Volume One, Chapter 93: The Lacquer Tray of Pine, Crane, and Auspicious Clouds

Lu Cheng had no idea what was happening; all he could do was hold Jiang Ning tightly in return, using his presence to give her support. Jiang Ning clung to him desperately. In that instant, Lu Cheng felt a sting in his nose, his brows knitting together as he raised a hand to gently stroke the back of her head.

“So, it’s not for any other reason. It’s simply to give her a chance to truly turn over a new leaf—Is that it?” Mo Zun’s voice was soft; had it not been for those close to him, no one would have noticed the tension in his words.

As expected, the Grand Xiangguo Temple had agreed to handle all the arrangements for the ritual. With Lianlong presiding, everything was conducted with both solemnity and grace.

“All right, let’s not discuss this anymore. Let’s leave it at that.” Lu Jianguo’s face suddenly flushed red.

Yet, General Guo Ziyi still held a banquet in their honor. Ye Hu, adept as he was at declining, could only accept this brotherly gesture of welcome.

Every two or three days, Qin Tianci would be seized by chills. The old monk would use his inner strength to drive out the poison and ward off the cold. But whenever the weather turned chilly or it rained, the old monk himself would feel the cold invade his body. Most of his strength was reserved for when Qin Tianci’s illness struck; when the cold assailed himself, he could only use the simplest techniques to keep it at bay.

“Is that so? What do you want to say?” The bodyguard’s face wore a cold sneer. “Don’t you want to speak your mind? Let’s talk now. If I find it inappropriate, that would be most discourteous.”

“Another month is about to pass. Xuan’er and Yue’er should be returning soon,” Lu Jianguo said, gazing at the familiar home, a trace of warmth flashing in his eyes.

Qin Tianci and Guliang Naji stared intently at Nada. At this moment, Guliang Nayin broke free from her brother’s embrace and walked toward Guliang Nada.

The massive spine was yanked out by Juniper, who broke it apart with a surge of inner power. “Useless bones,” he sneered, “not even worth collecting.”

So many days had already been delayed; who knew what the situation was now in the Serene Valley? What about Brother’s injuries—had something terrible already happened to him? This thought made Liang Yin even more anxious, desperate enough to wish she could fly straight to the valley.

“But this is not a long-term solution. Even if that ghost doesn’t seize the chance to attack us while we’re dancing, these rules will still bind us and eventually trap us here forever,” He Haikuo said, dismissing Pu Xiao’s suggestion.

I looked around, but there was no sign of Rou Manyu. She had offered up her soul, but her physical body and her seven spirits should still remain.

A sudden roar burst forth from the two-headed Frost Bear King. In an instant, an ice arrow shot out from its gaping maw, streaking toward Lin Fan who hovered above the void.

Staring at the mountain of gear piled before him, Old Nine felt utterly defeated, almost to the point of tears. He couldn’t help but think the system had played him for a fool. After spending tens of millions in gold coins, he was left with nothing but an empty city.

He sat up abruptly and opened his eyes, glancing down to find nothing there—no ice sword, no threat at all. It was as if everything had vanished.

My heart pounded with dread. Cursing under my breath, I scrambled out of the crypt; at this point, it was far too late to hide.

“I just have a very bad feeling…” Ou Hua muttered as he pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight, sweeping the beam around. Everywhere he looked, there was a strange sense of déjà vu.

Even their trump cards and secret arts were merely postnatal skills, insignificant before this monk. True energy gathered in his left hand; a Buddhist seal shot forth, striking the man heavily. The broken sword, once shining with brilliance, instantly lost its luster and fell to the ground, while the man himself was sent flying several meters away, coughing up blood.

At that moment, a group of monsters from the Demon-Eater Tribe were grinding their bloodstained teeth, slowly encircling Wu Yilang and his two companions.