Volume One, Chapter 42: The Basic Fire Spirit Pearl

Finally.

Lin Hu devoured everything in sight, and after consuming all the living creatures both before him and in his satchel, he at last welcomed the second highlight of the day.

[Ding!]

[Your innate skill, Spirit Tempering (Beginner), has reached one hundred percent proficiency and has now upgraded to: Spirit Tempering (Intermediate).]

Soon after, the window for Spirit Tempering (Intermediate) popped up.

Zhao Ritian had been coming and going from the Prime Minister’s residence for some time. He recognized this handsome youth—it was none other than the youngest among the “Seven Swordsmen” of the “Seven Swords, Eight Blades, and Nine Generals” under the House of Guesses: the Swordmaster, Dugu Yingyue.

Sun Sheng thought to himself that if he could seize this Tree of Life and present it to Tang Mei, perhaps it could bring her back to life.

“I’ve fought him before. That fellow cultivates earth magic and is at the early Integration Realm. We battled fiercely for half a day, but given the difference in power, he eventually got away,” Su Mo said.

On the journey, Sun Sheng had been studying the Radiant Stone Temple, attempting to communicate with the life within, but his efforts were in vain.

Wang Zhiqing looked up, and sure enough, Wang Zhili’s entire team was advancing. Though they had only three giant warships, they were not lacking in medium-sized vessels. In fact, they were no less formidable than Wang Zhiqing’s side. Nearly twenty warships surged ahead, weaving in a zigzag pattern, and now charged at full speed toward the transport fleet behind.

“If only I had found Yun Yan earlier, perhaps his fate would have been different. Over the years, I’ve sought alchemists with both high skill and comparable age, but my efforts have been fruitless…” Yun Zhaoshui sighed, her brows knitted.

“Very well. But I can’t pick you up at the base. Find your own way onto our ship.” Even Xu Yuxiao was forced to compromise at this point.

“Big brother, I’ll transfer another trillion dollars to the group company. The company shouldn’t be short of funds anymore, right?”

No wonder he was so delighted. Wu Ming was now a Grand Preceptor of the First Rank, a position of great dignity—even the Empress Dowager had to show him respect. Despite the years that had passed, the fact that his name was still remembered made him feel immensely proud before his subordinates.

First of all, Guan Yan was a Colonel of the Tiger Guards and Marquis of Dongxiang. In terms of both official rank and title, he was above Zhao Yun, while he himself was merely a military adjutant of Jizhou—a difference not to be overlooked! How could Zhao Yun dare to overstep his authority and take command?

If Wang Lianhua were here, if Ji Youlang were present, if Xiao Guo and Hua Sanshao were awake, then this battle would pose no problem. But now, with only Ye Tian standing alone—even with all those divine weapons at his disposal—could he truly withstand so many foes?

“Bei pays respects to the Left General of the Central Army.” Liu Bei bowed deeply. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, standing behind, also paid their respects with utmost reverence.

Seeing the bloody energy appear again, Lu Tianxiang leapt up, and in an instant, two light blades formed beneath his feet. With the light blades, he swept toward the Four-Eyed Wolf King like a hurricane. The Wolf King, in turn, raised its massive claws ferociously, hurling them at him in a violent counterattack.

Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the recently purged toxin or simply having crouched too long, but as he rose, his leg suddenly buckled beneath him. Instinctively, he reached out to steady himself against something along the cave wall—a stone lamp holder embedded in the rock, meant to hold a lamp.

Song Zhiyu, fearing that certain words or incidents might further agitate Yun Mengxue, hurriedly led her away from the scene.

“Well done! Haha… Brother, I told you you’d think of something—he fell for it just as you predicted. Seriously, after being a Divine King for so long, does he still not know never to trust the words of the Demonic Clan?” At this moment, Boling burst into laughter in the background, overjoyed that the Divine King had finally begun his descent into corruption.

Shui Lianyue had always disliked letting others within half a step of her, yet now she willingly allowed Qiaocui to hold her. Even Hong Ying, standing nearby, was so moved by the scene that tears welled up in her eyes.

Down the long corridor, Yun Mengxue wandered aimlessly. As she passed a fork in the hallway, a cold wind suddenly swept through, and the abrupt chill made her shiver. She hugged her arms tightly, trembling from the cold.