Nine o'clock. Zhang Yuan sat in stillness on the rooftop terrace of the villa, a large Luo Xing disk placed before him, his eye sockets filled with a flowing, liquid glow of starlight. The night sky, vast and lofty in the eyes of ordinary people, appeared densely studded with stars—brilliant, dreamlike, serene, and mysterious, in his. As Zhang Yuan raised his head and gazed intently at the stars, his expression remained calm and neutral, neither joyful nor sorrowful, his demeanor ethereal and timeless, like ancient sages who had spent entire nights atop mountain peaks contemplating the past and the future. Since reaching the mid-level of the sixth rank, his skill in celestial observation has significantly improved, most notably in the expansion of his temporal perception. Take the Yin-Yang rotating disk event, for instance: previously, Zhang Yuan could perceive the progress of this event over the next three days. Now, it spans seven days—this is the growth of his temporal scale. However, whenever high-ranking sovereigns are involved, the progress of the event is often interrupted by distinct, fog-shrouded regions that remain invisible. As for the half-gods, even the misty regions wouldn't reach them—half-gods appear to possess the ability to counteract stellar observations and divination, and lower-ranking spiritual travelers simply cannot perceive them. "Hmm, indeed there is mist—this confirms that a high-ranking sovereign is involved. My elder wasn't wrong; they'll surely summon Master Cai, though perhaps Master Di Hong as well?" "With this connection through the Yellow Taiji, Master Cai probably wouldn't actively oppose me. But on the matter of the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk, he simply can't support me—the headquarters wouldn't allow me to absorb public assets." He originally hadn't intended to absorb public assets, but his elder's eighty million couldn't go to waste. His subsequent refusal to compromise with Secretary Li was driven by pride—how could someone design a scheme to trap him, then apologize, offer a refund, and consider it settled? Such a favorable outcome simply isn't possible. Neither he nor Fu Qingyang is someone who believes in the saying 'it's good to suffer losses.' Zhang Yuanqing gathered the lingering starlight in his eyes, concluded his analysis, and allowed the information related to the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk to fade away. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes again, the stars shining brightly, the constellations reappearing, the stars colliding and shifting, revealing the course of the future. This time, Zhang Yuanqing was forecasting the fate of the Planet Pluto. The collisions among the stars grew more intense, and the flickering light began to change, transforming the entire night sky into a dynamic display—only those who understood the secret code could interpret its patterns. After about fifteen minutes, the stars that had been flickering and drifting gradually returned to their original positions, and then—suddenly, one star in the southwest flared brightly, before dimming. Zhang Yuanqing sat up sharply, "Southwest... Pluto is in the southwest." He had obtained detailed information about Pluto from Anne, and using that information as a medium, the ability to pinpoint a specific location was already a significant achievement. To go further, he would need to establish a causal connection with the other party—perhaps through personal objects, bodily tissues, or direct physical contact—but at this stage, such tangible items were simply out of reach. "Once the Yin-Yang Rotation incident is settled, I'll head southwest for a vacation. Hmm, let me further analyze the situation with Guan Ya and the others..." He reopened his star-eyed gaze, observing the celestial patterns. "The Spiritual Realm has severed the connection to stargazing, but my deep causal ties with Guan Ya have allowed me to still receive some insights... Are they still alive? Of course, in non-death-themed quests, they remain alive—though the forecasts are rather dull." Zhang Yuanqing finished his stargazing, feeling a slight ache in his eyes and a mild dizziness. Stargazing consumes a great deal of stellar energy, and he had to maintain the Great Luo Star Disk while doing it simultaneously. "A bit awkward now—my Yin energy is weaker than that of the primary Yin practitioners, and my stellar energy lags behind those specializing in stars. Yet I possess the power of the Sun God, which is the very opposite of my own profession." At that moment, a subtle, invisible dark glow swept across the sky and settled upon the terrace. Two handsome young people stepped out from the glow. "Yuan Shi! Long time no see!" The man smiled warmly and waved at him. Zhang Yuanqing paid him no attention, staring intently at the foreign-born beauty. She was a sister—no, more like an aunt—in every way stunning, both in appearance and grace. Her long, warm-brown hair cascaded down, slightly curled at the ends; her oval face was perfectly shaped, with refined and deeply expressive features, and her light-blue eyes carried a captivating charm. She wore a white blouse, a black leather jacket, and tailored blue jeans. Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself: Indeed, she is the woman who has turned his mentor’s heart to dust—no wonder she’s so breathtaking. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" Ling Jun glared at him. "You've been staring at Victoria longer than the safety threshold allows. Pull your gaze away, or we're officially at odds today, master and disciple!" "I'm merely curious," Zhang Yuanqing retorted. "Don't judge me by your own expectations." Ling Jun said, "Victoria, this is exactly what I've been telling you—flirtatious, charming, with a string of girlfriends scattered across the Pine and Sea regions. A true celestial master of the Yuan-Shi lineage." Zhang Yuanqing: " A standard Beijing accent, even more precise than Zhang Yuanqing, a native of the south. Zhang Yuanqing stopped teasing, rose to bow, and said formally, "Thank you very much." "It's nothing," Victoria replied. Her objective was to arrange the array and bestow upon Yuan Shi Tian Zun a secret power. ... The next morning, while Zhang Yuanqing had just taken a few bites of pan-fried dumplings, a group of officials burst in with great energy, all dressed in formal attire—handsome men and women, so well put together that one might have mistaken them for characters from a Chinese drama. Leading the group was a sturdy man resembling a black bear, dressed in formal clothes but with two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing dense, curly black hair. With an air of a fire master and a build typical of one, he strode confidently to the table, his voice deep and resonant: "Yuan Shi Tian Zun, I am Ling Jing Division Senior Official, Ling Jing ID: Liao Yuan Tian Huo. You are suspected of embezzling assets from the Five Elements Alliance. Please follow us to the headquarters for investigation. This is the official warrant of detention issued by the "They've also sent a fire master over... Zhang Yuanqing immediately grasped the underhanded intentions of Li Secretary and the Detective Elder. After the trial committee, everyone knew Yuan Shi Tian Zun was stubborn—bold enough to challenge even the ten senior leaders of the headquarters. Therefore, by sending an impetuous and fiery fire master to apprehend him, Jianghu Branch was deliberately setting up a collision between two volatile personalities. Should he resist, or even physically confront them, the matter would be elevated to the status of 'Yuan Shi Tian Zun refusing arrest out of fear of prosecution.' Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the arrest warrant and noticed the spiritual realm ID of the signer—Cai Qinhe! "Where to?" he asked, returning his gaze, continuing to eat his baozi. "Jianghu Branch," the tall man replied. Zhang Yuanqing made a simple "Ah" sound, his tone calm and composed. "I'll join you after I finish my breakfast." Indeed, upon hearing this, the tall man immediately frowned deeply, gripping Zhang Yuanqing's shoulders firmly. "Please come with us right away—" But before he could finish, his expression suddenly grew vacant, and he stood motionless, stunned. Behind him, Zhang Yuanqing gently pushed aside his large hand on the shoulder, bent down to eat, and after finishing the last bowl of soy milk, wiped his mouth clean with a tissue, saying, "I'm done." This statement acted like a spell that dissolved magic—those who had been frozen in astonishment gradually regained their composure, their eyes rekindling with renewed energy. Upon seeing this scene, they all stared in disbelief. In their minds, Yuan Shi Tian Zun had been uncooperative and had been forcefully escorted by Liao Yuan's steward to the dedicated vehicle bound for Jianghuai Branch. They believed Yuan Shi Tian Zun to be no more than ordinary, and they were already planning ways to challenge him during the journey—after all, as a mid-level officer at Jianghuai Branch, they deeply resented and harbored strong animosity toward him for his persistent encroachment on their cherished assets. Yet now, they remained in the villa, and Yuan Shi Tian Zun sat calmly, smiling, at the now-empty dining plate. A spell! Including "Liao Yuan Tian Huo," the members of the Jianghu Branch were momentarily stunned, their resolve and demeanor as if doused with a bucket of cold water. They hadn't even realized when they had fallen under the illusion. Once the initial impression was made, Zhang Yuanqing smiled and rose, saying, "I'm willing to cooperate with the investigation—let's go." He brought his hands close to the sturdy man. "Shall we use handcuffs?" Liao Yuan Tian Huo's expression shifted slightly. Before departure, the detective elder had indeed hinted that the Yuan Shi Tian Zun would appropriate Jianghu's assets, with some firm handling along the way. But now it seemed even the forceful measures were being carried out within the realm of the illusion. At that moment, a younger woman with a more refined appearance from behind spoke, "No, you just need to return to assist with the investigation—you're not a suspect." Liao Yuan Tian Huo descended the steps, "Then let's go." The patrol team from Jianghai arrived by car and would naturally return by car as well. Jianghai is across a province from Songhai, with a total distance of 230 kilometers. They departed in the morning and only arrived at the Jianghai branch by noon. Following the recent firm handling they had received, the enforcement team remained calm and composed throughout the journey—neither questioning nor challenging him. Zhang Yuanqing was directly escorted to the interrogation room at the Jianghai branch—a small room with cold, bright lighting, an interrogation chair, and a video recording device facing him directly. The layout was identical to that of the investigation rooms at the headquarters. After being left in the room for an hour, the soundproof door opened with a heavy creak, and a young man with a distinctly military bearing entered. "I ask, you answer," he said, sitting down, placing his recorder first, then spreading out the statement booklet, taking out his pen, and speaking coldly. "Where exactly in which copy did the Yin-Yang rotating disk get lost?" "In a faction copy." "What level?" "S-tier, the Mu Sect's Organ City." The young official paused, glanced at him, and then asked, "The list of fellow faction members." "The member list involves privacy," he replied, "and I refuse to disclose it." "Can you please describe in detail how the Yin-Yang rotating disk was lost?" ... The Jianghu Branch office was located in the bustling city center, resembling a local police station in scale. A shopping mall was one hundred meters to the left upon exiting, and residential buildings surrounded it. There was also a primary school on the right side. While each branch office is situated in the city center, this appears at first glance to contradict the original intention of ensuring strict confidentiality regarding the existence of the spiritual realm travelers—the headquarters should ideally be located in quiet, sparsely populated suburbs for maximum security. However, the official selection criteria for these branch offices are actually very deliberate, with the foremost requirement being "high population density." The more densely populated the area, the safer it is. The presence of moral values among the spiritual realm travelers makes them hesitant to act decisively, even in the face of crisis—no one is willing to engage in large-scale violence in the heart of the city, even a half-god would hesitate. Since the establishment of the Five Elements Alliance, none of its major branches have been seriously targeted by the leading figures of the evil faction. In a suburban area with few people, the dominant forces—half-gods of the evil organization—would have surely overwhelmed the entire operation. After all, the evil faction operates without a fixed base, appearing and disappearing without a trace, while the official side, as stewards of order, can't abandon their headquarters even when they flee. Thus, in the fierce rivalry between the two factions, they've had to make sacrifices to what ordinary people consider moral and kind. At the top office, the detective elder stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the unceasing flow of traffic on the street, and said: "Liao Yuan Tian Huo claims that Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun's illusion technique has reached the peak level of a saint. That must not be the star-based illusion technique—he has transformed Yuchuan Mei into a spiritual servant. Combined with the body of the greedy divine general, he now equals several six-tier saints. Achieving such a feat in just five months is nothing short of astonishing. "The elder in black robes by the round table sighed, 'If only he were a bit more gentle, the headquarters would do everything possible to cultivate him into the sixth Grand Master. But with the precedent set by the Marshal, the Ten Elders won't allow him to hold power unless he can smooth out his sharp edges.' 'Marshal...' the detective elder recalled, suddenly remembering all the chaos that had unfolded back then. Though the Marshal never possessed the rebellious spirit of the Yuan Shi Tian Zun, she still had a notoriously difficult personality—strong-willed, domineering, and ready to thrust her sword into anyone who disagreed with her. She joined the Five Elements Alliance at the level of Saint, having previously served at the Tian Fa Organization. It was said that when the Fu family elders planned to have this heavenly prodigy join the Five Elements Alliance, even the two half-deities at the head of Tian Fa were alarmed and dispatched a team of first-tier executive officers to the Fu household to exert pressure. The Five Elements Alliance didn't back down either, promptly sending its own delegation of elders. For a full year, they clashed constantly at the Fu household—arguing, then fighting, often going so far as to dig up ancestral graves." Finally, after yielding immense benefits, they succeeded in luring this young lady into the Five Elements Alliance. After so much effort to bring her under their wing, the headquarters treated her as a prized asset, offering her the greatest privileges and conveniences, holding her in high regard. But gradually, things went awry. As the cherished jewel of a spiritual realm family, Fu Qingxuan not only possessed an outstanding appearance but also demonstrated exceptional talent—she was naturally destined to be the preferred choice among the official's young talents and the second- and third-generation heirs. The second- and third-generation heirs, however, were a diverse group: among them were outstanding figures like the official's fourth prince, but there were also many indulgent and inept individuals. Thus, some of these less capable ones resorted to underhanded tactics, attempting to undermine Fu Qingxuan. Yet, as the head of the alliance, Fu Qingxuan was both wise and resolute—how could such inept individuals possibly outmaneuver her? They ended up fatally stabbing her. Though the incident stemmed from the other party's initial shortcomings, the offense was not severe enough to warrant a death sentence, and it was certainly unjust that Fu Qingxuan should bear the brunt Fu Qingxuan had never endured such treatment. As a young princess at Fu Family, at Tianfa, and later as a senior princess within the Wu Xing Alliance, she had always been assertive and demanding—until her disputes escalated to the headquarters, where even the ten elders lost face. There were numerous similar cases: during her tenure, she consistently defied supervision, often physically assaulting colleagues, reprimanding anyone she found unsatisfactory, and seriously injuring those she deemed problematic—though no fatalities occurred, the headquarters simply could not manage her. Her decision to enter the guild's quest realm for training stemmed precisely from the deepening conflict that had become irreconcilable, even more so than the current tensions between Yuan Shi Tianzun and the headquarters. Fortunately, after one year of training in the realm, she emerged with a more composed demeanor, no longer as sharp or outspoken. Over the years, serving as Marshal, she gradually matured and now truly embodies the qualities of an Alliance leader. Thus, the headquarters' efforts to discipline Yuan Shi Tianzun are well-founded—aimed at preventing another Fu Qingxuan-like, rebellious "child" from emerging. A soft knock interrupted the elder detective's thoughts. He looked toward the frosted glass door and said, "Come in!" The young swordsman entered, presented the report, and then stepped back. The elder detective returned to his desk and sat across from the cloaked elder, carefully reading the report. With a serious expression, he offered a smile of scorn. "The Yin-Yang rotating disc plunged into the abyss? A poor excuse—does he really think Fu Qingyang will handle this for him?" The cloaked elder replied calmly, "Indeed, there's a certain arrogance in appropriating the Yin-Yang rotating disc." There exists an irreconcilable interest conflict between the Jianghu Branch and the Yuanshixian Celestial Sovereign on this matter. The elder detective scoffed, "Not only arrogant, but also foolish! Does he think the official assets are at his disposal whenever he wishes? Neither the headquarters nor the Grand Masters will agree." Once such a precedent is set, will other branches follow suit and transfer public assets into their private pockets? Over the years, many relatives of deacons and elders have diligently worked to transfer assets of the Five Elements Alliance into their own pockets, legally converting public funds into private property. The headquarters has consistently dealt severely with such actions. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and looked at the black-robed elder. "Has the Tiger Seal been issued?" The black-robed elder shook his head. "Cai Elder has submitted the request to the Marshal. It should arrive before we close for the day." "Once the application for the Tiger Seal is processed and the matter is formally established, the Grand Marshals won't be able to overlook him," said the Detective Elder, setting down his notes. "Stupid!" The two remained silent, simply sipping their tea. Soon, the phone on the black-robed elder's table rang. The Detective Elder glanced at the screen, which displayed a call from Cai Elder's secretary. The black-robed elder answered, switched to hands-free, and smiled. "Zhou Secretary." A low, steady voice came from the other end. "The Tiger Seal hasn't been issued. The Marshal has rejected it." "What?" The elder in the black robe and the detective elder suddenly straightened up, staring in astonishment at the phone screen. "The Marshal has declined," repeated the secretary of Cai Elder. The elder in the black robe picked up the phone, speaking in a hurried tone, "What's the reason?" "She said..." Zhou's secretary suddenly sounded odd, "she's not in the mood—she won't lend it!"