"Wheeeew...!" A fierce wind roared beneath the dim cabin, two blades of wind sharp enough to cut through gold and jade converging and striking the circular formation, only to be blocked by a rising wall of wind. Wind mage Isabella raised the wind wall, preserving the formation. At once, Zhang Yuanqing summoned a spell, materializing a hammer the size of a water cistern and slamming it hard against Isabella, simultaneously stirring her fear and compelling her to maintain the wind wall for defense. ——A wind mage at the Saint level could raise only one wind wall. Isabella's angelic, pure face revealed a look of fear. "Do not be deceived by this demon; what you see is all illusion," came the hoarse voice of the red-robed archbishop. Hearing this, Isabella clenched her teeth and chose to believe the archbishop, refusing to withdraw the wind wall. The massive hammer struck her, yet passed through like a mere shadow, inflicting no damage. With a deep breath of relief, Isabella then waved her hands rapidly, generating a dense array of wind blades that enveloped Major Has. Can this cardinal see through my illusion? Zhang Yuanqing found himself puzzled. Cardinals were supposed to be sovereigns—within a six-tier peak solo dungeon, if a sovereign-level boss appeared, the spiritual realm travelers would simply have to lie still and wait to die, with no struggle at all. How could they possibly fight against a sovereign-level boss, let alone a group of regular and elite monsters? If not a sovereign, then how could he perceive my illusions? At that moment, Captain James summoned a blue-white lightning orb in his palm, then straightened his back and swung his arms with force, hurling it with determination. The bright orb struck Zhang Yuanqing, piercing through his body and hitting the steel wall behind him. It was merely a phantom created by his illusion—his true form had already vanished into the night. The next instant, Zhang Yuanqing appeared beside James, now holding a blood-red short sword that he drove deep into James's back. "Zzzz…" James's body transformed into a surge of electricity, bouncing several meters away, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. At that moment, the red-robed cardinal, seated by the circular formation, plucked a bright blue lightning lash from within his crimson robe and delivered a sharp strike. "Sizzle... sizzle..." The blue light illuminated the dim ship cabin as the lash danced gracefully, sweeping across the entire space like a touch. With a crisp snap, it struck Zhang Yuanqing, who was drifting through the night. Zhang Yuanqing collapsed rigidly, a carbonized wound appearing on his chest. His eyes rolled back, and his short hair stood upright as if electrified. What was happening? How could a lightning mage of sixth-tier peak strength deliver such a powerful attack? "Tapping... tapping... tapping..." A hurried, steady footfall approached. Two knights, clad in silver armor and wielding long cross swords, came rushing from the entrance to lend support. Upon swiftly surveying the scene and seeing Major Has, lying motionless and paralyzed on the ground, they immediately recognized the situation and launched without hesitation into a leap-and-slash maneuver, leaping ten meters in a single bound, their great sword flashing with a warm bronze glow. On the other side, Captain James and the Wind Mage Isabella hurled lightning spears and sliced wind blades, launching a coordinated assault from the opposite flank. Zhang Yuanqing's right hand trembled as he tapped out a sharp signal. "Crack!" Amid the rising starlight, the knight's long sword struck the steel floor, creating two dramatic dents; both the wind blades and lightning spears missed their mark. Zhang Yuanqing appeared ten meters away, rubbing his blazing chest, his eyes now sharp with cold determination. The Cardinal twisted his lightning lash, folding it in a series of graceful motions, forming a simple shield, which he then threw into the air. The lightning-generated shield rapidly expanded, enveloping Zhang Yuanqing. He calmly tapped his fingers, activating the Star Evade technique. Two knights stood at attention, speaking in a steady tone. "The rules for this engagement are: no use of evasive maneuvers permitted." The knight's sword radiated a sacred white glow, establishing the rule. "Crack!" Starlight surged, and Zhang Yuanqing broke free from the lightning shield's embrace. Though they were only fifth-tier knights, their established rules could not contain an opponent at the peak of sixth-tier strength. When Captain Hasse violated his own rules, the knights immediately activated the "Judgment" skill, leaping together and once again executing a leap-slash. This time, their long swords radiated a brilliance akin to the sun, their power amplified severalfold, while Zhang Yuanqing felt an invisible flow of energy sealing and restraining his limbs, holding him firmly in place and compelling him to endure the judgment strikes. The Cardinal, Isabella, and Captain James seized the opportunity, preparing to launch a coordinated assault. A piercing, sharp cry echoed throughout the cabin. The two leaping knights, their heads as though struck by a blunt blow, suddenly recoiled and plummeted from the air. Zhang Yuanqing ducked beneath the Cardinal's thunderous lash, drew out his little red hat, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, three figures materialized from the void—precisely the Greedy General, Lady Yiyao, and the Hundred-Blade Warrior. He handed the Mountain God's staff, the Thunder God's seal, and the skid boots to Princess Yin Yao, instructing her to hold James the Captain at bay and issue attacks against the greedy general and the Hundred-Slash Knight. The Night Wanderer has never feared team battles. As for the Ghost Bride, he kept her in reserve—though the Red Cardinal's thunder magic could even seriously injure him, a Ghost Bride, as a spirit of resentment, would likely be half-disabled by a single lash, and would vanish entirely with two. The sudden shift left the Court's spiritual travelers caught off guard. The two knights were the first to be targeted. Though skilled in close combat, they still fell short when compared to the malevolent, enchanting spirits. With a five-level versus six-level disparity, they were comprehensively outmatched in strength, speed, and combat prowess. The only advantage was that the two spectral corpses had no special abilities and could only engage in close combat, while the knight possessed powerful supporting skills, and having reached the extraordinary stage, had endured rigorous physical and mental training, granting them exceptional endurance and a steel-like constitution—thus managing to barely withstand the attacks of the two level-six spectral corpses. James, however, was less fortunate; he faced Lady Yin Yao of Bingyao, who possessed an invulnerable body and the Night Wandering Spirit ability. With her lightning-tinged mountain deity staff, combined with the invincibility from her sliding cleats and the stealth of her Night Wandering skill, she swiftly snapped James's ribcage and arm bones in just a few strikes. On the other side, Zhang Yuanqing donned the Sacrificial Ceremony set, activated its effects, and donned the Charisma Ring. With a single snap of his fingers, he materialized behind Isabella. As Isabella was about to command the wind to create distance, she suddenly heard the man's voice—rich and resonant—gently saying, "Are you really that afraid of me?" A soft tenderness stirred within her, giving rise to affection; she felt this man radiating charm, his voice alone spellbinding, making her legs grow weak and yielding. That moment of hesitation cost her the perfect chance to escape. The delicate法师 was now close up. Zhang Yuanqing swiftly extended his hands, gripping Isabella's neck with firm pressure, snapping her neck with a crisp sound, while simultaneously spraying a surge of flame from his palm, launching a blazing long blade that pierced through her chest. Isabella's eyes quickly dimmed. Zhang Yuanqing noticed the fabric of her robe slipping down, revealing not smooth, fair skin, but dark, bluish scales. This beautiful nun, with an angelic face, concealed a body as fierce and powerful as a demon's. "A base, vile demon!" the Cardinal roared, no longer concerned with protecting the circle, leaping into the air, electric sparks crackling across his body, like a thunderball crashing directly into Zhang Yuanqing. In Zhang Yuanqing's view, a flash of lightning illuminated his field of vision—bright blue electric rays filling his sight, moving so swiftly that they surpassed his reaction speed. The very next moment, the electric surge struck him in the arms, crackling and popping throughout the ship's cabin, blinding him with intense light. Chains of electricity extended from the Cardinal's body, tightly binding him to the demon, followed by a continuous barrage of "one hundred thousand volts." Though staying close to the enemy placed him in peril, the Thunder Mage's attacks were renowned among the Spirit Realm Travelers for their powerful, unyielding nature—ranking among the top three. Few Spirit Realm Travelers could survive such assaults, not even some of the most resilient mutated monsters. Amidst the electric storm, Zhang Yuanqing smiled—this was exactly what he had hoped for. The Cardinal's high offensive power, his ability to penetrate illusions, and his immunity to deception, combined with the support of four elite monsters, made it impossible for even Zhang Yuanqing to force a direct confrontation. Therefore, he summoned the shadow corpses to delay the three elite monsters and used the charm ring to win over Isabella. The charm ring has another function—no, a cost—it provokes hostility in men. At the same time, he leveraged Isabella's death to ignite the archbishop's anger, making him less rational. With these dual strategies, the archbishop indeed abandoned the circular formation and chose to engage him in direct combat. Whether a night wanderer or a mage, neither is renowned for defensive prowess; such aggressive attacks could seriously injure him. Yet Zhang Yuanqing activated the effects of his sacred ritual armor, gaining the fundamental skills of the four core classes. A warm, earthy glow shielded him. "You..." the archbishop lifted his gaze in astonishment, his pale gray eyes reflecting disbelief. The unfolding events surpassed his expectations. The archbishop didn't let this shock linger long; swiftly, he responded, pressing a hot lightning orb formed in his palm firmly against Zhang Yuanqing's back. "Boom... boom... boom..." One after another, the lightning orbs exploded, causing the golden light to tremble violently and teeter on the brink of collapse. The red-clad archbishop's hands were torn and bloodied; though the lightning mage possessed exceptional resistance to electrical attacks, the shockwave from the explosions was unavoidable. The archbishop's hands shattered quickly, his wrist bloodied and mangled. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing's right hand, fingers tightly pressed together like a sword, surged with sword-like energy, piercing the archbishop's heart from behind. "By the demon! Return to hell!" the archbishop's voice was calm and steady, filled with the resolve of a martyr. The very next moment, a terrifying wave of intense heat radiated from his body, blindingly bright light erupting and dazzling his eyes. "Whoosh!" The lightning exploded, emitting a deep, resonant hum, and the brilliant light enveloped every corner of the cabin. Chaotic electrical charges surged through the air like fireworks, spreading out with a hissing sound. The thick golden light was torn asunder, and Zhang Yuanqing's chest exploded with a sharp "pop," his spine and internal organs turning into dark, charred fragments His left hand and right leg were destroyed in the devastating explosion. The cardinal instantly carbonized into a black corpse, as the blast radiated outward from him—yet he remained intact, preserved as a whole body. Zhang Yuanqing, who had lost a leg, was thrown violently by the shockwave and crashed hard against the cabin wall, suffering intense pain that caused him to momentarily black out, losing his combat capability. No—this shouldn't have happened. What am I doing? How could I have employed such a crude strategy? Before the battle, why hadn't I used the star chart to plan and anticipate? Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden wave of regret. With great difficulty, he lifted his head and glanced over the battlefield. James had been struck down by Lady Silver Yao, whose flowing sleeves now revealed smooth, slippery tentacles, limp and unable to move—like an octopus whose body had been pulverized, yet still twitching. Meanwhile, the two knights continued to struggle against the shadow corpses. Though the shadow corpses held the upper hand, their endurance was only slightly less than that of the earth monsters, and they were unable to defeat the knights within a short period of time. First, leave this place—the magical contamination could arrive at any moment, and healing must be expedited... Zhang Yuanqing, whose organs were completely destroyed and who could no longer emit sound, directly dissolved into starlight. This time, he did not clap his hands. Seeing this, Princess Yin Yao activated the Star Flight technique and followed the master to depart. In the second-floor cabin, James the captain's bedroom, two streaks of starlight illuminated in succession, bringing Zhang Yuanqing and Princess Yin Yao back. Princess Yin Yao carried the Mountain God's staff and rushed to Zhang Yuanqing's side, pressing the gemstone at the top of her palm against his lifeless form to activate the self-healing function. A gentle green glow emerged, revitalizing the blood-starved cells and restoring vitality, though the severity of the injury surpassed what the Mountain God's staff could now heal—only enough to sustain him for a brief while. With his spinal column shattered and internal organs completely destroyed, Zhang Yuanqing's spirit separated from his body and opened his inventory, drawing out the Life Essence to inject into himself. —His physical form was severely damaged and could no longer move. Saints who switched to other professions had long since passed away; it was only the robust vitality of the Night-Wanderer Spirit that allowed him to survive thus far. With three consecutive infusions of life essence, his body began to heal itself—bones grew one by one, cells rapidly dividing—his once-fractured form gradually solidified and restored, much like a 3D printer visibly shaping and regenerating. "Ah…" Zhang Yuanqing lay immersed in the glow of the Mountain God's staff, now extremely weak but otherwise fully recovered from his injuries. Lady Yin Yao withdrew the Mountain God's staff and removed the small horn hanging at her waist. "This isn't your level!" she said. Zhang Yuanqing blinked. "What?" "This isn't your level!" she repeated, fixing her gaze on Zhang Yuanqing's eyes. "With the number of divine artifacts on your body and our support, you should have a more solid strategy. The divine light of the Sun God is quite strong within you—yet during combat, you even forget to use it. What's wrong? Are you experiencing mental fog?" "They've known each other for a long time, sharing daily life and working closely as close allies—she's very familiar with Yuanshi Tianzun's combat prowess. 'You've even mastered the term "brain fog"?' Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. When he was down in the hold, he had already sensed something was off—his behavior had become notably more impulsive, lacking in rationality and calmness. 'The hold is infested with magical seeds, possibly due to contamination. Though I have the power of the Sun God at my side, I've still been affected to some extent,' Zhang Yuanqing said firmly. 'Magical seeds?' Princess Yin Yao tilted her head. 'What kind of quest did you enter? Why are all the people here foreigners?' 'A quest in the first region. As for how I got in—I'll keep that secret,' Zhang Yuanqing said, sitting against the wall and making every effort to regain his strength. Two shadow corpses were still clinging to the knight, and now the entire ship had no enemies left. He could finally rest and recover. 'This is a solo quest for the Distorted Ones, so all the creatures aboard are distorted—just like the ones you saw in the hold,' he explained briefly. Lady Yin Yao tilted her head. "Monsters? Those people aren't monsters, are they?" "What did you just say?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't catch on. "Those people aren't monsters," Lady Yin Yao insisted. "The foreign girl you killed—she was especially beautiful. Yuanshǐ, you're growing more and more indifferent to the delicate. You could spare her. Perhaps she'll be grateful and even pledge her love to you. As for the other characters in the quest—well, you won't have to worry about them at all." Zhang Yuanqing wasn't listening to a word of her firm, resolute remarks. His expression grew steadily more rigid. "What do you mean? You're saying—those people aren't monsters?" Lady Yin Yao stopped teasing, her vivid, crimson eyes fixed upon him. "What's wrong with you?" Zhang Yuanqing stammered, "I—I don't know…" He murmured "I don't know" repeatedly, then after a while, as if suddenly remembering something, leapt to his feet and hurried out of the bedroom with a strained expression. Lady Yin Yao remained puzzled, following close behind. The two rushed out of the bedroom, through the corridor, and reached the captain's cabin. Zhang Yuanqing kicked open the office door and strode to the desk, twisting off the copper lock and opening the drawer. Inside lay a notebook with a black cover. Zhang picked it up and turned to the first page. "Today, Lieutenant Stephen found me and mentioned hearing strange whispers, and noticed a mucous substance on the corridors. I couldn't tell him the truth, for it would cause panic. We must bring the seed back to the Papal Court—only there can we seal this dreadful thing." "After several days of observation, I discovered that the contamination rate is one person per day. Before contamination occurs, crew members develop dark brown spots on their bodies and become mentally sluggish and dull. To prevent the spread of infection, I have requested that each crew member be examined daily by the doctor, hoping this measure will prove effective." "It hasn't worked. If we kill the crew members before they begin to transform, a new case appears the next day—thus maintaining the rate of one person per day. However, we now have a new discovery: if we can control the transforming individuals and ensure they remain alive, no other crew members will become contaminated. Heaven's sake, that's good news—very good news." "The deformed one died—just two days after he became deformed. A new one will appear tomorrow. The method of controlling the deformed ones has failed, the Bishop says: it is the magic seed that induces the deformed ones to commit suicide. 'On September 1st, Lieutenant Stephen became deformed. Unfortunately, he couldn't escape this fate. The gradual contamination of the crew could no longer be concealed. The crew now faces immense panic. The Bishop has devised a solution: to purify the deformed ones, to subtly distort their perception and thoughts so that they believe themselves to be normal. Is this method viable?' 'On September 2nd, the experiment succeeded. Stephen regained his normal state—at least, that's what he believes now. However, he has no memory of his own name. We have given him a new one—Lieutenant Hase!' At this point, Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts exploded. His mind was in complete chaos, and his head ached violently."