【The Whole World Turns to Fire: It's all the Yuanshi Tianzun's fault, right? We've had no choice but to comply—how can we be charged for that?】 【Auditory Impairment: Shouldn't Yuanshi Tianzun bear full responsibility?】 【Qing Songzi: This stubborn fool...】 These three comments received the most likes in the comment section. 【A Long Way Ahead: Haha, I knew it would come to disciplinary action. After all, such a disgraceful incident—officially, they must respond and show clear stance.】 【With the Days of Departure Growing Fewer: Just salary deductions and a formal reprimand? I could see the elders' expressions this morning—like they wanted to fire them outright.】 【Snow Zi, Pale as Milk: They probably genuinely wanted to terminate their contracts at first, but after calming down, they've grown reluctant (dog head). To be honest, exposing the deceased's body and stripping them of their clothes is quite a setback. As top-eight representatives, they do represent the official image. The headquarters must make a statement. The salary and bonus deductions are merely symbolic gestures.】 】 【Jenny, so affectionate: It's a pity—they keep undressing, yet they never undress themselves, especially Yuan-Shi Tian Zun. I'd been so eagerly waiting for him several times.】 Another deduction from their salary, man! What's the point of all of us working if we're not making money? Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth, thinking thankfully that he still had the White Huidao guards' salary. Additionally, the prize money from the match arena is quite substantial—though the top three receive only equipment, Zhang Yuanqing learned that any contestant making it into the top ten is awarded a cash bonus by the local branch. After glancing at a few comments, he exited this post and continued scrolling, coming across several posts related to today's battle. # Yuan Shi Tian Zun is so strong—after today, he's my hero # #A look at Yuan Shi Tian Zun's strategic planning through the lens of the tournament matches # #From unbuttoning his pants to reaching for his chest—how wild Yuan Shi Tian Zun's game has been # #A remarkable tactical talent—Yuan Shi Tian Zun may one day rank alongside the Four Princes # Zhang Yuanqing sent screenshots of these posts, along with the praise comments underneath, to Xiao Yuan (he omitted the one about the chest exposure). Yuan Shi Tian Zun: "Now you believe me, Aunt Xiao Yuan—during the tournament, I was absolutely unbeatable." Magical Aunt Xiao Yuan: "That's quite good! [smiling]" Magical Aunt Xiao Yuan: "Now tell me about the match—I'm especially curious as to why some of the comments mentioned they wanted to see you unbutton your pants." "Master Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn: 'Well, well...'" He was pondering how to deflect when suddenly he recalled a quote from his life mentor: Although women often emphasize "maturity and reliability" and use it to urge men to embody these traits, they actually don't genuinely prefer mature and steady men. On the contrary, while they dismiss men who are overly fluent and charming, they consistently find themselves drawn to "unstable" men who are witty and engaging—men who, though not particularly grounded, manage to charm them. The life mentor concluded: Being fluent and articulate in everyday interactions can enhance a woman's appreciation; and when faced with questions you don't know how to answer, being expressive and charming allows you to glide through the situation effortlessly. Zhang Yuan Qing suddenly had a flash of inspiration and replied, "Didn't we make a bet last time with Aunt Xiao Yuan? If we make it into the top three, she'll join me for a bed date." Thus, in the副本, I delivered a stellar performance, defeating seven opponents single-handedly—almost eliminated myself—yet, driven by my promise to Aunt Xiao Yuan, I angrily tore off my clothes, unleashing my primal strength and finally vanquishing six of them, leaving only Zhao Chenguang to face me, whom I planned to defeat tomorrow. "Probably because of this, those handsome, lusty female thugs have been eagerly anticipating my undress." Silence on the other side, and after a while, Aunt Xiao Yuan: "Get out!" Yuan Shi Tian Zun: "Got it—I'll come over and roll out on the bed tonight." Aunt Xiao Yuan: "Come at your own risk!" Zhang Yuanqing smiled warmly and sent a string of [flirty] emojis, then settled in to read the forum. He soon found a post predicting the battle of tomorrow: #Final Showdown Analysis: Yuan Shi Tian Zun vs. Zhao Chenguang—Who Will Win?# The comments were surprisingly numerous. Zhang Yuan opened the post and realized the poster was the "Grand Chancellor of Wenyuan Pavilion." This scholarly official, active on the forum, had considerable credibility among the official correspondents. In the post, the Chancellor provided a concise analysis of the combat strengths between Zhao Chenghuang and Yuanshish Tianzun. "Due to the terms of our agreement, we are unable to present detailed data. Here is a brief comparison of their respective strengths and weaknesses." "First, in terms of rank, both contenders are at level 3, but one is in the early stage and the other in the late stage, giving Zhao Chenghuang an edge in rank. Second, regarding equipment, by tradition, the championship matches held annually are limited to three pieces of equipment. Zhao Chenghuang is the great-grandson of Zhao, a senior official of the Taimen Sect. I suspect his three pieces of equipment are all of exceptional quality." In contrast, Yuan Shi Tian Zun employed two previously unknown props during today's match—both highly novel and engaging. It's undeniable that his prop inventory is indeed abundant, a testament to his status as a top-tier talent who has cleared two S-level challenges. Yet, he still seems to lack a decisive, game-changing prop. "Fortunately, Yuan Shi Tian Zun earned the highest points from the quest rewards through his own capabilities, and with a powerful prop supporting him tomorrow, he gains a slight edge. "From a hard-hitting performance standpoint, Zhao Cheng Huang boasts a strong Yin corpse and possesses a remarkable skill that amplifies his own power—(those who watched his match against Jiang Jing Wei will recognize what I mean). Most importantly, his spiritual attendant has not appeared. Don't assume that the ordinary attendant is all that Zhao Cheng Huang has. "As far as I know, Zhao Cheng Huang has a secret spiritual attendant, rarely deployed—this may very well be the turning point of tomorrow's match." "Looking back at Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, his strength lies in strategy and navigating dungeons. If the final battle remains in dungeon format, his chances of victory improve. But if it's a stage battle format—then one might say Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn is simply experiencing a streak of bad fortune. "In summary, my personal assessment is that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn and Zhao Chenghuang are evenly matched—37% chance of victory each." I remember Sun Miao Miao mentioned that Zhao Chenghuang has a secret spiritual servant. This is also what the Wenyuan Pavilion scholar noted. Zhang Yuanqing thoughtfully, with a proactive mindset, sent a message to Yuan Ting: "Captain Yuan, do you know what Zhao Chenghuang's secret spiritual servant is?" After sending the message, there was no response for a long time. Zhang Yuanqing decided to call, only to find the voice mail indicating the phone was off. Has Captain Yuan been eliminated? He felt a bit uneasy, murmuring to himself. Zhang Yuanqing then opened the chat app and posted the question in the Bai Hui Wei group. [Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn: Do the seniors know what Zhao Chenghuang's secret 】 【Lingjun: Uninterested.】 【Nanjiro: How do you think we'll care about a transcendental-level night-wanderer?】 Almost forgot—every White Guard member is at the Saint Realm level... Zhang Yuanqing silently covered his face. 【Little Axe: I can help you gather information, but we're running out of time—the final battle is tomorrow.】 【Original Primordial Sovereign: @Little Axe, thank you, we'll pass.】 Little Axe is indeed more mature and reliable, isn't he? I'm not a woman—truly, I love mature, dependable men... Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to leave the chat, Lingjun suddenly tagged him. 【Lingjun: For tomorrow's match, just do your best—second place would be excellent. Don't put too much pressure on yourself.】 【The Phoenix Arrives: I believe the equipment for the illusionist profession is no worse than Houtu's boots—second place is perfectly acceptable.】 No one is pushing them hard; instead, everyone is comforting Original Primordial Sovereign, easing his psychological load and helping him maintain a calm mindset for the battle tomorrow. Master Yuan Shishen: Thank you all, thank you, Captain. You Feng Lai Yi: Why thank the Master when he hasn't even come out to encourage you? Ling Jun: This boy is truly skilled at flattery—he's earned the Master's favor simply through his constant attentiveness. Look at how he arranges the Master's presence in the副本; even Mr. Fu has had to tolerate it. Nanji: Hetui～ Master Zhao, dressed in a black robe with his black hair secured by a wooden hairpin, sat beneath the locust tree sipping tea. Master Zhao was one of the first travelers of the Spiritual Realm, a figure from the Republican era, senior in rank even to Brother Sun, and thus naturally more powerful. "Tomorrow's final battle will be a stage match—good news for you. Do you have the confidence to claim the championship?" Master Zhao sipped his tea, speaking calmly and unhurried. Across the tea table, Master Zhao the City God straightened his posture and declared firmly, "Yes!" Master Zhao smiled with satisfaction. "Your accumulation of the Taiyin energy has now reached its limit. After this stage match concludes, you will enter the Killing Quest to advance to the rank of Star Official. Before entering the quest, having the Primordial Celestial Sovereign as your refiner will be beneficial. But remember—always follow your own path, rooted in Taiyin energy. That is of utmost importance. Do you understand?" Master Zhao the City God nodded, a hint of curiosity flickering across his composed face. "Grandfather, could you now tell me why we must pause at the Transcendent stage, Master Zhao spoke solemnly: "The Night-Wanderer Spirit is different from other professions. The three powers—Tai Yin, Xing Guan, and Tai Yang—originate from the same source and root, yet remain distinct. Once one reaches the Sovereign Realm, they must choose one of these three as their foundation, otherwise further advancement becomes impossible." To advance beyond the Sovereign Realm—that is the realm of the Gate Master. Master Zhao said, "I understand." Though he still did not grasp the underlying principles, he now understood the reasons behind this choice, and that was sufficient. 】 【30 seconds later, you will enter the spiritual realm. This is your current spiritual realm: "The Arena of Life and Death," ID: 3371】 【Difficulty Level: Unknown】 【Type: Multiplayer (Non-Death Based)】 【Main Objective: Defeat opponents directly and fairly on the arena through combat and sparring—keep it respectful and concise.】 【Note: Non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in.】 【Introduction to Realm 3371: This instance is a faction-specific quest for the "White Tiger Army" guild, and has already been successfully completed.】 Zhang Yuanqing blinked, and the scenery came into sharp focus. He saw a clear blue sky, rows of spectator seats, and audiences seated in them. He once again found himself at the arena, but this time, directly on the arena floor—ten to fifteen meters away, stood Zhao the City God, dressed in a sleek black robe and black pants, calm and strikingly handsome. The crowd was quite large—more than on the previous days… Zhang Yuanqing glanced around. Almost every seat was occupied, with only a few official monks on duty, and nearly everyone who could attend had come. A considerable number of representatives from the major spiritual realm clans have arrived, along with members from several civilian organizations that maintain close ties with the official body (affiliate organizations). On the council platform, the number of elders has grown from barely exceeding ten to nearly twenty. The five marshals have still not appeared. As soon as the two newcomers stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.