Upon arriving at the hotel lobby by elevator, Zhang Yuanqing immediately spotted Kou Beiyue standing at the front desk, taking over from Xiao Yuan. Upon seeing him approach, Kou Beiyue's expression brightened, only to then become hesitant—she moved her lips, trying to say "I'm sorry," but the words stuck in her throat and wouldn't come out. Such a pretentious little kid... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, and then strode forward, raising his hand to give her a solid shove. "Reluctant son, reluctant son..." he muttered, waving his palm vigorously. Kou Beiyue clutched her head and shielded her face, enduring both the blows and the scolding. Zhang Yuanqing kept on pressing until Xiao Yuan came down the elevator, at which point he finally released her, muttering, "Now I'm going to settle my score—come back when you've got time and I'll give you another beating!" With that, he walked off, still wearing clothes that didn't fit. Kou Beiyue watched his retreating figure, exhaled silently—though she'd been hit, her heavy heart suddenly felt light. Suddenly, he caught Xiao Yuan standing aside, watching him, and immediately adopted a fiery posture, muttering under his breath, "For heaven's sake! If I weren't out of options, I'd have already pinned Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn to the ground and pounded him senseless!" Young men value their dignity! ... The morning sun at ten o'clock was bright but not scorching; the plants in the villa's garden enjoyed just the right amount of sunlight, flourishing with vibrant, lush life. Though soon they would be scorched by the increasingly intense rays. In the spacious, opulent study, Fu Qingyang crossed his hands over the desk, gazing intently at the computer screen. The image displayed the online conference room, with the five elders' faces each distinct. The elder of the Water Deity Palace, with a portrait of a rippling river and flowing waves, is "Luo Shen"; the elder of the Hundred Flowers Association, with a portrait of a Chinese rural dog, is "The Old Man and the Dog"; the elder of the White Tiger Army, with a portrait of armor, is "Huangsha Bǎizhàn"; the elder of the Red Flame Clan, with a portrait of flame, is "Shuìshì Tiān Huǒ"; and the elder of the Central Court, with a portrait of a sculpture of the Earth Deity, is "Xī Rǎng". The foot soldiers at the Songhai branch are anxious, fearing that the next to fall might be their own squad. While most colleagues from other regions remain calm, some female staff, particularly those who hold strong reservations about the Deity of Desire, express themselves with greater intensity. "Can't even capture the Deity of Desire despite having so many top-tier talents at Songhai?" "Unable to handle even one deity—what exactly is Songhai branch doing?" "It's truly embarrassing." "Metatron and Fu Qingyang are renowned as geniuses, aren't they? Are they simply experts only in internal conflicts?" And so on. Fu Qingyang speaks first: "We can request support from headquarters and borrow the 'Heavenly Circulation of the Seven Stars Map' for simulation and analysis. Though the medium may be lacking, the results won't be poor. As long as we can narrow down to a general area, I and Elder Bai Zhan can use our insight techniques to conduct a thorough, systematic search. The Deity of Desire will likely remain concealed for some time. We will have ample time to await the arrival of the necessary tools." The essence of stargazing divination lies in forecasting the shifting patterns of celestial bodies—the grand directional trends. In ancient times, astronomers often served at the Bureau of Astronomy and Timekeeping. During times of peace, they established seasonal festivals and calendar systems; during periods of turmoil, they predicted the course of the era. However, when it comes to locating people, the results are typically not very effective. The voice of the Luo Shen elder came through the speaker: "Suppose the desire for color has already left Songhai?" The Tianhuo elder exclaimed angrily: "How can he leave after killing our Songhai branch personnel? Isn't that too lenient on him? What dignity remains for our branch?" Fu Qingyang replied calmly: "If the divination indicates that the desire for color has departed Songhai, then we shall officially announce that he suffered a severe defeat during the siege by our Songhai branch and was thus compelled to flee—thus preserving the dignity of our branch." The Bai Zhan elder spoke gently: "That is indeed a viable strategy. The situation of the desire for color differs from that of the Mago's eye. The Mago's eye is boastful and assertive, making a grand entrance, with clear "If the Desire God truly departs from Songhai, then we shall have to give up." The Luo Shen elder deeply resented the Desire God General, speaking solemnly. "Give up? This meeting has been about capturing the Desire God General, not about preserving the dignity of our branch. Fu Qingyang, you're overplaying your political acumen." Fu Qingyang responded calmly. "I've simply offered different solutions depending on the circumstances. That's better than having Elder Luo here powerless and raging in frustration." The Luo Shen elder gave a light scoff. "Even if he escapes Songhai, as long as he remains in the southeast, I'll have him brought to justice. Old dog, isn't the Magician's Eye currently confined in the zoo? He should have some intelligence about the Army Master's Academy." Before the Dog Elder could speak, the Tian Huo Elder interjected, "How does the Magician's Eye know this? Severe torture fails to yield results against a Tian Wang-level being. Besides, the Army Master's Academy isn't a fool—it wouldn't fail to guard its interests. I suspect that even upon his capture, the Army Master's Academy has already relocated all its outposts in the southeast." "As he was speaking, Fu Qingyang saw the brown double-door wooden entrance violently pushed open with a loud 'thud.' He had just furrowed his brows when his cousin rushed in, her face filled with urgency, shouting, 'Yuanshi has gone missing!' Fu Qingyang's expression darkened immediately, and he set the meeting aside, fixing his gaze on Guan Ya, 'Gone missing?' Guan Ya hurried to the table, her eyes anxious, speaking rapidly, 'I had a patrol duty with him today. After eight o'clock, I waited and waited, but he never showed up. His phone went dead. Just now, I went to his home to check—his person is completely gone...' Fu Qingyang had rarely seen his cousin this frantic, completely out of her element. Though Yuanshi was an unremarkable individual, he came from a well-established family and had always been calm and composed. The five elders, listening through Fu Qingyang's microphone, exchanged slightly concerned glances. Tianhuo Elder's voice came through the speaker: 'Could it be that he simply went to another location?' 'No!' "The Elder Dog said solemnly, 'Yuanshi acts with great judgment—he wouldn't simply vanish without cause.' His words silenced the entire meeting room. With Yuanshi Tianzun now missing at this critical moment, it's hard not to think of the Color-Desire General. Elder Bai Zhan immediately said, 'Go check the surveillance cameras near Yuanshi Tianzun's residence. Qingyang, have your team keep calling Yuanshi Tianzun's phone continuously. Everyone, notify your respective officers and the district police bureaus—launch a full city-wide search.' If the atmosphere during the earlier meeting had been serious, now it had become tense. In the eyes of the elders, Yuanshi Tianzun's disappearance was far more serious than the loss of a lower-tier squad. 'Fu Qingyang, Yuanshi Tianzun is under your direct supervision—have you installed a tracking device for him?' asked Elder Xi Rang in the central courtyard. Fu Qingyang seemed displeased, and coldly replied, 'Elder Xi Rang, would you like your own position monitored in real time by headquarters?' Elder Xi Rang fell silent immediately. With this development, the meeting could hardly proceed. Fu Qingyang spoke in a low, urgent tone: "Don't waste any more time, Elder Baizhan. Let's jointly conduct a thorough search of Songhai. That's all for today's meeting..." Compared to dealing with the Lord of Lust, confirming the Lord of Primordial Origin's survival was more urgent. At that moment, Fu Qingyang suddenly paused, staring in astonishment at the open doors of the conference room. Observing this, the scout Guan Ya felt a sudden spark of insight, swiftly turned around, and indeed saw the Lord of Primordial Origin standing at the entrance of the study, dressed in a tight T-shirt and seven-quarter pants, his complexion pale, looking weary and travel-worn. "Where have you been?!" Guan Ya was both angry and delighted, equally impatient and resentful. Fu Qingyang's sense of urgency gradually eased, barely noticeable, and exhaled a quiet relief, regaining his composed demeanor. "What's going on?" asked Dog Elder, listening to Guan Ya's sharp questioning, "Has the Lord of Primordial Origin returned?" "Dog Elder, you're here too?" Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the speaker mounted on the wall. At that moment, several relieved exhalations echoed through the speakers. The fiery Fire Master Elder grew impatient, scolding sharply, "You brat! How could you vanish just at this crucial moment? You're absolutely irresponsible! I thought you'd been completely overwhelmed by the Desire Deity General!" "Good. Let's continue the meeting. Please, attendants, step back." The Luo Shen Elder spoke with a warm, mature, effortlessly graceful tone, conveying a calm and composed presence. She did not blame Zhang Yuanqing at all. Yet, when the Prime Elder spoke next, the assembled elders were momentarily stunned. "Indeed, I was ambushed by the Desire Deity General." "What?!" "You were ambushed by the Desire Deity General?" "Exactly what happened?" Several elders' voices rose in unison, overlapping as they echoed through the speakers. Guan Ya and Fu Qingyang, however, observed the Prime Elder's expression and attire and deduced the situation without much surprise. Guan Ya's eyes reflected only concern and lingering anxiety. Zhang Yuanqing immediately summarized the events of last night for the elders. "Brave as a dog!" "Master Tianhu slammed the table in rage: 'I'm going to slaughter this lustful dog!' The resonant sound of the table being struck echoed through the study of Fu Qingyang via the speaker. 'Just call him a dog—don't drag in the dog!' Master Gou sighed, his tone serious: 'After this incident, Liyu will likely depart from Songhai. We'll lose our chance.' Having failed in hunting down the official prodigy, Liyu, the divine general, clearly understands the fierce backlash he will face. He will probably withdraw from the southeast, possibly even retreat northward. 'Are we really going to let him go like this?' Master Tianhu gritted his teeth. He always struggled to contain his impatience. Fu Qingyang pondered for a few seconds, then shook his head: 'I've analyzed Liyu's personality—strong-willed, self-assured, and deeply resentful. We haven't truly wounded him. He'll likely retreat and hide, but there's still a possibility he'll remain near Songhai.' At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing spoke: 'Ladies and gentlemen, I have an idea—perhaps we can locate Liyu, the divine general.' The speaker carried Master Gou The other elders remained silent, waiting for Yuan Shi Tian Zun to speak. Zhang Yuanqing said, "I know a secret—the wife of the God of Fury was once a slave kept by the God of Desire." The Dog Elder interrupted: "Do you intend to use the God of Fury against the God of Desire? That's unlikely. The God of Fury already knows about this." Ah? The God of Fury knows? How do you know that the God of Fury knows, Elder? Zhang Yuanqing paused, momentarily puzzled. The Dog Elder's voice, transmitted through the speaker, clarified his confusion: "When you told Yuan Ting about this, the God of Fury was already outside the Killing Instance. Hm—the Killing Instance has ended nearly a week ago, yet the God of Desire still enjoys leisure and ease in Song Sea. That speaks volumes. You wouldn't think the High Council of the General Commander would allow two gods to clash over a woman, let alone fight to the point of life and death. Besides, you couldn't have reached the God of Fury, Yuan Shi. Your plan simply won't work." "Indeed, the Fury was there all along... Zhang Yuanqing only knew that the top figures from the two major factions were engaged in combat within the battlefield, but had no clear idea of the exact number or identities of those involved. After all, whether it was the leaders of the evil organization or the Sovereigns, they remained distant from him—a mere ordinary member. The Dog Elder wouldn't have specifically told him, 'Did you know, at that time, Xxxx was merely observing from outside.' The other elders couldn't help but feel disappointed. After a moment's reflection, Zhang Yuanqing said, 'I believe we can try. While the high-ranking officials of the Army Commander's office don't allow the Divine Generals to waste energy on internal struggles, the Fury himself is certainly not willing to accept this. Why not give him a push? He may not be able to defy the organization's upper echelon, but we don't necessarily need him to act. Can't we exchange information instead?' The Central Elder reminded him, 'The senior leadership of the evil organization isn't someone you can simply reach out to at will. If it were that easy, the official forces would have eliminated them long ago.' Zhang Yuanqing replied, 'I know that. The speaker remained silent for a few seconds, and Lu Shen, the senior monk, sighed, saying, "Though we'd dearly like to arrest Sei Yu, you're certain the Mage's Eye will tell you? He may treat you differently, but he won't unconditionally help you against the divine generals within the organization." This time, without waiting for Zhang Yuanqing to speak, the Dog Elder interjected, "Why not try?... Yuan Shi, come right over to the Zoo now." Zhang Yuanqing nodded and followed the middle-aged man into the park, walking along the main avenue lined with tall plane trees, then turning onto a side path, soon arriving at the Lion Garden. In the Lion Garden, featuring a pond and artificial hills, the majestic male lion lay lazily, while several female lions circled around it, occasionally playfully provoking it. The white lion he had seen last time was nowhere to be found. Upon entering the zoo again, Zhang Yuanqing felt a complex mix of emotions—both eager to come and reluctant, as the "spirit of the object" of the zoo seemed to have known his late father. That faint, abandoned woman-like whisper stirred unease within him. Yet he was also curious about the lingering grievances between the zoo's spirit and his father during his lifetime, and could not help but want to investigate further. Throughout the journey, he remained quietly alert, yet unlike last time, he did not sense any presence watching over him. Perhaps it was due to the daytime, when everything seemed normal—was the spirit of this rule-based object simply resting? Zhang Yuanqing silently pondered. Soon, he reached the cell where the Eye of the Demon was imprisoned. The robust camphor tree hangs down its curtain-like vines, and once again he sees the Eye of the Mage—his body sealed within the trunk, only his head and upper chest exposed. After several days, his complexion has grown paler, his eyes weary and drained. The handsome young man, wearing a sports headband across his forehead, is surprised, as if unprepared for his visit. "Long time no see!" the Eye of the Mage smiles warmly, nodding with satisfaction. "Your talent is truly outstanding—congratulations on your promotion to Star Official." He examines Yuan Shizhen carefully, as though noticing something subtle, his smile broadening slightly with an air of mystery. "Long time no see, Master Mage. You don't look very well." Zhang Yuanqing bows in greeting. Upon hearing this, the Mage sighs. "Every day I dream of defeating corrupt officials and greedy merchants who exploit the weak—I'm nearly losing my mind. If I'm not released soon, I'll go mad." Master Yuan Shishen, considering that we're fellow travelers on this path, I'll take a few of these scoundrels and have them handled by me. You're going way beyond what one would expect—like someone with a severe addiction. For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing felt pity and continued: "This is the perfect opportunity, Your Majesty. I've always followed your teachings, striving to eliminate the scoundrels in this world and serve as a righteous partner. Recently, I've been tracking down a notorious lecher—a man who rapes, seizes, and abducts women, and indiscriminately kills the innocent." Now, he no longer feels intimidated by the Magician's Eye, able to speak with calm confidence. The Magician's Eye nodded in understanding: "Ah, the man of desire has arrived at Songhai?" Zhang Yuanqing affirmed, "He has plundered countless innocent women in Songhai, tormenting them day and night. Though the official forces have rescued them, these women now struggle to regain their normal lives." "Your Majesty, I need your assistance—help me locate the man of desire." He deliberately emphasized the gravity of the situation, aiming to stir the Magician's Eye's deep-seated resentment toward the man "You need to deal with the Desire..." The Mage's eyes sparkled, revealing genuine delight, as if deeply pleased. "Interesting—indeed, you are the person I've been looking for. This move truly resonates with me. Come with me to the Commander's court, and together we can cleanse the mortal realm, don't you think?" He paused, smiling gently. "What would you like me to do for you?" "Magi's eyes smiled, 'Why shouldn't we agree? Such a contaminant as desire—this filth—has long deserved to be eliminated.' But... all of Zhang Yuanqing's subsequent efforts to persuade had fallen on deaf ears. He knew Magi's eyes were fiercely committed to justice, even to the point of obsession. After all, Desire was a divine general within the organization, and convincing Magi's eyes to betray him would surely be no easy task. Thus, he had prepared numerous arguments. Yet, to his surprise, this young, passionate king agreed so readily—indeed, he was the most passionate of all. "The Mago raised a corner of his mouth," I'll surely leave from here eventually. It won't be long—when that day comes, I'll come to find you in Songhai." Zhang Yuanqing's smile froze: "...". Not that way! Wherever there are flowers, there are always blossoms! Please, just let me go! ... By the lush, green undergrowth outside the prison, the Dog Elder sat there, reflecting, "The Mago's inflexibility exceeds my expectations. Let's try to reach out to the Angry One! The technical team will attempt to locate the Angry One. Once the Passionate One is resolved, they'll assign personnel to clear the Angry One. Hah, it might not work, but we have to try." The Dog Elder is quite endearing—really, I want to rub his head... That thought unexpectedly surfaced in Zhang Yuanqing's mind. The second cost of the Mountain God's Staff—liking dogs. Similar to the Grassman's cost, it's a gradual shift in preference, though not as extreme. The Mago's fondness for dogs is a normal, genuine affection—like how some people simply enjoy keeping pets. He quickly set aside his unrealistic, self-destructive ideas, pulled out the new smartphone that Fu Qingyang had bought for him, entered the number provided by the Magi-Eye, and dialed. The phone rang for a long time, but no one answered. Zhang Yuanqing looked at the Dog Elder, who murmured, “Send a text message and wait.” Zhang Yuanqing nodded, then thought for a moment, composing the following message: “Lord of Wrath, is your wife well? Perhaps she’s longing for Lord of Desire’s sprint.” After a few seconds’ pause, he realized that the second part might anger Lord of Wrath and counteract the intended effect, so he silently deleted it. Less than a minute after sending the message, Zhang Yuanqing’s phone rang, and the caller ID displayed exactly the number of Lord of Wrath. He picked up the phone, and a thunderous roar of rage poured through the line: "You're nothing but a fool! Who are you? I'm going to slaughter your entire family!" Zhang Yuanqing quietly removed the phone, waiting until the roar subsided before pressing it back to his ear, and smiled. "It seems I no longer need to remind you—Lord of Fury, you're also on the verge of succumbing to lust, aren't you?" The other side remained silent for nearly fifteen seconds, then a steady yet subtly agitated voice emerged: "Who are you? How do you know my number?" This private number was known to only a few, and even those had it saved in their contact lists. "You needn't know who I am," Zhang Yuanqing replied with a composed air. "All I need is the position of Lord of Lust. If you can provide me with information, I promise you that the Commander of the Army will henceforth have only the Seven Lords of Divinity." "You're from the Five Elements Alliance!" Lord of Fury stated with conviction. "Yes!" Zhang Yuanqing didn't conceal his identity. Instead, he openly shared the details of Lord of Lust's actions in Songhai, as well as Only by sharing intelligence with your allies can they formulate better plans. The God of Wrath chuckled coldly, "How do you think I'll cooperate with you? For a mere woman, against the orders of Fear? Do you think I'm foolish?" Indeed, he was constrained by the high echelons of the Commander of the Army—unable to directly confront the one with lust... Zhang Yuanqing said, "If you're unwilling to cooperate, the God of Wrath can simply hang up now." The other side remained silent, choosing not to hang up. After a long pause, the God of Wrath's low, somber voice came through: "That man, Lust, has one fatal flaw—he can't control his base desires. He must sleep with at least one woman every day, and his moral standing is always insufficient. To replenish his moral reserves, he must donate to charitable causes at regular intervals. Therefore, he cannot remain completely hidden—he will inevitably maintain contact with the outside world. I will use the Commander of the Army's channels to quietly uncover his whereabouts, though it will take time. You'll hear from me soon." Also, don't try to locate my position—this number I'll no longer be using." "Understood. It'll still be this number. Just reach out to me when you're ready." Zhang Yuanqing smiled. "Great cooperation!" The Wrathful God sighed and hung up. "What's the point of managing this? As long as the matter is handled well, that's all that matters—excellent! This young man truly is excellent. I'm growing more and more impressed with him." Tianhu Elder burst out laughing in the conference room. "Should this endeavor succeed, Yuanshǐ Tianzun shall be credited with the foremost achievement," said Lushen Elder, her voice warm with approval. She was in a particularly good mood. "Then, let's adjourn!" Fu Qingyang said, and stepped out of the conference room. Leaning back against the chair, Fu Qingyang paused to think, then tapped the call bell. A few minutes later, the rabbit maid entered, "Master, what should I do?" "Prepare an extra dinner tonight so Yuanshǐ can stay for the meal." ... Three days later. The deity of desire, wearing a mask and a baseball cap, stepped out of a modest alley lined with moss. Across the alley stood a small logistics company. He glanced calmly at a passerby. For a moment, the passerby seemed momentarily disoriented, then reached into his pocket, unlocked his phone, and set it down on the ground. The Lord of Desire had the spirit of a warrior take hold of him, stand at the entrance of the humble alley, enter the number, and dial. A few seconds later, the other end answered, politely saying, "What may I do for you?" "What's been happening on your end recently?" asked the Lord of Desire. "The pressure is intense; everyone's being cautious. Those people have truly stepped up this time," replied the subordinate. They avoided mentioning any sensitive terms. The Lord of Desire nodded once, "Keep gathering intelligence. I'll contact you regularly. Also, go to my treasury and collect five million to donate." "Understood!" said the subordinate. At that moment, the Lord of Desire noticed a young woman with a graceful figure, dressed lightly, walking past under an umbrella. He licked his lips, hung up the phone, and followed her. ... Songhai, in a modest rented apartment. The young man with a baseball cap silently set down his phone, glanced at the two bearded men standing beside him, and swallowed hard, saying, "The deity has already called me. We're all part of the same organization—so you must keep your word..." About two days prior, he had been taken into custody by these two, fellow commanders of the military clergy. They did nothing but confine him to the room, allowing him to wait for the Color-Thirst General to contact him, serving him takeout meals each day and strictly forbidding him from leaving. After two days of waiting, he finally received a call from the Color-Thirst General. One of the two strong men immediately wrote down the phone number, not sure who he'd pass it on to. Having navigated the martial world for so long, the young man clearly understood their intent—locating the position of the Color-Thirst General. Yet he still couldn't grasp why, as fellow members of the same organization, these two would specifically go to such lengths to locate the Color-Thirst General. The man who had written down the number gave a short "huh," "Of course, we'll keep our word..." As he finished speaking, two twisted incantations shimmered in Under the pressure of hierarchy, the young man in the baseball cap froze, entering a state of dazed bewilderment. Another sturdy man drew his military knife from his waist, pressing the blade against the young man's neck and gave it a sharp thrust. The head rolled to the ground, eyes still open, lips trembling. Bright red blood sprayed from the severed neck, splattering the ceiling in a vivid, mournful hue. "We're independent contractors—when have we ever kept our word?" the man licked the blood off the knife's edge, delivering a cold laugh. "Let's go. This place is likely already designated by the authorities. We need to leave quickly." The man who had sent the message crushed his phone, pressing the components into fine powder. ... Fu Family Village, study room. The three elders—Fu Qingyang, the Dog Elder, and the Heavenly Fire Elder—gathered together, with Zhang Yuanqing, Guan Ya, and three attendants at their sides. Wang Tai, seated on a soft sofa with his laptop resting on his knees, raised his head to gaze at the group of senior figures. His reserved demeanor remained calm and unhurried: "Located—desire is in Jiangxin Town, near Xundac