[Reward settlement in progress... Items/Equipment acquired: Second-level Clan Mandate, Bad Person's Belt... Ding! Detected violations of your inner power and abnormal contamination. Processing...] Hearing the spiritual realm's notification, Zhang Yuanqing, ever aloof and refined, froze momentarily, thinking to himself: What exactly does "violation of inner power" mean? How is it being addressed? A sense of unease surged within him. Then, the spiritual realm's notification came again: [Eliminating your violated inner power... Clearing the contamination...] The very next instant, a radiant golden sun emerged within Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness, its intense, blazing light permeating his inner realm. Immersed in this golden radiance, Zhang Yuanqing felt his soul being scorched with a crisp, crackling sound, as if it were being fiercely heated. A faint, desperate roar echoed in his ears. The mental contamination caused by the absorption of慕容龙's essence gradually dissipated, carried away by a rising plume of black vapor. His soul strength, which had reached master-level, swiftly declined and returned to its normal state. The five elements' power absorbed within him was forcibly extracted from his body by an irresistible force—undoubtedly, the power of the Spiritual Realm. Honestly, can't they just play along? I've earned this bug through sheer merit; how can they now strip it away? Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness returned to clarity, feeling the five elements' power drifting away from his body, as if being torn apart by knives. Mùlóng Lóng's five elements power was truly a master-tier force. Having experienced the overwhelming strength of defeating sixth-tier beings like slaughtering dogs—akin to the exhilarating sensation of driving a Ferrari—now being returned to the humble driving seat of a Wuling Hongguang, the contrast was hard to bear. As the mental pollution rapidly cleared, Zhang Yuanqing gradually regained his composure and calm. At least, the state of madness has been resolved. With renewed clarity, he sighed. Objectively speaking, maintaining this level of strength was indeed unrealistic. At the Saint level, he possessed power comparable to that of a Master. What would come next in the quest sequences? Would the Spiritual Realm simply assign him directly to a Master-tier quest? Cross-rank matching is already at its limit—never heard of cross-phase matching in副本 before. The Lingjing realm couldn't possibly allow him to take anything core from this instance. Yet, he still felt a bit dissatisfied. [Processing complete! Rewards recalculated... Received items/props: Second-tier Clan Mandate, Unfavorable Official Belt, Five-Element Spiritual Experience Card ×2.] [Experience reward: 100%] [叮! Congratulations—promoted to 6th-level Star Official...] [Experience reward: 7%] [Main storyline rewards finalized.] [叮! Character card rewards activated—received item: Charm Ring.] [Settlement complete! Exiting Lingjing in ten minutes...] The star cloud on Zhang Yuanqing's forehead reappeared, and a mighty force of stellar energy surged from the seal, gently washing over his body, seeping into each cell and each bone. Yet, his physical form remained unchanged under the cleansing power of the stellar energy. Yes, the stellar power within him surged dramatically, yet his physical constitution remained unchanged, as Zhang Yuanqing’s body strength had already reached the level of sixth-tier. He had nearly completed the Pure Yang Body Refinement Record. “…Promoted two levels up—what a win! And it seems to have compensated for my experience cards with the Five Elements powers.” Zhang Yuanqing’s heart pounded excitedly. Now a sixth-tier cultivator, though still in the early phase. With the beast-body abilities granted by the Azure Emperor’s Belt, he was confident he could battle sixth-tier saints with over 50% experience—such as the Greedy General, Jiang Ju, and Huang Taiji—who would still rely on other supporting items. Nevertheless, regardless of that, his actual combat strength had now firmly entered the top tier among the masters of the dominant rank. “Finally mastered the art of stargazing—the stellar power has grown exponentially, and now I can freely and freely employ the Star-Flight Technique…” After the initial excitement, he opened his character panel and eagerly checked the information. [Name: Yuan Shi Tian Zun] [Race: Human] [Occupation: Star Official] [Level: 6] [Skills: Night Wandering — Night Travel, Spirit Devouring, Spirit of the Moon, Moon's Roar, Enchantment, Spirit Scroll; Star Official — Stellar Observation, Stellar Astrology, Stellar Illusion, Stellar Evasion, Stellar Body] [Experience Points: 7%] [Moral Points: 3800] [Reputation Points: 4400] [Stellar Observation (Active Skill): By observing the changes of the celestial constellations, one can perceive the evolution of all things in the world. The deeper the practice, the more detailed the observations become. (Prerequisite Skill: Stellar Astrology)] A vast amount of information regarding Stellar Observation flooded Zhang Yuanqing's mind. The primary function of Stellar Observation is to perceive the evolution of all things, thereby understanding the grand trends of the world. More specifically, it encompasses numerous extended capabilities. Basic applications include weather forecasts, seasonal cycles, time periods, and zodiac fortune, among others. Deep indeed—such as gaining insight into the life stream of an individual—but this level of profundity is only attainable for those specializing in celestial studies; ordinary star officials fall short. Furthermore, both level 5 and level 6 feature only the Art of Observing the Stars as their skill. Level 5 is a foundational skill, while level 6 represents mastery. Next month’s content will be solo dungeons, and before the year-end combat dungeons, it should be manageable to accumulate over 50% experience points. By defeating three level 6 and one level 5 character, he earned 5,500 reputation points. Zhang Yuanqing quietly reviewed his gains. He originally had 500 reputation points, bringing his total to 6,000; however, after defeating Cai Longshen, 1,600 reputation points were deducted, leaving him with only 4,400. Such noble offspring typically possess abundant resources and significantly higher moral and reputation scores compared to peers from more humble backgrounds. Yet even with just 4,400 reputation points, he would be able to defeat a number of Lawful Ordereous Avatars—since defeating a single level 4 Saint only costs him a few hundred "Oh, Cai Longshen is a liability—so impulsive. He shouldn't have been killed. We should wait until we return to reality and consult with the elder leaders..." He sighed, then opened his inventory to check the items. First on his list was the Clan Command, which came as a surprise. The Clan Command is typically earned only after demonstrating strong leadership in a raid, guiding the team to victory and earning the respect of teammates. Only then is there a chance to obtain it. Yet he had not led the team at all—he had simply retreated into the final zone. 】 【Note 2: To obtain a Level 2 Clan Command, one must possess the quality of "turning the tide."】 【Note 3: Clan Commands transcend faction alignments and can recruit opponents from rival factions.】 【Note 4: Clan members must remain loyal and cannot betray one another or harm each other internally.】 With Note 2 now clear, Zhang Yuanqing's lingering doubts were finally resolved—he had realized that the reward mechanisms for Level 1 and Level 2 Clan Commands differ. "Good—it involves a bit of luck, which is positive, though it also indicates that upgrading Clan Commands is quite challenging, as each stage has distinct requirements..." Excited, Zhang Yuanqing activated the Clan Command, officially elevating "The Return of the Dead" to Level 2. Then, he held in his hands both the "Five-Element Spiritual Energy Experience Card" and the "Charisma Ring," examining their attributes. The Five-Element Spiritual Energy Experience Card is a multi-colored card, resembling a character card in material. The Charisma Ring is woven from red cord, appearing much like a two-yuan stallcraft item. [Name: Five-Element Spirit Power Experience Cards ×2] [Type: Consumable] [Function: Summon the Five Elemental Forces] [Description: A star official who initially managed to exploit a rare system glitch through unconventional means unexpectedly gained a master-level power. After successfully repairing the spiritual realm's system flaw, he was rewarded with two experience cards as compensation.] [Note: Please keep your emotions in check.] 【Name: Charm Ring】 【Type: Accessory】 【Function: Enhances charm】 【Description: A devoted red Luan star official, longing to win the affection of his beloved, poured his heart and soul into weaving this ring. Wearing it inspires positive feelings in surrounding women, and over time, those under its influence develop a deep romantic longing and spark genuine love.】 【Note: Honestly, our girl has already been won over by you—what are we going to do now? Fight it out with them one-on-one?】 "A ring that boosts women's affection is equivalent to possessing the passive ability of the Red Luan star official—charm. A solid supportive item, excellent for dealing with women. The trade-off, however, is that during wear, one tends to attract targeted opposition from women." Zhang Yuanqing quickly grasped both the benefits and drawbacks of the ring, his expression instantly becoming odd. This is a magical king's item. The Charm Ring enchants women; the Long-Lasting Spray conquers them. The magical lord is truly a practitioner of the esoteric path—only second to the one who upgraded through mutual cultivation. Zhang Yuanqing considered whether to sell the ring to Ling Jun. But then he thought: his mentor is different from the magical lord. The mentor values technique; giving him this ring would only make him feel disrespected. "I'll keep it myself. When Guan Ya or Xiao Yuan get annoyed with me later, I can use it. I'm not sure if it'll work on the old stick, though." Zhang Yuanqing ultimately decided to keep it for himself. After reviewing the rewards, he glanced at the countdown—there were still five minutes left. He turned to Huang Taiji, looking worried: "What about Cai Longshen's matter?" After regaining composure, he realized how impulsive he had been. This was a colossal crisis. Moreover, Zhang Yuanqing regretted that although Cai Longshen was careless and often off-putting, his faults didn't warrant a death sentence. Huang Taiji said calmly, "Don't worry. Once we leave the instance, I'll discuss it with Fu Qingyang." At that point, we might need to cross-check our statements to ensure consistency in the reports." Zhang Yuanqing paused, surprised. Though they had shared life and death, Huang Taiqi's unwavering support was more than he had expected. Huang Taiqi sighed and said, "During your unconscious period..." briefly recounting to him the incident where Cai Longshen failed to save the situation and refused to fight. Zhang Yuanqing's expression darkened, and he coldly remarked, "He deserves to die." Cai Longshen, relying on his teleportation device, had watched as colleagues from the same official body perished, effectively undermining Huang Taiqi's team. With the two factions' strengths roughly equal in the spiritual realm, one key player's hesitation had effectively cost the entire team. That was one thing. But after securing victory through inaction, he now came back claiming shares of the spoils and even took his equipment? Not only was he mentally unwell at the time, even if he were fully composed, Zhang Yuanqing would have dealt with Cai Longshen. Huang Taiji added, "But you must be mentally prepared for the day when things come to light—your reports can be fabricated, but we cannot lie, especially before the Hufu." While the Hufu cannot detect me, Huang Taiji indeed finds himself unable to withstand the weight of the Hufu. Zhang Yuanqing frowned and said, "We'll reconnect upon our return." Having concluded the matter, he cleared his throat and asked, "How many experience points have you accumulated?" Huang Taiji replied, "24%. My experience points have already reached 91%, and now I'm at Level 6, 100%—there's no further room for advancement." As he spoke, he suddenly recalled something, his tone steady yet curious, "How many experience points did you award me?" Zhang Yuanqing, anticipating the question, responded with an utterly calm demeanor, "I've reached Level 6." Huang Taiji: "...?" For the first time, his composed and serious expression revealed a rare moment of stillness and astonishment. Master Huang seemed somewhat unable to accept it... Zhang Yuanqing felt a surge of satisfaction inside and gave a crisp snap of his fingers. With a star-dash, he arrived outside, at the side of the greedy divine general and the body of the Hundred-Slasher, collecting both of their weapons. Notably, the greedy divine general's weapon was a high-grade saint-level artifact. Excellent harvest! While the artifacts were valuable, what truly delighted Zhang Yuanqing most were the two high-quality yin corpses and one high-level spirit servant he had acquired. The Night-Wanderer's greatest strength lies in controlling corpses and commanding spirits. In the past, due to his relatively shallow foundation, he had not fully unleashed the Night-Wanderer's true potential. Now, he would have four premium yin corpses and one high-tier spirit servant. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing spotted a figure staggering into view at the entrance of the cemetery, his legs torn and bloodied, with faint traces of his tibia still visible, and only half-recovered on his left arm. Clearly weak, life-threatening. This young man Zhang Yuanqing had seen before—he was precisely Jiang Juyue's brother, the former adversary of "Jiang Ju hadn't even reached the scene yet, and his voice had already boomed out: 'What's going on? Aren't we the ones who lost?' 'Wait a minute—how did the greedy hero die right here?' 'What exactly happened? Has the spiritual realm gone haywire?' Zhang Yuanqing replied: 'Oh, I've reached level 6.' 'What?' Jiang Ju didn't understand, wobbling forward. 'I asked you—how did the Order of Harmony win?' 'Oh, I've reached level 6.' '???' What a dull fire demon... Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then drew out his long sword of the Hundred Victories and swung it forward. 'Pffft!' The sword spun and embedded itself before Jiang Ju. 'What does this mean? Are we going to fight?' Jiang Ju instinctively raised his brow. 'No,' Zhang Yuanqing stepped back, arms folded, calmly. 'The realm hasn't gone haywire. I simply woke up just in time, defeated the boss, and helped the evil professions return to the realm. They've been weeping, begging me to spare them—but I won't forgive them.' Jiang Ju finally looked stunned: "You—you defeated the Boss? You're making it up, aren't you? Just a newly promoted Level 4 fighter!" He hadn't even listened to what I just said... Zhang Yuanqing suddenly decided to ignore him. Standing beside him was the Lady Yin Yao, with the greedy general and the one who had cut down a hundred soldiers lying at her feet. "My lady, hurry and lie down on the bed," Zhang Yuanqing instantly realized that time was running out—though there was still over an hour, preparing materials and inscribing the spiritual scrolls would take time. Lady Yin Yao silently walked to the bedside and lay down, her sharp fingernails cutting through her hair as she gently removed her head and placed it at her neck. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing skillfully pulled a cardboard box from beneath the bed, retrieving the bowl, brush, and mortar for grinding herbs, then fetched the vermilion and yin-materials from the guild's warehouse. As he hurried to prepare everything, Lady Yin Yao had already begun to unfasten her dress. She stripped off her garments and lay bare on the bed, her fair, straight legs, her flat and firm abdomen, her gracefully curved waist, and her snow-white, upright shoulders— besides the chill of the mountain and the cold of the water, she was a woman without a single flaw. Seeing Zhang Yuanqing examining his own torso, Yin Yao Princess silently picked up the quilt and covered it over her lower waist. "Yin Yao, I'll first restore your physical body. Then I'll apply for materials to help you advance to the sixth level," Zhang Yuanqing said softly. The dim glow in her red eyes brightened slightly, and her gaze lowered, fixing firmly on him. Zhang Yuanqing could feel her spirit fluctuating intensely—her emotions were clearly stirred. For centuries, Yin Yao had lay motionless in the Lost Speech Village quest, gaining a long life but stagnating in her cultivation. Though she had agreed to serve Yuan Shi Tian Zun as a shadow corpse under pressure from her master, deep down she had always hoped to make progress in her cultivation. Who among cultivators wouldn't desire advancement? Now it seemed clear that her master's insistence on having her serve Yuan Shi Tian Zun wasn't merely punitive—it was, in fact, compassionate, born out of concern for her situation, and aimed at resolving her cultivation challenges. Yet Master was once an imperial princess, later the Golden Bird—her status and rank were so high that she favored formalities, elegant postures, and was accustomed to expressing care through gestures rather than words. Soon, Zhang Yuanqing completed the spiritual scroll and sketched out the array on the ground, finally repairing the damaged scroll of Yin Yao Princess just as her "time was running out." ... Fu Family Village. Study. Fu Qingyang was in a voice conference with five senior elders from the Songhai Branch. Suddenly, the red indicator light on the telephone blinked. He clicked the mouse to mute the microphone and pressed the hands-free button. "What's up?" "The少爷, Huang Taidi has called, saying there's something important he'd like to discuss with you," came the voice of the rabbit maiden through the speaker. Huang Taidi? Fu Qingyang paused. Huang Taidi, the official's fourth son, had a good private relationship with him—indeed, even his most strained interactions with Jiang Ju were rooted in long-standing friendship. Yet Huang Taidi himself was reserved and understated, having rarely initiated calls to him. When exactly had they last spoken? Fu Qingyang couldn Usually, everyone is in the same group chat, and Huang Taiji rarely joins in—most of the time, he just stays submerged. What could possibly have prompted Huang Taiji to call him personally? Fu Qingyang thought for a moment and said, "Connect me now." "Yes, sir," the rabbit maiden replied softly. Immediately, the speaker began to emit a series of soft beeps. A few seconds later, Huang Taiji's calm and serious voice came through: "Fu Qingyang, I've matched with Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun within the副本."