"Big brother, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with the key?" Even though Zhang Yuanqing wasn't a scout, he could tell something was off with Fu Qingyang's expression. Before Zhang had even asked, Fu Qingyang had already smoothed out his surprise and shock, regaining composure, though his gaze remained fixed on the jade plate. "I've seen this item in the literature from Qin Feng Academy. There's a hand-drawn illustration of it in the course materials for the junior-level internship—specifically, the history of the academy. That should be the class." "The document was compiled by a faculty member specializing in the history of the Spiritual Realm, drawing on materials from Qin Feng Academy and certain Qin Dynasty archives. It records numerous items believed to be magical artifacts that Emperor Shi Huang used or collected." Zhang Yuanqing asked cautiously, "Since this item was originally given to Xu Fu by Emperor Shi Huang, it shouldn't be surprising that you've seen it in the documents, right?" Fu Qingyang nodded. "That's true. But I've also seen it elsewhere." Can you actually finish your sentence in one go? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. Fu Qingyang glanced at him. "Back then, when I and Ling Jun completed our internship and joined Qin Feng Academy together, he became infatuated with the beauty of the Queen of the Squid People and was trapped beneath the lake, eventually surrounded and killed by the Squid People. I was there at the time—though I went to save him. During the fierce battle between the academy teachers and the Queen of the Squid People, the cliff beneath the lake cracked and collapsed. As the stones fell, two stone gates revealed themselves, with a circular opening in the gap between them—exactly the same in size, pattern, and design as the key from Gao Tian Yuan." He rarely spoke so much, yet whenever something truly significant arose, it was always the kind of matter that could make the moneyed公子, Qian Gongzi, go on at length. "Afterward, I reviewed the academy's records and found no mention of those stone gates. It was only through a chance encounter that I learned from that very same 'junk' person that Qin Feng Academy actually held a hidden quest. But for some reason, the Hundred Flowers Association has never managed to complete this hidden task." "The Marshal has indeed treated you well, always sharing everything with you," said Fu Qingyang. Zhang Yuanqing was nearly stunned—struggling to grasp who exactly the "trash" referred to. He chewed on the implications, his expression a mix of astonishment and bewilderment. "Is this the key to Gaotianyuan, or the key to the stone gate of Qin Feng Academy? Or is there a deeper connection between Qin Feng Academy and Gaotianyuan?" "I can't offer you an answer yet. You'll have to discover it yourself," Fu Qingyang said, gazing at the jade plate. "This, perhaps, is precisely why the Hundred Flowers Assembly has never been able to unravel its hidden mission." Because the necessary mission items were missing. "Then this key cannot be returned to the Chianhe Group," the virtuous Yuanshiyuan said. Yet this course of action would inevitably intensify the conflict, causing the Chianhe Group to give up entirely and reveal their secrets to Tianfa. Thereafter, disputes between Tianfa and the Wu Xing Alliance would ensue—leaving the upright Yuanshiyuan with nothing to do but watch. Fu Qingyang thought for a few seconds before offering his advice: "Head to Gao Tian Yuan first and take a look at what's inside. There are still two days until the start of the current Qin Feng Academy training session, so we have plenty of time. Once you've secured the treasures from Gao Tian Yuan, then borrow the keys from the Chian He group. If they refuse, offer them some benefits and use the fear of Tian Wang as leverage." Fu Qingyang's expression remained stern, yet Zhang Yuancheng, who knew him well, could see that the young gentleman from the money family was clearly enjoying himself. Everyone loves hearing praise—because it sounds pleasant—especially when the one delivering it is the exceptionally talented Yuanshishen. Fu Qingyang continued, "The Grand Elder of Taigong has convened a meeting and has decided to send a special task force to apprehend the Master of Pure Yang Sect. Elder Gao from the Hangzhou branch will assist with the investigation. This matter no longer falls under our responsibility at the Songhai branch." Taigong's ability to handle this is undoubtedly better than relying on the earth monsters. He hopes they can finally bring the Pure Yang Master to a close—otherwise, once this man matures, just thinking about him sends a chill down one's spine. Zhang Yuanqing, having experienced a similar setback, felt increasingly wary. At that moment, Fu Qingyang recalled something and asked, "When exactly did you kill Jianghu the Sword Master?" "Around seven thirty," Zhang Yuanqing replied. Then, he watched as Fu Qingyang unplugged the laptop, picked up his 13-inch notebook, stood up, and walked briskly and confidently toward the door, speaking firmly, "Let's go!" "Where to?" Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily startled. "It's 2:30 a.m. now, six hours since you took the keys. If King of Fear has received the information, he'll arrive any moment," Fu Qingyang said coldly. "Staying here? Waiting to die?" Hm, I'd have thought you were going to kill King of Fear... Zhang Yuanqing hurried to keep up with the elder's pace, "Together, together!" Following the patrol all the way to Chuncheng, Captain Guan Ya, eager to demonstrate initiative, bypassed the Chuncheng branch and led her team directly into the stronghold of Xue Yin Kuang Dao. Though they ultimately suffered a setback, the patrol unit inadvertently uncovered a key piece of intelligence: Xue Yin Kuang Dao had infiltrated Songhai specifically to gather information on the Moyo. The free-spirited King of Fear, desiring to rescue the Moyo King, had dispatched a subordinate to Songhai to collect intelligence. After drafting the report, Fu Qingyang submitted it to headquarters. While such fabricated intelligence could lead to strict disciplinary action if discovered, the young lord, Qian Gong, had no concerns. First, it was certain that the King of Fear would indeed come to Songhai. Second, the King of Fear would never proactively reveal high-level information from Gaotianyuan to the ally who had taken the initiative. Instead, he would first engage in verbal probing, and only after confirming that the ally was unaware of the details would he accept the misperception as a matter of course. In doing so, however, the King of Fear would likely become aware that the Primordial Sovereign had concealed information about the senior leadership at As for whether the Grand Marshal will notice, Fu Qingyang doesn't care. If the Grand Marshal comes to obstruct and asks questions, he can simply reveal the truth. If not, the matter will simply fade away. Moreover, Fu Qingyang has a small personal motive—he is gradually treating the marshals as pawns in a game, testing their limits and probing how far he can exploit them. This was something he had long desired during his time as a Saint, but could not achieve then. A delicate white line runs along the toned abdomen, connecting to the navel—both alluring and enchanting. Below that, it's concealed by the corner. "I'd like to dig out your eyes and feed them to the dogs," says Princess Yin Yao, eyes closed, holding a small horn. "Princess, please don't be upset—this is an essential step. I myself am quite experienced in such matters," Zhang Yuanqing is so excited, he's as if a blacksmith has discovered a masterpiece of iron. He opens his guild warehouse and requests usage rights for the equipment, just as Fu Qingyang had done. 【Ping! Your request has been approved. Please check the items section for the equipment.】 He then opens the items section and retrieves an ancient, slightly worn emblem. The emblem features a knight's sword and a judicial hammer on the front, while the back bears simple, understated patterns. This item was originally procured by Fu Qingyang from abroad for use in wooing Anne, but circumstances have changed—Anne has not been captivated by the charming young man, instead remaining steadfastly devoted to his student. Zhang Yuancheng held the badge, his tone solemn and dignified: "I, Yuanshixian Zun, swear solemnly: I will not compel Princess Yin Yao to share my bed; I will never take control of her body without her explicit permission; I shall treat her as an equal, never as a servant." As the words settled, the badge radiated a clear, luminous glow, as if some unseen force witnessed and sealed the vow, making the pact binding. Princess Yin Yao sighed softly. She sensed that this artifact was of saintly quality, and its constraints were no greater than those of a saint. One day, when Yuanshixian Zun ascended to the rank of Sovereign, the strength of this vow would no longer be able to bind him. Of course, by then, she would simply have to accept fate. Folding the badge, Zhang Yuancheng held the bowl in one hand and the brush in the other, beginning to inscribe spiritual records upon the delicate, gracefully contoured form of Princess Yin Yao. From now on, I shall be a star official possessing two high-quality yin corpses. Once I enter Qin Feng Academy, I'll surely show off this achievement to Zhao Chenghuang and Sun M … The next day, Princess Yin Yao, carrying a backpack and wearing sunglasses, arrived at the Edo Airport aboard a Gulfstream. Shina Ryō, eager to greet her, rushed down the steps, arms wide open, exclaiming joyfully, “He’s got his period!” In the place of Yin Yao’s thoughts, Zhang Yuanqing walked steadily toward the steps, his black military boots making a steady, resonant sound. Dressed in practical camouflage pants, a black vest, and a black short-sleeved jacket, wearing sunglasses, he appeared like a top-tier, camp-attending lady. “Edo has many divine judgment agents stationed there, so the team leaders and deputy leaders couldn’t personally welcome Yuan Shǐ Lord,” Shina Ryō bowed, revealing the slight curl of her hair to Yuan Shǐ Lord. “Then, where shall we go?” Zhang Yuanqing asked. “The team leader originally planned to host you at Ginza, the headquarters of Chihaku Group and one of Edo’s most vibrant districts. However, considering the need for discretion, he has changed his plans and has already been waiting in Shizuoka. "Sayo Mizuno said. Just tell him you're waiting for me in Shizuoka Prefecture—don't expose your own group leader's shortcomings. Be careful, he might force you to commit seppuku someday." Zhang Yuanqing said solemnly, "You're a fool. The correct response is: simply follow me. The leader has already arranged a banquet at the destination. Simply tell me that the High Heaven Realm is in Shizuoka Prefecture. If I'm a villain, I'll kill you right now and go alone." Upon hearing this, Sayo found it sensible and blushed in embarrassment, saying, "That does sound right... Master Yuan-Shi, thank you for the reminder. You truly are a noble warrior." She was deeply touched—Master Yuan-Shi was indeed a gentle man. Zhang Yuanqing nodded steadily, "But not everyone in the world is as noble as I am. Sayo, you still need more experience." "Yes!" ... Shizuoka Prefecture lies to the southwest of Edo, not far—about eighty kilometers away. En the course of their journey in the business vehicle, Asano Ryō enthusiastically introduced Renji's local customs, history, and cultural background, which enabled Zhang Yuanqing to learn that the renowned "Atami" was actually located in Shizuoka. The region's most distinctive feature is its abundant hot spring resources, earning it the title of "Hot Spring Peninsula," as Japan's national symbol, Mount Fuji—the sacred mountain—stands right here. Unfortunately, the main body did not make the trip, so Zhang Yuanqing truly longed to experience Japanese hot spring culture. He had already watched no fewer than twenty educational films centered on hot springs. Zhang Yuanqing was stirred by many memories, as though his DNA had been awakened. Beyond the facts, he harbored a deep yearning for certain Japanese elements. Reflecting on the past, countless nights had passed during which, under the guidance of Japanese teachers who were often barefoot, he had silently written his own youthful verses. Additionally, he carried lingering guilt and sorrow for the children who had passed away. Asano Ryō suddenly noticed that the expression of Yuan Shi's face had instantly deepened with a sense of maturity. One hour later, the two arrived at their destination. A business vehicle is parked at a traditional hot spring inn, where through the lofty rooflines, the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji can be faintly seen. Fuji Mountain? Zhang Yuanqing gazes through the window at the distant mountain range, thinking—could the High Heavens be located on Mount Fuji? Godoka Hiroshi had chosen this venue for their meeting, surely not to invite him to soak in the hot springs. If this were a typical business negotiation, Zhang Yuanqing would naturally assume that the Minamikawa Group intended to lure him with charm and spa treatments. But in the current situation, everyone is busy, making the most of every moment—Zhang Yuanqing now suspects that the High Heavens might indeed be on Mount Fuji. At the entrance of the inn, two men dressed in black formal attire stand guard, their eyes alertly fixed on the business vehicle. As the electric doors slide open, Asano Ryō steps out of the car. "Captain Asano!" The two men bow in unison, yet remain watchful, their gaze steadily fixed on the Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Asahi Ryō bowed in return, his tone naturally commanding and serious: "Please inform the team leader that Yuan Shi has arrived."