Guan Ya remained lying in bed, motionless, as if she hadn't heard the calls coming from just a few feet away. No response? Had she gone blank? Zhang Yuanqing felt both tender and sympathetic. He knew that his return to the spiritual realm would undoubtedly be a major blow to Guan Ya, but he hadn't expected her to have lost even the basic alertness and sharpness expected of a scout. In this state, the only fitting description would be "heart as cold as ashes." He tucked the scroll of parchment into his inventory, pulled back the air-conditioning blanket, and crawled into the bed, wrapping himself around Guan Ya from behind, whispering softly into her ear: "Guan Ya, I'm back." As his hand moved from her waist to her abdomen, his chest and belly pressing gently against her back, he just embraced his mature girlfriend's warm, soft body when suddenly, Guan Ya jolted violently in his arms—as if startled. She finally came to, realizing she was being held by a stranger, and immediately reacted with strong stress. With her right elbow striking backward and her left hand forming a sword-like gesture, she stabbed at the man behind her.
This instinctive combination move was easily deflected by the man behind her—Zhang Yuanqing curled his fingers around her abdomen, pressing them like a blade into her soft navel, cutting off her breath and causing her to gasp, her previously taut body now soft and weak. He then pressed on her right shoulder, turning her from a side-lying to a prone position. His sword-like fingers stabbed through the cotton quilt, piercing the ceiling and creating a deep, narrow indentation. "Guanyu, it's me—it's me!" Zhang Yuanqing shouted. Just as Guanyu had begun to struggle fiercely, her body suddenly stiffened, her movements halting—she remained motionless for a long moment. Seeing that she no longer resisted, Zhang Yuanqing rolled off her back and sat upright. Guanyu remained rigidly prone on the bed, yet her breathing grew increasingly rapid and labored. Suddenly, she leapt up from the bed, her eyes wide with disbelief, staring in stunned silence at the man before her. This was her man. "Yuan... Yuanshǐ?"
Her lips trembled, her beautiful eyes widened with disbelief. Suddenly remembering something, the water-like gleam in her eyes sharpened instantly, "Master Zhengsha! What do you mean by faking yourself as Yuanshi?" Ah? What does this have to do with the Master... Zhang Yuanqing paused, then realized what Guan Ya meant. Scouts could uncover most disguises, and even a master illusionist couldn't conceal the truth from Guan Ya—especially someone who shared a bed with him. There was only one possibility: Master Zhengsha had fully embodied the perfect human form, and Guan Ya was aware of the perfect human skin's capabilities. Zhang Yuanqing didn't explain further. He simply opened his inventory, retrieved the Purple Thunder Mallet to prove his identity—the item linked to the "account binding" rule, which Guan Ya recognized. Given Zhang Yuanqing's personality, how could he fail to boast about such a premium item to his girlfriend? Guan Ya glanced at the Purple Thunder Mallet, then at her bare boyfriend, and tears welled up in her eyes. "No, it's not a illusion?"
"No."
"Not just pretending?"
"If you don't believe me, we can go through it again—your own experience with endurance and size is the most reliable."
"You—you... how... how did you make it...?"
Kuan Ya believed half of it already, her eyes welling up with tears, while she glanced at her boyfriend's smooth, bare torso.
She took a moment to assess.
Zhang Yuanqing explained to her the functions of the Mother Goddess's uterus, the existence of the backup body, and why he had said nothing about his resurrection during the dungeon stay.
Only then did Kuan Ya fully believe that her beloved had been lost and then found again. She embraced the man before her, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.
She broke down in tears, pouring out her accumulated despair and sorrow, her tears falling without end, one after another.
The branches swayed with the force of her sobs.
At that moment, the phone on the bedside table rang, interrupting the couple's immersion in their reunion joy.
The caller was Fu Qingyang.
Zhang Yuanqing picked up the phone first, "Boss, I'm back—fully revived."
There was no sound from Fu Qingyang for a few seconds, and then came the calm voice of the money gentleman: "I know, the Mage's Eye has informed me. You stay in the bedroom for now, don't let anyone know you've come back to life. I'll be back to Songhai before dark." After saying this, he hung up the phone. Zhang Yuanqing set down his phone and was gently wrapped by Guan Ya, like a koala, holding him tightly, occasionally listening to his heartbeat, and kissing his chest, lips, and cheeks. Having lost her beloved once, she had transformed from a pampered, mature girlfriend into a clingy young girl. After a moment of tenderness, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What developments have there been officially during my time returning to the spiritual realm?" ...Guan Ya shook her head. Zhang Yuanqing then picked up her phone, logged into the forum, and, through the pinned posts, learned about the removal of the Cai family from official records, the military chief's attack on the capital, and the establishment of the Investigation and Judiciary Departments. He only saw four words: A Reformation of Power!
The Five Elements Alliance is undergoing a transformation. The shift in its top-level power structure will bring about profound changes to this nation's largest official organization. Far from being in vain—worth it, indeed. Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Finally, the leader has ascended." Then he turned to his girlfriend beside him. "Look at the leader. To avenge me, he eliminated the core faction of Cai Qinhè, weakened the power of the Nine Elders—yet you stayed secluded at home for five or six days? The leader truly loves me."
Kuan Ya huffed, her nose and eyes red, but the tension in her expression had long since dissipated. "You could also rise to prominence now—go support your beloved leader." Zhang Yuanqing said nothing.
...
5:30 PM.
A fierce wind swept through the Fu family villa, carrying the swordlight into the courtyard, where it materialized as a handsome young man dressed in snowy white. Fu Qingyang entered the villa directly, hurried up the stairs, and pushed open the door to his office. There, in his luxurious and spacious study, he found his long-absent subordinate.
Zhang Yuanqing bowed deeply: "Thank you, elder, for reviving me."
For a moment, Fu Qingyang's expression grew hazy before he regained composure and gave a slight nod: "Good that you've returned."
They sat down in the reception area. Fu Qingyang didn't waste time, getting straight to the point. "I've heard about the internal reforms within the Five Elements Alliance over the past few days, haven't I?"
"I just finished reading about it on the forum," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
"All of that is secondary," Fu Qingyang said. "Since you've just been revived, there are a few matters I must share with you. First—your identity as the heir of the Magi King has already been confirmed by both the senior leadership of the Taiyuan Sect and the senior leadership of the Five Elements Alliance."
Zhang Yuanqing's face went stiff; he was momentarily stunned: "How could this be?"
I must admit I was nervous during the trial, but I never mentioned myself as the Magi King's heir. How could everyone across the realm know?
Fu Qingyang said solemnly: "The news originally came from the Taiyuan Sect. Think about it—
Zhang Yuanqing's face grew slightly serious, as if he had a vague sense of what was unfolding, yet remained uncertain. Fu Qingyang spoke calmly, "What did you exchange with the Universal Commerce House?"
"…The fragments of the Prime Source of Taiyin, the things the Magus kept on your character card." Zhang Yuanqing stated openly.
Fu Qingyang's expression remained unchanged, as though he had anticipated this all along, and instead remarked with a sense of reflection, "The sun, moon, and stars—now even the moon is nearing its rightful place. The great calamity is drawing near… I've reviewed your situation carefully. Your death fate was orchestrated by Lingtuo. He specifically sought the Prime Source of Taiyin stored on your character card."
Zhang Yuanqing expressed his confusion, "He could have simply killed me to obtain the Prime Source of Taiyin. Why go through all this trouble and exert so much effort?"
Fu Qingyang replied seriously, "Because you were merely one part of his grand plan. I've traced three key lines of development: first, the return of the Prime Source of Taiyin to the Ling境; second, a decisive blow to the Five-Element Alliance;
"You haven't realized yet that the past has faded and returned to the spiritual realm, having perished under the combined assault of four half-gods." Zhang Yuan had a strong sense of anticipation, yet upon hearing the devastating news, his nose grew tender, and a wave of sorrow washed over him. "Lingtuo..." he managed to force out the two characters through clenched teeth. "The strategic acumen of a high-ranking night-wandering deity is truly remarkable. Your disagreements with the headquarters, your conflicts with Cai Qinhè, the leakage of member information from the Wuhu Hotel, the assassination attempt on the plane—there are countless details we haven't witnessed, all of which he has been quietly guiding and orchestrating. He has woven together the three threads—Cai Qinhè, you, and the Wuhu Hotel—into a single, unified force, and at the critical moment, he ignited a blaze that set the entire situation ablaze." Fu Qingyang, reviewing the events, expressed his admiration. He rarely went on at length with lengthy explanations. "Of course, Lingtuo's strategies are not entirely invisible. I simply cannot see the moves of the Tai Men faction. He must have known everything—either he has
Fu Qingyang lifted his leg, leaning back against the sofa: "It's all behind us now. Abandoning your original connection to the Yin essence might not have been such a bad thing. Being watched over by two half-gods has been uncomfortable—now they see you as less valuable. What are your plans going forward? I don't recommend you stay at the Wu-Xing Alliance any longer, nor do I suggest you reveal your resurrection just yet. At the very least, wait until the end of the year, clear the Killing Quests, and achieve the rank of Sovereign. Besides that…" He glanced at his trusted subordinate. "The Magus's karma is deeply entrenched. As his heir, your passing would be a matter of course. But once people learn you've returned, complications will arise." By "complications," the money-son meant becoming a political rival, being attacked and tarnished in reputation. Yet Zhang Yuanqing thought of the Cat King's speaker—the Magus's beloved. Surely everyone familiar with the Magus knew of that speaker, and even more so, knew it could record audio. If I return as the Magus's heir, wouldn't Yin Ji herself want to kill me and silence me? Zhang Yuanqing m
He remained silent for a few seconds, then said, "Boss, I truly don't want to stay at the Wu-Xing Alliance any longer. I'm good at social interactions, but not at navigating the bureaucratic world. Only now do I fully realize—I'm a magic-eyed one. The magic eye is me." Zhang Yuanqing then shared his thoughts: "I might be going abroad for a while."
"Going abroad?" Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows and said seriously, "I must remind you that the first region has more spiritual realm practitioners and more complex power structures. The orderly and the chaotic factions often resort to more extreme means. Most importantly, you're not very familiar with professional environments overseas."
Although Yuan Shi had already begun to rise, he still stood at the peak of the Saint Realm, and thus still found it difficult when facing opponents of the Master-level caliber. With no overseas allies to rely on, any conflict with a major power would be extremely dangerous. In fact, Yuan Shi Tianzun is far from a steady and composed figure—he will definitely cause trouble, and Fu Qingyang was certain of this.
"Old man, please compile a comprehensive list of the career progression from extraordinary to master level for the first region, and also include the item information if possible. I'll study it carefully." Zhang Yuanqing outlined his stance. He's certain about going abroad for the following reasons: First, he wants to meet Chen Shu and inquire about the possibility of reviving his father, Zhang Zizhen. Second, he has promised the Goddess Association. Third, to collect the "Treasure Map" of the Magi Kings, he must go abroad—many of the Magi Kings' lovers are based overseas. Fourth, simply stepping out and experiencing life abroad aligns well with his expectations. Moreover, beyond his status as a Magi King's heir, his identity as Zhang Zizhen's biological son is also a significant liability. Once this is revealed, Lingtuo Association will act swiftly to eliminate him. By going abroad, he can avoid public scrutiny; if he remains in China, he would either have to completely retreat and remain inactive, or risk exposure of the fact that the Primordial Celestial Sovereign has been revived.
Seeing that Fu Qingyang had made up his mind, he could only nod. "Before we go, I'll arrange a sum of funds for you." Zhang Yuanqing then reached into his inventory and pulled out an ink-black seal, instantly causing the air in the study to condense and grow damp. "This is Cai Qinhè's rule-based item," Zhang Yuanqing smiled, "Boss, to sit on the throne of power, a cloak alone isn't enough—this is my gift to you." He had stored this rule-based item in his inventory when he returned to the spiritual realm. Fu Qingyang stared at the River God's Seal, utterly stunned, and found himself unable to speak for a long time. …… Crabs City, a rental apartment. In the bedroom, Xiao Yuan, who had been listless for several days, heard the knock at the door. She opened the door wearing her untended, long hair and a slightly wrinkled housecoat. Standing there was a man dressed like a Western cowboy—elegant boots, a stylish leather hat, and a silver mask. "Clap!" the Western cowboy said, tapping his fingers. "How do you like my outfit?"
The cowboys of the Free Federation always wore this outfit when they went out. Xiao Yuan felt intimidated by the man and didn't respond, immediately opening her inventory to retrieve the heart that was dark and dull in color. The man tapped his fingers once more, and the heart vanished from her hands. "Just wait at home. There'll be good news soon," the old cowboy said, then disappeared from her sight.
"The Master of the Stop-Kill Palace huffed, 'That's how you treated the beautiful young woman who brought you back? Pah, a complete waste!' 'A Saint-level person may not be constrained by me, but they'll certainly endure some discomfort in the short term,' Zhang Yuanqing said, shrugging. 'I asked you to make a vow so as to demonstrate my stance—this matter is very important to me. If you betray me, I'll be displeased.' He wanted to first observe his mother's work and life abroad, gathering some information before making an appearance. Otherwise, Chen Shu—such a cunning person—would likely only share half of what she knew, hiding the rest. The Master of the Stop-Kill Palace rested her chin thoughtfully, smiling gently, 'How exactly would you be displeased?' 'By sleeping through all the women at the Goddess Association,' Zhang Yuanqing replied. The Master immediately grew furious, grabbing her insignia and making a solemn vow, then tossing it back into his arms, spreading her hands out in exasperation, 'Return my scroll!' Zhang Yuanqing then produced the parchment and handed it back to her.
Retracted the transportation item, the Master of Zhishi said, "You may go abroad, but I have two conditions: first, you must make a video call every three days. Second, you must not get entangled with the young, inexperienced members of the Mei Shen Association—should I catch you doing so, I'll cut you off!" I go to the Mei Shen Association to read the beauty, not to attend meetings in Guangdong Province... Zhang Yuanqing nodded and agreed. "Then you too must swear on your badge." "..." After taking the oath, Zhang Yuanqing said, "Besides farewells and thanks, I still have other questions. Can Master Wuhen be revived? I heard from Fu Qingyang that Master Wuhen has already advanced to the status of a half-god." The Mother Goddess's Palace is a master-level item, and although revival is a rule, its status clearly falls short. "Revival is a rule—no matter what, the Spiritual Realm cannot obstruct it. As long as we locate Master Wuhen's physical embodiment, he can be revived," the Master of Zhishi gave a positive response before adding, "However, if the target is a half-god, they will downgrade and return to
Members of the XIAOYAO organization, aside from Ling Tuo, all have a chance of revival. Then he asked his second question:
"King Mago said that when I was revived, the mother goddess's womb went through some instability and nearly failed to revive me."
He relayed the king's words verbatim to the Master of Zhishai Palace.
"This...," the Master of Zhishai Palace tilted her head, pondering for a long time, "it's strange—something like this has never happened before, and I'm not entirely sure either."
I'm not sure if you're just making it up... Zhang Yuanqing sighed internally. "Alright then."
This is precisely one of the reasons he has insisted on going abroad—he carries two secrets: first, the heir of the Mage King, and second, the son of Zhang Zizhen.
Now, the highest-tier item (the secret) on his character card, Taiyin's Original Essence, has returned to the Ling Realm. What remains is Zhang Zizhen's responsibility—finding out what's wrong with the mother goddess's womb will require him to seek out Chen Shu.
In the blink of an eye, the Master of Zhishā Palace rose gracefully, walked to his side, and placed her full, rounded buttocks on his thigh, her delicate arms wrapping around his neck. "Before you leave for overseas, hold me one more time," she said, her voice soft and laced with a touch of coquettish charm.