"Has the news about my Yin-Yang rotating disk reached the淮海branch yet? I feel like they're going to blacklist me." Zhang Yuanqing picked up a piece of beef, angrily stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully, then opened the post on his plate. "You're referring to the post about the 'rough-and-tumble disk,' right? It was already up yesterday," Guan Ya said, surprising him. The Queen added, "It's not bad at all—most people are just making light of it. After all, men everywhere are naturally rough and unrefined, so it's not a serious stain, nor particularly offensive. But I think Guan Ya is genuinely happy." "Why is Guan Ya so happy?" Xie Lingxi stirred her vegetable salad, her face full of curiosity. Noticing something off, Zhang Yuanqing quickly served a piece of green vegetable to the plump Queen, "Eat more vegetables—lose some weight." He then added a piece of beef to the slender and graceful Xie Lingxi, "Don't just eat grass—consume something nutritious. You're still growing." In terms of physical appearance, Guan Ya's well-proportioned figure—full bust, firm hips, Queen’s body fat ratio is a bit higher—her hips are soft and full, her chest is substantial, and her waist has a gentle, subtle fullness, yet not quite excess weight. In contrast, Xie Lingxi has the most slender and even physique, tall and delicate, yet she is the most dedicated to weight loss, strictly controlling her caloric intake every day. Zhang Yuanqing is particularly concerned about this sister; some qualities, if not cultivated during the developmental stage, might never be regained in her lifetime. After successfully interrupting the upcoming tea ceremony competition, Zhang Yuanqing turned his attention to his smartphone screen, checking the posts: “First, I’d like to announce a positive update: our star figure, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, recently achieved an S-tier spiritual realm—Yá Shān Zhī Hǎi—while in prison. “Yes, the very Yá Shān Zhī Hǎi that last year defeated six saints in its S-tier quest—many of you likely remember it. The Yin-Yang Rotating Disk of Huaihai Branch and a key asset of the Xie family were both lost within that quest. "For this reason, Huaihai Branch and Xie family have issued rewards: whoever retrieves the two items will be generously compensated. Only Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, as an official, would return them. If a wandering practitioner were to obtain those two items, how could they possibly return them? After all this, let's return to our main topic. Many of you may not know that the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk has another nickname—'the Rogue Disk.' Those who succeed in capturing it are typically rogues. When I heard that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun had secured the Rogue Disk, I was genuinely stunned. I've always been a die-hard fan of his—how could my idol be a rogue? Oh my goodness, it's a total collapse! [Crying loudly]" [Snow: Hmm, Master Tian Zun has just conquered another S-tier character? Officially, there hasn't been any announcement yet. Still, well done to Master Tian Zun!] [The Sovereign is Unwell: Master Tian Zun is simply too strong. For us, S-tier dungeons are like a dragon's den or a tiger's lair. To him, they're as simple as drinking water or eating meals. We used to envy him What's so dramatic about it, all you ladies are making such a fuss? And is capturing the Yin-Yang Rotating Disc really considered rough treatment? Who said that? [Strange Call: I'm a steward from the Huaihai Branch. Let me clarify—this Yin-Yang Rotating Disc is a particularly special artifact. It's a major weapon in the Saint phase, and to overcome it, one must answer its questions. These questions are quite unusual—normal people simply can't answer them correctly, but stewards can. This has been verified and confirmed by many senior stewards, even by the Elders at the Huaihai Branch. The Prime Immortal himself managed to capture it—now, do you understand?] [Peony Immortal: Oh, I've had the chance to meet the Prime Immortal. He doesn't seem like a steward at all.] [Cow Girl: Ah, well, stewards are stewards—men are naturally like that.] [Jiang Ju: Above, you're a bit inconsistent, aren't you?] [Queen: Is the Prime Immortal a steward? Does being a steward mean being a throwaway man? Ah, now I'll never love again. 】 【Moon Rabbit: Got it. From now on, I won't let Yuan-Shi Tian Zun get a chance to meet me—I don't want to end up being the one who's been overlooked.】 【Ice Fairy: As long as I'm a bit of a scatterbrained girl myself, I won't mind his roughness. But take note, true ladies—remember Tian Zun is a real rogue; from now on, call him the Rogue Tian Zun.】 Wow, the Rogue Tian Zun... Zhang Yuan Qing thought her reputation was now completely gone. As the queen said, aside from praise for his latest S-tier conquest, most comments were curious about just how rogue his "yin-yang spinner" approach really was, and jokingly referred to him as the Rogue Tian Zun. It's actually quite charming and amusing that such a distinguished, brilliant figure turns out to be a bit of a rogue. After all, the most upright and polished figures often remain out of touch with the crowd. Once a reputation acquires a stain, however, it's hard to erase—jealous or envious observers often twist, exaggerate, and distort it, misleading those who are unaware. And then, once it's repeated enough, One day, it might become a pretext for the eye-rolling attacks by the patients. Fortunately, it's not a major issue. "Yes, Brother Yuanshǐ, the ancient ancestors entrusted the infant prince's head to my father for safekeeping," said Xie Lingxi with a happy smile. Zhang Yuanqing locked his gaze on the phone screen and nodded, "Excellent!" This was a clear signal—three branches of the family had been overlooked, and now the ancient ancestors placed greater emphasis on the current family head, Xie Su. From now on, all major factions within the Xie family would become more stable and cooperative. As a result, Xie Su's authority and influence would significantly grow. For Zhang Yuanqing, the greatest advantage was that, thanks to Xie Lingxi, he now had a strong relationship with Xie Su—his ally's rise meant his own rise as well. "All of this is thanks to Brother Yuanshǐ's efforts," Xie Lingxi said, her eyes curving into a crescent moon. After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing went to his room to brush his teeth and freshen up, then used a star-dart technique to jump directly to Guan Ya's room. In the small sitting area of the room, Guan Ya was wearing yoga attire, lying on her hands and knees performing a plank. Her entire body was taut, her waist线条 perfectly defined, and her peach-shaped buttocks firm and full. While internal training could never elevate a saint’s physical condition, it could keep all bodily functions vibrant, enabling her to remain ready for combat at any moment. Zhang Yuanqing bent down and delivered a solid slap. "Crack!" The muscles on her buttocks trembled and rippled. Guan Ya winced, then sneered, "Perfect. Afternoon, let's go to the combat room and train— I'll teach you judo." "Judo is for tournament fighters. What I need is a killing technique— one strike, and that's it," Zhang Yuanqing coldly rejected, refusing to give her a chance to retaliate. He didn't want to be beaten by Guan Ya. Guan Ya smiled seductively, "Tonight, you're allowed to sleep on my bed." "Accompanying your girlfriend in combat training is a man's duty and responsibility," Zhang Yuanqing said, eyes glistening with emotion, "Finally, Guan Ya, you Zhang Yuanqing was not satisfied, yet found himself at a loss for words, sighing, "You're the true master of the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk—after two and a half months of training under me, I've already mastered it. If you so much as raise your hand, the disk will bow down to you. When we're financially secure, we'll buy it from you and hand it over to you to manage." He could easily answer any questions about the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk, let alone the old Si Ji. "No more small talk," Guan Ya said. "I'll enter the副本 in another week. From now on, you'll have to practice combat with me every day." Turning to business, Zhang Yuanqing put aside his casual demeanor and said, "I anticipated this, so I've prepared some equipment for you." He then took out a lightweight leather armor from his inventory and placed it on the table. "The equipment provided by the Huaihai branch is called the 'Armor of the Skilled Warrior.' A 4th-tier Saint's attack can weaken it by 50–70%, while a 5th-tier Saint's attack can reduce it by 20–30%. Every hour, it activates absolute defense, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a 5th-tier Saint." Zhang Yuanqing introduced the equipment's attributes: "It's exceptionally lightweight and grants you the balance and agility of a wood spirit." Guan Ya's eyes sparkled. As a swordsman, she typically excels in attack but suffers from low defense and thin health—lacking self-healing or strong vitality. While defensive gear for earth monsters isn't hard to find, it often comes at the cost of becoming 'heavy,' effectively compromising her martial skills. A defensive piece that doesn't impede speed or agility is truly a cherished treasure for any swordsman. Guan Ya engaged her slender waist, leaping upward to reach the armor on the bedside, but was gently held back by Zhang Yuanqing. "Isn't it also a woman's duty and responsibility to be intimate with her partner?" Zhang Yuanqing said. Guan Ya gave him a look of Zhang Yuanqing wrapped his arms around her waist and lay down on the bed. …… [Xie Lingxi: I’ve picked up on that couple making love—Master Yuanshi sent a prop to Guan Ya. Hmph, exchanging one partner for another—what’s the difference from listening to performances at the theater? ] [Call me Queen: I’m so envious… Ah, no—that’s absurd! This is the staff dormitory, after all. How could we possibly endure such intimacy? Such things must not happen.] [Xie Lingxi: Brother said he’d have something to share with us after lunch, didn’t he, Queen sister? You know very well.] Zhang Yuanqing lifted the taut yoga wear off Guan Ya’s neck and buried his head in the soft, snowy white skin. Just a few seconds as a devoted admirer, and he was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. Outside, Xie Lingxi’s sweet voice came through: “Master Yuanshi, are you inside? We went to your room and found you weren’t there. Are you with Guan Ya now? May we come in?” "Guan Ya quickly pushed Zhang Yuanqing aside, pulling down her black lace lingerie and yoga wear. Huh... Zhang Yuanqing grumbled, flipping over and getting out of bed, then opened the door. Standing at the doorway were Xie Lingxi in a short-sleeve, short-pants outfit, and the silver earring lady in a fitted seven-quarter pants and black T-shirt. Xie Lingxi glanced at Guan Ya, who sat by the bed with a dangerous smile, and softly asked, "Is it disturbing you two?" "No, come in," Zhang Yuanqing gestured for them to enter. The Queen and Xie Lingxi entered the room and sat down on the imperial bedstead beside the bed. Zhang Yuanqing retrieved two items from his inventory—a deep brown long whip and a black cloak as dark as a night sky. He handed the cloak to Xie Lingxi: "This was given to me by your family. It's called the Night-Wanderer Cloak. When you wear it, you gain the ability of the Night-Wanderer's stealth. The cost is that during stealth, you cannot attack, cannot use skills, and must reverse your daily routine. Each stealth "You're a musician, with weak combat abilities and no survival skills—here's this item for you." Xie Lingxi was overjoyed. She opened her arms and rushed toward Zhang Yuanqing: "Master Yuanshi is so kind... ah~" But she was gently kicked aside by Guan Ya, who stood by the bed, landing with a soft *plink* on the floor. "Don't touch my boyfriend!" Guan Ya murmured with a sniff. The queen glanced at the whip, then at Zhang Yuanqing, her expression full of hope and anticipation. "The Shennong Whip possesses three key functions: breaking armor, neutralizing toxins, and immobilizing enemies," he said, tossing the whip to the queen. "You're a water spirit with strong self-defense abilities, but lack powerful offensive skills. This whip will complement your strengths." The queen eagerly accepted the whip, reading the item details as she spoke with excitement: "A divine-tier item! I, a Level 3 extraordinary—dreamed of something like this all my life... Indeed, it's a completely different life when you're in the right position, Captain..." She glanced at Xie Lingxi, then added with a light tone, "I won't carry you, after all—my room door isn't locked anyway." With a chuckle, her eyes glistened as she softly said, "Thank you, Captain." Unlike Xie Lingxi, who was a direct descendant of the Xie family and thus held a strong familial advantage, divine-tier items were valuable to her but not out of reach. When Xie Lingxi entered the killing dungeon, the Xie family would certainly grant her divine-tier items, limited only by the dungeon's strength ceiling. But the queen was different—she was a mid-level employee of the Five Elements Alliance, without a strong family background or inherited status, and thus didn't enjoy the same access to premium resources. Her only real asset was her beauty. Yet, if she remained steadfast and unchanged, that beauty would eventually fade into mere appearance. Thus, even the most ordinary item of a sage's caliber was deeply precious to her. Having neither achieved any notable feats nor been specifically requested by Yuan Shi Tian Zun to share a bed with her, she received such an item—clearly out of genuine affection. "Then, I and Guan Ya have matters to attend to. You two..." Zhang Yuanqing thought he should now send them away, yet the young green tea girl quickly interjected, "Ah, Yuan Shi brother, would you mind if we went out for a moment? We girls have some private things to discuss." The queen nodded enthusiastically, "It's quite dull staying in the villa all day. I'd also like to catch up with Guan Ya over a cup of tea." Indeed, that's how you're repaying me? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Guan Ya, who remained unmoved, and then grumbled as he left. ... After leaving the room, Zhang Yuanqing went to the living room and saw Li Chunfeng typing at the round table. He smiled and said, "One day, when you truly commit yourself to being part of my life, I'll give you an item of sage's caliber as well." Li Chunfeng kept his eyes fixed on the computer screen, nodded once, "My channels haven't replied yet. You'll have to wait for the items." Zhang Yuanqing nodded and returned to his room. There was still one promise yet to be fulfilled. He pulled out his phone, opened the messaging app, and entered Yin Ji's phone number: "We've sold the Yin-Yang Wheel and the Sacred Infant. Send me your account details." He copied the message and sent it sequentially to Hong Ji Ge, Xiahou Aotian, Free Eagle, Summer Tree's Love, and Wu Yunmeng from Qing He branch. "I hope I can secure eight million!" Xiahou Aotian replied. "Ha ha, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun truly keeps his word. One day, come over for a soup meal—I'll treat you to a bowl." This was Hong Ji Ge's response. Free Eagle, Yin Ji, and Yunmeng directly sent their account details. "I suspect there's been some friction with Huaihai Branch regarding the Yin-Yang Wheel." When Summer Tree's Love sent her account details, she also mentioned the matter. "They wanted to claim the wheel according to the reward stipulated in the bounty. I didn Zhang Yuanqing replied. Xia Shu Zhilian responded, "You can't imagine how fiercely the senior elders from each branch vie for the allocation of life essence liquid purchased annually from the musicians' family. The competition over the quota is intense. Yet, despite all this rivalry, their personal relationships remain strong. You needn't worry that the senior elders and officials of the Huaihai branch will view you unfavorably. You shouldn't feel the need to harbor any resentment toward them—this is simply the official style." With five hundred thousand yuan, it's partly out of moral obligation, and partly because Zhang Yuanqing believes this person might be useful in the future—this sum is meant to maintain the relationship. One shouldn't look down on someone simply because they seem insignificant; that's a fundamental principle of social interaction. Thanks to official privileges, the bank account of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun has no transaction limits, but when transferring funds to overseas recipients, inquiries and due diligence are still required, so he'll prepare a report for Fu Qingyang shortly. After the transfer, he didn't go to see his teammates' expressions of gratitude or Xiahou Aotian's subtle probing about whether he'd missed a zero—he instead picked up the phone to call Xie Su. As soon as the call connected, Zhang Yuanqing laughed warmly, "Congratulations, Uncle, on taking charge of the Sacred Infant!" "Same joy!" Xie Su smiled gently, "I'll send you the first batch of life essence within three days." "Oh, Uncle, you're being so formal—did you think I was calling to follow up on that?" Zhang Yuanqing said, "Just remember to write the address as Fu Family Village Villa." The two chatted a bit, and Zhang Yuanqing asked, "I have something to ask Uncle. Do you know the Master of the Zhishai Palace?" Xie Su paused, "The Chu and Xie families have many intermarriages; her mother was my distant cousin. How is it that you're asking about her now?" It makes sense that she's close with Xie Lingxi—after all, Zhang Yuanqing added, "I've just recently recalled a matter that's been troubling me for a while, so I thought I'd casually inquire. I remember that the Master of the Zhishai Palace didn't participate in the Killing Quest, yet she advanced from Saint to Sovereign." Xie Su replied, "She was already a Sovereign many years ago, but for some reason, she later fell in rank." Ah, that explains it—Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood. He thought back to the function of the Saint-Infant, and realized that if the 'child' had been born successfully, he himself would have fallen from Saint to Transcendent. Falling in rank seemed to be a unique trait of the Musician's path—no other profession had such an unusual occurrence. Could it be that the Zhang Yuanqing had intended to ask a few more questions, but he probably figured that Xie Su wouldn’t volunteer much about his eccentric private life without being asked, so he settled for just listening. … At 4:30 PM, the inner-ring tunnel. Jiang Yubi gripped the steering wheel, gently pressing the accelerator as she entered the congested tunnel. With her headphones snug in her ears, she glanced at the road ahead while coldly remarking, “Since your son started dating, he hasn’t come home for over a week and a half. I don’t know how he’s been doing lately—maybe he’s been feeling unwell.” “What’s the girl’s background? I still don’t know. I heard her family is in government service.” “Are you coming home this year…? Get lost! Your own matters—why should I tell him? After all, I’m just his aunt.” As Jiang Yubi spoke, she suddenly noticed the overhead lights in the tunnel going out. Instantly, the cars that had been moving slowly all flickered their tail lights as drivers applied the brakes. “For heaven’s sake, what’s going on?” "Power out? Never seen a tunnel power outage before..." "Damn it, I almost rear-ended someone." Voices of exasperation echoed throughout the tunnel. At that moment, Jiang Yu E noticed a little girl wearing a red hat walking upside down along the tunnel's ceiling. Her hat covered her face, and her hands were gushing with bright red blood—strange and eerie.