Chapter 55: Preparing for the Wedding

Almost simultaneously with Jiang Zhuo’s sword training, the grand wedding of Shen Guanzhi and Zhao Mingjing proceeded as planned.

Though the marriage scheduled for January seemed rushed, Shen Guanzhi had already been designated Zhao Mingjing’s secondary consort for three months. She had by then mastered most of the court etiquette, and being naturally intelligent, she would not have wasted much time on trivialities.

The main difficulty lay in Shen Guanzhi’s bridal trousseau.

The betrothal gifts Zhao Mingjing sent to the Shen household were conventional, essentially those originally prepared for Shangguan Xue.

The person who found all this hardest to accept was Jing Hua. Wen Jingxian had clearly told her that if she behaved obediently and quietly without causing trouble, the Jing Group would surely have many assets in her future.

Anxin’s words left Tong Jiyan in a state of uncertainty—neither agreeing nor disagreeing. After the instigation by Bai Yi and Anxin, Princess Longji began to regard Tong Jiyan with increasing caution.

This shift immediately stirred tumultuous waves in the Eastern Sea’s political arena, with all manner of wild rumors spreading like wildfire.

Wang Qi was stunned as he took back the wallet from the attendant and hurried after him. “Have you ever thought about why she went mad? It’s because the pressure from the Ye family was unbearable, because of your inexplicable possessiveness, your refusal to let her have children, and that domineering old lady in your family.”

But Wang Peter paid no mind, lowering his stance once more. With a sweeping leg, he knocked Da Xiong to the ground. As Da Xiong fell, Wang Peter took a step forward and punched him squarely in the neck.

Sweating profusely, Xia Yihan persevered in compressing the child’s chest. “Cough, cough, cough.” Suddenly, the child began to cough violently, expelling a round candy from his mouth.

His figure was like a towering mountain, calm and serene as it lay before him. The surroundings were tranquil and peaceful, with distant voices faintly carried on the wind, seeping into the still air.

“All right, come eat something. I see you’re smiling, but you’re still hurt—don’t tremble so much!” He Qingyi set the meal on the table and spoke to Chenxi.

Far away in the capital, Kardefico had no time to worry about the border. He had expanded the army by 400,000 troops, drilling them relentlessly. The soldiers at the frontier were expendable; even if they merely served as early warning, their loss was a small price to pay.

In other words, the faint red dot Ye Zilu observed must be the spirit of the Water God.

Ling Yue’s heart gave a slight jolt. This must be a divine technique of a sixth-level cultivator, a powerful or wide-ranging spell attained through communion with the forces of heaven and earth combined with personal insight.

“Could it be a memorial to this king? That can’t be right—he’s still alive!” Zheng Xudong listened as Rashid first shared this vital information, then spoke of the Khalifa Tower he had just visited that morning.

In ancient times, the early Huaxia referred simply to two tribes living in what is now the Central Plains—Hua and Xia.

Being sought out for rescue meant one still held value. The old sorcerer’s pride swelled; his throat scratched with the urge to sing aloud. Yet he restrained his exuberance, knowing that too much display might breed envy. He thought better of it and instead turned his gaze toward his companions, using this as a respectful gesture before taking the stage.

Anran listened from afar, her heart pounding with alarm. Junior Brother Ling was far too arrogant; how could he push a seventh-level master to self-destruct? Better to wear him down first, then decide the next move.

Especially Lu Yang—if it weren’t for Xiao Shilin holding him back, he might already have charged forward.

Even if the Godslayer Hunter were activated now, would Earth still have time to grow strong? Would the enemy grant her that time? No! Without super soldiers or a godly academy, Earth remained a mere speck in the cosmos.

The woman in red, seeing his smile and actions, misunderstood as well. Yet she also remembered her own need to seduce Wang Tao. A bad reputation was one thing, but if the very person she hoped to latch onto caught sight of her, no matter how many men she had, it would be a blow to her pride.