Chapter 69

In the classification of Spirit Realm Walkers, levels 1-3 are the Extraordinary stage, levels 4-6 are the Saint stage, and levels 7-9 are the Sovereign stage.

The Butler is at the Saint stage, while the Elders are at the Sovereign stage. What lies above the Sovereign stage, Zhang Yuanqing is not quite sure, as he lacks the authority to check, but he guesses it should be the level where the five Alliance Leaders are.

Furthermore, based on the number of Butlers, the Demon Lord and the Wily Eye Judge should be at the Sovereign stage. If they were only at the Saint stage, the Five Elements Alliance wouldn't take them so seriously.

It's worth noting that within the same stage, the difference in strength between different levels is significant. For example, in the Extraordinary stage, a level 2 can easily overpower a level 1, and a level 3 can dominate a level 2, excluding the effects of equipment and profession counters.

Illusionists are one of the peak professions, stronger than Fire Masters. Even if Great Master Wuhen is at the Sovereign stage, he is not considered weak. Zhang Yuanqing had thought this Illusionist was extraordinary, but he didn't expect her to be at such a high level.

From another perspective, being able to get a Sovereign-level figure to act once is like having an extra get-out-of-jail-free card.

Unfortunately, it can't be used in the Spirit Realm.

"This makes sense. The Spirit Realm is a single-player instance. Even high-level Spirit Realm Walkers can't just barge in halfway through. Exceptions are made for native bosses like the Three Peaks Mountain Lady."

Zhang Yuanqing sighed, closed the page, and continued searching for the mechanism of Spirit Realm tasks.

[After completing a trial mission, group Spirit Realms open once a month, and solo Spirit Realms open once every three months. In the month when a solo Spirit Realm opens, a group Spirit Realm will not open. Each mission is spaced at least half a month apart. The pattern for Spirit Realm Walkers entering instances is: group—group—solo, in a cycle.]

"In other words, Spirit Realm Walkers face a life-or-death crisis every three months. If they get lucky and match a low-difficulty solo Spirit Realm, the death rate isn't high, and at most, they'll level up a bit slower. Well, that's good."

"Each mission is spaced at least half a month apart. I just completed the Golden Water Amusement Park, so I don't have to worry about a mission for half a month."

He continued reading:

[To advance to a higher stage from the peak of each stage, one must participate in a large-scale slaughter instance. This instance can be chosen to participate in or not, and it opens once a year.

[Note: The core of this instance is the mutual hunting between the Lawful and Evil camps, but the instance itself carries significant danger and rewards.]

The large-scale slaughter instance, Bingge mentioned in his message, telling me to complete at least one slaughter instance before finding him. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly understood. He had previously thought the "large-scale slaughter instance" was a high-risk, high-reward solo Spirit Realm.

He stayed in the office until two in the afternoon, then took a taxi to the hospital to try to exorcise spirits and gain experience points. To his surprise, the spirits of ordinary people brought only a negligible amount of experience.

Zhang Yuanqing exorcised ten spirits in one go, but the experience gained was less than 1%.

The newbie village's small monsters can no longer satisfy me. It seems I need to devour Spirit Realm Walkers. He slipped into the bathroom and used the Demon Subduing Staff to purify the mental pollution caused by the spirits.

At seven in the evening, at the dining table.

Zhang Yuanqing summoned Little Dopey and let him wander in the living room.

"Cough, cough!" Grandma cleared her throat and announced:

"I have an old friend whose granddaughter is about the same age as Yuanzi and is in her second year of college. I plan to introduce her to Yuanzi."

Aunt Zhang opened her mouth wide, looking at her mother in shock.

Grandpa and Cousin dug their ears.

Is this a good thing? Zhang Yuanqing was secretly delighted.

Grandpa frowned and said, "He should focus on his studies. You can't try to balance things out because Yuer and Yuanjun are not up to par."

Not up to par? Chen Yuanjun glanced at Grandpa. Grandpa usually didn't care about his and Aunt Zhang's arranged dates, but it turns out he was worried inside.

Grandma waved her hand, dismissing the objections. "I've made up my mind. I'm doing this for Yuanzi."

Grandpa's expression didn't change as he looked at his wife. "I'm thinking of you. Yuanzi is not focused, and it's hard for him to concentrate on a girlfriend. You and your old friend have been friends for so long; don't ruin it."

Grandpa, are you saying I'm a flirt? You must be saying I'm a flirt!! Zhang Yuanqing was不服气 (unconvinced). From a young age, he had never had a girlfriend. There are few boys as pure as him in this world.

But he didn't dare to contradict Grandpa. Grandma had a bad temper but rarely used her hands, while Grandpa never scolded but could give a sudden kick.

"I oppose!" Aunt Zhang joined Grandpa's camp. "Mom, why do you have to meddle? If Big Sister finds out you arranged a girlfriend for him, she'll call and scold you. She said she's taking Yuanzi abroad for further studies next year."

Hearing Aunt Zhang mention his mother, Zhang Yuanqing's face fell.

Grandma thought for a moment and felt that her husband and daughter had a point. She gave up, glared at Zhang Yuanqing, and scolded:

"Useless thing, you were born with a handsome face for nothing."

Zhang Yuanqing felt guilty and lowered his head to eat, while Aunt Zhang and Cousin looked suspicious.

After dinner, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes scanned the room and finally found the koala-like infant spirit on Aunt Zhang's calf.

For some reason, this little guy was particularly attached to Aunt Zhang, probably because she looked the most like his mother in the family.

Now, with enough Yin energy, the little guy could control his abilities and wouldn't "exchange" aimlessly.

At midnight, Zhang Yuanqing played a game, feeling satisfied, turned off the game console, and got into bed, using the method of counting sheep to force himself to sleep.

After a long time, he finally felt sleepy. In a daze, he suddenly woke up, a strong sense of fear rising in his heart.

This fear was similar to what he felt at the Wuhen Hotel this morning but was more overwhelming and distant.

What's happening? He pulled back the covers, feeling lost and frightened, and went to the window, pulling the curtains to look at the glittering city night.

About five minutes later, the overwhelming fluctuation disappeared, and everything returned to normal.

Lacking experience, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't determine what had happened, muttered to himself, and climbed back into bed, trying to fall asleep again.

Really, I have to start counting sheep again.

The next morning at 7:30, he got up on time and saw Jiang Yuer sitting listlessly at the table, looking pale and sickly.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.

"My period," Aunt Zhang said, sounding aggrieved.

Zhang Yuanqing looked around; Grandpa wasn't there, and Grandma was in the kitchen. He leaned in and whispered, "Come, let your nephew rub your stomach."

"Get lost!" Jiang Yuer hit him on the head.

At this moment, Grandma came out, and the two immediately fell silent.

After breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing pretended to go upstairs and took a taxi to the office.

In the office area, only Wang Tai was there.

"Wang Tai, where's Old Si Ji?"

"In the Captain's office."

"Oh!" Zhang Yuanqing sat down at his desk. About ten minutes later, Guan Ya came out, looking serious, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Yuan Shi, I was just about to call you."

Guan Ya took a sip of tea, leaned on Zhang Yuanqing's desk, and said:

"Did you notice anything strange last night?"

Do you mean the almost-pee-your-pants kind? Zhang Yuanqing said, "Yes, I was startled awake, but I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to."

Old Si Ji nodded lightly:

"Last night, an expert from the Xiahou family had a conflict with the Palace Master of the Stop-Killing Palace. The location was in the Kangyang Industrial Park. The conflict caused an office building to collapse, but fortunately, it was nighttime, and there weren't many people around.

"But the security guards and a few employees who were working overtime were killed. Really, these high-level Spirit Realm Walkers, when they get bloodthirsty, don't care about the lives of ordinary people."

But I didn't receive a Spirit Realm-issued bounty notice. Hmm, no notice, maybe because both sides' morality values didn't drop below 60. Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned serious.

Morality values have no upper or lower limits. Evil people have no bottom line, and saints have no upper limit.

High-level Spirit Realm Walkers from the Lawful camp, after years of accumulating virtue, definitely have a certain foundation, but to cause such a disturbance, it's not just a matter of deducting morality points. The authorities won't let it go.

"How is the organization planning to handle it?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. The industrial park wasn't far from his home, so it's no wonder he felt the terrifying fluctuation last night.

Guan Ya stroked her teacup and said:

"The expert from the Xiahou family has been temporarily detained, but the punishment won't be severe, just a fine and a warning. The Xiahou family is a giant in the Lawful camp, almost part of the official system, and has close cooperation with the Five Elements Alliance's Taiyi Sect.

"As for the Palace Master of the Stop-Killing Palace, the Elder Council has ordered her arrest. Her real identity hasn't been locked down yet, and they are currently communicating with the Xie family."

Zhang Yuanqing "oh"ed, gazing at the delicate oval face and asked, "But what does this have to do with me?"

Old Si Ji said helplessly:

"The Xiahou family borrowed the information of wild Spirit Realm Walkers from our branch, and they have identified several Spirit Realm Walkers from the Stop-Killing Palace, including Wang Qian. The Xiahou family might come to you soon. I was just discussing this with the Captain."

Seeing Yuan Shi frown in confusion, she explained:

"The Xiahou family wants to force the Palace Master out by capturing members of the Stop-Killing Palace. This method is too extreme, and the Songhai branch's higher-ups haven't explicitly agreed, but they have tacitly allowed it. If they find her, that's best; if not, the Xiahou family will bear the responsibility."

"But they already have Wang Qian's identity information, why come to me?" Zhang Yuanqing's heart stirred, understanding: "Oh, the Xiahou family wants me to lure Wang Qian out for them?"

Guan Ya nodded.

Wang Qian isn't a fool; how can he be easily lured? Zhang Yuanqing firmly refused:

"Impossible, I won't betray my informant."

Guan Ya thought for a moment and reminded him: "The Xiahou family is a bit domineering.