At the entrance of a 24-hour convenience store. Kou Beiyue crouched on the curb, holding a bowl of old-fermenting cabbage soup, slurping down the noodles steadily. His gaze was distant, fixed on a point somewhere ahead, lost in thought. I've now pinpointed his workplace, but there, it's all official staff—against all odds, I might not even win a single confrontation. Moreover, if someone is killed within the office complex, innocent bystanders would be affected, which is strictly forbidden by the Master of Unnoticed Traces. Ideally, I'd like to identify his residential neighborhood and make my move at night, but I'm not particularly good at tracking—easy to spot. According to his routine, tonight he'll head to a nightclub with his colleagues—this is precisely the opportunity. Kou Beiyue's eyes gradually hardened. At that moment, a voice, warm and amused, came from beside him: "A transcendental-level spirit of persuasion, your foundation is quite solid. You're a free-standing cultivator, or perhaps affiliated with some organization?" Kou Beiyue's hair on his back stood on end. In his crouched position, he leapt two meters into the air, simultaneously splashing the instant noodles toward the source of the sound. Only after completing this series of instinctive movements did he turn his gaze, recognizing the speaker—a young man wearing a sports headband, sun-kissed and handsome, embodying the classic athletic charm. The hot broth and noodles splashed through the air, only to slide off along an invisible wall of energy before reaching the young man's body. At the same time, Kou Beiyue's body went rigid; his limbs spasmed, and he remained frozen in place, unable to move. An invisible chain had bound him. The young man with the sports headband smiled, "I'm not from official channels, so don't worry. I noticed your aura wasn't strong, yet you're a seductive type of spirit-being—an anomaly—so I came to take a look." Kou Beiyue didn't ease his vigilance despite the man's words, but now helpless, he could only comply, speaking calmly, "What do you wish to do?" "Master with the Mystic Eyes asked, 'Which organization do you belong to?' 'An independent practitioner!' 'Why do you avoid killing? You should know—each time you kill, your resentment grows stronger, and the enchanting spirits grow more powerful. The lawful-aligned factions call us evil, not without reason. A non-killing enchanting spirit is nothing but a weakling.' Master with the Mystic Eyes smiled and inquired. 'Us? You're also an enchanting spirit? But how did you deduce my profession?' Coldly, Kou Bei remarked, 'Whether or not I kill is entirely up to me. Why should my profession dictate my actions?' Master with the Mystic Eyes was momentarily stunned, then smiled, 'Interesting—there's something unique about you.' He then stepped forward and slapped Kou Bei squarely on the face. Crack! The resounding slap drew the attention of onlookers. Kou Bei's cheek swelled up prominently. His brows shot upward, flames of anger blazing in his eyes, and he roared like a lion, 'Then prove it—release me! I'll fight you to the end!' The Mage-Eye King suddenly had it: "It's all about competitiveness. Throughout history, the most powerful warriors have always been the seductive spirits. Your temperament fits perfectly. If you could be even more inclined toward killing, your future achievements would be boundless. 'Young man,' do you have interest in joining me? My trusted lieutenant has been slain, and I'm planning to cultivate another—well, you're quite a promising choice." Although Li Xianzong was notoriously ruthless, he was also proud and independent, unwilling to kill ordinary people unless they actively provoked him. As for the defenders of the Order of Harmony, that was entirely natural. Li Xianzong was also indifferent to women's beauty, never humiliating or dishonoring them, and possessed exceptional talent—these qualities made him stand out in the Mage-Eye King's eyes, earning him special attention and cultivation. A seductive spirit without any boundaries would not command the Mage-Eye King's favor. Kou Beiyue's eyes blazed with fury, and she coldly scoffed, "Not interested!" "Afraid I'll kill you?" the Mage-Eye King smiled calmly. "Then kill me. Don't waste words." Kou Beiyue, still young at heart "Interesting~" the King of the Mystic Eyes stroked his chin, smiling, "We don't need to rush. You'll agree with me eventually. Once I finish my current tasks, I'll bring you back to the north." With that, he silently marked Kou Beiyue and turned to leave. Wang Qian nodded, pushed through the narrow gap, and took in the scene. Inside the spacious suite, twenty-some members of the Zhishake Palace had gathered—men and women, some exuding sensuous grace, others with a solemn, composed demeanor. There were fellow transcendents like himself, as well as powerful beings at the Saint level. Of course, the strongest presence was the woman seated behind the desk, dressed in a vibrant red gown. She was regarded as a goddess by all members of the palace, regardless of gender—everyone, both men and women, was deeply enchanted by the extraordinary charm of the Palace Master. This admiration stemmed not only from the inherent qualities of a musician but also from the Master’s personal charisma. Wang Qian didn’t know the exact number of members, but he had a general sense: over thirty, under forty. That was roughly half the size of a typical elite family household in the Spiritual Realm, making the Zhishake Palace a substantial organization among civilian groups. With a Master-level traveler presiding, even the official bodies had to treat it with due respect and equal recognition. "Everyone has arrived. Those who couldn’t make it have already been personally notified by me." "Master Zhi-Sha surveyed the room and announced, 'Starting today, everyone will temporarily withdraw from Songhai. I've already arranged a place for you all—Prince Qing-Dian will escort you there.' The members' faces grew pale; they exchanged glances, uncertain. "The graceful woman brightened: "One word, settled." Zhi Sha, the Palace Master, smiled gently and asked, "Lizhi, how long has it been since you've been suspended and beaten?" "...” ... Later in the evening, in the living room. Jiang Yu E lay lazily on the sofa, her long legs resting on her nephew's thighs, a platter of grapes placed on her stomach. She ate grapes while watching the news. They were watching the Songhai News Channel—the one often watched by her grandfather. "Poof!" Jiang Yu E tilted her head and opened her mouth, and a grape flew precisely into the trash can several meters away. Zhang Yuanqing was stunned: "Aunt, you're going to miss out on basketball if you don't start learning it." "What's so special about that? If it's a few more meters, I can still send it right in." Aunt hummed, then changed into a more comfortable position. "Yuanzi, please massage my feet." "No thanks, I'm going to be smothered!" "Such a fool! How many men have longed to massage Aunt's delicate feet—yet Jiang Yuer lay flat, gazing steadily at her nephew by the side. Even though Zhang Yuanqing had examined her face from the perspective of a supposed death—face down—she remained as endearing and charming as ever, with her tear-shaped mole still exuding a graceful charm. At that moment, Grandpa shifted his gaze from the television screen and turned to ask, "When did you two start caring about the news?" "I don't watch the news at all," Zhang Yuanqing replied promptly. "I just want to spend some time with Grandpa." "I'd also like to spend time with Dad," Jiang Yuer said softly. Grandpa looked at them with a puzzled expression. "I've always known what kind of people you two are." One who only coos and demands favors, the other who's always smooth-talking and asking for things—neither of you is truly devoted to filial piety. Jiang Yuer and Zhang Yuanqing laughed heartily and continued to pretend to be dead. Zhang Yuanqing gently pressed her aunt's sole with her fingers, freeing her right hand to operate her phone and send a text message to Aunt Xiao Yuan: "Aunt Xiao Yuan, how's the matter of the faction coming along?" Ah, Xiao Yuan is a saint—she's already a major asset. If only she could join our guild... Bringing in Aunt Xiao Yuan would give me much greater confidence with Master Wuhen. Master Wuhen and his associated influence have always been Zhang Yuanqing's primary objective to "conquer." To build a solid network of connections, ordinary wandering practitioners are of limited value; at the very least, one would need to engage with civilian organizations. The Zhishake Palace and Wuhen Hotel are the two most ideal and powerful channels. Currently, his relationship with the head of the Zhishake Palace is steadily improving and growing more familiar, but progress with the Wuhen Hotel has been rather slow. After all, being a villainous profession, there's an inherent distance and friction between Xiao Yuan and him—neither a few sweet words nor casual courtesies can easily bridge that gap. It will require patient, gradual efforts, or perhaps a turning point. We'll have to proceed step by step... Zhang Yuanqing put down his phone and decided not to press further. At that moment, the news anchor said: "Next up: at 5:32 p.m. today, a assailant broke into a company named 'Huiteng Financial' within the Rongchuang Tower and carried out a horrific massacre against the employees. The brutality was unprecedented—out of 29 staff members, only one receptionist survived. According to eyewitnesses, the attacker was a young man in his thirties, wearing a headband. The Police Department has launched an investigation..." The television screen switched to the surveillance footage, showing a blurry video of a young man in a sports headband pushing open the glass door of the financial company. The monitor captured only this single moment. The One-Eyed King—definitely him. He's not the type to stay hidden; he's already caused a major incident in Songhai. Zhang Yuanqing gripped her phone tightly. "Oh my goodness!" Auntie exclaimed, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice full of frustration, "You hurt me!" "Sorry, sorry..." Zhang Yuanqing quickly released his aunt's foot and apologized repeatedly. "Hmph!" Jiang Yubei gently kicked him in the chest and stood up, heading toward the bedroom. "I'm not watching anymore. I'm going to bed." Zhang Yuanqing instinctively followed his aunt's silhouette with his gaze, then looked down and sent a message to Li Dongze: "Commander, was it the Eye of the King who committed the bloodbath at the Rongchuang Tower Building?" He had been monitoring the news, hoping the Eye of the King would make a major move—and indeed, he had proven to be right. Li Dongze replied promptly: "Yes. The Dog Elder and Fu Bai, have been quietly tracking him, hoping to locate him." It was him, then... Zhang Yuanqing typed out: "Why did he slaughter that financial company?" Li Dongze: "We're not entirely clear yet. The police investigation team is still gathering information, but what we've collected so far suggests the company isn't entirely clean—it's primarily a lending firm. As for how they've come into conflict with the Mago's Eye, we'll need to keep investigating." Zhang Yuanqing said with growing concern: "Could the Mago's Eye turn its attention to the police department? I'm part of Team Two, and he should know our office address. You'd be in serious danger." Team Two's office is located at the Kengyang District Police Headquarters—this isn't a secret, though ordinary evil professionals might not be aware of it. However, given the Mago's Eye's capabilities and status, it wouldn't be difficult for him to uncover the information. Li Dongze replied: "Well, we have seeds of the Explosive Bloom, whose presence is quite strong. The Mago's Eye won't miss it. He wouldn't risk resetting his moral compass just to eliminate a few unrelated, insignificant individuals. That's precisely what the Centurion wants—after all, we can't afford to actually detonate the seeds, as that would mean the loss of many lives." Moreover, this bloody case today has significantly reduced the moral credit of the Eye of the Magic, so things should calm down for a while and we won’t see more killings. As they were chatting, a sound of entering a password came from outside the living room, followed by the opening of the security door. Chen Yuanjun came in, holding his briefcase, looking weary. Zhang Yuanqing replied, "Shizhang, in these extraordinary times, stay cautious at all times." Then she put down her phone and said, "Brother, why did you just come back?" "There was something at work." Chen Yuanjun placed his briefcase on the coffee table, sat down at the dining table, and called out, "Grandma, please serve me a bowl of rice—I'm starving." Having just heard about the tragic incident at Rongchuang Tower, Zhang Yuanqing quickly sat down at the dining table and began chatting, "Was it related to the financial company case? The news just mentioned Rongchuang Tower." Chen Yuanjun habitually furrowed his brow, appearing even more weathered, and sighed, "It's not just this one—it's been a busy day today... Our head of the Public Security Bureau jumped off the building The uncle in the living room also turned to look. At that moment, the grandmother came out with a bowl of rice, handing it over while chatting: "The director jumped from the building? Really?" The grandmother was never behind when it came to gossip. Chen Yuanjun had originally intended not to speak, but the grandmother's eager expression made it clear that if he refused to answer, the bowl of rice would be split in half and taken back. The grandmother was capable of doing such things... "It's Zhou Yan, the one we discussed yesterday," Chen Yuanjun stirred a bit of rice in his bowl, eating as he spoke. "She's been accused of corruption and bribery, acting as a protective umbrella for a lending company." The grandmother asked curiously, "So why did she jump?" The lending company, Zhou Yan, the Rongchuang Tower case—how coincidental! Before Chen Yuanjun could open his mouth, the grandfather sitting on the sofa in the corner asked seriously, "Isn't she connected to that financial company at Rongchuang Tower?" Although he wasn't involved in many police duties, his sense of intuition remained sharp. Chen Yuanjun nodded slightly. "That company—that's the lending platform she's been shielding." "Oh!" Grandfather turned his head back, offering a quiet assessment. "It's a pity, but not a great loss." He didn't wish to elaborate further and settled back to watch TV. Grandmother sat at the table, chatting here and there, asking questions throughout, until she felt she had gathered enough information, then gently reminded, "Eat well." She turned and walked into her daughter's room, heading off to share gossip with her. Zhang Yuanqing went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, then returned to her room, summoning Xiao Doubi to roam freely. She lay down on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The style of the Mago's eyes truly matches what the Master of the Halt-All-Kills Palace described... Hmm. Having slain twenty-eight—no, twenty-nine—people, earning a moral value of 2,900, he should now be more cautious about killing. He'll likely choose to remain hidden, doing good deeds quietly, making it harder to find him. In the meantime, he may shift his focus to seek out both Besides, isn't it rather surprising that the Bishop of the Military is so well-informed? Then I must be even more vulnerable... "Ding!" The phone buzzed. The King of the Mystic Eyes pulled out his phone to check the message: "Your Majesty, just recently, I learned that Ou Xiangrong, who was under the control of the Mysterious-Eyed Judge, died at Songhai University. The Primordial Sovereign who killed him might very well be a student at Songhai University." Songhai University... The King of the Mystic Eyes replied: "Can we get a photograph of the Primordial Sovereign?" "Sorry, we haven't had many opportunities to meet the Primordial Sovereign—mostly official figures. We currently can't obtain one, at least not in the near term." After reading the message, the King of the Mystic Eyes didn't reply further. He put the phone away. Even without a photograph, he could simply set up a presence at Songhai University. ... 11 p.m., No-Hint Hotel. The sharp ring of the phone startled the lightly sleeping Xiao Yuan. She picked up her phone from the nightstand. The caller ID read: K Xiao Yuan lifted her delicate brows, connected the phone, and said coldly, "Do you still have the nerve to come to me?" "Xiao... Xiao Yuan..." came the boy's awkward, low voice over the line, tinged with anxiety. Xiao Yuan remained silent for a moment, then said, "What's the matter? Get on with it." "I'm trapped in a nightclub by my enemies. They're hunting me down, and I can't hold out much longer," said Kou Beiyue, her voice barely above a whisper. Xiao Yuan suddenly stood up, her expression serious, "Tell me your location—right now!" "Kangyang District, Bai Xing Road, Honglong Nightclub," said Kou Beiyue softly. "I'm not here to ask for help," she added. "It's too late. You won't make it in time. I've secretly assassinated official Sentinels, which violates the rules set by Master Wuhen. He can no longer save me." "This time, I was too impulsive. I didn't realize you'd already sensed my attentiveness all along. I called just to tell you that I've always seen you as my mother. I'm often impatient, hot-tempered, and when my sister died, it was only you who never minded me or put up with my bad habits. I'm truly sorry..." He spoke a great deal, but Xiao Yuan didn't hear a single word. Her heart sank deeply. It would take at least forty minutes to travel from Jinshan City to Songhai—there simply wasn't enough time. The Master of Unseen Footprints had established strict rules: one must not form close ties with evil professions, avoid active conflict with official institutions, and only through letting go of the past and forgetting what's been lost could one achieve redemption. Kou Beiyue had broken these rules—therefore, the Master could never redeem him. What now? Who else could save him? Xiao Yuan remained expressionless, her thoughts racing. Kangyang District? Suddenly, she recalled Yuan Shishen.