While waiting for the nine elders to connect, Zhang Yuanqing recalled the epiphany of the Eye of the Demon King, growing increasingly concerned and said, "Boss, I think the Eye of the Demon King wants to use the Merit Scroll to impose chains and shackles on humanity, restricting everyone by moral values. I believe he's becoming more and more unstable." Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows, "Go on, tell me in detail." Zhang Yuanqing then recounted his observations at the orphanage, the exact words spoken by the Eye of the Demon King, to Fu Qingyang. After listening, the young gentleman's expression grew especially serious: "The Eye of the Demon King's determination has deepened and his faith has solidified. Yuan-Shi, the Eye of the Demon is a double-edged sword—he is powerful enough to influence half-gods, yet at heart, he remains a madman. A madman doesn't engage in rational discourse or weigh pros and cons; he may, at any moment, turn against you." Zhang Yuanqing frowned, "Could you give me an example?" The young gentleman gazed at him with deep, thoughtful eyes: "You know, orderliness does not necessarily mean kindness or justice. Within a vast If Lingtuo collects your organization's criminal evidence and presents it to the Mago's Eye, what do you think the Mago's Eye will do?" Zhang Yuanqing drew a breath, shaking his head. "He'll be utterly unyielding—unrecognizable to his closest relatives." He now understood Fu Qingyang's point. The Mago's Eye, though a powerful ally, was an uncontrollable force—this very act would breach his sacred boundaries, and if he didn't react with absolute rigidity, he wouldn't truly be a fanatic. He exhaled deeply, relieved. "Good thing I had Zhai Cai witness the proceedings." As long as the core members remain united, the situation won't be too serious. If the Mago's Eye targets a core member, the sworn bond witnessed by a single knight would likely protect that person from being eliminated at great personal risk—after all, the Mago still has his noble mission to "imprison humanity" to fulfill. Hmm. The Mago is indeed a fanatic. If things go south, I'll have to find a way to seal him up... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. "How exactly?" "Fu Qingyang perceived the psychological dynamics of his closest subordinates," said, "The Magician's Eye, capable of influencing half-gods, is currently the strongest asset among your returning the dead." "Rest assured— the more rigid and inflexible he becomes, the more secure my position. Should he go mad, I'll press the Blade of Complete Annihilation against my chest, and he'll kneel, begging me not to die." Zhang Yuanqing spoke with pride. Fu Qingyang found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Fu Qingyang pondered thoughtfully: "I'm not sure what his attitude is—just go ahead and talk directly to him." With that, he rose and stepped out of the beam's coverage. Under the bewildered gaze of the nine elders, the pale blue beam flickered once, and a new figure was successfully scanned—revealing the unmistakably familiar young form. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun! Master Xiao smiled gently but spoke with restrained enthusiasm: "Once you've ascended to the rank of Sovereign, your confidence truly sets you apart. Fu Qingyang asked you to come and discuss on your own—then just state your terms plainly." Zhang Yuanqing lounged back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, and said: "You should already know the prophecy of the Golden Compass, and that the current Sovereign of the Sun is currently vacant. I'll cut to the chase: I wish to take up residence at the headquarters, assuming the position currently held by Cai Qinhè, and I require the Five Elements Alliance to support my ascension as the Sovereign of the Sun." The atmosphere in the conference room grew still. The nine elders turned their gaze toward the Primordial Buddha. Was this young man truly out of his mind? Fu Qingyang nodded silently, understanding that his high demands—while seemingly exorbitant—signaled that Master Yuanshen had matured in the art of competition. "Support you as the Sovereign of the Sun?" said the Grand Elder of the Chìhuǒ Clan, speaking plainly. "Are you mad? The Five Elements Alliance has always supported the Master of the Taiyuan Sect. "Then the Wuxing Alliance has truly gone far," Zhang Yuanqing sneered, "The Marshal ascended to half-divine status in just one year, the Demon King reached peak Sovereign status in six months—how can I possibly compare to these two talents, the dragons and phoenixes of the realm? I myself can reach the ninth rank in just three months. Old man, don't tell me I haven't given the Wuxing Alliance a fair chance." This arrogant, self-assured demeanor had already made the two peak Sovereigns of the Chihuo Clan eager to challenge him. The Grand Elder, Di Hong, spoke in a calm and gentle tone: "It seems you're not inclined to join the Qinghe Branch, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn. The Headquarters has decided to appoint you as its head. You've already visited the Bayu Province and are well aware of the unrest in the frontier regions. I believe, with your abilities and temperament, you will surely make a significant impact there. I can assure you on behalf of Headquarters that, as long as you remain loyal to the official body, do not harm your colleagues, and uphold the principles of order, you will enjoy the greatest degree of autonomy. Believe "Assigning me to the Qinghe Branch—does the headquarters intend to use me as a counterbalance between the Qinghe Clan and the Western Branch of the Spirit-Ability Association?" Zhang Yuanqing spoke openly and honestly: "Well, with my fiery temperament, the Qinghe Clan, a tribe that only draws money without delivering results, won't get off easy at my hands. As for the malevolent forces along the border, let alone them." Master Miao smiled and said: "We believe you can contain the Spirit-Ability Association, and we trust you have a genuine sense of patriotism and order." Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but chuckle dryly: "I truly wish to defend the border and find the Qinghe Branch's conduct distasteful—but..." His tone paused, his expression sharpening and growing serious: "Could the nine senior masters please tell me exactly how the 'Pursuer of Toxins' died?" The nine peak elders first looked puzzled, then remembered the figure known as the 'Pursuer of Toxins'. Master Miao adjusted his tone slightly, spoke gently, "The sacrifices of the Pursuers are our regret, a failure on our headquarters' part. Yet Master Cai Qinhè has already returned to the Spiritual Realm. What else can we say?" "The elder of the Chìhuǒ Hall glared at him: 'Do you think that once you've ascended to the rank of Sovereign, the Five Elements Alliance will expect you to return? Master Yuanshen, you're only a Level 7 Sovereign—do you really see yourself as half-divine?' Though the words were a bit sharp, the point was sound, so none of the eight peak Sovereigns spoke up, merely watching Master Yuanshen in silence. Zhang Yuanqing smoothly moved into the main point: "Although the headquarters has let me down, as a senior practitioner of the second-largest region, I remain deeply rooted in my homeland. I may not join the Heavenly Punishment, and I'll certainly keep my ancestral rites and ceremonies. But here's my proposal: I step back. I will not return to the Five Elements Alliance. Instead, I will establish my own power base, but I require official recognition. The members of my organization shall enjoy semi-official practitioner status and benefits—including, but not limited to, access to the Five Elements Alliance's forum, collaboration with official practitioners, and partial access to official resources. In short, I demand the same privileges and benefits enjoyed by the noble families of the spiritual realm." As he spoke, he quickly added before the Nine Elders could respond: "Even though I won't be formally employed by the Five Elements Alliance, I can join the White Tiger Military Corps and become a member of the guild." Only then did the Nine Elders' expressions improve. After a brief exchange of glances, Elder Dihong said, "Let's adjourn this meeting for today. We'll need time to deliberate and get back to you tomorrow." Zhang Yuanqing nodded: " The holographic display vanished, the projection device retracted into its probe, and the red indicator light flashed for a few seconds before going out. Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a heavy breath and looked toward the money-merchant seated by the table. "Should be all right, shouldn't it?" Fu Qingyang nodded. "If the Five Elements Alliance objects, you can simply go directly to Tianfa. There are many options—there's no need to hang on one tree." He paused, then added his assessment: "The fact that the Sword Pavilion elder didn't expose your little maneuver shows a remarkable level of leniency toward you. He will be able to persuade the other elders as well." Zhang Yuanqing's negotiation skills were clearly evident even to the 9th-level Yanshi, and completely undetectable to the two peak dominators among the White Tiger forces. Since neither of them had interrupted him, at least the White Tiger contingent would be in agreement. "If the headquarters refuses, then I'll head to Xinjie Commandery, where the Society of Healing the World will become the headquarters, and this branch will become a sub-branch," Zhang Yuanqing said. "By the way, how's your approach to the Dao-level cultivation progressing, Fu Qingyang glanced at him: "I'll be happy to cut you down." He immediately sensed that Yuan Shi Tian Zun was subtly testing his abilities, wanting to showcase his own strength. ... In the suburban area of Songhai, at the zoo. By the bustling entrance, the fluffy teddy dog sat patiently, waiting quietly. This morning, he received a call from Yuan Shi Tian Zun, who announced that he had a special gift for him—a dominion-level combat companion. Wood deities can summon plants and animals to fight on their behalf, but ordinary plants and animals have limited combat capabilities, so most wood deities proactively cultivate flora and fauna. Cultivating animals is particularly challenging—requiring several times the spiritual energy and resources of ordinary plants, especially when aiming for a dominion-level combat companion. Since wood deities are known as "King of Beasts" during their Saint-level stage and can voluntarily transform into beasts depending on circumstances, most Spring Deities do not cultivate dominion-level combat companions—except for the peak-level ones. Yet, the advantages of a war-companion are quite evident. A war-companion possesses exceptional intelligence, fully equivalent to a master-stage spiritual traveler. Should fortune favor it, one might cultivate a dragon-of-the-animal-world, in which case the master could simply relax and enjoy life. The war-companion fights alongside you, helps you clear dungeons, and—should its orientation not be rigid—can even assist in raising offspring. Thus, upon hearing that the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign intended to bestow a war-companion upon himself, the Dog Elder was overjoyed and immediately hung up the phone to rush to the zoo entrance. Time passed, and soon, the Elder spotted a delicate, floating platform bed drifting along the street. The bed was one meter long and half a meter high, compact yet well-appointed, with a mosquito net neatly hung over it, within which sat a graceful, elegant cat figure. Four young, slender human figures lifted the bed—each with root-like legs and slender arms, and each having two bean-like eyes on either side of their bodies. The surrounding vehicles and pedestrians paid it no attention. The portable bed, compact and elegant, stands before the Dog Elder. A paw, soft and pink with flesh, lifts the mosquito net, gazing down with an air of superiority. "Are you the war companion of the Zoo's master? Did he send you here to greet me?" the Tabby Cat asks, her voice crisp and clear. "...I am the master of the Zoo." "Can a dog even earn a character card?" "I'm a human!" "Why come to me in the form of a dog, implying that dogs see humans as inferior?" "Simply a matter of personal preference." "I find your quirks rather difficult to accept. I shall instead seek another Spring Deity. Goodbye." "Kind sir, please stay a moment..." ... Fu Province, Wanbao House. Zhang Yuanqing stands before the counter, gazing at Lian San Yue—dressed in a black bodysuit, holding a cigar, with a relaxed, laid-back demeanor: "Truly, you won't join my organization? Though your Wanbao House runs smoothly, it still falls far short when compared to Zhao's." You can't impress Zhao's head of household with your rank alone—mastering the quest takes too long. Even after ten more years, you might not reach level eight. "The only way is to strengthen your power base. Stay with me, and you'll surely rise to prominence." "I've always been lazy and don't want to live off someone else's success." Lin San Yue exhaled a stream of white vapor, delivering a concise refusal: "Get out!" Zhang Yuanqing: "I plan to develop the Ten-Thousand-宝 House into the 'shadow division' of the Departed's Return, dedicated to gathering intelligence from the evil factions. That's your unique advantage—only I know about the shadow division's existence. So, go on as you always have. Everything remains unchanged." Lin San Yue sighed impatiently: "Everything unchanged? Then what did you just say?" Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Well, if that's the case, I won't bother talking about ideals anymore." He opened his inventory, pulled out a black iron box, and placed it firmly on the counter: "As long as you join the Return of the Dead, it's yours." Marching the third month hesitated, then extended her hand to touch the box and read its item information. The very next second, a respectful and obedient smile bloomed on her face: "Greetings, Master!"