Empress Sandao sat upon a cushioned low couch, her hands clasped habitually over her lower abdomen. Her posture was poised and elegant, yet imbued with immense majesty.
After patiently listening to Yuanshi Tianzun’s account, Empress Sandao lowered her gaze for several seconds in thought before saying, "You entered the Spirit Realm only because you had nowhere else to turn for help in the mortal world. Within the Spirit Realm, I am the only one who can save you, but of late, I have been tracking down the Golden Crows and cannot leave."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart sink halfway into ice.
Empress Sandao shifted the topic, saying, "However, I can give you the Demon-Subduing Pestle. Bring it back to the mortal world and arrange the summoning ritual. Using the pestle as a medium, I will be able to project an avatar into the mortal world. When the time comes, I shall hold off the two Dominators and attempt to slay that master of mine, giving you an opening to flee."
The Empress was a peak Dominator. Even as an avatar, her combat strength far exceeded that of an ordinary Dominator. But while defeating an opponent was feasible, killing them was an entirely different matter—after all, a Dominator was hardly fish on a chopping block.
Even if they couldn't win, they could still run.
*Even if she can't kill them, as long as she breaks the restriction and buys me time, I can teleport away.* Zhang Yuanqing felt slightly relieved, thinking his miserable life might be saved after all.
*In that case, all I need to do is buy enough time to set up the ritual,* he calculated in his head.
*The moment I return to the mortal world, those two Dominators will probably attack immediately without giving me a single second to lay out the summoning ritual.*
*If I use the Five Elements Spiritual Power Trial Card, my physical might would hold out, but my brain would be fried. A Dominator-grade Illusionist could puppet me with a flick of a finger, turning me into a brainless Fire Master screaming: 'Life and death are nothing, fight if you're not satisfied!'*
It would be utterly impossible to remain calm and follow the plan to arrange the ritual.
Just as he was fretting, he heard Empress Sandao add, "The materials needed to set up the summoning ritual must come from that original scroll."
The original scroll was that very sheepskin scroll used when an ancient crone of thousands of years conspired with her several-hundred-year-old disciple to dupe a tender twenty-year-old boy.
The reason the original version was necessary lay in how precious its materials were; they could provide the spiritual energy required to sustain the Empress's descent and coordinate from both inside and out to help her breach the barrier of the Spirit Realm.
The later, simplified summoning scroll could only be used within the Spirit Realm, functioning merely as a megaphone.
"The summoning ritual from that original version is indeed more powerful..." Zhang Yuanqing's expression suddenly froze as he realized he didn't possess the materials for that summoning ritual.
That scroll had been a consumable item—once used, it was gone. Who would have the energy or money to stockpile materials for something like that?
He couldn't help but look at Empress Sandao.
The old crone returned a gaze that said, *How could someone of my stature hoard such low-grade materials?*
The two stared at each other in silence for several seconds before the old crone mused, "I could venture into the Spirit Realm to gather them. It would take a few shichen at the shortest, or a full day at the longest."
Gathering the materials wasn't difficult, but traversing the Spirit Realm consumed a great deal of time.
*A few shichen? The day will already be long gone... One problem wasn't even solved, and now an even more fatal one has cropped up.* Realizing that resolving this crisis might not be so simple, Zhang Yuanqing grew rather anxious.
Commandery Princess Yinyao looked at her master, whose brow was furrowed in deep, solemn thought. After a moment's hesitation, she probed cautiously, "Master, you mentioned earlier that you were pursuing the Golden Crows? Did you find anything?"
If she hadn't found anything, she might as well leave the Spirit Realm; otherwise, this good-for-nothing Yuanshi Tianzun would surely die.
Empress Sandao, perhaps seeing that her disciple had finally shown some sense for once instead of practicing selective deafness, explained, "I have sensed the presence of the Golden Crows. They are all gathered deep within the Spirit Realm, inside a certain instance. There are only two ways to enter that instance: one, wait for the Spirit Realm to open it automatically; two, find the key."
*Find the key...* Zhang Yuanqing, who was busy pondering a countermeasure, abruptly snapped his head up.
The word "key" immediately brought the Compass of Light to mind. Based on the research of the Four Carefree Gentlemen, it was certain that the Compass of Light was the key to unlocking the secrets of the Spirit Realm, and the Compass of Light was a branch of the Sun path.
So the true meaning of the "key" was that it could help its holder draw near to the Golden Crows?
Since this concerned the core of the Sun, Zhang Yuanqing set aside his contemplation for the moment and inquired enthusiastically, "Your Ladyship, is the Golden Crow you spoke of the Sun origin? How much do you know about it?"
Empress Sandao cast a sideways glance at him. "The myth of the Ten Sun Crows should still be passed down to this day, should it not? In the ancient texts preserved by the Pure Yang Sect, there are descriptions of them. In primeval times, ten suns suddenly appeared in the world, scorching crops, withering plants, and leaving the people without sustenance. Later, Empress Wa could not bear to see the common people suffer, so she pursued the suns and imprisoned the Ten Sun Crows atop the Fusang Divine Tree in the Eastern Sea."
"Sun origin" was what Spirit Realm walkers called it; ancient cultivators referred to them as the Ten Sun Crows.
*Wasn't it Kuafu who chased the sun? So it was Empress Wa all along. It seems the creator behind those ancient myths and legends was Empress Wa after all...* After listening, and combining this with what he had seen in Takamagahara, Zhang Yuanqing believed the records of the Pure Yang Sect were likely authentic.
Then he glanced at Empress Sandao again. Back when the two of them discussed myths and legends, this old crone had brushed him off with a breezy remark: *"Myths are merely an alternative history of ancient cultivators, but I do not know much either."*
Now she was finally willing to disclose more insider information to him, proving that his weight in her heart was growing heavier.
"Furthermore, outside the instance, I sensed the presence of a soul. I know not whether the Golden Crows have developed self-awareness, or if the remnant will of some primeval great deity lingers within them." A trace of worry emerged between Empress Sandao's brows. "The Ten Sun Crows are peerlessly overbearing and tolerate nothing in this world. Even spiritual energy of other attributes would be dispersed and purified by them. By all logic, it should be impossible for any soul to draw close to the Ten Sun Crows."
"You mean to say... the Golden Crows—the Sun origin—already has a master?" A chill ran through Zhang Yuanqing's heart.
The old crone shook her head. "I am uncertain; further observation is needed. Setting aside idle chatter, you now have two paths before you. First, remain here temporarily. With your cultivation, going without food and water for ten days to half a month poses no danger. There are fine wine and melons here, enough to sustain you for a long time, and it makes for an atmospheric sanctuary. Going forward, I will frequently search for instances where Spirit Realm walkers are undergoing trials, spreading word of your predicament here. How the mortal government handles it can be discussed then.
"Second, I shall gather the materials at the fastest possible speed while you return to the mortal world to make a desperate stand."
Zhang Yuanqing fell into an agonizing dilemma. The main quest was to destroy ten yin creatures. Although there was no time limit, staying here meant he was doomed to fight yin creatures endlessly; the moment he dared to rest or sleep, a Dominator-grade yin creature would ambush him from behind and rip him apart.
In truth, there was one more option: clear the instance and see what item the Demon Lord's character card would award.
Decisive Battle in Chang'an was a Dominator-grade instance. The corresponding reward from the character card would inevitably be a Dominator-grade item.
If it turned out to be an offensive item with heavy attack power, there was hope of shattering the board game item's restriction. But if it was an auxiliary item, it would be complete game over.
That was gambling with his life. Unless backed completely into a corner, it was best not to pin his hopes on it.
Moreover, there was an Illusionist among his enemies. The moment he appeared, he could very well be pulled straight into a dream and killed in an instant. Thus, even having a Dominator-grade item offered little guarantee.
"Allow me a moment to think..."
Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced. The core crux right now was time and materials. As for time, using the Sliding Tackle Shoes properly could buy him a window.
The difficulty lay in the materials. Unless he could conjure the summoning materials out of thin air, the second plan was unviable, leaving him no choice but to pick the first and linger in the instance.
Currently stuck inside an instance, the Spirit Realm isolated him from the White Tiger Guards' faction storehouse, allowing him access only to the storehouse of Return of the Dead. Therefore, the possibility of seeking Fu Qingyang's aid was zero.
For a faction leader, the faction storehouse was akin to their personal inventory, but members outside could not access the inventory while the leader was inside an instance.
*Wait, conjure out of thin air...* Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "I've got an idea!"
For human beings, wasn't the best way to conjure something out of thin air to make a wish?
And he just so happened to possess a wishing item.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanqing suppressed his excitement and conducted a rapid analysis.
The matchbox had rules governing its usage; he had to consider whether the wish could succeed.
First, the rule of the matchbox stated that it could not directly resolve an ongoing difficulty beyond one's capability, nor could it exceed the item's operational limits.
The summoning ritual was the difficulty, and acquiring materials inside the instance was beyond his capabilities, thus violating Note 1. As for the other limitations, two matches still remained, and the rank of the materials did not exceed the matchbox's capacity.
With the capabilities of a Saint-stage rule-based item, even Dominator-grade materials could be influenced—provided they were of ordinary quality.
After all, materials and finished items were two different things.
Therefore, so long as he bypassed the restriction of Note 1, the current predicament could be resolved.
Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Your Ladyship, write down a list of the materials for me."
He immediately brought over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, asking the old crone to write down a list of materials. Then, matching the list, he took out materials of similar quality and identical quantity from Little Red Riding Hood.
Pulling out the matchbox, he struck a match.
*Sshhh!* A pea-sized flame flared up. Facing the flame, Zhang Yuanqing made his wish:
"I wish for the materials before me to turn into the items on this list."
The flame suddenly swelled, consuming the matchstick to ashes. The wish was granted.
The very next second, the materials in front of Zhang Yuanqing transformed into the ritual materials detailed on the list.
By using the method of "substitution," he had flawlessly sidestepped the rule restriction against "directly solving the current crisis."
The core logic was that his goal was merely to swap one set of materials for another, completely detached from the summoning ritual itself. This was equivalent to erasing the summoning ritual as the current "difficulty." Had the wish been phrased as "I need the materials for the summoning ritual," it never would have been granted.
Furthermore, substituting them with materials of equivalent value neatly avoided the limitation of "exceeding capabilities." Without materials to trade, the wish could never have been granted, as he lacked the ability to traverse the Spirit Realm to collect them.
Empress Sandao stared unblinkingly at the matchbox. "This little trinket is rather interesting. It can actually grant wishes? Let me see it."
Zhang Yuanqing presented it with both hands. "If Your Ladyship fancies it, consider it a gift."
Empress Sandao took the matchbox, examined and turned it over for a few moments, then handed it back with a smile. "Keep it."
Watching this unfold, Commandery Princess Yinyao felt that this rogue was thoroughly calculating and exceptionally skilled at currying favor with his superiors.
Given her master's character, how could she take something from a junior? Even if she did, she would certainly bestow an even more precious treasure in return; otherwise, it would tarnish her prestige as Empress Sandao and Imperial Princess.
Yuanshi Tianzun had nothing to lose either way, and he managed to win her master's favor in the process.
With their deliberations concluded, to be safe, Zhang Yuanqing resolved the matchbox's drawback—having to fulfill one wish for another person—on Commandery Princess Yinyao. This was to prevent an enemy from inadvertently making a request after his return to the mortal world, which would compel him to uncontrollably fulfill it.
Dying that way would be far too unjust.
Next, under Empress Sandao's protection, he dispatched ten yin creatures without a single hitch, successfully completing the main quest.
One of the yin corpses was refined into a yin corpse by the old crone, which then made a wish to obtain a teleportation jade talisman.
With all three matches spent, all of Zhang Yuanqing's preparations were complete.
As he waited in anticipation, the Spirit Realm notification chimed right on schedule:
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the solo Spirit Realm quest—Decisive Battle in Chang'an. Difficulty: Rank B. Calculating rewards...]
[Reward calculation in progress... Items/Objects obtained: None.]
[Experience points awarded: 60%]
[Ding! Character card reward activated. Item awarded: Body and Soul Annihilation Blade.]
[Settlement complete! Exiting the Spirit Realm in 30 seconds...]
*This is a Dominator-grade instance, so the corresponding reward should be a Dominator-grade item. The Body and Soul Annihilation Blade... it sounds formidable just from the name! From now on, I have a devastating close-quarters lethal weapon too!* Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed.
That the instance itself didn't award a Dominator-grade item was within his expectations, but the Demon Lord definitely had Dominator-grade items. Sure enough, here it came!
A nebula symbol surfaced upon Zhang Yuanqing's forehead as the familiar sensation of stellar power scouring his flesh surged through him.
The instance rewarded 60% experience, instantly bringing his experience bar to its 100% cap. Most of the excess experience was wasted, converting into stellar power that settled deep inside his body.
For a Dominator-grade instance, granting a 60% experience reward to a Level 6 Saint wasn't actually that much.
When all was said and done, it was because Zhang Yuanqing had been cheating the entire time, so the rating given by the Spirit Realm wasn't particularly high.
With his experience bar maxed out, his Stargazing, Astrology, Star Escape, and Star Illusion finally reached the peak of the Saint stage. His physical body, which had already reached the limit of the Saint stage under the tempering of the Pure Yang Body Cleansing Record, even experienced a modest further enhancement.
*Returning to reality in thirty seconds...* Zhang Yuanqing wasted no time. He immediately retrieved the Sliding Tackle Shoes and slipped them on, shed his outer coat, bundled the summoning scroll, materials, and Demon-Subduing Pestle securely inside it, and tied it with a bow.
Then he took out Little Red Riding Hood and recalled Commandery Princess Yinyao. Only then did he have a brief window of a dozen seconds to open his inventory and inspect the attributes of the Dominator-grade weapon, the Body and Soul Annihilation Blade.
Chapter 603