[Name: Seed of the Growth Tree] [Type: Tree] [Function: Reproduction, Beast Taming] [Description: A sapling of a divine tree that has inherited part of its mother tree's abilities. After detaching from the mother tree, it yearns to grow into a magnificent being like the mother, deeply committed to reproduction and growth. It also possesses the power to command the wild beasts of the forest. Renewal and reproduction are its eternal pursuits. Reproduce, for the continuation of the race and the birth of life—let go of everything and reproduce without restraint.] [Note 1: Those who refuse reproduction are not entitled to reproductive capabilities.] [Note 2: Every 24 hours, it summons nearby creatures to hold a grand reproductive ceremony.] The specific effect of reproduction is—that as soon as this item is activated, all living beings within a certain range will enter a strong desire to reproduce. At first glance, the effect seems simple, yet it is actually a powerful negative status effect. Imagine you're under siege, surrounded by a dense wave of enemies. As you summon this sapling, a wave of reproductive fervor spreads. Just moments ago, enemies who were fiercely attacking you may suddenly extend an invitation for you to join them in a romantic union. If the enemy is a graceful, alluring woman, what a beautiful scene! If it's a group of such women, even more enchanting. But what if the enemies are a group of strong, sturdy men? Furthermore, the cost is quite severe. Similar to the Mountain God's Staff (as noted in footnote 1), upon using the item, the user develops a strong desire to reproduce. However, the sapling is more forceful than the staff. While the Mountain God's Staff's effect can be resisted with willpower, the sapling directly strips the user of their reproductive capacity. Of course, for those who have girlfriends, wives, and female companions, and who aren't particularly high on moral standards, this isn't an issue at all. What truly troubles Zhang Yuanqing is Remark 2—he absolutely doesn't want to find himself trailing behind people, with his silver staff always in hand. That's just utterly unbearable. "This item cannot be retained or used. Store it temporarily and, after seven days, take it to the furnace to melt it," Zhang Yuanqing dismissed the idea of keeping and utilizing the item long-term, and placed the young sapling into his inventory. Then, he surveyed the thirty-some young students, all maintaining a half-hearted, lifeless posture like dolls, and dialed the queen's phone. "Queen, I've discovered an item at Songfu University..." He recounted the situation in the campus park to the queen, then added, "Notify the official wardens in the vicinity and have them bring in the musicians to handle the situation. My suggestion is to hypnotize them, so they forget about tonight's events—just as if nothing had happened at all." "The Queen mused, 'For them, this truly is the best course of action.' These students can remain at school and return to their normal routines. Hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing turned to Zhu Hanjing, pausing thoughtfully. Although the official liaison team would discreetly handle the matter, they would inevitably require cooperation from security personnel and the school administration. Zhu Hanjing had accidentally ended up here, not involved in the Silver Stand event—leaving her here would be detrimental to her reputation. After a moment's consideration, Zhang walked toward her and activated the flight function of the Wind-Runner gloves, carrying her away from the park. After crossing the playing field, he landed in the flowerbed behind the teaching building. While wearing the mask was too intimidating in this setting, removing it would leave him emotionally unstable, like a patient with a mental breakdown. After careful reflection, Zhang decided to remove the mask. A person who fluctuates between emotions, though odd, is still less alarming than someone constantly wearing a mask." With a gentle sweep of his hand, the unruly look on his face dissolved. Then, he snapped his fingers with a crisp sound, and the flower girl, who had been staring blankly, shivered as if awakened from a dream. She gazed around her, bewildered, unsure whether reality or illusion lay on either side. Suddenly, she saw the stranger standing before her, and her senses returned—clearly distinguishing which side was real and which was dream. Zhu Huanjing was left bewildered by his sudden change in demeanor. Her heart pounded wildly, and as she leaned against the wall, her fear eased somewhat, though her fingertips remained warm. Yet new concerns arose—would he strip her bare and humiliate her, just like those people in the park? "Who exactly are you?" she asked. "You can think of me as a deity wandering through the night, or perhaps the Eastern Batman. If you insist on my formal title, then it is—Grand Primordial Heavenly Sovereign!" he replied. A deity of the night, the Eastern Batman, the Grand Primordial Heavenly Sovereign... Zhu Huanjing looked utterly puzzled. Just as she was about to ask about the dismal scene in the park, this handsome peer suddenly grew serious, his tone cold. "I've already notified the Public Security Bureau. Someone will soon handle the situation there. I've brought you here to tell you two things: first, what you witnessed tonight must not be spoken of—no one is to mention it. Second, you must return to your dorm immediately." With that, he gave her a cold, sharp glance. "Don't dawdle—get out!" Zhu Hanjing froze, then turned and ran. Back at her dorm, she burst into her room, collapsed onto the bed, and remained motionless. For a long time, she only breathed heavily, her head peeking out. In the stillness of the night, the deity Guan Shen, the great Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun... she murmured to herself. Gradually, she realized she had entered a completely new world—a dreamlike, strange and vibrant one. That handsome peer was proof of her encounter with this wondrous realm. As she pondered, her mind filled with thoughts, she began to grow worried about Xiao Lan. That peer said he'd resolve this matter and hoped he'd follow through... Whether or not he'd see him again in the future remained uncertain—after all, in romance novels, the heroine and the hero often meet like this... With a quiet sense of anticipation, Han Jing drifted off to sleep. He exhaled a breath of Taiyin energy, and upon landing, took the form of an infant—round cheeks, large black eyes, a small mouth. Aside from a slight ethereal quality in the body, the infant was indistinguishable from a normal baby. Zhang Yuanqing bent down, touched the infant's head, and commanded, "Seek the treasure!" The curious little one understood his master's command, making a soft "Ah-bah" sound, then raised its neck, turning its head like an antenna receiving signals, rotating back and forth. After a moment, it seemed to have locked onto the target, swiftly moving its limbs and vanishing into the night. Room 602, Building Eight. In the two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, yellow paper talismans were scattered throughout—attached to walls, doorframes, and glass panels—and a Ba-gua mirror hung on the back of the security door. In the dimly lit bedroom, near the window stood an altar, with incense burning and candles lit, and offerings of fruit and pastries arranged on a small table. The deity enshrined here was neither a Buddhist nor a traditional god, but a compact coffin, just twenty centimeters The coffin is black as ink, exuding a cold, eerie atmosphere. Though its size is modest, like a toy, it is more unsettling than a true coffin. Before the shrine, a figure kneels, murmuring words that are indistinct and unclear. At this moment, a soft laugh echoes from the dim bedroom: "Stop bowing. If you keep doing so, you'll lose your life." The voice is remarkably youthful. The figure at the shrine jerks, instinctively springing to her feet and turning toward the sound. There, seated at the sofa's usual spot by the bed, is a figure who has appeared without any prior notice. Dressed in a T-shirt and light pants, he stands tall, clearly a young man. "Who are you? How did you get here? Are you giving up on life?" the middle-aged man asks, regaining composure. Backed against the shrine, he is neither afraid nor hesitant. "You needn't concern yourself with how I arrived. Look at your face—pale, almost lifeless. You're about to die. Of course, I'll save you. Now, answer my questions honestly." "Zhang Yuanqing leaned lazily against the sofa," "The strange knocking at the doors of Jiangbei Community is your doing, isn't it? Don't deny it—I even know exactly how you accomplished it." He pointed to the compact coffin. "There must be spirits living inside." The middle-aged man's face paled dramatically and he urgently exclaimed, "Who exactly are you?" As the words fell, he noticed the young man on the sofa—gold paint suddenly glowed at the center of his forehead, spreading to cover his entire face, casting a bright golden light across the dim bedroom. Then, the golden complexion swiftly shifted, with black and red hues flowing and forming a dignified, solemn facial pattern. "Answer me!" the golden face issued a low, commanding demand. The middle-aged man's heart heaved violently, nearly stopping. "Please, let the deity appear and eliminate the enemy!" The man sank to both knees, bowing deeply before the coffin. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes darkened, observing the coffin intently. "Please, let the deity appear and eliminate the enemy!" The middle-aged man continued to bow, his voice growing increasingly urgent. Previously, every time he bowed, the "great spirit" inside the coffin had always appeared and fulfilled his request. But today, for no apparent reason, the spirit inside the coffin did not respond. This had never happened before. "It's awkward—it seems to be a bit afraid of me," Zhang Yuqing said, staring at him with a loud, commanding tone full of authority. "Answer my questions, or else, die!" He, too, belonged to the same category as himself—someone with magical abilities—and even stronger than he was... In quick mental calculations, weighing the pros and cons, the middle-aged man decided to cooperate. "What would you like to know?" "Where did the coffin come from?" Zhang Yuqing glanced at the altar. "I found it by the entrance of my home, about three days ago. At that time, I noticed it there and felt uneasy, so I kicked it away. That evening, I heard someone knocking at the door. I opened it to check, but no one was there. When I looked again, the coffin had returned to the entrance." I picked it up, intending to toss it into the trash can downstairs...” The middle-aged man spoke, his pale face revealing both excitement and fear, adding, “But as soon as I picked it up, I suddenly felt it had a mind of its own, capable of communicating with me. At that moment, I understood exactly how to use it.” “What kind of use? Does it knock on doors and scare people?” Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. “No, knocking on doors is merely part of my experiment. This is a sacred artifact—capable of summoning spirits. You and I are of the same kind, so you should understand what I mean. With it, I can command it to do anything I wish…” The middle-aged man passionately countered, clearly resentful that someone would dismiss a coffin so lightly. “But this takes time—time spent in rituals. The longer I perform these rituals, the more I feel that I am truly becoming its master.” “No, you’re about to die.” “What then, once you’ve fully mastered this artifact?” Zhang Yuanqing asked. “Of course, I’ll do something more meaningful,” the man replied, his pale complexion now tinged with greed, his eyes reflecting a quiet madness. His mental state has grown increasingly unstable, with severe depletion of vital energy—he will die within at most three days... Zhang Yuanqing snapped his fingers once, and the middle-aged man instantly froze, entering a state of trance. Zhang Yuanqing rose and walked to the altar, extending his hand toward the coffin. The compact black coffin trembled violently, as though resisting or afraid, yet ultimately yielded, submitting to the strong star official's command. This person isn't a Spirit Realm traveler and thus cannot perceive item information. Therefore, he can only experiment on the specific functions of an item based on feedback he receives after becoming the owner of that item. Knocking on doors is how he's testing the functionality of this particular item, but since each time he makes a sacrifice, he grows extremely weak and requires rest, he hasn't been able to conduct any experiments today. As a result, Zhang Yuanqing hasn't sensed the presence of the lingering spirits. He's a very cautious individual—never immediately using the item to fulfill his own desires. Unfortunately, the item is quite eerie; ordinary people who come into contact with it typically exhaust their vital energy within a week and perish. Zhang Yuanqing has stored the coffin in his inventory and called the Queen to handle the aftermath. Only then was the military spirit's facial pattern lifted. In the coming days, he will transform into a volatile, unpredictable madman and should ideally stay away from crowds. ... Over the next six days, Zhang Yuanqing has been making use of the small, cheerful companion's treasure-hunting feature while also coordinating with official intelligence updates, traveling across various regions—Songhai, the Dispersed Province, and Jiangnan Province. For this purpose, he specially requisitioned the queen's official vehicle, continuously driving through the city, speeding along highways, and navigating rural roads without pause. He scarcely allowed himself a moment's rest, rushing to the next destination immediately after resolving one matter. Over the course of six days, he collected four artifacts of sage quality and eight of extraordinary quality, totaling twelve artifacts—his efficiency surpassing that of the official couriers from each regional branch. This was due to his strong capabilities and ample inventory, enabling him to simply move through official teams and even those events requiring careful verification and exploration, without hesitation. Meanwhile, his knack for treasure-hunting—his "little comic" skill—proved invaluable; within a few miles, as long as there was a valuable item, the little comic could always locate it. Typically, spiritual realm couriers store their artifacts in their inventory, and only the lucky ones carry them with them. Artifacts that remain undiscovered and temporarily overlooked are often left in the same condition. Yet the little comic found them almost every time. His final destination was Jinkang City, where he parked his car at the door of Wuhen Hotel. Over the six days, Xiao Yuan had not provided any clues about the props—this was entirely normal. As a non-official staff member, it was difficult for her to pinpoint the props within just a few days. First, the bustling props had already been collected, and second, her network and operational reach were limited to Jinkang City alone. Zhang Yuanqing had come to Wuhen Hotel simply because he happened to pass by, intending to stay there overnight and meet Xiao Yuan. Since the incident involving Zhang Shi, it had been some time since he last saw her.