"What are you talking about!" my grandmother snapped. "Yes, I'm not particularly close to your father, nor to your mother." Zhang Yuanqing smiled brightly and took over the mop. "I'll handle the floor, you rest a while. I just heard from Chen Shu that you and Grandfather both didn't like my father." Back then, when Mother decided to marry into the countryside, Grandfather and Grandmother were firmly against it—the household registration in Songhai was so valuable, everyone back home was eager to secure it. How could you, after decades of hard work, marry off to the countryside and leave your descendants with rural household registration? Would all that effort have been for nothing? What a spoiled daughter—daring to marry into the countryside and cut ties with the family! It's quite similar to the way Queen Mother of the Heavenly Court opposed the union between Zhīnǚ and Niúláng, probably for the same reason. Of course, Grandfather and Grandmother remained fairly progressive—they never actually drew a Milky Way to completely sever ties between Zhang Yuanqing and her parents. And Mother, being strong-willed and passionate, would likely have risen up on her own, without needing Grandfather and Grandmother to take the initiative: " Chen Shu is just that kind of person. In general, the grandparents didn't particularly favor Father, something Zhang Yuanqing had heard from his mother and uncle. His mother only mentioned it casually, but when his uncle spoke about it, he described it vividly. His uncle said: "Your father is always feeling unwell, as if his body has been drained—mainly because he hasn't yet developed into someone impressive, neither good at singing nor dancing, and doesn't know how to entertain the two elders." At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself: "My son is already past his prime—what if my son-in-law is like this? The grandparents would surely suffer a heart attack right away." On the surface, he said: "Ah, yes, Uncle is truly the most accomplished. I'd like to learn rapping from him. I'll ask him for some pocket money." "Chen Shu? That's just your mother!" Grandma scolded, then added, "Why are you asking this?" "I just wanted to get a better understanding," Zhang Yuanqing said, diligently wiping the floor, "My father passed away early, and my mother became a widow at a young age—she must have been deeply Over the years, I've lived in Songhai, and most of my relatives on the Zhang side have stopped visiting. My grandmother said: "To be honest, I didn't expect much sadness from your mother back then—she actually surprised me. I thought she would quickly find a new partner, but after all these years, she's still unmarried. Well, I've just given up trying to manage her. After all, her children are all grown now—whether or not she marries, it doesn't really matter anymore. What I'm really thinking about now is getting your brother and your aunt matched up." "Grandmother, you've drifted off—let me talk about my father," Zhang Yuanqing reminded. "What's there to say?" My grandmother mumbled: "Your father is quite pleasant—he doesn't get easily upset and can tolerate your mother's strong personality. But he's just so lacking in spirit, so listless. Your grandfather wanted to help him enter the bureaucratic system so he could transfer his household registration, but he refused flat-out, preferring to stay in the countryside, working the land and doing occasional casual jobs. "How can one possibly succeed like that? When he eventually has a son, he'll be just another rural man, bringing "What's wrong with the common folks? The common folks are the true masters of society. Your upper-class mindset isn't quite right. Moreover, if my father were truly unremarkable, how could your daughter, so proud and lofty, have even considered him? Zhang Yuanqing mentally complained, while politely nodding, "Please go on." He believed his father wasn't poor—he was simply choosing to remain humble. He probably wasn't going to the workplace because he was busy conquering the next main quest, saving the world, and didn't want to draw attention from the official officials. "That's it. What else is there to say?" the grandmother urged. "Hurry up and mop the floor. Once it's done, go to your aunt's room and mop there too." "No way! I haven't finished asking yet. Doesn't my father have any close friends—real, genuine friends that your mother would recognize? Do you remember any?" Zhang Yuanqing asked tentatively. The grandmother furrowed her brows, thought for a second, then shook her head. "I don't know. I've known your father for over ten years, but I can't recall anyone like that." "You're not bringing Guan Ya back for dinner anymore, I'm going to forget what she looks like." Grandma's not up to much these days—she's getting older and forgetful... Zhang Yuanqing hummed under his breath, yet he wasn't willing to let it rest. He kept dragging the floor while thinking. Soon, he came up with a question: "Grandma, have you attended my father's funeral?" "Of course. Even though I didn't know him well, we still had to attend the funeral." Grandma gave him a withering look. "Did you see a dog there?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "What?" Grandma was taken aback. "Even if my father had few friends, he wouldn't have been so down-to-earth as to become best friends with a dog." "Just say it plainly—did you see a terrier with curly fur?" Zhang Yuanqing pressed. "Let me think..." Grandma tilted her head and pondered for a while, then suddenly looked astonished. "You're right. I actually remember now—I did see a dog at the funeral." It stayed at my father's funeral for a long time, as if it even stood up and bowed several times. "That was really interesting at the time—I couldn't remember which friend's dog it was, trained so well. When I ask people, I can't recall; but when I ask the dog, I do remember." Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and repeated, "Was it the curly-haired Poodle?" "Not entirely sure—it might have been," said Grandma. Zhang Yuanqing held onto the broom, standing still in place, silent and expressionless for a long time. Dang! The dog really knew my father! That means the reason he ended up at the zoo was likely a gift or a trade from my father—rather than the underhanded scheming I originally thought. He knew my father's true identity, not just his spiritual realm ID. That means he must also know I am the son of Zhang Zizhen—unless he hadn't seen my file records. But this is impossible, since the Dog Elder is directly superior to Fu Qingyang, and Fu Qingyang is directly superior to me, thus he has the authority to review my records. Suddenly, I realize that the Dog Elder has been unusually attentive to me—when we first met, I poked his dog-like head, and he didn’t even get upset; in our daily interactions, he lacks the usual dignity and formality of an elder, unlike the other elders from Songhai, who haven’t shown me the same warmth and approachability. I always assumed that the Dog Elder’s special kindness and ease with me stemmed from his unique prominence among the Celestial Sovereigns, much like a teacher showing special care for a top student. Now, however, it appears there’s an underlying reason. What exactly is the relationship between him and my father? It must be no ordinary connection—my father entrusted him with revealing his true identity. Zhang Yuanqing almost couldn’t contain his urge to call the Dog Elder and ask questions, yet he felt that all his observations were merely speculations, lacking solid evidence. To casually mention Zhang Zizhen at this point would be unwise. Just as they were talking, the sound of the security door's password being entered came through—soft, rhythmic beeps. Aunt Jiang returned, carrying a beautifully crafted small box, humming a tune and bouncing cheerfully. "Hi, little dog!" she leapt past the nephew, giving his dog head a cheerful pat, her spirits high. "There's another one here too—come up and say your good word to Grandma as well," Zhang Yuanqing pointed at the grandmother, indicating that Jiang Yu'er should receive equal attention. "Hmm, my缘宫 is bright and vibrant, indicating promising social opportunities in the near future—today seems like a perfect day to go out," Zhang Yuanqing was somewhat surprised. At the same time, he felt a bit disappointed, because the clarity and brightness of the缘宫 suggest strong social prospects, but not the soft, lingering glow typically associated with romantic or intimate connections. If it were that, Zhang Yuanqing would have immediately headed to the hotel to find Guan Ya. The King of Fear coughed steadily, his handsome face pale, lips cracked, eyes cloudy and dim. Each cough came with a deep tremor, as if he might cough out his lungs at any moment. "Please wait a moment," she said, rushing to the checkout counter, fetching a warm cup of water in a disposable paper cup, and then hurried back, her heels clicking against the floor. As she handed him the water, she asked, "Mr. How are you feeling? Perhaps you should go to the hospital." As a sales associate at one of the world's premier luxury department stores, she had received professional training and maintained a high level of grace. She never showed any displeasure toward guests who could not afford the store's products. Even with a beggar, she would offer a polished smile and courteous demeanor—something the store manager always emphasized. The King of Fear took the paper cup, drank it down in one go, and, trembling, walked over to the soft sand area where guests could rest, sitting down with a hoarse voice: "Please bring me another cup." ... The Zoo. Throughout Songhai, there are only three zoos in total. This one, located in the suburban area, enjoys the best reputation online. Netizens consistently praise the animals at Songhai Zoo for their remarkable spirit—camels that blow spit at visitors, gorillas that deliberately drop feces on tourists, African grey parrots that scold guests constantly with terms like "idiot" and "brat," monkeys who proudly expose their genitalia to attract female visitors, and river otters who love to awkwardly dance with guests. Moreover, the zoo boasts an exceptionally diverse and comprehensive range of animal species. What's more, the zoo's name is particularly distinctive—it simply calls itself "Zoo," with no prefix or embellishment. As a result, it draws a large crowd every weekend, and during holidays, it becomes utterly packed. In the Lion's Garden, within the chamber where the King of the Mystic Eye is imprisoned, the Dog Elder stands by the fence, quietly gazing outward at the visitors observing the lion herd. Inside the camphor tree behind him, the King of the Mystic Eye reflects: "Business is truly thriving—each month, we must be earning quite a fortune, aren't we?" The Dog Elder turns his gaze back, his black buttons gleaming. "A noble figure like the King of the Mystic Eye—does he truly care about money?" "Of course he does. Money is a wonderful thing," the King of the Mystic Eye's laughter filters through the curtain of vines. "Yet it is also the dirtiest. The more corrupt human nature becomes, the dirtier money grows. All my misfortunes have been caused by it." "I still expected you to say that power itself is the most corrupt of all—after all, absolute power breeds absolute corruption, and you've always been particularly disdainful of those who abuse it." The Dog Elder sits on the ground, gently scratching his head with his hind legs. The King of the Mystic Eye bursts into laughter: "In my eyes, money and power are one and the same. Money "Shall we begin with your life's tragedies? I'm looking forward to it." The dog elder sat facing the camphor tree. "My story, you're not qualified to know," the Mage-Eye said calmly. "When I finally die, I'll tell it—only to the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. He will carry on my will and continue purifying the world." Upon saying this, he added, "You've already been at the zoo for two days. That doesn't suit you." The dog elder didn't conceal his thoughts, sighing, "The King of Fear has come to the Pine Sea to save you. I need to remain here, overseeing the zoo, coordinating with the General's ambush to hunt down the King of Fear. Yet, he seems to be failing even the Palace Mistress's trial." "The King of Fear came to the Pine Sea to save me?" the Mage-Eye's tone carried a note of curiosity. "Is there a problem?" the dog elder frowned. "The King of Fear is inherently lazy—he handles affairs never exceeding one hour. Once that time passes, even the most pressing matters he'll set aside, claiming he simply seeks freedom." He dislikes doing things, believing they take away his freedom. I remember once he pursued the Wandering Judge for an hour, nearly killing him, only for that man to suddenly abandon the pursuit and seek his own freedom. "He wouldn't bother doing anything for one matter, traveling all the way from the North to Songhai," the Mage's Eye remarked. "He probably speaks of saving me every day, yet he wanders around doing nothing." "But he did come," the Dog Elder said firmly. "There must be another purpose—something that allows him to slightly sacrifice his freedom. You must investigate this thoroughly," the Mage's Eye sighed. "Besides, once he arrives, he will surely come to the Zoo to rescue me." The Dog Elder replied calmly: "Don't be too optimistic. The Palace Master has already injured the Fearful King. If he dares to come to the Zoo, the two Masters will surely defeat him, and he will surely perish from fear." ... [The Prime Immortal: The Palace Master of the Water God's Palace has been seriously wounded by the King of Fear? Truly impressive—no, truly unfortunate. Why didn't he kill him? 【Fu Qingyang: Feared to possess a half-divine combat strength, and being a battle-savvy spirit-witch, it won't be easy to eliminate him. Merely the Master of the Water Divine Palace isn't enough—unless the Marshal joins in as well.】 【Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun: Interesting. Since the Palace Master has found the one who is fearful, why not bring the crowd to overwhelm him? Didn't that rookie once shatter one artifact with a single strike, and even break two rule-based items? How come he didn't come to the Songhai to confront the fearful one?】 【Fu Qingyang: Battles between half-divine beings, when life or death is at stake, are inevitably fierce. Unless in the Spiritual Realm, no seal or containment method can hold them. The Marshals don't wish to witness the suffering of the living beings in Songhai.】 【Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun: Ah, so that's it—I've been so superficial. By the way, elder, could you please delete that chat record? (bows deeply)】 【Fu Qingyang: Yes!】 I truly appreciate elders like this—serious, upright, and steady in their actions. Master Yuan Shi: Right, elder, I picked up a piece of equipment from the Chianhe team. How can I bring it into the spiritual realm? Equipment and tools are the same thing, but since they aren't produced within the spiritual realm, they don't count as spiritual realm items, and thus can't be carried into the realm. Fu Qingyang: Simple—find a master artisan to process it and infuse it with information from the spiritual realm. Come by my place this afternoon; I'll arrange for someone to handle the processing for you. Zhang Yuanqing: Thank you, elder (fervently bowing). But can an artisan process a nuclear missile? Fu Qingyang: While the equipment isn't native to the spiritual realm, it does contain spiritual energy—nuclear missiles don't. Zhang Yuanqing: Then, what if we replace the nuclear missile's casing with materials from the spiritual realm? Fu Qingyang didn't respond. Zhang Yuanqing: Isn't that possible? Fu Qingyang: I'm merely a scout, not a search engine. Well, he didn't know either... Zhang Yuanqing gracefully ended the chat and returned to the chat homepage, then sent a message to Xiao Yuan: "Xiao Yuan, I'll be entering the official sect's spiritual realm tomorrow and might be away for a week. During that time, if you can't reach me, don't worry." [Magical Aunt Xiao Yuan: You won't be in touch with me.] [Origin Supreme Sovereign: I love you!] Returning to the chat homepage again, Zhang Yuanqing sent a message to the Master of Zhishi Palace: "See you at twelve at midnight, at the same place. I'll have something to ask you." The Master of Zhishi Palace didn't reply. "Oh, stop fiddling with your phone!" Xiao Ai furrowed her brows, angrily reaching out to snatch it. "Come out with me for a shopping trip—no phone playing allowed!" "Got it, got it," Zhang Yuanqing quickly put down his phone and walked forward, shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiang Yueyi. Jiang Yueyi kept her eyes scanning around, pointing to a clothing store ahead. "It's been a while since I bought you something new Well, I'm handling the selection—your own money, please. Aunt Chen simply can't afford such expensive clothes for you. If it weren't for the ten billion yen collateral from the thousand-cherry group, Zhang Yuanqing would have said, "I'll take over your entire fish farm"—in fact, he'd have offered to buy the whole store. But now he only has around five to six million yen in savings, and he's running out of room to spend. ... The clothing store. The once-fearful king, now gradually recovering, dons a crisp suit and stands before the full-length mirror, receiving praise from the sales associates. It's not just praise—there's genuine admiration in their eyes, as if they've seen a top-tier beauty. With his refined features, graceful demeanor, and mature presence, and the two silver ear studs adding a modern touch, he's a sophisticated, cool, and captivating figure that young women find irresistible. "The clothes are quite good—I'll take ten sets," the Fear King nods in satisfaction. The sales associate is instantly even more enchanted. At that moment, the Fear King spots a young couple entering the store at the front door through the mirror.