In the office, Wang Tai sat alone, his attention fixed on the computer screen, ignoring the dignified Yuan Shi Tian Zun ascending the stairs.
Hi, Wang Tai—Zhang Yuanqing mentally waved, then turned toward Shi Chang's office.
The frosted glass door of the office was open, and Li Dongze sat on the edge of the living room sofa, one hand supporting his cane, his shoulders swelling as he engaged in friendly conversation with Teng Yuan.
At the other end, the girl with fiery red hair was hunched over her desk, diligently working on her homework, while Guan Ya sat beside her, guiding her studies—her complexion, however, looked rather pale.
"Oh, our hero has arrived!" Li Dongze looked toward the doorway, his eyes brightening.
"Shi Chang," Zhang Yuanqing first greeted Teng Yuan, then turned to Li Dongze, "we have a guest today, Li comrade."
Li Dongze's expression stiffened as his gaze swept over Teng Yuan and Yuan Shiyi. With a forced smile, he said, "It seems that during my absence, you've successfully earned the respect and recognition of your team. That's excellent, Teng Yuan. I was actually worried you'd still struggle to get along with your colleagues, just as you did in the past." Teng Yuan, lacking enthusiasm, replied, "Not at all. I merely did what I thought was my duty." "Hm?" Li Dongze emitted a puzzled nasal tone. "I simply revised some regulations, increased meal allowances, provided heat subsidies two months in advance, and waived the penalty for late arrivals..." As Teng Yuan spoke with his usual lackluster tone, Li Dongze's expression grew increasingly blank. "Here, Chief, have some cola," Zhang Yuancheng offered Teng Yuan a cup of sparkling water, adding fuel to the fire. "Oh my goodness, you're doing something entirely unusual—this isn't the way teams are typically led," Li Dongze exclaimed, pointing out, "You couldn't be any less graceful."
Listening to the two of them arguing, Zhang Yuanqing sat down beside Jiang Jingwei. The girl was working on a multiple-choice question, frowning intently, her face serious, as if the problems on the paper were formidable foes. The topics covered were all middle school-level concepts—triangles, square roots, equations, the Pythagorean theorem, etc. "You've come at the perfect time," Guan Ya said, with a look of "tired, and now it's time to be destroyed." Since they'd collided, there was no choice but to proceed. Zhang Yuanqing glanced over the questions and found the accuracy rate was a perfect 100%. He immediately smiled. "That's impressive—really great!" Guan Ya gritted her teeth. "All of that was my work..." Watching the old Lady Ji's tightly clenched teeth, Zhang Yuanqing sighed. "Then I'll take over. After all, I'm a Scorpio—no matter how much I'm like a pig, I'll always be gentle."
As he spoke, he gazed intently at the refined features of the elder Si Ji, and suddenly a rather unbecoming thought flashed through his mind: how about a pig's nose instead of this elegant one? Guan Ya glanced at him with a look of suspicion, then reached into her handbag and produced a makeup mirror. "Is there something wrong with my face?" "No!" "Then why did you look so dismissive just now?" "I didn't! Guan Ya is the most beautiful of all." Zhang Yuanqing firmly denied it. "To show my sincerity, I'd be happy to kiss you." "Get lost!" Zhang Yuanqing then smoothly shifted the conversation back to Jing Wei, speaking in a warm tone. "Jing Wei, regarding your middle school math, which topics do you feel most confident about, and which ones still need more work?" Jing Wei tilted her head, pondering. "The basic operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division?" "Middle school math!" Zhang Yuanqing emphasized. Jing Wei shook her head. "Not a single one? That can't be possible," Zhang Yuanqing thought, incredulous that such a dull student could exist.
Jiang Jingwei glanced at the multiple-choice questions and suddenly had it: "I've actually learned a few little tricks—when there are three long answers and one short, pick the shortest; when there are three short and one long, pick the longest; when there are two long and two short, choose B; when the options are uneven or incomplete, choose C. That's how you handle multiple-choice questions." Zhang Yuanqing's blood pressure shot up: "Are there any other tips like that?" Jiang Jingwei's face grew serious: "There's one thing that's absolutely crucial—learning to let go!" Guan Ya also felt her blood pressure rising. Zhang Yuanqing paused for a few seconds, then said: "How about this—give me 500 yuan, and I'll write your assignments for you." Jiang Jingwei was stunned—was there really someone so kind in the world? "No way!" Guan Ya protested: "You're making it worse for her—she's already so clumsy!" Zhang Yuanqing replied: "Then you take over and teach her." Guan Ya fell silent immediately. "An ancient saying goes: teach according to the individual's abilities."
Everyone has a different talent; to educate all students with a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach is inherently flawed. Clearly, this girl isn't cut out for academics—her talents lie elsewhere. Spending so much time studying these things will do little good. Zhang Yuanqing said. Jiang Jingwei banged the table in approval: "That's spot on. I love fighting. Yuanshǐ, let's go to the combat room. I'll teach you how to fight." Zhang Yuanqing: "Oh, I've become a student?" At that moment, Li Dongze paused his criticism and turned to Zhang Yuanqing, speaking seriously. "I've come today with two matters. The first is that we're having a dinner gathering for Team Two tonight—to celebrate your achievement of A-level merit, as well as our collective team's renewed group merit. The second matter... I'd like to give you a reminder." Reminder? Zhang Yuanqing also grew serious.
Li Dongze spoke solemnly: "Now is the fifth month. In another month, the large-scale killing raid—held every six months—will take place. At this time, many third-tier transcendent and sixth-tier saints typically seek promotion opportunities. For the spiritual realm travelers, this is a major event. Our Five-Element Alliance, the Taiyuan Sect, and the noble families of the spiritual realm jointly host a tournament to identify outstanding talents. The purpose is twofold: first, to assess the potential of our members, and second, to select the most exceptional ones for dedicated cultivation and nurturing."
"Theoretically, even as a Level 3 Scout, I could be a target—since I also qualify for the mid-year hunting raids. But Jiang Jingwei and Yuan Shi have much higher priority, especially Yuan Shi. With two consecutive S-tier clearances and now an A-tier merit, he stands out too prominently. The evil organization's 'Wanderers' will surely keep an eye on him, aiming to hunt him down, gain acclaim, and secure rewards."
Zhang Yuanqing felt a weight settle in his chest, recalling the discussions among the veteran Wanderers on the official forum yesterday.
He immediately said, "Chief, I'd like a list of the evil organization's outstanding rewards at the transcendental stage."
Li Dongze: "Go find it yourself in the archives—your access privileges are already higher than mine. For the next few days, stay low-key. Wear a mask and hat when commuting. As for Teng Yuan, don't just lounge at home—second squad will be strong with you on board, and with us, the evil organization's professionals won't dare to make a move."
Teng Yuan nodded slightly, adding, "Master Yuan, I'll consider applying for a 'nervous anxiety' allowance on your behalf." ...Zhang Yuanqing wasn't sure whether to thank him or feel annoyed. "By the way, since the objective is to eliminate talented individuals, isn't Fu Bai, the captain, also at risk?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. Fu Qingyang, though young—only in his twenties—and at the peak of the Saint Realm, was determined to join the Council of Elders. He would certainly participate in this killing quest to advance to the Master Realm. Thus, he would also become a target of the evil profession hunters. "Of course," said Guan Ya. "There are already several evil profession hunters aiming to eliminate him. In fact, during his time in the capital, he faced numerous assassination attempts, though none succeeded. Back then, however, he wasn't at his current level. Now, the ones trying to kill him are likely at the peak of the Saint Realm." Old Si Ji's eyes were filled with concern.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the woman. When Li Dongze had mentioned that someone intended to assassinate him, she showed no concern—yet when he spoke of her cousin, she grew worried. Hmph! She had truly been mistaken. Jiang Jingwei said, "Yuan Shi is only level 2. He's likely to miss this job transition entirely and will have to bear the risk of being hunted down—what a pity!" Li Dongze mused, "Yuan Shi still has one more group-level realm to unlock. Even if you help him succeed, he may not reach level 3. And even if he does, he'll be one of the weakest at level 3. To participate in the combat dungeons, he'll certainly be struggling..."
The first floor of the villa was empty and luxuriously furnished, with smart, high-end appliances and handcrafted furniture throughout, clearly showcasing the owner's opulence.
Li Xianzong's ear twitched, and he heard faint, distant cries of agony coming from the second floor.
With a slight smile, he spun his butterfly knife in elegant, fluid arcs, ascending the spiral staircase.
Li Xianzong had come to seek a protector from the Void Sect—a saint-level cultivator at the peak of his powers, an exceptionally formidable figure.
According to information gathered by Tian Ling Ling, this protector's target was Fu Qingyang.
Upon reaching the second floor, Li Xianzong pushed open the door to the master bedroom, a spacious room of over one hundred square feet.
To the left of the entrance stood a soft, spacious bed capable of accommodating six or seven people.
To the right, various odd items hung on the walls—no, more accurately, they were instruments of torture.
On a soft, spacious bed, seven or eight strong men were tormenting a beautiful woman. When someone entered, they only glanced back briefly, continuing their relentless treatment of the helpless woman.
This scene lasted for half an hour, during which Li Xianzong stood by the door, expression neutral, observing silently.
After everyone had finished their pleasure, a robust man dragged the nearly lifeless woman off the bed and carried her to the area on the right, where various instruments of punishment were hung.
He tossed her onto the ground, removed his whip, and struck her forcefully.
Crack! A deep gash of blood appeared on her skin.
Crack! Crack! Crack! The whip kept striking her delicate flesh, opening fresh wounds, causing her to tremble and emit sharp cries of pain.
After dozens of lashes, Li Xianzong tapped the doorframe with his butterfly knife and said, with a smile, "Are you satisfied now? My patience is not infinite."
A tall man, watching the woman's suffering, strode over with a fierce demeanor, growling, "Get out of here!"
Li Xianzong plunged his sword into the man's chest and withdrew it, drawing a thick stream of blood.
The man clutched his chest, staggered, and fell to his knees. The other men paid no attention—one continued to beat the woman, several remained watching.
A few minutes later, the woman stopped crying out, shedding her earlier vulnerable posture, her expression now cool and composed, and said softly, "Now step back."
Only then did the men pause, bowing respectfully and dragging the body away from the master bedroom.
The woman sat cross-legged on the ground, wounded all over, yet her expression remained regal, like a queen, lifting a corner of her lips. "I hate it when people move my toys. You must stay here and play with me for three days. Otherwise, I won't give the master priest the face to see me."
Li Xianzong showed no fear of the woman's threats, only smiled and said, "If it were my choice, I'd cut off your head and then slice your body into meat pieces, pouring them all down the drain." The woman trembled slightly, unconsciously rubbing her legs, her cheeks flushed with charm, and chuckled, "That's a splendid idea. The seductive demon is my favorite toy—I love your raw intensity. Then, go on and play with me." Li Xianzong studied the woman's graceful features and alluring figure, then coldly remarked, "I'm here to collaborate with you. Besides, I'm only interested in bloodshed." According to intelligence, this woman is a true eccentric—she thrives on being overwhelmed, humiliated, and treated poorly, with a strong craving. A few men simply aren't enough to satisfy her. She requires daily engagement in multi-part interactions with numerous men. Should she fall short of satisfaction, she will kill.
She glanced at Li Xianzong's motionless crotch and smiled lightly. "I thought you were a complete waste—go on, I hate having people interrupt my entertainment." Li Xianzong didn't move, instead smiling. "Are you interested in Yuan Shishen? In Fu Qingyang?" Her eyes brightened, and she licked her lips. "Give me three minutes."