Although they had obtained the method to pass through the grotto, the clan team was far from cheerful. Who hasn't done something questionable? How can they casually mention it when even minor missteps cost face and major ones risk their lives—how would they ever manage in the industry afterward? Xiao Yuan's expression suddenly darkened; she was the one most reluctant to look back on the past. Though the rules for passing through were rather absurd, at least no one faced life-threatening danger. And when everyone played together, it was always enjoyable. Indeed, the thoughtful Tianxia Guihuo, the reserved Zhao Chenghuang, the seemingly sweet and gentle but subtly strategic Sun Miao Miao, and the red chicken elder representative, whose calm demeanor belied his depth—alongside Xiaohou Aotian, a scholar yet remarkably composed—these were the team members. Zhang Yuan glanced around at his teammates and suddenly had an idea. Tianxia Guihuo urgently said, "Xiaohou Aotian, come back here—I have a suggestion." Xiaohou Aotian paused in place; he had already endured one such ordeal, and unless he continued forward, he would face attack. "What's your suggestion?" Xiaohou, the protagonist "If repentance is enough to clear the cave, then we absolutely didn't need to come together—you come with the little red hat, and we'll hide inside." Tian Xia Gui said. "What you say won't be heard by anyone, and we can avoid repentance, thus preserving our privacy." He emphasized the word "privacy" firmly, hoping this self-proclaimed protagonist, prone to mishaps, would realize that, after all, he was still just an ordinary person—different from the consistently positive hero in the story. Xue Hou Ao Tian understood Tian Xia Gui's subtle hint, nodded thoughtfully, and found it well-reasoned—after all, speaking about borrowing money from his father to pay off debts did sound rather awkward. "Excellent idea!" Xue Hou Ao Tian turned and went back. "Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, hand me the red hat." Zhang Yuanqing ignored him and instead turned to Xiao Yuan, saying, "You go ahead and enter the hat first." Every evil profession carries a painful, desperate, or shadowed past—a wound so deep it refuses to be revisited. Xiao Yuan didn't confess this in the Master's sermons, which means the matter in her heart doesn't wish to be made public. Xiao Yuan sighed with relief, gazed softly at Zhang Yuanqing, and then faded into the crowd. Next, Zhang Yuanqing ignored the hand extended by Xiaohou Aotian, placed the little red hat into his inventory, and said, "Everyone here is a man of integrity, with nothing to hide. Let's just go straight in." Good heavens—going straight in? Everyone was staring at him with the look of someone clearly insane. Yet Zhang Yuanqing seemed fully serious, stepping resolutely into the stone cave. "Wait—!" Sun Miaomiao gasped behind him. Was this really something a person could do? Looking at Yuan Shi Tian Zun stepping into the stone cave, Tian Xia Gui Huo furrowed his brows, immediately sensing Yuan Shi Tian Zun's intentions—he wanted to test whether any of the team members had grown complacent, gradually drifting away due to the allure of power and beauty, or whether anyone had quietly blossomed into an unseen rose in the night, like Yan Zi. Was Yuan Shi Tian Zun probing their true depths? Zhao Chenguang shared a similar thought. Yet unlike Tian Xia Gui Huo's conspiratorial perspective, Zhao Chenguang believed Yuan Shi Tian Zun's actions stemmed from a desire to strengthen bonds among the team members and to gain leverage over one another. Their shared journey through the Qin Feng Academy's underground palace had turned them into interdependent allies, and with their subsequent integration into the "Return of the Departed" faction, their relationships had grown increasingly close, surpassing mere friendship or collegial ties. They now functioned more like a cohesive, mutually supportive team—sharing both goals and benefits. Yet upon reflection, they actually knew each other only superficially. Aside from Sun Miao Miao, whom he had known since childhood, Zhao Chenguang felt he knew little about Tian Xia Gui Huo, If they weren't bound by interests, they wouldn't have come together at all. Friendship takes time—what's said in the saying, "only after long years do we truly know someone"—how can one truly understand someone's roots and essence without time and accumulation? Yet now is the very moment. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward steadily and declared: "I once used a telescope to secretly observe my uncle's business and leveraged that to demand financial compensation from him." With three steps, he moved smoothly, as if nothing had happened. Immediately, he formed his judgment and turned to say: "By 'shameful matters,' I mean those involving violations of law, ethics, or moral principles. A well-placed prank doesn't fall into this category—unless it's exceptionally severe and has resulted in serious consequences. "Everyone pay close attention—don't make mistakes, don't lie. Lives may depend on it." After speaking, he took another three steps and raised his voice: "I myself should not have stolen from others and falsely accused my former classmates who had treated me unfairly, forcing them to transfer schools." How calculating has this young man always been? Threatening his uncle, then falsely accusing his classmates—everyone else, Guan Ya and the others, The world's return to the fire sighed, "Go in, he's clearly not impressed by our openness." The group hesitated, growing increasingly frustrated and muttering under their breath. Red Chicken Brother was the first to rush toward the cave, walking with his head high and saying, "I first killed someone when I was 14, cutting down a second-tier member of the Black Dragon Society—his name was probably Huai... Oh, right! In middle school, I broke a rich kid's leg because he was pursuing the girl I liked... I also once pushed a long-time defaulting debtor, Chen Jiang, into the water—his name has slipped my mind..." As he listed off his offenses—lending money at high interest, collecting protection fees, resorting to violence, and bribing officials—he walked steadily and confidently, soon overtaking Zhang Yuanqing and reaching the exit without a hitch. He had clearly become the most impressive among the group. The second one was Lady Silver Yao. She held a small megaphone, walking steadily forward, her voice calm and measured: "At eight, she pushed her younger brother into the lotus pond to frame the Zhang family—deeply remorseful. At ten, she sent her mother-rival Liu into the well. At sixteen, she dismissed her maids, sending them to die; she dismissed her household servants, sending them to die; she disliked her father, and had his secondary consort executed. She even plotted the assassination of a high-ranking official of the court to eliminate political rivals..." Were these two demons? The team members were stunned. Each incident, each act—so cold, so ruthless, so devoid of compassion. Considering that Lady Yin Yao was a rising ruler in a feudal dynasty, they believed Red Chicken Brother was still more cold-hearted and resolute. As both Red Chicken Brother and Lady Yin Yao reached the exit, they turned back to see the team still lingering outside the cave, while the toxic smoke had already drifted through the corridor and spread to the edges of the cave. Red Chicken Brother exclaimed, "Isn't it just about killing and stealing goods? What's there to be so hesitant about? The smoke has even reached the back of Shallowya Cool's "Aah!" Reina Shōno leapt into the cavern as if electrified, boldly declaring, "Since I became a traveler of the Spiritual Realm, I've secretly attacked my often-skeptical cousin, who used to mock me constantly, and in the process, I've seriously injured her. I've been deeply regretting this ever since." After speaking, she carefully observed the others, only to find that their expressions remained calm—seeming as though her story were merely a minor matter. Reina Shōno exhaled deeply, feeling a great sense of relief. Zhao Chenghuang entered the cavern with a composed demeanor, walking steadily while saying, "As a child, I resented Ling Jun and encouraged the other descendants of the gatekeeper to bully him." Suddenly, Zhang Yuancheng stopped mid-step, surprised, "You actually did that? You're quite possessive, aren't you? I'll have to tell Ling Jun." Zhao Chenghuang maintained his cold expression, simply responding, "Whatever." "Just as he finished speaking, he heard Sun Miaomiao softly say from behind: 'A few years ago, I had a disagreement with Zhao Chenguang on a forum. I switched to a new account and posted critical comments about him for three days, until he became completely overwhelmed. Then, in real life, I pretended to be a good friend and comforted him—he was deeply grateful. 'As a friend, I feel a little guilty.' Zhao Chenguang was struck dumb, unable to believe what he was hearing, feeling a sense of emotional betrayal and profound sadness. 'Over the past three years as part of the official team, I've illegally accumulated five million yuan in revenue. 'Taking up my new post in Songhai, I've accepted two million yuan in bribes.' He took three steps forward. 'Then another three steps.' ... Everyone remained silent, watching him. Tianxia Guihuo maintained a stern expression, explaining: 'The Five Elements Alliance is no different from the official world—there's no choice but to accept money from others and to give money to others in order to succeed. I'm simply adapting to the environment.' 'Explanation is just an excuse,' Xiahou Aotian murmured. Tianxia Guihuo gave a The toxic smoke surged toward Guan Ya, who gave the unfaithful man a sharp glare, took a deep breath, and quickly entered the cavern, speaking in a low voice: "During high school, I teamed up with Fu Qingyang to purchase a cursed artifact from the black market, using it to curse my mother. My mother nearly died in a car accident and stayed in the hospital for nearly two weeks. To this day, she still believes it was a sabotage by her competitors." Her voice was low, yet all present were saints—keenly attuned to sound—so that every word was clearly heard. Everyone stared at Guan Ya with expressions of bewilderment. Sun Miao Miao opened her mouth in astonishment, "How could you have a grudge against your mother? Aren't you related by blood?" Guan Ya snapped, "What does that have to do with you?" Sun Miaomiao pursed her lips, watching the toxic mist surge behind her, and hurried forward. "I've posted numerous critical and attacking posts about Yin Ji on the forum under a separate account, sparking a wave of online backlash. I felt her relationship with the Mage King was a blow to Taiyuan's prestige—plus, I have a bit of jealousy myself. I'm truly regretting it now." Tianxia Guihuo: "She has maintained improper romantic relationships with several female subordinates, exchanging favors without genuine affection." Xiahou Aotian: "When I was in junior high, my father wanted to start a side account. I'd add a specially formulated contraceptive to his wine every day. After three years of effort, he gave up on having a second child and now seems unable to conceive." Asano Ryouta: "When my allowance runs low, I'll use the name of the Asano family to demand protection fees from the children of the conglomerate families." Zhao Chenghuang: "I accidentally killed one of the Lawful Wayfarers and haven't dared to admit it to the organization—still feeling guilty to this day." Zhang Yuanqing, deeply grieved, said: "If the Mage's Eye were here, all of you would have died..." As one after another offered their remorse, the group advanced steadily, uncovering numerous long-standing grievances. Zhang Yuanqing, someone with no principles, had committed numerous violations against his uncle. Sun Miaomiao's offenses were mostly related to online harassment—today one incident, tomorrow another, and the day after that, her grandfather. Tianxia Guihuo's revelations were the most severe, involving corrupt practices such as power-for-sex exchanges, bribery, and various routine political maneuvers. Guan Ya's transgressions largely centered on her parents—she had submitted anonymous complaints to the Heavenly Punishment Organization, accusing her father. She had secretly photographed her mother's nude moments and then sent the photos to her, creating panic as a form of retaliation for her mother's domestic abuse. Whenever she encountered targeted treatment from female classmates during her school days, she would leverage her family's connections to pressure them, sometimes even nearly causing serious consequences. Within just a few minutes, everyone gained a deeper understanding of one another, uncovering their inner complexities and shadows. Finally, they emerged from the cave and reached the exit. "Ah...," everyone exhaled in relief, including Zhang Yuanqing. Though he considered himself not a particularly easygoing child and had made many mistakes throughout his youth, he wasn't sure whether he could recall all of them, nor if frequently sharing color sketches with his aunt—something he'd done as a craftsman—would be considered a source of regret. If the cave were any longer, he'd have to reveal his stories of rescuing the Eye of Magic, and of being the heir to the Magician King. "We've finally made it," Sun Miao-miao breathed out, feeling utterly drained. "Yes, everything has been recorded," the Lady Silver Yao said, patting her satchel. Hm? Everyone turned to look at her. Zhang Yuanqing's temples tightened with a sudden surge of agitation, and he quickly added, "She may be intelligent, but sometimes she says odd things and does odd things—just ignore her." Lady Yin Yao stood straight and motionless, as if a lifeless corpse with no mind at all. Aside from Guan Ya, everyone found it hard to believe her words. Zhang Yuanqing sighed—perhaps having lived in the mortal world for too long, Lady Yin Yao had gradually regained her humanity. Over a century of traveling the world, her quiet, unpretentious character had begun to shine through. ——Ah, she’s just playing! At the villa, she constantly stirred up conflicts, inciting rivalries between the Queen, Ling Xi, and Guan Ya, creating endless domestic squabbles. Outside, she acted all sorts of ways, freely expressing herself—capable of pretending to be clueless, of being wise, of making and responding to witty remarks. It was simply exhausting. Zhang Yuanqing produced the little red hat, shook it gently, and a tall, elegant, round figure tumbled out. She glanced around, seeing no one injured, and gave a slight nod: “Good!” Then she looked at Guan Ya. The mixed-blood daughter of Fu family, Guan Ya, wore a cold expression, as though her displeasure were written all over her face, and barely glanced at her own boyfriend. Clearly, Guan Ya was deeply jealous of Yuan Shi Tian Zun's concern when she fell ill and his special attention given solely to her. Xiao Yuan gave a light "hmm" and smiled. In response, the smooth brow of Guan Ya twitched with visible veins pulsing. "Keep going!" Zhang Yuanqing, pretending not to notice the rivalry between the two women, shouted his rallying cry and led his team off with a relatively flat tone. The three-meter-wide corridor meandered through twists and turns, with oil bowls arranged in alcoves. The absence of any corpses along the way indicated that the corridor was free of traps. Indeed, after walking for about fifteen minutes, they encountered no dangers at all. "There's a breeze..." Xiao Yuan suddenly remarked. Turning the corner, a bright light ahead revealed a spacious vista. They came upon a naturally formed cavern, with half the ceiling open to a clear sky and the other half covered by rock walls, draped with cascading vines like hanging drapery. Throughout the cavern, broken buildings and worn-out mechanical devices are scattered. Beneath the rock walls lies a deep pool, beside which stands a waterwheel that groans under its own weight, with bamboo pipes scattered around it. Embedded in the rock walls are several wooden mechanical arrow launchers, yet due to lack of maintenance, they have long since rotted. "When I previously rode the wind to inspect this cavern, I did not see it," Zhang Yuanqing's eyes darkened as he activated his spirit-consuming ability and swept across the vast space of the cavern. "There is no trace of activity from spirits." Guan Ya raised her finger and pressed it to her forehead, ripples of pale white spreading out. "There is no trace of life activity." Only then did the group begin descending along the overgrown path. After a few steps, Guan Ya discovered several skeletons scattered among the grass. After examining them, she said, "The armor on the bodies matches that of the outer forces—likely soldiers from the Jin army. The other two have no armor; based on the state of their decaying garments, they appear to be disciples from the Mo Sect." Xiahou Aotian habitually ran a hand over his chin, analyzing, "So now the truth behind the fall of the Mo Sect is clear—it was the Jin forces who did it. The Jin took the legendary treasure from the Mo Sect and then launched a southern campaign, effectively turning the Northern Song into the Southern Song." "Still, we haven't even established the year of the reign yet. Your claim is quite definitive," Guan Ya reflected. "That said, the Mo Sect's downfall is undoubtedly linked to the Jin. I believe the treasure remains within the Mo Sect; otherwise, the S-tier difficulty of the quest wouldn't make sense." Tianxia Guihuo added, "The Mo Sect was located in the southwest. The Jin forces reaching that far indicates that the Northern Song had already collapsed. Therefore, this long-forgotten history must have unfolded during the Southern Song period." "Moreover, the Mo Sect's demise at the hands of the Jin's siege might merely be surface-level. Otherwise, the main storyline would be far too straightforward. What remains to be seen is how much information we can gather." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "Then we should scatter our efforts and conduct a thorough search." "The cave was spacious, with over thirty buildings—most of them collapsed, and even the ones still standing were trembling, their wooden structures severely decayed, held up only by the solid earth walls. They found numerous skeletons, with Jin soldiers and Mo Sect disciples entangled in each other, some bones even fused together, clearly indicating the battle had been exceptionally fierce. After searching thoroughly, they found nothing of significance. Moreover, there was no way forward. It seemed the cave itself was the core of the Mo Sect, and after circling it, they saw no paths leading elsewhere. "We've gone all the way along the rock walls—no traps or mechanisms found," said Xiahou Aotian. "Have we checked the ruins thoroughly?" asked Zhang Yuanqing. "We've used our spiritual servants to penetrate walls and detect hidden features, and we've gone through every corner—no hidden compartments or mechanisms," shook her head Sun Miaomiao. The副本 map hadn't been fully explored yet, but they were now stuck, unable to find the path to the next stage." "I've found something quite interesting," Guan Ya said, refusing to look at Zhang Yuanqing and pointing to the pond beneath the rock face, "pay attention to that."