Chapter 36: The Family Recognition Banquet (4)

In the banquet hall, guests gathered in small groups. An array of delicacies covered the long tables, while a chocolate fountain over a meter tall stood in distant contrast to the champagne tower at the far end.

Yu Nuannuan and Ye Zhi held marshmallows, coating them under the flowing chocolate.

"I don't get the feeling that Gu Lingyi is the vain type," Ye Zhi said, holding her plate as she found a sofa to sit on.

"I actually think so too," Yu Nuannuan lowered her voice, glancing toward Yu Liang, who was walking toward the garden in the distance. "And my brother—"

During this time, Saint Master Qiongying explained the method for drawing the Withered Wood Rejuvenation Talisman. After detailing various precautions, she turned and demonstrated it once more on the blackboard.

Alized nodded and withdrew. Adam turned and entered the carriage; there was no longer any need for him to personally oversee the remaining matters.

Furthermore, the number of households in the State of Zhao had more than doubled. Supported by policies that encouraged farming, restricted commerce, and opened up wasteland to be owned by refugees, the population of Zhao surged, surpassing that of all previous Marquises of Zhao to reach nearly three million—a peak of prosperity among the Central Plain states.

At the stairwell, two men in gray stood with swords drawn, blocking the way. Behind them, the entire staircase was packed with thugs wielding blades, and the windows nearby were also crowded, sealing off every possible exit.

Having experienced the "Gu Infusion" earlier, everyone was particularly cautious of the ground as they walked, not daring to let their guard down.

Baishu, of course, would not simply roll out. This was the moment when the target’s vigilance was at its highest; any slight movement would invite a fierce counterattack. As a rational assassin, one should slip away quietly and wait for the next opportunity. Yet, Baishu remained in place, spying on He Huang; it seemed she was quite unwilling to accept defeat.

Running for a long time without realization, she finally stopped atop a waterfall. Standing all alone, listening to the ceaseless roar of the waves and overlooking the vast wilderness, the sorrow and hatred in her heart gradually subsided, replaced by a profound sense of loneliness and melancholy. That faint touch of sadness was the most helpless of all.

Su Xue nodded in agreement. In their eyes, pulling in a coach halfway was better than having no coach at all. Uncle Li was a qualified and professional manager, but asking him to serve as an esports coach was truly putting him in a difficult spot.

The students' momentum suddenly faltered, and many covered their mouths and noses as they scattered in flight. After the security team regrouped, they emitted guttural, "ho-ho" sounds and charged at the fools who still lingered on the scene.

"Most likely off on some adventure in the forest again, right?" Haibara's cool, detached voice drifted from the side, accompanied by the "crunch" of a knife slicing through a potato.

However, the immense pressure did not bring Liu Ning despair, but rather an even higher fighting spirit. The Heart of Time within his body stirred once more, providing him with a continuous stream of power, and his comprehension of the Laws of Time deepened.

As he spoke, several phantoms crept in. They were clearly assassin players from the War Soul guild, all of them third-turn players. Their stealth had been enhanced by their class, making them difficult to detect. However, my level was much higher, and combined with my "Fiery Eyes" sweeping skill, it was nearly impossible for these assassins to escape my line of sight.

Liu Ning rubbed his temples, shaking off the annoyance caused by the system’s relentless notifications.

Albert laughed, "Is it really that exaggerated? But what the hell do you mean, you always remember what I look like?"

Thinking it over, running from Qingyun City wasn't worth it. It would be closer to teleport directly to the guild residence and then head to the Desolate Ice Plains.

His fist contained the terrifying flames held within the Phoenix God's feather. Liu Ning was gradually learning how to utilize this feather, and the power of the flames had increased countless times over.

Moreover, starting today, the honor system is open. Players can earn a certain amount of honor points for killing bosses from the Dark Faction, and even more points can be gained by capturing dark territories.

The army also had several awakened individuals with impressive combat prowess. Fully armed, they were capable of crushing an entire assault squad.