Chapter 32: The Winds of Change (Combined Chapter)

The next day, from the crown of a Chinese pine atop the first mountain, Red Phoenix spotted Gu Xiaomai and her two companions approaching from afar.

"I am about to retreat into a cave to escape the rain, so why is this woman coming up the mountain now?"

Red Phoenix looked toward the northeast, where massive, dark storm clouds were drifting rapidly in their direction. It immediately descended from the tree and ran toward Gu Xiaomai.

"Red Phoenix, why are you here? I’m heading to that pine tree from yesterday; do you want to come along?"

Purple Spirit’s eyes sparkled with an ethereal brilliance, and a celestial aura radiated from her entire being. Every look and smile she cast was filled with tenderness. Wei Dingtian seemed entranced, watching her in silence.

Although he had been destroyed again just moments ago, his soul power was not yet exhausted, allowing him to resurrect once more.

As the molten river flowed slowly, Yan Bei held the Thunder-Heart Bamboo close, only his head visible above the surface. The crimson magma emanated a verdant, jade-like radiance, and rolling thunder surged into his body through his chest and abdomen, seeping into his essence bit by bit.

Once a Spiritual Energy Mage achieved a formal rank, they could choose to pledge their loyalty to a king or a Great Lord on the continent based on their own preferences. Whether acting as an enforcer or managing territory, they were essentially guaranteed a life of comfort.

Qi Cai’s two legacies were both top-tier, though the Heavenly Dao Suppressing Heaven Technique was arguably superior. However, it currently lagged due to Qi Cai’s own cultivation level, making its ability to erode energy less effective than his physical tempering strength.

During his final confrontation with the Evil Emperor in the Purgatory World and his journey across the Void Bridge, Wei Dingtian had gained new insights into his own swordsmanship. Specifically, the spirit lotus within him had begun to bloom, and he needed to intensify his cultivation in preparation for the Martial Arts Tournament in the City of Ten Thousand Emperors.

While Ling Guangyu was conversing with the Prime Minister's wife, Han Yueqiao had already released her spiritual consciousness to search the entire Prime Minister's residence. Her visit with Ling Guangyu was merely a pretext; her true objective was to uncover further evidence of Lin Ruoqing’s collusion with the Mo Feng Empire.

The Great Buddha Seal collided with the wind blades, producing a harsh, grating sound—like that of broken ceramic shards scraping against a chalkboard.

Han Yueqiao finally understood. No wonder Hua Wufei had suddenly signed a peace treaty with the demon race; it was all thanks to Beitang Yexuan. He had single-handedly crushed the Hua tribe’s army and retreated unscathed.

Still, it was no wonder the old prince was so furious; no one could remain calm under such circumstances. The situation was simply too bizarre and too dramatic.

Chen Qishan was already looking for an outlet for his frustration, and as soon as Chen Feng spoke, he turned a cold, piercing gaze toward him.

Dian Wei warned them, uncertain if they might trigger other hidden mechanisms. They scrambled upward, and only upon reaching the surface did they finally heave a sigh of relief.

The surrounding area was a wilderness of barren hills, deep ravines, and gullies. Traveling in the dark made it easy to lose one's way, especially for those unfamiliar with the routes around Red City.

Because this training mission down the mountain carried numerous risks, Dao Xuan Zhenren insisted that they be fully prepared before setting out.

"The problem is that we cannot buy the raw materials ready-made, so how are we to conduct the experiments?" Guo Peng seemed to have a different opinion.

"What good does it do to just mutter about it? If you're going to be so timid, why don't you go propose yourself!" Shui Yue’s expression turned cold, a sudden resentment toward Song Daren welling up within her.

"What do you mean? Uncle, please explain clearly. Why is it that with A'mei Luoyue by my side, I am no longer affected by the Four Pillars of Extreme Yang? But if I let her go, wouldn't I be able to deal with Granny's opponent?" I asked hurriedly.

Back in high school, Yu Dongmei had noticed that Fang Hanmin was excellent in every way, but his pride was too fragile. Perhaps it was just his nature; even though much time had passed and he now held an enviable status, he still lacked self-confidence.

Varian moved in an instant, his actions swift as lightning. With his left hand, he accurately grabbed the arm of the Stone-Jaw Monster that held the stone axe, while his right hand clamped onto its throat. With a slight exertion of force, he ripped the monster's head clean off and tossed it aside like discarded trash.