Guan Ya paused her pen, gazing at him with deep significance: "Why ask this? The Xiaohou family will no longer bother you—there's no need to worry. In fact, the other factions within the Xiaohou family might even long to invite you for a banquet and a good talk." Zhang Yuanqing looked at her with equally thoughtful eyes and said simply, "I just want to know." After a moment's pause, Guan Ya murmured, "Come with me." She rose from her office chair, her heels clicking steadily as she walked toward the restroom. Ah? Would they have to talk in the restroom? Wouldn't it be better to discuss it downstairs? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Wang Tai, who was bent over his work, and quickly followed Old Si Ji. The two approached the restroom one after the other, and Zhang Yuanqing closed the door behind them. Guan Ya crossed her arms, saying, "The elder patriarchs of the current Lingjing families—including the five official alliance leaders—are all among the first generation of Lingjing travelers. Oh, our White Tiger army commander is an exception. The first generation of Lingjing travelers emerged during the late Qing and early Republican periods." Zhang Yuanqing's face changed instantly. He remained silent for a long time, gently pressing his brows, and said, "So that's it..." Guan Ya's response had finally clarified the long-standing mystery. The concept of the Spirit Realm practitioners was not always present since ancient times—rather, the character cards emerged only in modern times. This means that in ancient times, if various professions existed, their development indeed relied on breath and cultivation practices. The records from the Mountain God's Temple and the Yin-Yang Hermit's cultivation notes were not fictional elements imagined for the Spirit Realm—they reflect real practices that ancient people actually followed. The likelihood that the old woodcutter and the Yin-Yang Hermit were real figures has thus significantly increased. Moreover, this provides a solid explanation for the concept of character cards, which is remarkably forward-looking—even suggesting that the Spirit Realm itself might undergo version updates. The earliest versions likely featured fewer attributes. Guan Ya observed him, smiling, and said, "This matter is confidential. Officially, they claim that the Spirit Realm has always existed. I learned the details through my family connections. Normally, I wouldn't tell you this—so please keep it a secret." Zhang Yuanqing quickly said, "Thank you, Guan Ya姐, for your trust. From now on, I'll be your forever devoted follower." She meant it clearly—because our relationship is good, I'm telling you this. Guan Ya chuckled, "How exactly do you follow?" Right now, she could already be doing it—Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. Guan Ya then gently pressed the brake, set aside her smile, and said seriously, "Have you noticed something?" "Don't you find the concept of moral value rather illogical? At the core of this world lies a principle of strength prevailing—weakness always succumbing to strength. Throughout history, humans have formed tribes, dynasties, and governments. These institutions have established order, yet fundamentally, they still uphold the rule of the strong." Zhang Yuanqing spoke softly. "Because these institutions are strong enough to establish rules, the existence of moral value becomes part of that rule—there must therefore be powerful figures above. Thus, the spiritual realm isn't a supernatural phenomenon at all—it's entirely human-made." "Guan Ya carefully studied him, her eyes reflecting a woman's appreciation for a man: "You're quite perceptive. You've only been a Lingjing Xingzhe for less than two months, yet you've already recognized this issue. Most people don't think about matters unrelated to themselves. Even if they have doubts, they rarely delve deeper—instead, they simply go with the flow, adapting to circumstances as they come." Zhang Yuanqing then shared with Guan Ya the hand-written records of San Dao Mountain and the Daoist treatise of Yin Yang San Ren. Guan Ya furrowed her brows: "I haven't heard of these before, but they make sense. Hmm, what do you think 'the heavens and earth have changed' means?" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: "Guan Ya, how did you suddenly go blank? This question is so profound—people from that era of Yin Yang San Ren themselves didn't know what it meant. How am I supposed to know?" Guan Ya snapped: "Doesn't having a clear mind matter? Do you have any objections?" After all, a large chest doesn't necessarily require a good mind... Zhang Yuanqing replied: "With such a beautiful appearance, not having a Guan Ya rolled her eyes and sneered, "Fine, count that as a compliment. But my point is—since the heavens have changed and the upper limits of cultivation have been lowered, why only now, after all this time, are we suddenly able to cultivate again?" Zhang Yuanqing immediately replied, "Because the Spiritual Realm has emerged." Guan Ya nodded. "Then, how exactly did the Spiritual Realm come into being? Hmm, this is a more profound question—yet we can still glean some insights from it. For instance, who created the Spiritual Realm? How was it created? And what was the purpose behind its creation?" The three questions posed by the elder Si Ji left Zhang Yuanqing deeply contemplative. After a few moments, he slowly said, "First of all, the people of the Ming Dynasty could not have been the creators of the Spiritual Realm. If they had that capability, they wouldn't have been constrained by the late age of the Dharma." Even at that time, the Yin-Yang Dispenser's cultivation level was already among the top tier, yet he still had to exclaim, "Ah, lamentable!" Yet figures like the seasoned, reserved master, the hidden sage, have also become part of the Spiritual Realm—what a profound sense of unease this brings upon reflection. "Late Age of Dharma?" Guan Ya was momentarily startled, "That's a good phrase." "Oh, I picked it up from network novels," Zhang Yuanqing continued analyzing, "But I think rather than pondering how the Spiritual Realm is created, we should focus on how such beings reverse the Late Age of Dharma. In fact, Guan Ya, don't you think the Late Age of Dharma might be connected to these very beings?" Guan Ya: "Go on." "As for the purpose of creating the Spiritual Realm, I have two ideas. First, we could study the Spiritual Realm Travelers themselves. Second, we could decrypt and investigate the Spiritual Realm." Zhang Yuanqing deepened his analysis: "For instance, do the Spiritual Realm Travelers share consistent patterns, common trajectories, or missions? If the creation of these travelers is intentional, then there must be a purpose behind it—my idea is... a structured rivalry among factions." Guan Ya narrowed her eyes and asked, "Why do you think that?" "Back in ancient times, the Lawful and Chaotic factions didn't often have mandatory combat tasks—more often, Lawful characters would step in to address the shortcomings or perceived flaws of Chaotic ones. Within the realm of the Spirit Realm, however, there are reputational and moral merit rewards for factional conflicts, and there are even mandatory faction-based encounters in the dungeons—especially the latter, which is compulsory. Of course, this is just my speculation, not yet proven." "You've got quite a bit of knowledge there—wasn't it recorded in the *Jiazi Record of Daoist Cultivation*?" "Miss Guan is right—your keen eye catches it. I'll continue with the second point: unraveling the mysteries of the Spirit Realm. All the information I have comes from the Spirit Realm itself. In fact, the dungeon quests provide many subtle clues, and the item descriptions often mention an 'indescribable entity,' a 'great and supreme being,' and so on. Honestly, it feels like the Spirit Realm isn't particularly averse to us uncovering its secrets." Guan nodded slightly: "Do you remember what Li Chunfeng once said? That the background of the transcendent-stage dungeons is set That is to say, during the Sage stage and the Sovereign stage, there are other historical contexts at play, while in those more ancient spiritual realms, what information might be hidden? Zhang Yuanqing couldn't guess exactly, but suddenly he grasped what Guan Ya meant, and was startled: "Your point is that the senior leadership of the Five Elements Alliance may have already uncovered the mysteries of the spiritual realms." Guan Ya smiled: "At the very least, they know more than we do." Seeing that their conversation had reached a satisfactory point, she grew serious and reminded: "These matters must not be disclosed—no one, not even Shi Zhang, should mention them." When Zhang Yuanqing nodded, she beamed: "Such a good child! By the way, I just had a chat with the Queen. She shared with me something interesting." "Something interesting?" "Recently, Yuan Ting was taken by the Senior Monks, and since then, the forums and chat groups of the Taiyuan Sect have rarely seen anyone daring to say 'Senior Monk is confused.' But starting yesterday, this phrase has made a remarkable comeback." "Guan Ya walked out, smiling as she said: 'I think Senior Sun might not be able to contain the situation anymore—your victory over Li Xianzong in the副本 has had a major impact.'" Zhang Yuanqing: "..." Li Dongze held his walking stick and spoke firmly, "Fu Bai, the senior officer, just informed me that if you come, you should immediately head to Fu Family Village." Did the senior officer find me? Zhang Yuanqing said, "Oh, then I'll go now?" Li Dongze nodded slightly, glanced at Gua Ya who had returned to her seat, then looked at Zhang Yuanqing and said slowly, "Our work has always been quite flexible. Without any urgent matters, a bit loose is perfectly fine—so we never lack time. The police headquarters is right next to the hotel. Next time, please don't do it that way." With that, he picked up his walking stick and strode back to his office. What on earth is he saying? Zhang Yuanqing looked utterly puzzled. ... The Capital. A quadrangle courtyard, under the locust tree. Master Sun lay in a rocking chair enjoying the breeze, the wind gently rustling the leaves. The branches of the locust tree rustled softly, and children's clear voices could be heard calling, "Grandpa! Grandpa!" Footsteps approached from outside the courtyard, and the lively chatter instantly ceased. The middle-aged man in black crossed the threshold and entered the courtyard, stopping before the rocking chair and bowing respectfully, "Master Sun, Yuan Ting has already endured ten days at the training camp. He now understands his mistakes." Master Sun, waving his fan gently, nodded slightly. "How has Yuan Ting been progressing in his cultivation?" "The man has made significant improvements in all aspects, and he may well be eligible to participate in the killing mission scheduled in June," replied the middle-aged man. "Excellent!" Master Sun half-closed his eyes, speaking slowly. "I sent him to the training camp with the intention of nurturing him." The man immediately added, "Master Sun has truly invested great care and effort." "Ten days have now passed," Master Sun said. "Send Yuan Ting back. By the way, has anyone else dared to make a jest about me recently?" This question, initially of great importance to Master Sun, had gradually lost its urgency after Yuan Ting's dedicated training was recorded and broadcast as a demonstration—effectively serving as a warning to the entire Taimei Sect—so that no one dared to make any further remarks. Master Sun had thus grown less attentive, yet he still asked it every day out of habit “This….” The middle-aged man in black hesitated. Suddenly, Sun Elder's eyes snapped open, his relaxed demeanor replaced by sharp intensity, and he coldly remarked, "Oh? Is there another bold young upstart making trouble for me?" "The entire hall is criticizing you—the winds of corruption have resurfaced," the man in black replied. "...” Sun Elder leapt to his feet, the rocking chair creaking under the movement, startled and furious. "What on earth is going on?" "It's this: just yesterday, the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign entered Yin-Yang Town and encountered Li Xianzong within the realm," the man explained, detailing the two's grievances in full. Finally summarizing, "All of our colleagues believe the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign is a rare talent—perhaps even capable of becoming the next Fu Qingyang. So…" So now Sun Elder was utterly baffled! As the Grand Master, Sun Elder had never paid much attention to disputes between younger colleagues. Now, listening intently, he was stunned, thinking—had all his efforts over these days been for nothing? "Ridiculous!" "Master Sun thundered on the armrest of his armchair, shouting, 'Keep Yuan Ting for another ten days, double the training intensity, and send a video update to the forum every day. If anyone dares to slander me after ten days, I'll personally settle their accounts one by one!' The middle-aged man bowed and withdrew. ... Fu Family Village, villa study. Wearing a crisp white suit with features carved like stone, Fu Qingyang sat behind his desk, gazing at his trusted subordinate and said, 'You've now reached Level 3 and are eligible to be promoted to team leader. Currently, there are no open team leader positions in Kangyang District, so by regulation, you'd have to wait. But you're different from others. Elder Dog has agreed to establish an official small team specifically for you. 'You may freely select one subordinate. The rest of the team members will need to be recruited by yourself.' Zhang Yuanqing immediately replied, 'I would like Guan Ya.' Fu Qingyang raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with a hint of urgency: 'Oh? Why Guan Ya?' "Of course, Guan Ya is capable and efficient—does she really have plans to become my sister-in-law? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, saying, "Captain, I wonder if there's a possibility that by June, I'll be promoted to the position of steward. Then, you could simply hand over the second squad to me." Fu Qingyang smiled for the first time in a while, responding, "That's exactly what I've been thinking. Once you complete the killing quest and advance to the rank of Saint, I, now a senior elder, will appoint you as the steward of Kangyang District, taking my current position." Ah? Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback, nearly missing his reaction. He thought—did you mix up the script? You shouldn't have looked unimpressed and advised me not to set my sights too high. Fu Qingyang glanced at him, calmly saying, "You're someone I truly admire. I admit you can stand alongside me from back then. What could such talents possibly not achieve?" I was wrong—I'm simply too humble compared to you! Zhang Yuanqing spoke loudly, "The centurion is right, but I believe the centurion has made a mistake." Fu Qingyang frowned, "Where exactly?" "I consider myself still far behind the centurion. I should be someone like me—a true talent who nearly matches the centurion in ability." Fu Qingyang smiled, "Let's set that aside for now. There's another matter: the tiger seal was delivered to Songhai yesterday. The comprehensive health examination begins today, with each district taking turns. Kangyang District will take place two days from now." Finally, the large-scale health check-up has arrived! Zhang Yuanqing felt an instinctive sense of alertness in his heart. "Understood!" Fu Qingyang nodded. "You go back now and rest well over the next few days." After Zhang Yuanqing had left, Ling Jun knocked on the study door. The heir of the Taiyuan Sect entered with slippers on, wearing loose, seven-seam pants, his hair slightly disheveled, exuding a relaxed and casual demeanor. "Master Sun just contacted me," Ling Jun said. "He asked me to tell you: during the health examination, remember to ask Yuan Shi directly—whether he is truly Linjun selected a bottle of wine from the cabinet and said, "Such a talented person deserves multiple thorough examinations. After all, beneath the tiger's seal, no one can lie. If he passes this round, he'll be able to completely sever ties with the Demon King." Fu Qingyang paused slightly, then nodded gently: "Agreed." ... Outside Fu's village, Zhang Yuanqing walked slowly along the street, his brows furrowed. "My only remaining secret is that I am the Demon King's heir. The red dance shoes, the magic staff—all have already been revealed. The only lingering issue is my connection with Aunt Xiao Yuan. That's rather troublesome." "In the Five Elements Alliance, having contact with the evil profession is considered a serious matter—even without deep ties or financial or romantic exchanges, it still constitutes a significant personal conduct issue." "The most troublesome is the heir of the Mage King. To this day, we still don't know whether Taigong Sect or the Five Elements Alliance have a positive or negative stance toward him. But one thing is certain—the Mage King's level is simply too high. If the official side harbors hostility toward his heir, my merits will likely fall short. After all, the Mage King has already touched upon the deepest secrets of the Spiritual Realm. If the official side is friendly toward the heir, their attitude would not be so ambiguous. Ah, it's quite a challenge! In fact, the regular health check-ups have their advantages—they've finally allowed me to uncover the origin of the mysterious illness that has plagued me for years. Conventional medical methods fall short, but the techniques of Spiritual Realm practitioners always manage to identify the root cause. This illness has been a family concern and a persistent nightmare for me for years. After a moment's reflection, Zhang Yuanqing pulled out his phone and dialed the small circle aunt's number using the anonymous phone card. When in doubt, consult the senior. By the way, he could also ask little Circle whether she'd like to join his faction."