Volume One, Chapter 45: Humans? Do You Even Qualify?

Lu Jingyan’s voice on the other end of the phone suddenly turned icy cold—colder than ever before. “Keep a close watch on Renhe Hospital for me! Especially the VIP floor at the top! Find out everything! Did Fu Yuting go to see Bo Xingzhou?” He didn’t wait for Fu Wencheng’s reply. With a sharp motion, he hung up the call. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and then, abruptly, he sprang to his feet.

The surface of the earth, shrouded in cosmic energy, had become unrecognizable. A vast section of the continent had been forcibly carved away. From a vantage point in the starry heavens, it looked as if a cosmic beast had taken a massive bite out of a cake, leaving a gaping emptiness behind.

What was he playing at? Bringing up my mother only to disparage her while propping up Yi Xiaoyi—was it another tactic to elevate one by belittling the other?

Late autumn in the northeast was bitterly cold. The streets had emptied of pedestrians, and the plaza was silent, only a short distance away.

Duan Xinlan stood nearby, brow furrowed in deep thought. Like a flower in a mirror or the moon reflected in water, she felt she was just a step away from the truth, yet the crucial piece eluded her grasp.

Her mother had always been strong-willed—sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Her father was another matter entirely. If he truly formed a poor impression of Lu Song, changing his mind would be nearly impossible.

Sun Shenquan had his own reservations. After all, this was his wife; though her mind sometimes wandered, as long as no one provoked her, there were usually no serious problems.

Qiu Wanyue reached out as if to tug his ear again, sending Lu Song scurrying out of the car in fright.

In other words, this kind of reckless wolf-riding was pointless; at any moment, death could come from a single bite.

“We’re doomed, darling. I left the mangoes at the film studio.” Disaster—truly ruined now. With the mangoes lost, Wen Jiu would never let her off.

Perhaps sensing my stubbornness, Zhang Miaohan sighed softly, then silently took the coffee from my hands to help me out.

“His aura has grown much stronger. Did he break through while refining the Emperor’s Coldflame?” the Icefire Sword King wondered aloud.

“Hey, pal, want one?” At this, Captain Englehart drew another cigarette and offered it to Chen Shibo, who accepted with a calm expression and lit it himself, exhaling a slow plume of blue smoke.

Now, all Zhan Chunlei could think of was how to escape safely. As for avenging himself against Song Li—that was a matter for another day.

Such things ought to happen naturally, swept up in the moment. Approaching it with an agenda only made one’s skin crawl.

Surrounded by the elders and Master Chen calling his name, Chen Shihao could only respond with a helpless smile, greeting everyone despite his exasperation. He truly hadn’t expected to be so popular.

“In the third match, Zhou Yunfeng of the Earthquake Palace will face Cao Jiuyang of the Departure Palace. Let the contest begin!” With both men brandishing their weapons, ready for battle, the chief judge gave the order in a calm voice.

The Ancient Sage of Heaven and Earth had only risen to power after obtaining the Stone of Immortality—a terrifying figure whose cultivation had reached the eighth level of the Ancient Sage realm. His strength was second only to the ancient saints, his abilities unimaginable, and he had even ventured into the Bronze Immortal Hall, gaining countless opportunities.

Suddenly, with a deafening boom, the previously silent camp was surrounded by countless troops from Liaodong. Though their faces couldn’t be seen clearly, it was obvious that the Liaodong army had encircled Balhan’s one hundred thousand Xiongnu cavalry.

For someone like Lin Ziluan, a native of the Nebula Realm, to host such a reclusive master was the highest honor. With such glory placed upon her shoulders, she had no reason to refuse.

“Don’t worry. We’re still alive. We won’t die. But we need to return to Cloud Hidden Village immediately, or if Feidan and the others catch up, we’re in real trouble. And Yuzuki Gate must be treated right away.” Ye Kai didn’t explain further. After all, they hadn’t yet left the danger zone.

As for the consequences of killing Lu Chen, he cared not at all. He couldn't be bothered to consider it. He was Shen Lang, the undisputed second genius of Celestial Academy. Even if Lu Chen had surpassed him in reputation and status, once Lu Chen was dead, would the Academy punish him for the sake of a corpse?