Dusk. Zhang Yuanqing dragged his weary body and took a taxi back home. After leaving the International Tower, he turned toward Fu Jiawan Villa, handed over cash to Fu Qingyang, and asked the affluent young man to transfer the funds into Yuan Shi Tian Zun's account. Then he shared with him the details of his deal with Mr. Bill, followed by calling Jiang Yubi to invite her to practice martial arts at Fu Jiawan. Each time faced with crisis, battered and bruised, Zhang Yuanqing always exhibited a strong spirit of resilience. Fu Qingyang observed him with great attention to detail. At the dinner table, Zhang Yuanqing chewed on the sweet yet slightly tart Kung Pao pork and asked: “Grandmother, has Uncle been working late again?” Grandmother picked up spring bamboo shoots and replied calmly: “Your aunt has taken him out for business engagements.” “Oh! That’s amazing—your sister has taken my nephew out for engagements?” Jiang Yubi exclaimed with wide eyes. It was like an overbearing older brother leading a young, steady nephew into entrepreneurship—a scenario that sounded quite unreliable. Grandmother expressed the relaxed tone one usually uses when chatting about household gossip, even though she was at home and instinctively lowered her voice: “Within a few days, there’s going to be a major shake-up in the official circles of Songhai.” Noticing both her daughter and grandson looking puzzled, she felt satisfied and continued: “It's said that many people in the security system will be affected—creating ample vacancies. Yuanjun, as you know, has consistently performed well over the years and earned several commendations, yet promotion remains difficult in Songhai. In a city that values seniority and connections, even outstanding achievements often fall short without sufficient experience. So he's been serving as the captain of the second division for many years now. Now, isn't this a great opportunity? Your aunt has already made efforts to build relationships to see if Yuanjun’s position can be elevated. By the way, it was your grandfather who introduced him.” Introduced by Grandfather… Zhang Yuanqing looked at his grandfather. Grandfather had spent his entire life working in the security system—his network was vast—yet he prided himself on integrity and never sought personal favors. Though he knew many people, their relationships were generally only superficial. Now, how had he changed? Faced with the quiet gaze of grandson and daughter, Grandfather cleared his throat firmly: “It’s just a simple inquiry about potential opportunities.” Jiang Yubi said, “How much has your sister prepared?” Grandfather coughed again vigorously: “Just a simple inquiry.” Zhang Yuanqing replied, “Is fifty thousand enough?” Grandfather couldn’t hold back and exclaimed angrily, “Eat!” Zhang Yuanqing and Jiang Yubi dutifully ate their meals. Zhang Yuanqing felt the need to gently mock the situation—unlike his mother who would simply act out of impatience without actually shouting, Grandfather’s anger came with full force, and when he got truly upset, it was immediate and unyielding. At the Kangyang District level, the deputy director has recently been pushed down from his office due to a magical eye incident—his position is now vacant. Yet Uncle cannot easily move to another district; his ambitions lie in Sha Kou. The problem is that right now, the atmosphere of political tension is at its peak—the timing isn’t ideal for making new connections. People hesitate to accept such requests. Uncle has recently been promoted to Deputy Director—yet Songhai is famous for relying on personal networks and seniority rather than merit. Without external support, advancement remains difficult… I’ll ask Jiang Yubi later about her network. I’ve already defeated the Copper Rooster Pavilion and established significant achievements—yet the division hasn’t yet recognized or rewarded that effort. This makes a perfect case to mention now. Although the Five Elements Alliance doesn't directly manage institutional affairs, regulations are still subject to personal relationships. After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing washed up and returned to his room, silently donning the “Silent One” mask. From now on, he would only remove it when eating or fighting. The moment he put on the mask, a profound sense of fatigue surged through him—his vitality completely degraded into that of an ordinary person. His spirit, physical constitution, and skills were all sealed up. Ah! The prop from the Elevated Stage has this capability—the foreign Evil Organization seems quite formidable… Zhang Yuanqing quietly remarked under his breath. However, according to the Spirit Realm’s design, the foreign Evil Organizations might actually surpass even the Orderly Professions. He just didn’t know whether among the Orderly Professions there existed a peak-level role such as Night Wandering Deity. “There are three major regions in the Spirit Realm—each region should have an Evil Organization. If each has exactly three, then total Evil Organizations would amount to nine. As for the Orderly Professions, they will be significantly more numerous. I’m eager to see what kinds of professions exist abroad.” While daydreaming thus, a prompt sound came through his ears: 【Ping! Fu Qingyang invites you to join Bai Hui Wei.] At the same time, a pale blue chat window appeared in his vision—confirm or decline. Oh? Has the Hundred-Man Commander finished his meeting? Have the members of Bai Hui Wei agreed to my joining? Zhang Yuanqing clicked “Confirm.” 【Ping! You have successfully joined Bai Hui Wei. Please review the regulations and check the branch benefits under the warehouse section.] Zhang Yuanqing quickly opened his character profile, located “Bai Hui Wei” under the [Organization] section, and clicked it—details and regulations for the organization appeared on screen. The regulations of Bai Hui Wei were simple: never kill unnecessarily, never oppress the vulnerable, never ally with Evil Organizations, never violate public order and customs, never betray fellow members, always uphold integrity and loyalty to the leader's commands. As for benefits, in addition to a salary equivalent to that of an official position within the Five Elements Alliance, there is a home unit worth two hundred million RMB allocated in first-tier or second-tier cities, and a dedicated office service specifically serving Bai Hui Wei members. Then Zhang Yuanqing opened the organization’s warehouse… A single exclamation of “Wow” escaped him. The warehouse held forty slots—filled with props and materials, spanning seven Orderly Professions, three Evil Organizations, and several foreign professions he had never heard of before. This collection alone was valued at over tens of billions. Zhang Yuanqing quietly opened the warehouse of “Wan Zhe Gui Lai” and glanced at the hayman figure and the long-lasting spray—his heart silently filled with emotion. Fu Qingyang had revealed to him how varied the world truly is. 【Ding dong!】 His smartphone rang—it was an incoming message notification. Zhang Yuanqing closed the organization warehouse, picked up his phone, and checked the messages. 【Fu Qingyang invites you to join a group chat.] The newly created group was named “Bai Hui Wei,” with sixteen members. Ling Jun: “New member here—new member, please send a red envelope quickly.” Heng Sao Tian Xian: “New member arrived—send a red envelope, preferably with a photo of a woman dressed up.” Qi Ci Lang: “Send the red envelope—then go to sleep.” Is this trend already widespread around the world? Even Spirit Realm Pilgrims are adopting such customs? Zhang Yuanqing shook his head slightly and reluctantly sent a red envelope for one hundred RMB. Yuan Shi Tian Zun: “Ladies and gentlemen, the gift may be modest in value, but the sentiment is sincere.” All red envelopes were claimed within three seconds. Ling Jun: “Ten RMB—quite decent, thank you, @Yuan Shi Tian Zun. The White Tiger members of our group are all Sages—please treat them well; whenever you have a need, just reach out to them for help.” Ah? All Sages?! Zhang Yuanqing was surprised. Although he knew Fu Qingyang’s Bai Hui Wei would be high-caliber, having average-level Sages as the norm was unexpected. Fu Qingyang: “Perhaps in no time at all, it will become you who will have to treat us.” Qi Ci Lang: “That's too much! Though Yuan Shi Tian Zun has exceptional talent, we’re far from being passive.” Xiao Nao Fu: “By the way, isn’t Yuan Shi Tian Zun a Level 3 Night Wanderer? I believe your leader invited you specifically because you were expected to reach Sage rank during the mid-year large-scale killing instance. But didn’t you achieve Level 3 in Yin Yang Town?” Qi Ci Lang: “Ah, that’s correct—so for Yuan Shi Tian Zun to enter the top ten in the annual large-scale killing instance, it will be quite challenging. Typically, only candidates with over 90% experience reach the top ten.” The same level of proficiency—yet a difference between just 1% and 99% of experience is vast. Yuan Shi Tian Zun: “If everything goes well, I should enter another single-player Spirit Realm instance before mid-year. By the way, do any of you have experience with the arena competitions? Are the rewards from the organization particularly strong?” Xiao Nao Fu: “Certainly—those are among the top-tier ones in their respective stages. However, securing first place is quite difficult; even more so if the Taiyi Gate also joins.” Ling Jun: “In unlimited combat scenarios, I believe Yuan Shi Tian Zun would be one of the strongest groups in the official Elevated Stage system. But the arena competitions may have limitations—Yuan Shi’s combat skills still require development.” Zhang Yuanqing engaged in casual conversations with them, gradually gaining a sense of each member. Qi Ci Lang was lively and energetic, constantly adding humorous remarks—a classic “difficult” personality. Xiao Nao Fu spoke with steady tone and precision—giving the impression of reliability. Heng Sao Tian Xian seemed to have an unfortunate family—he complained several times about his wife being overly demanding and disrespectful within just a few minutes. Yet, everyone quietly ignored him. As for others, none of them stepped forward to chat—either because they felt that new members from the Elevated Stage were not worthy of warm welcome, or simply due to lack of habit in group chats. Then, silence settled over the chat group. It was a quiet and unengaged group—the members of Bai Hui Wei weren’t particularly easy to work with… Zhang Yuanqing quietly exited the chat app. …… A grand dining room, elegantly styled with dark gold and rose hues, creating an upscale, luxurious ambiance. At the center stood a vintage silver candle holder—six white candles diffused a soft glow. The dinner was sumptuous: top-grade steaks, caviar, foie gras jelly, cured ham slices, seared clams, baked shrimp, lobster, and seafood soup… Bill Tarantino sat at the table with a sense of reserve, carefully cutting the steak on his silver plate. Across from him sat a man wearing a deep blue casual suit and a silver mask extending to his nose—allowing him to dine comfortably without obstruction. “I came only because of the meal,” he said as he stirred a spoonful of caviar, “but I really don’t see how you can convince me to go to Western countries with you.” “Do you know I’m from the mainland?” he added, “My family and friends are all here—what makes me fit for being your president or chairperson just because I'm the highest-ranked member of the Void Profession?” Bill Tarantino lowered his fork, speaking sincerely: “We could assist your family with relocation. Why not pursue better opportunities in a broader environment? The West offers vast horizons—the kind of talent you represent should soar there.” He glanced around the table and smiled gently: “A meal such as this is merely ordinary for me. But you are a presence far more noble than I. You are destined to lead that great commercial empire—become the leader among all merchants.” “I have no interest!” the man replied. Bill Tarantino found himself full of words, yet they stalled in his throat—he finally sighed softly. Over the past hundred years since the Spirit Realm was established, a wave of outstanding business professionals has emerged—each aspiring to reach the singular pinnacle. Yet so many brilliant talents have fallen along the way. In the end, it is an outsider from abroad who has taken over—the Chinese term for this, however, carries a negative connotation—it should be described as *winning by seizing* rather than merely being elected. The Business Guild had initially been excited—finally, a merchant professional was emerging capable of standing alongside the highest echelons of global Spirit Realm organizations. Yet, unexpectedly, this new leader proved stubborn. Not only did he refuse to accept the invitation from the guild, but he also pressured them not to disturb his routine life. Over the years, through persistent efforts by the Guild, this present-day strongest merchant has shown some flexibility. Now, the Guild aims to capitalize on this momentum and welcome him back as chairman. That is why Bill Tarantino made this visit to the mainland. The man finished his foie gras jelly and caviar with great appetite, then sat back in his high-back chair, exhaled deeply, and said: “I’d be willing to join your guild and serve as its president—though…” Bill Tarantino perked up: “What’s the condition?” “Wait,” the man replied. “For what?” “To wait for the Demon King.” Demon King… Bill was momentarily stunned—he then remembered this figure, recalling details from Ann. “The lady Ann mentioned that the Demon King has passed away—according to the President of the Beauty Association. Is there a mistake in the information?” As a Spirit Realm member from across the ocean, he wasn’t deeply familiar with the Demon King—but knew a little because the Business Guild maintains close ties with the Beauty Association, and this Demon King was reportedly one of the president’s most beloved lovers. Since Ann became his assistant, she had often privately expressed her admiration for how the president had transformed after the Demon King’s death—frequently punishing members of the association without cause. The fury of the blaze had raged for several months without abating. “No, the Demon King is already gone—both form and essence obliterated. I witnessed it with my own eyes,” said the man, lifting his highball glass and sipping the tart wine. “What I am waiting for, however, is a new Demon King. Bill, do you know the prophecy of the Light Compass?” Bill Tarantino frowned and shook his head. “Indeed. There are no more than ten people in the world who know this prophecy—and among them, all are the highest-tier beings.” The man set down his glass, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “When the sun, moon, and stars align, the gods long asleep within chaos will awaken. The sovereign reigning upon their thrones shall lead the pantheon to renew war, ushering in a new cycle of existence.” Bill Tarantino fell into thoughtful silence. After a while, he asked hesitantly: “The gods sleeping within chaos—do you mean the great realm that has yet to be unlocked?” It was well known that the Spirit Realm is divided into three major regions; however, one such region remains unclaimed. To date, only two of the three major realms have seen the emergence of Realm Walkers. The existence of a third realm is known primarily because various organizations have discovered props in their instance quests that do not belong to any of the two existing regional professions. For example, the flawless human skin—its functions are perfectly matched with no equivalent found within any profession at present. Numerous such items exist. “Precisely,” the man affirmed. “On the day when the sun, moon, and stars align—the great realm shall awaken and reveal its original form.” “And how does this relate to the Demon King?” “It has nothing to do with the Demon King directly—but it is deeply tied to the Night Wandering Deity. Indeed, the Demon King has reached into the very essence of that deity, preserving a secret within the Character Card.” “I see…” … Late at night, Zhang Yuanqing was startled awake by a steady hum and crackle of electricity. He half-closed his eyes, instinctively pulled back the blanket, slipped on his slippers, sat down at the table, opened the drawer, and retrieved the Cat King Speaker… Then—a woman’s passionate gasp, her body pressing with unwavering force, filled the room with sound. Wow! Zhang Yuanqing’s drowsiness vanished completely. A sudden jolt of awareness surged through his limbs. He quickly unfastened his “Silent One” mask and grasped the Cat King Speaker, stepping into the Night Wanderer state.