Thud! Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts instantly became chaotic—every single thought was out of place. A surge of killing intent, rage, and warlike fervor flooded his mind. Crimson, twisted runes flared to life in his eyes, while his eye sockets darkened, and lightning-like black veins emerged around his eye rims. Though he was supposed to be a Night-Wanderer, he now showed clear signs of transforming into a seductive spirit-being. He opened his mouth in agony, striving to cry out, to call for help, enduring a pain as if his soul were being torn apart. Just as Zhang Yuanqing felt his body and spirit reaching their breaking point, about to "explode," he heard a deep, labored breath in his mind—like the old creaky man had just emerged from some dreadful state. The very next moment, the sun mark on his forehead radiated intense heat, and a clear, pure beam of golden light pierced through his awareness, calming the chaos and wildness of his consciousness, purifying a terrible contamination. Had the old creaky man also been stunned? If she had arrived even a moment later, I would have died. What on earth was that look in her eyes just now? Zhang Yuan was still shaken by the experience. What kind of being was that? The true form of the Blood Pool Immortal God? A top-tier boss in the Spiritual Realm? No—based on the old boulder's reaction, it should be described as "the highest tier." The old boulder had used the remains of the Immortal God's body to reverse-gaze into the God's true form, yet merely with a single glance, the old boulder had sustained a significant cost, nearly costing me my life right there. Damn it—was she doing this deliberately, using my very body as a vessel for such a daring act? Zhang Yuan sensed a deep sense of malice in the old boulder's actions. Yet when he spoke, his words were: "May the Princess be well? Is the Princess unharmed?" "Indeed, Your Grace, you've managed to trace back the monster's true form—this is no small feat. With Your Grace's blessing, I've witnessed something I may never see again in my lifetime. Thank you so much!" The old stick-figure remained silent, at a loss for words, and after a while, with a composed nod, he added, "What you've just seen shall remain confidential. From now on, avoid recalling it, especially within the Spirit Realm." "Understood." "Next time we meet, I hope to see you truly consistent in both word and action." His tone had clearly warmed a little. As the lingering resonance of the Three Mountain Lady's spirit faded swiftly, it seemed as though the very act of observation had drained her strength. Gone? Ah, finally gone. Dealing with someone of such stature always leaves one feeling uneasy... Zhang Yuanqing found himself regaining full control over his body and confirmed that the old stick-figure had departed. Though the old stick-figure had left, the power he had sacrificed did not vanish immediately but instead faded steadily at a constant pace. Without the old wooden stage, he had become the inheritor of the profound divine power of the Sun God, a force originating from the blazing mark on his forehead and flowing into his consciousness, entirely under his command. He attempted to use his spiritual body to communicate with the mark, compressing the Sun God's power into his fingertips, only for a sharp hiss to follow, as a golden flame three feet long erupted. With a shift in thought, the Sun God's power transformed into swords, spears, bows, and arrows, shifting forms at will. Remarkably, this power felt neither foreign nor unfamiliar—it carried an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Perhaps from frequently using the Vengeance Mallet, his body had grown accustomed to the Sun God's energy? Zhang Yuanqing did not pursue further experience. With the radiant mark on his brow, he immediately turned toward the park's exit. Before the power completely faded, he still had many tasks to complete. At that moment, the park's plants, under the relentless erosion of the Sun God's energy, had turned to ash, and several carbonized trees stood bare, emitting a steady smoke. At the park's exit, Zhao Chenghuang and Jiang Jingwei, Kou Beiyue, and the others were facing off against Bai Wu Jihui and his companions. Guan Ya was tending to Reiko, who had lost too much blood and was now unconscious. Zhang Yuanqing rode a surge of fiery wind, roaring past the devastated park, arriving above the group and surveying the Shangshi forces from a commanding height. Amid the raging wind, the six Shangshi members kept retreating, like mice driven to the corner of a room—pale-faced, with eyes filled with the desperation of those who had reached the end of their journey. "Shhh—" Zhang Yuanqing extended his right arm, and golden light erupted from his palm, coalescing into a large bow. Drawing the bow and aiming it at Bai Wu Jihui, he asked, "Do you have any final words?" Bai Wu Jihui spat out a stream of saliva, fiercely declaring, "You're just lucky—you're clearly on a roll! I'm not buying it!" Indeed, he possessed a strong resolve and refused to yield, only expressing his unyielding resentment. This slaughter encounter was clearly a victory for the Shang Gui faction. The moment the Blood Pool Divine King was summoned, the "expansion" phase of the encounter had already reached its limit—winning was theirs. "This power is one I earned at the cost of my life. If drawing upon forces beyond the encounter itself counts as a lucky break, then that would truly be a lucky break," he said. More precisely, it was the result of a full bowing submission—something he added to his inner thoughts. With a steady pull of his bowstring, brilliant golden light surged from his fingertips, coalescing into a radiant arrow. Bai Wu Jiani said nothing further, raised his head with calm resolve, and willingly faced death. Throughout his years as a Spirit Realm traveler, he had slain many and nearly perished numerous times—though he may not have fully detached himself from life and death, he certainly possessed a sense of purpose. A loss was a loss; the ancient rule of "the victor becomes king, the vanquished becomes the subject" held true. "Whoosh!" The arrow transformed into a beam of light, instantly piercing through Bai Wu Jiani's chest. The very next instant, golden flames erupted from his body, consuming Ayi's expression turned fierce instantly. Unlike Bai Wu Jin Xi, who was utterly frail, Ai had still the strength to resist. His sheath wings unfurled, and he soared skyward, determined to engage Yuan Shi Tian Zun in a last-ditch struggle. But as his body lifted off the ground, a searing gust of wind rushed toward him. Ai felt a sudden warmth on his cheeks, then lost consciousness—his thoughts faded completely. With a soft thud... his blazing, scorched skeleton tumbled to the ground, shattering into dust. The number-one fugitive on the wanted list had returned to the spiritual realm. Witnessing Zhang Yuanqing's decisive elimination of both Bai Wu Jin Xi and Ai, with only the instinct of survival driving him to act, he summoned the Water God Seal. "Whoosh—!" A surge of water roared forth, white waves rolling in. Zhang steered the rushing tide, fleeing toward the blood pool. Drawing his bow, he released his arrow, which then pursued its target and plunged into the water. A golden glow erupted within the river, thundering like a roar. Instantly, several tons of water vaporized, and a dense plume of steam rose gently After eliminating three opponents consecutively, Zhang Yuanqing no longer drew his bow. With a gentle finger movement, he sent out a faint golden light that ignited the Ji Lou Fish, reducing it to embers and leaving it barely alive. "Guan Ya!" he turned to Guan Ya, the member with the lowest current score. Old Si Ji nodded slightly, reached for her pistol from the inventory, aimed at the Ji Lou Fish, and fired. Two sharp "crack" sounds echoed as the blackened figure burst into splashes of blood, then ceased struggling. "Yuan... Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn..." Hóng Wēi's face paled. Taking a deep breath, she said, "You promised that as long as someone pledged loyalty to the official side, your commitment would remain valid until the very end—does that still hold true?" She didn't want to die. Bai Wu Jin, the team's leader and a once-accused villain, knew he wouldn't survive. But Hóng Wēi believed she wasn't a ruthless killer. She wanted to try—just to see if she could survive. Zhang Yuanqing asked, "When I begged for mercy at the moment Hong Wei was startled, understanding the Primordial Celestial Sovereign's determination, and sighed bitterly, "I see...". She couldn't do it, so neither could the Primordial Celestial Sovereign. A flash of golden light vanished, and her red youth turned to white bones. If he spared her, it would be disrespectful to his teammates who had fought alongside her through life and death... Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Hong Wei's white bones and then, turned to the plump young man, drawing his bow. "Primordial Celestial Sovereign!" Kou Beiyue stepped forward swiftly, shouting. Zhang Yuanqing turned to look at him. ...Kou Beiyue stammered, "Could he... could he be spared?" Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, Are you being stubborn? I just said that forgiveness would be disrespectful to the teammates... Kou Beiyue, not skilled at asking for favors, spoke with an awkward, earnest plea, "I've helped you so much—I hope you'll spare him just on my account." Zhang Yuanqing frowned, "Because he was your first disciple?" "How do you know... Kou Beiyue almost spoke out, his thin face instinctively lifting his chin, 'I just feel he's not a bad person. Not entirely bad, I mean.' Zhang Yuancheng thought for a moment, then said, 'Agreed—but when we divide the spoils later, you won't get any share.' Kou Beiyue had certainly earned his reward; by securing the younger man's life with his own merits, Zhang Yuancheng showed his respect for his teammate. Kou Beiyue exhaled in relief and nodded, 'Alright, I'm fine with that. I don't really care much about these items anyway.' The younger man stared blankly at Kou Beiyue, his lips moving slightly, 'Boss...' Just as he was about to say something, a faint golden light burst from the Yuan Shi Tianzun floating above, striking precisely at his chest. Instantly, golden flames surged up his body. He rolled onto the ground, screaming in pain, until he was barely breathing and his skin blackened before the flames finally died down. 'You take care of him,' Zhang Yuancheng said, turning to Kou Beiyue. This stocky guy is quite strong—he couldn’t possibly let the others move around unscathed within the dungeon. With only a day left until the dungeon concludes, if he goes full throttle, he’d manage to kill at least one or two lawful guardians. Kou Beiyue rushed to the stocky man’s side, checking that he wasn’t dead from his injuries, only then exhaling in relief. He was genuinely advocating for the stocky man—this was the first time he’d ever taken on the role of a leader, and naturally, he’d been a bit emotionally driven. Throughout their journey, the stocky man had repeatedly stepped in to defend him, showing unwavering dedication as a loyal subordinate. Moreover, after getting to know him over the past few days, Kou Beiyue had come to realize that the stocky man wasn’t someone cunning or malicious with a twisted personality. So, he couldn’t bear to see him die here. After defeating all the enemies, Zhang Yuanqing rolled up his blood-red, unbound longbow; lifted Red Wei’s bronze mirror; and placed the Water God Seal of “Only I Am Supreme”; and the dual swords of the Nine-Leak Fish. He kept the blood "Guan Ya immediately took the two swords, while Zhao Chenguang selected the most valuable item—the Water God Seal. Jiang Jingwei had no choice but to take the bronze mirror. After distributing the spoils, Zhang Yuancheng drew his bow once more, drawing it fully to a crescent shape and shooting a brilliant golden beam toward the park's exit. 'Boom!' The entire park shook violently, the invisible seal shattered, and a powerful gust of wind surged upward. With this arrow, Zhang Yuancheng's body had finally exhausted the divine power of the Sun God. He drifted down from the sky, his limbs heavy, his spirit drained, and a deep sense of fatigue surged through his body. As the vessel that carried the Sun God's power, merely containing it had placed unbearable strain on his transcendent body, resulting in exhaustion, weakness, and burning pain. At that moment, urgent footsteps echoed from outside the park. A group of people rushed in—members of the Taiyuan Sect's night-wandering deities, colleagues from the Five Elements Alliance, and the independent practitioners led by Guan Zhongkui and the Lamenting Knights—totaling thirty, the Shansheng faction surged into the park. They have personally witnessed the epoch-defining battle, having settled into the initial excitement and euphoria, yet still radiate a profound joy of survival against all odds. Everyone is now fixed on Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, admiration and gratitude shining in the eyes of the men. The women display even stronger reverence and awe, more openly and unreservedly. They have all seen the scene where Tian Zun transformed into the sun and slew the Blood Pool Demon King. Though they do not fully understand how this young man achieved it, there is no doubt—he reversed the situation in the face of dire adversity, and it is precisely because of him that everyone has survived. This battle, a killing quest where an entire evil-occupation faction was wiped out, is exceptionally rare in the recorded history of the Spiritual Realm. Second, no internal conflicts due to competition for personnel. "How to distribute the benefits, you all settle among yourselves—understood?" "Understood!" everyone responded in unison. Excitement surged back on their faces. The orderly travelers who hadn't made it into the top twenty due to insufficient points now felt increasingly eager. By eliminating the mountain spirits' faction, not only would they gain points, but they would also claim the vacant spots left behind. All twenty-four saint positions in this combat instance would now belong exclusively to the orderly faction—this alone would make the merit of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign resonate throughout the official circles. "Cui Ya, please stay here," Zhang Yuanqing said to his tall, graceful sister, then addressed Zhao Chenghuang: "Could you take charge of them and maintain order?" Zhao Chenghuang noticed his demeanor was off and gave a slight nod. Once everyone had left, Zhang Yuanqing slumped back, sprawling on the ground covered in black ash, "I'm so tired. I need to sleep for a while. Guan Ya, hehe, a pillow..." Guan Ya gave a disdainful "phh," yet still approached, kneeling on the ground and lifting Zhang Yuanqing's head to rest it on the smooth, soft curve of her legs. "Your points have set a record!" Guan Ya smiled gently, speaking softly. "How many exactly?" Zhang Yuanqing murmured. Just as Guan Ya was about to speak, she noticed that the man now enjoying her legs had already begun snoring loudly. "... The situation is settled!" said the Dog Elder. As he spoke, his beady eyes were fixed with fear on the Fear King—had it not been for the slightly awkward clapping of his paws, he would have been glad to further unsettle the king. Just as the Fear King had previously unsettled the female Marshal. "Indeed, indeed," the Elder said. "With the Yuan Shi Tian Zun's complete victory over the evil faction, he must surely earn at least an A-level merit. We'll award him one shortly." The red-haired elder clapped and laughed heartily, his demeanor resembling that of a petty antagonist proud of his victory. The other two elders from the Chihuo Sect crossed their arms and laughed loudly: "Master Yuanshishen has completely cleared the extraordinary fugitive list—worth an S-rank, why not promote him directly to elder status?" An excellent fire master never needs to restrain his emotions, just as fire never conceals its light and heat—boisterous and radiant, that is precisely what defines a fire master. The other elders, however, were more reserved, their expressions ranging from satisfied to gently smiling, their faces shifting from overcast to clear. The female general had been gazing intently at the extraordinary realm's killing quest for a long time, not paying much attention to the saints' battles—ever since the spirit of the Three Mountain Lady descended upon the park, her gaze had never wavered. ——though that ancient sun-god had already departed. The elders sensed that the general was in a particularly good mood. "Fear," she said, "remember to bring the rule-related items." The King of Fear, his face pained, shook his head and sighed, "Alas, alas..." The abbot of the Void Sect remained silent for several seconds, then slowly said, "It is fate." As one of the highest-ranked spiritual travelers of the age, this abbot calmly accepted the outcome. Behind the three leaders, the various masters of the evil organization, though not completely furious, felt deeply saddened—so many promising talents perishing in the quest still left them breathless. Especially the elders from certain branches of the Spiritual Energy Society, who even harbored the impulse to journey to the Song Sea to hunt down the Primordial Sovereign. A-1's status within the Spiritual Energy Society was no less than that of the Primordial Sovereign within the Five Elements Alliance—she was a carefully cultivated elite. ... When Zhang Yuan regained consciousness, it was already dark. "Still a bit tired," he murmured as he sat up and stretched, glancing at the large patch of saliva on Guan Ya's pant leg, and asked, "How long have I been asleep?" "He should have been well-rested, yet he still felt sluggish, his limbs heavy and weak. Guan Ya rolled her eyes, saying, "You've already drifted off into the副本! Once the sun rises, we can leave the副本." I've slept for a full day and night? That explains the slight pressure in my bladder... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself as he gazed upon the once-vibrant park grounds now reduced to a scene of devastation—row upon row of spiritual travelers seated in clusters, some resting in groups, others chatting softly, some enjoying grilled meat. They sat atop the blackened ruins, like refugees who had survived a war. The battle was over, and a relaxed, serene atmosphere flowed between people. Guan Ya whispered, "From now on, these saints will be your natural allies and connections, Yuanshen. You've already built a network within the official circles, and these people matter greatly to you." Just have to bear with it—so many people, and it's hard to find room to go to the bathroom... Zhang Yuanqing kept his legs tightly together, calm and composed. "For me, Guan Ya is still the most important." "Guan Ya smiled warmly, her face as bright as flowers: 'Is that so, Ning Caichen!!'" What? Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback. "Could you please explain what she meant when the ghost called you her husband?" Guan Ya's smile was beautiful, yet carried a quiet tension. "Guan Ya姐, this is part of the Spirit Servant's preset—don't take it too seriously. By the way, tonight's moon is truly beautiful. Let me just check the leaderboard first…" He hurriedly opened the leaderboard. After defeating the four members of Bai Wu Jian Bi, his accumulated points had soared to an astonishing 1,528—breaking a new historical record. Moreover, the total points within the quest were capped. With him alone amassing 1,528 points, everyone else's scores were generally below the average. Additionally, since he had preserved most of the official Pilgrims, the number of survivors in the Order of Harmony was notably higher than in previous instances of intense combat, resulting in fewer casualties. As a result, when points were distributed evenly, each person's score remained modest. Thank you so much, Old Banging Stick—my magical staff will This situation is an isolated case—difficult to replicate. After all, even prodigies like the Marshal and the Mage King, when at the Transcendent Realm, wouldn't typically make seven trips into the enemy ranks, fighting wildly and chaotically. After reviewing the standings, he was quite satisfied with the rankings, as all his key companions appeared on the list. Of the twenty-four Saint Realm slots, twenty-two were occupied by Order-affiliated professions, while the remaining two were taken by Kou Beiyue and the stocky one. The Order-affiliated professions, furious and driven to the brink, had planned to eliminate Kou Beiyue and the stocky one after hunting down nine members of the Mountain Ghost faction, seizing their points. But they were stopped by Zhao Chenghuang. Upon inquiry, it turned out these two were specifically designated by the Prime Immortal. Though disappointed, even somewhat reluctant, no one dared to challenge the rising prestige of the Prime Immortal. Now, Kou Beiyue and the stocky one are being securely held in a corner, protected by Jiang Jingwei, Zhao Chenghuang, and Sun Miao Miao. Shinoyama Ryō, who had lost a significant amount of blood, recovered effectively under the care of the wood spirit, with only her two legs fractured—no other major injuries. At this moment, she was being warmly surrounded by the peonies and other celestial beings, receiving heartfelt praise for her brave and selfless service. Though her legs were broken, she seemed to float above the ground, a sensation she never imagined would happen in a combat-driven quest. No longer needing to say goodbye to "Oto-san" or "Oga-san," her promotion to the rank of Saint was now certain. Indeed, how many Saints exist in Japan? For a young woman like her, one could easily count them on a single hand. Time flew by swiftly, and dawn broke, with the morning light piercing through the night sky, the sun gently peeping out from the eastern horizon. The spiritual travelers, full of anticipation, finally received the task notification: 【Ping! Main quest completed. Reward: 100 points.】 【Ping! Points settlement in progress...] [1: Yuan Shishen, Night Wanderer, Level 3, 1,628 points] [2: Zhao Chenghuang, Night Wanderer, Level 3, 580 points] [3: Guan Ya, Scout, Level 3, 450 points] [4: Kou Beiyue, Enchanting Spirit, Level 3, 420 points] [5: Qianye Ryouta, Water Ghost, Level 3, 400 points] [6: Sun Miao, Night Wanderer, Level 3, 363 points] [7: Jiang Jingwei, Fire Master, Level 3, 350 points] [8: Tianxia Guihuo, Fire Master, Level 3, 340 points] [9: Spirit Knight, Night Wanderer, Level 3, 320 points] [10: Over-the-River Soldier, Scout, Level 3, 270 points] [11: Guan Zhongkui Bao, Earth Monster, Level 3, 220 points] ... Among the last thirteen, figures such 【Ping! Points settlement complete.】 【Ping! Congratulations on completing the Slayer Quest – The City of Lost Things, ID: 0000, difficulty level "Unknown". Rewards are now being settled...】 Phew, finally finished the Slayer Quest! I'm so excited for the Star Official's skills! Zhang Yuanqing sat beside Guan Ya, listening to the ambient notifications from the Spirit Realm, his heart full of anticipation. Suddenly, his expression changed—he remembered a detail he'd overlooked: the Circular Moon Seal! Oh no! My Night-Wanderer Seal is a full black moon, not a crescent—this is the unique mark of the Magus Heir! Zhang Yuanqing sprang up. "I need to go to the restroom!" "Didn't you just use it a moment ago?" Guan Ya called out. "Urinary frequency!" With that, he hurried toward the park exit. Meanwhile, outside the Slayer Quest, the leaders of the Order and the Chaotic factions once again turned their attention to the park. The transcendental-level young talents were about to receive their rewards.