How could an old-style stage performer materialize in the real world? That seemed impossible. The sudden appearance of the Three Mountain Goddesses left Zhang Yuanqing completely caught off guard, his adrenaline surging, his emotions and nerves stretched to the limit. At his desk, the King Cat speaker's melody shifted, and a deep male voice began to play: "I'm most afraid when the air suddenly grows quiet, most afraid when friends suddenly show concern, most afraid when memories return... most afraid to hear from you suddenly..." The Three Mountain Goddesses glanced coldly at the King Cat speaker on the table. Instantly, the speaker seemed to have its voice choked off, the song abruptly cutting short. The air truly grew still. Zhang Yuanqing quickly responded, bowing deeply: "I have the honor to meet the Goddess. Congratulations on your departure from the spiritual realm and your arrival in the real world." Regardless, he first established his demeanor—within these words, he also subtly conveyed a hidden intention: to gauge the Three Mountain Goddesses' true condition, whether she had genuinely left the spiritual realm, and what her current state was. To his surprise, the Lady of San Dao Mountain didn't buy it—her face turned as pale as jade, her eyes sharp with wrath, and she repeated, "Old stick!" This woman was no easy one to deal with... Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth quietly, his thoughts racing through his mind. He believed that if the Lady truly intended to do something to him, she would have manifested with anger and immediately taken action. Since she hadn't, it meant she had reservations. What reservations? Either she feared killing him, which would prevent the Immortal Staff from returning to the spiritual realm, or she had arrived in the mortal world but was constrained—unable or powerless to act. Yet, unwilling to simply let it pass, her lingering resentment remained, so she kept pressing questions. The Lady's bearing, appearance, and cultivation were indeed impressive, and considering the Yin-Yang Monastic's quiet affection for the old stick, Zhang Yuanqing must have been a beloved figure among the many suitors in the spiritual realm. She was deeply confident in her own beauty. For a woman of ethereal grace and unparalleled beauty, calling her an old-fashioned, rustic title carries little physical harm, but it does indeed fall short in terms of dignity and respect. According to the experience of a life coach, if I don’t "flatter" her, her goodwill will diminish—eventually, when I meet her in the spiritual realm, even if she doesn’t kill me outright, she’ll quietly retaliate, much like in a killing quest where she directly observes the true form of the blood-pool demon god through my very body. She also knew this anecdote—she truly was a historical figure. Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "I am a straightforward person and don't know how to praise the Lady. But your beauty surpasses the very essence of earthly perfection." The old woman's expression gradually improved. At that moment, footsteps came from outside, and both she and Zhang Yuanqing turned to look. Zhang Yuanqing felt her heart sink, but there was nothing she could do to stop it—she could only watch as the bedroom door opened, revealing her grandmother, her hair now white, frowning and saying, "Just stay quiet, stay quiet..." Her grandmother's expression suddenly froze as she looked at the grandson kneeling before her, stunned, asking, "Yuanzi, what are you doing on the ground?" Ah, yes—the old woman was in her spiritual form, so her grandmother couldn't see her. Zhang Yuanqing quickly realized and replied, "I'm paying homage to the deity!" The grandmother: "...?" "Oh, don't bother me, Grandmother! I didn't knock when I came in, I'm always quiet—I just ask you to go now!" Zhang Yuanqing employed the young person's usual "impatient" tactics. "Are you finally awake? Get up right now!" Grandmother said, then stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door. "Thud!" With the door shut, the Three-Mountain Goddess turned her gaze back to Zhang Yuanqing, her delicate brows furrowed in disapproval. "Such a fool! To be so disrespectful to elders!"... Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily at a loss for words and could only reply, "Your Majesty is right." Pausing, he added, "May I ask—can Your Majesty actually manifest in the present world?" The Three-Mountain Goddess looked down at him with a calm, knowing gaze, as though she had already read his thoughts, and replied softly, "With the positive spirit essence within the Subduing-Monsters Staff, you can bring me into the world of the living. As long as you retrieve the staff here, I will be able to sense your presence." She then checked her own condition and continued, "However, each manifestation lasts only two days. If you engage in physical combat, the spiritual essence will be consumed more rapidly, and I will soon return to the spiritual realm. You'll need to come back again after three days." Zhang Yuanqing mentally muttered, "Wow, what a sneaky move by the Three Mountain Old Bards!" He thought: "They could easily summon themselves to the real world using the Fumogu Staff, yet in the quest realm, they never once mention it. Instead, they keep reminding me to retrieve the Fumogu Staff within the realm—only then can they sense me. It's clear they're deliberately lowering my guard. They're out to trick me! Now, no matter whether in the real world or the quest realm, the Fumogu Staff is useless. I'll have to return it to them. As he pondered this, the Lady of the Three Mountains' gaze shifted slowly and deliberately across the room, as if deeply intrigued by the objects here. She took her time, and every item seemed to captivate her. Zhang Yuanqing noticed that she lingered the longest on the computers, mobile phones, and televisions—these electronic devices. After surveying the items in the room, the Lady of San Dao Mountain drifted to the window, gazing down at the neighborhood landscape and the swift flow of traffic on the street, lost in thought for a long time, and asked, "Since the establishment of the Ming dynasty court, how many years have passed?" "Six hundred years, Lady," replied Zhang Yuanqing, the old steady one. The Lady of San Dao Mountain paused slightly, expressing a quiet sense of melancholy: "Six hundred years—like a single breath." At this moment, her eyes and expression had softened, even touched with a springtime sorrow. From this angle, Zhang Yuanqing could clearly see her profile—the old steady one's facial features were exceptionally three-dimensional, with full, sensuous lips, smooth jawlines, and naturally curled, dense lashes. Every detail of her facial structure and cheek contours seemed meticulously carved. She was beautiful without any flaw; aside from her cool, powerful presence, her appearance truly bore the grace of a celestial maiden. The only regret was that her courtly attire was rather conservative, highlighting only her height and concealing the finer details. Zhang Yuan was just considering whether to offer a few words of comfort when the elder clog said, “I’ve entered several versions with styles closely aligned to the present reality, and I’ve come to understand that the outside world has undergone profound transformations. Over six centuries, the changes in the current age surpass those of the past few millennia. “Such a massive shift—I simply cannot comprehend it.” It’s no wonder she’s particularly focused on electronic devices; now she realizes these are the hallmarks of the new era… Zhang Yuan instantly grasped her sense of melancholy. He had read the Daoist records of the Yin-Yang hermit and knew that the Lady of San Dao Mountain did not originate in the Ming Dynasty, but rather earlier—possibly in the Song or even the Tang. The elder clog had lived through centuries of change, yet between the Tang and Song dynasties and the Ming Dynasty, human civilization evolved only modestly, remaining essentially feudal. Under such similar cultural foundations, how could institutions and environments have changed so much? From Tang to Song to Ming, one might merely marvel at the shifting tides and the rise and fall of dynasties. But from the Ming Dynasty to the modern world—this is Thus, the old stage actor has this profound reflection. Zhang Yuancheng spoke softly, "Your Majesty, the people of the Shang Dynasty viewed the Ming Dynasty in much the same way. Your era and the Ming Dynasty's era were both under the same system of governance, so you find that over several centuries, despite the ebb and flow of human affairs, little has truly changed. Yet, in the past one or two centuries, the world has undergone revolutionary transformations—changes that surpass even the cycles of dynastic succession. Just as the Shang to the Ming Dynasty shifted the very foundation of human civilization, this modern transformation is equally profound." The Lady of San Mountain suddenly had it all clear, and was about to lightly set this matter aside when she noticed the young man named "Yuanshi Tianzun" proudly lifting his head: "Unlike them, as one would say in your time, I am a student of the Imperial Academy and already hold a government appointment—thus, a rising young official of the age, with the potential of a Grand Minister." A flicker of surprise passed through the old clog's eyes, which quickly faded, and she replied calmly: "Indeed, your confidence bears the mark of a Grand Minister." Then, her brows furrowed, and she fixed her gaze intently, asking, "How do you know I am not from the Ming dynasty?" Zhang Yuanqing answered truthfully: "I once visited a spiritual realm known as 'Yin-Yang Town,' where I obtained the Daoist record of a 'Yin-Yang Hermit.' He mentioned you in that record." After a moment's thought, the old clog recalled who the Yin-Yang Hermit was, and said softly, "Is he also trapped within that realm?" "No," Zhang Yuan清 shook his head, "He has passed away." The Lady of San Dao Mountain paused slightly, nodded gently, and said nothing. The atmosphere in the room remained silent for a few seconds. Then, the old bard gently opened her red lips: "Today, I have come to observe the changes in the mortal world and to learn more about you, the spiritual realm travelers." With that, her dark, polished eyes silently fixed upon him. Zhang Yuan understood immediately, and replied, "The younger disciple will speak without reservation, sharing all that comes to mind." She then went on, in detail, to explain the number of spiritual realm travelers, her understanding of the spiritual realm, the design of the quests, the specifications of the items, the composition of the orderly and chaotic factions, the organizational structure of spiritual realm institutions in the real world—covering every aspect thoroughly. This took nearly half an hour. The Lady of San Dao Mountain listened intently, her brows furrowed, remaining silent and expressionless for a long time. She had already gathered some information from the travelers who had entered the spiritual realm, knowing about the existence of the quests, and understanding that contemporary practitioners now rely heavily on character cards and the concept of the spiritual realm. But after supplementing the information from Yuanshishen Tianzun, her doubts not only remained but grew into even more questions. She remained silent, and Zhang Yuanqing dared not interrupt, quietly observing this ancient beauty. Though dressed in equally elegant and ethereal ancient attire, the Lady Zhengsha gave him the impression of a magical sect's young, spirited apprentice—lively, whimsical, at times deeply affectionate, at others abruptly cold. Yet still, a peer in age and standing. The older lady, though breathtakingly beautiful, carried an air of lofty divinity, like a goddess placed upon a divine altar, revered by the world. Since becoming a spiritual realm traveler, Zhang Yuanqing had never felt any sense of reverence in the modern world—whether among successful, financially independent women or among noble wives married into affluent families—until now. The older lady was exceptionally rare: her commanding presence stirred in him memories of his elementary school English teacher. When he was in elementary school, his English teacher was young and beautiful, yet very strict—she always kept a cold expression, and whenever any student drifted off or failed to pay attention, she would tap their palms with a ruler. The little boys in the class all feared her, and Zhang Yuanqing was no exception. In more contemporary terms, on this day, Zhang Yuanqing revisited the fear of being controlled by his English teacher and the humiliation of having his palms struck with a ruler while seated at his desk. After a long time, the elder official nodded slightly: "The inquiry is complete." Then it was my turn to ask, Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "Madam, I have always been puzzled—do you exist as a fictional creation within the spiritual realm, or are you a real, tangible being?" The Lady of San Mountain replied, "I am trapped in the spiritual realm while asleep." Indeed, Zhang Yuanqing's intuition was confirmed. He then asked, "How many beings of your stature exist within the spiritual realm?" To this question, the elder official answered, "Only a few, to be counted on the fingers!" "That is all... Zhang Yuanqing bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty truly stands out as a rare talent in the long course of history. Indeed, I have one question that still puzzles me—why, in your era, was there no concept of the 'Spirit Realm'? The Lady of San Dao Mountain pondered for a few seconds before replying, "The idea of a Spirit Realm has existed since ancient times, but it refers specifically to the 'Heavenly Sanctuaries' and 'Blessed Lands,' not to this very Spirit Realm. Ancient cultivators drew upon the natural spiritual energies of heaven and earth, practiced meditation to gain enlightenment, refined elixirs and medicinal herbs—methods entirely different from those of your time. The profession has been preserved, though, though prior to the Ming Dynasty—including during the Ming Dynasty—there was no such concept of a 'profession.' We categorized the noble schools of cultivation and the schools of magic and demons based on their methods of practice. As for the spirits and demons you mentioned—those who manipulate illusions, practice witchcraft, and specialize in illusions—whose methods are often harsh and toxic, and thus regarded with disdain by the mainstream cultivation traditions—they are considered the 'School of Demons' and "The Lady of San Mountain nodded: 'Ideological differences will inevitably lead to conflict and struggle, but there is no mandatory hostility.' She then turned to Zhang Yuanqing and observed him: 'At your age, having attained the rank of Sage, you are truly exceptional—no matter which sect you belong to, you would be considered a first-rate prodigy. Yet, the path of cultivation is arduous and progresses slowly. In contrast, each step forward for a Spirit-Realm traveler is a matter of life and death, involving constant gains and losses. Therefore, they cannot be directly compared.' That is to say, ancient cultivators faced a slow and secure progression, while Spirit-Realm travelers are compelled into the Spirit Realm, advancing rapidly—many achieve the rank of Sovereign or even near-divine at a young age—but with a very high mortality rate. Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brow: 'Lady, do you know the origin of the Spirit Realm?' His question struck at the very heart of the matter. 'This is precisely what I find puzzling. In my time, celestial and terrestrial spiritual energies have been gradually diminishing, making it increasingly difficult for cultivators to emerge. The changes in the world have outpaced human capacity. Yet, the "Master of San Dao Mountain spoke solemnly: 'The Spiritual Realm was not created by human effort. It's hard to imagine what kind of attainment could have accomplished such a feat. And if such beings truly exist in the world, why have they not appeared throughout the centuries?' Zhang Yuanqing thought deeply, then opened his mind, saying: 'Perhaps the origin of the Spiritual Realm is precisely tied to the dwindling of celestial and terrestrial spiritual energies?' For instance, it might be that someone gradually drew off the celestial and terrestrial spiritual energies, thus forming the Spiritual Realm, which is why ancient cultivators were unable to practice cultivation. The wise old baozi glanced at him, 'What's their purpose then?' This went beyond his scope... Zhang Yuanqing couldn't answer. Master of San Dao Mountain continued: 'Nevertheless, having traversed numerous Spiritual Realms, I've found that the higher the rank of a Realm, the greater its hidden secrets. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the Realm itself, I can only influence lower-level realms. Beyond the level of Saint Cultivator, I can only observe—unable to investigate—otherwise, I would face celestial punishment. 'When you have the opportunity, you may explore further.' Zhang Yuanqing nodded and followed up with a question: "What was the state of the Daoist tradition in ancient times? When did the celestial and terrestrial spiritual energies begin to wane?" The Lady of San Dao spoke with the grace and dignity of a true noble: "During my time, there were numerous sects of immortals and demons, each capable of flying through the heavens, vanishing into the earth, shifting mountains, and filling seas. However, with each change of dynasty, the spiritual energy gradually diminished—by the time of the early Ming Dynasty, the forces of good and evil began to wane, and countless great beings exhausted their lifespans, eventually turning into loam. "Prior to my time, people held ancient figures in high regard, believing that the great masters of old far surpassed those of the present day. I once thought this merely a flaw in human nature. It wasn't until many years later that I realized the spiritual energy had been gradually declining since ancient times, with each generation of cultivators falling short of the previous one." So it seems the waning of spiritual energy wasn't a sudden event—it may have been a continuous process throughout all of human history. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly thought: "Lady, during "Indeed, yet at that time the spiritual realm had not yet revealed itself. How could we, ordinary beings, have any means to observe the great transformations of heaven and earth? Only in the ancient myths and legends could we glimpse a fragment of the distant past." Observing the past through myths—this indeed proved to be a promising perspective... Zhang Yuanqing then turned to ask another question: "Yesterday, when the Lady of San Dao used me as a medium, the beings she encountered—what were they?" The Lady of San Dao replied coldly: "If you know, then next time you enter the spiritual realm, you will surely be noticed by that one." "Surprisingly, I no longer find it curious at all..." With a slight upward curve of her lips, the Lady of San Dao, seeing the young man's unyielding gaze fixed on her mouth, simply pressed her lips together and gave a cold sigh. Zhang Yuanqing quickly shifted his gaze, steering the conversation: "Lady, when I entered the temple of the Mountain God and paid homage to your statue, I happened to learn that your disciple, the temple steward, slaughtered the other temple disciples—seemingly in pursuit of immortality?" "The elder budge, with her clear and beautiful face, now radiating anger, said, 'That ungrateful descendant, in pursuit of immortality, has fallen into the path of magic. Struggling to inhale and exhale the celestial and terrestrial vital energies, he has turned his attention to his disciples, intending to refine them into elixirs. Then, he has treated me as the furnace, using the solar divine power within my body to purify the impurities in the elixirs and enhance his own cultivation. After his disciples have perished, he has abandoned his physical form and merged with the tree spirit, clinging on for survival. Such a wicked disciple—this seat of mine owes you a great debt for clearing the way.' With that, the elder budge sighed, 'Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, many heads of martial sects and senior elders have likewise sacrificed their spiritual integrity for immortality, falling into the realm of magic. As a result, the celestial energies have dwindled, and the world has faced a crisis of vitality—so severe that, in the countryside, families have resorted to exchanging children for food, a phenomenon not uncommon.' Her words resolved many of Zhang Yuanqing's doubts. First, the motive behind Yet the power of the Sun God can purify pollution, which is why the temple attendant has kept the spirit crystals lodged in the old wooden jaw. Thus, when the tree spirit first appeared, its roots tightly encircled the stone sarcophagus, as if guarding its food. These details have all been verified. "Based on my assessment, after the celestial spiritual energy dwindled, the Lady had to fall into sleep in order to survive. Since deep slumber effectively extends one's lifespan, why hasn't she followed your example?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. The Lady of San Dao Mountain stood with her hands behind her back: "This method requires the Golden Bird." Seeing the students from the Imperial Academy look puzzled, she added: "Which is precisely the Sun-Wandering Deity you speak of." Was the Sun-Wandering Deity known in ancient times as the Golden Bird? Zhang Yuanqing understood immediately, and instantly recalled Lady Yin-Yao—the strikingly beautiful and enigmatic spirit of the deceased, who had attained the rank of Saint. Yet even achieving a state of sustained existence by transforming into a spiritually aware corpse was a challenge for her. As for the temple attendant, who had only reached the Night-Wandering Deity level When mentioning Lady Yin Yao, Zhang Yuanqing felt particularly sympathetic toward the elder lady. Her disciples treated her in increasingly devoted ways—some saw her as a furnace refining impurities from her spiritual body, while one even went so far as to steal her jade coffin and replace it with a stone one. One after another, they showed ever greater filial piety. “The village of speechless people…” The elder, after a moment’s thought, nodded. “Excellent! She is still alive—that is most fortunate. Master Yuanshen, you have truly accomplished a great feat. As for rewards, I shall bestow them upon you personally at a later time.” “It is my honor to serve the Lady,” Zhang Yuanqing said with genuine delight. "See, I've seen Your Grace..." Before the ghost bride could even utter a single word to her husband, she saw the breathtaking, ethereal beauty of the queen standing within the room, and instantly fell to her knees with a soft *plink*. As the host, Zhang Yuancheng, sensed the ghost bride's thoughts through the imprint: How had she managed to leave the spiritual realm? She hadn't intended to harm her husband—did she wish to take him away from him? She was both sorrowful and helpless. My lady, you've quite a lot going on in your heart... Zhang Yuancheng cleared his throat and offered, "My lady, the queen's spiritual essence has now descended and she has initially broken free from the spiritual realm—most encouraging. She wishes to see the outside world. You shall take good care of her." The ghost bride felt even more sorrowful, speaking softly, "White Lan understands." At once, two silhouettes drifted out the window and vanished. "Zzzz~" The cat king speaker revived, its speakers now booming with a call: "The wolves have gone! The villagers, come out now! The wolves have gone! The villagers, come out now "Zhang Yuanqing scolded. The cat king speaker's audio shifted, and began to sing a tender, heartfelt melody: 'You're so beautiful, you're so beautiful, you're so beautiful, so beautifully beautiful...' As Zhang Yuanqing lay down on the bed, immersed in the continuous stream of 'beautifully beautiful,' he reflected on the conversation he had just had with the old baozi. Time slipped away unnoticed, and soon he heard the front door creak open with a loud 'thud,' followed by his aunt's clear, bell-like voice: 'Mom, has your troublesome pet come back today?'