In the office area, Wang Tai sat alone, his attention fixed on the computer screen, completely ignoring the dignified Primordial Heavenly Venerable who had just ascended the stairs.
Hey, Brother Wang Tai, Zhang Yuanqing greeted him mentally before turning toward the Chief's office.
The frosted glass door of the office stood ajar. Li Dongze, leaning on his cane with one hand, his shoulders tense, sat on the sofa in the reception area, engaged in friendly conversation with Teng Yuan.
Across the room, a red-haired girl was bent over a desk, diligently doing her homework. Guan Ya sat beside her, guiding her through the assignment, though her expression was strained.
"Ah, our hero has arrived," Li Dongze said, his eyes lighting up as he noticed Zhang Yuanqing at the door.
"Chief," Zhang Yuanqing greeted Teng Yuan first, then turned to Li Dongze. "We have a guest today, Comrade Li. Good to see you."
Li Dongze's smile faltered. His gaze darted between Teng Yuan and Primordial before he forced a smile. "It seems you've successfully earned the respect and recognition of your teammates in my absence. Excellent, Teng Yuan. I was worried you'd struggle to get along with your colleagues, just like before."
Teng Yuan replied in his usual listless tone, "Not really. I just did what I was supposed to do."
"Hmm?" Li Dongze hummed skeptically.
"I simply revised some regulations, increased the food allowance, issued high-temperature subsidies two months in advance, and eliminated wage deductions for tardiness."
As Teng Yuan recounted his actions with a lack of enthusiasm, Li Dongze's expression gradually turned blank.
"Here, Chief, have some cola," Zhang Yuanqing said, handing Teng Yuan a cup of the fizzy drink, adding fuel to the fire.
"Oh my god, this is utter heresy! This isn't how you lead a team!" Li Dongze exclaimed, his voice rising in indignation. "There's absolutely no elegance in this!"
While the two men argued, Zhang Yuanqing sat down next to Jiang Jingwei. The girl was working on a multiple-choice test, her brow furrowed in concentration as if the problems on the page were formidable enemies.
The questions covered middle school math concepts: triangles, square roots, equations, the Pythagorean theorem, and more.
"You're just in time," Guan Ya said, her face conveying a weary "I'm done, let it all burn" expression. "Help her with her homework."
Since he'd stumbled into this situation, Zhang Yuanqing had no choice. He glanced at the test and noticed Jiang Jingwei had answered every question correctly. He grinned.
"Not bad! You're doing great!"
Guan Ya gritted her teeth. "I did all of them."
Seeing the Veteran Driver's jaw clenched tightly, Zhang Yuanqing sighed. "Then I'll teach her. What can I say? I'm a Scorpio. Even a pig would melt my heart."
As he spoke, Zhang Yuanqing studied the Veteran Driver's delicate features, a sudden, inappropriate thought flashing through his mind: That elegant nose would look so much better as a pig's snout.
Guan Ya shot him a suspicious glance and pulled a compact mirror from her purse. "Is there something wrong with my face?"
"No, not at all!"
"Then why did you look so disgusted just now?"
"I didn't! Sister Guan Ya is the most beautiful woman I know," Zhang Yuanqing insisted, vehemently denying her accusation. "To prove my sincerity, I'll give you a kiss."
"Get lost!"
Zhang Yuanqing smoothly steered the conversation back to Jiang Jingwei, adopting a gentle tone. "Jingwei, which middle school math concepts do you understand well, and which ones are you struggling with?"
Jiang Jingwei tilted her head, pondering. "I'm pretty good at addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division?"
"Middle school level!" Zhang Yuanqing emphasized.
Jiang Jingwei shook her head.
"None at all? That's impossible," Zhang Yuanqing scoffed, refusing to believe such a clueless child could exist.
Jiang Jingwei glanced at the multiple-choice questions, then her eyes lit up. "Oh, I did learn some tricks! 'Three long, one short, pick the shortest; three short, one long, pick the longest; two long, two short, pick B; uneven lengths, pick C.' That's how I solve these."
Zhang Yuanqing's blood pressure spiked. "Besides those?"
Jiang Jingwei's small face turned serious. "There's one more crucial point: learn to give up!"
Guan Ya's blood pressure spiked.
Zhang Yuanqing paused for a few seconds before saying, "How about this? Give me five hundred yuan, and I'll do your homework for you."
Jiang Jingwei was stunned. Could such a kind person actually exist in the world?
"Absolutely not!" Guan Ya snapped. "You're only hurting her! She's already dim-witted enough as it is."
"Then you teach her," Zhang Yuanqing retorted.
Guan Ya immediately fell silent.
"The ancients said, 'Teach according to aptitude.' Everyone has different talents. Forcing everyone into the same rigid educational mold is fundamentally wrong. This girl clearly isn't suited for academic pursuits; her talents lie elsewhere. What's the point of wasting her time on studies?" Zhang Yuanqing argued.
Jiang Jingwei slammed her fist on the table in approval. "Exactly! I love fighting! Primordial, let's go to the combat room. I'll teach you how to fight!"
"Oh, so now I'm the student?" Zhang Yuanqing quipped.
At that moment, Li Dongze stopped his criticism and turned to Zhang Yuanqing, his expression serious.
"I came here today for two reasons. First, the Second Team is having a celebratory dinner tonight to commemorate your A-Rank Merit and our collective achievement of Collective Merit. Second, I need to give you a warning."
A warning? Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned serious as well.
Li Dongze said gravely,
"It's early May now. In another month, the biannual Grand Slaughter Instance will begin. Every year around this time, Level 3 Transcendent and Level 6 Saint Stage cultivators seek opportunities for class advancement.
"For Spirit Realm Walkers, this is a major event. The Five Elements Alliance, Taiyi Sect, and Spirit Realm Family will jointly host a martial arts tournament to select the most outstanding candidates.
"The purpose of this tournament is twofold: first, to assess the potential of our members, and second, to identify and nurture the most promising talents."
Jiang Jingwei interjected, "I get it. It's like our monthly mock exams at school."
Li Dongze nodded and continued:
"Evil Organizations also conduct similar 'mock exams,' but their methods are far more brutal and ruthless. They send their most promising prodigies to infiltrate major cities and hunt down the Official Organization's rising stars.
"Theoretically, even a Level 3 Scout like me could be targeted, as I'm also eligible to participate in the mid-year Slaughter Instance."
"Jiang Jingwei and Primordial, your priority is much higher than mine, especially Primordial. You've cleared two S-Rank dungeons consecutively and been awarded A-Rank Merit Points, making you far too conspicuous.
"Walkers from the Evil Organization will undoubtedly target you, seeking to hunt you down for fame, fortune, and rewards."
Zhang Yuanqing's heart sank. He recalled browsing the Official Forum the previous day, where veteran Walkers had been discussing this very issue.
He immediately said, "Chief, I'd like a bounty list for Evil Organization members in the Transcendent Phase."
Li Dongze replied, "Check the database yourself. Your clearance level is higher than mine now. For the next few days, keep a low profile. Wear a mask and hat when commuting. Teng Yuan, don't even think about slacking off at home. With you leading Second Team and the rest of us here, Evil Class members won't dare to invade."
Teng Yuan nodded slightly, adding, "Primordial, I'll consider applying for an 'Apprehension' subsidy on your behalf."
Zhang Yuanqing wasn't sure whether to be grateful or annoyed.
"By the way," Zhang Yuanqing asked, "if they're hunting geniuses, is Centurion Fu also in danger?"
Fu Qingyang, though young in his twenties and at the peak of the Saint Stage, was determined to join the Elders' Council. He would undoubtedly participate in the upcoming Slaughter Instance to advance to the Sovereign Realm.
This would make him a prime target for Evil Class hunters.
"Of course, many Evil Class members at the Saint Stage would want to kill him," Guan Ya said. "When he was in the Capital City, countless Evil Class members tried to assassinate him, but none succeeded. However, back then his level was low. Now, those hunting him would likely be Peak Saint Stage existences."
Veteran Driver's eyes filled with worry.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the woman. Earlier, when Li Dongze mentioned someone wanted to assassinate him, she showed no concern whatsoever. Yet the moment her cousin was mentioned, she became anxious.
Ha, women!
In the end, my affection was misplaced.
Jiang Jingwei remarked, "Primordial is only Level 2. He probably won't reach the required level for the class advancement this time. Plus, he'll be at risk of being hunted. What a loss!"
Li Dongze pondered, "Primordial still has one Multiplayer Spirit Realm Instance left. Even if you clear it successfully, you might not reach Level 3. And even if you do, you'd be the weakest Level 3. Participating in the Slaughter Instance would be a real stretch."
On the outskirts of Songhai, a grand villa stood.
Li Xianzong, clad in a black tank top and camouflage pants, approached the villa with his hands in his pockets.
He surveyed the three-story mansion, bent his knees, and leaped effortlessly over the surrounding wall, soaring three to four meters into the air.
With one hand still in his pocket, Li Xianzong flipped open a butterfly knife in his other hand, twirling it casually as he pushed open the villa's double wooden doors.
The first floor was empty and lavishly decorated, showcasing smart appliances, expensive handcrafted furniture, and every detail reflecting the Master's extravagant lifestyle.
Li Xianzong's ears twitched as he caught faint screams from a woman drifting down from the second floor.
A smirk tugged at his lips. He spun the butterfly knife in a dazzling arc and ascended the spiral staircase.
Li Xianzong's mission was to find a Protector of the Void Sect, a Peak Saint Stage cultivator and an exceptionally formidable figure.
According to intelligence gathered by Tian Lingling, this Protector's target was Fu Qingyang.
Reaching the second floor, Li Xianzong pushed open the master bedroom door. The spacious room, over a hundred square meters, featured a plush, oversized bed large enough for six or seven people to sprawl across on the left.
To the right, bizarre objects hung on the walls—no, more accurately, torture instruments.
On the plush king-sized bed, seven or eight burly men were tormenting a beautiful woman. When someone entered, they merely glanced back before resuming their cruel treatment of the pitiful woman.
The ordeal lasted for half an hour. Li Xianzong leaned against the doorframe, watching with a blank expression.
Once the men had had their fill, a muscular brute dragged the half-dead woman off the bed and over to the right side of the room, where various torture instruments hung on the wall.
He threw the woman to the floor, grabbed a leather whip, and began striking her with brutal force.
Crack!
A deep, bloody welt appeared on her skin.
Crack! Crack! Crack! The whip lashed relentlessly, tearing open her delicate flesh and leaving bloody streaks. The woman trembled violently, her piercing screams echoing through the room.
After dozens of lashes, Li Xianzong tapped his butterfly knife against the doorframe and grinned. "Had enough fun yet? My patience isn't unlimited."
One of the men, who had been relishing the woman's suffering, stormed over, snarling, "Get the hell out of here!"
Li Xianzong plunged his knife into the man's chest, withdrew it, and a torrent of blood gushed out.
The brute clutched his chest, staggered, and collapsed to his knees.
The other men ignored the scene. One continued whipping the woman, while the rest remained spectators.
After a few more minutes, the woman stopped screaming. Her pitiful demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, regal expression. She said calmly, "Withdraw."
Only then did the burly men dare to stop. They bowed deeply, dragged the corpse away from the master bedroom, and left.
The woman sat cross-legged on the floor, her body covered in bruises, yet her expression remained aloof as a queen's. A smirk tugged at her lips.
"I hate it when others touch my toys. You'll stay here and play with me for three days. Otherwise, I won't show any respect to the Military Doctrine Sect."
Li Xianzong showed no fear of her threat. He grinned, "If it were me, I'd sever your head, slice your body into tiny pieces, and flush the remains down the sewer."
The woman's delicate frame trembled. She unconsciously rubbed her thighs, a seductive blush rising on her cheeks. Giggling, she said, "What a delightful idea! Seductive Demons are my favorite toys. I adore your brutality. Come, play with me."
Li Xianzong scrutinized the woman's exquisite features and alluring figure, then sneered:
"I'm here to propose a collaboration. Besides, I'm only interested in slaughter."
Intelligence reports indicated this woman was a pervert who craved being ravaged, humiliated, and defiled, with an insatiable addiction that no single man could satisfy.
She engaged in daily orgies with multiple men, and if they failed to please her, she would kill them.
The woman glanced at Li Xianzong's motionless groin and chuckled softly:
"So you're a cripple. Get lost. I hate being interrupted during my entertainment."
Li Xianzong remained unmoved, smiling:
"Are you interested in the Primordial Heavenly Venerable? Or perhaps Fu Qingyang?"
The woman's eyes lit up as she licked her crimson lips. "You have three minutes."