Chapter 56

"You're quite skilled, but as a strategist, don't get too close to us warriors. That was just a warning," Night Yaoguang said, her voice steady yet firm. Her unease grew as Xiu Jue began（introduce in detail）the three Demon Lords to her. She realized that addiction was the most terrifying and formidable foe—even Xiu's innate ability to sense death couldn't compare to her disdain. However, a single tame beast shouldn't consume too many contaminated spiritual stones, as this accelerates aging, madness, and death.

Though she had remarried and divorced, hearing Chen Xu mention his intention to marry again twisted her heart. Zhou Sijia bit her lip, glaring at Dong Jiao, who ignored her completely. Chen Yuanyuan had never visited Dong Dabao's home despite their past engagement—not because he forbade it, but because she herself didn't wish to. Little did she expect the opulence hidden within.

Si Ruoran sneered, confident in her innocence. "Once Teacher uncovers Chen Jing's secret relationship, let her deal with the consequences," she thought. The island's night was exceptionally clear, the Milky Way glowing brightly with twinkling stars. Even Zhou Sijia, held in Zhang De's arms, couldn't help but envy others—she once thought Zhang De was perfect, but now, with comparisons, she saw his flaws.

Crucially, his incessant pestering grated on her nerves—since yesterday, he had asked Bai Bing over a hundred times. The（Ruluo）cement workshop lay on the outskirts of the city, but fuel had to be transported from（50 miles）away at Yushan Mountain, where coal mines provided raw materials for nearby coke ovens. Chen Yang jumped in shock, lowering his voice, "Director Ren, why did you lock the door?" He didn't want to leave a bad impression before departing.

This time, Yunlong wasn't unarmed. Armored guards covered his arms, a layer of battle armor enveloped his body, and spiked gloves adorned his hands. Yet, for the next week, Fang Yi vanished without a trace, as if he'd evaporated from Jiaozhou. "Yes, Lord Cao is calling for you. Follow me," someone said coldly, ignoring Ye Yuxuan's attempts to ingratiate himself.

"Mr. Fang, it's a pleasure to see you here. Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Katie Bangdeli," Conrad greeted warmly, eager to present his betrothed to Fang Wei. Just as Sima Yi prepared to strike again, a roaring thunder dragon burst from the forest below, its lightning flashing as it charged at Sima Yi, seemingly intent on devouring him whole. Through the falling debris, the red glow in the sky flickered unpredictably—no one knew who else was resisting the cold energy, but they were fortunate to have taken refuge in the ice gully.

Lei Tianxiao's anger boiled over. His strength was still lacking; as Flower Maiden activated her true essence energy, launching energy-formed flowers at him, and Gang Lei's horn blazed with maximum red light, he still couldn't withstand it. Su Yu suddenly realized he could only summon life from his inner world but couldn't enter it himself. The Flying Swallow Blade was powerless against such a terrifying entity, and Cang Jianli lacked confidence, his body feeling suppressed—a threat he hadn't faced in a long time.

After completing his registration, Chu Ming felt relieved. Though he knew the Barren Hall wasn't the ideal choice, it was undoubtedly the most suitable for him. Hearing this, Shen Hou smiled faintly, "Everyone has their own desires. Not everyone is like Brave Warrior Wang Boda, with lofty ambitions to save the suffering masses," he said. They didn't want to merge forces and fight the Sui Dynasty head-on; they preferred to carve out their own territory as bandits.

The old Taoist priest Qing Kong may not have understood the profundity of Luo Qian's boxing style, but he could deduce certain things from its external manifestations. Agula Mu led the group out of the meeting tent, where they saw the suffering and weakened form of the captured horse lord. Cang Jianli used his divine sense to confirm these beings weren't truly alive—they were mere manifestations of spiritual energy, which pleased him greatly.

"I think everyone opposes Principal Shen, but they're just afraid to speak up," Li Mi coaxed smoothly. As soon as they entered, Jiang Xiaoyun's previously vibrant complexion paled, and her（heart-wrenching）screams sent shivers down everyone's spines, even causing the protectors of the Crimson Moon Squad to pale. The cries were genuine, filled with fear and despair. "Something's clogged my mind—I can't think straight," Cao Cao muttered, unable to explain his condition.

"What would you like to eat? The seafood here is the freshest and most authentic!" Tang Yexi handed the menu to Pei Shiyin. The head of the Comprehensive Governance Office hurried to find Zhang Yi, an old hand in the political arena who knew full well Zhang was angling for a promotion. "You can't beat her to a pulp, but a few bumps and bruises are inevitable. She's stuck in the fountain and looks quite embarrassed," he thought. Chu Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief—had those three elders been determined to send him or his second brother into danger, who knew what might have happened? Zheng Zhugang came to his senses and nodded, following Zhang Yi to a barbecue restaurant in town where they secured a private room. The（Pei）family no longer employed servants. After（Pei Shiyin）married into the Cheng family,（Pei Zhenteng）had dismissed them all. The sound of fractured bones grew louder, and Ye Guilan gritted her teeth, knowing her ankle must have split. Shen Cheng's eyes sparkled with excitement, struggling to contain his eagerness—like Zhou's daughter, he wanted to cheer but refrained out of respect for his colleagues. *"Dad, tell me the truth—did you secure a ten-billion-project from the Cheng family?"（Pei Shiyin）asked, her gaze cold as she looked at Long Tingshen. He strode directly to the dock, ignoring the soldiers and yamen runners who leered at passersby.