Zhang Yuanqing's heart surged with emotion. Although the hypothesis that the Demon King had killed the Strange-Eye Judge was proposed by him, it remained a bold assumption—still lacking careful verification. Therefore, when Fu Qingyang firmly stated that the Fallen Cup had been influenced by the Demon King and that the Strange-Eye Judge had indeed been slain by him, Zhang Yuanqing initially found the Hundred-man Commander's judgment overly confident, even authoritative. But now, after listening to this exchange, Zhang Yuanqing felt certain: the Strange-Eye Judge had indeed been killed by the Demon King. Moreover, the reason behind Black Unchanging’s connection with Dark Night Rose also stemmed from the Demon King. All the causes and effects suddenly became clear. “Has Dark Night Rose's influence already penetrated to the Organizational level? Good heavens—Five Elements Alliance is so vast; it's impossible for the noble, divine, or mysterious figures not to be affected. Bing Brother said we shouldn’t overly trust official channels—perhaps this factor is at play.” “What makes the Demon King say he has a duty to kill ten Orderly Professions each month? Where does that task come from? Is it arranged by the Spirit Realm? Isn't this precisely what led him to become one of The Fallen Ones and what caused the Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s disfavor?” In sum, there is indeed a connection between the Demon King and both the Strange-Eye Judge and Black Unchanging—thus making Bing Brother's request for access to the Register understandable. Should Zhang Yuanqing then subtly share these insights with Fu Qingyang? This would undoubtedly be an opportunity to earn great recognition and build strong rapport. “No, it’s unnecessary—the Master of Unimpeded Memory has already provided subtle hints. I don’t need to repeat them. Moreover, if Dark Night Rose has reached the Organizational level, then how much can I trust Fu Qingyang? That question now stands as a doubt.” Zhang Yuanqing waited for a moment—Cat King Speaker had stopped playing audio. He immediately wrapped the speaker in a light blanket, creating simple sound insulation, and curled into his bed. “The Demon King has experienced instances set during the Ming Dynasty—the characters there relied on cultivation. Isn’t this consistent with what I read in the handnote I found at the Taiyi Gate Temple? If the Spirit Realm is a parallel world, then we are external observers—essentially possessing a 'system' that advances through completing missions?” “Indeed, it's not just me who has sensed the hidden secrets within the Spirit Realm. As a high-level Realm Walker, the Demon King may have further inquiries into this matter. The best course would be to meet with the San Dao Mountain’s Queen—yet that old Lao Bang Zi is simply overwhelming.” “The Cat King Speaker has recorded so many secrets—it can provide me with information far beyond ordinary permissions. By leveraging this information gap, I can hold more secrets and knowledge than other Realm Walkers.” With his thoughts expanding, Zhang Yuanqing gradually drifted into dreams. ... Morning. In the lavish private dining room of Hua Yu Hotel, Xie Lingxi warmly welcomed two distinguished guests—Xiaohou Xin and Xiaohou Tianyuan. “By the way, it’s been some time since I last saw my niece—you’ve grown even more beautiful.” Xiaohou Xin lifted his coffee, grasped it with his hand, and then gestured in mid-air, producing a small mirror—bronze handle, yellow copper surface—about the size of a palm. He smiled kindly: “This is a gift from my uncle—a small prop, not particularly useful, just for fun.” “Thank you, Uncle,” Xie Lingxi’s eyes lit up with delight, her tone tender and graceful. Xiaohou Tianyuan, sitting beside her, couldn’t help but watch her closely. He hadn’t seen this girl in years—her last appearance was when she was still in junior high school. Though neat and elegant, she had always been considered a beautiful young person. But back then, she had still been quite young. Now, after so many years, she had grown into such refined beauty—her voice sweet and delicate, her eyes bright and clear, her spirit pure and innocent. After presenting the gift, Xiaohou Xin moved directly to business: “Lingxi, I’ve heard you've come to Songhai specifically to see the Master of Zhishake Palace?” “Yes, I haven’t seen the palace’s master in a long time—I came to visit her.” Xie Lingxi nodded gracefully. Xiaohou Xin nodded contentedly and asked gently: “Do you know where she is now?” Xie Lingxi shook her head: “After she fought with Grandfather Xiaohou, she went hidden—so I don’t know where exactly she has gone.” This answer did not surprise Xiaohou Xin—he smiled slightly and shifted the topic. “You two are of the same generation—I’d like you to get closer. Though Tianyuan may still have room for improvement, he’s now at level three—he’ll reach Sage status soon enough.” Xie Lingxi immediately adopted a look of admiration, clasping her hands together with eyes shining: “Tianyuan Brother is so talented!” Xiaohou Tianyuan was momentarily taken aback. He had grown used to women’s flattery and eagerness—but this kind of pure, genuine admiration—like that of an unworldly young girl worshipping a close neighbor—was truly beautiful and sincere. It made him feel unexpectedly uplifted. Then Xie Lingxi shifted: “I’ve heard that the Five Elements Alliance has a young man named Yuan Shi Tian Zun—a true talent.” Xiaohou Tianyuan’s expression darkened, an unexpected surge of indignation rising in his chest—he glanced at his father before casually responding: “He can complete two S-level Spirit Realms—definitely capable.” Xie Lingxi looked at him with a bright smile: “I believe Tianyuan Brother is even more accomplished than him.” After breakfast, the Xiaohou family departed. As they left, Xie Lingxi’s pure and sweet demeanor gradually settled into calm composure. Did Xiaohou Tianyuan have a conflict with Yuan Shi Tian Zun? Yes—there had definitely been some tension… The day before, Yuan Shi Tian Zun had called to inquire about the Xiaohou family—he found it odd. Wasn’t that just casual curiosity? He could easily gather such information through minor inquiries within the Five Elements Alliance. So why ask specifically about her? Therefore, she had subtly tested this point—by flattery and praise of Tianyuan’s musical talent. Given Tianyuan’s usually self-important nature, she’d likely have impressed him. Yet when she turned to compliment Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Xiaohou Tianyun’s demeanor softened. It seemed there had been a conflict—and the Xiaohou family was unwilling to make it public—after all, Yuan Shi Tian Zun held considerable merit and accomplishments. Perhaps he had indeed been treated unfairly? While thinking whether or not to call her brother to express concern, the female assistant stepped in: “Miss, they just used the Lying Test Device to probe you.” Xie Lingxi nodded once: “Go investigate—has there been any conflict between the Xiaohou family and Yuan Shi Tian Zun? Find out the reasons behind it.” The assistant: “Yes!” ... In the elevator, Xiaohou Tianyuan said with a murmur: “This girl is growing more beautiful each day. Father—I’d like to marry her. You go and make the proposal at the Xie family.” Xiaohou Tianyuan differed from his elder brother, Xiaohou Tianwen—in that while the latter’s indulgence stemmed primarily from an obsession with women, Tianyuan’s was rooted in personality—arrogant, commanding, self-assured. Xiaohou Xin pondered: “By the way, your aunt-in-law is a distant relative of the Xie family—have her send someone to gather information. With your talents, you’re more than matched.” The father and son exchanged no further words—they stepped out of the elevator, joined by their guards, and entered the vehicle. Xiaohou Xin looked straight ahead and began speaking on business: “The girl doesn’t know where the Master of Zhishake Palace has taken refuge—perhaps there is some contact method, but that’s not vital anymore—we won’t force the Xie family to disclose the details. With the other members of Zhishake Palace also now lost in contact, what are your thoughts on this matter?” Just as the official organization searches extensively across the sea for Black Unchanging, the Xiaohou family has similarly found it difficult to locate the Master of Zhishake Palace. To identify a high-level Realm Walker among such a vast population is extremely challenging—these individuals have numerous strategies to avoid detection in everyday life. Xiaohou Tianyuan smiled: “Even the most capable Realm Walker can be brought under control—if we understand their roots in reality. Since the Xie family maintains contact with her, they must have some understanding of her real-world identity—and she surely has someone close who matters to her.” “We may not reach the core members directly—but we can engage ordinary members of the Xie family and ask them to gather information.” Xiaohou Xin looked at his son—while preferring the younger over the elder, he appreciated Tianyuan’s boldness. Though he often broke rules, that very quality kept him free from rigid constraints. When Xiaohou Tianyuan was young, Xiaohou Xin had already noticed this strength—and over time, he had nurtured it by allowing occasional frustrations. Xiaohou Tianyuan hadn’t disappointed him—though there were many talented younger members in the family, none had ever actually faced serious challenges or been treated unfairly. With continued development, as he learns to master his own 'arrogance,' his accomplishments will surely surpass those of his elder brother Xiaohou Tianwen. “Is there anything else?” asked Xiaohou Xin. “Of course,” said Xiaohou Tianyuan, rubbing the silver earring on his ear: “There’s Wang Qian—he has hidden himself, but his family and relatives cannot escape. I’ll arrange for someone to drive into his family—crash their car—and give them a warning. Then he’ll surely emerge.” Xiaohou Xin shook his head: “Too extreme—it won’t be well received on our ground; it will inevitably draw intervention from the Five Elements Alliance.” It seemed Xiaohou Tianyuan anticipated this very response—he then proposed an alternative: “Then, let’s take the family hostage—keep them safe but don’t kill them. Once we extract Wang Qian, we’ll release his family—and the Five Elements Alliance will surely not object.” Xiaohou Xin nodded slightly: “We’ll implement both strategies simultaneously.” He said no more—he glanced out of the window, a look of concern etched on his brow. Someone must have discovered the Xiaohou family—otherwise this situation would be difficult to explain. This matter is particularly complex—we may need to employ even more assertive measures. ... Wearing fitness attire, Xie Lingxi stretched her graceful figure at the window, preparing to go to the hotel gym for a half-hour session. She couldn’t help it—recently she had been consuming heavier meals—large portions of fish and meat, followed by desserts—and as an Elevated Stage Musician, her physical strength had not improved significantly. Without regular exercise, she still faced a risk of gaining weight. Of course, slight weight gain wasn't bad—it was just that she didn’t want to gain it in the wrong places or lose it in the right ones. Looking down at her modest bust, she comforted herself: “Better this way—better for battle. Women with large chests tend to perish sooner…” At that moment, the female assistant entered wearing a small suit and skirt, said: “Miss, just received information—the Xiaohou family contacted Yuan Shi Tian Zun. One of Zhishake Palace’s members is a personal connection of his. The Xiaohou family wishes Yuan Shi Tian Zun could help retrieve this member. However, no conflict appears to have occurred between them.” When Xie Lingxi first heard the content, her brows furrowed; upon hearing the second part, she beamed with satisfaction: “It seems after being rejected by Yuan Shi Tian Zun, the Xiaohou family quietly reached out—now I’ll go show some care for my brother—he must have been given a good scolding.” The assistant immediately walked over to the bed, unplugged her phone from its charger, and proceeded toward the floor-to-ceiling window: “And there’s one more matter from last night.”