Chapter 43: The Grand Sorcerer

These scholar-officials and their kin are spread throughout the world; no one could tolerate such a dangerous game. On the other hand, if the illustrations are poorly done, the sales of the work will suffer greatly, so caution is imperative.

“Make do? I’ve been making do for three whole days—thin porridge in the morning, thin porridge at noon, thin porridge at night. How much longer am I supposed to make do?!” Wei Lian’er burst out, her voice rising in urgency and pitch, momentarily stunning Li Zhe.

She lacked Chu Yunduan’s boldness; Chu Yunduan dared to send both her original and her double into the fray without the slightest fear of death.

“Professor Zhang, are you joking?” Director Qian laughed aloud at this moment, clearly not believing a word of it.

Over the past year, though her figure hadn’t changed much, she had grown several centimeters taller—surely she must be taller than Sena Kashiwazaki by now?

No one carried a saber for him, for he had no use for one; he used a sword, which hung by his bedside.

He thought that, for a wanderer like Warrior Wei, a stranger in a foreign land, surviving was no easy feat.

Seeing that the officers had gathered their thoughts and were prepared to face the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry in bloody combat, Ma Zhong wasted no more time and continued with his arrangements.

“Me?” Qin Wanhé frowned, pondering for a moment before recalling what had happened to him. He suddenly looked up and grabbed Qin Baisui’s arm, both startled and furious.

There was nothing to be done. Now, when Ruan Xilan refined pills, her main clients were the Hua, Han, and Qiu families, followed by commissions from the Alchemist Guild. Only at the end of the line were her own relatives, friends, and classmates.

Ya Ren and Xie An had already cultivated a team of their own, with several trustworthy people. With the master and madam now offering their full support, it seemed there would be no problems ahead.

When Chen Chen entered Wang Huang’s office and saw her, he felt as though their last meeting had been in another lifetime. He never expected they would meet again under such circumstances.

Of course, their dietary habits and skincare routines were all thanks to her grandmother. Ruan Xilan merely followed her grandmother’s prescriptions and enhanced their effects—the greatest credit belonged to her grandmother.

Suddenly, she remembered how Lulu would gaze at her and Mr. Lu with starry eyes, then sidle up behind her and tease her.

Scratching his head in surprise, he said, “No wonder you know this place so well. Why did you bring me here?”

Though she earned a lot, all the spirit stones went to the sect. She hadn’t taken a single one for herself, making her likely the poorest Nascent Soul cultivator. The fine spirit wine she used to enjoy now was utterly out of reach.

Lin Zhan smiled. In the past seven years, he had heard such words far too many times and could no longer remember who had said them.

“Chen Yu, we’re classmates. If you need anything, just say the word. If nothing else, I can guarantee you five to six thousand a month!” Zhang Hao said proudly, holding his head high as he addressed Chen Yu.

The situation was especially odd with Qin Feng and Xuan Ying, who never left their room; all their meals were delivered to their door. This room had surely drawn the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Meng Qing deliberately pitched her voice sweet and coquettish, making the man shiver all over, and his movements did slow a little.

No one would be unhappy with more powers, but if she were to suddenly change from an ordinary person into a monster that only knew how to devour, that was something she could never accept.

Song Zhen, however, thought she just didn’t want to think about Mao Mao’s death for now. Fearing to stir her grief, he decisively fell silent.

Electricity surged, and Feng Che’s whole body went numb. The feathered serpent’s breath, pure electric energy, temporarily paralyzed his flesh. Then, under Qin Feng’s control, the serpent’s slender body slithered out and coiled around Feng Che, binding his legs tightly.

From its massive jaws spewed terrifying flames, and these flames were none other than the legendary Infernal Tribulation Fire, famed alongside the Void Calamity Fire! Such flames could easily burn an Immortal Emperor to death.

Han Ye pulled the brim of his work cap low and gently placed a large hand on the man-high crate.

So, for this last time, all she wanted was a final realization—a clear understanding that nothing was possible between her and Song Zhen, and there was no need to force anything.

She was always so understanding it made one ache for her. Most importantly, she could always find the positive and uplifting side of any situation, ever optimistic and full of warmth.

From early morning, the weather was already stiflingly hot. Ye Jialan curled up in the house, unwilling to go outside. Even the two husky lovers in the courtyard chose to lounge in the air-conditioned living room.

Ash littered the floor, and the corridor was filled with smoke. For Lin Yan, who didn’t care for secondhand smoke, it was more than just an annoyance.

He Chengfeng, gasping for breath, leaned against the wall, his teeth gritted in frustration.

Li Yanqing thrust her spear straight at Chang Yiqiao, who did not retreat but instead advanced, her hand forming a claw to seize the silver spear, determined to face Li Yanqing’s assault head-on.

Bei Lan beckoned to Ye, summoning the qilin closer. His gaze, once sharp, softened as it fell upon the mythical beast.

“Those are still unripe—some need another month, others several years. They’re not potent now; it would be a waste to harvest them yet,” the bald man explained.

Jian Xi glanced outside—sure enough, she had guessed right. Although the man in the middle wore a mask, his build and movements clearly marked him as the assistant often seen at Chen Ji’s side.