Man, Zhang Yuanqing felt his scalp go numb, a wave of frustration and irritation inevitably rising. He had been so close to success—only to see it all fall apart. The sixth-level Stargazing Technique, once it involved the Dominators, became less effective. Moreover, with so many parties involved—Qinghe Branch, Tianfa, and even the King of the Underworld himself—each one could potentially interfere with the Stargazing Technique. Thus, this very scene wasn't part of his original plan. The elderly man by Osmon’s side was undoubtedly a Dominator; it simply wasn’t possible for him to take the King of the Underworld right under his eyes. What about withdrawing with the Palace Mistress? Handing over the King of the Underworld, having her place him inside the Little Red Hat space, and then transferring both of them away? But I only have one teleportation jade token. It’s certainly possible for the Palace Mistress to enter the hat, but the Dominator clearly won’t give me the chance to act. Handing over the King of the Underworld, bowing low, and retreating gracefully through official channels—yes, that would likely allow me to escape, though it wouldn’t satisfy me. In the blink The Master of the Stop-Kill Palace stood motionless, her crimson skirt trailing threads of red that converged precisely behind her, like a hooded, poised cobra ready to strike. Zhang Yuanqing sensed her tension—she dared not move at all. This sovereign of the Qinghe clan was higher-ranked than he had expected, at least a level eight, for an ordinary level-seven sovereign would not command such deference from the palace master. Osmon first glanced at the bound, plump figure of the King of the Underworld, his eyes brightening, then turned to the red-clad woman and the unremarkable young man. "Do you also wish to keep the King of the Underworld?" he asked, his gaze sweeping between the three of them, his tone cold. "Hm. Who is the one behind the scenes?" Zhang Yuanqing paid no attention. Wu Agui spoke in a tone of calm deliberation. "Leave the person here, and I will see that you all depart." The sovereign seemed intent on doing nothing. I recalled his name—Wu Agui, the patriarch of Qinghe Clan, renowned for his kindness. He might even let the King of the Underworld go without a fight... Zhang Yuanqing's gaze flickered. If it were him, a safe retreat would be quite feasible. "Let's waste any more time!" Osmon immediately launched into action. He raised both arms in front of his chest, and the sea surged in rhythmic waves, coalescing into a majestic blue stallion standing seventeen hands high. With a powerful thrust, he opened his arms, and the stallion—its mane and tail vividly lifelike—rose proudly, its head high and hooves striking, charging straight toward the chief of Zhishake Palace. Threads of red, like delicate tendrils, shot out and pierced the stallion's body, then gently tore through it. The blue stallion dissolved into a cascade of white foam, spilling across the ground. The chief emitted a cold sigh, the red threads still carrying momentum, winding around Osmon. Wu Agui, with his humble demeanor, quickly raised his palm and pressed it downward. Instantly, a powerful gravitational force descended, and the wr The Lady of the Stop-Kill Palace trembled slightly, her shoulders bearing the weight of a mountain. Zhang Yuanqing and the King of the Underworld were not as strong—one bowed down immediately, the other simply collapsed physically. Wu Agui turned to Osmon, urging, "The people have been taken; we'll get them back. Just talk calmly." He then looked at the Lady of the Stop-Kill Palace's back, speaking with earnest conviction, "You won't be able to take him with you. If you wish to leave, simply nod." Seeing that he could not defy a Master of the Eighth Rank, even though he was known for his kindness, Osmon coldly snorted, "I'll let you go for now. I don't care who you are. I'll investigate afterward. Once I find out your identities, you'll both be returning to the Spiritual Realm—mere lowly, unworthy beings." "Dying!" the Lady of the Stop-Kill Palace coldly declared. Unworthy beings? Still so arrogant on the territory of the Five Elements Alliance—this guy has always been this way, truly believing everyone fears the Heavenly Punishment. Zhang Yuanqing's head was pressed firmly into the layer of pine needles on the ground, emitting a hoarse, laughter: "Young man, lighten up your resentment. The last one who carried such strong resentment—the Prime Heavenly Sovereign—had to completely transform himself, no longer daring to show his true face." Osmon, equally decisive, immediately reached into his inventory, grabbed a large-caliber pistol, and aimed it straight at the boastful one's head. Zhang Yuanqing remained in the prostrate bowing posture, speaking clearly, "I am a senior steward of the Five Elements Alliance." "Bang!" The gunshot echoed in unison. Wu Agui, much like an old farmer who has labored hard and now sees a wild boar rooting through his vegetables, rushed forward a few steps, reached out, and caught the bullet in his hand. "You..." he said, fixing his gaze on the young man kneeling before him, then pondering, "What proof do you have?" As he spoke, he gently waved his hand, dispersing the heavy gravity surrounding the young man. Zhang Yuanqing leapt to his feet, stretched his aching muscles, and shook off the dust from his clothes before producing the credential from the Songhai branch, raising it high. "Here it is—the official document." Suddenly, vines sprouted from the trees behind him, snaking around the paper and hurling it toward the simple, honest old farmer. Wu Agui caught the paper and glanced at the Songhai branch's seal. "I recognize the seal, but I don't understand the text written on it." Zhang Yuanqing's carefully built momentum stalled. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he said, "The Songhai branch has assigned me to carry out a secret mission, with the goal of capturing this冥王. The target has already been apprehended. I hope the Qinghe branch can assist me." "How?" Wu Agui's tone shifted dramatically. "Let us leave," Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Osmon. "No!" Osmon's expression changed instantly, his blue eyes fixed on him. "Wu Agui, the Qinghe branch has already received payment and agreed to help us secure the site." "No one can defile the will of heaven; those who attempt it will suffer severe consequences." He added silently to himself. "The money will be refunded." Wu Agui folded the documents neatly and said to Zhang Yuanqing, "I can support your mission, but you two have to come with me. I need to find someone to check the computer files—well, I also want Yunmeng to review the text." "No need to look!" A resounding, authoritative voice came from deep within the forest. Zhang Yuanqing turned to see a white flower blooming on the pine tree behind Wu Agui, towering two meters high. The flower slowly unfurled, and at its center stood an elderly man, dressed in the same ethnic attire as Wu Agui, with a full head of white hair. While Wu Agui was simple and warm, this elder had broad, expressive eyes and a commanding presence, his white beard braided into a sheep's-tail style. Wu Youhua, head of the investigation department at Qinghe Branch, was one of the most powerful figures in the branch, responsible for upholding the clan's regulations. In most cases, the word "one of" could be dropped. Authoritative, irritable, aggressive, and always demanding—these were the traits that flashed through Zhang Yuanqing's mind as he reviewed the profile, sending a weight of concern settling in his chest. At the same time, deep in the darkness, a series of booming sounds echoed from the tree branches, as though a group of monkeys were climbing and leaping up the trunks, steadily approaching. Soon, figures emerged into view—groups of wood spirits even more agile than monkeys. They leapt between the branches, each arc of motion propelling them forward by over ten meters. On the ground, they galloped with ease, navigating the undulating forest terrain as if it were level ground. The wood spirits were passive—climbers. No complex terrain could hold them back; in ancient times, they were renowned as the vanguard forces tasked with breaching difficult passes and isolated fortresses. The wood spirits from Qinghe Division arrived first, forming a dense group around Wu Youhua. These units were directly under the command of the Investigation Director, while the earth spirits belonging to the clan leader, Wu Agui, were still en route due to their slower pace. "Whoa-whoa—" The wind surged fiercely, strong gusts bending the pine trees Two figures surged forward on the wind—clearly the Hunter of Monsters and Huo Fu, the latter still holding a serious, rigid young knight, Xiazuo. The representatives from Tianfa had arrived as well. Now, the forces from Tianfa and the Qinghe branch had completely surrounded Zhang Yuanqing and the Master of Zhishake Palace. From above, the Hunter, usually gentle, now stared with cold detachment. Huo Fu, a fellow wind mage, exuded a relaxed yet cold demeanor, while Xiazuo remained as always—stern and composed. Osmon, meanwhile, smiled with a quiet, cat-like amusement, as if watching a mouse being played. With allies both above and below, these two were utterly trapped. The Qinghe clan members observed with curiosity and scrutiny, murmuring among themselves about the unfolding events. Yunmeng, immersed in the scene, was stunned to realize that she had suddenly become one of the central figures in this story—someone had impersonated her to the clan, fabricating false reports, drawing away Tianfa and Qinghe warriors from their gathering points, aiming to intercept a fugitive known as the King of the Underworld, and nearly succeeding. Yunmeng carefully observed the two of them. The young man had an ordinary appearance—someone she wouldn’t look at twice—but there was always a certain air about him that felt familiar, as if she had seen him before. The woman in the red dress appeared to be a striking beauty; though masked and dressed in elegant robes, her graceful, poised demeanor drew her gaze and stirred admiration even in a woman like herself. Yet she didn’t recognize either of them. Why would they pretend to be her? Yunmeng furrowed her brows, feeling something was off. Indeed, according to the accounts of the clan members, the impostor had even interacted with her grandfather and gone unnoticed. "Executive Officer," Osmon declared, "it's precisely these two who intend to intercept the King of the Underworld." In response, the warrior’s wind blades surged forth like a downpour, sweeping over and enveloping the two beneath—the Palace Master of the Stopping Force and Zhang Yuanqing. The Palace Master, still under the weight of gravity, could not manage to evade. Wu Agui frowned. The soil beneath Zhang Yuanqing and the Palace Master rose, forming a spherical barrier. "Boom! Boom!" The wind-blade struck the barrier, sending up a gray dust. The hunter-mage's gaze sharpened. "Wu Clan Head, what do you mean by this?" This nephew, so focused on farming and serving as clan head, had no idea how difficult it was to manage a tribe of twenty thousand people. Amid the crowd, Yun Meng watched the scattered paper fragments drift in the wind, her brows furrowed slightly. While she was somewhat dissatisfied with the way Sixth Grandfather treated her grandfather, neither in seniority nor in strength did she feel empowered to speak up. Many others in the Qinghe clan shared her sentiment—though they respected the clan head deeply, they neither feared nor hesitated, only held him in high regard. Wu Agui paused for a few seconds, then spoke seriously: "Uncle, don't deceive yourself. Even if the documents are torn, he will still hold the official rank of Senior Official. This Yin King might be a key suspect—handing him over to the Heavenly Judgment won't suffice. At the very least, we should consult the Songhai Branch first." He added thoughtfully, "Imagine, what if the headquarters cuts our funding next year?" Wu Youhua didn't mind the Songhai Branch's stance, but a funding cut would strike at the very core of their operations. The Hunter-Mage furrowed his brow, standing in the air, and declared, "If Wu Clan insists, I won't hesitate, but please return the three million deposit to Qinghe Branch." The Qinghe clan members' expressions shifted slightly. Hu Fo smiled pleasantly and said, "If Qinghe Branch is willing to assist Tianfa, we'll add two million federal credits—bringing the total to ten million." The murmurs below erupted as people instinctively calculated the exchange rate: ten million federal credits equaled seven million local currency units. Wu Youhua was delighted, gently stroking his ram-like beard and smiled, "Tianfa is indeed generous—let's have a most pleasant partnership!" He then turned to his nephew, speaking seriously, "Ahui, the headquarters will at most hold us accountable; they won't cut back on funding. Our funding is a condition for our alliance with the Five Elements Alliance. If the headquarters dares to withhold funding, we're ready to escalate. If you insist on cutting off the clan members' financial resources, then ask them whether they agree." "Never!" someone immediately shouted. Then, the chorus of "Never!" rose steadily, with Qinghe clan members filled with Osmon murmured in admiration, that was the power of money. He cast a quiet, sidelong glance at Wu Agui. Zhang Yuanqing and the Master of Zhishi Palace exchanged a glance; the latter gave a slight shake of his head. The current situation made it impossible to take the King of the Underworld; to simply escape unharmed would be a great achievement. Zhang Yuanqing quickly thought through the situation: "The Qinghe branch doesn't fear the headquarters, is entirely committed to money, and has been fully won over by Tianfa—its chances of completing the mission are nearly zero. If we don't want to give up, we first need to make the Qinghe branch recognize the difficulty and retreat. Then, with me and the Master of Zhishi Palace forming a team, and the 'Wanderer of the World' operating in the shadows, we can stand a real chance against Tianfa's forces. It all depends on whether it's worth it." He coldly surveyed Osmon, proud and haughty, and Huo, who now bore the weight of his injuries. Worth it? Worth it or not, he wasn't sure—but I want to beat them. Zhang Yuanqing's expression remained cold. He had never held These people who come to our home to face embarrassment—unless they're afraid of their identity as heirs of the Mage King being exposed—would have already been taught a lesson in manners by now, given their personality. Unexpectedly, they didn't get a chance during the exchange meeting; instead, they've now met face to face deep in the vast mountain range. "To make the Qinghe branch give up, simply presenting myself as an unknown steward won't be enough. I must step up to the plate. With the prestige of the Primordial Celestial Sovereign, the authority of the Marshal, and my personal relationship with Yunmeng, there's a real chance that Qinghe will voluntarily withdraw. It all depends on how I handle it..." Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced. At that moment, another group of Qinghe clan members arrived, among whom there was a familiar face—the Deputy Minister of Saffron. The dark-skinned, stern Deputy Minister, upon seeing Zhang Yuanqing, was first taken aback, then gritted her teeth, pushed through the crowd, and surged to the front, speaking sharply: "Brother, Uncle Six—he's the one who injured me! He's the very person who has been embezzling our "He's not even a Third-Clear Dao Patriarch—he's just a petty person who's afraid to reveal his true identity." As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Qinghe clan members shifted. They had heard about the recent ordeal of the Minister of Poppy just a few days ago. It was said that this so-called "Third-Clear Dao Patriarch," a senior steward, had embezzled nearly one hundred million yuan—funds that were supposed to have gone into the Qinghe branch's account. Not only had he siphoned off Qinghe's money, but he had also seriously injured the Minister of Poppy. Wu Youhua's eyes instantly grew cold, and green vine tendrils surged from his sleeve, tightly wrapping the already bound King of the Underworld, pulling with growing strength. The crisp snaps of the silk ropes echoed continuously. The Master of the Halt-Death Palace, having failed in the struggle, merely exhaled a soft sigh. The King of the Underworld, now wrapped in the tender green vines, glanced left and right at the Qinghe clan, then up at the Heaven's Punishment, and finally back at the Master of the Halt-Death Palace and Zhang Wu Youhua stepped on the king of the underworld, gazing at Zhang Yuanqing with cold resolve. "I don't care who you are. Any harm done to my people is an act of war. Counting on your status as a senior councilor of the Five Elements Alliance, you shall sever one of your arms and then retreat!" This was a public humiliation of a high-ranking councilor. Everyone turned their attention to Zhang Yuanqing—some mocking and derisive, others filled with righteous anger, while others simply watched with amused indifference. The killing aura in Zhi Sha's eyes grew even more intense. "Force me to cut off my arm?" Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand and rested it on his forehead, fully resolved—after all, he could always choose to withdraw his reward offer. "The ten senior elders at headquarters have never spoken to me like this. Wu, you're showing quite a bit of authority today. How about you find out who I am!" With a gentle gesture, the otherwise ordinary face twisted like ripples on water, transforming into one of youthful elegance and grace.