For a brief moment, Gong Zi Qian's eyes grew dull, then instantly regained their composure, and he calmly remarked, "Good work. With all those props and ghostly items you've got, if you can't win, then you're just trash." Brother, are you trying to salvage your reputation at all costs? Zhang Yuanqing thought this while keeping his head down. "But I seem to have made a serious mess now. The heavenly punishment won't let me off the hook—I'm genuinely nervous." Zhang Yuanqing said. Will you be nervous? Fu Qingyang coldly glanced at him and added, "Then indeed, we'll need to go over the details carefully." Zhang Yuanqing described the entire course of the battle in detail to Fu Qingyang, from initially using the general's tiger-skin banner as a pretense to deceive Qinghe's division, all the way through to finally escaping the battlefield using the teleportation device. He recounted everything precisely and thoroughly. Fu Qingyang listened silently, and suddenly asked, "Then, isn't the primary concern now the Master of the Zheng-Shi Palace?" The elder was clearly writing "a loveless man" all over his face... Zhang Yuanqing said, "She'll reach out to me if she's no longer in battle." How often does someone call you to check in during battle? When Zhang Yuanqing sought help from the Master of the Stillness Palace, he had already shared the hunter-mage's profile and the wind mage's professional traits with her, and the Master had given a reasonably positive response. While they might not win, they would certainly not lose. Therefore, Zhang Yuanqing didn't worry about the Master's safety—after all, like the musician, the love-mage is also exceptionally skilled at survival. Just as he finished speaking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The caller ID read: "The Mad Master." Zhang Yuanqing was startled and answered the call, hesitating, "Master, did you finish fighting?" Through the speaker, the Master's voice came through, weary, "I've exited the battle." Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows, stared at the phone, and slightly raised his chin. Zhang Yuanqing instantly grasped the elder's meaning and asked, "So quickly?" On the bed, the love-mage is known for being a clingy little sprite On the battlefield, wind mages are the most persistent and troublesome opponents—without special means, it's nearly impossible to escape their pursuit. Theoretically, the Lady Gong should not have been able to leave the combat so quickly. Lady Gong smiled calmly and said, "Don't think you're the only one with a teleportation device... Well, I've sustained some injuries, so I'll take a short nap and rest. Just remember to divide the credit accordingly." She seemed unwilling to elaborate further and hung up the phone after reporting safely. Fu Qingyang said quietly, "Although teleportation is merely a skill at the Saint level, teleportation devices are quite rare. As a musician, how could she have access to such a resource?" Zhang Yuanqing shrugged, "I'm not sure." It was likely through Chen Shu's network—Chen Shu, being a close partner of Mr. Bill, would certainly have access to the merchant guild. Fu Qingyang briefly passed over this point, then paused for a few seconds before saying, "Prepare a report for me first. I'll send it to headquarters to explain the full context." How the King of Pluto handles it, let’s first assess the stakes—have the headquarters, the Goddess Association, and the Heaven’s Judgment make their offers. Don’t rush to decide yet. “The spoils you’ve acquired—strictly speaking, they aren’t spoils at all, because the Heaven’s Judgment isn’t an enemy. The Five Elements Alliance wouldn’t recognize the term ‘spoils.’” Spoils are what you seize from enemies. If those are spoils, then the Heaven’s Judgment and the Five Elements Alliance must be considered enemies. “But we can’t just return them that way,” Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows. Fu Qingyang gave a short exhalation. “Just a little less, then.” Zhang Yuanqing finally smiled. “Alright, boss… uh, shall I draft the mission report now?” There are two reasons for drafting a mission report: first, to signal to headquarters that the King of Pluto’s matter is something the Five Elements Alliance can participate in; second, to legitimize the transmission talismans. He simply needs to state in the report that the transmission items were purchased from the chairman of the Merchant Guild. That way, the origin of the talismans is clearly established. This explanation is essential A single task report can resolve many issues. "No rush," Fu Qingyang said. "Let's meet King Pluto first. I'm curious about the secrets he carries." "Didn't you say we shouldn't wade into the deep waters?" "The situation has changed. Pluto's status is now destined to be openly discussed. Therefore, his secrets—however many—will inevitably come to light. We won't be any different." Fu Qingyang explained. "The King of the Underworld examined him," said Fu Qingyang. "Yes, the House of Scouts is well known in the West." Fu Qingyang then looked at him and said, "King of the Underworld, you've been captured. I have several questions for you. Would you like to answer them lying on the ground, or would you prefer to join me on my guest sofa?" "Is there any difference?" "If you sit on the sofa, you'll be able to enjoy fine wines—whiskey, champagne, red wine, even a second-brewed rice wine." Fu Qingyang said calmly. "So you're a gentleman after all!" the King of the Underworld smiled and said, "I'll take the sofa." You could slow down a bit, please? My hearing isn't very good... Zhang Yuanqing couldn't speak, only managing to complain from the side. Fu Qingyang lightly tapped his fingers, sending a blade of qi that severed the red thread and the tender whiskers on the King's body. The King was surprisingly composed, he simply straightened up, settled into the luxurious single sofa, and said, "I'd like a glass of water, preferably with some food as well." Fu Qingyang satisfied his needs. Soon, the rabbit maidens served delicious desserts and snacks, poured wine for the two, and brought a chilled cola for Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing quietly opened his translation software. The King of the Underworld finished off his strong wine in one go, then grabbed the desserts and snacks and devoured them with great enthusiasm. "Anything you'd like to ask?" "Boss, this guy seems to be playing games with us," Zhang Yuanqing whispered. The King of the Underworld's demeanor was too relaxed—this didn't match the state he showed when he was first captured. Fu Qingyang sat upright, calm and composed, saying, "He's just tired." The Money Gentleman looked steadily at the King of the Underworld and asked, "Why did the Heavenly Judgment capture you?" The King of the Underworld swallowed his food, refilled his wine glass, and replied, "They want a list." "What kind of list?" the Money Gentleman narrowed his eyes. The King of the Underworld gazed deeply at the tea table, lost in thought for several seconds, then said, "A list recording the information of members of an organization known as the 'Free Covenant'—more precisely, partial identity details of its members." "What is the Free Covenant? What organization is this?" Zhang Yuanqing immediately turned to the young gentleman, noticing that his leader was also furrowing his brows, deep in thought. Well, the young gentleman hadn't heard of it either... "You never could have heard of this organization, for it dissolved—perhaps even went into hiding—after the fall of the Church. In fact, the fall of the Church was not merely the result of the orderly, evil-aligned spiritual travelers growing dissatisfied with the Church's autocratic rule and uniting to overthrow it. Behind the scenes, a mysterious organization orchestrated the entire process. That organization was the Free Covenant. It is the oldest and most enigmatic of all spiritual traveler organizations, with a history as long and as profound as that of the Church. My leader, Eternal Dream, once stated that the Free Covenant was founded specifically to overthrow the Church." The King of the Underworld took another sip of wine, his tone solemn and reverent, as if a devout believer reciting a sacred text: "The first group of divine disciples took oaths by the lake of blood, vowing to overthrow the false gods' faith, to eradicate the heretical lineages, and to reduce the Papal Court to ashes in the wrath of the true gods. They severed their wrists, using their blood to prove their convictions—their wills as deep and enduring as the lake of blood itself." "If it were only that, then the Heavenly Punishment wouldn't have pursued you so relentlessly," Qian Gong said calmly. In his view, such events were so commonplace that the means and methods humans used to vie for power and influence were remarkably similar throughout history, having occurred countless times. "As I mentioned earlier, the Covenant of Freedom has never vanished—it has merely remained hidden. If the current organizations of spiritual travelers are the rulers shining brightly in the sunlight, then the Covenant of Freedom is the king hidden in the shadows of history," said the King of the Underworld, his tone serious. "They operate behind the scenes, shaping the course of the world. They orchestrated the downfall of the Church, and the twenty-something-year-old struggle for the Light Compass was also their masterstroke. Take, for instance, the assassination of the Chief Prosecutor of the Heavenly Punishment, and the earthquake during the 2007 Maqi Mountain Summit." Fu Qingyang's expression suddenly grew stern. Zhang Yuanqing listened, somewhat bewildered, and only realized the gravity of the situation after reviewing the translated content on the software. Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of cola. "What about the attack on the Chief Prosecutor of Tianfa and the earthquake incident?" Fu Qingyang explained: "The attack on the Chief Prosecutor of Tianfa happened ten years ago. That half-divine figure was struck unexpectedly. As I heard from elders in the family, if it weren't for the then-vice president of the Merchant Guild being present nearby, Tianfa might have lost a half-divine. The Chief Prosecutor was one of the strongest half-divines of our time." Zhang Yuanqing immediately felt a chill down his spine. Fu Qingyang continued: "The earthquake incident at the Maqi Mountain Summit in 2007. Attendees included prominent figures from the first regional district—families of the Spiritual Realm, orderly organizations, civilian groups, as well as ordinary officials from various countries responsible for managing Spiritual Realm practitioners. They had gathered specifically for a certain project. During the meeting, Maqi Mountain suddenly experienced an earthquake, causing landslides and fissures. All participants perished in the quake—none survived." "That's rather terrifying... Zhang Yuanqing took a sharp breath and asked, 'What is the purpose of the meeting?' Fu Qingyang shook his head, 'The meeting's content is strictly confidential—I haven't paid much attention. I'll find out later.' He looked steadily at the King of the Underworld, 'How do you know all this?' The King of the Underworld shrugged, 'Eternal Dream is my father. He had many children, and I was the most outstanding among them. He raised me as his successor.' Fu Qingyang studied him for a few seconds, confirming the truth. He picked up a glass of wine, gently shook it, listening to the crisp clinks of ice cubes against the glass, and then said slowly, 'There exists a mysterious, ancient organization that orchestrated the downfall of the Church, possessing the power to assassinate half-gods, quietly shaping the course of the world. It's indeed formidable—but I believe it's far more complex than that.' 'How so?' Zhang Yuanqing asked." Fu Qingyang spoke slowly, "The Church's approach back then was indeed domineering. Yet it is a lawful, orderly organization. If it hadn't perished and had instead endured to the present day, what would it have become?" Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment and said, "This realm belongs to the Church, and also to the orderly forces." "Exactly!" Fu Qingyang nodded. "Then who would seek to destroy the orderly forces? The evil faction. Suppose this assumption holds true—the Free Concord would then be a blade hanging over the heads of all orderly factions. However, I believe the situation might be more complex, because the Free Concord itself contains both orderly and evil elements, somewhat resembling a neutral faction." Zhang Yuanqing hummed in agreement. Whether orderly or evil, both were legitimate and openly committed. The style of the Free Concord reminded him more of the Night Rose—though the Night Rose's history and mystique were far beyond those of the Free Concord. "Your father, holding the Eternal Dream, possessed part of the list. After his passing, did he pass it on to you?" Fu Qingyang asked. "That list has already been torn to pieces—I've kept it here." The King of the Underworld pointed to his own head, his smile deep and significant. "You want it? I can write it out for you." "No!" Zhang Yuanqing and Fu Qingyang both stammered in unison. Fu Qingyang fastened the handcuffs (props) on the King of the Underworld and had Zhang Yuanqing escort him to the underground detention chamber. Once the staff had led the prisoner away, Fu Qingyang returned to his bedroom, changed into his martial arts attire, and carried his wooden sword to the training room. "Master?" the night-shift rabbit maid, surprised by his appearance, exclaimed, "Your practice session isn't over for today, is it?" Qian Gong is a very regular person—like a precise mechanical watch—his training schedule is strictly planned. What must have happened to him today to make him so sudden? Fu Qingyang replied calmly, "Prepare dinner for me. From now on, my practice hours will double." In tonight's battle, Osmon suffered the most severe blow. Now, he lies motionless in the luxurious chair, eyes lifeless, pale as a sheet, his pupils dilated—like a lifeless puppet. Osmon has certainly not been a person of fragile mind; yet the hunters know this defeat has been overwhelming. As the noble heir of the Halliwell family, once beloved by his kin and under the watchful gaze of the Celestial Judgment, he now finds himself, in a foreign land, utterly trampled by a young man who has only recently become a Spirit Realm traveler—still reportedly enrolled in university. That man even managed to defeat Osmon with a single strike and three victories. The hunters turn their gaze to Hufu. The young wind mage lies lounging, seemingly asleep, but the hunters notice his fists remain tightly clenched, never having relaxed since boarding the aircraft. Hufu, a member of a distinguished family and a student of the first-tier Golden Executive Dole Jerome, is considered a direct disciple of the Ten Elders within the Five Elements Alliance. Within the Heavenly Punishment, Huo Fu's status even surpasses that of Osmon. This gifted wind mage appears carefree, yet is profoundly proud—his laziness is merely his outward expression of disdain for the world around him, and no one can truly make him take things seriously. The blow he has received tonight is no less severe than Osmon's. Even the most resilient of the group, Xia Zhao, sits silently in the corner, his face subdued, having remained silent since boarding the plane. The hunter-mage glances at his watch, "There are still four hours until the capital. I only have four hours. After you disembark, I expect three well-conditioned subordinates to assist me in my work." With that, he turns away, opens his phone screen, and logs into the Wuxing Alliance forum. These three posts cover one event: Wang Xiao'er, a colleague from the Nanzhong branch, has written a textual post; Yunmeng, a colleague from the Qinghe branch, has posted a video; and Ji-Shu, another colleague from Qinghe, has posted a video. Together, the three posts tell the same story—the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign decisively defeats three of the peak Saint-level cultivators of the Sanqing Dao Patriarchs in the Ten-Ten Mountain Range of the Baigu Province. Wang Xiao'er's post provides a detailed written account of the Sanqing Patriarchs' actions in Nanzhong City, culminating in their complete defeat at the hands of the Primordial Sovereign in the Ten-Ten Mountains. Yunmeng's post is a five-minute video capturing the entire process of the Primordial Sovereign's decisive victory over the three Saints. Ji-Shu's post documents the celestial battle that unfolds in the skies above. At 12:30 PM midnight, a sudden surge of posts from employees at the Qinghe branch appeared on the quiet forum, with titles and contents so striking they were almost overwhelming: The Prime Origin Sovereign single-handedly faces off against the Heaven's Punishment Saint The Prime Origin Sovereign is truly extraordinary—what a powerhouse! Is the Prime Origin Sovereign the strongest among all the Sovereigns under the Supreme Mandate? It's hard to accept that a Prime Origin Sovereign who has just reached Level Six could be this powerful. Scattered yet numerous—around twenty to thirty similar posts—forum administrators noticed them immediately and were stunned upon learning the full details. All the posts narrated the same event, one that was both utterly unbelievable and deeply exhilarating: The Prime Origin Sovereign defeated three of the Heaven's Punishment Saints at the peak of their powers, handily overwhelming them. Unbelievable! This kind of story would never be crafted by even the most polished media outlets or self-promoting content creators. Yet, after watching the video footage, the forum administrators were left in sheer shock and excitement, finally accepting the reality. They immediately sent a message to the Department of Public Affairs to report the incident, and upon receiving leadership approval, removed all pinned posts and selected three to pin, clearly outlining the event's timeline so that the official on-site staff could easily understand what had happened in the morning. They had expected a major media storm the next day, but they underestimated the impact—within half an hour after the posts were pinned, the reading volume surged to an astonishing 10,000, steadily increasing second by second. By the one-hour mark, the reading volume surpassed the total number of official on-site staff. Clearly, not only the official staff, but also numerous on-site practitioners from major spiritual families and the Night-Wandering Deities of the Taiyuan Sect—who had login access—were actively reading the posts. It was no surprise that the night-shift users of the Water Forum quickly learned of the news, notified their colleagues and friends, and then those colleagues went on to notify others, creating a ripple effect—so that even the official staff who were still asleep began to wake up and follow the developments. Beyond the frontline practitioners, this major event likely even reached the level of the Ten Elders. Yuanshi Tianzun single-handedly faced off against the three celestial saints of Tianfa, establishing a dominant advantage. For the members of the Wu Xing Alliance, who had been holding their anger since the previous days, this performance was no less thrilling than witnessing China's national football team clinch a World Cup title. To the sovereigns, however, the very origins of this conflict had become a matter of urgent discussion, requiring them to convene emergency meetings. The official observers' discussions primarily centered on the posts by "Wang Xiao'er" and "Yun Meng," while the combat between the two sovereigns received less attention—both due to the distance and the unclear visuals, and because their performance was overwhelmingly overshadowed by Yuanshi Tianzun's impressive achievements. 】 【Peony Fairy: There should never have been a stage this grand for such a magic feat. Osmon, the one sent by heaven's judgment, defeated the Fire Prince; Hufu triumphed over Yin Ji. Yet even together, the three of them couldn't touch a single strand of Yuan Shi Tian Zun's hair. I only began to doubt the authenticity of the video because the forum post was highlighted.】 【Deep Blue Fear: So even if the original official Four Princes had teamed up, they would still have been crushed by Tian Zun—what kind of power level is that? Under such strength, no one should be able to stand against him.】 【Grass-Heaven God: Ah-ha! Where is Osmon? Brothers in the capital—has anyone formed a team to go to Fenglin Evening Hotel and mock the Sea Demon? That would be so satisfying. From now on, I'm turning into a big fan of Tian Zun.】 【Sunset Wildflower: The official Four Princes are now a thing of the past. Yuan Shi Tian Zun is the peak of our current Saint-level power. What is Osmon, really? Even three of them wouldn't stand a chance against The Face of the Five Elements Alliance has been restored by the Prime Celestial Sovereign. Osmon will probably never come back to our country after this. The three members of Tianfa returning to Tianfa will surely be a source of international embarrassment—defeated three to one, with a stain on their reputation that will never fade. It’s absolutely satisfying; we must raise a toast tonight. [Xuezi, with a milky complexion]: I’ve already planned to cross over to Tianfa’s forum tomorrow to watch the drama unfold. It’s so thrilling—just thinking about it makes me feel exhilarated. I’ll open a bottle of wine and watch the video again. [Little Niu]: The Prime Sovereign will surely have his reward upgraded on the black market’s list—this time, he’ll likely rise directly to the top of the celestial rankings. The most enthusiastic comments at the top of the comment section are precisely these emotionally charged ones. A few days ago, at the exchange forum, the three members of Tianfa defeated the Fire Prince and Yin Ji, while Hua Prince chose to avoid battle altogether. Even the best-performing Huang Prince managed only a draw, relying solely on his resilience. Among the younger generation of the Five But who among the official diplomats, who carries a sense of collective pride, wouldn't feel frustrated? Now, Yuan Shi Tian Zun is delivering a more magnificent and dominant performance, overwhelming the Tian Fa Saint-level warriors, allowing all those who had been holding their breath and feeling humiliated to finally stand tall. Beyond that, discussions about the battle itself are beginning to emerge. "I've never seen such a style of combat before—can the Star Officials still fight like this? Yuan Shi Tian Zun never even stepped in once. That's truly impressive." "Using the Yin Shi and Ling Pu as foot soldiers, and employing the Observing the Stars technique to command from the center—there are indeed skilled practitioners within Tai Men who use this strategy, but only those with deep expertise in stellar power. It's rare for others to achieve it. Yuan Shi Tian Zun has only been promoted to Saint status for a short while, and yet he's so extraordinary." "Look at that Yin Shi—he's wearing the ceremonial attire for the Heavenly Sacrifice, isn't he? And Xia Zuo, who's clearly strong in close combat, managed to withstand only ten attacks. I've watched him fight against Huang Tai Ji—his close-range capabilities were always strong." "The item that can switch forms seems to be truly exceptional. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's collection of tools is indeed extensive—Tian Zun of the Tools truly lives up to his name. This battle has been absolutely spectacular!" "Whoa! Isn't this the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk from our Jianghu Branch? Didn't we lose it in the副本? Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun has definitely taken our treasure. The headquarters should definitely stand up for us." "Stand up for it? The Yin-Yang Rotating Disk should go to Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun. Even if he took our rule-based tools, I'd wholeheartedly agree." "Exactly!" More and more comments poured in. The official agents gathered at the forum, cheering and celebrating. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's reputation reached its peak. ... At the gathering place of the Tàí Mén, in a high-end residential community. Late at night, Yin Ji sat at her desk by the bedside, carefully reading through the *Pure Yang Bathing Record*. Her talent was excellent—though not quite on par with the prodigies like the Magistrate King, she could certainly stand alongside Fēng Dū Ghost King. Yet Yin Ji is too gentle by nature, preferring peace over conflict, and thus falls short in achievements compared to Fengdu Ghost King. Though not one inclined to rivalry, she recently suffered a significant setback at Huo Fu's hands, which has inevitably sparked a determination to rise from shame. At that moment, her phone on the desk buzzed. She shifted her gaze from the Pure Yang Bathing Record and glanced at the screen. It was Red Ying Elder, her teacher, mentioning her in the Office Group. Yin Ji opened the Office Group and saw a message posted just a few minutes ago by the Grand Elder, Ci Ri Xing Guan: [Grand Elder Ci Ri Xing Guan: All Star Officers, please pay close attention—this is a battle video from the Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s engagement at Qing He Branch. For you, it’s textbook-level combat. Watch it carefully.] Below the message was a video link. Yin Ji scanned the replies from the officers: "Top-tier combat performance under the Master’s command." "Osmon’s entire strategy seemed perfectly anticipated by Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Has his stargazing art reached such a level?" "Marvelous! The spiritual servant and the shadow corpse work in perfect harmony, with well-considered props and numerous details that invite repeated reflection—this truly humbles me, as one who specializes in stellar energies." "Hmm, first off, cutting off Huo Fu's limbs—does it seem like the Prime Sovereign has a personal grudge against him? Is he perhaps avenging the shadow maiden's cause?" A textbook-level battle? The shadow maiden's eyes widened in astonishment, realizing that the Prime Sovereign and the Saint of Heavenly Judgment were now in direct conflict. This clash had even drawn the attention of the Grand Elder, who had hailed it as a textbook-level engagement. He'd cut off Huo Fu's limbs to avenge my cause—wouldn't that be a surprise? The shadow maiden quickly opened the video to watch.