Volume 1, Chapter 57: The Frozen Heart Develops Fractures Bit by Bit

The alliance border was heavily guarded, primarily because an influx of empire citizens had been smuggling themselves across recently. Rumor had it that the strongest psionic colonel of the Hilna Empire had gone missing, prompting the emperor to seize the opportunity to suppress the Volzan family, while the Harper family intended to sever ties due to their daughter's situation.

Wearing a black mask and dressed entirely in black from head to toe, the man was subjected to a thorough identity check by the soldiers before being cleared and allowed entry.

Listening to the chatter of the beastmen along the way, the man felt not a single ripple in his heart.

Upon entering the alliance territory, he immediately checked into a hotel and hastily washed away the dried blood caked on his body.

The bathroom mirror reflected a familiar face—it was unmistakably Lester.

When—

"It's nothing. I just hope that in the near future, all of this can come to a complete end," Xie Anyi said with a worried expression.

"I read about your deeds online. They are very touching, and I believe you can accomplish this."

"You have never left the capital?" the question came. This cassava was by no means native to the Tianyi State; it only grew south of the Three Kingdoms River, and even further south, below Nanyang.

Hearing this, Yuan Mu gently arched his delicate, feathered brows, his warm, ink-jade-like eyes shifting slightly toward the exterior of the military tent.

The guard picked up his fallen jaw, and the food box in his hand slipped to the floor, shattering with a harsh clatter. The soup and dishes spilled everywhere, and turning on his heel, he fled in panic.

On the other side, Li Sui had initially managed to swallow his anger with great difficulty. However, currently boiling with rage, the actions of the two only added fuel to the fire of their already strained relationship.

Her eldest miss was completely spoiled. If she were allowed to continue making a scene, there was a real possibility she would be demoted from a secondary consort to a common concubine, and as a personal maid, she herself would easily get caught in the fallout.

"That's right! As long as he shows up, you'll still be in for a world of hurt!" In Chen Lingtian's eyes, Jiang Ning was a supreme existence, someone whose cultivation and background commanded absolute awe.

"It's important—it concerns the child!" Sun Sisi spoke up timidly. She had thought about it for a long time before deciding to bring it up. After all, with the person now abducted, if any harm actually came to the child, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

However, he did not say anything. After all, some matters were still unclear to him, and judging by the current situation, it seemed as though everyone was keeping him in the dark.

This trap before him had not yet been fully set and required further refinement. Yet, his old friend was asking them to withdraw from the conflict now, which seemed somewhat premature. If Olivia guessed correctly, his old friend's decision must have been made on the spur of the moment. So, what on earth had prompted his old friend to make such a choice?

Leng Litian turned around and saw that it was none other than the perverted reporter from earlier, instantly causing a wave of goosebumps to rise across his skin.

Everyone around was dumbfounded. What did he mean by "broken through again"? Was it the breakthrough that occurred in mid-air not long ago, or had he broken through yet again just now?

Starting the next day, Chu Tianxiong began inspecting various projects. Han Qing had provided him with several options, including mines, catering, logistics, and even supermarkets. Mining held a massive allure for Chu Tianxiong due to its enormous profit margins, so he focused his efforts on reviewing materials related to mineral extraction.

When Helian Nuo returned to the room, Luo Xue was still fast asleep. It was evident that her sleep was not as peaceful as before; she had long since kicked the blanket away, her face was covered in a dense layer of sweat, and her brows were tightly furrowed, as if she were dreaming of something terrifying.

For so many years, she had maintained a noble status. Not to mention engaging in physical fights, she rarely even uttered a harsh word.

This firm was one of the three major trading houses in Ruijin, and its head was even a standing member of the Merchants' Alliance. Rumors had it that their backing came from a major figure within the Jinlin Academy, and their influence was extraordinary.

In particular, Professor Old Will's spatial magic was virtually indistinguishable from sorcery in Yan Fei's eyes! The fact that mages could shuttle through space and time with the aid of formations, thereby breaking the constraints of space and time, was a truly magnificent invention.

Yet what was bound to come would eventually arrive. Once the three months had passed, Xia Tian's cultivation remained at the late Golden Core stage, though there was a faint sensation of approaching its peak. There was still no news of Gu Xixi and Hou Xiaochun. While this was naturally anxiety-inducing, the most pressing headache at hand remained the Black Demon King.

The enthusiasm among the students was evidently very high. By six or seven o'clock, the vast majority of them had already gathered at the martial arts arena to watch the ceremony. At this usual hour, Qingshui Academy would normally have been completely dead silent.

Yet these two eccentric men maintained completely straight faces, their words carrying hidden undertones that seemed to ask her: Is this joke really that funny?

Liang Hao muttered to himself that studying it further would yield no results, so he decided to set it aside and observe it slowly over time.

"There are still seven days left. Take the two of us around to have some fun during this time; I certainly don't want to make a wasted trip to Sword Casting Villa," Yinmo said with a playful smile.

With a crisp "clink," that person reached out and blocked the blow without even looking back, firmly trapping the sword! The thief had a piece of uneven iron plating strapped to his arm, and Yinmo's blade was wedged right into the gap.

Lin Zheng was truly depressed. He opened his text message inbox and checked the reports one by one, which detailed Yun Moyu's whereabouts. Unable to sleep, she had taken a taxi to the beach, kicked off her shoes, and was currently walking barefoot toward the shoreline.

Originally, according to Su Linglu's calculations, the Su family could handle this matter themselves, which would also help restore a portion of the family's lost prestige.

However, he only had four Buddhist prayer beads in his hand right now, and he wasn't sure if they would be enough. Still, his spiritual sense was stronger than Huicun's, so there was still hope.

"Damn it, I came just to call you guys and missed the good show!" Niu Li patted his head in great frustration. Clearly, the two had already finished sparring, and judging by the looks of it, it was a draw.

Just as Li Xiaorang was wholeheartedly attempting his breakthrough, Long Teng, who had been locked in combat with the Gale Monkey King and finding it difficult to secure a victory after a prolonged assault, saw his expression darken instantly. Just as he was about to unleash his True Dragon Qi, a battle saber suddenly joined the fray.

Jian Quan ignored him, continuing to tirelessly channel his true Qi, purely for the sake of keeping Ye Zhiqiu alive just a little longer.

"If I die, I guarantee you won't get anything!" Han Lang said in an icy tone, his grim eyes fixed tightly on the latter, making the other person feel a trace of unease.

Though he had witnessed it once before, Lin Tian still felt that such a gruesome sight was enough to make him vomit up the previous night's meal. This was a hundred times more horrific than decapitation or being cut in half at the waist.

Because no matter how reluctant Hua Shuqi was to explain things for Yun Shan, she could easily deduce one thing: if the Qishan Valley possessed such deep financial resources, why would the Valley Master still scheme to harm others and disguise herself as a grotesque ghost wandering the pugilistic world?