Volume 1, Chapter 37: Rumors That Wound

Before long, a simple black bracelet was finished, adorned with a single, crystalline sapphire.

On the night before Christmas Eve, the entire city of San Antonio was wrapped in a rich, festive atmosphere.

"My parents' lives have been threatened because of your mess, yet you still have top-secret information you refuse to share. Spill everything immediately, or take your foolish son and get out." Jiang Dong did not mince words; after all, this family’s actions had been far too detrimental.

A white figure swooped in once more. Zixin’s lips curled into a faint smile. Aiming at the approaching shadow, she puffed out her cheeks and blew a powerful breath. As the air left her lungs, it transformed into a roaring flame.

Though her words were polite, her tone was dripping with sarcasm. Qiao Wei frowned. Even though business had been decent lately, the constant expenses—the new shovel bought for the Guo family, the milk, the eggs—meant their life was no more prosperous than before.

In Antarctica, Jinx’s phantom spirit, snapping back to reality, gazed at the excited descendants before her and couldn't help but sigh.

Zhuge was forced to burn his Flash, but in the next second, the enemy Nocturne flashed in to follow, maintaining his E ability. As his health bar dwindled, Zhuge activated his E ability, Thick Skin, and the moment Nocturne’s E, Unspeakable Horror, took effect, he used Cleanse to instantly remove the fear.

He handed the bank card back to Zhou Mo and said, "Hide this card. I’m afraid I’ll lose it if I keep it."

Though it was merely a screen, being able to help a teammate score and integrate into the team’s offense greatly boosted Yi Jianlian’s confidence.

Having secured First Blood, Mu Jing did not relax; he continued to auto-attack the full-health Vayne. However, the Alistar behind him was now at critical health under the Graves’ basic attacks. With no other choice, Mu Jing turned back and activated his Heal to restore some of the Alistar’s vitality.

***

The bungalow rented by the old Taoist Baichi was a standard two-room unit with heated brick beds. A small courtyard enclosed three rooms; upon entering, one found a spacious kitchen, flanked by two bedrooms, both equipped with heated kang beds.

A massive pillar of true energy erupted from the crater of Mount Fuji, instantly shattering Taixuan’s sword aura.

"Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother, truly brilliant. I only recounted the legend, and you have already deduced the gist of it. Correct, this is precisely our conjecture."

"Thanks to General Meng. Tell him to focus solely on protecting the Young Master; he need not worry about me here. You may withdraw," Li Si commanded.

Following the old general’s soul, a legion of spectral soldiers obeyed the order, forming cavalry and infantry ranks. Like a forest they moved, advancing toward Lu Wu.

His body was shattered, with some parts pierced clear through, a mass of bloody flesh. His breath was shallow; it appeared he had not long to live.

Following the flow of energy with one’s mind is an exhausting task. Li Fan walked on, losing track of time. He did not know how long he had been walking, only that it had been a very long time, yet he had still not returned to his starting point.

The observation deck was not very high, nor was the view far. The snow was falling too heavily today; it was a vast expanse of white. In the distance, snow leopards could be seen running, and there were deep and shallow footprints in the forest—everything was silent.

The rooster crowed, signaling the dawn. As the sun rose in the east, the Luoyang plaza grew crowded. People sat on chairs, and only then could one see the true state of the square.

"I’m afraid if I leave her in the CIA, I’ll be here to collect her corpse tomorrow. She has no family anyway; once she’s dead, she’ll just be a box of ashes. No one will come looking for trouble with you all. It’s not like we haven’t done this sort of thing before," Wesley sneered.

***

The appearance of the Qin Emperor could resolve the confusion in the hearts of the Yama Kings, led by King Pingdeng. It could also explain the changes in Ping Qing and Ping Jian, and perhaps even define the current identity of Cang Yun.

Li Asan rushed to break the news to Li Changgui and Li Asi at the entrance. Knowing what they had done the day before, Li Changgui was left at a loss for what to do.

A soft scoff echoed in the air. Suddenly, a gash appeared on Zhang Nianzu’s shoulder. He swiped back, his fingers nearly brushing the opponent’s cold nails, but they vanished in an instant, slipping away once more.

One must know that the Phantom Crystal Card is originally transparent. As the recorded contribution points increase, the card’s color deepens. When it turns black, the exact number of points recorded inside becomes a mystery—though it is certainly a terrifying amount.

The quiet cabin finally erupted into noise. Zhang Zhijie walked in with his personal guards. Feng Haisheng stepped forward and opened the wooden crate, revealing the matchlock muskets inside.

Zhang Zhijie’s army marched twenty miles to the southwest, but as expected, they did not catch up to the forces of Liu Liu and Liu Qi. After nearly a full day of marching and fighting, the soldiers were exhausted.

Wang Ping’s expression changed! In his career as a professional sanda fighter, no one had ever remained so calm after taking a punch from him. He threw his second punch.

A sudden sound from outside the door interrupted their conversation. Amidst the rustling, looking through the window, a familiar silhouette came into view.