A group of logistics staff rushed onto the field, immediately administering a detox pill to the unconscious Zhurong before placing him on a stretcher and swiftly carrying him away. The Earth God did not return to the stands right away. He remained in place, gazing toward the Taiyuan arena, holding his cigar and shouting, "Are you serious,呆楼? Yesterday, they warned us from the sidelines, and today they're filing complaints—since Taiyuan can't lose, why are they even participating in the tournament? Let them just play their own games like last year!" The old Tsao waved dismissively, "Covered!" No one had expected him to suddenly launch such a public attack, especially in front of the elders. The scene fell momentarily silent before the din surged back up like dust being stirred. The official messengers of the Five Elements Alliance, already dissatisfied with what had happened this morning, immediately joined the chorus when the second-ranked Earth God took the lead. "If they had no personal agenda, they'd simply come to our Wuxing Alliance's senior leadership in private and make a quiet complaint—instead, they've gone all the way to posting a formal complaint, even filing a formal accusation, just to drive Yuan Shishen crazy. 'It's simply that they can't lose—no matter what.' These night-wanderers are so proud, so lofty, yet when they lose, they're just as embarrassed as anyone. We haven't even pursued the off-the-field reminders yet, and now they're acting like a dog in distress, biting at us. What's wrong with them? Our Yuan Shishen has not a single issue. I suspect it's envy of Yuan Shishen—especially after your Senior Brother, Sun, has been so unclear. Oh, why are you holding your breath like that? Even though they're complaining, don't drag in the senior monks. They're just sitting across from us. Are you trying to make it worse? The commotion quickly subsided. The armored swordsman commanded, 'Hush!' All the disciples found their voices momentarily choked by an invisible force, collectively falling silent. The night-wanderers from Taimei Palace maintained serious expressions, even the sages Actually, the move to report Yuan Shishen isn't flawed at all—jealousy? envy? seeking personal revenge? What about it? Isn't that what drives most reporters? Isn't it supposed to be about being a champion of justice? Then Yuan Shishen, who has long used the infant spirits as his servants, should certainly be reported. Yet Yuan Shishen has no clear weaknesses, and moreover, the number of night-wandering deities from Tai Men is small—so when they argue, they simply can't keep up, and are left feeling frustrated, enduring it patiently. After the brief silence of ten seconds, with her dark, bright eyes, Sun Miaomiao quietly rose and sat down beside Yuan Ting, whispering: "Who reported Yuan Shishen?" Yuan Ting shook his head vigorously: "I don't know. I promised not to say." Sun Miaomiao nodded once, then stood up and walked away. "Wait—don't go!" Yuan Ting quickly reached out to stop her, his face showing strong resistance, but ultimately yielding to his inner feelings, and lowering his voice: "It's the superior of the Miao Mountain sorcerer. I'll only tell you this—please, Sun Miaomiao smiled with a look of "Indeed, so it is." She had long suspected it, but hadn't been certain—now, with Yuan Ting's endorsement, it was almost certain. How wonderful that Taimei had a Yuan Ting, a constant source of gossip, who answers every question without charging a fee. Sun Miaomiao gently patted Yuan Ting's handback, her round face serious and earnest: "I won't say a word. I'll protect you." Zhang Yuanqing啧啧道, "Every profession has its share of oddities and eccentric characters." The queen gently stroked the large silver rings on her earlobes, her smile graceful and alluring. At that moment, the "Soldier Who Crosses the River" and the one who "loves a handsome brother" paused their conversation and turned their gaze toward the stage. The Soldier Who Crosses the River was a young man with short hair, well-built, wearing camouflage trousers and a vine-armor vest. His overall demeanor exuded the calm professionalism of a seasoned special forces operative—or perhaps that of an ancient veteran who had seen countless battles. The one who loves a handsome brother was a vibrant young woman, dressed in jeans and a lightweight, lace-edged short-sleeve shirt, with a subtle black vest peeking out. She looked fresh and stylish, with a lively presence. Her features were decent enough—after all, in today's world, as long as one has a solid foundation, a bit of makeup and Korean semi-permanent styling can turn anyone into a striking beauty. The battle unfolded without a single surprise. The Over-the-River Soldier triumphed with overwhelming dominance over the Wood Spirit, "The One Who Likes Handsome Brothers"—a creature known for its climbing prowess and immense strength, typically ranked only behind the Fire Master in close combat. Yet, the outcome was a decisive defeat, concluded in just two minutes. The female Wood Spirit managed only a brief struggle before being struck in the shoulder by a single lance from the Over-the-River Soldier, who then bowed her head in defeat, tears welling up. First, use handgun shots to restrict the wood spirit's mobility. You see, the wood spirit has a skill called "Climber," renowned for its agility and balance—capable of moving effortlessly up walls several tens of meters high. To counter it with single handgun shots is quite extraordinary. Zhang Yuanqing initially didn't grasp this, but when the second phase of close combat unfolded, he realized the significance. Normal insight allows one to anticipate an enemy's movement patterns and attack sequences—such that, when the enemy throws a punch, the scout can already predict that punch in advance. Anticipating the enemy's next move is the essence of insight. Yet this over-the-river soldier can anticipate not just one step, but at least two. Once a shot is fired, the wood spirit—once fond of the handsome captain—becomes a lost bird, wanting to move left, wanting to move right, yet feeling that no matter which direction he chooses, he will be attacked. It is precisely this ability that enables him to hold the agile wood spirit at bay with just single handgun shots. As for close combat, Guo He Zhu is exceptionally strong—this strength isn’t due to refined martial techniques, but rather his consistent ability to strike at his opponent’s vital points with the simplest, most direct methods. His fists and feet exude a sense of iron resolve and sharpness, always striving for maximum efficiency with minimal cost. This is a different path from Guan Ya, who focuses on honing her martial skills. “Guan Ya, who is stronger—me or him? I mean, in terms of martial prowess,” Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly asked. “Don’t overemphasize it—you’re clearly underestimating me,” Guan Ya said, with a mix of irritation and amusement, her lips curling. “In sparring matches, we’re evenly matched—sixty-forty. But when it comes to life-or-death battles, it’s forty-six in my favor. I’m talking about pure, single-faceted martial skill.” Indeed, being ranked among the top ten isn’t without merit… Zhang Yuanqing reflected quietly. In his mind, Guan Ya had always been the benchmark of martial excellence. Even now, though he feels his martial arts have matured and reached a high level, he still Guan Ya said, "But this player specializes in one particular strength and is therefore easier to counter! Over-the-river soldier is a member of the White Tiger Corps. Do you know his nickname?" "What?" "Within the White Tiger Corps, he's known as Xiao Qingyang." "May there one day emerge a particularly gifted Night-Wanderer, known as Xiao Yuanshih or Xiao Tianzun." ... At 4 a.m., the street lights cast a soft, downy yellow glow, stretching Zhang Yuanqing's shadow. Across from the Kangyang District Public Security Office, the café was brightly lit, its doors open. Wearing a mask and a baseball cap, Zhang Yuanqing inserted his hands into his pockets and stepped inside. His gaze, under the brim of the cap, swept across the room and settled on the tall, poised Master of Zhishi, who was preparing coffee behind the counter. She still wore the elegant, Song Dynasty-style long gown, vividly red like flame. The difference was that today, her mask no longer covered her face completely—it revealed only her lips. "Please sit down," she said, looking down. "The coffee will be a moment longer." Has she switched masks, finally learning from last time when she couldn’t get her coffee? Zhang Yuanqing casually chose a seat and quietly watched her brew the coffee. Under the soft lighting, her hair shone with a bright luster—so fine and healthy it was astonishing, prompting him to reach out and run his fingers through it to feel the texture. Her lips were a classic cherry-blossom shape, delicate and charming, glowing with a translucent, jelly-like freshness that drew men in to kiss them. Her cheekbones were smooth and well-defined, giving her a classic oval face. As I expected, the Lady of Zhishā is truly a beauty. Zhang Yuanqing sincerely remarked. He had seen many high-quality women and, based on his personal impressions, categorized them into three types: Type one: "Oh, this young lady looks quite nice." Type two: "This young lady makes me want to fall in love with her and get close to her." Type three: "You're the one I dream about every spring." The Lady of Zhishā, with her subtly radiant beauty, easily belonged to the second category. Between thoughtful musings, Lady Zheng, the Master of the Stop-Killing Palace, walked in with two cups of coffee, graceful and elegant, her long skirt brushing the ground. She set the cups down, rested her elbows on the table, and supported her chin with her palms, like a charming young girlfriend gazing softly at her boyfriend. With a gentle smile, she said, "You finally decided to reach out to me! It's been so long since you last contacted me—have you found someone new?" The Lady of the Stopping Death held her chest gently, laughing freely and joyfully, her laughter so vibrant it made the flowers sway: "You're truly delightful, truly delightful, hahaha..." I was wrong—I had always thought a wildly eccentric person was beautiful and perfectly suited for romance. I must still be rather young. Zhang Yuanqing forced a smile: "Then I'm glad the Lady is pleased." After finishing her laughter, she picked up the small spoon from Zhang Yuanqing's coffee cup, gently stirred her own coffee, and asked, "What did that old dog say to bring?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief—worried that she might become overly persistent. He replied seriously: "The old dog elder said that before the Chu family was wiped out, the Night Rose had no leader. He would like to hear your opinion." The warmth in the Lady's eyes gradually faded, her gaze becoming calm and steady, her presence now solemn and dignified—when she wasn't in her eccentric state, there was an unspoken nobility about her. "Does the old dog elder believe that the leader of the Night Rose is connected to my Chu family, or even that the leader is someone from my own family?" she mused Zhang Yuanqing: "Perhaps. What do you think, Master?" "At that time, I was still very young, just beginning to remember things. My recollection of the upheaval is rather vague. It was precisely because of my youth that I survived the chaos and managed to escape with my clan to Songhai." Her gaze slightly softened, and she remained silent, thoughtful. Zhang Yuanqing thought the brows beneath the mask must be furrowed. "Has your clan mentioned anything about this matter? If the Night Rose is someone from the Chu family, then this person must have a grudge against the Chu family. Your clan should have been aware of such a connection." The Master shook her head, clearly unwilling to elaborate, and merely said: "Just leave it. Tell Dog Elder that if there's any progress, I'd like him to inform me. I will surely reward him generously." It was clear she held a deep, enduring sense of commitment to the Chu family's original massacre. Unfortunately, I can't assist with an event of this magnitude... Zhang Yuanqing thought with a sense of regret. "Your performance in the tournament was solid—definitely capable of reaching the top three. A championship title, however Master Zhi Sha sipped her bitter coffee, offering her assessment of the match. Zhang Yuanqing sighed. The very essence of depth lies in accumulated growth—though he was a strong contender among the top ten, he felt less confident facing the top three. "Yet even so, I still have high expectations for you. You're the kind of competitor who thrives under pressure, who grows stronger with each setback. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn—I have no doubt you'll rise to the occasion." Her voice was soft, like a mother's gentle murmur or a lover's heartfelt confession. Zhang Yuanqing was deeply touched, unexpectedly feeling a surge of strength and a sudden desire that she might one day be his wife. The very next moment, Master Zhi Sha chuckled lightly, her tone playful. "You really believed that? You're quite charming." She had almost forgotten he was a musician—musicians are the masters of deception. Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched as he silently rose. "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way." ... "Doesn't she know?" asked Elder Gou, after hearing Fu Qingyang's call. "I just realized." The affairs concerning the Night Rose are currently under his watch—a covert organization with influence extending all the way to the level of steward and even into the hidden circles of the spiritual realm families. To the Five Elements Alliance, this organization is like a serpent coiled within the bedroom, poised to strike at any moment. Should things not be handled with care, it could deliver a fatal bite. The urgency and significance of investigating the Night Rose are self-evident. "Then we'll have to take the Prime Immortal to meet the Eye of the Demon." ... Over the following three days, the tournament proceeded smoothly. After five rounds of competition, the list of the 16 finalists was finally finalized. Aside from the Taoist practitioner from Maoshan who lost to the Prime Immortal in the first round and thus fell short, the final 16 closely matched the initial list of 20 proposed by the scholars. This clearly demonstrates the high caliber of the scholars. On the sixth morning, Zhang Yuanqing opened the forum on time to check the final standings. Today's competition for the top eight will no longer take place on the main arena, but instead will be held at randomly selected locations within the affiliated chapters of the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyuan Sect The level of excitement and intensity far surpasses that of a regular stage match. Upon logging into the forum, the highlighted, pinned posts read: #Matchups for the 16-Strong Teams# [Changjiang Breaking Waves vs. Earth God] [Jiang Jingwei vs. Zhao City God] [Sun Miao vs. Golden Armor] [The Unfinished Love Between Human and Spirit vs. The One with Poor Vocal Ability] [The Rook Who Crosses the River vs. Yuan Shi Tianzun] [Eternal Divine King vs. Qing Songzi] [Women Are Tigers vs. Yuan Ting] [Invalid Nickname vs. Heaven's Return to Fire]