Seventeen thousand seventeen.

Several of them had changed their attire. Although they possessed mystical powers, none wished to engage with the guards, so they proceeded quietly. They arrived at the head of a stone bridge, suddenly spotting a pair of guards approaching, carrying lanterns and spears. The group immediately concealed themselves beneath the bridge, waiting until the guards passed before continuing onward.

Despite this, his spirit was utterly exhausted. The war had raged unceasingly for three full years, with every day spent amid the flames of battle. Even the strongest could not endure such relentless strain.

“We’ll decide once we reach the destination,” Wu Yun said cautiously, wary of the congested path ahead.

Two troops rushed out from the palace gate, halting after just a few paces. Once the entire unit stood still, they turned to face the center.

“Spotted them on that snowy mountain—fly there quickly!” Lin Fei shouted to the pilot.

Yun Jie activated his divine perception, entering the soul sea of the Aurora Star Soul. Threads of green light emanated from him, weaving into the soul body of the Aurora Star Soul. The shimmering glow marked the beginning of their soul fusion.

Only then did it become clear that his senior brother wasn’t merely giving him a bit of true energy; he was transferring his entire mixed primordial energy.

Jiang Ze’s forces, combined with Rogney’s troops, far surpassed General Fan’s army in both number and quality.

It remained uncertain when Dragon Claw Peak would attain such strength—Dragon Claw Peak was still too weak.

Lin Xiao smiled faintly, vanishing from sight only to appear atop the giant parrot a moment later. Forming a hand seal and pressing it against the character for "Command," a surge of spiritual energy erupted, instantly shattering the seal.

Naturally, such treatment did not apply to Xuan Luo Li, Liu Ningyou, the National Guard King Xuan Lan Yu, Master Liyan, or Xuan Cang Jin. Beyond these five, even his own uncle, Xuan Luo Yi, was ignored, treated with utter disdain.

“The Emperor is wise!” Though some wished to speak up for Marquis Anding, none dared contradict the Emperor’s anger. In unison, all loudly praised him.

She wore a smile that was all surface, offering the Prince of Yan no respect—a stark contrast to the once cold and sincere Leng Mu Zhen.

Liu Qi first glanced warily at the palace attendants behind the Emperor. Sensing the tension, the attendants immediately stepped back several paces.

---

Upon her words, those sallow faces brightened once more, many emitting excited murmurs.

Gu Qingcheng half-kneeling on the bed, wrapped an arm around Jiang Se. “Don’t get up; keep sleeping.” The expression clearly showed she was sulking, her face betraying a lack of rest.

Shen Bingrao spoke, her gaze settling on the miners not far away, who were painstakingly extracting spirit stones at a painfully slow pace, causing her brow to furrow.

“Housekeeper Bai, without the prince’s order, no one is allowed to enter the Fifth Prince’s mansion at will. Don’t you know this rule? Must I explain it clearly to you?” Chen Zixuan asked coldly.

“Really want to attack me? You’re looking for death!” The fat man sneered grimly, unleashing a strike of the Azure Tide Palm.

No one expected the two wolves to ignore their usual obedience, running not toward the gate but instead toward Old Hong, one following the other, staring at him.

Ye Bai dodged—though the big cat’s physique was inferior to his own, the killing power behind that claw was formidable. Even Ye Bai dared not block it with his body.

“Bai Chi! I’ve told you, you have lung cancer! It’s cancer. With today’s medical technology, cancer cannot be cured! Even if I intervene, it won’t help,” Wei Lai, a medical expert from the Pearl River Scientific Research Institute, emerged from the conference room doorway, his face grave behind frameless glasses and graying hair.

Han Tianzhu exhaled a long breath, gradually opening his eyes to find daylight streaming in.

As for the Emperor’s decree appointing him as magistrate of Tiancheng County, the prior reasons were beyond his concern. From now on, he would simply dedicate himself wholeheartedly to his duties. After all, much of his ambition had already been realized.

If it weren’t for sensing that Leilong still lurked nearby, periodically sending information as ordered, he might have thought it all a dream.

He remained skeptical of the Emperor’s order to dispatch disaster relief funds; no matter how much silver was sent, it could hardly solve the urgent crisis. As for Chancellor An... his thoughts were a mystery.

“Brother Shi, do you have He Meng’s phone number? Otherwise, I can call him for you,” Li Er said with a flattering smile, bowing as he stepped forward.

With the Nine Dragons Soul Gathering Formation broken, the demon hordes were overwhelmed by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun’s pressure. Ultimately, the demon army retreated, the ancient beings escaped disaster, and the name Yang Fan spread throughout the primordial world.

---

She smiled faintly but said nothing, gently resting her cheek against my shoulder, nestling close.

After unconsciously drinking several cups of tea, Fan Wu exhaled deeply, finally beginning to accept this new worldview. Though many doubts remained to be explored later, shifting one’s perspective to view the world differently was not a bad thing.

Su Huai regarded Chu Huaiyu’s dignified bearing and said, “It was only with the help of several seniors that I was able to detoxify. The credit should not belong solely to me.”

“Master, this...” Yao Dongzi’s mind was in chaos. He had never expected his master to make such a suggestion—an assassin? That was a far-off existence to him.

Dongzi’s mind had completely short-circuited. He nodded mechanically, not understanding the man’s words.

After resting enough, though still somewhat fatigued, Chen Xu left Sun Yanjie’s villa. Naturally, it was again Leng Feng who saw him off.

Ahead of him, the dreamlike world was already awash with falling leaves, resembling countless yellow petals or butterflies fluttering across the sky, spinning and drifting downward.

The man was not unreasonable; he smiled wryly, shook his head, and stepped aside.

“But if it’s for the boundless expanse, for the entire world—when you are no longer in control, will you still remember these words?” The Wine Sovereign’s voice grew increasingly hoarse.

In a hidden corner of time, Fen Dai’s hand trembled behind her back, and a drop of crimson blood oozed out.

Once inside, Lin Yong was dumbfounded. There was no Left San in the room—only two people with bound hands and feet crouched in a corner. Upon closer inspection, they were the two uninvited guests who had attacked Gao Zai last night.

Nan Feng, acting as a petitioner, claimed the brothel was backed by officials. Retrieving the official register would be impossible. He also said his cousin held great influence locally, eager to donate an official position but unable to find a way. If Ji Zhonglin agreed, he could take on this matter for some silver, after which his cousin would go to the brothel to claim it.