Chapter Seventy-Two: A Preliminary Conclusion

In the analysis related to the events of August 12, the very first point—that criminal organizations consisting of fifty or more members are already exceedingly rare—eliminated the vast majority of possibilities. Based on the situation at the scene, this criminal group was far beyond ordinary in terms of both their strength and equipment, and their counter-surveillance abilities were exceptionally strong. Yet after a thorough investigation into the whereabouts of police officers who had resigned, no one was found to be unaccounted for or suspected of joining any such group.

“There’s no need to prepare—where are they?” Kui Guang, despite having warned himself, still couldn’t help but blurt out. As usual, no one paid him any mind. He felt his face flush a bright red with embarrassment, yet he could do nothing about it.

Xiao Chen’s gaze flickered, a glimmer of light flowing in his eyes as he focused intently on the black jade slip in his hand, never once looking away. He even attempted to infuse it with a trace of his spiritual sense, hoping to discern its secrets, but his efforts were fruitless.

He Daping, too, lost his temper. His rotund body surged forward, shoving Ye Fan several steps back with a single push.

If it hadn’t been for Wang Yingjie’s inability to shoulder the responsibility back then, his wife would never have thought to take out high-interest loans and then been forced to sell herself.

Ye Fan casually lashed out with a kick, sending the two thugs at the front flying. They landed face-first, a row of teeth scattering from their mouths.

At the altar, shadowy figures appeared one after another—ten in total. Their cultivation was terrifyingly high, all at the fifth heavenly layer of the Immortal Emperor realm or above. Clad in armor, they looked like generals, each wielding a long spear with overwhelming might.

“After Jiang Yi returned, he practiced like a madman—afraid you’d all outpace him,” said the Star Envoy with a smile.

“That’s only natural. Though I’ve never been to the Cultivation World myself, here on Alpha Planet we have plenty of information about it. I’m familiar with the uses, descriptions, and even the prices of many cultivation materials,” said Zhu Rong.

Half an hour passed. Mo Feng wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow and set down the tools required for the array. Everyone’s gaze converged; Mo Quanqiang’s body was now covered in densely packed runes, as if forged from metal, each line radiating a sharp, metallic sheen.

The big man nodded vigorously. Mo Feng’s mouth twitched—he had to concede. How much time had really passed? Two years? Even if time flowed slower here, it hadn’t yet reached three years.

Veronica could never bring herself to put on airs with Duler. Though she didn’t nod in agreement, she didn’t object either, which was as good as acquiescence.

So is it yes or no after all? Helian Heyan couldn’t be bothered to dig deeper—ultimately, it wasn’t something she could know just because she wanted to. If she were a spy for Northern Wild Geese, finding out about this would be courting death.

“You’re just an outsider, being so arrogant in our Nanzhao—you’re the one who needs to be taught a lesson! Girls, let’s show her what we’re made of! So what if she’s the queen’s maid? What can she do to us if we hit her?” Caidi, unable to win an argument with Xiangling, incited her two friends to lay hands on her.

“If even Qianqian thinks so, then naturally it won’t happen,” Xuanyuan Tianyue’s voice remained gentle and clear, yet carried a born authority and a fleeting sense of ease and delight.

Ye Qingcheng was secretly alarmed, instinctively touching her face—perhaps she really had grown much thinner lately.

While the “Grand Elder” lying on the ground was shouting furiously at “Chi Yan,” Ming made his move.

“Mother Cui’er, don’t be too upset. Brother Xie is a good man—he’ll be all right,” Wu Sheng consoled her.

Along the way, he had known sorrow, grief, and pain, but whenever he saw her, he felt that all the suffering had been worth it.

As soon as Chen Xia finished speaking, her face flushed hot with embarrassment. “Hmph, someone like you who only hangs out with the C crowd couldn’t possibly appreciate the benefits of being a B.” With that, she marched off, full of pride.

Yet she also knew that in the heart of such a man, while her mother’s place among his many concubines might be the most secure, how much weight she truly held in his ambitions was something she could never know.