"Your elder brother, seventeen?" Hearing Ling Jun's words, Zhang Yuanqing's first reaction was, "How many siblings do you actually have? What's your rank among them?" The title of "seventeenth brother" sounded distinctly like something out of a Qing Dynasty imperial drama—Ling Jun's siblings seemed quite numerous indeed. Ling Jun paused thoughtfully and replied, "There were probably around a dozen before the founding of the country, and then fifty or sixty after—specific numbers have faded from memory. I rank forty-third among my siblings at home." Zhang Yuanqing was stunned. As a modern socialist successor and a well-educated youth with nine years of compulsory education, his mind simply couldn't process such an extraordinary fact. After a moment of silence, he murmured, "Really, you're a horse-breeder, aren't you?" He'd always heard Ling Jun refer to his father as a "horse-breeder," assuming it was a term of mockery or criticism—now he realized it was simply a statement of fact. "A horse-breeder is a machine that merely plants seeds—selecting women based solely on genes and talent, with no emotional connection at all. Isn't that exactly what a horse-breeder is?" When my mother married into the Taiyuan family, she was only 22, while he was already over 100 years old. If the law applied to half-gods, he'd have to eat over a hundred servings of roasted soybeans—since the wife he married could live in the entire Fu family village. Ling Jun spoke with clear disdain for his father. "That sounds quite admirable," Zhang Yuanqing said. "So does your father need to build a whole building for his harem?" "Not exactly. Though he has many wives, most of them have remarried." "What?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand. Ling Jun rolled his eyes. "He's a stallion, after all. A stallion's job is to breed and expand the herd. As for the women, once they give birth, whether they stay or leave doesn't matter to him. Even if some of them grow close to the gatekeeper, Mr. Qin, he doesn't care. As long as they bear children, he rarely sees them again." "Still, I think that's his one real strength—least he limits the women's freedom. They still live their own lives." "I was deeply shaken—what about your mother?" "My mother returned to the spiritual realm the year after I was born. Once she entered the realm of the copy, she never came back again." Ling Jun sighed. How come everyone around me has died—both parents gone—those who remain are even less fortunate than the ones who have passed away... Zhang Yuanqing was full of complaints. But then it struck him: if Ling Jun had both parents, Guan Ya wouldn't have described his childhood as tragic. As for the senior abbot from the Hundred Blossom Assembly, clearly he's not a wood spirit with a strong reproductive trait; otherwise, Ling Jun's cousin would have been living in this grand villa for years. Ling Jun shrugged, unconcerned: "Let's set my mother aside—I barely remember her. Now, about this 'stallion'—he was one of the first spiritual realm travelers, from the Republican era, and has lived for over a hundred years now. He's long since figured out the pattern of role card distribution. The higher the status, the greater the chance that their offspring will receive a role card." "Before the founding of the nation, his status wasn't quite so unattainable. After the founding, once he ascended to the rank of half-divine, he began rapidly multiplying his descendants—should you take the time to investigate, you'll find that every elder ancestor of the spiritual realm families has more than twenty descendants." So you've always been so devoted to family lineage, huh? Zhang Yuanqing was surprised. "Even that, your grandfather managed to marry off his daughter to the head of the Taiyi Sect?" "Isn't Guan Ya planning to marry into the Milu family?" Ling Jun scoffed. "Romance is something the middle-class indulges in—poor people can't afford it, and the elite don't even bother. Once you reach the rank of half-divine, there are so many noble heiresses in the Five Elements Alliance that you'll have no shortage of choices. Guan Ya will never be able to stop you." That makes sense. Once at the half-divine level, even if Guan Ya cuts me off completely, with my self-healing abilities, I can still establish myself independently. Zhang Yuanqing envisioned the self-healing capabilities of a half-divine and steered the "Li Jing expressed a sense of nostalgia, drifting into memory: 'He was the seventeenth son of my father after the founding of the nation—just like my old father, Ma La. When I was still young, he treated me exceptionally well. Unlike his siblings, he was calm, gentle, and fair, and the younger brothers and sisters greatly admired him. He would bring us gifts and often warn the older brothers, who tended to bully us.' 'He was my father's most gifted son born after the founding of the nation, and even at a young age, he had already become a dominant figure, standing on equal footing with the elders of Taiyuan Sect.' Zhang Yuanqing pondered, 'How old is he now? What is his Li Jing ID? What position does he currently hold?' The abbot of Taiyuan Sect was among the first Li Jing travelers, at least 130 years old. Even as the seventeenth son born after the founding of the nation, he would surely be considered a grandfather in age." —The Master of the Stallion Gate is entirely capable of having all his consorts conceive at the same time, with the first and the seventeenth son not necessarily being much older or younger. The逍遥Organization's slogan is a bit clichéd, and both Zhang Zizhen and Chu Shang are young enough to embrace it. The same goes for the Shadow Twin brothers—neither of them can be too old. After all, the ideal of saving the world would barely impress adults past their thirties, let alone seasoned elders. "His spiritual realm ID was Lingtuo. If he were still alive, he'd be in his late forties or early fifties," Ling Jun recalled, deeply moved by the early death of his brother. "If he hadn't passed away, he would have surely become the Grand Elder. Ah, I know you're wondering—why the seventeenth son since the founding of the nation? Because all the descendants before the founding have already passed away. Not everyone becomes a spiritual realm traveler, and among those who do, the mortality rate is even higher." "The Lingjing world needs to continuously produce new cultivators to maintain its population. Most of them remain ordinary people throughout their lives, while a smaller number become Lingjing cultivators. However, the mortality rate among Lingjing cultivators is extremely high, so they must constantly have children." "Dead? Zhang Yuanqing didn't pay attention to the latter part of the sentence. His pupils slightly contracted, and his heart raced. A thought flashed through his mind: It's him! The Shadow Night-Wanderer! Isn't it the elder brother of Ling Jun? Outstanding potential, relatively young, already at the peak of the Sovereign rank, with a strong sense of justice—perfectly matching the profile of the Night-Wanderer among the Shadow Twin. As the heir of the Taimei Sect, Ling Jun's elder brother has abundant resources—support in terms of cultivation strategies, equipment, and sect assistance—combined with his exceptional talent, making it entirely plausible that he reached the peak Sovereign rank so early. Have the Shadow Twin also met with misfortune? Zhang Yuanqing sighed. "Your 17th brother—when exactly did he pass away? What was the cause of death?" "Lin Jun gazed at him, furrowing his brows deeply: 'Do you suspect that Brother Seventeen is the Night Wanderer among the Shadow Twin?' Zhang Yuanqing nodded. To his surprise, it was the Shadow Night Stalker who was the first to fall. Then, in 2000, the Chu family was wiped out, and in 2006, his father returned to the spiritual realm. Zhang Yuanqing quickly clarified the timeline. Records show that after the competition for the Core Fragment of the Bright Compass in 1998, the Xiao Yao organization vanished without a trace. The Palace Master once mentioned that his father, in his later years, had been deeply concerned about enemies making their move—so much so that he couldn’t keep the Palace Master close, and had to send her away. What could have caused such deep concern in his father? Likely someone of half-divine status. But who exactly? Ah, Ling Tu was the first to fall—he was the very origin of this matter. Zhang Yuanqing thought it over and then spontaneously opened up, saying, “I remember the chairman mentioned that the four members of the Xiao Yao organization originally seized the most central fragment of the Bright Compass. In the years that followed, the two Sun-children相继 passed away. Now that we’ve confirmed your brother was the first to fall, I suspect the other Shadow figure is also in danger.” He shared the After all, Lingjun wasn't a scout—there was no way he could have noticed. "Your point is that Brother Seventeen suffered a terrible fate because of the core fragments of the Light Compass?" Lingjun said, his expression serious. "That makes sense, but still unlikely. If I were Brother Seventeen, knowing that someone would covet the compass fragments, I'd definitely stay hidden within the Taimei Gate and never step out." "Old Dad, the foremost night-wanderer, is the strongest among the night-wanderers. The senior monks are also a formidable force. Even a half-god wouldn't be able to kill him without being seen." Lingjun shrugged. "Unless Old Dad did it himself—then…" His expression suddenly froze. Zhang Yuanqing's face went suddenly blank. Then, with a quiet, unspoken understanding, the two students turned their heads to the table's spreadsheet and stared at it—both of them went utterly still. Lin Jun's eyes snapped open, and he nearly leapt off his chair: "Impossible! This simply can't be!" Zhang Yuan spoke calmly: "Isn't this actually logical? Otherwise, how do you explain that Ling Tu's records have been erased? In the Tai Men, only a few people could have done such a thing." "You, you, you—stop making up stories!" Lin Jun's expression was animated, almost fierce, his voice rising in anger. "If it's about the fragments of the Bright Compass, he simply asks Brother Seventeen for them. In Tai Men, no one—no elders—can defy him. "And why would he erase Brother Seventeen's records?" The Flower Prince rarely lost his composure like this. "Whether or not the reason for erasing matters—what matters is the act of erasure itself. If Brother Seventeen's death was merely an accident, with no issues at all, then why erase the records?" Zhang Yuanqing spoke slowly: "As for the fragments of the Luminary Compass... this indicates one thing: the Luminary Compass is far more complex than we imagined. It's not merely a mere prop—it has deeper, more significant functions. These functions are precisely what have caused Ling Tuo to refuse to hand over the fragments to your father." "Talk nonsense! All this is just your speculation!" Ling Jun's face was stern. No—it's not speculation. The Chairman has said that the fragments of the Luminary Compass serve as capital in strategic negotiations. The Palace Master has stated that when the Xiao Yao Organization uncovered the secrets of the Spiritual Realm, the Luminary Compass enabled the four Xio Yao heirs to risk their lives in fierce competition for it. Therefore, it's absolutely not just a predictive device. It must have a special, unique purpose. Ling Tuo's refusal to hand over the fragments is well-founded. Yet, the reason he hasn't handed them over to his own father remains unclear. If the adversaries of the four Xio Yao heirs are indeed the Masters of the Taiyuan Sect, then everything makes sense. The reason the first Shadow Night Voyager perished has now been clarified; the reason Zhang Zizhen has always been so wary of his adversaries is also clear; and the reason the Palace Master has kept the truth from me all these years is likewise understood. The Compass core fragment should not be in Lingtuo's hands, otherwise there would have been no subsequent developments. The head of the Taiyuan Sect learned through the process of devouring spiritual essence that his son was one of the Four Immortals, thus gaining crucial intelligence about the organization. Given how formidable and terrifying the adversaries were, did the original Xiao Yao organization simply vanish from the scene, unwilling to venture further into the world of the martial arts? So, the adversaries were indeed the head of the Taiyuan Sect? A surge of waves of astonishment quietly rose within Zhang Yuanqing's heart. He took a deep breath, calming his emotions, and said: "Perhaps it's just a hunch—once we investigate, it will become clear. Oh well, I'm only curious. Since it involves the head of the Taiyuan Sect, that's enough for now." He had deliberately said this, deliberately distancing himself from the matter. By stopping the conversation Behind Ling Jun stood the Senior Monastic and Fu Qingyang—the former representing the Hundred Blossom Assembly, the latter the Marshal. This was far more stable than Ling Jun, as the Primordial Celestial Sovereign, navigating alone, had once done, groping his way through uncharted waters. Ling Jun sat motionless in his chair, his face and gaze lifeless, as if carved from stone. Fifteen minutes had passed already—hadn't your mentor promised to meet with her tonight? Well, you probably no longer have the heart for it… Zhang Yuanqing, like a man who's dressed but utterly unrecognizable, said, "I'll head back to have dinner." He snapped his fingers once, and the figure dissolved into starlight. That madman has seemingly retreated, quietly nurturing himself. This is most troubling—Pure Yang's Master of the Palm Sect has entered his mind and knows of the Yin fragments' existence. When he regains his strength, he will surely hunt him down. Thus, just like Old Bǎng, as long as Pure Yang's Master remains alive, I shall be restless. Yin Ji quickly replied, "Received—I'll ask my master." A few seconds later, she sent another message: "Thank you!" This clearly indicates the message is of great importance to them. Zhang Yuanqing stared blankly at the wall for several seconds, then sent a message to the Master of the Stilled Kill Sect: "Is it the strongest of this age?" He believed the Master would understand. After sending the message, he waited, both left and right, but received no reply from the Master of the Stilled Kill Sect. No reply meant acceptance, didn't it? Zhang Yuanqing set down his phone, sighed gently, and as he walked toward the bathroom, said: "Guan Ya, could you go to my room and fetch the towel and fresh clothes?" "Certainly." Guan Ya, seated by the window on a gilded bed, set down her book and rose to leave the room. In the bathroom, the air was filled with the scent of shampoo and body lotion, and a bamboo basket lay cluttered with women's lace undergarments and long gowns. Guan Ya had just finished her bath. Zhang Yuanqing removed his clothes and tossed them into the basket, watching as his garments now covered hers—he chuckled softly. Back at home, his mother-in-law, known for her fastidiousness, had insisted on strict categorization, assigning each family member a bamboo basket to keep their clothes separate. To Zhang Yuanqing, mixing clothes together was a symbol of intimacy. "The taste of love is truly delightful," he said, the evening's joy overcoming the otherwise unsettled mood. Normally, knowing that his enemy was the head of the Taiyuan sect, he would have been unable to sleep well tonight. Zhang Yuanqing stepped barefoot into the bathroom, with a bathtub just across the hall. Guan Ya's room was spacious, the bathroom and toilet separated. ... The hotel. "Thud! Thud!" Yin Ji raised her hand and tapped gently on the door of her teacher, Hong Ying Elder. The door opened silently, and the female spirit inside bowed respectfully. Yin Ji passed through the foyer and the outer hall, entering the main bedroom, where Hong Ying Elder stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, dressed in a silk nightgown, gazing at the bustling cityscape at night. "What is it?" Hong Ying did not turn around. Though she had passed her mid-fifties, her figure remained full and graceful—her silhouette still captivating to anyone of the opposite sex. At fifty, among the master-level spiritual travelers, she was still considered young. "Teacher, Yuan Shi Tian Zun has sent a message informing me that he has successfully arranged contact with representatives from the Xuzhui Sect," Yin Ji said. Upon hearing this, the serious expression on Hong Ying's face softened into one of surprise and satisfaction. "How unexpectedly reliable Yuan Shi Tian Zun is," she remarked, her eyes brightening. "Please tell me the details." Yin Ji then relayed the message to her teacher. "Only you and Yuan Shi Tian Zun need to go?" "Master Hongying furrowed her brow, pondering for a moment, then said, 'We can try. In addition to the equipment suitable for the knight class, I shall bestow upon you two more items—one is the Li Yang Jing that I myself frequently use, and the other is a sacred-grade turtle shell. The latter can foretell auspicious or inauspicious events; when combined with your star-reading technique, use it with caution.' As she spoke, she gently raised her hand, and the two items materialized mid-air, drifting toward Yin Ji. With respectful grace, Yin Ji accepted them, 'Thank you, Master.' Turning to face her student, who was tall and graceful with a veil of black silk covering her face, Master Hongying smiled softly, 'You often correspond with Yuan Shi Tian Zun?' 'Occasionally,' replied Yin Ji. Master Hongying's smile deepened further. 'Besides being fellow members of the Taiyuan Sect, you rarely maintain contact with others—do you have a special fondness for him?' Yin Ji slightly furrowed her brow, 'If Master dislikes it, then I shall simply refrain from contacting him.' 'No,' she added, 'that is quite good.' "Long Ying Elder approached, gently stroking Yin Ji's hair, and sighed, 'Back then, there was something the teacher felt guilty about. Yet it's already been two years. You should have moved on, found your own path. Yuan Shi Tian Zun is truly excellent—born into the official family, with extraordinary talent, and his future is boundless. He truly deserves you.' Yin Ji quietly stepped back two paces, bowing slightly, 'Master, I'll go rest now.' Long Ying Elder shook her head in resignation. ... 'Guan Ya, good luck, good luck!' S Zhang Yuanqing's earnest voice rose once again in the darkness. The air conditioner circulated a steady chill, bringing a refreshing coolness; scattered on the bedside table were nightgowns, undergarments, and piles of paper towels. The bed was a mess, Guan Ya wrapped her full, vibrant body tightly in the sheets, only her head exposed, her back turned toward her boyfriend, pretending not to hear. 'Good luck, good luck,' Zhang Yuanqing insisted, repeatedly. Guan Ya gritted her teeth, asking, "Am I being too indulgent with you?" From last night until now, and from morning until tonight, Yuan Shi's demands have been nothing short of astonishing. Though a sage herself, Guan Ya found herself struggling to keep up, yet still agreed time and again. She was six years older than Yuan Shi, a classic sibling romance, so she had always been patient and accommodating—only to find that this young man was now taking the initiative, growing increasingly demanding. Zhang Yuanqing pleaded once more, but seeing that she remained resolute, he realized it was hopeless and had to give in, saying, "Very well, dear sister. I still wish to ask for one more thing..." As he finished speaking, a sudden sense of threat struck him—two fingers pressed firmly against his head, and then Guan Ya's exasperated voice echoed, "How can you be so careless, driving your new car all day long without even checking it up? Go to sleep!" Zhang Yuanqing jumped in surprise, quickly pulled back, and chuckled nervously, "That makes perfect sense." When Guan Ya lifted her fingers, he settled back, cradling her smooth, soft body, and drifted off into a