"Creak... creak..." The sound of fingernails scraping against the coffin lid echoed clearly inside the quiet night, especially eerie. Chen Xue dao and Zhang Yuanqing suddenly sat up, their eyes fixed intently on the coffin. Chen Xue dao slowly reached for the long sword leaning against the table. As he did so, a thick, heavy glow of yellow surged from his body, enveloping him in a solid, majestic presence—like an unyielding mountain peak. How strong! Truly invincible... Zhang Yuanqing finally confirmed Chen Xue dao's rank without a doubt: a sixth-level mountain deity. A sixth-level mountain deity who had activated his domain—this was currently beyond Zhang Yuanqing's reach. No matter how hard he tried, he could not overcome him. Of course, if Chen Xue dao didn't enter his domain, Zhang Yuanqing, with his divine artifact foundation, could still retreat and escape, though not without risk. Having personally experienced Chen Xue dao's formidable strength, Zhang Yuanqing felt significantly more at ease. "Creak... creak..." The sound of the coffin being scratched grew louder, causing the entire coffin to vibrate subtly, with clear signs that the contents within were beginning to break free. Zhang Yuanqing silently retrieved the spirit-stabilizing talisman and the soul-sealing charm. As for the props, he didn't bring them out immediately, even though Chen Wei and the others had fully accepted the existence of the two spectral corpses. The sheer oddity of the inventory and the constant stream of props still felt a bit out of place. It wasn't certain whether Chen Xuedao would naturally accept them, so he decided to observe first. Should any real danger arise, he would bring them out then. "Creak... creak..." The scratching continued, and the coffin now shook more violently. Chen Xuedao turned to his adopted son, Lin Ci, and said firmly, "Place one spirit-stabilizing talisman and one soul-sealing charm on either side of the coffin." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, and with caution, summoned the blood rose standing in the corner of the room, handed her the talismans, and then guided the spectral corpses to affix them. At the very instant the two talismans were affixed to the coffin, the black casket, which had been trembling, suddenly came to a halt. Hmm, calmed down? Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a sigh of relief, yet felt a touch of surprise. He had expected a full-scale confrontation. "Uncle, it seems to have stopped," Zhang Yuanqing maintained his composed demeanor, turning to Chen Xue dao. The latter's stern, unyielding expression softened into a look of mild confusion, then nodded: "This is good news." With that, he leaned the sword back against the table and sat down again. Indeed, this was good news... Zhang Yuanqing returned to his seat as well, but his gaze remained fixed on the coffin. For safety's sake, he activated his Spirit-Consuming technique to check the condition of the malevolent entity within. As he had seen during the day, the creature was eerie and terrifying, yet showed no change. Strange—why had it been dormant all day, only to suddenly become active tonight? Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brow in thought. He glanced at Chen Xue dao, hesitated, and asked: "Uncle, did "Chen Xue dao nodded, then shook his head: 'They are all seasoned carriage guards. In such a situation, they should have reported directly to me first.' He sighed: 'But one thing is certain—they were killed, and indeed, by this coffin.' Having waited all day without their return, and considering the movements heard inside the coffin earlier, it's clear what befell Zhang Hu and Zhao Ma. Zhang Yuanqing then raised his second question: 'Yet the coffin couldn't be opened. How did the deadly creature inside kill them, and yet there's not a single bone left?' As he spoke, a thought struck him: 'Father, let's open the coffin.' The lid couldn't be lifted during the day—perhaps it could at night? Chen Xue dao frowned, shaking his head: 'No. Our mission is to transport the coffin to Shen Jian Manor, not to deal with it. Moreover, this is a guest inn. If we can't control the creature, countless civilians in the city will be affected.' Although the city's commoners are all NPCs and will be refreshed upon death, sacrificing them isn't our top priority—my father-in-law is right. If we let the monster escape, my side quest will fail... Zhang Yuanqing nodded in agreement. "Given the current situation, as long as I and Chen Xue dao stay here, the monster inside the coffin won't break free. Transporting it to the Divine Sword Manor shouldn't be difficult." Zhang Yuanqing mused internally: "Once I finish this side quest, I'll be able to learn who my teammates and enemies will be at the Divine Sword Manor. There are quite a few Level 5 Spirit Travelers, but only a limited number at Level 6—I'm not sure who I'll end up facing." ... Zhang Yuanqing felt his shoulders pushed gently and opened his eyes sharply. The sky was now clear and azure, with a faint hint of pale fish-blue in the east—dawn was approaching. Had I fallen asleep? He turned to look back in surprise, to find Chen Xue dao had woken him. "Go wake up the others. Once the messenger returns, we'll set off immediately." Chen Xuedao glanced at the sky, his brows heavy with weight. "Yes, Master," Zhang Yuanqing replied calmly, though his mind stirred with quiet curiosity. He was the Night-Wanderer, a favored spirit of the Moon, a sprite of the night—yet here he was, asleep without realizing it? It was as strange as a water ghost drowning in the river, or a fire master burning himself out from playing with flames. As he rose, he subtly scanned the room. The massive black coffin lay still and serene, the blood rose and Lady Yin Yao standing quietly in the corner. He felt no discomfort himself. Though it was unusual to feel drowsy at night, he hadn't noticed anything out of place. The night had been calm and peaceful. With these thoughts, Zhang Yuanqing left the back courtyard and made his way to the inn's main hall. It was still dark outside, the hall dimly lit. The inn's door was open, and the young attendant carried a broom, yawning as he swept away the trash before the entrance. Flames flickered in the kitchen, releasing a dense mist that carried the distinct aroma of steamed buns and white porridge. Zhang Yuanqing stepped up the wooden stairs to the second floor and, following the principle of proximity, knocked on Zhao Youcai’s door. After knocking for a while, Zhao Youcai finally hurriedly opened the door, shouting, “Don’t knock anymore, don’t knock anymore—I’m still dressing!” “How slow are you being?” Zhang Yuanqing glanced inside the room. “I’ve finished drinking the two jars of wine I brought back yesterday,” Zhao Youcai offered casually, then asked, “Did the night go smoothly?” Zhang Yuanqing then recounted what had happened the previous night. “Remarkable indeed,” Zhao Youcai mused. Zhang Yuanqing was struck by this and asked, “What do you think, Uncle Zhao?” After a moment’s thought, Zhao Youcai finally managed, “It must be that the ominous creature sensed Master Yi guarding outside and thus grew timid. "I shouldn't have had any expectations of the Fire Master at all," Zhang Yuanqing said without further hesitation. "Fourth brother, please gather everyone and get ready to leave—I'll go wake up Third Sister." Leaving Zhao Youcai behind, he walked straight down the corridor and stopped at Chen Wei's door, lightly tapping his fingers against it. "Coming!" came Chen Wei's voice from inside, but it took a long time before she opened the door. Peering out, she glanced around the corridor, noticing no one there, and then pulled her lover inside. "Seventh brother..." Her moist, warm lips immediately pressed against his. Chen Wei clearly had extensive experience in intimate matters—her hands skillfully caressing him, her delicate tongue deftly stimulating him—and within just a few exchanges, Zhang Yuanqing found himself parched and eager. "Wait a moment, we're about to leave," Zhang Yuanqing said without making a conscious effort to resist. He maintained his composed demeanor, going through several rounds before finally cutting off his desire and pushing her gently aside. Having endured the trial of the Mountain God's Staff, he possessed exceptional patience in such matters. Chen Wei's cheeks were flushed with contentment, smiling happily. "Once we reach the next city, we'll have a proper reunion." How wonderful the fire master is! Without any worries—Zhang Yuanqing, burdened with his own tasks, sighed in admiration. At that moment, a hurried footstep echoed, stopping at the door. Zhang Yuanqing and Chen Wei quickly parted ways, and the next instant, the inn's door was violently flung open. Such urgency must surely mean the fire master has arrived. Zhao Youcai stood at the doorway, his expression deeply troubled, shouting, "Trouble! Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle are missing!" Zhang Yuanqing and Chen Wei exclaimed in unison, "What?!" ... Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle had vanished overnight in a most mysterious manner. Chen Xue dao closed the inn's door and gathered all the镖masters to the back courtyard. Everyone's expressions were grave, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere settled over them. The scouts reported: "We checked the doors and windows—no signs of forced entry or damage. There's no trace of a struggle inside the rooms. According to the Fourth Prince's account, neither of the two rooms was locked. Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle must have left of their own accord. We've questioned the staff members of the inn and the镖 team, and no one heard any disturbances last night." Yet if it's the coffin that's responsible, why have Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle gone missing while I and Chen Xue dao remain unharmed? Moreover, if the coffin truly killed the two of them, then the night watch would be entirely pointless—death would continue at the rate of one person per day, perhaps even reaching me tomorrow. That's precisely why the副本 introduction emphasizes so many strange occurrences. Truly bizarre! Zhang Yuanqing hadn't encountered a puzzle this entangling in a long time. The complex web of character relationships, the odd black coffin, the unknown perils—all tangled together like a mess. Based on my understanding of the spiritual realm, the more chaotic and unfamiliar a quest appears, the more one must pay attention to details. It's never the case that spiritual travelers find themselves completely lost. Most information is already available, but often lacks the crucial pieces that tie everything together—this is exactly the situation I'm currently facing. Zhang Yuanqing quickly thought through the matter. At this moment, Chen Xue dao spoke: "Time is pressing. We can't linger any longer. Everyone go about your duties and set off immediately after breakfast." He simply passed over the disappearance of Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle, as if he had decided to abandon them both. "Father!" Chen Wei, impetuous and urgent, cried out, "We can't leave. We must find out what happened to Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle—both are brothers of our镖 hall. How can you neglect them?" Chen Xue dao gave her a stern look, silencing her outburst. Chen Wei was unconvinced, puffed out her cheeks, and turned her head away. Chen Xue dao then said, "Pei Ran and Ci'er stay behind. Everyone else proceed with their tasks." After everyone had dispersed, he turned to Zuo Peiran, "Come in." The father and son entered the room and closed the door. Outside, Zhang Yuanqing listened intently, yet despite his excellent hearing, he could not catch a single sound. Was it the sound-blocking ability of the Mountain God's domain? Zhang Yuanqing understood instantly. He abandoned his attempt to eavesdrop and patiently waited. Not long after, the door of the eastern pavilion opened, and Zhu Peiran stepped over the threshold with a gloomy expression, walking steadily out. "Cici, come in!" Chen Xiedao's voice came from inside the room. Zhang Yuanqing passed through the threshold, closed the door, and saw Chen Xiedao standing with his hands behind his back, by the edge of the black coffin. "Uncle?" he asked hesitantly. Chen Xiedao stared at the coffin, his tone low and measured. "I fell asleep last night." Did you too? A simple sentence, yet it caused Zhang Yuanqing's eyes to narrow suddenly and stirred waves of surprise within him. "It seems you've already realized where the problem lies." Chen Xiedao gently rested his palm on the coffin lid. "This morning, when I saw you sleeping against the doorframe, I realized something was off. At first, I held out hope—nothing had happened yet—until Yang Shuo and Wang Pingle vanished." He then lifted his gaze to meet Zhang Yuanqing's eyes. "Do you think, what caused us to fall asleep?" The Dream-Hand Master! Zhang Yuanqing's mind cried out. "We've been watched by "Chen Xue dao took a deep breath: "Everyone has fallen asleep, so they didn't notice the quiet movements of Yang Shuo and Wang Ping Le as they left. Throughout the realm, there are only a few Dream Masters, and they're all concentrated in the northwest. My father can't understand why Huang Qi Diao Bureau has been singled out by the Dream Masters." Heh—so it's the Journeyers of the Spirit Realm! Zhang Yuanqing finally confirmed one thing: this Five-Element Chaos quest is indeed a faction-versus-faction scenario. The evil-class side quests require either preventing the Diao Bureau from transporting the Black Coffin to Shen Jian Manor or eliminating the entire Diao Bureau team. Now he understands why the Spirit Realm assigned him the identity of "Lin Ci" instead of letting him enter the team as the Prime Origin Deity—because the identity serves as protection. "The lawful-aligned classes have protective cover and the Diao Bureau as allies, so they gather relatively little information. In contrast, the evil-aligned classes must face off against the entire team alone; therefore, they must acquire more information than I do." "The Dream Master who can make me and Chen Xue dao fall asleep must be at least level 6—rare among the Void Sect's six-tier strongholds, and there aren't many of them. I wonder who exactly it is..." Zhang Yuanqing sadly realized that his matched opponent was indeed a level 6. How terrifying are level 6 Travelers? They can dispatch level 4 opponents as easily as slaughtering dogs. Moreover, the opponent remains hidden, making it nearly impossible to defend against—so easily could the great Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn fall within the quest itself. "Ah, I knew the side quests wouldn't be simple." "I just don't know whether the Dream Master is within the party or lurking around. Personally, I've taken on a new identity, but my profession remains unchanged. Yet, I don't recall any illusionist in the courier team—there's no such information in Lin Ci's memory..." As he pondered these thoughts, Chen Xue dao said: "Look again at this coffin!" Zhang Yuanqing immediately activated his Spirit-Consuming ability to examine the coffin. At this sight, his face paled dramatically. The阴 qi within the black coffin was so dense it stung his eyes and sent waves of dizziness through him. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly closed his eyes and turned to Chen Xue dao, half-true, half-fake in his astonishment: "Father, it—it has grown stronger." As he spoke, he immediately grasped the mastermind behind the palm-mind's strategy—offering living sacrifices to the creature within the coffin to awaken and revitalize it. Based on this inference, the evil faction's objective was clear: to awaken the creature in the coffin and ultimately eliminate the courier bureau. Stronger indeed… Chen Xue dao's expression darkened. After a moment's thought, he said: "Wan City is still six days' journey from the Divine Sword Manor. We don't have much time left. We must press on with the utmost speed and deliver the package as quickly as possible." Was this a race against time with the hidden palm-mind? This strategy wasn't particularly brilliant—the palm-mind's tactics were hard to anticipate. If the coffin consumed a few more lives, the creature would surely burst out and break through the coffin walls. Oh dear, now it was quite a Well, there aren't any illusionists to be found in the city, but once you reach the mountain outskirts and the countryside, as long as the Dream-Weaver stays on the trail, you're certain to spot him—Chen Xue dao must have had this in mind. Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Yes, father." He led Blood Rhododendron and Lady Yin Yao away, communicating in the special way of the Night-Wanderer: "Lady, take Blood Rhododendron out of the city first and follow the convoy at a distance. While doing so, keep an eye out for anyone tailing the escort. If the Dream-Weaver isn't among the convoy, then you'll definitely catch him. If he's hidden within the group, however, his overly active and purposeful inquiries will alert the concealed Dream-Weaver that Lin Ci is a Spirit Realm traveler—then it will become dangerous. Of course, Zhang Yuanqing, based on his own situation, believes it's unlikely that the Dream-Weaver is among the convoy, yet he can't afford to overlook the possibility. Lady Yin Yao is his strongest asset—typically, once the host falls into sleep, the shadow corpse becomes merely a decorative presence. Yet the Princess is different—she is an independent shadow spirit, whose actions remain unaffected whether her host sleeps or wakes. The Dream-Weaver, stationed in the shadows, is unaware of the Princess’s unique nature. Zhang Yuanqing decides to leverage this information gap, treating the Princess as his decisive reserve to turn the tide. After a simple breakfast, the four镖men carry the heavy black coffin onto a flatbed wagon, cover it with oil-treated hemp cloth, and lead the horses away from the inn. "Ah, where is seventh brother?" Chen Wei, concerned about her lover, notices Lin Ci missing from the group and asks quickly. "He left something behind in his room," Zhao Youcai replies. Not long after, Zhang Yuanqing strides out of the inn, takes the reins from the镖men, and the group departs swiftly from Wan City. "Clear the way! Clear the way!" Two镖men ride ahead on swift horses, urging the villagers aside to clear a path for the convoy. Chen Wei rides beside her father, asking: "Dad, shall we wait for the brothers heading to Xiucheng?" "Chai Gui knows the route and will keep up," Chen Xue dao said solemnly. "Why so urgent, anyway?" Chen Wei mumbled. Zhang Yuanqing, though riding for the first time, felt no sense of awkwardness. With the physical strength of a saint, he only needed to observe Chen Xue dao's posture to quickly master the skills. Fifteen horses, plus a carriage carrying the coffins, swiftly passed through the city gates and raced along the official road. The sound of hooves and wheels became the only melody. Zhang Yuanqing turned his head and glanced at the not particularly tall city walls, murmuring to himself, "What is this place, Wan City? I'm not very good at geography..." The official road stretched far and wide, bathed in bright sunlight, with lush wild grasses along the sides and rolling mountains in the distance. In ancient times, the countryside exuded a sense of wild, untamed growth—something entirely different from the modern world Zhang Yuanqing knew. Moreover, the official road was wider and more solid than he had imagined, thanks to the economic prosperity of the Song Dynasty. "With just a few more runs through this kind of mission, I'd be a great historian." Zhang Yuanqing turned his gaze away and looked at the courier bureau's flag pinned to the flatbed wagon. The Huang Qi Couriers' flag was a earthy yellow, fluttering gently in the wind. Suddenly, a phrase popped into his mind: "The Moving Yellow Flag!" By midday, the convoy halted under the shade beside the official road. Chen Xue Dao stood atop his horse, surveying the surroundings and said, "Let's take a fifteen-minute break." Everyone dismounted and immediately reached for their water skins, gulping them down eagerly. It was early autumn, and the sun was bright and intense. The couriers had ridden for two hours under the scorching sun, their clothes soaked with sweat and their throats parched. Zhang Yuanqing finished his water skin before unstrapping his satchel and joining the others to enjoy the meat buns, roasted chickens, and fruits brought from Wan City. Most of the time, they could only have dry rations and plain water, and only when passing through cities or towns could they enjoy a few meals of something more delicious. Zhang Yuanqing and Chen Wei sat side by side, eating fresh fruit, meat, and soft buns. Zhao Youcai, leading the escorts, was feeding hay to the horses and called out, "Master, is there any fresh water nearby? It's time to wipe the horses' noses." Chen Xue dao was about to reply when he suddenly heard the urgent sound of galloping horses on the official road. The escort group turned to look, and there came a rider galloping swiftly, dressed in the earth-yellow uniform of the courier office. "Chai Gui has returned," said Zhao Youcai, beaming with relief. "Dad, Chai Gui has returned!" Chen Wei also called out. The rider returning was Chai Gui, who had gone to Xiucheng to deliver a message. Chen Xue dao nodded slightly, hung his water bag, and stepped forward to greet him. "Whoa!" Chai Gui tightened the reins, his steed lifted its front hooves high and came to a sudden stop. He didn't even have time to wipe the "How did Master Xuanyu respond?" Chen Xue dao asked. Zhang Yuanqing, Chen Wei, Zhao Youcai, and Zhu Peiran, the four key members, approached and stood by his father. Chi Gui's face suddenly grew strange; he hesitated to speak. Seeing this, Chen Xue dao furrowed his brows and said, "Go on, say whatever comes to mind." Chi Gui swallowed hard and spoke in a low voice: "Master Xuanyu said that the Divine Sword Manor had already been wiped out three years ago. All three hundred and more members of the manor perished."