The portrait is that of a Water God’s elder, who calmly remarked: “Although our engagement has been brief, I’ve used seventy percent of my strength. As for the Magician's Eye, it only deployed forty percent—my own force, combined with his, leaves us no decisive advantage in this confrontation. My initial assessment is that two elders would be needed to hold their ground against him—of course, this doesn’t include the use of props or the situation where the Magician’s Eye becomes enraged and begins slaughtering ordinary citizens as a means to sustain itself through war efforts. The formidable strength and terrifying nature of an Ancient War God—you should all be aware of that.” A senior from the Chì Huǒ Clan scoffed: “Regardless of how powerful the Ancient War God may be, even if he becomes fully enraged and relentlessly slaughters common people in order to draw vital essence, simply relying on one such figure, we—six elders together—cannot possibly stand against him.” No matter how many variables arise on the battlefield, nor how strong the Ancient War God might grow, he cannot single-handedly face off against six masters. The elder from the White Tiger Army spoke with firm resolve: “This isn’t a question of whether we can win—it's simply about how to eliminate the Magician’s Eye at minimal cost. Over these past few days, the Magician’s Eye has been appearing openly in Place—deliberately making us hesitant to act there. Of course, he also won't dare fight us directly within bustling city districts.” The power of a master-level warrior is equivalent to that of a human-powered bomber—everywhere they go, everything is reduced to ashes. The more powerful the Realm Walker, the more restrained they tend to be in real-life operations, since no one wants to become an official target listed for ongoing pursuit and constantly broadcasted on the news. Moreover, such an official designation applies universally across all realm walkers—both those aligned with order and those representing chaos. Once placed under official pursuit, even a master-level warrior becomes a pariah in public life—a common enemy of both righteousness and disorder—and will be aggressively attacked by both parties when offered significant rewards. Thus, the elders of Place have found themselves deeply troubled—while they can easily manage an outnumbered defense against the Magician’s Eye, it is precisely the requirement for resolving this issue quietly, without disturbing ordinary citizens that proves difficult. “To suppress battlefield noise and avoid affecting civilians, we must either relocate the Magician’s Eye away from urban centers or guide him into a secret realm. Can our zoo—your so-called ‘dog elder’'s animal sanctuary—confine the Magician’s Eye?” The voice of the Master of Zhishake Palace echoed through the conference room. Her tone was gentle and soft, languid as though she were lazily lounging on a couch, engaging in casual conversation rather than leading a formal, high-level meeting. Driven by the principle that ‘an enemy of an enemy is a friend,’ the elders from Place established contact with the Master of Zhishake Palace upon learning of the Magician’s Eye’s arrival at Place—despite the fact that this woman was a wandering scholar and currently under official pursuit. Nevertheless, these senior leaders maintained a flexible professional threshold: while they shared common goals in confronting the Magician’s Eye, they remained steadfastly friends among themselves. The ‘dog elder’ spoke slowly: “The rule-type prop can indeed confine the Magician’s Eye—however, only when the physical form of the prop arrives on site. A projected image, by contrast, will not be sufficient. While the physical body is mobile, it lacks the ability to forcibly detain individuals. We must therefore encourage the Magician’s Eye to enter our zoo voluntarily—how might we entice an Ancient War God to willingly surrender himself?” Once inside, he would face no possibility of exit—the Magician’s Eye could not possibly be convinced. Suddenly, the Elder from the Inner Courtyard asked: “Lady Master, how has your fishing lure progressed?” The Lady Master replied calmly: “The lure has been observed closely—yet it hasn’t taken the bait yet. The Magician’s Eye possesses excellent patience; he is usually nervous and anxious, but when critical issues arise, he remains utterly unflinching.” This ‘fishing lure’ was deliberately arranged by her—the presence of puppet figures publicly revealed in underground markets. After appearing once, these puppets were immediately monitored—yet the Magician’s Eye remained patient, observing quietly without taking immediate action. The Elder from the Inner Courtyard pondered: “Could we use this lure to entice the Magician’s Eye into the zoo?” Lady Master sighed: “Firstly, the weight of this lure is insufficient—we would need me personally to serve as the bait. Secondly, the vertical eye of the Magician’s Eye can detect and penetrate disguise—our zoo lacks any hidden aura capability.” For a moment, silence settled over the conference room. A single master-level evil organization had proven far more challenging than expected. The elder from the White Tiger Army sighed: “Over these past days, the Magician’s Eye has been displaying himself in public—deliberately testing our patience and proving that we are helpless. Although he does not intend to fully perish.” An official grand tournament is about to begin—the moment the Magician’s Eye causes any disturbance within Place, headquarters will surely hold the senior leaders accountable. Other divisions would also mock the performance of the senior leaders in Place. Most critically, at this very juncture, should the Yuan Shi Tian Zun face an unexpected incident—then it would be a severe blow to the reputation of the Five Elements Alliance. Moreover—who knows whether the Magician’s Eye's presence in Place is merely incidental, or if his true intention lies hidden—to ultimately eliminate the senior leaders of Place? This issue directly affects the safety and well-being of all present. Thus, the unresolved matter of the Magician’s Eye has caused persistent anxiety among the elders. The elder from Chì Huǒ Clan held back emotion for a long time before finally expressing frustration: “Frequent appearances in public—arrogant and unbounded—deliberately making us uncomfortable. ‘Hmph,’ he truly believes we are now powerless? If each of us is under some form of constraint, then no one will have the confidence to stand tall—we could all simply be driven to mutual destruction. I shall personally confront the Magician’s Eye in battle and see how it ends.” No response followed from within the room. The Lady Master murmured: “As a senior elder, what is there to say that sounds so dramatic?” The elder from Water God’s Palace added with a scornful laugh: “His words aren’t merely rhetorical—he has demonstrated such actions before. Never underestimate the wisdom and composure of a Fire Master.” Lady Master chuckled: “How do you official people describe me? As a madwoman, as overly passionate—yet I believe your senior elders are truly the ones who suffer from mental strain.” At this moment, the ‘dog elder’ slowly stated: “I have an idea.” The room fell silent once again—all four masters leaned forward attentively. “To conceal the Magician’s Eye’s awareness and thus entice him to ‘accidentally enter’ our zoo—that is not difficult. Only one Void-Being needs to intervene, creating a visual illusion—once the illusion is established, the Magician’s Eye will be unable to detect the existence of the zoo.” The title “Void-Being” refers specifically to a master-level Illusionist. The elder from Chì Huǒ Clan replied with irritation: “Isn’t this merely stating the obvious? How could a Void-Being possibly align with us?” Suddenly, he paused—his mind seemed to recall something significant. The elder from White Tiger Army smiled: “An excellent idea—if such a Void-Being is able to step forward, then our matter will be secured.” Then he added: “But our prestige is insufficient—we simply cannot summon him.” Elder from Water God’s Palace proposed: “Let Yuan Shi Tian Zun personally appear and intervene.” The Elder from the Inner Courtyard hesitated: “Yet even that might prove difficult—Yuan Shi Tian Zun would not likely act for a mere extraordinary realm walker. Should he indeed step in, we will need to reassess his true value within our organization.” “Everyone…” Lady Master interrupted, expressing genuine confusion and an unusual emotional tone: “What is it you're discussing? When did Yuan Shi Tian Zun develop such a close relationship with the Void-Being? I have never heard of this connection before.” The elder from Chì Huǒ Clan responded coldly: “Why should I know about such matters? You may be close to Yuan Shi Tian Zun, but he is ultimately one of my Five Elements Alliance colleagues. Why would anything of significance be shared exclusively with me?” As he finished speaking, the Lady Master seemed momentarily puzzled—her teeth gently grinding as if searching for a reason to speak. The ‘dog elder’ then declared: “Then let us proceed accordingly—I will notify Yuan Shi Tian Zun personally and request his appearance. All of you will await further news.” … “Do the elders wish me to personally approach Master Wú Hén and assist?” At home, Zhang Yuanqing listened to Fu Qingyang’s phone call, astonished. Fu Qingyang said simply: “Is there any issue?” Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows: “But you must know—Master Wú Hén constantly battles with his inner demons. Once he channels true energy into action, the accumulated anger surges upward and may result in loss of control.” A master-level leader should be easily overwhelmed by such intensity. To defend against one’s internal enemy requires calmness and a life far removed from daily chaos and conflict. Fu Qingyang replied calmly: “All that is needed is for him to generate the illusion—no actual combat involvement required. Moreover, our relationship with Master Wú Hén lacks trust—should he wish to participate, the elders may not agree.” “I’ll try….” Zhang Yuanqing hesitated—not confident in making a firm commitment. After hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing immediately donned his “Silent One” mask and stepped out into the world—the ten minutes later saw him ride an on-demand taxi to Jinshan City. On board, gazing at the scenes outside through the window, he found himself lost in deep thought. According to the elders’ plan—if Master Wú Hén is willing to step in, then success in eliminating the Magician’s Eye becomes assured. The issue lies only in one scenario: what if Master Wú Hén declines? How could the dignity of Yuan Shi Tian Zun carry such weight with a master of Buddhist cultivation? Yet, the Magician’s King must be resolved—hiding is merely a temporary strategy—it cannot last. It concerns matters of life and death—not something one can simply ignore. Once he personally confronts him, all plans will collapse. As the on-demand taxi approached Wú Hén Hotel, Zhang Yuanqing had a clear plan forming in his mind. “Stop!” he called out. The driver did not halt—“Not yet there.” “I’ll give you fifty cash as a supplement—no extra charge.” With a firm press of the brake, the taxi stopped at the roadside: “Have a good journey!” Zhang Yuanqing paid the fare and stepped out into the quiet surroundings—seeing no one in sight, he removed his Silent One mask and quietly faded from view. Then, he began sprinting toward Wú Hén Hotel. At this point, it was still over thirty kilometers away. With current physical strength, maintaining a sprint for thirty kilometers would not be difficult—but sustaining such pace under the condition of Night Wanderer’s stamina—would be extremely taxing. When Zhang Yuanqing arrived at the outer edge of Wú Hén Hotel, his energy had been drained nearly to its limit—he was pale, sweating profusely as though a floodgate had opened. “Huff…huff…” He emerged from the side area, leaning against a wall, hands resting on his knees, breathing deeply and heavily. So tired—his last moment of near-collapse had been during his time in Yin-Yang Town… Zhang Yuanqing swallowed—he found no saliva at all to lubricate his throat. After resting for one or two minutes, he staggered around to the front side of the building, pushed open the glass door of Wú Hén Hotel, and loudly called out: “Little Yuan—save me!” At the counter, Little Yuan was busily arranging her phone when she suddenly looked up in alarm. Seeing the scene of Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s condition, her expression instantly turned serious. She quickly set down her phone and rushed over, her brows furrowed, her face sharp with urgency: “Who injured you?” Zhang Yuanqing described his ordeal with emotion: “It was that relentless Magician King—finally, he has found me! A true King of the heavens, yet he humbly dares to attack a mere ordinary person. If not for the intervention of senior leaders from Place, I might have already been fatally wounded.” Little Yuan’s eyes narrowed—she muttered: “That wild dog!” She helped support the frail Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun into an adjacent chair and said: “What is this?” “I’m having a relapse,” Zhang Yuanqing explained quickly—and swiftly shifted the topic: “The Magician King has pushed me to such lengths—he’s truly unbearable. I don’t know what to do anymore.” “How far has he gone?” Little Yuan asked, her face now grave. Zhang Yuanqing seized on the opportunity: “The senior leaders have been actively formulating plans to counteract the Magician’s Eye—but one key element has faltered—specifically, they require a powerful Illusionist to take part in this effort. Little Yuan—I would like to meet Master Wú Hén.” “Would you like Master Wú Hén to intervene?” Little Yuan asked, her brows furrowed with hesitation. “You know he’s unavailable due to constraints—and it violates the rules he has established—Master Wú Hén is a very disciplined elder.” “It's only about creating an illusion,” Zhang Yuanqing added, sighing, “That’s precisely what I told the elders. Therefore, I am unable to remain in Place—I have come here to seek refuge with you.” Little Yuan observed him silently. She remembered a Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun who was vibrant and confident—only now, after just several days apart, he appeared so subdued and worn down—it seemed true that the Magician King had deeply affected him. A surge of unexpected anger stirred within her heart. Taking a deep breath, she pondered: “If it is only about generating an illusion—I can personally escort you to meet Master Wú Hén and convey your request.” Zhang Yuanqing grasped her hand with genuine delight: “Really?” Little Yuan gently withdrew her hand and nodded. They immediately proceeded into the depths of the hotel, taking the elevator to arrive at Room 404. “Knock-knock!” Little Yuan tapped lightly on the door: “Master Wú Hén—Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun has come to request a meeting.” She then attempted to turn the handle. If the handle turned smoothly, it meant Master Wú Hén would be willing to meet him. Should it fail to turn—the meeting was deemed canceled. To her delight, she found the handle easily turned—surrounding scenes and surroundings gently distorted, rippling outward in waves. In a flash, the two arrived inside an ancient temple, its ceiling adorned with painted gods and bodhisattvas, and ahead stood a golden statue of Buddha, his hands folded, eyes slightly half-closed—both gentle and stern at once. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath of the rich incense aroma, then clasped his hands together: “Master, I’ve been spotted by the King of the Magi-Eye. Last night, I nearly died at his hands. The elders of the Place Branch have devised a plan…” He then recounted to Master Wuhen all the actions taken against the Magi-Eye. Master Wuhen remained quietly seated, silent throughout. Zhang Yuanqing bowed deeply: “Please save me, Master.” Still unspoken, Master Wuhen remained silent. Xiao Yuan couldn’t hold back and said: “Master, if all you do is create illusions—something that doesn't interfere with your meditation practice—then when the Yuan Shi is threatened by the Magi-Eye, it would be nothing out of the ordinary for you to step in and help.” After a long silence, Master Wuhen’s voice emerged, strained with emotion: “Yet! At that moment, simply break this jade symbol.” With that, a shimmering glow, dark yet flowing, floated from his sleeve and landed at Zhang Yuanqing’s feet. Zhang Yuanqing was thrilled: “Thank you so much, Master.” The two made no停留, respectfully bowed and stepped out of the temple. Holding the jade symbol in his hands, Zhang Yuanqing exhaled deeply, relieved, then turned to Xiao Yuan and said: “I’ll make a phone call to report this.” Xiao Yuan replied calmly: “Why not just walk on?” Tired, wanting to rest a bit… Zhang Yuanqing explained seriously: “It’s been a rare visit to Jinshan City. I’d naturally like to spend more time getting to know Aunt Xiao Yuan.” Xiao Yuan was momentarily taken aback. Zhang Yuanqing had already moved to the side and pulled out his Smartphone, dialing Fu Qingyang’s number. …