"This seems to be a parasitic spirit beast of considerable intelligence," Tianxia Guihuo observed the grotesque ghostly face, turning to Zhao Chenguang, saying, "I didn't know the Three Yangs had passed away so long ago. This spirit beast clearly possesses intelligence and seems to have gathered quite a bit of information. You might consider devouring its spiritual essence." Zhao Chenguang drew a brief smile: "Devouring such impure spiritual bodies only accelerates my own madness. Try that with Wenshi Tianzun." He turned to the bare-handed Wenshi Tianzun, "After all, you're merely a duplicate." Once the prophecy concluded, the influence of the rules faded. After the duplicate tore off the flawless human skin, he had finally realized—he wasn't the true body. "What's wrong with being a duplicate? Duplicates don't even have basic rights," Zhang Yuanqing spat, splashing water all over him. "My true form is already taking over the armored human. You're just waiting for him to return so you can share the intel." Indeed... Tianxia Guihuo and Zhao Chenguang exchanged glances. The former paused, then glanced at the human skin, asking, " "Hehe, the mountain dweller has a clever plan of his own—don't ask, for asking won't get you any answers," Zhang Yuanqing said. "Who is the armored one? Is it Ren Junzi?" Tian Xia Gui asked again. "I won't tell you," the duplicate replied. This duplicate was just as irksome as the original... the thought crossed Zhao Chenguang and Tian Xia Gui's minds simultaneously. "You—what are you talking about? What's the original? What's the duplicate?" The grotesque ghost face on the back sensed something was amiss. "Since neither of you is consuming it, then keeping it serves no purpose," Tian Xia Gui said, his gaze cold, as he pressed the crimson flame blade against the protruding flesh of the ghost face and drove it downward. A piercing, agonizing cry erupted, black smoke surged forth, and a foul, charred odor filled the air—the grotesque face turned to ash. … When a person is nearing death, their spiritual energy weakens along with their physical body, but Ren Junzi's spiritual form remained as solid and unyielding as a piece of steel. Firm, refined, resistant to digestion. Even as it weakened, the steel-like resolve of The difficulty of taking over a living body far exceeds that of consuming the lingering spirits after death. "You won't succeed in taking over my body. I've received blessings from the Senior Guardian—your spirit-feeding technique will be ineffective. You won't get a single word of information!" Resonating with intense emotional fluctuations, Ren Junzi's spiritual form conveyed strong resistance. Indeed, as Zhang Yuanqing began to consume the spirit, a bright, luminous beam of moonlight suddenly emerged from within Ren Junzi's spiritual form, gradually expanding and supporting his spiritual body. Stimulated, Zhang Yuanqing's spiritual form then burst forth with even stronger moonlight, and in the sky, a faint outline of a black circular moon began to take shape. This black moon was hazy and indistinct—matching the essence of the black moon described in the character card—but appeared to be a projection. It seems the black moon has begun to blend with my spiritual form; its projection has followed my body here... Zhang Yuanqing wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried. The luminous moonlight within Ren Junzi's spiritual form instantly dissolved, and with it, his very will was erased. Because upon death, the spirits did not fade—instead, memories surged in, vast and fragmented, like tidal waves continuously washing over Zhang Yuanqing’s spiritual body. Amidst these fragmented scenes, Zhang Yuanqing gradually uncovered the information he sought. In addition to the above information, Zhang Yuanqing also observed many private details about Jun Zizi. For instance, during his commute home from work, a golden compass shattered the car window and fell into the cabin. He is an orphan who grew up in a secret training camp nestled deep within a dense forest. The instructors at the camp tailored their training programs according to each trainee's personality and strengths—those who were impulsive became more so; those who were reserved grew even more reserved; and those who were calm remained steadily so. The training focused on developing combat skills, resilience, and reasoning abilities, gradually guiding each trainee toward their respective professional paths. A small portion of these trainees received character cards and became Journeyers of the Spiritual Realm. After receiving blessings from the Grand Protector, these Journeyers were assigned to official departments and integrated into the noble families of the Spiritual Realm. A portion also remained in civilian life, operating under various identities, building networks with official Journeyers and descendants of noble families, and gradually cultivating them into members of the Night Rose. Indeed, he also harbors recent memories of plotting against Xia Xiao-xue, Lin Su, and the wife of San Yang Kai. Using the fragments of the compass, Ren Junzi secretly orchestrated the downfall of the wife of San Yang Kai, implanting a parasitic spirit beast within him, thus transforming him into a trusted ally. When he anticipated the Tiger King’s entry into the library during their battle yesterday, he deliberately allowed the wife of San Yang Kai to be severely wounded by the Tiger King, then dragged her out of the library, handing over the compass fragments to her and urging her to make a prophecy, while himself charging into the library to fight and demonstrate his innocence. This was a calculated move to expose the wife of San Yang Kai’s vulnerabilities, sparking suspicion among Yuan Shi Tian Zun, after which he used the compass’s prophecy to reveal the actions of the four of them tonight, while himself secretly launching an attack on Sun Miao-miao. In the memory scenes, he also vividly recounts his passionate moments with Teacher Song Wan. Not long after, Zhang Yuanqing withdrew from Wen Ling. He pressed his forehead, his temples pulsing with pain, his face alternating between joy and sorrow, twisting and shifting in expression. It took a long time to suppress the negative effects of the Spirit-Eating, and he sensed a slight enhancement in the Yin energy within him. ——The Break-Sickness Seal: use one less each time, and if he can endure it on his own, try to avoid using it altogether. "Phew~" Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a long breath, then bent down to pick up the golden compass that had fallen to the ground. After carefully reviewing the item details, although he had already learned its function through Ren Junzi's memories, he still grimaced: "Truly extraordinary—unfortunately, it's only a Saint-level item, and it doesn't have any effect on a Sovereign." If it were a Sovereign-level item, that would be a real breakthrough. "The legendary fragments of the Light Compass—was that the会长 who originally secured them? Hmm, let me think—did he keep them for himself or hand them over?" Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. He actually preferred to hand the compass over to the headquarters in exchange for benefits. Given the turmoil Ren Junzi had caused, it would inevitably reach the headquarters, and it would be difficult to conceal the golden compass. He would have to provide an official explanation at some The abbot is still offering a reward for the missing props—perhaps he can secure a top-tier item from him. Yet the reason for Ren Junzi's entry into Qin Feng Academy remains concealed; when headquarters asks, he simply says he has no knowledge of it, and thus, he is an innocent victim. Should they inquire, "Did you not possess the ability to consume spiritual essence?" he will respond that Ren Junzi has a means to erase a spirit's form, resulting in complete disintegration of the soul at the moment of death. Gently holding the golden compass in his hands, Zhang Yuanqing recalled his father's legacy—suspecting it might be fragments of the luminous compass, though lacking concrete evidence. He decided to keep them safe, to consult with the Palace Master and Fu Qingyang upon departure from the spiritual realm, before deciding whether to submit the fragments or retain them personally. Zhang Yuanqing then stored the compass in his inventory. Next, he pondered the information gathered regarding the acquisition of spiritual essence. A particular remark from the senior guardian on the phone had caught his attention: "The leader's long-held aspiration may well be fulfilled by you." "The hidden quest of Qin Feng Academy is well known among many, yet the leader of the Night Rose seems to be aware of something in the underground palace—otherwise, how could there be the concept of 'a long-held aspiration'? This is puzzling, as the palace has never been opened, and the senior management of the Hundred Flowers Society remains unaware of what lies within." "The leader of Night Rose likely doesn't know—perhaps there's another possibility: maybe the 'long-held aspiration' is simply a desire to enter the hidden quest of Qin Feng Academy?" Just like Fu Qingyang. Fu Qingyang had mentioned the hidden quest of Qin Feng Academy to him repeatedly, never letting it go, yet he was left with regret because he could no longer enter the academy. Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanqing's heart pounded with excitement. He imagined a scenario: what if, just what if, the leader of Night Rose had once entered Qin Feng Academy and stumbled upon the hidden quest? At that time, however, due to limited capabilities or lack of attention, the discovery had been overlooked. Years later, upon reflecting on it, he used his stargazing skills to deduce that there must be something exceptionally significant hidden within the underground palace of Qin Feng Only officially trained Spirit Realm travelers could enter Qin Feng Academy during its early stages. The leader of the Night Rose is an official—no, once was? Hmm, that thought is rather unsettling... "Once I step out of the academy and review the list of past entrants, my current assumption might not hold true, but it's certainly worth checking. The Night Rose has been bothering me repeatedly—investigating their leader is essential." Zhang Yuanqing thought. At that moment, Sun Miaomiao at the window called out, "What are you staring at? What information do you have from Ren Junzi's spirit body?" Zhang Yuanqing first folded up the little red hat and the "Ten Thousand Warriors" banner, then handed the Spirit Summoning Banner to Sun Miaomiao, preparing to explain the information when he heard Ms. Song Wan, at the entrance, emit a soft "yin ling" sound and slowly awakened. Her pupils lacked focus; she stood blankly for a few seconds before finally recalling the events before her unconsciousness, then suddenly sat up, summoned her weapon, and rushed into the room. Then there was Yuan Shi Tian Zun standing by the bed, Sun Miao Miao slumped on the consorts’ couch, and Ren Jun Zi dead against the wall. The room was filled with a strong scent of blood. "Yuan Shi Tian Zun? You…" Song Man looked vaguely at the corner of the room, "He…?" Her mind still felt a bit scattered—she only remembered Ren Jun Zi attacking her. "He's the armored one," Zhang Yuanqing said calmly. "In fact, he's a rather passionate lover. He intended to make advances on Miao Miao, and luckily I arrived just in time to save her. Miao Miao's backside was squeezed several times by him. When we report back to headquarters, Song Man will have to testify on our behalf." "Ren Jun Zi is the armored one?" Song Man gritted her white teeth. "That explains why I didn't think he was the killer. He managed to outmaneuver me just now—well, I did think he had a good bedside manner." You're such a female powerhouse, Song Man—she really matches well with Ling Jun. I'll introduce you two, and then you'll each have something to complain Approaching Lady Li's bed, he gently lifted Sun Miaomiao in his arms and said, "There will be no more danger now, Ms. Song. I'll take Miaomiao back first. You handle the bodies. In a few hours, we'll exit the quest—meet again when fate brings us together." Song Man was full of questions, but Zhang Yuanqing didn't give her a chance; he carried Sun Miaomiao out of the room. After leaving the girls' dormitory, Zhang Yuanqing headed straight toward the boys' dormitory. The moonlight was clear and bright, turning to frost upon the ground—yet no longer could he see the fresh, delicate flowers by the flowerbed. —All of them had been poisoned. Sun Miaomiao lay softly in Zhang Yuanqing's arms, her head tilted slightly, eyes gazing downward, appearing stiff and awkward, quite unnatural. "Have you never been held by a man?" Zhang Yuanqing asked her. "Hmph, you're quite a few years older than me—haven't you even met a boyfriend?" Sun Miaomiao was actually three years older than him, beautiful in appearance and from a distinguished family—she must have had plenty of suit "Pretty cute in appearance, but not at all cute in personality," Zhang Yuanqing gave her soft, supple buttocks a firm pinch. Sun Miao Miao had a youthful look—large eyes, round face, like a pure and fresh young girl—yet her figure was solid, with full, well-developed hips that carried the lushness of a mature woman, not that of a petite girl. She was a rare case of pure, unadulterated sensuality. "You—you—you!" Sun Miao Miao blushed, furiously declaring, "You wait until we exit the realm—I'll have Grandpa beat you to a pulp!" Still not satisfied, she reached out angrily to tear off the face of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. And was pinched again and again. ... Boys' dormitory, Room 508. Xia Hou Ao Tian's room. Zhang Yuanqing laid the soft, yielding Sun Miao Miao on the phoenix bed and settled beside her, then looked at his three companions and one duplicate, saying: "You must find my gaze a bit odd." Zhao Chenghuang and Tianxia Guihuo remained silent. Xia Hou Ao Tian frowned, "Oh, it was Miao Miao who was bothering me—after I saved her, she wanted to make a move, and I turned her down, hmph, never mind!" "Stuff it! You're the one who's been eating my tofu!" "You can't move yourself, blaming me?" Tianxia Guihuo interrupted impatiently: "Fine! I've no mood for your sweet talk. Hand me back the Ten-Thousand-Man Slayer." Zhang Yuanqing produced a dark-red full-body armor and tossed it down with a clatter. Sun Miao Miao stared at the renowned fire master's humiliation: "There was no sweet talk." Tianxia Guihuo huffed, swiftly retrieving the Ten-Thousand-Man Slayer while asking, "Didn't either of you think of asking Master Song Wan to help with the antidote? One wanted to be held, the other wanted to hold—what's so special about that?" Zhang Yuanqing and Sun Miao Miao both went silent. Seeing them remain quiet, Tianxia Guihuo sneered and chuckled. Indeed, Tianxia Guihuo was a master of fire, but a fire master wasn't particularly charming. Sun Miao M Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat: "The armored figure is Ren Junzi, whom I have already killed." He recounted the events, taking the human skin offered and then retrieving the eight-armed mirror to return his subsidiary form. "So it all makes sense," said Tian Xia Gui Huo, puzzled. "As for that compass artifact, what do you plan to do with it?" "It's most likely going to be submitted to headquarters—they won't be easy to deceive. I intend to consult with Elder Fu first," Zhang Yuanqing explained. "In the meantime, we'll gather testimonies to ensure headquarters doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary." "Actually, even if they notice, it won't matter much. They'll only suspect, not be able to verify whether the underground palace has ever been opened," said Zhao Chenguang. After finalizing a unified narrative, Zhang Yuanqing added: "I believe we should add one more layer of security—not out of distrust, but because caution ensures long-term safety." The group looked at him, slightly cautious, asking: "What kind of security?" "I have a clan mandate," Zhang Yuanqing said half-jokingly, half-seriously. "If you join my clan, members must not betray one another—otherwise, Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miao Miao will have their elders secretly assassinate us." "Then, material distribution won't require private meetings anymore; I'll simply place it in the clan warehouse, and you can claim it directly. The same goes for antiques—antiques will be auctioned off by Xia Hou Ao Tian, and the proceeds will be shared among all of us." The grassroots team, Grassroots to the World, immediately nodded in agreement. Sun Miao Miao rolled her eyes, showing no objection. Zhao Chenghuang paused and thought it over, concluding that the matter was fair. The clan mandate indeed enhances trust, and the basic functions of the initial mandate impose minimal additional restrictions on members. Xia Hou Ao Tian thought for a moment, then said with a sniff, "Fine. When I eventually receive the clan mandate, you'll all have to join my clan. I've already settled on the name—I'm calling it 'The Salvation Group.' Isn't that nice?" What a ridiculous name... the others thought internally. Immediately, a voice from the spiritual realm sounded: 【Ping! Yuan Shi Tian Zun has invited you to join the guild—The Return of the Departed!】 What a ridiculous name?! This thought surged again among the group. Xia Hou Ao Tian chuckled sarcastically: "Yuan Shi Tian Zun, your naming skills reveal that you're just a supporting character—after all, the real hero has to be me! Hahahaha!" Sun Miao Miao focused on a different point. She opened the member information, glanced at the spiritual realm ID, and furrowed her brows: "All female members…" She knew Xie Ling Xi and Shallow Ryō, but the one named Xiao Yuan was unfamiliar. It was unlikely that any man would name himself "Xiao Yuan." "None of your business," Zhang Yuan Qing was particularly resentful. Sun Miao Miao gritted her teeth: "Once the transaction is complete, I'll withdraw from the guild." Members could only leave passively; the guild leader could expel them. Xia Hou Ao Tian yawned: "If we leave by nine in the morning, we can still catch a nap. Everyone, go ahead and Zhao Chenghuang glanced at Sun Miao Miao, then at Zhang Yuanqing, and nodded to both of them. Hmm, maybe he's mistaken... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, turning to look, and found Sun Miao Miao equally embarrassed. "Are you going to drink the antidote yourself, or shall I use the Mountain God's staff to heal you, then carry you to rest, and while I'm at it, take you to bed and make a child of you?" Zhang Yuanqing teased. "Off you go, smelly rogue!" Sun Miao Miao still had her antidote pills, so she immediately pulled one out from her inventory and bit into it. Gradually, her limbs regained strength. She glared at the rogue Celestial Sovereign and dissolved into starlight. Zhang Yuanqing then star-darted off. Back in her room, the first thing that reached her ears was Red Chicken Brother's loud, snoring breath. He lay sprawled on the bed, mouth slightly open, snoring deeply. You two future wives—did you both divorce me because you couldn't stand the sound of my snoring? Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself, enduring the bothersome snoring as he climbed onto the bed Another seven hours and he would return to reality, with no time to savor the queen of the merfolk's little tiger teeth—what a truly stunning beauty, indeed, with few rivals in terms of appearance... He began to drift off to sleep. The next day, 9 a.m. Zhang Yuanqing, half-asleep, heard the familiar spiritual realm notification: 【Ping! Congratulations on completing the multi-player spiritual realm—Qin Feng Academy, ID: None, difficulty level: Unknown, rewards being settled...】 【Rewards being settled... Items/props obtained: None】 【Experience points awarded: 0%】 【Settlement complete. The spiritual realm will exit in thirty seconds.】