Sunlight streamed in through the window, and the autumn breeze rustled through the garden, sending the deep green leaves whispering softly. Fu Family Bay was nestled within the city, quiet yet vibrant—free from the clamor of human voices and the constant hum of rushing traffic, offering a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Zhang Yuanqing sat at his desk, spreading out the paper, gently rotating his oil-based pen, lazily leaning back against the chair, gazing thoughtfully at the swaying branches outside. After a long while, he broke from his reverie and began writing: One: Confirm whether the female marshal is currently in Songhai. Two: The dog elder and the marshal must not be present when the magic eye is rescued. Three: The rescue process must remain unimpeded by official power holders. Four: We need assistance. These four concise points, however, raised numerous complex questions. To confirm whether the female marshal is in Songhai is straightforward—just ask Fu Qingyang. If she is indeed in Songhai, I will need to devise a strategy to divert her attention, keeping her occupied at the zoo. With her watching over the zoo, I will simply be unable to rescue the magic eye. "Even if he could summon a half-divine master, Long Hai still has six Dominators, and the zoo itself is a rule-based artifact. Once the situation escalates, Long Hai's branch will gather its top talents—leaving him with no chance at all." At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing thought creatively and came up with a plan. He could have the King of Fear cause disturbances across the Yangtze River Delta region, drawing the Female Marshal's attention and achieving a strategic diversion—effectively pulling the tiger away from its mountain. With this idea in mind, Zhang Yuanqing picked up his phone and dialed Fu Qingyang's number. Once connected, he reported, "Boss, I visited Huadu this morning..." and briefed him on the disturbance over the antique auction. "As long as no one dies," Fu Qingyang said calmly. ...Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, Boss, are you starting to feel psychologically affected by me? I only killed two colleagues. "Will your purchases draw the attention of headquarters?" "No." Fu Qingyang replied with two concise words, offering no further explanation—this was always his style. Zhang Yuanqing nodded, continuing the conversation: "I've now reached the sixth rank. My story is being widely circulated throughout the forum and beyond. My reward has been promoted from the regional list to the celestial list. You know, the Fearful King, won't he come back to Songhai to cause trouble again? Last time, he didn't get the key to Gaotian Original, so he surely won't be satisfied. This time, I've defeated the Greedy General as well." Fu Qingyang said, "General Yuan is still in Songhai." Indeed, the General is still in Songhai... Zhang Yuanqing silently sighed, maintaining a cheerful expression on his face. "That's good. With the General here, we won't have to fear the Fearful King anymore." He had called Fu Qingyang to make sure the other didn't see his sense of disappointment. The best way to demonstrate restraint was simply not to meet face to face. Ended the call, Zhang Yuanqing opened the chat app, clicked on the profile of the King of Fear, and sent a message: "I'm preparing to take action soon, Great King of Freedom. Do you have time?" Perhaps the four words "King of Freedom" had a positive effect, as the King of Fear promptly replied: "What are your plans?" Zhang Yuanqing typed: "My plans are still taking shape. I might need you to step in—perhaps a 'divert and draw away' strategy." He didn't make it too explicit, and with the King of Fear's wisdom, the meaning was clear. The King of Fear replied simply: "Understood." Then there was no further message. Zhang Yuanqing felt a great relief, deleted the chat history, and refocused his energy on refining his plans. The issue with the Marshal was now resolved; now he turned his attention to how to handle the Dog Elder. "The 'divert and draw away' strategy can be used again. The challenge lies in moving the Dog Elder. The female Marshal is easier—since the Sea of Song has only one half-deity, she has no choice but to go." "Once the dogs leave the zoo, we need a targeted strategy...” Having the Princess Gong take the lead and cause a major commotion across the Songhai territory to draw away the dog elders? Not feasible—there's no guarantee that the dog elders will step in; it might be Fu Qingyang or another elder instead. Moreover, if the dog elders bring the entire zoo with them, what then? For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't come up with a solution. He dropped his oil-based pen in frustration, slumping helplessly into his ergonomic chair. "To become a great star official truly demands high intelligence—fire masters simply can't manage it. If only we had the logical reasoning skills of a scout...” A sudden inspiration struck Zhang Yuanqing. Though he lacked the scout's logical reasoning, he had the military spirit face patterns. The white-faced, cunning and scheming type excelled at strategy—wasn't that just as valuable as a scout's logical acumen? He immediately lifted his finger and gently tapped his brow. A luminous, milky glow ignited, spreading across his face and enveloping it entirely. Then, black and crimson pigments flowed along his lips and eyes, outlining a cunning, sinister expression. Zhang Yuanqing raised the arching brows, smiled gently, and hummed softly, leaning back against the chair to close his eyes and meditate. He occasionally chuckled, lifting the corner of his mouth; at other times, he arched his brows with a cold, sardonic expression, speaking in a deliberately ironic tone. Half an hour later, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, and a complex, well-thought-out plan had fully formed in his mind. Moreover, Zhang Zizhen can be used just perfectly to probe the Dog Elder’s stance and gauge the true nature of their relationship. However, once both the Female Marshal and the Dog Elder depart from Songhai simultaneously, the scout, Qian Gongzi, will inevitably notice something amiss. Thus, the next step is the third: leverage the Night Rose to lure Qian Gongzi out of Songhai. Should the Night Rose’s ambush of Red Ying Elder and the others take place in the Yangtze River Delta region, then Fu Qingyang, as a senior elder of the patrol unit, is duty-bound to intervene. With these three departing to rescue the Eye of the Demon, the task becomes significantly smoother. The other four elders each have their own territories; as long as Songhai remains stable, they rarely intervene. “My only adversaries are the Zoo—the rule-based item.” For the fourth step, the helper has already been chosen. —The Mad Sister. This lady, who nearly became his childhood bride, is one of the few with whom he can truly open up and trust. And now, a master with the ability to actively participate in this matter. After finalizing the plan, Zhang Yuanqing suppressed his excitement and began to carefully consider the specific details. "Except for the first step, which doesn't require verification through stargazing, all the other steps need meticulous planning and careful validation—this is my first strategic move since I learned stargazing." "If successful, it proves I have the talent of a chess player, and I may consider specializing in the stars. If not, then I'll specialize in the Sun or the Moon." ... 4:00 PM. Jinshan City, Wuhen Hotel. Kou Beiyue stood at the front desk, withdrawing all the income he and his younger brother had earned over the past two months. With his fingers dipped in water, he counted the cash one by one. "It's the fifth time now—do you think counting money several times will make it grow?" the small, round man beside him interrupted his son's clumsy behavior. Kou Beiyue rubbed his head, looking deeply concerned. "It's already August 22nd. Just one week away, and that's when Master Wuhen will gather his companions to deliver the teachings. According to tradition, we need to distribute the team's operating funds at this time so they can have a good holiday season." He stared at the four ten-thousand-yuan banknotes before him, sighed, "But we only have this amount—plus the income from the hotel—no more than twenty thousand yuan." Actually, Yuan Shishen had provided them with substantial support. Some of the funds were used to cover the hotel's ongoing expenses, some to assist team members in urgent situations, and the rest were used when Xiao Yuan advanced to the sixth level to purchase materials. The plump man interjected, "If we really can't manage, then let's sell a few items of extraordinary quality." His suggestion was immediately rejected by the leader: "The props are too precious. We must keep them for future companions, ensuring their survival chances. Even if we tighten our belts, we must never sell any props." "But funding must be provided—this is a rule established by Master Wuhen. The original intention behind this rule is to curb team members' desire for money. When people are poor, they can do anything; morality and conscience become worthless in the face of poverty. Therefore, funding is provided so that team members can maintain their livelihoods, rather than having to earn money on their own. When team members have sufficient savings, they can restrain their urge to earn more, much like wandering Taoists who only take modest earnings to sustain themselves, avoiding opportunities to engage with larger sums. Once the funding is gone, team members will naturally seek to earn money, and when faced with temptation, evil professions will be more likely to lose control. Xiao Yuan said calmly, 'Let's not count it— I'll find a way to secure it. I'll lock it in my room's safe.' Kou Beiyue nodded, collected the cash, and led her brother deeper into the hotel. In the elevator, the plump young man asked in confusion: "Why not go to Yuan Shi Tian Zun for financial help? He just achieved a major victory and is certainly the wealthiest among us. The official channels have far more effective ways of raising funds than we free organizations do." "What nonsense!" the fierce young wolf dog complained, eyes blazing. "Yuan Shi Tian Zun is merely a peripheral member with us—he's not even part of the core. How can peripheral members support the core?" The plump young man summarized the elder's meaning: it's about face—hesitant to speak up. He shrugged carelessly. "After all, Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Xiao Yuan have a good relationship. Even if we ask him for a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand, it won't be a problem—just treat it as part of the dowry." "But what connection do they have? There's not a single cent of shared ties between them," Ku Bei Yue spat, splashing her brother with a stream of saliva. "Boss, I know you might not like what I'm saying, but haven't you noticed that Xiao Yuan has been getting more polished in her appearance lately?" the plump young man lowered his "Not only is your temperament just like the Fire Master's—your air of being unromantic is even more reminiscent of his. The plump one shoots you a glance: 'Now, think again—why did she start wearing makeup? Why didn't she wear it before? Something must have happened between Xiao Yuan and the Prime Immortal during their time in the quest realm.'" Upon hearing this, Kou Beiyue felt her growing anxiety about "her mother's impending marriage" deepen even more. “Zhang Yuanqing got really heated when he mentioned this,” said Xiao Yuan, shaking her head, “The realm just doesn’t get it. I’ve earned every single bug I’ve created through sheer merit—how can they now take it back and reduce me back to square one?” Xiao Yuan smiled gently and shook her head again, “You’ve already reached Level Six and achieved the Golden Crane Body. To gain such rewards from just one dungeon run is already a tremendous fortune. And having access to a Master-tier power might not necessarily be a blessing for you.” Zhang Yuanqing nodded, “Ah, yes, you’re absolutely right.” Xiao Yuan gave him a scolding look, “Don’t be so stiff and aloof.” Zhang Yuanqing paused, then smiled warmly, “Alright!” He sensed a shift in Xiao Yuan’s attitude toward him—ever since he revealed he had a girlfriend, the magical aunt had grown notably colder and more reserved. She’d often ignore him, maintain a respectful distance, respond only occasionally with a pleasant expression, and most of the time remain distant and composed. Zhang Yuanqing had almost thought she was holding him in reserve for a potential backup. Upon meeting him today, Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Xiao Yuan's reserved demeanor had softened, and he found himself more emotionally expressive in her presence. According to Ling Jun's account, she had gradually adapted to the fact that he was in a relationship, had moved past the uncertainty of "going their separate ways," and still held genuine affection for him. Zhang Yuanqing felt both delighted and concerned. The Heavenly Sovereign now had a girlfriend, yet Xiao Yuan remained steadfastly devoted to him, undaunted. How could one possibly handle such a situation? While pondering this, he lifted his large suitcase and placed it at the front desk. Xiao Yuan glanced at the suitcase, then at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "Open it up!" With a mix of curiosity and hopeful anticipation, Xiao Yuan opened the suitcase. As the latch clicked open, she stood still, stunned. Inside the suitcase—standing nearly as tall as a person—were stacks upon stacks of red banknotes, piling up like a small mountain, filling her vision. "Here's one million—you'll receive this as compensation for your demotion. I've also prepared three vials of Life Source Liquid, not the diluted kind. One vial revitalizes and sharpens your mind, two keep you energized without fatigue, and three promote eternal youth and vitality." Zhang Yuanqing smiled and placed the three vials on the counter. Next, he mentioned the second matter: "Soon, I plan to launch the guild dungeons. Once the extraordinary members in the guild complete their extraordinary dungeon quests, I'll take you through the Saint's Dungeon—this should help recover some experience points. Combined with the Spirit Realm dungeons, your recovery to peak condition will significantly accelerate. The second-tier guild decree now allows access to fourth-tier dungeons. If luck is on our side and we encounter a S-tier dungeon, we might even bring Xiao Yuan back up to level five. Xiao Yuan's face brightened slightly, and she nodded in agreement. Zhang Yuanqing then asked about the final matter: "How is the cooperation between the Void Sect and the Taiyuan Sect?" Xiao Yuan replied without hesitation: "A few weeks ago, the Void Sect and the Taiyuan Sect had a collaboration that nearly captured the Pure Yang Master, but he managed to escape. In the days that followed, both sects suffered consecutive losses of several Master Dreamers and Star Officers—these losses have effectively become nourishment for the Pure Yang Master. Given the deep-standing grievances between the Pure Yang Master and Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, Xiao Yuan has been particularly attentive to this development and regularly checks in with the younger, stocky master Under pressure, she's actually becoming more assertive—has the Night Rose been laying plans all along? Is she aiming for something big? Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "I understand. I still have matters to attend to at Songhai. I'll go now." He turned to leave. Xiao Yuan frowned slightly, feeling slightly displeased, yet her sense of dignity prevented her from speaking to keep him. As Zhang Yuanqing reached the door, he turned back and suddenly gently pressed his fingers against the soft cheeks of Xiao Yuan. "Don't think too much of me..." Xiao Yuan's eyes widened instantly, utterly astonished. She'd been teased again. ... Kou Beiyue placed the cash neatly and quietly took a cigarette with the young man, smoked it to clear the scent, then returned to the main hall. The hotel door was locked, and he immediately spotted Xiao Yuan standing behind the front desk, a large suitcase in front of her, counting stacks of cash. Her brows were lifted, her eyes bright with joy. Kou Beiyue stared straight at the cash, hearing the frantic thudding of his own heartbeat, stammering, "W-where did all this money come from...?" He had never seen so much money in his life. He couldn't comprehend how, just in the short time it took him to climb the stairs, Xiao Yuan had conjured up so much cash. She was a medium, not a magic mother. Xiao Yuan lifted her gaze, scanning the wide-eyed Kou Beiyue and the plump young man. "Yuanshi Tianzun came by just now—he gave it to me." Thunderclap! A surge of intense lightning struck through Kou Beiyue's mind, as if struck by lightning. He was furious, exclaiming, "He really came to propose in person!?" ... 8:00 PM. After concluding the stargazing session, Zhang Yuancheng returned to his bedroom, opened his computer, and logged into the online meeting platform. "Step two: use the night rose to draw away the money-recipient..." He repeatedly thought through the next lines of dialogue, rehearsing them over and over, until 8:30, when all the participants' IDs came online. Fu Qingyang, Challenge the Peak, Hong Ying, Yin Ji.