The call from the King of Fear... Xue Yin Kuang Dao was both delighted and somewhat resentful and angry. This call had come five to six hours earlier—had it arrived then, the situation would have been entirely different. He answered, his voice low: "King of Fear!" "I just received your report to headquarters, but your outpost in Chun City has been raided—layers upon layers of Chun City branch personnel are now inside." The King of Fear's voice was rich and smooth, carrying a calm, unhurried grace. Then, suddenly, he added, "The tone you've just used—aren't you blaming me?" Xue Yin Kuang Dao was startled, rising automatically, bowing his head, adopting a humble posture, and saying with apprehension, "The subordinate humbly objects." "Relax," the King of Fear smiled. "Blaming me is your right—I never restrict anyone's freedom. Even if you wanted to kill me, I'd give you a commendation." He then asked, "Who did it?" "Blood-drinking Blade gritted his teeth, stating, 'It's the Prime Celestial Sovereign. He killed Jiangdu swordmaster and seized the key to the High Heaven Realm. The Heavenly King holds rare treasures within High Heaven—treasures even Emperor Qin Shi Huang longed for.' Under the orange light, his face was now furious and grim: 'You must kill him and recover the key.' 'The Prime Celestial Sovereign... again him? Does this young man naturally clash with our Commander of the Army?' The King of Fear sighed. Li Xianzong, nurtured by the Magician's Eye, had died because of him; the Magician's Eye had been imprisoned by him; the King of Desire had perished at his hands. Such a minor being proved unexpectedly tenacious. 'Very well. I'll visit Songhai and meet the young prodigy of the Five Elements Alliance. How long has he been retreating?' 'Nearly four hours. He may not even be in Chun City anymore,' said Blood-drinking Blade. 'You can run from the temple, but you can't escape the temple itself,' the King of Fear smiled, hanging up the phone. … Aoki Ryō closed the narrow door of the bathroom and picked up the satellite phone stationed beside the toilet, dialing the group leader’s number. The call was immediately answered—seemingly someone who had been waiting on the line—and the leader’s voice came through, low and urgent: “Ryō, have we completed the mission? Have we reclaimed the key to Kōten-no-Ōmi?” Aoki Ryō nodded firmly: “Leader, the Emperor of the Primordial Origin has already helped us recover the key. I personally defeated the Edo swordmaster.” His tone was serious and respectful, with a subtle note of pride. “Ah….” A long, steady breath sounded through the receiver, as if all the anxiety, concern, and unease had finally been released. Then, the president’s voice returned, no longer low and weighty, but bright and cheerful: “Excellent. The Emperor of the Primordial Origin is a truly noble and exceptionally capable warrior—he has fulfilled his promise.” "Your performance has been outstanding. Upon your return, the Chihara group will host a banquet in your honor. With the traitor, the renowned swordmaster of Edo, now gone, I believe you are well-suited to take on the role of Deputy Head. " Shinao Reo's heart raced excitedly, her cheeks flushed with enthusiasm. It was exactly as he had anticipated—the key was the Yuanshish Tianzun's leverage, and it couldn't be returned to Asano Ryō. He only hoped that this prodigy of the Five Elements Alliance would uphold their agreement and send the Yin Shi to Japan, rather than raise demands. With the key reclaimed and the traitor eliminated, a new round of negotiations had now begun. Asano Ryō hesitated, "组长, there's one more matter I'd like to report to you." "Don't be hesitant," said Kōbe Ichirō, his tone firm. "Yes!" Asano Ryō responded loudly and immediately detailed the entire ambush process to the supervisor, her voice tinged with nervousness. "We're en route to Matsushima and are about to arrive, but everyone is afraid. What if the Heavenly King himself arrives at Matsushima? With Matsushima's current strength, they would be completely unable to withstand such a visit." Upon finishing, Asano Ryō heard a heavy breath from the speaker's end. "Supervisor?" she whispered softly. "Huh!" Kobe Tarou roared in fury, "The swordmaster of Edo is not just guilty—he has colluded with the Commander of the Army! He even revealed the secret of reviving the Chihaya Group to the Commander's Fearful Emperor, eight-gah, eight-gah, eight-gah..." The team leader was completely overwhelmed... Shinoya Ryō lowered his head, too frightened to speak. After a while, Kobe Tarou calmed down and urgently asked, "What did the Prime Emperor say?" Shinoya Ryō whispered, "The Prime Emperor said he would report the situation to his superiors, but would not reveal the key to the High Heavens. He only mentioned that he had provoked the Fearful Emperor. Additionally, he expressed a hope to conclude the cooperation as soon as possible, warning that delays might lead to unforeseen changes." Kobe Tarou had already prepared himself to report the matter to the Divine Punishment, and upon hearing this, felt a sense of relief. "The Prime Emperor is right—we cannot delay. We must move swiftly to enter the High Heavens, or the Fearful Emperor will come knocking. Tell him I will be at the headquarters of the Chihaya Group tomorrow, awaiting his arrival." If the Prime Primordial truly manages to conceal the existence of Gao Tian Yuan as he claims, and seeks assistance from the headquarters of the Five Elements Alliance, the cost he incurs will be immense. Once the secret of Gao Tian Yuan is reported, the Five Elements Alliance will intervene. In that case, resolving the issue with the King of Fear will no longer be merely a matter of cleaning up after him—instead, the Prime Primordial will not only avoid blame but actually gain credit. Conversely, if he conceals the existence of Gao Tian Yuan, he effectively invites the King of Fear into conflict, and the Five Elements Alliance will have to step in to manage the aftermath. Facing a half-divine adversary, the risks and crises he must bear are truly unimaginable. As the originator of this situation, the Prime Primordial will undoubtedly face official penalties. After ending the call, Asano Reina sets down the phone and steps out of the bathroom. She surveys the room and finds the Prime Prince absent, everyone calm and composed. Without further questions, she returns to her seat as if nothing has happened. Just as she sits down, her peer across the table smiles and says, "Congratulations on your promotion, Asano Deputy Supervisor!" "Ryō was stunned, breathing sharply, "You—you eavesdropped on my phone call?!" Xie Lingxi playfully mimicked Ryō's tone, "Thank you,组长. I'll definitely work hard and live up to everyone's expectations... You spoke so loudly, everyone heard it." Li Chunfeng calmly added, "Even as a bachelor with ordinary hearing, I could faintly pick up the conversation." Xie Lingxi chuckled with a teasing tone, "Your confidentiality is so poor—did the Chihō Team go crazy? How could they have entrusted such an important task to you?" "... "Ryō's face turned crimson. Listening to his peers' criticism, he felt both embarrassed and indignant, and then stormed off, ignoring her. Compared to Xie Lingxi, Ryō was rather naive. Though he had a touch of intelligence and subtle strategies, he still needed more experience. Master Guan had deliberately told her he could handle the Fear King to subtly convey pressure to the Chihō Team through her—she would likely take some time to fully grasp this. Guan Ya shook her head. How dull little Kofu is! She poses no real threat—how could Prince Yuan-Shi possibly admire a foolish woman? Xie Lingxi thought. It seems this girl isn't much of a threat after all. Though she's a Saint, she's rather immature; I almost thought she'd be another competitor... The Queen sipped her drink leisurely, and crossed off Shina Reo from her list of enemies. Ko-Gen sat in quiet meditation, silent. Outside, the sky was pitch black—no stars, no moon visible. Lady Yin Yao sat in silent meditation, eyes closed. Zhang Yuanqing looked deeply remorseful, his tone full of compassion. "Your Majesty entrusted me with your care. To see you suffer such serious injuries is my failure, my responsibility. Lady, I would like to make amends." "Oh, I hate intelligent undead... Zhang Yuanqing nearly froze, quickly sighing and lamenting, "Your Grace, I'm truly in dire straits. As you've seen, I've gone so far as to risk my life and bleed for mere yellow and white goods. The materials of saintly quality are costly—just restoring you to your peak is already a fortune, let alone what comes after that." "Hold on a moment," she said, "but this day will inevitably come. Given my understanding of the Master, the next time you enter the Spiritual Realm, she will surely ask. Should she learn that I have defied her, she will not forgive me. Recently, my stay at your household has been quite comfortable. I can agree to become your yin corpse, but you must establish three conditions with me." Well, you've already seen through me—then so be it, no need for further small talk... Zhang Yuanqing replied, "Your Grace, please state your terms." Lady Yin Yao raised her small trumpet. "First, I must not be compelled to act. Second, I can accompany you in battle, but not as your servant; we shall remain equal and maintain our original status. Third, without my permission, you shall not control my body. I know there is a profession overseas that involves signing contracts—perhaps you can find the necessary tools." Zhang Yuanqing carefully considered this, then furrowed his brow, "Not being compelled to act is rather general. Could your Grace please be more specific?" For instance, he is currently facing a major crisis and needs the Yin Shi to assist in battle, yet upon seeing the enemy's threat, Lady Yin Yao simply refuses to fight and turns around to flee. This simply won't do. After a long silence, as if hesitant to speak, finally, a mature, confident voice comes through the small speaker: "No, I can't—let myself be... made to serve as your consort!" ...Zhang Yuanqing's mind buzzes with a series of questions. He thinks: Lady, it seems you haven't fully grasped me. Otherwise, how could you harbor such a distorted misunderstanding about a man so well-liked and ordinary? Do you think I'm a magical sovereign? If I were, I'd likely demand a non-stop journey on the plane with you—yet I am the very embodiment of the Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun. "Lady, please don't jest—my family is rooted in scholarly tradition and official lineage. From childhood, I've been well-educated and refined. How could I possibly do such a thing as to betray my principles?" Zhang Yuanqing speaks with firm dignity. "That's exactly what I hoped for." And then Lady Yin Yao sets down the small speaker. … At Songhai International Airport, after the Gulfstream touched down, the group rushed out of the plane, as if the aircraft were about to explode should they hesitate even a moment. They didn’t wait for the shuttle bus; instead, they sprinted across the taxiway and tarmac, rushing into the airport, only to exhale in relief upon seeing the dense crowd of people. It was already deep night, yet due to the continuous flow of passengers between flights, the crowd remained steady and substantial—even the most fearful travelers dared not let go. “We’re safe for now,” Xie Lingxi murmured. “You all check into a hotel and stay put—don’t go back to Fu Family Village. We’ll finish our talks with the head and then decide what to do next.” Zhang Yuanqing, carrying his backpack, waved good-bye to his teammates and headed back alone to Fu Family Village. He had already contacted Fu Qingyang on the plane, informing him that he had summoned the Fear King. Fu Qingyang, no surprise there, replied calmly, “Just a minor matter—come back first.” Zhang Yuanqing instantly felt at ease. When he returned to Fu's family village and arrived at the study, he saw Fu Qingyang seated behind the desk, reading intently, his expression stern and composed—calm even as if a mountain had collapsed before him without disturbing his composure. "Tell me what's going on," he said, not at all agitated upon seeing his troubled subordinate return. His presence was steady, as unshakable as an old dog. Zhang Yuanqing immediately recounted all of Gao Tianyuan's secrets to Fu Qingyang. After listening, Fu Qingyang fell into silence. Seeing his leader remain silent for so long, Zhang Yuanqing whispered, "Boss, the King of Fear won't be satisfied. If he comes to Songhai, what then?" Fu Qingyang exhaled gently, maintaining his calm tone: "With his strength, he could subdue most of our branches, but he's never done this before—do you know why?" "This is equivalent to a full-scale battle against the Order faction," Zhang Yuanqing remarked. Fu Qingyang nodded: "It's like nuclear weapons—usually used only as a deterrent, never actually deployed. Once deployed, it means a world war, a battle to the very Even a semi-divine powerhouse is not invincible—fear may be strong, but it is not absolute. "We needn't worry about him slaughtering troops in Songhai, but we must guard against his targeted strikes. That's manageable—we'll inform the headquarters and have the Grand Marshal keep an eye on Songhai." Zhang Yuanqing paused, hesitating. "Will the Grand Marshal agree? After all, this is my own initiative. Unless I bring the secret of Gao Tianyuan to the headquarters." "If you do that, you'll likely end up with only a cup of soup. The Chian He group won't allow the Wuxing Alliance to intervene—they'll report directly to Tianfa right away," Fu Qingyang shook his head. How could this be? My face must be that large, Zhang Yuanqing thought internally. Then, Fu Qingyang spoke calmly: "I'll report to headquarters that the Prime Immortal Sovereign has destroyed a base of the General of the Army in Chun City. From the General's members, I learned that the King of Fear intends to gather elite warriors, launch an assault on Songhai, and rescue the Eye of Darkness. 'What does the Eye of Darkness have to do with you?' Fu Qingyang nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the telephone and dialed the number downstairs, instructing the rabbit-dress girl: "Pack up your things and go out for a couple of days." With the composure of someone who remains calm even as a mountain collapses before him, he uttered the most hesitant of statements. After hanging up, Fu Qingyang said, "Show me the keys." Zhang Yuanqing immediately unzipped her backpack and produced a jade plate the size of a bowl, offering it to him with both hands. Fu Qingyang didn't take it; at the very moment he saw the plate, his pupils constricted.