Two black-robed men exchanged glances. One stepped deeper into the hot spring pavilion, while the other bowed slightly and said, "Please, wait a moment, Shinao Director and Yuan Shi, the Master." As he spoke, he carefully examined the so-called "Master Yuan Shi," finding it hard to believe—such a renowned, world-class prodigy of the Five Elements Alliance was, in fact, a tall, poised woman? Though wearing glasses, her facial contours, jawline, and delicate, pale lips clearly revealed her beauty. As the black-robed man marvelled silently, his messenger returned promptly, bowing and saying, "The Director and several deputy directors have been waiting for us inside for some time." With that, he made a gesture of invitation. Shinao Ryō immediately led Zhang Yuanqing into the pavilion, through the blooming garden, into the building, and along the traditional Japanese corridor. Soon, they paused outside a room with a tatami mat floor. In the room just across the corridor, laughter and merriment from men and women clinking glasses, along with the sounds of the pipa and small drum, could be heard. Was it intentional that they were making such a grand scene—to signal to me that the Chikako group was confident and at ease? Zhang Yuanqing pondered. "组长, Yuanshi has arrived," said Shinoya Ryō, bowing at the door. As the laughter and music ceased, the door slowly slid open, revealing a young woman with her hair elegantly coiled and dressed in a kimono, who welcomed them in. The soft glow of the room's light spilled into the slightly dim corridor, allowing Zhang Yuanqing to take in the interior. The tatami mats covered the entire space, with six low tables neatly arranged. Each table was laden with various Japanese delicacies. Men dressed in kimono lounged or reclined lazily in relaxed poses before the tables, accompanied by young, beautiful women in kimono who sat obediently, holding wine pitchers. At the head of the table, Mr. Kōbe Ichiro, around fifty years old, with a square face, thick brows, a high nose, and sharp eyes, ex His命 palace is bright and vibrant, indicating an exceptional destiny and a natural leader—indeed, a true magnate. Yet his缘 palace is murky and obscure, revealing serious shortcomings in marriage, social interactions, and interpersonal relationships. However, his友 palace shines brightly, suggesting he has many trusted allies and commands respect from his subordinates—his challenges lie primarily in marriage. His亲 palace is dim, portending weak offspring or a lack of succession. Combined with the condition of his缘 palace, it appears that Kunihiko is not particularly focused on women or family life, but rather dedicated entirely to his career. With his glasses shielding his gaze, Zhang Yuancheng confidently unfolds the art of astrology, gaining a profound understanding of Kunihiko, the head of the Chihaku Group. Kunihiko, in turn, is observing the distant arrival of Yuan Shi Tianzun, impressed by the presence of a corpse—his demeanor is that of a refined warrior. He nods with satisfaction: "Master Yuan Shi, you are a noble warrior of high virtue. Please take a seat!" Indeed, Lady Yin Yao is far more impressive than I am... Zhang Yuancheng sits calmly and says, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kunihiko His voice was hoarse and unimpressive, as if his vocal cords had suffered serious injury or were already damaged. Sayo Reina knelt beside him, gracefully pouring wine—she had done this many times before. Whenever her father hosted formal dinners for Ryokichi Ichiro at home, she would pour wine for him while sitting beside her teacher. At the high-level banquets of the Chihara group, she too had always taken on the role of pouring wine. Of course, things would change in the future. Once she became deputy head, she would have a beautiful sister in a kimono to pour wine for her. Zhang Yuanqing remained upright, kneeling before the table, listening as the head supervisor, Koshino Ichiro, introduced the four deputy supervisors, with Sayo Reina serving as interpreter. "Ryokichi Ichiro, a swordsman, Reina's teacher, who leads the Inspection Department of the Chihara group." Ryokichi Ichiro was a serious, reserved middle-aged man, with his mouth downturned and no smile on his face—only a slight nod to acknowledge the greeting. "Yamabe Kiyotaka, the sole Mountain God of the Chih Watanabe Kiyoshi was short—about 1.65 meters—yet among the group, he was the most physically robust, broad-shouldered and well-built. He also carried the typical demeanor of a soil monster—reserved and unassuming. "Owada Yoichi, a scholar of the Way, leading the intellectual council of Chiharu Group," said a well-dressed man in a kimono, wearing glasses, slightly tipsy, fondling his companion with a touch of gentlemanly neglect. "Kokujin Koshi, the Fire Demon, Head of Department," said a sturdy middle-aged man with a full beard, a long scar running down his left cheek, and yellowed teeth—clearly a seasoned figure from the underworld. Matsuno Ryō looked hesitant and added softly, "Fujimiya's deputy is like this—she's not mocking you, right? Well, she is mocking you, but it's not out of ill will... er, she does have ill will, but—well, but..." After all, he's the fire master, and fire masters are just that—difficult to please. I understand that, but it does feel a bit like he's putting me down. Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself, raising his hand to indicate Matsuno Ryō didn't need to explain further. The old-fashioned negotiation routine again... Zhang Yuanqing silently pulled out his small microphone and shouted, "Hajimari ya rō!" Startled everyone present. "Right now, we're about to execute a mission that will determine the future of the Chihara group, yet you're here drinking and enjoying yourselves! Look at your current relaxed, carefree demeanor—don't you feel ashamed as senior executives of the Chihara group? I'm truly committed to this mission. For the past three days, I've gone completely dry—no wine, just soda every day." "As a noble warrior, I find your conduct utterly disgraceful." With that, he turned to Ryo Asano and said, "Translate this for them." At first, Ryo was a bit nervous, fearing a clash between the Prince and the leaders of the Chihaya group. But as he listened, he came to realize that the Prince truly lived up to the image of a noble warrior, and thus delivered the message clearly in the Japanese language. The leaders of the Chihaya group were left stunned, opening their mouths to speak, yet unable to find any rebuttal. The speech was resolute and morally compelling, standing firmly on a high ethical ground—just like the male lead in a popular热血 manga. Suddenly, the spacious room fell into quiet. Ryo whispered, "Prince Yuan, you are truly impressive." Impressive? Probably learned it from watching anime. Yuan Qing silently muttered to himself. "Ahem!" Hikaru Goda cleared his throat and waved his hand, saying, "You all go ahead!" The musician seated in the corner and the female attendant by the table rose and bowed, then stepped back. The officers also settled into serious, respectful kneeling postures. Once the guests had departed, Kōbu Ichirō said solemnly, "Master Yuan Shi, could we please see the key?" "Of course!" Zhang Yuanqing picked up the backpack by his side and placed it on the table, opened the zipper, and removed a jade plate about the size of a bowl. The officers of the Chihō Group stared at it as if magnetic screws held fast to a magnet—unable to move their eyes. Kōbu Ichirō exhaled in relief, nodded in satisfaction, and asked, "Master Yuan Shi, do you know the legends of the High Heaven Plain?" Several deputy heads straightened their postures and knelt formally, all turning their attention to the woman in glasses, the female corpse. None spoke, their eyes sharp and calm. Here it is—he’s testing whether I know the hidden story behind Emperor Qin Shi Huang sending Xu Fu to sea. If I don’t, they’ll likely alter their strategy and block my entry into the High Heaven Plain. After Shina Reo’s translation, Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "As a graduate of Beijing University, my knowledge of history and classical Chinese literature is The totem of the Qin dynasty is still well understood. Back then, when the First Emperor sent Xu Fu to the island nation, it was because there were treasures there, wasn't it? Xu Fu refused to return to the Central Plains and settled down on the island, becoming the deity Amaterasu—precisely for this reason. Mr. Kobe and the deputy leaders exchanged glances, setting aside their lingering hopes, and remarked with a sense of reflection: "Historical records state that the First Emperor dispatched Xu Fu to the eastern island in search of an elixir of immortality. This must be incorrect, since both Xu Fu and the First Emperor have long since become mere fragments of history." After Shina Ryoutsu translated the passage, Zhang Yuanqing, his voice hoarse, said: "Mr. Kobe, perhaps what the First Emperor sent Xu Fu to seek was indeed the elixir of immortality." "If the elixir of immortality is genuine, then why did Xu Fu die? Have you truly studied diligently, you brilliant graduate from Beijing University?" Shina Ryoutsu had just finished translating, when Kujun Koshiro promptly laughed out loud. The scholar, Kobayashi Yoshio, pushed his glasses "Looking at all of you, Zhang Yuanqing spoke with a hoarse, labored voice: 'All of you are sages—through the quest, you must have come to know of the existence of ancient cultivators. Throughout history, there have been many half-gods. Yet, has anyone ever seen a half-god living into the present age?' 'Why were the ancient cultivators unable to attain immortality and gradually perished one by one?' slowly replied Ogawa Yoichi. 'The lifespan of half-gods is finite—they can achieve longevity but not eternal life. Moreover, as ancient spiritual energy declined, their resources dwindled, making it increasingly difficult for them to maintain their status, thus leading to their complete demise.' Zhang Yuanqing then asked: 'If the First Emperor dispatched Xu Fu specifically to find the treasure that would endure the waning of spiritual energy—wouldn't that, for him, be the elixir of immortality?' After Shallowo Reo translated the remarks, the officers nodded thoughtfully. Kobe Ichiro slightly inclined his head, praising: 'Your reasoning is sound, Yuanshǐ. Your deep understanding of the spiritual realms is truly admirable.' Ogawa Yoichi nodded repeatedly: 'Excellent insight—I'll include this Kobe Nori leaned forward, speaking in a steady tone: "Since the emergence of the Spiritual Realm, as the ranks of Spiritual Realm travelers have grown and more secrets have been uncovered, travelers from the two major regions have come to realize that the Spiritual Realm itself dates back to the mythological age. Mythological traditions, to a certain extent, reflect the history of ancient spiritual beings. "Therefore, a century ago, the Chiyoko Group began studying national myths, gathering various clues and concluding that the supreme deity, Amaterasu, was actually an ancient spiritual being, and that the heavenly realm of Tachibana was real. "Yet Tachibana remained profoundly mysterious—no historical records pinpoint its location. In myths, it is described as an island floating above the sea or in the clouds. After years of dedicated research, with no breakthroughs, dissenting voices began to emerge within the Chiyoko Group, questioning whether Tachibana had already faded into history or had transformed into one of the current Spiritual Realms, and whether the ongoing efforts to locate Tachibana were a futile endeavor. He took a sip of wine and continued, "Due to the large number of opponents and the turbulent times, the investigation into Kōten'gen had to be put on hold. It wasn't until 1955, when the key to Kōten'gen was unearthed, that we could truly confirm Kōten'gen's existence—and that it had not returned to the spiritual realm. "However, at that time, the entire Chinetsu Group had fallen under the control of Tenpen, becoming mere puppets. The senior leadership chose to remain patient and did not restart the search for Kōten'gen. "After decades of persistent endurance, the Chinetsu Group gradually regained its autonomy, weakening Tenpen's grip. The then-Group leader quietly initiated the search for Kōten'gen. "Indeed, perseverance pays off. Through countless hypotheses and verifications, we finally found Kōten'gen." As he spoke, he waved his hand. The wooden door behind him slid open automatically, revealing a large courtyard. Within the courtyard stood a hot spring bath, still emitting steam even in the height of summer. Zhang Yuanqing's gaze swept across the courtyard, reaching toward the distant peaks—clearly visible were the majestic Fuji Mountain. Shinobu Ichiro did not turn, gazing steadily at Yuan Shi Tian Zun, and spoke slowly: "The island floating above the sea of clouds refers precisely to Fuji Mountain. The snow-capped peak of the mountain resembles the clouds in the sky." "The mountain deity, Watanabe Yoshita, added, "I discovered a massive stone sculpture deep within the mountain, about fifteen meters tall, shaped like a bird with three claws and one eye. The eye is sunken, without a pupil, and matches the sculpture in size and pattern exactly—it is the bird's eye." His gaze turned toward the jade tray before Yuan Shi Tianzun. Kodama Ichiro supplemented, "We suspect that this stone sculpture is the entrance to the Tōtōkan. As long as the eye is properly aligned, the pathway to Tōtōkan will open." Zhang Yuan surveyed the wine and dishes on the table and said, "I believe the legendary Tōtōkan will be far more appealing than these fine dishes." He was signaling to the senior officers of the Senkoku group that it was time to act. Yet Kodama Ichiro remained seated, his expression growing serious: "Lord Yuan Shi, before we enter Tōtōkan, we must settle on a distribution plan. We've already paid the reward for recovering the keys, so the treasures within Tōtōkan should largely belong to the Senkoku group." I've decided: the things Emperor Qin seeks must go to the Chiyoshi Group. "If they're resources, we'll share a portion with you. If they're artifacts, they must remain under the Chiyoshi Group's control, and we'll compensate you—such as one of the Three Sacred Treasures." "Are you certain the Three Sacred Treasures exist in the High Heaven Plain?" Zhang Yuancheng asked. "The three existing Treasures are ordinary materials. If they truly possess the power described in myth, then they must be artifacts. Therefore, the authentic originals should be preserved in the High Heaven Plain." Reina Reina explained. Zhang Yuancheng nodded and said, "Agreed!" He wasn't afraid of the Chiyoshi Group backing out, because should they fail to keep their word, he would immediately report it to headquarters. From the Chiyoshi Group's perspective, as long as they secure the treasures and make appropriate concessions to soothe Yuan Shi Tian Zun, it's a sound business move—indeed, they are the ones most likely to pull out unexpectedly. Additionally, this trip has another objective beyond distributing treasures: investigating the connection between the High Heaven Plain and the hidden missions of Qin Feng Academy. He didn't want to raise a fuss either. Immediately, Kōbe Ichirō produced a bronze book, a piece of equipment for the knight profession, purchased by the Chihaya group from the Heaven's Judgment organization. The two parties signed the contract in the presence of the bronze book. Then, Kōbe Ichirō and the others changed into their attire inside the house, posing as mountain hiking tourists, and set off together from the hot spring inn, taking a vehicle toward Mount Fuji. It was summer, yet the temperature at the five-story pavilion remained cool, around 5 degrees Celsius. Zhang Yuanqing observed numerous scenic spots, buildings, and a steady stream of visitors, as well as private cars and buses passing by. He thought to himself, "Maybe I could take my aunt or Guan Ya for a while..." Of course, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about tourism—just a fleeting thought, and then he promptly forgot it. As they climbed Mount Fuji, gradually distancing themselves from buildings, visitors, and human activity, the population thinned out. Away from the crowd, they no longer constrained their pace, rushing swiftly through the mountains. As they ascended, the vegetation grew sparser. Fifteen minutes later, they came to a halt near the area known as "White Head." Here, there was no vegetation at all—only dark brown soil and stones stretching as far as the eye could see. The destination had been reached. Kobe-san reminded, "Get ready..." The swordsman, Ryuzaki, grasped his katana, ready to use the blade as a pickaxe to slow their descent. Meanwhile, the physician, Ono-shi Yoji, became somewhat disoriented, hastily retrieving his jetpack. Just as everyone was busy preparing for landing, a sudden "whoosh" echoed from the bottom of the pit—terrifying gales of wind surged up, powerful enough to counteract the force of gravity, making the group drift like leaves, falling smoothly and steadily. "Ah!" The fire demon, Kujun Koshi, raised his hand, igniting a blazing sphere to dispel the darkness. Everyone turned to gaze at the Master of the Beginning, observing his hands—undoubtedly, this was a wind mage's artifact. The strength of the wind it generated was impressive, indicating a high quality. As the group examined the wind mage's gloves, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes pierced through the darkness, clearly seeing the scene at the pit's base. Before them lay a vast cavern, with layers of hard rock and soil interwoven. Directly ahead stood a colossal stone sculpture, its wings spread wide, three It has only one eye, and the socket contains no pupil—just a sunken circular opening, with a pattern inside identical to that of the disc. As he gazed at the statue, Zhang Yuanqing's mind flashed to a mythical creature—the three-legged golden bird, the Fenghuang. "Master Yuanshi!" Shin'gō Ishikawa stepped forward, standing beside him, "Open the High Heaven Plain." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, took out the disc from his backpack, and it dissolved into a shimmering stream of starlight. The starlight then rose again from the top of the stone statue. Star-flight technique? She—she's not a shadow spirit, is she? Seeing this, several team leaders exchanged slightly concerned glances. Zhang Yuanqing retrieved the disc and leapt onto the statue's eye socket, embedding the disc within it.