Chapter 1161: Man-Made Beast Tide

The city guards stared at Lu Yang as if they had looked upon a ghost; by the students' accounts, he had faced a doom that left absolutely no room for survival, a plight far beyond what any mere knack for self-preservation could explain.

Escorted by a bustling crowd of disciples, Lu Yang made his return to Muxue City, cutting a figure entirely at odds with the tense atmosphere gripping the streets.

With the beast tide descending, Muxue City had entered full combat readiness, and every single cultivator had been conscripted into service.

Halting before the martial arts hall, Lu Yang dismissed his pupils to their respective homes, declaring the day's extracurricular excursion a resounding success.

Though Huo Wuji was a youth of a mere score of years, he had already garnered distinguished military honors time and again, fighting with a fierce valor that mocked death itself; having braved the jaws of destruction beside General Meng through countless campaigns, his swift promotion in the near future was all but assured.

Awoken by an urgent call of nature, Assistant Liu Kui stumbled out of the base with bleary eyes to relieve himself; as he retraced his steps to his quarters, intent on reclaiming his slumber, his gaze suddenly froze upon the steel gates and the surrounding walls, which bore black, scorched arrow-shaped markings pointing directly toward the distant mountains.

He had, of course, witnessed the old man's confrontation with Xu Yongzheng, yet a single glance left his heart churning with a volatile mixture of indignation and despair, for Old Man Lu's conduct was utterly, wretchedly petty; despite his boasts of being a seasoned veteran of the martial world, it was small wonder that his standing remained low and his name obscure in Jianshan after all these years.

Behind him, Tang Wanqing offered a subtle, dismissive pout, remaining perched upon the mattress in deep contemplation for a spell before withdrawing to take her bath.

Before the echoes of Meng Zhize's words could fade, the long staff in his grip abruptly veered away from the descending war blade, plunging downward with desperate velocity.

It was not that she harbored any real illusions of joining He Ran's new production, but rather the sheer, unadulterated joy and anticipation of knowing another of He Ran's cinematic works was on the horizon.

Following the conclusion of the funeral rites, word emerged from the imperial palace that Huang Xue had formally adopted Yin Queen as her son, and barring any unforeseen complications, an auspicious day would soon be selected to invest him as the Crown Prince.

A few of the more audacious youths directly hoisted the remaining diesel and gasoline salvaged from the scorched theater, dousing the entrance and the interior of the restroom in a frantic torrent.

Yet this newly arrived alchemist proved a striking exception; she required sustenance each day, and throughout these initial few dawns, she had done nothing but wander the lengths of Yuning City, purchasing one trinket after another.

This left Lermontov, the heavily armored juggernaut whose mobility was severely curtailed, struggling desperately to counter the assault, roaring in a frenzy of agony and wrath; cut to a thoroughly wretched state, it took several bursts of forced, hyper-accelerated counters before he could reclaim his rhythm, compelling Tida to leap back into a distant retreat and granting himself a fleeting moment to catch his breath.

"Are you implying that if it were any season other than spring, you would be powerless to help me align my five meridians?" Wu Dongdong pressed for clarification.

Deep within Murong Jia's soul, the vital energies surged and turbulent emotions swelled, as though a myriad of unspoken words sought to shatter her very heart, only to be ruthlessly suppressed by their master.

Only at this precise juncture did the onlookers discern the creature clearly: a great beast some four to five meters in length, clad in a mantle of golden orange, bearing the likeness of both leopard and tiger; its visage was broad, its chest formidable, its frame thickset and rippling with muscle, its short limbs stout, its pelt adorned with intricate patterns, and a cluster of large black spots crowned its brow.

Chen Erdan maintained his silence, locked in an internal struggle; he had given Lokqi his solemn word to survive at all costs, which forced him to restrain his impulses, for such cautious behavior was normally entirely alien to his nature.

At this very moment, the outermost barrier was webbed with a network of delicate fractures, and had it not been for the active flow of magical energy working to mend the seams, it likely would have shattered into absolute ruin.

"What an unfortunate turn of events! I had originally come with matters to discuss with your father. No matter, once he returns, pray inform him that he may find me at the Liudong Temple, as I have crucial affairs to convey to him," Lingguan spoke.

Arriving at a scenic spot that found favor with all three, they set their footwear aside and arranged themselves in a circle, beginning to embellish their respective kites, which were, in truth, the very vessels of their dreams; to be continued.

Just moments prior, the ring upon her finger had erupted in a brilliant luster, subsequently casting a beam of radiance straight into the empty void.

"Physician, what ails the Princess?" outside the dilapidated temple, Liu Bang turned toward the medical practitioner and inquired.

Shen Qian offered a gentle smile, a profound meaning flickering within his eyes as he regarded her; catching his gaze, Meng Xiaoran felt her heart leap unbidden, her mind inexplicably drifting back to that hour at the medicinal estate when Shen Qian, believing her senseless from wine, had stolen a kiss, and at the memory, an irrepressible crimson flush crept across her cheeks.