The next day, Zhang Yuanqing received a text message from Guan Ya:
“Wang Qian’s identity has been verified. There are no problems. Since it was an accident, it doesn’t count as illegally refining a spirit servant.”
“Understood.”
“Head over to the hospital and have Wang Qian fill out a ‘Spirit Realm Walker Dossier’ and a letter of pledge, then bring them back to be archived. After all, this is your case.”
“Understood.”
“Good boy. Big sister will give you one more piece of advice. You’ve been in the official organization for a while now, and it’s time to start expanding your own network and channels. The Palace of Halting Slaughter is a fairly influential civil organization in Songhai. You could try recruiting Wang Qian as an informant; who knows, you might even form a connection with the Palace of Halting Slaughter down the road.”
“Great idea. That way, my future wife won’t have a difficult labor.”
“Haha, you’re hilarious... Well, on another note, isn’t it almost time for your second entry into the Spirit Realm?”
“I just hope it won’t be S-rank again.”
“Probably not, but statistically speaking, it’s not impossible. Both the Decurion and I are really looking forward to your performance in your second Spirit Realm.”
“Why?”
“Single-player Spirit Realms test talent, while multiplayer Spirit Realms hone ability. The dungeon itself might not be quite as deadly as a single-player realm, but you’ll encounter other Spirit Realm walkers there, which introduces a lot of uncertain variables. That is when a person’s overall competence is put on full display.”
Amidst their casual chitchat, Zhang Yuanqing finished washing up and took a seat at the dining table.
“Which little vixen are you chatting with?” His aunt leaned in, puffing with indignation.
“None of your business.” Zhang Yuanqing planted a palm against her forehead and shoved her away.
Jiang Yu'er angrily initiated a duel, which Zhang Yuanqing accepted without backing down, until both were promptly suppressed by his short-tempered grandmother.
After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing put on a baseball cap and a mask before leaving the house, hailing a cab straight to Pingtai Hospital.
Inside the outpatient consultation room, Zhang Yuanqing smiled as he looked at the dispirited young doctor. “You don’t look to be in very high spirits.”
After a moment of silence, Wang Qian said with darkened eyes, “He dissipated. I can’t sense him anymore...”
*Poor guy!* Zhang Yuanqing consoled him, “He was already stillborn to begin with. Parting ways was only a matter of time.”
Wang Qian’s mood remained low as he said, “He was my sister’s first child, and my first nephew. To take better care of my sister, my mom quit her job. Long before this, she had already bought the stroller, the pacifiers, the baby clothes... Our entire family was waiting for him to be born, preparing to welcome the next generation.
“After the miscarriage, my sister took a devastating hit and washed her face with tears every day. My mom would also hide away and secretly wipe away her tears, blaming herself and thinking she hadn't taken proper care of her daughter.
“Over the past two weeks, I was terrified of sensing him in the hospital. It reminded me of my own uselessness, reminded me of my family’s suffering. Yet I couldn’t help wanting to be near him, wanting to keep him company. He was still so small; he must have felt so lonely...”
Zhang Yuanqing offered no further platitudes, quietly listening to the man pour his heart out.
*If you perform well in the future, I might let you see him again—provided you agree to be my informant.*
Once Wang Qian had regained his composure, Zhang Yuanqing said, “I have two matters for you today. First, fill out a form and a letter of pledge. From then on, you will be a registered Spirit Realm walker on official record. The authorities won't interfere with you excessively, so long as you don't break the law or use your powers for evil.
“Second, would you be interested in becoming my informant?”
“The first matter is no problem. As for the second...” Wang Qian scrutinized him closely. “I don't just become an informant for anyone. Besides, I need to report to my superior and obtain permission.”
Relations between the Palace of Halting Slaughter and the official organization were fairly decent, so he wasn't opposed to being an official informant. Had it been the fierce, decisive woman from yesterday, he would have submitted without reservation.
As for the person in front of him, he looked even younger than himself; Wang Qian was not convinced.
“That's fine,” Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
“What is your Spirit Realm ID? I need to know who you are,” Wang Qian asked.
*Every time I state my ID, I’m terrified of getting beaten...* Zhang Yuanqing adopted a solemn, dignified expression and enunciated word by word: “Yuanshi Tianzun!”
“Yuanshi Tianzun? It sounds grand, but I’ve never heard of it...”
Wang Qian shook his head, then casually drafted a text message to report the matter to his superior.
The Palace of Halting Slaughter and the authorities kept to their own lanes, maintaining decent terms. However, officials and civilians were fundamentally distinct, and the organization had no desire to see its internal members getting overly cozy with the authorities.
Therefore, his superior was unlikely to agree.
Besides, even if they were to liaise with official members, it would have to be with someone at the captain or Deacon level. This young man was clearly just a grassroots operative; had he been a renowned Spirit Realm walker, Wang Qian would surely have heard of him.
Yet Wang Qian had no impression whatsoever of the name “Yuanshi Tianzun.” He felt there was little point in serving as a contact for such an official walker.
Afterward, he devoted himself to his work. Once he had seen a few patients, his phone rang. The caller ID read: Mad Love Great Sage.
Wang Qian answered the call. A deep male voice came through the speaker: “Sagely Hand, did you say the person liaising with you is named Yuanshi Tianzun?”
Wang Qian’s ID was “Divine Physician Sagely Hand.”
“Yes, Group Leader,” Wang Qian replied. “I didn’t agree. I subtly turned him down.”
At the same time, he found it somewhat strange. A matter like this could easily have been handled with a text message; why had his group leader bothered to call?
“Songhai will not be peaceful in the near future. We need to keep a close eye on the authorities’ movements at all times. Agree to it,” Mad Love Great Sage said.
“Alright... I’ll get back to him,” Wang Qian assented in a low voice.
“While you’re at it, keep an eye on him as well. I mean Yuanshi Tianzun.”
“Huh? Why...?” Wang Qian was taken aback. The guy was just an ordinary official walker.
“I learned through a covert channel that a newcomer recently cleared Sheling Tunnel and broke the record. Just a few days ago, he also took down a Level 3 Bewitching Demon.”
“Could it be...”
“His ID is Yuanshi Tianzun.”
*Yuanshi Tianzun...* The expression on the young man’s face when declaring his ID flashed through Wang Qian’s mind.
A surge of solemn respect welled up within him!
***
A full moon hung high in the sky. The desolate ancient temple stood quietly beneath the moonlight.
A beauty clad in an ancient silk gown stood proudly on the roof of the main hall, gazing up at the full moon.
She possessed an exquisite melon-seed face, eyes clear as autumn waters, and eyebrows like distant mountain peaks. Her lips were full and alluring, exuding an aloofness intertwined with an indescribable radiance.
“This is not the Great Ming. Who was it that dragged me into this mustard seed Sumeru after I fell into slumber?”
She furrowed her delicate brows and murmured to herself.
After a moment of contemplation, she fixed her gaze on the round moon.
Two dazzling beams of golden light shot forth from her lovely eyes, crashing toward the Taiyin in the sky.
*Buzz—*
The entire space trembled violently. The golden light struck an invisible barrier, scattering brilliant golden sparks that dyed this world in magnificent gilded hues.
The two beams of golden light endured for half a ke before gradually fading away.
Scarlet blood seeped from Lady Sandao’s eye sockets, trickling down her fair cheeks.
“Without retrieving the other half of my Yang Soul, I cannot break through this place...”
Raising a fair hand, she gently wiped away the bloodstains on her cheeks and let out a cold snort. “Since I cannot return, I might as well wreak havoc across this realm.”
Lady Sandao swiftly formed hand seals, shaping her fingers into a sword stance, and abruptly pointed toward the sky.
*Chii!*
A terrifying sword qi surged from her fingertips, shooting straight into the firmament and melting an inward-collapsing fissure through the sky.
Lady Sandao transformed into a streak of golden light and slipped into the heavenly rift.
***
Beijing, a courtyard residence.
Beneath a locust tree, Elder Sun lay comfortably on a rocking chair as Peking opera drifted from the radio on the tea table.
Suddenly, a golden blazing sun manifested between his brows. The blazing sun trembled violently, emitting a scorching heat as a boundless pressure radiated from the sun mark.
*This...* Elder Sun shot to his feet, his expression turning grave.
At that moment, an ethereal and majestic voice echoed within Elder Sun’s heart:
“The Night Wanderer Spirit Realm has undergone a change. Notify the disciples across all regions that recent missions may experience anomalies. Report immediately upon discovery.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
***
Mu Qiu was a Level 2 Night Wanderer of the Taiyi Sect. Belonging to a profession renowned for top-tier combat strength, his prowess could easily rival that of a Level 3 from other professions, even without accounting for props.
Consequently, he was a captain-level figure in Hang City’s Liusha District.
“Captain, an email arrived from the Five Elements Alliance’s Hang City branch. Please take a look.” An assistant brought over a laptop.
Mu Qiu cast a glance at the screen and said flatly, “Reply to them and tell them to look for a Night Wanderer from another district.”
The email requested that he conduct a spirit questioning. Recently, the various branches of the Five Elements Alliance had been frantically arresting and questioning wild Spirit Realm walkers to weed out potential Fallen.
Against diehard resistance, they adopted a shoot-to-kill policy on the spot.
Nine out of ten of those killed on the spot were criminals who deserved death. Law-abiding wild Spirit Realm walkers with clear consciences had no aversion to interacting with the official organization.
They simply refrained from joining because they disliked being bound by rules.
Only those with criminal records were terrified of being invited in for tea.
Mu Qiu’s refusal to perform spirit questioning was not out of fear of Spirit Devouring sequelae. He was a man of integrity; in his position, he performed his duties, and since he accepted the benefits, he was willing to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities.
However, these next few days were out of the question, because his single-player Spirit Realm dungeon was due to open very soon.
Once he cleared this single-player Spirit Realm, he would advance to Level 3, joining the pinnacle ranks of the Transcendent stage.
Over the past few days, he had requisitioned a massive number of walkthrough guides for the Level 2 to Level 3 advancement realms. Although Spirit Realms changed dynamically, they still adhered to certain cycles, and the Taiyi Sect compiled strategies faster than the realms evolved.
Walkthrough guides therefore played a massive role, significantly boosting the clearance rate.
Right at that moment, Mu Qiu heard the familiar Spirit Realm notification chime:
[Ding! Spirit Realm map is opening. Entering the Spirit Realm in three minutes. The Spirit Realm you are entering this time is “Night Wanderer—Minghu Town,” Number: 0128.]
[Difficulty Level: S]
[Type: Single-player (Deadly)]
[Main Quest: Investigate the cause behind the bizarre deaths of the townspeople.]
[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought inside.]
[Description for Spirit Realm 0128: From an unknown point in time, residents of the town began dying one after another. No one knows why. Some say it was because fishermen dredged up a coffin from the lake; some say it was because a cat’s head was hung upon the locust tree at the village entrance; some say a strange serpent bearing a woman’s face appeared on the mountain behind; some say the widow at the head of the village mysteriously became pregnant.]
[Hush, speak not, speak not. They are coming...]
Mu Qiu’s face drained of color until it was as white as paper, his eyes brimming with despair and confusion.
When had Minghu Town ever become an S-rank mission?
Chapter 42