The lid of the coffin slid open slowly, and first came into view a man with a face as fine as jade, wearing jade hairpins and a well-groomed beard. Though his appearance was youthful, he exuded an air of dignity and gravitas that belied someone who hadn't weathered life's storms. Beyond his look, what most struck people was the clothing on the body—a long robe of deep indigo color, with red flames embroidered at the hem, waves stitched in silver thread along the sleeves and chest. Both its appearance and quality were extraordinary. In his arms, he held a bound book, the cover yellowed and brittle, with elegant script reading: *The Record of the Sixtieth Year of Cultivation* "Who is this?" The queen narrowed her eyes, forming a guess but not yet certain, turning to her teammates. "The Yin-Yang Traveler!" Zhang Yuanqing offered his answer directly, without hesitation. The Yin-Yang Traveler... Her teammates exchanged puzzled glances. Indeed, it was the Yin-Yang Traveler—never mentioned in official guides. Wasn't he just background material? When exactly did Yuan Shi trigger this hidden quest? I've been following him all along and completely missed it. Is that how a player achieves consecutive S-rank victories? The queen was both surprised and deeply impressed by Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Perhaps the hidden task emerged during the battle against the cursed cat, as he mentioned conducting an experiment. Yet how did he discover this hidden mission? Li Chufeng prides himself on intelligence and breadth of knowledge—he could connect the hidden quest with the cursed cat, but still couldn't grasp how Yuan Shi Tian Zun triggered it. How exactly did Yuan Shi find out that the cursed cat could activate this hidden task? Hadn't he asked the queen to investigate this region earlier, when the coffin was already destined to appear here? At that time, the coffin must have been in a "hidden" state—only revealing itself after defeating the evil mage. Was this mission tied to all six characters? How did Yuan Shi activate it? No matter how one thinks about it, it seems illogical. Guan Ya has thought of more possibilities than anyone else. "Liu Li Yuan Chang," said Li Lili Yuan, "where is the turning point prop?" "This robe," Zhang Yuanqing said as he lifted the Yin-Yang Traveler from the coffin and gestured to his teammates, "help me hold him—while I take off this robe." Guan Ya stepped forward immediately, refusing others to intervene. Zhang Yuanqing handed over the Yin-Yang Traveler to Guan Ya and swiftly peeled off the robe. Throughout the process, he remained tense—not fearing Li Xianzong's arrival, but concerned that the Yin-Yang Traveler might rise as a ghost. He had been deeply affected by the old bāng zi. Soon after, Zhang Yuanqing removed the robe from the traveler, now fully in control of this prop. Only then did he truly appreciate its full design: deep black base with red flames at the hem, silver water waves on chest and sleeves, and a black-and-white taijitsu fish on the back. Seconds later, item information appeared: [Name: Yin-Yang Robe] [Type: Clothing] [Function: Water-Fire, Array Technique] [Introduction: This robe was worn by an exalted being during a celestial ceremony. Flames are embroidered at the lower part; waves at the upper section. It bears the duality of yin and yang—thus named the Yin-Yang Robe.] [Note 1: One component of the ceremonial attire. The other three components are shoes, crown, and sash. It is said that gathering all four pieces unlocks the secrets of immortality.] [Note 2: Wearing this robe allows mastery over both water and fire. This robe is nourished by celestial energies, shielding against impurities and curses.] [Note 3: When unfolded, it creates an array spanning thirty meters in radius. During its activation, outsiders cannot enter; the caster and those inside must remain within for ten minutes. Within this range, the caster becomes a dual form of water and fire, immune to physical attacks. If the array is not dissolved within ten minutes, their bodies will be irreversibly transformed.] [Note 4: Control your desire for immortality—your personality may fluctuate slightly, but don't worry; this effect lasts only twenty-four hours.] Zhang Yuanqing stared at the attributes, his mind filled with one thought: success! This was a prop that combined both Fire Master and Water Spirit abilities—an unheard-of set. A single robe so powerful—what if one day the complete set is assembled? Then he would be unstoppable in the Place of Song Hai, defeating each dog elder with a single strike! Yet it had drawbacks—especially against particularly strong opponents with thick defenses. And this prop was naturally weak against both Water Spirits and Fire Masters. However, that wasn’t a problem—the issue only arose when attacks were insufficient; I could rely on other props to compensate. This very prop held the secret of immortality... The Yin-Yang Traveler built this town so its layout embodies yin-yang balance, corresponding with the taijitsu fish on the robe. He probably sought to imitate the array within the robe, constructing a larger array to achieve longevity? The plan seemed rather questionable—yes, indeed—the late years of the Yin-Yang Traveler likely suffered under the burdens of this prop's demands, driven mad by his desire for immortality. Also, the presence of the Yin-Yang Traveler in the coffin clarified Zhang Yuanqing’s doubts: why did the descendants of the Yin-Yang Traveler fall to the mages and a group of uncoordinated allies? Because they never mastered this powerful prop—the Yin-Yang Robe remained worn by ancestors. After being captured, the mages failed to obtain it, leading them to be enraged and ultimately kill her. Wang Po Pi participated in this matter seeking the descendants’ beauty. As for Zhao Yuanwai and Wang Tiejiang, Zhang Yuanqing didn’t know their reasons—this was part of the Evil Faction's storyline. But now, such details no longer mattered. "How about it?" Li Chufeng asked eagerly, "What are the functions of this prop? Can it withstand Li Xianzong?" Recalling the terrifying power of the staff, the queen said with a sense of relief: "As long as we can hold our own for a moment, we have a chance to turn the tide. We're numerous, and only two members from the Evil Faction remain." She wore a look of both determination and hope. Guan Ya and Li Lili Yuan watched Zhang Yuanqing, waiting for his response. "Under normal circumstances, I should be able to single-handedly face off against Li Xianzong," said Zhang Yuanqing with confidence. "Once you retreat, don’t come near—stay clear of the curse’s influence." "Really? Can we truly turn this around?" The queen's makeup gave her a smoky glow, and she radiated joy. Zhang Yuanqing nodded in confirmation. Guan Ya and others beamed with relief. "By the way," he added, "return my prop to me—then you can all withdraw." Under Zhang Yuanqing’s urging, the four teammates swiftly departed, carrying the unconscious characters Eat-Lu and Fire Master, fleeing toward the distance. Turning his gaze from the team members, Zhang Yuanqing looked at the book inside the coffin. "The Record of the Sixtieth Year of Cultivation…" He picked up the volume, flipped through the first page, his eyes widening with surprise and excitement. It documented the journey of the Yin-Yang Traveler’s cultivation. How valuable—information left by a strong figure contemporary to the old bāng zi—helping deepen understanding of the Spirit Realm, uncovering hidden historical truths beneath reality. "Right now isn’t the time to study this," he thought. "Let me see if I can add it to my inventory." With a mental effort, the book vanished from his hands and appeared in one of the inventory slots. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing sensed the sound of swift footsteps approaching—fast and urgent. He turned to see two figures at the end of the cobblestone street: Li Xianzong holding a black staff, and an elderly mouse-shaped person with a hunched posture. Behind them, Red Dance Shoes followed listlessly, stubbornly launching a pursuit. The Enchantment Demon has a skill that marks its prey—once marked, escape becomes difficult. This was exactly why Li Chufeng believed engaging in guerrilla tactics offered only brief survival advantages. When Zhang Yuanqing spotted the enemy, Li Xianzong also noticed him and immediately accelerated his pace, calculating distance in his mind. As soon as he approached within fifty meters, he would cast a wide-area curse—offering no opportunities or room for contingency. "Big boss," said the mouse with wide eyes, "the others have disappeared—perhaps there’s a trap." Always cautious, he didn’t want to see victory dashed at the final stretch. "The people are farther away," replied Li Xianzong, sensing the positions of the marked targets. "They're fleeing now." "Escaping?" The mouse blinked in surprise and chuckled, "Is that why he stayed behind—demonstrating heroism? Fine. Let’s make it a decisive battle then. I’m eager to enjoy these two beauties!" The distance between them steadily narrowed until they reached fifty meters. The sharp-eyed mouse suddenly exclaimed: "What is he wearing?" Li Xianzong immediately raised his staff without further hesitation. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing arched his arms and launched a compressed fire ball toward them. The fire ball rushed forward, exploded between the two, and revealed Zhang Yuanqing’s form—bringing their distance down to just over twenty meters. Fire activated! At that moment, Li Xianzong's staff shimmered with a dim, steady glow. Bam! Bam! Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart pounding violently in his chest, then stopped—a familiar sense of pain and suffocation surged. But this time, the sensation lasted barely less than one second. The curse had been blocked by the Yin-Yang Robe. Wait? Wasn’t that curse effective at all? Seeing Zhang Yuanqing unharmed, Li Xianzong’s expression changed. Zhang Yuanqing looked toward Li Xianzong and grinned—determined with a hint of danger. "Whoa!" He removed the Yin-Yang Robe from his shoulders and tossed it into the air. This action caused both Li Xianzong and the mouse to immediately halt their running pace. The latter raised her bamboo tube, aiming a needle at Zhang Yuanqing. Puff! The needle missed its mark—Zhang Yuanqing vanished into thin air. At that moment, the robe in the sky unfolded dramatically—the edges and sleeves as if drawn taut like paper, stretching fully open. The taijitsu fish on the back began to rotate. The black fish released clear, ethereal streams of water; the white fish sprayed intense flames. Water and fire cascaded downward, forming a vivid taijitsu image spanning thirty meters—water on one side, fire on the other. "What’s happening? What’s happening?" cried the mouse in disbelief. "What kind of prop is this?" The mouse found herself being pushed by invisible currents within the water domain—like a leaf floating—struggling to stay upright and even more difficult to fight effectively. Li Xianzong felt his composure sink, sensing an ominous sense of foreboding. Without hesitation, he stepped back, seeking to exit this strange zone. A shimmering transparent barrier appeared—blocking both of them. Impossible? Can't get through? "By all means!" the mouse exclaimed with increasing urgency, "We’re trapped!" Li Xianzong calmly raised his butterfly blade and stabbed at the barrier. Compared to the slow ripples created by the mouse’s fists, the blade generated sharp, rapid waves—but still couldn’t penetrate. The muscles on Li Xianzong's temple tightened; veins bulged as he strained—making the ripples grow stronger. After a few seconds of steadfast resistance, he lowered his blade and faced them with growing gravity: "We’re stuck!" Hearing this, the mouse’s spirits collapsed. With wide eyes, she shouted: "Yuan Shi Tian Zun! Step out now! Step out for us! Do you think this will hold us? How long can it last?" After enduring such a hard-fought battle—after defeating the boss and surviving intense staff struggles—the final victory felt like it had been undermined. How could anyone remain steady? "Ah-hah…" A soft laugh echoed from within the area covered by the shimmering water stream: "Stuck? You're mistaken—I wasn’t trying to trap you at all." Li Xianzong and the mouse turned toward the sound, seeing a mist slowly rise in the center, forming a human silhouette—its features gradually taking shape into that of Yuan Shi Tian Zun. This figure held a large-caliber pistol, wearing black-framed glasses. Suddenly, from the other end came the same voice: "My true intention is to defeat you. Are you ready to kneel and surrender?" Li Xianzong and the mouse turned sharply—now seeing the flame-covered area where clusters of fire had coalesced into a vibrant, ever-moving figure holding the Vow Staff and Blood Sword. A dual form of water and fire! On this flame figure’s feet rested a black-shell speaker, its audio system emitting a song with a poignant tone: "You are like that great flame—your fierce blaze warms me. You are like that great flame—your radiant glow lights my path…" Zhang Yuanqing’s water-bodied form had just begun speaking, “Li Xianzong, I’ve already said…” The fire-bodied form immediately interjected, “Is there a possibility that today—this one who is kneeling and pleading…?” Zhang Yuanqing quickly reclaimed the floor of conversation, “It’s YOU!” Now Zhang Yuanqing felt something extraordinary. With two bodies and two sets of perception systems, he experienced no sense of dissonance—rather, it felt as though he had always possessed two physical forms from birth. The only anomaly was that his consciousness had split into two distinct parts: one fiercely combative and volatile, the other calm and sharp-tongued. Additionally, while in this dual-body state, he could no longer access his inventory interface; props already drawn out were usable, but those yet to be retrieved were effectively “sealed” within the inventory panel. Li Xianzong rose without hesitation, raised his staff, and caused a deep, shimmering glow to ripple from the top of its gemstone. The two bodies stood at a distance, motionless. The fire-bodied form chuckled, “Useless.” The water-bodied form responded with quiet composure, “My curse has no effect on me.” Li Xianzong’s expression had utterly drained—his pride, his boldness, all gone. His hand, gripping the butterfly blade, trembled under intense pressure. “The mouse person screamed, ‘This is impossible! You have this artifact—the Prop—you didn’t use it before? This cannot be!’” He still refused to accept what was unfolding before him. Crack! Crack! Zhang Yuanqing raised his gun barrel and fired at the hunched figure of the mouse person. The mouse person recoiled, lowering his body, preparing to roll sideways—but a surge of ethereal water surged forth from all directions, forming an invisible barrier that pressed against him, immovable and firm. “By heaven!” cried the mouse person, his body undulating like a fish’s in swift currents—his sleek fur helped absorb and deflect the impact. Just in time, he avoided two lethal shots. “Ah! A water-creature indeed!” The fire-bodied form laughed and stepped forward. As the celestial yin-yang robe spun, the water-fire grinding platform shifted position, and Li Xianzong and the mouse person were both drawn into the flaming half of the Tai Chi diagram. Sizzling… Seams on the mouse person’s fur flared with misty steam, releasing a bitter, smoky scent. He cried out in sharp, shrill distress. The fire-bodied form vanished silently, manifesting a fiery blade that sliced toward the hunched back of the mouse person. Li Xianzong took two quick steps and struck the fire-bodied form’s wrist with his staff—the flame-arm exploded outward, and the bloodied blade flew from his grasp. Crack! Crack! From afar, the water-bodied form turned his gun, firing a series of dark-red trajectories that pressed Li Xianzong into a defensive crouch. The fire-bodied form reformed his arm, did not retrieve the blood-blade, and reached into the roaring flame, drawing forth a long, hot-bladed sword, then delivered a sudden downward slash. The mouse person moved with surprising agility, using the strength of his hind limbs to spring aside—just in time to evade the fatal stroke. Before he could even rejoice, gunfire erupted beside him, and a bullet pierced his abdomen, tearing through resilient skin and creating two dramatic wounds. Zhang Yuanqing, wielding the artifact known as *Insight of the Watcher*, had anticipated this very movement. The fire-bodied form seamlessly advanced, stepped forward, and executed a vertical slash with the flaming blade—*thwack!*—the mouse person’s abdomen erupted in vivid flames. He curled into himself, his abdomen not bleeding but scorched to a crisp; internal organs nearly blackened—the death was now inevitable. “It can’t be…!” murmured the mouse person, his voice fading into a low whisper as light dimmed within his pupils. Witnessing this scene, Li Xianzong’s eyes contracted dramatically—overwhelmed by shock—and instinctively summoned the wooden box, clicked open its lid, and allowed mist to envelop the area. The fire-bodied form laughed with arrogance, “Useless! This is my domain—the arena!” The water-bodied form replied coldly, “Water is my sight; fire is the essence of this one.” As soon as the words settled, both bodies simultaneously launched attacks—Zhang Yuanqing fired at a point within the mist, while the fire-bodied form cast a sequence of blazing heat balls, each exploding with high-impact force. The mist trembled under the shockwaves, briefly dispersing, and Li Xianzong’s form appeared—he now wore a soiled, foul-smelling coat, knelt on both knees, his body spared by bullets that passed through him while the blast waves were absorbed by the cloak’s dark glow. Li Xianzong closed the wooden box into his inventory panel and summoned a white chalk stick to draw a circle around himself. This was his final lifeline! A golden-yellow beam descended from above, enveloping Li Xianzong. After several seconds, it faded—yet he remained in place. …A glimmer of despair now shimmered in Li Xianzong’s eyes. At that moment, the fire-bodied form arrived, delivering a powerful slash with his flaming blade—the heat wave surged against him. Li Xianzong had to interrupt his prayer, leaning back to avoid the blade, while red sigils began to glow prominently across his eyes. The fire-bodied form froze mid-motion—then instantly exploded in a cascade of intense waves and searing flame, impacting Li Xianzong’s chest layer by layer. *Pff!* Li Xianzong spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen. From afar, the fire-bodied form reformed himself with vigor, boasting, “Thank goodness I reacted quickly—self-explosion just in time!” “Mister Yuan Shi Tian Zun,” Li Xianzong said, gritting his teeth, “how did you discover this artifact—the Prop—so early?” He could not accept that a once-overshadowed rookie, someone he had previously dominated throughout their journey, now exhibited such mastery within the Instance—which even made him feel envious. “Playing an Instance requires intelligence—not just brute force,” Li Xianzong said. “Back at the Peaceful Hospital, you merely exploited my lower level. You truly believe yourself a hero? I’ve covered your efforts for half a month—your efforts are nothing but a pale shadow!” The fire-bodied form raged on with mounting frustration. Li Xianzong’s face flushed with anger—but beneath that, a profound sense of defeat and helplessness surged within him. Crack! Crack! The water-bodied form remained calm, firing steadily to compel Li Xianzong into rolling motions, then chuckled, “Idiot—what need do you have for small talk? Just dispatch him. The purification power of the Artifact requires a sacrificial essence—you are no longer flesh and blood; what good is it now? Simply discard it.” “Ah, true! That makes sense!” the fire-bodied form exclaimed with sudden clarity, tossing aside the *Artifact*—and declared, “Let’s change the battlefield.” Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and tapped his foot—the water-fire grinding platform shifted once more, drawing Li Xianzong into a turbulent, rushing water array. Now completely enveloped in constant currents, Li Xianzong's mobility was severely constrained. Zhang Yuanqing tossed out bullets and glasses, and said calmly, “You take the shot now!” Then, with a firm grip on his hands, he let out a loud rush—waves of ethereal water surged from all sides, encircling and immobilizing Li Xianzong. At the same time, Zhang Yuanqing began to glide across the surface of the water, moving swiftly toward Li Xianzong, then leaping into the air with his knees raised high. *Thud!* Li Xianzong bent deeply, lowering his center and positioning his staff horizontally across his chest—his body absorbed the impact, making a sharp gasp; on the other side, the fire-bodied form seized the moment to unleash an unceasing barrage of bullets. Under the influence of the flowing currents, Li Xianzong's reaction slowed slightly—he managed to avoid most shots but still took one in his right chest. His face paled instantly, and beads of sweat appeared on his brow. “Here comes something interesting!” Zhang Yuanqing snapped a finger— From several meters away, waves surged up along the riverbed, forming cascades that resembled snow-laden white dragons. These true streams of water were absorbed by Zhang Yuanqing’s body, coalescing into a towering figure three meters high, embracing Li Xianzong entirely. Crack! Crack! Crack! The fire-bodied form continued to fire rapidly—dark-red bullet trails swept across the submerged, helpless Li Xianzong, penetrating his body and spattering blood in vivid blossoms. The three-meter-tall water-bodied figure was instantly stained crimson. Gurgle… gurgle… Li Xianzong expelled large bubbles from his mouth, his body now covered in deep, splattered wounds of blood. His consciousness began to blur—images of the past flashed by like a carousel: Of his mother, who had abandoned him for his father’s sake; of his father, gentle and kind yet consistently overlooked; of their years of hardship together—their simple days—all of which now transformed into powerful waves of anger and resentment. His previously hazy awareness returned with sudden clarity— *How could I die at the hands of this man?* Li Xianzong strained with his last strength, opening his inventory panel. The next instant, his soiled coat, the butterfly blade in his right hand, the faltering staff in his left, and the chalk stick now cradled in his palm—all returned to his inventory. Accessing items, retrieving them—each action came effortlessly within a single thought. Having completed all this, Li Xianzong lowered his head with resignation, letting the flowing water carry him along. The bubbles rising from his nostrils gradually diminished and grew smaller. *Crack!* The fire-bodied form delivered one final shot, bursting Li Xianzong’s skull. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing dissolve his bodily form—allowing the river to cascade down in a gentle waterfall. Immediately afterward, Zhang Yuanqing disbanded the Array Technique—the fish on the yin-yang robe reversed direction, its fiery tongues rising and merging with the white fish; clusters of dark streams flowed back into the black fish. The celestial robe then descended and settled precisely upon Zhang Yuanqing’s body. … In a nearby alleyway distant from the riverbank, Guan Ya and the Queen sat down, grasping their breaths to recover strength—diligently tending to the fire master who had fallen unconscious due to poisoning. Li Chunfeng stood at the entrance of the alley, watching quietly. Liu O, now awake, slowly regained energy, observing the others’ silent, solemn expressions and said with regret: “I’m sorry—I didn’t manage to help at all.” No one responded—everyone remained on edge, waiting for a message, for an announcement. Finally, several of them heard the familiar voice of the Spirit Realm— 【Ping! Congratulations—you have successfully completed the multi-player Spirit Realm mission—“Yin-Yang Taming,” ID No. 2273, difficulty level A. Rewards are now being processed…】