Monster

The warm light of the desk lamp illuminated Zhu Rong's alluring face. Her long eyelashes caught the light, and within the shadows, her eyes gleamed with a sickly excitement and twisted thrill. A few meters away from the armchair, a tall, upright figure stood in the darkness beyond the reach of the lamp, his voice low and heavy. "Why didn't you demand his blood before the final match? Why let him steal the whole show? If you had controlled him beforehand, he wouldn't have won." A trace of displeasure and resentment ran through his tone. The corner of Zhu Rong's mouth curved up, and she smiled with dazzling charm. "I wanted him to win the championship more than anything. The more outstanding he is, the more excited I get. The more brilliantly talented he is, the more I want to stain him, break him, and drag him into an abyss of corruption from which he can never pull himself out." As she spoke, a flush rose on her cheeks, giving her the look of an animal in heat. *What a twisted woman...* The man reached into empty air and pulled out a green vine. It looked as though it had just been snapped from a tree, dotted with tender green leaves, three of which were as clear and red as rubies. "This is all there is. I only struck him once, so the vine could only draw so much blood." The man plucked the three leaves, held them between his fingertips, and stepped into the light in front of the armchair. The warm glow lit his face. He had gentle, delicate features and a bright, sunny disposition—the quintessential refined, friendly boy-next-door. It was none other than Qingsongzi. Zhu Rong's eyes lit up, and she reached out impatiently to take them. But Qingsongzi suddenly clamped his fingers tight, staring hotly at the voluptuous, beautiful woman. "Don't forget what you promised me." Zhu Rong beamed flirtatiously, lightly trailing her slender, jade-like fingers across the back of his hand in a teasing caress. "Once I take care of Yuanshi Tianzun, you can do whatever you want with me." Women of the Musician class possessed an enchanting allure. Even if another woman matched them in figure and beauty, she would pale beside a Musician. In this regard, they were somewhat similar to the Desire class. However, the core of Desire was stirring the opposite sex's raw physical lust—it was more direct and forceful. A female Musician, on the other hand, made a man yearn for love and romance. Qingsongzi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he relaxed his grip. Zhu Rong took the translucent red leaves, the corner of her lips twitching with amusement. She was confident he could never resist her charms, because Qingsongzi was a Wood Demon, driven by intensely strong reproductive urges. With just a little digging, one could find that he kept several regular female partners and engaged in reproductive activity daily. A man like that stood no chance against her beauty. "That wasn't what you said last time." Qingsongzi's eyes burned. He lifted Zhu Rong's elegantly curved chin, desire blazing openly in his gaze. "I want you now. Right here." Zhu Rong flicked his hand away with a finger and smiled with narrowed eyes. "I don't mind sleeping with outstanding young men, but only when I'm in the mood. Right now, the only person I want in my bed is Yuanshi Tianzun..." With that, she clapped her hands softly. Two pretty young women dressed in sexy lingerie pushed open the bedroom door, standing gracefully inside. "They're my gift to you. Enjoy yourself to your heart's content." Zhu Rong patted Qingsongzi's shoulder, swayed her full hips, and left the bedroom. *** Inside a braised chicken restaurant. Zhang Yuanqing wolfed down mouthfuls of tender, savory chicken, pouring a thick ladle of rich gravy over plump, glistening grains of rice. The salty, fragrant flavor melded with the aroma of the rice, washing over his taste buds. He devoured the food with his head down, and before he knew it, the bowl was completely empty. The owner hurried over with a second serving of braised chicken. Having filled his belly by about thirty percent, Zhang Yuanqing's ravenous craving subsided slightly. He slowed his pace and began browsing the official forums. *#Congratulations to Yuanshi Tianzun on Winning the Championship#* The Five Elements Alliance had posted this announcement, highlighted in bold red and pinned to the very top of the forums. The staff writer who drafted the post clearly possessed a rich literary background. The entire piece overflowed with praise without sounding overly hollow or obsequious. For instance, regarding the preliminary dungeon round, it read: *"Yuanshi Tianzun found himself in a desperate situation right from the start. Yet despite his youth, he remained composed. In the face of extremity, he unleashed tremendous strength; trapped behind bars, he demonstrated piercing wisdom. Breaking free from the secret room to prove his innocence, he stood against seven opponents alone and defused the crisis. Truly magnificent!!"* Regarding the Era of Great Whistleblowing, the post declared: *"Yuanshi Tianzun fully exploited the reporting rules. Lacking the advantage of time, he turned the rules into his own advantage; lacking unity, he actively forged alliances. All the while, he laid subtle threads in the dark to crush the Taiyi Sect's schemes. Truly magnificent!!"* And for the arena tournament, it stated: *"No matter how valiant and ferocious Zhao Chenghuang proved to be, Yuanshi Tianzun countered every move with absolute precision. Draped in his robe and wielding his treasured blade, he let loose a majestic roar. Ghost Transformation enveloped him, putting all foes to rest! Through a blood-boiling, thrilling clash, he defeated the Taiyi Sect's proud prodigy. Truly magnificent!!"* *Gotta take notes on this so I can flatter Fu Qingyang later,* Zhang Yuanqing mused inwardly. He scrolled down with his thumb to check the comments. [Cephalosporin with Wine the More You Drink the More You Have: The Houtu Boots still belong to our Five Elements Alliance! Yesterday my old boss was drinking with me, lamenting that the Alliance's young folks weren't up to par and that his beloved item would probably fall into the Taiyi Sect's hands.] [Cephalosporin with Wine the More You Drink the More You Have: Never in a million years did I expect Yuanshi Tianzun to actually beat Zhao Chenghuang! Fucking incredible!] [Please Call Me Queen: Long live Yuanshi Tianzun!! I'm definitely transferring to Songhai in the second half of the year! I've already submitted my application!] [Wangfei: I won't dare casually evaluate Yuanshi Tianzun anymore. No, wait—Lord Tianzun, that is! He has become a figure this humble concubine can only gaze up at from afar.] [Qingteng: To think that when he first joined, he was just a clueless rookie. It hasn't even been three months, and already I can only look at his back. It feels like an entire lifetime ago.] [White Dragon: Grand Academician of Wenyuan Hall, get your ass out here right now! I swear I'll beat you to death! Didn't you say Yuanshi Tianzun had poor gear and lacked experience, and that it was impossible for him to beat Zhao Chenghuang? You cost me a hundred thousand!] [Milky White Breasts: That guy's playing dead.] After scrolling through the sea of glowing praise for a good while, Zhang Yuanqing contentedly finished his second bowl of braised chicken. He exited the official post and scrolled down to view the other threads. *#How Could Yuanshi Tianzun Master Ghost Transformation?#* Intrigued by the title, he tapped to open it. The author was Lairifangzhang, an old acquaintance. *"I just took a spin around the Taiyi Sect forum, and most people over there are discussing how Yuanshi Tianzun mastered Ghost Transformation. After looking into it, I learned that this ultimate technique isn't something ordinary Night Wanderers can pull off. Yuanshi Tianzun's mastery of Ghost Transformation is far more insane than we imagined...* *"From what I understand, only two kinds of people can use Ghost Transformation. One is someone like Zhao Chenghuang, who has tempered his lunar energy over a long period and achieved perfection in controlling his power. The other is someone with extraordinary innate talent—like Jiang Jingwei, a Fire Master with a unique bloodline who can unleash her potential during the Transcendent stage and erupt with power on par with a 'Rager.' Yuanshi Tianzun belongs to the latter category."* [Quri Kuduo: Holy shit! Does that mean Yuanshi Tianzun is a natural-born Night Wanderer? His talent for clearing dungeons was already freaky enough, but his class talent is even stronger?!] [Amorous Jenny: Ah, I suddenly want to follow that shameless Queen's lead and transfer to Songhai to hook up with Yuanshi Tianzun.] [Please Call Me Queen: Who are you calling shameless?! Yuanshi Tianzun and I share a bond forged through life and death! I'm going to Songhai to support his work!] [Guan Ya: Hehe, I agree with Queen. Hehe~] [Areca Nut with a Smoke Grants Boundless Power: Wait, if Yuanshi Tianzun—no, Lord Tianzun—is a natural-born Night Wanderer, then... then has Elder Sun been cyberbullied by the Taiyi Sect folks all over again?] The comments below were screenshots compiled by Lairifangzhang, filled entirely with memes reading *"Elder Sun is confused."* Some came from forums, while others were grabbed from group chats. [Quri Kuduo: Elder Sun really has it rough. A dignified Dominator, turned into a running gag.] Members of the Five Elements Alliance liked and chimed in by the dozens. Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly remembered Yuan Ting. That guy had vanished right after the preliminary dungeon round; his calls went unanswered, and his messages had no replies. *He wasn't silenced, was he?* With that concern in mind, he privately messaged Fu Qingyang: *Centurion, I can't reach Yuan Ting. What happened to him?* Fu Qingyang replied: *Oh? Are you planning to fulfill your promise?* Without hesitation, Zhang Yuanqing sent a prostrating kowtow emoji: *That was just a ruse to lure the enemy! I would never reveal the Centurion's 'Theory of Trash' to Yuan Ting. I will engrave such a profound philosophy in my heart and never speak a word of it to outsiders.* Fu Qingyang did not respond immediately. By the time Zhang Yuanqing finished his final serving of braised chicken, the reply finally arrived: *Elder Sun threw him into the training camp.* *Ah, poor Yuan Ting...* Zhang Yuanqing actually felt relieved. This meant he could delay fulfilling his promise. After all, he had no idea why Elder Dog possessed a dog's body; he had merely been bluffing Yuan Ting. Fu Qingyang: *Also, regarding the rewards for the Transcendent arena tournament: come to Fujia Bay at nine tomorrow morning to collect the items. While you're at it, take your yin corpse back.* *Settling rewards tomorrow?* Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted, and he couldn't help looking forward to the next day. He wondered whether combining the Yinyang Robe and the Houtu Boots would grant any set skills. It was certainly something to anticipate. After paying the bill, Zhang Yuanqing headed home. Remembering that he still owed the Earth God two hundred thousand yuan, he logged into the official database, looked up the Earth God's contact information, and sent a message asking for his bank account details. Although the old man hadn't asked for the money over the past two days, a promise was a promise. After transferring the two hundred thousand yuan, the Earth God replied: *You're a man of your word, kid! Congratulations on winning the championship.* Yuanshi Tianzun: *Earth God, will you be participating in the mid-year killing trial?* He coveted the Earth God's peerless defense. If the old man was taking part in the mid-year killing trial, forming an alliance with him would be equivalent to gaining an indestructible shield. Earth God: *I won't. I'll most likely remain in the Transcendent stage for the rest of my life.* Yuanshi Tianzun: *Why?* With the Earth God's capabilities, ascending to the Saint stage would be no problem at all. Earth God: *Here's the thing. My defense might look formidable, but in the Saint stage, it won't amount to much. Solo Spirit Realms at that level are all lethal types, without exception. I'm getting on in years; promotions and rank increases don't appeal to me anymore. Isn't it better to live out my natural lifespan in peace?* *This...* Zhang Yuanqing was momentarily at a loss for words. After some thought, he offered a counterargument: *But reaching the Saint stage increases your lifespan. Don't you wish to live longer?* Earth God: *That may be true, but how many Saints actually die of old age? Most of them perish in the Spirit Realms or fall to assassinations by evil classes. I'm already invincible in the Transcendent stage, so why wade into the muddy waters of the Saint stage?* Yuanshi Tianzun: *...You truly see right through life!* *** Bar Street. Inside a nightclub hall that had been converted into a lavish pool of decadence, the Lust Divine General gripped a concubine by the waist. Amidst splashing water, he reached the pinnacle of pleasure. His body stiffened for a dozen seconds before he casually cast aside the nearly unconscious woman. He glanced toward the edge of the pool, where a subordinate stood with his head bowed, neither daring to make a sound nor raise his eyes. In an indifferent tone, the Lust Divine General said, "Speak!" The subordinate breathed a sigh of relief, still not daring to look up as he spoke rapidly. "The Silver Moon Divine General called. He wants you to attend this year's 615 Summit, which will be held in Jiangnan Province." The Lust Divine General frowned. The so-called 615 Summit was an annual conference hosted by the three major evil organizations. Its purpose was to unite the evil classes within the killing trial, formulating plans and reaching consensus to hunt down the lawful classes together. Every year, the 615 Summit took place immediately after the official arena tournament ended. By then, the tournament results were out, and the evil classes needed to deliberate and deploy strategies based on the official lists of Transcendent and Saint participants. Each organization would dispatch its key pillars to attend the summit. The Lust Divine General had no desire to go. His plan to hunt Xiao Yuan was still in the works; although Blood Swallow had declined his offer of cooperation, he had prepared a reward she couldn't refuse this time. Over the past few days, not a moment passed without him thinking of that great beauty. He could hardly wait to ravage her, torture her, and shatter her yearning for goodness and light. Attending the 615 Summit meant putting that plan on hold. Yet given the Silver Moon Divine General's explosive temper, refusing him meant that lunatic would travel thousands of miles to Songhai just to beat him to a pulp without a second thought. And in the vocabulary of a Demonic Enchanter, a "beating" didn't mean a few casual punches—it meant shattered bones and permanent paralysis. "Understood!" the Lust Divine General said in a heavy voice. "There is one more thing..." the subordinate whispered. "The official arena tournament's Transcendent competition has ended. The champion is Yuanshi Tianzun." The Lust Divine General raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Yuanshi Tianzun?!" Information regarding Yuanshi Tianzun flashed through his mind. The young man had cleared the Night Wanderer trial dungeon, Sheling Tunnel, in April of this year. He had been a Night Wanderer for less than three months. In less than three months, he had defeated the well-established Zhao Chenghuang? "Another Fu Qingyang?" The Lust Divine General's expression darkened. "It seems this summit will have to focus heavily on how to eliminate Yuanshi Tianzun." *This boy cannot be allowed to live.* *** Pangxie City, within a lush, verdant garden estate. On the second floor of an antique pavilion, Mother Xie leaned against the balustrade bench, holding a porcelain cup between her slender, delicate fingers as she admired the scenery. As everyone knew, Pangxie City was famous for two things: its gardens, said to be the finest under heaven, and its hairy crabs, which had been hyped until they cost more than ginseng. Today, Mother Xie wore a light green qipao embroidered with lifelike lotus blossoms, her hair styled into an elegant vintage high bun. It gave her the look of a favored concubine kept within the deep courtyard of a wealthy estate during the Republican era. Her face was a striking oval, lightly adorned with makeup. Delicate black eyeliner accentuated her sparkling, expressive eyes. Her brow and gaze held the innocent charm of a young girl, yet her figure boasted a voluptuous ripeness that no young girl could ever hope to rival. Such a concubine could only have been the star performer of a renowned opera troupe. Footsteps sounded from behind. Mother Xie turned her head, delight surfacing on her face. "Ah, Master, you're out~" Rising gracefully, she threw herself into the arms of the man behind her like a swallow darting into the woods. The man embraced his lovely wife and looked around. "Lingxi isn't back yet?" Mother Xie tilted her head, pondering for a moment before looking puzzled. "Huh? Lingxi hasn't returned?" A second later, realization dawned on her. "I've spent the past few days missing you so much that I forgot all about our daughter! I thought she had come home already." Hearing this, Father Xie smiled with fond affection. He appeared to be in his thirties, with defined features, a high nose, thick brows, deep eyes, and fine crow's-feet at the corners of his eyes. One could still tell he had been an extraordinary handsome youth in his prime; now, weathered by time and experience, he had matured into a charming older gentleman. A careful look revealed a clear resemblance to Xie Lingxi. Father Xie's real name was Xie Su. He was the fifth son of the previous family head and had reached the Dominator stage. He had obtained his character card quite late in life, becoming a Spirit Realm walker only at age twenty. Before that, he had been an insignificant member of the Xie family. Yet this seemingly ordinary man had been deeply favored by the Old Ancestor, who personally arranged a marriage to bestow the family's prized pearl upon him. Mother Xie was also of the Xie family. Her ancestors were cousins of the Xie family's Old Ancestor. When the Old Ancestor became a Spirit Realm walker, his entire clan rose with him, depending on this towering tree for survival. More than a century had passed since the emergence of the Spirit Realm, and the Xie clan had flourished into a colossal power in Sanzhuang Province. Generations ago, the Xie clan had begun practicing internal marriage. Each year, the clan elders would open the genealogy records to match eligible youths who shared virtually no direct blood ties. A celebrated beauty like Mother Xie had countless suitors within the clan, yet the Old Ancestor had betrothed her to the unremarkable Xie Su. At the time, every young man of their generation felt deeply indignant. In private, they cursed him as a toad that had managed to eat swan meat. Yet no one expected that a year after the marriage, Xie Su would obtain a character card. From then on, he walked the path of a chosen protagonist: after one year, he towered over his peers; after three years, he surpassed his elders; and after ten years, he became the youngest Dominator in the clan's history. Among the three Musician clans, he was a legendary figure. Father Xie asked, "The arena tournament should be over by now. Did Yuanshi Tianzun manage to squeeze into the top five?" He guided his lovely wife to their seats and poured two cups of tea. "The boy is exceptionally gifted, but a genius in the Transcendent stage doesn't necessarily excel in the Saint stage. That was why I initially intended to observe and make modest investments. But his progress has been rapid. After he killed Li Xianzong in Yinyang Town, I decided to recruit him. "If he squeezed into the top five this time, we could invite him over for the crab banquet in autumn." He cared quite a bit about Yuanshi Tianzun; after all, young men of such caliber were exceedingly rare. Mother Xie murmured in acknowledgment, pressing her vivid red lips against the white porcelain cup for a small sip. "He's not in the top five!" Father Xie looked disappointed. "What a pity." Mother Xie added, "He won the championship!" Father Xie pinched his wife's nose affectionately. "Stop joking." Mother Xie offered a sly smile. "Ask Lingxi yourself, then." Feeling doubtful, Father Xie dialed his daughter's number. "Lingxi, it's Dad. I'm out. Is the tournament over? What kind of result did Yuanshi Tianzun get...?" Listening to the reply, Xie Su froze, struck speechless for a long time. After a prolonged silence, he hung up and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Another monster-level figure?!" The last person called a monster was the Demon Lord. Before him was Fu Qingyang, and before him was the female Grand Marshal. Every single one of them had achieved terrifying heights. Father Xie's expression grew solemn. "I need to go see the Old Ancestor." *** Late at night. Zhang Yuanqing, who was eagerly awaiting the settlement of his rewards the next morning, was jolted awake by a burst of crackling static. After many quiet days, the Elvis speaker was about to act up again.