Fu Province, Yue City. The head of the modern Zhu family is a distinguished and handsome man, in his forties—elegant eyes, prominent cheekbones, thick brows, a thin lip, and a well-groomed, mature beard that adds a refined touch of seasoned masculinity. A man of this caliber could attract a crowd of young and beautiful women simply by walking through a nightclub. The straight-backed warrior-sage, no, the Tang Dynasty warrior-sage, gently traced his fingers over two translucent leaves, like rubies. Meanwhile, the dog elder bowed his head, inhaling the aroma from the mortar pot before him. This woman's mindset has completely turned upside down... The Dog Elder shook his head slightly, having heard some confidential tidbits from the military hero of the Tang Dynasty before coming. Though the young lady from the Zhu family was known to be impetuous and demanding, she hadn't quite reached this level of public disgrace until several years ago, when she rallied her allies to besiege and ultimately defeat the Demon King, only to vanish without a trace. A month later, she returned alone to her family, and from then on, her demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation—her behavior grew increasingly flamboyant, and she began keeping male companions. Eventually, she divorced her husband, Chih Yue An. During that month, the events that befell Zhu Rong were not hard to imagine for anyone familiar with the Demon King's nature. The Tang Dynasty military hero, his serious expression now tinged with anger, said, "Has the Five Elements Alliance been overly generous toward your spiritual lineage families? When did it become acceptable for you to casually extinguish the seedlings we've nurtured specifically for you?" As a senior elder of the White Tiger military contingent, his frustration was entirely predictable. Zhu Rong, now breaking all ties, smiled with a visibly nervous, erratic expression. She doesn't care! Dog Chang picked up the mortar and pestle, said firmly, "Don't waste your words with her—ask about the Copper雀 Pavilion." The gaze of the Tang Dynasty's military hero suddenly sharpened, and his voice grew more solemn and commanding: "Has the illicit income from the Copper雀 Pavilion, accumulated by Chi Yue'an, reached your personal accounts?" Zhu Rong remained calm: "Yes... But I only require that he transfer eight hundred million annually to my overseas accounts. As for how he accumulates his wealth, I don't care. The matter of the Copper雀 Pavilion has nothing to do with me." The Tang Dynasty's military hero turned to Zhu Yangqiu and said, "Master Zhu, Zhu Rong orchestrated the murder of Yuan Shishen and instigated Chi Yue'an to illegally amass wealth. We intend to take her away." Zhu Yangqiu, who had been quietly sipping tea, raised his head and said slowly, "It is true that Zhu Rong instigated Chi Yue'an to illegally accumulate wealth—Zhu Family has no argument on that. But as for the murder of Yuan Shishen, I do not accept it. 'A graceful and virtuous woman Zhu Rong has long admired Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, and though she has made many desperate efforts, she truly has done wrong—yet how could she possibly have plotted to harm Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun? His tone was slow and calm, that of a composed scholar with quiet confidence. The Dog Elder smiled: "If I insist on charging her with plotting against Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, go ask Zhu's ancestral patriarch—would he be willing to break ties with our Five Elements Alliance for her sake?" In his black-button-like eyes, a chill gleamed. At that moment, the doors of the council hall opened, and a graceful, charming woman entered the room, drawing the attention of all present. Wherever she walked, flowers and grasses sprouted, flourishing with life. She glanced at Taidi and smiled, "Dog Elder, this is not a serious matter—there's no need for such measures." How could something this affordable be? Is my life, the Life of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, any less valuable than that of a direct descendant from a spiritual realm family? This is the penalty imposed by the Five Elements Alliance upon Zhu Rong—the outcome of negotiations and deliberations between the senior elders of the Songhai and Fuxing branches. Although these penalties are not light—especially being placed on the official blacklist, which severely limits Zhu Rong's status within her family, preventing her from becoming a leading figure, and ensuring strict treatment should any future misstep—Zhu still feels the punishment to be too lenient. Fu Qingyang crossed his legs, hands inserted into his pants pockets, leaning against the back of the chair, gazing at the intense battle unfolding in the arena, and said calmly: "Your life, of course, is far from comparable to that of a mere ordinary person." A senior elder from Lingjun reached out to grasp Zhang Yuanqing's shoulder, murmuring: "I've known Zhu Rong for a while—her poise and appearance clearly indicate she's a top-tier candidate. Unfortunately, I later discovered she's a 'sickly romantic' type, so I never dared to pursue her. Now I realize she "Getting close to you isn't that hard—why do you have to go all out with such a clumsy approach?" Zhang Yuanqing was furious, shooting back, "Just go! Just go!" Zhu Rong wasn't simply aiming to sleep with him—she wanted to mold him, torment him, and train him into a servant without dignity. Zhang Yuanqing had thought all night, combining what Fu Qingyang had just described, and now he finally understood: Zhu Rong wanted to shape him into a courtly lover, and the incident involving Chih Yue An was only a minor part of it. The real blame lay with the Demon King! The Demon King was also a Night-Wanderer, just like him—and both were young, accomplished. Bit by bit, the Demon King had eroded her dignity, transforming her into that very servant. Since she couldn't handle the Demon King, she channelled her pathological sense of revenge onto him—humiliating him, molding him, and in doing so, felt as though she had triumphed over the Demon King, gaining immense satisfaction from the process. Lingjun shrugged: "There's a difference between manslaughter and intentional murder. As officials, we must abide by the law—we can't just kill someone because they intended to harm you. If our office consistently acted that way, the credibility of the law would be completely undermined. Procedure justice comes first. Moreover, I've heard that Zhu Yangqiu, the head of Zhu Family, has a romantic relationship with the elder of the Hundred Blossoms Assembly at the Fu Province Branch. Zhu Rong is a spiritual realm practitioner within the Fu Province Branch's jurisdiction. Therefore, this matter is being handled by the Fu Province Branch. Zhu Family has been operating in Fu Province for over a century, deeply rooted and well-established. The favorable outcome we're seeing is precisely because the Five Elements Alliance values you. If it were any ordinary family, they would likely have suppressed the case." "As for the case at the Copper Rooster Pavilion," Zhang Yuanqing frowned. Lingjun chuckled: "Wait a minute—really? Do you think a case that has already been formally established could leave a leading spiritual family in ruins? To topple a powerful family, you don't rely on evidence alone; it's all about power struggles." "You're absolutely dripping with sarcasm," Zhang Yuanqing thought, not pleased. At that moment, the centurion, with his finely sculpted features, said, "Lingjun's remarks are a bit direct, but that's fine. If you're not satisfied, then strive upward—within the rules, outmaneuver the Zhu family to the very end." Zhu Yangqiu has many sisters, but only Zhu Rong is his full-blooded sibling, whom he deeply cherishes. He doesn't want to make Zhu Rong a target of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's ambitions—not out of fear that Zhu family might be drawn into the conflict, but because he fears Zhu family might not be able to protect her in the future. Zhu Rong remained silent, her fingers clenched tightly around her chopsticks, her knuckles turning white. ... After dinner, feeling restless, Zhu Rong left the villa. Outside the villa, at the side of a sleek luxury car, a driver in a suit stood upright, waiting patiently. Upon seeing her emerge, he bowed and promptly opened the car door. The luxury car sped along the wide roads of the villa complex. The night sky was deep and dark, the streetlights shining brightly. This villa complex was a key asset of the Zhu family, their central stronghold, housing Zhu family members. Zhu Rong's villa was located on the eastern side of the complex, featuring a three-story main building and two two-story secondary buildings. Besides the servants, Zhu Rong also maintained eight male companions. As the car approached the wrought-iron entrance gate, it stopped within the Zhu Rong stepped out of the carriage, took a deep breath, and spoke with a serious, composed demeanor. "Have No. 6 come to my bedroom!" She walked across the garden, entering the main building under the glow of the streetlights. Taking the elevator to the third floor, Zhu removed her coat, loosened her hair bun, kicked off her high heels, and barefoot crossed the bedroom to the dressing room. In the dressing room, hung not clothes, but whips, handcuffs, and various塞es. Zhu selected a black leather whip, sprayed it with chili oil, and with her delicate, jade-like fingers gently tracing the length of the whip, her graceful face revealed a sickly smile. She needed to whip young men—she needed to release the anger and frustration building within her. After the murder of Chi Yue An, she had known that once the case was officially settled, it would be difficult to link it to herself. Indeed, the Five Elements Alliance's punishment, though severe, did not seriously damage her. Yet Zhu remained unconvinced. She didn't intend to let Yuan Shi Tian Zun go so easily. Over the past few days, she had clearly realized—both mentally and physically—that she desired Yuan Shi Tian Zun. The young man was as brilliant and as unprincipled as the魔君. The only difference was that the魔君 was more cruel. She saw the shadow of the魔君 in Yuan Shi Tian Zun. That alone was enough to make her refuse to let him go. Zhu Rong opened her lip balm and applied it to her lips, her flame-red lips curving into a smile. "Yours eventually, Yuan Shi Tian Zun..." She returned to the bedroom with the whip, her pupils suddenly contracting as her gaze fixed steadily on the single sofa by the window. There, a figure in fiery red stood. This unexpected guest wore a long gown in the style of the Song Dynasty, with intricate, finely embroidered cloud patterns in gold thread on her chest and sleeves, and a half-moon silver mask resting on her face. She leaned lazily against the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes cold and distant beneath the mask—like a queen seated on her throne, calmly assessing her subjects. "Who are you!" Zhu Rong barked. Before Zhu Rong could even retrieve her props or call for an attack, crimson ribbons surged from behind the woman in the red dress, winding and flowing like rivers of fresh blood, tightening around her arms and legs and lifting her off the ground. "If you're wise, you'll stay silent now," the woman in red said calmly. "Master of Fate..." At the sight of the ribbons, Zhu Rong's eyes widened, her face filled with shock and disbelief. "There are only a few Master of Fates among the Zhu and Xie families. You're not from either of them—then who are you?" Zhu Rong had given up all resistance; before the Master of Fate, her life was no more than that of a mere insect. The woman in red chuckled softly. "Isn't there also the Chu family? After all, we've been close friends for generations. I should call you sister." "You are the Master of the Zhishai Palace!" Immediately, Zhu Rong recalled the relevant information in her mind. She furrowed her brows, saying, "If you're here to see the Zhu family, you should go to my brother. If you're here to see me, I'm sorry—I don't recognize you." The Master of the Zhishai Palace slowly rose, her long gown flowing like water. She stepped barefoot toward Zhu Rong, smiling gently. "You don't need to know me, and I'm not here to strengthen our personal connection." Then, what are you here for? Zhu Rong was about to ask when suddenly she felt the red lines on her arms and thighs tightening, pressing into her delicate skin, and fresh blood began to seep out, flowing along the lines and dripping one by one. "Ah—" she winced, her brows furrowed, murmuring softly. "I'm here to settle accounts with you," the Master of the Zhishai Palace said, her voice as cold as an ice blade. "Why did Sister Zhu choose to offend Yuanshǐ Tianzun? He's my favorite, my beloved. I detest anyone touching what's mine." Zhu Rong The Lady of the Stop-Killing Palace seemed not eager to act immediately, her demeanor shifting as she smiled to herself. "I've heard that when your sister was captured by the Demon King, she served as a lowly servant for a full month—since then, she's never been quite the same. I can already guess why you've taken a keen interest in the Prime Celestial Sovereign. Are you still harboring deep resentment toward the Demon King, or... do you still harbor lingering feelings for him?" She said this with feigned surprise. "Your sister truly has a stubborn heart—while others treat her like a worn-out shoe, you've ended up falling in love with him." This remark seemed to strike a deep, hidden wound within Zhu Rong's core. Her face instantly paled, then flushed, and she broke into a nervous, fluttering smile. "Even if I'm humble, I can't be humble enough to compare to someone who's lost everything—home and family alike." The Lady of the Stop-Killing Palace's eyes grew cold, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply, as if winter had arrived. A few seconds later, she burst into laughter—so vibrant and lively that the very branches seemed to tremble. The Lady of the Killing Palace raised her hand, her broad crimson sleeve sliding down. Her slender forearm was as delicate and pale as lotus stems, and with long, graceful fingers, she lifted Alu's chin, smiling gently. "You're so beautiful, yet you lack both face and skin. Since you don't care about either, I shall peel them off." The red thread surged up Alu's cheeks, swiftly twisting like a eel, then penetrating her skin. "Ah—!" Alu's cry echoed throughout the villa. This is a battlefield, also a cemetery. Stretching out, the ground is littered with bones—human bones and horse bones—rotting weapons half-buried in black soil, broken cranes and catapults lying scattered. In the weeping wind, the spirits of the fallen scream and whirl, their wails heard only by the night-watch gods. In this desolate, solemn space, resembling the realm of the dead, a woman dressed in a Ming dynasty gown stands with her hands folded beside a towering, skeletal remains. She is breathtakingly beautiful, with an ethereal grace, like a celestial goddess. "Truly pitiful," she laments, "a great military hero, yet even after death, unable to find peace—compressed into a mustard seed, stored in the Vimalakīrti realm." The goddess of San Dao Mountain chuckles in scorn. The towering skeleton, clad in armor, holding a sword upright, is the only body that remained uncollapsed. "Who—?" Flames of spirit ignite in the hollow sockets of its eyes, and it slowly, laboriously turns its head toward the goddess of San Dao Mountain. The spirit flames surge and tremble, "Princess "You haven't yet perished," the Lady of San Dao Mountains smiled. "The Night-Wanderer Spirit is vigorous and vital; naturally, he can survive. I have been sustaining myself through the secret art of deep sleep, barely holding on until now. I never expected that upon waking, things would turn so favorable—this realm has now separated from our world, allowing cultivation here. I no longer worry about my lifespan, though I am unable to leave. The bones of the general slowly replied, "When Princess San Dao was young, she was renowned throughout the land, brilliant and exceptional. Countless states from the neighboring lands sent marriage proposals. To meet her again, I am truly grateful to the heavens. "But even you cannot leave?" The Lady of San Dao Mountains seemed to recall past memories, her beautiful face momentarily dimmed before regaining its calm composure. "My yang spirit was stolen by a young thief. I must find him, yet he is a mortal of this world. Each time he enters this realm, his stay is brief. There are so many small realms corresponding to the Night-Wanderer's level—there is no way to know when or where he will appear. Finding him is a great challenge." "Then, I shall serve The Lady of San Mountain drew out a human skin scroll from her sleeve and said, "I cannot find him, but I can have him come to me willingly. This scroll records the secret rites of sacrifice offered to me. I need you to dispatch your ghost attendants to deliver these rites to all the copies of the Night-Wanderer Divinity realms. Yes, by their own words, these are the copies. "After this period of exploration, I have come to understand the rules of this realm. Once this rite enters a copy of the Night-Wanderer Divinity realm, that copy will automatically adapt and transform it into a quest item." During her months of wandering in this world, she has encountered many powerful spiritual travelers and extracted numerous secrets from them. Now, she has a solid understanding of this world—the Spiritual Realms—and of the spiritual travelers themselves. When the spiritual travelers receive this rite from her, they will surely rush immediately to perform the ceremony, exchanging their offerings for strength. There will be no hesitation, because for them, this is a powerful consumable. Lady San-Dao smiled and said, "Recently, I've had a sudden inspiration, sensing that he is about to enter the spiritual realm." "Then I shall do my utmost to assist the Prince. May the Prince be able to grasp the mysteries of this world?" "Partially." "Could you share that with me?" "Of course!" ... "Captain, what did you say? Zhu Rong was nearly killed by Master Zhi-Shi, and her face skin was almost peeled off?" Zhang Yuanqing heard the news and stared in astonishment. How severe! Zhang Yuanqing had always known Master Zhi-Shi to be eccentric, but he hadn't expected her to be this intense. Fu Qingyang said, "The Zhu family doesn't lack life essence fluid; her injuries and appearance should have fully recovered. Now, they claim you've acted with malicious intent and are demanding that the Songhai Division arrest Master Zhi-Shi."