As the ring was removed, ripples of distortion spread across the ordinary young man's face, and within a few seconds, a clear, well-defined, handsome countenance emerged before everyone's eyes. Zhao Hong stared in wide-eyed astonishment, murmuring, "The Prime Immortal?!" "The Prime Immortal!!" The slightly pale face of Zhao Feichen also revealed surprise and bewilderment, which then shifted into anger and resentment. Who the person was didn't matter—he still harbored a deep resentment over the broken leg. But he hadn't expected that this young, unfamiliar star official was actually the Prime Immortal in disguise. He was well acquainted with the Prime Immortal's reputation—he had even watched the official tournament held by the administration on that very day. However, at the time, the Prime Immortal's spectral form clearly appeared as male. Zhang Yuanqing removed the disguise ring and coldly stared at Zhao Hongzheng, saying, "Zhao, your son claimed today that I should never leave the Flower Capital. Now I'd like to ask you—do you dare to fight me?" Can you dare to move against an official saint who has earned A-grade merits and several B-grade merits? Zhao Hongzheng's face immediately grew serious, his expression as calm and composed as still water. He couldn't—yes, he truly couldn't! Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun is a prodigy meticulously cultivated by the official establishment. Even though Zhao Hongzheng had recently been disciplined by headquarters, and there were whispers that some senior officials were dissatisfied with Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's independent and unruly nature, believing him difficult to manage, Zhao Hongzheng still felt he couldn't act. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's reputation is too strong, his prestige too high. If headquarters were unhappy with him, that was an internal matter within the Five Elements Alliance. If Zhao Hongzheng dared to kill Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, the next day the Zhao family would surely bind him and send him to the Songhai Branch. Zhang Yuancheng then turned his gaze to Zhao Feichen, coldly remarking, "Born into the Zhao family, do you think yourself a noble of royal blood? With your modest lineage, do you think you're worthy to challenge me? With your current capabilities, do you believe you're capable of The contempt and disdain in Yuan Shi Tian Zun's eyes deeply wounded his sense of dignity. After intense anger, a surge of resentment and defiance rose within him. He asked himself: if the other party were Yuan Shi Tian Zun, would he still dare? The answer was a resounding yes. He would! If he knew it was Yuan Shi Tian Zun, he would immediately notify his family and dispatch a Saint of Level 6. What could Yuan Shi Tian Zun do? As long as the timing was right and the rules allowed, he would surely defeat him. And if the rules were ignored, would Yuan Shi Tian Zun dare to ignore them? As a spiritual realm family with roots stretching back a century, Zhao Family could easily eliminate Yuan Shi Tian Zun. In today's world, no sovereign holds the stature to challenge a spiritual realm family; only organizations of equal or higher rank can effectively counter large-scale institutions. Zhao Feichen grinned fiercely. "How could I be afraid? Let's do it again—this time, I'll send a Level 6 Saint onto the field to slaughter your so-called official prodigy." His expression was slightly fierce, and he laughed loudly, proudly, as though either stubbornly holding out or truly daring to do so. "Very well said!" a calm, resonant voice came from outside the shop. The crowd turned to see an elderly man approaching—dressed in a neat Tang-style robe, wearing simple old cotton shoes, with a slightly bent back and hands resting behind his back. He looked like a wealthy elder, unaccompanied by any bodyguards, the only notable feature being his evident age and frailty, yet his eyes were exceptionally bright and sharp, full of quiet wisdom. As he entered the shop, he smiled warmly at Zhao Feichun and said, "You may be a bit brash, but your spirit has always appealed to me. Whether you're humble, ambitious, or indulgent—what matters is that at your core, you carry an unyielding pride. That pride must remain intact, even if your bones are broken. This is the fundamental difference between us and the common people." "Having said that, he glanced at Zhao Hongzheng with a hint of displeasure and said calmly, "Zhao Family has stood firm for a century—its roots are still strong. Can one young man really scare you like this?" Zhao Hongzheng lowered his head and remained silent. "Zhao Family Head?" Zhang Yuanqing raised an eyebrow. "You may call me Zhao Wugong—my nickname from my younger days. As for my formal name, you needn't know it." The elder looked at Zhang Yuanqing with a calm demeanor and said, "I am not the head of Zhao Family. Until you, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, have the standing to have my brother personally step in, I won't." "Uncle Wugong!" Zhao Feichen was delighted, glaring fiercely at Zhang Yuanqing, "Uncle Wugong has to champion me—this young man has been refining artifacts at my aunt's place, taking full responsibility for the fire stones himself. Who else could he blame? I merely caught a lucky break—business always depends on individual merit. Yet he holds a grudge, and now he's broken my legs. I won't accept that! 'Uncle Wugong, you Though his tone was cold and detached, he was secretly on guard, every muscle tensed and working hard, his adrenaline surging. He could not sense the elder's presence. This was a true sovereign. "My grandson has already stated that he will break your legs and take your props," the elder said with a cheerful smile. "We must still uphold official dignity—just present your props, and this matter will be settled." "What if I refuse?" Zhang Yuanqing arched an eyebrow. "What does it matter to me if I take your props?" The elder gently lifted his old straw shoe and stepped forward. At once, a Baogua circular array expanded from beneath his feet, encompassing the entire Wanbao House. At that moment, Lian San Yue smiled lightly. "Uncle, didn't you consult a fortune-teller before you came?" The elder slightly frowned, withdrew his foot, and the array instantly dissolved. After a moment's pause, he reached into his sleeve, pulled out three copper coins, closed his palm, and gently shook them before spreading his hands open. Seeing the hexagram formed by the three coins, his expression changed slightly. The oracular image: unfavorable! The elder gazed deeply at Yuan Shi Tian Zun, said nothing, and then turned, saying, "Let's go." Zhao Hong had been slowly exhaling a sigh of relief, but Zhao Feichun's face turned pale, and he cried out in desperation, "Uncle Fifth, Uncle Fifth..." Zhang Yuanqing chuckled scornfully and stepped forward, kicking Zhao Feichun squarely in the face. "Poof..." Zhao Feichun's head tilted to one side, spitting out two front teeth, blood streaming from his mouth. "Brat!" Zhao Hong Zheng was furious, reaching out and grabbing a golden bowl from the air, aiming it directly at Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing had been prepared; in his hands appeared a hand-held cannon of purple-gold hue, thirty centimeters long, with a broad, elongated muzzle. Just the perfect opportunity to test your cannon—holding it single-handed, he aimed the cannon at the golden bowl and pulled the trigger. Purple electric serpents leapt from the muzzle, spewing a spherical bolt of purple lightning the size of a clenched fist, which roared forward and plunged into the golden bowl The spherical lightning exploded within the golden basin, instantly destroying the 6-rank item. A violent shockwave, accompanied by intense heat, surged outward in all directions. Boom! Boom! Boom! Light shields one after another shattered across Zhao Hong's body. The jade ring on his finger, his necklace, and the yellow bead he had just grasped, all turned to fine dust. Zhang Yuanqing's thunderstorm cannon, after launching the spherical lightning, quickly transformed into a circular shield. He bent low, shielding himself and Zhao Feichun behind him. The shockwave of lightning burst out in the confined space, sweeping everything with overwhelming force. Zhang Yuanqing groaned, unable to maintain his balance, and sat down squarely on Zhao Feichun's back, hearing a sharp cry of pain from beneath him. Electric serpents shot out from the shield's surface, attempting to deflect the enemy's attack, though there was no enemy in front. At the same time, a faint purple glow emerged along the outer edge of the shield—energy accumulated as it absorbed the incoming attacks. On the walls and shelves of the small shop that had lasted three consecutive months, intricate patterns suddenly flared to life, shielding against the shockwaves and intense heat from the spherical lightning explosion, thus preventing any flames from breaking out. A few seconds later, everything settled into calm. Zhao Hong sat motionless on the ground, his skin blackened yet glowing with a deep red hue, his left arm severed halfway. He stared at Zhang Yuanqing, wide-eyed with shock, anger, and bewilderment, asking, "You—you intend to kill me?" Good heavens! It was the thunderstorm cannon that had delivered the most powerful blow—thankfully, he had narrowly escaped death. Zhang Yuanqing felt both relieved and elated. With the thunderstorm cannon now at his disposal, he now held three decisive counterattacks as his back-up. At this moment, Zhao Feichun was barely breathing, with only half his breath remaining. Holding his shield firmly, Zhang Yuanqing spoke coldly, "Kill you? What's more, you Hua clan members have been barking and complaining all along, only to shuffle off after a few pats on the back. Now, get out!" Zhao Hong's Several exhausted black-robed figures struggled to rise, carefully avoiding Zhang Yuanqing, lifting the critically injured Zhao Feichun and hurrying away. As soon as the Zhao family members had departed, a strong wind blew in, followed by a steady rain that pattered down, soaking the street outside and raising a misty drizzle. Lian Sanyue, standing calmly at the register, remarked: "Props in two distinct forms? Indeed, top-tier. Yes, Zhao Feichun's intuition must be correct—these are rule-based props, after all." "Somewhat rule-based, though not particularly powerful," Zhang Yuanqing modestly added, quickly gathering the props. Lian Sanyue then suddenly chuckled coldly: "Do you know my store's rule? Anyone who intervenes—dies!" Seeing the young man several meters away remain unfazed, she smiled again: "But since you've injured the Zhao family, I'm in a good mood—this time, I'll make an exception." Zhang Yuanqing immediately bowed: "Thank you, madam." "With that, he departed the shop carrying the blood rose. By then, the rain had turned torrential, slashing down in heavy sheets accompanied by strong winds, drenching the narrow alley and soaking both of their garments. The drainage system in the alley was rudimentary, and within just a few minutes, shallow puddles had formed along the sides of the road. As Zhang Yuanqing walked away from Wanbao House, he suddenly heard a thunderous roar overhead, followed by a thick, powerful lightning bolt striking directly onto his head. Oh no—he had completely forgotten the cost of the thunderstorm! His body instantly went rigid, convulsing violently; his hair stood straight up, and his cheeks turned black and blistered, oozing blood. He remained motionless for several seconds, his tense frame then gradually relaxing, feeling intense pain throughout his body as cells were widely destroyed by the lightning strike. While it wasn't fatal, it certainly caused him significant injuries. Just moments after impressing the Zhao family, he had suffered this sudden misfortune—the very legend of being struck by lightning while trying to impress people. With a simple wipe of the blackened marks on his face, he continued on his way, holding the blood rose. Zhang Yuanqing turned a corner and spotted a figure standing ahead. Dressed in a crisp white robe, he held a large black umbrella, standing firm in the midst of the rain and wind, within the narrow alley, his gaze calm and steady toward the front. The summer thunderstorm was fierce, yet he remained utterly still—seeming out of place amidst the turbulent world around him. He simply stood there, becoming an indescribable sight. Zhang Yuanqing set aside the shadowy corpse and hurried over, beaming with enthusiasm: "Boss, you're here!" He had anticipated this all along. Lian San-yue is a man of his word—once he receives payment, he always follows through. Fu Qingyang is protective by nature—once he receives a text message, he always comes. Lian San-yue’s earlier reminder to the Fifth Lord, and the Fifth Lord’s sudden change of heart, leaving swiftly, both confirmed that Fu Qingyang was indeed nearby. This was precisely the reason Zhang Yuanqing had just delivered a strong beating to Zhao Feichen and had just taken aim at Zhao Hongzheng. He felt confident. Fu Qingyang gave a slight nod and "It's the cost of the props,"老大, I've crafted a top-tier item—let me show it to you later." Zhang Yuanqing looked eager and deferential. "Not interested." "I know you don't lack props, but this one is truly exceptional..." "Cut the chatter. Hold the umbrella." "Yes, sir!" With each word, the two gradually moved farther apart, vanishing into the alley. ... The Ten-Thousand-宝 Store. Lian San Yue stood behind the counter, her gaze cold and steady, fixed on the elderly man inside the store. Like Zhao Wuyi, this man wore a refined Tang-style robe and old cotton shoes, his hands resting on a dragon-headed cane, his expression calm yet watchful, as if facing a formidable opponent. Of medium height, with snow-white hair, deeply lined face, and a vibrant red flesh spot on his forehead, he carried an air of noble dignity. "I've heard about Chen'er's matter," the elder said calmly. "What did he do to offend you?" "Li San Yue, one voice: 'I've been teaching your grandson. Zhao Feichun, with his lofty status as the emperor of Huadu for over a decade, truly thinks he can go his own way, unbound by any rules? Fortunately, today I've met Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn. If it had been a more hostile situation, he'd already be dead. 'This is the perfect opportunity to show him—compared to true prodigies, his rather meager talents mean nothing at all.' " The elder sighed, speaking plainly, "You're jealous of him." Li San Yue chuckled lightly, yet there was no warmth in her eyes—only resentment and melancholy. "Zhao the Invincible, Zhao the Invincible! You're still as self-assured as ever. Jealousy? He doesn't deserve it, and neither do you. I merely detest him, and even more so, I detest you." The elder paused for a few seconds, then said gently, "This shall be the last time. Should you dare harm Chen'er again, don't expect me to honor our father-daughter bond anymore." Li San Yue coldly replied, "You'd better not. When I reach level The elder said nothing, turned, and took a step forward, vanishing into the interior of Wanbao House. ... At 10 p.m., Zhang Yuanqing quietly returned to Huadu once again. This time, he did not purchase a flight ticket, as that would leave a record. Instead, he had boarded the plane by blending in as a night visitor and using illusion techniques, traveling from Songhai to Huadu. He came to seek information from Lian San about the status of the soldier. Originally, Zhang Yuanqing had planned to first establish contact with the artisan, then, after a period of time, assume a different identity to gather intelligence. However, after their interaction, he found the process unnecessarily complicated. Zhang Yuanqing had assumed that Lian San would be the leader of some civilian organization and thus would hesitate to immediately change his appearance and seek information about the soldier once the Yuan Shi Tian Zun made contact—such a move would inevitably raise suspicion. In reality, Wanbao House functions as a bustling hub of the black market, a center for intelligence exchange, and a retail point for supplies. It is inherently diverse and dynamic, with regular visitors from the Lingjing realm coming to have their soups prepared, and even practitioners from outside A "market" where people constantly come and go—how could anyone suspect him? For added safety, however, he didn't use his disguise ring but instead donned a flawless human skin, transforming himself into a mere passerby. Returning to Wanbao House along his familiar path, this time, the store appeared closed and long abandoned in his eyes. The flawless human skin had woven the causal threads, making him entirely ordinary—a passerby without any extraordinary abilities. Thus, he could not perceive the illusion. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and collided gently with the closed door—without surprise, he easily passed through. Inside the convenience store, warm lighting glowed. At the counter, Lian San Yue sat silently, motionless for three months, holding a lady's cigarette now completely extinguished. What was she staring at? Zhang Yuanqing approached. Lian San Yue lifted her gaze, calmly saying, "It's closing. We're not taking any more orders." Zhang Yuanqing's voice was hoarse, as if phlegm had lodged in his throat. "I'm not asking to enter your faction's instance. I merely want to ask you for some information."