Chapter 271: The Fisher Gains the Advantage [First Chapter, Happy New Year]

Without the ancient talisman to help repel them, the prehensile claws of the Shu demonic birds surged forward, crushing several talisman spells in succession, then swiping away the defensive magic treasure shielding Du Xiu Shi's front, before five fingers pierced his chest and ripped out his heart whole.

"Ah!"

Du Xiu Shi let out a shriek and toppled backward.

With Du Xiu Shi dead, the sword formation lost a corner and its power weakened considerably.

Moreover, his death threw everyone into panic.

A towering gate of void stretched across the heavens and earth, wreathed in crackling lightning and arcs of fire, its surface rippling with watery luminescence.

That explains it—they were Baragas's men; of course they couldn't hold back these experts, likely overpowered and broken through.

As he thought, Xu Fei recalled the helpless, blushing expression Zhao Xi had worn that night when she couldn't move.

Ke Zhen and the others had lived in the wilderness for a long time, yet now they decided to return to the city.

"Since you've trusted me so rarely, I'll tell you one thing," Mo Sikong said lazily.

"As long as you're happy, do whatever you want," Ge Zhenjiang had grown too indifferent to answer such questions.

Soon, the massive broadcast sounded again, and instantly, all noise fell silent.

Zhao Guanshan already wore a conical hat; after buying a horse from a nearby horse dealer and dressing simply, he now looked every bit the salt merchant.

Could it be that Santa Claus disliked him because he constantly cheated his uncle and Empress Mu Rong Jin out of money?

The crowd gathered at the exhibition hall's entrance immediately dispersed, each heading to other museum areas and eagerly awaiting the reopening of this standalone hall.

Qin Fangbai's brow remained furrowed as he pulled her down to sit: "You want to go?" Watching her flip the invitation over and over as if trying to make flowers bloom from it, he guessed her thoughts.

Leng Nan Mochen's hand froze midair for half a moment before retracting; his face darkened as he stared at me without speaking.

These siblings' personalities were vastly different—one like a wolf, one like a sheep—but it was clear An Chenxi doted on his sister; in every word and gesture, his affection for her shone through. Perhaps, as an older brother, one ought to dote on one's sister—just as my brother doted on me.

The gamblers who had bet heavily with Ling Yang let out a chorus of murmurs, then promptly pulled out money for the next round of gambling on luck.

Ling Yang whispered to Chu Wanyi for a few moments, laying out his plan in full; though only minutes had passed, his back was already soaked in sweat.

No one knew how deep the bogs in this marshland were—once dragged under, survival was impossible. The carnivorous plant gripping me didn't pull me into the mire, but instead bound me tightly, increasing pressure until my bones felt as if they were being crushed inward.

"You little brat, when you left, you didn't even say goodbye—you had me worried sick! Where did you go?" Ying Mili frowned slightly, her tone a mix of concern and reprimand.

Soon, Xia Yang reached the mountain's peak, standing before the three-story jade pavilion.

"Roar! Roar!" The demonic magpies retreated, revealing a monstrous demonic magpie king, its body a hundred times the size of an ordinary one, radiating an aura rivaling that of a Golden Immortal at the Fourth or Fifth Transformation realm.

The next instant, a crimson sword of death streaked across the sky like a rainbow, piercing straight toward its target.

With unstable foundations and low potential, one could at most reach the peak of the Core realm—no further breakthrough possible.

Ji Han stared, startled by the exchange; the sudden discord made his heart pound violently, even giving him a sense of imminent death.

A thunderous crash echoed from the direction of the Uchiha clan's gate, accompanied by a flood of dying screams—the gate had been shattered, and the elite guards slain.