Once the学员 who was on the verge of mental collapse was calmed, Master Mo Pan continued introducing the props on display. He pointed to a crown woven from vines, adorned with vibrant, flourishing flowers, and said, "The Forest Crown—mountain deity's specialty—provides strength, endurance, and self-healing and regeneration." Hmm, the functions overlap significantly with those of the mountain deity's staff—self-healing and strength seem to be core abilities of the wood spirit. I always thought the mountain deity's staff was particularly unique. It appears now that props at the mountain deity level share such close functional similarities with wood spirits? ——The mountain deity originates from earth-based monsters, while the wood spirit evolves into a beast king. Just as Zhang Yuanqing was forming this thought, Red Chicken Brother asked, "Why do the mountain deity's props resemble the wood spirit's so closely? They're entirely different professions." Always good to have a fire mage nearby! Zhang Yuanqing mused internally, then turned to Master Mo Pan, awaiting his response. Mokepan, steady and composed, paused for a few seconds before speaking, explaining: "Among native lawful professions, scouts, wood elementals, water spirits, fire mages, and earth monsters symbolize the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, respectively. According to the theory of the Five Elements, all things in the universe are composed of these five elements. Their origin lies in chaos; from chaos arise yin and yang, which then give rise to the five elements. Scholars of the spiritual realm have speculated that these five professions are deeply interconnected, and under certain conditions, they will unleash forces beyond imagination. "When the Five-Element Alliance was founded, it established a project specifically dedicated to studying these five professions. I've reviewed relevant papers from the archives of my family over the past ten years." Zhao Fei, a scholar from a scholarly family, recalled: "The paper was from sixteen years ago, and there were no further developments afterward." Xiahou Aotian added, "So, can we say the research was ultimately successful?" As the three bachelors were discussing, Zhang Yuanqing unexpectedly recalled the rogue's turntable—no, the yin-yang turntable. The item's properties mentioned: "A distinguished craftsman uncovered the secret of the five core disciplines—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—of the orderly orders. Using the finest materials from each discipline as a foundation and the spirit of the bachelors as its core, he crafted a powerful and wise artifact, named the Yin-Yang Turntable." Linking this to the fact that the Yin-Yang Turntable is a key artifact of the Huaihai branch, it was natural to infer that at one time, under official guidance, a group of technical personnel (the bachelors) established dedicated research initiatives for the five disciplines. The Yin-Yang Turntable was born at that time. However, later on, due to unfortunate circumstances, its pure essence gradually faded, and since then, its story has become hard to convey. "And what about this one?" Red Chicken Brother listened intently for a while but still didn't grasp it, so he pointed to a bright golden rope and forcefully interrupted the bachelors' discussion. "Oh, this is the Binding Cord—a top-tier item with self-awareness. It particularly enjoys binding girls. Well, don't worry about it—let's move on!" Master Mo forcibly changed the subject. What do you mean by 'particularly enjoys binding girls'? Please clarify that! Zhang Yuanqing instantly became interested and was about to ask for details when suddenly, he sensed a thought emanating from the imprint in his consciousness: The stone gate has opened! The Princess is wonderful! He immediately stabilized his emotions and sent half of his spiritual essence to merge with the Yin Shi (Princess Yingyao). At once, his perception transformed into that of a computer screen—half showing a gallery, the other half dark, like the bottom of a lake. ... Behind him, the stone gate stood open, a stone staircase descending downward, a heavy backpack hanging at his neck, and a jade tray in his hands. After assessing himself, Zhang Yuanqing placed the jade tray into his cloth bag and began descending the staircase. "The Princess's sleeping seal lasts only fifteen minutes. We must emerge within that time—or else the sea-jelly people, the faculty members, and the Tiger King will block the entrance." Time is limited, yet one must never be careless in exploring the unknown realms. He drew out the Purple Golden Hammer, transforming it into a circular shield, and used its smooth, mirror-like surface to catch his reflection. In the "mirror," his Er- Palace was dimmed with bloodish light, while the Cai Palace glowed brightly. There it was—the classic look of someone who succeeds as a young model at a club and fails to return to the spiritual realm. Zhang Yuanqing gritted his teeth. The bloodlight disaster meant that, should he press forward deep into the realm, there was a 90% chance he would perish there—yes, Lady Yin Yao would be among those who perished. The steps were about three meters wide, with rugged, uneven stone walls on either side. Wearing robes of Yin and Yang energy, Zhang Yuanqing guided the flow of water, forming a vortex around him for defense. "The water here is remarkably still, with hardly any hidden currents. The air beneath it carries a strong, stale odor—water that has been sealed for years, perhaps, now stagnant and lifeless..." He walked up the steps for a few minutes, then suddenly stopped. By the steps ahead, two highly decayed corpses sat cross-legged, one on each side, backs pressed against the stone wall, heads bowed, their garments tattered and their hair dry and sparse. Zhang Yuanqing "saw" a heavy aura of gloom and resentment emanating from both bodies. As he considered whether to cast the Star-Flight technique to bypass them, the left corpse suddenly rotated its head ninety degrees, gazing directly at Zhang Yuanqing. The face was profoundly terrifying—swollen and decayed, with worms crawling in the eye sockets and nasal passages, lips darkened and blackened. Immediately, the other corpse followed suit, turning its head as well, its two pairs of white, worm-tinged eyes fixed upon him with a stern, unwavering gaze. In the next instant, both corpses surged forward, carrying with them a powerful surge of dark current. It was no wonder the air beneath the water smelled so foul. Zhang Yuanqing stepped back, lifting his foot and kicking the abdomen of the first corpse that charged. At first, he felt the impact was heavy and rigid—unlike the faces, which were decayed, the bodies themselves seemed firm and unyielding. The Zhang Yuanqing paid no attention to it, reached out to grasp the neck of the other spectral corpse with one hand, and swiftly drew a symbol with the other on its forehead. The power of the Great Yin quickly outlined a spell imbued with Daoic resonance, etching it onto the spectral corpse’s forehead. Instantly, the previously fierce and unruly spectral corpse lost its flow of Yin energy and became completely immobile. At that moment, the spectral corpse that had been kicked into the water surged back to life. Zhang Yuanqing repeated the same procedure, resolving the situation with a single stabilizing spell. "Four-level spectral corpses. Fortunately, I am a Star Official. If it were another Saint, handling these two would have been no simple task. These two appear to be guardians—seems I'm drawing closer to the treasure now..." Holding the two spectral corpses in hand, Zhang Yuanqing continued forward. Soon, the descending staircase came to an end, revealing a long corridor ahead. He exhaled a stream of Great Yin energy, summoning the ghost bride. Since she couldn’t speak underwater, she communicated using the unique method of the Night-Wanderer: "Miss, take over the spectral corpse and pass Zhang Yuanqing stood by, watching the shadowed corpse move toward the corridor. After taking just a few steps, a flash of swordlight cut through, and the corpse's head rolled to the ground. Zhang Yuanqing immediately lifted his gaze toward the upper part of the corridor. His eyes pierced the darkness, and he saw a small sword—only two fingers long—hanging suspended from the uneven ceiling. The headless corpse continued forward. Ten seconds later, another swordlight severed its left arm at the shoulder. It kept moving, enduring four such strikes before finally reaching the end of the corridor. "My lord, this is an upward staircase—shall I go up and check?" came the voice of the ghost bride from afar. "No, just wait here," Zhang Yuanqing replied, glancing at the miniature sword. This must be a prop. He hesitated, deciding not to take it, fearing it might trigger an unfavorable response. After confirming the ghost bride was safe, he dissolved into a shimmering stream of starlight, passing through the corridor and arriving beside her. There, directly before him, stood an upward staircase. It's been nearly five minutes since he entered here—there are still ten minutes left; hurry up… He quickly ascends the steps, occasionally lifting the purple-gold shield to check the changes in his facial features. After walking up for a few minutes, Zhang Yuanqing spots the water surface. Yes, just a little further, and he'll emerge above it—above should be the mountain core of the Hundred-Beast Island. "The secret realm behind the stone gate lies within the mountain's core, yet the Hundred-Flower Assembly hasn't directly split the mountain, indicating that access isn't possible through normal means—only through the stone gate can one reach the mountain's core," he thinks to himself, then commands the shadowy corpse beside him: "My lady, go up and have a look." The greatest advantage of the spirit servant is that, as long as they don't encounter extreme conditions such as intense moonlight, sunlight, or lightning, no matter how great the danger, they remain unharmed. Immediately, the ghost bride takes control of the shadowy corpse and guides it upward, following the steps to emerge from the water. Just a couple of seconds, Zhang Yuanqing sensed a strong spiritual surge from the ghost bride above: "Husband... husband..." Her spiritual fluctuation was unusually intense, as though multiple emotions were boiling over. What had she seen? Zhang Yuanqing, curiously, communicated with her spiritual attendant: "Is there any danger?" "No..." Upon receiving the reply, Zhang Yuanqing immediately ascended the steps and emerged from the water. Before her lay a magnificent scene. This was a vast stone cavern, unimaginably spacious, with a black vault adorned with countless gems and pearls, radiating brilliant light—its splendor shimmering like a river of stars and vast as the night sky, illuminating the cavern with a serene, luminous brightness. Below the cavern stood a grand, standalone pavilion, its overhanging eaves and flowing roof tiles standing majestically on a platform of pure white jade. The white jade platform rose nearly a hundred meters high, shaped like a trapezoid, narrowing at the top and widening at the bottom, with white jade steps extending from the pavilion's entrance all the way down to its base. At the center of the Han white jade steps lies a stone platform carved with cloud patterns, resembling the stone steps of the Imperial Palace in Beijing. A mausoleum. On either side of the Han white jade steps, standing rigidly are numerous terracotta figures clad in armor and armed with weapons—some holding long spears, others carrying long swords—motionless and steadfast. Below the elevated Han white jade platform, an equally dense array of terracotta figures stands in precise formations, silent and immobile, like a disciplined army. A simple glance reveals no fewer than a thousand such terracotta figures. In Zhang Yuanqing's mind, the corresponding term instantly surfaces—the Terracotta Army of the First Emperor. At this moment, the place where he stands is at the edge of the cave, near a pond, thirty meters away from the Terracotta Army, separated by smooth, flat slabs of Han white jade. "It's rather like the First Emperor's tomb," Zhang Yuanqing murmurs softly, withdrawing his white lily, and then ascends the steps, stepping onto the stone slabs. As soon as he steps onto this cave floor, the distant Terracotta Army suddenly turns as one, their stiff, expressionless faces …Zhang Yuanqing felt a tingle at the top of his head, quickly donned his sliding boots, fastened his lucky necklace, the Beast King bangle, and the Wind-Walker gloves, and gripped the purple-gold shield. "Whoa-whoa~" A fierce wind surged inside the cavern, carrying him soaring toward the towering Hanbai jade platform, over a hundred meters high. He didn't intend to engage these soldiers head-on. Over a thousand terracotta warriors stood rigidly, their faces expressionless, fixed intently on the intruder in the sky. In perfect unison, they lifted their hand-bows from their waists, raised them, and released the triggers. Crack! Hundreds of bowstrings resonated into a single, powerful sound, echoing throughout the cavern. Arrows surged upward like swarms of locusts. Zhang Yuanqing waved his left hand, and the strong wind split into two blades of wind, slicing through the arrows, while he simultaneously curled his body and raised his round shield. The Wind-Walker gloves could generate up to two wind blades at once, but the arrows came too swiftly—he managed only one. Tink-tink-tink! The arrows rained down upon the shield Zhang Yuanqing's arm, holding the shield, grew suddenly numb and tingling. The purple-gold shield had already begun to show signs of damage even in the first wave of arrows—after all, Qin Feng Academy was a master-tier dungeon, and even though the hidden quest's core difficulty lay in the key, the threats within were far beyond what even a Saint could withstand. Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing activated the Star-Dashing Technique and returned to the ground. The Terracotta Army possessed extraordinary strength, with their spears exhibiting astonishing penetration power—even a Yin尸 of silver jade rank like Lady Ying Yao nearly broke down after being struck by two spears. Zhang Yuanqing transformed into a cascade of starlight, weaving past the army and reaching the stone steps leading to the platform. He glanced upward, and found twenty soldier terracottas standing on the steps, all wearing identical armor and wielding identical bronze swords, each equipped with a crossbow at their waist. Zhang Yuanqing realized then that the armor on these step figures was not merely earth-made, but genuine. At the far end of the steps stood a tall archway, bearing a crystal scroll inscribed with the characters "Changsheng Palace," faintly visible. At that moment, the Terracotta soldiers standing on either side of the steps turned their heads simultaneously, gazing down upon the enemy below. The two figures closest to Zhang Yuanqing—only three steps away—were positioned at the base. The one on the left wore a single-piece armor style characteristic of the Qin Dynasty, holding a sharp bronze sword. It fixed its gaze on Zhang Yuanqing and emitted a surge of spiritual energy: "Who dares to intrude upon the Emperor's "Say this, the identical figure on the right rises simultaneously. Jumping strike! Zhang Yuanqing slides through the two figures, swiftly turns, and delivers a small pumpkin strike. Thud! Thud! The two figures shatter, turning into scattered black soil fragments. The armor—mere decoration, no defensive strength? Zhang Yuanqing is energized, yet he's too early excited. The fragments tremble violently, gathering like magnets, rapidly reassembling. The two soldiers have restored themselves! Restored? Zhang Yuanqing is startled. He instantly dissolves into starlight, reappearing already having crossed ten figures, now standing midway along the Han white jade steps. He intends to use the star-dash technique to reach the palace directly. At this moment, among the ten figures left behind, one lifts a crossbow arrow, draws the bowstring. Crackle! The bowstring vibrates, and the arrow flies forth. Zhang Yuanqing sidesteps, only to see the arrow veer off course, striking diagonally. "Clang!" A mark? The props of the enchanting demon?! Helpless, he waved his small pumpkin, knocking the arrow aside, and the rebound force instantly made his wrist tingle. Were the soldiers on the steps all equipped with magical artifacts? That thought flashed through his mind as he saw twenty soldier statues above, simultaneously drawing their crossbows and aiming directly at him. Below, the ranks of soldiers surged upward, surging up the steps. "Crack!" The bowstrings resonated like thunder. Amidst the arrows, Zhang Yuanqing vanished—he had entered into night-wandering. Night-wandering could shield against the enchantments of the demon. Hiding behind a pillar, he immediately sprinted toward the far end of the stone steps. Suddenly, he heard vibrations of bowstrings behind him. The next instant, two sharp arrows pierced through his back, their bronze tips emerging from his chest. How was this possible? Zhang Yuanqing could hardly believe it. Then, suddenly, he saw a bronze circular mirror hanging beneath the plaque of "The Palace of Immortality." In the mirror, his own image was clearly reflected. It all became clear at once. This bronze mirror is a prop that reveals the secrets of nocturnal travelers. Emperor Qin had all sorts of odd props... He took a deep breath and entered the night again, dodging three arrows, observing from above. The terracotta soldiers were advancing in dense ranks along the white jade stone steps, led by those ten special figures. In front of him, there were another ten soldiers, who, through the reflection in the bronze mirror, either raised their crossbows to aim or charged forward with bronze swords. By themselves, these soldiers were no match for just me—there might even be more formidable foes within the Longsheng Palace. If I forced my way through, the Princess would surely perish. Sighing deeply, Zhang Yuanqing pressed his hands downward. A strong wind surged up, lifting him high and propelling him out of the stone steps. Retreat! Zhang Yuanqing rode the wind, coordinating with his Star-Dashing Technique, and swiftly escaped. ... The Workshop. With a crisp crack, the pearls formed from the mermaid's tears shattered. Zhang Yuanqing held his small chisel in his fingers, and sighed. Pottery crafting is a meticulous task—trying to do it multitasking is still quite a stretch… This is now his fifth damaged pearl of the sea-people. The peril at the Palace of Immortality, I can't manage alone; I need an assistant, but where can I find one within Qin Feng Academy? Zhang Yuanqing felt a growing headache. "Master Yuan Shi, it seems you lack the aptitude for pottery crafting," the teacher sighed, shaking his head. "I recommend you give up now. Each pearl costs one hundred thousand, which isn't exorbitant, but perhaps unnecessary." Though student expenses directly affect the teachers' performance bonuses, Zhang Yuanqing didn't want to be overly demanding, believing that wasn't the expected behavior of an intellectual. "You're absolutely right, Teacher," Zhang Yuanqing set down his chisel and said, "Now I'd like to go upstairs and experience the Mirror of Fate—would that be possible?"