Your Blood Oath Is Worse Than a Fart!

"It's settled then! Don't come crying broke when the time comes!"

Liu Yulong rubbed his backside, baring his teeth as he glared at Jun Wushang, already planning to kick him back later.

"Yeah, we can eat a lot."

"And prepare drinks."

The others chimed in with playful teasing.

"Don't worry, there'll be plenty of steamed buns and pickles!" Jun Wushang raised an eyebrow with a sly grin, making a "help yourselves" gesture. "Plain water refills are unlimited!"

"Cheapskate."

"Miser."

"Scrooge."

Qin Shuang and the others all gave him the middle finger.

Jun Wushang completely ignored their protests.

In the faint morning light, Wei Qing began his journey home.

Unlike when he came, he was no longer alone. Jun Wushang and Zhang Xue were by his side – this childhood friend had been forcefully sent by her parents, under the guise of "visiting her future mother-in-law."

Jun Wushang grinned from ear to ear, fussing over the luggage like a cat that had stolen some fish.

In the morning light, the three figures gradually moved further away.

Qin Shuang sighed lightly, "When we meet again, I wonder what realm Brother Wei will have reached?"

"We'll know when we see him," Liu Yulong said casually, fanning himself with a bone fan, but a fighting spirit burned in his eyes.

Nangong Ruyan placed her delicate hand on her sword, "The world is descending into chaos. If we don't prepare, when the great turmoil arrives, we will be met with endless regret."

She would never forget those scarlet demonic eyes in the black mist.

"When I return to the sect, I'll apply for a training mission," Qin Shuang suddenly said. "First stop – the Imperial City."

"Count me in!"

"Me too!"

They looked at each other and smiled. The morning sun was blazing on the city walls, casting their long shadows.

Wei Qing never imagined that the day they would meet again would come so soon.

Imperial City, Heavenly Realm Division.

Zhou Cang was stunned after hearing Zhou Kai's report.

A Seventh-Rank had scared off a Fifth Rank!

A Seventh-Rank comprehended Profound Meaning?

He knitted his brows, his gaze sweeping towards Zhou Kai –

If not for their years of camaraderie, he would have slapped him by now.

How dare he try to amuse him with such an absurd story?

"Heh, I knew you wouldn't believe me," Zhou Kai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "The secret report from Qingcheng's Night Owl Guard is already on its way. You won't have a choice but to believe it then."

He couldn't help but sigh with envy, "This kid is even more monstrous than Old Wei back in his day... Tsk tsk, if I had a son like that, I'd be laughing in my sleep."

The thought of his own useless son who abandoned martial arts for literature made him angry, so he stopped thinking about it.

"By the way, any news about Old Wei?"

Mentioning Wei Yuan, Zhou Kai's tone became more somber.

"No news has come yet, and Lord Tantai hasn't returned," Zhou Cang shook his head slightly, then chuckled, "That guy is incredibly resilient. He survived that battle back then with such heavy injuries, didn't he?"

"When he returns and sees how outstanding Qingzi is, his smile will reach the back of his head."

"He'll probably be smiling so hard his ears will pop off!" Zhou Kai slapped his thigh, his gloom completely dispelled. "This kid is his greatest pride!"

They looked at each other and smiled, as if seeing their old friend again, the one who always had a stern face but would grin foolishly.

"I heard that Wei Lin has hitched himself to the Third Prince?" Zhou Kai suddenly lowered his voice, tapping his knuckles on the table. "Qingzi's return this time..."

Zhou Cang rubbed his throbbing temples. "We'll take it one step at a time."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Family matters are ultimately family matters, and the royal family can't interfere too much. Besides—"

The teacup landed heavily on the table, splashing a bit of tea.

"The Heavenly Realm Division has always been loyal to His Majesty alone."

At the same time.

A grey-feathered night owl silently flew over the eaves of the Heavenly Realm Division.

The Night Owl Guard on duty took down the bamboo tube. Upon seeing the crimson "Jia" character branded on it, his expression immediately changed.

In the inner hall, Su Henian was currently writing, reviewing secret correspondence. Vermilion ink traced winding blood-red lines on the Xuan paper.

Hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts—

"Lord, urgent report from Qingcheng, Class A marking!"

"Present it."

The moment the bamboo tube was opened, Su Henian shot to his feet, the pupils beneath his Mysterious Iron mask constricting sharply.

He examined the secret letter three more times before waving his sleeve to dismiss everyone.

The candlelight on the desk flickered violently, casting his shadow on the wall.

Su Henian clenched the secret letter and strode through the long corridor.

Inside the council hall.

Nangong Yu had just finished his deployment: "This matter is tentatively settled. We will discuss it again if there are any changes."

"Yes."

Xie Yun, Shen Hanbing, and Lin Wantang nodded in unison.

Just as the three were about to rise and leave, they saw Su Henian rush in.

The three exchanged glances and tacitly sat back down. Intelligence that could make the "Cold-Faced Judge" lose his composure must be something extraordinary.

"Director, we just received news from the Qingcheng Night Owl Guard."

Saying this, Su Henian handed the intelligence in his hand to Nangong Yu.

He took the intelligence.

And unfolded it.

Upon seeing the contents, Nangong Yu was also taken aback.

He then passed the intelligence to Xie Yun and the other two.

Everyone who saw the intelligence was shocked by its contents.

A Seventh-Rank had severed the arm of a Fifth-Rank and scared off a nascent Fifth-Rank.

A Seventh-Rank had comprehended two different Profound Meanings: attack and speed.

He had ventured into the Black Mist Wasteland and rescued many disciples from various sects in Jizhou Prefecture...

The letter detailed the recent experiences of Wei Qing.

"Heh heh, my Guard Department has produced an unparalleled prodigy." Xie Yun flicked the intelligence in his hand and burst into laughter.

"This kid, he's just what I need!" Shen Hanbing tapped his fingertips on the table, his eyeballs rolling. "Lend him to me for a few days, how about it?"

"Get lost!" Xie Yun roared, shaking the roof tiles of the council hall as if they were trembling. "Do you think he's a demon to be experimented on? The third-rank great demon you 'guaranteed to be intact' last time was reduced to just bones by you on the third day!"

"If you dare to lay a hand on him, I'll really fight you to the death!"

"Hey, why are you so agitated? This time I'll swear a blood oath, I guarantee to return him to you completely unharmed."

"Your blood oath is less reliable than a fart!"

Xie Yun interrupted directly, counting on his fingers.

"What was the result of that blood oath last time? Not even a bone was left!

"The time before that..."

"Stop!"

Nangong Yu quickly stopped their "argument."

"With this child's talent, his stage will ultimately be 'that place'." Lin Wantang's eyes rippled with memories. "Twenty years. Great Zhou has finally produced such a figure again."

Mentioning "that place," the four of them sobered up.

The memories of blood and fire from years past surged like a tide – if not for the sudden death of the late Emperor, they would still be fighting there now.

Su Henian lightly tapped his Mysterious Iron mask: "There are only two years left until the next selection. The Heavenly Realm Division's resources should be poured into this child."

"I second that," Xie Yun's voice was like clashing metal.

"No objections," Shen Hanbing's fingertip traced a trail of frost across the table.

Nangong Yu's gaze swept over everyone, and he slowly uttered a single word:

"Agreed."

Thunder suddenly rumbled outside the window, and a torrential downpour began, as if heralding the arrival of a new era.