Zhang Yuanqing's pen paused, holding deep significance as she looked at him: "Why are you asking this? The Xiaohou Family won't bother you anymore—you needn’t worry. To be precise, the other factions within the Xiaohou Family might even desire to invite you for a toast and a good conversation." Li Dongze gazed at her with deep meaning as well, saying: "I simply want to know." After a moment of silence, Guan Ya softly said: "Follow me." She stood up from her office chair, her high heels clicking steadily toward the restroom. Ah? Should we discuss this in the restroom instead? Better down in the lobby, right? Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Wang Tai who was busy with his tasks and quickly followed Lao Si Ji. The two moved one after another to the restroom, where Zhang Yuanqing closed the door behind him. Guan Ya folded her arms across her chest and said: "The current elders of the Spirit Realm families—including the five official alliance leaders—are all among the first generation of Realm Walkers. Oh, except for our White Tiger Army’s person_name. The first generation of Realm Walkers emerged during the late Qing and early Republican periods." Zhang Yuanqing's face changed instantly. He remained silent for a long time, then gently squeezed his brow, saying: "Ah—so it is indeed so…" Guan Ya’s words resolved a question that had troubled him for a long while. Realm Walkers were not always present since ancient times—the Character Card only appeared in modern times. That meant that in ancient eras, when various professions existed, their advancement relied entirely on breath-based cultivation practices. The handnotes from the Place of the Mountain God and the Daoist records of the Yin-Yang Hermit confirmed this—these were not fictional background elements but real practices carried out by actual people. This greatly increased the likelihood that both Lao Bang Zi and the Yin-Yang Hermit existed as real figures. Furthermore, it provided a perfect explanation for the character card concept—an idea far ahead of its time—and even suggested that the Spirit Realm itself might undergo updates or revisions over time. The earliest versions likely featured fewer attributes. Guan Ya studied him with a smile: "This is classified information. Officially, they claim that the Spirit Realm has always existed. I know this due to my family connections. Normally, I wouldn’t tell you this—so please remember to keep it confidential." Zhang Yuanqing quickly replied: "Thank you, Guan Ya sister—for your trust. From now on, I’ll be your devoted follower!" Her meaning was clear—the fact that she shared such intimate details with him reflected their strong relationship. Guan Ya chuckled lightly: "How exactly would one become a devoted follower?" Now is the perfect time to start… Zhang Yuanqing thought under his breath. Then Guan Ya pressed her brake, stopped smiling, and said seriously: "Have you noticed something unusual?" "Don’t you think the existence of 'Moral Value' is rather illogical? The fundamental nature of this world has always been one of survival of the fittest—since ancient times, human tribes, dynasties, and governments have established order. Yet at their core, power still prevails." Zhang Yuanqing said softly: "Because these organizations are strong enough to establish rules, the presence of 'Moral Value' becomes part of those rules—and thus, there must be powerful individuals above them. Therefore, the Spirit Realm isn’t a supernatural phenomenon—it’s actually created by human hands." Guan Ya studied him carefully, her eyes filled with genuine appreciation for a man: "Indeed—very perceptive. You’ve only been a Realm Walker for less than two months and have already identified this significant issue. Most people don’t think deeply about matters unrelated to themselves; even when they wonder, they simply accept things as they are and follow the current trends." Zhang Yuanqing then shared with Guan Ya both the handnotes from San Dao Mountain and the Daoist records of the Yin-Yang Hermit. Guan Ya furrowed her brows: "I haven’t heard of this before—but it makes sense. In what way do you interpret 'Heaven and Earth have changed'?" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head: "Guan Ya sister—how could you suddenly lose your mind? This is such a high-level question that even the Yin-Yang Hermit from that era wouldn’t know, let alone me!" Guan Ya said sharply: "Being out of one’s depth isn't a problem—isn't it?" Well, brains are good—but you have such a broad chest, you don’t need one… Zhang Yuanqing replied: "With such an attractive appearance, being less intelligent might even be better." Guan Ya rolled her eyes and said dryly: "Just consider that as praise. My point is—since Heaven and Earth have changed, and the limits of cultivation have been reduced, why are we suddenly able to cultivate now?" Zhang Yuanqing immediately responded: "Because the Spirit Realm has emerged." Guan Ya nodded: "Then how did the Spirit Realm come into being? Hmm—that’s a deeper question. Yet even with that, we can already begin to infer certain things—such as, who created it, in what way was it created, and for what purpose?" These three questions from Lao Si Ji left Zhang Yuanqing deeply reflective. After about fifteen seconds of thoughtful silence, he slowly said: "Firstly, the creators of the Spirit Realm couldn’t have been the people from the Ming Dynasty—they would have had the capacity to transcend the 'Late Dharma Era' if they possessed such capabilities." The Yin-Yang Hermit already achieved first-class cultivation at that time; yet even he would have to exclaim ‘alas, lamentable’ in awe. And then there’s Lao Bang Zi—a hidden sage—being absorbed into the Spirit Realm as well—it was deeply unsettling indeed. "What exactly is meant by 'Late Dharma Era'?" Guan Ya asked, surprised: "That's a good term." "Oh—that came from network novels," Zhang Yuanqing continued analyzing: "I think rather than pondering how the Spirit Realm itself was created, we should focus on how that certain existence reversed the Late Dharma Era. Even more so—do you think the Late Dharma Era might be connected to that very existence?" Guan Ya said simply: "Continue." "As for the purpose of creating the Spirit Realm, I have two ideas—one is to study the patterns and shared trajectories among the Realm Walkers themselves; the second is to unravel and research the Spirit Realm itself," Zhang Yuanqing added thoughtfully. "For instance—do the Realm Walkers share consistent trends or assigned missions? If a system was designed to produce them, there must be a purpose behind it. My current hypothesis—that the purpose involves inter-organization rivalry." Guan Ya narrowed her eyes and asked: "Why do you think so?" "Because in ancient times, the Orderly and Evil organizations didn’t always have mandatory combat tasks. Instead, the Orderly professionals would often intervene when they felt displeased with the Evil ones—acting to correct wrongdoing. In contrast, among the Realm Walkers, inter-organization rivalries are rewarded with prestige and moral value points—and there are also mandatory tasks involving such rivalries in instances, especially the latter being compulsory. Of course, this is only my current speculation—it’s not yet proven." "You know quite a bit—wasn’t that mentioned in The Ji Zi Dao Record?" "Guan Ya sister—you're absolutely right—I couldn't have kept it hidden from you. I’ll now proceed with the second idea: unraveling the mystery of the Spirit Realm. All the information I’ve gathered originates from within the Spirit Realm itself. In fact, the instance narratives and prop annotations offer subtle clues—repeatedly mentioning an 'unidentifiable existence,' a 'great and supreme being,' etc.—to me it seems as though the Spirit Realm isn’t merely indifferent to our efforts to decode it." Guan Ya gave a slight nod: "Do you remember what Li Chunfeng once said—the modern and Ming-era backgrounds of instances at the Elevated Stage?" That meant that in the Sage Stage and beyond, different historical periods would serve as settings—what might be hidden within those even more ancient Spirit Realm instances? These details were beyond Zhang Yuanqing’s current understanding—but suddenly he understood Guan Ya's deeper intention. He felt a sudden thrill: "Your point is—the high-level leaders of the Five Elements Alliance may have already uncovered the mysteries of the Spirit Realm." Guan Ya smiled: "At least, they know more than we do." Satisfied with their conversation, she then looked sternly and reminded him: "Please don’t share this with anyone—no one, not even the Chief." When Zhang Yuanqing nodded, she added cheerfully: "So obedient! By the way, I just spoke with the Queen. She shared an interesting incident with me." "An interesting incident?" "Recently, Yuan Ting was taken by Sun Elder and kept at training camp for ten days—ever since then, few people have dared to mention that Sun Elder is being unwise. But recently, this very topic has started gaining renewed momentum once again," Guan Ya said as she walked toward the office door. "This time, even Sun Elder might not be able to contain it anymore—your decisive victory over Li Xianzong in the instance has made a significant impact." Zhang Yuanqing: "...?" In the office area, Li Dongze stepped out and glanced inside—he didn’t see Guan Ya, so he asked: "Why hasn't Yuan Shi arrived yet? Where is Lao Si Ji?" Wang Tai didn’t look up, his tone calm: "The two of them went to the restroom—quietly." "Wait—what?" Li Dongze doubted whether he had heard correctly. Wang Tai repeated: "They quietly went to the restroom—it’s been over fifteen minutes now." "Oh my goodness—these two…" When exactly did they grow close? Were their shared hardships in Yin-Yang Town finally breaking through centuries-old traditions of propriety and formality? At that moment, the door of the restroom opened, and Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing emerged one after another. "Chief!" Zhang Yuanqing waved to greet him. Li Dongze held his walking stick and said solemnly: "Fu Bai Fu Chang just notified me—if you arrive, please go immediately to Fu Family Village." Was the Hundred-man Commander calling for me? Zhang Yuanqing murmured: "Then shall I go right now?" Li Dongze nodded slightly, glanced at Guan Ya as she returned to her seat, then looked back at Zhang Yuanqing and slowly said: "Our work has always been quite flexible—without unexpected events, a relaxed pace is perfectly acceptable. So we don’t lack time—we’ll need to ensure that in future." With that, he picked up his walking stick and walked briskly back into the office. What did he just say? Zhang Yuanqing stared at him with wide-eyed confusion. ... In the Capital City— At the Si-Hé-Yuán courtyard beneath a locust tree. Sun Elder lay in a rocking chair, enjoying the breeze, the shadows of the trees gently swaying. The leaves rustled softly—the children’s clear voices drifted: "Grandpa! Grandpa!" A steady footfall approached from outside; the cheerful chatter stopped instantly. A dark-clad man crossed the threshold and paused before the rocking chair, bowing respectfully: "Sun Elder—Uan Ting has completed his ten-day training at the Training Camp. He now understands his mistakes." Sun Elder waved his fan gently, nodding slightly: "How is Uan Ting progressing in cultivation?" "He’s made significant improvements across all areas—he may be ready to participate in the June combat instance." "Excellent!" Sun Elder half-closed his eyes, saying slowly: "I sent him to training camp—specifically to nurture him." The man immediately replied: "Sun Elder has truly invested deeply in this effort." Sun Elder said: "Ten days have passed. Let Uan Ting return now. By the way—has anyone else dared to speak ill of me recently?" This question had initially been a serious concern for Sun Elder, but after Uan Ting’s videos showing his perseverance and setting an example during training sessions, no one dared to criticize him anymore—so Sun Elder gradually relaxed and only asked daily. "Um…" the dark-clad man hesitated. Sun Elder immediately opened his eyes, shifting from a relaxed to an alert posture, saying with sharp clarity: "Ah? Is there another bold young person criticizing me?" "All members are actively speaking ill of you—the wind of criticism has resurfaced." "...?" Sun Elder suddenly stood up, the rocking chair creaking, startled and indignant: "What’s going on?" "Here's what happened—Yuan Shi visited Yin-Yang Town recently, and during his instance encounter with Li Xianzong…," said the man as he detailed their conflict. "In fact, all colleagues in the organization believe Yuan Shi is a rare talent—perhaps even capable of becoming the second Fu Qingyang. So…" So Sun Elder is now truly bewildered! Sun Elder, holding such high status as a Sovereign, never previously paid much attention to minor disputes between junior staff members—and now he stood utterly speechless, thinking his months of efforts had been in vain? "Idiot!" Sun Elder pounded the armrest of the chair, shouting: "Keep Uan Ting at training camp for another ten days—increase training intensity and post a video every day on the Forum. If anyone else dares to speak ill of me after that—I’ll personally account for every instance!" The man bowed respectfully and retired. ... At Fu Family Village—In the villa’s study room. Fu Qingyang, dressed in a white suit with refined features carved into his face, sat behind his desk, gazing at his trusted subordinate: "You’ve now reached Level 3—you’re eligible to be promoted directly to Chief. However, there are no open positions for Chief currently within Kangyang District—by rule, you must wait. But unlike others, Lao Si Ji has agreed to establish an additional official small team for you." "You may freely select one of your subordinates from among the current staff; the rest will need to be recruited independently." Zhang Yuanqing immediately said: "I’d like Guan Ya." Fu Qingyang raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his eyes: "Oh? Why Guan Ya?" Of course—because she’s strong and efficient. Is it possible that he wants me to become her husband? Zhang Yuanqing thought under his breath, saying: "Chief—if there's no immediate requirement, I hope that by June, I’ll be promoted to a position of Executive. Then, you can directly assign the second organization unit to me." Fu Qingyang smiled unusually, saying: “I’ve always thought so too. Then once you clear the killing instance and ascend to Sage rank, I—now a Elder—will appoint you as the official of Kangyang Area, taking my current seat.” Ah? Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily stunned, nearly missing his words. He thought: Did you misread the script? Shouldn’t you have been silent, then advising me not to set lofty expectations? Fu Qingyang glanced at him gently and said: “You’re a talent I truly admire. I admit that you can stand beside me from our early days. What could any such prodigy fail to achieve?” I’ve just been too modest! Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed loudly: “The Hundred-man Commander is absolutely right, but I believe the Hundred-man Commander has made a mistake.” Fu Qingyang furrowed his brows: “In what way?” “I feel that even though I’m quite close to the Hundred-man Commander in ability, I still fall short of him—perhaps I should be described as a prodigy who almost matches the Hundred-man Commander’s caliber.” Fu Qingyang chuckled: “Let us put that aside for now. There is another matter. The Tiger Seal was already delivered to Songhai yesterday. The Large Health Checkup begins today, with each district taking turns; Kangyang Area will be scheduled for the day after tomorrow.” At last—the Large Health Checkup has arrived! Zhang Yuanqing felt an instinctive sense of urgency: “Got it!” Fu Qingyang nodded and said: “Go back now. Rest well over these next few days.” After Zhang Yuanqing had left, Ling Jun knocked on the door of the study once again. This was the son of Taiyi Gate’s head elder, wearing slippers with a casual seven-piece pants suit, his hair slightly messy—his demeanor utterly relaxed. “Sun Elder just contacted me,” Ling Jun said as he selected a bottle from the wine cabinet, “and asked that during the Large Health Checkup, you ask Yuan Shi personally whether he truly is a descendant of the Demon King.” “It’s always better to verify such a brilliant figure several times over. Hm—under the authority of the Tiger Seal, no one can lie. If he passes this scrutiny, then he’ll be clearly separated from the Demon King.” Fu Qingyang paused briefly and then nodded gently: “Agreed.” … Outside Fu’s home in Fuzhajuan, Zhang Yuanqing walked slowly along the sidewalk, his brow firmly furrowed. “My only secret now is that I am a descendant of the Demon King—everything else—the Divine Object, the Artifact, and so on—is already fully disclosed. The only remaining issue is my connection with Aunt XiaoYuan. That one seems particularly troublesome.” “Being linked to the Evil Organization within the Five Elements Alliance counts as a serious matter—even without deep interactions or financial exchanges, it remains an issue of personal conduct.” “The real challenge lies in being the Demon King’s descendant. So far, I still don’t know exactly what the official stance of Taiyi Gate and the Five Elements Alliance is toward descendants of the Demon King. Yet one thing is certain—the Demon King himself holds a very high rank. Should the official bodies harbor hostility toward his lineage, my merits will likely be insufficient to bear that weight…” After all, the Demon King has already touched upon the deepest secrets of the Spirit Realm. “If the official position were friendly toward the Demon King’s descendants, then their attitude would not remain so ambiguous. Ah—this is truly difficult!” “In fact, there are benefits from this Large Health Checkup too—the chance to finally uncover the origin of my persistent illness that has troubled me for years. Regular medical treatments have failed to explain it; yet with Realm Walkers’ methods, I’m certain we’ll find a clear cause.” His illness had been a family concern and an enduring nightmare for him spanning many years. After thinking through these points, Zhang Yuanqing pulled out his Smartphone and dialed the number on the nameless phone card to reach Aunt XiaoYuan’s mobile. When in doubt, consult the senior. And perhaps he could also ask Aunt XiaoYuan whether she would like to join his faction.