The atmosphere suddenly grew stiff. Both parties stood in silence for several seconds. Xia Shu Zhi Lian suddenly pressed her headset and conveyed her thought: "I have no objections. If it weren't for Yuan Shi Tian Zun, at least half of us would have perished on the ocean floor, possibly even all of us. Honestly, I haven't made any real contribution from beginning to end." She glanced at Hong Ji Ge, who also seemed to have contributed little. Hong Ji Ge's fiery expression faded as he vigorously rubbed his head: "Well, well, in this quest, loyalty matters most. I haven't done much either—go ahead, you decide." Yin Ji remained silent, merely giving a gentle nod. Free Eagle felt deeply dissatisfied. This unique and formidable item was truly a game-changer among the Saint-level cultivators—she couldn't possibly claim not to be envious or eager. Yet, as an experienced executive of the Heaven's Judgment organization, she knew when to read the room and suppressed her discontent. Yun Meng hesitated to speak. She had indeed made contributions—she had even sacrificed her life in the process of trial and error. Yet no one mentioned this issue at the moment, and the Prime Immortal seemed to have completely forgotten her contributions. Yunmeng felt a bit hurt, but didn't want to create internal conflict, so she could only bear it patiently. At that moment, Xiahou Aotian's voice broke in: "Once we eliminate the rotating disk, we must immediately target the array's core. I've already exhausted one artifact, and this one is nearly about to give out—your team's blankets are going to be quite useful!" Yin Ji turned to look, and what she saw wasn't Xiahou Aotian surrounded by a vast army of Yin corpses, but instead, after the seal was lifted, thousands of Yin corpses flowed freely, now encircling them from all sides—like a hungry school of predatory fish. Zhang Yuanqing didn't have time to check the artifact details; he quickly folded the Yin-Yang rotating disk, drew out the Mountain God's staff, and with a vigorous wave, a gentle ripple of green light spread out, causing the suspended seaweed to undergo a transformation and form a defensive ring that now tightly ensnared the fierce, aggressive corpses. Still, this only offered temporary resistance. "We must now swiftly destroy the array Zhang Yuanqing, lacking a broad-range attack, urged, "Let's move." The group looked down at the warship stretching over fifteen zhang, frowning in concentration. At that moment, Hongji, who had been rowing steadily, stepped forward with confidence: "I'll take care of it. I'll secure three minutes." With graceful movements, he swam to the deck, reached into the air, pulled out a military-green backpack, and then retrieved a timed explosive from within, placing it carefully on the deck. Then he swam back to the left side of the ship and repeated the process, installing another explosive. This device produces nine explosive units at once, with a 24-hour cooldown—currently his most powerful tool—but it has several drawbacks, best suited for targeted detonations and ambushes rather than dynamic combat. Each time, I am deeply impressed by the fire master's destructive power... Zhang Yuanqing turned his gaze, raised his mountain deity staff, and with a sharp "puff," struck through the sea algae barrier, then charged forward, his limbs thrashing as he fought the shadow corpses. At this moment, the algal defense line was torn open at several points, and the powerful, exceptionally agile yin corpses, gliding like fish, surged through the gaps, their pale, swollen faces pressing forward, their dark, gaping jaws opening wide to strike the sages within the circle. Xia Shu's love, standing closely beside Yuan Shi Tian Zun, wielded her sharp short sword, cutting down one yin corpse after another. When the number of attackers was still manageable, she could hold her own. But once the entire army of yin corpses poured into the defensive perimeter in dense numbers, the waterborne swordsmen found themselves overwhelmed, inevitably succumbing. After struggling for three minutes, Red Chicken's voice came through the headset: "Retreat! I'm going to blow up!" He pulled out a remote controller from his backpack and pressed the red button. "Boom!" A brilliant flash of light erupted from the deep sea, casting a brilliant glow against the dark waters. The shockwave, carrying fierce currents, swept everything before it, crushing and leveling the landscape with unstoppable force. The mud slurry settled on the seabed rose like a dust storm, billowing in vast, sweeping waves. The sunken vessels, originally arranged in a regular pattern, were suddenly swept away by a terrifying current, colliding with one another, their decaying hulls cracking and splintered timber flying in all directions. Amid the chaos, Zhang Yuanqing, bare-chested, clutched the cold, elegant female instructor and swiftly fastened his protective breastplate over his chest. A soft, diffused glow emerged, establishing a safe zone. Summer Tree of Love was unexpectedly embraced by the man, instinctively pushing with both palms, only to realize that Yuan Shi Tian Zun was shielding her—she promptly relaxed, her hands now gently, weakly pressing against his strong chest. The turbulent current subsided gradually after nearly half a minute. Summer Tree of Love quickly pushed away Yuan Shi Tian Zun, glancing around to conceal her slight embarrassment. "Are everyone all right?" Zhang Yuanqing held his headset, calling out to his teammates. The Night-Wanderer could see through darkness but could not penetrate the murky, chaotic flow. "The array has been broken—we can now return to the surface," Yin Ji's voice came through the headset; the others remained silent. Either they suffered a severe blow or lost their headphones. Zhang Yuanqing looked toward Xia Shu Zhi Lian, pointed upward, and made a gesturing motion to rise, then propelled himself upward with a powerful kick. Xia Shu Zhi Lian kept her legs tightly together, gracefully swaying her body like a mermaid, her slender, toned waist twisting with dynamic momentum, and her webbed feet generating strong thrusts, matching Zhang Yuanqing's speed without falling behind. Soon, they broke through the muddy region and spotted Yin Ji, emerging from the turbid flow with elegant grace. Zhang Yuanqing looked down and observed that the surge of the explosion had spread a thick, murky soup over an area of several dozen meters, continuously expanding. Along the edges of this zone, bodies of Yin corpses, swollen and disheveled, floated haphazardly. Some lay upside down, others sprawled horizontally, resembling scattered, lifeless leaves suspended in the water. After the disruption of the array's energy, these Yin corpses had transformed into mere bodies, losing their spirit. The three waited a moment, and then suddenly saw the "muddy soup" begin to surge, and the robust, slightly plump Free Eagle swiftly emerged, joining the team. She wasn't hurt—only her headphones were lost, swept away by the violent current of the explosion and left behind on the seabed. Shortly after, a large serpent with black scales emerged, gliding gracefully like a kite through the water. The five of them gathered, waiting a few more minutes for Red Chicken Brother, but still didn't see Xue Hou Ao Tian. "Where is Xue Hou Ao Tian?" Zhang Yuanqing conveyed his thought while gesturing to his teammate who had lost the headphones. Red Chicken Brother understood him and pointed toward the seabed, then made a motion of neck-stretching and tongue-extending, indicating that Xue Hou Ao Tian had likely been eliminated. Xia Shu Zhi Lian pointed to the water's surface: "He wasn't affected by the blast—perhaps he's already made it back to the surface." Are we really being pushed out of the main group? Zhang Yuanqing murmured, agreeing with Xia Shu Zhi Lian's assessment. After the formation was broken, the shade corpses lost their spirit; with Xue Hou Ao Tian's situation now resolved and outside the blast's reach, he couldn't have encountered any unexpected mishap. His quiet, solitary departure suggested he He's still a bit petty. Once the mud suspended in the water had settled and the sea became murky but visibility clear, Zhang Yuanqing pressed his earphones. "We'll check out the dragon boat." He gestured, pointing to the dragon boat at the center of the sunken vessel. "What for?" Red Chicken Brother, sticking to his tradition of asking questions whenever possible and never thinking for himself, inquired. "Based on my assessment, the majority of the previous spiritual realm travelers likely set out for hidden missions—hence their complete loss. Their departure points for these hidden missions were either the dragon boat or the Cliff Mountain Island." Zhang Yuanqing explained his theory. "Their primary mission was to dismantle the array and eliminate these spectral corpses. Therefore, I believe the dragon boat is more likely to have triggered a hidden mission. The monsters that Yin Ji and Xia Hou Ao Tian are fighting should be down there." Hearing this, Free Eagle immediately ascended, making her stance clear. She didn't want to risk herself for someone else's mission. Hongji pointed to the sea floor, then to himself, waved vigorously, and followed the Eagle of Freedom. Unlike the Eagle, who was reluctant to take risks, Hongji truly had no choice—on land, the fire demons had the sky, the earth, and the air to draw from, but beneath the sea, the fire demons could only grumble and pout. "Xia Shu, go up first," Zhang Yuanqing conveyed his thought, then turned to the hesitating giant serpent, pointing toward the surface. Yunmeng exhaled in relief, gracefully twisted her body, and swam toward the surface. "Be careful, Yuanshi," she said, smoothly swaying her rounded hips and slender waist, her legs moving in rhythm, sending a steady stream of bubbles rising behind her, gliding upward like a mermaid. Zhang Yuanqing watched his teammates depart, then turned his gaze to the mature woman veiled in black silk. "Let's go down," he said. Yin Ji nodded gently, and plunged first, her black gown spreading out as Zhang Yuanqing saw the two slender legs beneath the folds, subtly visible. He immediately turned away, using his arms and legs to descend, the undercurrents swirling around him, providing steady support The explosion did not reach this area; the dragon boat lay quietly on the sea floor. Soon, the two of them descended to the bow of the vessel. A thick layer of soft mud covered the deck, and Zhang Yuanqing and Yin Ji stepped forward with care, their feet slipping on the slick surface. Two distinct footprints—large and small—were left behind. This dragon boat was also a war vessel, not merely for leisure or entertainment. It had only two stories, and inside, the space was dim and quiet, covered with a thin layer of decayed mud. Weapons and tables and chairs lay scattered throughout. No ancient artworks or scrolls, no screens or colorful canopies as expected. After walking a while, both of them stopped suddenly, their eyes fixed on the spot ahead. There, a soft bed, two meters long, lay facing them. On it lay a child of about seven or eight years old, dressed in a red official robe, with black trim along the collar and sleeves. The child’s hands were crossed over his abdomen, lying straight and still. Was this the young emperor of the Southern Song? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Yin Ji. She seemed to understand his intent and stepped forward, approaching the bed. After carefully examining it, a gentle voice came through the headset: "It's not a Yin corpse." Zhang Yuanqing then came closer and stood beside her by the bedside. "I remember from the Battle of Cliffs of the Mountain that Lu Xiufu carried the young emperor over his shoulder and jumped into the sea. The purple-robed Yin corpse we eliminated earlier was likely him. Now the young emperor is here. What do you think the final boss of this quest is?" Yin Ji shook her head slightly. She tilted her head slightly, her beautiful eyes quietly fixed on him. "Why have you come to help me? If there's a boss here, with your current level, you're likely to fall." Zhang Yuanqing didn't look at her, continuing to observe the young emperor's body. His thoughts responded: "If I don't help you, who else could? I can't rely on that underachieving physician. We're all official personnel—born companions and allies. In such a dangerous quest, isn't it natural to risk ourselves for our teammates?" His words carried a subtle intention—designed to win Yin Ji's favor and establish a preliminary friendship. Yin Ji, by nature cold and reserved, distanced herself from everyone. If he offered merely flowery, vague expressions of intimacy, she would find them off-putting and grow even more distant. But this response—balanced on principles and organizational grounds, yet infused with genuine warmth—would surely win her appreciation. Zhang Yuanqing had considerable experience in interpersonal relations. Indeed, the eyes of Yin Ji, once like autumn waters, softened immediately. "Thank you!" she said. As Zhang Yuanqing prepared to respond, he remained focused on the body of the young emperor, gently exclaiming, "Ah," and then bent down to turn the child's body over. There, along the back of the young emperor, a split ran from the base of the neck, extending down the spine to the inner lining of his official robe. Yin Ji paused, startled. Zhang Yuanqing carefully tore open the official robe to reveal the full extent of the wound—the split ran from the base of the neck all the way to the tailbone, just like the exoskeleton shed by a cicada. Lying on the bed was nothing but a hollow shell—where had the true body gone? The two exchanged a glance, their expressions subtly serious. After a few seconds of quiet silence, Yin Ji took a deep breath and said, "Let's leave first and return to the sea surface." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, shed his body, and together with Yin Ji, they moved and drifted out of the cabin, guiding the flow of water to rise swiftly. "Splash!" They broke through the waves in unison. At that moment, the sky was clear and serene, and dawn was approaching. The boat was moored a short distance away, gently rocking with the waves, and five of their teammates stood firmly on the deck. Both Zhang Yuanqing and Yin Ji transformed into shimmering starlight and materialized on the deck. "It seems you didn't encounter any danger," Xia Shu Zhi Lian smiled lightly, then added, "Any discoveries?" Zhang Yuanqing removed his headset, tossed it to the attentive Xia Hou Ao Tian, and recounted the findings from the dragon boat to his teammates. "The monster is already on the Cliff Mountain Island," he said, gazing at the outline of the distant island and making his judgment. The Free Eagle's face changed instantly, and she said, "I won't go to Cliff Mountain Island. Most of the crises in the quest have already been resolved—only one boss remains. This isn't our main storyline. We don't need to die for it." Upon hearing this, Red Chicken Brother, Yun Meng, and Xia Shu Zhi Lian all looked hesitant. Xia Hou Ao Tian's handsome face turned pale with shock and anger, his jaw set firmly in determination: "I never expected you supporting characters to be so ungrateful. After all, I and Yin Ji fought valiantly beneath the sea, clearing your backlines—only for you to turn around and sell us off?" The Free Eagle, already giving up on her foreign language aspirations, scoffed and countered, "Don't make it sound so noble. We've all been working together on this quest—no one's truly been doing it for anyone else." She glanced at Yun Meng and the others, her tone slightly persuasive. "All of us have worked hard to reach the Saint Realm. We each have families and friends. Why should we sacrifice ourselves just for your two tasks? Honestly, I didn't even know you before tonight." "She's clearly forming alliances. Her remarks were well-reasoned and deeply resonant, leaving no room for hesitation—Red Chicken Brother and Yunmeng's expressions now reflected clear conviction. Xiahou Aotian gritted his teeth, while Yin Ji remained silent throughout, though her delicate brows slightly furrowed. Free Eagle's arguments were sound, yet encountering such a persistent obstacle within the quest proved an unstable element—indeed, if the team fractured here, the outcome would inevitably be total collapse. After discovering the unusual condition of the young emperor's body, Zhang Yuanqing had already gained a solid understanding of the quest's dynamics. Xiatu no longer hesitated, "Master Yuanshi, what are your thoughts?" Red Chicken Brother and Yunmeng turned their gaze toward Yuan Shi Tianzun. Xiahou Aotian fixed his eyes on him, while Yin Ji, with her consistently composed demeanor, looked on with quiet anticipation. Unconsciously, Yuan Shi Tianzun had earned a growing sense of authority within the team through his actions and capabilities. Zhang Yuanqing did not directly answer Xia Shu-zhi’s question, but instead performed an action that left everyone puzzled. He produced three worn-out Shā Suí (defeat-evil) talismans and said, “Yunmeng, I didn’t have the chance to explain this earlier underwater. This is my compensation for your contributions in securing the Wheel of Rotation.” Yunmeng, with her pure and sincere heart, was both surprised and delighted; her lingering sense of slight disappointment instantly vanished. She reached out curiously, taking the talismans and asked, “These are talismans, aren’t they? Consumables, I suppose. Hmm, what functions do they have?” Zhang Yuanqing explained, “They contain the divine power of the Sun God at the level of Sovereign Rank. They are non-offensive and capable of purifying all negative influences, though they are slightly less effective against venomous toxins and are particularly harmful to spirits of resentment.” Yunmeng’s eyes sparkled with bright light, as if studded with stars. Purifying all negative influences—such talismans are truly a match for wine-drinkers who suffer from such ailments. Free Eagle stared at the three talismans intently, Hongji Ge kept murmuring in admiration, thinking: "Master Yuanshi is truly generous—how many buildings does he have at home?" When Yunmeng happily folded her talismans, Zhang Yuanqing looked steadily at the Eagle of Freedom and said, "If we part ways now, we're certain to be wiped out." The Eagle looked utterly dismissive, clearly unconvinced. "How so?" asked Hongji Ge. …… At 4:30 a.m., the sky was still deep blue. It was summer, and only half an hour remained until dawn. A black sedan drove quietly through the quiet streets, weaving through the bustling CBD district. Here, shopping malls and office towers lined the avenues. During the day, the streets were crowded and traffic jammed, but at night, they became empty and still, with hardly any people in sight. Aside from the glow of streetlights, the skyscrapers stood in collective silence, their windows dark, devoid of any light. The sedan stopped outside a Western restaurant on the street corner. Along the entire block, only this restaurant remained lit and its doors open, as if still in operation. The door swung open, revealing a gleaming leather shoe. Mr. Bill, dressed in a well-cut suit, stepped out of the carriage and stood by the sidewalk, his gaze fixed on the interior of the restaurant. Then he surveyed the surroundings, confirmed that no one was nearby, left his car behind, and entered the restaurant. As Fang Fu stepped into the opulently furnished dining room, he immediately detected a rich, aromatic scent. At a central table, a man in a pure black suit, wearing a silver half-mask over his face, was seated, holding a fork and knife, carefully cutting a small filet of beef. "Very timely," the man said without looking up, pointing to a similar filet of beef placed across from him. Mr. Bill approached slowly, sat down in a high-back chair, and joined him for dinner. "Having eaten so much beef, I still find the dry-aged Australian eye steak most to my liking," the man said, chewing deeply, as if he had been reborn as a starving ghost. Mr. Bill's manner was far more graceful. He said, "Chairman, how do you intend to handle the Wine God Club? If you're not ready to take action, I can speak with the Five Elements Alliance and arrange for senior members of our guild to handle this matter on your behalf in Longhai." "Those old fellows know the Wine God Club inside and out—so well that they're often at a loss when it comes to confrontation. To take on those wine-loving types, we'll need to think outside the box and catch them off guard." The man set down his knife and fork, then gestured to the black suit he wore. "Look," he said. "What do you see?" Bill, who had been patiently waiting for the chairman to explain his strategy, paused. He found himself consistently falling behind the chairman's fluid and unconventional thinking. He试探ly asked, "Your broad chest?" The man shook his head. "My chest is indeed broad—indeed, even the young, delicate women who've lived here have remarked as much. But what I'm pointing to is this black suit. I bought it specifically yesterday." A black suit? Bill didn't understand. The man sighed, "You're a gentleman, but not very humorous. A completely black suit is only worn in two situations: at a wedding or a funeral." Bill finally understood, and expressed both surprise and anticipation, "President, you mean to say you'll personally attend their funeral? Do you know where they are? Would you need my assistance?" The man said nothing; he simply took his last piece of steak with calm deliberation, then smiled. "Your task is simply to bring them here—and to do it beautifully." Bill was startled, and suddenly turned to look out the window. To his amazement, the streetlights had all gone out, while the restaurant remained brightly lit. Outside, the night was dark and utterly still.