Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing tried to keep his tone calm: "Officer Li, this is Zhang Yuanqing." "...It's you," the other smiled. "What's up at this hour?" Zhang Yuanqing said firmly: "I have some leads to report. In fact, right before Lei Yibing went missing, he had sent me a card." "Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Li Dongze's tone showed no surprise at all. "Well," Zhang Yuanqing hesitated slightly, and then laid out his full conjectures about Yibing's disappearance step by step. The other remained silent for a while, then chuckled. "You really know how to build up drama." Guan Ya was right—Zhang Yuanqing was actually quite reserved. A normally cheerful, optimistic, and proactive college student wouldn't be this cautious. "Sorry..." Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit embarrassed and immediately shifted the topic—no, he steered directly to the point: "I've experienced some rather strange and hard to understand things tonight. Um, do you understand what I mean?" "Then it seems you've successfully emerged from the Spiritual Realm." Li Dongze spoke with a touch of relief. Yes, he had just emerged—nearly died inside... Hearing this response, Zhang Yuanqing felt at ease. The other person clearly understood what the Spiritual Realm was. Li Dongze said: "As a university student, congratulations on becoming a Spiritual Realm traveler—this is the term we use for people like you. I myself am also a Spiritual Realm traveler, though the difference is that I'm an official one, while you're a wild one." "Spiritual Realm traveler..." Zhang Yuanqing pondered the phrase and asked, "What exactly is the Spiritual Realm?" He had so many questions he wanted to clarify, and so he began with the most fundamental one. "I can't tell you all about it right now. If you'd like to learn more about the Spiritual Realm, you'll need to make a choice." Li Dongze spoke solemnly: "The official stance toward the spiritual realm is divided into two categories: one is to absorb and cultivate, and the other is to monitor and control. The former signifies joining us and becoming an official spiritual realm practitioner. The latter means operating as an independent practitioner—only requiring you to register with us and commit to not abusing your abilities or violating regulations, after which we will leave you be. Of course, you won't receive any support or assistance from the official side." "Must be afraid I'll change my mind and waste your intel, so they're holding off on the phone call—waiting until we meet in person tomorrow..." Zhang Yuanqing could only sigh and say, "Alright." After hanging up, he glanced at his phone. It read 11 p.m.—time in the spiritual realm flowed at the same pace as outside the realm. With official contacts now secured, he felt a great sense of relief. Yet the fatigue accumulated from struggling to survive within the spiritual realm surged back, overwhelming him. He lay in bed, set the alarm, and as his eyelids grew heavier, he drifted off into a deep sleep. Grandma was bustling around in the kitchen preparing breakfast, while Auntie sat cross-legged on a chair by the long dining table, scrolling on her phone, her cheeks puffed out like a cute hamster. "Getting up so early?" Auntie glanced at her listless nephew, sighing and murmuring, "You look like you've been overdoing it—did something happen last night? I'm going to check your trash can." Usually, Zhang Yuanqing would retort: "Go find something to eat?" But now, with his mind occupied by the Lingjing and his upcoming meeting with official representatives, he simply didn't have the energy to argue with Auntie. He sat down beside her listlessly, eyes glazed, waiting for the meal to begin. Soon, Grandma brought out steaming rice porridge, fried dough sticks, boiled eggs, and a basket of meat buns. Zhang Yuanqing took a sip of the warm porridge to moisten his throat, then turned to Grandpa, hesitating: "Grandpa, I remember after the construction team of Shē Lin Tunnel disappeared, the Security Bureau organized search teams to look for them. You were one of the people involved at that time." "Grandpa" hummed, slightly puzzled, "It's all old news now. What makes you ask about it today?" "I saw this story again online yesterday. Do you know how the worker who was found is doing now?" Grandpa frowned and said, "I've forgotten it. It's been so long—I just can't remember." "Didn't they say he disappeared again?" Auntie interjected, showing genuine interest and joining the conversation. "It was a strange disappearance. Back then, the whole police force was shaken up. It took the head of the police headquarters himself coming down to calm everyone before things settled." "Is that true?" Grandpa didn't seem convinced. "Old Chen, aren't you getting a bit older now? Are you starting to show signs of dementia? You told me this story yourself!" Auntie insisted with conviction. ...Grandpa lowered his head and drank his porridge. "Have faith in science. Don't get too carried away with all these superstitions. As you grow older, you just become more curious." He was found, then disappeared again... Zhang Yuanqing sipped his porridge, his mood a bit subdued. It was obvious that the survivor re-entered the spirit realm 36 hours later, only to fail to make it out this time. He had predicted correctly—the mortality rate at the Mountain God Temple was extremely high, and the second main mission was exceptionally dangerous. To survive, relying on official channels was the most sound decision. After breakfast and a simple shower, Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator downstairs and waited at the community gate for about fifteen minutes. A black executive sedan gradually pulled up, its electric doors sliding open automatically. Li Dongze sat on a white leather sofa, holding a cane with his legs neatly together. Dressed exactly as he had yesterday—black suit, black jacket, white shirt, his hair neatly combed and his well-groomed mustache trimmed to a refined shape. "Get in, university student," Li Dongze smiled. "Thank you, investigator," Zhang Yuanqing replied with a smile. After he got in, the black sedan joined the traffic flow, moving steadily through the early-morning streets. As Li Dongze opened the refrigerator, he asked, "What would you like to drink?" "Coca-Cola!" "Then you'll have to go to the supermarket yourself later." Li Dongze poured himself a glass of whisky, tossed in an ice ball, and, holding the glass, leaned back against the chair, speaking calmly. "I'll take you through the onboarding process now and provide you with basic training. Let me introduce myself: Li Dongze, a Level 3 Spirit Realm Explorer, assigned to the Songhai Branch of the Five Elements Alliance, Second Small Team, Kangyang District—my professional role is that of a Scout." Scout? Besides the Night-Wanderer, there were other professions as well? Zhang Yuanqing sat up attentively. Though curious, he didn't interrupt. As someone skilled in social interactions, Zhang Yuanqing knew that interrupting someone mid-sentence was considered impolite. He didn't want to lose points on such small matters. Li Dongze took a sip of his whisky and said, "Let me explain to you what the Spirit Realm is!" Zhang Yuanqing immediately became alert.