Chapter 42: Thousand Souls Ridge

A barrage of dark curses exploded relentlessly against Earl’s back, forcing him down onto Sang Ruo’s shoulder. He coughed and spat blood, the sight making even the surrounding sorcerers wince in sympathy for him, and some began to wonder if perhaps Earl had truly run out of options.

Ye Feng felt a shock run through him. Without invoking his dragon form, his current strength was only at the level of an initial realm deity. In contrast, Ziyan God had once been even stronger than the God Kings themselves—a gap not to be measured by mere increments. Let alone the idea of reclaiming the Ziyan equipment seized by the various God Kings.

Xiong Ti was also fighting alongside Shi Yunlan. In his hand, he wielded a jeweled sword that remained sheathed, yet he manipulated it with perfect ease, as if man and sword were one, the weapon imbued with spirit and the man transformed into its very soul.

The inner sanctum of the underground palace was reserved for the most powerful beasts. Given the scorpion lord’s prideful nature, it was expected that his quarters would lie at the very heart of the inner layer, lavish and magnificent at a glance. Yet in truth, they were nothing of the sort.

The men at the entrance were also shaken back by the thunderous sound. Ma Bang, standing too close, was flung over a meter away, landing in a puddle. As he scrambled up, Dongfang Xu had already strode past, brushing aside the iron gauntlet offered to him.

She had not forgotten the fury on this man’s face when he first saw the wounds on her face and body.

They had all been raised by their eldest sister, and their reliance on her was self-evident. Their feelings for her ran deep.

Yalan gazed at Ye Feng, whom she had not seen for years—now grown into a handsome young man. She wept, but as a spirit she had no tears. She longed to embrace her son, but her hands passed through him as through air. Only then did she remember her incorporeal state, unable to touch anything real.

A pale yellow silk handkerchief suddenly appeared before Regnar’s eyes, gently dabbing at the corners to dry the tears that threatened to fall.

Two hours later, the eastern sun had already risen high. The ten thousand Ziyan warriors had rested well, their strength mostly restored, awaiting only Ye Feng’s command.

Moreover, I’ve heard that Old Wei, fearing retaliation from the Federation, never leaves the workshop at all. He eats, drinks, and sleeps entirely within the special-area facility.

This was the strange nature of the second round of the competition. Each team now focused on selecting the most suitable members for each event, believing that only then could they fully showcase their strength.

“Between Shen Qi and a rare elixir, which is more precious? The answer is obvious.” Li Dashi closed his eyes slightly, continuing to expound upon the mysteries for his followers. Langya Wolf sat with utmost respect on the golden cushion nearest to the leader’s seat; the other three cushions remained empty, for none dared approach them.

The war-ravaged forest had begun to grow again, thick boughs and dense leaves weaving together. Yet compared to before, it lacked the weight of years.

The remaining twelve sorcerers stared at each other in disbelief.

Chu He’s skin and muscles began to take on a silvery-white sheen, exuding a metallic luster. He looked like a statue cast in celestial silver, while the roars of dragons and tigers resounded from within his body.

Liang Yin inquired about what Zhao Tianming was doing, and expressed thanks for helping her friend with such a huge favor. She had heard that Ye Qiushuang’s treasure was about to be auctioned.

In the next instant, a layer of pitch-black flames erupted over Koren’s body, spreading across him like wildfire, completely engulfing him.

He dismissed everyone to rest, but gave special instructions to Letia to take Kora to the cultivation chamber and erase the memories of the Black Domain—since the lizard had driven a wedge between her and Aclas, which could not be allowed to remain.

Locke waved his hand to signal it was nothing, then gestured for silence as they prepared to enter the main hall ahead.

Heaven’s favor, earth’s advantage, and human harmony—possess all three and one’s grand ambitions may be fulfilled; possess one, and one may dominate a region. The Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu, locked in a century of war, each possessed one.

“This demon’s inner core is an unparalleled treasure. If refined into a pill, it can transform a human cultivator,” whispered Dekola Malfoy.

How could this be? Mako Xin felt deeply wronged—she thought her explanation had been vivid and clear, so why was she being called a fool?

Zhang Qingyun snorted coldly, saying, “So many days have passed, and only now do you want to see me?”

As he spoke, the three began an act hardly suitable for children. Yet two children continued to watch. Though tipsy from drinking, they remained quite lucid. Having witnessed it many times before, their faces showed no expression.

All these things, Wang Hao had already obtained from the medicinal fields below. This was also the greatest assurance for Jin Shisan’s refinement of that elixir.

It was a long while before Allison recovered from her shock, though her gaze toward Zhong Shenxiu remained odd. Stranger still was the way she looked at Blue Demon. “Now that the crisis is resolved, are you still planning to leave?” Zhong Shenxiu asked, his lips curving in a faint, ambiguous smile.

Tian Langhong’s anxiety stemmed from the fact that Zhang Qingyun, having received notice to report immediately to the State Council to meet Premier Yang, was deliberately detouring through the Ministry of Commerce. With time so tight, wasn’t Minister Zhang worried that he’d be late and ruin everything?

On both sides, Xiong Kuohai and Kan Leng led their swordsmen in relentless advance, quickly closing in on Wu Heita.

“Qingyun! It seems I’ve grown too sentimental. I keep thinking of our difference—me a commoner, you an official. Things just aren’t as casual as they were in the provincial capital!” Qiu Xin said with a smile.