Volume One, Chapter 61: Rumors Collapse on Their Own

Banquet.

The chandelier swayed gently, illuminating the guests as their glasses clinked together, faces adorned with either fawning or arrogant smiles. Red wine shimmered, its rich aroma lingering in the air. Ning Yusheng donned the mermaid gown she had prepared for so long, her figure revealed in all its glory. The proud curves of her career drew the gazes of men. She raised her chest with pride, basking in the attention of the crowd.

"Miss Ning is so beautiful; this dress looks like it's crafted by a French designer..."
"Miss Ning is truly blessed, not only wealthy but also stunningly attractive."
"I heard Miss Ning is the fiancée of that gentleman from the Zhou family..."
"Is that true?"

At first, everyone was merely polite... Of course, their families' fans often exchanged visits, dropping by without reason, but the two hosts had never spoken to each other.
"Perhaps that's what makes him unique," Liao Qi said calmly. To forge a united team, he still had much to do.

Meanwhile, his teammate immediately fired at Lin Shengxi. Bang, bang, bang—the first two shots struck Lin Shengxi, leaving him badly wounded. Lin Shengxi hurried to hide in the smoke. Although his family was poor and his education modest, his character was beyond reproach.

Luo Lin followed the Terror Fiend down a staircase leading underground. Grimacing as he descended, he was met by a familiar stench of rotting corpses. They had, in effect, reacquainted themselves with this high school, committing every person to memory.

At this point, Wu Naiwen suddenly paused, his eyes fixed intently on the stone-carving master, an expression of disbelief on his face.

After sending Gong Qianli away, Ye Weiyi felt as though all those who had accompanied her through her growth had vanished from her side. Blade techniques, unlike other traits, were something anyone could learn. If traits were akin to awakening superpowers, then blade techniques were mastered through daily practice and reflection.

"Of course there is!" Tan Yingya stood up excitedly, hand clenched in a fist against the conference table, glaring at Liao Qi as if challenging him. But in the next moment, her momentum faltered.

Yu Gaochang couldn't help but be astonished. Superior spirit stones were legendary for them—not just the Yu or Xu families, even the Kang family had none. Their rarity was self-evident.

Behind it all, much effort had surely been expended, and the professional terminology involved was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Clearly, Luo Yiran's abilities were indeed impressive.

Thus, the head of the Qiao family had everyone stop, then personally carried her into the house to apply medicine.

Seeing that it was getting late, they hurried back to the base. Once they entered, she could claim her reward, allowing the system to rise to new heights.

To avoid stirring unrest, the police concluded that the two children died after playing and accidentally falling into an abandoned well. As for who drew them, no one knew; the adults hemmed and hawed, unwilling to say, which only added to its mystery.

After speaking, Nian Youyu strode out of the Liang family. Zhao Cuilan had never seen such a Nian Youyu before; her heart was uneasy, she stomped angrily, then chased after him.

Chen Ziyu entered the classroom only when the bell rang, likely having hidden outside for a while.

"I am a scholar traveling to the capital for the imperial exam. Now that night has fallen and I have no lodgings, may I stay here for the night?" The young master bowed respectfully as he spoke.

Her steadfast belief stemmed from the fact that the owner of the Beautiful New World was a legendary figure—a celebrity entrepreneur who built his empire from nothing and wielded remarkable influence in Colombia.

She glanced at the swordsman, who now lay dead and withered like a tree, then stooped to lift the head of the blood-soaked knife fighter, tying it to her waist like the soldiers of Liangzhou—grim and terrifying—before descending the mountain.

Li Huo found the argument reasonable and furrowed his brows. It seemed that all evidence and stories were mere shadows, and neither side appeared to be lying.

Far on the hillside, Su Beifeng saw the black avatar shifting forward, closed his eyes for a moment, and suddenly felt sickened—and cruel.

The sky gradually darkened; dense clouds gathered overhead like a shadow over Tianjing City, lingering in everyone's hearts and refusing to dissipate. This cursed weather—why wouldn't it rain? If only a downpour would come, it would wash away the bloody scent that permeated Tianjing City.

They wound their way through the spacious canyon, passing several piles of boulders. The old monk suddenly stopped. Ling Tianyun, seeing the monk halt, pulled up his white horse and looked at him in puzzlement.

"Perhaps Lü Bu is just bluffing." The veteran strategist Xun You couldn't fathom it either; he didn't believe the chained cavalry had any flaws. The recent battle was the best example—a truly invincible unit.

The researchers of the other major corporations showed little movement, likely lacking in skill in this area.

"And besides, we must all be ghosts now, with only illusory bodies and no familiar faces nearby. At that time, I was terrified. I thought I was dead, never to see my parents or loved ones again. Could this be hell, the underworld?" Tian Tian finally steadied his emotions and continued.

"Heh, since you request it, I can't avoid the fight!" Cao Jiechun sneered coldly.

Xu Jiangnan refused to be outdone, tilting his head back to drink, swallowing years of resentment, grievance, hardship, bitterness, longing, and so many unspoken feelings in a single gulp.

A massive hand reached from the divine realm, grasped the ancient sacred mountain, and uprooted it whole—a colossal mountain piercing from the heavens into the divine realm, connecting the two worlds, with countless star continents, stars, and galaxies spinning around it.

A man with extraordinary abilities, able to transmit messages directly into your mind, and even bestow ancient martial arts from Country Z upon you... Is he even still human?

"You... who are you, really?" Wang Wei did not pursue the attack but instead asked in a trembling voice.

Jiangnan withdrew the Golden Infant of the Mysterious Embryo, ignoring the bathing fairies before him, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Jiangnan had to remain in Luotian, dispatching his many avatars to invite those with whom he had ties to join him as ministers.

Though gods and celestial beings had entered the divine realm, why did the True God realm bear the word 'true'?

Li Xu's final act went almost unnoticed, and nearly everyone forgot to applaud.

"Yes, Master, I'll go right away." This time, Wang Mutian no longer asked my opinion, merely greeted me, said he'd call Lu Xiaocheng to come take care of us, and hurried out, leaving me and Old Master Feng sipping tea in the living room.

Silkworm Child instinctively glanced at Wang Wei. Wang Wei could only nod quietly, signaling Silkworm Child to proceed.

Yet the departing Creator never imagined that after the lover of the Ancient First Stone Emperor fell, she would be reborn in another form, returning as an Ice Lotus to the heavens.

On the way back to the Lu family, Lu Yuexie mulled over the old man's words, aware that the old man was deliberately getting close to him.