Should I invite Guan Ya to have dinner at my place? Honestly, I wouldn’t bother—by the time a few days pass, you’ll have completely forgotten about it… Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. Zhang Yuanqing had to admit he really liked Guan Ya. After all, she’s a vibrant, curvaceous big sister—how could anyone resist? Her looks are also outstanding; since joining the company, she’s been consistently supportive and has done a lot to help him. As a 21-year-old young man who often gets overwhelmed by even simple thoughts, it’s completely natural that he finds himself drawn to such a mature and graceful woman. Zhang Yuanqing could sense that Guan Ya also liked him. In fact, a romantic relationship between men and women doesn’t usually require any dramatic life-or-death trials—those are just things portrayed in TV dramas. A normal romance typically develops through daily interactions, shared personalities, and gradually growing feelings, leading naturally to a relationship. But he and Guan Ya clearly hadn't reached that stage yet. Inviting her over for dinner so suddenly felt a bit awkward—what if she declined? Although he was skilled in social interactions and wouldn't mind the face value of things… "Still, Guan Ya's sports car is far too striking. She's so beautiful, and I'm handsome and young, yet financially unestablished. It's only natural that people suspect I'm just a 'white-collar boyfriend.' Honestly, these motherly figures on the pension, living comfortably and doing nothing, always talking nonstop about everything…" While complaining, he opened up the post he'd just seen. #Past Tournament Format – Predicting This Year's Tournament Style# "First, let's talk about the venue. In previous years, the venue was always within the exclusive dungeons of the five major factions. For newcomers, this point can be hard to grasp. I'll explain simply: there's something called the 'Faction Warrant,' which generates 'Faction-Specific Dungeons.' Only members of that faction can enter." After defeating a faction instance, the faction leader becomes an administrator of that instance, gaining some basic permissions—including the ability to autonomously open... It makes sense that the venue is located within a faction instance of the Wu Xing Alliance. In the real world, organizing a "sports event" presents challenges from the outset: finding suitable venues is difficult, as only remote, sparsely populated areas are viable. With the current size of the Wu Xing Alliance, large-scale travel poses significant risks, especially from evil-class professions. Furthermore, sports event venues are vulnerable to being struck by "nuclear strikes" from evil professions, resulting in widespread casualties. Lastly, if official agents evacuate major cities en masse, evil professions can exploit these gaps to create unrest. Zhang Yuanqing now has a clear resolution to a lingering question. In fact, he himself has a dedicated instance, though it has not yet been activated due to insufficient member enrollment. "Let's get back to the point. Over the past few years, our tournament matches have primarily focused on direct combat—just like the traditional sense of stepping onto the stage and engaging in fierce battles. However, considering the principles of the Five Elements' mutual generation and overcoming, the direct combat format wasn't entirely fair. Therefore, we've randomly introduced scenario-based competitions—those familiar, team-versus-team formats akin to multi-player dungeons. In the tournament setting, though, the matches are always one-on-one. This year, the Taimei Sect and the Five Elements Alliance are jointly hosting the tournament. I'm boldly predicting that the scenario-based matches will incorporate more supernatural elements. Everyone should start gathering tools and materials that are effective against spiritual beings now!" Stages featuring team-based challenges introduce more unpredictability, testing not only individual strength but also adaptability to the environment and the ability to leverage external forces—making it far more likely for weaker teams to triumph over stronger ones. Zhang Yuanqing believes this is precisely the right approach for Lingjing Travelers, whether in quests or in real life: what matters most is overall strength, not just raw power. "My base strength is strong among the three-tier ranks, though not at the very top. Fortunately, I have the Yin-Yang Robe. Well, the Yin-Yang Robe has its limits—especially when facing opponents who are indifferent to water and fire…." Zhang Yuanqing folds his phone, shoulders his backpack, and heads out toward the Kangyang District Public Security Office. "Ding-ding…" As he walks toward the entrance, a sound of entering a password comes from the security door. "Auntie?" The woman entering wears casual home attire, with stylish curly hair, a well-groomed appearance, and excellent care—she is indeed his aunt. "Yuanzi!" "Uncle Mei warmly pulled him aside and reached into her pocket, pulling out a stack of red banknotes: 'This is the allowance Uncle Mei has been saving for you. Though Uncle says we don't need to be particularly grateful as a family, Uncle Mei still wanted to thank you personally.' 'Thank you, Aunt Mei! I really need the money—dining out for girls is quite expensive. I've recently started dating someone, and if I run out of funds again, please send me more next time,' Zhang Yuanqing happily accepted. Upon hearing this, Aunt Mei beamed even brighter. ... In a remote suburban villa in the north. The villa, with white marble exterior walls, sits nestled on a hillside. A wide, winding road extends from the entrance and connects seamlessly to the national highway at the foot of the mountain. The property spans two mu in area. In addition to the main house, it features a beautifully landscaped garden, where flowers bloom in full splendor, and at its center stands a large swimming pool. A group of about fifteen elegant women, dressed in swimwear and with graceful, tall figures, are either playing and laughing in the pool, applying sunscreen to one another, or carrying Rows of dining tables are arranged along the edge of the pool, laden with rich dishes and fine wines. At first glance, it seems as though the venue is hosting a grand party. Yet upon closer inspection, one notices there are no extra men—except for one thin, gaunt man reclining on a wide sun lounger. Meanwhile, the villa's swimwear-clad women, enjoying themselves and feasting, frequently cast glances at the man, their expressions marked by both fear and cautious attention. The gaunt man has a deep, sun-kissed complexion, so emaciated that his ribs are clearly visible along his chest and abdomen. At this moment, a young, fair-skinned woman is seated cross-legged on his waist, biting her lip and frowning, clearly enduring intense pain, with occasional low moans escaping her nasal passages. The contrast between the dark, sun-browned man and the pale woman is striking. This scene continues for several minutes, during which the girl is drenched in sweat, her lips pale, showing signs of exhaustion. The gaunt man simply brushes her aside and says, "Next!" The tall woman, already waiting patiently by the side, glanced with a flicker of fear, her pale face settling as she mounted the seat. The slender, wiry man was the Color-Desire Divine General of the Army Commander, a 6th-rank Mist Lord ranked fourth among the Eight Divine Generals. "Color-Desire Divine General" was not his original spiritual realm ID—his former ID had long since faded into obscurity. Upon his ascension to Saint status, the old ID was retired, and the War God bestowed upon him the name "Color-Desire." True to his name, while he may not stand out among the demonic beings in terms of bloodthirstiness, he is unparalleled in his passion for beauty. The Color-Desire Divine General is a man utterly captivated by women—he finds himself unable to move when he sees a beautiful woman. Any woman he takes a fancy to eventually becomes a prisoner, kept in a cage to satisfy his desires. As for women he cannot capture directly, he maintains long-term relationships through pressure and allure, eventually refining them into loyal, summoned-and-at-will servants through his unique methods. Moreover, some high-quality "cargo" that have been well-trained and polished will have their desire for sensuality projected outward, serving successful professionals and even the elite across various fields—thus establishing their networks and channels. As the pleasure experiences rise ever higher toward the heavens, the Sensual Deity Generals approach their peak. At that moment, a cold voice echoes in their ears: "Although every action is entirely yours, I've been waiting for you for half an hour now—my patience has run out." The Sensual Deity General turns with a fierce expression, deeply annoyed by interruptions during work. Yet, upon seeing the man speaking, the sternness on his face instantly freezes. He then pushes the woman aside, kneels down, and trembles, saying, "Subordinate, I bow to the King of Fear!" Under the umbrella stands a young man dressed in a black suit—handsome and graceful, with two silver studs embedded in his earlobes. His gaze and demeanor are equally composed and cold. The King of Fear, the foremost among the Four Heavenly Kings, the strongest among the Asuras. As for his achievements, outside accounts are scarce—only two stand out. First, he has defeated the Demon King. Second, the graceful Lady of the Water Shrine once fought him to the very end, with the outcome still uncertain, yet he remains the King of Fear. Yet the mad one is deeply committed to purifying the human realm. Regarding the demons who have been seduced by the commander of the army and have committed wrongs, the Magi-Eye adopts the stance of "seeing nothing is enough; if seen, then slain." The General of Desire, terrified, fled back to headquarters, and it was Robo who ultimately quelled the conflict. Since then, the General of Desire has absolutely refrained from visiting any place where the Magi-Eye resides. "Understood, sir!" the General of Desire said with deference. The young man in the black suit nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the graceful, elegant women, then settled on the villa's main gate, and he said, "When I arrived, I noticed that the main gate was locked. Why lock it? Do they not enjoy freedom?" Upon hearing this, the General of Desire's brow beaded with cold sweat. He stammered continuously, "They are free, they are free! As soon as they wish to leave, I will immediately unlock the gate. I would never dare to restrict their freedom. Each person is born free, and no one may, under any pretext, limit another's freedom." "Before the Eye of Magic, he could still put up a fight. But if this man turned cold and unyielding, he'd have no chance at all. The King of Fear nodded in satisfaction, his voice cold: "The next time I see you locking the doors, you'll be preparing to return to the Spirit Realm. The poor Eye of Magic—having lost his freedom—I cannot tolerate such a thing. I will surely rescue him." The God of Desire bowed low: "Your servant will investigate the truth behind the Eye of Magic's disappearance." When he looked up, he found the King of Fear had already vanished. ... Behind the Police Headquarters building, on the second-floor glass structure. Under Zhang Yuanqing's guidance, Guan Ya logged into the official forum using the computer, clicked on the "Hotly Recruiting" option newly added to the homepage, entered his Spirit Realm ID, then input his mobile phone verification code to confirm his registration. "That's all!" Guan Ya nodded slightly while standing by the desk. "Thank you, Guan Ya, do you have time today? Would you like to come over to my place for dinner?" Zhang Yuanqing asked tentatively. Guan Ya glanced at him several times, smiling, "Are you trying to gauge my reaction?" Ah, with the scouts present, any subtle intentions would be hard to conceal... Zhang Yuanqing spoke honestly: "My uncles and aunts have been informed about my promotion. My family would like to invite you for a meal to express their gratitude." The scouts could detect the hints, but not the inner thoughts. Zhang Yuanqing's explanation was flawless. "My aunt has seen me before... let's discuss this after the tournament concludes." Guan Ya neither declined nor immediately agreed. Ah yes—my aunt has indeed met her. She would surely assume I began courting Guan Ya at that time... Zhang Yuanqing could almost picture exactly what her mind would conjure when she saw Guan Ya. A handsome officer from the public security department visiting their home, struck by the charm of her grandson, became infatuated and quietly pursued him, eventually winning him over. Or perhaps, the grandson noticed the officer's charm, persistently flirts with her, and finally, the reserved lady gives in under the steady pursuit. If it's the former, Grandma will certainly feel uneasy, thinking that Guan Ya is taking advantage of her position to court her grandson. But if it's the latter, Grandma will be delighted, feeling proud that her grandson truly knows how to make moves—and has managed to secure the security officer. The same event, viewed from different angles, elicits entirely opposite attitudes. "Ms. Guan, are you planning to participate in the tournament?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "I'm still considering it," Guan Ya replied, frowning. "If I do enter, my rifle will likely be unusable. You know, scouts at the transcendental stage lack powerful offensive skills and often struggle to achieve strong results." Her rifle was one that either protected you well—or you were dead. There was almost no possibility of a partial victory; such a weapon was simply not allowed in the tournament. Any weapon that guaranteed a decisive, one-hit knockout was strictly prohibited. Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "Ah, so then, the head of the section won't be joining either?" "Guan Ya nodded and smiled, saying, 'But he definitely won't admit that his combat ability was the reason he dropped out of the competition.' Zhang Yuanqing also chuckled, 'I think he'll say that in such a match setting, you're just treated like a monkey being watched—completely unrefined. I simply refuse to participate.' Upon saying this, Zhang Yuanqing leaned forward and called out to the chief: 'Chief, are you joining the match?' A few seconds later, Li Dongze came out, holding his walking stick, and scolded, 'The office area should not shout loudly—this is far from refined! Indeed, I'm not joining.' Zhang Yuanqing then asked, 'Why not?' Li Dongze looked serious: 'Because fighting in front of a crowd is anything but refined; I don't like being treated like a monkey being watched.' Zhang Yuanqing and Guan Ya exchanged a smile. 'What are you two laughing about?' Li Dongze frowned. 'We weren't laughing,' Zhang Yuanqing replied. 'You were just smiling.' …In the afternoon, Zhang Yuanqing, who had been repeatedly checking the official forum, finally saw the top twenty lists released by the scholars through big data analysis and comparison. #Official Saint Realm Top Twenty List (including Ta Yi Men)# #Official Transcendent Realm Top Twenty List (including Ta Yi Men)# I wonder where I'll rank… Zhang Yuanqing eagerly clicked on the second post.