The members of the faction who had returned from the afterlife immediately turned their heads with urgent expressions upon entering the spiritual realm, then, simultaneously, fixed their gaze on the Yuanshishen Tianzun at a distance. Everyone stood motionless, silent, breathless—just staring at him, as if he were a mere shadow that would vanish with a single breath. In fact, when the faction's quest began, these elite members had already begun to suspect something. Seeing the living Yuanshishen Tianzun now confirmed their hunch. He had indeed survived—but they couldn't understand how a being whose form and spirit had completely vanished could still be alive. All of them looked worn out. Zhang Yuan scanned the members: Xiao Yuan's hair was messy and frizzy, with faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly having not washed in several days, and her sleep quality was poor. Sun Miao Miao had taken good care of her hair, and her hair remained radiant, yet her eyes were large and round—when she hadn't rested well, her under-eye circles became especially pronounced. The combination of large eyes and prominent under-eye circles gave her a charming, endearing look. Guan Ya is in great spirits, having already known that her boyfriend would return reborn. Several female members are dressed in sleepwear or nightgowns, which is quite respectable. The male members, however, make a striking impression—Red Chicken Brother, before entering the spiritual realm, seemed busy with farming and was completely bare, his head as large as a drum. Tian Xia Gui is tightly wrapped in an air-conditioning blanket, while Xia Hou Ao Tian wears a four-cornered pants that have slipped down to his ankles and hasn’t yet been pulled up. The only one properly dressed is Zhao Chenghuang, in black slacks and a black shirt. Hm, both fire masters are enjoying abalone—clearly, the fire masters are full of energy. Xia Hou Ao Tian must be using the restroom now—how could the protagonist be defecating? This clearly indicates he’s not a well-qualified protagonist. One wonders if he’s even wiped his bottom properly. If someone enters the spiritual realm wrapped in a blanket, does that mean the blanket counts as clothing? If they’re completely bare, then the blanket would be considered their attire? Zhang Yuanqing chuckles lightly: "Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve come back to life—surpr "This statement broke the silence, instantly bringing life to the members' expressions. Yuan Shi... Xiao Yuan's gaze blurred instantly, emotions of joy and sorrow intertwining. For the first time in her life, she felt the world's tenderness, a sense of being favored by heaven, and an overwhelming gratitude. If heaven hadn't favored her, how could Yuan Shi have been returned to her? Yuan Shi was one of the few lights in her life, and today, after the collapse of the hotel team, he had become the sole light in her existence. These days, every moment for Xiao Yuan had been painful, devoid of the strength or hope to live on. If she had to name one thing she held onto, it would be her concern for Kou Beiyue. He was still alive... He was still alive... Sun Miao Miao's large eyes brimmed with tears, rolling down in large drops, her nose turning red quickly, and she began to softly sob. In Tian Xia Gui Huo's eyes, a surge of inspiration, excitement, and surprise shimmered, reflected in various expressions. Yuanshi Tianzun is still alive. As a friend who has shared life and death on numerous occasions, he is genuinely delighted, and deeply pleased that the feelings and friendship he has nurtured toward Yuanshi Tianzun have not been in vain. As long as Yuanshi Tianzun remains alive, this bond will continue to bear fruit and yield returns, time and again. ... Zhao Chenghuang raised his head, took a deep breath, and felt a slight sting in his nose. Xiahou Aotian’s previously listless gaze instantly brightened; his pupils trembled slightly, filled with excitement and joy. He was delighted, yet at the same time pulled his pants up. Hong Ji brother burst into laughter: "Yuanshi Tianzun! You’re still alive? How incredible! That’s wonderful!" He swung his large hammer and opened his arms, warmly approaching. Zhang Yuanqing pointed to his body. "Where’s your clothes?" Only then did Hong Ji remember he had been bare-chested. He suddenly braked, glanced around, and finally fixed his eyes on Tianxia Guihuo. "Get out!" Tianxia Guihuo stepped back two paces, alertly Hongji Brother, looking completely single, said, "Let me in, or I'll burn the blanket." "...” The fire master’s face flushed with embarrassment, then gave in, turning around and quietly opening the blanket: "Come in." So both fire masters stepped barefoot into the blanket, only their heads peeking out. Sun Miao Miao sniffled, saying, "You weren't supposed to have died, right? How come you're alive again?" Everyone turned to look at her—this was exactly what they wanted to know. Zhang Yuanqing didn’t rush to answer. Once everyone’s emotions had settled, he began to recount his journey of revival, introduced the functions of the mother goddess’s womb, and explained his backup body. He also shared his decision to head abroad. "Now, the phrase 'the deceased returns' truly holds meaning," Tianxia Guihuo remarked. "Actually, isn't resurrection supposed to be the exclusive privilege of the protagonist? How can you, of all people, have such a privilege?" Xiahou Aotian, whose pride was always unshakable, said with a show of disdain. "Have you cleaned your pants yet?" Zhang Yuanqing glanced at him. Xia Hou Ao Tian's face turned crimson. "Damn it, you should just return to the Spiritual Realm—coming back to life is going to be a curse!" Zhang Yuanqing ignored him, pulling out the knight's insignia and said, "Everyone, make a pledge not to leak the news of my revival." The members didn't resist, took the insignia, and each made their oath. Once everyone had pledged, Zhang Yuanqing rubbed his hands together. "By the way, since I've come back to life, could you please return my equipment back to me?" "...Damn it, you should just return to the Spiritual Realm—coming back to life is going to be a curse!" The same thought surged through all of them as Xia Hou Ao Tian's curse echoed in their minds. Zhao Chenghuang hesitated, carefully removing the little red hat. "The shadow corpses are inside, along with Yin Yao. I haven't been able to reach Guan Ya these past few days." The precious shadow corpses, still warm from their recent stay, were about to be returned. The others sighed, retrieved their props, and returned them. The enchanting incense of the Heavenly Fire, Red Chicken Brother's Thunder God Seal, and Xiahou Aotian's sliding shoe—all had already been returned to Zhang Yuanqing. Now only Xiaoli Green's Great Luo Star Disk and the Queen's Mountain God Staff remained. Plus, Sun Miaomiao's three spirit servants. Zhang Yuanqing raised his palm: "Believe me, I'll give you a big surprise." Sun Miao Miao instantly yielded under the pressure of the master's authority, wiping tears while simultaneously dropping the small comic relief and the ghost bride. Hong Ji, watching from the side, gloated: "Back when you were at Qin Feng Academy, the mirror actually told you this—unless you had a child of your own, you'd never get that little spirit servant." "Get out! You, this three-times-divorced dog!" Sun Miao Miao vented her frustration onto the rough-fire master. Zhang Yuanqing arranged his props and continued: "Actually, besides the shadow corpse and the spirit servant, none of your other props are essential to me. But I simply can't return only the shadow corpse and the spirit servant—otherwise, it would be unfair to Miao Miao and Xiao Zhao. So, I'll return them all together." "Here's the deal—I'll store them in the guild warehouse. You can access them anytime." The members' eyes lit up, and their lingering reluctance and frustration instantly melted away. If they treat these items as the clan's property and store them in the warehouse, they actually end up with more usable items—each can use what they need whenever they want, which is more cost-effective than allocating one item per person. The grassroots-born Tianxian Guihuo asked, "What are you doing abroad?" "Given how vast the world is, I must go and see it for myself. Unless I become a Supreme Ruler, I won't return," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "You certainly won't come back—you're the heir of the Magician King!" Sun Miao Miao sneered. "You've managed to deceive everyone!" "Miao Miao!" Zhao Chenguang quietly scolded, "This is confidential." "Confidential? The official leadership already knows, and who among the second- and third-generation members doesn't?" Sun Miao Miao said, rolling her eyes. Heir of the Magician King? Everyone else, except Guan Ya, looked at Zhang Yuanqing in astonishment. This news came as a surprise to them—now they realized that the original Master of the Beginning had indeed been the long-sought heir of the Magician King. The entire realm stared at Zhang Yuanqing in astonishment, saying, "So the time when Miao Teng was kidnapped by a disciple of the Mage King—was that all staged by you?" "Back then, I couldn't reveal my identity. Now, it doesn't matter." Zhang Yuanqing shrugged. "Of course, I still don't want to casually disclose this information—please keep it confidential for me." "Good heavens! You're actually a disciple of the Mage King!" Xia Hou Ao Tian's eyes, filled with admiration, glistened with emotion. Though surprised, the disciples found that the connection between the Mage King's disciples and the members of the guild wasn't particularly close; after a few lively exchanges, they grew indifferent. In comparison, the fact that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun had returned from the dead stirred greater excitement and joy among them—something they could savor throughout the day. The accumulated sense of heaviness they'd carried these days began to fade away. "The gathering concludes today. For any matters, please reach out via phone." After chatting for half an hour, Zhang Yuanqing opened the guild interface, selected to log out of the Lingjing realm, and concluded the guild meeting. … Over the next three days, he held separate meetings with Xiao Green Tea, the Queen, and Xiao Yuan, retrieving the Great Luo Star Disk—a key item of his own destiny. He also reclaimed the Mountain God's Staff from the Queen and stored it in the clan warehouse, making it a shared item available to all clan members. The two young ladies, both dreaming of becoming concubines, wept bitterly, and no matter how much Zhang Yuanqing tried to comfort them, the Queen even resorted to force, declaring she didn’t want to leave with any regrets. Yet Zhang Yuanqing, a man of principle, neither enjoyed seafood nor tofu paste, and thus managed to prevent the Queen’s ambitions. Nevertheless, he spent one night at Xiao Yuan’s place, deeply enchanted by the maturity and fullness of a seasoned woman, finding it hard to leave. Xiao Yuan’s constitution was stronger than Guan Ya’s, though not significantly so—during the first half of the night, they exchanged vigorous exchanges, engaging in a continuous barrage of activity, showcasing the resilience and grace of a mature woman. By the second half of the night, however, she would grow weak, collapse onto the bed, and pretend to be dead, allowing him to indulge at will. … Annie sat at her desk, her face beautifully refined and illuminated by the glow of the computer screen. Her vivid blue eyes were scattered and lifeless. A week had passed since she'd been struck by the news of Yuan Shi Tian Zun's return to the spiritual realm, and still she hadn't recovered from the profound sense of disappointment and regret. Yuan Shi Tian Zun had been her chosen one—just as Betty had chosen the Mage King—whom she had believed would become the cornerstone of her professional life for many years to come. Yet fate had intervened: this legendary genius, still in the early stages of his rise, had returned to the spiritual realm prematurely. Upon hearing what Yuan Shi Tian Zun had said and done during the Trial Council, she had felt a deep, genuine admiration and reverence, which had swiftly warmed her affection for him. This was not rooted in talent, but in a woman's genuine appreciation of a man. That was why she felt so deeply disappointed. At that moment, a clear chime sound came from the computer speaker. A new email had arrived. Annie grasped the mouse and opened the email, sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Goddess Association. The email stated that a distinguished male guest from the Goddess Association would be visiting the Free Federation this evening and required a guide and assistant—position that the Ministry intended to assign to Annie. The Ministry also expressed a notably firm tone, emphasizing that the guest’s status was exceptional and of great importance to the Association, and requested that she fully serve him, meeting all his needs, including his physical requirements. Annie frowned as she read it. She was not a traditional diplomat who serves clients in a personal, intimate way. The Ministry employed several polished, elegant diplomats, each dedicated to serving a single client throughout their careers. Those clients were invariably top-tier leaders or exceptionally talented prodigies. The email subtly indicated the guest’s stature: a senior executive from a major organization, or a world-class genius. In the past, Annie would have fully complied with the Goddess Association’s arrangements. But now, she simply lacked the energy to welcome such a client, and was far from willing to make personal sacrifices. Though Master Yuanshi has already returned to the spiritual realm, she still hasn't been able to detach herself from this "emotional connection" and lacks interest in dealing with other men. Having witnessed a figure as legendary as Master Yuanshi, she now finds ordinary talents or established leaders rather unimpressive. Even with the money公子 whose skills are nearly at the level of Dao, Anne merely nodded and remarked: "That's decent!" Among the top-tier talents in the First and Second Regions, Master Yuanshi stands absolutely at the pinnacle—such individuals are truly countable by the hand. As she thought, her hands were already dancing over the keyboard, drafting a concise, gently worded email of rejection to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The email was sent, yet it went unanswered—the Ministry showed no response. By noon, a female assistant knocked on her office door and said, "Miss Anne, there's a visitor who would like to see you; she's waiting in the reception room." Upon hearing this, Anne immediately furrowed her brows. The visitor arrived nonetheless—the Ministry had completely overlooked her rejection email. Annie took a deep breath, calming the restlessness within her, and as she rose, instinctively smoothed her skirt over her hips to straighten any creases. She steadied her emotions, stepped out of her office, crossed the open workspace, and pushed open the door to the reception room.