Chapter 33: Black Wind Mountain

When it came to blood ties, she and her Ninth Brother were born of the same mother; yet in matters of closeness, it had always been her Fifth Brother who kept her company, who took her hand and led her in play. To take sides felt like a betrayal of another, so she resolved, perhaps it was best simply to remain uninvolved, to stand apart from them all.

Yet to relinquish the entire Buddhist faith they had established with their own hands was a bitter pill to swallow. Reluctant to let go, they planted the evil corpse incarnation of Maitreya Buddha as a counterweight, and further established the Three Buddhas—of the Past, Present, and Future—to keep each other in check.

“Wuchen, you must take care of yourself…” Yu Weiyan leaned her head against the side of the car, murmuring softly.

She did not know when the man in the vortex mask had appeared before her. He was so close that she could see into the black void of his mask, where his eyes glinted—a flash of crimson, three tomoe spinning… Was this the Sharingan? As the world spun, her consciousness faded away.

“Thank heavens, Consultant Xing, you’ve finally arrived.” The police chief hurried over, his face etched with anxiety.

The legend of the Five Elemental Demons was well-known not only among mortals but also in the demon realms. He knew, too, that in reality, the Five Elemental Demons were powerful yet gentle, never meddling in wickedness. Even the most cautious cultivators among the human race had long since set aside their fears.

The Four Barbarian Shaman Tribes shared narrow borders with the five great kingdoms of the Immortals. The Wai’en and Zama tribes bordered Bencuo, Ganbi, and Gouduo, while the Feilai and Yinni tribes bordered Bencuo, Qihei, and Shenhong.

Clearly, someone of great power was pulling strings from behind the scenes, allowing the hundred and eight demons to descend quietly into the mortal world and grow in strength, until now, when they gathered at Liang Mountain and could hide no longer.

Only then did Yellow Scorpion nod in satisfaction, but just as he was about to reply, another elder’s voice sounded from the side.

By now, the patrol team members, having rested for a while, had gathered along the edge of the ravine to peer into the distance. The cave had suddenly opened, its mouth facing directly toward them, so everyone could see inside.

To be able to call someone so late at night without worry of disturbing them—if they weren’t close, who would do such a thing? Lin Luo failed to notice the change in Bu Mengtian’s expression, nor could she know that in her friend’s mind, she and Shao Yang were already matched as a couple.

“Where are you going to have fun? Let me come with you!” The man smiled, then lifted the quilt and got out of bed.

Nangong Yun answered every question, even mentioning in passing that she’d earned straight As in her business electives.

As they walked on, Ouyang Huaiyu found himself deep in thought. He’d always believed the Xingyue family was remarkable in swordsmanship, but now he saw they were equally meticulous in arranging their geomantic patterns.

After considering for a moment, she decided to set the record straight for Shao Yang: “He’s actually very nice to me, and he smiles a lot—he’s nothing like the cold person everyone says he is.” Having spoken, Lin Luo saw that the sugar cube had nearly melted, so she lifted her coffee cup and took a gentle sip.

Such loathsome parents—only Luo Ying, that foolish girl, was willing to stay and feign familial bliss with them.

He intended not only to remain here and temper this world, but to cultivate to his heart’s content.

After everyone left, she immediately settled into the wide, comfortable armchair in her office, gently rocking as she closed her eyes and savored the beauty of the afternoon.

Even among the three Celestial Maidens present, curiosity abounded—what exactly had Chu Yun gained from within?

“It’s nothing. Let’s get going. The list is still long—we’ve only met one of them so far,” Li Wujin said, steering the conversation away as he walked out alone. His silhouette, however, seemed tinged with loneliness.

“I’m too old for such unrealistic daydreams now,” she said with a bitter smile.

He nodded and, with a wave, returned his sword to its scabbard. Yet the sword seemed to radiate a powerful aura, as if unwilling to be sheathed. Xiao Yueye, thoughtful, ran his thumb gently along the blade; a bead of blood traced its edge and vanished, at which the sword at last settled quietly into its sheath.

How strange! Ma Qian’an resolved to figure out this enigmatic fellow, who had suddenly begun spouting such cryptic words—there must be some hidden meaning behind it.

Lunch had barely concluded when Dirk’s patience ran dry. As Chu Yan sent him Dawanov’s address, Dirk seemed ready to dash out the door, only to be stopped by Chu Yan’s outstretched hand.

The bloated king gestured wildly, as a strange vortex restraint tossed Xing Fei about in midair, apparently inspecting him, all while emitting a series of bizarre cries.

The spear struck Wang Meng’s martial shield; neither shield broke nor spear splintered, and the two were locked in an odd equilibrium. Yet, it was clear to all that Bi Liang held the advantage. Should this balance persist, Wang Meng was doomed to lose.

“I’m telling you, brother, if you’re running a restaurant, you need to have a conscience. Using that rubbish oil will kill someone,” Hu Qiang said, utterly unconcerned.

There were about 350 team members in total, divided into multiple combat squads. Always on high alert, they were fully modernized in personnel, technology, and tactics—an elite special forces unit renowned worldwide.

Then he began smashing things—anything he could see, in a fit of madness. Zhen Xiaoshan, terrified, curled into a ball, not daring even to breathe.

The village chief had a plan, but he didn’t rush to track them; he had another idea—he would wait right here.

“Drive them out!” Bo Cai scrambled up from the ground, and as he rose, he grabbed the long spear left behind by a fallen Yellow Turban soldier.

Across the Beast Arena, Jin Shao entered accompanied by a lynx, strolling into the arena at a measured pace.

Yimeng knew of Ye Chen’s arrival and his identity, and was well aware of his terrifying power. Yet she had no concept of what the “Sovereign” level meant, and Ye Chen’s explanation left her even more confused.

For days on end, beyond drilling the troops, repairing fortifications, and managing official duties, they dined and socialized, forging closer bonds. Yet, in all things, the original Hanzhong group found themselves overshadowed—the true leaders among the generals were Zang Ba, Zhang He, and the other Jingzhou officers.

Watching the Blood Gu greedily devour its meal, Fu Xi’s lips curved into a faint smile as he produced a brand-new Ten Yin Gu jar, murmuring incantations under his breath.

“Is that so?” Jiang Yu retorted with a cold smile; if others came looking for trouble, he would show them no mercy.

“Why, Xiang Hao? You haven’t even reached the Divine Realm, while the others have nearly all set foot there. If you go out on your own and something happens, you could really die. Even if you don’t, you’ll still be ejected from the Chaos Map,” Xuan Yuanxue said anxiously.