Volume One, Chapter 38: Entering the Game

In truth, it took Tuoba Xue quite some time to adapt to life in the Han Dynasty after leaving the Xiongnu Kingdom. Having grown up in the Gudu Prefecture and later following Zuo Ci to the Han realm, she needed time to adjust, both in terms of customs and emotions. During those seven or eight years, her longing for the Gudu Prefecture of the Xiongnu was no less profound than that of Helian Jinyan.

Green Jade and Red Lotus turned in a flash, standing before her. With a swift motion, she thrust her sword to parry the lead soldier’s spear, and with a forceful shove, sent the weapon flying from his grasp.

Two years ago, at the end of the third year of the Tianyou era, Li Keyong seized the opportunity provided by the internal strife of the Weibo Jiedushi to launch an attack on Luzhou. He captured the city in one stroke, securing a strategically vital stronghold for Hedong and achieving a significant victory.

He finally understood why Ye Qingqing always remained indifferent whenever he boasted about himself—it was because, even setting aside Shi Mu-ting, the people around her were all of an exceptionally high standard of beauty.

It was not that the Coagulated Snow Resurrection Pill lacked efficacy, but as a universal antidote capable of neutralizing a hundred poisons, its function was generalized. Compared to a specialized antidote, its performance against any single specific toxin was inevitably less potent.

Xu Linglan had once told him that once they possessed the Twin Dragon Determinant Pill and achieved a successful breakthrough, they would declare war on the Holy See within a month at most. He had not expected that, before he knew it, the time had finally arrived.

It seemed as though the acupoints possessed an innate ability to attract and gather spiritual energy. Over time, more spiritual energy would accumulate within them. When internal energy circulated through these points, it would refine this spiritual energy into internal energy. If the amount of refined energy exceeded what the acupoints had absorbed, a net increase in internal energy would naturally occur.

There were skilled archers among the enemy ranks. Perhaps realizing Wang Maozhang’s identity, one of them took a secret shot, striking him squarely in the face.

Wang Chen nodded silently, effectively accepting Liu Xue’s perspective. Strictly speaking, both he and Qi Shaoyun had been guilty of underestimating their opponents, and constantly troubling the other party did not seem entirely reasonable.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! After parrying five or six blows, Yan Zhen had defended beautifully, yet he felt a vague sense of unease. Something was definitely wrong; he found that his usual fluidity in using the Source of the Shield Sword was missing, replaced by a sluggish, messy sensation that lacked his customary precision and grace.

"But the other party is very insistent." The butler had served Yuan Panqiu for many years and possessed considerable cultivation himself—at the eighth rank, he had the resilience to withstand such pressure. Moreover, he understood that Yuan Panqiu was not expressing dissatisfaction with him; rather, having occupied a high position for so long, the pressure was merely an subconscious release.

Cao Peng walked over and lifted Zhang Wanyun, who seemed entirely devoid of consciousness.

Sasha nodded repeatedly while I held her mouth; as long as it meant her mother would wake up, a mere kiss was naturally of no concern. In any case, her mother had no husband, and Sasha’s father had no say in who she kissed, as they were not truly a married couple.

The next morning, Cao Peng was sleeping soundly when he suddenly felt a tickle on his chest. Opening his heavy eyes, he saw Su Yun with her beautiful, wide eyes, tracing circles on his chest with her slender fingers.

Under Zhou Yu’s curious gaze, Zuo Jun whispered something into Cheng Shu’s ear. Cheng Shu nodded repeatedly in agreement, finally giving Zuo Jun a look that signaled "everything is under control," before mounting his flying sword and disappearing into the distance as a streak of light.

Yang Bian’s goal was simple: to pull out the enemy’s fangs by eliminating their healer first. Otherwise, another mass resurrection would make the battle truly endless.

As they drew closer, Zuo Jun was certain there was someone within the white light! Just as he was contemplating whether to inform his master, he heard voices emanating from the approaching glow. Filled with curiosity, Zuo Jun could not help but prick up his ears to listen closely.

Lu Qing was also stunned, staring at the teacher who had mentored him for years with an expression of awe, as if what he saw surpassed the limits of his understanding.

Lu Chen ignored this, entered the city gate, and walked slowly toward the depths of a secluded alley.

The next day, Nan Chen awoke from his slumber to find that he had somehow left the Xiling Snow Mountains. Walking out of his room, he discovered Lu Feiwei.

"Madam, please sit. This young master has bought everything; he gave twenty taels of silver. Please, keep it safe," Uncle Wang said with a flattering smile.

"Start with the day. These two poems are titled 'Song of Tomorrow' and 'Poem of Today.' They are simple and easy to understand, requiring no explanation, clear to both young and old, and rhythmic to recite. They are sufficient to illustrate the harms of laziness and procrastination," A-Lang said with a smile.

Before going to bed, the number of followers for the Weibo ID "I Want to Be Rich" had surpassed 1.8 million and was racing toward 2 million.

The night sky tonight seemed exceptionally beautiful; cloudless and a deep, boundless blue, filled with stars and a brilliant, glowing moon.

In fact, Ning Yan was purely after a watch that combined a minute repeater, a tourbillon, and a perpetual calendar.

In Ningbo, and indeed over a wider area, as long as Zheng Gao remained, Zheng Jie had nothing to fear.

Later that day, Qiu Ying came to find Wang Chong, her brow furrowed with worry, and told him about how Zheng Shijie had coerced her. Wang Chong was shocked. Having finally waited for the day Zheng Shijie would leave the academy, he was furious that such a thing had occurred just before his departure.

On the other side of the East Sea tributary, three figures flew at full speed through the air, like three meteors streaking across the clouds and over the sea, heading toward the immortal realm of the Kunlun Mountains.

Although he was a member of the night raid, as a former young master of a wealthy family, he could not compare to Brand. Thus, the fact that he did not collapse like an ordinary person under the sound of the flute was already quite remarkable.

Two days had passed since the proposal. Over these two days, Qiu Xuan had accompanied his family, neither cultivating nor going out. He kept the affairs at the border in his heart, never forgetting them, but as they were not urgent, he chose to spend the time well with his family.

Put that way, everything made more sense. Su Nian’an slumped in her seat, rubbing her temples, completely drained of spirit.

Qian looked deeply at Echizen, then crouched down, ready to await his "instruction."