Upon hearing the Goddess of Sandaoshan's question, the dense yin energy stirred.
The Goddess tilted her head, listening intently for a few seconds. Her expression darkened slightly. "He has already visited Jinshui Amusement Park, and you missed him."
She was clearly displeased.
The Ghost Bride bowed deeply again and continued to communicate.
The Goddess of Sandaoshan's expression softened slightly as she pondered. "You say he had three chances to summon you, and only one remains. If he summons you again, you must retrieve the Demon Subduing Pestle for me."
The Ghost Bride shook her head gently.
"Ah, right. You can't open the Storage Artifacts of those types of people. Very well, I'll leave a wisp of Divine Sense with you. If he summons you again, I'll sense it immediately."
The Ghost Bride suddenly knelt.
The Goddess of Sandaoshan's expression turned stern. "You dare ask me not to harm him? Is he your husband? Hmph! I act as I see fit, without needing your interference."
Her gaze softened, and she added coolly, "I am an Orthodox Deity appointed by the imperial court, not some rabble from the Demonic Sects."
Only then did the Ghost Bride rise and silently relay further information.
The Goddess of Sandaoshan listened intently for a long time, her beautiful eyes suddenly brightening.
"You say you sensed Solar Divine Power purer than mine that night? A pity you were blocked from the mortal realm at the time. Did you see the person's face clearly? Good, draw it for me."
Moments later, several Lesser Ghosts nervously carried over ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, placing them tremulously at the Ghost Bride's feet.
The brush floated up on its own, dipped into the ink, and swiftly sketched across the rice paper. Within minutes, the likeness of a young man emerged: ordinary features, a faint smile playing on his lips, radiating vitality, yet with an indescribable weariness etched deep between his brows.
The Goddess of Sandaoshan gazed at the portrait for a few seconds, memorizing the man's features. With a flick of her sleeve, golden flames engulfed the paper, reducing it to ashes.
Turning her gaze to the dark night sky, she pondered for a moment before suddenly laughing:
"When I first saw him at the temple, I knew his fate was fraught with trials and entangled in karma. How truly intriguing."
Late at night, in a suburban hotel room, Li Xianzong stood by the window, clutching an old cell phone to his ear, patiently listening to the voice on the other end:
"A new Mist Lord will arrive in Songhai soon to establish a stealth base. Tian Lingling's death was entirely your fault. The Organization is temporarily reserving the right to hold you accountable. If you can advance to the Saint Stage in the mid-year Slaughter Instance, the debt will be wiped clean."
The voice sounded young, raspy from smoking, yet possessed a magnetic masculine quality.
Li Xianzong asked in a low voice:
"Lord Demon Eye, is the Palace Master of Ceasing Slaughter a surviving member of the Chu Family? Which Heavenly King orchestrated the family's extermination twenty-one years ago?"
The Demonic Eye Celestial King chuckled. "It wasn't me. Intelligence reports indicate that some of our Northern Territory followers were killed by that woman. She's come north and likely extracted considerable information from Tian Lingling."
Li Xianzong was stunned, then sneered. "A newly ascended Sovereign Stage Orderly Class dares to seek revenge against a Heavenly King? She's courting death."
The Demonic Eye Celestial King smiled faintly. "I'm not concerned about that. What I care about is when your Multiplayer Spirit Realm Mission will arrive."
"Within ten days," Li Xianzong replied.
"Once you clear the Multiplayer Spirit Realm, your experience points will reach the peak of Level 3. At that point, you'll truly join the ranks of the Transcendent Phase's strongest echelon. By the way, what's the Primordial Heavenly Venerable in Songhai like?"
"Lord Demon Eye, you needn't concern yourself with such a minor figure. The Primordial Heavenly Venerable has quite a few items and some clever tricks, but he's ultimately a novice. Rest assured, within half a month, you'll receive news of my successful hunt of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable in Songhai."
Just then, Li Xianzong heard a child's innocent laughter over the phone:
"Uncle, Uncle, let's play!"
The Demonic Eye Celestial King immediately said, "That's enough for now."
Li Xianzong replied respectfully, "Understood."
The call ended.
In a remote county town in the Northern Territory, at a Welfare Home in the outskirts:
Under the bright sunlight, in the Welfare Home's simple courtyard, beneath the shade of a tree, a young man was distributing candy, snacks, fairy tale books, and dolls to the children gathered around him.
The children surrounding him ranged from five or six years old to no more than ten. Dressed in simple clothes, their faces tanned by the sun, they beamed with innocent smiles.
The man appeared to be around twenty-six, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and thin lips—a handsome figure. He wore a black T-shirt, black sweatpants, and a black sports headband.
He exuded an air of sunny optimism.
The Dean, a middle-aged woman with gentle features and a kind demeanor, emerged from the building and stepped into the shade of the trees. She smiled warmly.
"Mr. Yang, you're here?"
The young man nodded. "Has the overdue subsidy from the government been released yet?"
The Dean sighed in relief. "Finally! It's quite a coincidence, actually. We heard the official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs mysteriously disappeared. Apparently, he had embezzled too much money and fled with the funds. The new official immediately released all the backlogged subsidies to us."
The young man's smile widened. "That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"
The Dean said, "Mr. Yang, why don't you join the children for lunch in the cafeteria?"
The Dean had taken over the Welfare Home this year. She hadn't initially wanted the position, as the previous Deans had all mysteriously disappeared, one after another.
But her superiors had promised her a transfer to the city after three years of service. For someone without connections, it seemed like her only option.
After arriving at the Welfare Home, the Dean dedicated herself to her duties for six months, completely changing her initial impressions.
The children were pure, innocent, and well-behaved, far removed from the office politics and bureaucratic infighting. Moreover, she had met the compassionate Mr. Yang.
Mr. Yang had been quietly supporting the Welfare Home long before her arrival, even before many previous Deans. He regularly brought the children snacks and toys, played with them, and was beloved by all the children at the Welfare Home.
"Dean, you're busy, right? I'll take the kids out to fly kites," the young man said with a bright smile.
The Dean nodded, reminding the children to listen to Uncle Yang before turning back into the building.
The young man gathered the children and their kites, leading them to the lawn outside the Welfare Home. He patted their heads and asked, "Do you like the new Dean?"
"Yes!" they chorused.
"Is the food in the cafeteria good? Has she ever hit or yelled at you? Does she still give you new clothes regularly?"
After the children earnestly answered all his questions, the young man nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "If you ever stop liking the Dean, remember to tell Uncle."
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Zhang Yuanqing circled Guan Ya, throwing punches relentlessly. He slid forward, retreated, dodged, and weaved, relying primarily on straight punches and hooks, with occasional elbows and forearms for support.
After a week of grueling training (and getting beaten up), Zhang Yuanqing's combat skills improved dramatically. He could now withstand Guan Ya's relentless attacks for three minutes without being defeated.
As Jingwei put it, "Who knew you were a natural at fighting, kid?"
Unfortunately, his training was still too short. He hadn't yet learned to effectively utilize his lower body for combat, his legwork remaining at a rudimentary level.
"You're improving quickly," Guan Ya said, dodging Zhang Yuanqing's hook punch and kicking him in the chest. "But don't get cocky. Every rookie experiences a rapid initial surge after starting, but further progress becomes much harder."
"Then what should I do?" Zhang Yuanqing stumbled backward, regained his footing, and launched a flurry of close-range punches.
Guan Ya effortlessly evaded his attacks. "Normally, there are three paths to improvement," she explained. "First, strength training to build a more powerful physique, compensating for technical shortcomings. Second, studying martial arts forms to deepen your understanding of your body. Third, extensive practical sparring."
"Hmm, theoretically, there's a fourth path too."
Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up, and he slowed his attacks. "Tell me about it."
Guan Ya smiled. "The fourth path is to provoke your opponent, ignite their emotions, and make them irrational and reckless—turning them into a raging bull focused solely on brute force. You're already an expert at this, and you've even mastered it instinctively."
"So, it's about provoking them, right?" Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up.
Guan Ya's expression darkened. "If you use that 'Dragon Claw Hand' on me again, I won't hold back."
"Don't worry, I'll switch it up this time. Black Tiger Digs Heart!"
Whack! Guan Ya spun into a flying kick, sending him flying across the room.
Three hours later, Zhang Yuanqing emerged from the training room, his face bruised and swollen. He dragged his weary steps to the bathroom for a shower, stripped off his training gear, and changed into his own clothes.
He then headed to the first-floor dining hall to enjoy a meal prepared by the bunny girl.
Remembering he'd been so focused on combat training lately that he hadn't checked the Official Forum in days, he pulled out his phone and logged in.
The first three posts that caught his eye were highlighted and pinned to the top:
[ # Fire Prince and Gluttony Divine General Clash in Capital City Suburbs, Battle Ends in Stalemate # ]
[ # Central Court's Immovable Wisdom King Single-Handedly Defeats Two Spiritual Energy Association Deacons, Enemies Retreat After Prolonged Assault # ]
[ # Taiyi Sect's Spirit Corpse Deacon Slayers A-Rank Wanted Criminal "Ghost God's Hand" Yesterday, Five Elements Alliance Saints Report Consecutive Victories # ]
"So much action these past few days? Battles between Saint Stage Walkers must have been massive. Grandfather watches the news every day—how come he never mentioned any of these incidents?"
After carefully reading the pinned posts, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, "The Officials are still the Officials—they have experts everywhere."
In the Saint Stage's hunt-or-be-hunted battles, the Officials' elite forces had secured far more victories than defeats. As Zhang Yuanqing scrolled further, he suddenly came across a post:
[ #Taiyi Sect's Yuan Ting Missing, Suspected to Be Summoned by Sect Elder# ]
[ "Oh right, Elder Sun has already exited the Instance. Captain Yuan, may you rest in peace. I'll burn paper money for you. Amen. May heaven be free of Elder Sun." ] Zhang Yuanqing silently made the sign of the cross over his chest.
As he continued reading, he noticed a stark reversal in the content.
While the Saint Stage was filled with the Officials' triumphant reports, the Transcendent Phase told a different story: the Evil Organizations were racking up consecutive victories.
In just over ten minutes of scrolling, he saw at least six or seven reports of Level 3 Captains being hunted down by the Evil Organizations.
On the Transcendent Phase Bounty List, the top-ranked "A-Yi" had even launched a hunt against a local Level 4 Deacon.
[ "It's disheartening to say, but in the Saint Stage, our Orderly Faction is no match for the Evil Faction." ]
[ "I'm being extra cautious when going out now and don't dare travel alone anymore." ]
[ "Our Captain was ambushed yesterday and suffered severe injuries. Sigh, we desperately need a major victory in the Transcendent Stage." ]
[ "What are you even thinking? Li Xianzong already beat Songhai's Primordial Heavenly Venerable into hiding like a coward. And that's a genius who cleared two S-rank Instances in a row!" ]
Damn it, they're beating a dead horse again, Zhang Yuanqing thought, feeling frustrated.
Just then, Guan Ya approached with a plate of steak and sat down across from him.
She had just showered, her hair still damp and without makeup, her face bare and natural.
Zhang Yuanqing stared at the Veteran Driver for a few moments, unable to help but marvel. A woman this beautiful without makeup truly deserves to be called a goddess.
"Stop looking at me," Guan Ya said through gritted teeth. "Every time you do, I'm reminded of your Black Tiger Digs Heart and Dragon Claw Hand."
"That's because you haven't seen my Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle yet," Zhang Yuanqing retorted with a snort. "What a pity! This Great Sage has been cultivating his Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle for twenty-one years, yet he still hasn't found the Sea Eye."
Guan Ya chuckled. "I'm afraid it's not a Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle, but a toothpick. Well, a needle and a toothpick are pretty much the same, aren't they?"
Zhang Yuanqing forced a grin. "My needle is quite large. You might have to endure a bit."
This was the limit of his boldness. Even for a seasoned flirt, his thin skin couldn't handle any more. He coughed awkwardly and changed the subject. "Sister Guan Ya, our colleagues in the Transcendent Stage have suffered some heavy losses, haven't they?"
Guan Ya sliced her steak. "That's normal. Orderly Classes are inherently weaker than Evil Classes, and Walkers in the Transcendent Phase often have few or no Items. When they encounter stronger Evil Class opponents, defeat is inevitable."
"As for the Saint Stage, they can request to use items from the Branch's treasury. Those with exceptional talent receive even greater attention and resources from the Organization, naturally accumulating more trump cards."
Just as I suspected! Zhang Yuanqing thought, lowering his head to cut a piece of steak.
Guan Ya sighed. "It's the same every year. Official Walkers in the Transcendent Phase always get beaten up. Of course, that's when they're alone. You got beaten up too, didn't you?"
"Sister Guan Ya, I'll bring Xie Lingxi over to visit sometime. You should learn how she talks."
"Oh? How far have you and Xie Lingxi progressed? Have you deflowered her yet?"
"..."
As they spoke, footsteps echoed from the double staircase. Big Muscle, Li Dongze, White Dragon, Boxing King, Tang Guoqiang, and the other Captains descended with grave expressions.
Zhang Yuanqing set down his knife and fork and approached them, looking at his Chief:
"What's happened?"
Fu Qingyang wouldn't summon his subordinates for a meeting unless something serious had occurred.
Li Dongze leaned on his cane and sighed. "Three members from Kangyang District have gone missing. Other districts have reported disappearances as well. The total number has reached ten."
"Missing?" Zhang Yuanqing frowned. "Were they hunted down by Evil Class members?"
Big Muscle snorted coldly. "No, they were abducted by Li Xianzong. He left a message at each crime scene."
The six-foot-three-inch Fire Master glared at Zhang Yuanqing. "He said, 'Primordial Heavenly Venerable, your turn will come sooner or later.'"
Zhang Yuanqing's face darkened.
After being provoked repeatedly, he was starting to get angry.
Once I've grown stronger, this guy will become a dark chapter in my history.
The gentle-natured Green Vine changed the subject, whispering, "We still don't know why he kidnapped the Official Walkers. I'm afraid he's planning another terrorist attack."
That's why Fu Qingyang had called this meeting.
It's probably not another terrorist attack. I'm more worried he's using Witchcraft Master techniques to turn those Walkers into Gu Beasts and then send them to hunt me down. The more Zhang Yuanqing thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and the heavier his heart grew.
White Dragon furrowed her brow in anger. "This Li Xianzong is going too far! He's got my team on edge."
Li Dongze added, "We need to capture him quickly. The longer this drags on, the more the Branch's reputation suffers. There are already posts about it on the Official Forum."
"But isn't our information supposed to be confidential?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
Tang Guoqiang shook his head. "Investigating someone's residence doesn't always require information. It could be as simple as tracking them. We have to handle cases and go to work, making it easy for him to bait us out and follow us."
Li Dongze shifted the topic. "Primordial, you're about to enter the Instance, right?"
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "In the next few days."