The next day, Zhang Yuanqing received a message from Guan Ya:
"Wang Qian's identity has been verified, no issues. Since it was an accident, it doesn't count as illegal spirit servant forging."
"Got it."
"Go to the hospital and have Wang Qian fill out a 'Spirit Realm Walker Profile' and a letter of guarantee. Bring them back for archiving—after all, this is your case."
"Understood."
"Good boy. Then here's another suggestion: you've been with the official organization for a while now. It's time to expand your contacts and channels. The Zhisha Palace is a relatively influential civilian organization in Songhai. You might try recruiting Wang Qian as an informant. Later on, it could help you connect with Zhisha Palace."
"Great idea. That way, future wives won't have such a hard time with childbirth."
"Haha, you're hilarious… Anyway, by the way, isn't your second entry into the Spirit Realm coming up soon?"
"Hopefully it won't be another S-rank."
"It probably won't be, but statistically it's not impossible. Both I and the chief are eager to see how you perform in your second Spirit Realm."
"Why's that?"
"Solo Spirit Realm trials test talent; group Spirit Realms test ability. The danger may not be as high as solo runs, but you'll encounter other walkers, which introduces many uncertainties. That's when a person's comprehensive qualities really show."
During this casual chat, Zhang Yuanqing finished washing up and sat down at the table.
"Who are you chatting with, little fairy?" His auntie teased, peeking over.
"None of your business." Zhang Yuanqing pressed her forehead and pushed her away.
Jiang Yuer, annoyed, challenged him to a duel. Zhang Yuanqing met the challenge head-on, and both were quickly suppressed by their hot-tempered grandmother.
After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing put on a baseball cap and mask, took a taxi to Pingtai Hospital.
In the outpatient office, Zhang Yuanqing saw the young doctor looking downcast and smiled:
"You don't seem to be in a good mood."
After a moment of silence, Wang Qian's eyes darkened:
"He's dispersed. I can't sense him anymore…"
Poor guy! Zhang Yuanqing comforted him, "He was doomed from the start. Separation was inevitable."
Wang Qian's mood sank further:
"He was my sister's first child and my first nephew. To take better care of my sister, my mom quit her job and had already bought a stroller, pacifier, clothes long ago… Our whole family was waiting for his birth, preparing to welcome the next generation."
"After the miscarriage, my sister was devastated, crying every day. My mom secretly hid to wipe her tears. She blamed herself for not taking better care of her daughter."
"For the past two weeks, I was afraid to sense him in the hospital. It reminded me of my helplessness and my family's pain. But I couldn't resist wanting to be near him, to accompany him. He was so small, he must be lonely…"
Zhang Yuanqing said nothing more, quietly listening to him vent.
"If you perform well in the future, I'll arrange for you to meet him—on the condition you agree to be my informant."
When Wang Qian's emotions stabilized, he said:
"Two things today: one, fill out a form and a guarantee letter. From now on, you're a registered Spirit Realm Walker. The officials won't interfere too much, as long as you don't break rules or abuse your abilities."
"Second, are you interested in being my informant?"
"The first is fine. As for the second…" Wang Qian scrutinized him, "I'm not someone's informant just like that. I have to report to my superiors and get permission."
Zhisha Palace's relationship with the official organization was decent. He didn't mind being an official informant—especially if it were the fierce woman from yesterday. He would respect that.
But this young man here looked even younger than himself; Wang Qian wasn't impressed.
"That's no problem." Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"What's your Spirit Realm ID? I need to know who you are." Wang Qian asked.
Every time I give my ID, I'm afraid of getting beaten… Zhang Yuanqing's face turned serious, enunciating each word:
"Yuanshi Tianzun!"
…
"Yuanshi Tianzun? Sounds grand, but I've never heard of it…"
Wang Qian shook his head and casually sent a text reporting this to his superior.
Zhisha Palace and the official organization kept their distance—relations were alright but delicate. The organization didn't want its members too close to officials.
Therefore, the superior would never approve.
Besides, if officials were to contact them, it would be at the captain or steward level. This young man was obviously grassroots. If he were a well-known Spirit Realm Walker, Wang Qian would've heard of him.
Wang Qian had no impression of "Yuanshi Tianzun," so contacting this official walker seemed pointless.
He focused back on work. After seeing a few patients, his phone rang. Caller ID: "Qingtian Dasheng."
Wang Qian picked up; a deep male voice came through the speaker:
"Shengshou, you said the person you're contacting is called Yuanshi Tianzun?"
Wang Qian's ID was "Divine Doctor Shengshou."
"Yes, squad leader," Wang Qian said. "I haven't agreed to him. I gave a vague refusal."
He found it odd that this kind of thing required a phone call rather than just a text.
"Songhai hasn't been peaceful lately. We need to keep a close watch on official movements. Agree to him." Qingtian Dasheng said.
"All right… I'll reply to him." Wang Qian answered solemnly.
"Keep an eye on him too—I mean Yuanshi Tianzun."
"Why?" Wang Qian was puzzled. He was just an ordinary official walker.
"I got a secret tip: recently a rookie cleared the Sheling Tunnel, breaking the record, and a few days ago, he killed a level 3 Bewitching Demon."
"Could it be…"
"His ID is Yuanshi Tianzun."
Yuanshi Tianzun… Wang Qian's mind flashed back to the young man's expression when he gave his ID.
Awe and respect.
...
The full moon hung high, an abandoned ancient temple stood silently under the moonlight.
A beautiful woman dressed in ancient flowing robes stood proudly atop the main hall's roof, staring at the round moon.
Her exquisite oval face, autumn-water eyes, delicate brows like distant ink, and full sensual lips—there was a cold yet inexplicably radiant beauty.
"This is not Ming Dynasty. Who dragged me into this tiny world while I was asleep?"
She frowned delicately, murmuring to herself.
After pondering, her eyes fixed on the full moon.
Two brilliant golden beams shot out from her eyes, crashing into the moon in the sky.
"Voom…"
The space trembled violently. The golden beams hit an invisible barrier, scattering dazzling gold light and bathing the realm in brilliant molten gold.
The golden beams lasted half an incense stick, then slowly faded.
The Lady of the Three Mountains' eyes bled scarlet tears that slid down her pale cheeks.
"Without recovering the other half of my Yang soul, I cannot break this place…"
She raised her delicate hand, wiped the blood away coldly, and snorted, "If I can't return, then I'll make a mess in this world."
Her hands quickly formed seals; fingers pinched a sword gesture and suddenly pointed at the sky.
"Shh!"
A terrifying sword intent burst forth from her finger, tearing the sky open, creating a collapsing hole.
The Lady of the Three Mountains turned into golden light and entered the sky's rift.
...
In the capital, a traditional courtyard.
Under the locust tree, Elder Sun lay comfortably in a rocking chair. Peking opera played softly from the radio on the tea table.
Suddenly, a golden blazing sun appeared on his forehead. The fierce sun trembled, emitting scorching heat and immense pressure.
Elder Sun sprang up, face grave.
At that moment, a lofty, ethereal voice echoed in his mind:
"Changes in the Night Wanderer Spirit Realm. Notify all disciples. Recent missions may have abnormalities. Report immediately if discovered."
"Yes, sect leader."
...
Mu Qiu is a level 2 Night Wanderer of the Taiyi Sect. As a top-tier combat class, without tools, his fighting power rivals level 3 classes.
Therefore, he is a captain-level figure in Hangzhou's Liusha district.
"Captain, the Five Elements Alliance Hangzhou branch sent you an email. Please check." His assistant brought over a laptop.
Mu Qiu glanced at the screen and replied coldly, "Tell them to find Night Wanderers in other districts."
The email stated that the Five Elements Alliance branches have been frantically arresting and interrogating wild Spirit Realm Walkers, filtering out potential fallen ones.
For stubborn resistors, the strategy is immediate execution.
Among those killed, nine out of ten are deservedly so. Law-abiding wild Spirit Realm Walkers don't resist official contact.
They don't join the officials simply to avoid constraints.
Only those with criminal records fear the "tea invitation."
Mu Qiu refused to consult the spirit because of his principles. As a professional, he must fulfill his duties.
But these days, he couldn't. His solo Spirit Realm mission was about to start soon.
Clearing this solo realm would promote him to level 3, reaching the peak of the transcendent realm.
Recently, he applied for many 2-to-3 solo Spirit Realms. Though Spirit Realms change in real time, they still have cycles, and the Taiyi Sect's compilation speed outpaces realm changes.
Therefore, strategy guides greatly increase success rates.
Just then, Mu Qiu heard the familiar Spirit Realm prompt:
\[Ding, Spirit Realm map opening. Entering in 3 minutes. This mission is "Night Wanderer—Minghu Town," ID: 0128.]
\[Difficulty: S]
\[Type: Solo (Death Mode)]
\[Main task: Investigate the mysterious deaths of townsfolk.]
\[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items forbidden.]
\[ID 0128 description: Nobody knows when it started, but townsfolk have been dying one after another. Some say it's because fishermen pulled up a coffin from the lake; others say a cat owl hangs on the locust tree; some say a monster snake with a woman's face appeared on the back mountain; others say a widow in the village mysteriously got pregnant.]
\[Shh, don't say it—they've arrived…]
Mu Qiu's face drained of color, his eyes filled with despair and confusion.
When did Minghu Town's mission become S-rank?