The gap between Sages is unexpectedly vast… Zhang Yuanqing once again felt this deeply within his heart. That very day at the Fenghua District Public Security Bureau, Fu Qingyang had wounded Pang Zhixing with a single sword stroke—then he too had shared similar sentiments. But back then, everyone remained composed; it was not a life-or-death confrontation. He had thought that when things truly came to a climax, Pang Zhixing might at least stand his ground and fight Fu Qingyang fiercely. Yet now, all that had happened was that Pang Zhixing had merely lingered a little longer before succumbing. Zhang Yuanqing stepped onto the balcony, his feet sinking into fresh bloodstains. Blackness surged through his eyes as he established communication with the residual spirit within his body. At that moment, someone lightly tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see Fu Qingyang’s composed face: “Give me the Artifact.” “Oh—right…” Zhang Yuanqing thought he had almost forgotten it. He immediately retrieved the Artifact and handed it over, then hesitated before adding: “Could we possibly avoid cuffing me this time?” Fu Qingyang gave a calm nod: “It’s just a matter of one hand’s force.” “...” No need to talk! Zhang Yuanqing continued communicating with his lingering spirit. After several seconds, he gradually gathered the fragmented spirit and summoned it forth. Pang Zhixing’s spirit appeared solemn yet slightly stiff—far more solid than any spirit Zhang Yuanqing had ever encountered before. A Sage-stage spirit… how much experience could this possibly bring me? Zhang Yuanqing felt both delighted and anxious. Beside him, Fu Qingyang said: “Pang Zhixing is a Level 4 Sage. There’s a risk of mental disorientation if we consume his spirit—but with the purification Artifact in place, that risk will be minimized while the benefits remain unchanged.” Yes—compared to the rewards from consuming a Sage’s spirit, this level of risk was entirely manageable. Zhang Yuanqing nodded. Fu Qingyang continued: “But this Artifact isn’t all-powerful; you must understand the boundary. Level 4 Orderly Professions are your absolute limit. Level 4 Evil Organizations and Night Wandering Deities, as well as Level 5 Orderly Professions—do not attempt to engage them.” Zhang Yuanqing asked: “What happens if we do?” Fu Qingyang looked at him: “You will die.” Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and swallowed Pang Zhixing’s spirit whole. Instantly, a flood of spiritual energy surged into his mind, accompanied by disordered memories and negative emotions—like being caught in the midst of a river current, clutching tightly to the edges. He felt vulnerable, as if he might be swept away and ground into powder at any moment. This was undoubtedly the most perilous encounter in his spirit-inquiry journey so far. After enduring for what seemed like an eternity, the powerful flood finally subsided, stabilizing Zhang Yuanqing’s awareness. He eagerly absorbed the scattered memories. In a hazy state of consciousness, he saw a refined room filled with sandalwood incense, and a figure draped in a cloak standing by the window—his voice rough, hard to distinguish: “You’ve done many things regularly; if discovered by the Five Elements Alliance, even though you might not be executed, you’d have to serve lengthy prison terms. How do you consider these matters?” Next, Zhang Yuanqing heard Pang Zhixing’s voice reply: “What can we offer you?” “My talent is exceptional—once you join the Dark Night Rose, you’ll certainly receive nurturing. We can also provide internal resources and support for your career progression within the Alliance, and assist you in passing through the Large Health Checkup. Of course, the most critical point…” The figure at the window paused, then slowly said: “The Dark Night Rose will ultimately dominate the Spirit Realm. Its leader will become the foremost Night Wandering Deity—replacing the head of Taiyi Gate.” “Agreed—I accept joining the Dark Night Rose!” “Excellent. From now on, I shall be your superior—you may refer to me as Senior Guardian.” … The scene shifted again—still that same room with sandalwood incense burning, and the figure at the window spoke in a serious tone: “The Black Unusual has contacted us—he is currently stationed in Place. The leader has entrusted me with details of his negotiations.” “What shall I do?” Pang Zhixing asked. “Keep closely monitoring the Five Elements Alliance’s activities and await my instructions.” “Understood!” Pang Zhixing hesitated, then queried: “What are the leaders and Black Unusual planning to discuss behind closed doors?” The figure in the cloak smiled, his voice rough yet warm: “The Demon King and the Guardian of the Strange Eye have both fallen. These two elements—this Artifact and the Fallen Cup—are currently balanced against each other. To control the Fallen Cup, the Black Unusual must now seek our leader’s cooperation.” “What is that Artifact?” “That is an item held by the Demon King—it represents one of the highest achievements within the Night Wandering Deity profession, a treasure long cherished by both the Taiyi Gate and its leader.” … The river flowed steadily beneath a dark night sky. Inside a bridge arch, a man’s voice resonated: “Kill Yuan Shi Tian Zun—avenging the Unimpeded.” “The Guardian of the Strange Eye did indeed fall under the hands of the Demon King. Among those present at the time, aside from the leader, there was another individual—their Spirit Realm ID is known as the Young Soldier-King.” “If I receive news of Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s death within three days, I will meet you again here—and I shall provide your documentation on the Young Soldier-King.” The personal profile of the Young Soldier-King in the real world? By now, Zhang Yuanqing had finally cursed under his breath. His deepest fears had come true—the Dark Night Rose is indeed seeking the Demon King’s heir. Once this information reaches the Dark Night Rose, his identity as the Demon King’s descendant will be exposed—thus, he would have to disclose it openly to the Five Elements Alliance. Yet he still didn’t understand why both Taiyi Gate and the Dark Night Rose were actively searching for the Demon King’s successor. Fortunately, due to mutual suspicions between the Dark Night Rose and Black Unusual, Pang Zhixing had not disclosed any information about the Demon King’s heir to “Person of Injustice.” It truly felt like dancing on a tightrope—Zhang Yuanqing mused in his mind. Yet, speaking of it, this piece of information was critically valuable. If used well, he might even catch hold of Black Unusual himself. … A radiant, clean golden light surged forth, illuminating Zhang Yuanqing’s awareness and purifying his spirit. He broke free from the spirit inquiry session and regained consciousness. “Ah—” He found himself lying on the sofa, his head throbbing as though steel needles had been inserted into it. Was this a lingering effect of the spirit inquiry—or was it due to a blow from Fu Qingyang? Was he at risk of a cerebral hemorrhage? Zhang Yuanqing supported his head and sat up. Several meters away, on a single sofa, Fu Qingyang spoke with a tone full of gentle expectation: “Any leads?” Zhang Yuanqing pressed lightly on his brow, waiting for the pain to ease slightly before replying: “The superior of Pang Zhixing is a pilgrim known as ‘Senior Guardian.’ He always wears a cloak whenever he appears. They likely have an established method of communication—but I haven’t seen it reflected in the spirit’s memory. It may have vanished upon death, or perhaps been intentionally concealed.” He then slowly recounted all the details gathered through the inquiry—from the existence of Senior Guardian to the Large Health Checkup, and the balance between the Demon King’s Artifact and the Fallen Cup. Fu Qingyang listened patiently, his eyes narrowing slightly when he learned that the Dark Night Rose had a way to bypass the Large Health Checkup. “Any further points?” Fu Qingyang asked. These details were significant but still fell short of meeting his expectations—offering limited advantage for their efforts to capture Black Unusual. Zhang Yuanqing explained: “I understand now why Pang Zhixing decided to kill me. The night before yesterday, he met with the ‘Person of Injustice’—a close aide of Black Unusual—who requested that he eliminate me in order to avenge the Unimpeded.” Fu Qingyang’s eyes instantly brightened; his posture became upright as he nodded: “Excellent! This is our breakthrough. As soon as we capture Person of Injustice, we will be one step closer to securing Black Unusual.” Zhang Yuanqing asked: “What plans does the Hundred-man Commander have?” Fu Qingyang looked at him, smiled slightly: “That will require you to make the ultimate sacrifice—give yourself a two-day leave. Meet me at Fu Family Bay tomorrow evening.” Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed: “A brilliant strategy! The Hundred-man Commander truly is insightful. As for Pang Zhixing’s side…” Fu Qingyang seemed particularly satisfied: “I’ll handle that matter. You may now return home.” After bidding farewell, Zhang Yuanqing stepped into the elevator and exhaled deeply in relief. He had deliberately delayed revealing his most critical information until last—intentionally depleting Fu Qingyang’s emotional reserves. When he received news of their meeting three days later, Fu Qingyang would experience a sense of grounded fulfillment—thus overlooking certain subtleties. Zhang Yuanqing knew well that each time after an inquiry session, Fu Qingyang observed him carefully, using his scout abilities to assess whether he was lying or concealing information. Of course, this was entirely understandable—he himself would do the same, not out of distrust, but because he wanted control over key events. “Fu Qingyang likely hasn’t noticed my concealments—the 10% experience gained from a Sage-stage spirit—what a delight!” Zhang Yuanqing happily felt the changes brought by the experience gain. The duration of invisibility for Night Wandering skills now reached thirty-seven seconds, and other passive abilities had significantly improved. “If I can defeat seven or eight more Sages, I might reach Level Three. Compared to the members of Taiyi Gate, Fu Qingyang clearly has greater trust in me. If we succeed in capturing Person of Injustice, he will certainly ask me for further inquiries—then, I’ll quietly conceal the identity of the Young Soldier-King.” He hoped that tomorrow’s evening action would go smoothly. … The next morning at 8:30 a.m., Guan Ya arrived at the office in her blue car. She carried a designer handbag in one hand and a homemade low-fat breakfast in the other, dressed in a white shirt, black skirt, stockings, and long legs—her hair styled elegantly and stylishly, with a fresh, delicate complexion reflecting her mixed heritage. Every morning, as she stepped out of the car, young men and middle-aged staff would appear at the windows of the administrative building, taking the opportunity to admire this special department’s elegant woman. These days, beautiful faces are plentiful—those who have undergone cosmetic enhancements or semi-permanent Korean treatments often stand out. But those with a graceful figure and refined demeanor who also own a car are less common. At the third-floor window, Chen Yuanjun stood there, smoking. “Old Chen, you’re also admiring someone?” A middle-aged officer approached and lit his cigarette. Chen Yuanjun exhaled one stream of smoke: “No.” He came specifically to smoke. The officer admired the figure in the distance, remarking: “That sway of her hips—it’s quite impressive. Why should it be embarrassing to admire a woman? You’re not young anymore—still unmarried, aren’t you? Perhaps you’ve been thinking about her?” In the Public Security Bureau, there were countless young officers quietly infatuated with that one colleague. Chen Yuanjun smiled briefly, without explaining. The woman was indeed beautiful—but his personal aesthetic threshold had always been raised by his aunt from an early age. No matter how stunning a woman appeared, she rarely managed to impress him deeply. “Speaking of which,” the officer continued, “in recent weeks, there’s consistently been a young man accompanying her—coming and going together. He might very well be her boyfriend.” “I’ll let you know when I see him,” he said. In the office, Guan Ya was eating breakfast while waiting for Yuan Shi to arrive. To her, the colleagues in Team Two were rather dull—and the longer she spent with Yuan Shi, the more interesting they became. When Yuan Shi wasn’t present, the office seemed vacant. Indeed, this young man had grown remarkably fast—just a few weeks ago, he was still a newcomer. Now, he has advanced to her own level. Guan Ya possesses strong natural talents, particularly in combat—where Sages of the Sage Stage are renowned for their solo performance capabilities. Fu’s elder relatives hold high expectations for her, believing she will experience a significant leap in overall strength when reaching the Sage Stage. Yet Guan Ya lacks strong motivation to upgrade. She enjoys food, shopping, watching shows, doing manicures, and driving—she simply does not care about promotions. After years of being a mere “mildly active” employee, Fu’s elders eventually abandoned her, and even her mother wished to arrange a marriage alliance for this lovely daughter. Guan Ya had thus sought refuge with her cousin. Yet despite this, she still refuses to upgrade. “Ah—each time the level gap widens, we’ll lose the chance to enjoy shared experiences together. I won’t be able to remain a mere ‘mildly active’ employee anymore. I should make an effort—let’s aim for Level 3 next month.” Guan Ya munched on her plain breakfast, thinking. While eating, she opened her smartphone and logged into the official Forum. A highlighted, top-posted message caught her attention: #Unexpected Death of Yuan Shi Tian Zun, a Night Wandering Deity in Team Two, Kangyang District# … Morning sunlight shone brightly over an outdoor park. A man dressed in a hooded sweater sat on a bench, his head, mask, and sunglasses fully covering his features—his face utterly concealed. “Dingdong!” A notification sounded. He reached for his phone to check the message. “The Night Wandering Deity Yuan Shi Tian Zun of Kangyang District’s Team Two has died. A post on the Five Elements Alliance official Forum reports this news, citing a source—Uan Ting, known for being outspoken—who confirmed the details. Though Uan Ting is talkative, the information provided appears to be highly credible.” “I’ll keep an eye on things and verify further.” Attached is a screenshot of a forum post. This message came from a reliable source—a Wu Gu Master of solid standing—who has his own network of contacts. After connecting with the members of the Dark Night Rose that day, he instructed one of his underlings to closely monitor developments on the Five Elements Alliance Forum. Person scoffed, powered off their smartphone, folded their hands in their pockets, and headed out of the park, head down. …