Chapter 27: Shortlisted for the National Outstanding Short and Medium-Length Novels Preliminary Selection (An 8,000-Word Chapter—Please Support with Votes!)

Zhu Dongrun sighed deeply at the spirit of the times. “Now the tide of reform is surging, the countryside is changing, factories are transforming, and even people’s hearts are shifting. All of this is fertile ground for literature.”

Cheng Jun was right: contemporary literature does not lack emotion; what it lacks is modernity—yet this modernity is never a borrowed cloak from the West. It is a new shoot sprouting from our own soil.

He walked to the edge of the podium and lightly tapped the three characters meaning “sink down” on the blackboard, his tone growing firmer.

“So, what exactly does this mean? Just tell me plainly!” Huangfu Xuan asked anxiously.

Bai Shi felt the invisible sword hanging over his neck clatter down and vanish. The air in the hall refreshed itself, becoming peaceful once more.

Meanwhile, Bai Song had purchased several bottles of high-grade poison. Even though these were merely consumables, the cost instantly exceeded ten gold coins, an amount utterly inconceivable to ordinary people.

Pinned beneath Ximen Piaoxue, his lips sealed, unable to call out, his mind cursed Yue Zanghua for disappearing at such a critical moment.

Bai Song lightly rubbed his forehead. Wasn’t this guy’s dream to be a swordsman? Now he was a knight instead. Bai Song had come to see through it: Doufuru really liked swordsmen and knights, but detested playing the berserker.

Originally, Zhu Sheng saw that Liu Li still held some hesitation toward Yue Jing and was unwilling to confront him directly. But if Yue Jing remained stubborn now, no one could stop him. Zhu Sheng knew well that Liu Li bore a deep grudge against the demon beasts.

“That’s not so certain. The ancient great formation from before clearly shows the Poison Sect’s profound foundation. Remember, that was only one branch of the Poison Sect. The headquarters must be far stronger than a branch,” Kong Ji said seriously.

When Hein attended the banquet, Daisy stayed in his room to rest. Upon his return, she gave up the double bed so the alcohol-laden Hein could lie down, while she cradled Laifu and sat in a chair.

But now, demon beasts on the Five Elements Continent were few and far between, let alone those able to take human form. The only possibility was this youth—the dragon that had passed the Heavenly Tribulation. If so, his situation was indeed perilous.

“From what he said, it seems he wants to make peace with you. He asked Song Yehu to find you and deliver a message,” Chen Wan explained.

“I was just helping someone snatch a bag; I really don’t know anything else,” the red-haired man said, revealing his identity in just a few words. His intelligence seemed in need of a recharge.

Mo Ruisheng once again astonished everyone. He revealed everything Yun Zhi had just overlooked—the most crucial details—making the severity of the situation crystal clear to all.

Upon reaching the center of the courtyard, Pei Feng sat beside the stone table, instinctively scanning his surroundings before fixing his gaze on an old man meditating not far away on a Taiji Yin-Yang diagram.

“Come on, enough with the nonsense. Just say whether you’re willing or not,” Zhuyue said impatiently, glaring at him.

The northwest direction was even farther from Mo Ruisheng’s current location. White Tooth Mountain was the highest peak on the border of the Vulture Kingdom. Even with lightness skills, the distance would still take some time to cover.

“I know, I’m just voicing a little dissatisfaction,” Wu Xiao said, eyes glancing downward. Sophie’s expression was normal, but her stocking-clad foot was inching unnaturally close to his.

These terrifying evil creatures began creeping slowly, step by step, closer to Chu Hongchen. Their bodies crawled with maggots; their rotten mouths emitted waves of nauseating laughter.

Everyone looked down on his status. Without any talent for martial arts, he was forced to degrade himself to a history teacher, lecturing on the history of the Cangxuan Continent. It was truly despicable. Chu Hongchen always put on an arrogant air. Today, he had once again caused their mission to fail. Detestable! Just wait and see.