On a Saturday night at 11 p.m., the steel giant soared above the clouds, its lights on the wings and tail flashing in rhythm. From the ground, it appeared like a slowly moving star. Inside an international flight bound for the Free Federation, the blonde, blue-eyed flight attendant walked gently along the business-class aisle, softly conversing with passengers, offering warmth and care. Business-class passengers either rested lightly with thin blankets or listened to music or watched movies through their headphones. Aside from the hum of the aircraft, the cabin was quiet. Zhang Yuanqing lay covered in a thin blanket, utterly awake—nightly wanderer, a spirit of the night, the "Liver Emperor" who becomes more alert and vibrant the later into the night. There were three flight attendants in the business class: two blonde, blue-eyed foreign women and one Chinese woman. Zhang Yuanqing blinked slowly, observing the refined faces and graceful figures of the foreign attendants. The quality of the business-class attendants was exceptionally high—any one of them could be considered a standout beauty. Their poise had been professionally trained, and their grace surpassed that of ordinary women. Zhang Yuanqing's direct scrutiny would be considered offensive—what's known as "male awkwardness" back home—and would likely leave a passenger feeling battered and beaten. Yet the blonde, blue-eyed foreign passenger smiled gracefully, completely unfazed by the young traveler's gaze. He spoke with graceful ease, revealing his broad knowledge, much like a peacock displaying its feathers in courtship, hoping to inspire admiration and affection from the women around him. In truth, Anne's current appearance is not particularly beautiful—she is at most refined. Her features have been transformed by Zhang Yuanqing's magic, which differs from a stage illusionist's "facial alteration" technique, which merely deceives the eyes and fails to change one's essence, such as demeanor or aura. Thus, the allure of desire remains undiminished. He is proud, self-assured, and constantly eager to impress, yet beneath this surface lies a deep sense of insecurity—repeatedly emphasizing how well he has done in the financial district. Indeed, the more he lacks, the more he tends to boast. Zhang Yuanqing silently observed the handsome man's emotions and murmured his thoughts. At present, he is a mid-level practitioner who has fallen out of favor with the official power brokers in the second-largest region and has been forced to seek opportunities abroad. He now carries with him a foreign female assistant who is both elegant and captivating in appearance. The destination is the "City of Never Sleep," the New Covenant County— one of the most vibrant cities in the Free Federation. In the Federation's popular culture, it's also widely known by a well-earned nickname: Gotham! Indeed, New Covenant County is a highly developed economy with a complex and often chaotic organizational structure, and it serves as the headquarters of the renowned, highly ordered institution, the Sea God Church. The Sea God Church's corresponding profession is known as the "Sea Nymph," or "Steward of Horses." Zhang Yuanqing has chosen this world-class metropolis as the first stop of his overseas journey, primarily because it's where his mother, Chen Shu, works—at least, that's what she says. Additionally, he's drawn to the city's inherent disorder: the Sea God Church is headquartered here, and major organizations such as the Beauty Goddess Association, the Divine Judgment, and the Merchant Guild have also established large, significant branches in the city. On the side of the forces of evil, the Dionysian Club, the Biologics Alchemy Society, and the Night God Church also maintain secret outposts in the New Covenant District—numerous in quantity. From a practical standpoint, the New Covenant District is home to immigrants from many countries, boasting a rich and diverse ethnic composition. This heterogeneous mix of cultures generates a wide range of conflicts. The complex human landscape makes it difficult for any organization to conduct unchecked searches or purges, rendering it a vibrant, somewhat chaotic urban center—ideal for operating in the background, thriving amid the noise and disorder. After a casual chat with the tall, brown-haired, green-eyed man, Anne exchanged contact information with him. Then, she gently leaned her head against Zhang Yuanqing’s shoulder and opened her phone to browse the forum website of Tianfa. After a moment’s glance, Anne sighed, “Mr. Yuan Shi, the impressive performance you delivered during the trial has remained a topic of lively discussion among Tianfa members to this day. I’ve never seen such enthusiastic engagement in discussions about the second district.” "Let me correct myself—my current ID is 'Master of the Celestial Teachings.'” Zhang Yuan glanced at the forum, which was filled with English: "What are they saying?" Anne sighed, "They're calling you a disgrace to the lawful order. They've officially labeled you a 'fallen one,' and they're all gloating—claiming that within the Five Elements Alliance, the internal strife is so severe that both a world-class prodigy and a peak sovereign have perished simultaneously." Zhang Yuan chuckled, "Don't they know the full story?" "No, they do," Anne replied. "Such a significant event must have been thoroughly investigated by the Heavenly Judgment. They've clearly mapped out the entire sequence of events—but that doesn't stop them from tarnishing your reputation." Zhang Yuan nodded, mulling over the fact that he had personally defeated three peak sages of the Heavenly Judgment, leaving them humiliated. Naturally, there were many who resented him privately—resentment, envy, jealousy—so being misrepresented was far from surprising. He found himself recalling a quote from a well-known author: "Those who envy you and can never surpass you will tirelessly undermine your standing." When they arrived in the New Covenant Prefecture, Zhang Yuanqing, of Scorpio, quietly planned to give the younglings of the Divine Punishment a good showing. The handsome man beside him, noticing the two of them chatting intimately and leaning in close, felt his jealousy rising so strong that it seemed to fill the entire cabin. Perceiving the shift in his companion’s mood, Zhang Yuanqing said softly, "From now on, avoid casual conversations with men—especially men. It tends to get me into trouble." After all, the handsome man considered himself an elite, yet merely an ordinary person. If he were a traveler from the Spiritual Realm, he’d likely have taken action to settle any rivals. Annie quickly clarified, "Master Yuan, I’m sorry—I misunderstood. The headquarters of the Divine Beauty Association is in Feng City, and I’m not very familiar with the New Covenant Prefecture. I added him as a friend specifically to expand your network. That’s simply part of an assistant’s duty." Zhang Yuanqing’s overseas journey didn’t require him to remain low-key, but he did need to be cautious. He intended to adopt a new identity and make his mark, so he didn’t want to engage too Annie took his words to heart and actively leveraged her professional networking skills in the realm of passion and connection to expand her boss's network. She added friends first—just in case. "Oh!" Zhang Yuanqing nodded, expressing his approval of the assistant's work, then lowered his voice to say, "The two people in the second row, to our left, seem suspicious." Annie's expression grew serious as she followed Zhang Yuanqing's gaze, her voice soft and barely audible: "Suspicious?" Zhang Yuanqing explained, "Since they boarded the plane, these two have remained on high alert, constantly vigilant—whether it's the flight attendants or passengers. Every time someone walks past them, their demeanor instantly becomes tense." Annie furrowed her brows. "Are they suspects?" Her breath was warm and carried a subtle fragrance, and her incidental gestures exuded a quiet, alluring charm. Yet Zhang Yuanqing now commands the art of illusion, able to actively soothe his inner impulses and remain unswayed by beauty, thus unaffected. He remarked, "They're not fugitives. Based on their emotional responses, they resemble ordinary citizens carrying five million in cash—always on guard, seeing everyone as a potential threat. These two may be carrying something of great value." Annie hummed in response, continuing to lean her head against Master Yuanshǐ's shoulder, indifferent to the two passengers whose emotions remained tense. Perhaps they truly hold valuable items, business intelligence, or contracts. Yet she had no interest in such matters. What she cherished instead was the rare opportunity for intimate, personal connection. Now fully embracing the organization's assigned mission—offering one-on-one service to Master Yuanshǐ—she aspired to become his personal assistant in both work and daily life. Within the Association of the Goddess, once assigned the task of a personal assistant, one is expected to become not only a devoted servant but also the beloved companion and close ally of the service recipient. The recipient's achievements directly influence the diplomat's performance evaluation. Betty became one of the deputy ministers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs precisely because she served the Mage King so well. However, Zhang Yuanqing's next words lifted her spirits slightly: "Those two exhibit remarkable resilience. They remain vigilant for several hours without showing signs of fatigue—clearly, they are Spirit Realm Travelers." "Spirit Realm Travelers..." Anne mused, then said, "If you're interested, you could weave a dream and use it to probe their nature." Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment, then shook her head, "Not yet. I'll keep observing." At that moment, a streak of morning light pierced the horizon, dispelling the darkness and transforming the ink-blue clouds into a lighter, more delicate shade. Dawn had arrived. The flight attendant's voice comes through: "The plane is approaching New Yue County and preparing for landing. Please fasten your seatbelts and remain seated. This flight is..." It's seven in the evening in Songhai. At the Good Music Hotel, Zheng Sha, the Master of the Stop-Death Palace, lounges lazily by the bed, her vibrant red dress spreading out on the white bedsheet, revealing her two long, smooth, well-toned legs. Her toes are rounded and translucent, slightly curved, gently resting on the sheet with her arches subtly curled. She plays with her hair while listening to the phone call. "I don't know where he is—he just revived and then disappeared, saying he wants to retreat and stay secluded until the end of the year," she casually answers the woman on the phone. "Will he not tell you?" Chen Shu's tone is full of doubt, questioning, "Won't you keep pursuing him?" Zheng Sha sighs, "The trial will be a significant blow to him. Even though he's revived, he remains deeply somber. He wants to clear his mind and refresh himself, so I'll just let him be." "I don't know if you're just making things up," Chen Shu said, taking a deep breath. "Anyway, he can't stay at the Five Elements Alliance anymore. It's perfect—he should go to the First District for some experience. You just need to arrange for him to come over." "You're too eager," the Palace Master smiled. "Haste makes waste." "I certainly am eager," Chen Shu said, her tone serious. "The development of Jishi Society has reached a bottleneck. Our networks, channels, funding, and number of spiritual realm practitioners have all plateaued—over the past six years, they've actually shown signs of decline." "Money alone isn't enough. What we need is more members. Spiritual realm practitioners can serve us for money, but they won't bow to it. To break through this bottleneck, we need a leader." "Yuan is the ideal choice. He possesses unmatched qualifications, has strong reputation and influence. As soon as he becomes the leader of Jishi Society, a large number of independent practitioners will join us." "The Master of the Cease-Death Palace remained silent for several seconds, "At his current rank, he cannot shoulder the weight of the Ji Shi Society's responsibilities. By urgently assigning him to take over, you're most likely exposing him to the eyes of the major powers across the First Region—doing him no good at all. Don't rush. Even the earliest possible time, you must wait until he ascends to the rank of Sovereign." Chen Shu pondered, asking, "Is that also his idea?" "No, it's mine," the Master of the Cease-Death Palace replied, shaking her head, "As for him—he's always lounging around, indolent. You never know what he's thinking. You often can't tell whether he's serious or joking." Chen Shu gritted her teeth, "Not one of them is reliable. If Zi-Zhen weren't already dead, I'd barely bother with any of you." ... The Island Nation, the Chiyuri Group. Shallowo Masaru, dressed in a cherry blossom kimono and wearing wooden clogs, knocked on the door of the large mountain villa's private suite. The senior officers of the Chiharu Group gathered together. Today, the female artists under Chiharu's umbrella were absent—typically, on weekends, the senior officers would invite their preferred artists to join them at the Mountain House for drinks and performances, then escort them to the guest rooms on the lower floor for private lessons. Yet today, though it was a Saturday, the senior officers all looked gloomy and depressed, lacking the energy to conduct lessons. Kobe Ryo looked at the melancholy young woman and said solemnly, "Ryou-san, the passing of the Primordial Sovereign is deeply saddening. But now is not the time to be discouraged. With the Sovereign's passing, the Chiyama Group plans to withdraw its stake in the Five Elements Alliance—precisely you." Shinoyama Ryou's teacher, Ryuzaki Ichiro, added, "We have submitted an application to the Heavenly Judgment requesting your internship there, and it has been approved. Ryou-san, seize this opportunity. With your abilities and beauty, you are certain to gain strong support at Heavenly Judgment. Make it your mission to secure more resources and recognition for the Chiyama Group." The officers present had all once interned at Heavenly Judgment during their early careers, gaining management insights and building networks. The growing influence and increasing autonomy of the Chiyama Group are closely tied to the efforts of these "Heavenly Judgment interns." Yet, over the past half-century, the Minamishiro Group has never produced a single elite who rose into the upper echelons of Tenpen. The closest it came was two decades ago, when a brilliant young Japanese woman from the group became the lover of a Level One Bronze Executive. The Minamishiro Group holds high hopes for Sayo Reiko—not because they wish her to associate with a senior figure, but because her talent and pace of growth now rival that of the elite at Tenpen and the Wuwei Alliance. Japan itself is too small to nurture such a prodigious young talent; to advance further, she must gain experience at Tenpen. While Sayo Reiko currently lacks specific work ambitions or demands, she cannot refuse the arrangements made by her elders. Bowing her head, she said, "To the Tenpen headquarters?" Ryuzaki shook his head. "If you wish to go to headquarters, your experience is still too limited. However, Tenpen greatly values your potential and has assigned you to an internship in Xin Yue County. You should pack your belongings and depart at 9 a.m. tomorrow." "Xin Yue County..." Sayo Reiko murmured softly. … New Covenant County, Queens District, Dia Airport. The plane lands successfully, and Zhang Yuanqing and Anne walk out of the airport together, shoulder to shoulder, carrying their suitcases. Anne has a radiant golden hair and bright blue eyes, dressed in a black dress suit with a white shirt, exuding the charm of a sophisticated corporate professional. Zhang Yuanqing looks more relaxed—wearing jeans and a black casual shirt, holding a warm cup of hot chocolate in his hands. Anne holds one suitcase with one hand and operates her phone with the other, saying, “Master, we’ll be staying in New Covenant County for some time. I’ve rented a high-end apartment in the Chinese Quarter of the southern part of Man Island, for a six-month term.” The Chinese Quarter? Is she concerned I might struggle to adjust to the Free Federation? Very thoughtful indeed… Zhang Yuanqing sips his hot chocolate and remarks, “I really like this place—I’ve always wanted to experience the renowned Man Island.” The five districts of New Covenant County are: Man Island, Queens District, Kings County, Bronx District, and Staten Island District. Among these, the Isle of Man stands out as the most vibrant urban area and is unequivocally a global financial hub, home to major banks, stock exchanges, and large monopolies. Kings County and the Bronx have complex demographics—Kings County, once notorious for its high crime rates, is a melting pot of numerous nationalities and harbors many less-than-ideal professions. The Bronx, once a residential area for white middle-class families, saw its population shift as homes aged and white residents moved out; today it has become a haven for the Nigros, though its level of disorder is not comparable to that of Kings County. Queens, the largest in area and second most populous, hosts headquarters of many fashion brands, boasts a diverse economic structure, and is a stronghold of the middle class. Annie said: "Besides the Manhatten Chinese neighborhood, I've rented a house in the Flushing area of Queens, a Chinese residential district." She lowered her voice to add, "The division's headquarters is located in Manhatten, and it has the strongest security presence." As an outsider in the spiritual realm, Manisa isn't actually a great choice. Moreover, both presidents have requested that you register as a bounty hunter. If you reside in Manisa, your mobility will be severely limited, and you'll be more easily tracked and locked down. "But since you're a master of illusion and a celestial astronomer—specialists in concealment and escape—living in Manisa is perfectly fine. Should anything truly go wrong, we'll simply change your appearance and relocate you to Fala Sheng." Zhang Yuanqing remarked with a sigh, "Annie, I suddenly regret it now. I should have brought you with me much earlier." He then added with a smile, "I hope I won't end up being spoiled by you." Notably, in the free federal system and among several European countries, the spiritual realm community recognizes the profession of bounty hunters. Bounty hunters are not a formal spiritual realm vocation, but rather a civilian-recognized profession established through a consortium of capital organizations. The official name of this organization is the Bounty Hunter's Guild. The Hunter's Guild has an official background yet remains independent, as it serves all travelers across the spiritual realms—including those with evil professions—allowing anyone to register and become a Hunter. Its balanced, neither fully black nor fully white, nature inevitably prevents it from becoming a fully official organization. The Guild's existence stems from two key factors: first, the fertile ground of freedom and human rights, which enables its growth—after all, even evil professions have rights to human dignity and the right to work, as the Guild's founders have stated. Second, it provides an official, legitimate channel for non-official travelers to earn income, which immediately improves public order and significantly reduces crime rates among independent practitioners and evil profession holders. Furthermore, the Guild accepts any task—regardless of origin—delivering it to all Hunters within the city upon receiving payment. For those prominent figures who find it inconvenient to personally manage certain matters, the Guild proves to be highly practical. Zhang Yuanqing's registration as a bounty hunter was entirely at the insistence of his patron. The Chairman didn't want him to linger in the Free Federation, idly engaging in quiet strategies with Anne, where good deeds were rewarded and evil punished, enjoying a life of gentle ease. Instead, he set a clear target: become a Silver-level bounty hunter within one month. This would inevitably bring him into conflict with the lawful, evil-aligned professionals in the first district, broadening his horizons and enriching his experience through hands-on combat. Additionally, the Merchant's Guild and the Goddess Association occasionally have confidential missions that don't require dispatching their regular members. The Chairman hoped that Yuan Shishen would be ready to step in and serve them effectively when needed. The patron's financial and resource support isn't meant to keep him merely as a revered figure. He needs to actively contribute! As Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts raced, he noticed the two guests who had been tense throughout the journey, hurried past him and Anne, and walked off side by side. They were two typical white individuals: a middle-aged man with a slightly higher hairline, and a young man with fair skin and refined features. The middle-aged man carried a briefcase, half-shielded and half-pressed against his side, while the younger man followed closely, constantly glancing around with cautious alertness. Neither carried much negative energy—clearly not evil, though they seemed unsure of which official organization they belonged to. Zhang Yuanqing thought so. Suddenly, he spotted a tall, robust middle-aged man entering the scene and approaching the two orderly professionals. This man, who had appeared unexpectedly, had a messy beard and a disheveled appearance—his round, well-padded belly, like that of a pregnant woman, added to his casual, untidy demeanor. As a Dream-Master at the peak of Level Six, Zhang Yuanqing instantly sensed the hostility emanating from the man with the belly, directed specifically at the two orderly professionals.