At the sight of the Pyro-Elemental figure appearing, the Ten Elders from the headquarters and the senior monks on the bench rose simultaneously. As the chairs creaked and shifted, these esteemed rulers bowed deeply, saying, "Greetings, Master!" Then, with a louder creaking of chairs, the over a hundred attendants from the audience section and members of the Spiritual Realm families nearly leapt from their seats. Their faces filled with awe, their bodies tense, they bowed low and cried out, "Greetings, Master!" Master? The Master of the Chìhuǒ Clan? Zhang Yuancheng breathed in the scorching air, stunned, gazing at the flame-elemental figure. He had never expected the trial to summon a half-god, nor had he imagined that his first meeting with the highest leader of the Five Elements Alliance would unfold in such a manner. He carefully observed the Master, one of the Five Allied Masters. Though his body was composed of coalesced elemental substances, like molten lava, his facial features and attire were exquisitely detailed, resembling a genuine, flesh-and-blood form. Thus, he could clearly observe the helper's physical appearance—tall at two meters, wearing loose exercise clothes, with red hair reaching his shoulders, a square face adorned with a full beard, and thick, prominent eyebrows. If one disregarded the imposing aura of a semi-divine warrior, the first impression of this helper was simply that of a formidable bandit. Master Jiang paid no attention to the elders or attendants, instead turning his gaze to Zhang Yuanqing: "Are you Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn?" Zhang Yuanqing quickly suppressed his pride and rebelliousness, considering whether to offer a full prostration, but as soon as he began to utter his famous phrase—“I will not kneel, even if I am to be killed”—he hesitated. To now bow down would be to diminish the dignity of the Celestial Lord. "I am," he replied, holding his head high and meeting the molten-elemental figure with unwavering composure. To his surprise, the leader nodded with clear satisfaction: " "Speaking, he turned to the ten senior elders of the headquarters and once again issued a sharp, resonant roar: 'I'm telling you—what in the world are you people up to? Cai Qinhè, you come here and answer me—what in the world are you people doing?' Elder Cai straightened up, his dark eyes fixed on the headmaster, 'To judge the Primordial Sovereign.' 'Judging my grandmother's soul!' the headmaster snapped, 'Just release the person!' Elder Cai remained composed and dignified: 'Master, you cannot intervene in the affairs of the alliance—this was a rule you established yourself.' 'Nonsense!' The fiery elemental, known for his refined manners and elegant speech, exclaimed, 'When we originally set this rule, it was to enable you to better manage the Five Elements Alliance—not to undermine the very foundation of the alliance. 'If you continue to ignore this, then the very foundation of my original organization, the very realm I built, will be ruined by you. 'Look at what these ten of you have done over the years!' A few years ago, I heard people say that to be promoted to the rank of Elder, one must join one of the Ten Clans. Beyond the Ten, there are no clans—how could you not go to the heavens? He turned sharply and spat a large glob of molten lava onto the ground, scorching right through the floor. Such an unrefined gesture left the senior Elders in the hall both silent and hesitant, unable to express outrage. The lofty Ten Elders bowed their heads, ever so humble and compliant. Unlike the newly ascended half-god, the Female Marshal, this "rough-and-tumble" figure was the founder of the Crimson Flame Clan, one of the first Journeyers of the Spiritual Realm—there was no one in the world with deeper roots in the Spiritual Realm. Not only the senior Elders from the various branches, but even the Ten Elders of the headquarters themselves were his junior, hearing stories of his growth and development. The molten elemental person ranted passionately: "They're creating factionalism, engaging in internal struggles, clinging tightly to power. Whenever someone resists, the first move is to discipline them—once they're obedient, they're then brought into the faction and rewarded with sweet treats "Over these twenty years, every time a new force emerges, you immediately extinguish it and divide the spoils. The case of Yuan Shishen has happened more than once—how exactly was Fu Qingyang sent off to Songhai back then? You believed Fu's family was too powerful, that Fu Qingyang was proud and difficult to manage, requiring refinement, so you sent him to Songhai to 'hone' him. Did you really think I didn't know? I've simply stayed out of the way—not a fool. When I first established my kingdom, your grandfather hadn't even been born yet." He turned to the jury, his anger rising steadily. "Why aren't any of my Huihuo Clan elders present? Are you looking down on my Huihuo Clan? Among these dozen elders and dozen sovereigns, everyone knows what's going on—yet not one has stepped forward to speak up for Yuan Shishen, not one dares to offend these ten underachieving officials at headquarters." The elders of the jury lowered their heads in embarrassment; it had been many years since they'd been treated this way. "Di Hong, Cai Qinhe, Miaosen, Lieyan, Bai Zhan Junshen..." He named them one by one, sweeping his gaze over the ten elders of the headquarters, and coldly remarked, "Your skills in training dogs surpass even mine." ...The attendants bowed even lower, deeply uneasy—these words were beyond their capacity to hear. Yet beyond their unease, a quiet surge of excitement stirred within them. A young talent facing strong opposition from the established powers, now personally defended by the Grand Marshal—such a scene might never be repeated in their lifetime. Guan Ya and Xie Lingxi were especially overjoyed. With the Grand Marshal's support, Yuan Shi Tian Zun could now smoothly navigate this crisis. Miao Teng'er was also delighted, though among the ten elders rebuked by the Grand Marshal, her maternal grandfather was included. The Grand Elder Di Hong, feeling humbled, said, "We have let down the organization's trust. Please forgive us, Grand Marshal." The other nine elders bowed in respect. Cai Elder spoke solemnly, "Master, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun indeed has a murky relationship with the evil faction—going beyond the scope of mere undercover work. Though Cai Long Shen has made mistakes, his offense does not warrant death, and Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun has a precedent of having personally killed colleagues, making him a habitual offender. "By both reason and law, he deserves strict punishment." The molten elemental figure scoffed, "You're really going all legal on me, huh? By law, if your grandson has provoked the already mentally unstable Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, then Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun should be acquitted. Cai Qín Hè, why did you go all out to organize this trial session? Isn't it just because you can't bear this grudge? Your grandson nearly killed my son—how about I take you to trial too, then?" Cai Elder finally lost his composure, "Master, are you threatening me?" "Threatening? I wouldn't threaten a mere insect that I could easily crush with a single hand. You're not even worthy of such a threat!" The fiery elemental, with his sharp gaze sweeping over the ten elders, said, "It seems these twenty years of delegation have inflated you to the point of unruly arrogance." "I may not intervene in this trial—I set the rules, and I will uphold them. But I must warn you: the position of the ten elders at the headquarters was granted to you by me. Should I feel you no longer deserve to remain in those seats, I will simply take them away at any time." With that, his form dissolved into bright sparks, then faded out. The courtroom, once packed to capacity, was now down to just ten elders and the guards. Soon after, Zhang Yuanqing was led out by the guards. …… Zhang Yuanqing returned to the interrogation room. The guards had taken him here and then departed, leaving no one to watch over him or to secure him with handcuffs—remarkably relaxed. It was only then that Zhang felt a searing pain on his face, trembling and lifting his hand to touch his cheeks, gritting his teeth in discomfort. His face had been scorched. When he ran his fingers over his eyebrows and hair, they were already charred and curled. "Only a distant contact, and yet he's been scorched—this is merely a modest manifestation of the spirit-being. Indeed, the power of a half-divine entity is truly formidable." Zhang murmured to himself, then drew out the Mountain God's staff. He pressed the emerald gem at the staff's tip against his chest, activating the healing function of the artifact. As the green light swept over him, the scorching sensation on his face faded, replaced by a refreshing coolness, and his arm injuries began to heal swiftly. — Under the star official's strong self-healing capacity, the injury on his arm is already healing swiftly. Now, all he needs to do is endure his reproductive urges... He sat calmly in the interrogation chair, allowing time to pass slowly. Half an hour later, the door of the interrogation room opened, and a young investigator entered, placing a sealed phone bag on the table and said, "You may now leave! After discussion among the senior elders, they concluded that while your actions in the copy were somewhat improper, they were understandable. Your collusion with the evil profession was merely a misunderstanding." Zhang Yuanqing, fully expecting this, gave a short laugh. "The ten elders have settled on a decision? You seem quite unconvinced!" The young man, clearly from Cai's faction, frowned and repeated firmly, "You may now leave." Zhang Yuanqing smiled slightly, then summoned the phone with a gesture, tapping it once with a crisp sound—its light dissolving into stars. At the edge of the investigation department's garden, stars rose. He glanced down at the high tent erected there, then quickly stepped out of the courtyard of the investigation department building. How come it's been half an hour and still no recovery? It seems the gold reserves are a bit exaggerated... Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. This was the choice he had made—to depart by star-flight. As he stepped out of the gate, he immediately spotted the familiar business sedan parked by the roadside, the doors open, with Qian Gongzi seated inside in a white robe like snow. "Boss..." Zhang Yuanqing smiled and quickly approached, "You must have received the news of my acquittal so quickly?" Fu Qingyang watched him get in, close the door, and as the sedan started up and merged into the traffic flow, Qian Gongzi spoke calmly: "No notification was needed. Master Jiang was personally invited by me." I knew it all along... Zhang Yuanqing naturally offered his praise, expressing his admiration for the boss. "You truly are the boss. You've managed to secure Master Jiang—someone who doesn't even handle day-to-day affairs." Therefore, it had to be Master Jiang. Fu Qingyang opened the车载refrigerator, pulled out a tall glass, gestured to his trusted subordinates to pour the wine, and said: "If we ask General Zhang to represent you, it will be about using power to dominate others, making it hard to win over the crowd. But if the Master steps in for your children, it's both reasonable and well-justified. Moreover, Master Jiang is naturally passionate and direct, and with his connection to Jiang Ju, he'll be easier to persuade. "If I had to bring in any of the other three, even if I pulled you to your knees and bowed to them, I still wouldn't be able to convince them—I haven't even seen them." You bowing to me like that—aren't you making a joke of it? Zhang Yuanqing poured wine for the leader, feeling pleased: "Older Brother Cai's attempt to sneak in a little success has backfired, I'm sorry—I still couldn't hold myself back." Though he has survived this crisis, he has clearly shown his independence to headquarters. From a certain perspective, Cai's objective has actually been achieved, just at the cost of losing a thousand soldiers for every eight hundred he defeated. Fu Qingyang glanced Fu Qingyang sipped at his red wine and said gently, "In the past, I always expected you to meet my standards—modest, patient, thoughtful in your actions, never acting on impulse. That's simply how I operate. But you're different from me. 'I can't impose my standards on you,' I feel, because then it wouldn't be much different from having the headquarters make you bend." He glanced at his subordinate, now animated and enthusiastic, and shook his head. "Now that you've gone through this incident, I hope you have a better understanding of the Five Elements Alliance. The Ten Elders hold absolute authority within the official structure, and only the Five Masters can challenge them—but the Masters themselves often remain inactive. The senior monks of each branch have all been carefully cultivated and adapted. "This isn't wrong at all—authority reduces internal friction and strengthens the organization's cohesion. But the spiritual travelers of the Lingjing realm live long lives. Under the rule of ten elders, the official structure gradually becomes rigid and lifeless, lacking vitality. "There are serious issues within the official body." Zhang Yuanqing instantly grasped Fu Qingyang's meaning, "Boss, I'll help you enter the headquarters and shake off the long-standing ailments, reform the Five Elements Alliance." Fu Qingyang smiled, "Yuanshi, you're clearly intelligent, but your personality isn't suited for administrative careers. You're fortunate—the Five Elements Alliance isn't truly a bureaucratic environment; after all, martial strength still reigns supreme among the spiritual realm practitioners. "You're currently at Level Six. By year-end, you'll enter the combat arena and be promoted to Master Rank. By then, even if all your rebellious instincts gradually become rigid, you won't have to worry. At the Saint level, you'll at most be a pillar within a large organization. But once you reach Master Rank—Master, as the title implies, means one who governs a region—your options will greatly expand. The headquarters may certainly pressure you, but that won't make any difference. After all, the ten elders' intention in pressuring Yuanshi isn't to drive him away, but to gradually shape and tame him." Perhaps it was because the元始天尊 was growing too quickly, and the grassroots approach of cultivating sharpness through experience and trials had become ineffective—thus, the matter involving Cai Longshen was used as a means to reprimand him. But Fu Qingyang clearly understood that this path would not work. Since childhood, the元始天尊 had lost his father and lacked maternal affection, having lived as a guest in others’ homes. As a result, he was naturally reserved and sensitive, and whenever exposed to external stimuli, he would exhibit a strong stress response. This personality inherently made him responsive to softness rather than firmness—pressing him only intensified his resistance. Yet the headquarters’ ten elders failed to empathize or truly understand him. This, Fu Qingyang called the arrogance of those in power. Having held their positions for so long, this arrogance had become deeply rooted in their very bones. "Following this incident, the headquarters will hold your performance in the lowest regard. They will acknowledge your talent and potential, but they will choose to tolerate you—no longer considering you as a potential successor," Fu Qingyang said solemnly. "But that doesn’t matter. You never needed their support in the first place. I will pave the "The benefits will keep decreasing, and the materials, funds, and other rewards earned through your achievements will all be affected... These are all minor concerns, boss. Will Cai长老 secretly assassinate me?" Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows. If he defected from the official ranks, he wouldn't have any concerns about this—revenge would be certain. But this limbo state is the most unbearable. "Revenge will certainly come. The more prominent the figure, the less their standards. They might sell your intelligence to the evil guilds, hire assassins to target you, or even extend their attacks to your family." Fu Qingyang finished off his drink in one go. "However, when you killed Wei Yuanzhou, I already eliminated your family background. Few people know your true identity, and I will take care of everything." Zhang Yuanqing exhaled in relief. Fu Qingyang suddenly narrowed his eyes: "Dog长老 has also reviewed your records. In terms of seniority, he surpasses me; in terms of position, he does too. If Cai长老 obtains your information through him, then I shall have no choice. Are you not concerned about this?" "...Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head: 'I believe in the character of the Dog Elder, and in the elder's ability to handle affairs.' Fu Qingyang nodded, shifted his gaze, and casually added: 'You should check out the official forum—it's quite lively!' Honestly, I hate scouts... Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself, and as suggested, reached for his phone. The Dog Elder and Zhang Zizhen were likely old acquaintances and wouldn't have any reason to harm him, the son of a former friend. So, even this small detail had been noticed by Fu Qingyang. He turned on his phone and logged into the forum. The top-posted thread read: #Judgment Concluded: Yuan-Shi Tian Zun Found Not Guilty and Released# Zhang Yuanqing opened it at random, skimmed through it. The post came from the Songhai Branch, and was quite formal—after verification by headquarters, the suspicion of collusion with evil professions had been ruled out, and Cai Longshen's death was deemed a common in-universe accident, not a deliberate act by Yuan-Shi Tian Zun. Of course, it didn't mention Cai Longshen's actions during the quest. As an official branch, the Songhai Branch cannot show any obvious bias—there's nothing wrong with the content of the posts. Fu Qingyang's所谓"buzz" refers not to the posts from the Songhai Branch, but to those posted by the attending stewards during the hearing. #Yuanshish Tianzun, born with a rebellious spirit, angrily confronts the headquarters upon being challenged# #Cai Changlong's private use of official equipment ensures his face will be completely ruined# #The Grand Marshal appears at the hearing, stepping in to defend Yuanshish Tianzun# Zhang Yuanqing stares at the screen, stunned: "Boss..." Fu Qingyang nods: "All of them are my hired water troops—now it's time for us to respond." Pausing, he adds: "The posts from the Fire Demon are entirely unrelated to me." To encourage others to speak honestly, one must offer incentives; to get the Fire Demons to speak truthfully, one only needs to rouse their anger. Most of the Fire Demons remain straightforward in nature.