A few minutes later, Diana led a beautiful woman with rich, wavy hair into the office. Lady Betty, the magic king's lover, possessed a striking, athletic figure—her hips broad and lush, like an exaggerated, full-bodied peach, her loose trousers perfectly fitted, while her waist was slender and delicate, her ample chest exuding the confident grace of a top-tier executive. A textbook example of the typical European fitness model. Most East Asian women, in comparison, looked like still-developing, tousle-haired girls. Zhang Yuanqing, gazing at the exaggerated peach-shaped hips, finally understood: that was why the impact sounds in the audio recordings between the magic king and Betty were so crisp and resonant. Now the truth was revealed. The magic king was truly unselective—he simply loved beautiful women, never compromising on his preferences! In his mind, he thought. Of course, Betty's appearance was outstanding—her light green eyes held subtle charm, her features radiant, and her overall presence wild and spirited, making her the magic king's most enduring favorite. Betty, the magic king's lover, glanced at Yuan Shi Tian Zun and sat down on the sofa across from him, offering a polite, courteous smile: "Lord Yuan Shi Tian Zun, I've long admired your reputation!" Zhang Yuanqing sensed a hint of jealousy and a touch of subtle resentment in her tone—directed not at him, but at Anni. Anni had mentioned that the female competition within the Goddess Association was fierce, and that Anni and Betty had once been rivals. After Betty secured her position as the magic king's companion, she had risen steadily in the association's ranks. Now, with the magic king's passing and Anni stepping into his orbit, it truly seemed as though the tides had turned. "Miss Betty, I've long admired your name!" Zhang Yuanqing said sincerely. The audio connection he had with the magic king had deeply impressed even the young, relatively new version of himself, and sparked a strong admiration for the women of the Goddess Association. Betty suddenly seemed to recall something, her expression briefly awkward before regaining composure with a gentle smile. "The Director mentioned that you have something to discuss with me?" "I would like to request that you hand over the magic king's personal belongings to me Zhang Yuanqing came straight to the point. Betty first froze, her smile slowly fading, and then said gently, "I'm sorry, that is a relic left behind by the Mage King. I will not trade it to anyone." Since Diana's earlier hint, Zhang Yuanqing had already guessed Betty's stance. He responded warmly, "Set your terms—I will make you fully satisfied." Betty shook her head slowly, resolute, "I will not give it up. No one can take the Mage King's relics from me." Zhang Yuanqing stared at her for several seconds, his expression gradually growing colder, and then said, "Then you shall die waiting." "What?" Betty was completely taken aback, not expecting such words from him. Zhang Yuanqing's tone carried a quiet, composed authority. "A common man is blameless, yet suffers for possessing treasures—having lived in Huaguo for some time, you should understand this saying. This is the very first lesson I learned from both the Evil and the Lawful factions after becoming a Spirit Realm Traveler. Now, I am teaching it to you." "Understand your own strength and don't force yourself to hold onto things that don't match your level. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for certain defeat." Betty's eyebrows shot up as she glanced at Diana, saying, "I never thought Master Yuanxi would be so arrogant—trying to kill people and seize treasures right on the grounds of the Goddess of Beauty's Association." Zhang Yuanqing's tone grew even colder: "Madam Betty, do you think I or you is more important to the Goddess of Beauty's Association?" Betty was momentarily at a loss, her eyes widening slightly. Zhang Yuanqing said firmly, "The fragments of the Mage King's key are of great importance to me—they must be secured, and no matter what your will is, that will not change." "Do you think that as long as I disagree, I'll just yield to you? On what grounds? Because you're a woman? Because you're beautiful? I didn't intend to give up the fragments of the Taiyi Origin back then—has the evil organization ever yielded to me?" "Is it because the Goddess of Beauty's Association has protected you too well, or because the nature of the love-and-desire profession has made you used to having men yield to you?" "If that's the case, then I'll show you just how cruel this world can be." His tone and gaze were icy, as if he would strike someone dead at any moment. Betty's expression remained uncertain, and she turned once again to Diana. Diana had said nothing throughout, her face expressionless. Betty bit her lower lip and finally yielded, "What can you offer me?" Zhang Yuanqing looked down at her with a calm, commanding gaze. "The price is this: when one day I open the treasure of the Mage King, you will receive your rightful share." Diana finally spoke, smiling. "Betty, with your abilities, you will never gather all the keys in your lifetime to unlock the Mage King's treasure. Instead, let Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn take on that responsibility. I will serve as the witness to your promise." Without a word, Betty removed the jade pendant from her neck and placed it on the coffee table, then left, her face cold. Zhang Yuanqing picked up the pendant, and the power of the Sun God burned through the suspension cord, sealing the broken jade into his inventory. Diana smiled, "I thought you'd take a more gentle approach." Zhang Yuanqing chuckled, "How gentle? Spend ten to fifteen days being attentive, gradually winning her over with sincerity? Even if I'm willing, the heads of your association won't be. Why bother with time when you can simply scare her into compliance? After all, the truths I've taught her are ones that will save her life in the long run." As he spoke, he received a notification from the Goddess Association inviting him to join the guild. Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing accepted. A moment later, a voice from his earpiece chimed: 【Ping! The Spirit Realm map is loading. You will enter the Spirit Realm in 30 seconds. This is your current Spirit Realm: "The Forest of Elves," ID: 73.】 【Difficulty Level: B】 【Type: Solo (Death-based)】 【Main Objective: Identify the source of the love-inducing gas.】 【Note: Inanimate items from outside the Spirit Realm cannot be brought in.】 【Introduction to the 73rd Spiritual Realm: Whenever night falls, a sensual gas rises from deep within the forest—its origin remains a mystery. This gas envelops the forest, causing animals to mate wildly and reproduce in abundance. Even the forest-dwelling elves, now displaying graceful movements and singing enchanting melodies, captivate men living outside the forest…】 … Jiangnan Leather City, the Summerhou Family's headquarters. Xiaohou Aotian stood on the balcony, gazing into the distance, lost in deep contemplation. Time passed so long that the ring elder, unusually, broke his silence and asked: "What has prompted you to start reflecting on life?" Xiaohou Aotian drew a sharp breath, troubled: "Oh no! I suddenly feel as though the Prime Immortal is the true protagonist, while I'm merely a supporting character." The ring elder, full of surprise, replied: "What has made you realize the truth?" Xiaohou Aotian sighed impatiently: "Are you just the comic relief? So good at being the sidekick—would you like me to set up a stage and have you perform a相声 (a traditional Chinese comedic act)?" "After venting his frustrations, Xiahou Aotian sighed and exhaled deeply, 'Master Yuanshishen has truly stepped up this time—he's made it clear that unless I reach the ninth rank, I'll die in the quest. If he actually succeeds, will I still be the main protagonist?' 'You never were!' transmitted a mental ripple from the Ring Elder. 'So finally, you've felt the pressure.' Xiahou Aotian remained silent. In the past, no matter how strong or impressive Master Yuanshishen was, Xiahou Aotian had always remained confident, since they were at the same level of cultivation. While their strengths might differ slightly, their status was quite comparable. Now, however, things have changed. Once Master Yuanshishen succeeds, the gap between them will become that of a minor player and a true leader. Xiahou Aotian took a deep breath and said, 'No, I can't fall behind Master Yuanshishen. I must also enter the guild quest. I'm going to find my ancestor now.' " "The ring elder chuckled, saying, 'Are you truly only concerned about not being outshone by Yuan Shi Tian Zun? You've stood on the balcony for two full hours, merely worried about falling short to him? You value your current companions deeply and wish to contribute, yet you're afraid of sacrificing yourself within the quest, so you've carefully weighed your options.' Xiahou Ao Tian scoffed, 'Even insects huddle together for warmth—true strength finds companionship in the stars. I simply don't want a supporting character to overshadow me.' With that, he resolved to take flight, soaring toward the ancestral home of the Xiahou family. ... A loosely organized provincial city of crabs. The Lady Zhi, dressed in a magnificent red gown, arrived at the ancestral home deep within the garden, led by Xie Lingxi. Xie Lingxi approached, grasped the door handle, and gently knocked. 'Grandmaster, Miss Chu would like to see you.' The two deep black gates of the courtyard opened automatically, and a low, resonant voice from within the house replied, 'Come in!' Xie Lingxi turned and walked away along the stone path. The Master of Zhishi Palace stepped over the threshold, surveyed the small courtyard, and spotted a boy with a round face sitting at a desk, hands folded in his sleeves, gazing quietly. Though young in years, he carried the bearing of an elder master. "May I have the honor of greeting the Elder?" said the Master of Zhishi Palace, bowing. Her grandmother was also a descendant of the Xie family, and her father, Chu Shang, carried half the Xie lineage. "Speak your mind," the Elder said calmly. "You never come to see me unless there's something urgent—don't waste time." The Master of Zhishi Palace whispered, "I would like to propose a deal with the Elder." The Elder studied her, smiled, and said, "The only thing you have that can be exchanged with me is the Pot of Spirit Transformation. What would you like?" The Master of Zhishi Palace replied, "The Elder has granted me three things. I will present the Pot of Spirit Transformation in person. First, I wish to enter the Xie family's faction quest, with a deadline of thirty-five days. Second The third matter: upon my return from the copy, I beg my ancestor to help me preserve the left-behind Wuhuang remains of Chu family's elder. The elder of the Xie family smiled gently, saying, "Daughter, won't you worry that I'll claim the Wuhuang body for myself?" The Master of Zhishai replied with a bright smile, "Then you'd better be concerned about the retaliation from the Void Half-Deity and the Sun Sovereign." Seeing the elder's expression grow serious, she softened and added, "After all, you're my ancestor—how could you take what belongs to my descendants?" The elder's youthful and endearing face eased slightly, and she gave a cool sniff, saying, "Go to Xie Su and obtain a set of copy documents. Once ready, come back to see me." The Master of Zhishai expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, my ancestor." "Because I detest traitors and can't help but want to kill you—killing you is also my freedom," the Mage with the Divine Eyes rubbed his forehead strap and smiled. "No matter, I have a flexible moral compass and can return to the Commander of the Army."