Missing

By the balcony of the bustling banquet hall, where glasses clinked amidst glittering chandeliers, Zhang Yuanqing pretentiously held a flute of champagne, gazing out into the heavy night. The instincts of a Stargazer stirred restlessly inside him. The moment he laid eyes on the night sky, he felt an irresistible urge to read the stars, just as a horndog instinctively fired up a download manager the second they spotted a mysterious link. *The Heaven’s Punishment team should have already arrived in Capital City and made contact with Elder Miao of Foreign Affairs. Their primary objective is Pluto. Only after they hammer out the terms of cooperation for capturing Pluto will they start probing into the Demon Lord’s successor.* *There isn't much time left for me…* Zhang Yuanqing mused. Suddenly, someone walked up beside him and snorted. "You aren't nearly as popular as I imagined. Nobody seems to care about talking to you." Turning his head, he saw Xiahou Aotian. Dressed in a well-tailored suit and holding a wine glass, Xiahou Aotian stood straight and proud. His handsome features outshone the vast majority of the men at the banquet. "Aren't you supposed to be tightening screws next door? What are you doing here?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, pulling back his wandering thoughts. Xiahou Aotian said smugly, "I'm done tightening screws—bah, what do you mean tightening screws? I'm striving for my career! Producing and assembling mechanist weapons poses zero difficulty for me, so I came over to have some fun and let the youngsters of the Five Elements Alliance bask in my brilliance." "How many mechanist weapons have you produced so far?" "Thirty in total across four types of mechanist weapons." Xiahou Aotian lifted his chin high. "I already inspected the factory site. At that scale, once we have enough hands and assemble a proper assembly line, our daily output will hit a hundred units. In three days, we can equip every team in the entire Songhai Branch. In one month, we can arm every branch in the Five Elements Alliance!" Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "That efficiency exceeds my expectations. As expected of the protagonist—just starting your venture, and you're already making your mark. Cheers to that." Basking in the praise, Xiahou Aotian drained his glass in one gulp, only to notice Yuanshi Tianzun had taken merely a polite sip. "Why didn't you drink up?" "Oh, a rustic palate like mine can't appreciate fine grains. High-class drinks like this are reserved for successful men like Brother Aotian." Overjoyed, Xiahou Aotian dragged a chair over, eager to engage in a heart-to-heart with Yuanshi Tianzun about the company's future development plans. With pressing business weighing on his mind, Zhang Yuanqing had no patience to entertain an eighth-grader's delusions of grandeur. He assumed a grave expression and said, "Brother Aotian, have you ever realized that to become a truly great figure, you're still missing one thing?" Xiahou Aotian's eyes brightened. "What thing?" "Women!" "Women?" Xiahou Aotian stroked his chin in thought. "That makes sense. Every protagonist is surrounded by stunning beauties. I really haven't done well enough in that department. While women would only slow down my mechanist research, as the protagonist, I ought to show them sufficient patience." *Them? You little brat, you're actually planning to build a harem, aren't you?* Zhang Yuanqing hastily chimed in, "What a coincidence! Tonight's venue is packed with top-tier women—wealthy, gorgeous, well-born, with plenty of cool corporate beauties and haughty heiresses. That kind of cast is practically standard issue for a protagonist. Come, let me introduce you." He would just find him a few girls to keep him busy. And so, Zhang Yuanqing escorted Xiahou Aotian over to the place with the highest density of beauties—Lingjun's booth! "Ladies, let me introduce an outstanding young gentleman." Zhang Yuanqing held out a hand in an exaggerated presentation gesture. "Xiahou Aotian, the brightest rising star of the Xiahou clan, and the CEO of our mechanist research and development company." The beauties' eyes lit up at once, and they chimed in with greetings: "Hello, CEO Xiahou!" "Wow, CEO Xiahou is so handsome! Truly a cut above the rest." "I love handsome men who are both talented and knowledgeable." The girls who gathered around Lingjun tended to be rather wild—or rather, uninhibited. Basking in the adulation, Xiahou Aotian tilted his chin up. "You do indeed have good taste. I'm willing to give you all a chance, though my selection criteria for members of the protagonist's harem are exceptionally strict." The women paused before covering their mouths in giggles, finding CEO Xiahou delightfully eccentric and amusing. A voluptuous woman with glamorous makeup teased, "Well then, does CEO Xiahou have time tonight? I'd love to visit your room for the screening… for the whole night." The women around her burst into laughter. When it came to teasing men, they were seasoned veterans. To their surprise, Xiahou Aotian frowned, speaking with haughty arrogance. "The whole night? Absolutely not. Hmph, woman, do you have any idea how valuable my time is? Based on our company's profitability and growth potential, my hourly earning rate is in the six figures, and that's only temporary! Once our factory's assembly line is complete…" He launched into a grand monologue, rattling on about the company's development roadmap, management hierarchy, financial metrics, and mechanist weapon specifications, passionately displaying his prowess to these prospective harem recruits. He was like a peacock fanning its tail feathers. The giggles of the young women gradually faded, replaced by blank stares. *Pfft!* Lingjun spat out a mouthful of liquor. He stared at his student, their eyes meeting in silent communication: *Where on earth did you dig up this airhead?* *I brought him over so you could train him,* Zhang Yuanqing replied with a look. *Untrainable! Totally untrainable!* Lingjun shook his head frantically. *** Capital City, Fenglinwan Hotel. Meeting Elder Miao's gaze, Demon Hunter said in a deep voice, "The Demon Lord's successor we have identified is none other than that rising star of your Five Elements Alliance—Spirit Realm ID: Yuanshi Tianzun!" The sharpness in Elder Miao's eyes gradually receded. He sipped his national liquor and offered a faint smile. "Lord Executive, where did you obtain this intelligence? Do you possess any substantive proof?" Demon Hunter remained silent. Beside him, Siren Osmond spoke up: "We received a confidential tip. The informant is a Spirit Realm walker from the Second District who once formed a party with Yuanshi Tianzun in an instance. According to the informant, at the conclusion of the instance, a black full moon mark appeared above Yuanshi Tianzun's head." Elder Miao seemed to understand. Turning his gaze back to Demon Hunter, he asked, "How did Heaven's Punishment verify that this informant's accusation is authentic and valid?" Demon Hunter smiled faintly. "We have already subjected him to a lie detector." Elder Miao nodded, then asked, "Who is the informant, what is their Spirit Realm ID, and are they accompanying your delegation on this visit to China?" "My apologies, but the informant's identity must remain confidential. That is protocol," Demon Hunter said, shaking his head. Elder Miao let out an "Oh," looking as though he understood their point but found himself in a delicate position. "Yuanshi Tianzun is an elite talent whom the Five Elements Alliance is actively nurturing. Without an eyewitness, it would be difficult for us to arrest and interrogate Yuanshi Tianzun solely based on Heaven's Punishment's accusation." "Once Yuanshi Tianzun has been interrogated, we will naturally disclose the informant's Spirit Realm ID." Demon Hunter maintained an impassive expression. "Does Elder Miao doubt our word?" "Why would you say that, Lord Executive? Yuanshi Tianzun is indeed deeply suspicious. He ought to be investigated—thoroughly investigated!" Elder Miao chuckled amiably. "By the way, I prepared some Capital City local specialties for your team. I will have someone deliver them to your rooms shortly." Demon Hunter said gravely, "Is Elder Miao trying to change the subject? Our suspicion of Yuanshi Tianzun is backed by ironclad evidence. I trust the Five Elements Alliance knows that back when the Demon Lord stirred up chaos across Europe and the Americas, he gravely disrupted the order among Spirit Realm walkers. Even though he belonged to an Orderly class, he was without question a fallen degenerate more evil than the evil classes themselves." "The Five Elements Alliance shares that view. However, Lord Executive, the Demon Lord is the Demon Lord, and Yuanshi Tianzun is Yuanshi Tianzun. Even if he were the Demon Lord's successor, what does that have to do with the Demon Lord himself?" "There is something Elder Miao might not know. Back then, the Demon Lord stole many crucial items from Heaven's Punishment. We are tracking down his successor in order to recover those stolen goods. Here is the inventory list. Please review it, Elder Miao." As soon as Demon Hunter finished speaking, Siren Osmond retrieved a document from his briefcase and handed it over. Elder Miao fixed his eyes on it. The black serpents atop his head instantly recoiled as if startled. "Every single one is top-tier… I had no idea the Demon Lord stole so many treasures. Huh, this Wind God Scepter—if memory serves, I saw your Chief Executive wielding it at the end of last year." "That was a replica!" Demon Hunter stated without blinking. "The authentic artifact was stolen by the Demon Lord." "The Demon Lord was quite the figure indeed, to steal a staff right from a demigod's hands." Elder Miao took another sip of wine. "However, Yuanshi Tianzun has no connection to the Demon Lord. Lord Executive might not know, but our Five Elements Alliance already tested him with the Tiger Tally." "He isn't the one?" Demon Hunter narrowed his eyes. "He is not!" Elder Miao shook his head. Demon Hunter sank into thought. Siren Osmond exchanged glances with the two other young companions beside him, all three Heaven's Punishment prodigies frowning. They knew about the Tiger Tally. It symbolized the authority of the White Tiger Guards' Grand Marshal—a rule-based item whose lie-detecting property was merely an auxiliary feature; its true function was 'Awe.' It held absolute suppression over Spirit Realm walkers of its own class; once the Tiger Tally was presented, none dared disobey. It also exerted awe over other classes, though slightly less potent by comparison. No Scout could defy the holder of the Tiger Tally, just as no soldier could defy the Grand Marshal. If a demigod-grade artifact had vouched for Yuanshi Tianzun, the likelihood of him being the Demon Lord's successor dropped dramatically. After pondering for a long moment, Demon Hunter remarked, "That is peculiar. Eagle of Freedom underwent testing by a lie-detection item. It is impossible for her to have lied." Elder Miao smiled. "Perhaps she simply missaw. Many things in this world look alike—like washing powder and weapons of mass destruction." The Heaven's Punishment team stiffened, fury flashing across their eyes. Demon Hunter quickly suppressed his anger and said, "In any case, now that a contradiction has arisen, it is all the more reason to investigate thoroughly. Elder Miao, aside from Eagle of Freedom's testimony, Heaven's Punishment possesses further evidence." Elder Miao's brows furrowed. Dropping his warm, benevolent facade, he asked in a low voice, "What evidence?" Instead of answering directly, Demon Hunter said, "Before we reveal our evidence, you must sign a contract with me, Elder Miao. Once it is confirmed that Yuanshi Tianzun is the Demon Lord's successor, he must first be handed over to Heaven's Punishment for interrogation. The items stolen by the Demon Lord are far too precious. We hope the Five Elements Alliance can understand." Elder Miao scrutinized Demon Hunter solemnly, an eerie green glow swirling in his eyes. He could tell the other party possessed genuine confidence; at least regarding the 'evidence,' they weren't making baseless claims. In other words, Heaven's Punishment had acquired information that could identify the Demon Lord's successor. As the Taiyi Sect Master had already informed everyone, only two things in the world could prove someone was the Demon Lord's successor: the black full moon and the character card exclusive rewards—the latter representing the Demon Lord's legacy. The black full moon could not be verified unless inside an instance. Therefore, the evidence Heaven's Punishment held had to be the exclusive rewards—in other words, the Demon Lord's legacy. What that evidence consisted of was already obvious: the Demon Lord's items and equipment. If Yuanshi Tianzun was the successor, at his level, he would certainly have claimed part of that legacy. The instances that kid entered were all S-rank, perilous and unpredictable; concealing one's strength in an instance like that was suicidal. Therefore, he would have exposed some trump cards to one degree or another—namely, the Demon Lord's items. *A very sound line of reasoning indeed.* Elder Miao mused aloud, "Since this concerns the Demon Lord's legacy, I cannot give you an answer right now. To be frank, the Demon Lord also stole many treasures from the Five Elements Alliance. For example, the Grand Marshal's Ti—er, ceremonial sword! Yes, ceremonial sword! "I will convene a meeting of the headquarters elders and provide you with feedback as soon as possible." Demon Hunter asked, "When can you give us an answer?" "Within three days." Demon Hunter said displeasedly, "You in the Five Elements Alliance always drag your feet—dragging things out for your own people, and dragging things out for us. Your efficiency is simply abysmal. Why not tonight? I will attend the meeting as well. Elder Miao, this is Heaven's Punishment's most basic request; I hope you won't refuse. Doesn't the Five Elements Alliance wish to confirm the Demon Lord's successor as soon as possible?" Elder Miao pondered. Locating the Demon Lord's successor was indeed of paramount importance; to avoid unnecessary complications, the sooner they addressed it, the better. His only hesitation lay in Demon Hunter's demand for 'first right of interrogation,' but that detail could be haggled over during the meeting. He nodded at once. "Very well. I shall—" Before he could finish, the door to the private room swung open. Secretary Yang strode in with a grim expression, leaned down beside Elder Miao, and whispered a few words into his ear. Elder Miao's genial expression changed drastically. Secretary Yang had just informed him that Miss Teng'er had mysteriously vanished. Unlike other first-generation Spirit Realm walkers, although Elder Miao was a Wood Monster, he was not the type obsessed with reproduction. He had fathered only three children: one son and two daughters. His eldest daughter had married the Taiyi Sect Master and had already returned to the Spirit Realm, leaving him with only two children today. Consequently, Elder Miao placed immense value on his descendants. Lingjun and Miao Teng'er were the apples of his eye. Back when he learned Lingjun was being mistreated in the Taiyi Sect, he had taken his grandson straight to his side, even though the boy had preferred living with Victoria in the Taiyi Sect at the time. Confining his second daughter and Teng'er was likewise born out of an old father's love. He wasn't like the Taiyi Sect Master, who sired children without raising them and showed sheer detachment toward his own flesh and blood. Far from caring about a mother and daughter serving the same husband, even if his descendants livestreamed themselves boiling in an iron cauldron, the Taiyi Sect Master wouldn't lift a finger. Elder Miao quickly reined in his emotions. Turning to the Heaven's Punishment delegation, he smiled faintly. "That will be all for today's meeting. Secretary Yang, attend to our esteemed guests from Heaven's Punishment on my behalf." With that, he transformed into a streak of green light and vanished from the private room. His departure was so abrupt that the Heaven's Punishment delegation was caught completely off guard. Demon Hunter frowned. "Secretary Yang, what happened? If I may ask." The three Saint-stage prodigies looked over as well. Secretary Yang said apologetically, "Elder Miao must attend to a private matter. His granddaughter, Miss Miao Teng'er, has gone missing. If you have any needs, Lord Executive—whether official or personal—you may speak directly with me." Demon Hunter had no intention of laying his cards on the table before a mere secretary, and simply offered a polite nod.