Volume One, Chapter 67: The Research Institute Welcomes New Members

“Scoundrel!” Severely burned and weakened, Wang Feng had no strength to resist Gu Xinghun’s domineering sword aura.

Emperor Lan Ziyi had met him before, but this was the first time Lan Ziyi had witnessed the early morning court scene. He was curious about how the ministers behaved during the emperor’s attendance, and even more curious about how, given the emperor's frail health, he managed to attend at all.

To be defeated head-on and sent flying by his opponent—especially in such a public setting—was something he, a prodigy of his generation, found hard to accept.

Kunling City’s history stretches far back into antiquity. The city walls bear the marks of time’s erosion; many foreigners who enter Qianyu invariably visit Kunling City, walking its ancient streets. Some even find unexpected opportunities and fortunes here.

As soon as Yang Yu emerged, he was surrounded by these people, eager to congratulate him on his victory. According to the rules of the Autumn-Winter Competition, Donghuang Lun could only challenge him again at the next event. Yet Donghuang Lun had already left, keeping his thoughts to himself.

Wu Yingying glanced at Director Liu beside her and pointed to the weapons on the table. “Director Liu, returning what belongs to you—the weapons are yours.” Wan Miao and Bao Yai smiled as they placed the assault and sniper rifles on the conference table. Only Jingyi still gripped her sniper rifle tightly, standing silent by the table.

After Feng extinguished Wang Yao, he casually swept up the opponent’s storage ring.

A quick inspection revealed to Mo Fan the mechanism to open the stone door. At the same moment, Li Yulong spotted it as well. With caution, he summoned a longsword, intending to pry the mechanism open.

“We’ll spend the night here. What are your plans for tomorrow?” Yang Yu tossed the fish bones to the ground. He cared little about whether the black dog feared fish bones, since Blackie was far better at picking them out than he was.

“My talents are destined to be useful,” Ouyang Yan forced out the words, each syllable resolute and unwavering.

Thus, they abandoned their attack on Su Luo and instead swarmed Bingbing, Yu Qi, Zheng Xiong, and the others.

“Mortar, the match isn’t over yet! The winner hasn’t been decided!” Yulian shouted, scrambling to his feet.

However, the combined might of Kazama Daito, Kudo Kuroren, and Kuroto Junichi was overwhelming. Despite their best efforts, Luo Yuanshan and his companions were pushed back, suffering defeat after defeat.

Yet the karmic rune was difficult to draw, and Lu Zhaoling had rarely attempted it. She had never encountered such a situation; if it wasn’t related to her, why should she bother? She’d let them be.

Clad in blue robes, his handsome face expressionless, his ink-black hair pinned up with a jade hairpiece, his phoenix eyes half-closed and lazy, his red lips slightly parted with a hint of allure.

Everyone present was stunned by the sight before them, gazing at Jiang Chengtian as if he were a deity.

Holding an old stone bow, familiar memories surged into Jiang Yue’s mind—his third grandfather Jiang Cong’s three years of archery lessons, teaching him the intricacies of the craft.

Before the corpse centipede could fall, Su Luo’s fingers withdrew and immediately struck another one like lightning.

Yu Qi glanced at the sacrificial altar beneath the ancient tree, and at the two bodies lying far from the altar.

Lu Zhaoling picked up the jade tablet. On the front was the character for “command,” while the back bore a simple landscape engraving. The jade was of exceptional quality, smooth and lustrous, cool to the touch.

Another tribe had even established a dedicated combat academy for the new soldier ants, only two centimeters tall. The main courses were reconnaissance, patrol, combat, and strategy.

This task was indeed challenging, but Jing Yun accepted it without hesitation—not because Tian Ming had requested something difficult to refuse, but because he was determined and believed in his ability to accomplish it.

Diao Chan still refused to acknowledge Xu Zijian as her father, but blood is thicker than water. Arriving at her biological father’s burial place, she could not help but be moved by the scene.

The ghouls howled, with more undead emerging from the darkness. Just then, Locke heard the horn from a nearby tribe. Frowning, uncertain what to do, he hesitated.

But since she had been so forthcoming, out of courtesy, Jiang Ming took out his phone and saved her number. Whether he would actually call her was a matter for the future.

“I don’t know either,” Lin Ruoxi replied honestly. She had only recently met Yingjun and knew little about his past.

Knowing that Situ Haoyu had investigated him and was aware of his intentions, Li Huanran felt inexplicably guilty when Cheng Lingzhi mentioned Kexin.

“Good… retreat!” Min Qingyun acted decisively, pulling Min Yanshan and directing everyone to withdraw.

The room fell silent. The floor was littered with Dong Zhuo’s flesh and blood. Diao Chan stood by, observing it all with a calm indifference.

There had simply been too much today—a full day of classes, moving house after returning home. Even she found it hard to bear.

“Bai Yan, do you have something in mind?” Seeing Bai Yan’s grave expression and hearing his direct address, Chen Yu sensed a change in the situation and hurriedly asked.

The fifteenth-ranked mage, End of Time, was impressive; anyone who made the top twenty was considered a top player. Unfortunately, End of Time already belonged to his own guild, called Heaven’s Punishment Alliance. The name was formidable, but the guild itself was mediocre, ranked outside the top twenty in Lightning City.

That second fall nearly cost Mu Yiyi half her life. She lay gasping on the ground, unable to move, each breath bringing unbearable pain. The agony forced her to cry out miserably, and as she continued, her sobs finally broke through.

It is easy to imagine: once all players’ magic is drained, there is little reason for the battle to continue.

“Despicable humans!” Hepuz was not seriously injured, only suffering minor skin corrosion. With a surge of water-type battle energy, he swiftly healed himself in the blink of an eye.

After hearing Aunt Zhao’s words, Yan Shu was delighted. Though Aunt Zhao’s tone was less than pleasant, Yan Shu had nevertheless learned where Fu Yanjin had gone. Her goal achieved, she no longer cared how Aunt Zhao treated her or whether she was told never to return.

Li Xin felt he had fulfilled his duty and saw no need to say more. After all, the decision was the leader’s to make. As a subordinate, all he could do was offer advice and reminders, and demonstrate diligence and respect. That was enough.