In sight, everything was dense fog—fine particles drifting with the airflow, like a stream of water or fluttering gauze. Zhang Yuanqing hadn’t wandered about; instead, he remained steady in place, cautious. Was Li Xianzong summoning this mist to abandon his efforts? The longer he held out, the less likely escape became—was there some hidden advantage on his part, or had he simply gone mad? Moreover, although Fu Qingyang couldn’t reach contact, the Municipal Safety Office would surely have reported the incident. It was understandable that the organization wouldn't arrive promptly. Could Dog Elder Li also be missing? Next time I see him, I’ll definitely rage-crumple his head. As he was thinking this, a gunshot rang out—immediately prompting a sharp mental alert and an instinctive roll to protect himself. “Bang… bang…” Two more shots followed. Zhang Yuanqing felt pain in his lower abdomen—he’d been struck. Drawing on memory, he rolled along until reaching the edge of a public seating area, using the information desk as a shield against further fire. “Taps… taps…” Footsteps emerged from within the fog, accompanied by a relaxed, leisurely laugh: “I’ve got two minutes left, Yuan Shi Tian Zun. If you can hold on for just two minutes under my command, we’ll play again. Otherwise, I’m ending your trial now and taking your head to claim my reward.” Stubbornness! Zhang Yuanqing felt particularly irritable and impatient—instinctively reaching for his pistol to fire at the source of the voice—but then restrained himself. He was testing me, Zhang Yuanqing realized. At the moment the gunshot rang out, he had stood still; if the attacker had already locked him in place, his head would have been shattered. But only after he began rolling did the bullet strike him mid-abdomen. Was it better to hit a moving target than a fixed one? Clearly not—instead, it was because Zhang Yuanqing’s unstable stance initially masked his position, and only during the roll did he become exposed. The attacker must have been using the ripple of the mist to judge his location—an experiment in progress. So Zhang Yuanqing quietly summoned person_name, directing him to climb the information desk and topple over potted plants. “Clunk… bang…” The sound of a plant breaking synchronized perfectly with each gunshot. Indeed, he was relying on the mist’s movement to locate him—Zhang Yuanqing had launched himself directly toward the source at the very moment the first shot rang out. As the barrel slid and ignited flames and smoke, the bullet traced a pale red path through the fog. The projectile missed its mark, bouncing off walls as scattered fragments. That revealed his true level of skill. Oh no—missed again! Zhang Yuanqing continued rolling, entering into stealth mode, and began retreating toward the waiting room. No need to fight this man head-on—he had already rescued the hostages; escape was clearly the right move. I have a whole team with me—why must I face him alone? Just as he made any movement, waves of mist surged from behind, sweeping forward in a strong current. Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing turned and fired one shot. The attacker seemed to anticipate his motion—he tilted his head slightly before Zhang Yuanqing could raise his arm, and the pale red glow brushed past the side of his ear. “You can’t escape from within my mist,” said the voice, now close enough that a distinct face emerged—sharp jawline, high nose bridge, sharp eyes with a half-challenging, half-derisive smile. At the same moment Zhang Yuanqing saw this face, he noticed an unusual dark sigil glowing faintly in the attacker’s eyes. Enchantment! The hallmark skill of the Enchantment Demon during the Elevated Stage—prolonged influence could manipulate others; brief exposure would disrupt their spirit force. Zhang Yuanqing remained composed, lifting his pistol and firing one shot directly at the figure. Drawing from his experience against Ou Xiangrong, he had already activated a purification spell in advance. Li Xianzong’s face showed clear surprise—he demonstrated precisely the kind of responsiveness expected of an Enchantment Demon—his body leaned back, then kicked sharply with his right leg, “crack,” hitting Zhang Yuanqing’s wrist as the bullet struck the ceiling. Zhang Yuanqing's explosive pistol flew from his hands, spinning off the railing and landing in the main hall below. Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing activated the Night Wandering Deity skill, making himself invisible. Now he saw Li Xianzong lift his pistol—pointing directly at him, who had already moved to one side to avoid direct exposure. Could he see me? Was he using the movement of the mist to gauge my position? Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden surge of concern. The Night Wandering Deity skill masked sound, breath, and heat—but wasn’t truly transparent; it still generated subtle airflow during movement. In this way, the Enchantment Demon’s ability effectively countered the realm walker's stealth. Bang… bang! The bullets struck the ground, shattering floor tiles—Zhang Yuanqing curved low, moving around to the back of Li Xianzong and closing the distance, denying him any opportunity to fire. He held one hand with the Artifact and another with the Blood-Soaked Blade—one aiming at the back of his opponent’s spine, the other striking the neck. Li Xianzong smiled slightly, stepping sideways and rotating—his right hand flicked rapidly, opening the silver butterfly knife mid-motion to reveal its sharp blade. He swept across with a quick backhand strike, just grazing the edge of the Blood-Soaked Blade—the sound of clashing metal sparked in a flash. Zhang Yuanqing felt his palm numb, nearly unable to grasp the hilt of the weapon. Suddenly, Zhang Yuanqing observed Li Xianzong’s leg muscles expanding and his back muscles tightening—generating a surge of upward force. The Insight Eye had granted him the ability to anticipate movements ahead. Immediately, Zhang Yuanqing pressed down with one hand. “Crack!” A faint bone fracture sounded as his forearm collided with the rigid knee. Zhang Yuanqing staggered and stepped backward. Fog provided some visual obstruction—otherwise he would have reacted more quickly. Li Xianzong’s knee ignited, burning through his pants and causing visible injury—but he showed no discomfort, continuing relentless attacks. The butterfly knife cut or flicked with precision, carving deep wounds across Zhang Yuanqing’s body that were difficult to heal. Meanwhile, his free hands and legs became formidable weapons—each movement pushed Zhang Yuanqing steadily back. Li Xianzong’s close-combat skills far surpassed Zhang Yuanqing's—his physical fitness ranked at level 3, significantly higher than the level-2 Night Wandering Deity. Were it not for the Insight Eye allowing him to predict actions and the agile movements granted by the Vanguard Fighter’s gloves, Zhang Yuanqing would have been severed from head to torso already. “Pff!” Li Xianzong lifted his blade and pierced Zhang Yuanqing’s chest—great spurts of blood poured out as he tasted the first true blood. His eyes blazed red with excitement and determination. Tapping… tapping… Zhang Yuanqing exhaled heavily, retreating steadily. His condition had deteriorated—he suffered intense pain throughout his body, with wounds that refused to heal, beginning symptoms of hypovolemic shock—dizziness and fatigue. Clearly, Li Xianzong’s butterfly knife also had a bleeding function. Where were the reinforcements? Was the fog hindering them? I’m nearly at my limit. Thank goodness I hadn’t used the Heavenly Chuan Incense Furnace—I’d be burning myself out! Zhang Yuanqing's condition began to slip. Under such relentless assault, he didn’t even have time to retrieve his red veil—activating the ghost bride required two to three seconds of “build-up” time; it wasn't suitable for this situation now. He needed to create time—time desperately. “It’s not bad at all,” Li Xianzong said, extending his tongue as if he wanted to lick the blood off the blade—but hesitated instead, smiling broadly: “Still, weaker than I expected. One minute left—I won’t rely on reinforcements arriving. The fog will disorient them, creating a ghost-walls effect—no one will come to rescue you like a piece of meat on a cutting board.” With words, he didn’t slow down; his hands and feet moved swiftly, giving Zhang Yuanqing no chance to catch breath. Stubbornness—you’re nothing but boastful! Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes flashed with fire—he clenched both fists and slammed them firmly against his chest. Boom! Flames and gusts surged across the waiting room hall. Zhang Yuanqing's anger boiled over—his repeated punches continued without pause. Boom… boom… boom! Explosions followed one another, like waves of sea tide. Li Xianzong was overwhelmed by the force—the shock wave pushed him backward, forcing him to curl up and shield himself, abandoning his attack. The explosion lasted for over a dozen seconds before subsiding—then Zhang Yuanqing collapsed on the ground, blood gushing from his seven orifices, with multiple internal organs damaged—but he had finally created an opening. Without hesitation, he summoned the red veil. But just then, Zhang Yuanqing began to cough violently—he expelled blood from deep within his lungs, even spitting blood from his nose—his vision blurred and flickered, as if on fire, while his kidneys rapidly declined in function. He was poisoned. Kneeling beside the ground, Li Xianzong smiled—an expression of pride and satisfaction echoed throughout the room—he slowly rose, lifting a smile to one side: “The Night Wandering Deity’s vitality is truly strong—the venom I fed on the blade took over fifteen minutes to take effect. Though humble and unclean, the Wu Gu Master’s methods are indeed effective.” He had defeated a level-4 Wu Gu Master—he had that poison in him—Zhang Yuanqing’s vision grew increasingly blurry; his limbs lost strength, his heartbeat weakened—despair settled deep within him. Li Xianzong said nothing further—only pulled out the pistol from his waist, aiming directly at Zhang Yuanqing’s head: “Sorry—I’m taking your head now.” The next instant, he lost sight. At his lower leg, a small infant spirit clung tightly to his body—the visual connection had been transferred. Person_name! Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t instructed the spirit to attack at all—both due to being overwhelmed by Li Xianzong and the sudden impulsiveness brought on by the Vanguard Gloves. Yet, upon seeing his master in danger, person_name moved forward on her own—the infant spirit clearly possessed a good level of intelligence. Seizing this moment, Zhang Yuanqing managed with trembling hands to place the red veil over his head. “Hmph!” Li Xianzong didn’t panic—he reached into his inventory and pulled out a smelly robe, draped it over himself. Then he folded his palms together and bowed before him at the feet. Fate’s reduction… curse! Wu Gu Masters’ abilities of reducing fortune and casting curses were not limited to physical bodies—they could also impact spirit forms—though less refined than Illusionists, they remained effective against lower-level spirits. The smelly robe emitted a wave of dark light that surged upward toward the infant spirit at his leg. Person_name screamed—and began to fade rapidly, growing increasingly murky and stained with filth—but refused to let go. One second… two seconds… three seconds… four seconds… The visual exchange lasted until the very end—person_name finally collapsed, fading into nothingness. As vision returned, Li Xianzong looked at Zhang Yuanqing—he now had a red veil covering his head—and saw an overwhelming surge of dark, powerful qi pouring over him like waves and tsunamis. Li Xianzong’s hairs stood on end—his Enchantment Demon instincts began to sound the alarm. He fired two shots into Zhang Yuanqing’s head without pausing to see if they hit—he quickly pulled out a pencil from his pocket, drew a circle on the floor—and instantly, a yellowish glow enveloped the circle, extending to cover himself. Li Xianzong vanished within that light. At this moment, Zhang Yuancang’s body was taken over by the ghost bride—his arms turned black, muscles thickened, veins bulging visibly, and his fingers now sharp with pointed nails. Yet the enemy had already disappeared. The ghost bride found no target—she stood motionless in place. Go—go save him… Zhang Yuanqing silently commanded within himself. The ghost bride sensed his intention, slowly moving toward the fading infant spirit. Influenced by Zhang Yuanqing’s will, she gently knelt and extended her arms—holding the nearly extinguished infant spirit as if embracing something long lost. She absorbed person_name into her form—and Zhang Yuanqing finally relaxed, drifting unconscious. … Fu Jingwan. Sun setting, spacious conference room. Fu Qingyang’s face remained pale, listening to reports from subordinates. At the conference table sat Bai Long, Qing Ting, Teng Yuan, Da Ji Ba, Champion Wang, and other regional commanders from Kangyang District, along with several key personnel. “In this attack on Pingtai Hospital, seven people were killed and twenty-three sustained minor injuries—bombs have been defused and are now being handled by the Municipal Safety Office…” Li Dongze briefly touched upon logistics—their responsibilities lay in eliminating the disruptive Spirit Realm Pilgrims—not in managing aftermath matters. “Besides the mastermind Li Xianzong who escaped, all other assailants have been eliminated. This attack was well-planned—Li Xianzong enlisted the support of The Fallen Ones and deepened their belief that they must sacrifice everything to ensure success. He himself had already secured a retreat path…” Li Dongze raised his remote control and activated the projector. The stage curtain revealed a photograph, showing a circle drawn in chalk. "Following on-site investigation, we've identified Li Xianzong's method of escape," Li Dongze said. "According to our colleagues in the central courtyard, this should be an item from the Earth Oddity profession—though unfortunately, the surveillance feed was off at the time, so we didn't capture the specifics." Ling Jun, who had rarely attended meetings, interjected: "Good news is that such attacks are difficult to replicate. Under the moral value penalty mechanism, although it was the Fallen Ones who killed Li Xianzong, their actions were influenced and guided by him—thus deducting a portion of his moral credit. For an extended period, he'll have to be cautious about repeating this kind of move." The moral credit system operates both directly and indirectly. Indirectly, a Spirit Realm Walker uses their abilities to manipulate others into committing crimes. Compared with direct killing, indirect deductions are typically lighter and vary depending on the strength of control exerted. For instance, if a person is fully controlled as a puppet and killed, the deduction matches that of a direct murder. However, when encouraging or persuading someone else to commit a crime—such as advising or subtly urging—the penalty is reduced or even halved based on the level of influence. The Spirit Realm has no bugs—it functions like a meticulously written program, anticipating every conceivable weakness humans might imagine. At this point, Jiang Jingwei complained: "If the Elder had arrived in time, everything would have been resolved." She spoke what the captains were too hesitant to say. They knew Fu Qingyang had encountered an assault by the female protector of the Void Sect, Yi Chuanmei, yet they didn't understand why Elder Dog had delayed arriving. Fu Qingyang glanced around the table and said: "Elder Dog is currently in Capital City on official business." To purify the pair of Divine Objects—those red dance shoes—on behalf of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. After a brief explanation, he turned to Guan Ya and asked: "How is Yuan Shi doing?" Guan Ya's tone was subdued: "We've administered the life essence infusion—he’s stable in terms of survival. However, after waking up, he seems quite listless." The captains remembered the scene when they first found Yuan Shi Tian Zun—bowing down on the ground, hands clasped as though holding something, motionless, with vital signs barely detectable. Upon examination, it was revealed that he had over ten knife wounds and two gunshot injuries—severe blood loss leading to organ failure. It was hard to imagine how such a profound impact could have occurred within just a few minutes. Fu Qingyang slightly furrowed his brows before relaxing, saying: "Surviving under Li Xianzong's care is already remarkable. Yuan Shi’s early rise has given him strength—some minor setbacks won’t harm him." Pausing briefly, he added: "Don't go to visit or console him. That would only stir up his sense of pride." Fu Qingyang continued: "Moving forward, your task is to conduct a thorough search within your jurisdiction for Li Xianzong and to alert your subordinates about the potential threat of attacks." "For you, Level 3 Pilgrims—avoid operating independently. Maintain constant communication. Yi Chuanmei has been injured by me; she will remain out of action for some time. I and Ling Jun will be available 24 hours a day." "As for Yuan Shi, please keep him at home in the coming days—no outings required." The trial mission launched by the organization, the Spirit Energy Council, and the Void Sect is directed toward all members of the Evil Organization—anyone may hunt down an official Pilgrim to earn a reward. Yet most of the time, clashes between ordinary members are perceived as minor skirmishes and receive limited attention. Only when exceptional individuals or powerhouses engage in decisive confrontations do these become significant events. The captains nodded slightly. They were seasoned official Pilgrims, familiar with such recurring situations. Each year, during mid-year and end-of-year periods, the Evil Organization systematically targets official Pilgrims—initiating investigations and counter-investigations, carrying out hunts and retaliations—with mutual casualties. Overall, the officials remain in a favorable position. The only challenge lies in the fact that these grassroots members excel at guerrilla warfare—mobile, elusive, unpredictable—which often leaves the official Pilgrims on the defensive. They don’t fear direct confrontations; they fear being struck from behind with a sudden, decisive blow. "Let’s adjourn!" Fu Qingyang said to the mixed-blood beauty. "Guan Ya will stay." As everyone filed out of the meeting room, only the cousins remained inside. "You should be approaching your entry into the Spirit Realm soon," Fu Qingyang asked. "In about fifteen days," Guan Ya nodded. Fu Qingyang opened his inventory and pulled out a rifle—about 1.2 meters long, with a sleek black body adorned in glowing golden patterns, vibrant and striking. He handed it to her: "I remember you applied for this item to your family—but the elder council was displeased with your lack of initiative and refused approval. From now on, it's yours." Guan Ya raised an eyebrow: "The elders agreed?" Fu Qingyang shook his head: "This is a reward from the family—celebrating my appointment to the Council of Elders. I've committed to achieve advancement to Master level in the mid-year trial instance. You’ve held back at Level 2 for so long. This time, during your journey into the Spirit Realm, I hope you’ll rise to Level 3. This rifle will grant you eligibility for participation in that mid-year instance. We can't keep doing this indefinitely—Yuan Shi has already reached Level 2." This time, Guan Ya didn’t hesitate. She stared at the long-awaited weapon and remained silent. …… In the suburban area of Songhai, at an underground bar. The lighting was soft, the air filled with the scent of smoke and sweat, soothing music played gently in the background. Though it was a bar, it lacked the dazzling lights and bustling energy typical of such venues—because here, it served as a black market hub for the Evil Organization, where members exchanged information, conducted trades, and met secretly. The pleasure of revelry came second to these priorities. At the card booth sat around twenty or thirty members of the Evil Organization. They were conversing in low tones, negotiating prices, or making indecent movements in public. Li Xianzong ascended the stairs and sat down beside Tian Lingling, saying: "Just give me a bottle of beer—anything will do." The bartender pushed over a glass of beer. Li Xianzong took it down in one go, then belched comfortably. "Killing and drinking—this is the ultimate human experience," Tian Lingling said, patting her junior’s shoulder. "We’ve all heard about what you did today. You've made your mark right away in Songhai!" Li Xianzong scoffed: "I haven't yet killed Yuan Shi Tian Zun—not even close. I’ll have to wait until then before celebrating." Tian Lingling stirred her glass thoughtfully: "Have you faced him face-to-face? How was he—really as legendary as they claim?" "Indeed quite extraordinary," Li Xianzong said, with casual ease. "He possesses a Divine Object from the Sage Realm. As for himself—he’s solid. But I don’t find it difficult to overcome." "I'm glad you're confident," Tian Lingling nodded. "What kind of Divine Object exactly?" "A piece of old fabric—Earth Oddity specialty. For now, I need a Fantasyist-grade item that doesn’t counteract this one—otherwise, killing him will prove challenging." Li Xianzong outlined his objective. Tian Lingling chuckled: "Go see Yi Chuanmei—just with your current looks and presence, offer her two kidneys, and you'll be on your way!" Li Xianzong rolled his eyes. Tian Lingling stood up, turned to the group, and declared loudly: "Everyone—have you heard about what happened at Ping Tai Hospital today? Does it feel satisfying?" The members of the Evil Organization paused their current activities and turned toward her, rising in enthusiastic response. "Satisfying!" "Exciting?" "Absolutely!" "We welcome our hero! Today’s drinks are on us!" Their voices grew louder. "You must be fearless—being able to emerge unharmed after such a battle! That's truly impressive. I like your kind of wild spirit." "Hahahaha! You’ve already delivered a strong impression at the very beginning of this trial, giving our Songhai Branch a stunning debut. That far exceeds what the delegation from Capital City achieved!" "Did you manage to knock Yuan Shi Tian Zun out—so badly he actually dropped his pants?" "Hero—we’d like to follow your journey and join in on these hunts against official Pilgrims—to earn some extra income!" Roaring cheers and laughter surged throughout. A woman deliberately raised her voice with a loud exclamation. Li Xianzong smiled, saying: "A group of real dummies!" As the excitement subsided, Tian Lingling asked: "Was anyone following you? Did you manage to clear your trail?" Li Xianzong responded casually: "I’ve kept track—timed my departure precisely, ensuring I escaped before the arrival of the Sage and Elder." No one among the Level 3 Pilgrims has been able to follow him yet. Even scouts have failed. As he spoke, footsteps echoed at the stair entrance. "Tap, tap, tap…" The rhythm was odd—the steps were deliberately spaced with pauses between each one, like a toddler learning to walk. At first, no one paid much attention—but gradually, more and more people began to look up, frowning and turning toward the staircase. The footsteps moved steadily downward, maintaining a consistent pace—seemingly designed to draw attention. Finally, they caught sight of the person arriving. A woman dressed in an elegant ancient red gown, embroidered with luxurious golden threads, wearing a silver mask. In her hands, she held a faintly visible red cord. Li Xianzong’s face paled—he quickly lowered his head and noticed that a thin thread had been tied to his ankle at some point during the encounter. The woman set down the red cord—allowing it to fade—and with both arms behind her, lifted her feet slightly as if a little girl would, smiling brightly: "Ah! So lively—it seems everyone’s having such fun. Could I join in?" Her eyes beneath the silver mask sparkled as she turned toward the bald man. "Oh! It's you—Tian Lingling. I've finally found you!" She exclaimed, recalling: "Do you remember the event of the Chu family's destruction twenty-one years ago?"