"Puff-tap~" The blood jade plunged into the blood pool, splashing water and sending ripples outward. While Kou Beiyue's face turned pale, the mountain ghost faction erupted in joy, their eyes gleaming. According to the task prompt, merely placing one blood jade would summon the entity within the pool—already formidable, the immortal being would only grow more powerful. Once the entity appeared, the mountain god faction would surely perish. One second, two seconds, three seconds… the ripples caused by the jade gradually faded, and the pool settled back into stillness, yet the monster remained unseen. The mountain ghost faction's expressions shifted from elation to astonishment and confusion. The plump young man felt a weight settle in his chest and declared, "It's still a vision…" He swiftly drew out six small flags, tossed them into the wind, where they unfurled with a rustling sound, fluttering proudly, and black waves rippled outward. With the vision dispelled, the mountain ghost faction realized they had never actually reached the heart of the park—the six-meter-tall stone statue still lay beyond a hundred meters away. The blood jade, however, had just barely fallen to the edge of the stone statue’s foot, far from the blood pool. On the other side, the black-haired giant ape smoothly folded away the gray, dusty mirror. He had already used the mirror twice—though it lacked offensive power, it had proven exceptionally cost-effective. As for the cost of the mirror’s “seeing through the dust of life,” Zhang Yuanqing had not yet felt it. Thinking this, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Guan Ya’s fiery, full figure, then turned his gaze with no lingering affection, focusing entirely on the battle against the mountain spirit. The fresh arrival was kicked to the ground, stumbling as he braced his arms across his chest in a hurried defense. Those who had been steadfast in their pride—Wu Wo Zhuangzun and the others—watched their comrades under siege, yet none moved to assist. Instead, they scattered, heading toward the blood pools behind the stone statues. "Jiang Jingwei, they still have one blood jade!" Guan Ya called out urgently. "Who should I block?" Jiang Jingwei was in a panic, unsure of whom to choose. "Wu Wo Zhuangzun!" Guan Ya shouted. "Ai Yi and Bai Wu Jinjie both have blood jades; the last one should be with Wu Wo Zhuangzun." Though her reasoning lacked concrete evidence, Guan Ya firmly believed in her assessment. The Mountain Spirit faction is composed of three powers—the Evil Organization, the Night Rose members, and the Evil Independent Practitioners—with the Evil Organization leading. Thus, it's already clear that the Independent Practitioners are unlikely to hold the blood jades. Such a crucial asset would naturally remain firmly in the hands of those from the Evil Organization. Bai Wu Jin Jian and A Yi—Bai Wu Jin Jian, as the captain, and A Yi, as the strongest—must each possess one of the two pieces. Among the remaining two, Tai Shui Li holds one, and the final piece is surely with Wei Wo Du Zun, the top-ranked independent cultivator, who embodies the Night Rose. "Alright!" The flame erupted violently, and Jiang Jingwei surged forward like a cannonball blazing with fire, heading straight toward Wei Wo Du Zun. With the secret location of the Blood Jade exposed, the Shang Gui faction swiftly adjusted its strategy—Fat Zhu pulled Cuo Bei Yue back, returning to assist Tai Shui Li in confronting Guan Ya. Red Wei and Ji Lou Yu moved closer to "Wei Wo Du Zun," offering support to the independent cultivator now temporarily without the Water God Seal. "Crack! Crack! Crack!" The flames flared at the tips of Blood Rose's feet, her whip legs landing one after another with increasing speed, pushing back Tai Shui Li and preventing him from retrieving the Blood Jade. Facing the sixth-ranked elite on the Wanted List, Zhang Yuanqing directly activated her peak performance mode. Tasshui Lingxiao retreated step by step, appearing disheveled yet unharmed, calmly defending. After enduring a fierce assault from Xue Rongwei, he snapped his fingers—crisp and clear—and with a flash of deep black, his soiled, foul-smelling coat transformed. Xue Rongwei's pupils instantly blurred, her fair complexion turning a deep black, her limbs growing numb. Tasshui Lingxiao surged forward, stepping into a bow stance, then delivering a powerful punch that crashed into his opponent's face. *Crack!* Xue Rongwei's head spun like a twisted rope, rotating a full 180 degrees. Tasshui Lingxiao hadn't merely endured the blows—he had used the time to seep his toxins into the enemy silently, gradually infiltrating, and finally culminating with a combined burst of curse and poison. The dual assault of curse and toxin completely disabled the spectral body. *Crack!* Tasshui Lingxiao then drew back his whip leg, aiming to send Xue Rongwei's graceful head flying, finishing off the foe. Guan Ya arrived in time, lightly brushing her foot to deflect and shatter Ling Xiao's attack, then grasped the blood rose's shoulder and threw her backward, clearing the battlefield. Though the Yin corpse body of Yuan Shi had been crafted by a Level 3 Enchanting Spirit, it had lost most of its abilities, relying only on basic close-range instincts and flame bursts—how could it possibly stand against Ling Xiao, a combatant at the peak of strength and ranked sixth on the Wanted List? He was startled, about to retreat, when a punch landed squarely on his abdomen, sending sharp pain through him that instinctively bowed his back and caused him to involuntarily expel sour water from his throat. Guan Ya clutched his neck with one hand while securing his wrist and turning it to press against his back, then kicked hard at his lower leg, simultaneously pulling his neck forward. The sequence of movements flowed seamlessly, and before Ling Xiao could react, she had already launched herself forward and collapsed to the ground. Guan Ya knelt on one knee, pressing firmly against the back of his neck, then drew out a large-caliber handgun and pressed the barrel against Ling Xiao’s occipital region, saying, “Next time, try using a sedative gas.” She then decisively pressed the trigger. A jet of flame erupted from the muzzle, rapidly tearing through the keratin layer covering Ling Xiao’s skull and releasing a dark green liquid. Suddenly, Guan Ya felt a sharp, intense pain in her own head, as though struck by a heavy blow—but the pain originated not in her body, but in her soul. Her fingers on the trigger paused. “The gas doesn’t affect you. Isn’t a soul-level attack always effective?” "Finally, the plump one arrives, his eyes deepening into whirlpools as he unleashes his signature psychic assault—mental strikes." "Boss, hurry up! Dispatch this woman, and you'll achieve fame," the plump one shouts loudly. As he was about to reach out to retrieve Tashui Lingxiao, a sudden pain struck his back of the skull, and a sound echoed in his ears: "Pffft!" Then, his consciousness sank into an endless darkness. Kou Beiyue drew the military sword embedded in Tashui Lingxiao's skull, kicked over the body, and though he ranked mid-tier among the third-level warriors (considering himself top-tier), the spirit-witch was truly a spirit-witch—how could a wounded Wugui master evade his unexpected close-range assault? Moreover, Guan Ya had broken through the protective keratin layer on his skull, and with just the handle of his sword, Kou Beiyue could have easily killed him. While placing the blood jade into his inventory, Kou Beiyue turned to the stunned, round-faced young man, raised his chin, and said: "I am a servant of the Prime Origin Celestial Sovereign. Unlike you, these rogue offenders." The simple statement, "I am a servant of the Prime Origin Celestial Sovereign," seemed to carry a magical power, instantly silencing the bustling battlefield. The young man's eyes widened, his mouth slowly opening, his face filled Is this young man a spy sent by Yuan Shi Tian Zun? Hóng Wēi stared at the body of Ling Xiao, now shattered beneath her feet, her face pale with grief at the loss of such a powerful teammate. Ji Lou Yu stood with her two swords, meeting the gaze of Wei Wo Du Zun, her expression growing serious. The Shan Gui faction had already lost two members, and now another spy had been revealed—this shift in numbers had completely eroded their advantage. At a distance, Ai Yi, who had been systematically dismantling the bronze figurines, suddenly turned her head and looked toward Kou Bei Yue, her grotesque and ugly face twitching slightly. Jiang Jing Wei exclaimed happily, "Hm, you're from Yuan Shi's camp, aren't you? Indeed, from the very beginning, I've always found you pleasant—almost as if I saw the Fire Master." "You're the Fire Master! Your entire family is made up of Fire Masters!" Kou Bei Yue was furious, feeling deeply insulted. At that moment, a massive figure surged through the dense forest and crashed to the ground beside the stone sculpture. "Boom!" The ground shuddered violently—precisely the Black-Haired Giant Ape, now grievously wounded, its body streaked with claw marks and penetrating wounds, blood soaking its fur and clinging in streaks. Its breath had weakened to the very brink; it strained and struggled, yet could not rise. Before all eyes, the ape's form shrank, its fur shed, and it transformed into the bare, wounded form of the Prime Sovereign of Heaven—naked, with injuries spreading across his body. The ape's wounds now mirrored those on the Prime Sovereign, from chest to abdomen, several deep gashes, and countless claw marks visible through the flesh, revealing the bones beneath. "Thud... thud... thud..." The tall, fierce Mountain Spirit, bearing a broad belly, advanced slowly. Guan Ya, Jiang Jingwei, and Kou Beiyue exchanged slightly concerned glances—clearly, in the battle between the Sovereigns, the Prime Sovereign, in the form of the giant ape, had been defeated. Now, they would have to face this monstrous being. "Do not be afraid—it is now on the wane." Zhang Yuanqing drew out the diluted Life Primordial Liquid and injected it into his arm vein. With a steady demeanor, he walked over to where Lingshao had fallen, removed his clothes, and as he dressed, praised Kou Beiyue: "Great job." The Shanggui, possessing the innate charm of an ethereal creature, perfectly complemented the Hundred-All-Permitted trait, whereas the Giant Ape, as an extension of the wooden-element warrior, was inherently incompatible. Defeat was inevitable. Since both were of comparable strength, the Shanggui, now at the end of its strength, had effectively eliminated the enemy's key asset. As for the critical injuries on his own body, a single infusion of the diluted Life Primordial Liquid, combined with the Night-Wanderer's exceptional self-healing abilities, would quickly restore him. Indeed, as the Shanggui advanced slowly, after knocking down the remaining bronze figurines, his form gradually shrank and resumed his human shape. Like the Hundred-All-Permitted, he too was completely bare, clothless. "I had originally intended to strike down either Aiyi or the Hundred-All-Permitted at the decisive moment, to secure a "No, don't do things that don't match your capabilities. Killing one person and securing the Blood Jade—that's already sufficient." Zhang Yuanqing patted his shoulder. Kou Beiyue looked unconvinced. Bai Wujin, bare-chested and with a cold gaze fixed on Kou Beiyue, gritted his teeth and said, "Grandnephew, you've been hiding your true intentions well." Bai Wujin felt both embarrassed and furious—only when Kou Beiyue launched an attack that shattered Lingxiao did he realize the young man had been an insider all along. Prior to that, Bai Wujin had always believed Kou Beiyue harbored deep resentment toward Yuanshǐ Tianzun. Zhang Yuanqing rose, pulled up his pants, rolled his trouser legs, and mocked, "You're only allowed to send spies, not me?" Bai Wujin snorted, "Of course! Espionage is an art form—more engaging and more enjoyable than battlefield combat." "You must have started preparing before entering the killing-dungeon, arranging a spirit-being of sufficient level but insufficient intelligence to join you—throughout the journey, the two of you perform and coordinate seamlessly, successfully deceiving everyone. I must admit, I truly respect you, Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun—you are a truly chilling adversary. By the way, what's the condition for activating the array—sequence or time? If it's time-based, the first array activates nine minutes after you enter the park, followed by the second array activating nine minutes later. The time for the second array to activate is now approaching nine minutes." "Whether it's sequence or time, it doesn't matter—your defeat is certain." Zhang Yuanqing kept monitoring the mall's direction while maintaining his stance. As soon as the third array activates, he will immediately unleash the Heart of the Forest, leaving the Mountain Ghost faction with no chance. "Actually, it's you who are destined to lose!" Bai Wu-Jian burst out laughing. "Besides the clearly visible pawns like the Nine-Leak Fish and Only I Am Supreme, there are actually three hidden pawns within the Mountain God's faction—already, the one who's tone-deaf has been eliminated. Guess who the other two are?" Two more? Guan Ya's eyes narrowed. "Unfair!" Jiang Jingwei's brows shot up. Kou Beiyue stared in astonishment, his eyes wide open. He had always believed his infiltration was flawless—everyone had been manipulated by him, and he had been stationed on the fifth level. Now, he realized the enemy had been operating right at the atmospheric level. He deeply realized that strategy and maneuvering were not his strengths; he truly thrived on direct combat and conflict, and now he deeply resented the group known as Bai Wu Jian Ji. A surge of enthusiasm and anticipation radiated from his brow. The Shangui faction has yet to lower the Blood Jade into the Blood Pool, which means the Yuanshǐ Tianzun and his allies have held strong. As soon as the marketplace's array is activated, with their capabilities, it will be no challenge for Yuanshǐ Tianzun and his companions to awaken the park's array. Once they succeed, the Shangui faction will secure victory, and all the Saint-level disciples will have a bright outlook. Seeing their peers' eager expressions, Sun Miaomiao quickly produced the green jade stone granted by Zhao Chenghuang. As soon as she took it in her hands, a suction force emerged from the stone sculpture, drawing the Forest Heart toward her palm. She promptly released her grip, allowing the green glow to glide toward her palm. At that moment, a figure dashed out swiftly, leapt into the air, and intercepted the Forest Heart, grasping it firmly in his hands. It was a slender, pale youth—clearly a Moshan Sect master. This sudden development left everyone on site momentarily stunned, unable to react. Sun Miaomiao frowned, her face darkening, and exclaimed, "Moshan Sect master, what She didn't fully understand the situation either, but it was absolutely unacceptable that the Mao Shan shaman intercept the Heart of the Forest at such a crucial moment—no matter what his intentions might be. Grasping the green gem tightly, the shaman smiled gently. "Miao Miao, I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to activate the array." "Why not?" Sun Miao Miao's heart sank, imagining a possibility she was reluctant to believe. The Mao Shan shaman spoke for her, smiling. "Because I am from the Night Rose." The slender young man smiled, yet there was not a single trace of warmth in his eyes. Sun Miao Miao looked at her close friend and fellow disciple, struggling to accept this reality. Her brows furrowed, and she questioned firmly, "It's impossible. You can't be from the Night Rose. You're one of the top talents nurtured by the Tai Men. There's absolutely no need for you to join the Night Rose—everything they can offer, Tai Men can provide just as well!" The Miao Mountain sorcerer remained silent for a moment, then said, "My father is a senior executive at the Night Rose. From birth, I have always been part of the Night Rose—this cannot change. I'm truly sorry, but I have no choice but to act." Even before he became a Night Wanderer, he had already been a member of the Night Rose. His father himself was a Night Wanderer, and offspring of Night Wanderers are highly likely to become one. Therefore, he was sent to live with ordinary families from an early age, nurtured as a potential successor, and once he received his role card, he would immediately join the Taimei Sect. There are many such heirs within the Night Rose. Under the quiet cultivation of the Night Rose, he quickly rose to prominence within the Taimei Sect, becoming the most outstanding emerging talent beneath Sun Miaomiao and Zhao the City God. Yet the Miao Mountain sorcerer knew that the purpose of an insider was precisely to turn against the cause at the critical moment. And that day had finally arrived. After entering the combat instance, he consistently sought an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to the Shang Shen faction. His ideal target had been the Temple of the Shang Shen, but when he arrived, the Shang Shen faction had already been shaken by Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s strategic pressure, and as a member of the Shang Shen faction, he was unable to reach the divine staff—thus missing his chance. During the siege of the dry skeletons, both factions were under threat, making it an unsuitable moment for any defection. Therefore, he remained patient and inactive, doing nothing. When the final mission was activated and Yuan Shi Tian Zun established his defensive array, he realized the moment had finally arrived. Sun Miao Miao tightened her lips, recalling the details of her journey into the instance—she noticed that the Miao Mountain cultivators had been notably more reserved and subdued than before, unusually quiet and low-key, as if afraid to draw attention. The only instance where they deviated from this pattern was when she directly questioned Yuan Shi Tian Zun about whether he was indeed a descendant of the Magician King. Now that she reflected on it, this too was an instruction from the Night Rose—the fact that the Taiping Sect so closely monitored Inside the mall, there was first silence, then a storm of astonishment. The members of Taimei could hardly believe their eyes, utterly unprepared to find that their long-standing, highly anticipated talent—so renowned within the sect—had turned out to be a traitor. "From within the tube, Bob was furious: 'Spirit Knight, are you also a traitor?' ... Are there two spies within the third formation? Guan Ya swiftly identified the Spirit Knight among the nine, as a freelance practitioner and a night-wanderer, making him the most likely candidate nurtured by the Night Rose. But who is the other one? She couldn't quite figure it out. Throughout this journey, only the one with poor musical ear had revealed anomalies and been uncovered by Yuan Shi. If the other traitors had remained steadfast, their identities would have remained hidden—since the Night Rose possessed special concealment techniques capable of evading lie detection and even passing through comprehensive health screenings. Guan Ya glanced at Yuan Shi Tianzun with growing anxiety, only to find him calm, neither surprised nor serious. Zhao Chenghuang closed the box containing his figurines and walked slowly toward Bai Wu Jianji, his gaze steady. 'If you're referring to the Mountain Sect master and the Spirit Knight,' he said gently, 'then both Yuan Shi Tianzun and I have known about them for some time now.' "Ban Wu Jinan's face changed, and he smiled, saying, "A Maoshan sorcerer? Why didn't you say it was Sun Miao Miao? Are you trying to deceive me? What sense does that make? Nine minutes have already passed—aren't you losing?" Zhao Chenghuang's expression remained stern, stating, "When we were at the Temple of the Mountain God, I already knew the Maoshan sorcerer was the traitor. It was precisely the Spirit Knight who informed me of this." Ban Wu Jinan's smile gradually faded. Zhang Yuanqing interjected, "Hmph! The Spirit Knight is a Night Wandering God—a third-ranked independent practitioner. How could we possibly trust him unconditionally?" Zhao Chenghuang picked up the thread, "Therefore, after you withdrew from the Temple of the Mountain God, I and the Spirit Knight established open communication through our spiritual servants in the forest. He told me he was part of the 'Night Rose' faction, and that his superior was the Maoshan sorcerer." Nine Lou Yu narrowed her eyes, asking, "On what grounds did he tell you that? Did he just simply admit it?" Zhao Chenghuang first glanced at Yuanshishen, then replied, "I told him that if he switched his allegiance, he would be allowed to join the Taigong Sect, enjoying the same resources as me—rewarded with tools, money, and full access to the Night-Wanderer God's quest episodes. Everything that the Night Rose can offer, I have already provided. What the Night Rose cannot offer, I have arranged through my grandfather. I not only provide him with resources, but also promise to bring his family to the capital, where they will reside in the Taigong Sect's courtyard and enjoy the protection of the Sect. "This is what I learned from Yuanshishen." A contract is different from a lie-detection test. First, it involves a transaction where both parties exchange equivalent values. Second, it must be grounded in a specific, well-defined event—the most common being a sale or pledge—where each party clearly offers tangible commitments. Finally, the contract is sealed with the life force of the parties involved. Vague statements such as "not to harm the Tai Men's interests" or "to promise not to be a member of the Night Rose" do not constitute the foundation of a contract. Therefore, in certain specific cases, a contract can function as a lie-detection test; however, in most instances, it lacks such effectiveness. "If you don't sign the contract, I'll kill him—there's no alternative," Zhao Chenguang said. The contract stipulates that, should the Taoist priest betray the mountain deity's faction, the spirit knight shall be responsible for his execution. Should this condition be fulfilled, Zhao Chenguang will fulfill all his promises upon leaving the scenario; if not, the spirit knight will be reversed by the contract and perish. Betraying the Night Rose, he could secure richer resources and advance through the Slayer's Raid, achieving the rank of Saint. Choosing loyalty would mean being killed on the spot. Everyone knew exactly which path to take. Yet, why kill the Taoist Master directly—given that he couldn't lie—when eliminating a high-status contender of such stature would still fail to gain the approval of even Zhao the City God? In team-based encounters, hearts and minds matter most. As an outsider, the Lich Knight's accusations could not convince the official inspectors. … "No, I am not a traitor!" With those words, the Lich Knight suddenly surged to his feet, raising his long black blade and slashing down. With a sharp *pffft*, the Taoist Master hadn't even reacted when his head rolled off his neck, gushing blood from his carotid artery in a fountain several meters high. He had never imagined that, as a fellow member of the Night Rose, the Lich Knight would turn against him at this very moment. His spirit immediately detached from the body, drifting upward and roaring—a sound only the night wanderers could hear: "Spirit Knight, dare you betray me?!" "The Night Rose will not spare you; your entire family shall perish..." Before the words had fully settled, dark energy surged in the Spirit Knight's eyes, and he opened his mouth to swallow the mountain sect sorcerer whole. Then, he picked up the Forest Heart from the ground, tossed it toward the stone statue, and allowed it to return to the array's center. In the heart of the city, a towering column of emerald light surged skyward, a magnificent sight. Thus, the array spells at the east, south, and west of the blood pool were all activated. ... Zhao Chonghuang turned toward the soaring light column and said: "You have lost! Master Yuan-Shi, what are you waiting for?" Zhang Yuanqing immediately retrieved the Forest Heart, while at the same time, witnessing the mountain spirit's defeat and the reversal of the situation, the mountain spirits, with no further options, made a decisive move—reaching swiftly for a bamboo stick and shouting: "Form up!" Red Wei, Xiao Fat, Ai Yi, and Wei Wo Dú Zūn all simultaneously pulled out identical bamboo skewers. At once, a faint star map illuminated beneath everyone's feet, set against a deep night sky dotted with countless brilliant stars, with a blazing sun at its very center. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing released his grip, allowing the stone statue to absorb the gemstone from his hand.