Room 404. Zhang Yuanqing rested his hands behind his head, gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought. Blood-raspberry and Lady Yingyao sat on the imperial bed by the window, where the original seat of the Lady now belonged to Red Chicken Brother, who was now slurping his moonlight fish hot rice soup with gusto. After treatment by Song Man, his wounds had initially healed, and his arm would surely never be reattached. Yet Red Chicken Brother remained optimistic and cheerful—being a kind of junior disciple of the fermented sauce elder, procuring a vial of Life Source Liquid to restore his missing arm was a simple matter. Indeed, with his spirited nature, even if his arm could never be restored, he would only chuckle and say: "Life on the journey—how could one avoid being cut?" and then happily simmer a pot of chicken soup. Following the battle, Sun Miaomiao had been tied up in five directions and handed over to the administration, while under the vigorous efforts of Song Man, Lady Peony, and the other beast kings, the injuries of all the participants were treated. The students had laid out the bodies of the Dean, the Tiger King, Xie Lingzhou, and Liu Yushu After handling all the matters smoothly, it was already evening. The exhausted students dragged their weary bodies back to their dormitory to rest. Everyone believed the killer had been captured and that the academy was now safe. Zhang Yuanqing appeared to be daydreaming, but in reality, he was communicating through his headphones with the ground-dome team from the same dormitory. Their initial resistance to the polygraph tests likely already raised suspicions among the armored beings. Brining in the mass slaughter further solidified the case. Even if the armored beings didn't report this directly to headquarters, once they left the realm and submitted their findings to the Night Rose, everyone would be in danger. The only course of action left would probably be to present a grand showcase to headquarters, distancing themselves from the matter. The teammates' responses came through clearly and in unison. Zhang Yuanqing articulated his thoughts, transforming them into words: "Miao Miao must have been influenced by the Armor Person, which is why she lost her composure and activated the Mass Annihilation technique. I recalled the scene—everyone was engaged in battle, except for San Yang Kai Tai Tai, who retired early. He had ample time to influence Miao Miao. Additionally, it was San Yang Kai Tai Tai who proposed the idea of monitoring Miao Miao. If he were indeed the Armor Person, this would align perfectly with his objective—to strike Miao Miao tonight." Zhang Yuanqing paused, continuing to think. "There's one more reason..." Summer Hou Aotian waited a few seconds, not receiving an explanation, and then prompted, "What's the other reason?" "That day during the crafting class, didn't San Yang Kai Tai Tai ask three questions? Later, I learned from Mo Pan teacher that the cost of using the Mirror of Fate is that the person's fate is disrupted." Zhang Yuanqing said, "One issue poses danger; two issues bring life-threatening danger; three issues—seems certain death. Yet the Three Yangs, who opened the Lady, survived, while Master Mo Pan as if completely forgot this matter, never followed up or inquired about the students who had asked three questions. Is that normal?" Xia Hou Ao Tian and the others understood. The Three Yangs had a special artifact that had offset the cost of the magical mirror. Clearly, the cost of a master-level artifact was beyond the reach of a common sage, but it made sense if the one involved was a warrior-armor type. "Alright, we'll act tonight—launch an attack on the Three Yangs, the Lady." Tian Xia Gui Huo finally showed decisive leadership as a fire master. Zhang Yuanqing held his headset. "The Lady's room is on floor 612. I'll go straight there with Zhao Chenguang via star-dwelling. Then, I'll ignite a fire ball inside the room. Tian Xia Gui Huo, you'll arrive via fire-dwelling. Xia Hou Ao Tian—" Pausing, he added, "You'll just be on standby, keeping watch, and calming Of course, with our three combined strengths, a sudden assault should leave him with no chance to resist." At that moment, Red Chicken Brother finished his hot and steaming rice porridge, contentedly patted his belly. "With Sun Miao Miao—the venomous woman—already taken, what good does it do to have me stay here?" "Miao Miao isn't a venomous woman," Zhang Yuanqing said with a sigh. "Hey, are you interested in her?" Red Chicken Brother waved his hand, carelessly. "Whether she's a venomous woman or not doesn't matter. I'll just go back to the canteen and get another bowl of porridge. Will you join me?" "I'm just hungry," Zhang Yuanqing nodded. ... Late night, 11:50 p.m. Room 612, the lights bright and clear. The three-yang-opens-the-house lady sat upright at the table, calm and composed, yet expressionally stiff. Suddenly, two beams of ethereal starlight rose from the room, coalescing into two handsome young men—Zhang Yuanqing and Zhao Chenguang. As soon as they took physical form, Zhang Yuanqing, wearing his yin-y The flame expanded, bursting with a thunderous roar, and a new figure materialized within the glow of the fire. Clearly, it was Tianxia Guihuo—sharp-featured, well-proportioned. Seeing the three who had suddenly appeared, Lady San Yang, without any surprise, instead broke into a mysterious smile. "Here you are!" She enjoyed drinking wine, but the academy was short on supplies and only offered beer. Sun Miaomiao, a pampered daughter from a wealthy family, found the bitter taste of the beer unpalatable—like drinking urine. Song Man poured two glasses of wine, didn’t immediately offer them, gently swirled them a few times, and set them aside to rest. She first walked over to Sun Miaomiao, gently pressing on her thighs, shoulders, and arms, confirming that they were soft and relaxed, before returning to her desk and sitting down. While swirling her red wine glass, she asked, “Have you ever had intimate relations with the Prime Immortal?” Sun Miaomiao was lucky not to have been drinking—otherwise, she would have choked and sprayed wine everywhere. “You—you’re making up something! We’re just ordinary friends.” After all, she was still a young woman and hadn’t yet grown comfortable discussing such topics. Song Man nodded with a look of sudden understanding. “Ah, I see. The Prime Immortal is a pure, celibate type—so my previous strategy was off. Oh well, Zhao the City Guardian is also quite admirable, but he too is a celibate. What a Sun Miaomiao widened her eyes: "Did you somehow develop a relationship with the two of them?" Song Man sipped her red wine, chuckled lightly: "When you see attractive, handsome men, don't you find yourself drawn to them? Yuan Shenshi and Zhao Chenghuang are both outstanding talents among the younger generation—probably still virgins themselves. Sleeping with either of them would be incredibly fulfilling. Unfortunately, both of them are quite restrained." Sun Miaomiao rolled her eyes. Unconsciously, she thought of the flower prince from Taimei Sect—the gatekeeper's heir, also a beast king, just as eager for reproduction as Song Man herself. "Uan Ting said it was your messy personal life that led to your assignment to Qinfeng College?" Sun Miaomiao asked, sipping the red wine offered by Song Man. Song Man glanced at her. "Just stay away from Uan Ting—his gossip tendencies aren't exactly beneficial." She paused, her eyes glistening with warmth, and smiled, saying, "When I was younger, I thought it was a great honor when a man fought for me, got jealous of me. But later, when conflicts arose, they ended up fighting fiercely behind the scenes—one died, the other was severely wounded. The one who was seriously injured was sentenced to death by headquarters, and that's why I was assigned here." Sun Miaomiao nodded, murmuring, "Oh." As she looked at this vibrant, free-spirited teacher, though smiling, she could see a deep sense of regret and self-blame in her eyes. She remained silent, choosing not to speak or criticize. The two of them chatted easily, and the wine in their glasses was soon finished. Song Man set down her high-footed glass and smiled, "Headquarters sends a batch of supplies every month—mostly grown and produced within the spiritual realm. This bottle of wine costs me half a month's salary, so I can only offer you half a glass. You'll be leaving tomorrow morning. You don't seem like the kind of person who'd kill without hesitation... Well, it doesn't matter to me now." At that moment, a knock sounded at the door A man's voice came from the entrance. Song Man furrowed her brows, glanced at Sun Miao Miao, and then twisted her waist toward the door, turning the handle with a crisp click. Sun Miao Miao was in the bedroom, unable to see the scene at the foyer, only hearing Song Man's conversation with the man: "How did you come? I'm on duty watching over Sun Miao Miao tonight—I simply don't have the energy to spend time with you." "It's the last night. Won't you let yourself be indulged one more time, Teacher?" Song Man's lover? Which male student... Sun Miao Miao found the name familiar, though she couldn't quite recall who it was—after all, she had minimal interaction with the male students. Except for the ones from the underground chamber team. "That won't do at all..." Song Man's voice had just begun when it abruptly stopped. Sun Miao Miao heard a muffled gasp, followed by a sound of someone falling. Her heart quickened, and then she saw a figure walk in. "Are you?" Sun Miao Miao recognized the person, her expression shifting slightly. ... Room 612. Tianxia Guihuo stepped on the chest of San Yang Kai Tai, his palm spewing out blazing red fire, cutting off the last of his legs. Zhao Chenghuang silently gathered his props, while Zhang Yuanqing stood there, barehanded. The battle ended instantly—facing three combined attacks, the wounded mountain deity had barely any strength to defend himself and was swiftly subdued. Tianxia Guihuo, resolute and merciless, immediately reduced San Yang Kai Tai to a mere staff. "If you weren't a warrior clad in armor, Yuan Shi Tianzun would have provided you with life essence to heal your wounds. But, I think that's unnecessary," Tianxia Guihuo pointed his flaming blade at San Yang Kai Tai's throat. "I'm certain of it now!" The phrase "You've finally arrived" that San Yang Kai Tai had uttered earlier had confirmed Tianxia Guihuo's identification of his identity. The Red Flame Separation Blade—well done, really. Just a few days ago, he's already mastered that spell. Though he's considered a disgrace to the fire masters, his talent is nothing short of extraordinary. Zhang Yuanqing shifted his gaze from the flame blade to San Yang Kai Tai, saying, "What would you like to say?" The ghostly face broke into a wide grin, coldly laughing: "You're all doomed. Once the master retrieves that armor set, everyone will die." ... Teacher's dormitory. Sun Miaomiao stared in astonishment at the man before her, saying, "You are the Armor Person, one of the Night Rose members." The man had a refined appearance, composed and serious, with a strong, masculine aura—typical of a young special forces soldier—exactly the demeanor of a swordsman. It was Ren Junzi. A slight upward curve formed at Ren Junzi's lips: "Surprised? Of course you are. To you, the most suspicious person should be the 'Three Yangs Open the Lady.'" "What's the 'Three Yangs Open the Lady'? I don't understand what you're talking about," Sun Miaomiao said, retreating toward the window, her eyes frequently scanning the melancholy night outside. "You want the treasures from the underground palace, right? Yes, they're all on me. If you kill me, everything will return to the Spirit Realm—then you'll get nothing. And what about Song Wan? What have you done to her?" "I only knocked her out. The Beast King has the ability to rise from the dead; killing her would have delayed matters." Ren Junzi smiled. "Are you waiting for your companions? Yes, by choosing to surrender, you're aiming to draw me out. I'll guess how many companions you have—Yuanshi Tianzun, certainly. Hmm, also Xiahou Aotian, Zhao Chenguang, and the one from the realm of Fire." Sun Miao Miao stared at him in astonishment. "You—you know all of this?" "Only found out this afternoon," Ren Junzi indicated his ears, and chuckled. "As soon as I confirmed Yuanshi Tianzun and you, I could piece together the rest. I'm a swordsman—details invisible to others are clear to me, like the earbuds." Sun Miao Miao felt her heart sink. Indeed, as Ren Junzi said, "Your companions won't be coming. Their stationed spiritual servants have already been recalled." Sun Miao Miao was both astonished, puzzled, and bewildered. Ren Jun Zi pulled out a golden compass from his pocket and said, "Under the rules, no one can stand against us. You should be curious about how I influenced the Director and you." As he turned the compass toward Sun Miao Miao, she focused intently and read the following message on the compass face: 【Prophecy: Due to the unusual behavior of San Yang Kai Tai during the day, Yuan Shi Tian Zun suspects he is a Kailia Person. He has decided to attack San Yang Kai Tai, together with Xia Hou Ao Tian, Tian Xia Gui Huo, and Zhao Cheng Huang, at 11:50 tonight. To ensure the success of the attack, they will give it their full commitment.】 What kind of tool is this? Is it this very item that allowed him to influence the Director and me? Sun Miao Miao read the message, her heart sinking once again. It now made perfect sense why Ren Jun Zi had mentioned that the spiritual servants had been recalled—they were fully committed to launching their attack on San Yang Kai Tai. Ren Junzi, possessing the gift of insight, noticed her anxiety and confusion, yet offered no explanation. He turned and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, saying, "It's just past midnight—do you know why I chose this time? Because I've used up all my prophetic predictions from yesterday." He gazed intently at the golden compass, then declared, "Today's first prophecy: Sun Miao-miao, to save her life, will surrender everything she has obtained inside the stone gate." The previous prophecy vanished, replaced by the new one. Holding the golden compass in one hand and lifting Sun Miao-miao's jaw with the other, Ren Junzi murmured, "Such a lovely woman—when I secure the armor and retrieve the remaining items from Yuan Shi Tian Zun and the others, I'll return to claim you." With a swift downward stroke of his fingertip, his sword energy severed the vine. He had no concern that Sun Miao-miao might betray him; even after the vines were released, she remained weak. At this close range, a swordmaster could easily dispatch her. Moreover, his prophecy did not violate the five conditions. Once the prophecy stands, no one in the Sage stage can violate it—this is the rule. In Sun Miaomiao’s eyes, there was both fear and trust; she seemed firmly convinced that as long as she surrendered her armor and the banner of summoning spirits, Ren Junzi would surely spare her. She reached out, grasping in the air and drawing forth a long black banner veiled in cold qi, a full-body armor of blood-red hue radiating a sharp, ominous aura, and a soft, slightly droopy little red hat. More than one set of armor? Ren Junzi’s eyes sparkled with surprise and eager anticipation, and without hesitation, he reached out to grasp the three items. Suddenly, while still in a state of exhilaration, he noticed the carpet by his side subtly settling, as if someone had stepped upon it. His focus on the treasures and his excitement had momentarily dulled his reaction. The very next moment, a sharp pain surged in his chest, intense and sudden, sending him flying like a kite with the string severed—crashing into the wall beside him. His compass slipped from his hands and flew out. "Wu~" A piercing wind howled inside the room, followed by two sharp thuds as intangible wind blades surged forth, slicing through his legs and cleaving the walls. Blood instantly stained the pristine white walls. Ren Junzi could hardly believe his eyes, lifting his head to see a figure now standing where he had just been. Elegant, youthful, with a vibrant energy radiating from his features and a subtle undercurrent of irritation. The Prime Immortal? "How is this possible? You—!" Ren Junzi was stunned, his body softening as he slid against the wall and collapsed. He lost his combat ability almost instantly. "Your legs are severed—no matter what night-wanderer gear you wear, you won't escape. And just to be safe, I'll cut your hands too." Zhang Yuanqing extended both hands, each adorned with blue gloves. Another gust of wind howled, and then Ren Junzi watched as both hands detached from his wrists. He felt dizzy, his vision blurring. "How could you be here? You couldn't possibly have broken the prophecy—it's a rule!" Ren Junzi lifted his head, beads of cold sweat glistening on his pale face. You have rules; I have cause and effect! Zhang Yuanqing smiled dryly. "Since I now know you can influence people, I'm certainly going to be on my guard. As for why I'm here—well, that's simply because I guessed you were the Armor Person." As he had said, knowing that the Armor Person could "influence" their targets naturally required proactive precautions. Zhang Yuanqing's method of defense was to create duplicates using the Yashima Mirror, then clothe himself in flawless human form—thus transferring the original's cause-and-effect chain to the duplicates, rendering himself immune to influence. "You guessed it was me?" Ren Junzi's expression tightened. "It's impossible. You couldn't have known. You were clearly aware of the cost of using the magic mirror, and the fact that San Yang survived—that's the biggest flaw." "Ah, so you were also aware of this—then it all makes sense," Zhang Yuanqing realized. "Therefore, the matter is confirmed. So, indeed, Mo Pan did reach out to San Yang, but you influenced him, didn't you?" "You only decided to kill San Yang and open the way to the lady after learning of the price the magic mirror would demand. Ah, the magic mirror is right—this person has not even a single 'er' in his speech, truly blessed with thin fortune. You're doing well by setting yourself up with a safety net: should your own identity ever come under threat, you can shift the blame onto him, send him out to draw attention. But you still left one flaw. What flaw?" Li Renjun, losing too much blood, was beginning to feel dizzy, yet still held her ground with a sense of determination, asking with a sense of unresolved frustration. "Xia Chao Xue is your greatest flaw," Zhang Yuanqing said. "Although we ourselves made two missteps—mistaking the head nurse and the little rabbit staff for being complicit—we did confirm one thing: neither Zhu Mingxu nor Xia Chao Xue revealed the affair. Then how did the armored figure learn of this? I've been pondering this question all day until Red Chicken brother mentioned the guest list from that evening's dining event, and only then did I realize—it was you all along." Zhu Mingxu seduced Xia Chaixue—she accepted the relationship passively, and surely harbors resentment, which will inevitably surface in subtle ways. Others may not notice the connection between Zhu Mingxu and Xia Chaixue, but you likely do, as a scout, someone especially adept at observation. Coming to the organization with a mission, you’ve always been particularly attentive to the students’ movements from the very beginning. "We can only go with the flow, creating a false impression of sexual assault to mislead us. By the way, wasn't the crime scene outside the dormitory?" Ren Junzi remained silent for a moment, then offered a wan smile: "Kill me now." "No, I won't kill you," Zhang Yuanqing said coldly. "You have a device capable of erasing a spirit, haven't you? If I kill you, how will I be able to question the spirit? Ren Junzi, you are my first person to successfully take over my body." Ren Junzi's face paled, yet with both arms and legs severed, he could not even manage to commit suicide. Zhang Yuanqing then activated his spiritual journey, allowing his spirit to exit and collide with the center of Ren Junzi's forehead.