The students' attention instantly shifted from Zhao Chenghuang to Yuan Shishen, who was being questioned by the dean. This was an instinctive reaction—most of the students didn't take the matter seriously, even viewing it as an overreaction by the faculty. After all, what was so extraordinary about a simple infiltration of the Jiuren Lake? The Qinfeng Academy had no electronic devices, limited recreational activities and facilities, and didn't allow students to pursue their own hobbies—wouldn't they eventually find their way to the Jiuren Lake themselves, to play and socialize with those stunningly beautiful Jiuren? Only Zhang Yuanqing was fully aware that if the lake infiltration were revealed, the faculty would first question him about how he had learned of the hidden mission. Second, his competitor would now know him personally, and thanks to him, the armor-clad figure would escape unscathed. Finally, he would be under constant scrutiny for the coming days, making it increasingly difficult for him to pass through the stone gates. Because even if he entered the stone gate and obtained the treasures, the headquarters was well aware of who had done it. Gazing at the sharp, penetrating gaze of Director Li Yanxi, Zhang Yuanqing shook her head and offered a warm, slightly ambiguous smile. "Professor Song Man once mentioned that merpeople have small tiger teeth. I'm not a land creature, and I have a clear sense of my own defensive capabilities." The male students burst out with a chorus of appreciative, understanding chuckles. A few female students who understood the remark blushed, spat out a remark, or found themselves laughing along with the others. The director nodded seriously, his expression serious, then looked at Sun Miao Miao. "Did you infiltrate the merpeople's lake?" Sun Miao Miao shook her head. "No, it wasn't me. After returning to my dormitory, I've been spending time chatting with the Peony Immortal and the Little Immortal from Niulangshan." The director studied her for a few seconds, then nodded once, "Hmm," and moved on to the next student. Phew, the hurdle has been cleared, just as I anticipated. The "Sage" of the Ghost Mirror imposes a cost that smooths out all emotional fluctuations—so even the Scout's Insight Spell cannot detect it. That means most lie-detection tools will go unnoticed, unless they're ones that compel someone to tell the truth without deviation. Zhang Yuanqing exhaled silently, relieved. In essence, it's through Lady Yin Yao as a mediator, allowing the cost of the ghost mirror to affect its core essence. The dean's extensive efforts have validated one of his hypotheses: the jellyfish people, the tiger king, and the faculty members of the academy all bear the burden of safeguarding hidden missions. Fu Qingyang didn't mention this—this wasn't due to oversight, but because the one who had previously infiltrated the jellyfish lake was Ling Jun, the grandson of the senior elder of the Hundred Blossom Assembly. If it had been anyone else, a collective inquiry would likely have followed. "Given the current situation, the hidden mission on Bai Shou Island is equivalent to a taboo at Qin Feng Academy—this clearly underscores the Hundred Blossom Assembly's emphasis on hidden missions." "Therefore, it's reasonable to infer that the senior leadership of the Hundred Blossom Assembly is aware of what lies behind the stone gate, at least with a general understanding; no one would treat something unknown with such seriousness." "Heh, I'll need to secure the treasure behind the stone gate and claim the divine artifacts of Gao Tian Yuan alone—this will be quite challenging. Absolutely, absolutely, I must ensure the headquarters remains unaware." A new competitor has Zhang Yuanqing thought deeply, his head tilted, his gaze following the headmaster as he questioned one after another, until the last person had been interviewed—yet no infiltrator had been uncovered. How could it be that the armored figure hadn’t been identified? That was quite troublesome… His heart grew steadily heavier. It meant that finding the armored figure would be equally difficult; clearly, the person wasn’t an easy opponent. “Didn’t we say a student had infiltrated the jellyfish lake? Where is that person?” Red Chicken Brother exclaimed, “We gathered everyone here at night—what a mess! Is this really the way things are going to be? I’m not taking any more of these surprises from you!” Indeed, the Fire Master is a true source of friction, a master at drawing attention and deflecting criticism—just like a mob player in a wolf hunt game! Zhang Yuanqing gave Red Chicken Brother a solid commendation. As for Tianxia Guihuo, who remained calm and silent, thoughtfully observing, Zhang Yuanqing quietly muttered under his breath: “A shame for the Fire Master!” “Please remain calm, stay quiet, and stay in your places,” the elderly headmaster, with silver hair, spoke The students still showed some grace by staying, but ignored the request for quiet and began chatting loudly. After a while, Song Man, the nurse with a statuesque figure—long legs, slender waist, and full hips—returned to the院长's side, stopped beside him, and whispered softly. The院长 listened carefully, his brow slightly furrowed before he smiled and said: "Sorry for the misunderstanding! H Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miao Miao, Xie Lingzhou, Zhao Feiwen, Liu Yushu, Zhu Mingxu, and Xia Hou Aotian—come with me for a moment. The rest of you can return to your dorms. History class starts at nine tomorrow morning. Please don't be late." The students scattered in a hurry. ... Room 404. Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the door, took back the ghost mirror from Lady Yin Yao, and conveyed his thoughts through the unique method of communication used by the Night-Wanderer Spirit: "The院长 has questioned all the students today. He hasn't yet identified the armored person." He then informed Lady Yin Yao about what had happened in the library hall. Zhang Yuanqing is a person who readily follows advice and listens to his companions. Yin Yao, the Princess, sat gracefully and said, "As a star official with the ability to travel at night, you are able to remain undetected by the plants and trees outside your dormitory. Yet the armored figure also manages to go unnoticed by the flora and fauna. What are the two possibilities? First, the armored figure is also a night-traveling deity or possesses a night-traveling artifact. Second, the armored figure is not a student but a teacher from the academy. Given the failure of the swordsman's observation, I lean more toward the second possibility." The Kaimiaojin's actions tonight seem more like they're setting up for something—like they're making a move, not something carefully planned. Zhang Yuanqing recalled the way the Kaimiaojin had been searching for the stone gate, and it didn't at all resemble a long-prepared strategy. Yin Yao, the Princess, agreed, saying, "The situation has grown complicated—there's a tripartite contest of interests. What would you propose?" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "The Kaimiaojin must have some hidden tactics. As the Night-Wanderer, I'm not particularly skilled at such things. My only reliable tool for truth-testing is the Houtu Boots—but I can't have every trainee wear them through. "I'm still not clear on what's going on. Do you have any suggestions, Princess?" Yin Yao replied calmly, "Just take a shower and go to bed." "…I've already taken a shower." "Then go to bed early." "…" The next morning, Zhang Yuanqing woke up at 7:30, dressed in the Qin Feng school uniform, strolling through the beautiful campus toward the canteen. The buildings preserved the Qin dynasty style while incorporating modern elements Between the buildings, a series of winding stone paths and gravel walks connect, interspersed with pavilions and stone tables and benches. Abundant greenery lines the sides of the paths; in early autumn, the flowers are still in full bloom, adding vibrant hues of bright, unusual blooms that are rarely seen in reality. As they walk, Zhang Yuanqing spots Sun Miao-miao. This woman has her dark hair gathered up, adorned with a cascade of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple flowers, continuously plucking and inserting new ones. Upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing approaching, Sun Miao-miao, her sweet demeanor reminiscent of a neighbor's sister, poses gracefully and asks, "Do you find it nice?" "Absolutely lovely! Flowers paired with a beautiful woman—indeed a timeless saying. But in my opinion, Miao-miao's beauty surpasses even the flowers," Zhang Yuanqing enthusiastically claps. Sun Miao-miao beams with delight, saying, "I asked Yuan Ting and Zhao City God, and they both said I'm crazy, that I'm infatuated with flowers." "They clearly don't appreciate your beauty," Zhang Yuanqing criticizes. "Hmph—so you're truly the perfect "Sun Miao Miao smiled even happier," "Let me have a little fun with you, little comic!" "No way, unless you ask me." "I'm asking you now!" "...You're the pride of the Taiyin Sect's third generation, aren't you?" Zhang Yuanqing sighed, spilling out the power of the Taiyin, and upon landing, transformed into a round, adorable infant. "Haha, my little darling!" Sun Miao Miao was overjoyed, rushing over, lifting the infant and kissing him passionately, her face glowing with affection and happiness. The little comic was equally happy, taking the opportunity to draw in more Taiyin energy, thus lightening the burden of care for his host. "Keep him with you for a few days, and return him before you leave Qin Feng Academy," Sun Miao Miao pleaded. After thinking it over, Zhang Yuanqing said, "You can have him during the day, but he must be returned to me before nightfall. Also, all my expenses during your stay at Qin Feng Academy will be your responsibility." "All expenses?" Sun Miao Miao wrinkled her nose. "You're such a selfish, money-hungry Following the sound, Red Chicken Brother was pointing at the chef and shouting, "I'll say it once more— I want porridge made with the freshest moonlight fish. Toast with butter, fried eggs, sausage, and bacon... stop giving me all these Western fancies! 'No Chinese breakfast?' You go take a look at your own skin, and if you don't, I'll personally beat you to a pulp!" The chef remained unconvinced, holding his neck firmly and saying, "What can I do to you? If I file a complaint, you'd have to deduct wages and even face disciplinary action..." Before he finished speaking, his body of two hundred pounds flew across the room. Red Chicken Brother charged in and delivered a series of powerful punches. Staff members from the canteen and students from the Five Elements Alliance rushed forward to intervene. "Go get the teachers—stop fighting! Are you going to kill him?" "This chef is absolutely ridiculous—arguing with the fire master over such trivial matters..." "Class leader, please stop him!" "Red Chicken Brother, stop! Give me some face with Xiahou Aotian—oh, you even dared to hit me! You'll pay for "Hey, what's the captain up to now... Whoa, are you actually assembling a cannon? Calm down, please!!" The scene was in full chaos. Zhang Yuanqing and Sun Miaomiao ignored the conflicts among the trainees and surveyed the room, then settled themselves at a window seat, where Yuan Ting and Zhao Chenghuang were calmly enjoying their breakfast. Zhang Yuanqing fixed his gaze on the group being pulled apart, while Zhao Chenghuang ate quietly, completely oblivious to what was happening outside. "What did the dean want us for last night?" Zhang Yuanqing snatched a piece of bacon from Zhao Chenghuang and chewed while speaking. "He asked us if we knew about the hidden quest at Qin Feng Academy, and then used polygraph tools on us." Zhao Chenghuang replied coldly. Yuan Ting turned his attention back, kindly passing a piece of toast from Yuan Shangzhen to him and said, "He didn't even have you stay behind." Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to speak, a calm, steady voice came through: "Because Yuan Shangzhen is a grassroots figure." Tianxia Gui carried a tray, pulled out a chair, and squeezed between Sun Miaomiao and Zhang Yuanqing, saying, "Give me some room..." Once they made space for him, he sat down and said, "The Director might go to great lengths for ten thousand yuan, but she wouldn't insist on having you all stay and pursue you relentlessly for that amount. The only possibility is... There's a secret beneath the Jiao People's Lake—one that can't be disclosed—and people who know it hold significant influence both within the official circles and among the spiritual realm families. Although Yuanshǐ Tianzun is widely recognized, he's a grassroots figure with no elders or family background, which is why the Director has excluded him." He took a sip of coffee and added, "These are just my speculations." Though I'm also a grassroots person, my cousin treats me like a son—Zhang Yuanqing self-deprecatingly remarked. Fu Qingyang truly has been generous to him. Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miaomiao looked thoughtful. Yuan Ting's eyes suddenly shone with light: "So it seems the Dean has gone to great lengths—not because someone has violated the rule that prohibits students from diving into the lake. On the surface, this rule is meant to ensure the students' safety. But in reality, there's another reason. With the world converging toward fire, what secrets lie beneath the lake?" "World Converging to Fire" exhaled, "If it's a secret, how could I possibly know? And how could you two know?" That was precisely his intention—getting close to them. Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miao Miao shook their heads. "World Converging to Fire" turned to Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn, "What do you think?" Given his deep familiarity with me, if I didn't offer my opinion now and simply avoided the topic, he would surely suspect something was amiss. Zhang Yuanqing took a piece of meat sausage from Tianxia Guihuo and said, "Someone among the students is after that secret—though perhaps not a student. It might even be one of the teachers." Zhang Yuanqing felt he wasn't considered a teacher because he had personally witnessed the actions of the armor people. However, from the perspective of an outsider, there was no record of him among the trainees—so the teacher must also have some doubts. Tian Xia Gui nodded in agreement: "I think the same way. Shall we schedule a time to dive in and find out?" Zhao Chenghuang responded first: "I'm not interested." Sun Miao and Yuan Ting showed some interest, however. Zhang Yuanqing deliberately displayed a mix of enthusiasm and hesitation, saying, "We can discuss it further when the opportunity arises—though for now, I don't see much hope, as the instructors will be closely monitoring the trainees." After a simple breakfast, the trainees proceeded to the adjacent library, to that "church." The course schedule had already been distributed. The academic offerings at the academy included: "History of the Spiritual Realms," "Research Courses on Various Professions (including overseas)," "Pill-making," "Weapon Crafting," "Stellar Astronomy," "Classification of Equipment," and "Combat Training," as well as "Pharmacology." Today's focus was theory: a morning session on "Lingjing History," an afternoon session on "Career Specializations," and another on "Equipment Categorization." Zhang Yuanqing was highly enthusiastic about the curriculum at the academy. While the faculty might not necessarily outperform him in副本 strategy or combat—indeed, they might not even surpass the students themselves—their depth of knowledge far surpassed that of the newly appointed saints. Many insights are only revealed once a character reaches a certain level; the official sources don't share them until then. For instance, in equipment categorization, Zhang Yuanqing currently only knows two broad classifications. As for overseas careers—astrology, pharmacology, and so on—his knowledge is still limited. Regarding Lingjing history, he has a solid grasp of it. Hmm, perhaps I could even teach the dean some of the things I've learned—bringing Lady Yin Yao along might make it even more interesting. Zhang Yuanqing has a touch of whimsy in mind.