24 024.

"Then just grant us both leave; I need to go see my comrades-in-arms!" Ye Luotao gestured toward herself and Chu Zijie, saying helplessly. She was truly terrified now, especially from that moment she jumped out of the airplane; she even regretted not listening to Ye Chen and resigning sooner.

However, Xu Dong was unable to have a showdown with Hu Qingshan because Hu Qingshan's hand never got the chance to land on him again.

"What is to be done?" Gao Gan was seized with panic. After much deliberation, he decided that the best of the thirty-six stratagems was to flee. He turned his army around and retreated in disarray toward the north, planning to temporarily take refuge under the Southern Xiongnu to plot his next move.

At this distance, one could just barely hear the sounds from the largest room deep inside, without the risk of alerting the enemy and drawing unwanted attention.

"Whether she jumped to her death on her own is not for you to tell me. Furthermore, even if she did jump, the various marks on her body indicate that you bear an inescapable responsibility!" Cheng Xiao declared sharply.

There were many interrogation rooms in the Star Guard Bureau. Walking along the long corridor, one could hear heart-wrenching screams from every room. Thinking of the treatment his fellow miners might be facing, Luo Sheng felt a surge of rage, his fists clenched tightly, while the other Star Guards had long since grown accustomed to these screams.

"Good! With those words from you, I can rest easy, Grandfather. Go ahead and do what you must; some people really do need to be set straight!" Old Master Ye laughed heartily, speaking with profound meaning.

Ye Luotao frowned as she looked at him. She didn't seem to have had any interaction with him in the past, so why was he acting as if he wanted to devour her?

I nodded. "Then did you manage to see clearly what that metal box was that 'he' took out of the thief hole?"

"Indeed." Fu Yunnuan answered Yu Pianpian without a hint of hesitation. Yu Pianpian hummed but said nothing. *What "good,"* she thought. *If the Valley Master hadn't ordered me to keep an eye on you, I wouldn't care whether you lived or died.*

Long Kun was no greenhorn. Seeing Ah San cowed by a single sentence, he immediately realized that the proprietress before him was not someone to be trifled with.

The few men who walked over were genuinely muscular. Even wearing thick clothes, their burgeoning strength was a sight that stimulated the eyes directly.

Suddenly deprived of the force pushing against it, the golden light shield in front of Mu Xiaomeng flared intensely and crashed forward with a boom.

***

I silently pitied myself. Born nameless, dying pathetically—damn it, why is my life so miserable?

As for the Sword Demon, disguised as a starving refugee, he easily reached the city wall and blended in with the crowd. Ye Yun was watching like a tiger from outside the walls, and he dared not act rashly.

The Dantian energy sea is the foundation of a martial artist. Once shattered, it is impossible to recover without divine pills and miraculous medicines. Yet, such treasures are extremely rare even in the highest realms, let alone in this barren, low-level Xuantian Continent.

Yu Shengnan had sparred with Mu Jinghong. How to put it? On the surface, Mu Jinghong's martial arts seemed like mere amateur tricks, yet for some reason, she always felt he was deliberately hiding his true depth.

The protection program within the talisman device was tenacious. Although it had been softened by the 'Heavenly Garment' operating program and was no longer indestructible, it was incredibly resilient. Facing the assault of spiritual energy within Lang Tianya’s dark domain, it rippled and distorted, but it did not suffer a single break.

They had already refuted Xue Ye once before, which was their absolute limit; they absolutely could not truly offend this emperor.

Subsequently, he raised his trembling finger, pointing shakily at Chen Jue, his eyes flashing with a mixture of disbelief and anger.

Huang Xilong had only just managed to stimulate his Golden Core to cast its golden veil; he had likely only just stepped into the mid-stage of Primordial Spirit Transformation.

His figure wove between the major factions, using his wisdom and charm to awaken old comrades and friends who had long been dormant in the river of time.

The Niwan inner vision trembled slightly; the Fire-Eyed Profound Startled Spirit Ape image and the Hundred-Turn Dream-Sorrow Cinnamon Spirit Rabbit image both shuddered and opened their eyes.

Standing atop the talisman clouds, the Sect Master's wife, with her delicate makeup and youthful face, also revealed a look of cold severity.

"We can purchase daily necessities ourselves, that’s no problem, but the issue is..." Wuming left his sentence hanging and extended his hand directly in front of Ren Hao.

After saying this, Jiang Lizhou didn't even glance at the gifts on the floor and walked away.

After Hu Liena left, a nameless sense of anticipation welled up in Tu Shan Rongrong's heart. The corners of her mouth curled slightly, revealing a cunning smile.

***

But in this lifetime, if the Su family wants to retain these players, they must provide corresponding benefits. Otherwise, the Special Affairs Bureau offers excellent perks; why wouldn't they join the Bureau instead of working for the Su family?

The results of the hospital check-up showed that Luo Qishan's condition had improved and the crisis of miscarriage had passed, but it was still safer for her to continue resting for a while longer.

He was indeed afraid that Qiao Qi would cancel the cooperation with the Luo family, but didn't Qiao Qi fear that he would cancel the cooperation with the Qiao family?

The number of onlookers had unknowingly dwindled. The reason was simple: they had been here for quite some time, only watching others eat and drink. Anyone with a shred of self-respect would feel embarrassed to stay any longer. Thus, they began to leave one after another.

For Sister Lu, and for herself; but in doing so, was she not also doing it for this emperor who seemed to stand high above, ruling over all living beings?

Qiao Qi and Jian Qianqian's travel route was different from the one Jian Mo and his team were surveying, but Jian Mo had told Jian Qianqian their entire school itinerary.

Yan Yunjue’s palms tightened. He knew something was going to happen—it was bound to happen—but he never expected the one involved to be Shangguan Ai.

Ying Lian had tried several times to use Concubine Lu to curry favor with the mother of Noble Consort Qing, but every time, the mother of Noble Consort Qing threw away the gifts sent over, and even scolded Concubine Lu several times for it.

"That’s impossible. I’ll finish them off before they can even hack at me," Li Muyuan said to Brother Liang with a bright smile.

Xiao Yang's eyeballs darted around, his peripheral vision scanning everyone present at the scene.

As soon as she finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door, and then a waiter entered, carrying several dishes.