Wei Yuanzhou spotted Yuan Shi Tian Zun's composed expression and the growing anger etched in his brows from a distance. His own eyebrows subtly furrowed, then quickly softened into a warm smile as he approached. "You've just vanished without a word, as if you'd decided to go on a sudden whim. You didn't even tell me what you were planning. But the matter has now been settled..." As he walked, he paused suddenly, noticing Yuan Shi Tian Zun reaching into his inventory to pull out a sharp willow blade. Given the solemnity of his expression, Wei Yuanzhou felt a sudden chill. Zhang Yuanqing stepped directly beside him, his gaze cold and steady. "Wei Yuanzhou, I now suspect you've been colluding with the evil guilds, orchestrating the silent assassinations of your colleagues—now, come with me to Songhai." The moment these words were spoken, the previously bustling office fell abruptly silent, so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. A wave of astonishment swept across the room. How could he possibly know? Didn't Grandpa handle it all? Wei Yuanzhou nearly lost control of his expression, his heart pounding several times, yet his face remained puzzled and confused. "What did you just say? I don't understand your point." Guan Ya, standing beside Zhang Yuanqing, gave a light "hmm." "Indeed, something's off. I can't see any issue with him—what hidden emotion or subtle cue is he concealing?" She and the Queen had already learned the full account from Yuan Shi. Coercing a fellow dark-attribute assassin to murder his own blood relatives who had raised him—such a course of action was truly appalling. In fact, there had been a minor disagreement among the patrol team regarding how to proceed. Li Chunfeng had proposed following formal procedures and reporting the matter to headquarters. The Queen, however, believed that without substantial evidence, headquarters would likely overlook it, and thus recommended reporting directly to Elder Fu Qingyang for final decision. Yet Guan Ya rejected the queen's proposal. She knew well her own cousin, Fu Qingyang—a man of great rationality, born a politician. A politician's wisdom lies in compromise, avoiding mistakes, and leveraging rules. Wei Yuanzhou was from Jinghai's branch, a spiritual traveler under the jurisdiction of Xie City's division, with no connection to Songhai. Whether it was Songhai or Fu Qingyang themselves, neither held enforcement authority within Jinghai City. To intervene forcefully would both breach protocol and invite disciplinary action—disciplinary action within the Five Elements Alliance is deeply serious, directly impacting one's career trajectory. If a senior elder were to face such penalties, they would likely remain in regional posts, never advancing to the headquarters. Thus, Guan Ya's plan was to act first, then report—immediately seizing control of Wei Yuanzhou, and subsequently conducting a careful, gradual investigation. As a Saint, Wei Yuanzhou was far from mere fish on a chopping block; should the situation grow unfavorable, he might very well escape. And Jinghai, with its confluence of major rivers and countless tributaries, offered ample opportunities—once a plague spirit jumped into one of the rivers, even a deity would find it difficult to track. Zhang Yuanqing never participated in the discussions, listening expressionlessly until Guan Yali overruled the majority and said simply, "Let's go." Wei Yuanchu spoke out loud, in a tone everyone could hear, with a look of complete innocence: "I have no idea what you're talking about! What exactly are you trying to achieve? You need to take responsibility for what you've said." Zhang Yuanqing looked at him coldly and asked, "Just one question: you're the incident lead, aren't you? Did you propose that Jinghai's branch request assistance from Songhai? Was your real intention to eliminate him? Have you long wanted to get rid of him, because his very presence has been causing you anxiety and unease?" This question had been clear to him since he began his journey—his uncle was willing to sacrifice his life for his grandson's future, unaware that his precious grandson had no intention of letting him live at all. Hearing this, Wei Yuanchu lost all hope. He confirmed that Yuan Shi Tian Zun knew everything. Grandfather had merely been playing tricks on him this morning—Grandfather hadn’t borne the guilt at all. Otherwise, how could Yuan Shi Tian Zun have known? In an instant, he felt as though he had fallen from heaven straight into hell. The opportunity for promotion had just emerged, yet it was destined to vanish like a mirage. No—this wasn’t just the promotion opportunity gone. His entire career was now ruined. Grandfather’s secret relationship with him could no longer be concealed. Moreover, Yuan Shi Tian Zun had formally accused him, and even without evidence, the senior leadership would surely investigate. Ordinary lie-detection tools had no effect on him, but those of the senior elders—especially the legendary Tiger Seal—could easily reveal the truth or falsehood. Colluding with evil forces to secretly assassinate colleagues was a capital offense! This old man would continue to harm him even after his death—yes, even after his death! Wei Yuanzhou felt a strong surge of anger and resentment, yet he quickly suppressed it and shifted his thoughts. The official staff can no longer stay—they’ll surely die if they remain to face penalties. "To become a wandering independent practitioner and go it alone" is my only choice. Though my quality of life will surely decline and my influence will be lost, at least I’ll have a chance to survive. Wei Yuanzhou took a deep breath, focused intently on the current crisis, his expression slightly angry, and raised his voice: "Master Yuan-Shi, in yesterday’s actions, where did I fall short? What offense have I committed against you? I sincerely apologize. I ask you to be lenient and not hold it against me. As for the merit of eliminating the spiritually attuned cultivator, I will not claim it solely for myself—I will share half of it with you." He glanced at the group from the Songhai branch, then turned his gaze to Wei Yuanshou, speaking in a steady tone: "What's going on?" Wei Yuanshou offered a wry smile: "Director, I have no idea. Master Yuanshiyi stormed in, furious, accusing me outright of colluding with evil professions and orchestrating the assassination of colleagues, and demanding that I be taken back to Songhai for investigation. "I just can't understand this. Not only have I never done any of these things, but even if I had, it shouldn't be the Songhai branch's responsibility to handle it." Upon hearing this, the Banshan official's expression darkened noticeably. From a distance, another official remarked: "Exactly. Wei is the team leader of our Jinghai branch—how could Songhai possibly get involved?" "Colluding with evil professions, orchestrating assassinations of colleagues... it's absolutely outrageous. Who doesn't know Wei's reputation? I've finally seen what it means to deliberately tarnish someone's image." "Master Yuanshiyi, even if you're a star, you can't treat people this way. You need to present solid evidence—after all, I've always "The official attendants around were bustling and talking incessantly. "What's all the noise about? If you keep it up, I'll burn you all to death!" Jiang Jingwei barked at them, her voice sharp and fierce, like a small leopard. The commotion gradually subsided. The family background of Wei Yuanzhou is only known to long-term employees; most new hires are largely unaware. After all, Wei has already risen to a team leader level, a mid-to-lower-level manager, and holds the rank of Fourth Saint, a near-Officer—no one dares to whisper behind his back. How, then, did Yuan Shishen, an outsider, come to know this? I have already ascended to the rank of Saint. For me, the position of Deacon is merely a matter of time—something you well know as a leader. Why should I then conspire with the evil professions to harm the White Tiger Immortal? "Leader, I'm willing to accept an investigation and cooperate fully, but this is entirely a matter concerning our Jinghai Branch. When will Yuan-Shi Tianzun step in and overstep his bounds?" The Deacon listening nodded slightly. "Master Yuan-Qing, beyond DNA testing, what other evidence do you have to prove that Officer Wei has colluded with the evil professions?" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. He had already examined the body of his uncle. The residual spiritual essence had been cleared away. Moreover, within the official ranks, the Night-Wanderer's spiritual inquiry has traditionally served only as a reference—typically used to retrieve memories from either the evil professions or the victims, and thus, rarely involves outright falsehoods. However, when it comes to internal disputes, the spiritual inquiry can no longer function as solid evidence. As for the existence of Master Wuhen and Xiao Yuan, those details remain unspoken—once revealed, they cannot serve as credible witnesses, and may even be turned The Mountain Moving Official glanced at him steadily, his tone now cold. "I understand. I'll accept your charges. This matter has no connection to your Songhai branch. You may now return." Zhang Yuanqing replied, "Very well! But I have one request—first, secure Wei Yuanzhou." The Mountain Moving Official's expression darkened. "Captain of the Yuan Shi Tian Zun, I don't need you to teach me how to conduct myself." Without evidence, without solid grounds, how could he justify detaining Wei Yuanzhou? Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing slowly exhaled. "Captain of the Yuan Shi Tian Zun from the Songhai Branch, we are now arresting the wanted suspect. Everyone, please evacuate immediately. Those who remain will be treated as accomplices. Jing Wen—clear the area!" "Excellent!" Jing Jingwen was delighted, turning instantly and spewing a stream of flame toward the surrounding official attendants and clerical staff. They retreated in surprise as the flame licked at their documents and flammable materials. With a simple headshake, the flame swept across the room, turning the office into a blazing inferno. The office staff stepped back in shock, clerical staff and junior-level spiritual practitioners clutching their heads and fleeing the office area. "Master Yuan-Shi, do you know what you're doing?" exclaimed the Bao Shan Official, both astonished and furious. "Acting in accordance with heaven's will!" Zhang Yuanqing said as Guan Ya swiftly drew her Han Ba Fang ancient sword and charged forward, moving like a swift female leopard, heading straight toward Wei Yuanzhou. On the other side, Jiang Jingwei emitted a surge of intense, urgent flame, resembling a gas leak, with molten rock-like iron plates rising around her and settling onto her slender frame, forming a black-and-red molten armor. "Boom!" With a powerful trail of flame from her feet, she surged forward, colliding with the Bao Shan Official, and both were thrown into the air. "By the gods!" Wei Yuanzhou's face turned pale, surprised that Master Yuan-Shi had decided to act so swiftly, leaving him momentarily unprepared. He knew well the prowess of swordsmen in close combat, and as Guan Ya advanced with her sword, he quickly retreated. A silhouette dressed in a bridal gown, cradling a charming infant, appeared behind him and merged into his body. Wei Yuanzhou instantly froze in place. Guan Ya's hair grew hot, her throat itched, and strangely, water blisters began to form on her delicate skin. "Cough! Cough!" She gasped violently, having to lean on her sword to stay upright, as if she were a seriously ill patient on the verge of death. The queen, Xie Lingxi, and others in the distance also exhibited varying degrees of coughing and fever, their heads heavy with drowsiness. The plague god's disease-based abilities were among the most debilitating skills among all professions. "Thud!" Zhang Yuanqing drove the mountain god's staff into the ground, its emerald gem blooming with a gentle radiance. Guan Ya's illness swiftly vanished, fully cured. The plague god's signature disease-inflicting abilities were perfectly neutralized by the self-healing power of the mountain god's staff. At this moment, Wei Yuanzhou, having just regained his breath and used his own spiritual strength to expel the ghost bride now clinging to his back, saw the female swordsman rush forward and strike with her sword. Wei Yuanzhou swiftly sidestepped, intending to retreat, but as he did so, the female swordsman spun her feet, rotating her waist, then used that motion to sweep her arms in a broad, sweeping arc. "Plunged!" The bronze sword struck Wei Yuanzhou's right arm, splashing out clear water. The water ghost was thus passively activated. At the same time, Zhang Yuanqing, now clad in the yin-yang robe, formed a ball of fire and hurled it forth. A thunderous "boom" erupted, the flames rising high—before the arm, which had just begun to coalesce and return to form, could fully solidify, it was completely vaporized. "Ah!" Wei Yuanzhou cried out in pain, his severed arm gushing with blood. Guan Ya didn't grant him a moment to recover; she swiftly moved in, swiftly drawing her sword and severing the tendons in both his feet and hands. Zhang Yuanqing held the staff in one hand and the blood-soaked blade in the other, approaching Wei Yuanzhou with a lofty demeanor, gazing down at him. Wei Yuanzhou lifted his head, his face contorted—either from pain or rage—and shouted fiercely, "Master Yuanshǐ, how dare you? Who granted you the authority to enforce justice? Are you mad?" "The person who killed them escaped punishment by citing a psychiatric evaluation report. After securing connections throughout the family, he was completely cleared of any blame—your family has not even received a single cent in compensation. Your grandfather had to travel to the capital to file a formal complaint, nearly being killed in the process. They used you as leverage, and he could only swallow his blood and tears, raising you from childhood. The following year, your grandmother committed suicide by drowning, and the burden of daily life fell entirely upon your grandfather. He worked tirelessly, taking on part-time jobs at construction sites to support your education, working year-round from morning until night, until his life was worn thin under the weight of daily responsibilities. Yet, what have you done to repay him? Guan Ya, Queen, and Xie Lingxi stared coldly at Wei Yuanzhou. At a distance, Jiang Jingwei and the Mountain-Bearer official, who had been fighting, paused mid-fight. The Mountain-Bearer official, stunned, suddenly lost all resolve. At the office entrance, the official staff and clerical employees who had fled, peered curiously out, watching the scene unfold. "You're lying! You're wronging me! You're wrong "Wei Yuanchou roared. Being spoken of in the past by the Primordial Sovereign in front of everyone, it was as if old wounds had been freshly uncovered—his expression was fierce, his emotions deeply stirred. Yet he still refused to admit it. Zhang Yuancheng continued, "You forced him to secretly assassinate the White Tiger Emperor. Do you know what kind of life he's lived since then? He's been constantly on the run, drifting across the four seas, losing all dignity. He swore he would never kill again, and he simply wanted to live like a human being. "Is it in your eyes that the elders' sacrifices are expected and automatic? Should he always give everything for you—should he die to enable your rise in office, your swift ascent—something that's entirely natural and justified?" "Yes, he's still willing to die for you. But what about you? How clever you are! You've already decided, after the White Tiger Emperor's death, to eliminate him completely—to remove the threat once and for all—and at the same time, to claim glory for yourself." "What could I possibly be complaining about? You've done all this, and yet you still think you can escape it?" "Pan Shan Zhi Shi stood frozen, staring at Wei Yuanzhou with disbelief, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The official members at the door listened in stunned silence. Wei Yuanzhou lifted his head, seeing his colleagues in the distance, seeing the faces of astonishment, shock, contempt, or hatred—faces so familiar, just like those of his teachers and classmates from long ago. His emotions suddenly broke down. "What do you know? What do you know!" he roared, his expression fierce, like a trapped beast with nowhere to go. Yuan Shi Tian Zun's words had exposed his wounds, revealing the hidden pain of his entire life—his lifelong struggle. With passion and urgency, he shouted: "He just wants to be a human being—why shouldn't I? From childhood to now, I've never truly been human. I've been trampled beneath the dust, while you, this lofty, brilliant talent, what do you know? What do you understand? You pity him—who pities me? I too want to live like a human being. I too want to live with dignity." "He abandoned me first—why keep disturbing my life? He ruined my past life, and now he wants to ruin my next one too! He deserves to die!" Fei Yuanchou's roar echoed through the office. Then, his expression suddenly shifted, and he cried out, "No, all of this is a lie! You're wronging me! You're wronging me! The headquarters will clear my name!" Zhang Yuanqing spoke softly, "You may have suffered greatly, and perhaps you feel that the entire world owes you. But throughout all this, he has never owed you anything. 'It's you who owe him!' Fei Yuanchou paused. Zhang Yuanqing bent down, pressing the blade against Fei Yuanchou's neck. "What do you want from me?" Fei Yuanchou felt the coldness radiating from the blade and sensed the Yuan Shi Tian Zun's intent to kill. His face suddenly grew pale with fear, and he cried out, "No, you can't kill me! The headquarters won't forgive you... Grandfather wouldn't want to see me die. Don't you know Grandfather? Yuan-Shi Tian-Zun, do you know him? I am his only relative. You cannot kill me. You cannot!" A flash of cold light, and clear droplets of water surged up from Wei Yuanzhou's neck. Zhang Yuanqing's palm burst with flame, hissing continuously, the water vaporizing, and the head rolling to the ground. The head stared fiercely, lips slightly moving—clearly, —Grandfather! ... On the rooftop directly opposite the Hémen District Public Security Bureau, Xiao Yuan stood by the terrace, her view perfectly aligned with the highest level of the Public Security Bureau. The wind lifted her hair and the edges of her dress, veiling her face. She lowered her head, her gaze and expression hidden within the tumbled strands of her hair. "Yuan-Shi..." The soft murmur drifted into the wind. …At noon, a post erupted on the official forum, skyrocketing to the front page within a short time and becoming the hottest topic of the day, subsequently highlighted and pinned. #Yuanshi Tianzun Angerously Executes Saint Wei Yuanzhou of Jinghai Branch Without Notice, Possibly Facing Imprisonment# The post itself was simple, a concise excerpt taken out of context: During his mission in Jinghai City, Yuanshi Tianzun came into conflict with Saint Wei Yuanzhou, and together with patrol officers, executed him right in the office premises of the Jinghai Branch. It was accompanied by a photograph of Yuanshi Tianzun standing backlit, holding a sword, with a lifeless body lying at his feet. The forum was in full uproar. In terms of impact, it was on par with his decisive defeat of the evil faction within the transcendent quest. While Saint Wei’s achievements couldn’t match the scale of such a victory, the gravity of this incident surpassed it. It was akin to a hero slaying a dragon and rescuing a princess—everyone cheered wildly, believing the hero’s future was bright. As a result, the hero soon fell in love with the king's consort, and though the consort could hardly be compared to the fearsome dragon, the situation was serious enough to potentially result in the hero's execution. No one knew why the hero had chosen to sleep with the consort rather than the princess—just as the original celestial sovereign had angrily executed a holy sage colleague without explaining the reason, the official messengers from various branches remained unaware. Many rational observers believed there was more to the story, yet more were swayed by the prevailing narrative,纷纷 expressing sentiments such as "The Original Celestial Sovereign has lost his composure," "No matter what, he cannot kill a colleague," or "When heaven intends to bring about the downfall of someone, it first drives them mad." ... Fujiawan Villa, Study. Fu Qingyang opened his laptop and logged into the conference software of the Songhai branch. Almost simultaneously, he saw the five senior elders—“The Old Man and the Dog,” “Luo Shen,” “Huangsha Bai Zhan,” “The World-Ending Fire,” and “Xi Rang”—come online. When Fang Fu took office, Tianhuo Elder slammed the table in rage: "The official Saint says kill and that's it—does he not see the organization? Does he not respect the rules and regulations? Is he planning to rebel?" It had been three hours since the news reached Jinghai City, and upon hearing the report, the elders at Songhai Branch were all stunned. To have a colleague killed without due process was a serious offense—especially so severe, so ruthless—that the Branch could tolerate it, but the Headquarters could not. Yuanshiyi Tianzun might very well lose his career as a result. This was precisely what Tianhuo Elder was furious about! Lu Shen Elder remarked: "Colluding with evil professions to secretly assassinate colleagues, abandoning allies and even killing blood relatives—his fate is well-deserved." Huangsha Bai Zhan Elder said solemnly: "The incident involving Wei Yuanzhou has not yet been officially concluded. We don't need to dwell on that. What we must address now is the issue with Yuanshiyi Tianzun. Headquarters has likely already been informed, and we still don't know how the Council will react. For now, we must focus on how to secure Yuanshiyi Tianz "How can we possibly protect him?" Heaven-Flame Elder exclaimed. "No matter how many blades cut through Wei Yuanzhou, he shouldn't have been killed by him. Tell me—how can we protect him? If we can't protect him, what remains of the official authority? What remains of discipline?" The meeting room fell silent. After a few seconds, Dog Elder asked in confusion, "Given Yuan-Shi's character and intellect, he shouldn't have acted so rashly. Is there something behind this?" Under those circumstances, Wei Yuanzhou could have been subdued and controlled forcibly—there was absolutely no need to kill him. Fu Qingyang replied coldly, "There is no hidden reason. Yuan-Shi Celestial Sovereign himself has acknowledged it—he decided Wei Yuanzhou deserved to die." Pausing, he added, "I'd like to share one more point. Li Dongze, the team leader of Kangyang District's Second Team and Yuan-Shi's former superior, just called me. Recently, he noticed a remarkable shift in Yuan-Shi's temperament—now vastly more rigid and inflexible, a stark contrast to when he first joined." Hearing this, Heaven-Flame Elder was furious, "Has Yuan-Shi Celestial Sovere How could you not know this? How can you be such a superior? Fu Qingyang said nothing in rebuttal. "I have failed in recognizing the changes in my subordinates' personalities—there's nothing more I can say." Xi Yang Elder analyzed: "Repeated high-difficulty quest experiences, through life-and-death trials, have gradually shaped his temperament? Yet since becoming a Spirit Realm traveler, he has only entered six or seven quests—despite their dangers, such a transformation seems unlikely." A sigh came through the speaker system from Dog Elder: "Perhaps it's not the quests. I recall something—something that concerns me." "Just speak up, don't hold back," said Tian Huo Elder, who was unusually impatient today. Dog Elder smiled wistfully: "This is something that should have been my responsibility. You all know I learned about the Chu family's downfall from the Mage's Eye. But there's one thing I haven't mentioned—when the Mage's Eye first proposed the condition, it was to meet the Prime Immortal personally, and I agreed to that." "The Mago's kept his promise and revealed the truth about the incident that claimed my family that day. Yet, unexpectedly, he suddenly cursed Yuan-Shi Tianzun, transforming him into someone just as rigid and inflexible as himself. I personally examined Yuan-Shi's condition—he showed no signs of being cursed, and the Mago himself had been sealed within the zoo, losing all his abilities. I originally thought that was merely the empty rhetoric of a powerless one. Now, however… What else could this be? The four senior elders remained silent. Fu Qingyang shook his head. "I was present at the time. Any curse would leave visible traces, yet Yuan-Shi shows none—this has been confirmed by us. Moreover, the purifying power of the Fumagong杵 can eliminate curses. The Mago isn't a Wuzhu or a Gushi practitioner; how could he possibly have cursed Yuan-Shi? I don't believe Yuan-Shi has been cursed." Lo-Shen asked in return, "Then how do you explain Yuan-Shi Tianzun's sudden shift in temperament—his growing rigidity and odd behavior?" Fu Qingyang remained speechless. Huangsha Bai Zhan then asked, Fu Qingyang said, "The one in the basement is currently undergoing psychological treatment with a psychiatrist. I think we should wait for the diagnosis results. Dog Elder, you may go to the zoo to investigate the matter of the magical eyes—see what's really going on." The scouts are naturally gifted as psychological counselors due to their ability to perceive people's inner states, but being a skilled psychiatrist requires more than just insight—skills such as guidance, reassurance, and communication are also essential. These abilities must be developed through postnatal study and practice. Otherwise, Fu Qingyang would have personally had a serious talk with that 'waste' of a person. "Well, I suppose that's the best we can do. Hm, if the magical eyes hear that the curse has taken effect, they'll surely be thrilled—probably even upgrade their status on the spot," said Xirang Elder. "What about the patrol team members?" Fu Qingyang replied, "All their current duties are suspended, all positions are revoked, and they are placed under house arrest at Fu Family Bay, awaiting the final decision from headquarters. Among them, Guan Ya and Jiang Jingwei are the primary offenders and must be dealt with seriously." “Hmph…,” said the Elder Tianhu, clearing her throat with a strong cough. "Jingwei is still young and lacks judgment. She was influenced by Yuanshi and Guan Ya, and thus acted as she did. The matter should be handled leniently." Huangsha Bai Zhan scoffed. "How can we possibly protect him? Even if Wei Yuanzhou is cut to pieces, he shouldn't be at the mercy of a mere young girl like her. Tell me—how do we protect him? If we can't protect him, what remains of the official authority? What sense of discipline?" Elder Tianhu: "...” The Elder Gou sighed, her mood less than pleased. "Let's settle for this. I'm off to the zoo now to see the Magician's Eye. Regarding the post on the forum, Qingyang, you'll handle it—explain it clearly to everyone, and don't let the rumors grow." "Meeting adjourned!" The old dog elder raised his paw, and the vines rustled, retracting into the tree canopy to reveal the weary visage of the Mage-Eye Emperor. The Mage-Eye Emperor, wearing a sports headband on his forehead, blinked and studied the old dog elder for a moment, then gave a slight lift of his嘴角. "Your expression tells me you've encountered some truly dire circumstances. Indeed, since you've come to see me, it must be connected to the General Commander. So, who has come to the Song Sea this time? Silver Moon? Fuming? Or that stubborn one, Free? If it's Free, I recommend you seek immediate assistance from the headquarters of the Five-Element Alliance—otherwise, everyone will perish. Ah, I can finally leave now. I'm off to meet my Primordial Sovereign. "Well," he sighed, "with so little communication, I'm beginning to sound just like the Free Emperor."