Main array! The black hole, now adorned with a radiant cloak, gradually expands—encompassing all while devouring everything. Once a formidable rival to the mighty Sun, it has now been partially consumed. Half of the Sun lies within the black hole, struggling to resist; the other half fights desperately. The Sun's essence has already been irrevocably absorbed. Zhang Yuanqing currently commands only five Golden Orions—the other four have been swallowed by the black hole and severed from his connection. Fortunately, the Orions remain conscious and instinctively resist the Star Sovereign's assimilation, otherwise they would have been fully absorbed and controlled at the very moment of entry. Yet, despite this perilous situation, Zhang Yuanqing shows no retreat. He charges boldly into the black hole, wielding the combined power of his five Golden Orions to scorch and burn it. At this moment, signs of collapse are emerging within the main array—the three most potent fundamental forces of the spiritual realm are colliding, an intensity that no other array can withstand. Zhang Yuanqing could now sever his own arm, abandon the four Golden Phoenixes, and break through the副本 space to escape. However, such a course of action would be merely drinking poison to quench thirst—useless and futile. A resounding voice from the black hole belonged to the Lord of the Stars: "You are willing to suffer mutual destruction, to expend your essence, and to relentlessly burn me—aren't you waiting for Ling Tu's countermove?" Zhang Yuanqing paid no heed. The Lord of the Stars continued: "By denying me the chance to recover, by cutting off my deep integration with the Taiyin, you're aiming to suppress my condition to its lowest, relying on external aid. Hmph—Ling Tu's countermove is nothing more than the seed left behind by her mother, Ling Yao. 'Once that seed fails to inflict a fatal wound upon me, what difference does your current strategy make compared to a death sentence?' He had long anticipated the reason behind Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's strategy of mutual destruction—his sole hope lay in that seed, in Ling Tu's preparations, in the external force that would strike him hard, enabling him to launch a counteroffensive. Finally, a light, gentle laugh from Yuan Shi Tian Zun echoes from the heart of the Sun's origin: "Among the various professions in the Spirit Realm, Fu Qingxuan stands out for her sharpness and power in attack. As she inherits the legacy of the veteran marshal, she is capable of severing the twisted boundaries and the Great Treasury Tree—both of which are rule-based artifacts. 'You are the most outstanding strategist in the world, yet the veteran marshal himself was also a master of troop deployment. I do not believe he left nothing behind. My hunch is that the techniques he passed on are encoded within the seeds of your mother, Ling Jun's mother. 'Since these are the marshal's own methods, we can certainly look forward to them.' After openly sharing his long-standing tensions and rivalries with the veteran marshal, Zhang Yuanqing now clearly understands that the seed entrusted to Zhao Elder is not intended to reveal the Star Sovereign as a 'fallen one.' On one hand, it's unnecessary; on the other, the Star Sovereign is fundamentally a 'banana person'—not a fallen one at all. Then, what exactly is so significant about Ling Jun's mother's decision to solemnly hand over this seed to Zhao Elder? Given Ling Tu's question—“Father, do you truly feel you've won?”—it was likely a powerful, decisive move. What kind of move could challenge the Lord of the Stars? The answer was clear. It was the reserve strategy prepared by the old Marshal. As for why Ling Jun's mother entrusted the seed to Zhao Elder rather than returning it to the old Marshal, it was simple: it required the protection of the Yin Deity. “You overlooked the nature of the Sun’s power!” the Lord of the Stars spoke with majestic yet calm authority: “Sunlight spreads universally—everything becomes nothing, including the Marshal’s sword.” As soon as the words fell, the sky of the realm ruptured, and a luminous arc pierced through the realm’s defenses, racing toward the black hole that occupied two-thirds of the sky. This was a sword forged through the fusion of the old Marshal’s consciousness—its sword essence powerful enough to cleave heaven and earth. He had concealed the sword’s aura and intent within the seed via the method of “rebirth,” and now, today, it blossomed, bringing decisive judgment to the mortal realm! Yet, under the unyielding radiance of the Sun’s essence, its sword aura had not Zhang Yuanqing immediately withdrew his sun, yet he could no longer resist the black hole and was firmly drawn in, his spiritual energy rapidly dissipating, and another golden phoenix was effortlessly claimed by the black hole. The swordlight arriving from beyond the heavens surged instantly, filling the entire instance with an overwhelming aura of sword energy. It swept past the sun’s sovereign, leaving countless glistening wounds of blood across his body as it surged forward with unstoppable force, colliding directly with the black hole. The sovereign of the stars did not choose to evade but instead intensified the suction, firmly anchoring Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun in place. He had already merged with the moon’s essence; as long as his spirit did not scatter, any injuries would heal fully afterward. The sovereign of the sun was now at the end of his strength, and even the powerful sword intent left by the veteran general could not kill him now. To him, the only way to victory was to strike decisively and consume the sovereign of the sun in one go. The very next moment, a long, ribbon-like surge of sword energy plunged into the black hole and was silently absorbed—seeming even the sharpest sword in the world unable to cleave through this celestial body, But immediately, the black hole surged violently, its stellar and lunar energies erupting like a solar storm, blasting energy particles in all directions. Zhang Yuanqing, deeply ensnared, clearly sensed the celestial sovereign's spirit rapidly descending, suffering an unprecedented blow. If the celestial sovereign had been in this condition just now, Zhang Yuanqing would have incinerated him already. After several seconds, the black hole stabilized, and the celestial sovereign, rooted in the essence of the moon, proved far less easily vanquishable. A resonant, yet slightly weakened voice echoed within the black hole: "I have said before, with my current status, a marshal cannot kill me. 'Master Yuan, it's regrettable that you did not submit earlier and surrender your solar essence. I would have allowed you to leave Earth and settle on another planet. But now, with our battle reaching this point, I will not spare your life." Zhang Yuanqing smiled: "I agree! 'Stellar sovereign, I still have one more move." At this moment, golden ripples spread across the sky of the realm, followed by a beam of golden light piercing through the realm's restrictions. A small, yet intensely scorching single-legged golden phoenix descended—its entire body blazing with golden flame. It plunged downward, colliding directly with Zhang Yuanqing's brow. Zhang Yuanqing's duplicate, which had been consumed into ash upon entering the spiritual realm, no longer mattered; the innate fusion instinct between phoenixes remained unimpeded. Upon witnessing this, the Star Sovereign's tone shifted dramatically: "How is this possible?" The black hole immediately began to collapse inward, generating a powerful suction force aiming to seize the phoenix. Yet, at present, he no longer stood at his peak. The interwoven forces of the Star and the Moon, though capable of attracting the phoenix, failed to establish overwhelming dominance. The phoenix still entered Zhang Yuanqing's brow. Ten phoenixes gathered! Instantly, though now reduced by half, Zhang Yuanqing completed his own stature, becoming the true Sovereign of the Sun. Within the black hole, delicate, miniature golden orioles emerge, reestablishing their connection with the Sun's sovereign—struggling yet eager, yearning to break free from their constraints and return to their origins. The black hole once again exerts a powerful suction, countering this gathering, as if desperate individuals are unleashing their latent strength. Zhang Yuanqing's brow glows with the mark of the Sun, and golden threads of solar divine power extend from within the black hole, gently pulling out the four orioles one by one. "Of course, I know the general's sword cannot kill you," Zhang Yuanqing says slowly, "but it can certainly severely wound you. My relentless burning is not merely a gamble of my reserve strength. In fact, both the general's sword and my actions are precisely aimed at severely wounding you, pushing your condition into the depths of decline." "My true reserve strength," he continues, "is this golden oriole that has vanished into the long river of time." Even if Zhang Yuanqing had become a complete sovereign of the Sun before the arrival of the sword's intent, he would still have been unable to reclaim the oriole. But now, the Star Sovereign has been scorched by the Sun's essence for a long time, and struck by the sword intent of the veteran Marshal. With Zhang Yuanqing adding the strength of one Golden Phoenix, his position has now reached perfection. In this balance of gains and losses, the Star Sovereign can no longer control him. It's now his turn to speak: "With your wisdom, you should have considered—why would the Demon King so openly publicize the location of his hidden reserves? But you didn't have the time, because as soon as I realized this, I chose to launch the war early, forcing you to focus solely on defending yourself. When you set up the Ziwei Liu Sha Array, drawing me into the realm and completely isolating us from reality—right at that moment, our fates were already sealed. Even if you react to this within the array later, you won't be able to change it. I will find the final Golden Phoenix to complete my own strength—once that happens, you are defeated. Otherwise, you win. Throughout this process, you still have one opportunity to kill me, and one chance to fight to the very end." "That was when you struck me down at the height of the Ziwéi Liù Shà Array, but you chose to be cautious, delaying and sapping my strength, which caused two of the auxiliary arrays to collapse and lost your absolute dominance over me. "Had it not been for the Commander's sword intent, it would have been a life-or-death struggle between us right now, and your chances would have been greater. But now, given your current condition..." As he spoke, the four golden orioles broke free from the entanglement of the black hole, flapped their wings, and in sequence entered the center of Zhang Yuanqing's forehead. He paused, then said firmly: "Starlight, have you ever seen a true sun?" A magnificent golden sun rose slowly. Since the emergence of the Spiritual Realm, a true sovereign of the sun had finally appeared. At this moment, the entire realm was ignited—golden flames burned in the sky, on the ground, and in the air. For the first time, a golden sun rose simultaneously in both the spiritual realm realm and the real world, turning night into day. At this moment, countless beings—regardless of their intelligence—from both the spiritual realm and the real world awaken from sleep, gazing upward at the golden sun in the sky or at the window, filled with deep reverence, yearning, dependence, and fear. All chaos comes to a halt; all attacks cease; all impurities vanish. The black hole located within the same realm is ignited by the blazing sun, its brilliant starlight continuously emerging in an effort to counteract the flames, while deep black radiance surges forth, striving to extinguish them. Yet, all efforts fail! As if recognizing that death is now inevitable, the black hole's resistance gradually weakens, allowing the flames to burn fiercely. The voice of the Star Sovereign returns once more—this time, for the final time: "Master Yuan-Shi, when you unify the Three Primordial Sources, becoming the symbol of the universe and the sovereign of the spiritual realm, will you choose, like me, to uphold order…" The voice fades slowly, until it is entirely gone. ... The Yang-Holder Array! Fu Qingyang, looking weary, lifted his head and watched as the celestial bodies in the sky began to disintegrate, seeing the golden Li Yang suspended in the heavens, radiating endless pressure and brilliance. He had not perished—at the very moment of his life's end, the doll bestowed upon him by Yuan Shi Tian Zun had absorbed the fate of death. Yet the Two Heavenly Kings, Mo Yan and Ku Fei, had truly vanished into nothingness. Yuan Shi had successfully restored himself and had now become the true sovereign of the Sun... He silently exhaled, finally feeling a deep sense of relief. At that moment, a voice from the spiritual realm resonated in his ears: 【Ping! Congratulations! You have successfully completed the multi-player spiritual realm mission—"Taiji Zuiwei Li Sha Array – Qing Yang Star Array," Mission ID 0-4, difficulty level unknown. Rewards are now being processed...】 【Rewards being processed... Items/props obtained: none】 【Experience points awarded: none】 【Main storyline mission successfully concluded!】 【All rewards processed. Exiting the spiritual realm immediately...】 ... "Victory! Victory!" Xiaohou Aotian lifted his head and gazed up at the sky, cheering and exulting. Though he had no knowledge of the status of the main array, the rising golden sun seemed to whisper a divine revelation to him—revealing that Yuanshishen had completed the sun’s original essence and had thus become the true sovereign of the sun. The majestic dignity, the resolute and commanding presence, filled him with an inner conviction that this was indeed the true sun. Jiang Yu E凝望着天空中的太阳，嘴角浮起微笑，泪水却夺眶而出. After enduring the struggles of the Magistrate's era and racing against death throughout the period of Yuan Shi Tian Zun, he had finally, finally... become the sovereign of the sun, standing at the pinnacle of the Lingjing world. A mixture of joy and sorrow overwhelmed him. [Chime! Congratulations on completing the multi-player Lingjing mission—"Taiji Zuiwei Liu Sha Array – Di Kong Star Array," Mission No. 0-6, difficulty level unknown, rewards being settled...] Xia Hou Ao Tian listened to the Lingjing prompt sound in his ears, his joyful expression suddenly freezing. "Zero rewards? Why zero rewards? I've fought and sacrificed for the throne of the sun, yet I haven't even received a single bowl of plain porridge!" Jiang Yu E smiled gently, "The very fact that Yuan Shi has become the true sovereign of the sun is the greatest reward." Xiaohou Aotian thought for a moment and found himself convinced, murmuring, "Once I return to reality, I intend to establish my base at the headquarters of the Wu Xing Alliance, becoming one of the Ten Elders. I also plan to have my uncle step down and hand over the position of Grand Master to me..." As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward the knight's sword left behind by Zhai Cai, standing not far away. Xiaohou Aotian's expression gradually grew still. The great sun recedes, and Zhang Yuanqing stands proudly in the air. Now, a solar disc hovers behind his head, his body bare, each muscle firm and well-defined, every contour of his form flawless. His eyes shine with golden light, his hair woven with golden particles, resembling the majestic and valiant solar deity from myth. As a divine being, Zhang Yuanqing gazes solemnly toward the heavens. His gaze pierces through the realm, bringing into view the six array formations—Di Jie, Qing Yang, Ying Hu, Tu Luo, Di Jie, and Ling Xing. He sees the half-gods who have ceased their combat and now raise their heads toward the sky. With his right hand, Zhang Yuanqing channels the power of the sun god, forming a bow of subtle, contained strength. He draws the bow, and three golden sun birds emerge from his forehead, transforming into arrows. He aims precisely at the "Di Jie Array" and launches the arrows. The golden light rushes forth, arriving at the Di Jie Array in an instant, and in a single stroke, it shatters the entire realm—evaporating all spiritual energies within the realm. Trapped within the northern sect's phantom array, the northern phantom could do nothing but be pierced by golden light passing through his chest. A roaring wave of golden flame erupted, and the northern phantom screamed with agonizing pain—yet soon, all emotion faded, leaving him calmly standing in the air, accepting his fate. Bit by bit, he was consumed and turned to ash within the golden flames. Zhang Yuanqing immediately drew back his second bow, seven golden suns emerging from his brow. He fused three of the suns into arrows aimed at the Tuo Luo array, and four into those aimed at the Lingxing array. The bow was drawn to a full moon. The two arrows sliced through the sky, breaking through the副本's restrictions and vanishing. At that moment, the gusling dragon engaged in fierce combat with the Xie family elder within the Tuo Luo array suddenly raised his head, sensing the golden light rushing in from the heavens. Instantly, the temperature in the realm surged dramatically, waves of heat pressing down upon all. Most alarming of all, as the golden light descended, the previously chaotic flow of spiritual energy was completely cleared away. The Kunglong’s sense of crisis surged. With his vertical eyes, he shot out impure, corrupting beams of black light—light that could cause all things to decay and fall. From his mouth, he unleashed a terrifying, world-consuming fire. At the same time, he cast a blessing upon himself, enhancing his abilities. Yet, as these powers were just taking shape, they vanished entirely—his golden arrows struck true, piercing through his head. The Kunglong’s massive body stiffened. As the flames roared to life, he writhed violently, howling in anguish: “A failure! A failure! The Star Sovereign has wronged me…” In the midst of his furious curses, he turned to ash within the flames. "McLaren looked furious, yet his eyes were filled with helplessness and despair, 'I simply cannot understand...' — I cannot comprehend why the Lord of the Stars has lost. His uncle shrugged, 'I can't either. In fact, I've already made preparations to return to the Spiritual Realm. But now, all I can think about is having everyone around the world raise a glass of champagne.' A bright, resolute golden light, like a falling star, pierced the sky. Holding the wine god's staff, McLaren sighed, and with no resistance—since every effort to resist was in vain—was instantly transmuted into ash by the golden light. When the Golden Sun returned, Zhang Yuanqing turned his gaze toward the Flare Array. The battle between the Wind and Thunder deities and the War God had ceased; the two beings of comparable status had yet to determine a clear victor. However, bolstered by the array's enhancement, the War God's presence was stronger than that of the Wind and Thunder deities. With a little more time, he would surely be able to defeat them." Zhang Yuanqing slowly drew back the bowstring, and one after another, the golden orioles surged forth from his brow. The first oriole transformed into an arrow, while the subsequent nine empowered it. Ten sun orioles emerge! Even before the arrow was launched, its aura had grown so potent it was terrifying. Zhang Yuanqing was essentially hurling the very essence of the sun itself at his opponent, knowing that the nine orioles could only severely wound the Asura, not kill him. "Whoosh!" The arrow shot upward like a surge against the sky, trailing a golden wake, and vanished into the realm. In an instant, it struck the Ying Huo—the crimson star in the sky—which instantly dissolved. The Asura, his expression grave, fixed his gaze on the arrow and raised his bronze curved sword. Just as he prepared to strike at the arrow, the golden light suddenly dispersed, revealing ten solitary, flame-lit orioles. The ten orioles swept past the Asura, their waves of golden flame engulfing him like a tidal surge. "Huff, huff…" With a steady rhythm of flapping wings, the orioles took flight. The Wind and Thunder Deities immediately turned their gaze to Robo, once the foremost champion of the Spiritual Realm, now transformed into a pale statue. Who could have imagined that the sovereign of stars who commanded the orderly forces, the master who perceived the celestial patterns, and the many half-gods who had once ruled the world's stage—would all be relegated to obscurity, their grandeur shattered by a young upstart, barely five years into his journey of cultivation? At that very instant, the entire spiritual realm trembled, countless beings prostrating themselves upon the ground. Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness expanded outward in every direction, spreading across the spiritual realm, penetrating it, encompassing the entire Earth, and then the entire solar system. He felt himself ascending once more, the planets now becoming mere toys floating before him. From the microscopic to the macroscopic, the universe unfolded gradually in his mind, its matter, energy, and operating principles transforming into accessible knowledge. Though he had only initially mastered the influence of the Moon and the stars, not yet fully integrated them, he already sensed himself as the sovereign of the cosmos, capable of annihilating entire galaxies with a single thought. He vanished from his replica world and appeared within the vast, boundless spiritual realm. Rising to his feet, Zhang Yuanqing looked upward toward the infinite heights, his gaze piercing through endless distances, and saw the malevolent deity coiled beyond the realm, wrapped in a layer of temporal laws, with the Emperor of Heaven suspended in the void, desperately maintaining the immense array. Both parties turned to meet the gaze of the Sovereign of the Sun. Zhang Yuanqing, with a challenge, drew his bow and aimed a full shot toward the demonic deities beyond the spiritual realm. This in turn provoked even more vigorous assaults from the demons. The very next moment, Zhang Yuanqing approached the Emperor of the Heavenly Realm and settled into a meditative posture. Though he still could not discern the Emperor's facial features, he now clearly perceived his essence—his human form was merely a manifestation of a deity, inherently lacking a distinct face. The Emperor's true nature was living, dynamic rules, a symbol of time. "Congratulations," the Emperor of the Heavenly Realm smiled, "on becoming the Sovereign of the Spiritual Realm." "I have yet to fully embrace the stars and the Moon of the Yin," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "My instinct tells me this is an adventure." Upon becoming living rules and embodying the essence of the Sun, his character had transformed significantly. Though his consciousness remained that of the Primordial Sovereign, his temperament had been fully assimilated by the essence of the Sun. If he were to embrace the stars and the lunar essence, he might lose himself—just as in immortal fantasy novels, when the harmony between heaven and humanity is achieved, one becomes a lifeless embodiment of cosmic rules. Hòu Tiān Shàng Dì spoke solemnly: "You may first embrace the stars, adapt to their power, stabilize your consciousness, and then gradually assimilate the lunar essence. This is a journey of cultivation—slow and steady, not to be rushed. To become an incarnation of the universe’s very essence, one must accept its vastness and magnitude." "How long will this take?" Zhang Yuancheng asked thoughtfully. Hòu Tiān Shàng Dì shook his head, smiling: "I do not know. Before you, no living being had ever mastered the essence of the universe." Zhang Yuancheng nodded, lifting his gaze: "As for these demonic deities, do I need to assist you in eliminating them?" Hòu Tiān Shàng Dì sighed: "The sleeves—more powerful than you imagine. From afar, within the spiritual realm, you cannot truly perceive their strength. To extinguish them, you will need to embrace the essence of the stars "Zhang Yuanqing reminded, "Since I have absorbed the essence of the stars, I may not be willing to follow the path you have arranged. I do not allow the Lord of the Stars and the feminine deities to destroy Earth—this does not mean that, after absorbing the star essence, I will still support your ideals." He will naturally be influenced by the Sun's essence, and likewise by that of the stars. "You are different from the Lord of the Stars. You have already absorbed the Sun earlier. The Sun favors balance and resists destruction—it will serve as your keystone." The Emperor of Heaven spoke calmly, "Of course. If you truly choose to uphold 'order' like the Lord of the Stars, I will lead the orderly deities who share our vision to continue the struggle." Xiu's demeanor remained consistently composed throughout, as if possessing advanced intelligence. Zhang Yuanqing did not pursue this matter further, saying, "I will activate the third region, grant administrative privileges, and ease your burden." "Excellent!" This was precisely what the Emperor of Heaven needed. Zhang Yuanqing emitted two beams of golden light, gazing toward the Third District. As his gaze penetrated the sacred realm, his true form materialized right there. Enveloped by boundless chaos, the stars representing the realm dimmed, and the colossal tree growing within the "Stellar River" flowed with impure, turbid sap, burning with flames of destruction. Various rules of annihilation seeped into and eroded its wounded body. "Time to purge the corruption!" The black moon and star-draped robe behind his back retracted into his form, and he transformed into a vast stellar body, suspended within the "Stellar River" of the Third District, radiating light and heat. Golden flames ignited the entire Third District, first evaporating the boundless chaos, leaving the Stellar River clear and pristine. The flames reached the towering divine tree, dissolving its impure sap and driving away the black flames of destruction with the power of the Sun God. The rules that had wrapped around his sleeves and enveloped them were completely extinguished. When the third region became clear and the chaotic rules and forces evaporated, the great sun contracted, returning to Zhang Yuanqing's form. Then, he drew back the sun's essence into his body, summoned his robe of starlight, raised his hand, and with a crisp snap of his fingers, lit one after another star. Instantly, the third region transformed into a brilliant river of stars. The colossal divine tree growing within the starry river began to sprout new buds, regaining its vibrant vitality. The Third Region is now activated! At this moment, all the orderly half-divine beings currently alive began to sense the spiritual realm, establishing connections with this cosmic artifact organized around planets. One by one, the permissions of the spiritual realm were gradually unlocked. (The End) Afterword (I) After the activation of the Third Region, Zhang Yuanqing felt the "Spiritual Realm" artifact even more distinctly—composed of numerous rules, much like a tool with dozens or hundreds of functions. He is one of the owners of the法宝, wielding the power of morality and possessing the authority to discipline those who fall short in virtue; his gaze can penetrate every obstacle, observing the status of each realm in real time; he is the only administrator capable of formatting (erasing) a specific realm. Most importantly, he can cancel or suppress the authority of other administrators. Once he fuses the Yin and the Stars, he will gain computational capabilities, overseeing the creation of realms and managing the database that records all data of the spiritual travelers. He will command the Yin forces of the spiritual realm, becoming the sovereign of Yin deities and overseeing hidden missions. Zhang Yuanqing examined the third major region's "realms"—this vast world, just beginning to revive, is currently lifeless, devoid of artifacts, with only gradually awakening spiritual energies. It embodies both order and chaos. His eyes turned toward the World Tree, whose unclaimed divine essence is now reviving, radiating a terrifying magical power—a strength surpassing that of ordinary deities. This force has merged into the Spiritual Realm and cannot be forcibly seized; the only way to obtain it is by adhering to the Realm's rules, earning character cards, and gradually advancing—just as he has done, ultimately becoming the Sovereign of the Sun. Similarly, the demonic deities' divine essences that have already integrated into the Spiritual Realm must also be gradually acquired through the step-by-step progression of the Realm's travelers. "That's why the Supreme Emperor of the Heavens said the Third Region is the most severely polluted—the demonic divine essences have fully merged into the Realm and now serve as one of this artifact's core functions, possessing the qualifications of an administrator. Had not all the original demons perished during the Twilight of the Gods, the Realm would likely have fallen under demonic control." Now, Zhang Yuanqing can instantly grasp the full situation of the Third Region with a single glance. The First and Second Regions suffer only mild pollution. Since the ancient times when Zhanxu severed the connection between heaven and earth, the demons were effectively "expelled" and now rely on a single administrator—the Supreme Emperor of the Heavens—to keep them at bay. Though it is quite taxing. Yet the Third Region was entirely different—the divine beings there held the status of administrative managers. "The situation back then was far more perilous than I had imagined," Zhang Yuanqing murmured. From the Heavenly Emperor, he learned that among the lawful divine beings of the Third Region, one traitor had emerged, drawing in the chaotic deities and triggering a second war between the divine orders. In that battle, the Third Region collapsed entirely, its divine beings extinguished. That must have been an exceptionally fierce defense struggle—the chaotic deities had successfully infiltrated and assumed the role of administrators, forcing the lawful divine beings to ultimately join them in mutual annihilation. "The Third Region is a serious隐患," Zhang Yuanqing reflected, standing amidst the celestial river, pondering for a long time. Then, he turned his gaze, his eyes blazing with golden beams, scanning the realm repeatedly. Through successive searches, he finally located the Mother Goddess's Sanctum within a high-tier temple dedicated to a musician class. This artifact had been reclaimed by the realm following the fall of the Celestial Sovereign. If the uncle is searching, it will take some time, but as someone with authority over the Solar Domain, he merely needs to glance to locate people or things. Within the instance, the lawful half-gods close their eyes and, through the connections of their own powers, sense the presence of the spiritual realm. Corresponding functions are then activated, and only then do they truly feel like "I am the sovereign of the spiritual realm." Though their status remains unchanged, their capabilities grow several-fold. Master Jiang's flame can burn anywhere within any instance, and his power can be released through any profession-specific item within the instance. He has thus become the symbol of the flame element throughout the spiritual realm and one of the foundational pillars ensuring the stability of instances and star systems. Of course, this enhancement is limited to the spiritual realm—once outside the solar system, the enhancement vanishes. The same applies to the other four allies. The half-gods of the musician profession now possess the authority to create life within the spiritual realm, enabling them to add NPCs according to their own will. However, this must be within reasonable bounds. Whether a copy is balanced needs to be determined through the celestial power's calculations—randomly adding NPCs will be detected and forcibly erased by the "central processor." As they were contemplating their respective privileges, the Void Grand Master, clad in armor, arrived at this location. This time, he removed his silver mask and revealed his true face. "Everyone, how does it feel to be an administrator? Though we may not yet be fully equipped administrators, and often have to share our privileges with others, it's still something worthy of celebration with champagne," the Void Grand Master said, spreading his arms with a warm smile. Fu Qingxuan broke free from her pleasant experience, furrowing her brow. "With privileges now open, does that mean the sun, moon, and stars have aligned? Then, who exactly is the Master of the Celestial Realm—the one who has acquired the three fundamental powers? And why has he allied himself with the Night Emperor?" She observed that the Void Grand Master's half-divine state was both relaxed and radiant with joy. Elaborating on the unfolding situation, aligning with the interests of the lawful, everyone need not face the worst possible outcome. A number of lawful half-gods cast questioning, curious glances toward the High Lord of the Void. "While you were asleep, the battle between law and chaos had already concluded," said the Void half-god, smiling gently. "How does it feel to simply win by staying put?" Liu's ancestral elder drew out a turtle shell oracle, studied the image for a few seconds, then gasped in awe: "Indeed, an outstandingly auspicious sign!" Jiang's master grew increasingly urgent, urging: "Void, don't hold back!" Had the Lord of the Stars and the Night Emperor reached some kind of agreement? Had he not betrayed the lawful order? This thought flashed through the minds of the other half-gods, only to be swiftly dispelled as the Void half-god chuckled: "The Lord of the Sun is no mere second-rate ally of the Lord of the Stars—he is my direct successor, the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign!" Primordial Heavenly Sovereign? Even among half-gods who had ruled with distinction for half a century, with rich experience, the words still rang Fu Qingxuan was delighted, yet couldn't help asking with a touch of curiosity, "How did he manage that?" This was also the question of the other half-gods. To vie for the title of Sun Sovereign, at least a ninth-level status was required—no matter how fast the Yuanshiben traveled, he shouldn't have reached such a milestone so quickly. Moreover, he had to contend with the seasoned and astute Celestial Sovereign of the Stars. "The half-deities of the evil faction have all been eliminated by the Sovereign of the Sun." His description was straightforward, yet when the half-deities viewed it from the perspective of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, they found themselves overwhelmed—not just with despair, but with it. They could hardly imagine how the Primordial Sovereign had managed to reverse the tide and turn the desperate situation around, knowing that such a feat must have involved a series of dramatic developments and perilous challenges. Jiang, the Master of the Jiang Clan, didn't dwell on these intricacies. After simply remarking, "This young man is truly incredible," he shifted his focus to the Night Sovereign. "Eliminate him!" he proposed. A clean, decisive solution. However, the Chairman of the Heavenly Judgment held a different view: "Among the evil faction, the Night Sovereign is the most harmless—and also the most intractable. As long as he is kept in a region beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, he poses no threat. The realm of slumber is the strongest form of containment, and at critical moments, it can be effectively utilized." In his eyes, if properly leveraged, the Night Sovereign functions as an indestructible, rule-based artifact. Many of the half-gods recalled the Wind and Thunder deities' incident, nodding silently. "There's some merit to that," said the Void half-god, stroking his chin, then clapping his hands. "Then it's settled. I'll first escort you all out, then seal this realm." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. "Exile!" Instantly, the half-gods were transported out of the realm. He immediately arrived within the "Stellar River," gazing at the star-like instances. With both hands clasped together, he gently enclosed one of the star-like instances within them. Instantly, the surrounding space began to reinforce layer by layer, rippling with concentric folds of spatial distortion. The space here was sealed—his administrative authority locked in place, sealing the Five Elements Secret Instance. But he did not awaken, had no heartbeat—his body and spirit were both in a state of stillness. Zhang Yuanqing opened his inventory, retrieved a vial of life essence, and injected it into the vein at the neck of Lei Yibing. "Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump…" The heartbeat grew stronger, from faint to robust; the frozen blood began to flow, cascading through the vessels, bringing warmth with each pulse. Lei Yibing’s spirit slowly revived. Zhang Yuanqing waited silently, and after a long while, he saw his childhood friend’s eyelashes tremble, and his eyelids slowly part. Their eyes met, locking onto one another. Though they had only been apart for a year, they felt as though they had known each other for half a lifetime. Zhang Yuanqing’s usually stern face softened, and he murmured, "Brother Lei, I’ve come to bring you home." Lei Yibing gazed at the sun disc behind Zhang Yuanqing’s head, and understood everything. His eyes glistened with emotion: "Master Yuan, you are free now. We are all free now…" Two brothers, Epilogue (II) After helping the young soldier purify the contamination of the Fallen Holy Grail, the two brothers sat in the ice cavern, Zhang Yuanqing recounting his experiences since resurrection—beginning from the Shē Ling tunnel at the San Dao Mountain temple, all the way through to defeating the Lord of the Stars and opening the Third Region. If Zhang Yuanqing had been himself in the past, he would surely have embellished his tale with a touch of fantasy—such as the Three Dao Mountain Goddess awakening in his coffin, captivated by his charm, willingly becoming a guardian solely to gain favor from the Lord of the Sun. Or the renowned Qian公子, who immediately recognized him as a true gem upon first meeting, proposing a sworn brotherhood and even offering him angel-investor status. Or the celebrated Hua公子, who, upon seeing him, wept and knelt, declaring, "Today I finally understand what it means to be a master of courtly charm. I've been truly enlightened, truly enlightened. If you don't mind, I would be honored to make you my adoptive father." Huang公子 interjected, "Get lost—he's my adoptive father!" And so on. Yet the Sun Sovereign, just and dignified, speaks plainly, without embellishment or exaggeration. Even so, Lei Yibing was deeply moved and remarked, "Your journey now is far more splendid than during the time of the Mage King. Indeed, you've made many new friends. Still, though..." He furrowed his brows and said, "What about those romantic debts of yours?" The Sun Sovereign replied succinctly, "They'll be absorbed into the Inner Court." "Hmph, that's quite admirable. By the way, how is my mother these days?" Lei Yibing asked. Though he knew Yuanzi would certainly take good care of his parents, he wanted to know. "Aunt Zhou and Uncle are missing you dearly. I've arranged for my younger sister to visit them regularly, and now they're able to live normally, having emerged from their current difficulties," said Zhang Yuanqing. Lei Yibing sighed with relief, then opened his inventory and withdrew a jade token for transmission. "You go on with your affairs—I'll return to the real world first." Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly. Lei Yibing snapped the jade token in half and vanished into the ice cavern. Zhang Yuanqing turned to the black stone sarcophagus beside him and said, "Admiral, what is your choice? Shall we continue to remain here, or shall you leave the spiritual realm and see the world two thousand years from now?" The Admiral had awakened long before, during the time Zhang used the Sun-Rising Technique to thaw out the soldiers. A vibrant spiritual surge emanated from within the black stone sarcophagus: "Of course, I'm leaving this place—I've been asleep for two thousand years and have even developed bedsores!" Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly and said, "Then we shall make three agreements!" "Speak!" the Admiral replied lazily. "First, you must not conflict with the five alliance marshals in the present world. Second, you must abide by the laws of the current world. Third, in the future, you may be called upon to assist in defending against the邪 gods' invasions—you must not refuse." Zhang Yuanqing presented his demands. The Admiral smiled: "The first and third points are fine. As for the second, it depends on my mood." "I understand your concern—that I might become an unstable factor, causing disruption to the real world. But you must know, mortal laws cannot constrain a half-god. Of course, I'm not a model official—I've held office for two thousand years, and I know better than anyone the value of order." Zhang Yuanqing raised the sun disc behind his head and pressed his hand against the coffin. A sudden surge of golden light erupted, melting the ice shell. He withdrew his hand and dissolved into starlight, vanishing. A few minutes later, a hand pushed open the coffin lid, and a handsome young man in a Tang-style robe stepped out. The dignified Sun Sovereign nearly lost his composure, thinking to himself, Uncle, you've disgraced the entire Sun Sovereign family—can't we just cut this ceremonial stuff? He turned to his uncle, giving him a flat, unimpressed look. The Void Half-Deity straightened his suit and sat down in the first high-backed chair on the left. Among these Half-Deities were the Sea Emperor, the Beauty Goddess, the Sky Judgment Chairman, the Wind and Thunder Deities from the First Region, and five Regional Champions from the Second Region, along with the ancient patriarchs of the Spiritual Realm clans. They had already learned from the Void Half-Deity about the events unfolding in the sleeping realm—the astonishing, earth-shaking battle—and had to admit: the rising generation is truly impressive. They simply couldn't compete in such high-stakes encounters! Fuyue Qingxuan's gaze was the most complex. She had a longstanding rivalry with the Demon Sovereign, who once mocked her with crude remarks. She hadn't expected that the very one she had once resented and despised would become her cousin, take her sister as his consort, and even grow close with her brother. It was utterly absurd. As for the ancient ancestors who were slept upon or slain by the Mage King, they are treated with coldness and show no concern at all. Even the ancestral line of the Zhu family has planned to send Zhu Rong once again to the bed of the Sun Sovereign, ideally to bear offspring. The Sun Sovereign surveyed the gathering and spoke softly, "I shall reveal to you the ultimate secret of the Spiritual Realm. The Spiritual Realm arose from the conflict between the ideals of the Orderly and the Evil Deities—these beings are the living embodiment of the cosmic laws. All things in the world possess dual natures—yin and yang—and so does the cosmos itself. The Evil Deities embody the yin principles, while the Orderly Deities represent the yang..." He then detailed the specifics of this ideological struggle, the "prestige" of the Three Fundamental Sources—Sun, Moon, and Stars—within the realm's history, the ancient lineage of cultivators, the evolution of the Spiritual Realm over millennia, and the current issues in the Third Region, sharing all this with the half-gods. These revelations sparked a powerful mental surge within the half-gods—an impact so profound it felt like a heavy blow to the mind, a sudden enlightenment, Their personhood already possesses deep insights—aware of the presence of deities, aware that the invaders are the malevolent gods, and even aware that the fallen ones constantly proclaim: "Only destruction brings order!" Unexpectedly, the forces of evil are truly preserving order. On a cosmic scale, stretching across the evolution and development of the universe, the malevolent gods are indeed upholding order; yet, from their current standpoint, they remain fundamentally evil and chaotic, relentlessly slaying beings and dismantling established order. "The Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—must work together to stabilize the material realm and enrich the terrain. Each of you should fulfill your respective duties and, as swiftly as possible, establish a well-structured spiritual realm replica. The Master of the Central Courtyard said: 'We should initially focus on the transcendent-stage replicas.' 'Agreed,' the Elder Xiaohou nodded. 'The spiritual realm practitioners in the Third District will need time to mature. For now, we need not consider replicas at the Saint level or above.' Zhang Yuanqing raised his hand. 'These matters, you may discuss further in your own meeting.' Once the half-gods had settled into quiet, Zhang Yuanqing continued: 'The Third District has been most severely contaminated by the demonic deities. Their divine essences have now fully integrated into the spiritual realm, becoming administrators. Your immediate task is to establish the official organizational structure for the Third District, vigorously identify and eliminate outstanding talents from the evil professions, and prevent any such talents from reaching the rank of half-god or deity.' The half-gods nodded seriously. "The third matter," Zhang Yuanqing continued, "the fall of the Third Region was primarily due to traitors among the lawful divine beings. This crisis, too, stems from the defection of the Celestial Sovereign. Such developments must be vigilantly prevented. Therefore, after my retreat into meditation, no semi-divine beings of the same profession shall harm one another, nor shall their divine essences be fully restored—each of you shall monitor one another. With the authority of a single profession diffused, there are clear advantages. Should one semi-divine be influenced and fall, the corresponding profession will not suffer major disruption. Understood!" The gods nodded in agreement. Zhang Yuanqing then turned to the Wind and Thunder deities, "I will make time to visit you and assist you in fusing your prime essences." He had previously pledged to the Wind and Thunder deities that upon defeating the Celestial Sovereign and mastering the Yin Domain, he would help unite their two chief essences, alleviating their sense of fragmentation. The transformation of souls is a power inherent to the Yin Domain. Seeing that he still remembered his promise, the Wind and Thunder deities relaxed visibly. Zhang Yuanqing stood like a king seated on a throne, calmly saying, "The meeting is over. You may now retire." The half-gods gradually departed. Turning to his uncle, Zhang Yuanqing said, "I have located the Mother Goddess's sacred womb. It is now time to revive Master Wuhen, Zhang Zizhen, and Chu Shang. Do you know where Chu Shang's duplicate body is hidden?" Uncle gave another hearty chuckle: "If this were Zhang Zizhen's original plan, of course Ling Tu would have noticed. But at Zhang Zizhen's final moments, he entrusted his duplicate to Chen Shu. It wasn't until more than ten years later that I hid his duplicate deep within the Weak Water Lake. As you know, with this intermediate step, we can clear the causal chain and effectively evade prediction. In short, Zhang Zizhen's intentions would inevitably reach Ling Tu, but Ling Tu cannot directly perceive the behind-the-scenes maneuvers of the Void Half-Deity. With the protection of Tai Yin, it would be even more secure. After all, Ling Tu isn't the Lord of the Stars. Whether or not the Lord of the Stars is aware of this doesn't matter—indeed, in the Lord of the Stars' eyes, besides Ling Tu, the Three Heroes of Xiao Yao are merely minor figures. Once used, they can be discarded at will, posing no real threat, and never even considered for further action—this is exactly what has happened. Uncle continued: 'As for the duplicate that leaves no trace of the past, it's also hidden within the Weak Water Lake!' Zhang Yuanqing responded with a long, At first, my uncle had been sighing and lamenting, unsure where the Dharma Master’s duplicate was hidden. "The Dharma Master has sealed himself within a realm for several decades, so his duplicate must have been carried with him at all times—more secure than if it were hidden anywhere else," my uncle said. "When he became a Phantom God, I had the chance to meet him personally. At that time, I entrusted the duplicate to myself. As for why I didn’t tell you—it’s simply because you’re still not up to par. Once you know, it means the Ling Tu will know too. With Ling Tu’s deep resentment toward the Three Heroes of Xiao Yao, he’ll surely do everything in his power to destroy the duplicate." After Chu Shang's passing, his avatar could only exist in two scenarios: first, it would be stored within the inventory, where upon his death, all items in the inventory would be reclaimed by the spiritual realm. Second, it would be preserved within the already-conquered guild dungeons—since Chu Shang was both the head of the Chu family and the guild master, these dungeons were to him as his own backyard. Just like the Mechanized City of Mo Sect! Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly. "So, Chu Shang's avatar is preserved within the guild dungeons?" The Mechanized City of Mo Sect had already become their secret meeting ground. "Of course!" His uncle smiled. "In fact, the guild dungeons are safer than the inventory. Once a guild dungeon is generated, it remains closed to members outside the guild. Even when the guild itself dissolves, these dungeons neither vanish nor open up—they become permanent 'waste' assets. These very 'waste' assets are precisely the kind of treasures our void-based professions love to explore. "As for the inventory slot, once Chu Shang has passed away, his duplicates will be treated as high-tier, spiritually rich materials and randomly assigned to musician-themed or multi-player instances. That would be disastrous—spiritually rich materials are not only highly sought after by the spiritual realm travelers, but also actively claimed by NPCs within the instances. Over the years, they've been dismantled and utilized countless times. 'If I were Chu Shang, I'd definitely keep my duplicates within the guild instance,' Zhang Yuanqing sighed slightly. 'So you and Yu'er have actually been gathering duplicates of Zhang Zizhen and Chu Shang all along, patiently waiting in the background, concealing it from me—this makes sense, given that I'm not particularly skilled. But why, when you infiltrated the General of the Army's Temple to revive me, did you not revive Zhang Zizhen and Chu Shang as well?' At that time, both were peak dominators—considerable combat power. Uncle shrugged. 'What good are peak dominators, really?' The nine elders of the headquarters, the pinnacle of the evil faction, were always just background figures—when peace was stable, they didn't need to intervene, and during the grand showdown, their standing simply wasn't sufficient. "Pfft!" Zhang Yuanqing said coldly. "When I was in Xinyue Command, if I had two pinnacle masters by my side, I wouldn't have found myself in a dire situation within a dungeon." After returning to the second-largest region, his battles would become much easier. In fact, he'd even be able to accompany his two fathers on dungeon runs, upgrading faster and more conveniently—no longer having to sink into the dungeons of the Mei Shen Association, getting repeatedly bedded by NPCs, one after another. After finishing this dungeon, he could simply move on to the next one, continuing to be bedded. "Mainly, you think that reviving Zhang Zizhen at that time would only invite Lingtuo's retaliation; if he were killed again, there'd be no hope of revival at all. Yu'er agrees!" The uncle delivered the betrayal of his two sisters without hesitation. ... Zhang Yuanqing remained silent for several seconds, then said calmly and with a composed demeanor, "I am indeed an orphan "Actually, no need to deploy such a costly, mutually destructive attack—one that would affect me," his uncle said. "Get out!" Having driven out the family's fallen members, Zhang Yuanqing reached into the void and summoned the Yashimi Mirror, then gazed into it, immediately producing a sovereign-tier duplicate. He turned to the duplicate and instructed, "Go now, meet Zhang Zizhen and Chu Shang. Be courteous." After restoring the solar essence, he had become the most powerful half-god of his age, embodying light and order, commanding authority and uniqueness. Unlike other half-gods, the Sun's sovereign radiated strength and prominence—his brilliance was unmistakable, much like the sun itself, which cannot be concealed. Thus, he was inherently ill-suited to environments of familial harmony and domestic unity. Whenever he called out "Dad," Zhang Zizhen would be compelled to kneel immediately, declaring, "Honor the Sun Sovereign—your light, your thunder, your singular myth. Please, do not diminish this humble servant." Zhang Yuanqing would say: "Then from now on, we each go our own way—call you 'Sun God,' and I'll call you 'dad'!" Zhang Zizhen would have to reply: "If it be so, then Zizhen shall only commit seppuku and offer my apologies!" Though there's some artistic exaggeration, as long as he personally appears, the parents are certain to feel uneasy—this is a matter of status and authority. "Let me handle it!" The duplicate Zhang Yuanqing tucked the mirror into his pocket, waved his hand, and said: "I'll send you out." The next moment, he was transported to the real world. ... Deep within the zoo, beyond the visitor access zones, by the Weak Water Lake. A vibrant, crimson mass of flesh—exuding a distinctly magical, gothic quality—rose like a mountain of meat at the lake's edge. Around the Mother Goddess's sanctuary, people—such as Chen Shu, the duplicate Zhang Yuanqing, Jiang Yuyi, Xiao Yuan, Kou Beiyue, the Dog Elder, Miss JOJO seated on a miniature cot, Xiahou Aotian, and Andi Qi Among them, Miss JOJO was merely there to observe, to see what was happening. As the half-deity of the Void held a long wooden hook, he hooked a vine planted ten centimeters below the waterline at the shore, then slowly pulled it upward, drawing out three pitcher plants. The entire audience's emotions shifted instantly. Everyone's gaze fixed on the two pitcher plants, filled with a mix of anticipation, tension, or emotion. Inside the pitcher plants were three bodies wrapped in a layer of "placenta." Both the vines and the pitcher plants were crafted from the Linn wood, including the wooden peg that had been embedded into the shore to secure the vine. It was precisely thanks to these elements that the three bodies remained suspended in the weak water without sinking. Uncle glanced around, then lifted the middle pitcher plant and said, "Yuzi, let's first revive your foster father and future father-in-law." Jiang Yu E gave him a withering look, waved her hand to summon the pitcher plant, and then opened the "hatch" of the mother deity's womb, gently placing the body wrapped in placenta into the meat chamber. The hatch of the mother goddess's womb-like chamber closed immediately. The structure, resembling a uterus, began to pulsate powerfully, like a heart. Within the chamber, covered by a thin white membrane, the body wrapped in amniotic sac started to melt, as though falling into a great beast's stomach. Once the separated entity had fully dissolved, the pulsations of the womb grew more intense, and an embryo formed within the flesh chamber, rapidly developing and growing. A few minutes later, a hand gently pushed open the membrane covering the chamber's mouth. The adorable, petite rabbit and Chen Shu couldn't help but take a few swift steps forward, drawing closer to the flesh chamber, their eyes fixed intently on the hand pushing the membrane aside. The membrane tore with a soft "shush," and a young man with a refined appearance slowly rose from within the chamber. His facial features bore a resemblance to Zhang Yuanqing, with a few similarities, yet his demeanor was entirely different—gentle, balanced, and carrying a quiet dignity, exuding a distinct aura of a scholarly general. Zhang Zizhen stared around with a somewhat bewildered expression. When he saw himself seated within the flesh chamber of the maternal deity, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, he suddenly understood everything. His first action was to have energy surge from his pores—dark and viscous—interweaving across his body to form a simple, flowing robe. Epilogue (IV) "Zi-Zhen, you've finally come back, you've finally come back..." The fluffy rabbit rushed into his arms, her front paws resting on his chest, her head lifted, her ruby-eyed gaze brimming with tears. "The dog deceived me, the dog deceived me. You were clearly dead." Her voice was clear and bright, like that of a young girl. She had only recently learned of Zi-Zhen's "death," and had also been informed that he was about to be revived—otherwise, the zoo would become a urban ghost legend in Songhai. Zi-Zhen withdrew his gaze from chasing his wife, lowered his head to gaze at the spirit vessel, and gently stroked its head, speaking softly, "I'm back. Amin, how many years have I been gone?" The spirit vessel named Amin looked at Zhang Yuanqing. "I haven't kept track of the years, but your children are now grown." Zi-Zhen followed her gaze, and there, across the distance of over a dozen meters, he saw the father and son exchanging glances. Zi-Zhen stared at him steadily, for a full dozen seconds, his eyes filled Zhang Yuanqing was also observing him, and gradually, his image began to align with the one that often appeared in his mind—familiar, yet at this very moment, profoundly unfamiliar. The years past surged within him, bringing back memories of his father’s warm hands, broad embrace, and the gentle, patient smile that never faltered even when he was mischievous. He recalled the cough that often echoed through the night. He wanted to say something joyful, something lively, to make this moment of father-son recognition feel more natural, but all that came out was a dry, hesitant sound: “Dad…” Zhang Zizhen nodded gently, “You’re not the true form, are you?” His final plan had been to support his son in his pursuit of the title of Sun Sovereign. Now that he had been revived, the plan had clearly succeeded. The figure before him clearly held the status of a half-god. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing gently assist his mother to the meat chamber and say, “The true form has already ascended as the Sovereign of the Sun. It is not convenient for him to descend. Our souls are of the same origin, our thoughts perfectly synchronized—essentially, there is no difference.” Zhang Zizhen felt both delighted and deeply humbled, saying, "Thank you for everything." Though he was still unaware of Yuan Zi's full journey, as a master at the peak, he clearly understood the many difficulties and challenges that had stood in the way. "Zizhen..." Chen Shu's eyes were glistening with emotion, "You're still so young, while I've grown older." Zhang Zizhen reached out to gently stroke her face, smiling, "Back then, I often imagined how you'd look ten years from now—more beautiful than I ever expected." He embraced his wife warmly, "Thank you, for all these years." The people around silently waited, allowing the family to reunite without interruption. Once Chen Shu had calmed down, she softly said, "It's time to revive Chu Shang and revive the memory of Wu Wuhen." Zhang Zizhen immediately turned his gaze toward the two large pig traps in the distance, his expression stirred with excitement and emotion. He took Chen Shu's hand and stepped forward, approaching the pig traps, then nodded respectfully to his uncle, "Brother, I hope you've been well these past years?" "Uncle gave Zhang Yuanqing a pat on the shoulder and performed a few simple gestures: "I'm not disappointed—having raised Yuanzi to become the sovereign of the Sun. Otherwise, with just you three useless, lazy fellows, nothing would ever get done." Zhang Zizhen had long grown accustomed to his manner of speech and simply ignored him, walking up to the dog elder, a fluffy teddy bear, and bowing respectfully: "Dog Elder, I hope you're well!" The dog elder's gentle, moist eyes glistened as he sighed: "For you, sixteen years have been but a dream come to life. I've waited sixteen years for you. Zi-zhen, welcome back to the mortal world." Meanwhile, Uncle opened the pig's cage, grasped Chu Shang's duplicate, and placed him inside the mother goddess's flesh chamber. A few minutes later, the thin film covering the surface—acting as a door—was once again lifted by a hand, revealing a handsome man, beautifully poised, even with a touch of feminine grace, rising up from within the chamber. Chu Shang glanced around with a somewhat茫然 expression, and then spotted a young man whose features were slightly familiar, rushing toward him excitedly: "Dad!" Chu Shang's bewilderment deepened as he stared at him for several seconds, certain he didn't have such a son, and asked cautiously, "Are you..." Zhang Yuanqing introduced himself: "I am the cousin-in-law and childhood companion of Yu Er, and the only son of your sworn brother Zhang Zizhen." Yu Er has already married? And the only son of Zhang Zizhen—what a good match. But what does cousin-in-law mean? As Chu Shang pondered this, he saw Jiang Yu Er, dressed in a red skirt, sweeping in with her sleeves fluttering. Upon close inspection, he recognized her as his own only daughter. The father and daughter exchanged a long, quiet gaze. While Zhang Yuanqing often recalled his father's appearance, Jiang Yu Er had almost forgotten his facial features. Though, by her status, she could easily recall her childhood experiences, those early memories remained the most painful part of her life. Thus, she had never remembered her father's appearance. Now, upon seeing her long-cherished biological father revive and return, Jiang Yu E was filled with joy and excitement, yet also felt an inexplicable sense of unfamiliarity and distance. Chu Shang rose, and threads of red light surged from within him, transforming into a long, deep crimson robe—making him even more like a fairy-like beauty. Her father-in-law was indeed a rare beauty! Zhang Yuanqing, standing by, silently admired. Perhaps due to his profession as a musician, the male members of the Life Clan were generally gentle and composed, with many resembling women. A representative figure among them was Xie Su. As for the female-appearing men, Zhang Yuanqing believed that he himself might well become a future father-in-law. Chu Shang lifted his hand, gently stroking Jiang Yu E's head, his smile wistful. "In my memory, when you first reached my waist—already you had grown into a young lady." He suddenly whispered softly, "I'm sorry—I missed your growth." Jiang Yu E's eyes glistened with tears, and she shook her head, feeling a thousand words in her heart, Chu Shang glanced at Zhang Yuanqing for a moment, smiled, and said, "Yu'er, you've married him? What about your nephew?" Jiang Yu'er steadied her emotions and spoke softly, "Since Zizhen's uncle passed away, I've lived with Yuanzi's maternal grandparents. Over the years, I've lived as one of Chen family's daughters." Upon hearing this, Chu Shang quickly turned to look at Zhang Zizhen in the distance, "Zhang nephew, though I'm senior in rank to you, come and call me 'uncle.'" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly realized that his father-in-law was quite an interesting person. Recalling the slogan of the former Xiaoyao organization, it now seemed perfectly logical. He promptly approached and said, "Grandfather, my name is Zhang Yuanqing. Yu'er hasn't married me yet—she's been waiting for you to revive and host the wedding." Chu Shang hadn't expected such a supporting role, and he immediately clapped Zhang Yuanqing on the shoulder, laughing heartily, "Zizhen, your son is just as fluent and charming as you were when you were young—just as delightful. Though not quite as Zhang Yuanqing quickly said, "Father, you're too kind. I'm merely a Sun Sovereign, no more than a half-divine rank." Chu Shang looked at Jiang Yuyi with bewilderment. The latter nodded. Chu Shang suddenly retracted his hand, as if the shoulders of the Sun Sovereign were unusually warm. Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "Dad, I'll tell you the details later. You still have a brother waiting to be refreshed." He pointed to another pitcher. Chu Shang and Jiang Yuyi stepped down from the Mother God's palace and reunited with their old friend. Uncle then opened the pitcher and gently placed the wrapped afterbirth, the tale of the past, into the flesh chamber of the Mother God's palace. As the duplicate dissolved, the master Wuhen broke through the membrane and revived. Kou Beiyue held a green robe, rushing forward with excitement, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice choked: "Master..." The robe floated on its own and draped over Master Wuhen. Xiao Yuan then stepped forward, her round and graceful eyes shimmering with moisture, and softly said, "Master!" The Master of Silent Footsteps gazed at them, gently nodding. Then he turned to Chu Shang and Zhang Zizhen, clasped his hands, and chanted the Buddha's name: "Reuniting with old friends—what a joyous occasion!" Zhang Zizhen and Chu Shang responded by clasping their hands in return. Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward, took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions within, and bowed: "Master, I have not fallen short of your expectations." Compared to the two fathers, the Master of Silent Footsteps truly gave his heartfelt dedication. For the first time, he smiled warmly, clasped his hands, and said: "Well said!" Then, Jiang Yuebi opened the inventory, retrieved Zhai Cai and the duplicate of the King of the Heavenly Eye, and, under An Diqi's earnest anticipation, placed Zhai Cai into the mother goddess's sacred chamber. Soon, the single-line knight tore through the membrane, stepped out bare-chested, and exclaimed with renewed energy: "I've been revived! Hah! It seems Master Yuan Shi has defeated the Lord of the Stars." He never expected to be revived at all. Surveying the scene, he was momentarily stunned, then quickly sat back down with a sudden push of his legs, his face filled with awe: "Are so many high-ranking masters welcoming my revival?" An Die Qi opened her carry-on suitcase, took out a pair of pants and a sleek black fur coat, and presented them to her boss, explaining: "The Prime Immortal Sovereign—no, the Sun Sovereign—is reviving his elder relatives." Zhai Cai was astonished: "Even his elders can be revived?" The revival of the Mother Goddess, Zhong Gu, is conditional. At that moment, Xia Hou Ao Tian stepped forward, coldly remarking: "His father reached the peak of the Sovereign rank, and his uncle is a half-divine of the Void Realm. The renowned Xiao Yao Organization was actually founded by his father. This, truly, is the protagonist!" Zhai Cai glanced at him with a sideways expression: "You've been standing here all this time just to say one final word to me?" Xia Hou Ao Tian raised his chin, opened his inventory, and produced a magnificent watch set with diamonds, tossing it toward Zhai C Zhai Cai took a look and found it was a top-tier, master-class item. With a delighted smile, he neatly stored it and exclaimed, "I never wear watches from lesser brands—except for limited editions." Xiahou Aotian gave a light exhalation. Jiang Yu E immediately revived his magical eyes. As the first sight of the revived Eye of the Heavenly King pierced through the thin membrane, he saw the Lord of the Original Beginning smiling warmly. "Welcome back to the mortal realm, Lord of Morality!" Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. The Eye of the Heavenly King glanced at him for a few seconds, then smiled gently. "Investment successful!" "Go ahead—your true form is waiting for you," Zhang Yuanqing said. With that, the Eye of the Heavenly King heard a soft, ethereal voice from his ears. After a brief pause, ripples appeared before his eyes, his vision blurred, and then—within the next instant—he found himself in a simple, desert-covered realm. He saw the Sun Sovereign, with golden hair and golden armor, majestic and radiant as the sun. "I will fulfill my promise and help you cleanse the world." Zhang Yuanqing spoke with a layered, majestic tone, reaching into his inventory and pulling out a metallic scroll—the Merit Scroll! "This is the Merit Scroll, recording the unique identifiers of all the spiritual realm travelers. By mastering this cause-and-effect artifact, you can monitor the growth of their merit scores, thus judging their moral conduct and karmic outcomes." "With mastery of this scroll, you will hold the lifelines of all spiritual realm travelers. From this point forward, you will no longer be the King of the Magi-Eye, but instead, a servant of the Sun Sovereign—the Lord of Morality!" Zhang Yuanqing "presented" the Merit Scroll into the hands of the King of the Magi-Eye. The King of the Magi-Eye lifted his hands to cradle the artifact, his eyes radiating an unprecedented brilliance. This was the divine artifact he had long dreamed of. "Shortly thereafter, I will retreat into meditation to absorb the Moon and the Stars. After my retreat, remember three things: first, everything has dual aspects—yin and yang—and so does human nature. You must assess whether a person should be judged for death based on the degree of merit growth, never No matter how big or small the matter, the one-size-fits-all approach of imposing a single death sentence is the greatest injustice and arrogance. "Second, you must meet once a month with my father, Zhang Zizhen, or the Master Without Trace, to help dispel the resentment building within you. If you are affected by the evil deity, you must see them immediately. "Third, the merits of ordinary people are not recorded on the list—this is something you must personally investigate and pursue. When handling matters involving ordinary people, remain humble and maintain a balanced tone. For instance, those who have privately redefined currency and seek to divide the land among themselves—you know how to handle them." The King of the Mage's Eyes, satisfied, folded the merit list and smiled warmly, "I shall strictly follow your instructions!" ... After the resurrection, the crowd, filled with happiness, joy, and peace, began to disperse. Miss JOJO, who had come to watch the proceedings, was being carried on a four-post bed raised by four sturdy bamboo rats, wobbling steadily toward the outer edge of the zoo. The weather was clear and sunny, the spring chill dispelled. The zoo was bustling with visitors Ms. JOJO crouched on the standing bed, enjoying the warm sunlight. Her arrival stirred the visitors—adults pulled out their phones to take photos, while children pointed at her, jumping and clapping. Usually the most uncomfortable when being watched, she rarely saw the bamboo mouse retreat this time. Instead, she blinked softly, immersed in the cheers. All her worries and clouds of doubt vanished in that moment. The world was so beautiful. She gazed toward the horizon, whispering to herself: "Everything has come to an end. Master Ho, my lord, I have returned to my homeland. This prosperous age, as you wished!" Fu Qingyang said coldly, "Whether you oppose or support, none of you can hinder the internal restructuring of the Five Elements Alliance. I am not here to consult with you—I am representing the Sovereign of the Sun and the Five Alliance Masters to inform you." Further eroded the resources under the Nine Elders' control, thus weakening their allies. Additionally, Fu Qingyang has planned to implement KPI evaluations for the seven departments, conducted every three years, with the top-performing elder eligible to return to the headquarters—only to be replaced by a new performance leader after three years. Beyond these, numerous institutional, managerial, and strategic adjustments that Fu Qingyang had yet to present were met with strong opposition from the Nine Elders, resulting in the scene just described. Upon hearing Fu Qingyang invoke the Grand Marshal and the Sun Sovereign, the senior elder of Chihuo Clan coldly remarked, "Then we shall have to jointly submit our resignations to the Five Grand Marshals, step down from the clan, and establish our own official power." Fu Qingyang responded with a cold smile, "On behalf of the Five Grand Marshals and the Sun Sovereign, I agree to your departure from the official structure. Announcements may now be issued." "If a politician were ambitious but lacked a broad strategic vision, Fu Qingyang could have ended the meeting right now. Yet his strategic outlook and vision are quite strong. He spoke calmly, 'Once you sever ties with the Five Elements Alliance and lose the protection of the half-gods, will you be able to withstand the counteroffensive from the peak leaders of the evil faction? Don't forget, you've already lost your rule-based artifacts.' The nine elders' faces grew serious. Fu Qingyang mocked, 'You consistently overestimate yourselves, remain overly confident, believing you can balance the half-gods and that the Lawful faction would falter without your presence. I used to think the same—indeed, I even believed that, compared to the half-gods who merely observe, you were the true backbone of the official faction. It wasn't until the battle for the Sun's Primordial Essence began, and especially during the recent decisive confrontation that I realized: the Alliance leaders have always treated you merely as stewards. The day-to-day affairs of the household, naturally, are entrusted to stewards like yourselves." "Besides these, you hold no further value. In the age of peace, both lawfulness and chaos remain restrained, and the Apex Sovereigns rarely need to intervene. Only in times of true upheaval does the battle among the Half-Gods determine the outcome—wherein the Apex Sovereigns play no significant role. Throughout all this, the Half-Gods have never regarded you as anything more than passing figures. Thus, even if all of you return to the Spiritual Realm, you will make no impact on the Lawful faction." These words pierced the hearts of the Nine Elders like sharp blades, shattering their psychological defenses. As seasoned strategists, they fully understood this truth themselves—but when it came to their own interests, how could they simply surrender without making a final effort? Fu Qingyang glanced over the faces of the Nine Elders and said calmly, "To offend the Sovereign of the Sun—how could you expect to pay no cost? At the very least, you will still retain your authority. That is the Sun Sovereign's greatest mercy." This was a gesture of grace, offering the Nine Elders a way out and providing them with psychological reassurance. Viewing this as a political compromise would surely ease their Fu Qingyang had to do this, as the Third Region was about to be officially launched, and its official organization would naturally be established with the assistance of the First and Second Regions. If the Five Elements Alliance remained under the control of the Nine Elders, their power would rapidly expand, and undesirable practices within the official system would persist. This Fu Qingyang could not tolerate. First, he believed the Nine Elders were not entitled to the benefits of this transformation—especially the benefits brought by Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Second, Yuan Shi Tian Zun no longer focused on the past, but Fu Qingyang, being more inclined to hold grudges, insisted that the Nine Elders bear significant costs. Lastly, Fu Qingyang valued the official positions within the Third Region's new organization and wished to secure them himself, intending to assign elite units from "The Return of the Departed" and "The White Guard" to these roles. Therefore, the Nine Elders must depart from the headquarters. Seeing that the Nine Elders remained silent, Fu Qingyang nodded in satisfaction: "You may choose to leave the Five Elements Alliance or to discuss matters with the Alliance Master. I grant you three days. Let us now disperse." "...After inspecting the third region, Zhang Yuanqing returned to the medieval-style hall of assembly and sat in the chief seat, pondering whether to build a study there. After all, it was his uncle's study. 'Why not simply choose a realm copy, establish a manor there, delegate the construction work to earth-element monsters, and hire scholars to design it? From now on, I'll spend most of my time living within the spiritual realm. With my status, wandering around the real world would surely cause trouble.' For instance, merely walking through a city street would make pedestrians suddenly fearful, spontaneously repenting, even causing overheating that might ignite flammable or explosive materials. Yet the Sun's essence could never be concealed or subdued—it radiated its power and brilliance with unwavering dominance. Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanqing found himself troubled by another matter—procreating offspring! Unlike other half-gods who could temper their presence to interact normally with their kin and spouses, the Lord of the Sun could not. This pressure from daily proximity proved unbearable for his lower-ranking romantic companions. While peers at the peak of their careers exhibited a stronger resilience to such dominance and could manage coexistence—though only勉强ly—his known peak day-wandering deities were limited to the old sturdy one. The old sturdy one was his mentor, not a romantic confidant. After prolonged contemplation, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes glistened with dark, viscous fluid, and a black circular moon materialized behind his head. Soon, his demeanor became cold and eerie, like a sovereign of the night. The radiance of the sun remained only in the golden mark at the center of his brow. "The Sun's essence, while impossible to completely obscure, can be suppressed to a minimum when the full power of the Moon's essence is fully activated—this indeed alleviates the overpowering pressure. However, such suppression lasts only for about ten minutes and requires me to maintain it with full effort..." Zhang Yuanqing tried again to harmonize the Sun's essence with the Star essence, and the results were better than those achieved with the Sun alone, yet still fell short of ideal—unless he fully assimilated the Star essence. After a moment's reflection, Zhang Yuanqing had an idea: he decided to lower his own status. Three small, elegant golden orioles emerged from the center of his forehead, circling and fluttering around him. Then, he summoned his Star Robe and donned it. As expected, under the dilution of the starlight, his "power" gradually diminished, no longer so imposing. "That's sufficient," Zhang Yuanqing smiled. "We can go home now." ... Songhai, Pingsheng Subdistrict. A sturdy young man in a button-down shirt and camouflage pants knocked on the door of room 402. Footsteps approached steadily, then the door latch clicked open, and a middle-aged woman, looking visibly worn, stepped out. Upon seeing the young man standing there, she stood motionless—stunned as if struck by lightning. Lei Bin, gazing at his mother’s noticeably aged face and the silver strands peeking through her dark hair, felt his eyes well up. "Mom, I'm back!" he said. The woman’s vision blurred instantly, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "What are you standing there for? Who is it?" The father, walking into the living room, paused upon seeing the figure at the door—also stunned. The father and son exchanged a silent gaze. "Happy New Year, Dad!" Lei’s uncle’s eyes glistened. "Good to be back. Good to be back..." ... Hangzhou, Xizi Lake. The lake, shimmering with rippling waves, suddenly rose up, as if the water itself had come alive, forming a clear silhouette. This figure has a refined facial appearance, dressed in tattered Tang dynasty attire, his long hair flowing loosely past his waist, his skin pale from years of lacking direct sunlight. He stands still on the water's surface, head held high, arms outstretched, savoring the gentle breeze and the sunlight. A moment later, he walks across the water, step by step, reaching the shore—yet the tourists around him pay him no attention, as if he were invisible. It is the peak of the Spring Festival holiday, and the Xizi Lake is crowded with visitors. The young man in the worn Tang-style robe returns to the shore, takes a smartphone from a tourist, and asks, "What is your payment password and the startup password?" The tourist gives him the answers with unwavering focus. "Thank you. I'll return the phone to you later," he says, smoothly unlocking the phone, scanning a shared bicycle nearby, riding it to a tea shop to buy a cup of milk tea, and then riding along the Xizi Lake. The sunlight is perfect, the breeze refreshing—he closes his eyes slightly, silently thinking, "I'm back..." Afterword (VI) The Mo Sect's Mechanized City. Zhang Yuanqing, with golden hair and eyes, a deep golden complexion, and a luminous metallic sheen throughout his body, sat in meditative stillness within the void. A golden lacquered sun emblem shone at the center of his forehead, while a faint black crescent moon hung gently behind his head, occasionally appearing and then fading. A robe woven with brilliant starlight draped over his shoulders. This striking visual presentation underscored his unique status. A moment later, a golden beam descended from the heavens, landing before the Sun Sovereign—none other than the Lady of San Dao Mountain, the even more resplendent Lady of the Feathers and Robes. "May I have the honor of addressing you as Master!" Zhang Yuanqing bowed slightly, then added with a smile, "Thank you, Master." The Lady of San Dao Mountain glanced at him, her expression complex and wistful. "Now that you have ascended to the rank of Sun Sovereign, I no longer feel worthy of the title 'Master.' Should I not be mindful of the Five Deteriorations of the Celestial and Human Realm, I fear the very fate of decline may be upon me." It was natural for her to feel this way After a thousand years of awakening, she has been tirelessly journeying through the spiritual realm, always seeking the origin of the sun—only to find herself ultimately empty-handed, like trying to carry water in a basket. Her life's hope of attaining the realm of human immortals now seems utterly lost. Yet, the one source of satisfaction is that the great orthodox traditions are flourishing, the world is at peace, and her disciple, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, has become the supreme sovereign of the sun. To ancient cultivators who deeply valued the bond between master and disciple, this is a source of immense pride and fulfillment. Zhang Yuan remained as dignified as ever, though his authority had softened since he had lowered his status. The Lady of the Three Mountain Paths expressed some complaints, yet felt no sense of pressure. "Master has misunderstood my point," Zhang Yuan smiled. "The usual pathways for ascending to the rank of human immortal are insufficient. But you have other options." Upon hearing this, the Lady of the Three Mountain Paths' eyes sparkled with brightness, and she stepped forward a few paces, her face filled with urgency and anticipation, pressing on, "What are your suggestions?" After speaking, she seemed to realize her own awkwardness and gently pressed her full, sensuous lips together. Yet the bright, lively glow in her eyes did not fade. Zhang Yuan continued, "In the Third Region, there is a deity of light who wields a device known as the Compass of Light. It is now known that this device, like the Merit Scroll, originates from the essence of the Sun. However, his divine nature bears no direct connection to the Sun's essence. His expertise is diverse—he excels in prophecy, music, archery, and other fields—and he serves as a servant of the Sun. "As I speculate, the Sovereigns of the Spiritual Realms who gather the luminous, lunar, and stellar essences—those embodying the Cosmic Will—can possess multiple deities as their divine attendants. The fact that the Goddess of Beauty has tirelessly sought to marry me and secure her status is precisely proof of this. It is a simple and efficient way to elevate one's status." The Lady of San Dao Mountain's expression shifted slightly, recalling his prophetic visions in her dreams, her brow furrowed as she hesitated: "Do you wish for me to become your wife or concubine, like the Goddess of Beauty?" Such a blessing? Almost tempted to play along, Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat and said: "My meaning is that you have the opportunity to serve as my divine attendant. The Heavenly Emperor oversees many non-administrative divine forms—those who perished in battle eons ago, steadfast guardians of order. You differ from the Realm Travelers, as you lack a designated role card and are free from occupational limitations. With sufficient time, you may emulate the Radiant God, mastering other divine forms, eventually attaining the rank of human immortal, and even ascending to the status of a true deity." "As for the specific way to practice, I'll need to absorb the essence of the stars first, then deduce and study it further, crafting a path that leads all the way to the heavens." Upon saying this, he, whose heart had not yet been returned to Master Wuhen, sensed a surge of emotion from the Three Mountain Lady—her joy was truly overwhelming. The old, composed woman remained calm on the surface, merely saying, "Thank you!" and then transformed into a golden rainbow, soaring upward. "The Lady hasn't been under strong pressure, yes—she can return now..." He watched the golden rainbow fade into the sky, murmuring to himself, "You were so startled! It's not as if you're truly going to become my wife or concubine." ... Long Sea. In a luxurious office, Tianxia Guihuo sat before his computer, staring at the email notification about his transfer. He was about to leave Long Sea and head to headquarters. Even before the transfer email arrived, he had already noticed the official announcement on the forum: the Five Elements Alliance was preparing to establish seven regional branches across the country. It's obvious that after Yuan Shishen ascended as the sovereign of the Sun, Fu Qingyang has seized the reins of power. As a trusted aide to the sovereign of the Sun and a core member of the "The Return of the Departed," I myself will now take up residence in the central administration, becoming Fu Qingyang's loyal ally. My era has arrived... Tianxia Guihuo opens his drawer, pulls out a cigar, and gently inhales it, as if sensing the fragrance of power. Oh, almost forgot—our Sun Sovereign hasn't even graduated yet, let alone earned a bachelor's degree. At that moment, Sun Miaomiao sent a message: "It's a bit strange that Fu Qingyang invited both me and the City God to the headquarters of the Five Elements Alliance." Tianxia Guihuo paused, considering that given Sun Miaomiao's and Zhao Chenguang's status, it made more sense to remain at the Taiyuan Gate rather than make the extra effort to join the Five Elements Alliance, even just to the headquarters. "Tianxia Guihuo: That's quite normal—Nine Elders have been reassigned from headquarters, and their allies have been scattered. Fu Elder needs a group of trusted associates to fill the vacant positions." Rarely active Guan Ya, unusually, responded with this update: "The Yuan Shǐ has launched the third region and convened a semi-divine council a few days ago, requesting official organizations from the first and second regions to assist in establishing their own official structures and maintaining order. I mentioned this to my mother at Yuan Zi's dinner, and he told me about it." "Sun Miaomiao: Hm, the last sentence can be omitted—nobody Therefore, Fu Qingyang's urgent move to bring them to the headquarters was intended to consolidate a group of loyal subordinates and trusted allies, and assign them to the third region? Tian Xia Gui Huo and Hong Ji Ge immediately felt their breath quicken—this was a power vacuum, a fertile ground, a golden opportunity to become true power figures. With the resources they controlled, given time, they could easily emerge as dominant forces, even challenging for top leadership positions. In other words, they were fully capable of becoming key figures in the third region, on par with the Nine Elders. [Xia Hou Ao Tian: Ah, so that's what it is!] …… At the living room of her mother's home. Zhang Yuan sat cross-legged in front of the television, completely absorbed in manipulating the remote control. A golden sun was etched on his forehead, a faint black circular moon hung behind his head, and he wore a magnificent robe shimmering with starlight. This special effect was concealed by the magic, and even the rulers could not perceive it. As for the primal pressure of the Sun, it has now become faint and intermittent, still affecting lower-tier spiritual travelers and ordinary people, much like a junior employee being slightly intimidated by a superior—yet not overly disruptive. At least the game-enthusiast rookie, who had initially been a bit nervous around Zhang Yuanqing, now felt nothing at all. He simply held the game controller against his belly, mimicking Zhang Yuanqing’s seated posture, and excitedly tapped the buttons. By the dining table, Fu Xue was chatting warmly with Chen Shu and her grandmother. Regarding Zhang Zizhen's apparent return from the dead, Zhang and Chen explained that Zizhen had been a researcher at a state-level secret institution—his death had been a fabrication. In reality, over the past dozen years, he had been working on a specific secret technology. Upon hearing this, the grandmother exclaimed, "Ah, nuclear weapons!" Chen Shu added, "Something similar—though the specifics remain confidential." Throughout this exchange, the couple employed the powers of their musical instruments to enhance the persuasiveness of their words. Though the grandfather and grandmother, as ordinary people, found it hard to believe, they ultimately accepted the explanation. The grandmother was deeply moved, tears streaming down her face, expressing her heartfelt relief that Yuanzi finally had a father and no longer needed to worry about her daughter's remarriage. The entire family of spiritual practitioners felt no psychological burden when dealing with this kind of well-intentioned deception. The son-in-law, the Dragon King, has returned, and Grandma has decided to host a family banquet, preparing a special meal to celebrate the reunion of the family. Chen Shu suggests, "Since that's the case, while Yu'er is away, why don't we also invite Yuanzi's girlfriend? I must confess, I'm close friends with Guan Ya's mother." Chu Shang listened carefully and found the suggestion reasonable—so he decided to take a measured approach, first trying to persuade Zhang Zizhen, the good-hearted young man. It's worth noting that the uncle's family is also not based in Songhai; the family's dissidents, along with the aunt and cousin, have gone abroad for a vacation. If my grandson is getting married, a single marriage certificate won't be enough—he'll need a stack! Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "We've been thinking the same way." Upon hearing this, Fu Xue was overjoyed but hesitated to speak, though the pressure from the Sun Sovereign had softened; her psychological reserve remained. Guan Ya stared at Jiang Yu E's face, and unexpectedly, a weight settled in her heart. Jiang Yu E waved toward the back: "Come in!" Yet, the greater the position, the heavier the responsibilities. "Uncle, I've finally figured it out. The position of head of the Xiaohou family is a constraint for me. I don't want to be held back by family affairs and spend my energy on the mundane duties of ordinary family members. Moreover, the Xiaohou family has reached a developmental plateau; no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to surpass you." Hearing this, the head of the Xiaohou family nearly choked up, his face beaming with pride as he said, "After going through all these experiences, you've truly grown..." Before he could finish, Xiaohou Aotian sharply shifted gears, laughing with confidence: "So, I'm heading to the third region to build a new Xiaohou family. Then, I'll become the first head of that family, surpassing both you and our ancestors at once. I've already made contact with many young Xiaohou family members who admire me. When the time comes, we'll all collectively leave the Xiaohou family—ahahaha..." The elder head of the family quietly drew out the hammer of forged iron. "Hand over the list of those traitors." ... Songhai. Is Yuan Qing's former girlfriend? Both grandparents turned to Zhang Yuanqing, then looked nervously at Fu Xue and Guan Ya, only to find that neither Fu Xue nor Guan Ya was at all surprised—remarkably calm. Though Guan Ya's displeasure was clearly visible on her face, she remained unusually composed, as if a husband in the feudal era had taken a concubine, feeling dissatisfied yet powerless. Typically, in such a situation—especially when the girlfriend was a "junior bride"—wouldn't she have thrown down her chopsticks, scolded Yuan Qing for being unfaithful and a throwaway, and then stormed out, declaring their breakup? And as the CEO of a conglomerate with assets in the hundreds of billions, Fu Xue should have been coldly saying now: "Losing my daughter is indeed the greatest misfortune for your Chen family! Chen Shu, our relationship is over—those multi-million-yuan contracts are now void!" Yet this strong-willed woman merely glanced at him briefly before shifting her gaze and continuing to serve dishes. Her face, as beautiful and radiant as a blossom, remained calm and composed, as if silently saying: "It's just that my son-in-law is taking a concubine—what's so remarkable about that?" In a slightly awkward atmosphere, Grandma cleared her throat and smiled warmly, saying, "Yuzi, don't make jokes—this girl is your colleague, isn't she?" Jiang Yuwei blinked her sincere eyes. "No, she's Yin Ji. Yuanzi's former girlfriend. When they were dating, Yin Ji's parents didn't approve. To stand up against them, Yin Ji even moved out of the house. But unexpectedly, Yuanzi backed down first and proposed to break up. Recently, I heard they've rekindled their relationship. Yuanzi, what's going on? Haven't you yet broken up with Guan Ya?" Zhang Yuanqing said firmly, "Shut up and eat!" This may make both Guan Ya and Yin Ji feel embarrassed, but the real ones who are truly anxious—Grandpa and Grandma—are left struggling. What good is it to keep bothering these two elders? Indeed, Grandpa and Grandma's faces had gone stiff. Grandma kept sending glances to Chen Shu, trying to find a way forward. Chen Shu pretended not to notice, thinking to herself, Mom, do you think Yuanzi is juggling two loves? No—it's actually three wives The grandparents endured the family dinner in tense silence. Under the pretext of clearing the dishes, Grandma called Zhang Yuanqing to the kitchen. As soon as the kitchen door closed, she instinctively reached for Zhang Yuanqing’s scalp, only to pause and shout, “What’s wrong with you? Is that Yin Ji really your former girlfriend? I didn’t know! Now you’ve become a man who sails between two boats, didn’t you? Do you have any idea how awkward we both felt just now with you and my husband? My daughter will blame me later, saying I haven’t raised you properly.” Zhang Yuanqing spoke calmly. Her mother-in-law grew angry and raised her hand again, but ultimately didn’t strike. She sighed deeply and said, “The ones who should be looking for a boyfriend aren’t—always acting so young and fresh. The ones who should be seeking a girlfriend just focus on their work. You’ve actually found a girlfriend, yet you’re still keeping two at once.” Her mother-in-law pointed her finger at Zhang Yuanqing’s head. “Is there a royal succession going on in the family? Do you need to marry two people?” “I’ll handle it myself. Please don’t worry.” Zhang Yuanqing remained composed. Her mother-in-law huffed, then forced herself to walk out of the kitchen and attend to the guests. So the composed, elegant woman behind the counter paid no attention, standing in her wine-red uniform with a calm, expressionless demeanor all day long. As the sun set, the quiet hotel finally welcomed its first guest. Upon entering, the guest swiftly pulled the curtain shut and walked straight to the counter, saying, "I'd like to check in." The strikingly beautiful woman glanced at the closed curtain and calmly replied, "Check in? Then check in. What's the point of closing the door? The hotel's still open." The guest stepped over the counter and carried her across his arms toward the elevator, smiling, "It's closed now—closed for tomorrow too. The sun's ruler is staying for one full day and night." Little Round nestled against him, her body gently arching as she settled, her slender black stockings and toned legs swaying rhythmically with each step. She lifted a corner of her mouth. ... Late at night, Huang Taiqi finished handling company matters, turned off the computer and lights, walked through the reception area of the president's office, entered the password, and opened the security door to the lounge. He has lived in the lounge adjacent to his office, a 160-square-meter hotel-style suite, for years. Huang Taiqi's life has been almost devoid of entertainment—work, practice, reading, and a steady female companion—repeating day after day, monotonous and uneventful. On one hand, the nature of his earth-element monster profession shapes his personality. On the other, as the grandson of a former Grand Elder, his every word and action is magnified and scrutinized by others, who often find fault even in the smallest details, so he has chosen to remain understated. Occasionally, he harbors a sense of vanity, which is why he participates in the annual match tournaments. However, since the Primordial Sovereign publicly addressed him as his father last year, he has been unable to maintain his modesty. Within the Five Elements Alliance, even mid-level officials and departmental staff now refer to him as "his paternal uncle." Recently, following the Primordial Sovereign's promotion to the Sovereign of the Sun, his official forum profile has been further elevated with the title "Father of the Sun." Huang Taiqi appears unconcerned on the surface, often saying, "Always modest, always modest—what a fuss After a simple morning routine, Huang Taidi changed into pajamas and fell asleep, even though the dominant earth monsters had largely retired for the night. A comfortable "winter hibernation" still brings the soothing comfort and exhilaration of a hot bath to the mind. At that moment, a gentle spiritual realm notification sounds in his ears: 【Ping! The spiritual realm map is loading. In 30 seconds, you will enter the spiritual realm. This is your current spiritual realm: "The Sun Lord's Garden," ID: 0.】 【Difficulty Level: Unknown】 【Type: Multiplayer (Non-Death Mode)】 【Main Quest: Build the Sun Lord's pavilion within five days.】 【Note: Non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in.】 【Introduction to Realm 0: The Sun Lord's presence commands the heavens and inspires awe among all beings, making it difficult to dwell in the physical world. To establish a personal pavilion within the spiritual realm, he has summoned skilled artisans from across the world, gathering them here.】 The scene quickly blurs, then sharpens again. When Huang Taidi regains his focus, he finds himself in a vast, barren desert He glanced around and saw many familiar faces—employees from the construction group, official colleagues, and representatives from the spiritual realm families. The professionals were broadly categorized into three types: earth monsters, wood immortals, and scholars. Among the latter two, the representatives were Ling Jun and Xia Hou Ao Tian. Xia Hou Ao Tian looked here and there, first meeting Ling Jun, then joining him together. As he still hadn't reached the group, he already growled, "Unbelievable! They've made us do the grunt work of building a palace for him. This Sun Sovereign is as harsh as King Zhou, as autocratic as Qin, and as indulgent as Emperor Sui—what a nuisance!" Ling Jun remained composed, saying, "He's now the Sun Sovereign. Can we, these mere ants, be expected to build a palace for him? Besides, building a palace isn't dangerous—it comes with rewards, which the Sun Sovereign has promised." Then he loudly declared, "The Sun Father and Sun Master are here. Please all come forward and register your names." Huang Tai Qi silently straightened his posture. … Five days later, beyond the capital city. Amidst the towering, layered prime forest, nestled deep within the dense woods, a cluster of sunrooms stands out, resembling the buildings of a tropical botany research institute. Among them, a sunroom situated at a higher elevation—pale as snow, with a delicate, refined beauty—holds Mei Teng, whose eyes shine like those of a deer in the forest glade. She is gently playing with a white-furred squirrel. Each day, she spends her time here, filled with both anticipation and nervous excitement. What she anticipates and what makes her nervous are self-evident. Suddenly, a gentle spiritual realm notification reaches her ears: 【Ping! The spiritual realm map is loading. You will enter the realm in 30 seconds. This is your current spiritual realm: "The Sun Sovereign's Garden," designated as No. 0.】 【Difficulty Level: Unknown】 【Type: Multiplayer (Non-death-based)】 【Main Quest: Unknown.】 【Note: In-realm items cannot be carried in.】 【Introduction to Realm No. 0: One of the palaces built by the Sun Sovereign.】 He’s come to see me! Mei Teng’s heart leaps Patience until the final seconds expire, and then the scene blurs before clearing. By instinct, Miao Teng'er glances around, searching for the figure of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. But what she sees is a vast valley, surrounded on three sides by mountains—not narrow or steep—but open and bright, with radiant sunlight pouring in. Within the valley lies a lake, dotted with swans and wild ducks. The swans glide gracefully across the rippling water, while the ducks dart and scramble through the reeds. As the Sovereign of Beasts, she senses a complete ecosystem thriving beneath the lake's surface. Nearby, there stands a charming, modest manor. Beyond, on the gentle hills flanking the valley, the calls of monkeys and tigers, the roars of wild beasts, and the movements of birds and animals are everywhere—harmoniously coexisting. It feels like a world straight out of a fairy tale—a realm rich in wood-based spiritual energy, a true paradise for wood spirits. At that moment, a white monkey bounds toward her, hopping and calling "hur-hur" excitedly. Miao Teng'er, fluent in animal languages, listens for a few seconds and understands the message: "Come with me Miao Teng'er immediately followed the White Ape through the soft grass, entering the elegant manor and proceeding straight through the ornate front courtyard filled with rare flowers to the main hall of the estate. The White Ape joyfully leaped over the sofa, stopped by the side table, pointed at the jade box on it, murmured a few words, then lifted its head toward the ceiling, spreading its arms to draw a circle. Miao Teng'er understood its message: This is a gift from the great being—indeed! She glanced at the jade box only briefly and instantly recognized it as a cherished item once favored by the Mage King—the Jade Transport Box! The Jade Transport Box and this manor were gifts from the Sun Sovereign, and according to the副本 introduction, this was the Sun Sovereign's residence. Clearly, the Prime Immortal had established a residence for her, intending to nurture her here, while the jade scrolls within the Transport Box served as her means of transportation between the real world and the residence. Miao Teng'er was overjoyed, carefully lifting the Jade Transport Box as if it were a rare treasure. At this moment, the White Monkey suddenly gave two quick "squawks" and rushed swiftly out of the living room. A few minutes later, it led in a plump, beautiful woman. Upon seeing this woman, Miao Teng'er's expression immediately grew strange: "Mom... " I may never return again, but I can still go back to the real world—when I have time, I'll visit you." Ling Jun was momentarily stunned: "I don't understand what you mean!" Miao Teng'er seemed to have been waiting for him to ask this, and eagerly shared: "The Great Primordial crafted a palace for me in the Spiritual Realm—it's beautiful, and I intend to settle there permanently." Ling Jun stared at her, as if suddenly realizing something, and then his lips trembled: "Then, is that palace called—the Sun Sovereign's summer retreat?" "How do you know?" Miao Teng'er was surprised. Ling Jun's jaw muscles slowly bulged: "I built that place myself..." Miao Teng'er remained silent, softly adding: "My mother will also live there." Ling Jun was struck dumb, staggering back, and then roared into the sky with fierce rage: "As tyrannical as King Zhou, as autocratic as the Qin, as indulgent as Emperor Sui—I will never bear to see the Great Primordial again!" Afterword Eight (Complete) The New Covenant County. After just concluding a meeting with her department staff and returning to her office, Winnie Burnt barely sat down when a subtle ambient tone reached her ears: 【Ping. The Spirit Realm map is initializing. In 30 seconds, you will enter the Spirit Realm. This is your current Spirit Realm: "The Sun Sovereign's Coastal Castle," ID: 0–1.】 【Difficulty Level: Unknown】 【Type: Multiplayer (Non-Death Mode)】 【Main Quest: Unknown.】 【Note: Non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought in.】 【Introduction for Spirit Realm 0–1: One of the palaces built by the Sun Sovereign for himself.】 The Sun Sovereign's palace... Winnie Burnt's usually composed and elegant expression brightened instantly. She seemed to have an idea forming, her lips tightening slightly with mild anticipation. The countdown swiftly ended, and Winnie Burnt vanished from the office. The surroundings transitioned from blurred to clear—she now saw the vast blue sea and the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The sky was a clear, crisp blue, cloudless, with the sunlight just right, gilding the endless ocean with rippling waves. Seagulls soared across the horizon, and fish occasionally leaped to the surface. Behind her stood an ancient castle perched on rocky outcrops—blending medieval architecture with modern elements, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, sunrooms, spacious balconies, and a large suspended swimming pool on the third floor. The seaside castle... Vinny Burnt understood it instantly, her eyes slightly narrowed as she enjoyed the sea breeze. At that moment, her expression was relaxed, her lips gently upturned. Vinny Burnt turned and strolled slowly along the shoreline, as though exploring her new home, taking in the views before finally contentedly walking up the cliff toward the lofty castle. After entering the castle, she immediately sensed a furious surge of lightning-based spiritual energy and followed the sensation deeper into the ancient manor. In a grand, opulently furnished master bedroom, she spotted a metallic weapon rack displaying four lightning orbs and one lightning spear. The room shimmered with radiant lightning, exuding an atmosphere of overwhelming destruction. Winny Burnt's eyes lit up as she briskly walked toward the rack, seized the four lightning orbs, and examined their attributes. Lightning Armor Set? Her eyes brightened even further. Without hesitation, she added them to her inventory. Clearly, the cold, ungrateful, faithless man had deliberately placed the Lightning Armor Set here as a gift for her. Then, Winny Burnt turned her attention to the desk, where a tray of eighteen transmission talismans lay arranged. "Hmph! Just sending gifts—why hasn't he come himself?" she remarked, placing the talismans into her inventory and turning to leave the bedroom, her steps light and brisk as she began exploring the manor. …… Chriss stood on an isolated island, gazing out far into the ocean, where endless waves rolled and surged. Massive sea creatures periodically broke the surface, then crashed back into the water with thunderous roars, splashing up towering columns of white foam. This was the paradise of sea monsters. "Wow!" exclaimed the fishbowl in Chriss's arms, its colorful goldfish lifting its head above the water, excitedly, "Master, let's dive in! I want to see the Crystal Palace! I want to see the Crystal Palace!" The realm they entered was: The Crystal Palace of the Sun's Sovereign! Chriss removed her formal jacket and dress, donning a white blouse, black stockings, and lace, her graceful, sensuous figure plunging into the sea with a soft "plunged" sound. She moved like a deep-sea torpedo, swiftly descending toward the ocean floor, trailing a steady stream of bubbles. Not long after, in the dark, lightless depths, she spotted a brilliant glow—a light emitted by sea creatures resembling anglerfish. This marine creature resembles the commonly known lanternfish, but is ten times larger, its head adorned with a glowing lantern that shines like golden xenon lamps. The lantern creature glides gracefully around a magnificent crystal palace, whose architecture draws heavily on the style of the Chinese Song Dynasty, featuring abundant glass and crystal elements, with vibrant coral clusters embedded in the walls and roof. A protective array of magic seals encloses the palace. "Beautiful..." whispered Little Fish Ruis softly. Christa gazed in rapt admiration, utterly enchanted. No woman could resist such romance, not even the fiery, impetuous girl-fairy. "There are words there!" Little Fish Ruis, with her short fin, pointed toward the forecourt of the palace. Christa blinked and turned her gaze—there, on the white coral powder that covered the forecourt, a line of Chinese characters outlined in colorful shells: "I will ensure every marine creature knows that this fish pond is now under your stewardship!" "Wow, the magical lord is so romantic—I particularly like the term 'fish pond'." "Ruth clearly didn't get the reference. Neither did Chris, who nodded vigorously. …… Yuzheng, Dongdu. In a villa within the city district, Lady Yin Yao knelt before a tea tray, her head bowed, carefully warming the teaware with both hands. A delicate red-clay stove at her side gently released a steady stream of steam from a refined teapot. The fresh, invigorating scent of tea filled the tea room, which featured tatami mats, floor-to-ceiling windows, antique bookshelves, and walls adorned with ink paintings and calligraphy scrolls. Facing her, on a cushion, sat a serene, ethereal woman. Dressed in a white short-line down jacket and black relaxed trousers, she bare her slender, pale feet. Her demeanor was cool and composed, her long black hair simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin. Her features were strikingly beautiful, radiating an otherworldly grace; her full, rosy lips were especially alluring. Her thick, curled lashes, without even a hint of eyeliner, gave her eyes a bright, lively sparkle. Her skin shimmered with a translucent, sun-kissed glow. "Master, though it's true we often stay close to our homeland, you should go to the Capital or Songhai—those are the most prosperous cities. Dongdu has already declined." Princess Yin Yao lifted the teapot, pouring out a golden-hued tea. "The cuisine there is especially delightful; I can no longer taste it myself. You should definitely try it." Since returning to the mortal world, the Lady of San Dao Mountain had glanced at her outer-door disciple and coldly remarked, "If you find my surroundings dull and monotonous, go seek your Sun Sovereign." After returning to the mortal world, the Lady of San Dao Mountain had come to Dongdu. She wandered through the city, only to find that time had erased the traces of her past visits—people and places had changed, and everything had grown still. With no fresh interest to engage her, she settled here with her disciples, choosing to live quietly. Holding the small megaphone, Princess Yin Yao sighed, "I'm not particularly interested in the Sun Sovereign, but this place does feel rather uneventful. Songhai, on the other hand, is far more engaging. I can stir up conflicts among his women, watch them compete—what a delight that would Before he had finished speaking, a sharp blow landed on his forehead. Zhang Yuan coldly sniffed, "No duels, then? If not, why send me to the frontier?" Lady Yin Yao, flexible and resilient, replied, "That was just a jest. Lady Yin Yao vows to serve the harmony of the Sun Sovereign's inner court with unwavering dedication, until the very end of my life." Zhang Yuan sat beside the Lady of San Dao Mountain, took the cup offered by his devoted sister-in-training with polite courtesy, sipped it, and then expressed his displeasure. "It's not good. Go buy me a cold Coca-Cola!" Lady Yin Yao promptly rose and went out. After sending her away, Zhang Yuan turned his head and gazed at the magnificent side profile of the sturdy old lady, saying, "I consulted the Heavenly Sovereign. To become a human immortal, you need only one attendant—the position of the Sun Sovereign's servant is already taken by the God of Light. However, the Lord of the Spiritual Realm and the Cosmic God may have many attendants." The Lady of San Dao Mountain furrowed her brows. "You once said that refining the Yin and the Stars would take "One composed and serene, the other dignified and regal—like the emperor and empress seated upon the throne." Zhang Yuanqing smiled gently. "I can see that your Master has long yearned for the rank of Human Immortal. Don't worry, I haven't finished yet. The Sun's Sovereign currently has only one attendant, but once I refine the stars and elevate my own status, I shall have three attendants. At that point, I will assist you in refining your divine essence to become a Human Immortal. Should you wish to advance further, to stand on par with the deities, you will need to cultivate for several thousand to even tens of thousands of years—perhaps even longer. Alternatively, once I fully refine the Moon and the stars, I can elevate you to the highest rank in one step." Upon hearing this, the Lady of San Dao slowly relaxed her elegant brows. Shifting his tone, Zhang Yuanqing said, "In fact, if you elevate your own status, you could quickly refine your divine essence and ascend to the rank of Human Immortal—without my assistance. This would be the fastest path." The Lady of San Dao's eyes sparkled. "How exactly can one elevate one's status?" Suddenly, the Lady of San Dao Mountain tensed—not because of the Sun Sovereign’s words, but because a strong arm quietly climbed her slender waist, winding like a serpent along the graceful curve of her waist, gliding over her jade back, circling to her abdomen, and finally cradling her waist. "Having said that, she fixed her keen gaze upon the Three-Path Mountain Lady," "Why is your expression so unusual?" The Three-Path Mountain Lady replied calmly, "What do you mean? I am perfectly well." The Lady Yin Yao pressed the small megaphone closer to the Three-Path Mountain Lady, "Your expression has clearly been odd all along." The Three-Path Mountain Lady coldly replied, "Foolish disciple!" Yin Yao silently retracted the megaphone, "I must have mistaken something." Her master had momentarily been unable to accept that her disciple had become her partner. Zhang Yuanqing stood by, smiling quietly. Those who sought wealth often acted on impulse, while those who wished to win hearts did so gradually—especially when it came to the master's own heart. ... The full moon hung high above. Zhang Yuanqing stood within a medieval-style castle, before a small square window. A lush garden, adorned with vibrant flowers and lush greenery, surrounded the castle, the delicate blooms and fresh plants bathed in the gentle moonlight, as if draped in a light veil. Zhang Yuanqing spoke in a steady tone: "After I ascended as the Sovereign of the Sun, I conducted several 'purification' campaigns on the Spiritual Realm, weakening the evil spiritual energies that once were so powerful. Yet the evil deities' gradual infiltration continues to accumulate, and to fully expel them, only a Cosmic God can achieve it. The challenge lies in the fact that the divine essence of the third major region has already merged with the Spiritual Realm and now forms part of its administrative structure. Once any of the evil professions in the third region reaches the rank of semi-divine or divine, they can collaborate with the external evil deities from outside the realm—precisely when I am simultaneously refining the Stars and the Moon. In that case, the order of the realm will be at great risk." "Based on the experiences of the first and second regions, it typically takes three to four decades from the emergence of the first Lingjing Travelers to the appearance of the first half-deity. I aim to achieve awakening within three to four decades." Zhang Yuanqing turned to look at the figure behind him. "You have only six months. If you can't conceive a child by then, we'll wait until I awaken." A pair of long, smooth, elegant white legs emerged from the darkness, securely wrapping around Zhang Yuanqing's waist. Then came a soft, melodic voice, speaking with a coquettish tone: "Then for the next six months, you must sleep with me every single day." Zhang Yuanqing removed his clothes and carried the two large white pythons on his shoulders, chuckling. "Ah, Beauty, we've shared so many nights together—how many times have you managed to stay with me for just one week?" ... Hualan County! In the village by the Eer Fjord, beneath the shade of the outdoor umbrella at the tavern, Chen Yuanjun wore sunglasses, lounging lazily on a long bench, savoring the region's most renowned apple wine and local snacks. He took a light sip, watching his energetic parents board the boat and begin their journey through the fjords. During the Spring Festival holiday, reportedly a family outcast, they insisted on taking him and his mother abroad for a vacation. The festive atmosphere in Songhai wasn't as vibrant—people generally didn't visit relatives, and for locals, the Spring Festival meant nothing more than a regular extended holiday. As a result, most Songhai residents chose to travel out of town during the holiday season. Chen Yuanjun, a workaholic, usually wanted to stay at home and slowly go moldy during his rare vacations. But the family outcast quietly mentioned that the Third Region had just launched, and if he took a trip to Northern Europe, he might just earn a character card. A few days ago, Chen Yuanjun had privately asked the family outcast, wondering: "Since character cards can be inherited, why are you a half-god while I'm just an ordinary person? Could it be that I'm not even biologically related?" The family outcast replied: "That's because my father is a player from the Second Region, and you've always stayed in the First Region—so naturally, you couldn't have received a character card." So, even though he knew his family's disgrace was using character cards to lure him away for a vacation, Chen Yuanjun still came along. In a blink, the holiday was down to its final day. Indeed, even a descendant of a half-divine being couldn't always secure a character card—and my personality is quite different from my father's... Chen Yuanjun is a seasoned police officer. Though he felt a bit disappointed, he didn't dwell on it much. He wanted to become a spiritual realm traveler—not only out of his desire for extraordinary powers, but also because he didn't want to be the only one in his family who hadn't achieved anything. Still, if fate didn't align, he could remain focused on his current duties. Maintaining public order and peace was essentially the same. As his thoughts flickered, Chen Yuanjun suddenly felt a ringing in his ears, followed by a calm, emotionless electronic voice: 【Ping! Character card activated】 【Race: Human】 【Profession: Watcher—welcome to the Spiritual Realm...】 Final thoughts. After all, I thought it was time to write a final note. Unconsciously, the "Spirit Realm" series has been going for two years. For the first year and a half, I was writing nonstop, staying up late every night. By the second half, I gradually burned out—my physical ailments have been mentioned many times, even with dedicated chapters detailing them, so I won't repeat them here. All I can do is quietly endure criticism, quietly undergo health check-ups, and focus on restoring my health during the completion period. But please believe me—my physical condition truly deteriorated, which directly caused the slowdown in updates. As for readers who frequently criticize me online, actually, as the series progresses, my tolerance for their criticism grows stronger (though I was also patient in the early days). After all, those who continue reading through to the later stages are true, devoted fans. As an author, how could I possibly blame such loyal fans? It's like a father not wanting to scold his son—no, I made a mistake—actually, it's the son who doesn't want to scold his father (dog head). Let's return to the novel itself. Although "Spirit Realm" has some minor flaws, its overall completion level is quite high. With over four million words, most of the The protagonist and the magic king are the same person, with numerous hints established right from the beginning—so many that by the end, many readers had already figured it out. The transition in identity feels natural and well-justified, thanks to a solid overarching outline, including historical foreshadowing within the spiritual realm and hints about the Star Sovereign. While small details may show minor flaws or lapses due to the accumulated fatigue of writing over two years, the overall structure remains intact—such imperfections are inevitable, as human memory is never as precise as a computer's. This genre of pseudo-infinite stream narrative is entirely new to me, and achieving this level of success is truly a testament to everyone's generous support and appreciation. I never set out to write literary masterpieces or classics, nor do I aspire to become a renowned literary figure. My simple intentions are twofold: first, to earn a living through writing, and second, to create engaging stories that bring joy and delight to my readers—whether they're quick-service reads or affordable, accessible ones—just enough to make them smile, and that's all I truly hope for. I've been writing books for several years now, and the environment of online literature has changed significantly since then—everyone's growing more impatient, including myself. I deeply feel the pressures people face, as well as their sense of confusion and persistent, dull ache in navigating life. Most of us are ordinary people, not enjoying the joys of the upper class. Therefore, if I can offer readers a simple mental uplift—just a few cents per day, for just a few to ten minutes—then my writing will truly have meaning. Additionally, after the books are completed, there will be drawing events to thank the loyal readers. The drawing events for subscribers and chapter champions have been mentioned several times now. However, recently, I still receive questions from readers in book reviews and private messages about how to join the subscriber group, so I'm reiterating: there's a way to join the subscriber group in the novel's introduction (highlight this point). I will gradually organize the drawing events for the subscriber group and gifts for chapter champions after the books are completed. Please join the group early, pay attention to the timing of the draws, and don't miss them. But lately, I've needed to step back and clear my mind. After finishing the last word yesterday, I felt a sense of relief, yet today, when I opened my computer to watch a movie for a bit of relaxation, I found myself unsure about what new films have been released recently. I wanted to watch anime, but I couldn't recall which seasons of the anime I particularly enjoy—my favorite Chinese or Japanese series—have been updated to, or even remember their names. Used to filling my leisure time with writing and planning, I now feel a sudden sense of emptiness and confusion when a project concludes unexpectedly. During the ongoing serialization, writing had become almost a muscle memory—each evening I'd write several hundred words for a supplementary chapter, then force myself to calm down. This supplementary chapter was meant to cover the Third Region. Since I've mentioned it now, let me elaborate on it. In the overall structure of the book, the Third Region has served as a background setting. Yuanzi initially operated in the Second Region, visited the First Region at one point, and then returned—after which the main storyline came to a close. Therefore, I never intended to write about the Third Region in detail. The main character in the third major region's new village is showing off—boring, lacking in appeal. However, during the mid-stage of writing, I considered after finishing the main storyline: switching protagonists and treating the third major region's plot as an epilogue or even a sequel. Both options would be better than forcing the third region's narrative into the current book.