Volume 1, Chapter 185: Demanding the Betrothal Gift

Whose family takes in a bride so precious that it costs a fortune? Even if her husband were the town mayor, he wouldn't squander money like this.

She put on a stern face and declared, "That simply won't do! If your family refuses to have the wedding by the end of the month, return the betrothal gifts to me, and my son will go marry someone else!"

Upon a second thought, it made sense: the Zerg were, after all, named the Zerg. Naturally, their numbers would never be small. If they were to launch an offensive against a major power like humanity, deploying billions of warriors was not only plausible but entirely necessary.

The enhanced fleet of interstellar cruisers had been completely purged of government officers and replaced by General Rello's private army. "I need to initiate the legion-level combat sequence. All departments, prepare for battle," General Rello's voice echoed through the speakers and main console channels across the entire Star Command warship base within fractions of a second.

"We want to resist!" As if emboldened by the moment, a villager took the lead, and all the villagers began to shout in unison.

After lingering in a sentimental mood for a little while, Lu Hao went to the office restroom to splash some cold water on his face. When he came out, Ruth had prepared a cup of milk and a piece of bread for him. The milk was fine to drink, but as for the bread, Lu Hao still felt that two steamed buns from his hometown were much more satisfying. He had once debated this with Ruth, and of course, both of them had their own valid points.

Seeing that Li Song was in no mood to let them speak, the ministers had no choice but to swallow their words, saving them for another opportunity, and steered the conversation to the next agenda item.

"Can you lower the price just a bit more? Would fifty million dollars work?" Ma Susu asked with a pitiful expression. Everyone is insignificant in the face of life. What use is having billions in wealth? Once you die, that is the end of everything—you take nothing with you when you leave. Only by staying alive can one speak of anything else.

"Well, well, well, you are still the same as ever, so impulsive. Fine, take whatever you like!" Carlo shook his head with a smile.

Harry desperately wanted to verify his own guess, but what if doing so offended the auction house and this Grom? Would he suffer a miserable death? He instantly dismissed this impractical notion.

"Grand Marshal, Black Cloud Mountain is down the mountain, shouting challenges," a messenger rushed into the main tent to report to Feng Shaojie.

Afterward, the two of them were once again overwhelmed by a sense of a bleak and uncertain future. The truth was, even if Qiao Chuting wanted to place herself in the public eye, she had no idea how to do so in a way that would minimize the impact on history while still allowing Jiuxiao and the others to catch sight of her.

Sometimes Ye Wutian even admired himself; with a gun pointed right at him, he somehow still had the mood to let his mind wander to such random things.

Moreover, being able to punch out a hole like that suggested that the person was carrying a tool such as a short shovel.

"Brother Ye, since you're already here, won't you take my pulse?" Chu Fang asked, staring at Ye Wutian's back.

Everyone present was a seasoned veteran in the business world, and at a single glance, they could deduce the purpose behind the batch of silver the Li family had prepared.

Hearing that his legs were also crippled, much like his own current predicament, Zhang Fuqiang felt a sudden surge of gratification.

"Tell me what I want to know, or I will wipe out your so-called syndicate. Perhaps your group holds considerable influence around here, but to me, it really amounts to nothing. You must have heard of the Yamaguchi-gumi, right?" Ye Wutian kindly reminded him.

The two parted ways outside the hotel, promising to stay in touch and meet often when free. Watching the taxi Yanzhi had put her in drive away into the distance, she hailed a cab of her own and headed home.

Wang Yongming—that name sounded like something heard centuries ago. To be honest, Yanzhi had almost forgotten that such a person even existed in this world, yet after hearing her out, he had actually taken it to heart and gone to make trouble for that person.

"What do you understand? None of those things Zhenniang concocts are genuine Li ink. If our Li family wants to compete for the imperial tribute ink, we must use the family's signature ink products," said the elderly shopkeeper as he walked out draped in a coat, wearing a solemn expression.

It felt exceptionally firm and unyielding, almost indestructible, yet at the same time soft and warm, pressing closely against him.

Looking at the spatial tear before him, the dark-robed figure let out a cold laugh, then stepped directly into the spatial rift, vanishing into the dense forest.

"Yet for some reason, I always have a sense of desolation beneath this vast expanse of starry skies," Liu Yun said, his gaze deepening.

"Then what was the identity you originally intended to confirm?" Lin Xuan seized upon the crucial point in the cloaked figure's words instantly.

The elders were momentarily stunned. Turning their gazes back, they looked on in astonishment as the youth remained completely unfazed by the attack—which had materialized the ancient spirit of the Pixiu—his momentum refusing to yield in the slightest.

These were eighteen identical steel sabers, each one gleaming with a cold light. Though sharp and fierce, Lin枫 sensed no spiritual resonance emanating from them; it seemed they had lost their vitality, reduced to mere piles of ordinary steel.

Realizing this phenomenon, Lin Feng had no intention of dragging the fight out any longer, which was why he unleashed the Water Source Technique to capture it.

Through the back door, I spotted a thatched cottage in the distance, and that baleful aura was precisely emanating from it.

"Alright, you may go now. I only hope you remember that you were once soldiers and will do nothing to dishonor that status." Ignoring the bewilderment of the group, Elder Guo continued.

Nan Feng had not informed the fatty of his breakthrough to the Cavern Deity realm, and the fatty's mind was not on him anyway, spending every day heading up to the North Mountain—whether to curry favor with Abbess Miezhen to learn martial arts or to grow closer to those two teenage nuns remained unknown.

"Captain, there is a suitable campsite ahead. The terrain is flat and water sources are abundant." Resting in place, a member of the hunting party reported to Lin Feilong.

Yet, unable to move, he could only watch helplessly as the blood wolf crawled into the distance. At that exact moment, an arrow whistled through the air, "Crack..." piercing the blood wolf's skull without the slightest resistance, claiming its very last thread of life.

"However..." Guo Lin's words cut off abruptly. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and he watched the reactions of the four. Without exception, even the calmest among them, Liu Quansi, wore a look of considerable agitation. The rank of Alchemy King, which they figured would take at least another three or four years to reach, was about to be granted at a single word from Young Master Guo.

"To list his name," was done so Nie Zheng would not become an anonymous assassin. Nie Zheng's assassination of Xia Lei must have been a highly influential political event at the time.

As the very last batch of materials was refined, the sky grew dark. Xiao Yan steadied his breathing, then crossed his legs to sit and begin recovering his strength. If he attempted to fuse the pills right now, all his previous efforts would likely go to waste; haste makes waste.

Ling Yu's strategy was crystal clear: he still had the Silver Star powerhouses protect the Bronze Star powerhouses, allowing the latter to receive thorough training. Meanwhile, he, along with Jialu, Leilong, and Luokede—all Gold Star powerhouses—followed far behind to provide timely rescue in case of any unforeseen danger.