Chapter 25: Pyramid Schemes and Success Philosophy

"Indeed," the passerby shook his head. "That wretch, to show such disrespect to the God of Light!" With a final shake of his head, he walked away.

The crying of the infant grew more intense, as if a melody had reached its crescendo. The very heavens and earth, like a great bell or a vast valley, echoed and amplified the sound.

"Understood," Yu He nodded solemnly. He cast a wary glance at the temple before his figure vanished in an instant.

The two men pulled out two oversized gowns from their bags, tossing them on haphazardly, and then placed two chef's hats onto their heads at awkward angles.

"Zhang Yong, there will be plenty of time to drink later; I’ll let you drink your fill. But today, you must hold on. I won't let you die. You have so many sins left to redeem—you cannot die!" Shi Jingtian’s eyes were filled with resolve.

As the camp gates opened, Lu Bu charged out at the lead, followed by Gao Shun, Huang Zhong, and Zhang Xiu standing in a row. Their elite tiger guards were clad in brilliant armor, their war drums thundered, their spears caught the sun’s glare, their banners fluttered with color, and their murderous aura blotted out the sky.

Xiangcheng had originally been a new city built by King Ling of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. King Xiang of Zhou had once resided there while in exile, so the city was inherently tall and sturdy. Later, when Zhang Xiu was stationed in Wancheng, he sent Jia Xu to garrison troops there to defend against Cao Cao, further renovating and reinforcing it until its fortifications rivaled those of Wancheng.

The canteen of the Star-Moon Academy was situated between the dormitory area and the teaching area, designed for the convenience of the students.

"Perhaps we might even see them there?" Riel completed the sentence that Alan had left hanging in his excitement.

Lin Zeming looked at the vases, porcelain, copper coins, and jade on the shelves, his heart filled with delight. He took the camera hanging from his chest and began snapping photos of the porcelain and lacquerware on the shelves.

At this moment, Zhu Houhuang had to face the question: how to handle Prince Ning's rebellion? Should he expose it, or turn a blind eye?

The thuggish couple who ran rampant in the village knew that Grandma Li possessed an invaluable ancient painting. When Grandma Li suffered an eye ailment and could no longer see, they began to scheme.

Lin Ran glanced at Wang Bao. Twenty years ago, this fellow had still been quite young; he wondered what he had been up to.

It was only eight or nine in the evening. Yu Fan checked his watch and pulled out his phone, intending to call Yu Tong, but after a moment's thought, he tucked it away again.

Seeing that Lin Ran was actually smiling at him, the man grew even more enraged. He charged forward, aiming a kick to kill Lin Ran.

In his earlier travels, he had heard many myths and legends from the countryside, and now he intended to organize them systematically.

"Pass the word: the moment those two arrive in the capital, they are to see me immediately. There are some things... that I must arrange," Emperor Yuning said, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Fatty, open a coffin and take a look—see what’s inside," Bai Wuchen said, pushing Zhang Yang toward one of the coffins.

This left him both jealous and resentful. Every cell in his body was filled with a throbbing, stabbing pain, a stifling sensation that left him nearly suffocated.

But after watching for a long time, neither Yue nor Lu could make sense of it. Wanting to investigate further, they exchanged glances, packed their gear, and prepared to venture deeper to find out exactly what this place was.

He had wanted to save her, yet in the end, he was powerless, forced to watch helplessly as another man rescued her.

The man in black snatched a saber from a nearby comrade and, in a flash, reached a spot not far from Xie Anlan. He struck mercilessly with his short blade. Startled, Xie Anlan used her long whip to parry the person beside her, side-stepping the sudden attack.

But in that instant, the unexpected happened: the string of the divine crossbow suddenly snapped. In the blink of an eye, the weapon became a worthless piece of junk. The masked man, furious, let out a shout and hurled the broken crossbow at Prince Shou.

No, his children would, of course, be as elegant and gentle as he was. Or perhaps... it would be better to have only one?

After the explosion, only the legs of the mechanical construct remained lying on the ground. Seeing this, Fatty and Jin Qing immediately clapped and cheered.

Almost simultaneously, two beams of brilliant light shot out from Yue Bai's hand seals, clearly aimed at the two old men.

Because they had pressing matters on their minds, they rarely delayed on their journey, stopping only for meals and lodging. Two days later, they arrived in Jinan Prefecture.

Nearly half an hour had passed since the first six cups of wine were finished, and the banquet entered its second phase. This part was relatively relaxed; there was no need for excessive formality. Guests could move about freely, toast one another, chat with friends, or enjoy the delicacies, though they were still expected to maintain a degree of decorum.

Xu Zhantian was rarely mentioned in the present day, but he had become a legendary figure. Only among the older generation was he occasionally spoken of, and always with profound respect.

At this time, Gu Fu was also present. Seeing that there were no signs of spiritual turbulence around Xu Tian, he concluded that it was impossible for Xu Tian to have reached the Saint Venerable stage, which meant Xu Tian had not yet found his own Dao.

The heat surged from beneath his feet, but Yun Jie felt no sensation of being scorched. On the contrary, it felt comfortable, and his wounds showed signs of accelerating their healing within the flames.

The Heavenly Remnant aura on Xu Guang's body coalesced into the phantom of a pitch-black claw, which burst through his back. He collapsed to the ground, dead beyond all doubt.

After a few pleasantries, the host and guests entered the living room. It was luxuriously decorated with red carpets, glass doors and windows, tiled walls, and patterned ceilings. The furniture was antique and exquisite; everything one could desire was there.

"Heh, they will certainly be able to kill you and then rescue me!" Luo Xueyi's cracked lips parted slowly, her expression one of extreme pain. Her shoulder blades were sealed, and she had suffered grievous injuries; every word she spoke cost her immense effort and agony.