"Man, I'm freaking out! I'm really scared!" Zhang Yuanqing sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, his heart racing. He wondered if, just one more second later, he'd come back as a mere skeleton. After finally calming down, he glanced at the red ballet slippers on his feet and nearly had a heart attack again. "Dispelling, dispelling..." The red ballet slippers dissolved into a radiant glow. Phew! He was just about to stamp his feet. Zhang Yuanqing relaxed completely, stood up, and walked to the window, gazing at the towering skyscrapers outside, at the lush green leaves reflecting vibrant, colorful light, and listening to the conversations of the elderly neighbors and the soft hum of distant vehicles. It was mealtime, and delivery riders in blue uniforms were galloping through the courtyard on their little donkeys. From the windows of the neighboring buildings, the crisp sounds of vegetables hitting hot oil and the rhythmic clatter of spoons and ladles could be heard. After just standing there for a few minutes, he finally felt completely at ease, the eerie sensation completely gone. After calming down, he eagerly walked to the mirror to verify his abilities. He settled his emotions, calmed the stillness within his heart, and silently communicated with the Yin energy flowing through his body. Soon, Zhang Yuanqing watched as his reflection in the mirror was gradually erased, vanishing piece by piece. Truly invisible—huh-huh-huh… Nine seconds later, his body reappeared, clearly outlined once again in the mirror. "Hmm, a bit tired, like I've run several laps on the track…" Then, he tried his physical strength—easily pressing a battery until it dimpled, and making a small cut on his forearm with a craft knife, which healed completely within less than five minutes. Without even mentioning his superpowers, the enhancement of his muscular strength alone already surpassed that of ordinary humans. As for his other active ability, "Siphoning Spirit," he had yet to use it, as there were no spiritual beings nearby. Now that his physical constitution was so strong, could his body withstand a longer period of overexertion if his chronic condition flared up? No, I should first check whether there's a medical profession among the Lingjing travelers—someone needs to examine my strange illness. Zhang Yuanqing then opened his inventory to admire his items, but didn't take them out. As for the Fuming Staff, that was fine; but what if I had to actually accompany the Red Dance Shoes and perform awkward dances with them? He gazed at the Fuming Staff, lost in thought. "If I'm not mistaken, the Mulberry Tree Spirit mentioned that the Fuming Staff contains the yang essences of three Mountain Queens. Might one of them come to see me? That would be quite unsettling." The mere thought made him feel uneasy. "Shouldn't NPCs from Lingjing appear in the real world? My chances of returning to the Mountain Temple seem slim—after all, I've already explored the small temple thoroughly and there's no room left for a new quest." Though he said this aloud, he wasn't confident. His mind kept flashing back to the warm smiles of the Three Mountain Queens. "I'll go to the unit shortly and verify this with the senior Lady Siqi and the translator with the odd accent." At that moment, the door handle was turned several times, but since Zhang Yuanqing had previously locked the door from inside, no one outside could enter. "Zhang Yuanqing, why did you lock the door? Are you up to something sneaky?" came the soft, clear voice of her younger sister, humming, "It's mealtime." Only then did Zhang Yuanqing realize how hungry he was, and he eagerly responded, quickly withdrawing his Fumoguan staff, removing his dusty and blood-stained clothes, and donning a spring baseball outfit—black athletic pants—and then neatly stowing away the dirty garments. Only after reaching the door did he open it. Her younger sister stood outside, her round, graceful oval face turned toward the room, her expression doubtful. "Why did you lock the door?" "To refine my divine skill," he replied. "What kind of divine skill?" "The principle of 'learning from the enemy to overcome them.'" "Ah, you're just trying to make a fuss, aren't you?" her sister scowled, her eyes sharp and full of charm—large, round, bright, and lively, with no blood vessels or cloudiness visible. The "clear autumn waters in the eyes"古人 referred to is precisely this sparkling, bright gaze. At dinner, Zhang Yuanqing, inspired by the light and airy dishes served, ate more than usual. Her grandmother felt pleased with her culinary progress, yet worried that there weren't enough dishes prepared today. "You're going to school tomorrow, so go to bed early tonight—don't end up calling me to wake you up," her grandmother advised. "I'll just stay up and play games with my cousin, and I'll be able to sleep early," Zhang Yuanqing immediately passed the blame. Her grandmother gave her a kick under the table. "She has to work too," the grandmother turned to her daughter and said, "If she's working overtime tomorrow, please call me ahead." Zhang Yuanqing's cousin is an intern in obstetrics at a public tertiary hospital—she's often busy, and when she's working, she's even more exhausted than a typical office worker. "Try to spend more time with male colleagues. There should be quite a few male doctors interested in you at the hospital," her grandmother suggested. "Mom, I'm a bit reserved. Even men who come with their wives for check-ups often quietly ask for my contact information." "My aunt, proudly clasping her waist, said so. Grandmother raised her palm, and my aunt quickly tucked her head, silently picking at her rice. While mother and daughter chatted, Zhang Yuanqing's mind drifted to the tasks he had planned for the afternoon. 'After dinner, I'll reach out to Guan Ya to inform the official side that I've successfully cleared the main quest. I'll also prepare a report on the副本— I'm wondering if the report on the first-ever completed副本 is worth anything, and how many credits it might earn.' 'I should also mention the awakening of the Mountain Goddess— it feels like a hidden quest that I can't afford to overlook.' After dinner and settling their basic needs, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room to find his phone dead. Having been busy and anxious about the spiritual realm, he had completely forgotten to charge it. After charging, he noticed four or five missed calls. The caller ID read: Guan Ya. Two of the calls were from an hour ago, when he was still in the spiritual realm; the other three came just two minutes prior. 'How eager they are to confirm I'm still alive!' Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself, and with a light tap of his finger …a two-story building, its glass walls reflecting sunlight. In the spacious and luxurious office, Li Dongze simply finished his lunch, checked his watch, and with a cane in hand, walked to the office area. "Guan Ya, have you heard anything from Yuan Shi?" This was the third time he had asked the same question. Though he didn't hold much hope, as long as the matter remained unresolved, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Li Dongze had already drafted his apology letter, waiting only for the outcome, so he could personally acknowledge his oversight to the centurion—this time, he had been careless, lacking the professional competence of a scout. As for Yuan Shi, though he found it a pity, the trial mission activated by the role card was beyond human capability. "His phone is off," Guan Ya shook her head. "I've called him five or six times." Unreachable... Li Dongze seemed to have anticipated this development, silently exhaled. "Wait a moment. Wait a moment..." "Understood, Shichang." Guan Ya lifted her hair, smiled warmly, and reassured, "Until the results come out, everything is possible—just like Schrödinger's cat. Until you open the box, you never know whether it's alive or dead." Wang Tai couldn't help but speak up, "Schroedinger's cat isn't usually used that way... From a probabilistic standpoint, without special means or assistance, Wang Tai's chances of successfully navigating the Sheli Tunnel are practically nil." Guan Ya and Li Dongze turned pale. "Shut up!" Guan Ya thought, Was I really wrong again? Wang Tai silently lowered his head. What a socially awkward person! Li Dongze and Guan Ya silently criticized him in their hearts. After all these years as colleagues, they had long given up trying to cultivate his emotional intelligence. Guan Ya found the contrast between an engaging and an unengaging soul striking—take Yuan Shi, for instance. He's handsome, speaks well, and if he could become a colleague, daily work life would no longer feel so dull. Unfortunately, his luck just isn't that good. If we can't reach them by the time we clock out, then it's completely hopeless... Guan Ya sighed, lazily leaning back against the soft chair, her full chest pressing tightly against the white shirt. "Report me as soon as you have any news," Li Dongze said, just about to turn and leave, when her phone on the desk suddenly rang. At that moment, the phone on the desk rang. Li Dongze stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Guan Ya's phone. Caller ID displayed: Yuan Shi Tian Zun. Li Dongze's breathing quickened. Guan Ya leapt up from her chair with a sharp clatter, knocking the desk and sending several office items toppling over. Her eyes widened in astonishment and joy. She picked up the phone while looking at Li Dongze. Li Dongze maintained a serious expression, saying, "On speaker!" His voice was low and firm. Both of them looked serious, as if taking a call from a hostage negotiator. The connection was established, full of anticipation, with restrained excitement, saying: "Yuan Shi?" "I've completed the trial quest and have just emerged from the Temple of the Mountain God," Zhang Yuanqing's voice came through the speaker. Guan Ya and Li Dongze both froze. Wang Tai, who had been completely absorbed in his data, suddenly looked up, his face expressing shock and astonishment. After a few seconds of stillness, Li Dongze's two small whiskers began to visibly dance, as if in motion, and he exclaimed, "Oh my God! Did you hear my prayers? This is simply unbelievable—oh my heavens, I can't believe it's true!" Realizing his own awkwardness, he quickly composed himself, saying, "Graceful—graceful..." Li Dongze knew what it meant to successfully complete the Shela Ling Tunnel. A once-considered impossible S-tier spiritual realm journey, now achieved, would undoubtedly attract intense attention. Though Yuan Shi was a newcomer, it was certain that he would rise to prominence and become a well-known spiritual traveler. Moreover, the information and items obtained within the S-tier spiritual realms are genuine, substantial, and invariably rich. Whether official or civilian organizations, all are eager to conquer challenging realms—especially achieving the first successful entry—since this is the most efficient way to strengthen their organizations. Finally, and most importantly, in the Songhai region, there are only a few Night-Wanderer God Trials. The persistent bug in the Shu Ling Tunnel has caused official organizations to lose a significant number of potential Night-Wanderer God candidates. With a detailed guide in hand, the annual number of Night-Wanderer Gods produced will steadily increase. Although, after a realm is conquered, the rewards will no longer match those of the first successful entry, the official organizations value the growing number of Night-Wanderer Gods. This alone has drawn the attention of the senior council of the Wu-Xing Alliance. "You—how did you manage that…?" Guan Ya murmured. "It wasn't difficult at all. I passed effortlessly. Heh, isn't that just what you'd expect if you have legs?" Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun said, speaking in line with his ID. Guan Ya remained silent, unsure whether he was joking or simply displaying the polished, elite demeanor of a top-performing student. In her mind, Zhang Yuanqing was a smart college student with strong social skills—but to say he was anything truly extraordinary seemed impossible. Her appreciation for the new colleague had been limited to his pleasant speech and engaging humor; she had never truly recognized his capabilities. Now, however, she needed to reassess this newly minted night owl. "Having said that, he hurried off toward his office as though he had an urgent matter. Li Dongze thought the title of the apology letter should be more elegant—something like: 'Sorry, Captain, I accidentally stumbled upon a strange one.' He was already eager to see it done.