The City Ring Building. In a high-end lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, Zhang Yuanqing appeared at a desk by the window. He glanced around, then picked up the desk phone and skillfully dialed Anne’s office. Anne’s line went unanswered, and after a few seconds, it was transferred to her assistant. "Tell Anne I'm back. Have her prepare food and clothes," Zhang said, hung up, and walked into the bathroom. The sound of running water soon filled the room. Zhang washed away the blood and dust from his body. As for his lingering affection and longing for Menia and Sektia, he had to bury them deep within himself, letting time gradually dilute them. Cupid’s arrows, famed for bestowing eternal love, could hardly claim anything truly eternal—especially love, a consumable product with a short shelf life. After bathing, he returned to the desk wearing a towel, unplugged his phone from the charger, and opened the messaging app. Then, two messages appeared—one from the Master of the Palace: ["Bored, nothing to do. I've entered the realm now."] and one from the King of the Mystic Eye: ["I'm planning to return to the Commander's academy to regain vitality. I won't advance beyond level nine unless I'm summoned. Please don't disturb me. If I perish in the clan's realm, you must carry forward my faith and volunteer my aspirations."] Both the Master of the Palace and the King of the Mystic Eye have entered the realm too? Zhang Yuanqing felt deeply moved. He promptly sent a message in the "Return of the Departed" group chat: "I've returned!" The ever-online key-keen Bringer, Sun Miaomiao, immediately popped up in the chat: "So quickly? You've reached level nine?" As a member who has remained at the Saint's Realm level, she has never been part of the core leadership of the Return of the Departed, only knowing that the Primordial Sovereign intends to strive for level nine, with the hope of achieving it or sacrificing himself. She is unaware of the secret plan for the Primordial Sovereign to use the Three-Element Pill to reach level nine. Red Chicken Brother: " Now it's mid-February. Since the killing raid event in mid-December when they were promoted from day-shift deities to full-time gods, it's been just two months—promoted nine levels in two months, a truly unprecedented achievement, setting a new record that surpasses even the current records of the Demon King and the Marshal. Zhao Chenghuang and Tianxia Guihuo remain silent, their eyes fixed on the screen, completely losing track of the thoughts of typing or speaking. Sometimes, even brothers who have shared life and death together can't help but feel envy—can they really seal off this persistent nuisance? [The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign: Not yet. Just promoted to level eight.] Upon seeing this reply, Zhao Chenghuang, Tianxia Guihuo, and Sun Miao-miao all feel relieved. This makes perfect sense! #Red Chicken Brother retracts a message# [The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign: @Guanyi, hasn't Xiao Fu come out for the guild raid yet?] [Guanyi: It's not just him—Xiaohou Aotian hasn't either.] Has Xiaohou Aotian also joined the boss for the guild raid? Didn't the leader [The whole world turns to fire: After you entered the quest, Xue Hou Ao Tian vanished. We called the Xue Hou family to inquire, and only then learned that on the very day you entered the quest, Xue Hou Ao Tian also entered the family's quest.] A strong, determined protagonist! Zhang Yuanqing silently mumbled. After chatting casually with the sect's sages, he heard a knock at the door. "Come in!" He turned his gaze toward the entrance. The door handle clicked open, and Anne, dressed in a refined lady's suit, walked in, holding a tray in one hand. The tray contained a stack of loose, comfortable athletic wear. "Mr. Yuan Shi, the pace at which you've advanced through the island of Paphos exceeds even the department's expectations," Anne said, her eyes sparkling with brightness. "Nine days ahead of schedule!" Zhang Yuanqing remarked. "The crisis on Paphos Island was compressed into just five or six days—faster than I anticipated, and more challenging than I thought. I was nearly forced to return." "Annie couldn't help but show her curiosity, pressing further, 'The Paphos Island instance has existed for over thirty years without ever being conquered. As someone in my position, I'm not even qualified to know about its conquest—would you be so kind as to make an exception for me?' Her tone, naturally soft and endearing, carried a subtle allure. 'Even if you know the instance's storyline, it's essentially a dragon's den for a love-focused profession like mine. You'd likely need to bring a mattress when you first enter Paphos—especially during your younger years.' Zhang Yuanqing said this with a smile, yet still outlined the general plot of the Paphos Island instance. However, he deliberately omitted the more advanced secrets—such as the rivalry between the goddess of beauty and the goddess of light, and the latter's true identity—keeping them vague. Annie listened in wide-eyed astonishment. If it were her, she might not survive the first day—no, she'd probably fall in love with the ram on the very first day. Truly terrifying! Zhang Yuanqing then opened his inventory, retrieved the 'Gown of the Goddess of Beauty,' and handed it to her: 'Here, take this.' Annie took it with a dazed expression, focusing intently on reading the item's information. After a few seconds, her hands began to tremble slightly—though she had neither fought nor drunk—her heart pounded wildly, and a gentle blush rose to her cheeks. A master-quality item, of high rank. It enhances the charm of love-oriented professions, increases the number of partners one can influence, and even allows men to transform into women, endowing them with the ability to experience pleasure. The ability to transform gender is exceptionally rare. Annie lifted her head with excitement, "Master Yuan, have you finally accepted me? Can I now be your lover?" If he were merely incorporating her into his harem, why would he bestow such a precious item? In the past, Zhang Yuanqing would have explained himself—after completing the divine beauty association's quest, however, he no longer felt the need to. Misunderstandings remained misunderstandings; no explanations were required. When he was in the mood, he'd simply stir the bed. If he wasn't, he'd merely say, "I'm sorry, I'm quite tired," and that would be that. Explanations are what young boys do—mature men never explain; they firmly hold the initiative. "Knock, knock!" The doorbell rang. Anne smiled and said, "My lunch has arrived." She tucked the props into the inventory section and walked toward the door with her full, sensuous curves. Standing outside was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Diana. "Minister?" Anne was momentarily taken aback. Diana's beautiful face was clouded, her gaze serious—her usual calm composure and poised maturity had vanished. "Anne, please go ahead and step out. I have something to say to the Prime Minister," Diana gently shifted aside, making room. Anne glanced back at the Prime Minister, who remained silent, and immediately replied, "Yes, Minister." Passing by Diana, she stepped out of the room. Zhang Yuanqing watched the mature woman with deep intensity, his tone now serious: "Minister Diana, it seems you're bringing me some rather unwelcome news." He sensed the seriousness and severity of the situation from Diana's expression, body language, and emotional tone. Diana turned, closed the door, and sat down on the sofa, sighing, "The Sun's replica has been activated, and half-gods from both the Lawful and Chaotic factions have entered it." The Sun's replica has been activated? Zhang Yuanqing was stunned, "Did the Chairman not withstand the pressure?" Diana nodded. "A few days ago, the Star Sovereign convened a council of half-gods and proposed two plans: either eliminate the two Chairmen to secure the fragments of the Light Compass, or initiate the decisive battle between the factions early. Alas, for the sake of the greater good, he had no choice but to compromise. You must know that delay is merely a tactical pause—it's never meant to last until the end. It's not his fault." Zhang Yuanqing sat there, stunned, his expression somewhat confused and his spirits somewhat dimmed. Finally, Uncle had been unable to bear the pressure. Now, the throne of the Sun Sovereign was completely out of reach for him. There was a sudden sense of profound disappointment—having labored for half a lifetime, only to see all efforts come to nothing—along with a feeling of confusion and helplessness as if lost without direction. The joy and excitement from successfully completing the Palmyra Island raid had completely faded. After a few minutes, Zhang Yuanqing steadied himself and looked at his mature and beautiful sister-in-law. "Have they both entered the raid?" "That's certain," Diana affirmed. "Before your uncle entered the Sun Raid, he specifically came to me and asked me to inform you of the matter, and to relay a message." Zhang Yuanqing asked, "I hope it wasn't just comforting or encouraging words." "You were right—it was indeed encouraging," Diana said softly. "He said the Sun Raid won't conclude in the near future, that the battles among the half-gods will be long and arduous, and that you still have time to do what you need to do." Upon hearing this, the hope that had been dimming in Zhang Yuanqing's heart was reignited. This encouragement proved truly valuable. Uncle didn't provide a clear timeline, but he knew his nephew's situation well. Since he felt the time was still sufficient and hope remained, it implied that the battle among the half-gods would likely be prolonged—at least not decided within a few days. Zhang Yuanqing silently calculated in his mind: "I've now reached the eighth rank. To advance quickly, I can no longer enter the regular quest dungeons. Even if the battle among the half-gods lasts for a long time, it won't stretch over several months. The only viable path for rapid promotion is to craft the San-Cai Pill. 'Primary materials' for the San-Cai Pill are limited—either I must seize the Day-Wandering Deities from the Taimei gate's dungeons, or hunt down the Night Rose Guardians." Both options come with considerable complications that need careful planning. Option One: Hunt the Day-Wandering Deities from the Taimei gate's dungeons. Advantage: Clear and well-defined objectives. Drawbacks: It can only be accessed within the realm, and cannot be carried into the real world, so it's necessary to bring Xiahou Aotian along into the realm; the process of navigating and completing the realm quests is time-consuming and labor-intensive; the senior monks of Taiyuan may not agree; and there's a chance that the Master of the Stars has designed obstacles to hinder me within the realm. The protective grace of the guardians likely stems from Lingtuo’s Yin, and since Yin holds a higher status than rule-based artifacts, the Sky’s Eye cannot penetrate Yin’s concealed protection. What force in the world can counter Yin’s concealed grace? In silent contemplation, Zhang Yuan suddenly had a flash of insight and conceived a method capable of countering Yin’s protective grace.