The majestic figure on the golden throne gazed down at the smaller, plump figure below, speaking slowly: "Your emotions tell me that the truth has frightened you, and that you believe this may bring a great disaster to the Order of the Void." "Yes!" The plump figure remained in a kneeling posture, knowing that his emotions were fully visible to the Grand Elder, and promptly relayed to the Grand Protector every detail he had received from the Primordial Sovereign. Upon hearing this, the figure on the golden throne fell into a prolonged silence. The plump figure longed to lift his head and observe the Grand Elder's expression—it would surely be magnificent—but dared not. After a long while, the voice, resonant as though the voices of countless people had merged, grew solemn and asked: "Is the information source accurate?" "This information came from the Primordial Sovereign through the Unmarked Hotel. I suspect that the Primordial Sovereign deliberately shared it with me, with the intention of having me convey this matter to the organization," the plump figure said, sharing his own speculation. The voice of the Grand Protector on the golden throne resonated throughout the hall: "I will personally investigate this matter. As the sovereign of both the Night-Wanderer and the Illusionist traditions, he is not bound by moral constraints. Should he regain his peak form, that would pose a significant threat to us. You have done well—once I have verified the details, I will reward you accordingly." The plump young man beamed, "Thank you, Grand Elder." The towering figure continued, "You shall remain at the Wuhen Hotel, maintaining contact with the Prime Immortal. Whenever there are updates from the official side, report them immediately. Should it be necessary, I will also send information through you." "Understood!" the young man bowed respectfully. Then, his consciousness was transported out of the dream world and back to his hotel room. "Only now did he recall the lady's identity, and immediately bowed deeply: 'Master Yuanshi, I bow to the Princess!' Human interaction is deeply ingrained in him. If the Princess is of the supreme rank, why would Zhang Yuanqing hesitate to kneel? He would gladly allow her to experience the honor of a full prostration right then and there. The Princess glanced at him with a slight tilt of her eye, returned a graceful bow, then turned her gaze away. Under the watchful eyes of Fu Qingyang and the others, she asked: 'Does the Empress have any instructions for sending you back to the mortal world?' After a moment of silence, she conveyed her message in a voice only the Night-Wanderer could hear: 'My master sent me to gain experience in the mortal realm, but fearing I might struggle to adapt to its ever-changing nature, he has entrusted me to you.' She could not simply claim to be here as a mere spiritual body for Master Yuanshi. Though she had once wandered through the mortal world and achieved a clear and serene mind—meaning she could rise to meet challenges and let go of attachments, remaining calm amidst the bustling world—she still felt the need to express this subtle depth. It doesn't mean she can dry her face without a tear or remain composed as a servant or maid. "You're here to become my shadow corpse, aren't you?" Zhang Yuanqing stated plainly. "You..." Yin Yao, the Princess, replied calmly, "My master is right—you are indeed clever. I'm merely drawing on your spiritual energy to maintain my vitality. Don't treat me as a mere shadow corpse at your disposal." Isn't that normal? In reality, without spiritual energy, once you leave the spiritual realm, you're like a floating reed with no roots—only able to emerge, never to return. How long can you sustain yourself? A shadow corpse depends entirely on the owner's Yin energy to be nourished and preserved. In contrast, a spiritual realm practitioner, even when their energy is depleted, can recover—this is the fundamental difference between ancient cultivators and spiritual realm practitioners. The Princess's rank is around level five. She possesses exceptional spiritual intelligence and can perform skills such as Night-Wandering Deity and Starlight, as well as ancient spells. How could she be considered just a shadow corpse? She's clearly a powerful frontline fighter. As Zhang Yuanqing pondered these thoughts, a warm smile spread across her From now on, we shall address each other as "comrade," on equal footing. After all, she values dignity and prestige—why not grant it? Zhang Yuanqing had no intention of subjugating Lady Yin Yao, nor did he see any point in doing so. I'm not even a demon king, letting alone sparing no undead spirits. As for her connection to the demon king, perhaps I'll have the Cat King speaker perform a bit tonight. Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts gradually drifted away. Xie Lingxi and the other two were stunned, full of admiration and envy—how could they have encountered such good fortune! At the same time, they were deeply delighted, for the stronger Yuan Shi Tian Zun grew, the more they, as teammates, benefited. "Hmm," Ling Jun stroked his chin, examining Zhang Yuanqing from head to toe, "Now I truly believe you're no longer just a corpse-bearer. You're the delicate young man nurtured by the Lady of San Dao Mountain—no, a real face of the court!" With a satisfied pat on his student's shoulder, he added, "You're a bright and quick learner. I'm truly pleased. But I must remind you: when dealing with exceptionally strong women, it's best to maintain a respectful distance, or else you risk burning yourself out." I know what you mean—aren't you referring to Cheng Ge?" Zhang Yuanqing whispered. "Why don't we meet for a drink tonight? I have something I'd like to ask you." Just as Ling Jun was about to respond, he felt a sudden coolness on his back. Turning around, he saw Fu Qingyang gazing at them with an expression of calm neutrality. Lingjun straightened his expression and said in a serious tone, "Have a drink, but don't ask me all those random questions. Right now, you're Guan Ya's boyfriend—clear your identity and stay focused, don't waver." After speaking, he stepped back two paces, adopting a clear separation from the situation. Lady Yin, her expression unchanged as she pointed at the bathroom, asked, "Where's the bathtub?" ——since she was a corpse of the Yin type, unable to express emotions, she had remained expressionless throughout. Yet the thoughts she conveyed were far from calm, brimming with curiosity. "The bathtub is a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy; I don't have one here, but my bride's room does." Zhang Yuanqing replied. "You have a bride?" Lady Yin's tone softened slightly, but then conveyed a sense of displeasure: "How could her residence be more opulent than yours? It's not proper in terms of hierarchy and etiquette." As the topic arose, Zhang Yuanqing naturally offered an explanation: "Your Grace, it's all about the dining habits now—women are in charge, men are merely lounging and doing nothing. But as a noble lady of the royal bloodline, such changes don't affect you much." "Women in charge, men in the background?" Lady Yin Yao nodded slowly. As a cultivator, she did not place much weight on these worldly rituals. Though initially uncomfortable, she soon adapted, and naturally raised new questions with insightful follow-ups. "It's no wonder then that the two women outside dress so carelessly, while that young gentleman in white wears such formal attire. It seems, therefore, that in today's brothels, men are the only ones receiving guests?" You've misunderstood me. Fu Qingyang wears so much simply because he values elegance. Zhang Yuanqing explained, "That's not true at all. Today's brothels welcome both men and women—men are called 'Lord' and women are called 'Princess'!" "Unbelievable!" the Princess erupted in anger. "Can mere flower and reed dancers, so delicate and ephemeral, dare to be called 'Princess'?" "Please don't be so angry, Your Highness. Even our Ming Dynasty is coming to an end..." Zhang Yuanqing hurried to say. After a brief tour, Zhang Yuanqing led her back to the master bedroom and said, "Your Grace, I need to inscribe the Linglu upon you... To transform you into my Yin尸, I must cast the Linglu array, which requires full openness and sincerity." "No!" Lady Yin Yao immediately declined. "My vital energy is strong and well-balanced; I do not need your nurturing." Well, now wasn't the time—Zhang Yuanqing didn't press further, but smiled. "Understood. Should Your Grace ever feel fatigued, you may come to me then." It's hardly common for even a proper young lady of the Ming dynasty to undress completely and allow a stranger to write and draw upon her body. No need to rush—no need to rush! Seeing the Prime Immortal had no further demands, Lady Yin Yao, feeling more at ease as a guest, spontaneously released a breath of the Taiyin energy, which settled on the ground and formed a circular bronze mirror about the size of a palm. The bronze surface was dull gray, with dragon patterns carved along the handle, and phoenixes engraved on the reverse, each phoenix's eyes set with two red gems. "Your spiritual master has promised you the artifact," she said. Zhang Yuanqing picked up the ghost mirror and gazed at his face. But the gray, dusty surface of the mirror reflected nothing—just as it had when he first received it. After a moment's thought, he placed the mirror in his inventory and, a few seconds later, retrieved it again to look at himself. This time, he saw his own face clearly. Before and after, I truly did harbor quite a grudge back then... He sighed with a sense of relief, then noticed that Lady Yingyao was still wearing her horse-face skirt, and said, "Your Grace, upon arriving in this world, your first task should be to change your appearance—dress in new clothes." "You want me to wear the garments of those two loose-living women?" If Lady Yingyao could frown, her brows were now tightly furrowed. In her mind, she had gone over the attire of the two women again—the older one had her shoulders bare, her pants so short they were utterly unseemly. The younger one, though, didn't expose her shoulders, but her skirt was just as short, to the point of being unbearable. Moreover, the pants were too tight, accentuating the women's buttocks so prominently that it seemed utterly indecent—something even the women from the pleasure quarters would never dare to do. "Just wait a moment!" Zhang Yuanqing said without explanation, turned around, and left the room to find the two loose-living women seated in the living room discussing Lady Yingyao. He first glanced at Xie Lingxi, sweeping his gaze over the young, affluent woman at the airport with no lingering affection, then turned to the queen and said, "Your Majesty, go prepare a set of more conservative, loose-fitting clothes for Princess Yin Yao, and send them over. Oh, by the way, you two should also change into different attire—Princess Yin Yao doesn't particularly like the way you're dressed." He added, "Princess Yin Yao is a Level 5 Saint. Building a good relationship with her will be crucial—when you face difficulties in the future, you'll understand." Her unique charm, radiant and otherworldly, suddenly outshone both the Queen and Xie Lingxi. She'd have to wear sunglasses for her—Zhang Yuanqing stroked his chin, thinking. The beauty of her eyes was somewhat negligible, as her eye sockets were dark, unlike ordinary people. "Your Grace, are you satisfied?" Zhang Yuanqing smiled. Yin Yao, the Princess, nodded gently. She felt exceptionally pleased—her reality world was far more vibrant than the ancient tomb, and her initial impressions of Yuan Shi Tian Zun had been quite favorable. He was graceful and deeply attuned to hospitality. "Then, you'll be staying here from now on. Allow me to formally introduce you to my friends." Zhang Yuanqing gently patted Xie Lingxi's head. "She is my sister, Xie Lingxi, from a distinguished family." He then pointed to the Queen. "She is my—" Yin Yao nodded. "I know—your closest companion." That remark was only heard by her. Zhang Yuanqing paused, reflecting on the meaning of "closest companion," and then nodded. "Well, that works." "He pointed to Li Chunfeng, seated at his desk, intently typing, and Lady Yin Yao, in a cheerful mood, quickly responded, "I know—he's our household steward." ??? Li Chunfeng lifted his hands from the keyboard, eyes wide with astonishment. "No," Zhang Yuanqing said, "My lady, they are all my close friends and family—my brothers and siblings." With a detailed address. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the map and found it was in the suburbs, about thirty kilometers away. It was now 5:40 p.m., and given the rush-hour traffic, it was time to head out. "Sure!" After replying to the message, he asked the queen for the car keys and turned to head out. As he stepped out of the villa, he just happened to see Ling Jun, wearing a loose short-sleeve shirt and seven-quarter pants, barefoot in slippers, lazily leaving the grand villa and walking toward him. "Come on, I'll take you to a great place tonight," Ling Jun said with a smile. "A great place?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "My cousin's sister organized a gathering, inviting the ladies from our circle to have drinks—wow, so many beautiful women!" Ling Jun chuckled. "I'll show you around. With your current status, you might even graduate tonight." Now my heart is calm; women are merely passing clouds to me... Zhang Yuanqing said. "I have something tonight." "Not something particularly important, so I'll have to reschedule." Lin Jun stepped close and lowered his voice: "Yin Ji will also be attending tonight—she's truly one of the most radiant blossoms of Tai Monastery. Though I have long held deep resentment toward the Demon King and women who have been close to him, Yin Ji is different—she's a woman of undeniable charm." You don't hold the same disdain for your cousin and your aunt, do you? Zhang Yuanqing asked, "The address is..." "The Hundred Flowers Pavilion—it's a private venue in Songhai, run by my cousin." Lin Jun's cousin, that exquisite, elegant wood spirit? Both the Demon King's beloved and his mistress attending tonight—oh, now this is interesting. If I were to bring Lady Yin Yao as well, it would truly become something special. Zhang Yuanqing smiled slightly. "Alright! I'll just follow you tonight." "No problem. If you have someone in mind, just let me know—though, with Yin Ji, you might want to hold off. She's not quite someone you can easily approach just yet." Lin Jun smiled warmly and linked arms with him.