Miao Teng's thoughts exploded—overwhelming, chaotic, as disorderly as her emotions: excitement, sorrow, joy, pain, longing—every flavor of emotion surged forth in a rush. The magical sovereign had returned to the spiritual realm nearly a year ago. Throughout that year, she had pretended not to care, pretended to scowl bitterly, and coldly mocked him in front of her elders, saying he deserved to die. Yet only she knew that her longing had never ceased, and her sorrow and pain had never faded. She thought of him night and day—the ungrateful, yet secretly tender man who had been so indifferent. Tears blurred her vision, flowed down her cheeks, and Miao Teng gazed痴ly at the familiar face, her voice thick with emotion: "You... you..." She had meant to say, "You're not dead, are you?" But the words caught in her throat, and her tears poured even more freely. Hm, truly charming—there's a certain grace in Teng's weeping. I seriously suspect the魔君 enjoys tormenting her precisely for that. The man by the bedside raised an eyebrow, speaking in his distinct, husky voice: "I haven't died at all—only a facade to deceive the world. For these past days, I've been staying hidden, conserving strength for a grand ascent. When I return, I shall have ascended to the highest deity, and I will reclaim what belongs to me." He lifted Teng's sharp chin, a sly, unruly smile playing at his lips: "Such as you!" He deliberately emphasized being captured again to reinforce the魔君's identity. Zhang Yuanqing knew the魔君's appearance well—White Lan, the ghost bride, had described the mysterious figure who took the little sun, and that was precisely the魔君. Indeed, upon hearing this, Miao Teng'er was overwhelmed with a mixture of sorrow and joy, biting her lips and weeping profusely: "I'd rather never have met you at all—I'd have killed you on the spot." While crying, she struggled to sit up, then softly collapsed into the man's arms, sobbing and gasping, cursing him with words like "rascal" and "idiot," though her outbursts lacked force—more like a delicate girlfriend venting her frustrations against a troublesome boyfriend. The man huffed: "You're still so weak—you can only cry." By Zhang Yuanqing's nature, at this moment he would typically use sweet words to win over the girl's heart, make her smile through her tears, and then naturally proceed to use his own strengths as leverage to counter her vulnerabilities. However, according to the audio recordings from the Cat King's speaker, the magical sovereign was far from gentle toward Teng'er—his treatment resembled that of an unrefined young man in the West dealing with his girlfriend, constantly calling her "Little Biqi" and proudly boasting about the affectionate nickname. Time was short. He didn’t let Miao Teng’s sorrow fester, saying, “I don’t have time to watch you cry here. The map fragment you received last time—return it to me.” Miao Teng’s weeping paused. She lifted her head, eyes blazing, saying, “I won’t give it back. That was part of your inheritance given to me. Unless—you take back what you gave to Yin Ji.” The man furrowed his brow, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, “I don’t want to say it again.” Miao Teng bit her lip, pouting, “Then, untie my ropes. I’ll fetch it for you. Oh, I think I’ve been poisoned—help me.” He nodded, cut the ropes binding her, and then drew out a syringe from his pocket, injecting it into her neck vein. A few seconds later, Miao Teng regained strength in her limbs. She straightened up, sitting cross-legged on the bed, “All the things you gave me—I’ve carried them with me…” Suddenly, she grabbed a wooden thorn three inches long from among her belongings and, with lightning speed, drove it into the man’s chest. Warm, crimson blood splashed outward. She rolled onto her side, landing on the other side of the bed, and reached again, pulling out a small potted plant, shrieking, "Grandfather, save me!" The young sapling swayed slightly, unchanged. Miao Teng'er was momentarily stunned. The next instant, the scenes within the room dissolved like shadows. Miao Teng'er blinked in bewilderment, the room bright and clear. She lay on a spacious hotel bed, her brown hair spread out across the white sheets, like blossoms in full bloom. Her hands and feet remained bound, her body still stiff and weak. Everything that had just happened was a dream! The only thing unchanged was the tears in her eyes. "Hmm, how did you figure out my identity?" the figure by the window chuckled, "I must have done a decent job at disguising myself." Miao Teng'er sniffed, pushing down the emotions stirred by the dream, and looked coldly toward the window. There stood a man with ordinary features, bearing the quiet signs of age—clearly the Lord of Magic. Yet Miao Teng'er knew he wasn't. "He's a contradiction—bold and unruly, yet gentle and kind. Most of the time, he's impatient with me, but as soon as I cry, he always soothes me, even if he's impatient while doing so." Mei Teng'er chuckled coldly. "You're not him. You're just a mediocre, insincere little man pretending to be him." Ah, so the magical king is someone who claims 'I run the household' at home, yet in reality is a devoted, clingy husband? Zhang Yuanqing's expression grew slightly stiff. "The head of the Taiyi Sect and the general both said he's dead—there's no mistake there." A pang of sorrow flashed in Mei Teng'er's eyes, quickly masked as she fixed her gaze on him, her voice firm and sharp. "So, who exactly are you? What's your purpose in kidnapping me?" "I didn't think you were a romantic at heart." Zhang Yuanqing turned to face her, raised his hand, and smiled warmly. "I'm not the magical king. As for kidnapping you, it's simply to claim his inheritance." Under the light, the index finger of that hand wore a silver ring. Miao Teng'er's pupils suddenly contracted, and she gasped, "You—you are the magical king's heir that Taiyuan Gate has been searching for!" Zhang Yuanqing stroked his ring, a smile playing on his lips. "It's obvious!" Miao Teng'er stared at him, her clear and exquisite face like a sculpture, tears rolling down her cheeks, overflowing with a sorrow as vast as the tide. The arrival of the magical king's heir adds another piece of evidence confirming the king's return. She hadn't expected the king to still be alive, but the constant stings—like being repeatedly pricked—had been deeply painful. "I just said I didn't have time to watch you cry," Zhang Yuanqing emphasized, "Hand over the items the magical king gave you. Specifically, the map fragments." A determined gleam flashed in Miao Teng'er's eyes. "Kill me," she said. Zhang Yuanqing sighed internally, "Lingjun is right—Miao Teng'er is gentle on the outside but strong within. Ordinary threats and warnings won't work anymore." Still, it didn't matter—he had his trump card. So he chuckled, "Kill me?" Why should I kill you? I've already explained—I came to receive his inheritance. The map fragments are part of the inheritance, and you... are too." Mei Teng'er's face paled. Zhang Yuanqing walked over to the bedside, and Mei Teng'er, startled, shuffled toward the foot of the bed, only to be pulled back by him as he grasped her slender ankles. As he dragged her, her blue pleated dress slid down, revealing the smooth, ivory-white legs, delicate as porcelain and fine as ivory. Zhang Yuanqing gently stroked the cool, smooth ankles, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Magical king's women truly are exceptional—this texture, this skin—ah, what a delight." Mei Teng'er shrieked in high-pitched terror. "Shout as loud as you like, I won't hear a thing. I've laid down sound-insulating spiritual scrolls throughout the room." With that, he mentally muttered: "Classic villain line!" He didn't further invade Miao Teng'er's dignity; instead, he lounged like a cat playing with a mouse, smiling gently as he pulled out two items from his pocket to show her, adding a touch of sinister charm. "I'm different from that maggot of a king-mage. I never force women. But this ring will have you falling in love with me quickly. And this spray will make you utterly dependent on me." Zhang Yuanqing's voice was low and rough, deliberately echoing the king-mage's tone—yet to Miao Teng'er, it sounded like the whispering of a demon, "You'll willingly serve me beneath me, you'll eagerly seek me out, you'll repay me abundantly, and you'll forget that failed one entirely." Miao Teng'er gasped, stood stunned, gazing at the enchanting ring and the enduring spray. After a few seconds, deep fear and utter despair shimmered in her eyes. Clearly, she knew exactly what these two items could do. Ah, sorry, Teng-er, I hope you don't have a bad night's sleep... Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit guilty, cutting the ropes tied around her feet—not to free her, but to further press her into compliance. He leaned forward, his strong torso pushing aside Teng-er's two broad legs, one hand resting against her ear while the other traced up along the smooth outer thigh, entering her skirt, feeling the edge of the lace, then pausing. Teng-er spasmed with fear, emitting another high-pitched, desperate cry. "Hm, when you were with the Mage King, weren't you quite lively and passionate? The speaker recorded your vocalizations then—how come now you're acting like a shy, virgin maiden?" As he revealed more details, he waited for Teng-er's emotions to settle. It had been over an hour since the abduction, and from Teng-er's perspective, the official elite guests at the banquet must have already noticed something was amiss. Uncle Lingjun will immediately inform Grandfather, and with Grandfather's capabilities, as well as those of Fu Qingyang and Yuan Shǐ Tianzūn, finding her is merely a matter of time. Therefore, delaying is the top priority—so to ensure her own safety, Miao Teng'er will inevitably hand over the map fragments. From the perspective of the Magistrate's heir, the reason the heir has not yet invaded Miao Teng'er is that her primary focus is on the Magistrate's relics on Miao Teng'er's person, while sleeping with her is secondary. The logic now closes in perfectly. Everyone will not find it strange that the Magistrate's heir is hesitant to sleep with Miao Teng'er. "I...!" Miao Teng'er finally could no longer hold on, shrieking, "Here! Here!!" Zhang Yuanqing rose smoothly, pulled his hand back from beneath his skirt, and maintained his enigmatic, aloof smile. "I like practical girls. From now on, you'll be mine." "Say that," he pulled the rope from Miao Teng'er's wrist, "don't play tricks— you can't be sure you're still within the realm of illusion. If you dare to deceive me again..." He glanced at her slender, well-proportioned figure, and chuckled. Miao Teng'er felt a shiver run through her, rubbed her aching wrist, and bit her lip before reaching into her inventory to pull out a triangular jade pendant, white as sheep's milk, with small indentations on its surface resembling stars. She usually wore this pendant around her neck, but tonight, for the evening banquet, she had removed it to wear her diamond necklace, so she placed it in her inventory. Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up as he snatched the jade from her hands. A few seconds later, the item's attributes appeared: 【Name: Jade of Transcendence (Fragment)】 【Type: Pendant】 【Function: Opens】 【Description: One of the fragments of the key to the Heavenly Gate of Transcendence. Collect all fragments to unlock the treasure vault of the Heavenly Gate of Transcendence.】 【Note: There are six fragments in total.] The Heavenly Gate How familiar this sounds—like I've heard it before… Wait, I got it now! The immortal sect known for its thousand beautiful consorts who captivated the demon king? Has the demon king hidden his prized possessions inside the quest realm? Unexpected, yet perfectly logical—no place is safer than the quest realm. There are six fragments in total. Where are the others? Zhang Yuanqing closed his palms, cradling the fragments in his hands, and asked, "Does your mother have one?" Miao Teng'er's face changed instantly; she shook her head vigorously, "My mother doesn't have any map fragments. Please don't harm her." Hmm, the demon king didn't leave a fragment for his mother-in-law? Well, that's surprising—after all, I've always been so kind to her. Teng'er has one, Yin Ji surely does too, and Beati from the Beauty Goddess Association also has one. Where are the remaining three? Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced, and a sultry smile spread across his face. "My dear, it's time for our evening of passion now." “Eh, wait—hold on!” Miao Teng'er quickly stopped, her voice a bit hurried. "I haven't finished yet. I still know where two more fragments are—Yin Ji from the Taiyuan Sect and a certain clumsy woman named Beti from the Mei Shen Association each have one." Good! Zhang Yuanqing immediately paused, playing with Teng'er's little feet while asking, "Any more?" As he spoke, he gently parted her legs. Teng'er was startled, her body trembling as she tightly clutched her thighs, her voice trembling, "Yes, yes—though not map fragments. I know some information about the magi-kings." Zhang Yuanqing's eyes flashed with interest. "Go on." Teng'er's bright eyes quickly darted around, as if retrieving information from memory, and said, "The magi-kings aren't actually that old—much younger than me. Once, he accidentally mentioned it in front of me. He said, 'You're already 25 and still haven't had a man? When I turn 25, I'll have enough women to fill the Guan Sheng Lijing Hotel.'" "At that time, his personality hadn't become so twisted yet, and there weren't so many women around him, so..." "So for him, 25 was something that came much later—wasn't the魔君 just a young, inexperienced man?" Zhang Yuanqing stroked his chin, expressing surprise. Noticing Miao Teng'er quietly remaining silent, trying to delay the moment, he coldly said, "I didn't ask you to stop." Miao Teng'er quickly replied, "I also know how the魔君 gradually fell from grace." "Didn't he fall because he drank the liquid from the Cup of Decline?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Miao Teng'er shook her head. "I'm referring to the process itself. After I became acquainted with him, he quickly found excuses—mostly citing growing tired of me—to get rid of me. Most of the time, it was I who was persistent with him..." "Once, however, he actively reached out to me, asking about a captain in Chaoyang District. Since I didn't want to betray my colleagues, I politely declined him." "But he told me the official apparatus had already been infiltrated like a sieve—routine health checks could only ensure the majority remained clean, unable to expose corrupt officials protected by higher-tier powers. The official couldn't even use a tiger's seal against a grassroots official. The officer he intended to eliminate was a fallen one, protected by a secret organization—later I learned that organization was known as the Night Rose." Zhang Yuanqing interrupted: "Stick to the point. I'm not interested in your personal grievances with the Mage King." Miao Teng'er paused, took a deep breath, and continued: "He also mentioned another matter—he became a servant of the Spectral Eye Judge precisely because, upon receiving his role card, he misplaced trust in the security officers and in the official structure itself." Indeed... Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood—his earlier hunch had been confirmed. During the early stages of the Holy Grail incident, Ou Xiangrong had killed a man named Zhao Yingjun. He was a consultant at the Xiangshui Road Security Office and a member of the White Tiger military contingent, holding the rank of Level 2 Scout. Yet his true identity is that of a fallen official, secretly serving the Judge of Illusion, leveraging his position to sell newly appointed, timid spiritual travelers who have just filed complaints, to the Judge of Illusion, who then uses the Holy Cup to transform them into servants. Ou Xiangrong is one such case. This demonstrates that through interest transfers, the Judge of Illusion has turned the official, grassroots spiritual travelers within the southeastern regional police bureaus into his allies, specifically scouting for new spiritual travelers and then controlling them via the Holy Cup. Fu Qingyang, therefore, specially requested a tiger seal from headquarters and launched a comprehensive health examination, which successfully uncovered several rogue elements. At the time, Zhang Yuanqing had suspected that the General and the King of Magic might have been similarly transformed into the Judge of Illusion's servants. Now this has been confirmed. "To which police bureau did the King of Magic file his complaint?" asked Zhang Yuanqing. Miao Teng'er shook her head: "He will not reveal such details, as this would allow me to pinpoint his family background and true identity." “Zhang Yuanqing”mhm’d a single sound, indicating his agreement with her statement, “Any more?” Miao Teng'er immediately replied, “Yes, there’s more… The Magus has gone to the overseas regions.” “I know—he was invited by the Goddess of Beauty’s Association to spend his time abroad sleeping with women. More precisely, he sailed across oceans to sleep with that radiant, extraordinary woman, the esteemed president.” Zhang Yuanqing gave a soft exhalation. “Even the speaker system has told me that.” To his surprise, however, Miao Teng'er shook her head, “No, there’s another reason for his overseas journey…” Suddenly, a clear, crisp sound of ‘tap-tap’ came from outside the window. The two of them turned to follow the sound, and there, stepping gracefully across the smooth, steep floor-to-ceiling window, appeared a pair of fresh, elegant red dance shoes glowing with a deep, dark red light. Miao Teng'er’s eyes sparkled with radiant wonder, her heart racing with excitement. She recognized these very shoes—they were the Red Dance Shoes of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign! At the very moment the red dance shoes appeared As soon as he appeared, he roared, "Dog thief! If you dare to injure a single strand of hair on my sister Teng'er, I'll peel your skin off and make it into a scroll!" "It's you, the Prime Immortal!" The magus's messenger gasped, shouting in fury, "Wretched Prime Immortal! You've ruined my plans. I will not let you off this time!" With that, he too transformed into a streak of starlight and faded away within the hotel suite.