Inside the taxi, Zhang Yuanqing remembered that he hadn't informed Auntie Xiao Yuan about clearing the killing trial—even though she had almost certainly heard about it from Kou Beiyue by now.
"Interpersonal relationships still need maintenance. I spent the whole morning entangled with Guan Ya and forgot to notify Xiao Yuan."
Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly picked up his phone and sent a message to "Magical Auntie Xiao Yuan":
"Auntie Xiao Yuan, I'm back. Beiyue must've told you my score, right? Ahaha, broke the record. Too bad I didn't make a bet with you before entering the killing trial."
To his surprise, after sending the message, it vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea—not a single reply came for a long while.
*Didn't see it?* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. *At this hour, shouldn't she be standing at the hotel reception desk with her head down, fiddling with her phone?*
He sent another message:
"Just advanced to Saint, so I've got a lot on my plate. I'll come see you at the hotel in a few days (smile)."
Receiving no response, he opened the official forum to check the comments on him from the various branches of the Five Elements Alliance.
#Yuanshi Tianzun Achieves an Unprecedented Feat—Does He Have What It Takes to Be Alliance Leader?#
#Taiyi Sect's Night Wanderers Do a Complete About-Face on Yuanshi Tianzun, In Unison Shouting: Elder Sun Was Muddle-Headed#
#Back Then, the Demon Lord Colluded with Evil Classes to Slaughter Our Official Colleagues in the Trial; Today, Yuanshi Tianzun Annihilates the Evil Faction—A Deeply Satisfying Triumph#
Leaving aside the pinned announcements and Peony Fairy's post, the first few pages of the forum were flooded entirely with discussions about the killing trial and about him.
Many familiar Spirit Realm IDs were spamming the comments with "Lord Tianzun."
Zhang Yuanqing also spotted many unfamiliar Spirit Realm IDs.
[Domineering Blade Slices Noobs: The mid-year batch of Transcendent colleagues was truly fortunate. Back in my day, two-thirds of the colleagues who went into the killing trial with me died. This time, a whole fifteen people from the Five Elements Alliance advanced to Saint! Add to that the year-end killing trial, and this year is a massive bumper harvest for the organization. On this achievement alone, Yuanshi Tianzun's contributions are immeasurable. Wonder what reward headquarters will give him.]
[Honest Man Zhang Bairen: In a single killing trial, he earned more merits than we do in a lifetime. Frankly, I'm really looking forward to teaming up with him in a trial so I can ride Lord Yuanshi Tianzun's coattails too.]
[Third-Rate Mystery Novelist: Yuanshi Tianzun broke the score record, so the experience and items he received must be maxed out—far more and far stronger than ordinary Saints. If anyone gets matched with him, they might genuinely end up clinging to his thighs.]
[The Sovereign Is Sick: These guys must all be Deacons, right? Otherwise, they'd never dare be so brash as to call Lord Tianzun by his actual handle.]
[Quri Kuduo: Doesn't matter. In another year or six months, they'll be calling him Lord Tianzun just like us.]
[George the Pig: Dream bigger. Maybe by the second half of the year, they'll already be chanting 'Lord Tianzun.']
[Domineering Blade Slices Noobs: Which branch are you guys above from? The internet isn't beyond the law; watch how you talk.]
Amidst these chaotic posts, there were also a few that struck a dissonant chord, such as:
#I acknowledge that Yuanshi Tianzun played a critical role in the killing trial, but let's not blindly follow the trend and overlook everyone else's contributions#
—Poster: World Returns to Fire.
Yet hardly anyone paid him any mind. Out of the meager dozen or so comments, half replied with trash talk, and the other half mocked him, calling him a disgrace to Fire Masters.
And everyone cursing him was a Fire Master.
Another example:
#Just heard some news: the Taiyi Sect's official forum has instituted a blanket mute. Rumor has it Yuan Ting posted something, but it's already been deleted. The contents are currently unknown#
Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing's heart dropped with a thud. *What was bound to come has finally come.*
If the domestic scandal of Baihui's Grand Elder got out, he didn't know whether Yuan Ting would be silenced, but he was certain he would be caught in the crossfire.
Then, he thought of something even more terrifying: Fu Qingyang's "garbage theory" and the intelligence extracted from Heavenly King Demonic Eye's confession definitely couldn't be kept under wraps either.
"The Centurion won't spare me, and neither will Elder Dog. It's over... I'm cooked."
A chill ran through Zhang Yuanqing.
***
Mid-June, noon. The sun blazed mercilessly.
Along the street outside the residential compound, the supermarket had let down its plastic windbreak curtain, and customers were sparse. Next door in the fruit shop, the owner was listlessly gnawing on watermelon, equally devoid of business.
This summer was exceptionally scorching, so much so that even the elderly folks were reluctant to come out for fresh air.
Aside from the rushing stream of traffic, pedestrians were pathetically few.
The taxi pulled over outside the compound. Having once again left Blood Rose back at Fu Family Bay, Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the car door and braved the scorching sun. He first dashed across the street to the fruit shop to buy two large watermelons, then went to the supermarket to pick up a carton of cigarettes.
Coming home didn't usually require gifts—unless a guilty conscience was involved.
He had spent three whole days in the killing trial. Missed calls from his grandma and aunt had piled up to over thirty, with dozens of unread messages.
If he returned home empty-handed this time, he'd be the one picked up for a double beating. Throw in his grandpa, and it would be a triple-team beatdown on Zhang Yuanqing.
Taking the elevator up to his front door, he entered the passcode and unlocked the security door.
Lunchtime had just passed. In the living room, his grandparents had finished eating and were sitting watching television.
"Grandma, I'm back!" Zhang Yuanqing called out sweetly.
Grandma turned her head, her face dripping with cold sarcasm.
"Who's that? Why are you calling people whatever you please? My family never raised a grandson—only an ungrateful wolf."
Zhang Yuanqing chimed in, "Mom, I'm back."
"Who are you calling Mom!" Grandma sprang up to swat him.
"Didn't you just say you don't have a grandson?" Zhang Yuanqing feigned an aggrieved look.
Grandma smacked the back of his head several times, fuming, "You still know how to come back? Not answering calls, not replying to texts—wings grown too stiff to control, have they?"
"Didn't I say I was going out to stay for a few days? I just got a girlfriend," Zhang Yuanqing lied without missing a beat, using "girlfriend" to emphasize that he was an adult and that Grandma shouldn't meddle too much.
"Even if you have a girlfriend, you can't just vanish into thin air! Did that girlfriend of yours forbid you from picking up your phone?" Grandma thought to herself that the grandson she had raised would never be this rebellious; it had to be some wild woman outside corrupting her precious grandson.
*The one who didn't let me answer calls was the Spirit Realm, not a girlfriend...* Dodging the topic, Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly shoved the watermelons over. "My girlfriend knows you love watermelon, so she specifically bought them outside the compound."
He then handed the cigarettes to Grandpa. "Grandpa gets a gift too."
Grandpa took the carton, examined it, and nodded contentedly. "Practice moderation."
Having accepted the watermelons, Grandma's attitude softened slightly as well. She gave a cold huff. "Did she drop you off? Why didn't she come upstairs?"
"She's shy."
"The day after tomorrow is Saturday. Bring her home for a meal! I told you to bring her last time, and you've dragged it out this long. If you keep dodging, I'll call your mother and tell her about this." Grandma adopted an attitude of *this old lady is going to inspect her thoroughly*.
"What does this have to do with Chen Shu? I've already revoked her mother card..." Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath.
Grandma's eyebrows shot up. "What did you say?"
Zhang Yuanqing said loudly, "I said got it, I'll ask her later!"
He planned to ask Guan Ya to come over. If Guan Ya refused, he would bring Blood Rose along to impersonate his girlfriend.
Although the yin corpse's gaze was cold and devoid of life, he still had the Ghost Bride. The Ghost Bride was a maiden from a century ago who placed immense value on hierarchy and etiquette; she would surely show utmost respect to her husband's grandparents.
The only thing to watch out for was that she might suddenly blurt out: *This humble maiden Bai Lan greets the two venerable ancestors. In the future, I will surely serve my husband well and carry on the family lineage.*
Even as skilled at socializing as Zhang Yuanqing was, he really wouldn't know how to talk his way out of that one.
"Have you eaten?" Grandma asked with a stern face.
"Starving!"
"There are still some groceries. I'll make you something right now." Grandma turned and headed into the kitchen.
Their household never kept leftovers; anything uneaten was thrown away.
***
International Tower.
Annie sat before her computer desk, her delicate, shapely fingers dancing across the keyboard. With a flurry of clatter, she finished composing an email and clicked send.
After learning the news from the Taiyi Sect's Lingjun, she had returned to her office and contacted several official members sponsored by the Association of God of Beauty, confirming through them that the intel was genuine.
She had immediately written an email and dispatched it to her direct superior, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Taking her hands off the keyboard, Annie lifted the cup on her desk, took a sip of coffee, and stared slightly dazed at the four words displayed on the screen: *Message Sent Successfully.*
Even now, she hadn't recovered from the staggering shock of the news.
She had anticipated that Yuanshi Tianzun had a shot at reaching the top of the leaderboard—after all, he was the man she had taken a fancy to. But Annie had never dreamed this young man in a foreign land would achieve such an outrageous score.
Fifteen minutes later, the inbox indicated an unread email.
Annie knew the Minister's reply had arrived.
Clicking into the mailbox immediately, she indeed saw the header from the Foreign Affairs Department of the Association of God of Beauty.
The Minister's reply was very brief, yet it resonated with an aura of unyielding determination:
"Recruit Yuanshi Tianzun as a member of the Association of God of Beauty by whatever means necessary. Within half a month, we expect to see results. Otherwise, we will consider having Betty replace you."
Betty had been the Demon Lord's lover and was an exceptional beauty within the Association of God of Beauty.
She was an expert at seducing men, possessing angelic looks paired with a devilish figure. It was precisely because of this that the Demon Lord had willingly and resolutely thrown himself into the trap despite knowing it was one.
Annie was confident she was no less capable than Betty, but she had to admit that when it came to seducing a target, she fell short of Betty.
Annie hailed from a wealthy family; tracing her lineage back two centuries, her ancestors were grand aristocrats.
Having been schooled in etiquette since childhood and raised on stories of ancestral glory, she possessed pride deep down. In diplomatic affairs, she excelled at using proper manners, elegant conversation, and the characteristics of her class to achieve her objectives.
Betty, on the other hand, was far more adept at deploying raw beauty and flesh to complete her missions.
Naturally, for a target like Yuanshi Tianzun, Annie would certainly make full use of her charms. But how to conquer Yuanshi Tianzun still required careful deliberation.
Generally speaking, young boys of that age were very easy to entice and could be coaxed into bed with minimal effort. But Yuanshi Tianzun was somewhat different. He seemed to have a peculiar fondness for pig tails, yet the Desire class was neither the Eastern Witch Doctor nor the Western Demon race—she couldn't simply sprout an alluring pig tail.
Therefore, a change of approach was needed.
*Young boys are strongly possessive. Since he isn't the type to be casually lured into bed, I need to mind my image and make sure he doesn't perceive me as a promiscuous woman and keep me at arm's length...*
*All men like docile women and have little resistance to beautiful women who cater to them in every way. To borrow a phrase from Chinese, I must use conciliation—a gentle approach...*
*First, invite him out for a meal under the pretext of celebrating his advancement to Saint.*
Just then, the phone on her desk rang. The caller was Lingjun.
Annie answered the call.
"Miss Annie, are you free tomorrow evening? Might I invite you to join me for dinner?" Lingjun's mellow, gentle, and profoundly charming masculine voice came through the receiver.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Lingjun, but I won't have time tomorrow evening," Annie declined tactfully.
"Alright then..."
Lingjun couldn't fathom why a woman with whom he had chatted so delightfully this morning would suddenly turn around and give him the cold shoulder. The Desire class truly was full of female players.
Yet Lingjun refused to concede defeat. He had plenty of tactics to win Annie over and fulfill the mission Fu Qingyang had assigned him.
***
After eating his meal and finishing the stewed squab soup made by his grandma, Zhang Yuanqing rubbed his belly and lay back on the bed.
Basking in the cool breeze from the air conditioner, his thoughts drifted aimlessly as he pondered all sorts of matters.
*Strange. I've been back for more than half a day, and the people hyping me on the forum could stretch from Songhai all the way to the Capital City. Why hasn't Elder Dog reached out to me yet? He should be having a chat with me right about now...*
*He couldn't possibly have guessed that I want to seize this chance to make demands, requesting materials from the organizational warehouse to upgrade my yin corpse and spirit servant, could he?*
After advancing to Saint, many things awaited him.
First was the issue of rank. With both merits and level sufficient, the organization's official appointment document should arrive soon. Before the document was issued, Elder Dog ought to meet with him to discuss promotions, assignments, give suggestions, and consult his personal preferences.
Zhang Yuanqing's thought was to stay in Songhai if at all possible.
He had not yet reached the age where he would leave his hometown behind for work, nor had he prepared himself mentally for that.
Second was upgrading his yin corpse and spirit servant.
Whether it was the Ghost Bride, Little Doubi, or Blood Rose, all of them needed an upgrade; otherwise, they wouldn't match his current stage.
Lastly was investigating Brother Bing's matters.
*Now that I'm a Saint, I can investigate Brother Bing's disappearance. But aside from the Elvis speaker, he left no clues behind... Wait, the Elvis speaker IS the clue! This thing has self-awareness. Knowing that I've advanced to Saint, it should play clues regarding Brother Bing, right?*
At that thought, Zhang Yuanqing got up, walked over to the desk, pulled open the drawer, and took out the black metal-cased speaker.
"I've cleared the killing trial. Whatever clues you have about the 'Young King of Soldiers,' tell me right now."
The Elvis speaker remained obstinately lifeless, ignoring him completely.
*Truly an item that refuses to cooperate without violence. Why didn't the Demon Lord dismantle you?* Practiced and familiar, Zhang Yuanqing pulled out the Bloodthirsty Blade and pressed its tip against the speaker's casing.
"Bzz... Help! Murder! Chang Wei is murdering someone!"
A cheap, obnoxious cry for help sounded from the speaker.
As Zhang Yuanqing exerted a bit of force with his palm, the Elvis speaker's cries instantly ceased. Amidst crackling static, heavy, ragged breathing came through:
"Huu... huu, huu..."
The panting sounded like an old bellows, extremely hoarse.
Then, the Demon Lord's gnashing voice sounded:
"Damn that white-haired woman! Her strength is far beyond mine. I haven't reached the demigod realm yet, so I'm no match for her. Just you wait... Once I become a demigod, once I become the supreme powerhouse, I will wash away today's humiliation in blood!
"Still, that white-haired woman is gorgeous—even prettier than my Sister Yin Ji, prettier than most of the women I've slept with. The only one whose looks, figure, and bearing could rival hers is the President..."
Zhang Yuanqing frowned slightly. He confirmed this was the Demon Lord's voice, but compared to the Demon Lord during his Transcendent and Saint stages, this voice sounded far more weathered and raspy.
And from what he knew, the span of time between the Demon Lord's rise and fall hadn't been long at all.
*In just a few short years, he suddenly grew so weathered...* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. *During the few years this fellow spent as a Spirit Realm walker, the things he experienced were probably more than what others could experience in several lifetimes.*
Only then did he wonder: *Who is this white-haired woman, and how beautiful is she? Could she be even prettier than my Sister Guan Ya?*
*And what level is a demigod? Transcendent, Saint, Dominator... and after that is demigod? Or is demigod non-official terminology, specifically referring to certain powerful groups?*
"Demon Lord, is there anything else in your head besides sleeping with women?" A voice sounded from the speaker—an incomparably familiar voice.
Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted. That was Brother Bing's voice!
"Hehe!" The Demon Lord sneered. "Aren't you also full of nothing but violence? Oh, by the way, I set up a date with a few pretty Wood Sprites—so soft and tender. Why don't you stay and join the fun? Life is short; enjoy it while you can."
"Not interested!" Brother Bing's voice grew increasingly somber. "Ever since advancing to Dominator, the Fallen Holy Grail's erosion of you has deepened. Demon Lord, I'm almost unable to recognize you."
At this point, Brother Bing suddenly sighed:
"I originally thought Yin Ji could change you. I thought she was the cure. I never expected that after losing her, you would sink even further into depravity. Abandoning yourself like this isn't your style."
The Demon Lord fell silent for a few seconds. Glossing over the topic of Yin Ji, he spoke slowly:
"Which is why Deceitful Eye Judge must die. The higher the level, the deeper the Fallen Holy Grail's erosion. Ever since advancing to Dominator, I constantly hear voices I shouldn't hear, see things I shouldn't see. And while I sleep, a terrifying will seems to awaken inside my body. It wants to replace me, to control me. That will originates from the Fallen Holy Grail.
"I suspect that once I advance to demigod, I'll be possessed and taken over by that will..."
Brother Bing's voice immediately sounded from the speaker: "Do you have a detailed plan? When will you strike?"
"In six months..." the Demon Lord replied, adding, "We need to prepare for failure first. If we die at Deceitful Eye Judge's hands, none of this matters. But if we're fortunate enough to survive without succeeding, then we'll have to find a way to suppress the Grail's corruption. Do you have any ideas?"
Brother Bing thought for a moment and said:
"I know a Scholar named 'Lian Sanyue.' Her research on items has reached perfection. She might have a way to suppress the Grail's corruption."
"Lian Sanyue... What's her relation to 'Beacon Fire'?" The Demon Lord scoffed softly. "Fine. Get me an answer as soon as possible."
The audio ended there.
*A rare occasion where listening to the Demon Lord's audio didn't involve clapping sounds and groaning...* Zhang Yuanqing silently quipped in his heart.
Staring at the Elvis speaker, he carefully analyzed the contents of the audio:
*The Grail's erosion deepens as the level rises, and at its worst, it might directly possess the bearer? But it's also possible that the consciousness the Demon Lord referred to was actually a second personality birthed by the Holy Grail... No wonder the Demon Lord was so dead-set on killing Deceitful Eye Judge. Part of it was past grievances, but the other part was that without killing Deceitful Eye Judge, he didn't dare advance to demigod.*
Indeed, Zhang Yuanqing had now confirmed that above Dominator lay demigod.
*I remember the Demon Lord was said to be only half a step from the supreme realm. That supreme realm must refer to demigod. But Deceitful Eye Judge was probably still far from supreme... As expected, there was more hidden behind the Demon Lord's death back then.*
At the same time, he knew what the next step in investigating Brother Bing was: finding Lian Sanyue!
Based on the audio, it wasn't hard to deduce that Brother Bing later found a way to suppress the Fallen Holy Grail's corruption. Finding this Lian Sanyue would lead to clues regarding Brother Bing's whereabouts.
*Not bad, not bad. As my level increases, the Elvis speaker is providing more and more substantial intel...* Zhang Yuanqing stroked the top of his beloved item, pulled open the drawer, and placed it back inside.
"Bzz..." Static crackled from the Elvis speaker. Seemingly unwilling to be put away so quickly, it blasted a loud, high-pitched line of audio:
"When trouble strikes, turn to Zhong Wuyan; when all is well, run to Xia Yingchun! When trouble strikes, turn to Zhong Wuyan; when all is well, run to Xia Yingchun!"
The voice echoed deafeningly through the room.
"Yuanzi—"
Grandma's voice carried in from the living room: "Turn the volume down! Don't disturb your grandpa watching the news!"
"Got it..." Zhang Yuanqing placed the Elvis speaker back on the desk.
After all, the content being played was merely a simple protest rather than the Demon Lord's graphic bedroom recordings, so a small compromise was acceptable.
The Elvis speaker immediately switched to playing a soothing, melodious piano piece, lowering its volume.
Whenever the mood struck this item that couldn't be stored in an inventory, it would burst into such a dramatic performance.
—Trapped inside was the soul of an uninhibited, free-spirited King of Rock.
Listening to the gentle cadence of the piano music, Zhang Yuanqing remembered another matter: whether to return the Demon-Subduing Pestle to the old crone was something he still needed to ask Elder Dog about.
*The Demon-Subduing Pestle has already been locked onto by Her Ladyship. If I don't return it, I won't be able to use it in trials, but at least I could still use it in reality... Once returned, this item will be completely out of my hands. As my very first item, my feelings for it run as deep as a cat's love for dried fish. Then again, that old crone is truly damn gorgeous—a classical Eastern goddess...*
Muttering under his breath, he conveniently took out the Demon-Subduing Pestle to stroke it a bit more while it was still by his side.
He might not get the chance in the future.
About half an arm's length, slightly heavy in hand, and carved with exquisite incantations, the brass pestle appeared in his palm.
Zhang Yuanqing's fingers rubbed against the cool brass pestle. After studying it for a few seconds, he suddenly noticed something amiss: the originally dull brass pestle had turned remarkably bright and lustrous, as though it had been polished—looking just like it had come fresh off a factory lathe.
"Huh? After the old crone used it, it became brighter and newer? Let's see if its attributes changed..."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Demon-Subduing Pestle abruptly erupted with an intense golden radiance, overpowering the sunlight streaming through the window and dyeing the ceiling, walls, and everything in the room a brilliant gold.
A divine maiden clad in a rainbow-feathered gown, possessing an immortal's grace and jade-like beauty, drifted out from the Demon-Subduing Pestle, hovering gracefully in midair.
The next second, the fairy cast down eyes as cold as a frozen pool, speaking chillingly:
"Old crone?"
Zhang Yuanqing suffered a massive psychological shock, freezing stiff as a wooden rooster, forgetting entirely to drop to his knees in homage.
Chapter 287