Kou Beiyue stared at the man before her, her heart filled not with hope or joy, but with sorrow and grief—like a child who had been bullied finally seeing their parent, tears streaming down her face. The seventeen-year-old boy wept loudly, his face streaked with tears, choking out, "Liangchen is dead... Tongtong is dead..." Zhang Yuancheng looked toward the living room, then to the room next door, a touch of melancholy passing through his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said. "I came too late." Though he had arrived as quickly as possible, it was still too late—the once smooth, timid young man, the one who had always been so graceful, had returned to the spiritual realm. He had been destroyed by violence throughout his life, and ultimately, he had died from it. Zhao Xintong had also passed away—she had never reached adulthood, never had the chance to heal the shadows of her childhood, and now she was gone. If there is indeed a heaven, may it be a place without abuse and discrimination. Kou Beiyue cried out, "Xiaoyuan, save her! She's nearly gone too." Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart sink as he took the infant from Kou Beiyue's arms, checking her pulse—already gone, her heart no longer beating. The pathogens had infiltrated her five zang and six fu organs, draining her vitality and causing them to decay. Though the body was decaying, a faint spark of life remained, meaning she had only recently passed away. Immediately, Zhang Yuanqing activated the "Qing Di Chang Sheng Ju" skill on his waist belt. A gentle yet powerful green light washed over the infant's body, infusing the nearly lifeless form with renewed vitality. The Qing Di Jade Belt, a master-tier artifact, granted the Chang Sheng Ju skill not only the ability to heal injuries and toxins but also to restore physical strength to peak condition—a recovery power even stronger than concentrated life essence. Under his watchful gaze, the infant's pale complexion gradually turned rosy, and her heartbeat stabilized. Her eyelashes trembled, then fluttered open. She found herself cradled in Yuan Shi Tian Zun's arms, gazing at the close, handsome face before her—her eyes welled with emotion. A thousand words surged to her mind, yet they remained trapped in her throat, finally spilling over Zhang Yuanqing exhaled silently, tightly embracing her as if holding onto a cherished treasure reclaimed. He soon released Xiao Yuan, producing two transmission jade tokens and handing them over to them, speaking without expression or emotion: "I'll take charge of the departure. I'll make sure you're settled." Kou Beiyue and Xiao Yuan knew the situation was urgent—neither was a moment for conversation nor for emotional release. They both took the transmission tokens and snapped them in half. The tokens turned to powder, drifting down, and the two remained in place, not moving. "It seems your transmission devices are from the Saint's stage—Zhao Secretary's prediction was accurate," a man approached, standing at the doorway, one hand cradling a crystal orb. Inside the orb, a miniature model of the house was visible, complete with life-sized figurines of the people present. This is a master-tier item, though of relatively low quality and with a single function: it can enclose a fixed location within a crystal sphere, creating a sealed master-tier space that lasts for ten minutes. During this time, only those permitted by him may enter or exit. It was specifically designed to counteract the transmission items of the Primordial Sovereign. In the battle at the Hundred-Ten Mountain Range, the Primordial Sovereign revealed the existence of his transmission items—rare and typically found at the Saint level, with master-tier transmission items nearly extinct. Therefore, Zhou Secretary personally selected this item for Nu Tao Wu Qing. Zhang Yuanqing stared at him coldly, "Cai Qinhè's dog? Coming after me?" Unconsciously, he clenched his fists. He had no doubt—this official initiative was truly aimed at him. Cai Qinhè intended to strike him down. Zhao Xintong and Liang Chen had died as a result of being targeted by him. "Primordial Sovereign!" "The furious tide, unyielding, dragged the crystal sphere without immediately acting, calmly advancing according to plan—spreading the plague in secret while quietly questioning, 'You have disrupted judicial proceedings, sought to shield the evil profession. Now you are at my mercy, surrendering to accompany me for trial. The Ten Elder Houses are known for their clemency; perhaps you may escape execution.' Zhang Yuanqing gazed at him calmly, 'Is this your final words?' The area had already been sealed off; this Rain Lord had come specifically to kill him. Surrendering meant offering his neck to be severed. 'Stubborn!' the furious tide said quietly, 'Do you think your exceptional talent allows you to repeatedly breach the core principles of the Five Elements Alliance? Since you have chosen to rebel against the Five Elements Alliance, I shall uphold the law and carry out your execution.' Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing bent low, coughing violently, his face turning crimson. A clear, resonant dragon's roar echoed in the ears of Zhang Yuanqing and his companions, shaking their minds to clarity, leaving their thoughts momentarily empty. The Long Roar of the Rain Lord can dispel illusions or resonate with thunderous force. Seething with fury, the Torrent seized the moment, flicked a drop of water with his fingertip—transforming it into a downpour with enough kinetic power to pierce steel plates, enveloping the three of them. To the Rain Lord, a single drop of water could be as potent as a sniper's bullet. "Patter, patter..." The rain struck the thick, earth-toned light screen with sharp, resonant intensity. Behind the screen, Zhang Yuanqing, having activated his experience card, grew increasingly fierce in expression, his eyes wild. Fixing his gaze on the Torrent, he cracked a smile: "I love this anger and resentment—whether it stems from me or not. It will sustain me, fueling my resolve to eliminate every enemy, one by one, beginning with you." Compared to his earlier frenzy, a new layer of sorrow now shimmered in his eyes—alongside a deepening flame of rage. Activating the celestial ritual of his divine attire, he donned a deep indigo robe, flames swirling into his cloak, his feet resting upon yellow clouds, and a vibrant green glow encircling his waist. The celestial A terrifying pressure descended from the heavens, sending a deep shiver through the soul. Without warning, a sense of fear surged within Nü Tao, as if facing a natural adversary, causing his water-based spiritual energy to run sluggishly. The Sacred Heaven Set and the Five Elements spiritual energies, while ineffective against other professions, naturally exerted a superior advantage over the five core professions—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Zhang Yuan cleared his throat, then raised his hand toward Xiao Yuan and Kou Beiyue, gently closing his fist. Yellow earth energy coalesced into solid quadrilateral walls, enclosing the two within. These earth walls not only provided strong defense, shielding them from the aftermath of combat but also blocked the spread of pathogens, creating a sterile environment for them. "It makes sense why Elder Cai sought the Sacred Heaven Set," Nü Tao thought, his heart suddenly stirred. "With the complete set, Elder Cai would become the foremost among the Ten Elders—perhaps even capable of challenging the Grand Marshal directly." He quickly stepped back, his resolve sharpened. Though his spiritual power was suppressed, he remained calm and composed, his tone cold. "I should have known you could defeat a Sovereign. Did you think the only one coming to Jinshan City was me?" ... Outside the residential complex, a red spherical aura rolled forth from the void, and Xie Su and Zhang Yuanqing stepped through the void, one after the other, materializing in reality. As soon as they appeared, Xie Su turned his gaze toward the sky. Two dense white mist formations drifted from afar, appearing slow at first glance but actually moving with remarkable speed—arriving within moments. Although the Five Elements Alliance had merged for over twenty years, and the official guilds at the lower and mid-levels had grown increasingly indifferent, at the Sovereign level, the old traditions remained intact. Thus, most of Cai's trusted aides were from the Water Deity Palace, and the same applied to the other nine elders. Zhang Yuanqing murmured, "They're here to kill me, Uncle Xie. I'll split off to assist them. You hold them off—just ten minutes should be enough." "Xiao Yuan and Kou Beiyue are still trapped within the seal. The duplicate lacks tools to penetrate the armor, and relying solely on sword energy makes it difficult to shatter the master-level protective barriers—so he has to go personally. If things drag on any further, Xiao Yuan and Kou Beiyue will be unable to move. Xie Su glanced at him, and since some time ago, the expression of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun had grown profoundly solemn. He didn't ask, but he had a good sense of what was behind it. Xie Su nodded slightly, solemnly instructing, 'Once the people are rescued, withdraw immediately. Do not disturb the senior monks inside. Understood?' Zhang Yuanqing didn't respond—he dissolved into starlight. This time, he didn't perform his playful finger snaps. ... In the enclosed command room, monitoring the projection screen through drone footage, the Secretary Zhou saw the figures of Xie Su and Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun appear at Chonghua Community. 'Why has Xie Su come here?' the Secretary's expression changed instantly. He immediately picked up his phone and dialed his assistant's number, speaking firmly: "Call Xie Su and have him go back to Xie's household. If he dares to interfere with this matter, his position as head of the family will be ruined. Also, dispatch..." It was clearly unrealistic to draw on the most trusted members of the faction at this moment. Moreover, without prior preparation, even the most loyal allies would hesitate to kill Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Pausing, Zhou Secretary had an idea and revised: "Notify all the elders from the Crab City branch and Songhai branch to immediately head to Chonghua District, Jinshan City. They must arrive within ten minutes." The crystal ball's seal only allowed for ten minutes. ... Xie Su watched the two drifting clumps of white mist and spoke authoritatively: "Elders, please stay." His voice carried the soothing tone of a musician, causing the two rain masters within the mist to pause. "Ahhh~" But in the very next moment, a clear, resonant dragon's roar shook the night sky, breaking the spell. Seeing this, Xie Su rolled his throat, emitting a bright, infant-like cry. The cries echoed repeatedly, reaching into the white mist, and soon, the mist itself began to emit cries. As the mist dispersed, two Rain Lords materialized—one middle-aged, the other elderly—both with prominent bellies radiating the sound of newborns' cries. As their bellies grew larger, their aura as Lords steadily diminished. "Hmph!" the middle-aged Rain Lord snorted. "Xie Su, you're also aligning with evil professions, opposing the official faction? Does the Xie family know what you've been doing?" As he spoke, their bodies transformed into clear streams of water, carrying the fetuses within them down from their bellies. Before the infants touched the ground, they were swept up and absorbed by the flowing water. As Lords, neither was particularly weak—difficult to contain with just one skill. Yet Xie Su remained calm. As a musician, beyond his life-related abilities, he possessed threads of influence and charm. Xie Su extended his hands, gently twirling in the air as if grasping something. He caught the two threads, tying them securely to his wrists. He tied the threads. He has tied the red threads of the two sovereigns to himself, which will generate strong goodwill—possibly even a deep emotional bond—among all three parties, and with the charm boost from the musician's profession, the chain of critical successes will surely materialize. Notably, as the musician's most powerful survival skill, the red thread differs from the illusions of demons and spirits; it embodies the most fundamental human emotions, emotions that dragons cannot dispel. The two sovereigns can only patiently wait for the red threads to fade. Zhang Yuanqing dissolved into starlight, passed through the living room where the battle was raging, and reached the master bedroom, then struck twice to shatter the earthen wall. As the earth crumbled with a loud "crash," he saw Kou Beiyue lying motionless on the ground and Xiao Yuan seated cross-legged. "The seal has been broken—leave now!" Zhang Yuanqing urged, "Go to a place no one can find you and hide." Xiao Yuan helped Kou Beiyue rise, gazing at him with eyes filled with countless complex emotions. "Move!" Zhang Yuanqing commanded coldly. Xiao Yuan swiftly transformed into a bee maiden, lifted Kou Beiyue, and with a single flap of her wings, surged out through the balcony, vanishing into the night with a steady hum of wingbeats. As soon as she was gone, sharp gunfire erupted outside the community. Clearly, the official agents stationed around the perimeter had spotted the escapees and attempted to engage them with gunfire, but their bullets could not keep up with Xiao Yuan's speed—no scout could possibly target a fighter jet that vanished in the night. As soon as Xiao Yuan left, a soil-yellow energy wall enveloped the house, reestablishing the seal. Unlike before, this time it was two Yuan-Shi Tianzun closing in from within. Zhang Yuanqing quickly rushed from the master bedroom to the living room, where the scene was a mess—much as if a hurricane had just swept through. Furniture lay scattered in fragments, and water gushed from faucets in the bathroom and kitchen, flooding the floor to the level of his ankles. Two human forms formed by the converging streams chased each other in the water, occasionally leaping out and then diving back beneath. Fear erupted within Nu Tao’s heart as he hadn’t anticipated losing so swiftly. Every skill he possessed, the Yuan-Shi Tianzun mastered. Every skill he didn’t, they also did. Facing this young opponent felt like battling the sovereigns of the five core classes of the Lawful Order—his chances of victory were virtually nonexistent. Even at the first encounter, he had nearly been drained of his spiritual energy by a terrifying vortex. Thanks to a mirror technique of sovereign-level power, he had managed to survive—creating a false body to replace his true one and thus escaping. Then, he manipulated the fresh water flowing through the pipes, bursting the conduits and using the overflowing water to create a makeshift home advantage, engaging in a prolonged struggle with Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Since earth governs water, and this was a residential building not directly connected to the ground, the available earth spirit power was limited. The continuous flow of water made it difficult for flames to evaporate it, and the water ghost's nature rendered the physical attacks of the wood spirits and swordmasters ineffective, allowing the survivors to persist only by holding on. He was waiting for either the expiration of Yuan Shi Tian Zun's consumables or for reinforcements from his two rain deity companions. Zhang Yuanqing swiftly scanned the living room and immediately drew out the "Form and Spirit Annihilation Blade," deeply understanding the water ghost's nature, activating the black blade to awaken its soul-seizing ability. He raised his left hand, making a grasping motion toward Nu Tao Wu Qing. A semi-transparent spiritual projection emerged from his grasp. Immediately afterward, he switched to his combat spirit skill and delivered a decisive slash. "Ah..." The blow struck the already strained Anger Flowing Inevitable, leaving him no further strength to resist. He cried out in agony, collapsing into a state of dehydration, clutching his head with pain. Zhang Yuanqing's duplicate sneered, surged forward with a powerful gust of energy, and firmly ensnared him. Anger Flowing Inevitable's inner spiritual energy rapidly drained; his skin lost moisture, his eyes bulged from their sockets. Only now, after recovering from the soul-shaking tremor, did he realize he was trapped within the energy vortex, his spiritual reserves depleted, unable to summon his mirror duplicates. He felt the suffocating fear of death—a sensation he had never experienced since ascending to the rank of Sovereign. "Master Yuanshǐ, you cannot kill me! You cannot kill me!" he gasped, his voice hoarse. "To擅ly kill a senior official of the Council is a capital offense. You must not kill me!" Zhang Yuanqing's duplicate cracked a smile. "Have you not attended any of the Council's trials? I'm born with a rebellious spirit, full of defiance—what threat do you pose?" With great difficulty, Anger Flow Zhang Yuanqing looked at Zhao Xintong's room, then at the plump man now submerged in water. All his emotions condensed into one sentence: "Return to the Spiritual Realm!" His resolve was now firm. "No, no! I can testify that Cai Elder orchestrated this entire plan—his true intention was to target you. I can serve as your witness..." The vitality in Nùtāo Wúqíng's body waned further, as if he were a withered elder. Zhang Yuanqing paid no attention. Such promises meant nothing; once the immediate crisis passed, he would surely turn on him. Nùtāo Wúqíng's eyes reflected despair and unyielding resistance. If he had a mirror, he would have noticed that his expression was no different from that of the "damp mice" he had just slain. He stopped struggling. Despair, resistance, and resentment froze on his face. He had returned to the Spiritual Realm. At that moment, the Five Spiritual Energies Experience Card expired, and the duplicate swiftly removed the sacrificial robe and returned it. "Get out now, the original body! If you don't, you're finished!" "The duplicates are no longer frantic—their renewed intelligence has taken the upper hand. As soon as the words were spoken, the earth-yellow barrier outside the balcony collapsed in a thunderous crash, and eleven figures surged through the barrier, entering the hall. Besides the three who had been fighting outside earlier, the senior monks from the Songhai Branch and the Crab City Branch were also present. The Masters exchanged a glance, all of them turning their attention to the form of Nu Tao Wuqing, now turned into a dry corpse in the hands of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. The senior monks' eyes widened slightly.