetation within several meters was reduced to powder. When it reached three steps before Ye Luo, it suddenly let out a thunderous roar, as if struck by a heavenly bolt, the sound making Ye Luo’s ears ache with pain.

More and more people gathered, many elders arriving after hearing the news. Especially the other three members of the Qingshan Seven Heroes, who had all arrived one after another, save for Qing Feng, as previously arranged. Each, upon entering, first expressed skepticism, but when they saw the murder weapon, their attitudes shifted at once, and they denounced Zong Qinglong’s crimes in harsh terms.

Even if there was hope, it was a remote one—success or failure were equally likely. How could Fang Buzhen satisfy himself with empty promises and let Deng She slip away before his eyes? Thus, when Deng She continued to feign ignorance, and Fang believed he had seen through Deng’s intentions, he kept goading him with cutting words.

From the decision to build the new city of Wancheng to the actual groundbreaking, not even two months had passed. During that time, although Nanyang was free from war, the chaos in Luoyang and the restless stirrings elsewhere made it impossible for Gao Yi to focus on the work in Wancheng.

Zu Yan’s six years of seclusion had not been fruitless. It was during this time that he comprehended the realm of the three-day cycle, a state of power so formidable it could shake the heavens and the earth.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang’s later strategies for unifying the realm did roughly follow what had been suggested, at the time, though his words were grand, most thought them impossible to achieve. In short, without being tempered by fire, how could true gold ever emerge?

The concubines who had gone up on the city walls to offer wine to the soldiers had now returned. After sending them off to the rear courtyard, Deng She kept only Lady Wang by his side, to tend to him with medicine and water. Accompanying Deng She back to the residence were Hong Jixun, Ji Zongzhou, and Zhang Yu, who sat to the left and right. Then, he ordered the messengers to come forward one by one.