Volume One, Chapter 58: The Young Prodigy (Happy New Year's Eve)

The man in purple offered no explanation. As the only Foundation Establishment cultivator within the Seven Mysteries Sect, and the sole elder on the northern shore, Sun Wen exuded a natural authority that brooked no dissent. He paid no heed to the three others, instead fixing his gaze intently on Ji Die. After sensing Ji Die’s cultivation, his eyes lit up with surprise.

“Seventh level of Qi Refining!” Not long ago, someone had relayed Ji Die’s situation to him, but he hadn’t believed it. Seeing it for himself now, he found reality even more astonishing than the rumors.

This was by no means the peak of the sixth layer—this was clearly the seventh! He didn’t know exactly when Ji Die had joined the sect, but Ji Die was so young to have achieved such a level... Undoubtedly a prodigy.

Faced with such blunt, undisguised mockery, Mo Qingyu’s face turned pale. She lowered her head, not daring to meet the other’s eyes, and spoke in a trembling voice.

Lianhua, lying prostrate on the ground, looked up at the five figures and immediately struggled to break free from Shu Yuan’s foot, intent on charging at them.

She strained to carry Tianxing on her back, pressing forward with determined steps, wanting to return to the inn. Perhaps there, she might find a way to save Tianxing.

Upon entering, it was clear the house wasn’t ordinary. It wasn’t a typical farmhouse from the northeast, nor made of earthen walls like those in the northern wilds. Rather, it resembled the elegant horse-head wall houses built in Anhui.

As long as the formation’s barrier remained, the time it bought should be enough for Yun Yi to complete the sacrificial transformation into an immortal form.

“Grandpa Xing...?” Mu Yun was momentarily stunned, thinking that any disciple who could appear here would have to be someone of some standing. If this was a disciple under the Sword Saint... Could it be the Celestial Sword Saint himself?

With Jiang Yi’s subtle probing and eloquence, Zhang Heng and Yang Yun finally revealed everything to him, and the so-called truth gradually came to light.

After a long while, when Bai Li Qingyun finally regained his composure, he looked once more at Xiao Yumu, who was still held close in Linghu Tianhai’s embrace.

A single eye peered through the crack in the door, watching from outside. The three of us inside were so startled we could hardly breathe. Suddenly, the door swung open and an old lady came out. She stood in the doorway, glaring at us in silence.

At the end of the month, to show the immortal village’s care and to steady the villagers’ hearts, Village Chief Wang Chong sent Jin Ling her monthly salary in advance—ten silver coins.

“What a coincidence, to run into several members of the Zi Luo Sect here. I was hoping to seek guidance from Master Mu. Would you be so kind as to inform him?” The Golden Lotus Master spoke with a gentle smile.

Hearing Tao Tao’s softened tone, Cui Fei knew Tao Tao had forgiven him for smoking, drinking, and getting tattoos.

“What I want to do most?” Jiang Ning pondered. Secluding himself in cultivation to consolidate his level? That would be the typical path, but his own breakthrough had been sheer luck and confusion. Would isolation even help?

Yet he was unwilling to accept his fate. He tried many times to leave, but was always trapped by the barrier. Observing this, I deceived him, saying the stone tablet stabilized his soul, and that reverently bowing to it would eventually set him free.

In hindsight, it had been the right decision. Otherwise, did you think those young masters would come prepared for their own amusements? Just don’t let yourself get squeezed out when they arrive.

What she didn’t know was that Zhao Yebai had secretly trained thousands of deathsworn soldiers, though he wouldn’t reveal them unless absolutely necessary.

“Chunyu Li, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?” She couldn’t outargue him, so she simply gave up.

Min Tian’s smile froze. She didn’t ask if his journey had gone well, nor whether handing her cousin over to her made him feel guilty; she only cared about Zhao Yebai’s life or death. That alone revealed how deeply Zhao Yebai mattered to her.

Gu Yuxuan gripped her chin, his tongue tracing her lips, savoring her in gentle, meticulous bites.

He had been standing here for quite some time, yet sensed not a trace of inner force or true energy from You Ran. In fact, You Ran had reversed her Baihui point and pressed herself against Gu Xisheng, clearly not transmitting energy at all.

This shocked He Yifeng greatly, but thinking of his deep affection and his own vacation, he nodded in firm agreement.

The relationships here were not only complex, but also rife with ambiguity and innuendo, leaving Lu Qixin at a loss for words. If she spoke, everyone would surely assume Lu Qixin of Songgao Sect and Wu Xiaojing of the Four Islands were fighting over a man.

Liu Yan smiled at Yin Xinshui. Though he said nothing, that smile conveyed a thousand unspoken words. Yin Xinshui didn’t know how he had come from billions of light years away to save her, but the fact that he had come for her moved her to tears of joy.

As Naruto passed through a garden, he knocked out two mafia members who tried to ambush him. Just then, a gentle voice sounded by his ear.

But because Gu Youran relied too much on group power, she inadvertently triggered the power of the stars.

“Zoo? Maybe it escaped from the Suzhou City Zoo,” Zhu Xi spoke up for once.

Especially since he was escorting Onizuka today. If he could impress him, his future would be secure.

At that moment, she heard someone behind her shriek, only to fall abruptly silent. She smiled knowingly, aware that Zhu Ruo had taken action and subdued the black-clad elder.

Su Mo promptly fell silent. She then noticed that Xiao Nanye could pop the balloons without her guidance—he almost seemed to know exactly where they were.

Every successful person has endured sweat, pain, and desperate struggles. Yet most people only see their shining moments, their meteoric rise, without knowing the hardships and tears behind it.

Strange—why was there music drifting over the great river? Could it be a private pleasure barge from some wealthy household?

To ensure the press conference went smoothly, it was entirely normal to arrange for friendly reporters to ask questions. Otherwise, a troublemaker might pose odd questions and derail the event. One can never be too careful.

It’s still not enough. Not enough at all. I haven’t felt that sense of delirium yet! I need to go further, closer—closer to death, to death itself... I want death to come clearer, sharper, and carve itself into my bones.

The academy students obediently moved back, and then several martial masters carried in large rosewood chairs, arranging them in order on the right side of the ring.

“Man-made road? I can’t tell at all. What’s ‘cultivated soil’?” Chang Wu asked.