This woman, Chen Shu, is one of Fu Xue's most important business partners. They met several years ago at a wealthy club. As both were of Chinese descent and of similar age, they quickly became close. Since then, they've jointly invested in numerous industries and launched several joint ventures. Their sailing outings, in fact, were all part of the business—once you reach their level of wealth, every interaction serves a purpose. Though this was a significant engagement, the sudden unraveling of her daughter's condition completely disrupted the schedule, and Fu Xue had to postpone everything. "I've already informed you through my assistant—the sailing event is canceled," Fu Xue explained with a smile. As a seasoned business professional, emotional control is a fundamental skill. Over the phone, Chen Shu chuckled, "What could possibly be more important than our partnership? How much value does this project hold—you should know." Fu Xue paused, then sighed: "In Songhai, the marriage alliance between my daughter and the Miller family has fallen through. My daughter has fallen deeply in love with a young man from a humble background, and this time, she's particularly resolute—she's even willing to go head-to-head with me." She wouldn't typically share such personal matters with others, but Chen Shu is different. On one hand, besides their business dealings, they have a close personal relationship—almost like close friends, truly close. On the other hand, Chen Shu is unlike ordinary business partners. She possesses a mysterious and powerful background. Though she's an ordinary person herself, she is deeply familiar with the existence of the spiritual realm travelers. Behind her stands an organization called the "Ji Shi Society," a strong and enigmatic grassroots group. Its financial backing remains largely unknown, with extensive networks spanning overseas countries, and it maintains a significant number of spiritual realm travelers. Even more, it has established business relationships with various evil professions abroad. Chen Shu is the publicly recognized leader of the society, managing its assets across manufacturing, finance, trade, and charitable institutions. Like Chen Shu, she too is a professional manager from a large organization or a prominent family. Chen Shu gave a soft "Oh," smiling gently. "Given the Fu family's tradition, this shouldn't be something you need to worry about." When had the Fu family ever considered the preferences of the individuals involved in their marriage alliances? Fu Xue wasn't exactly a mother who indulged her daughter. And since the prospective match came from a more modest, working-class background, the Fu family had a hundred ways to manage, pressure, or entice him—each one effective. "Although he's from a modest background, the young man is quite impressive. I'd have been genuinely interested in him myself, if he hadn't been my daughter's fiancé. That's not the main issue—what's really challenging is that he's a key talent being cultivated by the Wuxing Alliance. Handling him is proving quite difficult." Fu Xue sighed. "The Wuxing Alliance has many such key talents, but compared to the Miller family, they still fall short." "Chen Shu smiled and said, 'I've heard that Ron Miller will enter the Killing Instance by the end of the year and emerge as a Sovereign. Once he does, he'll be a true master. Does your daughter's boyfriend have that kind of potential?' Fu Xue thought for a moment, somewhat uncertain. After all, the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign has risen quickly, but since he's only just become a Sovereign, it's still hard to assess his performance during the Sovereign stage—there's no clear benchmark. 'The potential is decent, I suppose,' she added. 'What do you think?' Fu Xue asked. "Step two: Use Fu family connections within the Five Elements Alliance to pressure him, give him a few setbacks, and block his path for promotion." "Step three: Undermine their internal stability by bringing in a few outstanding women to charm them. Shall I introduce you to a few professionals in the field of romance and passion?" "Ha ha, within the next month, your daughter will surely change her mind." Fu Xue's eyes lit up. Chen Shu's three-pronged strategy was indeed brilliant—first observe for a few months, then check with the elders of her family. If Fu Qingyang's claims were true, she would accept the marriage proposal. If he was merely playing games, she would immediately implement Chen Shu's plan. With this thought, she now had a solid strategy in place and smiled, saying, "The situation is quite complex, and this young man isn't ordinary. I'll talk more about it when we go sailing later." After hanging up, she turned to her bodyguard, "Call Guan Ya over." "... In the lounge, Zhang Yuanqing gently touched his girlfriend's face, feeling心疼: 'Whenever I get the chance, I'll definitely retrieve that for you. As for Miss Guan Ya, if she's uncomfortable, I'll gently lick her cheeks for you.' Miss Guan Ya sat patiently, her cheeks soon dampened by the gentle licking. As a first-time lover, she was quite affectionate—she wanted to be licked all over, and she hoped he'd do the same for her. Still, the feeling of being cherished by her boyfriend was quite pleasant. Even more delightful was that today she had stood up to her mother, without any hesitation or reservations—just thinking about marrying into the Miller family and cutting ties with Yuan Shi, her determination had triumphed over any lingering doubts. This sense of breaking free from shadows, rebirth, and embracing the beautiful filled her from within to outwards. Of course, this great courage and passion were also fueled by her mother's growing interest in Yuan Shi. At that moment, a security guard in a black formal suit entered the lounge and bowed respectfully, saying: 'Miss Guan Ya, the owner would like to see you.' " Guan Ya glanced at her boyfriend. Seeing him nod, she murmured to herself: "This Yuan Shi truly trusts Fu Qingyang more than me." She gently wiped the droplets of saliva from her cheeks and followed the black-clad bodyguard out. Back in the study, Fu Xue looked at her daughter as she entered, and without a word, handed her a bronze medal, then said calmly: "You should be grateful that you've chosen such an outstanding man—grateful that Fu Qingyang convinced me to agree. I can continue observing you for a while, but you must make a vow." Guan Ya took the bronze medal, her heart filled with joy, though she masked it with composure: "What kind of vow?" Fu Xue laughed coldly: "Whatever plans you're secretly forming, that's the vow you'll make." Taking a deep breath, she said: "No pregnancies." The Miller family didn't place much value on virginity—romantic experiences were considered irrelevant. Yet, as a family heir, Fu Xue's mother could only bear children for the family. This is first and foremost a matter of face for the family, and if the heir has a half-brother from a different mother, it's decidedly unfavorable—for both the heir and the family. Mother is still very shrewd and calculating... Guan Ya indeed has thoughts of marrying before she's ready, determined to regain her freedom and challenge the family's authority. But now, Mother has stepped back; she's not making this vow, and today's situation will likely not pass. Guan Ya holds the bronze medal, stands calmly under her mother's watchful gaze, and solemnly makes her vow. As the bronze medal emits a dignified and upright glow, bearing witness to the vow, Fu Xue waves her hand, and the medal lifts on its own, landing in her hands. "What did Fu Qingyang tell you?" Guan Ya asks, her心情 light and relaxed. She's curious about the strategy her younger brother used to persuade the steadfast, strong-willed mother to change her mind. "You don't need to know." "Fu Xue looked cold, glanced at her daughter, and with a pointed, cold laugh said, 'Think carefully—perhaps your standing in Yuan Shi Tian Zun's heart is not even as strong as Fu Qingyang's.' '???' Fu Xue stood up, looked at her daughter only briefly, and strode out without a word, then instructed the security staff, 'Have Yuan Shi Tian Zun escort me.' ... 'Madam, please take your time. I'll certainly treat Guan Ya very well. You can rest assured... Well, well, Guan Ya truly is far superior to you. It's just a pity I was born twenty years later, so I could only marry you. Not late, right? Ah, how funny—Madam, you really love to joke!' At the villa entrance, Zhang Yuanqing warmly helped Fu Xue into the car, his face bright with smiles, showing no sign of the deep tensions between them. Guan Ya stood in the courtyard, coldly watching her boyfriend pay homage to her mother. Once Fu Xue's convoy had departed, she watched Yuan Shi Tian Zun come bustling over, and quietly asked, 'Is my mother beautiful?' 'Well, Zhang Yuanqing has a strong sense of survival instinct. Guan Ya exhaled, then murmured softly, "My mom says I don't hold a position in your heart even comparable to Fu Qingyang. I think she's not making it up." ... Zhang Yuanqing suddenly guessed what was on her mind. Just as he was about to comfort her, Guan Ya sneered, "Indeed, you're nervous." Curses, I hate scouts... he thought, clearing his throat and saying, "This story is quite long, Guan Ya, let's go back home first. I'll explain everything properly—well, I'm about to enter the quest right now, heh heh..." Guan Ya glanced at him with a calm expression, saying, "Starting today, we'll have to pay attention to contraception. I've made a vow not to get pregnant before the end of the year. My mom plans to observe you until the end of the year, assessing your performance during the Saint phase." A thunderbolt from a clear sky! Zhang Yuanqing was struck dumb. Having already experienced the freedom of being unbound, how could he bear such constraints? "Little tadpoles always struggling to find their mother—well, that's not exactly He thought for a moment, then leaned in close to Guan Ya, whispering, "Guan Ya, we...!" Boom! A tremendous roar startled the rabbit-dress models in the villa. They rushed out in panic, only to find Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun lying half-dead in the fountain pool. The fountain sculpture had collapsed. ...On the way to the airport, in the luxurious business sedan, Fu Xue stared blankly out the window at the scenery retreating behind her. She had indeed been away from the core of the Fu family's power for too long. Fu Qingyang's words had never truly crossed her mind, though she had sensed over the years that fewer and fewer Fu family members were being sent to Tianfa. With the Fu family having established a solid base overseas for over a century, their foundation remained strong. Investing domestically also aligned with the capital family's survival principle—eggs should never be in one basket. But if, as Fu Qingyang suggested, the marriage alliance with the Miller family truly proved detrimental, then things would change. In this alliance, the Fu and Miller families took the lead, and she received only a commission. The loss of Guan Ya to the family was merely a minor setback— In essence, she had poured everything into it, yet ended up with only a commission—and with lasting complications. "The Battle for the Compass of Light..." Fu Xue murmured to herself. Her next steps were now clear: probe the elders' council and investigate the prophecy concerning the Compass of Light. According to Fu Qingyang's account, the family's shift in strategic direction stemmed precisely from that battle; by clarifying the prophecy's details, she could determine whether Fu Qingyang had been misleading her. As she was thinking this over, her assistant's phone buzzed with a call. "Boss, it's Mr. Will." The assistant handed her the phone. Will was Fu Xue's former husband, Guan Ya's father. Fu Xue answered the call and conversed fluently in foreign language: "I'm running late." On the other end, a warm, mature male voice came through—firm and assertive: "Has Ya Ya brought back the news?" Fu Xue had already contacted her former husband before coming here. Will was very anxious upon learning that his daughter had fallen in love with a boy on the other side of the ocean. Had it not been for the necessity of the Tianfu Organization's officials to handle a series of procedures and approvals upon their visit to China, he would have flown over with his former wife. Fu Xue remained silent for a few seconds, then said, "I've changed my mind. By the end of the year, I will continue to observe Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn." Suddenly, silence fell on the phone. After a long while, Will's voice, full of disbelief, came through: "Are you crazy?" Fu Xue hung up the phone with a calm expression. ... Beijing. International Airport. Ling Jun carried a small suitcase, wore sunglasses and a mask, and moved through the arrival hall. He wore loose summer shorts, a slightly loose blue shirt, no watch, no luxury handbags—his only indication of financial standing was his shoes, priced at 88,000 yuan. Yet in Beijing, this was hardly remarkable. Still, Ling Jun's appeal remained high, drawing frequent glances from urban women. Whether men or women, there's an innate sensitivity to the opposite sex—no matter how tightly dressed, they can be spotted instantly among a crowd. Posture and demeanor are impossible to conceal. Unlike usual, Ling Jun didn't glance back at the women, nor did he select attractive ones to pursue. He simply moved through the crowd with a composed expression, boarding the car sent by Victoria to meet him. Forty minutes later, the vehicle stopped outside a large villa on the fourth ring road. Ling Jun handed over his luggage to the driver and, under the guidance of the villa's security staff, entered directly and met the woman who had transformed his filial devotion—the Elder Victoria. Sitting on a single sofa, Victoria was reading a book, her head bowed. She had long, chestnut hair flowing like a cascade, slightly curled at the ends, a perfectly oval face with refined and deeply expressive features, and her light blue eyes full of charm. She wore a white blouse and black tailored pants, showcasing unmistakably the vibrant, alluring figure typical of Western women. She's a woman of considerable age, yet her appearance and figure bear no signs of time—her youth remains undiminished. "Many things simply can't be conveyed over the phone," Ling Jun said, gazing at his beloved for several seconds, his voice soft. "Is my father still within the copy?" …… "!" Zhang Yuanqing stepped back, concluding another round of duties. He straightened up, enjoying the cool breeze from the air conditioning, before bending down to kiss the perspiring, weary woman, Guan Ya, who lay sprawled on the bed. ——After her pleasure, Guan Ya enjoyed gentle affection. So now, I have no regrets about entering the copy... Zhang Yuanqing thought as he held her close. Having dispatched his mother-in-law, most matters have been settled. What remains is to find the Master of the Halt-Death Palace, retrieve the Life Source Liquid and the Solar Power, and then enter the copy to use them. The issue of containing the Solar Power remains, but with the Master and the Senior Master as back-up, this is merely a minor concern. After a moment of tender care, Zhang Yuanqing resisted the urge to renew the embrace, and rose to dress. "Before I enter the realm, I need to prepare a few things, so I'll have to step out." "Wait," Guan Ya frowned, "have you cleared your Peach Blossom Auspiciousness yet?" Guan Ya had always been mindful of the growing closeness between her mother and her boyfriend. To reassure her girlfriend, Zhang Yuanqing had told her that her mother's growing interest wasn't due to a sudden sense of conscience, but rather to the Peach Blossom Scroll, which had dispelled her initial hostility toward her. He himself had used the Peach Blossom Scroll with the intention of securing a bright future for both of them. He thus explained to Guan Ya the functions and side effects of the scroll. "Didn't you just get into a fight with me? Your Peach Blossom Auspiciousness should have passed by now." As Zhang Yuanqing spoke, he reached for a bronze mirror and examined himself. His expression instantly stiffened. In the reflection, his features were shrouded in clouds of gloom, burdened by misfortune. He stood there, stunned.