Volume 1, Chapter 41: Then You Ask for It for Me

The day of Elder Qi’s birthday banquet arrived quickly.

The celebration was held at the Qi Mansion, a three-story English-style garden villa. A fountain sculpture stood in the front, an infinity pool was nestled in the back, and the interior was nothing short of magnificent.

Before his retirement, Elder Qi had served as the commander of the Nancheng Military Region, commanding great prestige. With this milestone ninetieth birthday, most of the guests were either wealthy or powerful, many having traveled from afar to pay their respects and present their gifts.

Wen Li attended alongside the Wen family. While the banquet was a significant affair, the Qi family was unlikely to cause a scene or tarnish their own reputation on their home turf. Nevertheless, Wen Yang remained uneasy, having instructed her before they arrived to keep her head down.

"Xinyue, Xinyi, shall Auntie take you two to the game area nearby?" she asked the children.

With a single burst of force, he was sent flying backward, slamming into the uneven wall behind him.

"Mom, it’s too late tonight. Besides, I just got my paintings over here. Please don’t come by; let’s wait until tomorrow or the day after, and we will definitely come to see you." Rong Xiaoxiao’s refusal was blunt, bordering on cold.

"I’m looking to defect from the organization anyway. Helping you is essentially helping myself, and I truly want you to succeed." Heart Six stated his objective with refreshing candor, knowing that only by being honest would Qi Sifan trust him and allow his plans to succeed.

She raised her head to retort, but was surprised when Qi Rui simply picked her up and placed her on the sofa on the other side.

"Young Master, I fear the night breeze is bad for your constitution." Yun Yan said, looking troubled. Jiang Yan had told her that Jiang Huai’s body was extremely fragile, barely different from an ordinary mortal’s, and that his strength came only from mystical cultivation techniques. How could she dare let him stand in the cold night air?

After all, among the soldiers, Jiang Huai’s attire was far too ostentatious; he would be recognized easily. Given that he was currently being hunted, such visibility was essentially a death warrant.

Having cultivated for so long, Sky Wolf had never encountered such a troublesome opponent. The man seemed to understand his martial techniques perfectly, keeping him completely on the defensive.

The white-robed attendant frowned, feeling quite astonished. This move, "Earth Gives Rise to Wood, Wood Transforms into a Divine Dragon," was truly ingenious. If controlled properly, wouldn't one's internal energy be inexhaustible, rendering them invincible in battle?

Murong Qingwan tilted her head slightly, gazing up at the golden-lacquered plaque shimmering in the sunlight—"Palace of Joyous Immortals"—and sighed at the sheer extravagance of the structure.

Suddenly, a golden light shot out from Chen Huaiyu. A giant claw tore through the figure before him and drove deep into the rock. Kui Bao looked closely, but Chen Huaiyu’s shadow was nowhere to be found.

Looking at the soul bead in his hand, Qian Feng couldn't help but think to himself, "Can I really cultivate the Yin-Yang Bright Fire Curse?" Beyond his surprise, he felt a surge of joy.

"Very well, since both of you say so, let's go over and take a look!" Captain Song gritted his teeth and made the decision.

Shi Yao still wore a faint smile, but anyone could tell she wasn't joking.

The Xuan King watched the young man wielding the bronze battle-axe with curiosity under the moonlight. The axe was a heavy weapon, yet in his hands, it felt as light as a needle, wielded with effortless grace.

The Master Grandmother’s expression was indifferent. Instead of retreating, she advanced, her ten fingers dancing. Behind her, the Chongming bird burned like a flame, firing off beams of crimson-gold feathers that collided with the black chains, erupting in a blinding white mist.

This was the Cycle Technique. Once an immortal reached the Celestial realm, if their celestial infant wished to enter the cycle of reincarnation, this technique would naturally manifest in their mind. By forming the necessary hand seals, one could enter the cycle. For years, no one had understood how or why this worked.

"What in the world is this?" Plagued by questions, Captain Song bent down and picked the stone up from the depression. Out of curiosity, the others immediately crowded around.

The immense air pressure actually parted the clouds in the sky, casting a brilliant beam of sunlight onto the earth and sweeping across the sword terrace, making everything appear both illusory and real.

"I had intended to find a cat to keep you company, but it seems my guardian spirit has proven more effective. Come, get a little closer to it," Tang Bai said, gesturing toward Imhotep, who was cowering behind the stone sarcophagus.

"Senior Bear, where are you? Are you inside this dragon pearl?" Han Feng asked, bowing his head toward the sphere.

"Woof, Doggy has been pondering this as well. I’ve checked Si Yixiu’s condition, and his soul is indeed different from an ordinary person's. However, testing and distinguishing it is tricky, but Doggy is working on a solution!" the dog said solemnly.

"Nana, tell your best friend Sikong to get online! I’ve got something good for her!" Zhang Wei said as soon as the video call with Xu Xiaona connected.

If they knew that Wang Xuan had already destroyed both the Kusanagi Sword and the Yata Mirror—two of the Three Sacred Treasures—who knows what their expressions would be.

"I am not lying! If you don't believe me, just ask them!" The student pouted, feeling deeply wronged, and pointed to his classmates.

His pupils narrowed slightly—a sign he had activated "Superman Mode." Every surrounding object, the position of every person, the map layout, and the flow of water were now etched clearly in his mind.

In Ukraine, the Soviet Red Army had driven deep, crushing the Polish interventionist forces. Because the Polish army was in such disarray, a general sense of optimism prevailed in Moscow. Therefore, Yang Hongsen hoped to finally clarify the issue of the 440,000 square kilometers of territory seized by Tsarist Russia.

The group continued upward. Suddenly, they saw a gateway formed naturally by a break in the twin peaks. A fierce wind blew from the gap, and clouds and mist rushed toward them.

However, reaching the stone platform was no easy feat; one had to navigate through the labyrinth. Ordinary players were easily lost, and the maze was filled with traps and monsters, fraught with danger.

She had read in ghost stories that some people, after dying, remained unaware of their own passing and continued their daily routines. Was she, too, a soul?