On the second floor of the villa, in the small conference room. The setting sun sank westward, casting a blood-red afterglow through the glass windows onto the floor and staining the white wool rug in crystalline crimson.
Li Dongze, Qingteng, Bailong, Tang Guoqiang, Da Jiba, and several other captain-level figures sat straight-backed around the conference table. Almost every Spirit Realm walker captain from Kangyang District who could make it had arrived.
In addition to the Five Elements Alliance captains, Yuan Ting, who had just returned from the capital, also attended the meeting.
As a Scout, Li Dongze keenly sensed Yuan Ting's poor mental state and frowned. "Are you injured?"
Pale-faced, Yuan Ting leaned weakly against the back of his chair, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the question, he opened his eyes and said with a calm demeanor, "No. It's just that during this trip to the capital, Elder Sun placed great importance on me. He considers me a future pillar of the Taiyi Sect and insisted on training me personally. It was merely overtraining, which is why I'm in poor shape."
Everyone felt a surge of deep respect.
Fu Qingyang glanced at him without comment, then said solemnly, "Let's talk business. What did Yuanshi see in Ou Xiangrong's memories that made you rush over here in such a hurry?"
Several captains immediately cast grave looks at Li Dongze.
The moment this fellow had stepped out of the morgue, he had gathered everyone to hurry over to the Centurion's place without a word of explanation, claiming there was a major incident.
When they asked what it was, he refused to tell, making everyone anxious and restless.
Li Dongze coughed lightly and looked around the table. "Our Night Wanderer learned from Ou Xiangrong's memories what the Holy Grail actually is. It's an item belonging to the Deceitful Eye Judge, formally known as the Fallen Holy Grail."
"The Deceitful Eye Judge... Fallen Holy Grail?"
The captains on both sides of the table could not help exchanging looks, their expressions a mix of gravity and bewilderment.
The Deceitful Eye Judge was the vice chairman of the Spirit Society's Eastern Branch.
The Spirit Society was an infamous evil organization among Spirit Realm walkers, formed by a group of powerful and insane Witch Doctors. And as the vice chairman of the Eastern Branch, the Deceitful Eye Judge ranked eighth on the Five Elements Alliance's bounty list—an expert capable of moving mountains and draining seas.
None of them had expected Ou Xiangrong's case to involve a figure of such caliber.
As for their bewilderment, it was because they had never heard of an item called the Fallen Holy Grail.
"Ou Xiangrong was looking for an item belonging to the Deceitful Eye Judge?" Da Jiba frowned and spoke bluntly, "That kid's brain really was malfunctioning."
A mere Transcendent-stage Bewitching Demon daring to covet the item of a high-level Spirit Realm walker.
Ignoring Da Jiba's remark, everyone turned their eyes toward Fu Qingyang.
Fu Qingyang remained silent for several seconds before speaking in a voice of rare solemnity. "Next, I will disclose a piece of intelligence to you all. However, with your levels, you are not qualified to know information at this tier. So once you step out this door, keep it locked deep inside your bellies."
Hearing this, everyone straightened their posture and assumed grave expressions.
"The Fallen Holy Grail is a rule-based item of the Witch Doctor profession, possessing an exceptionally high tier. Its function is to control Spirit Realm walkers. Using this item, the Deceitful Eye Judge enslaved numerous Spirit Realm walkers from other professions. A vast majority of the 'Fallen' we handle each year were created by the Deceitful Eye Judge. According to the intelligence, once corrupted by the Fallen Holy Grail, a person is enslaved by the Deceitful Eye Judge for the rest of their life. Only death can free them; there is no other way.
"In addition, those corrupted must undergo a baptism from the Holy Grail at regular intervals, or their minds will plunge into madness and they will die."
Li Dongze gave an affirmative nod and took over. "Ou Xiangrong was the Deceitful Eye Judge's enslaved servant."
With that, everything made sense. Understanding dawned upon the captains.
Bailong nodded at first, then furrowed her brows. "What does that have to do with him killing Zhao Yingjun? Besides, this doesn't sound like a major incident, does it?"
"Zhao Yingjun was also the Deceitful Eye Judge's enslaved servant. Infiltrating the Five Elements Alliance under the guise of a Public Security Bureau consultant, he secretly helped the Deceitful Eye Judge scout newcomers, acting as his accomplice." Li Dongze paused, speaking in an exceedingly grave tone. "Not long ago, the Deceitful Eye Judge suddenly perished. His confidant, Hei Wuchang, fled into hiding with the Holy Grail and a roster containing the identities of the Fallen. Right now, it isn't just the Fallen like Ou Xiangrong looking for Hei Wuchang; the other vice chairman of the Spirit Society's Eastern Branch, the Gu King, and his subordinate factions are searching for him as well.
"After obtaining the roster, Hei Wuchang will inevitably contact these Fallen to take over the Deceitful Eye Judge's legacy. Zhao Yingjun's undercover status was crucial, and it was highly likely he had already established contact with Hei Wuchang. That was why Ou Xiangrong tried to use Zhao Yingjun to locate Hei Wuchang."
This... Everyone's minds went blank.
The Deceitful Eye Judge was a high-level Spirit Realm walker. How could such a prominent figure have died?
This piece of news was simply too shocking. Even the most composed among them, Fu Qingyang, froze momentarily.
Amid the suffocating silence, Fu Qingyang tapped the table and knitted his brows. "The Deceitful Eye Judge's roster contains numerous Fallen. Hei Wuchang went into hiding with the roster and the Holy Grail, but it is impossible for him to take over all the 'enslaved servants.' Deranged madmen like Ou Xiangrong are definitely not isolated cases."
Li Dongze smiled bitterly. "That's why I said it's a major incident."
A heavy mood fell over the captains.
Fu Qingyang said, "Hei Wuchang is hiding right here in Songhai. Things in Songhai will not remain calm in the days ahead. I will report this to the Council of Elders as soon as possible so they can notify colleagues across the country to guard against the Fallen losing control.
"Starting today, all leaves are canceled. Everyone must keep their phones on twenty-four hours a day and remain on standby at all times."
The captains nodded with heavy hearts.
With a sullen expression, Fu Qingyang said, "Regarding this incident, I must criticize all of you. Negligent, slack, and lacking vigilance."
Then his expression softened slightly. "In the Ou Xiangrong affair, Yuanshi Tianzun accomplished a great deed. From eliminating Ou Xiangrong to conducting spirit communion and uncovering the Deceitful Eye Judge's demise, he handled all the work. A group of experienced veterans couldn't even match a rookie. As your superior, I feel thoroughly ashamed."
Li Dongze and the others wore embarrassed expressions.
*Wait, what? The one who killed the Bewitching Demon Ou Xiangrong was that newly recruited Night Wanderer?*
Yuan Ting was stunned. Looking left and right, he could not help raising a hand. "Centurion Fu, are you saying Li Dongze's Level 1 Night Wanderer was the one who eliminated Ou Xiangrong?"
Li Dongze discreetly pushed out his chest and lifted his chin.
Da Jiba said with emotion, "That kid has an incredible combat talent. His future achievements are limitless. He might even advance to the Saint stage and become a Deacon-level figure."
Several captains nodded slightly, concurring with his assessment.
Captain Qingteng explained, "He was the first to spot Ou Xiangrong's trail and struck decisively. By the time we rushed over, the battle was already over. Even though Ou Xiangrong was wounded and largely deranged, killing him was still far from easy."
*What kind of genius is this...* Yuan Ting stood dumbfounded for a few seconds, after which his heart ached so badly he could barely breathe.
*Elder Sun, you were so foolish!*
Fu Qingyang did not let the topic drag on and said calmly, "Meeting adjourned."
Li Dongze and the others stood up from their seats one after another.
Yuan Ting, however, stayed behind. Once the captains filed out of the conference room, he suppressed the surging regret and annoyance within him and spoke, "Centurion Fu, I need your help with something."
Fu Qingyang looked at him.
Yuan Ting explained, "The Sect Master summoned us to the capital this time to announce classified news... The Demon Lord is dead."
Fu Qingyang froze. Then, pure shock washed over his sculptured, handsome face. Even the death of the Deceitful Eye Judge had not caused such an intense emotional tremor in him.
The Demon Lord—an ID that struck terror into the hearts of every official Spirit Realm walker. He was a fallen Night Wanderer, eccentric, cruel, and bloodthirsty by nature. Because he was a master of assassination and concealment, countless Spirit Realm walkers had died by his hands.
During the Demon Lord's most arrogant days, even the elders of the official organizations had to tread on thin ice and keep a low profile, not daring to reveal themselves in the real world.
The evil organizations hated him just as much, because the Demon Lord killed without distinction, slaughtering both the righteous and the wicked alike.
It was not until early last year, when he encountered the female Marshal of the White Tiger Battalion in a high-level adversarial Spirit Realm and was grievously wounded by that brilliant woman, that he vanished without a trace.
"And then?" Fu Qingyang resumed his indifference.
"The Sect Master gave us a mission: search for the Demon Lord's successor. Starting from two months ago until the end of this year, every rookie who became a Night Wanderer is subject to our screening," Yuan Ting said.
Fu Qingyang frowned. "Even if some lucky person acquired the Demon Lord's character card, it would have nothing to do with the Demon Lord himself. Why does your Sect Master want to find him? Don't tell me it's out of cherishing talent."
When a Spirit Realm walker died, the Spirit Realm cleared all the character's 'data' before selecting a new owner for the character card.
When high-level Spirit Realm walkers perished, certain remnants might linger after the character card was formatted—perhaps a specific perk, or perhaps an administrative privilege.
Such character cards were inherently superior to ordinary ones.
However, in Fu Qingyang's view, this slight uniqueness was hardly worth the Taiyi Sect Master causing such a major fuss. After all, even the Demon Lord himself had been lower in level than that contemporary strongest Night Wanderer.
Yuan Ting shook his head. "How would I know? I'm just following orders. In Songhai this year, only four rookies have advanced to Night Wanderer. One died in a Spirit Realm, two joined the Taiyi Sect and were sent to the training camp. The last one is the person under Li Dongze. I'd like to question him."
Fu Qingyang stared at Yuan Ting, his dark brown eyes sharp and penetrating.
Yuan Ting braced himself to meet his gaze.
"Very well. But regardless of the outcome, you must inform me first. You are not permitted to take him to the capital without permission."
***
Sitting before his office desk, Zhang Yuanqing turned on his computer. After contemplating for a long while, he called out, "Sister Guan Ya, how should I write this report?"
Looking down at her phone as she binged a drama, Guan Ya gave a perfunctory reply. "Didn't I send you the template? Just follow it."
"It's not an issue with the format, it's the content..." Zhang Yuanqing made a bitter face.
He had to write an incident report on killing Ou Xiangrong. What troubled him was that if he concealed the existence of the red dancing shoes, it would be very difficult to give a plausible account of how he killed Ou Xiangrong.
After all, this was not something he could brush off with a line or two.
"Ugh, you're so annoying." Guan Ya nimbly spun her office chair around, turning to face him with an exasperated pout. "How do you want to write it?"
Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a moment. "I'd like to reasonably highlight how I intimidated Ou Xiangrong with my domineering aura, then relied on my peerless combat prowess and brilliant intellect to battle the Bewitching Demon for three hundred rounds, ultimately executing this monster who almost plunged Songhai into a bloodbath."
The Eurasian beauty rolled her eyes.
"Instead of reasonably highlighting non-existent things, why don't you reasonably lower Ou Xiangrong's IQ? You showed plenty of quick wit in the garage, so why are you playing dumb now?"
*Right! Ou Xiangrong was already mentally deranged and heavily injured. As for the exact extent, outsiders have no idea. I can describe it however I want; it's not like he can lift his coffin lid and stand up to argue his case...* Zhang Yuanqing's eyes brightened. "Got it, thanks, Sister Guan Ya!"
He immediately began clacking away on his keyboard, describing Ou Xiangrong's madness and irrationality. At the same time, he had already made up his mind about what to do with the Bloodthirsty Blade.
The Demon-Subduing Pestle was geared more toward purification and exorcism rather than melee combat, and the Bloodthirsty Blade undoubtedly made up for that shortcoming.
Its inherent bleed and armor-piercing effects were a match made in heaven for a Night Wanderer's assassin attributes.
The only thing he had to consider was anemia.
*Once my experience points go up and my abilities improve, the Night Wanderer's potent vitality and self-healing should be able to support two items at the same time. Quelling demons with the pestle and slaying madmen with the blade... that actually sounds pretty good.* Having finished the report, Zhang Yuanqing sent it to Li Dongze's email inbox, then asked, "When will my rewards for clearing the Sheling Tunnel and for this incident be issued?"
"Your merit points require approval from the Council of Elders, and fund allocations are the same. It will probably be issued together with next month's salary," Guan Ya said with a smile. "What, in such a hurry to treat this big sister to a meal? Hmm, I want abalone, sea cucumber, roast duck, imported ham, prime steak..."
*No, that's way too expensive. I can only treat you to a jianbing guozi with an extra sausage and two eggs,* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
He checked the time and saw it was already two-thirty in the afternoon, so he planned to head home.
"Where did the Decurion and the other captains go?" Zhang Yuanqing asked before leaving.
After learning what was in Ou Xiangrong's memories, Li Dongze had hurriedly departed with the captains in a far from elegant manner, leaving behind no instructions whatsoever.
"A meeting."
Holding her phone, Guan Ya leaned against her chair, her impressive cleavage accentuated, and smiled. "The large and mid-level meetings for Kangyang District's Spirit Realm walkers are usually held at Centurion Fu's place. Once you've been on the job for over half a year and have more seniority, you can go have some fun there."
"What's fun about that? I hate meetings the most," Zhang Yuanqing said, unimpressed.
Guan Ya blinked, offering the knowing smile of an experienced woman. "There are a lot of pretty bunny girls there."
A look of pure longing immediately crossed Zhang Yuanqing's face. "I really hope I can participate in the organization's meetings sooner and contribute to building the organization!"
Chapter 33