Has the hidden task been completed? Exactly as I anticipated—the final move is to kill the mage… The staff must be the reward. After defeating the boss and securing props, it's all about endurance now. My physical condition has deteriorated terribly—my stamina is slipping fast… The Yin-Yang robe—I haven’t picked it up yet. Where should I go? Ah yes—the river. In that instant, Zhang Yuanqing’s mind flashed with numerous thoughts. But he didn’t have time to dwell on them, as the person closest to the staff, Li Xianzong, had already surged toward it. This action sent a surge of adrenaline through every member of the Order of Harmony. “Bang!” Gunshots rang out from afar. As Li Xianzong bent down to retrieve the staff, he was knocked over before he could reach it—spinning and rolling in succession. A dramatic crater formed at his original position. He had been constantly monitoring the sniper’s movements and made an accurate prediction. Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward on his Red Dance Shoes, heading straight toward the staff to pick it up. “Yuan Shi!” the Queen cried out. Zhang Yuanqing paused—only then did he realize that his hands were empty. The staff had vanished—not picked up at all. It was a vision, not reality. He had been entranced by a spell. “Pfft! Pfft!” The mouse-like figure’s cheeks swelled, and slender bamboo tubes shot out green toxins. No need for Zhang Yuanqing to operate—the Red Dance Shoes carried him automatically, rotating and turning toward the distance. Two needles skimmed past his body. The young man missing one ear surged forward in a swift arrow-like motion to claim the staff lying still on the ground. As he approached, two circular bands flew straight at him—wrapping around his upper torso and legs. Crash! The youth tumbled forward with momentum, landing heavily, face down. “Bang!” Guanyi’s bullet struck the young man squarely in the head—bone fragments and flesh splattered outward—the Wu Gu Master was instantly killed. All three remaining members of the Evil Organization felt a wave of chill. At that moment, the Fire Deity Army launched a flaming spear that accurately lodged beside the staff. The soldier himself became enveloped in flames, emerging as a figure blazing in the midst of the fire’s blaze. Rapidly bending down, he moved to retrieve the staff. In the very instant his comrades bent, Guanyi and Li Chunfeng each locked onto one enemy and pulled the trigger—offering cover for the Fire Deity Army. Brilliant work… Zhang Yuanqing smiled with relief, stepping forward on his Red Dance Shoes to support the Fire Deity Army, ensuring he secured the staff successfully. Once in control of the staff, he held the initiative. Li Xianzong’s hand now bore a wooden box—its lid “click” opened, and immediately afterward, a dense mist spread across the plaza, obscuring vision. He had kept this prop inactive during the earlier fight against the mage because the mage possessed special sensory awareness—the mist barely affected him, and instead rendered the Order of Harmony blind, exposing them to relentless attacks. Guanyi and Li Chunfeng’s fingers froze—they could no longer maintain their firepower support. Under the mist, they lost sight—afraid to fire unnecessarily, risking injury or death to teammates. Their ranged attacks were now suppressed. The Fire Deity Army also struggled under the mist’s veil, though they still managed to reach for the staff—since it remained within arm's reach. “Pfft! Pfft!” As the mist rippled, two green toxins pierced through its delicate veil and struck the Fire Deity soldier directly in the chest. Li Xianzong took advantage of the mist’s cover, moving like a ghost to approach closely—his butterfly blade sweeping across the sky, aiming straight for the warrior’s throat. “Clang!” Zhang Yuanqing arrived precisely on time, lifting his sword slightly ahead—its edge scraped against the Blood-Seeking Blade, sparking bright flames. Seizing the moment, he grasped the Fire Deity soldier’s shoulder and tossed him backward, shouting, “The Fire Deity has been poisoned.” As he shouted, he didn’t forget to kick the staff sharply toward the far side. The sturdy figure was hurled over fifteen meters, emerging beyond the mist’s reach. The Wood Demon youth swiftly dragged the Fire Master away—first placing several antidotes into his mouth, then sprinkling incense on the delicate wounds where the toxins had entered. This would only partially neutralize the poison—the outcome remained uncertain. As for combat—he knew it was now impossible. Li Xianzong roughly estimated the strength balance between both sides: three members of the Evil Organization remained, while his own side held only the Captain and the Queen—plus the mist had become the enemy’s stronghold. His eyes flickered with concern. While listening to the staff’s rhythmic rolling sound, Li Xianzong assessed how far it had rolled—and smiled: “Ah—it’s fate! Back at Ping Tai Hospital, there was also such a mist. How did I manage to knock you down? Would you like me to recall it?” Zhang Yuanqing remained expressionless—calmly replied: “There’s a possibility today that *you* will kneel and beg for mercy.” “Oh? It's been over a week since we last met—you’ve advanced to level three, and you’ve also obtained the prop_type? Or perhaps you think that red veil still poses a threat?” His implication was clear—did he possess a special tool capable of countering the Ghost Bride? Zhang Yuanqing felt his confidence waver. The red veil had been his reserve weapon—the one used to counter enemies currently unassailable. If now weakened, it would mean losing a crucial turning point in the game. The mist blocked Guanyi and Li Chunfeng’s sight—preventing them from firing. Though I have the Red Dance Shoes assisting me, I only have less than Three Minutes before the mist fully settles. How could I possibly defeat Li Xianzong under these conditions? I fear… the Queen might even fall. Zhang Yuanqing rapidly analyzed the situation in his mind—his thoughts now tinged with anxiety. Then, a burst of laughter rang out from afar—the mouse-like figure’s voice soared: “I’ve secured it—I’ve obtained the staff!” Zhang Yuanqing’s face changed instantly. Li Xianzong smiled, lifting one corner of his mouth: “Indeed—your progress over just one week is impressive. I’m envious of your talent. So today—you must perish. What are you waiting for? Cast your curse upon them!” He hadn’t been idle—he had held onto Yuan Shi Tian Zun while subtly signaling to his comrades, guiding them toward the staff’s location—using the mist as a guidepost so they could find it. The mouse man chuckled with glee, raising the staff and declaring: “Li Xianzong, this is a divine artifact—you don’t comprehend how powerful it truly is…” Suddenly, he observed the mist tremble violently—then, a long leg emerged like a whip and struck him hard across the head. The mouse man immediately dropped his staff and slammed it against that whipping leg. “Crack!” Both the staff and the whip recoiled in opposite directions—the mouse staggered, while the leg’s owner skillfully rotated to absorb the rebound force—and followed up with a second powerful strike. Unfamiliar with such an intense attack, the mouse man was struck hard on his side—lifted as though flying—his staff clattering to the ground. Who had arrived? Both Zhang Yuanqing and Li Xianzong were momentarily startled. Then, Zhang Yuanqing heard Guanyi’s voice: “Yuan Shi—I can’t see you anymore. I didn’t even cry out.” “How did you arrive?” Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed—without hesitation, he pounded his fists together to create an explosion resembling a high-explosive hand grenade. The mist trembled violently under the impact wave and flame, momentarily clearing a patch of visible space. Now, finally, he could see all the figures clearly—and observe each person’s movements. With the fallen staff at its center—the closest figure was the dazed mouse man—he noticed that behind him stood the elderly Lao Si Ji, whose bleeding leg wound had already healed. Had she used up her last half-tube of life serum? Indeed—she had proven herself reliable in a moment of crisis—but why hadn’t she brought a rifle with her? Zhang Yuanqing scanned toward another direction—the staff’s other side, near the plaza edge, where a short-statured man was crouched, preparing to pick up the staff. Counterpoint—his own Queen, who was also moving cautiously, following the sound of footsteps, heading toward the fallen staff. The two armies stared at each other—then simultaneously charged forward—their battle now truly intense. The mouse man rose first and blew out toxic needles aimed at Guanyi. As a scout, Guanyi had anticipated this move—and quickly side-stepped, just missing the needles—but lost her initial advantage. That was precisely why she hadn’t brought a rifle—had she held one, she might have been unable to avoid them. The prop carried an adverse effect—bringing bad luck upon its user. And Li Chunfeng’s explosive gun would also disrupt her composure. The mouse man moved agilely toward the staff—just as he extended his hand, two circular bands struck it repeatedly—driving it far away—and leaving him unable to grasp it. Tapping quickly—he rushed forward and raised one finger, casting an illusion that made it seem as though he remained in place. As he neared the staff, a deep, resonant drumbeat suddenly rang out—penetrating his very soul. “Dum-dum-dum…” The rhythmic beat surged through the atmosphere, causing confusion and panic among all present—instilling waves of unease, fear, and disorder. It was the Cat King Speaker’s drum sound! A powerful support prop—but Zhang Yuanqing had rarely used it because its effect was area-wide and only the owner could be immune; teammates and enemies were vulnerable. If not managed well—it might protect the enemy while inflicting heavy damage on allies. But now, he couldn’t afford to think about such nuances. The short man momentarily lost his balance—instinctively wanting to kneel and then retreat. Yet, as a skilled Illusionist, he showed strong resilience in spirit—a deep sense of calm quickly returned—and burst out with a piercing shriek. That cry instantly awakened the entire group. Zhang Yuanqing surged forward, delivering a fierce knee strike into the man’s chest. “Boom!” The Illusionist flew backward and crashed against the rear wall—dust cascaded down. He clutched his chest, curled up on the ground—and could not rise. Zhang Yuanqing didn’t have time to follow up with a finishing blow—or kneel to pick up the staff—because through the vision granted by the Insight Eye, he saw Li Xianzong silently approaching him—his leg muscles tensed, strength flowing from his upper body down to his feet. “Crack!” A powerful upward kick sent an explosive sound—Zhang Yuanqing’s body leaned backward—missing the strike entirely. Yet, as if unconstrained by inertia, his body rotated during the backswing and sliced past Li Xianzong’s side—the Blood-Seeking Blade aimed straight at the carotid artery. Even with extensive experience in close combat, Li Xianzong had never witnessed such a maneuver—so he instinctively pulled his spine sideways to counter—and leapt with both legs, delivering a strong kick into the enemy. During this motion, two crimson veins appeared across Li Xianzong’s eyes. Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden sensation of dizziness—his mind momentarily blanked out. Seeing this, Li Xianzong smiled widely—the seasoned fighter had already sensed the course of Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s fate ahead. Then, Zhang Yuanqing, stunned in his momentary pause, unexpectedly stepped back—just narrowly avoiding a powerful kick. “Crack!” Li Xianzong’s knee moved—this airborne side-kick struck only air. Impossible… Li Xianzong frowned—and immediately sensed the sound of impact behind him. Guanyi had arrived—the Lao Si Ji used her left leg as an axis, bent slightly at the knee, and violently struck Li Xianzong’s head with her right leg. Zhang Yuanqing heard a crisp “crack”—Li Xianzong’s cervical vertebrae snapped. The Wu Gu Master’s head twisted at an odd angle—and was thrown like a sandbag into the air. At this sight, both Zhang Yuanqing and the Queen were filled with exhilaration—Guanyi’s strike had effectively secured victory. Tapping steadily—the Red Dance Shoes guiding him—Zhang Yuanqing moved swiftly toward Li Xianzong to deliver a final blow to eliminate the main adversary. He chose not to use the Artifact—the Purifying Rod—to cleanse, for two reasons: first, he still held the Red Dance Shoes; second, it served to momentarily paralyze Li Xianzong—giving Guanyi an opportunity. The mouse man grew anxious—lifting his bamboo tube and expelling a continuous stream of six green toxins in quick succession. Zhang Yuanqing moved with grace under the guidance of his Red Dance Shoes—rotating, leaping, skillfully evading every attack. Li Xianzong tilted his head—his eyes blazing red—with fierce intensity—both arms clenched tightly—and a thick mist poured out from him, enveloping his entire body. Guanyi charged forward to deliver the finishing blow—but found Li Xianzong no longer where he had been. “Ah…” A cry echoed deep within the mist. “Trouble!” Zhang Yuanqing immediately realized—his voice burst forth. In the moment of crisis, Li Xianzong made a desperate move—to sacrifice the short man—and the Wu Gu Master became wildly agitated upon seeing blood. “Indeed, only through relentless slaughter can I find joy—only in the relentless clash of arms can I triumph without fail.” A deep sigh drifted through the mist, emanating from Li Xianzong. “That one…” Guan Ya’s face grew solemn. Suddenly, she sensed the fog ahead stirring, as if enemies were approaching. Moments later, a swift and forceful jab struck her squarely. Guan Ya had already retreated, arms crossed over her chest in defensive posture. Bang! Her arm throbbed with pain; her feet wavered beneath her, nearly sending her sprawling. “Yuan Shi,” Guan Ya cried out, voice sharp, bracing herself to steady her footing. With a sweeping leg motion, she drove the long leg across the front to send an impact wave through the mist. The fog trembled violently—but nothing materialized. A gust of wind swept from the side, and Guan Ya felt her spine tense immediately. She pivoted, drawing back, then launched a punch. Crack! She heard the sound of her fingers snapping—her pain intense enough to bring tears to her eyes. Even with superior strength, her martial technique failed to reverse the tide. The thick mist obscured her vision, leaving her vulnerable and on the receiving end of attacks. No chance at all. Boom! Then came a thunderous explosion, its shockwave carrying flames that surged through and scattered the fog. In her peripheral glance, Li Xianzong was advancing directly toward her. Under pressure, instead of retreating, Guan Ya veered aside, deflecting his blade stroke, then stumbled into Li Xianzong’s arms. Yet despite the collision, only a slight wobble passed through him—no success in pushing back the enemy. Oh dear… As a master martial artist, Guan Ya felt her resolve sink instantly. Li Xianzong grinned cruelly, tightening his grip on Guan Ya's neck as he swept his butterfly blade toward her pale, elegant throat. “Li Xianzong!!” Zhang Yuanqing’s expression darkened dramatically. As the blade approached her neck, it suddenly paused—his wrist caught by a water whip. The other end of the whip was now in Queen’s hands. The explosion had cleared away a patch of mist, allowing her to see the scene unfold clearly. Zhang Yuanqing pressed the second button on the Cat King Speaker. Instantly, a powerful, piercing flute melody erupted—lamenting, resonant, shattering even stone. Zhang Yuanqing’s pupils were dotted with blood vessels; his muscles expanded visibly, veins pulsing like a storm burst beneath his skin—like a bull infused with adrenaline. The flute’s sound had restored him to peak performance for the moment. Yet it was a costly technique—each time it was used, it exacted a heavy toll: a classic “kill one thousand, lose one thousand” strategy. He’d rarely deploy it unless facing imminent peril, because often, he would exhaust himself before defeating his opponent. Dashing! Dashing! With red dance shoes now in motion, Zhang Yuanqing surged forward with unprecedented speed, leaving a trail of glowing afterimages, his sharp willow-blade striking at Li Xianzong’s temple. Li Xianzong's wrist still bound by the whip, he pushed Guan Ya firmly toward Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing promptly withdrew his blade and caught her safely. Seizing this moment, Li Xianzong disengaged from the whip, leaping forward with a powerful thrust: “Are you playing games now? Come on then!” “Come on!” Zhang Yuanqing launched a punch that sent Li Xianzong flying. Then he took Guan Ya by the arm and began to run, escaping toward the square’s outer edge. “Can you really escape?” Li Xianzong landed lightly, unharmed, smiling gently as he prepared to pursue. Suddenly, a mouse person cried out: “Li Xianzong! Something is carrying a staff away—something with a wand!” Startled, Li Xianzong abandoned pursuit and turned in the direction of the sound, sensing the flow of mist. In his perception, the staff floated upward—one end arching skyward, the other dragging on the ground—quickly moving through the fog ahead… “Spirit form?” he murmured, following the staff while simultaneously extracting a circular plastic needle box from his sleeve and pulling out a slender black needle. The needle radiated an intense, cold aura. As the staff rushed forward, it stiffened suddenly—then crashed to the ground. The spirit form that had been guiding it seemed startled and withdrawn. On the other side, Zhang Yuanqing immediately noticed the mouse person’s growing fear—tears welling up in her eyes. Li Xianzong indeed had prepared a special item for handling powerful spirit entities… Zhang Yuanqing's last hope vanished. Now, he was certain: escape was merely an act of deception. His true objective was to draw out the small person and have her take the staff—thus testing whether Li Xianzong possessed specific capabilities against spirit forms. If Li Xianzong were only pretending, Zhang Yuanqing would immediately apply the red veil with full confidence. Unfortunately, after his encounter at Ping Tai Hospital, Li Xianzong had witnessed the strength of the Ghost Bride and now personally secured a countermeasure item. Oh well—only now could he gamble on the hidden artifact… Zhang Yuanqing activated the second form of the red dance shoes and issued an urgent command to pursue Li Xianzong. Then without another word, he turned and rushed with Guan Ya toward the exit. As they stepped beyond the square, the Queen emerged behind them—her face pale, her eyes shimmering with a quiet despair: “Are we not fighting anymore…?” “How can we fight?” Guan Ya sighed sadly. “What do we have to fight with?” She then glanced at Yuan Shi, whose body now stood thickly muscled and flushed with vitality—a clear sign of maximal potential activation. This state could not last long; once its effects faded, his condition would likely worsen. The Queen pressed her lips together tightly. Their conversation was soon caught by Li Lili and Li Chunfeng—both of whom watched their expressions grow dim, then pale in concern. Zhang Yuanqing waved them to silence. “All quiet now. Listen—I’m going to summon the Fire Deity Army and bring Eat-Ou along. We’ll go by water route back to where we discussed our strategy. Queen, can you manage that?” The Queen nodded, her expression cautious: “So you’re suggesting a guerrilla campaign—using the vastness of the instance space to keep them engaged?” Li Chunfeng frowned slightly—the plan was one of last resort, yet at this point, it seemed their only option. They could only hope for survival. “Stop talking,” Zhang Yuanqing said firmly. “Act now.” He remembered Li Xianzong had a curse-casting artifact—a pair of red dance shoes that would not last long. Time itself was now life. As for the hidden artifact’s existence, he hadn’t revealed it to his teammates—because he still didn’t know its properties. Sometimes, rare items don’t possess overwhelming power. If the hidden item were something special—like a unique function—then the team’s morale would collapse under expectations. The very mindset of conducting a guerrilla campaign might vanish. Yes—if the hidden artifact failed to deliver salvation, then Zhang Yuanqing would simply fight Li Xianzong on the battlefield through the instance. Immediately, Li Lili picked up the Fire Master, while Li Chunfeng carried Eat-Ou. Together, they leapt into the river. The water was cold and clear. The Queen moved with graceful fluidity, like a fish in the current, directing four currents that propelled her teammates forward—toward their point of origin. … Li Xianzong bent down to retrieve the staff, then knelt deeply before the red dance shoes, bowing formally. Instantly, the fresh red shoes grew grayed and dimmed—the frequency of attacks slowed; the pressure of each step weakened. Hmph. The robe merely restrained it—yet this was an artifact of Sage Stage strength… This pair of red dance shoes must be a true gem. Once Yuan Shi Tian Zun falls, I’ll claim it for myself! Li Xianzong lowered his gaze and turned to examine the staff’s information: [Name: Withered Staff] [Type: Weapon] [Function: Curse] [Description: The weapon of the Poison Valley Master. Every three years, the master slaughters over a thousand lives, gathering their blood into pools to nourish this artifact. One day, the Yin-Yang Master learned of the master’s crimes and journeyed to the valley, ending his life and taking away this very item.] [Note 1: Activate the gem atop the staff to unleash a curse upon all beings within a fifty-meter radius.] [Note 2: When used against a target that harms you, it can retaliate—curse your attacker in return—with the power of tooth-for-tooth and blood-for-blood.] [Note 3: Each time you use this item, you owe it one thousand lives.] Such an excellent artifact. With it, not only could he hold his own at the Elevated Stage—but even face a Sage-level opponent with confidence. As for large-scale slaughter instances—none would surpass him in scoring. He would surely emerge as the top scorer in every such instance. Li Xianzong’s eyes widened—his expression brightened with genuine excitement. Large-scale slaughter instances were ranked by score—with scores in the top ten consistently recognized as future Sage-level talents, much like the Four Princes of the Five Elements Alliance themselves. Ordinary officers and stewards usually remained outside this elite tier. Yet, the cost was staggering… Li Xianzong’s enthusiasm cooled slightly; his brow furrowed. Once he began using this artifact, he would be required to pay one thousand lives in full within three years—how many merits would that consume? Ten thousand points! Even if he diligently performed good deeds now, it might take decades to accumulate such a sum. Could he gift the staff to someone else before then? No—not so simple. Such high-tier artifacts rarely carried such flaws. At the side, the mouse person chuckled softly: “I knew it! This artifact is absolutely extraordinary. Sir—those two ladies just looked stunning. Would you mind if I took a little of their vitality and had some fun with them?” With that, she licked her lips slowly, her eyes sparkling with lust and desire. With such an exceptional artifact now secured, Li Xianzong felt particularly delighted. Despite the pressure from the red dance shoes, he smiled warmly: “Of course! Have at it—how about you get your hands on a man?” The mouse person nodded immediately: “Then let’s go catch up with them! These little ones think they can play guerrilla warfare? Oh, they’re mistaken!” … After two successive breaths of ascent through the suspended particles in the river, Zhang Yuanqing caught sight of an coffin rising ahead. He tapped lightly on the Queen’s posterior and pointed toward it, indicating for her to move forward. The Queen glanced back, slightly confused—she had searched this stretch thoroughly, even clearing the sediment from the riverbed. Where had the coffin appeared? She didn’t know about hidden tasks, nor did she understand the treasure-seeking skill of the small person. So she hadn’t grasped why Yuan Shi Tian Zun was investigating this region. Now, something clicked into place—but how could he have known so early? And what lay within the coffin? With a fluid sway of her hips, like a fish gliding through water, the Queen guided them to pause before the coffin. She gestured upward, inviting them to climb on. Zhang Yuanqing and his companions then moved their limbs in unison, rising gradually under the river’s current, gently reaching the shore. Zhang Yuanqing steadied himself—his face pale, eyes dimmed with exhaustion. The continuous high-intensity combat—the purification of the artifact, the explosive blasts from his gloves, the flute melody from the Cat King Speaker—had nearly drained every ounce of strength. Without the enduring vitality of the Night Wandering Deity, he might have collapsed. As soon as he stood firm, a roaring sound came from behind—a massive surge pushed the coffin out of the water and onto the shore. The Queen leapt off with graceful ease—unlike Guan Ya, who remained drenched in water. “What is this?” Li Chunfeng approached the coffin closely, inspecting it carefully. It was a wooden chest nearly two meters tall—its black surface cracked and water-stained—nothing extraordinary at first glance. “Now isn’t this the time for collecting trash?” Li Lili urged. She then noticed that both Li Chunfeng, Guan Ya, and the Queen were now gazing at Zhang Yuanqing—with thoughtful expressions. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing, voice weak, begin to explain: “The success of our hidden mission depends entirely on whatever lies within.” At this statement, all four figures gasped—filled with a surge of renewed hope. He had concealed this masterstroke after all? The Queen drew in a sharp breath: “Let’s open it!” Li Chunfeng reached out to push the lid, but no matter how hard he tried—the coffin remained stubbornly closed. He turned back urgently to Zhang Yuanqing: “Can’t get it open—what now?” “Perhaps the conditions haven’t been met yet,” he said. “What is the hidden mission?” Guan Ya asked, her expression increasingly urgent. With the time ticking away and Li Xianzong closing in with just one staff capable of paralyzing the entire group’s hearts, every second counted. Without delay, Zhang Yuanqing retrieved a circular white jade piece from his inventory and placed it gently atop the lid. The ordinary white jade emitted a soft glow, spreading across the coffin surface—then faded into invisibility. With a hand that now trembled from fatigue, Zhang Yuanqing pressed down firmly on the lid. With just a gentle push, the lid gave way smoothly. Everyone’s gaze instantly shifted to the inside of the coffin.