"Back!" Red Chicken scanned left and right, seeing all his teammates intact and unharmed, and felt a wave of relief: "This round was actually quite simple—just open and close your eyes, and that's it. Monkey, monkey, everyone's alive!" Except for Guan Ya, who still looked somewhat bewildered, everyone else felt a deep sense of relief. In that situation, the entire team had faced a real threat of total collapse—effectively completing a team challenge rated at A-level, if not even S-level. "My sacrifice wasn't in vain!" Zhai Cai said, visibly shaken, took a deep breath to steady himself, and turned to Qu Meng and Zhao Chenghuang, smiling: "Who will survive until the end? Who's the killer—Daniel or Dong the Magician?" Qu Meng, Guan Ya, and Red Chicken all exchanged curious glances. Guan Ya had been completely absent throughout, knowing nothing at all. Tianxia Guihuo had died early, and she had no knowledge of the events that followed—so she was especially curious about the identity of the killer. Zhao Chenghuang shook his head: "I died before Jumuang, but before my passing, I reviewed the case with him. The killer must be Sindy Lances." Yuanshǐ survived until the end? Guan Ya, Tianxia Guihuo, and Hong Jiguo suddenly realized this, and found it entirely reasonable—Yuanshǐ Tianzun had never let them down. Only Zhai Cai saw his smile slowly fade: "Sindy Lances? Why Sindy Lances!!" His gaze turned sharp and critical toward Jumuang: "You didn't just say the killer was among Daniel, Dong Fashi, and David?" "Judgment error! The divination results point not to those three, but to Sindy Lances," Zhang Yuanqing reviewed the case again, awkwardly. "The divination revealed 'c' and 'l,' but because the characters merged together, I read them as 'd.' No, actually, they were always merged—this isn't my fault." Had it not been for the step-by-step replay during the retrospective, he would never have uncovered the truth. "Fuck! This kind of mistake could have gone unnoticed!" Zhai Cai exploded in anger, slapping Zhang Yuanqing so hard he was sent flying, "I risked my life to give you a second chance—I tell you you made a mistake!" Red Chicken Brother was also furious: "Give him another slap!" If it hadn't been for Master Yuan Shi's misjudgment, everyone would have already deduced that the killer was Sindy Lance, and they'd have been wiped out in the process. Red Chicken Brother simply couldn't have managed to fight back—otherwise, he'd have taken on the big blow himself. The Fire Master doesn't care whether you're the Grand Master or not. Sun Miao Miao, Tianxia Guihuo, and Zhao Chenguang only now understand why Master Yuan Shi insists the killer is "David," "Dong the Magician," and "Daniel"—all of them cast skeptical glances at him. "It's just a narrative twist," Guan Ya lifted up her husband, who had been knocked down, and looked disapprovingly at the single-line knight. "In puzzle-based quests, there are only so many established patterns—some elements remain constant: a large number of intricate clues, false clues, and misleading ones." "In the Castle Mystery, each of you was given a role with a specific skill—within that setup, there must inevitably be clues designed to mislead us. The direct answers provided by the spirit communication seem straightforward, yet the difficulty lies in the fact that the true answers are surely veiled beneath a layer of false appearances. 'This isn't surprising about Jiumang—anyone would have made a mistake, including me. The key point is whether, as one after another, the clues from each character are revealed and the information gradually comes together, he can promptly recognize the inconsistency, question the spirit communication, and thus uncover the mystery's hidden trick. 'Thankfully, he did!' Although as the one who ended up being the least fortunate—landing in the box with no contribution at all—and thus originally had no standing to instruct the others, Guan Ya still felt it necessary to provide some foundational explanations. Zhai Cai shrugged, 'Well, at least it's now clear.' He looked toward the door that had appeared, symbolizing the exit, and said, 'Let's leave first—this should be the final challenge.' The group immediately pushed open the door and left Room 406, entering the corridor symbolizing the safe zone and spotting the room with the numeral "5" open. Upon reaching their destination, everyone exhaled in relief, feeling a sense of ease and liberation—having weathered the crisis and finally achieved success. "Miao Miao, quickly check—do we still have any blood-related calamities?" Zhang Yuanqing said hurriedly. Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miao Miao opened their star-eyed vision and carefully examined each person's facial expressions. The faces of the two renowned talents from Taiyuan Gate—Wolong and Fengchui—immediately grew strange. "Everyone's expressions indicate safety, but... the blood-related calamity on the knight's forehead is particularly intense," said one. "Hmm?" said Zhai Cai, puzzled. Single-Transmission Knight remained unconvinced. "Why do I have a blood calamity while you all don't? Isn't it strange that the crisis that could kill me isn't even able to affect you?" Sun Miao Miao and Zhao Chenghuang shook their heads. The latter added solemnly, "Facial expressions reflect the most direct indications of fortune, but we cannot see "We can't see him at all—he's beyond our observational limits. He's the sovereign, after all," Sun Miaomiao corrected. Is only Zhai Cai facing the blood disaster? Is the crisis in Room 503 specifically targeting him, or will he make the ultimate sacrifice for us? Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat. "How about this: since the knight is in danger, he stays in the corridor safety zone, while we enter Room 503 to search for the fragments of the Sacred Disk." Zhai Cai scoffed. "I suspect you're just trying to impress me—wanting to keep me outside while you go in yourselves to retrieve the fragments." After all, though they were partners, they also competed against each other. Isn't that like a dog biting the Lord of the Cave? Zhang Yuanqing mimicked him, shrugging. "Then let's go in together." Zhai Cai said nothing, simply raised his head to study the room number, and upon finding Room 503, hesitated at the moment he grasped the door handle—his expression now uncertain and shifting. "Perhaps," Zhang Yuanqing offered gently, "we shouldn't push you too hard." Zhai Cai huffed, snapped the door handle with a crisp sound, and stepped into the darkness beyond. Zhang Yuanqing and the others followed. Beyond lay a spacious area, the sky clear and cloudless, with no sun visible. They found themselves within a manor estate, its lawn lush and green, a granite fountain sculpture at the center, featuring a graceful, saintly woman holding a precious vase from which a clear, cascading stream of water flowed. Fifty meters ahead stood an elegant European-style building resembling a castle—about a hundred meters long, three stories high, with side wings shaped like chimneys. The gray roof and orange walls were adorned with large, rectangular windows, exuding a timeless charm that blended rustic elegance with refined details. Behind them, instead of the estate’s main iron gate, was the door leading into the corridor of Room 503. "Didn’t you say it was a storage room? Is your storage room supposed to look like this?" Zhang Yuanqing turned to single-charge knight, his heart now fluttering with surprise. The group, having just gone through the chateau mystery, now felt a weight settle upon their hearts. "Could it really be that Winny has been deceiving me? She does indeed want the Saint's Disk fragments, and with her promise and oath, she wouldn't dare back out." Zhai Cai's expression was deeply serious. This grand manor simply didn't resemble Elder Brent's storage room at all. If Winny had indeed deceived him, then Room 503 still corresponded to an Eighth-Level challenge. So how could the two Star Officers of the Five-Element Alliance have seen a sign of bloodshed in his facial features? As a prosecutor from the Heaven's Judgment Division, Winny was entirely capable of such strategic thinking and determination. "Come in, and see what's inside," Red Chicken Brother stepped forward with steady resolve, as if ready to meet any challenge head-on. Zhai Cai watched his back, deeply moved, and murmured: "Excellent, Fire Master—no worries, no burdens." He then stepped forward, placed his hand on Red Chicken Brother's shoulder, and with a firm motion, pushed him back. "A Fifth-Level Fire Master isn't qualified to lead the charge "Hey, Sir Knight—didn't you forget about your blood-omen! Zhang Yuanqing hurried up, catching up beside him, ready to lend a hand and hold off any real danger. The group was walking through the forecourt, dotted with lawns and fountains. Sun Miaomiao turned her gaze toward the flower beds, specifically toward the snowy, translucent blooms, and remarked in surprise: "Moonlit Frost Bloom!" Seeing the others' puzzled expressions, she explained: "It's a very precious flower in the spiritual realm—used in medicine and alchemy, serving as the primary ingredient in remedies like Night Vision Pills and Moonlight Essence Pills. Eating it fresh enhances night vision, dispels drowsiness, and boosts nighttime perception and combat abilities." Red Chicken Brother didn't hesitate—he rushed to the flower bed, plucked a large handful, and began chewing it. Sun Miaomiao continued: "This flower fears sunlight but still thrives under moonlight, hence the name 'Moonlit Frost Bloom.' It's quite rare, appearing only in exceptionally special quests, since even within quests, days and nights cycle regularly. Moreover, eating it fresh may cause gastric discomfort or diarrhea." As soon as he finished speaking, the high, vibrant puffs from Red Chicken Brother's swaying buttocks echoed. He quickly covered his hips, holding his legs tight, eyes wide open, exclaiming, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sun Miao Miao pretended not to hear, beaming with delight, "It seems the flower-picking is safe. I'll gather some and bring them home." Watching Sun Miao Miao's eager figure fade into the distance, Zhai Cai turned to Qu Meng, "The most straightforward girl—her heart must be quite dark after all." "Anyone who has reached Level 5 can't truly be described as simple," Zhang Yuanqing replied, glancing at Red Chicken Brother, "But they can certainly be called foolish." At that moment, Guan Ya pressed her index fingers like a sword against her brow, her pupils radiating a faint white glow. She slowly scanned the front courtyard of the estate, and after a moment, the white light faded from her eyes. "Beyond the plants, there are no other living beings here." Zhao Chenghuang simultaneously withdrew his inner Taiyin energy, his gaze steady. "No lingering spirits." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, then turned to Tian Xia "Tianxia Guihuo nodded with a look of disdain. Zhai Cai suddenly said, "It's just diarrhea. Aren't you a wood spirit? Don't you even have any medicine for it?" The saints who had returned from the realm of the dead remained composed on the surface, yet felt a subtle sense of alertness—this knight was sharp, and this wasn't the first time he'd been probing them. "Perfect opportunity to test whether there are any hidden dangers within the estate," Zhang Yuanqing remarked calmly. "Enough said!" Red Rooster, rarely showing such intelligence, hurried off toward the shrubs, clutching his bottom as if it were about to expel its contents. "My backside feels like it's going to throw up!" The two quickly entered the shrubs, with Red Rooster crouching down and Tianxia Guihuo standing upright. After a few minutes, Sun Miao Miao returned with seven bundles of Moonlight Frost Blossoms, stacked high enough to reach her knees, totaling two-thirds of the entire flower bed. She was a conscientious, sustainability-minded thief. "One bundle per person," she said, having tested them earlier. "These flowers can be stored directly in the inventory." "Sun Miaomiao said, 'The primary uses of Moon-Phase Frost Blossoms are in medicine and alchemy. If you don't want to bother yourselves, I'll simply take a sum of money and have someone prepare the pills for you.' She went on to explain the specific benefits of the frost blossoms and the various types of pills that could be crafted from them. Among these, the most valuable one nourishes the spirit and strengthens the spiritual body—proving especially effective for those with a weak spiritual constitution or who have suffered injuries. Zhai Cai paused and considered, then expressed her enthusiasm: 'Then I'll have to ask for your help.' Sun Miaomiao gave the leader a proud glance, her bright eyes gleaming with cunning. She believed that although Zhai Cai often mocked others and carried a somewhat detached, carefree demeanor, her willingness to risk her own life to ensure the team's safety during the castle mystery revealed a core of integrity and responsibility—qualities that were far from the mark of a knight's disgrace. Moreover, as the Sovereign, she was well worth cultivating as a connection. Strengthening mutual interests is the first step in deepening relationships." As everyone's attention was focused on the moonlit frost blossoms, Hong Ji Ge had resolved his diarrhea issue and returned alongside the diarrhea-monitoring supervisor, Tianxia Guihuo. "Feeling better now?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. "Much more comfortable," Hong Ji Ge replied, looking relaxed. "The moonlit frost blossoms can 'cleansing the intestines' and alleviate digestive strain, but this effect is limited to spiritual realm travelers—ordinary people cannot withstand the potency." Sun Miao Miao explained. This was one of the reasons she hadn't stopped them earlier; she hadn't merely treated Hong Ji Ge as a mere scout. The flower itself posed no danger. Any risk associated with the act of plucking the flowers would be shared collectively by all. It was also an excellent opportunity to test the "Room 503." "We're ready to enter—everyone, stay cautious," said Zhai Cai, summoning her knight's long sword and gently pushing open the double wooden doors three meters high. At that moment, behind the group, from among the shrubs, Tianxia Guihuo roared, "Who are the ones beside you?"