Lying in bed and slowing his breathing, Zhang Yuanqing replayed his father's face over and over in his mind. Unlike before, he could now focus his mind very quickly, revving his mental energy up to top speed—like a top-tier supercar hitting maximum velocity in just two or three seconds.
Soon, white noise began buzzing in his ears. Chaotic images flickered past like a slideshow. Zhang Yuanqing clutched his head in agony, the veins on his forehead bulging and throbbing as cold sweat poured uncontrollably from his pores.
Suddenly, the white noise and chaotic images vanished in unison, plunging the world into dead silence.
In Zhang Yuanqing's mind, the scene of the barbecue party appeared, flickering past frame by frame: the covetous hunger in Song Man's eyes, the intimacy in Peony Fairy's smile, Xiahou Aotian's irritation at trying to steal the spotlight only to be ignored, Yuan Ting squirming in misery as if sitting on pins and needles…
Everyone's expressions and movements were vividly displayed in his mind.
During the barbecue, Zhang Yuanqing had kept an eye on the students the entire time, but he had only cast fleeting glances to avoid showing any flaw.
Through this protracted "rewind," Zhang Yuanqing picked out eight suspicious individuals whose duration and frequency of looking at Jiaoren Lake far exceeded everyone else's.
They were: Zhu Mingxu, Xianchan Jun, Sanyang Kai Taitai, Xie Lingzhou, World Returns to Fire, Kui Yangze, Yuan Ting, and Xiahou Aotian.
"Phew…"
Zhang Yuanqing terminated the rewind and exhaled heavily. Suddenly feeling warmth in his nostrils, he reached up and wiped his nose, coming away with a palm slick with crimson blood.
*Compared to before, my spirit body is countless times stronger, so why haven't my headache symptoms changed? It still hurts terribly, and I still get nosebleeds. At most, I don't need medicine anymore because my spirit body can recover on its own.*
*This rewind ability is bizarre, too. Did my 'rewind' originate from that piece of the Palace Mistress's soul? Why didn't I ask about such an important matter that night? Something isn't right…*
He didn't dwell on it further, as now was not the time to ponder his condition.
*Yuan Ting and Xiahou Aotian can be ruled out. One was daydreaming toward Jiaoren Lake, and the other was pretending to be cool to fish for attention. Of the remaining six, I'm fairly familiar with World Returns to Fire. He noticed yesterday that Jiaoren Lake was out of the ordinary and showed some curiosity. Having the rare chance to stand by the shore, taking a few extra looks is normal. If he's the armored figure, I could actually have a chat with him…*
As for the other five, Zhang Yuanqing knew very little about them. If he had to rank suspicion, Zhu Mingxu and Xie Lingzhou, who hailed from prominent spirit realm clans, were at the top of the list.
*Of course, the armored figure might not even be among them. I'll just keep a close eye on these candidates for now.*
Zhang Yuanqing sat up and headed into the bathroom to wash the blood from his hand and nose.
When he returned to the bedroom, Commandery Princess Yinyao, sitting upright before the desk with her hands resting on her knees, transmitted a mental ripple:
"There is something wrong with your spirit body. You had best seek Master's help to examine it."
"I know. My spirit body was shattered before, and it was stitched back together later," Zhang Yuanqing said.
If Commandery Princess Yinyao had been able to frown, her brow would certainly have been furrowed. She slowly conveyed, "What sort of spell… no, what class possesses such an ability?"
She adjusted her phrasing.
"Musicians," Zhang Yuanqing replied. "Huh, you don't know? Were Musicians already extinct back in your era?"
Commandery Princess Yinyao thought for a moment. "Do you mean the courtesans active in the Jiaofangsi and brothels?"
"Ah, were Musicians courtesans in ancient times? Makes sense, they're quite good at seducing men." Hearing about the Jiaofangsi and brothels naturally sparked Zhang Yuanqing's curiosity.
"It wasn't about seducing men," Commandery Princess Yinyao explained. "In the era I lived in, Saints were exceedingly rare, almost extinct. Those who studied under prestigious lineages like mine could be counted on one hand. Though those Musicians were practitioners, their strength was meager, and they were unsuited for battle. They could only rely on singing melodies to win wealth and fortune."
Recalling the abilities of Transcendent Musicians, Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "That makes sense! What a pity there are no Musicians in modern brothels, or listening to tunes in the pleasure houses every day wouldn't be half bad."
The following day, he set aside the Drum-Beating Purple-Gold Hammers, Yin-Yang Robe, Disguise Ring, Beast King Bracelet, Sliding Tackle Shoes, Gale Walker Gloves, Houtu Boots, and Takamagahara jade plate, packed them into the cloth satchel provided in his room, and solemnly handed it to Commandery Princess Yinyao.
*This is more than half of my worldly wealth. I hope all is quiet and peaceful behind that stone door. If anything goes wrong, my only option will be jumping off a rooftop,* Zhang Yuanqing grumbled internally.
The first class of the afternoon was Artifact Refining, held in a small lakeside pavilion.
It stood two stories tall. The first floor was the refining workshop, and the second was an item storeroom.
The refining workshop was enormous, rivaling half a soccer field in size. Dozens of workstations were built from cement and bricks, each equipped with a furnace, a bellows, and an anvil.
The cement benches were lined with various tongs, hammers, and blades.
At a glance, it looked like paradise for handicraft geeks.
The instructor, Mo Pan, was dressed in a white dress shirt and black trousers, his hair neatly combed.
It was clear he was a conscientious teacher with an earnest demeanor.
His features were unremarkable, with a gentle gaze that completed his scholarly, refined appearance.
"Today's classroom assignment is to craft a consumable: a Water Evading Bead. The material is Jiaoren tears. The administrator will deliver the materials shortly," Mo Pan stated methodically. "For now, I will take everyone up to the second floor for a tour. A good number of Baihui items are on display up there…"
Before he could finish, Xiahou Aotian interrupted excitedly, "I understand! There must be a divine artifact hidden inside, just waiting for the protagonist to arrive so it can obediently submit to its master!"
Instructor Mo Pan went silent for a second before offering patient counsel: "No such thing exists. Student Xiahou, read fewer pointless books. We Scholars should read works of greater depth."
*Like Quantum Mechanics or Black Hole Theory?* Zhang Yuanqing inwardly quipped.
"Let me make this clear beforehand: you must not touch the items in the display room. I will introduce them to you one by one. Remember, absolutely do not touch them, or you will be attacked by the room's guardian," Instructor Mo Pan warned with earnest gravity. "You should have already covered the overseas classes curriculum. The guardian is a puppet—a fusion of the Swordsman and Judge classes. 'Do not touch' is a rule of the display room. Violators will be punished."
Having outlined the stakes, he led the students upstairs to a two-meter-tall double wooden door.
Beside the tall wooden doors stood a puppet clad in knight's armor, leaning against a sword.
It was 1.8 meters tall and encased in medieval knight plate armor, resting a hand on an ancient, sharp cruciform greatsword.
Mo Pan produced his work badge and presented it to the knight puppet.
The lifeless puppet tilted its head downward, the joints in its neck issuing a series of clicks while the faint whir of gears turning echoed from within its body.
It stared at the badge for several seconds, then lifted its head to scrutinize Mo Pan.
Its face was concealed behind an iron visor, revealing only a pair of ruby-inlaid eyes that projected beams of crimson light to scan him.
A few seconds later, the red light receded. With clanking strides, the knight puppet pushed open the wooden doors to the display room.
Mo Pan led the students inside, with the knight puppet following close behind with its ancient greatsword—its posture broadcasting that if anyone dared touch an item, it would cleave them on the spot.
Inside the room stood glass display cases housing various items.
"The four rows of cases on the left hold Transcendent-grade items. The two rows on the right are Saint-grade, and the center row contains Dominator-grade items, totaling forty-two in all," Instructor Mo Pan explained. "This is one of the warehouses where Baihui headquarters stores its items. I must remind you all once again: do not harbor foolish ideas. In the past, students snuck in at night trying to steal items, only to be slain by the knight.
"It is not something you can face at your current stage."
*Who would be that stupid? How is that any different from robbing a bank or looting museum treasures?* Zhang Yuanqing thought.
Just then, he saw Brother Red Chicken march straight to the display case containing Dominator-grade items, pointing at a brass-framed full-length mirror. "Teacher, what is this item?"
Mo Pan answered, "This item is called the Magic Mirror of Destiny. It is the work of a level-9 Artifact Refiner, combining skills from Stargazing and Hexagram divination. Its function is to observe an individual's destiny and answer questions.
"The question must be related to destiny. For example, if you ask whether you will have a son or a daughter in the future, it can answer you. But if you ask who snuck into Jiaoren Lake the night before last, it cannot answer, because that is unrelated to destiny.
"Simply stand before the mirror, recite your spirit realm ID, and ask your question."
At this, the students' interest was piqued, and they swarmed toward the mirror.
"Out of the way, out of the way! I go first!" Brother Red Chicken shoved the other students aside domineeringly.
Everyone backed off, happy to let him serve as the guinea pig.
"Ahem!" Brother Red Chicken cleared his throat, stared at his reflection, and said, "My name is Brother Red Chicken. My question is: who will be my future wife?"
The mirror's surface rippled like water before smoothing out to reveal a delicate, large-eyed girl.
Immediately following that, the mirror rippled again, showing an alluring, curvaceous woman.
Finally, an ordinary-looking woman with a gentle, restrained air appeared.
"I… I'm going to have three wives?" Brother Red Chicken gasped in delight, scarcely able to believe it.
Mo Pan fell quiet for a moment, then said in a tone of pity, "No. The correct interpretation is that you will be divorced twice."
"!!!"
Brother Red Chicken froze on the spot.
The crowd cast sympathetic glances his way.
"Move aside, let me try." As the class monitor, Xiahou Aotian pushed past the dazed Brother Red Chicken, stood before the mirror, and asked, "My name is Xiahou Aotian. Magic mirror, answer me: can I become a demigod?"
The brass-framed full-length mirror fell silent.
After a long while, five large characters surfaced:
*Are you an idiot!*
"Why is this piece-of-junk mirror insulting people?" Xiahou Aotian was furious, but catching sight of the knight puppet in the distance, he quickly calmed down.
Mo Pan provided a steady interpretation. "The mirror means that it is merely a Dominator-grade item and cannot predict the status of a demigod. That exceeds its capabilities."
"My turn, my turn~" Sun Miaomiao excitedly shoved Xiahou Aotian aside, cradling Little Doubi in her arms. "I am Sun Miaomiao. Excuse me, will Yuanshi Tianzun give me a child?"
The mirror's surface rippled like water. A moment later, a reflection of Sun Miaomiao appeared with a swollen belly, looking seven or eight months pregnant.
Sun Miaomiao: "???"
Mo Pan hurriedly interpreted, "The mirror means that if you insist on getting a child from him, this is the only way in the future."
Several female students breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Next, every student took a turn with the Magic Mirror of Destiny to ask about their heart's desires. Some received satisfactory answers and were ecstatic, while others were met with disappointing news and fell into gloomy dejection.
Finally, only two people remained.
Sanyang Kai Taitai and Zhang Yuanqing.
"Should I go first?" Sanyang Kai Taitai asked, seeing that Yuanshi Tianzun showed no intention of asking anything.
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. He had no desire to test the mirror; he harbored far too many secrets and worried the item might discern something.
Sporting an audacious handle but looking thoroughly honest and simple, Sanyang Kai Taitai stood before the full-length mirror, took a deep breath, and nervously yet expectantly asked, "My name is Sanyang Kai Taitai. Magic mirror, will I have the happiness I desire in the future?"
He dared not ask too bluntly, afraid of receiving an unfavorable answer.
Two words slowly surfaced on the glass:
*You won't.*
Sanyang Kai Taitai's face paled. Refusing to yield, he pressed, "Will I have a girlfriend or a wife in the future?"
*No.*
"Fuck!"
*You won't get that either.*
An eerie silence fell over the display room.
Sanyang Kai Taitai's mouth fell open, and then he wailed, lunging toward the mirror. "I'm going to smash this damned thing to pieces! I'm taking it down with me!"
With that, he threw a punch at the Magic Mirror of Destiny.
Brother Red Chicken and Ren Junzi reacted the fastest, instantly tackling him to the floor.
The students swarmed forward, dragging the howling Sanyang Kai Taitai aside.
The knight puppet silently lowered its raised greatsword.
"If something is fated to be yours, it will come; if not, do not force it…" Brother Red Chicken offered earnest comfort, but couldn't help snorting out a laugh.
The other students wanted to laugh but felt it was cruel, forcing themselves to hold it in until their faces twisted in agony.
The calm, gentle Instructor Mo Pan turned toward Yuanshi Tianzun. "Would you like to give it a try?"
*Ask what? Whether the Demon Lord is dead or alive? What my father left in my soul? Whether I can smoothly rescue Demonic Eye?* Zhang Yuanqing mentally scoffed.
"Teacher, I haven't made up my mind yet. Could I save my turn and come find you once I've thought of something?" he proposed as a compromise.
Instructor Mo Pan considered it, then nodded. "Very well!"
Jiaoren Lake.
With the cloth satchel slung around her neck and clad in the Yin-Yang Robe, Commandery Princess Yinyao drifted slowly toward Hundred Beasts Island.
In her night roaming state, she had no need to fear being seen. However, Jiaoren were natural Water Ghosts, exceptionally sensitive to shifting currents, so she did not dare manipulate the water recklessly.
Following the route Zhang Yuanqing had outlined, the princess swam cautiously. An hour later, she finally reached Hundred Beasts Island and spotted an isolated peak rising from the lakebed.
She saw two Jiaoren patrolling near the stone door, spears in hand.
Commandery Princess Yinyao kicked her long legs and drifted gracefully toward them.
The moment she entered within twenty meters of them, the two Jiaoren sensed the unusual surge in the currents and instinctively looked over. In the very next second, both breathtakingly beautiful Jiaoren froze stiff.
Two black talismans surfaced between their brows.
Sleeping Talismans.
Their spirit bodies sank into slumber.
With time limited, Commandery Princess Yinyao swiftly pushed the currents and darted toward the stone door. Kicking her legs, she retrieved the jade plate from the heavy satchel hanging around her neck.
Halting before the stone doors, she fitted the jade plate into the round recess between them.
The jade plate instantly blazed with blinding red light, its rays warped by the undulating ripples.
Amid a dull, grinding rumble, the stone doors slowly swung inward.
Chapter 428