Listening to the sound from the speaker, Fu Qingyang’s stern face paused, suspecting he had misunderstood—either that Tengyuan was boldly teasing his superiors or that he simply didn’t take it seriously. After a silence of several seconds, his tone carried both expectation and composure as he said: “Yuan Shi killed Black Wu-Constant?” At this moment, Fu Qingyang’s face grew serious, his full attention fixed on the small smartphone in his hands. On the teaching building roof, Quanmou Teddi, known for her sharp hearing, also picked up the sound through the phone. With both paws resting along the edge of the rooftop and her head lowered, she stared intently with her deep-button eyes, unblinking. “Yes, and it was a solo victory—when we arrived, Black Wu-Constant had already passed away.” Tengyuan Chief’s voice remained weak, yet to Fu Qingyang and Dog Elder, it sounded like music. Dog Elder lowered her head even further and immediately said: “Ask him whether he received the Fallen Cup.” Fu Qingyang nodded slightly and asked: “Did he receive the Fallen Cup?” As soon as the words fell from his lips, he heard Yuan Shi speaking clearly through the speaker from a short distance: “Black Wu-Constant saw the tide turning and bowed low, offering the Fallen Cup in plea for mercy—but I was not moved. I refused to forgive him.” Fu Qingyang automatically omitted the rest of the conversation, his stern expression now uncommonly bright with joy. Yet over the phone, he maintained his usual composed tone as a leader: “Understood. Tell me the address—I’ll come right away.” Tengyuan replied: “We’re already en route to the school and will return within Three Minutes.” Fu Qingyang had to restrain his excitement, speaking calmly: “Very well!” After hanging up, he turned his head toward where Dog Elder had just materialized beside him. “Are you not going yet?” Fu Qingyang was surprised. Aside from the subordinates under his command—the officers—Dog Elder rarely appeared with official Pilgrims, but clearly this time she intended to wait for someone. Smiling warmly, Dog Elder said: “We can’t rest until we secure the Fallen Cup. Besides, we must meet our new talents from the Five Elements Alliance. Hmph—Sun Elder is being so clumsy! Once he emerges from the Spirit Realm, I’ll make sure to thank him properly. Qingyang, Yuan Shi Tian Zun was recruited by your subordinate Li Dongze. The more achievements he earns, the greater his influence grows for you—and when headquarters evaluates an individual’s merit, the accomplishments of those under them are also counted.” Fu Qingyang nodded: “I plan to recruit him into the White Tiger Army and develop him as a key asset.” Dog Elder paused thoughtfully: “That’s fine—on one condition: he must pass the Large Health Checkup.” As they spoke, a group of people arrived under starlight, protecting a young man at the center. At that moment, Dog Elder fell silent. When Tengyuan led the group into campus, Fu Qingyang glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, who was pale-faced among the crowd, and nodded gently: “How severe is your injury?” Zhang Yuanqing smiled: “I’ve been poisoned—it’s mostly cleared now.” Only then did Fu Qingyang feel reassured. He added: “Later on, have Qingting Commander examine you and clear any remaining toxins.” Then he turned to Tengyuan. The middle-aged man adjusted his glasses and said: “I’ve arranged for the transportation of Black Wu-Constant’s body—will deliver it shortly. Also, during the battle between Yuan Shi and Black Wu-Constant, an elderly man suffered from a parasitic infection; I’ve transferred him to the local district authority.” After listening to the report, Fu Qingyang turned to Zhang Yuanqing to ask about the Fallen Cup matter. Suddenly, he saw the young man hurriedly walking toward Dog Elder, kneeling down and vigorously rubbing her head, praising: “Hundred-man Commander—this is your dog? It fights with a dog too? I know that members of the Baihua Association can command animals in battle—I assume you’ve used some kind of prop. This dog seems quite personable—she’s clearly not satisfied with my head rub and keeps eyeing me sideways.” The others, including Qingting Bai Long, didn’t seem to find anything unusual, but Guan Ya, who was familiar with the details, stared in astonishment, her expression one of utter disbelief. Fu Qingyang watched as Dog Elder had her head vigorously rubbed and then glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, calmly saying: “Do you particularly enjoy petting pets?” “I don’t—yet this one seems so steady that I find myself compelled to do it. She’s probably not an ordinary Teddi; does she possess any special abilities?” “She has the authority to dismiss your position, remove you from the Five Elements Alliance, and issue a personal pursuit warrant.” “Huh?” Zhang Yuanqing paused—something felt off. “This is one of the five senior elders at the Songhai Branch—the direct superior under me. Oh—I see—you’re kneeling now? What’s this all about? Are we not supposed to welcome our esteemed elder with such reverence?” Zhang Yuanqing bowed deeply: “Elder, immortal in years and unifying the realm!” Quanmou Teddi glanced at him with a steady gaze, her voice deep and weathered: “It’s been over twenty years since anyone dared to touch my head. You’re quite interesting—bring out the Fallen Cup.” Zhang Yuanqing immediately opened his inventory and summoned the Fallen Cup. He did not intend to keep it solely for himself—for two reasons: first, circumstances made it impossible—he couldn’t conceal it. Street surveillance footage and appeals to Tengyuan Chief confirmed that he must share the news; secondly, his true objective was the Register, not the Cup itself. Moreover, the Fallen Cup had already been damaged, and repairing high-level rule-based props would remain beyond his capability for a long time ahead. Therefore, exchanging the Fallen Cup for merit points, monetary rewards, or prop bonuses proved far more practical. Everyone’s attention immediately turned to this exquisite crystal cup now cracked across its surface. Gazing at the empty, crack-riddled cup, Dog Elder narrowed her button eyes, then said after a pause: “Excellent work, Yuan Shi—I’ll call you Yuan Shi from now on—your name is hard to pronounce. You’ve slain Black Wu-Constant and secured the Fallen Cup—the first among all contributors. The organization will reward you.” “Thank you, Elder,” Zhang Yuanqing bowed immediately. “You must possess a certain spirit of brilliance,” Dog Elder added. “That’s exactly what the Elder said—Elder immortal in years and unifying the realm!” Zhang Yuanqing bowed again. …Dog Elder extended her paw—the Fallen Cup glided upward on its own, flashed with a soft light, then vanished. Dog Elder glanced at Fu Qingyang and said: “You will handle the follow-up matters.” Then, a wave of green light enveloped her before dissipating. Fu Qingyang organized his tasks smoothly—this included securing campus access and managing nearby surveillance units. Finally, he turned to Zhang Yuanqing and said: “Yuan Shi, come with me.” The two walked side by side toward the heart of campus. Others went about their duties, but Guan Ya’s eyes followed them throughout. … At 2 a.m., in the Fu Family Bay Villa. Seated upright before a wide-screen computer, Fu Qingyang watched as five elders joined online one after another. Once all were present, Dog Elder spoke with her mature, steady tone: “The Fallen Cup incident has concluded—we’ve confirmed Black Wu-Constant’s death. However, this event is far from over. I’ve dispatched the list of Fallen Ones recorded in the Register to each regional branch, urging them to initiate search and capture efforts. Additionally, during this battle, two members of the Dark Night Rose made appearances—one a Day Wandering Deity at the Master Level, and one a Sage-Level Fire Master.” The elder from Chì Huǒ Clan scoffed, her voice strong and earthy: “I’ll report to the Alliance Leader and investigate the Sage-Level Officer. If it’s confirmed as a member of our Chì Huǒ Clan, I’ll personally expose that traitor.” Dog Elder expressed mild displeasure: “Pay attention to your wording—there’s more to this Fallen Cup incident than meets the eye, Qingyang. Let me explain.” Fu Qingyang delivered his summary with clarity: “The combat events at Songhai Third Primary School are already known to all of you—I won’t repeat them. I’d like to clarify how Yuan Shi Tian Zun discovered Black Wu-Constant—he possesses a prop capable of treasure-seeking. While stationed at the convenience store, the prop and the Fallen Cup began resonating—therefore, he followed the guidance of the prop and located Black Wu-Constant. In this aspect, I believe there’s no need for doubt—the surveillance footage confirms his steady progress toward the scene, and I’ve tested him for deception. Furthermore, upon encountering Black Wu-Constant, he immediately sought assistance—a clear sign that he did not anticipate finding him in place.” Then came a voice rich with mature female warmth but slightly subdued: “Treasure-seeking prop? How does he have such a ‘Void’-career prop?” Fu Qingyang replied: “I only need to verify whether he lied. I believe it’s inappropriate to invade the privacy of a subordinate.” After a brief pause, seeing no objection from the Water God Palace elder, Fu Qingyang continued: “As for Black Wu-Constant’s death—there is no direct connection. He was killed by an unknown person… Yuan Shi Tian Zun was draped in a red veil at the time and didn’t see the stranger’s appearance—the surveillance can attest to that. However, the footage shows only that both stood facing each other briefly before Black Wu-Constant unexpectedly passed away.” The mid-level elder from the courtyard said gently: “It’s normal for surveillance to miss such moments. All of you—what are your impressions of the conversation between Black Wu-Constant and the mysterious figure?” That same quiet, resonant female voice responded: “He clearly knew Black Wu-Constant—but what exactly did he mean by ‘time’ and ‘place’? Is this a reference to the Day Wandering Deity’s ability to perceive fate? It seems inconsistent.” The online conference room fell into silence for several seconds before Dog Elder said: “Let us temporarily set that aside—I’ve reported it to headquarters, awaiting the Alliance leaders' responses. I’m particularly intrigued by the identity of this mysterious figure. He erased Black Wu-Constant’s spiritual form—clearly intending to conceal his identity—but a more cautious approach would have been to eliminate Yuan Shi Tian Zun as well. Yet he did not.” The elder from Chì Huǒ Clan said directly: “So your point is, the young man knows this mysterious person?” Dog Elder replied: “Possibly—deliberately so—he may have chosen not to kill him at all. Qingyang—you and Yuan Shi Tian Zun interact more frequently. Do you have any observations?” The elders remained silent, waiting for Fu Qingyang’s response. After a few seconds of silence, Fu Qingyang spoke calmly: “I’ve noticed nothing unusual.” Immediately, the five elders moved past this topic—Fu Qingyang was an early scout, a Level-2 Night Wanderer. If there were any issues, he would not have overlooked them. Since he stated there were no anomalies, that must be true. The White Tiger Army elder said thoughtfully: “He took possession of the items left by the Demon King yet showed little interest in the Fallen Cup—his rank clearly surpasses ours. Is the Demon King truly deceased?” Dog Elder replied: “The head of Taiyi Gate has personally confirmed the Demon King’s demise—it cannot be mistaken. Hmph—if he were wrong, then nothing would ever hold true.” White Tiger Army elder added: “That matter of the Demon King’s death is settled—my concern isn’t that the Demon King died at all, but rather—since there's more to this Fallen Cup incident than meets the eye, our attention should not remain focused solely on Black Wu-Constant hiding with the Cup. We must also examine the combat that led to both the Strange Eye Judge and the Demon King falling.” Fu Qingyang interjected: “I’m equally curious about why the Demon King decided to kill the Strange Eye Judge—according to your assessments, the Demon King was only one step away from ascension. What exactly compelled him to eliminate the Strange Eye Judge first?” … In his bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing wore a large robe and stood before a full-length mirror by the window, gently combing damp hair. It was now 2 a.m.—after returning home, he had washed off the fatigue and felt refreshed. Thanks to the effects of the Baihua Association’s pills, the residual toxins in his body were already cleared ahead of schedule—currently, only mild weakness remained, no other discomforts. “The Seal of Calmness has shattered—the Red Dance Shoes have been stained too. Ah—I’ll ask Fu Qingyang tomorrow whether there’s a way to restore their purity. The rewards from the organization should cover both my physical and mental losses as well….” The issue with the Red Dance Shoes, however, he wasn’t overly concerned—cleaning such stains is a specialty of Day Wandering Deities; he could simply request assistance through the Five Elements Alliance to Taiyi Gate. But that mysterious figure who appeared today—the one who remained in his mind—was most persistent. His appearance signaled that the Fallen Cup incident was only the surface—it revealed deeper layers beneath. “The little sun inside the cup—I have an intuitive sense it’s something extraordinary. Well—perhaps at my current level, merely possessing it is already a risk. I’ll have to wait for the right moment….” After drying his hair, Zhang Yuanqing lay down comfortably and summoned Xiao Doudi—the child. While gently stroking the child's head, he pulled out “The Straw Man”—a prop that remained in his possession, not shared with the Fallen Cup or the Register. As he held the straw man, after a few seconds, an item description appeared in view: [Name: The Curse of the Straw Man] 【Type: Special Prop】 【Function: Pollution, Curse】 【Description: Wild grass growing in cursed lands, woven into a human-shaped figure. It harbors deep malice toward all things around it, spreading contamination and dragging them down into the depths of decline.] 【Note: If one day you notice a sow suddenly becoming elegant and refined, then congratulations—you’ve become one of The Fallen Ones.] Hey, I finally understand why Black Uncommon’s XP has been getting so odd lately… Zhang Yuanqing is seriously considering whether to keep this prop. He believes that a graceful young lady in black silk is truly admirable—while a sow wearing black silk just doesn’t cut it. Zhang Yuanqing quickly returns the scarecrow to his inventory, as if it’s suddenly too hot to hold. Sleep now. Once awake, he’ll hand over this useless thing and exchange it for something less overwhelming… Zhang Yuanqing tucks the covers up and closes his eyes. Just then, the Cat King Speaker sitting in the drawer of his desk emits a soft “zzzz” hum. Zhang Yuanqing immediately rolls off the bed, sits at his desk, opens the drawer, and removes the speaker, placing it on the table. Over time, Zhang Yuanqing gradually figures out its rhythm: during the day, he often sings spontaneously but rarely plays anything related to the Demon King. And whenever the “zzzz” hums at night—especially when the sound grows persistent—it means the speaker is replaying an older recording. The hum persists for a while, then comes a deep, heavy breath—a man’s breathing. Mixed with that breathing are cries of anguish, as though the voiceholder is enduring immense suffering. What in the world? Good thing Grandmother has already fallen asleep; if she were to hear this, her discontent with society would only grow deeper… Zhang Yuanqing gently holds the speaker and enters Night Wanderer mode. After a long while, the heavy breathing fades away, replaced by a familiar, deep voice: “The influence of the Cup is growing stronger every day—I’m losing myself. I crave violence, I yearn to play with women… no, this isn’t truly me.” “I don’t believe the Cup’s control is permanent. I will find a way to break free from it.” “Organization, I must kill you—sometime in the future, I will surely kill you…” It’s the Demon King’s voice.