Cai Longshen hadn't expected that a certain defeat could turn into a turnaround. He had even decided to walk away, quietly observing the final outcome, only to witness the Prime Immortal successively eliminating the enemies of the chaotic faction. Cai Longshen was both stunned and bewildered, unsure of what had transpired, so he patiently observed—only when he saw the Prime Immortal draw out the Life Source Liquid to heal Huang Taiqi and others did he finally confirm that the situation had reversed. Since the orderly faction had won, there was no need for them to teleport away. His arrival at this moment was specifically aimed at uncovering the ultimate secret behind the Five Elements' disorder. With his experience and insight, Cai Longshen easily recognized the immense value of this quest. If the Five Elements' secret arts were carried out of the quest, they would undoubtedly spark a major upheaval within the Five Elements Alliance—this was a truly monumental achievement, one he absolutely could not miss. Zhang Yuanqing glanced over the young girl, then toward the approaching youth, and smiled dryly, "There are still some survivors! What kind of crawler is this?"
He had originally felt genuine sentiment and surprise, but as soon as the words reached his lips, they turned into mockery. Upon hearing the term "crawler," Cai Long's brows furrowed slightly. He slightly raised his chin and introduced himself: "Cai Long Shen—my grandfather is Cai Elder from the Headquarters." He needed to establish his standing first, laying the groundwork for the subsequent division of spoils.
A grandson of a Headquarters Elder? Zhang Yuanqing thought it over, and though he hadn't heard of Elder Cai, that wasn't Cai's issue—it was his own. He had never paid much attention to the identities of the ten Headquarters Elders, only knowing that the five Grand Elders of the five major clans were among them. The only one whose name he remembered was Emperor Hong, the grandfather of Huang Taidi, and the Grand Elder of Headquarters.
"Master Yuanshen, you've done an excellent job," Cai Long nodded slightly, speaking with the grace of a noble-born heir, praising the grassroots talents within the organization. "You've made a significant contribution. Upon our return to the Spiritual Realm, I will truthfully report your achievements in the mission report, and ensure you receive substantial recognition and rewards
"Gain initiative and leadership through one's status. Zhang Yuanqing tilted his head, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "I find your manner of speaking distasteful. You should be grateful that I'm in good spirits right now—just go on and stay put." Cai Longshen's expression grew momentarily stiff. Since meeting Cai Longshen, Xiao Yuan's brows had immediately arched, her gaze sharp and stern. Yin Yao, the Princess, bobbed her head slightly, as if trying to convey something through her handheld communicator... Yet Huang Taiqi had already stepped in, speaking calmly: "Besides Cai Longshen, Jiang Ju is also within the realm, though he has sustained serious injuries and is still recovering. Master Yuan-Shi, didn't you say you intended to enter the Maugong?" The proud, assertive Master Yuan-Shi nodded once, then turned away without acknowledging Cai Longshen, heading straight toward the Maugong. Xiao Yuan and Princess Yin Yao exchanged simultaneous glances—one above the other—expressing their displeasure at Huang Taiqi's efforts to shield Cai Longshen. Yet soon, Xiao Yuan understood the depth of Huang Taiqi's intentions.
Yuanshi Tianzun has a history of killing colleagues, and currently he is mentally unstable, somewhat neurotic. If he learns of the things Cai Longshen has done, it would be difficult to guarantee Cai Longshen's survival. As Cai Longshen holds a high status and rank, his death in the spiritual realm would inevitably prompt the official headquarters to review the副本 reports and investigate the exact cause of his passing. Any death of a prominent second- or third-generation official is always thoroughly examined. While it's acceptable if someone dies at the hands of a villainous profession, it would be serious indeed if such a death were caused by Yuanshi Tianzun himself—an official of the same organization. In contrast, Cai Longshen's failure to act when others are in peril—his lack of courage, self-interest, and hesitation—would be difficult for the headquarters to hold against him, as these are inherent human traits. In the副本 setting, no one is expected to be responsible for another's life. Xiao Yuan is indifferent to Cai Longshen's fate, but she cares deeply about Yuanshi Tianzun's career. Taking a deep breath, she walks toward the Mausoleum.
Zhang Yuanqing paused at the entrance of the mausoleum, pressed his fingers against his brow to calm the turbulent emotions, then turned and said: "Yin Yao, take care of your future companions."
Yin Yao Princess immediately stopped in her tracks, gathered the bodies of the two Fog Masters, tied them together, and borrowed a dagger from Xiao Yuan to prepare for the autopsy of the serpent woman.
The scales, snake skin, and venom glands on the serpent woman’s body were all premium materials. For instance, venom glands could be used to forge a shadow corpse particularly adept at delivering toxic attacks.
Watching Yin Yao Princess busily working in the distance, Huang Taiqi glanced at Cai Longshen, his tone unusually cold.
"You shouldn't have come."
"Shouldn't have come to claim my treasures?" Cai Longshen's eyes were shadowed, a smile playing at his lips.
"Since the Lawful faction has won, as a member of that faction, shouldn't I be entitled to come?
Don't hold me responsible—this is exactly how the scenario works. When the situation grows dire, survival takes precedence. Even the Grand Elder Di Hong has had to accept that."
"Huang Taiji furrowed his brow, saying, 'He has absorbed慕容Long's soul, and his current state is quite unstable.' 'I see that. Do you think you can scare me with this?' Cai Long smiled faintly, as if amused yet reserved.
Master Yuan Shishen's condition was indeed off, but he had not lost his composure—so long as he remained rational, he would not offend the grandson of the Grand Elder.
Huang Taiji turned to leave, calmly stating, 'Don't speak out of turn. Don't do unnecessary things.'
This was his final instruction.
At the entrance of the tomb palace, Xiao Yuan whispered, 'It seems Cai Long has a method to transcend the Spiritual Realm.'
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly wrapped his arms around Xiao Yuan's waist, his smile both alluring and eccentric, saying, 'Don't worry—I have a way to help you transcend the Spiritual Realm.'
Xiao Yuan frowned deeply, quickly pushing him away, and murmured, 'You are the Night-Wanderer God. Your Five Elements are not native to you; they reside within your body. I fear complications will arise.'
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly sighed deeply, full of feeling: "Xiao Yuan, although I have a girlfriend now, your dedication to me today has deeply touched me. I'm not at all opposed to having another girlfriend—once we emerge from the Spiritual Realm, we'll definitely have a romantic night together." ... Xiao Yuan's lips trembled for a long time, and finally, after taking a deep breath, she stopped speaking to the 'neurotic' person. Yuan Shi's current state clearly indicated something was wrong, but she could do nothing about it. Soon, Yin Yao, the Princess, carefully extracted all valuable materials from the snake woman's body. The four of them, under Zhang Yuanqing's guidance, bent down and crawled into the mausoleum, descending along the narrow staircase. After a few minutes, they reached the burial chamber. Mu Conglong's burial chamber was a brick structure imitating wooden architecture, divided into a front and a back chamber. The front chamber was roughly square, with a stepped roof, and mural paintings on the east and west walls. A corridor of nine meters in length connected the two chambers, each wall featuring a broken latticed window. At the lower part of the east wall, there was an inscription dated
The crowd found a stele erected in the central corridor in honor of Mo Congfu, inscribed with his achievements. Huang Taiqi quickly scanned the account on the stele, then furrowed his brows. "He went north at a young age, traveled throughout Central China, encountered remarkable opportunities, and mastered the Five-Element Secret Technique... That's odd. I've experienced numerous Song Dynasty storylines and reviewed countless strategy guides. The Song Dynasty boasted many immortal academies, yet none of them seem to have touched upon the Five-Element Secret Technique. Mo Congfu, coming from a modest background, is remarkably unique for his time."
Zhang Yuanqing chuckled with disdain. Yin Yao Princess only wished her small megaphone had a recording function. The young attendant whispered, "What exactly do you know?" Everyone knew he had absorbed the soul of Mo Conglong and thus gained information, yet they maintained a quiet reserve—deliberately ignoring his unusual behavior and avoiding mentioning the spiritual contamination, so as not to distress Yuan Shǐ Tianzun. It was as if they were carefully avoiding upsetting a mental patient. Zhang Yuanqing explained, "When Mo Fu was young, he was overly involved in matters beyond his scope, which offended many figures in the martial world, leading to a pursuit and eventual pursuit that forced him to flee into the deep mountains and forests. There, he stumbled upon a cave left behind by a reclusive master, containing a five-element secret scripture, several treasures, and the withered bones of the master himself. In the bones, Mo Fu discovered two divine pills of yin and yang colors. Through the scripture, he learned that consuming these pills would enable him to quickly master the five-element arts."
"Thus, he took the divine pill and diligently practiced in the mountain cave for three years, achieving mastery of the Five Elements secret techniques before finally leaving the cave to wander the world." Xiao Yuan nodded. Huang Taidi asked, "Was this information you learned from Mo Conglong?" "No," Zhang Yuanqing smiled with a mysterious air. "It was Mo Fu who told me—Mo Fu is actually Mo Conglong. When Mo Conglong first entered his ancestor's tomb to steal the Five Elements scrolls, he discovered a divine pill embedded within the dried bones of his ancestor. "It was only after consuming this pill that he mastered the Five Elements techniques. However, there were side effects—Mo Fu's consciousness awakened within his body, causing Mo Conglong to suffer from a condition known as 'going against the flow and entering the flame,' or 'fire and water chaos.'" Upon hearing this, Huang Taidi and the others exchanged a subtle expression of concern. "Then, Mo Fu must have..." "Exactly!" Zhang Yuanqing adopted a theatrical tone, as if telling a ghostly tale. "That recluse sage also revived within Mo Fu's mind at that time. The concept of 'the Five Elements transforming into one another, perpetually renewing and
"But Mu Dongfu was fortunate. When he left the cave, he suffered from a fire-based affliction, killing many innocent people in the martial world. A wandering Taoist subdued him, skilled in the art of nocturnal divination, which effectively extinguished the will of the retired, accomplished masters. To prevent future generations from repeating his misfortunes, Mu Dongfu established a rule that no one should practice the Five Elements Secret Arts."
In this dimly lit tomb hall, the group felt a chill as they gazed at the enigmatic smile of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun.
Cai Longshen's mind stirred—what if practicing the Five Elements Secret Arts meant another path to immortality?
They passed through the corridor and arrived at the rear chamber.
The rear chamber was hexagonal, featuring a pagoda-style truncated six-sided conical roof, with painted wooden elements and colorful murals on the walls.
At the central pedestal stood an open stone sarcophagus, containing a skeleton and six items:
a long sword with a rotten scabbard;
a bronze bell;
a crimson-hued gourd;
a long silk robe embroidered in black with golden threads;
and a bamboo basket.
Finally, there is a bronze plaque with five distinct colors, inscribed with the characters "Unfavorable People." Cai Longshen looks at the items inside the coffin and his eyes light up. He's come to the right place. If he had remained hidden in the Sword Pavilion, never venturing to this cemetery area, even if he completed his mission and cleared the quest, his score would have been low, and he would have received only modest rewards. As a reward for the winning faction, the quality of the items inside the coffin is undoubtedly high. But what truly excites him most is the five-colored bronze plaque—each of the five colors present, truly exceptional. Huang Taiji searches diligently, then sighs in disappointment: "There's no Five-Element Secret Technique..." Everyone is disappointed; clearly, the spiritual realm does not wish for such techniques to be obtained by the spiritual realm travelers. The legendary techniques are notably absent from the rewards. Cai Longshen quickly regains his composure, clears his throat, and speaks confidently: "We can now distribute the items. There are six items here, including the one outside the residence of Jiang Ju, totaling exactly six people."
He was well aware that in such matters of selecting spoils, speed made all the difference—given his status, as long as he moved swiftly enough, he could secure what he desired, and even if others were dissatisfied, they wouldn’t press the issue. So without hesitation, he reached for the bronze plaque of the Unworthy Ones and said, “I take this one.”
“Pfft!” Water sprayed outward.
Cai Long stared in astonishment at the water splashing from his wrist, only for it to re-cohere and reform into his wrist moments later. He could hardly believe his eyes, fixing his gaze on Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, “You… dare cut off my hand?”
Indeed, his wrist had just been severed, thus triggering the water spirit’s passive ability. It was Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun who had made the move.
Zhang Yuanqing’s lips began to crack slightly, his expression slightly nervous, as if the Joker from Gotham City in a film, “Who gave you the courage to touch my spoils?”
Cai Long erupted in fury, “Who gave you the courage to act against me—whether inside the quest or outside, to challenge my official colleagues, that’s a capital offense!
"Even if you're a genius, what does your status matter compared to the grandson of the Grand Elder? Among the younger generation of the Five Elements Alliance, few can hold their own beside him. Zhang Yuanqing's gaze grew increasingly intense, and the curve of his smile widened. Suddenly, he rubbed his face vigorously, murmuring, "Calm down, calm down! Impulsiveness is the devil!" He ignored Cai Longshen entirely and picked up the badge requested by the 'Unsatisfactory People.' Meanwhile, Huang Taidi fixed Cai Longshen with a serious, sharp gaze, gently shaking his head. Cai Longshen gave a light scoff, but his expression grew increasingly gloomy. A few seconds later, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes displayed the item's attribute information:
[Name: Badge of the Unsatisfactory People]
[Type: Accessory]
[Function: Key]
[Description: A badge from an early period of a Supreme Being's life, carried for years and imbued with the Five Elements' energies, gaining a certain divinity. Holding this badge allows one to personally meet that great being.]
】 【Note: The prerequisite for using the key is to first locate the keyhole.】 This seal token is something particularly interesting that Zhang Yuanqing observed in Mo Conglong's memory. It was brought out by Mo Fu from that cave, and according to Mo Fu's recollection, the renowned hermit from the outside world was a figure from the Tang dynasty. It was precisely by holding this token and meeting a great being that he acquired the Five Elements Secret Arts. This item is likely the actual key to obtaining the Five Elements Secret Arts. At this moment, Huang Taiji said:
"Master Cai, do you have a transportation device?
Now that the main quest of the副本 has been completed and the spoils have been distributed, hand over that device to her so she can leave the spiritual realm."
The main storyline of the副本 requires the elimination of the rival faction's practitioners; otherwise, the quest will never be completed, and they will never be able to return.
Master Cai, looking at the five-colored bronze token in Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn's hand, expressed some displeasure, saying:
"A transportation device of such value is worth a fortune—how can I give it to a mere spirit-medium?"
Of course, she could pay for it," Huang Taiqi furrowed his brow. "How much would you like?" Cai Longshen didn't look at him; instead, he glanced at Xiao Yuan and Yuan Shizhen. "The items inside the coffin—I need three. And the bronze tablet you're holding—I also need that." Huang Taiqi said firmly, "You'd better reconsider." Zhang Yuanqing didn't even glance at Cai Gongzi; he turned to Xiao Yuan and said, "I'll send you a teleportation jade symbol to help you leave. As compensation for your level drop, you may choose three of the items from the coffin. Upon your return, I'll replenish you with additional life essence and cash." Yuan Shizhen also has teleportation items? Cai Longshen was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned slightly troubled—now, his leverage for raising prices was gone. Zhang Yuanqing then looked at Huang Taiqi, his tone light and teasing. "Father-in-law, you may take one." Huang Taiqi wasn't sure whether the term "father-in-law" was meant as a jest or a jab, especially since Yuan Shizhen had clearly gone off the deep end. He decided it wasn
Zhang Yuanqing then turned to Yin Yao Princess and said, "You take one as well." He didn't reserve any for himself—the Princess's gear was as much his own as his own. When necessary, even Xiao Yuan's gear could become his. There were so many top-tier items in the inventory that rather than gather them all himself, it made more sense to distribute them, giving each companion their own. Just as in this current quest—if the Princess carried several key items, and if Little Red Cap were placed upon the Blood Rose, the Order of Law would not have faced such a desperate situation. Cai Longshen's face grew completely stern. He had clearly sensed that the Prime Immortal did not intend to share his gear with him—was this a direct challenge? You say no, and then you won't share? Cai Longshen, raised within the official system, was most accustomed to conflict. A quiet smile of contempt crossed his mind as he swiftly grabbed the bell, bamboo basket, and gourd, placing them in the inventory. "You—" Huang Taidi's face went pale. He immediately turned to the Prime Immortal, only to see Zhang Yuanqing's veins bulging, his eyes blazing with growing fury and rage
It's gone... Huang Taiji felt his heart sink, and said firmly, "Cai Longshen, bring out the items—right now!"
"Bring them out?" Cai Longshen scoffed, "My spoils? What right do you have to take them, Huang Taiji? If you're not satisfied, go to headquarters and file a complaint with me once you step out of the realm."
He was speaking to Huang Taiji, but really, he was addressing Yuan Shizhen.
He was subtly asserting his own status.
Zhang Yuanqing slowly turned around, fixed his gaze on Cai Longshen, and gave a gentle smile, "Look again—what have you actually taken?"
Cai Longshen was taken aback, instinctively turning to the coffin and seeing the five items neatly resting beside the withered bones.
What did I take just now?
He hurriedly opened his inventory and realized he had taken nothing at all.
He had been caught in a spell.
"Yuan Shizhen, are you really determined to make things difficult for me?" Cai Longshen stormed.
Zhang Yuanqing cracked a smile, "I'm sorry, Cai gentleman
He raised his right hand, the black and white energies in his palm surging and swirling into a powerful vortex that enveloped the distinguished Cai公子.
Cai Longshen quickly sensed the desperation and fear of the three Huang Taiji disciples moments before—now his body was immobilized, his fundamental spiritual energy flowing out in torrents.
Within just a few seconds, he felt the imminent threat of death.
"Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, are you sure what you're doing...?" Cai Longshen's eyes widened, still unable to believe. "You'd better clear your foggy mind and straighten out your thoughts."
"My grandfather is the Senior Elder of the Grand Department—dare you kill me? Then no one will be safe."
"Let him come!" Zhang Yuanqing said coldly.
The vortex suddenly intensified, and the brilliance in Cai Longshen's eyes rapidly faded.
"No, no—please don't kill me—please!" He finally realized that his identity had lost all value.
From childhood to now, no matter how strong or prestigious his status had been, it no longer mattered.
The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign truly intended to kill him.
A profound fear surged through him; he tried to speak in appeal, but his pleas gradually faded into silence. "Don't kill me, please...," his voice vanished entirely, and he became a pale, lifeless corpse. Zhang Yuanqing, on the other hand, seemed to have received a powerful tonic—his complexion was now rosy and vibrant. Huang Taiqi exhaled a heavy sigh; the very thing he had feared had finally come to pass. The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign had slain Cai Longshen, and no matter how the task report was written, headquarters would repeatedly verify the details. Once he emerged from the spiritual realm, he would have to call Fu Qingyang and find a way to downplay the incident. "Kill him—excellent!" remarked Yin Yao, the Princess of Silver. Zhang Yuanqing released his grip, set the corpse aside, then produced a jade box from which he removed a jade tablet. "Select three items and leave the realm." Xiao Yuan watched the lifeless body on the ground, hesitated, and finally, in silence, accepted the tablet. From the coffin, she chose the bell, the sword, and the bamboo basket.
Under Zhang Yuanqing's gaze, Huang Taiji selected a black silk rope, while Princess Yin Yao chose a crimson-hued gourd. Xiao Yuan lowered her head, gazing intently at the jade tablet, reading the item's information and mastering its usage. Then, lifting her eyes, she said, "I'll head back first. You'd better find a way to resolve your mental concerns."
"Crack!" The jade tablet shattered.
At that moment, she vanished from everyone's sight.
As soon as Xiao Yuan had departed, the Orderkeepers received a spiritual realm notification:
【Ping! Congratulations on completing the multi-player spiritual realm mission—Five Elements in Disorder, No. 028, Difficulty Level A. Rewards are now being settled.】