“Night Wandering Deity!” Zhang Yuanqing spoke calmly. “I’m asking about your profession.” “Night Wandering Deity.” …Li Dongze first stared, then straightened his back and leaned forward, his eyes intensely focused on Zhang Yuanqing, saying: “You—are a Night Wandering Deity?” “Yes,” Zhang Yuanqing nodded. “Hmph…” Li Dongze pushed up his seat, silently processing this revelation over several seconds before raising his voice and asking again: “You’re a Night Wandering Deity? I’ve just stumbled upon one!” That was exactly what he had never anticipated—like someone who had just expressed their hope of winning five million in the lottery, then actually did win. “Found a treasure indeed…” Li Dongze set down his wine glass and repeatedly examined Zhang Yuanqing with an excited expression. Each Night Wandering Deity is a sought-after figure. They are prized by both small teams and guilds across various Spirit Realms. Li Dongze knew of a young woman from the Bǎi Huā Association who, to secure a Night Wandering Deity informant from the Chì Huǒ Clan, went so far as to seduce him—through a series of intimate encounters—persuading him to switch allegiances and become a two-sided servant. This incident nearly led to a conflict between the Chì Huǒ Clan and the Bǎi Huā Association, even prompting the headquarters of the Five Elements Alliance to mediate without success. Only after that Night Wandering Deity died during a Spirit Realm mission did tensions ease. “By the way,” Li Dongze quietly concealed his excitement, maintaining composure before his subordinates, “I haven’t yet heard about your Spirit Realm ID.” Zhang Yuanqing straightened his posture and gathered breath at the tip of his tongue: “Yuan Shi Tian Zun!” …Li Dongze paused for several seconds, then clapped once. “Such a strong name.” Hmph—this seems rather forced, and you’re even acting as if you’re going to challenge me. Zhang Yuanqing said modestly: “That will be fine, Chief.” At this moment, the black item arrived at the Kangyang District Police Office, parking along the green belt beside a designated spot. “I’ll have your onboarding arranged immediately—your monthly base salary is twenty thousand yuan, with task-based allowances and performance bonuses for outstanding contributions. Any questions?” Li Dongze seemed eager not to delay, radiating an urgent sense of security. A monthly salary of twenty thousand? Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes lit up. “No issues.” Twenty thousand per month—this is a high-level salary even in the bustling city of Songhai. Zhang Yuanqing remembered that his mother worked at a company where managerial salaries ranged from fifty to one hundred thousand yuan monthly, though these figures did not include bonuses, incentives, or equity shares. Following Li Dongze out of the car, they walked around to the rear of the police office building and stopped in front of a two-story structure. The building was composed entirely of large glass panels, giving it a refined, upscale atmosphere with an elite touch. Upon entering the main entrance, a steel staircase rose directly toward the second floor. On the first floor’s left side lay the office area—seven or eight female employees sat at desks, ranging from energetic young women to mature professional ladies and composed middle-aged staff. To the right was the living area, complete with sofas, circular tables, refrigerators, induction stoves, and water dispensers. They worked quietly, some wearing headphones streaming shows, others gathered in small groups chatting about personal matters. When Li Dongze entered, they merely glanced up before returning to their activities—no signs of apprehension typical of subordinates toward a supervisor. “This office atmosphere is appealing,” Zhang Yuanqing murmured. Li Dongze didn’t pause; he led Zhang Yuanqing up the steel staircase and suddenly turned around to say: “These are ordinary staff members, serving only our Spirit Realm Pilgrims. Should you have any needs in daily life or work, simply ask them.” A hybrid role—work and personal secretary? Zhang Yuanqing nodded. Upon reaching the second floor, the bustling noise softened. The layout was simpler here—the entire left side belonged to Li Dongze’s private office, while nine desks lined the right side of the room. Most were empty; only two had occupants—those who had visited his home for interviews just the day before: a tall, graceful woman and a disheveled young man with a studious demeanor. “Guan Ya, please assist with your onboarding procedures,” Li Dongze called out warmly, smiling, “I’ve brought in a new colleague.” The young man lifted his head, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, nodded slightly, then resumed his work. The mixed-race woman beamed and stood up, saying: “It seems you’ve successfully completed your trial task—someone who’s an ‘authority figure’ with a fondness for young men.” An “authority figure” who adores young men? Zhang Yuanqing stared, momentarily stunned before Li Dongze explained: “Guan Ya tends to enjoy humor and makes light of things. That’s just her style.” He then gently scolded his female subordinate: “Don’t speak so oddly in front of our younger college students—they’re still children.” The young man glanced at the mixed-race woman as she walked over—wearing a professional suit, her shirt tucked into her skirt, highlighting her slender waist and long, graceful legs wrapped in black stockings. Her flowing hair gently swayed with each step. Her face was sharp and refined, displaying European features, while her skin was soft and fair. “Li Chief,” Zhang Yuanqing said without forgetting his purpose, “I’d like to inquire about the Trial Spirit Realm.” “You can ask Guan Ya any questions—I’ve got some matters to attend to,” Li Dongze said kindly. His tone reminded Zhang Yuanqing of a teacher guiding an outstanding student. After that, he hurried off to his office, intending to report the successful recruitment of a Night Wandering Deity to higher-ups. “Has Chief taken a medication overdose today? Is it walking on air?” Guan Ya murmured, then turned her attention to Zhang Yuanqing and smiled: “I’ll have you fill out a form and hand over your ID.” “The ID isn’t with me.” “Just give me your ID number.” She guided Zhang Yuanqing to an empty desk, dropped off a form, wrote down his ID number, then headed downstairs. Zhang Yuanqing picked up a pen from the ink pot, opened its cap, and began reviewing the form. This wasn’t just any standard onboarding form—it corresponded directly with the Spirit Realm Pilgrim’s attributes panel. Beyond basic information such as profession and level, it included a dedicated section for trial tasks—perfectly timed, since he now wished to inquire about passing through the She Ling Tunnel instance. After completing the form, Guan Ya returned just in time, holding two contracts. She pulled over an office chair beside him and settled into it, her buttoons pressing gently against the seat. “Chief probably gave you some foundational training,” she said lazily, leaning back—her impressive bust now fully revealed. Zhang Yuanqing caught a pleasant, delicate fragrance and subtly adjusted his posture. In this era where most individuals hold only C-level status, an E-level strength was truly moving. “My onboarding is complete. Here are the contracts, including one for confidentiality.” After Zhang Yuanqing signed, Guan Ya smoothed out her smile and said seriously: “Here’s a few things to note—starting today, your original ID will no longer be valid. We’ll issue you a new one within three days. You can then purchase high-speed train and air tickets normally, with access to green channels. Your new mobile phone card will arrive tomorrow.” “What’s the reason?” Zhang Yuanqing didn’t understand this process. “When you first named yourself in the Spirit Realm, it should have prompted you not to use your original name.” Zhang Yuanqing nodded. Guan Ya continued: “There’s a specific rationale—our Spirit Realm organization categorizes professions into two types. First are the Orderly Professions—traditional, established careers. Second are the Evil Organizations—those whose Pilgrims exhibit either fierce brutality or unusual cruelty, and who consistently pursue the elimination of members from the Orderly Professions. The Spirit Realm Pilgrims themselves are at risk when their identities become publicly known in real life.” Similar to a game’s faction rivalry? Zhang Yuanqing’s expression became serious. Last night, upon naming himself, he had been told he couldn’t use his original name—he found that odd. Now it made sense—so Li Dongze and Guan Ya aren’t using their true names either, then? “Rest assured,” she added with a reassuring tone as Zhang Yuanqing’s smile faded, “we are the official organization—the typical hunters, not the hunted.” “Oh, Guan Ya must be an exceptional hunter,” Zhang Yuanqing breathed in relief and subtly offered a sweetened remark. “A truly excellent speaker,” Guan Ya smiled slightly, then mused: “How many girlfriends have you had?” “Single!” Guan Ya was surprised. “Your trash can is so neat—I thought you were engaged.” Another mention of the trashcan—do women in this organization have a special fondness for it? Zhang Yuanqing silently complained. Guan Ya chuckled: “Would you like me to help you find a new girlfriend online?” Enough! You, woman—not, you, Lao Si Ji! Zhang Yuanqing sighed impatiently. “No thanks—I’d prefer a realistic one.” Guan Ya’s smile blossomed with delight: “I really enjoy working with someone so enthusiastic.” “Alright,” he said, returning to business mode, “let’s continue. There are ten Spirit Realm Pilgrim teams in the entire Kangyang District—we are Team Two. The team currently has five Spirit Realm Pilgrims—plus you, that makes six. Among these five, only I and Chief Li Dongze belong to the White Tiger Army. You were hired directly by Chief Li Dongze—you will officially become part of the White Tiger Army once you’re confirmed. Please remember this.” This reveals how deeply entrenched the faction rivalries within the Five Elements Alliance are—more than I imagined. Zhang Yuanqing immediately said: “I’ll just follow Guan Ya, then.” He didn’t mention Li Dongze—so as to win over the admiration of the woman. Indeed, Guan Ya’s smile brightened even more and she said with genuine warmth: “Besides me and Wang Tai, most Spirit Realm Pilgrims don’t come in for daily check-ins. As a student, you won’t need to attend regularly. You simply need not be overly formal—Chief Li Dongze is quite good at his job, though he can get emotional sometimes, speaking in an unusual tone. He also has a strong sense of elegance. As for Wang Tai—he’s a Scholar, excelling in study and research, and is a civil service-type professional. Should you have any questions, simply ask him. When you graduate, I’d recommend seeking his assistance with your thesis. However, he’s not particularly good at socializing or enjoys it—don’t worry about him too much; just treat him as a task-oriented colleague.” “As for me,” she added with a bright smile, “I genuinely enjoy working with energetic young men.” Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell whether this was sincere or merely light-hearted. He quickly assigned labels to the members of his team: The Chief—elegant, often switching into a professional accent; the socially reserved technician; and Lao Si Ji. “By the way,” Guan Ya asked, “what is your zodiac sign?” “Scorpio!” Zhang Yuanqing answered without understanding why she had suddenly inquired. Her gaze was puzzled: “Really? You have no girlfriend at all?” What connection does that have to the zodiac…? Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes were wide. Guan Ya looked unconvinced but didn’t press further—she simply picked up the form Zhang Yuanqing had filled out. “Yuan Shi Tian Zun… 21 years old… Huh, what kind of spirit is that ID showing? Does it not seem bold enough when you step outside? Night Wandering Deity…” Her face expressed a momentary confusion—then she exclaimed: “Are you really a Night Wandering Deity?” Zhang Yuanqing thoroughly enjoyed her expression. “Now I understand why Chief Li Dongze walks with such grace,” Guan Ya murmured, then brightened: “We now have a Night Wandering Deity on our team! You mustn’t run off to join the other organizations and their wild women.” Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Wang Tai also lifted his head toward them. “Yuan Shi Tian Zun,” Guan Ya said with delight, scanning downward—then paused at the level marked zero. Just as she was about to speak, her eyes caught the next line: The Trial Task: She Ling Tunnel! Her mind went blank—her lips parted slightly—and her expression froze in astonishment. A beat passed before she looked at Zhang Yuanqing with a complex mix of surprise and realization. “Your trial task is indeed the She Ling Tunnel?” Seeing this reaction, Zhang Yuanqing’s heart leapt. “I was just about to inquire about the trial assignment—since it's an instance, there must be a guidebook or strategy, right?” As he spoke, he noticed that the once-aloof technician now lifted her head with eyes full of sympathy and pity. “You, wait a moment…” Guan Ya’s face looked uncomfortable as she left the office area and walked toward Li Dongze’s office. What was that dead-eyed stare she’d given him just now? Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit uneasy. At this point, Wang Tai, sitting at the adjacent desk, spoke calmly: “There is indeed a guidebook—officially, every official Realm Walker is required to submit details of their personal Spirit Realm experiences, and the organization offers corresponding rewards. But She Ling Tunnel is different. Take a look yourself…” He handed over a notebook computer. Zhang Yuanqing accepted it with equal parts curiosity and confusion; the screen displayed an open document. She Ling Tunnel Trial Realm Summary: 【Wang Village Heritage Site, C-level—objective: survive until dawn.】 【The dangers in the village stem from the hanging ghost and the abandoned tombs outside. When facing the hanging ghost’s fatal grip, a Spirit Realm Walker must invert their body to avoid danger. However, those with weaker stamina may have little choice but to hope for the best.】 【The vengeful spirits residing in the tombs gather en masse at midnight twelve o’clock and enter the village together. A Spirit Realm Walker should immediately head to the convenience store to light incense candles—once lit, the group of ghosts will be spared from being divided among them.】 … 【Linggang Reservoir, B-level—objective: cross the reservoir.】 【During the crossing, water spirits will attempt to drag you beneath the surface. Do not resist—after submerging and holding your breath for two minutes, the water spirits will naturally depart.】 … 【Ghost Bride, A-level—objective: remain with the ghost bride until dawn.】 【The ghost bride is a stunningly beautiful figure who treats each newly married groom passionately and wildly. She never harms her husband as long as he satisfies her demands. But theoretically, no man has ever reached daylight in battle. This trial is nearly fatal; only one brave man has survived to date—though since then, he has developed an intense aversion to women.】 … 【Xiangshui Park, B-level—objective:…】 Zhang Yuanqing grew more puzzled with each page she read. Were the tasks really that simple? These trial missions were far too straightforward—except for the Ghost Bride, which demanded iron resolve. Even then, most of these Spirit Realms had high survival rates. And throughout, the highest difficulty rating was merely A-level. Yet his own trial mission was at S-level: She Ling Tunnel. He turned further down until he finally found it. 【She Ling Tunnel—difficulty unknown; objective unknown.】 【The initial incident occurred during tunnel construction when a construction team inadvertently entered the Spirit Realm. Twelve workers entered, only one survived—but with severe psychological trauma and significant mental disturbances. Thirty-six hours later, when they attempted to re-enter, all of them perished within the tunnel itself.】 【Note: The conditions in this trial realm are exceptionally hazardous; no successful completion cases have been documented so far.】 The final sentence was highlighted in bright red. Zhang Yuanqing stared at the screen, utterly stunned. …