Kou Beiyue didn't recognize this man, yet when he saw the man's reflection in his own pupils, a sudden tremor ran through his body, as if under some terrible pressure. Fear surged within him—triggered by the dangerous early warning ability of the enchanting spirit-being—his adrenaline spiked and his pupils dilated dramatically. "Are you Kou Beiyue?" the middle-aged man approached slowly. "Who are you?" Kou Beiyue stood on guard, reaching out to grasp a dagger from his inventory—20 centimeters in length, its blade inscribed with twisted incantations. This was one of the rewards he earned upon completing a killing quest. The blade was named the "Spirit Blade," renowned for its sharpness and dual capabilities: it could pierce armor and cause bleeding. The inscribed runes could disrupt the enemy's spirit, inducing illusions and auditory hallucinations. Additionally, the Spirit Blade enhanced the wielder's speed, agility, and close-combat prowess. Beyond these core functions, the Spirit Blade possessed a special item skill—the "Reservoir of Blood." This ability is exclusive to seductive spirits. It allows them to store the essence blood drawn from their victims during daily combat and release it at critical moments to trigger their master's passive rage-battle state—a truly vital life-saving skill. After all, facing powerful foes doesn't always guarantee a chance to kill them, and thus, opportunities to awaken the "Bloodthirsty Rage" passive may be rare. "As a seductive spirit from the southern region and a freelance practitioner, it's perfectly normal that you don't know me personally—but you should have heard of my name." The middle-aged man stood several meters away, hesitating to advance further. Beneath his mask, his voice carried a cold tone: "Commander of the Army, the Divine General of Desire!" As soon as he spoke, crimson light flared within his pupils, and two twisted blood-colored incantations materialized. The Divine General of Desire? A traveler at the peak of the Saint's Realm—ranked one level above even Xiao Yuan—I'm being controlled, completely unable to resist… Kuo Beiyue's thoughts unraveled swiftly, dissolving under a growing sense of frustration. The spark of vitality in his eyes faded, leaving him dull and expression The Color-Desire Divine General slowly approached the small electric bike, his crimson gaze fixed upon him, speaking softly and steadily: "Kou Beiyue, you are my servant, you are my servant..." His voice was low and ethereal, deeply alluring, subtly reshaping Kou Beiyue's perception. After several seconds, Kou Beiyue's glazed eyes regained clarity. He sheathed his divine sword, knelt before the Color-Desire Divine General, and said, "Master! Your loyal servant, Kou Beiyue, pledges unwavering service." It was a residential community, with not many people passing through, yet this still drew a few curious glances. "Rise," the Color-Desire Divine General said. Yet he knew that if he truly wished to send this young man to his death, his subconscious would inevitably rebel—there was a high likelihood that he would break free from the spell, regain his senses. The spiritual resilience of a Spirit-Traveler was far beyond that of ordinary beings, and as a divine beast himself, a Saint-level being, Kou Beiyue possessed exceptional resistance to enchantment. To fully reshape his perception, the General would need to consolidate the spell over an extended period. Of course, the God of Desire did not need this young man to become his long-term servant; his value was limited to today. "Have you met the Prime Celestial Sovereign?" asked the God of Desire. Kou Beiyue immediately rose and bowed, responding, "Yes, the Prime Celestial Sovereign is a benefactor of mine." The God of Desire said, "From now on, that's no longer true!" Kou Beiyue was taken aback, bowing his head, "Master, he—he is still my benefactor..." The God of Desire frowned, surprised that the Prime Celestial Sovereign held such a significant place in this young man's heart, even after having been persuaded by him. The young man still clearly remembered the gratitude. The blood-character symbols in his eyes flared once more. The God of Desire spoke coldly, "From now on, that's no longer true... Kou Beiyue, recognize your status. You are merely my servant. Everything you possess belongs to me." Kou Beiyue's expression suddenly twisted. "Master, he—he is no longer my benefactor." "As soon as he said it, he felt a hollow emptiness in his heart, as though he had lost something. The Lord of Desire nodded in satisfaction and asked, 'What is your relationship with Xiao Yuan?' 'Returning to the Lord,' Xiao Yuan is my companion and my guide...' Ku Beiyue finished, suddenly adopting a strange expression—awkward, somewhat pretentious, yet finally conveying his true feelings with sincerity: 'She is someone very important to me. Like a mother, like a sister. I deeply respect her.' The Lord of Desire was slightly taken aback. He had noticed the boy's unusual expression earlier, thinking he might be secretly in love with Xiao Yuan—after all, that woman herself was quite desirable even to him. How could such a shy, delicate young man be so reserved and theatrical? He chuckled softly, and found himself pondering. For him, hunting down the Primordial Sovereign could be a gradual pursuit. But now, having arrived in Jinshan City and secured Ku Beiyue, it would be wise to take the beautiful woman first." First, it allows one to occupy the beloved one who has been cherished for so long, thus relieving the accumulated "heat" that has been building up over the past few days. Second, Xiao Yuan is a fifth-level Wugui master—far beyond mere trinkets—she can both attract Yuan Shi Tian Zun and serve as a powerful ally. The Color and Desire General asked: "Tell me everything about the Wuhen Hotel and Xiao Yuan—her personality, her tools, her achievements, every single detail." He had gathered some information about Xiao Yuan from the Blood Swallowing Sparrow, but much of it was outdated. Kou Beiyue gave no hesitation, fully disclosing all information about Xiao Yuan—her personality, her tools, her accomplishments, and the existence of the Wuhen Master. Initially, the Color and Desire General listened while assessing Xiao Yuan’s combat capabilities, mentally simulating battle scenarios—until the emergence of the Master-level "Wuhen Master," at which point his expression froze. Did Xiao Yuan have a Master-level figure behind her? The Wuhen Master, the one who redeemed himself—was it him? The past, now untraceable? The Color-Thirst General was startled. There were many spiritual realm travelers, but the number dwindled dramatically as one ascended—the number of master-level practitioners was substantial, though still limited. Though he was a prominent figure in the northern regions, he had heard of "Past Without Trace," the peak master, with great renown, and his records in the Army Commander's archive contained detailed information about him. A peculiar figure! A peculiar one among the evil-oriented professions! While his early accomplishments remained undocumented, during the Saint Realm period, Past Without Trace gained immense fame and an abundance of notable deeds—despite being an evil-oriented profession, he consistently engaged in acts of righteousness, particularly hunting down those who committed wrongdoing, including many spiritual realm travelers. This differed from the madman with the Magic Eye. "Past Without Trace" was not overly zealous; he was truly a knight-errant. His public philosophy was—every act of killing was an act of atonement! By the time he reached the Master Realm, perhaps realizing that acts of righteousness could not fully redeem him, he shifted his approach, ceasing to kill, and his philosophy evolved into—"Once you lay down your sword, you become a Buddha instantly." For heaven's sake, Xiao Yuan was always someone who never left a trace... The Lord of Desire, his expression darkening, asked, "Should either you or Xiao Yuan encounter danger, would the Master of Unseen Footprints step in to protect you?" Kou Beiyue answered truthfully: "My cultivation has not received the Master's recognition. He never bestowed the Jade Symbol for Dreaming upon me. Among those who followed him, only a few possess the Jade Symbol. Xiao Yuan is the Master's favored disciple, in charge of managing the Unseen Inn; she has one." The Lord of Desire then inquired further about the details of the Jade Symbol for Dreaming. After receiving Kou Beiyue's response, he furrowed his brows deeply. She herself is a Fifth-Level Witch-Exorcist, and possesses the Jade Seal of "Unmarked Past," allowing her to summon this sovereign at any time. Even if Unmarked is constrained by her principles and refrains from causing harm, she can easily save lives—unless aided by a Heavenly King-level master. However, securing such masters is more difficult, as all the Heavenly Kings are eccentric. Even if one appeals to them with the compelling reason of hunting down the Prime Origin Sovereign, it may prove hard to persuade them. Besides the Magician's Eye, the Army Commander's ranks include three Heavenly Kings: Fear, Extinction, and Ghost Blade. As for how they will respond, the Divine General of Desire can already envision it. The Heavenly King of Fear will say: "Whether or not I kill the Prime Origin Sovereign is my own choice—you cannot demand it from me." The Heavenly King of Extinction will say: "I merely kill people—why go all the way to Songhai to slay the Prime Origin Sovereign? I find greater pleasure in killing you." The Heavenly King of Ghost Blade will say: "The Prime Origin Sovereign? What a mere insect! He does not deserve my attention. If you insist on my killing him As for the other divine generals, they clearly cannot withstand "the past fading without trace." Unanticipatedly, having laid out a flawless strategy, he had first let her go unchallenged—deeply disappointed, the Desire God General took a deep breath and reluctantly paused his plans, instead turning his attention to formulating a strategy for hunting down the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. "Given the close relationship between the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign and this young man, it shouldn't be difficult to lure him to Jinshan City. However, since the Sovereign is a celestial official, traps and ambushes may prove ineffective—he might detect them in advance and counter-ambush me himself." "Before I can succeed in eliminating the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, I must first neutralize his celestial auspicious arts." The Desire God General pondered deeply. As a warrior of immense experience and wisdom, he swiftly conceived a solution. "Kou Beiyue!" he said, turning to the young man standing respectfully before him. "I'm heading to the Shijin Country Cottage to arrange a vehicle." Upon hearing that he would now have the opportunity to serve as the host's assistant, Kou Beiyue eagerly mounted the small electric scooter, patting the seat behind "...The Color-Desire Deity gazed at the electric scooter, falling silent. His first thought wasn't about seizing it or persuading the owner to drive—it was about using this very scooter to serve *me*, his master? What use is a mere servant like this! The Color-Desire Deity frowned, blocking a slowly approaching black sedan. "Get out of my way!" the man with a round face, his head peering out the window, called impatiently. Instantly, crimson incantations flared in the deity's eyes. "You are but a servant," he said coldly, "what in the world gave you the courage to speak to me, my master, in such a manner?" The middle-aged man froze, stared for a few seconds, then his face turned pale with fear and panic. He pushed open the car door, rolled out, and bowed repeatedly, pleading, "Forgive me, forgive me, Master!" The deity nodded. "Take me to Shi Jing's countryside homestay!" "... At the third floor corridor window of the residential building, the person with the doll-like face watched as the color-loving deity, with Kou Yue, boarded the black sedan and departed the neighborhood. He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed the蛊 king's number. 'President, he's taken the bait and left. I didn't dare get too close—still don't know where he's going,' he said. A concise 'Hmm' was heard over the line, then the call ended. The person with the doll-like face tucked the phone back into his pocket, gazing in the direction where the black sedan drove off, frowning slightly, a touch of disappointment crossing his face. The color-loving deity has killed so many—starting tomorrow, he'll have to deliver meals alone again. ... Stone-Well Country Cottage. The cottage is situated along the edge of Stone-Well Village's reservoir, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the only access being the paved road connecting the village. The owner's wife is a native of the area. She lost her husband early in life, has no children, and borrowed money from her neighbors to build the cottage by the reservoir." Because the craftsmanship was truly excellent, over the years they had accumulated a steady stream of returning customers. Every evening, guests arrived continuously, and the restaurant remained brightly lit well past midnight. After the black sedan departed Jinshan City and followed the navigation instructions, it wound its way through several turns before finally reaching this remote location. Shijing Village lies about thirty kilometers from Jinshan City. The middle-aged man with a round face parked the car on the open space outside the rural homestay. The Color-Desire God said calmly, "You two wait for me inside the car." Then he pushed open the door and walked toward the brightly lit homestay—essentially a three-story red-brick building with courtyards at both the front and back, each room furnished according to the standards of city restaurants. The first and second floors served regular guests, while the third floor was reserved for special guests (those with evil professions). The Color-Desire God had visited twice before, and the homestay staff recognized him immediately, promptly inviting him into the back courtyard. Compared to the bustling front yard, the back yard appears much more serene. The old incandescent bulbs cast a warm, slightly dimmed golden light. By the well, a middle-aged woman in her forties sits on a small wooden stool, quietly washing clothes. Her features are unremarkable, with fine frown lines around her eyes, and her skin is dark—typical of countless rural women. "I've told you before, you're a man with a perpetually soiled crotch—unworthy of even touching the tip of Xiao Yuan's finger," the woman says, though she doesn't lift her gaze, as if already sensing that the visitor is the deity of desire. The deity of desire stands in the yard, smiling. "Hmph, quite firm in your words. Perhaps you're just a bit older than I expected. Otherwise, I'd have been eager to see you both serving together—though this visit isn't solely for Xiao Yuan. Would you be interested in hunting down Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn?" The woman pauses briefly in her washing, then resumes smoothly, speaking calmly. "A one-hundred-million-yuan reward is certainly tempting, but I haven't reached the point where I'd be willing "How can it be that after all the commotion in Songhai, you truly believe those five elders are just wasting their time?" the Color-Desire Divine General chuckled. "I have a plan to draw Yuan-Shi Tianzun out of Songhai, but I need your assistance." The middle-aged woman lifted her hands from the washing basin, straightened up, and gazed steadily at the Color-Desire Divine General. "Do you have a plan?" "I've captured a young one who has a deep connection with Yuan-Shi Tianzun. It's straightforward to use him to lure out Yuan-Shi Tianzun—though you know, Yuan-Shi Tianzun is a celestial official. Traps and ambushes simply won't work against someone of that rank." The Color-Desire Divine General explained. "Therefore, I need your involvement, and I must pray to achieve this step. Prayers that rely on props may not be effective—only a holy witch-guisher of your level can truly make them count." Prayer (or blessing) is one of the three primary skills of a Saint-level witch-guisher, enabling them to establish rituals and pray to the supreme, unseen presence, seeking its protection and ensuring their endeavors The wizard of witchcraft held an extremely high status in ancient times and was often referred to as the "wild witch" in the folk, deeply respected. The simpler the prayer, the higher the success rate. For instance, if the blood swallows prayed for the success of their plan to hunt the Prime Immortal, that plan would require numerous preconditions—detailed and well-structured, with few or no significant gaps. Otherwise, merely staying at home, performing rituals without action, would be insufficient to prompt the Prime Immortal to come and meet his fate. This scenario is clearly impossible. In contrast, the requirements of the deity of desire are much simpler—praying only for a successful hunt. However, due to the multitude of factors involved, the success rate remains limited. Yet, if the blood swallows simply pray to summon the Prime Immortal, with a well-developed plan in place, their success rate, given their level, can be considered absolutely certain. The Prime Immortal might experience vision issues, rendering him unable to use celestial astrology, or he might become careless and forget to employ it. In short, various unforeseen circumstances will inevitably arise, compelling him to come. "After the matter is settled, all rewards will be split equally between us," the Color-Desire God-Commander smiled. "My one rare strength is that I never break my promises to women." Blood Radish stood up and walked toward a small, low building in the courtyard, saying, "I can begin the ritual right now. Go fetch the young one's blood and tell me precisely his relationship with the Prime Heavenly Sovereign..." And you never know when desire will strike back—then another small squad will be wiped out, and Zhang Yuanqing feels it's likely that desire is specifically targeting him. The reason is simple: among the evil organization's reward list, he ranks high on the regional list yet holds only a level 4 rating, making him the most cost-effective target. Desire's pursuit of him is entirely justified—just as lawful, orderly professions naturally pursue evil ones listed on the wanted roster—there's no need for additional grievances or animosity. The reward itself is the strongest motivation. "Honestly, from Li Xianzong to the Eye of Magic, and now to Desire—has the Commander of the Army been deliberately opposing me? After all, I've just survived the slaughter quest and barely managed to settle into a peaceful life. All I wanted was to have a proper romance with Guan Ya before I enter the next quest..." Zhang Yuanqing was just about to turn off the lights and go to sleep when his phone buzzed with a notification. He picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and saw a message from Kou Beiyue: "Master Yuanshi, I've been saving some money lately and would like to invite you for dinner. Xiao Yuan is coming too. Would you like to come?"