Teacher Mo Pan thought for a moment and said, "Alright!"
He told the trainees, "Carry on, everyone," then led Yuanshi Tianzun out of the spacious artifact refining room and up the stairs toward the second floor.
Zhang Yuanqing slowed his pace, deep in thought.
He needed helpers. Within Qinfeng Academy, viable candidates could be counted on one hand. In the end, he settled on four: Xiahou Aotian, Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miaomiao, and Tianxia Guihuo.
Of course, people like Brother Red Chicken, Peony Fairy, Niulanshan Little Fairy, and Yuan Ting were also trustworthy. But compared to the four he chose, they either had average strength, lacked background, or suffered from severe personality flaws.
Zhao Chenghuang, Sun Miaomiao, and Tianxia Guihuo were all seed candidates during the Extraordinary stage and remained elites after advancing to Saint.
The first two belonged to peak classes and came from prominent backgrounds—meaning they were guaranteed to possess life-saving artifacts—making them capable of playing major roles.
The latter possessed high intelligence and adaptability, making him a reliable partner for strategizing.
—Plus, the team needed a class skilled in close combat.
As for Xiahou Aotian, he was a Level 5 Scholar with an abundance of artifacts and vast knowledge... Most importantly, Zhang Yuanqing had his eye on his Italian cannon.
Furthermore, although Xiahou Aotian had glaring personality flaws, from a certain perspective, he was remarkably pure—free of scheming, hidden motives, and convoluted machinations.
*First, I'll use the Magic Mirror to verify whether the four are reliable and whether the operation will go smoothly. Once we exit the dungeon, I'll find an opportunity to have them sign a confidentiality contract...* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
On the confidentiality front, he wasn't particularly worried, as none of the four belonged to Baihui.
Judging by the situation inside the Palace of Longevity, there was plenty of loot. When everyone divided the treasures and shared the spoils, they would be tied to the same ship; nobody would blab.
This was also why Zhang Yuanqing had excluded Yuan Ting.
A blabbermouth like Yuan Ting might hold his tongue for a moment, but never for a lifetime. He could never be included in a covert operation.
"By the way, Teacher Mo Pan, you don't seem to have mentioned the cost of using that mirror?" Zhang Yuanqing recalled this crucial detail.
Before launching the secret operation, he had to eliminate all hidden risks.
Mo Pan replied, "The price of using the mirror is that your destiny will be disrupted for the next twelve hours, leading to accidents that wouldn't otherwise have occurred. The more questions you ask, the more severe the disruption.
"That is why I only allow trainees to ask one question. A single disruption is roughly equivalent to tripping down the stairs or nearly choking to death while drinking water.
"Though hazardous, it won't be life-threatening."
*So it's basically a bad-luck debuff...* Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What if someone asks twice?"
Mo Pan replied, "There will be mortal danger. Whether you survive depends on luck."
*At most once within twelve hours. Twice poses a mortal threat to ordinary people, but with my Lucky Necklace, two questions shouldn't be an issue.* Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Understood."
*Tap, tap, tap...*
Amid rhythmic footsteps, Zhang Yuanqing followed Mo Pan to the doorway of the display room. The instructor took out his work badge, and after facial recognition from the puppet knight, they entered smoothly.
Two humans and a puppet entered the display room. Zhang Yuanqing walked straight up to the Magic Mirror of Destiny, halted before it, and turned his head. "Teacher, my questions are rather private. Would you mind stepping out for a moment?"
Mo Pan frowned.
"Don't worry. With the puppet watching, I won't touch the artifacts," Zhang Yuanqing promised.
*Do I look that stupid?* he thought.
Only then did Mo Pan nod and turn to leave.
Once Mo Pan stepped outside, Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, gazed at his reflection in the mirror, and spoke:
"I am Yuanshi Tianzun. Magic Mirror, please answer: will the operation to the Palace of Longevity undertaken by Sun Miaomiao, Zhao Chenghuang, Tianxia Guihuo, Xiahou Aotian, and me succeed smoothly?"
This question inquired about the success rate and served as an indirect test of their reliability. If they were untrustworthy, the operation would inevitably fail.
Ripples washed across the mirror's surface like water. Soon, five large characters surfaced:
*Wealth is sought in danger!*
*Wealth is sought in danger...* The Magic Mirror meant the operation was extremely dangerous—there might be injuries or even sacrifices—but it would ultimately succeed. If it were doomed to fail or had dismal odds of success, the response would have been negative.
As a Star Official, Zhang Yuanqing could interpret it himself.
He exhaled in relief and turned his thoughts to the second question.
The Magic Mirror could only answer questions regarding one's own destiny, and its capabilities were limited to the Dominator rank. Events or entities tied to demigods were definitely beyond its reach.
Questions like whether the Demon Lord or Zhang Zizhen was dead could not be asked, as they did not directly pertain to his personal destiny.
*In the future, will the Demon Lord turn on me and consume me?*
This question was viable; it could directly verify whether the Demon Lord was alive and reveal the consequences of inheriting the Demon Lord's karma... Zhang Yuanqing considered it, but abandoned the idea.
He recalled what Teacher Starry Sky Observer had said during their private session on Jixin Island: those who specialized in lunar energy could counter Stargazing.
And the Magic Mirror's abilities were precisely a fusion of Stargazing and the Bagua Arts.
Judging by the black moon on his character card, the Demon Lord most likely specialized in lunar energy.
*I don't know what Dad specialized in. Until that's confirmed, any answer the mirror gives would be untrustworthy and might only mislead me. Better not to ask. Information regarding the Demon Lord and Dad probably isn't something a mirror can pry into anyway; otherwise, the Five Elements Alliance would have had countless ways to pinpoint me as the Demon Lord's successor.*
Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced.
Before long, he came up with a tremendously rewarding question.
"I am Yuanshi Tianzun. Magic Mirror, please answer: how long do I have to live?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
The beauty of this question lay in the fact that, regardless of how much karma he bore or how many troubles surrounded him, determining his lifespan would allow him to deduce a wealth of information.
Of course, Zhang Yuanqing was also mentally prepared for the possibility that the mirror wouldn't be able to answer.
Ripples surged across the glass, fluctuating ceaselessly like a computer pushed to its computational limits. After a very long time, the rippling finally ceased.
Three dripping, blood-soaked characters appeared:
*Three months!*
Fresh blood dripped continuously from the three characters, running down the smooth mirror face.
*Three months?!*
Zhang Yuanqing took an involuntary step back, thoroughly startled, an inexplicable dread gripping his heart.
*I only have three months left to live? Given the karmic burdens I bear, whether it's the issue with the character card or Dad's legacy, none of them should erupt in two months—by then I'll be Level 6 at best, or even still Level 5...*
*So, do I die in an instance, or am I killed by some big shot from an evil faction?!*
His mind churned in turmoil, waves of chills washing over him.
At the same time, he felt how absurd destiny was—like going to the hospital for a common cold only to be diagnosed with terminal cancer!
*Don't dwell on this for now. Once I leave Qinfeng Academy, I'll consult Fu Qingyang. Fretting over it by myself won't accomplish anything.*
Zhang Yuanqing had grown up through adversity. Even if the Magic Mirror had told him his death was set for tomorrow, he could still walk up to Sun Miaomiao without batting an eye and say:
*You want a child, right? Before this Venerable One dies, I'll grant you a pregnancy!*
Well, Niulanshan Little Fairy and Peony Fairy were options too.
In the worst case, Teacher Song Man would do.
He turned and left the display room, rejoined Teacher Mo Pan outside, and headed back to the artifact refining room together.
The moment they walked in, a chaotic racket assaulted their ears. Looking across the room, trainees were running in panic while many lay groaning on the floor. It was utter pandemonium.
"Who has healing artifacts left? Bring them out, quick!"
"Brother Red Chicken is on his last breath! Save him!"
"Where are the Beast Kings? Are there really only three Beast Kings among the trainees?"
Zhang Yuanqing caught hold of a trainee and asked, "What happened?"
The trainee wore a haunted expression and said grimly, "I have no idea what happened! Everyone just suddenly got hit with horrible luck. Brother Red Chicken, that brainless idiot, was messing around trying to ignite his furnace and managed to blow up everyone's furnaces! A bunch of trainees got hurt..."
Mo Pan looked as if he had expected this all along. "Tend to the injured trainees, and class is dismissed."
*The Magic Mirror's fate disruption kicked in already?! Teacher Mo Pan, you're clearly a habitual offender at this—did you just want to get out of teaching class? Fuck, my Lucky Necklace is with the Commandery Princess...*
Zhang Yuanqing said hurriedly, "Teacher Mo Pan, I asked two questions just now. I can't stay here any longer. I need to head back to the dorms."
Right at that moment, the muscular Zhao Feiwen charged over with bloodshot eyes, roaring furiously:
"I can't take it anymore! Yuanshi Tianzun, you severely wounded my father and brother! You're going to pay for this!"
He whipped out a small pistol and started firing at him—*bang, bang, bang!*
The artifact refining class ended early amid the turmoil. For reasons beyond comprehension, Zhang Yuanqing was shot at by Zhao Feiwen, "ambushed" by a resentful Yuan Ting, and cursed out by Sun Miaomiao:
"Scumbag, don't you dare think I'd ever bear your children!"
After thirty minutes of chaos, the injured trainees were healed, putting an end to the fate disruption for their portion of the group.
Among them was Zhao Feiwen. After his shooting attempt failed, Zhang Yuanqing gave him a savage thrashing, breaking two of his ribs and fracturing his left leg, thus paying his toll to the Magic Mirror.
The trainees who had not yet paid their toll departed with hearts pounding in terror.
At noon, in the cafeteria.
Wearing his Lucky Necklace, Zhang Yuanqing walked into the cafeteria, instinctively rubbing his chest, where a burning ache still seemed to linger.
The moment the artifact refining class ended, he had rushed back to his dormitory to retrieve the Lucky Necklace from the returned Commandery Princess Yinyao, only to be struck in the chest by the pouting princess's little fist.
His sternum had shattered on the spot.
After striking him, Commandery Princess Yinyao conducted a solemn self-criticism and apologized earnestly:
"Upon realizing there were two puncture wounds through my chest, I grew inexplicably furious, wishing nothing more than to tear you apart. Only after striking you did I realize my emotional reaction was excessive. I sincerely apologize."
At the time, Zhang Yuanqing had thought: *Then make it up to me by attending to my bed tonight.*
He didn't dare say the joke aloud, terrified of triggering further disruptions to his destiny.
He collected his meal at the window and carried his tray over to the Taiyi Sect trio's table. "Yuan Ting, get me a bowl of soup."
Yuan Ting glanced at him. "Not interested."
"Sigh, with an attitude like that, how can I comfortably share my secrets with you?" Zhang Yuanqing sighed.
"Would you prefer seventy percent broth and thirty percent ingredients, or seventy percent ingredients and thirty percent broth?" Yuan Ting's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn, his eyes practically overflowing with eager attentiveness.
"Fifty-fifty," Zhang Yuanqing said.
As Yuan Ting scuttled off toward the food counter, Zhang Yuanqing said immediately to the other two, "Come to my room at eight tonight. I have something important to discuss. Miaomiao, use Night Roaming to get over. Don't let anyone spot you."
The female and male dormitories were situated at opposite east and west ends, far apart from each other.
Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miaomiao exchanged a glance. Both frowned, but they nodded without asking questions.
Holding his tray, Zhang Yuanqing walked away with clear purpose toward Tianxia Guihuo's table and smiled. "It's pretty dull tonight, so I invited Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miaomiao over for cards. We need a fourth. You in?"
Tianxia Guihuo initially frowned, but seeing Yuanshi Tianzun's knowing, silent smile, his mind clicked. "Alright."
Zhang Yuanqing moved on with his tray and came to Xiahou Aotian, who was sitting alone in a corner.
"Go away. Solitude is the protagonist's destiny. The strong keep company with the starry sky and loneliness; only the weak band together in cliques," Xiahou Aotian intoned, almost chanting.
"Have you paid off the eighty million yet?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
Xiahou Aotian flared up in rage. "Yuanshi Tianzun, bringing this up again and again—are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Fine, you succeeded!"
*I just wanted to ask if you're interested in going into debt for another eighty million...* Zhang Yuanqing lowered his voice. "I have a covert operation tonight. Only the powerful and protagonists of extraordinary destiny are eligible to participate. Interested?"
This pitch hit Xiahou Aotian's soft spot dead-on. "What secret operation?"
"Can't tell you right now. Come to my room at eight tonight." Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head and ate, saying no more.
At eight o'clock that evening.
In Room 404, Sun Miaomiao sat cross-legged on the bed in ankle socks; Zhao Chenghuang leaned against the wall with folded arms; Tianxia Guihuo sat at the foot of the bed.
Xiahou Aotian stood by the window, looking around at the gathered group with displeasure. "Yuanshi Tianzun, don't you have a few too many of your so-called 'strong individuals' and 'protagonists' here?"
Tianxia Guihuo said coolly, "Seeing that you invited this fellow, I can't help but suspect we really might just be playing cards tonight."
Sun Miaomiao stroked Little Doubi in her arms and didn't speak.
Zhao Chenghuang said coldly, "Speak. What is this about?"
"Walls have ears. Xiahou Aotian, do you still have those earpieces we used in the Mount Ya instance?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
Xiahou Aotian grunted an affirmative, produced five pairs of earpieces, and distributed them.
Zhang Yuanqing put on his earpiece and projected his thoughts: *There is an uncleared hidden quest in this Qinfeng Academy instance.*
Sun Miaomiao snapped her head up, Zhao Chenghuang froze, and Tianxia Guihuo narrowed his eyes.
Zhang Yuanqing immediately told them about the hidden quest in Qinfeng Academy beneath the waters of Hundred Beasts Island, but withheld the inside information regarding its connection to Takamagahara.
*Elder Fu Qingyang obtained the key to activate the hidden quest and entrusted it to me to explore during my time at Qinfeng Academy. This afternoon, I controlled a yin corpse and went inside. It's packed with top-tier artifacts, but my strength alone isn't enough to clear it. I need your help.*
*Boss, I'm passing this blame to you. Carry it well...* He recounted everything he had seen and experienced behind the stone doors.
After listening, the breathing of all four grew ragged. Qinfeng Academy was a Dominator-stage instance of immense difficulty, and its hidden quest concerned the First Emperor who had unified all under heaven.
How many treasures could be inside?
How high would their quality be?
If they could claim the treasures within, everyone present would reach a pinnacle in their lives.
Especially Tianxia Guihuo, who came from purely grassroots origins.
Xiahou Aotian was thrilled, broadcasting an excited thought that echoed into everyone's ears:
*As expected, only a protagonist is worthy of enjoying such a fortuitous encounter! Very good, Yuanshi Tianzun. Although you're stubborn and tsundere, you truly treat me as your boss. I am very pleased.*
*What a simpleton...* Tianxia Guihuo's mental voice came through.
*This guy is delusional. Yuanshi is obviously using him as a tool,* Sun Miaomiao muttered mentally.
*Huh, Zhao Chenghuang has no inner monologue? I thought he was cold on the outside and secretly repressed on the inside. What a pity,* Zhang Yuanqing thought.
*Tianxia Guihuo and Sun Miaomiao can forget about ever joining my protagonist party,* Long Aotian consigned them both to the cold palace in his mind.
Then, silence fell over the earpieces as everyone quietly reined in their stray thoughts.
After a few seconds, Zhang Yuanqing said, "Let's make things clear first: if we conquer the underground palace, I get three priority picks. Do you agree?"
The four exchanged tacit glances and nodded one after another.
Tianxia Guihuo added, "Provided there are enough artifacts in the underground palace—at the very least, everyone must get one item."
If Yuanshi Tianzun took three and there wasn't enough left to go around, that would never fly. After all, everyone was risking their lives.
"No problem." Zhang Yuanqing's primary target was anything related to the Bronze Sacred Tree; in truth, a single priority pick was plenty for him.
With terms settled, Tianxia Guihuo began dissecting the situation, projecting his thoughts:
*First, this must be kept strictly confidential; under no circumstances can word get out. Second, the danger level of a Dominator-stage hidden quest will be extremely high. We need to be clear on what we're getting into.*
Zhang Yuanqing chimed in at the right moment:
*The danger is indeed high, but I consulted the Magic Mirror this morning. Its answer was that our venture will succeed, but it will be very dangerous. That indicates the difficulty of the hidden quest hasn't reached the Dominator stage.*
*My personal take is that Qinfeng Academy is an already conquered instance. The greatest perils have long been cleared by Baihui, and the core hurdle of this hidden quest was the key, not the lethality.*
*Yuanshi Tianzun truly is dependable...* The others nodded.
Tianxia Guihuo felt a slight weight lift from his mind.
*Second, we must slip past the surveillance of the academy instructors and the Jiaoren clan to enter the underground palace, and we cannot be discovered when we exit. Fifteen minutes is obviously not enough; we need to find a way to extend that time.*
*I believe we can use forceful measures to subdue the two Jiaoren sentries. After we leave the underground palace, the worst outcome is another lockdown inspection. The instructors will merely assume someone dove to the lake bed unauthorized again, without ever connecting it to the hidden quest being cleared.*
*I agree,* Zhang Yuanqing endorsed, before adding, *There is one thing I must clarify: the one who dove into Jiaoren Lake the other night wasn't me. It was someone else.*
Yuanshi Tianzun's words startled everyone.
Sun Miaomiao said in shock, "Huh? It wasn't you?"
Hearing Yuanshi Tianzun talk about the underwater palace earlier, she had reflexively assumed the intruder from the previous night was him.
Tianxia Guihuo frowned deeply. "That's a loose end, but not a dealbreaker."
Next, the group began discussing the plan of action.
Zhao Chenghuang said, "Miaomiao and I both have artifacts with the 'Night Roaming' function that we can lend you two, but you'll have to provide your own Water Ghost artifacts."
"I have my own," Tianxia Guihuo replied.
Xiahou Aotian raised his chin haughtily.
Zhang Yuanqing said immediately, "How do we deal with nearly a thousand terracotta soldiers? In my experience, even if we bypass them, they will pursue us. If we don't wipe them out, they will rendezvous with the soldiers on the grand steps and whatever dangers await inside the Palace of Longevity. When that happens, even gods wouldn't escape."
Silence fell over the room.
Zhang Yuanqing repeatedly shot meaningful glances at Xiahou Aotian.
Xiahou Aotian pretended not to notice.
"Xiahou Aotian, when the time comes to act, don't hesitate. You're the protagonist, after all," Zhang Yuanqing coaxed with flattery.
Xiahou Aotian's face contorted. "L-Leave it to me..."
*His expression looks so agonizing!* Sun Miaomiao's mutter sounded in everyone's ears.
"I can handle the terracotta soldiers on the steps, but I will need your assistance..." Zhao Chenghuang said.
At ten o'clock at night, the five people and one yin corpse held hands, paddling their limbs smoothly as they swam through the lake depths.
Commandery Princess Yinyao repeated her actions from the afternoon, lulling the two Jiaoren into a deep slumber before drawing Spirit-Sealing Talismans upon their foreheads.
This ensured that even if the two Jiaoren woke up, their consciousness would remain trapped in their seas of consciousness, unable to control their physical forms—effectively paralyzed.
Having dealt with the Jiaoren, Zhang Yuanqing led his teammates toward the stone doors. He took out the jade plate and slotted it into the circular indentation.
A pure radiance flared, and the stone doors ground open with a heavy rumbling.
The group filed inside and descended quickly along the stone steps. In a mere ten seconds, they reached the bottom of the stairway and saw the corridor.
*The sword qi slashes once every ten seconds. I'll take the lead. After the first sword qi falls, follow me immediately.*
Zhang Yuanqing summoned the Purple Gold Shield, held it aloft, and stepped into the corridor.
*Clang!*
A beam of sword light flashed in the dark waters, slamming heavily into the Purple Gold Shield.
*Run!* Zhang Yuanqing's voice barked through the earpieces.
As soon as the word sounded, Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang dissolved into starlight, remanifesting at the corridor's far end.
Tianxia Guihuo and Xiahou Aotian manipulated currents of water, darting into the passage like fish, with Commandery Princess Yinyao close behind.
Ten seconds later, a second sword light slashed down.
Zhang Yuanqing, escorting the two alongside them, had already raised the Purple Gold Shield in advance.
Another sharp *clang* rang out.
Before the third sword qi could strike, Tianxia Guihuo and Xiahou Aotian burst out of the corridor.
The party of five, accompanied by Commandery Princess Yinyao pretending to be a mindless yin corpse, breached the water's surface and emerged into the cavern.
"Heavens..." Sun Miaomiao tilted her head, gazing up at the vault blazing with a starry galaxy, her face full of wonder.
The others stared fixated at the magnificent palace towering atop the white jade terrace, profoundly awed by the sight before them.
*If I pried loose all the gemstones here, it'd probably pay off a good chunk of my debt,* Xiahou Aotian couldn't help thinking.
"Don't go up yet. The moment we step up, the terracotta soldiers will attack," Zhang Yuanqing said, turning his head. "Protagonist, assemble the cannon first."
Xiahou Aotian pulled his gaze away from the phalanxes of terracotta soldiers and methodically began taking out components.
There was a thick, two-meter-long barrel with a ten-centimeter caliber, a half-man-high base mount, an energy pack engraved with incantations, a sighting scope, hinges, and various other parts.
Wielding a hammer and fetching rivets and components, he began banging away with a clatter of *clangs* and *pings*.
Five minutes later, a compact black-iron cannon was assembled. It possessed a one-meter-tall base mount and a two-meter-long barrel, its 100mm caliber radiating an overwhelming sense of security.
At the rear was a steering handle, while an incantation-inscribed energy pack was embedded into the carriage, linked to the barrel by cables as thick as two fingers.
Half of its base was submerged in the water; due to the slope of the stone steps, its muzzle tilted diagonally toward the sky.
"Push it up."
Zhang Yuanqing and Zhao Chenghuang each hoisted a corner, effortlessly hauling the one-ton artillery mount up onto the stone steps.
*Thud!*
The instant the cannon's base hit the stone paving, the phalanxes of terracotta warriors snapped their heads around in unison. Rigid faces and wooden eyes locked onto the intruders of the underground palace.
They raised spears and bronze swords, launching a silent charge.
*Boom, boom, boom!* Heavy, concentrated, yet perfectly orderly footfalls echoed through the cavern.
Tianxia Guihuo, Sun Miaomiao, and Zhao Chenghuang had already learned from Yuanshi Tianzun how formidable these terracotta warriors were—even Mountain Gods could not withstand the storm of their arrows.
The thrust of their spears could impale a Level 4 yin corpse.
The three readied themselves for battle as if facing a mortal threat.
Xiahou Aotian calmly gripped the handles, adjusted the aim, swung the barrel around to face the charging terracotta army, and stomped down on the foot trigger.
The incantations on the energy pack flared with blinding brilliance as a torrent of immense energy surged into the barrel.
*Boom!*
A golden fireball resembling a miniature sun hurtled out of the cannon, plunging into the midst of the terracotta warriors.
*KABOOM!*
The radiant burst of the explosion engulfed the warriors, and the unstoppable shockwave shattered and leveled rows of terracotta soldiers.
In an instant, an open clearing was blasted into the terracotta army.
Xiahou Aotian stepped on the pedal trigger again and again, raining golden artillery blasts into the ranks.
Watching the terracotta soldiers continuously obliterated into ash, Sun Miaomiao parted her lips in disbelief. "This is insane... You actually have a weapon of mass destruction of this caliber..."
Tianxia Guihuo and Zhao Chenghuang were completely dumbfounded.
Seeing their reactions, Xiahou Aotian threw his head back and laughed uproariously, smug satisfaction written all over his face.
Beside him, Zhang Yuanqing remarked, "Of course it's insane. The cannon's energy pack is Dominator-tier, costing eighty million to build, and it can only fire ten shots. Xiahou Aotian just stomped six times—that's forty-eight million blown to pieces."
Xiahou Aotian's laughter died instantly in his throat, and tears streamed down his face.
Chapter 430