Marshal's study. "Lingtuo is the sovereign of the Yin, holding authority over the Ling Realm. He's the quintessential turtle who hides behind his shell—trying to pin him down is nearly impossible," Fu Qingxuan said. "As for compelling the sovereign of the Evil Faction, the half-gods, to appear, that also won't work. A battle between half-gods would inevitably bring widespread devastation and collapse the existing order. Moreover, even if a war truly breaks out, Lingtuo might not show up at all." "Indeed, quite a challenge," Fu Qingyang sat facing his elder sister, indicating that the siblings could continue their conversation by candlelight, as he had both time and patience. Fu Qingxuan summoned a large cup of milk tea, took hearty sips, and spoke with satisfaction, "But that's not a problem either. As long as we understand the adversaries' needs and objectives, we can successfully draw out Lingtuo. At present, whether it's Lingtuo or the Evil Faction, both desire control over the Sun and the supreme authority it brings." She took another sip of tea. "You should know the role of the Light Compass, right?" Fu Qingyang suddenly grasped the meaning, gave a slight nod: "The key to communicating with the Sun." Fu Qingxuan then asked: "Have you heard any confidential intelligence? After the return of the Yin stars to their proper positions, the Sun's replica can be unlocked." Indeed... Fu Qingyang's expression eased slightly and said: "So you intend to gather the fragments of the Light Compass to unlock the Sun's replica?" Fu Qingxuan shook her head: "We don't need all the fragments. We've calculated that eight fragments are sufficient to open the Sun's replica. At that point, the head of Tai Men will carry these fragments into the replica, attempting to merge with the Sun and become its master." "Then Ling Tu will be finished." If the head of Tai Men becomes the master of the Sun, the merit scroll will no longer be shielded. And with the head of Tai Men simultaneously mastering both the stars and the Sun, he will emerge as the strongest half-deity of his age. Even with the protection of the Yin, Ling Tu will be exposed and powerless under the unrelenting sunlight. This is a strategy Ling Tu cannot tolerate. Fu Qingyang found it easy to understand all this, yet he didn't feel pleased—indeed, his brow naturally furrowed. "What about Yuanshǐ?" Yuanshǐ pursued the path of the Sun's Sovereign. If the Master of Taímen held the Sun, it would effectively cut off Yuanshǐ's path to promotion, leaving him forever without a chance to attain semi-divinity status. "Fu Qingyang's face immediately darkened." "How long can the residual heat from the sun sustain itself?" Fu Qingxuan replied seriously. "We don't know for sure, but it's impossible to last for six months." She suddenly sighed. "However, the plan is currently stalled and cannot be implemented." Fu Qingyang didn't know whether to be relieved or worried, and asked, "How so?" "Do you know how many fragments of the Light Compass there are?" Fu Qingxuan replied offhand. Fu Qingyang said calmly, "I only know that Tianfa has three, and the Five Elements Alliance has two." Fu Qingxuan nodded. "The Merchant Guild has one; the Void Half-Deity holds one; the Goddess of Beauty has one; the Tai Men Sect has one; the Energy Guild has one; the Wine Goddess Club has one. "Plus the core fragment taken by the Free-Riding Organization, that makes a total of twelve." "The Orderly Faction holds exactly eight fragments, but the Merchant Guild and the Goddess of Beauty Association have refused to send any out, and Tianfa is still hesitating—they are privately cultivating their own sun-wandering deities." "Last time Tianfa was willing to send out a fragment, it clearly signaled their preference for compromise—spending time negotiating, offering sufficient incentives, and securing those three fragments wouldn't be a problem," Fu Qingyang observed sharply. "The real challenge lies with the Master of the Void and the Goddess Association," Fu Qingxuan nodded. "The Merchant's Guild and the Goddess Association have been staunchly supporting the Primordial Sovereign—unexpectedly, unreasonably, and unwaveringly. While Tianfa has been willing to yield, they remain firm. That's rather unusual. However, we're actively engaging in negotiations." At this point, she turned to Fu Qingyang. "I suspect the Primordial Sovereign's relationship with the Half-Deity of the Void is particularly significant. You're close to the Primordial Sovereign—do you know why?" Fu Qingyang replied coldly. "I have absolutely no idea." Fu Qingxuan smiled lightly. "No one can lie to me." Fu Qingyang maintained his stern, impassive expression. "I will not reveal any information that could be detrimental to the Primordial Sovereign." Fu Qingxuan sipped at her high-sugar milk tea and said, "If the Merchant Guild and the Goddess Association continue to remain uncooperative, we will take mandatory actions. It concerns the very survival of humanity and the orderly realm—we may lose, but not for such a ridiculous reason. I greatly admire Yuanshizhentu, yet I must also fulfill my duties as a marshal. Therefore, I hope you can persuade Yuanshizhentu to engage in direct communication with both the Merchant Guild and the Goddess Association. Of course, I will give you time. I will assist in stabilizing the other marshals. But should the final moment truly arrive—please understand that order comes above all." She didn't look at Fu Qingyang's reaction, merely waved gently and sent him out of the study. The bell rang for a long time before the other end answered, and a drowsy, half-dead voice—weak and barely audible—came through: "Hey, big brother..." Fu Qingyang frowned. "Are you still sleeping?" "I've woken up only to fall back asleep again," Zhang Yuanqing said weakly. "What's up, big brother? I'll just keep sleeping." "Come to my study," Fu Qingyang hung up, clearly agitated. He had expected the Yuan Shi Tian Zun to arrive instantly via star-flight, but after waiting for over fifteen minutes, the man finally arrived, wearing a nightgown, leaning heavily on the wall, staggering. Fu Qingyang stared at the deep circles under Zhang Yuanqing's eyes, the pale lips, the wan complexion, and his disheveled hair, and was momentarily speechless. "What's wrong with you?" Zhang Yuanqing's demeanor was detached, his pupils unfocused, and he murmured, "I've been drained." Can Guan Ya really do that? The stoic, expressionless young man was utterly stunned. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward, stared at Fu Qingyang for a while, and questioned, "Boss, I feel like you're thinking about some rather unusual things... Well, what exactly do you want from me? I'm really tired. Just get on with it and let me go to bed." Fu Qingyang's expression was serious, his tone low: "The official faction plans to collect the fragments of the Light Compass, open the Sun Realm instance, support the current head of Taiyuan Sect to become the Lord of the Sun, thus containing Lingtuo and preventing the Merit Scroll from being blocked once again." Zhang Yuanqing's eyes, previously unfocused, suddenly narrowed. "But the Goddess Association and the Merchant Guild are unwilling to hand over the fragments of the Light Compass—actually, their stance is even more resolute than that of the Heavenly Judgment." Fu Qingyang glanced at him and said, "Should negotiations continue without results, the official faction may resort to force and seize the fragments. General hopes you can negotiate with both organizations. As long as they're willing to yield the fragments, whatever cost they propose, just go ahead and make it happen." Zhang Yuanqing slowly settled into the sofa, paused for a few seconds, and raised a question, "The evil faction also possesses fragments of the Compass of Light—why not try to seize them from their hands?" Fu Qingyang replied, "I believe there are two main reasons. First, it's difficult to locate the half-gods among the evil professions. Second, given that both sides are fully aware of each other's intentions, Lingtuo is likely to use this moment to lay his own strategic plans—plans that even the Star Sovereign hasn't anticipated. This could easily lead to complications. Moreover, the official side needs to project a strong stance. Since everyone belongs to the lawful faction, they should naturally stand together and face the crisis together. If the Association of the Beautiful Goddess and the Merchant Guild, driven by their own interests, end up binding the entire faction, then everyone will be left to face the consequences." "If that truly happens, I will convince the chairman to hand over the fragments of the Compass of Light," Zhang Yuanqing said. Fu Qingyang looked at him, "But then, you will no longer be able to become a half-god." "That doesn't matter." Zhang Yuanqing shrugged, smiling, "I never had a strong desire to become a half-god. All these years, I've kept upgrading out of necessity—enemies, crises, and death have always accompanied me, pushing me forward step by step. But if Master Yuan can contain Lingtuo and lead the lawful faction to victory in the war, then what reason do I have to pursue becoming a half-god?" Though he said this, Fu Qingyang saw in his eyes a mix of lingering resentment and quiet relief. Qian Gongzi suddenly realized that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun was different from him. He had always been strong-willed, refusing to retreat at any cost—even if the path ahead was a mountain of blades and a sea of flames. It was this unwavering belief that carried him step by step to where he stands today, fueling his deep yearning for power and status. By nature, he instinctively saw Yuan Shǐ as a kindred spirit, and thus firmly rejected Fu Qingyang's request, unwilling to see Yuan Shǐ's path to advancement cut short. Now, reflecting on the past year of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn's experiences, he suddenly realized that this promising subordinate and brother had been carried along by fate all along. Perhaps Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn never intended to become a half-god or to rule the world—he simply wanted to survive. Fu Qingyang gently exhaled, "General has agreed to give us a bit more time. You don't need to rush into accepting or rejecting anything—just take your time to think it over. Also, five days from now, we'll continue with the next quest." How generous his sister is! Zhang Yuanqing nodded, briefly setting this aside, and asked, "Which quest shall we choose?" Fu Qingyang replied, "We should still go for the A-level ones, though I haven't quite decided yet." The two discussed the quest for a while, then, with a renewed sense of energy, Zhang Yuanqing rose to bid farewell and dissolved into starlight. Back in his bedroom, just as he was preparing to lie down and rest, he heard a steady knocking at the door. Soon after, the bedroom door was gently opened, and Guan Ya entered, wearing a purple off-shoulder nightgown, holding a Scorpio-themed She had just taken a shower; her slightly wavy hair was still damp, her shoulders wide and delicate, with a refined, beautiful mixed-race complexion and full, sensuous lips. Her legs beneath the skirt were smooth and long, her feet in white sandals small and graceful, with rounded toes painted a rich red. Zhang Yuanqing tilted his head, glanced at her, and then, without a word, settled back onto the bed. Guan Ya walked over to the bedside and sat down, studying her boyfriend, surprised: "What's wrong? You look tired." Zhang Yuanqing gave a weak, half-sleepy "hmm," as if a husband being casually attentive to his wife: "I went out for a while." Guan Ya wasn't focused on this, didn't press further, and instead gently leaned into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, smiling: "Yuanshi, I'd like to apply lip balm." Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, kissed her lips: "They're damp." "I'd like to apply lip balm." "How am I supposed to know where you keep your lip balm? I'll have to ask little clueless one to find it for you." "Guan Ya suddenly stood up, indignant, 'How can you act so stupid! You look as though you've been overindulging in pleasure—what have you been doing out there? Tell me, is it Xiao Yuan or the Lady Zhi Sha?' 'It's Fu Qingyang!' Guan Ya was taken aback. Zhang Yuanqing sighed, 'I just came back from him—discussing serious matters. Don't ask me why I've been overindulging; I'll tell you when I wake up.' Guan Ya slapped him hard, 'Now you're choosing to avoid battle?' 'Battle, battle, battle!' Zhang Yuanqing lay sprawled out, 'Come on, let's summon the Autonomous Maiden.' ... Noon. Zhang Yuanqing left Fu's village feeling refreshed and headed off toward his grandmother's home. Originally, he had intended to bring Guan Ya along, as his grandmother had long wanted to meet her. But Guan Ya had been practicing deep squats all night, giving it her all—she wobbled and staggered, like waves in a storm, trembling in countless ways, calling out in frustration. She rose and fell, swaying from one Never complaining, never pleading, she bends for love—on the bed, she's a true hero. Thus, Zhang Yuqing, fond of his girlfriend, decides not to disturb her rest. Back home, he appears in the hallway, enters his code, and opens the front door. The rich aroma of cooked dishes fills his nostrils. Grandmother, Grandfather, and his aunt are having dinner. Upon seeing him return, Grandmother is delighted and rises immediately to fetch a bowl from the kitchen, yet complains as she goes: "You never say a word when you come back. You don’t even call—just show up whenever you feel like it, whenever you feel like leaving. You’re becoming more and more like your uncle." Auntie teases, "And more and more like your father, too…" Then, suddenly sniffing, she straightens up and scolds: "A person unworthy of cleanliness!" "Thank you, Grandmother!" Zhang Yuqing picks up his bowl and says politely. He returns home to spend more time with his family, and also to inquire about the family's stance on supporting the head of the Taiyuan branch. Only when he realized that peace was merely a facade, that the world faced destruction and disasters were imminent, did he come to appreciate the preciousness of harmony and stability, and recognize that his grandparents were growing older and needed his presence. After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing knocked on the door next door. His aunt was out getting her face done, and at home, there was only one family traitor.