Chapter 41

Emerging from the depths, they lit a lamp to pierce the gloom, only to reveal the disheveled pair, caked in dust and draped in spiderwebs from head to toe—not to mention the ghastly pallor of their faces.

Upon hearing this, Yuxin lost count of how many times he had been rendered speechless today. A whirlwind of bizarre emotions churned within him, ultimately settling into a profound and heavy silence.

The two stared for a long moment, well aware of the arduous journey ahead. Without further ado, they readied their talismans and weapons, placing everything within easy, reliable reach. Once fully prepared, they stepped onto the stone stairway and began their descent toward the valley.

"That's a relief. Can you discern the true forms of those who ambushed me that day?" Yang Yifeng finally broached the crucial question. Those creatures had been lurking in the Nether Sea beneath his feet, and by the time he managed to emerge, he was utterly crippled. How could he possibly have known their origins?

Trapped here now with not a single clue, regardless of whether it proved benevolent or malevolent, they had no choice but to capture it first and interrogate it for answers.

"Damn it, let's just fight them to the death!" Tang Tianhao finally snapped, letting out a low, furious roar.

Whether it was Chu Yitong, who had entered the household less than three days ago by any count, or Qiu Yelan, who was nursing three unweaned infants at home, everyone was being driven to absolute distraction! No one had the time or the leisure to harbor private complaints.

The sparring partner instinctively released his grip, and the remaining half of the second cup of coffee spilled straight down his trousers.

"I'll go take a look." When Ao Lei realized the frost was entirely unnatural and she could no longer decipher the situation, Liang En leaped off the city wall and strode toward the shoreline.

After being taken away by the police, he answered a few perfunctory questions and promptly fell asleep. Sleeping right there in the police station left the Yankees utterly baffled, yet it successfully cleared him of several suspicions.

Compared to those items, the greatest treasure among this haul was a series of crop seeds. Aside from documents, virtually everything previously airlifted back had consisted solely of crop seeds or seedlings.

"Sister, don't grieve so. Didn't Brother Mo say there's a chance we might meet again in the future?" Su Changlong chimed in from the side, offering words of comfort.

Even now, whenever Wei Siyuan recalled the domineering arrogance Gu Mengqing had displayed back then, a surge of fiery rage filled her chest. To think a mere impudent wench had actually lorded it over her head!

To obliterate that mysterious figure, the Elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect had summoned nearly half of the sect's disciples who had entered the grotto-heaven realm to his side.

For beings with senses as acute as Liang En and Ao Lei, they could hear the faint, haunting wails of the dead echoing from within the black mist, and clearly discern the resentful wraiths concealed inside.

Amidst the conversation between Mo Liang and You Changfeng, Leng Yue, who had been lying unconscious nearby, emitted a soft moan and fluttered her eyes open, though her gaze remained somewhat dazed.

Flashing over to the side of the monstrosity, Liang En swiftly swept the creature's carcass into his own grotto-heaven space. Although he had no immediate use for the beast's remains, he knew full well that such a specimen constituted an exceptional trophy.

Those two words served as the final blade to sever all remaining reason. Zhuang Lique flicked his sleeve toward the half-open bedchamber door behind him.

The brocade robes, pearl-inlaid jade belt, and golden crown he wore had cost a mere three hundred gold pieces, yet the expense had still caused a sharp, lingering ache in his heart.

Everyone around was clamoring for Old Niu to trim their hair. Ever since ascending Eagle Beak Mountain, they hadn't had a proper haircut, and now that such a rare opportunity presented itself, naturally no one wanted to let it slip by.

Judging by their lineup, the Battle Gate appeared to be at a distinct disadvantage. So why on earth were they initiating team fights with such fierce aggression?

"Why don't you go take a fall like mine then? I guarantee I'll feed and cater to you every single day," Zhao Guodong countered sharply.

The imperial guards, who had initially trembled at the ruthless methods of the intruder, suddenly panicked when they saw that purple-clad figure standing with his back to them, holding a blood-dripping sword—facing precisely toward the emperor they were sworn to protect.

Previously, he maintained a direct, private communication channel with a member of the Misty Peak surnamed Zhu. Several years ago, after that person surnamed Zhu advanced to the Golden Core stage, the contact was transferred to this person surnamed Chai. Whenever major events occurred within the Changsheng Sect, Zhao Jingren would use a Myriad-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman to report them.

At this moment, the God of Fire appeared even more disheveled, his shoulders shuddering violently as his head pressed hard against the ground, muttering low incantations beneath his breath.

"You'll know once we get home. This time we aren't staying at the secondary residence; I'm taking you back to the main estate." He gazed at her with a profound look, eagerly anticipating the sheer astonishment she would display upon learning his true identity.

Hearing the piercing, agonizing cry of the flood dragon, Linghu Yixue's expression froze in shock. She halted abruptly, glancing back over her shoulder, only to be met with a vast, blinding expanse of white.

Immediately following, the pile of corpses beneath their feet convulsed violently. Numerous bodies shot straight up into the air as a fierce, overwhelming aura erupted from the depths of the pile, causing those airborne corpses to instantly burst apart.

The nameless veteran king of soldiers wiped the sweat from his brow, then stared in absolute terror at the eight-colored flame dancing across Chai Zhixiong's palm, stammering his reply.

"Could this be the legendary trial?" Meng Xingxia gritted his teeth against the immense pressure, unable to keep from asking with a grimace.

Witnessing the shifting tides of the arena, the powerful figures and elders of the Sanyuan Sect felt utterly aggrieved and stifled. Feng Qingnong was no longer capable of fighting and was thus disqualified from proceeding to the next round.

Xia Zhongwei had naively assumed that, given his relationship with Huan Huarong, the man would merely issue a mild reprimand and let the matter drop without taking genuine action. Never had he expected that the moment Ling Zhiyuan voiced his suggestion, Huan Huarong would unhesitatingly announce his suspension from the headmaster's post.

"Snap, snap, snap, snap!" The prayer beads scattered through the air, detonating upon contact with any solid surface. Instantly, splinters and gravel flew wildly through the forest. Leng Sandao rolled twice in succession to evade the flying beads, his saber gathering momentum all the while. Without absolute certainty of success, he refused to unleash this third strike casually.