Zhang Yuanqing carried the cat corpse, stepped over the threshold, and slammed it against the frame to prevent the monster from appearing “dead.” The heavily injured cat kicked its legs violently, as if falling into another state of unconsciousness. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing feel reassured, placing the cat into the coffin and then lifting the lid to seal it shut again. At this moment, the teammates entered the room, finding the peeled-cat gone and seeing the lid firmly closed. Guan Ya expressed surprise: “How come you’ve put it back in again?” We were told it was an experiment—now what can I say? Zhang Yuanqing looked down at the scattered red ropes and purple talismans on the floor and asked, “Li Chunfeng, do you know what these are?” Everyone turned to Li Chunfeng, the scholarly scholar, who ran his fingers along the coffin, picked up a few paper charms and red cords, sniffed them carefully, and offered his interpretation: “The red ropes bind lingering grievances; the purple talismans nourish spirits. Indeed, this coffin serves both as an seal and a nurturing bed for the creature.” No wonder he’s called a moving archive—Zhang Yuanqing nodded. “Can you restore these?” Li Chunfeng replied, “Restore? No—I misunderstood. Just tie them loosely; no specific technique is required.” Loosely tied? I thought it would be like using a sandalwood plumb line, requiring full coverage of the coffin—any missing stroke and problems would arise. When Li Chunfeng picked up the red ropes, Zhang Yuanqing quickly stepped in: “I’ll do it!” Immediately, he wound the red ropes tightly around the red-painted coffin surface and tied them securely; then, picking up a purple charm at his prompt, he attached it to the mouth of the coffin. So what exactly was he trying to achieve? The teammates stared at him in confusion. As soon as Zhang Yuanqing affixed the purple charm, a distinct voice from the spirit realm resonated only in his ears: “Ping! You’ve triggered an hidden mission—Eternal Cat Corpse (1/3).” “Eternal Cat Corpse: This is a cursed creature that constantly emits a powerful curse. Never approach it closely—it will contaminate you and turn you into a wild cat.” “Note: I want him to never transcend!” “Mission item: A fragment of jade.” The hidden mission has truly been activated—my hypothesis confirmed! The “control over killing” mentioned by the Demon King refers exactly to this. Zhang Yuanqing felt elated. According to the Demon King’s prediction, the mission item is something left behind by the Yin-Yang Dispenser—a figure of considerable stature; I wonder what kind of item will be discovered—especially if it's a rule-based item, that would be truly excellent! Zhang Yuanqing set aside his inner excitement and focus returned to the hidden mission itself. “Who among them is cursed? According to the note, the person who cast the curse holds an unyielding hatred toward this creature, wishing for it to never transcend.” “I understand—so we cannot kill the peeled cat, because killing it would actually lead to its liberation, contradicting the original intent of the caster. This suggests that the hidden mission is pointing directly at the person who cast the curse.” “But who exactly is that person?” Zhang Yuanqing gathered his thoughts and addressed the team: “My hypothesis has now been validated. Let’s go through a thorough review.” Huo De Star Army, unwilling to think deeply, stated straightforwardly: “Since you’re the leader, you speak first.” Others nodded in agreement. After sharing their shared hardships, the team's cohesion had grown significantly; trust between them had deepened. After pausing several seconds, Zhang Yuanqing began: “Let’s begin with the background story of Yin-Yang Town—the tale told by Wang Po has been heard by all. While part of it is true, there are also false elements—for instance, the curse inherited by the descendants of the Yin-Yang Dispenser.” “I’ve reviewed several town guides on Yin-Yang Town. The earlier cohorts of Realm Walkers who entered the instance didn’t mention this curse—yet they had direct interactions with the townspeople. Such a significant event should have been uncovered long ago.” “Therefore, Wang Po’s version of the curse is fabricated—but the transformation into a cat is real. And the person cursed is her son.” Zhang Yuanqing looked toward the red-painted coffin. The teammates listened attentively and nodded in agreement with his analysis. “That makes sense,” Guan Ya agreed, adding, “Moreover, I believe that the curse of becoming a cat only activates along Wang Po’s storyline—previous Realm Walkers didn’t experience this path.” She smiled at Zhang Yuanqing: “Please continue.” As a scout, her observation and analytical skills were far superior to his own—but she wisely refrained from seizing this chance to establish leadership, choosing instead to support with supplementary insights. Zhang Yuanqing continued: “So how did the son’s curse originate?” The Queen’s eyes brightened as she recalled something and interjected: “Wang Po said that her son lacked self-control in matters of affection—this was what ultimately led him to his current fate.” As soon as the words were spoken, everyone except Ho De Star Army turned their gaze toward Guan Ya's straw figure. The fact that Wang Po had transformed a person into a straw figure with such deep resentment suggests that Xu Xiuer must have committed something deeply unforgivable. Combined with what Wang Po said and her son’s experience… “I understand!” Ho De Star Army suddenly realized, excitedly: “It’s Xu Xiuer who cursed her son—though I wonder, who exactly is Xu Xiuer?” Zhang Yuanqing prompted: “Among the six people in town, who has the surname Xu?” “Who?” asked Ho De Star Army. … Zhang Yuanqing nearly exclaimed, “You!” Ho De Star Army suddenly understood. If the person who cast the curse is Xu Xiuer, then the hidden mission clearly targets her—this makes sense. Zhang Yuanqing recalled the Demon King’s reflection: on killing and beauty. So it seems that the Demon King, whose descendants are scattered across various nurseries, must have done something deeply intimate and unforgettable to Xu Xiuer. The young man with a round face, eating lotus root, stepped forward excitedly: “Our next destination is now clear—Xu Xiuer herself. We should not delay—we must reach the town center plaza before the evil faction and complete all the subplot tasks.” Everyone else was enthusiastic; only Guan Ya furrowed her brows, her gaze fixed on Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing said: “We will certainly find Xu Xiuer—but there’s one thing I haven’t yet understood. Li Chunfeng, you are the most knowledgeable and experienced—you believe that a single hanging cat corpse alone could generate such a powerful curse?” The teammates were puzzled by this question; Li Chunfeng paused, then thought deeply. After several seconds, he struck his head vigorously: “This doesn’t make sense—this doesn't make sense…” “What exactly is wrong? Where’s the issue?” asked Ho De Star Army, clearly startled at Li Chunfeng’s serious tone. Li Chunfeng replied in a steady voice: “The cat corpse acts as a medium—but not as the source of the curse. For instance, when a Wugui Master casts a curse upon a target, they gather things like photos, birth charts, and bodily tissues—their essence—these are merely mediums; the true origin lies within the master’s own power. Where does our transformation into cats originate? I originally thought it would be Wang Po—but clearly she is an ordinary person; otherwise, how could she have been so easily bitten to death? Also, the straw figure serves as further evidence.” Everyone turned their attention to Guan Ya’s straw figure. “It’s a plain straw figure—the method of curse seems childish and clumsy. If Wang Po were a Wugui Master, she wouldn’t have used such an unrefined representation,” Li Chunfeng remarked. The quiet and reserved Lili Yuantang Cao observed: “Indeed, this is a point of concern—but how does it relate to the mission narrative?” Zhang Yuanqing didn't directly address Lili Yuantang Cao’s question but explained: “Of course, there’s a connection—what appears acceptable now may not hold up in later stages of the instance. Because of information gaps, we might miss opportunities or even lose our chance for a comeback. The more complex an instance, the less we can afford to remain blind and deaf—we must dig deep.” As someone who has successfully completed multiple S-level instances, his perspective earned everyone’s respect. Lili Yuantang Cao slowly nodded in agreement with Zhang Yuanqing’s point of view. Zhang Yuanqing then continued: “Alright—let’s return to the main point. Suppose—for a moment—that it is precisely the cat inside the coffin that emits the curse—wouldn’t this make perfect sense?” This idea perfectly aligns with the hidden mission prompt! The source of the curse is indeed the cat in the coffin… Li Chunfeng thought deeply and then brightened: “Indeed—the person who arranged this ritual recognized precisely this point. So, by leveraging the power of the cursed cat—let’s call it the ‘cursed cat’—they designed a ceremony that causes anyone entering the room to be affected.” Zhang Yuanqing added: “But now, there's another question: Who arranged the ritual for the hanging cat? Clearly, Wang Po is an ordinary person—and someone must have taught her.” “Xu Xiuer?” Suggested the young man with a round face, eating lotus root. “No,” Zhang Yuanqing firmly rejected. "Why not?" asked the young man, clearly unimpressed; the Queen and others also cast questioning glances at him. Zhang Yuanqing elaborated thoughtfully: “The arrangement of the cat corpse ritual and the care for the cursed cat in the coffin should have been taught by the same person. Let’s consider—what are the functions of these two elements?” The Queen interjected: “The coffin seals and nurtures the cursed cat; the hanging cat collects the curse.” Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: “But there's another function—the hanging cat also serves to contain the curse emanating from the enclosed cat, calming its wildness and intense hunger for blood.” Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly recalled that after the ritual was broken, the cursed cat had become furious, aggressive, and lost its sense of reason. Li Chunfeng suddenly understood: “Therefore, both the coffin and the hanging cat exist to contain and stabilize the curse—while also nourishing it. If these elements were created by Wang Po alone, that makes perfect sense—she wants to protect her son, not let him become a complete monster. From the perspective of someone who holds resentment, however, the more intense the suffering, the more furious the cursed cat becomes—the greater the satisfaction she gains.” Zhang Yuanqing nodded: “Therefore, the curse and the ritual for the hanging cat were designed by two different people. The person who cast the curse is Xu Xiuer—then who taught Wang Po to perform these rituals? What is their relationship with Wang Po and her son, and what role do they play in this story?” A figure emerged clearly in everyone’s mind; Ho De Star Army, unusually engaged in thought, said: “It must be one of the five remaining individuals. Could it be the master hired by Zhao Yuan?” Guan Ya nodded approvingly and smiled: “This instance is becoming increasingly fascinating—what are the relationships among these six people living in town? And what roles have they played in the ongoing issue of population decline?” By this point, Zhang Yuanqing had concluded his thoughts and said: “It’s time—we should go find Xu Xiuer.” The teammates agreed. The Queen gently touched her ring on the left ear and smiled: “Though we faced numerous crises earlier that nearly ended us, I now feel confident about what lies ahead. For such a demanding instance, our analysis has been thorough and clear—there is little uncertainty. As long as we stay focused, even if the path becomes difficult, I believe in our ability to succeed.” Ho De Star Army agreed, amazed at how clearly the team had analyzed this complex situation—the members all demonstrated strong intellects, especially the Yuan Shi Tianzun. Though during the battle, he hadn’t displayed particularly outstanding combat performance, his insightful contributions in the post-battle review had earned deep respect from Ho De Star Army. Li Chunfeng, the young man with a round face eating lotus root, and Lili Yuantang Cao remained silent but naturally followed Zhang Yuanqing’s instructions, stepping out of the room together. The group walked toward the outer courtyard; Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing followed last. The elder official, the Senior Officer, smiled gently: “Good!” Zhang Yuanqing prepared to respond, only to see her eyes shift downward and smile slightly: “Very good indeed.” Zhang Yuanqing’s face warmed up—rarely did he feel so embarrassed. After all, he was simply a university student with no romantic experience—always confident in words but hesitant when it came to actual moments of vulnerability. His usual exchanges, merely light conversations while driving with the senior officer, were now surpassed by this moment of exposure. Now being evaluated and praised, he felt his face grow warm. Seeing him flustered, Guan Ya smiled proudly—feeling she had clearly outperformed in this interaction. “What’s so funny?” Zhang Yuanqing tried to hold on with a deep breath: “Are you satisfied? Did you feel surprised or startled—I could clearly see it in your eyes.” Guan Ya chuckled, “I’ll definitely keep your dimensions confidential—but the Queen might not. Women are always curious; she’ve been looking at you several times already…” “….” Zhang Yuanqing nearly rushed after the Queen to discuss the confidentiality fee. He didn’t want to find out later, upon stepping outside, that the official Forum’s Pilgrims were all talking about Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s dimensions. That was a weight no twenty-one-year-old man could bear. …… The blacksmith’s shop. Li Xianzong sat cross-legged on the ground, breathing heavily. He was covered in blood; his left arm twisted and bent at odd angles, with multiple lacerations and blunt-force trauma scattered across his body. His five companions were similarly wounded—some lying flat on the floor, others leaning against walls, drawing deep breaths of air. Around them lay the wreckage: toppled forging tables, shattered furnaces, scattered charcoal remnants, broken tools—and the head of King Wang, severed and laid among the red embers. He had fallen onto a pile of glowing charcoal, his blood merging with the flames, while just beyond him, at Li Xianzong’s own hand, lay the cleanly cut head of the blacksmith. Besides King Wang, there was one more body—the bald man. A thin, elderly man pushed himself up on his knees, kicked the body of the bald man aside and grumbled: “Dead already? I didn’t even know his name.” Li Xianzong breathed heavily, then smiled with a broad grin: “Why do we need to know names? We’re people who cut our own blood to survive. When it’s time to die—we simply die.” “Exactly. As long as we know the name of someone, they become friends—what’s the point?” “Heh—he died well enough. Already gone, already free from this world full of nonsense.” The other companions nodded in agreement. They didn’t care about life or death—their enemies, strangers, even their own kin. Those immersed in combat possessed a quiet numbness toward mortality that ordinary people simply couldn’t grasp. Li Xianzong waved at the elderly man and said: “Go check inside the shop—there should be some clues there.” The thin man immediately stepped into the deeper part of the shop, returned minutes later, and said in astonishment: “Old man, this shop feels rather odd.”