The room was bathed in a gentle glow, with sunlight filtering through the curtains and casting intricate patterns on the floor. Silence reigned, yet it was a silence pregnant with meaning, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Su Yun was forced to swallow the sweet saliva that Wei Heng passed over, and instinctively wanted more. With this thought, her lips followed with a gentle suck, encouraging Wei Heng to kiss her even more fiercely. Wei Heng bit hard, breaking Su Yun’s lip, and Su Yun suddenly opened her eyes, only to find Wei Heng looking at her as well.

Su Yun couldn’t decipher that gaze; in the past, she might have thought it was affection and care, but now she was no longer certain.

A flash appeared in the sky...

Yet the Master of Netherfire, having lived for over a hundred years, was after all an old monster. That thought was only the first fleeting notion in his mind; he just glanced a few more times at Xiao Rang, then quickly affirmed that Bi Qingtian was not dead. What he couldn’t fathom was how Xiao Rang had persuaded Bi Qingtian to withdraw and cease his involvement.

Lei Li, however, was not worried, for he knew he was but one step away from success.

No sooner had the voice finished speaking than a brilliant light burst forth from the rippling space, and as the radiance faded, everyone saw that two imposing cultivators had appeared before them.

This was clearly unreasonable—a person with at least five layers of Qi Condensation could not have failed such a basic trial. How then had the others passed?

Shang Mengqi wasn’t sure whether Qiu Shaoze truly understood or was merely pretending, yet his expression did not seem false.

Jin Feng revealed a mocking smile. Very good, everything was as expected. At last, she could personally sweep away this stumbling block, and perhaps... gain a capable new ally.

“You look a bit like a tree whose branch has been crushed, and also a bit like a mop for cleaning floors,” Ayana raised a finger and pointed at Fide’s head, which was tangled in black hair, then poked at his hair with her finger.

“This is Feo, the wisest and most insightful member of our rogue mercenary group,” Nangus introduced Fide.

In truth, Li Ningyu’s family letter was transmitted by Far East wireless to the Beijing intelligence team, and it should never have been known by any other country. But Li Ningyu played a trick—he sent it via public telegram, so spies from various nations learned the full contents of the letter.

From his face, he seemed East Asian, but it was uncertain—who could say which country he hailed from?

The world’s long-awaited aerospace planes were still in the research phase; to reach space, rockets were still needed. Yet with the impetus from the United States’ space-based kinetic weapons, all countries had increased their investment in aerospace plane research. China predicted another five to ten years before developing a practical flying vehicle for space.

Chu Xiao hesitated no longer, leaping onto the first step. In an instant, a powerful pressure descended upon him, as if it would crush him onto the steps, even slowing the flow of his magical power.

Angel, after bowing respectfully to the two venerable elders, dragged a longsword wrapped in yellow oilcloth from outside the door and brought it before Summer Tree.

“We’ll discuss our matters at Yarden tonight!” Tomorrow they would depart for Star City, and Zhou Yu did not want Chong Shao’s bad mood to interfere with their talk, so she reminded him.

Now, he could only pray silently, hoping that those gods idling atop Mount Olympus would sense their peril and bestow divine power to obliterate the terrifying presence before them.

Five years had passed; everything had changed. He no longer knew what his mentor had become—surely he had aged considerably.

Wei Jie-shu asked, “Inviting Master Shang to design the garden must cost a lot to build, right? Nowadays, Master Shang rarely takes commissions unless the project has real significance.” Wei Jie-shu was responsible for sanitation, but had some involvement in landscaping as well.

Opposite, the battle between the Wolf Speaker and the Twin Hammer Hero was in full swing. The Twin Hammer Hero swung his hammers, smashing every obstacle in his path, while the Wolf Speaker, unable to match his immense strength, switched to delaying tactics, waiting for a new opportunity to strike.