The leaders of the Five Elements Alliance control the most sacred secrets of the Spirit Realm... Similarly, does the leader of the evil organization? Zhang Yuanqing did not immediately open his eyes, maintaining a stiff standing posture while contemplating the information he had retrieved from Xiaohou Tianyuan's memory. Suddenly, he recalled the conversation between the Demon King and the members of the Beauty Association—the woman had enticed the Demon King to meet with the President of the Beauty Association, using the very secret of the Spirit Realm as her bargaining chip. If the leaders of the Five Elements Alliance hold this ultimate secret, then the official organization's research into the Spirit Realm is actually quite profound. Yet lower- and mid-level personnel have no access—so it’s unclear whether the senior Realm Walkers are aware. Indeed, Xiaohou Xin has some understanding; surely the elders must know too—but probably do not control it themselves... Indeed, the Dark Night Rose clearly harbors significant ambitions—the leader of this organization may not yet be at the level of an Alliance chief, but is certainly close. Zhang Yuanqing finally opened his eyes and met a pair of deeply shimmering, luminous gaze. "How does it go?" Fu Qingyang asked. "Somewhat fruitful…" Zhang Yuanqing relayed the results of his inquiry into the Spirit Realm. Fu Qingyang stared silently, his elegant, sculpted face growing even more statuesque in expression. After a while, he slowly nodded: "Xiaohou Chi is not the most outstanding among Xiaohou's descendants, yet his ambitions are considerable." Zhang Yuanqing didn’t immediately grasp this—only after several seconds did it dawn on him that Fu Qingyang was analyzing why Xiaohou Chi had chosen to join the Dark Night Rose. He seemed to be gradually treating me as a peer—a smart person who simply needs to hear my straightforward explanation? That’s good, though it will surely tire me out. Zhang Yuanqing said: "Xiaohou Tianyuan has limited knowledge of the Dark Night Rose; he is likely just an outsider member." In this statement, Zhang Yuanqing subtly implied that it was time to eliminate Xiaohou Xin. Fu Qingyang nodded and said: "I have already assembled personnel—let us depart immediately and arrest Xiaohou Xin." The two proceeded down the stairs back to the first floor. At the staircase entrance, Ling Jun stood casually in seven-seam pants, slip-on shoes, and a loose short-sleeved shirt, leaning gracefully against the handrail with an elegant posture, smiling warmly: "What information have you extracted from Xiaohou Tianyuan?" Fu Qingyang replied calmly: "He cannot access confidential information. To uncover members of the Dark Night Rose who are embedded within the branches, we must begin by targeting Xiaohou Xin." Ah—Zhang Yuanqing was startled. How could such confidential information be revealed to this rather perceptive but reserved representative of Taiyi Gate? As a scout, Fu Qingyang sensed Zhang Yuanqing’s surprise and explained: "Please don’t mind—He is one of the members I established within my 'White Tiger Guards,' a reliable companion." The White Tiger Guards? Zhang Yuanqing expressed his confusion with a look. Ling Jun maintained her graceful pose and smiled: "Do you know why, aside from official organizations, do wild Realm Walkers still form independent civilian associations?" Mutual aid? Not quite—after all, the proper survival strategy for Realm Walkers is to remain cautious, since without prestige points, even fellow-aligned Walkers may hunt each other without deducting moral credit… Zhang Yuanqing mused: "Sharing strategies?" If there had to be one reason, perhaps that was it. Ling Jun nodded: "That's partly correct—but what truly helps to overcome mutual suspicion and vigilance is not strategy sharing, but something known as the 'Faction Order.'" "Faction Order?" As a game enthusiast, Zhang Yuanqing recognized this term instantly. "A Faction Order is a Prop that enables Realm Walkers to form their own power groups—this concept should be clear to you, being a young person," Ling Jun explained: "Such an order brings many benefits—for instance, in the Spirit Realm, Realm Walker attributes receive bonuses; upon completing missions, additional experience points are awarded; exclusive instances are available for each faction; unique faction-specific tasks exist; and team-ups with members of the same faction can be arranged when entering instances—benefits multiply especially when all members share the same level. "By the way, you may know that the Five Elements Alliance is formed by a coalition of five organizations, which originally began as small factions and gradually evolved into the five most powerful forces in the Spirit Realm world." At this point, Ling Jun turned to Fu Qingyang and gave him a slightly dismissive look: "As the faction leader, one receives the greatest attribute enhancement." That explains why the Five Elements Alliance has so many independent factions—why Guan Ya once told me that I was part of the White Tiger Army, and that when my level grows, I will likely join a faction, with its leader being just that female Marshal. Now it makes sense—the Faction Order exists! If I could secure one, I could build my own group to house informants such as the Master of Zhishake Palace and Master Wuhen. Zhang Yuanqing asked eagerly: "How does one obtain a Faction Order?" Fu Qingyang replied: "By successfully completing a multi-participant instance challenge and leading the team to victory—there is then a certain chance of receiving a Faction Order." Ling Jun added with a tone of amusement: "Fu Qingyang himself was lucky when he reached the Elevated Stage—he received a Level 2 Faction Order by sheer fortune." "Can a faction be renewed?" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly wondered—if the predecessor of the Five Elements Alliance consisted of five small factions, then Fu Qingyang must have joined the White Tiger Army long ago. "Certainly—not contradictory at all," Ling Jun said, smiling with one eye half-closed: "For instance, I am a member of Taiyi Gate, also belong to Bǎi Huā Association, and am simultaneously part of Fu Qingyang’s newly formed 'White Tiger Guards.' Thus, when participating in instances, as long as I match with any one of the three factions, I receive bonuses. However, if I match with members from both of the three faction groups, then a choice must be made among them." Well—so you're actually a trilingual servant! Zhang Yuanqing glanced sideways at him. Being appointed to one of the White Tiger Guards indicates that Fu Qingyang places great trust in him. At this moment, Fu Qingyang looked toward the hall and said calmly: "Let’s postpone our conversation—time to go." Just then, a group arrived at the entrance—the White Dragon, Green Vine, Guan Ya, Jiang Jingwei, and Deputy Chief Tengyuan. Though the number was modest, they were all elite personnel. Jiang Jingwei crossed her arms, walked in with an unyielding gait, and laughed loudly from a distance: "Stiff-faced male, sleepy-eyed fellow—how pleasant to see you again!" With her fiery red hair swaying rhythmically, the young woman approached, vigorously patting Zhang Yuanqing on his shoulder: "You’re here too!" Her height only reached Zhang Yuanqing’s chest—she had to lift up on her toes to make contact. Ah—how strong she is! Zhang Yuanqing silently gritted his teeth. "Long time no see, Jingwei!" Ling Jun stepped forward and gently shook the girl's head. "How is your brother?" "Not allowed to touch my head!" Jiang Jingwei stormed, launching a direct punch at her. Ling Jun swiftly sidestepped. Zhang Yuanqing quickly grasped the young woman’s soft hand, preventing her from being knocked flat on her face. Fu Qingyang said: "Let's go!" Tengyuan Chief nodded first and then looked toward Zhang Yuanqing: "For each appearance, a one-thousand-yuan subsidy." "Thank you, Chief!" Zhang Yuanqing responded enthusiastically. …… Four business vehicles entered the Junli Hotel, where they ascended by elevator directly to Floor 39—the suite where Xiaohou Xin and his bodyguards had reserved their rooms. The entire floor was booked by the Xiaohou family—quietly serene along the corridors. Fu Qingyang led the group to the end of the corridor, arriving at the President's Suite. He did not ring the bell but paused, listening attentively for a moment, then furrowed his brows: "No one appears inside—the room is empty. Guan Ya, check whether anyone else from the Xiaohou family is present." Guan Ya immediately knocked on the door adjacent to the suite—upon opening it, a middle-aged man in a black suit emerged, tall and slender with a cold, composed expression. "Who are you seeking?" The man scanned the group intently. Guan Ya studied him for several moments, confirmed that he was indeed a Realm Walker, then said calmly: "We are official Realm Walkers from Kangyang District—we have matters to discuss with Xiaohou Xin—where is he located?" Official personnel… The man’s brow furrowed slightly: "Xiaohou Xin is currently resting in the room." Guan Ya shook her head: "He isn’t actually inside." The man paused, then calmly replied: "I will call him and check." With a hand from his pocket, he pulled out his Smartphone and dialed Xiaohou Xin’s number. After a while, the thin-bodied bodyguard placed down his phone with a look of resignation: "Xiaohou Xin has not left today—no command to leave that I’ve received. You may either wait here or return. I will inform him upon his return." Guan Ya turned to Fu Qingyang. Fu Qingyang remained expressionless: "Please summon the hotel manager and ask for access to open the door." "You are not permitted to enter Xiaohou Xin’s room without prior notice," the middle-aged bodyguard stated firmly. "Unbelievable—willing to challenge a one-on-one?" Jiang Jingwei crossed her arms, her tone heated. Tengyuan Chief adjusted his glasses, eyes slightly glazed: "I will file a work-related injury claim on your behalf." "I'm strong—I won’t get hurt!" Jiang Jingwei insisted. Tengyuan Chief replied calmly: "That is merely my notification of employee benefits." "Excellent leader!" Zhang Yuanqing raised one finger in admiration: "Manager, I feel the weather is getting quite hot—may I request a heat allowance?" The Tengyuan Chief nodded: "I’ll have you submit a formal application shortly." Fu Qingyang silently observed this scene, considering whether to disband the second unit and reorganize it—or perhaps recall Li Dongze earlier. After several minutes, Guan Ya returned with an on-duty staff member under her authority. The group cleared the path for the staff member, who presented her employee card and swiped it across the door handle of the President's Suite. "Click!" At that instant, as the staff member turned the doorknob, all present simultaneously sensed a subtle, invisible "barrier" shatter—soft wind currents swept across the corridor. Fu Qingyang narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped into the suite first. Zhang Yuanqing and others followed behind—the living room was empty. Fu Qingyang, as the officer in charge, stood motionless with a disinterested demeanor; Tengyuan Chief remained inactive—others each proceeded to check the restroom, study, and bedroom. Jiang Jingwei opened the bedroom door and glanced inside—then abruptly turned around, shouting: "He’s here!" The group gathered quickly—the curtains were drawn tightly, light dim, and a figure lay motionless on the bed. Ling Jun snapped the lights on with a sound of "click." The figure lying in bed was none other than Xiaohou Xin—his body rigid and motionless. Tengyuan Chief, wearing her high heels, stepped to the bedside and conducted an inspection before stating: "He has passed away—the rigidity suggests death occurred over five hours ago." Xiaohou Xin is dead? Exactly at this pivotal moment?! Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily unsure whether he should feel elated or weighed down. How remarkably coincidental—Xiaohou Xin's passing! The bodyguards who had accompanied them into the suite first expressed disbelief, then upon hearing Tengyuan Chief’s report, grew visibly alarmed: "That doesn’t make sense—the Xiaohou Xin called for breakfast at nine-thirty this morning." And now it was exactly eleven o'clock. Fu Qingyang remained composed: "White Dragon, Green Vine, Jiang Jingwei, and Tengyuan Chief—please go outside first." Once these individuals had departed, Fu Qingyang closed the bedroom door and turned to Zhang Yuanqing: "The degree of rigidity in a corpse doesn’t always accurately reflect the time of death—do you recall how 'Unimpeded' died?" Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood: "Was Xiaohou Xin killed by a Night Wandering Deity?" Fu Qingyang nodded slightly: "The senior executives within the Dark Night Rose are Night Wandering Deities." Guan Ya deeply frowned: "So, Xiaohou Xin was murdered by the Dark Night Rose?" Zhang Yuanqing couldn’t help but glance toward Lao Si Ji—these details were not accessible to ordinary official Realm Walkers. Clearly, Guan Ya had privately acquired many important pieces of information from Fu Qingyang. Indeed, she is his sister-in-law. "We just eliminated Xiaohou Tianyuan—and now Xiaohou Xin has been murdered? This seems impossible—even with partial information leakage, such a swift succession would be remarkable," Zhang Yuanqing mused—his logical reasoning skills were quite strong. At this moment, Ling Jun leaned against the wall, her eyes half-closed: "If the killer is an advanced Night Wandering Deity, then perhaps no prior intelligence disclosure is required." What does that mean? Zhang Yuanqing didn’t yet understand—but Fu Qingyang simply nodded and added: "Yuan Shi—please check whether Xiaohou Xin’s spirit body remains intact." Why doesn't a Night Wandering Deity require advance notice? I dislike your manner of speaking… Zhang Yuanqing approached the bedside, his eyes dark with energy as he attempted to communicate with the residual spirit within the corpse. After several seconds, the darkness in his gaze faded and he shook his head toward Fu Qingyang and the other two: "The spirit body has disappeared." Fu Qingyang had anticipated this—he responded calmly, observing Zhang Yuanqing: "An advanced Night Wandering Deity possesses the ability to perceive destiny—should Xiaohou Xin have happened to meet that killer at a specific time point, then the fate of his death would have been visible to him." The Night Wandering Deity also has this ability? Seeing the course of destiny—yes, this time we’ve come specifically to arrest Xiaohou Xin and eliminate Wen Ling... Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback. Mastering the powers of the Yellow and White Sovereigns, capable of foreseeing fate—how terrifying is an advanced Night Wandering Deity? He then frowned immediately: “Isn’t Xiaohou Chi also in danger?” If he were a senior official within the Dark Night Rose, observing Xiaohou Xin’s destiny and sensing that Xiaohou Chi’s lineage had already been exposed, he would surely continue to execute killings to eliminate key figures. “Don’t worry!” Ling Jun smiled: “Xiaohou Chi is currently detained in the Dog Elder's zoo—making it difficult for him to be eliminated quietly.” “How can you criticize the Elder?” Zhang Yuanqing was stunned. Ling Jun blinked: “I didn’t even say anything about the Elder.” “Dog Ling Jun!” “How could you address people that way?” “Right, so why are you blaming the Elder?” Fu Qingyang gave them a sharp, piercing gaze, cutting off their conversation—he noticed Yuan Shi had one flaw: being overly active. He could always find something to talk about with anyone, from playful banter to heated arguments. ... In the returning business vehicle, Fu Qingyang dialed the number of Elder Teddi. “Elder, Xiaohou Xin has been eliminated.” “Understood.” Fu Qingyang spoke solemnly: “The Dark Night Rose is pressing us for time—the Large Health Checkup has been postponed, and the Xiaohou family’s trail has broken right here. Our pursuit of Black Uncommonness has returned to square one. Moreover, we’ve now alerted them—we know they will swiftly arrange meetings between the Dark Night Rose and Black Uncommonness. With such developments, time is growing short. The only current breakthrough remains Xiaohou Chi.” A pause came on the other end: “Xiaohou Chi is at the peak of the Sage Realm—only one step away from becoming a Sovereign. To eliminate him, we must convene the other four Elders and coordinate with the Xiaohou family. That will take time. Let’s temporarily suspend this line.” “Agreed!” Fu Qingyang spoke calmly, his expression steady. After ending the call, he leaned back against the seat, silent and still. ... In another vehicle, Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows: “Xiaohou Chi will be unable to move for some time—our plan to trace Black Uncommonness through the Dark Night Rose has now collapsed. Well, we’re back at square one again, having to once more search far and wide for the Wu Gu Master. Ah, if we continue to delay, the attendants of the Ghost-Eye Judge will begin to erupt one after another—the Dark Night Rose’s leadership will surely meet Black Uncommonness soon, severely damaging our official image. And with that, the very problem-solving agent—Black Uncommonness—will become a major liability.” Even as sharp and resourceful as he was, he could not think of any better course at this moment. Zhang Yuanqing intended to consult his teammates—first glanced at Jiang Jingwei on the left, then noted the apathetic attitude of Tengyuan Chief. Lao Si Ji had already boarded her nephew’s vehicle. I’ll just have to work things out myself… he sighed quietly. “What happened to that person? Truly dull—I thought we’d get a chance to fight.” Jiang Jingwei's voice was clear and bright, still not fully grasping what had occurred today, filled with disappointment. “Did you stop going to school?” Zhang Yuanqing asked. “I’m still reading—only I don’t go to the school anymore,” Jiang Jingwei said as she sat cross-legged on the spacious seat. “My father says the teachers aren’t teaching effectively—he hired a private tutor for me. He hires one, and I beat him.” With these words, a bright, proud expression lit up her lovely face. “And now, your private tutor has left?” Jiang Jingwei frowned: “Later on, he arranged for a Fire Master at the Sage Realm level to serve as my tutor—now every time we meet, I beat that tutor.” That’s the classic case of magic defeating magic—and a Fire Master defeating another Fire Master? Zhang Yuanqing was filled with frustration. ... Late night. In the bridge arch over the river in Kangyang District. The night in Songhai lacks moonlight—neither the streetlights nor their glow reach this shadowed corner. A figure in a windbreaker, wearing a baseball cap and mask, walks out from the night, stops before the arch. He gazes into the dark arch and murmurs: “You’ve finally responded to my connection—you are truly unkind to the Heaven’s Way.” From within the arch comes a crisp snort: “The one who has been constantly active—Ling Jun—is now gone. The Elder is deeply dissatisfied, and our few remaining trust relations are fading away.” The figure in the windbreaker speaks steadily: “Ling Jun's death was unexpected—who could have imagined that Yuan Shi Tian Zun held such a reserve hand? Moreover, this incident has already exposed the Dark Night Rose to official scrutiny. Even worse, the Xiaohou family has also been revealed—thankfully, the Grand Protector sensed it early and eliminated Xiaohou Xin, otherwise I myself might have been exposed.” The figure inside the arch adds: “This is precisely why I’ve responded—to the official forces are gradually approaching us. If we continue to delay, it will become detrimental for both parties. The Elder needs to see our sincerity.” The figure in the windbreaker asks: “What would Black Uncommonness like from us?” The person inside the arch replies coldly: “Eliminate Yuan Shi Tian Zun and avenge Ling Jun.” The figure in the windbreaker pauses, then nods firmly: “Understood! And now—do you have answers to the matters I’ve asked about?” The one inside the arch says: “The Ghost-Eye Judge was indeed killed by the Demon King. Among those present, besides the Elder, there was another figure—their Spirit Realm ID is known as the Youth Soldier Prince.” “Ye-ye...” The man in the windbreaker murmurs softly, after a few seconds, then asks: “Who is he? Do we have any real-world documentation on him?” “There is! The Elder knows his information well.” The tone of the figure in the windbreaker grows urgent: “I need all of his records.” “Agreed. Three days from now—should I receive news that Yuan Shi Tian Zun has been eliminated, I will meet again at this very location and deliver the full documentation of ‘Youth Soldier Prince’ to you,” said the one inside the arch, then added: “What is it exactly that you are seeking?” The man in the windbreaker replied gently: “It doesn’t matter—what you need to know.” ... “Fizz... fizz…” Zhang Yuanqing, half-asleep, was startled awake by the current sound from the Cat King Speaker. This device always plays audio without warning… He pushed back the blanket and walked to his desk, opened the drawer, and took out the speaker. Notably, inside the drawer, there was also a white lace bra belonging to Aunt—Zhang Yuanqing had originally planned to gently place it beneath his aunt’s bed, but having returned late today, he decided to discuss it with her tomorrow morning instead. To prevent the sound of magic or women playing cards from waking up the family members, Zhang Yuanqing held the Cat King Speaker close and was always ready to enter into a Night Wandering state. The current sound continued for several seconds, then a familiar voice came through: “What do you want from me? Didn’t we agree that we would not meet again?” The voice of Bing Brother… Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes widened. Then followed the voice of the Demon King: “I am about to touch upon that domain—but before I reach it, I wish to first eliminate the Ghost-Eye Judge and the Youth Soldier Prince. I would like your assistance—I surely do not want to be under the control of the Ghost-Eye Judge anymore.”