Yin Ji furrowed her brows, looking at Yuan Shi Tian Zun with a touch of uncertainty. "He's the kind of man who chooses a sovereign to overthrow—you must have seen him on the wanted list." Zhang Yuanqing nodded in affirmation. ...Yin Ji studied him carefully and indeed recalled this figure, bowing slightly. "Long have I heard of your reputation!" The saying "loyal ministers choose sovereigns to overthrow" was well known among the transcendental cultivators, and he was indeed a master of illusion magic from the Void Sect (the southern school). Yet Yin Ji had not placed much emphasis on the younger transcendental cultivators in the early stages, so she hadn't recognized him immediately. The plump young man sighed. "I can sense your surprise. I imagine you're wondering—how does this man end up serving a fire cultivator?" "I am indeed serving someone, but I'd like to explain that he's a spirit of persuasion, not a fire cultivator." Yin Ji's sense of astonishment deepened. As a senior official of the Tai Men Sect, she had interacted with many fire cultivators and knew their demeanor well. It's hard to imagine that this young man, whose very forehead seems carved with the words "Fire Master," is actually a seductive spirit. He lacks the sharpness and intensity typically associated with such a spirit. Yin Ji composed herself and gently asked, "Then, what are the Nanyi sect's plans?" "We have no specific plans, as this matter requires discussion among the elders. Our purpose for this meeting is merely to establish initial contact and lay the groundwork for future collaboration." The plump young man said firmly. "Have you brought the contract items?" Yin Ji nodded slightly, opened her palm, and a golden glow, yellowish in hue, bloomed from her palm, coalescing into a scroll. She unfurled the scroll, revealing an aged parchment bearing images of a shield and a great sword. A sense of firmness and balanced authority filled the entire office. The plump young man nodded in satisfaction. "You are the disciple of Red Ying Elder. Grand Elder has asked me to sign the contract with you. Should the Black-Eating Black scenario occur within the Taiyuan Sect—should they exploit you—then you will suffer the reverse effects of the contract and return to the spiritual realm." "If the Black Sect has been secretly undermining the Void Sect, then it's going to be me who returns to the Spiritual Realm." Are you trying to use Yin Ji to restrain Red Ying Elder? Yes, given Red Ying Elder's deep feelings for Yin Ji, this added constraint will surely bring some caution. But you, this plump young man—clearly, neither your maternal nor paternal relatives have shown much affection. If Yin Ji and you swap places, the Taiyuan Sect will surely suffer. Zhang Yuanqing remained calm and observant, offering no interference. Xiao Yuan rose with a cold expression, turning to Kou Beiyue and the younger man, "Let's go." She didn't even glance at Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, stepping out of the office first. Kou Beiyue was momentarily stunned, looking at Xiao Yuan's back, then at Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, feeling both delighted and worried. "Did you two have another disagreement?" This question implies that Xiao Yuan isn't having her period—she's only upset with me, specifically targeting me. Zhang Yuanqing looked at the younger man. The younger man silently signed: "You didn't go to the hotel that day." After saying that, he pulled the elder, who had wanted to chat further with Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, and hurried off. Since I didn't go to the hotel, that's why Xiao Yuan is upset, isn't it? Zhang Yuanqing's expression now seemed strange—uncertain whether to be happy or melancholy. By nature, this is surely a cause for joy. Xiao Yuan's irritation stems from the fact that he hasn't visited the Wuhen Hotel recently nor has he reached out often. It shows that Xiao Yuan feels overlooked—this kind of emotion isn Longing was Zhang Yuanqing’s conscious awareness that he wasn’t like Ling Jun—some kind of cold, detached man. He already had Ya Jie, and now he might let Xiao Yuan down with her sincere affection. With this thought in mind, he hurried after her, intercepting Xiao Yuan as she walked toward the white sedan. “Ms. Xiao, it’s been a while—we haven’t even had a proper chat before you just decided to leave,” Zhang Yuanqing complained, as if unaware of the situation. After months of following Ling Jun’s spiritual cultivation, he had grown increasingly adept at understanding women’s psychology. For Xiao Yuan’s nature, a straightforward expression would only make her furious—she wouldn’t just scowl; she’d give him a good scolding. So he pretended to be naive and sweet. “The store is busy—I haven’t had time,” Xiao Yuan replied coldly, quickening her pace. “You’re stuck in that run-down hotel, day after day, with no guests at all,” Zhang Yuanqing grumbled. Xiao Yuan turned to glare at him. “I just came out of Qin Feng College—there was a murder case there. Since then, I’ve been under investigation in Songhai, Zhang Yuancheng stayed by her side, casually saying, "Last time, Fu Qingyang assigned me to establish contact with the Huwen Sect. Then I had to attend a meeting, and with the schedule packed, I didn't get a chance to visit Wuhen Hotel. It's a real pity—I've been thinking about Aunt Xiao Yuan every single day." Xiao Yuan coldly glanced at the plump man behind her,淡淡 remarked, "Busyness is good—it means the official circle will give you special attention and cultivate you. Your future prospects are bright. From now on, you'll spend less time with us, these so-called heretics and outsiders." With that, she opened the car door and stepped into the driver's seat. Zhang Yuancheng cleared his throat and turned to Kou Beiyue and the plump man, saying, "I have something to discuss with Xiao Yuan. You two go back first." Kou Beiyue looked utterly helpless, "We came by electric scooter." "Then take a taxi." "We don't have enough money," Kou Beiyue insisted firmly. "A taxi ride back to the hotel costs 60 yuan, and I've only earned 100 yuan all morning." Without a Like a child with a large sum of allowance, she was delighted and walked off with her companions. Zhang Yuanqing stepped into the carriage. A few minutes later, Yin Ji, having finished her phone call with the teacher, came out of the office and just happened to see Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn stepping out of the carriage, bowing slightly and waving goodbye to the vibrant, mature woman inside. The woman's expression no longer carried the earlier coldness; she started the car and drove away from the logistics company. Finally, she had calmed down. Ling Jun was right—there's always a way to soothe an irritable woman, as long as you have enough patience, because all she really needs is for you to simply comfort her. Zhang Yuanqing once again admired her mentor's insight. "You're quite familiar with them, aren't you?" Yin Ji approached, her skirt swaying gently. "They're all my close friends, family, and brothers—well, I don't count that plump one." Zhang Yuanqing turned to look at the magic king's widow, noticing her brows slightly furrowed, hesitating. He knew instantly what she was thinking, and smiled, saying, "Though they are an evil-aligned profession, they never do evil deeds—indeed, their moral standards are higher than most lawful-aligned professions." "I don't believe that," Yin Ji said honestly. Zhang Yuanqing shrugged, without elaborating, and pointed to the sports car, smiling, "Sister, let's go. I'll take you back to Songhai. Shall we stay overnight at Fu Family Village, or head straight to the airport?" Yin Ji's voice was gentle: "Our peak energy is in the evening." So, straight to the airport, then—Zhang Yuanqing understood, stepping toward the car as he said, "Over the next few days, I'll be entering the dungeon to capture the Pure Yang Master. I might not be able to join you then. If you need anything once I step out of the dungeon, just reach out." "Excellent!" Yin Ji didn't hesitate. At 11:40 PM, the blue sports car reached the departure level of Songhai International Airport via the elevated Yin Ji opened the car door but didn’t immediately get out, speaking softly: “Official people love to pin hats on others and then defeat them from the standpoint of righteousness. You have exceptional talent, but in the struggle for power, you’ll never be able to outmaneuver those seasoned foxes.” Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll remember that.” This was a subtle hint to maintain distance from Xiao Yuan and the others, so as not to leave himself vulnerable. Yin Ji nodded, stepped out of the sedan, and entered the brightly lit waiting hall, her flowing skirt swirling in the breeze. Zhang Yuanqing watched her figure until it was completely gone, then turned his gaze back to the driver’s seat and drove away. The female elder of Taigong Gate, of Chinese-Hong Kong origin, oversees affairs in the eastern eight provinces. This elder is the only overseas-born member of Taigong Gate—naturally born and raised abroad—and joined the Gate seamlessly upon becoming a Night-Wanderer Spirit, a development that occurred over two or three decades ago. When Ling Jun was young, Elder Victoria was at the height of her prime. Often subjected to the harsh treatment of her elder brothers, Elder Victoria once took pity on the child without a mother and kindly adopted him. Ling Jun lived with her for many years, during which time he quietly vowed in his heart to honor her as a senior in the future. As he grew older, Victoria remained as radiant and captivating as ever, and thus—well, his sense of filial piety gradually transformed. Victoria, in turn, held deep affection for the child who had grown up under her care, and could not resist his persistent devotion, eventually blossoming into a love that spanned the age gap. Yet Ling Jun, a wood spirit of the reproductive kind, has an innate yearning and restlessness toward the opposite sex and toward reproduction. Their relationship didn't last long before it completely fell apart. Ling Jun could be indifferent to all women in the world—except Victoria. Once realizing he could no longer overcome his instincts, he stopped reaching out to her and made a point of avoiding her whenever possible. He declined any official position at Taimei Gate specifically to avoid any formal interactions or meetings with Victoria. Taking a deep breath, Ling Jun, filled with nervous anticipation, unblocked her and dialed her number. The gentle, melodic ringtone played for a while before she answered. A soft, slightly husky female voice came through the speaker: "Speak!" Ling Jun took another deep breath and said, "Victoria, I've encountered some difficulties..." Before he finished the sentence, a series of soft beeps sounded. The call was then hung up. "Oh…" Ling Jun sighed softly, fully understanding Victoria's coldness. After all, love isn't something you can simply sell or buy at will. However, an irritable woman—given enough patience—can always be won over, unless her feelings have truly faded. With a flower prince's grace, even if the feelings had faded, he could still reignite love. Ling Jun dialed the phone again. This time, the other end hung up several times; it wasn't until the sixth attempt that Victoria answered. "You have only three minutes," said her voice, soft and tender yet slightly hoarse. Victoria still cared about me... Ling Jun murmured to himself. "I've recently encountered some difficulties. I'm truly sorry—I know I shouldn't be calling you, but Victoria. Besides you, I no longer trust anyone." "No matter how many years have passed, you've always been the person I trust most in this world. So whenever I'm at a loss, I think of you—just as I did back then, when I reached out and held your hand, following you." The other end remained silent for a while, then slowly asked, "What's happened?" "I'll be back in the capital this morning. We can talk then. Prepare everything—arrange the ceremony, and secretly bestow your blessings upon me." Ling Jun spoke with both tenderness and gravity. He needed to uncover the truth behind his 17th brother's return to the spiritual realm. Victoria simply nodded with a soft "嗯," and hung up the phone. Pushing open the door to the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing saw Yin Yao, the Princess, having removed her garments and lying straight and still on his bed. He was momentarily stunned, uncertainly asking, "Are you... finally coming around?" The Princess opened her eyes, her strange, blood-red gaze fixed upon him, "It's been many years since I've experienced the comfort of a bed." Ah, she simply wanted to sleep on a bed—of course. She used to stand all night or sit all night, after all; though not a doll, her body needed no rest, yet her heart longed for the comfort of a bed. He had overlooked the Princess's feelings. Zhang Yuanqing nodded, entered the room, and closed the door. His actions, however, only heightened the Princess's alertness. Her ethereal, beautiful eyes watched him intently. "I won't be your bed companion," she said. "If you wish to engage in romantic intimacy, you may seek Guan Ya or the Queen who has been favored." "You go on and rest," Zhang Yuanqing waved a hand. "Besides, your sleeping posture is off. To someone unfamiliar, it would seem as though you had passed away." "The one in the coffin has been lying there for too many years," Princess Yin Yao explained. He hummed, walked over to the desk, sat down, turned on the desk lamp, and quietly pondered the omens of great misfortune. Currently, there are two clear sources of crisis: one is his mother-in-law, and the other is the quest realm itself. Though his mother-in-law may be dissatisfied with him as her favored daughter's husband, she can at most be difficult or dismissive, or send skilled allies to challenge him—she would never hire someone to kill him, at least not recently. That points squarely to the quest realm. "Looks like it truly is a six-tier, four-tier quest realm. With my current gear, I'm still facing a real threat—this clearly shows just how terrifying the upcoming realm is." He mused, then considered two options: first, to inquire about the realm's details from the Cat King speaker, since every realm he's entered has been experienced by the Magus King, and this one would be no exception. Second, to strengthen his own capabilities—perhaps borrow a master-tier item from Fu Qingyang?" No, this would only increase the difficulty of the副本. If they really did it, the crisis this time might very well have been triggered by the items. It must be a means that enhances one's strength within the副本 itself. If not through items, then it must be a sudden, remarkable leap in his own capabilities. "I'm just 2% short of leveling up—this aspect could be considered. Also, there's the 'Pure Yang Bathing Record.'" Zhang Yuanqing recalled the power of the Sun God brought from the High Heaven Realm, but then immediately had a new concern—the Sun God's power was so potent that if one tried to practice it forcefully, their physical body would be scorched and turned to ash. With that thought, he turned to the silver-tinged, motionless Princess Yin Yao, lying still on her bed, and said, "Ah, noble and beautiful Princess..." "Speak clearly," the Princess interrupted coldly. "Has your master taught you the secret techniques of the 'Pure Yang Bathing Record'?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "Of course, but since my body transitioned into a shadow-ghost form, I've been unable to practice it anymore," the Princess replied. Chang Yuanqing asked, "Is there any way to quickly elevate the realm of Chunyang Xishen Lu?" "There isn't," replied the lady of the county. "Then perhaps I phrased my question incorrectly," Chang Yuanqing repeated, "What if there's a way for me to draw in vast amounts of the power of the Sun God without my physical body collapsing? Please, don't say there isn't—think hard, use your clever mind!" The lady of the county paused and then responded, "With a strong life force as a foundation—yet that's impossible. The Sun God's power at the level of mastery instantly consumes and destroys the body. The life essence hasn't time to activate, and you will die." Ah, even the life essence itself cannot suffice—then indeed, there's no solution. Wait—there must be a more advanced life essence available at the Palace Master's residence! Chang Yuanqing's eyes lit up immediately, and he sent a message to the Palace Master: "Has the life essence been depleted? Is there any remaining?" The message was sent, but there was no response for half an hour. It seems we’ll have to wait… Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit anxious, but could only set her phone aside. The Lady of the Palace had said she would use the life essence to treat the patient’s mind—her brain, which had gone mad. Since their separation from the High Heaven Origin, Zhang Yuanqing had heard no word from her, and now she must be deeply engaged in healing. Zhang Yuanqing opened her drawer, took out the Cat King speaker, and cast a star-flight spell to reach the villa’s rooftop. She opened her phone and played a random song: “Moonlight is gentle and lingering, the mist blurs your face…” As the song ended, she gave a拍拍 on the top of the Cat King speaker. “Now it’s your turn. I’d like to know what kind of quest lies ahead for me next.” A faint static hum came from the speaker’s speakers, followed by a husky female voice echoing: “Moonlight is gentle and lingering, the mist blurs your face…” …It doesn’t even know, so it’s returning the song to me? Zhang Yuanqing’s lips twitched, and she snapped, “Are you trying to take my songs for free? You must give me The King Cat speaker remained silent, probably pondering how to make amends. A few seconds later, a faint static hum resumed, followed by a soft, tender female voice: "Little sweetheart, little sweetheart, I love you so much..." This voice Zhang Yuanqing had never heard before—it wasn't one of the previous female leads. Wow... As soon as the words "little sweetheart" emerged, Zhang Yuanqing swiftly grabbed the King Cat speaker and entered the night walk mode. "A steadfast immortal king, ever-changing women—this time, who's getting the sleep? Maybe there's useful information here." Zhang Yuanqing murmured with a touch of nostalgia: "It's been a while since I last listened to the immortal king's fitness audio."