Heavy rain poured down, mud flowed like a river. As soon as the corpse—highly decomposed—was unearthed, Xue Hou Ao Tian saw a thick black smoke surge from beneath the ground, coalescing into a fierce ghostly face that charged directly at him. Xue Hou Ao Tian didn’t even flinch; he raised his voice in a piercing cry. Spiritual assault! The ghostly face formed by the black smoke shook violently, then froze mid-air, as though struck by a powerful blow. Immediately after the skill activated, Xue Hou Ao Tian stepped back, took a deep breath, and emitted another sharp cry. The ghostly face roared with anger, with resentment, with cries that were utterly inaudible, slowly dissolving. Under two consecutive spiritual assaults, the spirit of resentment vanished completely, reduced to ash and smoke. "Phew…" Xue Hou Ao Tian exhaled a deep, heavy breath, then approached the muddy corpse again. After a brief inspection, he couldn’t determine the precise cause of death for the woman, though one detail stood out—the corpse was bare, with no clothing. A young woman died in the wild mountains and forests, buried in an abandoned temple, naked, and her lingering resentment transformed her into a vengeful spirit. Her cause of death was clear to see. Xue Hou Ao Tian examined the young woman's bones more closely and noticed another detail: her left hand had only four fingers. He silently recorded this observation and then used his knife to fill the soil back over her remains. In an S-tier quest, every detail matters—especially when a spiritual traveler like himself faces danger. Spiritual travelers are the most likely to trigger narrative developments, and the stories within the quest unfold primarily around them. Any beneficial clues or details are always found where the spiritual traveler can reach. The meticulous attention to detail in Yuan Shi Tian Zun's portrayal of the last sovereign of a fallen kingdom provided Xue Hou Ao Tian with a strong model and inspiration. After carefully covering the remains, Xue Hou Ao Tian returned to the ruined temple, removed his boots and tossed them into the rain to wash, then sat barefoot by the smoldering embers of the charcoal fire. The imperial examination route to becoming an official is certainly out of the question. To actively participate in and lead the war to victory, I must possess a certain status. In the Tang Dynasty, besides the imperial examination, one could also rise through the recommendation of the aristocratic elite. Once I reach Chang'an, I can borrow the works of the Poet-Emperor and the Poet-Immortal to establish my reputation, gain access to the influential families there, and then demonstrate my scholarly distinction, eventually securing a position through their endorsement. Later, when Xiao An and Xiao Shi rebel, I will propose a military campaign. During the An-Shi Rebellion, the only capable military commanders are Gao Xianzhi, Guo Shuhuan, and Guo Ziyi—only a few in total. Xiao Guo is still playing a minor role, not yet reaching his full potential; Gao Xianzhi and Guo Shuhuan are both tragic figures. I have only fifteen days, so after the outbreak of the An-Shi Rebellion, I should strive to reach the frontlines as soon as possible, secure the storyline early, and return to the real world to assist Yuan Shishen. Fifteen days should The rain stopped. The mud on his boots was rinsed clean. He calmed his thoughts, used the fire master's fist to dry his boots, put them on, and led the horse out of the ruined temple, continuing on his way. He would reach Chang'an no later than noon the next day, and possibly as early as morning. "Yesterday, they worked through the night to complete the two thousand arrows, then after dismissing the craftsmen, they embraced each other and slept among the hay stacks. In this era, people hadn't yet developed the concept of a 'bedroom.' Sleeping spaces were varied—could be one's own room, a cool shade under a tree, or a sheltered cave. As long as the place was safe and comfortable, offering protection from wind and rain, it would suffice. Herasini cuddled up against him, wrapping her arms around his neck, cooing, "Amyni, you've once again made my night unforgettable. I never realized you were so remarkable. Your presence leaves me utterly drained—so much so that I now long to simply stay in bed and sleep on, humming, you're such a persistent disruptor. Yet... it's also deeply fulfilling. Now, your lover is no longer just your skin and the essence of the Night Guardian—quite different! Last night's intensity was nothing. If it weren't for the pressing crises within the dungeon that prevented us from fully enjoying ourselves, I'd have kept you awake for a full day and night." Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "This is my reward for you—oh, dear Hesychia. It's precisely because of your help that I've managed to complete the work on time. The slave who's always getting his behind kicked, Cupid, even wants me to fall in love with a sheep? 'Don't let me find an opportunity,' I say. 'Otherwise, I'll give him a good booting with my boots. I swear to you—I truly will.' The two of them dressed and headed toward the castle. In the west garden from yesterday, they encountered Cupid once again, along with three new, pitiful slave heads. Cupid, who had just been reprimanding the slave heads, brightened instantly upon seeing them. He left the slave heads behind and fluttered his snowy wings, approaching them and circling them playfully, saying, 'Our just judge from Paphos has arrived. 'I'm guessing you've come to ask for my forgiveness, aren't you? Oh, no way, Amini. If you don't deliver two thousand arrows today, you'll spend the rest of your life living with sheep.' "A guard nearby shouted, 'The God of Justice, Sir Cupid, has instructed us to prepare the ewe. Good news—she's a young, pure one, just recently matured.' He held up the rope in his hand. At the other end, a white sheep stood, modest in size, barely grown. The guards laughed. Three of the slave overseers exchanged sympathetic, almost mournful glances toward Ammini. Zhang Yuanqing remained composed and said, 'Respected Sir Cupid, we have completed the preparation of two thousand arrows.' Cupid was taken aback; the playful excitement on his face froze. He stepped close to Ammini, glaring fiercely at him, 'You are deceiving me!' Zhang Yuanqing bowed slightly. 'Honor to Sir Cupid, no one on the island of Paphos can deceive you. If you doubt it, I invite you to send someone to verify.' To avoid further upsetting the sensitive Cupid, he did not display excessive confidence. Cupid immediately turned to the guard and bellowed, 'Go and check!' The guard who had been holding the ewe dropped the rope and hurried off. Cupid turned to Amini, coldly笑道, "Ameni, you know what happens to those who deceive me. Not only will I make you fall in love with the ewe, but I'll also make Heraxini fall in love with the ram." The young girl with dark green hair flushed, but quickly composed herself. She wasn't afraid of Cupid's punishment—her task was already complete, and the penalty was certain to come. What surprised her was the implication in Cupid's words, as though he already knew of her secret affair with Amini. But how could that be? If Cupid were aware of their relationship, he would have surely reported it to the goddess, who, though she claimed to be the mistress, was in fact Amini's mother. Wouldn't commoner daughters and sons be reduced to mere servants then? Ah, in this age, blood ties and ethical principles truly matter little! Zhang Yuanqing sighed, reflecting on this. Although he had only been in the realm for two days, he could feel that class relations on the island of Paphos surpassed even personal ethics—let alone siblings by the same mother, and even among the gods themselves, such as Cupid and several of his siblings, their relationship with each other, as relayed by Heraxini, was not particularly strong. Several of the parents were full gods or half-gods, and their legitimate children ruled over the mortal and half-divine inhabitants of Paphos. About half an hour later, the guard returned, having counted the arrows, and brought a less-than-pleasant update: "Lord Cupid, the two thousand arrows have been prepared, and I have personally verified the count." Cupid's round, somewhat pitiful face immediately darkened, and he stared silently at Amini. After perhaps a dozen seconds, he suddenly brightened into a cheerful, innocent smile: "Oh, my dear Amini, you are truly an excellent servant—your work is excellent. The Light God has threatened the security of Paphos. We must unite and face this challenge together." Zhang Yuanqing bowed and said, "You're absolutely right!" With Cupid's permission, he pulled Hesychia away from the garden. Once out of Cupid's sight, the girl with long, emerald hair moved with light steps and cautioned, "Amynis, be careful—Cupid will continue to trouble you. In the past, he dared not oppose you because of Aphrodite's protection. But now that she has left the island, he will have no such restraint." It seemed Aphrodite truly cared for her children. Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Hesychia, you mentioned that Cupid's father is the powerful god of war—wouldn't he be unwilling to see his beloved and his offspring mercilessly slain by the Light God?" Hesychia furrowed her brows, sighed, and said, "Amynis, why do you think I know the thoughts and actions of the gods?" Well, I had nothing to say in reply. Now that the work is done and the danger has not yet approached, today I'll take a stroll around the island, gather some intelligence. This island, which gave birth to a deity, deserves exploration! As soon as he thought this, a sharp bell sound rang out. "Ding! Ding! Ding!" Both Zhang Yuanqing and Heraxine looked up simultaneously, gazing toward the clock tower. The urgent chime was coming from there. With his sharp vision, Zhang Yuanqing saw the goddess Menia, poised and majestic, wielding a bronze staff to strike the great bell. As the chime rang out, the entire castle—and its attached village—came to life in that very instant. Women and children rushed into their homes, warriors quickly assembled, and men hurried to various weapon stores to collect their arms. Footsteps, murmurs, and shouts blended into a continuous din. Heraxine exclaimed in alarm, "Attack! It's the followers of the Light God..." Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her and said, "Stay hidden. Protect yourselves." At once, they entered the night voyage, mastering the gusting winds and soaring into the sky. From a height of hundreds of meters, they saw several large, sturdy warships emerge on the golden sea, their sails billowing, swiftly approaching the island of Paphos. It seemed that the sunlight was giving them a subtle golden glow, as the fleet shimmered with a faint radiance.