Chapter 144: On the Eve of the Storm

Upon returning to her cave abode, Bai Yue Ning immediately activated every protective restriction in the small courtyard.

Layer upon layer of radiance flared into being and then faded, completely severing the inside from the outside.

Still uneasy, she took out the Star-Concealing Talisman bestowed by her master and carefully pressed it against the inner layer of her clothing over her chest.

The talisman touched her skin, and a cool sensation instantly spread through her body. It was as though an invisible veil had settled around her, making even her own aura seem faint and indistinct.

Only after doing all this did she truly relax.

Moreover, if a creature actively guided the flow of the activated blood, it could control its effects to a certain degree. For instance, one could choose to have the activated blood strengthen a particular part of the body, or even make it grow independent organs or limbs—human tissues of one kind or another.

“Without wealth and status, you can’t hold on to anything. So I want wealth and status,” Zhu Da replied in a low voice. In his mind, in this age, wealth and status meant the same thing as strength.

More importantly, he had been tainted by the heavy aura of slaughter on the battlefield, and it would take time to digest. Even his killing avatar would inevitably be damaged if it remained steeped in that murderous aura for too long.

“Hey, Leaf Village shinobi. I’ve seen you muttering beside the Imperial Commissioner this whole time. What are you talking about?” A vaguely displeased male voice rang out. Hanjiro Sanada approached with an unpleasant expression.

He had barely finished speaking when a streak of silver flashed past his cheek with a sharp whistle, leaving behind a thin line of blood.

At that very moment, the Wu army was pushing dozens of cannons steadily forward. Before long, the main body of the Tang army would probably enter their range as well.

“What treasure?” The instant Yu Weiyan heard the word “treasure,” the step she had taken forward came to an abrupt halt.

Kakashi entered, his face still hidden behind the mask he never removed and his eyes heavy with sleep. His manner was unchanged, though the person before him was different.

Mu Qing was a rough, straightforward man who knew nothing about music. Having stayed by Jing Ye’s side for so long, he often heard the qin played, but he had always regarded it as nothing more than someone plucking strings while he listened casually. He could not name more than a few melodies, much less understand what lay within the notes.

Just as earth and stone, trees and mountains could absorb the essence of the sun and moon and become spirits or monsters, a corpse left in a special environment for long enough could also be nourished by a certain energy and become a spirit or monster.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew nearer. Suddenly, a fragrance drifted into his nose. Resembling the scent of peonies, it awakened the most primitive desires in a person and drew them into a paradise of tenderness.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Several sharp, muffled explosions in succession made the already-panicked members of the Victory Team feel their hearts leap into their throats. The two storms that had been entwined suddenly burst apart. Tiga and the Ghosha of Suna flew backward in opposite directions and crashed heavily onto the ground.

But this girl was so sensitive. Could it be that she still had no boyfriend? If so, he would have to tease her properly later.

“I think the driver was telling the truth. Otherwise, why would Han Tianfeng have left the Garden Hotel in such a rage?” Wang Sheng said.

Chen Xiaozhou remained utterly composed. She lifted her chin and puffed out her chest, then gently closed her eyes, wearing an air of righteous devotion.

With his decades of experience as a physician, he knew that the key to carrying out this operation without a single mishap lay in whether the patient’s normal cardiac blood supply could be maintained throughout the procedure.

An energetic old man was doing his utmost to sell a pot of orchids. Plenty of people had gathered to watch, but not a single one was willing to buy.

Hong Huang’s gaze lingered on the prominent swell beneath her evening gown. It seemed that even through the fabric, he could still see the graceful contours of her body.

Unfortunately, halfway through the humming, he no longer knew how to continue. It soon devolved into a meaningless series of grunts and martial-arts cries.

“Do you really think you can defeat me?” Nect spoke in a cold voice, his indifferent eyes fixed on Nexus. He raised both arms as well and once again assumed a fighting stance.

With that, he dragged Liugen into the Hokage’s office building, leaving Naruto standing there alone in bewilderment, still checking whether anything on his body felt uncomfortable.