Conflict

In the hierarchy of Spirit Realm Walkers, levels 1 to 3 belong to the Transcendent stage, levels 4 to 6 to the Saint stage, and levels 7 to 9 to the Sovereign stage.

The Executors are at the Saint stage, while Elders have reached the Sovereign stage. Zhang Yuanqing wasn't sure what lies beyond the Sovereign level—he didn't have access to that information—but he guessed it must be the tier where the five Alliance Lords stood.

Judging by the number of Executors, the Demon Lord and the Deceptive Eye Judge should also be at the Sovereign level. If they were only Saints, the Five Elements Alliance wouldn't be taking them so seriously.

It's worth noting that even within the same stage, the power gap between different levels is huge. For example, a level 2 Transcendent can easily crush a level 1, and a level 3 can effortlessly dominate a level 2, not counting weapon or profession advantages.

The Illusionist is one of the peak professions—stronger than a Fire Mage. Even a master like Wuhen at the Sovereign level isn't weak... Zhang Yuanqing had suspected this Illusionist was extraordinary, but he hadn't expected the level to be so high.

Looking at it another way, being able to call on a Sovereign-level figure to act once was essentially like having a get-out-of-death-free card.

Too bad this couldn't be used inside the Spirit Realm.

"That makes sense. The Spirit Realm is basically a single-player dungeon. Even high-level Spirit Realm Walkers can't barge in halfway through, except for native bosses like the Lady of Three Mountains."

Zhang Yuanqing sighed while closing the page and began searching for information about the Spirit Realm's task mechanics.

\[After clearing a trial task, the multiplayer Spirit Realm opens once a month; the single-player Spirit Realm opens once every three months. If the single-player Spirit Realm opens that month, the multiplayer Spirit Realm will not open. The interval between each task is no less than half a month. Spirit Realm Walkers enter dungeons in the cycle: multiplayer → multiplayer → single-player...]

"So basically, Spirit Realm Walkers face a life-or-death challenge once every three months. If you get lucky, you might match a low-difficulty single-player Spirit Realm, so the death rate isn't that high—at worst, you just level up slower. That's a relief…"

"With at least half a month between tasks, I just cleared Jinshui Amusement Park; I don't have to worry about new tasks for the next two weeks…"

He continued reading:

\[To ascend from the peak level of one stage to the next, you must participate in a large-scale slaughter dungeon. Participation is optional, and this dungeon opens once a year.]

\[Note: The core of this dungeon is a mutual hunt between the Order faction and the Evil faction, with extremely high risks and rewards.]

The large-scale slaughter dungeon—Soldier Ge left me a message about it, saying I need to clear at least one before meeting him... Zhang Yuanqing suddenly realized he had misunderstood before, thinking it was just a high-risk, high-reward single-player Spirit Realm.

He stayed in the office until 2 p.m., then took a taxi to the hospital to attempt to appease lost souls and gain experience. To his shock, the souls of ordinary people barely gave any experience.

Zhang Yuanqing appeased ten spirits in one go, but the experience boost was less than 1%.

The small monsters in the newbie village could no longer satisfy me; looks like I have to devour Spirit Realm Walkers... He sneaked off to the restroom to use a Demon-Subduing Pestle, cleansing the spiritual pollution brought by the spirits.

...

7 p.m., dinner table.

Zhang Yuanqing summoned Little Doubi and let him roam the living room.

"Ahem!" Grandma cleared her throat and announced:

"I have an old sister whose granddaughter is about Yuanzi's age, a sophomore in college. I plan to introduce her to Yuanzi."

Auntie's mouth dropped open, staring in shock at her mother.

Grandpa and cousin both twitched their ears.

Is this really happening? Zhang Yuanqing's heart jumped with joy.

Grandpa frowned and said, "He's focusing on his studies now. You can't look for balance with Yuanzi just because Yuer and Yuanjun aren't up to par."

"Not up to par?" Chen Yuanjun glanced at Grandpa. Grandpa usually didn't care about their matchmaking, but he saw and worried all along.

Grandma waved her hand, insisting, "I've made up my mind. I'm doing this for Yuanzi's sake."

Grandpa's expression didn't change as he looked at his wife, "I'm doing this for you. Yuanzi's heart isn't steady; it's hard for him to focus on a girlfriend... You and your old sister have been close for so many years—don't fool yourself."

Grandpa, are you calling me a player? You definitely mean I'm a player!! Zhang Yuanqing felt indignant. He had never had a girlfriend in his life; pure and chaste boys like him are rare these days.

But he didn't dare argue with Grandpa. Grandma had a temper but rarely used her hands; Grandpa never shouted but could unexpectedly throw a heavy slap.

"I object!" Auntie joined Grandpa's side, "Mom, what do you want? If big sister finds out you're arranging a girlfriend for him, she'll call and yell. She plans to take Yuanzi abroad to study next year."

As soon as Auntie mentioned Mom, Zhang Yuanqing's face darkened.

Grandma thought over it, realized her husband and daughter had a point, and stopped insisting. She shot Zhang Yuanqing a glare and scolded:

"Useless, born with such a handsome face for nothing."

Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head and ate timidly. Auntie and cousin looked at him suspiciously.

After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing's gaze wandered around the room and finally landed on the koala-like infant spirit clinging to Auntie's calf.

For some reason, this little one was especially attached to Auntie, probably because in this family, she resembled a mother the most.

Now that it had enough nourishment from the Taiyin power, the little spirit could control its abilities and wouldn't swap randomly anymore.

...

Midnight, 12 a.m.

Zhang Yuanqing played a round of games, then turned off the console satisfied and crawled into bed, counting sheep to force sleep.

After a long time, sleepiness finally came. Half-asleep, he suddenly woke with a start, feeling a surge of fear rising deep within.

This fear was similar to what he felt earlier that morning at the Wuhen hotel meeting with the female receptionist—but even more overwhelming and distant.

What's going on? He threw back the covers, feeling confused and scared. He walked to the window, pulled the curtains aside, and gazed out at the city lights.

About five minutes later, the intense wave vanished and everything returned to normal.

With no experience to judge, Zhang Yuanqing muttered silently and crawled back into bed, trying to drift off again.

Damn it, back to counting sheep...

The next morning, 7:30 a.m., he got up on time and saw Jiang Yuer sitting listlessly at the table, looking pale and sickly.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.

"Auntie's monthly visitor came..." Auntie said aggrievedly.

Zhang Yuanqing looked around. Grandpa wasn't there, Grandma was in the kitchen. He leaned in and whispered, "Here, your nephew will rub your stomach."

"Get lost!" Jiang Yuer angrily bonked his head.

Grandma came out, and the two immediately fell silent.

After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing pretended to leave and took a taxi to the office.

Only Wang Tai was in the office area.

"Brother Wang Tai, where's Lao Siji?"

"In the division chief's office."

"Oh!" Zhang Yuanqing sat at his desk. After ten minutes, Guan Ya came out, face grave, brows slightly furrowed.

"Yuanshi, was just about to call you."

Guan Ya sipped her tea and leaned on Zhang Yuanqing's desk, her rounded hip pressing lightly.

"Did you notice anything strange last night?"

You mean the kind of scare-you-pee-your-pants strange... Zhang Yuanqing said, "Yes, I was woken up suddenly, but I'm not sure if that's what you meant."

Lao Siji nodded softly:

"Last night, experts from the Xiahou family clashed with the leader of the Zhisha Palace in Kangyang Industrial Park. The fight caused an office building to collapse. Luckily it was night and few people were inside.

"But some security guards and overtime workers inside died. Sigh, these high-level Spirit Realm Walkers go berserk and don't care about ordinary people's lives."

But I didn't get any bounty alert from the Spirit Realm... Hmm, no alert probably means neither side's morality score dropped below 60... Zhang Yuanqing's expression grew serious.

Morality scores have no upper or lower limit—villains have no bottom line, saints have no ceiling.

The Order faction's high-level Spirit Realm Walkers have accumulated good deeds over years, but this kind of mess is more than just morality points being docked. The official side won't let this go.

"How is the organization handling it?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. The industrial park was close to his home, no wonder he sensed something terrifying last night.

Guan Ya stroked her teacup and said:

"The Xiahou family member was temporarily detained, but the punishment won't be severe—just fines and warnings. After all, the Xiahou family is a giant in the Order faction, practically semi-official, closely cooperating with the Five Elements Alliance and Taiyimen.

"As for the Zhisha Palace leader, the Elders' Council has ordered an arrest. They haven't identified her real identity yet and are communicating with the Xie family."

Zhang Yuanqing said "Oh" and stared at her delicate face, asking, "But what does this have to do with me?"

Lao Siji sighed:

"The Xiahou family borrowed records of wild Spirit Realm Walkers from our branch to identify several Zhisha Palace members, including Wang Qian. The Xiahou family might come to see you later. I was just discussing this with the division chief."

Seeing Yuanshi frown in confusion, she explained:

"The Xiahou family wants to catch Zhisha Palace members to lure out their leader. This method is extreme. The Songhai branch leaders haven't formally agreed but tacitly allow it—if they catch her, great; if not, the Xiahou family takes the blame."

"But didn't they get Wang Qian's ID? Why do they want me...?" Zhang Yuanqing's mind clicked into place. "Oh, they want me to fish out Wang Qian for them?"

Guan Ya nodded.

Wang Qian isn't an idiot—he won't fall for it easily... Zhang Yuanqing immediately rejected:

"Impossible. I won't betray my informant."

Guan Ya thought for a moment and reminded him, "The Xiahou family is a bit pushy. Don't say anything later. The division chief and I will help shield you from the pressure."