In a medieval-style council chamber, figures materialized one after another. They were the Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder manifest in Boreas's body, the God of Beauty enveloped in holy light, a cute, rosy-cheeked child, and Mr. President wearing his silver mask.
The only four remaining demigods of the orthodox faction had assembled.
All eyes turned simultaneously to the head of the table—to Yuanshi Tianzun, the Lord of the Sun.
Before crushing their teleportation jade talismans to arrive at this Spirit Realm dungeon, the Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder, the Xie Family Ancestor, and the God of Beauty had already learned from President Void that Yuanshi Tianzun could not complete himself.
Because of this, gravity weighed in the three demigods' gazes, their expressions solemn.
Zhang Yuanqing sat straight-backed at the head of the table. Sweeping his gaze across the four demigods, he said in a heavy voice, "In the past, I left an important item in the Ascension Immortal Sect dungeon and divided the key into six pieces, giving them to six lovers.
"Before I could gather the keys and open the treasury, the Lord of the Stars moved the Ascension Immortal Sect dungeon to the periphery of the Third District. That place is a forbidden zone within the Spirit Realm, and with my status, I cannot approach it.
"In other words, I may never be able to complete the solar origin and become the true Lord of the Sun."
Boreas's willow-leaf brows knitted slightly. A coarse, gravelly voice came from her bright red lips: "Are you certain the item in the Ascension Immortal Sect's treasury can help you complete the solar origin?"
Zhang Yuanqing said slowly, "I have examined myself many times, and combined with the Demon Lord's memories, only the item hidden in the Ascension Immortal Sect's treasury offers any hope of completing the solar origin.
"Furthermore, for me to forget what was stored there and remain completely unable to recall it, the force responsible must surpass a demigod. Within the orthodox faction, the only one possessing such power is Sovereign Haotian."
In the Ascension Immortal Sect's treasury lay a contingency Sovereign Haotian had left for him.
Boreas fell silent for a few seconds. This time, it was she herself speaking, her voice as ethereal and airy as the wind: "So by summoning us, do you intend to launch the final battle early?"
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Today, I exchanged a blow with the Lord of the Stars. I awakened Ling Tuo's residual will, so the Lord of the Stars cannot assimilate Taiyin in the short term. Neither of us is complete, but I have lost the possibility of perfecting myself. Rather than lingering in reality chasing illusory possibilities, it is better to fight with our backs to the river."
Pausing, he added with a grim expression, "The Lord of the Stars has already begun assimilating Taiyin. He possesses the highest status in the world today, infinitely close to an Administrator, and he can influence Spirit Realm dungeons. Meanwhile, Sovereign Haotian is holding off the evil god in the deepest reaches of the Spirit Realm, unable to assist us.
"Therefore, the Lord of the Stars will likely utilize the Spirit Realm dungeons against us. Having just advanced to demigod, I am not very familiar with demigod-level dungeons and would like to hear your thoughts."
The rosy, adorable Xie Family Ancestor stroked his round chin and said, "Actually, once you reach the demigod level, you rarely enter dungeons at all. If the Lord of the Stars wants to use a Spirit Realm dungeon against us, he will likely grant himself the greatest advantages permitted within the rules."
The Void demigod added, "The Spirit Realm's true means of suppressing and dealing with demigods is actually the character card. When every Spirit Realm Walker obtains a character card, they enter a contract with the Spirit Realm.
"Because of this, the Spirit Realm always holds the upper hand. And when the Spirit Realm commands powers or items that surpass the demigod level, it can easily kill a demigod."
Zhang Yuanqing understood what his uncle meant. "So the core lies in power at the demigod level—or power beyond it."
President Void nodded. "Yes. We need to collect as many unowned demigod authorities as possible. Any demigod item inside the Spirit Realm counts by default as power at the Spirit Realm's disposal."
Just like the Remains of Empress Wa left behind by the Chu family's ancestor, which had been inside the Chu family's guild dungeon; such demigod items could be mobilized directly by the Spirit Realm.
That was also why, when he sacrificed to the Myriad Worlds Mall, he had been able to trade for the Remains of Empress Wa.
"I will find a way to claim the Merit Roster. In addition..." Zhang Yuanqing looked at the God of Beauty. "With my current status, can I help you accommodate the Mother Goddess's authority?"
The God of Beauty, draped in holy light, sighed. "How do you think you can help me accommodate the Mother Goddess's authority?"
*Isn't it by marrying you and giving you legitimate status?!* Zhang Yuanqing said, "Diana already told me."
The God of Beauty shook her head. "Her understanding is flawed. Marriage is an invention of mankind, and legitimate status is merely a mortal concept. Such laughable things could never qualify me to accommodate the Mother Goddess.
"To become the Mother Goddess, what I need is to bear an offspring—an offspring of the Lord of the Sun."
Hearing this, the Xie Family Ancestor chuckled and said, "The Lord of the Sun can't help you conceive and give birth on short notice. That's my area of expertise."
The God of Beauty giggled. "Too bad you're just a filthy old codger."
She sighed again, her watery, seductive eyes gazing at Zhang Yuanqing. "Back when you were in New York County, I made love with you every single day because I wanted to bear a child. As long as there was a child, the moment you became the Lord of the Sun, I would possess the qualifications to become the Mother Goddess."
*Your belly really is useless!* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
*I watered you with Life Source Fluid every day, yet not a single sprout ever came of it.*
The Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder summarized, "In other words, a single misstep could bring down Spirit Realm penalties upon us, and we will be facing far more than just the evil faction's demigods."
Their enemy was half a Spirit Realm Administrator.
Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "We'll treat it as an SSS-rank dungeon! Tomorrow at noon, we launch our official assault on the Clash of the Gods dungeon."
After finalizing their strategy, the Xie Family Ancestor, the God of Beauty, and the Twin Gods of Wind and Thunder departed one after another.
Zhang Yuanqing turned to the Void demigod and said, "Uncle, I'll have to trouble you!"
His uncle grumbled, "I'm your uncle, not a courier."
He left full of complaints.
About a quarter of an hour later, figures materialized around the conference table.
They were Xiahou Aotian, Fu Qingyang, Zhai Cai, the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, Xiao Yuan, and Elder Dog.
In an instant, all eyes converged on the head of the table, looking upon the dignified, imposing Yuanshi Tianzun, who exuded an immense aura of pressure.
Looking around at them, Zhang Yuanqing joked in a light tone, "Seeing me now, does it give you the illusion that time has flown and years have rushed by?"
Hearing this, Elder Dog felt it most keenly. He sighed, "It certainly feels that way.
"The kid who used to rub my head back then has already become the supreme figure of the Spirit Realm world. Who could have imagined it has only been a single year?"
Zhang Yuanqing smoothly steered into the main topic, sighing, "Perhaps it's because my standing was too shallow that I lost the struggle against the Lord of the Stars, and he cut off my path upward. Everyone, I intend to launch the final battle against him ahead of schedule. I summoned you here today to inform you of this."
Except for the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, who already knew and remained expressionless, solemnity gradually crept onto everyone else's brows.
Fu Qingyang was the first to speak: "What can we do?"
Zhang Yuanqing said, "Once the demigods enter the dungeon, the evil faction may replicate what happened when the Merit Roster vanished, slaughtering rampantly in reality and plunging into what they think is their grand carnival.
"At times like that, the restraint of Morality Points will exist in name only. Therefore, you must guard against contingencies. I don't want to defeat the Lord of the Stars only to find that the earth has been reduced to a wasteland.
"To that end, I have a gift for you."
He opened his inventory and placed an arm-length, dragon-shaped clay figurine on the table.
Fu Qingyang raised an eyebrow. Elder Dog leaped onto the table, his dark, beady eyes widening as he cried in shock, "The Dragon Vein?! The Great Elder's rule-based item..."
Amidst the gasps of shock, Zhang Yuanqing brought out a second, third, and fourth item: an apricot-yellow triangular pennant, a golden alms bowl constantly emitting misty vapor, a willow branch, a mask painted with flames, a square black seal...
Elder Dog's dog eyes nearly popped out of his skull. The entire conference table fell utterly silent.
The rule-based items of headquarters' Nine Elders had been swept up in a single haul by Yuanshi Tianzun.
Zhang Yuanqing's expression remained calm and majestic, as if the items he had produced were ordinary trinkets. "Choose one each. However, since your professions differ, you won't be able to unleash their true power. Therefore, I suggest you take them to Lian Sanyue and have them melted down and reforged into items that suit your professions and your preferences."
Money Prince reached out first, drawing the flame-painted mask to himself.
Zhai Cai sighed. "Giving such a massive gift—you're asking me to repay you with my life. Oh well, who told the fate of a Knight to be sacrifice? For a level-nine rule-based item, I'll gladly put my life on the line."
He chose the fresh green willow branch.
Promptly, Elder Dog, the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter, and Xiahou Aotian made their choices as well. Elder Dog chose Great Elder Di Hong's Dragon Vein, while the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter picked a cord woven from tender green tendrils. As for Xiahou Aotian and Xiao Yuan, the former took the square black seal, while the latter took the apricot-yellow pennant.
Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand, sending Zhai Cai, Xiahou Aotian, and Elder Dog out.
He looked at Fu Qingyang and said softly, "Boss, I leave the real world to you."
Fu Qingyang said coldly, "I would rather enter the dungeon."
*And fight side by side with you.*
*Little Fu, you have zero self-awareness. You're too weak to play in the high-tier games...* Zhang Yuanqing stopped talking business and sighed, "Boss, I am the Demon Lord!"
Fu Qingyang remained expressionless. "Irrelevant."
At the Nine Elders meeting, Fu Qingyang had already learned everything, including the connection between Yuanshi Tianzun and the Demon Lord. He didn't care; the Demon Lord was merely a chapter in Yuanshi Tianzun's life.
The one he recognized was Yuanshi Tianzun, that intriguing soul. As for what title that soul bore, it was irrelevant!
Lord of the Sun, Yuanshi Tianzun, or even the notorious Demon Lord... none of it mattered.
*In the end, the only one whose feelings toward me haven't changed is Boss! Too bad I can't prostrate myself before him anymore...* Zhang Yuanqing smiled and waved his hand, sending Fu Qingyang out of the Spirit Realm.
He then looked at Xiao Yuan, his tone tender. "When it comes to my chaotic and messy relationships, I will always owe you an apology, but my feelings for you have never changed."
Xiao Yuan gave a soft sigh. "Come back alive, then say you're sorry."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded and sent her out of the dungeon.
At last, only the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter remained.
Zhang Yuanqing looked at her, his gaze seeming to pierce through her mask as he said softly, "Actually, the person I should apologize to most is you, Yu'er."
By now, he had long understood Jiang Yuer's place in his life: never an aunt, but a childhood sweetheart, an innocent companion, family bound without blood, a child bride rescued and brought home by Zhang Zizhen.
Chapter 994