Volume 1, Chapter 31: Factional Strife Intensifies! A Brawl Breaks Out in the Imperial Court!

Wang Cheng'en, grasping Zhu Youjian's intention, gave a slight wave of his hand. Several Imperial Guards entered the hall, slowly bearing heavy plaques. Every step they took felt exceptionally laborious, as if the very air were being pressed down by the weight of the inscriptions upon the boards.

Xiao Yu knew it was impossible to eliminate all billions of replicas, yet he still managed to slay the number one virtual life form, which held the greatest sway over them.

Thinking about it, he recalled how the Li family of Hong Kong had acquired a plot of land in Dabeiyao for a cost of less than five hundred million.

With a sudden "pfft," Jiang Qin lunged forward, his blade cleaving into Taishi Ci’s shoulder. Before he could withdraw the weapon, a sharp, twisting pain erupted in his chest—Taishi Ci had struck back from an angle, his spear piercing straight through Jiang Qin’s torso.

Breaking down his own strength point by point, Lin Feng suddenly realized that the prowess he had always prided himself on appeared futile and powerless before a Titular Martial God.

The mercenaries widened their eyes in astonishment, staring in disbelief at the scene before them. The Ophenians, meanwhile, gazed forward with expressions of awe and triumph.

After all the Jin soldiers were killed, the entire camp erupted into chaos. The survivors donned their armor, seized their weapons, and charged out from their felt tents.

Lin Feng understood clearly that natural talent for cultivation varied from person to person, just as some were gifted with the spear, others with the blade, and some with the sword. On a grander scale, after breaking through to the level of a Titular Martial God, a warrior had two paths to choose from: the Heavenly Martial Artist or the Heavenly Divine Artist.

In the next moment, Lapis felt that searing, rigid presence tear through her final defense and enter her body.

"Behind the smoke must be the Chinese infantry!" The frontline American officers in the trenches reached the same conclusion; it was the only reasonable conjecture—what else could possibly be behind the smoke?

But to Marlene's surprise, the Shadow Demon did not recoil from the wall of fire she had created as the previous undead had done. Instead, it straightened its body, extended its right hand, and swung it forward with great force.

Suddenly, all manner of magical artifacts were hurled through the air, their vibrant colors intermingling as thunderous booms threatened to collapse the entire cavern.

Lily froze for a moment, then her forced composure shattered instantly, and she instinctively threw herself into Que's arms.

Situ Yu gazed at his delicate face, her heart filled with complex emotions. From the lecherous rogue he had been at the start to the comrade who had shared life and death with her, she now felt an added layer of admiration and reverence for Jiang Changan.

"Our script has been leaked." Yu Lin handed the paper to Lin Chu with great difficulty, and he quickly took it to read.

Amidst a flurry of rustling sounds, the gray, thorn-covered skin—now nothing more than an empty husk—was torn open. The sharp black spikes emitted the grating sound of rusted metal, and a flawless, pale arm broke through, followed by a shoulder and an upper torso.

Like the most delicate yet malicious drumbeat, the sounds rang out in succession, mingled with painful gasps and lacerating wails.

Ever since the day the retired Emperor passed away and the Empress Dowager clashed openly with the Son of Heaven—falling to the ground and nearly perishing, an event that terrified the Chongkang Emperor into kneeling and begging for forgiveness—Dai Quan knew that the Empress Dowager was the one person not to be trifled with.

As the defeated troops of the Flame Kingdom withdrew through the city gates, many breathed a sigh of relief; in their view, leaving Tuyang City offered them at least some semblance of security.

"Your Majesty, ever since the start of the 'Eight Clans' War in the Central Plains,' I joined the war effort with my family. I was sixteen that year," Su Zhonghe replied. "I served as a nurse with the army, and after the war ended, I was selected to enter the palace as an imperial physician."