The control over the area near Qixia Mountain is indeed weaker due to the presence of the Demon King Chongming, who has incorporated surrounding cities into his domain.
The Bureau of Abnormal Affairs and the Demon Alliance are indeed at odds, but neither side wants to go all out. So the Bureau has backed down here. After all, with the formidable power of Demon King Chongming, there's little chance of anything going wrong.
The repeated occurrence of two growth anomalies clearly requires coordinated action among the three parties. The core conflict lies between the Abnormal Affairs Administration Bureau and the Ten Thousand Demons Alliance. As for the Floating Mountain Sect, it need not be concerned—these ghostly factions have always maintained a cautious stance toward outsiders. After all, death is inevitable for all, so why stir up conflict now? Their underworld domain shares no inherent conflict with the mortal world. The principle is simple: collaborate when needed, and leave us alone when unnecessary.
The Abnormality Management Bureau wanted to investigate the 'Evil God·Primary' anomaly held by the Ten Thousand Demon Alliance, but they had no real leverage. Though they possessed a 'Youthful Grievance' anomaly, it didn't count as their own.
This anomaly was captured by Nie Yu, but the credit should go to the forum's collaboration. If we were to be precise, wouldn't the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau also deserve payment for every attack blocked by the Vajra Mingwang's daily forum maintenance and every counter-curse cast by the Wanyan Guiwang?
Thus, the 'Youthful Grievance' requires a tripartite agreement. As Nie Yu manages the anomaly affairs, they may secure some advantages by obtaining it first for research, but they cannot use it as bargaining chips to exchange with the Ten Thousand Demons Alliance.
The problem is, the Demon King Chongming wants them to bleed heavily, but the Abnormal Affairs Bureau doesn't want to pay the price.
So it has to be through talk.
The negotiation expert talked about everything from the big picture to the smallest details, until his mouth was dry, and then was dissed by Zhan Yun, leaving him covered in cuts.
At this point, the bureau sent them some new information to use as leverage.
The negotiation expert exclaimed, "Chongming, you must be unaware! An unnamed anomaly has been concealed in Yunjin City, which you protect."
You've made a mistake!
How could I not know Yunjin City was my territory? Did I pay the taxes it collected? "Zhan Yunkai taunted." I thought this was supposed to be my duty labor."
Ji Yueming, who was eavesdropping on the surveillance footage, burst out laughing.
What do they think? Didn't I just say Yunjin City is a human city, and asked Chongming Demon King to share that anomaly?
Ji Yueming had little prior contact with the Chongming Demon King, so there was no conflict between them. However, she harbored some old grudges toward the people in the Foreign Affairs Department.
When she was planning her wedding, the Special Affairs Bureau conducted a thorough investigation into her background due to her special status. The bureau was reluctant to see their top combat officer wed, especially at that hectic time.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel kept persuading Ji Yueming. When they finally ran out of other reasons, they told her that Zhan Yunkai's appearance clearly didn't belong to a respectable person...
Ning Xi was also listening. The few people involved in the negotiations clearly looked like they had already been dissed by the Demon King Chongming.
Negotiating with Chongming Demon King is far more exhausting than with other demons. This stems not only from his formidable power and razor-tongued nature, but also from the fact that negotiation experts undergo rigorous stress training. Had it been any other demon king, they wouldn't have been so overwhelmed.
But the Chongming Bird is different from ordinary demons. It is a divine bird that has been worshipped by countless people since ancient times and has protected them. This is the deepest bond. The reverence and love for the divine bird have been passed down from generation to generation in the blood of mankind.
With such favorable terms in the negotiations, the experts are already doing a great job.
Ning Xi paid no heed. The 'Nameless Anomaly' report would take effect once delivered to Chongming the Demon King. Chongming the Bird, a ferocious and ruthless creature, would not tolerate any interference. Upon learning of the Nameless Anomaly's concealment within his protected territory, he would inevitably intervene.
Ning Xi, a man of meticulous calculation, understood the Wanyao Alliance's invitation to King Chongming the Demon for negotiations stemmed from both his negotiating leverage and the alliance's desire for cooperation. He had set the limits of concessions for the negotiation team. Noticing Ji Yueming's intense gaze on the screen's magnificent divine bird, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"His feathers are truly exquisite," Ji Yueming marveled, gazing at the golden-red plumage gleaming on the Chongming Bird.
"What do you want?" Ning Xi asked alertly.
Don't worry, I can't just pull it out myself, "Ji Yueming kept his eyes on it." I'm just wondering if they sell the fallen hair."
For some reason, when Ji Yueming first saw Chongming Demon King's luxurious feathers, she immediately felt they matched her husband perfectly. Her hands grew restless, itching to craft something into an accessory.
Ning Xi: "...Stay calm. I'll check things out for you once we finalize the deal."
Don't worry, I'm not some reckless person, "Ji Yueming waved his hand." Just keep an eye on me—I'm off to dinner now.
Negotiation was never her thing, she just came to see out of curiosity.
Ji Yueming took out the braised pork from the fridge that Luo Luoluo had sent her and placed it on the rice. Her team member eagerly ran over to warm up her meal with Wen Yang Jue.
The pork skin is simmered in the marinade, solidifies into a crust, then melts into a rich, creamy broth under heat, slowly soaking the rice and coating each grain with a glossy, oily sheen. Large pieces of marinated meat are laid atop, their aroma wafting through the gaps in the tablecloth.
The team member swallowed hard, "Captain, what are you eating? It's so delicious!"
How can it be more delicious than the food in the canteen!
Ji Yueming smiled affectionately and said, "Want to eat? No way. This is my husband's loving lunch."
The team members gaped in envy, their mouths watering. When they first heard the captain was marrying an ordinary man, they couldn't believe it. How could such a plain-looking guy possibly be worthy of their captain, who was so heroic, skilled, and dependable?
But now, let's face it—this guy has one thing no one else can match besides his good looks: his ability to cook home-style dishes that outshine the gourmet offerings at the Special Affairs Bureau canteen! It's a real shame he didn't open a restaurant and instead stayed in showbiz!
Jian Yunkai's new followers are baffled: Why does he waste his talent by cooking daily with such a face? While his food photos look mouthwatering, people don't need another food blogger—what they really miss is his face!
Why on earth isn't he doing his acting job properly?
Long-time fans remain unfazed: "Lao Zhan's acting skills have declined. He keeps playing shallow roles with voiceovers, and his dialogue delivery seems downright poor."
Lao Zhan himself knows this well—you can see he only takes roles that are judged by looks, not by acting.
However, the crowd flooding into Zhan Yunkai's Weibo wasn't just casual onlookers. A significant number of Ling Yuteng's fans also showed up. While some of his fans who initially admired his looks turned against him on the spot, many others still stood by him with righteous indignation.
No way! How dare you chase after someone with such a bad reputation who's just trying to steal the spotlight?!
Ling Yuteng's fans are pretty much fed up—aren't they all obsessed with his face? Who's he obsessed with anyway? Couldn't he just go for someone more attractive?
Heh heh, you guys only judge celebrities by their looks. Ling Yuteng's character is way better than his!
"And even your own fans admit his acting is bad."
"Ha, is Ling Yuteng's acting good?"
You should take on projects commensurate with your abilities. Isn't this more responsible than your brother's?
...
Fans are in a heated debate. Ling Yuteng is scrambling to remove the photo from trending topics, while Xia Yuexian is investigating its source. As the production team's manager, she ensures no one can secretly take or post such photos.
Sun Feifei, the 'Sparrow Demon,' became a fan of basketball star Zhan Yun and even went to the filming set to chase after him.
Sun Feifei, the hawk demon, was furious when she saw Ling Yuteng storm into the film set.
Sun Feifei, the Falcon Demon, has successfully combined the magic of千里眼 with the technology of video recording.
Sun Feifei, the Falcon Demon, used a high-definition remote camera and a千里眼 spell to capture the scene.
Zhan Yan: His dad used to be a fan of yokai...
Beauty is indeed a universal pursuit!
I secretly gave Sun Feifei a like on Weibo using a fake account!
On WeChat, Zhan Suiyu was still watching the live gossip with him.
Zhan Sui-ru: "I knew that when Comrade Zhan's beauty was revealed, no one could resist it."
Zhan Yan: "Hahaha! I'm sharing this with Dad!"
Zhan Nairu: "You dare!"
"Sister Bai loves you!"
[Cat's Rage]
Zhan Yan: "[I was wrong]"
Zhan Nairu: "But Comrade Zhan is going to be famous now, isn't he?"
Zhan Yan said, "Dad probably just finds it annoying."
He used to go out without a mask, only getting a few admiring glances for looking good.
Zhan Nairu: "Hahahaha, then I'll give him a pair of sunglasses."
Ling Yuteng's group of fans are such a nuisance.
"They have started to fabricate the dark history of the old Zhan."
They say he's not popular because his boss keeps him under fire for cheating on his wife.
They're still pushing for a cast change.
Zhan Yan: Hehe.
They're done. Ling Yuteng's been through a lot, but he hasn't even finished cleaning up yet!
Zhan Yan: "Who are those spreading rumors? Please write them down for me."
Zhan Nairu: "No need."
I will try to deal with those who spread rumors.
Hmph, don't look down on your sister's connections!
black market .
In his private room—a simple yet cozy space—Zhan Sui Ru lounged lazily on a plush fabric sofa with cushions piled high and a light, soft blanket draped over the back. His long legs rested on a low stool as he fiddled with his phone.
The doll butler in a tailcoat stood by the sofa, saying, "Master, 'Agave' has scheduled a meeting with you at 1:40 PM to deliver the order materials."
Zhan Nairu put down his phone. 'Is the' Curse Master 'free? Tell him I need a few spells that make people scream in agony when they lie—ones that work even through a network cable.'
The message has been delivered. There are twelve minutes left until your appointment time," said the Puppet Butler.
"Got it, got it," Zhan Sui Ru grunted as he slumped off the sofa, slinging his black trench coat over his shoulders and pulling on a wide-brimmed hat. "I quit joining groups because I hated being pushed around, but after creating you, I actually found my groove back in the office..."
The doll butler calmly patted her chest and said, "It's my honor."