The Xie family. Upon hearing the news from her mother, Xie Lingxi hastily donned a pink hoodie over her light nightgown, wearing slippers, and rushed to the outer courtyard where her ancestors had retired. There, she wept and pleaded with her ancestor to save her Yuanshi brother. But the ancestor paid no attention. Xie Lingxi cried for nearly an hour before the courtyard finally echoed with the ancestor's impatient voice: "I detest women wailing and weeping—children are no exception. Get out of my way!" Tears streaming down her cheeks, Xie Lingxi said, "Ancestor, please save him. He's a prodigy capable of becoming a half-god. He deserves your help. Among all the men I've known, I cannot let him go like this." The elder of the Xie family, a man of ordinary temperament, had no patience for delicate women, nor for his own direct descendants. With a scowl, he replied, "Save him? I've already given him a choice. That young man knew full well it was a death sentence yet still charged ahead—someone who didn't know better would think he was a fire master." I tell you, only a half-god can survive being caught in the act of killing the official magistrate without harm—there is no other possibility. "Would you make me fight the official legal system for him? I'm not afraid of that, but I simply can't. The Five Elements Alliance has five half-gods, and our She family has only me." Xie Lingxi cried out, her tears flowing like rain on lotus petals. ... The sharp chime of the phone jolted Zhao Chenguang from his sleep. He picked up his phone from the nightstand, the cool blue glow illuminating his stern face. Caller—Sun Miao Miao. It was 6 a.m.—sunlight had just begun to rise, and he had only just fallen asleep. Zhao Chenguang frowned, slightly puzzled. Though they had grown up in the same neighborhood and could be considered childhood friends, they rarely contacted each other outside of routine matters. Being called at this hour clearly meant something urgent. When Zhao Chenguang answered the call, his tone became notably serious: "What's happened?" "Sun Miaomiao's voice trembled," "Yu, Yuan Shi has been injured—he killed a senior elder of the Five Elements Alliance." Zhao Chenghuang instantly jolted, nearly leaping out of bed, his brows furrowed in agitation: "Killed a senior elder? What are you talking about? That's pure nonsense!" "Look at the Five Elements Alliance's forum." Zhao Chenghuang didn't even put on his shoes—he burst out of the bedroom, rushed into the study, opened his office laptop, logged in, and accessed the Five Elements Alliance's forum. There, he saw the top-posted, vividly red thread. # Yuan Shi Tian Zun colluding with evil factions, obstructing enforcement, and harming senior elders # Zhao Chenghuang leaned weakly against the back of his chair, too afraid to look at the reviews anymore. After a moment of stunned silence, he took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "What could have made the Yuanshish Tianzun so furious—this clearly means the headquarters has taken action against Xiao Yuan and her team. Cai长老's move is truly ruthless, something only a seasoned elder would do." He knew well the Yuanshish Tianzun's character—he would never kill an elder unless his very core had been touched. Sun Miaomiao sniffed and sobbed, saying, "I've asked my grandfather, but he refused to help. Could you possibly ask Zhao Elder for assistance?" Zhao Chenghuang chuckled sadly, "Do you think he'll agree?" Sun Miaomiao fell silent. At that moment, her phone beeped, signaling a new message. Zhao Chenghuang glanced at it, his voice unusually gentle and reassuring, "Someone's active in the small group now. It's perfect—we can discuss this together. Don't worry, just take your time. Honestly, worrying won't help." Sun Miaomiao hung up the phone. [Red Chicken Brother: Whoa, what's going on? Why is Yuan Shi Tianzun clashing with the official elders? I remember in the Five Elements Alliance, killing an elder meant a death sentence.] [Heaven's Fire: It's a death sentence wherever you go—Yuan Shi Tianzun has definitely made a serious mess.] [Zhao Chenghuang: Everyone, do you have any suggestions?] [Red Chicken Brother: I heard from my grandfather that Yuan Shi Tianzun has been taken to headquarters. Let's go and seize the judicial site What kind of hero are you? You show up to seize the imperial court’s justice session—people will think you’re half-divine. Red Chicken Brother: I’ve already booked my flight. Where should we meet in Beijing? Xiahou Aotian: Don’t rush yet. I’m planning to approach the ancestral lineage with shares from the Machinery Company. Shinoya Ryō: Ah, what should we do? What should we do? Sun Miao Miao doesn’t want to hear any more chatter—she directly tags @Tianxia Guihuo: What can you do? Tianxia Guihuo sends a “sigh of resignation” expression: The official senior monk’s death sentence is irreversible—no one can save him. Yuan Shi is currently under house arrest, and the headquarters will surely conduct a trial against him, sealing his fate. You’ve seen the forum, right? The official staff are still stunned. Within a couple of days, once the key players behind the scenes start pushing the narrative, even loyal fans of Yuan Shi Tianzun may find it hard to support him with their conscience. 】 【The Whole World Turns to Fire: At that point, it will be an unstoppable trend—everywhere, everyone will demand his death. If the Alliance's Grand Master insists on shielding him, it will be a clear violation of the Five Elements Alliance's laws and regulations, right in front of the entire official delegation and the global community of spiritual practitioners. The Grand Masters will not do that, because they are the true guardians of order.】 【The Whole World Turns to Fire: Originally, to facilitate deeper integration, the five Grand Masters signed mutual agreements not to interfere with each other's official affairs. This act of delegation precisely reflects their deep commitment to order.】 A half-divine being is like an emperor, wielding absolute authority, while a stable organization most fears having power concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. Although the power structure within the Five Elements Alliance is currently highly rigid, the ten elders still hold a sword over it, ensuring that power remains more diffused than in the hands of the Grand Masters. 【Xia Hou Ao Tian: Therefore, staging the legal trial is actually a sound strategy.】 【The Whole World Turns to Fire: No—this is a profoundly foolish approach.】 This has become such a big deal—how much attention is it receiving? Even if the Supreme One were to personally intervene, it would be like sending someone off with nothing to show for it. The group fell completely silent. Throughout the realm, the words "helpless to turn the tide" are being spoken everywhere. This is beyond the reach of the spiritual cultivators at their level—nothing they do can make a difference. …… Fu Family Village. In the living room, the Queen sat on the sofa, her eyes red from tears, having just wept through a long session. Guan Ya remained expressionless, scrolling through her phone—forums, chat groups, contact lists—seeming completely unbothered. Fu Xue, furious, knocked her daughter’s phone aside, her brows furrowed: "What is going on here? Your husband is going through such a crisis—how can you still be playing with your phone?" The phone flew across the room and landed with a soft thud, sliding all the way to the edge of the table, its cracked screen frozen on the final sentence of "The Heavenly Realm Returns to Fire." The mother-in-law was utterly anxious—she had truly placed all her hopes on her son, Yuan Shi, How can such a stellar stock suddenly plunge to a halt? More magical than even the A-share market. Since receiving the news at 3 a.m. yesterday, Fu Xue has been restless, pacing anxiously. She's tried reaching Fu Qingxuan, but the phone lines are down; when she called her secretary, she learned that Fu Qingxuan had already entered the game a few days ago. The siblings had just happened to enter at this very moment. The in-laws, still unconvinced, called the elder members of the Fu family, only to be met with resistance—undoubtedly, they were unable to help. After all, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, though married into the Fu family, simply couldn't intervene. What's a matter of a few senior elders? Fu Qingyang's actions, even with a valid reason, would surely cost him dearly. As for Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, he's been colluding with the evil professions, obstructing enforcement, and harming the elders—his conduct is far more serious. It's now hopeless. Guan Ya stood up, quietly picked up her phone, and looked at her mother. "Don't worry," she said, "The machinery company belongs to Fu Qing "Fu Xue stormed, 'You little fool, what do you mean!' Guan Ya said nothing, silently ascended the stairs. A sunny young man wearing a sports headband stepped out of the leading off-road vehicle. He surveyed the elite-dressed, graceful Fear King with a cold smile, saying, "A good dog doesn't block the way!" The Fear King replied calmly, "Silver Moon called me and said you've brought a group of followers to launch an attack on the capital?" The Eye of Magic King asked, "Is this my freedom? Can you really claim to have any say in it?" "Going to the capital is your freedom," the Fear King said, his expression cold, "but blocking your path is mine." The Eye of Magic King paused for a moment, then said, "I've consulted with Vairocana. As long as I can bring the Primordial Sovereign to the northwest, he'll appoint the Primordial Sovereign as the King of the Army Monastery." The Fear King scoffed, "Go back and ask Vairocana now to give you the leadership of the Army Monastery. He'll agree too. Vairocana agrees to everything—sometimes, he doesn't even bother to say a single 'no' to the mere insects." The Eye of Magic King suddenly erupted in rage, "Are you He yanked off the sports headband from his forehead, revealing his vertical eyes—flushed with red irises and golden pupils that spun slowly, radiating evil and chaos. "Ah—" the spectral deities and mist lords in the caravan cried out, clutching their heads in terror, their expressions wild, showing clear signs of madness. Even the Fear King, whose combat prowess rivaled that of a half-god, momentarily lost control of his spiritual energy when the golden-red beams struck him. His inner malice, like a match soaked in gasoline, flared into a roaring blaze, threatening to overwhelm his sense of reason. This was the Fear King's "Influence Eye"—among all the commanders of the Army of the Divine, only he and the Warlord had refined the "Influence" skill to such a peak that it could weaken even a half-god. "If you want to fight me, wait until you reach level nine," the Fear King breathed deeply, calming his surging energy, and then took a step that spanned dozens of meters. "Crack!" With a powerful whip kick, he sent the Fear King flying, the sound of the sonic boom deafening. The King of Magoey launched a barrage of cannon-like blasts, and the King of Fear vanished instantly. Soon after, a series of thunderous roars echoed from afar, as the battle between the two Kings—marked by relentless assaults—unfolded like an unceasing barrage of cannon fire. … In a small town within the Jinshan City region, a budget hotel. A double room. Xiao Yuan stood by the window, gently placing her phone down. On the bed behind her, Kou Beiyue lay resting. After taking the pills, the bacteria within her body gradually lost their vitality, and though she felt somewhat weak, she had no serious complications. Yet now, this energetic young man lay motionless, his gaze vacant, fixed on the ceiling. He had woken up in the late night, and upon waking, learned from Xiao Yuan of the devastating news—the collapse of the entire team. One after another, these blows had shattered him. He remained in this state until dawn, like a lifeless puppet. Xiao Yuan looked out the window, speaking softly: "Yuan Shi has been arrested by the Five Elements Alliance. For assassinating a Sovereign, he... will be sentenced to death." Silence filled the room. Then, Xiao Yuan heard a sob coming from behind her—a young man's desperate, heart-wrenching cry. ... Zhou Secretary descended the weathered stone steps and arrived at a stone-built underground corridor. The lighting came from the tungsten filament bulbs of the 1990s, embedded in the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the subterranean prison. The ceiling, walls, and floor were composed of evenly laid square stone blocks, with dense tree roots extending through the joints between the stones, sometimes completely covering the walls in thick mats of roots. There were many rooms in the underground prison, but all of them were empty. The sound of Zhou Secretary's leather shoes tapping on the stone floor was crisp and clear. Soon, he reached the end of the corridor and found the young man seated cross-legged on the bed. The roots were tightly缠绕ing the young man's body, and beyond that, there were no further constraints. Yet Zhou, the secretary, was very clear: once ensnared by these roots, even a half-god would find it exceedingly difficult to break free. For these roots themselves originated from half-gods—specifically, from the president of the Hundred Blossoms Association. Here, in the underground of Linggen Temple, located just outside the capital city, there stands an ancient tree of a century old, which is one of the president’s manifestations. The president is the most enigmatic among the alliance’s leaders—he has a remarkably low profile, often retreating into seclusion, rarely attending official affairs or receiving official visitors. Even the ten elders have only seen him a few times. He is a half-god so unassuming that he would barely make an appearance even if the world were ending. Yet, paradoxically, he is everywhere—when needed, any plant or animal in the capital can serve as his embodiment. Zhang Yuanqing looked at him, his gaze carrying a quiet scorn. "If I'm to be asking for mercy, shouldn't I now proactively offer the Sacred Heaven Set and all the associated props?" There was no doubt—his fate was sealed. Throughout the day, Zhang Yuanqing had been reflecting on two matters. First, why had he held out hope in attending the crab feast? If he had stayed in the副本 on October first, avoiding the banquet, he would never have received Zhao Xintong's emergency call and thus never been drawn into this situation—something he had never regretted. Second, he had been diligently preparing for the arrival of his fate, actively responding to the crisis, yet he had overlooked Xiao Yuan and Kou Beiyue. Why couldn't this fate be a reenactment of the plane ambush incident? Though he had helped Xiao Yuan and her group purchase homes and relocate, that wasn't a guarantee of absolute safety—unless he personally sent them abroad, which would be impossible to achieve. These two issues, Zhang Yuanqing has yet to fully grasp. He suspects that he has become a pawn, but lacks concrete evidence. If there truly exists someone behind the scenes actively shaping events, then it must be that such influence is nearly impossible to anticipate in advance and thus unavoidable. Cai, the Rain Sovereign, lacks the requisite capabilities—could it be Ling Tu? Did Ling Tu act against him prematurely? Yet why can Ling Tu tolerate the Demon Sovereign rising to become a peak master, nearing semi-divine status, while being unable to allow Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun to live a few more years? Now, imprisoned and with limited access to information channels, it has become increasingly difficult to unravel the true course of events. Zhou Secretary shook her head and sighed, "It seems you have a deep resentment toward Cai Elder and me. Cai Elder is a fair and principled leader. Even though you caused the death of his grandson, he has always been patient, tolerant, and forgiving—far from holding a grudge. It's you who have been overbearing. You've treated the headquarters' patience as a source of indulgence, repeatedly pushing against their boundaries. Now, you've even dared to kill an elder. Ah, it's true what they say: 'He who is destined to fall must first become wildly frantic.' That's quite well said." "As a senior figure and a leader, I feel deeply saddened by this," Zhou Secretary said solemnly. "Wait a minute—don't rush off yet," Zhou Secretary smiled gently, her lips gradually lifting. "You might not know this, but last night, the headquarters dispatched a special task force that successfully eliminated the scattered factions of Wanzhi Wuhen. Aside from the two people you personally released, everyone else has been killed." Moreover, after his failed attempt to challenge a half-god, the past events left him utterly mad—officially, two chieftains were dispatched to handle him, by the way, along with the Night Rose and a half-god from the Southern School. Everyone... was dead. In that very instant, Zhang Yuanqing heard the sound of blood freezing within his veins, the thunder rolling in his ears, and the roar of someone's fury and wails of grief echoing within his heart. A thunderbolt from a clear sky.