Volume 1, Chapter 21: Chongzhen’s Prestige Shakes the World! The Strategists, the Poison Clan of Tang, and the Medical School Move at the First Sign of Trouble!

Outside Shanhai Pass, a scarlet mist billowed wantonly, churning like an endless sea of blood. The Blood Moon Shaman suddenly spat out a mouthful of heart’s blood, her figure staggering as she nearly collapsed. "Emperor Chongzhen, what cunning means you possess! To think you have such ability, how sagacious!" Her eyes were filled with icy coldness and unwillingness as she whispered bitterly.

"Blood Moon Shaman, what on earth has happened? How have you come to this state?" Hong Taiji, shocked, hurried forward to support her, asking anxiously. The Shaman’s face was as pale as paper, as if all her vitality had been drained away. "That Emperor Chongzhen has somehow invited a demonic mastermind well-versed in cryptic witchcraft, who easily broke through..."

Su Chen, aware of Aunt Zhang's condition, hurriedly handed her some tissues, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he looked at his mother. Another picture showed Sun Junjun wearing a red scarf, representing outstanding Young Pioneers, posing for a photo with foreign guests.

Ying Bu had returned to the Chu army camp with the air of one triumphantly returning home, regarding himself entirely as the savior of the Great Chu. Though he dared not be impudent before the Overlord, he held no one else in any regard.

Zhu Yue did not hold back, landing a sharp rap directly on Xiao Huanguang’s head. This was entirely different from what he had imagined an extraordinary being to be. He could understand the team leader being cautious, and he knew he had been wrong, but he could not accept the approach of doing nothing just because of some potentially non-existent mastermind.

He had promised to take Momo out to dinner and was fulfilling it now, but Momo didn't want a grand feast. She wanted a bowl of Ciwu noodles, which were quite far away; she said she often ate them while attending tutoring classes in middle school and wanted to go back for another bowl today. By then, opium had become a contraband, and it could no longer be grown in the mountains. The mountain people were at a loss, and some turned to trade.

Mother Ye wanted to say she hadn't been scolding anyone, but thinking of her sister-in-law—rolling her eyes while wailing loudly, accusing them of turning their backs on people the moment they became officials—the more she pleaded, the louder the woman got, with so many people watching... she felt it was even more unbearable than being scolded.

The equipment was waiting for Su Chen there, as they had agreed to meet at Su Chen’s door at the appointed time. Inside the Morning Star Technology office on the eighth floor, despite it being the New Year's holiday, the seats were still full.

Red Storm wiped cold sweat from his forehead: The power of the purple lightning just now, it didn't seem to injure the divine soul; what exactly was it? Why have I never seen it before? And who are these two sacred beings?

"What is the matter? It sounds very important. They aren't coming to drag me off for execution, are they? I haven't committed any crimes. If they behead me, I would be more aggrieved than Dou E. I might even have to swear a deadly oath, causing a three-year drought in Hangzhou and making the heavens send down a heavy snowfall," Lin Jue said with a grin.

Aite, who had suddenly appeared beside Wanzhang, opened his bloodless palms and spoke in a muffled voice to Wanzhang, who now had a gaping hole in his abdomen.

Xu Liang could only tilt his head with a helpless expression, then raised his thumb and pointed fiercely at the long cocoon he carried on his back.

That day was the lowest point in the life of recruit Gu Yuyang; that day, the entire recruit company, whether new or veteran, looked at them with nothing but mockery and contempt; that day, no one helped him, and not a single person was willing to approach him.

Jia Ligang stood there, his lips moving, but no words came out. After ten breaths, he finally said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, it was my presumption." With that, he turned decisively and walked toward his own table.

Sent to hell by God, they had already been sentenced to death. They suffered such torment every day, living like a year, their spirits already shattered and their final consciousness slowly fading with time... Perhaps this was a form of liberation for them.

"Damn, my god, this... this is too absurd, right?" Sun Fei watched the movement of the blood-red energy with astonishment, his heart filled with terror.

When the distance reached only five million miles, the three cultivators could no longer suppress their fear; they turned around and fled with all their might.

"Roar—" Under the illumination of the Demon-Subduing Mirror, Ling Moxiang wailed in agony. After a long while, she transformed into human form.

The young man stared blankly as the army marched away, gradually disappearing over the horizon. He remained motionless until night fell.

Lin Ke'er watched as Yang Hao toyed with the Liquid-Stage poison scorpion, her beautiful eyes showing surprise. She thought to herself that Yang Hao seemed even stronger than when he fought against Xuancang last time.

Those people, who had expected to obtain a treasure map, now felt cheated and resentful upon realizing they had to pay two hundred thousand gold coins for it, deeming it unworthy.

"Stop putting on that slutty look to seduce men! You must call him Master Zhu. If you don't know what's good for you, I'll send you back to Wangjiatun!" Chang Kai's wife scolded viciously.

Then, Xiao Zhen seized the opportunity to lean down and slash his sword into the snake demon's soft abdomen. The force was immense, carving a foot-long wound that caused blood and viscera to gush out instantly.

She had originally intended to calculate the abacus wrong so she could bicker with Gu Qingfeng again, but she hadn't expected him to be so despicable as to propose such terms.

As the chief of the Five Sacred Mountains, Mount Tai had dozens of mountain gods and land deities, who usually obeyed the City God and governed the surrounding spirits and evil ghosts.

By comparison, Le Bing's phantom power was still inferior to Shangguan Chen's, but because water and fire are incompatible, she could barely hold her own, and earth could extinguish fire.

Upon learning where Baili Wuyou was headed next, Yu Weiyan nimbly jumped up and went to the Rousha Palace ahead of him.

After returning, Lin Xu packed his luggage and set off for London with his teammates. Admitting it in such a setting and before such media would be tantamount to committing career suicide.

Moreover, the captain's ultimate move had already been forced out by Lin Xu. Having arrived in position, Lin Xu immediately unleashed his freshly refreshed ultimate, "The Culling," just to force back the SKT defense.

Tang Qianyu and those around him turned in confusion to look at the person pulling the rope behind them.

Installing the brain-control unit was the coming-of-age ceremony for a composite evolved human, and Alex was a "genius" who had matured very early, though it was a pity he lacked stamina. Alex believed this was related to the structure of his brain and planned to reinforce it simultaneously during the consciousness transfer surgery. Now, all that reinforcement data had been inherited.

During the days off, Lin Xu would go to see Eun-jung every time. The process was always the same: he would take Bingbing to crash the venue in the afternoon, beat Teacher Dafei for two games, drag Eun-jung away, get into a taxi... and finally kiss her goodbye at 5:58.