The Color-Desire Divinity, from the元始天尊's eyes, saw fear and despair—this expanded his smile and brought joy to his expression. Without further words, the cement path beneath his feet cracked with a sound, and his body surged forward at near-supersonic speed, arriving at the元始天尊's side in a matter of eye blinks. With a powerful kick from his right leg, he struck the enemy's head as if playing football. Given the元始天尊's near-dead condition, the Color-Desire Divinity was confident in instantly eliminating this top-tier talent of the Five Elements Alliance. "Crack!" The air seemed to burst, echoing like the sound of firecrackers. Zhang Yuanqing's form shattered, like a reflection, and vanished entirely. Star-Phantasm Technique! Turning to survey the scene, the Color-Desire Divinity found the元始天尊 seemingly gone from the world. He sneered, then exhaled a thick, withered mist, which quickly spread and expanded, veiling the reservoir and the countryside homestay, solidifying like floating clouds in the air. Near the reservoir, the mist showed clear disturbances. The Form of the Lord of Desire vanished instantly, and the next moment, his body materialized within the thick mist, striking it with a whip leg. "Pffft!" The leg delivered a sound like splashing water, sending a powerful surge of clear streams into the air, simultaneously revealing the form of the Prime Sovereign, who was forced to step out of his night-wandering state. He wore a magnificent robe of deep black, embroidered with silver waves and flame patterns. Thanks to the water spirit's passive ability, he had narrowly avoided the fatal blow. "A mere trifle!" Seeing the attack fall short, as he drew his leg back, the Lord of Desire reached into his inventory and scattered a handful of translucent yellow sand toward the flowing stream. The sand immediately absorbed the water, preventing it from returning to its original state. This was the perfect countermeasure—by disrupting the water's ability to re-form the spirit's body, the water spirits would soon perish. As a general who had long ruled the northern regions, he had witnessed such clever maneuvers countless times. Seeing his body about to cohere, yet half-attached to the yellow sand that clung tightly, unable to return, Zhang Yuanqing once again activated the Star Flight Technique, retreating toward the reservoir, while simultaneously utilizing the Yin-Yang robe to summon his water-based abilities. "Plash!" Waves surged across the tranquil reservoir, spouting white foam, with water droplets cascading down like a steady rain. Using these water splashes, Zhang Yuanqing re-cohered his body and "plunged" into the reservoir with a soft splash. The depths below were dark and silent, as though sealed by a barrier, isolating all external sounds and movements. The only sound he heard was the gentle, steady murmur of flowing currents. Zhang Yuanqing breathed deeply underwater, his adrenaline surging, calming all emotions and forcing himself to remain composed, pondering his course of action. Though the abilities granted by the Yin-Yang robe were limited to the Transcendent Realm, the capacity to breathe freely, control water, and move freely within the reservoir were sufficient to allow him to engage in a prolonged struggle with the water-averse Color-Desire General. But this is only a temporary measure. It's clearly impossible to rely on this strategy to escape the crisis—otherwise, the Lord of Lust would have been far too easy to handle. "The next transmission crystal will not arrive for another fifteen days. My phone has been damaged by water exposure, so I'm cut off from external communication." "The Lord of Lust is at the peak of a Level 6 Saint. That woman's background remains unclear—she's likely a Wuzhu (Witch-Guardian) specialist. If she joins forces with the Lord of Lust, even in the worst case, she would be at Level 5. Either of them, on their own, would be formidable challenges. And with my current injuries, my body is extremely weak..." As his thoughts raced, a solution came to him. He would remain submerged in the water, leveraging the water-controlling abilities of the Yin-Yang Robe, and wear the Hou-Tu Boots to fully integrate and transform the reservoir into his domain. Moreover, the Hou-Tu Boots would enhance his endurance—exactly what was needed to sustain prolonged combat in this severely injured body. If the Color-Desire Divine General wishes to defeat him, he must descend into the water. With this mutual exchange of strength, though he may not be able to triumph over the Color-Desire General outright, he will certainly have the ability to protect himself. As for what comes next, Zhang Yuanqing hadn't decided yet—he could only take things one step at a time. He immediately summoned the Hou-Tu Boots and donned them. The Boots' special ability instantly activated—impossibility to leap! His body sank swiftly to the bottom of the reservoir. …… "Such a variety of tactics!" The Color-Desire Divine General sneered, opening his mouth and drawing in the mist that had been enveloping the mountain into his abdomen. The middle-aged woman walked steadily toward the reservoir's edge, pulled out a blood-colored bamboo flute, and smiled, "On my territory, can he really escape?" The weeping, plaintive melody of the flute echoed through the mountain and across the reservoir. …… Just as Zhang Yuanqing had settled at the bottom of the reservoir, his feet pressing gently into the soft, silt-covered mud, he was about to activate his item skill and slowly transmute this reservoir. Suddenly, his ear twitched slightly, and the spiritual sensitivity granted by the yin-yang robe allowed him to detect a surge of dark current from deep below, as though something massive was approaching. How fast it was! The very next moment, he saw two golden-red lanterns lighting up from the far, dark depths. Thanks to the night vision bestowed by the Night-Wanderer deity, he could make out the shadows behind the lanterns—there stood a creature resembling a salamander, with a broad head, a wide mouth, golden-red eyes, and black vertical pupils. Nearly ten meters long, its entire body was covered in black scales, with a single horn rising from its flat forehead. Its sturdy limbs, moving powerfully beneath, stirred massive plumes of bubbles. What in the world? Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized—it was a *gūshòu*! A transcendent-level Wugǔ master could transform into a gūshòu, while at the Sage level, Wugǔ masters could cultivate and command unique species of gūshòu. That middle-aged woman had been raising a gūshou in the reservoir. Given my current physical condition, I cannot battle this monster... Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing removed his Houtu boots, abandoned his plan to refine the reservoir, and with a kick of his legs against the soft, spongy mud at the bottom, rose upward, propelled by the current. During this ascent, he employed the Star-Phantom Technique, creating十几 figures that swam in different directions. The giant salamander indeed stood motionless, glancing back and forth, unsure which one to pursue. "Whoosh!" As Zhang Yuanqing broke the surface, he heard a steady hum of wings—dark swarms of insects descended like a storm cloud. Ghastly insects! He swiftly waved his hand, sending out a burst of flame that illuminated the dark water, engulfing the descending swarm. The insects burned into scattered sparks, releasing a pungent smell of charred odor. At that moment, the Color-Desire Divine General plucked a black water droplet from the shore, held it in his mouth, and then stepped steadily across the surface, heading toward Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Ripples gathered in clusters and advanced in straight lines toward Zhang Yuanqing. He indeed had a water spirit's tool—such a person must possess deep reserves. As the wind rushed toward him, Zhang Yuanqing channeled the stellar power within him, transforming it into scattered glimmers that coalesced into a form ten meters away. Just as his figure emerged, he plucked another fire orb and hurled it toward the mountain range on the opposite side of the reservoir. Leveraging his star official's expertise, combined with the skills of a water spirit and a fire master, he repeatedly defused threats to himself. After launching the fire orb, he prepared to execute a fire maneuver when suddenly, a middle-aged woman at the shore bowed low, murmuring prayers. The next instant, black mist rose from Zhang Yuanqing's body, emitting a foul odor that extinguished the flames that had just surged across his skin. The fire maneuver failed! Disaster! His heart sank. While summoning the red slippers, he simultaneously drew forth the伏魔杵and drove it sharply into his thigh. A brilliant, clear golden light erupted, as if small suns had risen on the surface of the water. At the same time, the ghost bride, Bai Lan, materialized behind the color-desire divine general as he surged forward. "Ah—" As the ghost bride settled onto the back of the color-desire general, she screamed and launched off, her body rising in ethereal black smoke, her breath rapidly fading, nearing dissolution. Even at the peak strength of a saint, a being of such enchanting and seductive nature—no need to deploy any skill—could inflict severe damage upon a weak fourth-tier spiritual form. The ghost bride dissolved into a mist and returned to her husband's body. The color-desire divine general, unimpeded, charged straight toward Zhang Yuanqing and delivered a powerful punch. Instantly, gusts of wind and thunder roared, the air crackling with sonic booms. This slender frame carried an astonishing raw strength. The Red Dance Shoes reacted slightly too late, unable to respond, and ultimately could not evade the assault from an opponent of this caliber. In a moment of urgency, he only managed to raise his head and roar. A beam of moonlight poured down from the dark night sky, like a spotlight, illuminating Zhang Yuanqing, causing his muscles to swell and his With a loud crash, Zhang Yuanqing's chest collapsed, his ribs and internal organs crushed beneath the blow. He was propelled outward, skimming the water's surface, like a smooth, floating stone. The Desire God landed the strike and then stepped into the water, swiftly closing the distance to the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn who was skimming the surface. But in the very next instant, Zhang Yuanqing's body dissolved into ethereal starlight. This time, the mid-aged woman's ability to diminish fortune proved ineffective. The starlight gathered at the far bank of the reservoir, coalescing into the form of Zhang Yuanqing. Though in the state of Xiao Yue, he briefly stabilized his bodily injuries, drawing on a steady inner strength and reaching into his inventory to retrieve a staff woven from vine, topped with a jade-green gemstone. As soon as he grasped the staff, Zhang Yuanqing immediately activated its "healing" ability. The jade-green gemstone emitted a gentle glow, like a spring breeze, washing over his body, soothing his pains and mending the cracked wounds on his skin. "Ahhhhh~" A middle-aged woman by the shore played the flute. The foliage between the mountains rustled softly, stirring vast clouds of gray mist. Simultaneously, colorful venomous insects and serpents crept out from the earth, moving densely and steadily. At this moment, the God of Desire surged past the reservoir and reached the shore, charging fiercely. The Color-Thirst God Marshal stood firm, unyielding to the assault—whether it came from sharp venomous fangs, grotesque mouthparts, or fierce blows—none could breach his solid, bronze-and-iron frame. Zhang Yuanqing struck his staff once, commanding tree roots to surge upward and spiral toward the Color-Thirst God, buying time. Suddenly, the Color-Thirst God's eyes flared crimson, forming twisted, eerie runes. Instantly, the countless venomous insects and serpents across the hills and valleys froze, then turned on their heels, charging directly at Zhang Yuanqing. Even the plants rebelled, their vines and branches slicing through the air with piercing cries. All of them had been bewitched. Zhang Yuanqing's face paled; images of the Color-Thirst God's face appeared within his pupils, along with the image of a butterfly ascending from the sky—now a fully animalized middle-aged woman. Seeing that her ability to drain fortune had failed, she decisively transformed into a spirit-beast, intent on joining forces with the Color-Thirst God to engage in close combat. Before the two formed a complete encirclement, Zhang Yuanqing unfurled his Yin-Yang robe, activating the Yin-Yang Although the Star-Eluding Technique and the Fire-Elemental Skill are nearly perfect for escape, they are limited by short distances and cannot be sustained continuously; otherwise, the vital energy will quickly deplete, making it impossible to evade the pursuing Wuguo master adept at flight. For now, the only option is to deploy the Yin-Yang Array and endure for a while longer. Moreover, it is now the height of summer, with dry air and parched terrain—thus, the Fire Array will ignite the forests, sparking widespread wildfires. As soon as this mountain range is set ablaze, the Fire Element will have abundant mediums throughout, enabling more effective escape strategies. The ethereal water and roaring flames converge, forming a large array spanning thirty meters in radius. Zhang Yuanqing's original form vanishes, and a dual form composed of flame and water rises. The flame-bodied avatar roars, "By the gods' color, how could this lustful deity drive me to such a pass? I swear to heaven, I'll have your entire family!" As soon as the words are spoken, the Lustful Divine General, with a cold demeanor, withdraws a yellow-crying chicken from his sleeve and squeezes it firmly. "Crick—!" The chicken The gushe beast "butterfly" drifting through the sky, struck like by a sudden blow, wavered and tumbled downward toward the dense forest. Its water-and-fire dual forms instantly dissolved. The yin-yang robe floating in midair drifted down and settled upon Zhang Yuanqing's shoulders. He clutched his head, staggered backward, and blood seeped from his nasal passages, eye sockets, mouth, and ears. His spiritual realm was in chaos, as though his corporeal essence had been torn apart. His head ached as if about to burst, his will faltering, his thoughts nearly dissipating. The call of the doll chicken, in truth, was an exceptionally terrifying attack—specifically targeting his spiritual form. This was a high-grade artifact crafted for a master illusionist! Within him, despair surged. Relying on terrain advantages, tools, and skills, he had repeatedly deflected the enemy's assaults, like a person walking a perilous tightrope. Yet the gap between the two sides was simply too vast. The very tools he had taken pride in—his reserves of high-quality artifacts—held no advantage against this god-tier warrior. More challenging was the fact that, although the other sage, a witch-practitioner, had been stretched to his very limits and failed to muster timely strength, he now was at his absolute limit. It was utterly impossible for him to survive under the combined assault of the two masterful opponents. At that very moment, when he was on the brink of despair, a new spirit of the gushe creature appeared in the clear night sky—first appearing, then reappearing. She was graceful and slender, with black-and-yellow patterns covering her entire body, her eyes like polished jewels, her face refined and ethereal, and two curved tendrils rising from her forehead. Though she possessed a humanoid form and limbs, she also had a full, sensuous abdomen typical of a bee, and a black toxic spine embedded at the end of her tail. The delicate wings behind her fluttered at a high frequency, producing a sound akin to a helicopter’s propeller. Her sensuous abdomen gently expanded, and her tail curved upward. "Whoosh!" A piercing cry rang out as the black toxic spine shot forth, striking the Color of Desire General right behind the back—so swiftly that even the sage could scarcely react. "Oh...!" The desire god staggered, emitting a sharp cry as pain twisted his features. The honey maiden struck successfully, plunging downward and seizing Zhang Yuanqing's shoulder, carrying him swiftly toward the rural homestay. Behind them, the desire god's desperate roar echoed. A middle-aged woman transformed into a butterfly danced after the honey maiden, pursuing her, but the latter, clearly a swift and agile spirit beast, moved with greater speed. Xiao Yuan knew something was wrong right away. She first calmly called to ask Ku Bei Yue when she would return to the hotel—really testing whether he was still alive. After hanging up, she immediately set off and arrived just in time to witness Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun being surrounded and killed. It turned out she had come to see her son... Zhang Yuanqing turned to see behind her: a butterfly rushing after her, and the Color-Thirst God walking steadily across the waves. The latter roared with thunderous voice: "Little Yuan, you dare ruin my plans? I'll never forgive you!" At that moment, Xiao Yuan had already flown over the reservoir and landed on the open space outside the countryside homestay. "Xiao Yuan..." Ku Bei Yue approached, both surprised and delighted, only to see her holding Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, and immediately grew furious: "You can't save him—he'll trick you away, and he'll kill my entire family!" Xiao Yuan set Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun down, her refined, ethereal face filled with rage. She stepped forward and delivered a solid slap. Crack! Kou Beiyue, unable to resist, spun in place like a top for several circles before crashing to the ground with a loud thud, unconscious! After knocking Kou Beiyue out, she spread her palms, and the dark glow shimmered—within her palm, a black jade tablet now appeared. With a gentle grasp of her small palm, "crack!" the Dream Tablet shattered, sending out a wave of pale gray energy that spread outward. Where it passed, the colors of the sky and earth faded, leaving only pure black and white. Zhang Yuanqing found himself unable to move. Distantly, the Color-Desire Divine General, stepping through waves, rushed toward him in growing frustration, while the butterflies flapping in flight just passed over the reservoir and were instantly frozen mid-air by the gray wave. The next instant, the scene shifted dramatically—the ceiling, once painted with images of the Buddhas, now replaced the night sky, and the cement floor transformed into solid, ancient stone. Days later, he returned once again to this elegant, traditional hall, where before him stood a golden Buddha several meters tall, its long, narrow eyes half-closed, observing the scene below with both compassion and sternness. Saved... Zhang Yuanqing felt a great relief, the tension in his body loosening as his knees gave way, nearly stumbling. He braced himself against his weary frame, bowing slightly and saying, "Thank you, Master, for your timely rescue." Master Wuhen's voice, strained by an underlying pain, echoed throughout the hall: "You have already been caught by the allure of desire—be cautious." How could Master Wuhen possibly intervene and eliminate the force of desire himself? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, yet knew it was impossible. He sighed and replied, "I understand." Xiao Yuan immediately asked, "Master, Lady Boli has been influenced by desire—do you have any remedy?" "The power of the Sun God can resolve this—retire now!" Master Wuhen said calmly. Was he going to ask me to help? Zhang Yuanqing exchanged a glance with Xiao Yuan and stepped forward first. Xiao Yuan supported Kou Beiyue and followed behind. As they stepped out of the temple hall, the surroundings distorted, transforming into the familiar corridor of the hotel, with the "Room 404" behind them. "Head to the second floor," Xiao Yuan said coldly. The two took the elevator to the second floor and entered Room 203 under Xiao Yuan's guidance. She laid Kou Beiyue on the bed and fixed her dark, gem-like eyes on Zhang Yuancheng. "Rest a while," she said, "while I change my clothes." She still maintained her spirit-ensouled form—most Wugui masters, after transforming into a spirit-being, rarely lose their garments, though a few with particularly dramatic physical changes do. Xiao Yuan belonged to the latter category. Of course, she possessed a special battle armor that could cover her body, so she didn't always feel embarrassed during transformation. But when she saw the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign's life hanging in the balance, she had no time to don her armor. Once Xiao Yuan closed the door and left, Zhang Yuancheng sank to the floor, gasping heavily, his heart and lungs feeling as though they were old, worn-out bellows. At this moment, the lingering effects of Xiao Yuan's condition began to take hold—her limbs grew weak, her body frail, and the damaged organs ached faintly, even though the Mountain God's staff had repaired most of her injuries. Most critical, however, was the Additionally, the cost of using the Mountain God's staff has become evident—the tent in the lower abdomen. Zhang Yuanqing's reproductive desire has intensified notably. Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, pushed Zhang Yuanqing aside, bent down to cover Kou Beiyue with the quilt, and said, "That's enough. Today's matter is his fault—I'll handle it. Do you have anything else? If not, please go…" She gave a cold dismissal, yet couldn't help adding, "Be careful going forward. The Lord of Desire is likely to launch another campaign targeting you. I've already been exposed today. From now on, it'll be difficult for me to go to the black market run by the Commander of the Army to gather information—I won't be able to assist you much anymore…" Her round, alluring eyes, bent slightly as she was on her knees, suddenly widened in disbelief, her body stiffening in place. Zhang Yuanqing gently held her hips from behind, the scorching, vibrant "Fumagong Staff" pressing firmly against her cleft. The once-humble, dry-mouthed man, now sincerely and honestly, murmured, "Auntie Xiao Yuan, I'd like to sleep with you..." At that moment, Kou Beiyue slowly awoke, groaning, "My legs are so painful..." Before she could finish, Xiao Yuan, still in a crouched position, swiftly delivered a cutting blow, and Kou Beiyue kicked her legs, instantly losing consciousness again. ... Zhang Yuanqing sat on the chair, his nose and cheeks swollen, gazing at Xiao Yuan by the bed, her expression cold and composed. "Well, well, I said it was all the props' fault—will you believe me?" Xiao Yuan silently rose, her face expressionless, and looked at him. "You rest now. Once the props have paid their price, I'll come find you." A faint blush remained on her cheeks. Without waiting for Zhang Yuanqing's reply, she picked up Kou Beiyue from the bed and walked out of the room. Zhang Yuanqing, utterly exhausted, lay on the bed, covered by the blood A bowl of steaming white porridge and several small side dishes are placed on the nightstand. By the desk across from the bed, there’s a set of clean, well-ironed clothes—clearly from Kou Beiyue in style and size. Now I’m completely at a loss on how to interact with Xiao Yuan; I’ll have to seek advice from my personal mentor. Zhang Yuanqing silently sighed, finished her breakfast, took a shower, and changed into Kou Beiyue’s clothes. Kou Beiyue is only just coming of age, still developing physically, and is a head shorter than Zhang Yuanqing—her pants fit well, but her short-sleeved shirts don’t quite. Zhang Yuanqing walked over to the nightstand and dialed the front desk phone, saying, “I’m awake!” A soft “Hmm” came from Xiao Yuan, followed by the line going dead. A few minutes later, Xiao Yuan, dressed in her hotel front desk uniform, knocked on the door and sat in the chair by the desk, asking, “Has there been any official plan?” Her expression remained calm, as if she had completely forgotten the awkward scene from last night. Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: "I may not be aware of the elders' plans, but following last night's events, the Lord of Lust will likely fully retreat and possibly even temporarily leave Longhai. 'A peak Saint who is determined to vanish—I don't think the elders will be able to uncover him. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many fugitives.' If the Lord of Lust departs Longhai, no matter how unwilling he is, he'll be unable to retaliate. Indeed, he's quite unwilling. Small Yuan nodded. 'From now on, be careful yourself.' The atmosphere in the room grew momentarily quiet. Small Yuan spoke softly: 'Is Longhai that busy?' 'It is quite busy...' Zhang Yuanqing replied instinctively, then regretted it immediately. He was about to say something to salvage the situation when Xiao Yuan gently changed the subject: "The rural homestay in Shiji Village was operated by my former superior, a black-market hub. I originally intended to go there to gather information, but now it's likely abandoned. I and that group have always been on different paths. With only so many channels under our control, we're likely to be pursued by the evil organizations in the future. It will be difficult for you to obtain information through the evil professional groups. To catch mice from the drains, official channels alone are insufficient. The Lord of Desire has boundless appetites—despite being on the sidelines, he continues to gather beautiful women. If the official side controls the seductive spirits who influence the military commanders, that would be a promising avenue. That's my suggestion." "The official forces are actively hunting members of the Military Commanders' Order hidden in Songhai, but I believe, given their status and influence, they wouldn't know where the Lord of Desire is hiding..." Zhang Yuanqing suddenly paused, a flash of insight striking him. He had the channels originating from the high levels of the Military Commanders' Order. Isn't the enchanted eye confined in the zoo just that? Indeed, the enchanted eye, imprisoned in the zoo, cannot be aware of the latest developments from the God of Desire, yet it must surely know certain secret communication methods used by the Commander of the Army. No, that won't work! With such a significant disturbance caused by the God of Desire in the Sea of Song, the enchanting spirits of the Commander of the Army are likely hidden in reserve. Given the vigilance of the evil organization, the communication methods previously controlled by the enchanted eye may have already been changed. Unless a high-ranking official from the Commander of the Army is willing to assist—but that seems impossible. Wait! Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up—he had someone in mind: the God of Wrath! The audio recordings from the Cat King's speaker once captured the King of the Enchanted One mocking the God of Wrath—specifically, the God of Wrath's wife is a servant of the God of Desire. Could this underlying conflict be exploited? Does the God of Wrath know about his wife's relationship with the God of Desire? Hmm, probably not. Otherwise, given the God of Wrath's temper, the God of Desire wouldn't have managed to remain so composed and successful. Yet Buangu, one of the Eight Divine Generals, is active in the northwest—finding him is no easier than locating the Desire God. Oh, I can check with Moyan to find out; perhaps he knows how to reach Buangu. A rough plan began to take shape in Zhang Yuanqing’s mind. He jumped up excitedly and said with eager anticipation, “Aunt Xiao Yuan, I’ve got it! I’ll head back to Songhai first.