Fu Qingyang lifted his gaze and saw that Yuan Shi was holding a pure black cloak, embroidered with golden cloud patterns—elegant, refined, and rich in texture. Simply in terms of its stylish, sophisticated design, it immediately caught the eye of the meticulous Qian Gongzi. "Armor?" It made sense that Yuan Shi wanted to gift it to himself—defense was indeed the weakest point for swordsmen. Yet, judging by Qian Gongzi's discerning taste, across the spiritual realm, the strongest defensive profession was the earth-based monster, and among equipment, armor held the highest status, followed by sturdy protective gear such as Yuan Shi's own heart-plate shield. While this cloak certainly stood out in appearance, its design suggested it wasn't particularly strong in defense—beyond defense, it likely had other functions as well. As he thought this, Fu Qingyang turned his gaze upward to his trusted aide. Yuan Shi's expression… He paused. A mix of playfulness, confidence, slight awkwardness, and a subtle undercurrent of condescension—seeming to be patiently waiting for Fu Qingyang to stumble. Before the scout, Zhang Yuanqing's subtle intentions were as obvious as lice on a bald man's head. Fu Qingyang turned his gaze to the elegant cloak, his expression now serious. He knew Yuan Shi well—he could see that this young man's demeanor was anything but friendly, which meant the cloak in his hands was no ordinary item, but held special significance. Fu Qingyang sat up straight, took the cloak, and remained silent for several seconds until the item's attributes appeared. First, he saw the words "Court Swordmaster's Cloak," and instantly understood—it was a piece of equipment tailored for scouts, which explained why Yuan Shi had chosen to give it to him. After skimming the item description, he fixed his eyes on the [Notes], where his pupils suddenly narrowed dramatically. ——All skills of Scout, Swordmaster, and Mechanic are boosted by 40%. As the eldest son of the Fu family, a well-known figure in the community, and a senior official with high standing, Fu Qingyang had seen countless treasures—ranging from the fragments of the Light Compass to Yuan Shi's own premium item, which could take three distinct forms. Fu Qingyang also felt quite pleased. Yet at this moment, holding the cloak in his hands, his heartbeat could no longer be contained. This was a relic that had driven every scout across the world mad. It was a tool that could dramatically boost his combat power in the short term, enabling him to compete directly with seasoned Dominators—indeed, even reach the level of a semi-divine being, with continuous enhancement. Though not a rule-based item, it possessed many functions that no rule-based item could match. With a 40% skill boost, combined with his near-philosophical mastery of his cutting techniques, he was confident that, in time, he would be able to outperform the ten seasoned elders at headquarters. Since his rise to fame, Fu Qingyang had not experienced the exhilaration of "acquiring a divine artifact" for a long, long time. Then Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat and said, "Boss, don't you think this item is great? When I gave it to Guan Ya, should I take this opportunity to ask you for a proposal?" The room suddenly fell silent. …Fu Qingyang spoke calmly, “Don’t mention that useless thing—she doesn’t deserve this item.” With lightning speed, he folded the cloak into his inventory. Zhang Yuanqing smiled, “Congratulations, boss—your acquisition of the divine artifact is well earned.” Upon hearing this, Fu Qingyang’s stern expression softened into a gentle smile, “The value of this item is incalculable. I’ll have ‘You Have the Phoenix Arrive’ provide an estimated price. As for what you’d like, feel free to name it…” Before he could finish, Zhang Yuanqing interrupted, “This isn’t a transaction.” Fu Qingyang was momentarily taken aback. Zhang Yuanqing said firmly, “This is a gift from me to the boss. It’s not a transaction, so no return is required.” Fu Qingyang gazed deeply into his eyes, and in that moment, he saw only genuine emotion and sincere goodwill. “Very well!” he lowered his gaze and nodded. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing smile, and then produced another scroll, saying, “I obtained this from the underground palace—it feels particularly suited for the boss.” Fu Qingyang looked closely and saw, on the ancient cover, classical Chinese characters reading: "The Art of Sword Mastery." A treatise collected by the First Emperor must have been the most advanced sword technique of its time. Fu Qingyang's eyes lit up as he took the scroll and began to read, his gaze bright and engaged. Zhang Yuanqing, now at ease, said, "Then I'll go back and prepare my report." "Wait," Fu Qingyang said, lowering his gaze to read the scroll, "there's one point in your account that remains unclear." "Where?" Zhang Yuanqing was surprised. "The core mechanism that controls the army of terracotta warriors hasn't been found," Fu Qingyang explained. The army of terracotta warriors differs from the ones stationed on the steps and outside the Palace of Immortality—the latter have souls, while the former do not. Without souls, such objects are mere inanimate matter and cannot maintain disciplined, coordinated combat. Zhang Yuanqing quickly recalled, then frowned, "Indeed, we haven't identified the core mechanism. Perhaps it's the spiritual realm that has granted them a special quality?" Fu Qingyang shook his head, "That's possible, but one thing is certain—your account is sound I recommend you notify your companions at the moment and have them check their own bodies." It sounds just like a horror film... Zhang Yuanqing murmured under his breath, nodded in agreement, and then vanished into a dreamlike stream of starlight. As soon as Zhang had gone, Fu Qingyang eagerly unfolded the court swordmaster's cloak with a rustle and draped it over his shoulders. At that instant, he clearly sensed a tremendous surge in his strength—his internal sword energy stirred vigorously, almost overflowing from within. His insight, steel resolve, stamina, agility, sword mastery, and puppet control—all his active and passive skills—had all been elevated. This power felt so vivid, so profound. The cost of the cloak was "focus"—once he wore it, he could no longer use tools from other professions. Yet for Fu Qingyang, this purity was exactly what he desired. It aided his swordcraft practice. Wearing the cloak, Fu Qingyang walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, where the smooth glass mirrored his upright silhouette. He gazed at himself in the mirror—dressed in white like snow, his cloak as black as ink, golden thread patterns flowing gracefully, his beauty striking and commanding. The more he looked, the more he admired him. This would be the foundation upon which he refined his sword techniques and aspired to claim the headquarters. Fu Qingyang opened his arms, adopting a posture of embracing the world. At that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of grandeur. Suddenly, a dreamlike streak of starlight rose from the study. Fu Qingyang's gesture froze instantly. "Ah, this...," Zhang Yuanqing watched Fu Qingyang, now looking rather awkward, wondering if he had arrived at the wrong time, and cautiously asked, "I just wanted to check where Guan Ya is." He thought of his girlfriend. "...Fu Qingyang gritted his teeth, 'You must knock before entering the room!' ..." In the dimly lit chamber, the Grand Guardian, clad in black robes, sat cross-legged. Before him stood a circular array inscribed with spiritual scrolls, adorned with constellations of the zhou tian sky, giving the impression that the entire night sky had been etched onto the floor. Beneath the broad black robe, two withered hands gently pressed down. The brilliant stellar energy flowed into the circular array. Instantly, the stars within the array radiated a clear, bright glow, coating the dim chamber with a layer of silver frost. The celestial constellations swiftly rotated within the array before settling into a complex, intricate pattern—unfathomable, incomprehensible. "There is no cause..." a hoarse voice emerged from beneath the hood. The senior guardian had been divining the chain of causes leading to Ren Junzi's death. If the death were due to "wealth," the corresponding stars would manifest changes; for any other reason, similar shifts would occur. Yet the current stellar pattern offered no such indications. Ren Junzi's death had been natural, seamless, and unremarkable. After a moment of silence, the senior guardian pulled out her phone and dialed. "Senior Guardian, what is your instruction?" The call was answered promptly. "Retrieve the current training roster of Qin Feng Academy, monitor their recent activities, and await my further orders." "Master Grand Protector said that the purpose of Ren Junzi's killing of students at Qin Feng Academy remains unclear. The art of observing the stars provides no answer—there is no evident reason, which means the reason could be any one of several possibilities, including that some of the students have completed hidden tasks. With only a limited number of students in this batch, the matter is quite manageable to investigate. Of course, Master Grand Protector still cannot be certain that Ren Junzi killed the official students specifically because of the hidden tasks; otherwise, it would not merely be a matter of attention, but rather a direct capture." "Yes!" came a respectful reply from the other end of the phone. ... The Capital City. Outside the city, Fenglin Mountain. Extensive groves of maple trees line the outer perimeter of the mountain, turning golden and crimson in autumn. Tourists from outside the city and locals from the capital enjoy hiking and sightseeing during the clear, crisp autumn season. However, few venture deep into the mountain, so they rarely see the original forest that covers the interior terrain. Within this original forest lies a magnificent estate known as the Hundred Flowers Manor, featuring grand, glass-enclosed buildings and marble-clad villas. From a high vantage point, this stylish ensemble of buildings resembles an ecological research institute nestled deep within a jungle. Baihua Villa is the residence of the Grand Elder of the Baihua Assembly and the family's home base. It was here, during her early years, that Miao Teng'er and her plump, breathtakingly beautiful mother were imprisoned for a full year. Originally, the site was merely a typical wilderness until the Grand Elder chose a random spot to rest—by chance, she settled here. After sleeping for six months, the Grand Elder awoke to find the entire area transformed into a dense forest comparable to a tropical rainforest. Inside the estate, beneath a towering pine tree, Yun Zhongzi gently holds a handful of corn grains in her palm, feeding two small squirrels with focused attention. Behind her, her assistant in a tailored suit with a tie presents a detailed account of the investigation into the Qin Feng Academy incident. Wearing a loose, flowing green robe with her hair tied in a flowing braid, Yun Zhongzi has a refined, handsome face, delicate skin, and a composed, mature demeanor—her presence evoking that of a well-established Taoist sage in the midst of the vast, verdant wilderness. He is the son of the Grand Elder of the Hundred Blossom Assembly and the paternal uncle of Ling Jun and Miao Teng'er. "Stop," Cloud Zhongzi gently rubbed the little squirrel's head, saying, "Focus on the report submitted by the Songhai Branch and the feedback from the Grand Elder of the Taiyuan Gate." "The report from the Songhai Branch is the same as that of the other students. As for the Grand Elder, it has been confirmed—the armor was indeed given to Sun Miao-miao to save her life." The assistant replied. Cloud Zhongzi nodded softly, his tone calm: "Inform Ling Jun to keep a close eye on Yuan Shi Tian Zun; the rest can be ignored." The assistant furrowed her brow: "What have you noticed?" "Within Qin Feng Academy, only the hidden missions capture the interest of the Night Rose. By centering on this, one can deduce why Ren Junzi killed the students." Cloud Zhongzi smiled. "Now, think again—why did Yuan Shi Tian Zun himself kill Ren Junzi?" "You mean Master Yuan Shishen is at the academy... That's impossible. He couldn't possibly have the key to open the stone gate." The assistant is also a senior official from the Hundred Blossoms Association. "It's just a suspicion. If I had solid evidence, I'd have already gone to Songhai and intercepted that young man. So I've assigned Ling Jun to keep an eye on things." Yun Zhongzi had finished feeding the last kernel of corn into his hand, then turned around and said, "This matter doesn't need to be widely publicized. We'll simply assign someone else to the academy. Send the white ape from the back mountain to the Hundred Beasts Island." "Understood." ... The protagonist's team, advancing steadily. [Sun Miaomiao: Just now, representatives from the Five Elements Alliance headquarters came to consult. My grandfather took on the task of defeating the ten-thousand-person army, and I believe there won't be any further issues. ] [Tianxia Guihuo: The organizational pressure can be set aside—they won't take any action without concrete evidence. What I'm worried about is the Night Rose.] 】 The Night Rose has sent Ren Junzi into the academy to seize treasures from the underground palace. Now that Ren Junzi has been killed, any senior leader with a clear mind should immediately wonder if someone else has already claimed the prize. After all, if Ren Junzi came away empty-handed, he would have likely continued to remain hidden and eventually left the academy. 【Xia Hou Aotian: Let me think a moment... Yes, the Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Sun Miao Miao are in danger—but not directly related to us three.】 【Zhao Chenghuang: There aren't many students. With the most basic elimination method, you're not safe at all.】 【Yuan Shi Tian Zun: @Sun Miao Miao, received. All of you, let's temporarily set aside the Night Rose matter. Something seems very odd—the massive army of soldiers we encountered in the underground palace—hasn't we found the core that controls them? I suggest we go see the elders and investigate this matter as soon as possible.】 【Zhao Chenghuang: I just met with my grandfather.】 【Sun Miao Miao: My grandfather is right here.】 【Tian Xia 】 【Xiahou Aotian: ……Master Yuanshishen, don’t scare me. Based on my analysis, the special qualities of the military terracotta figures might originate from the Spiritual Realm.】 】 【Master Yuanshishen: @Sun Miaomiao, my little darling, could you ask your grandfather if he’d be willing to sell me the secret teachings of the Taiyuan Sect? I’d like to specialize in the Yin energy path.】 : 【Sun Miaomiao: Master Yuanshishen, you make me feel so awkward. We’re not even particularly close, so why do you have to use such an oddly affectionate and awkward title? (disappointed)】 #Sun Miaomiao exits the group chat# 【Master Yuanshishen: Just a joke—why are you reacting this way? Is she perhaps on some strange medication?】 He had hoped, given his good relationship with Sun Miaomiao, to casually request the secret teachings of the Taiyuan Sect for his primary focus—what could be better?—yet received such a response. Xiahou Aotian replied with a string of cheerful “hahahaha” expressions, while Zhao Chenghuang With the Jade Dragon in hand, it's time to return to the High Heaven Origin. Perhaps I should also formally lodge a complaint—this woman clearly knows of the Huang Wang's existence yet deliberately acts as if she doesn't. The message goes unanswered. Zhang Yuanqing checks Xiao Yuan's profile again and notices she hasn't replied either. What's going on today? She's ignoring me completely. With a firm bite of his teeth and a steady heart, Zhang Yuanqing sends a message to the King of Fear: "I didn't know you were originally from the Five Elements Alliance. How did you transition from a swordsman to a charmer of the spirit realm?" After sending it, he adds a follow-up: "Of course, whether or not you choose to answer is entirely up to you." The King of Fear reads this instantly and replies: "To you, this information is far too advanced. Focus on saving the Magic Eye—don't expect me to answer your questions." Zhang Yuanqing hesitates, then sends another message: "I once saw a pair of eyes in a battle arena encounter—eyes of the charmer of the spirit realm. I nearly transformed into one myself." He sent this message not to make himself look foolish, but to exchange information with the King of Fear. A shift from Lawful to Chaotic is unprecedented—this alone may hold immense significance. [King of Fear: You know quite a bit.] [King of Fear: Hm, if you were to become a Charmer, the Magi's eyes would be so delighted they'd advance three levels. I chose to become a Charmer because my character card was replaced—though "replaced" might not be entirely accurate; it was actually swapped out. Of course, this shift largely reflects a change in my own mindset.] [Primordial Sovereign: Can a character card actually be swapped out?] That statement carries a lot of information—how can Order and Chaos remain stable if character cards can be swapped? [King of Fear: Character cards can indeed be swapped, but only from Lawful to Chaotic. Chaotic cannot be converted back to Lawful. It's like water: you can pour ink into it to make it murky, but you can't pour the ink back out.] If I say we can use a water purification system, will King of Fear himself come flying over to beat me up? Zhang Yuanqing said this in a teasing tone, diffusing the intense shock the news had caused. [King of Fear: The existence of the character card serves as protection for the spiritual realm travelers and is also the spiritual realm's self-defense mechanism.] This statement stirred tremendous waves within Zhang Yuanqing's mind.