"Fuck! That scared the shit out of me!"
Zhang Yuanqing collapsed onto the edge of the bed, his heart pounding in his chest.
He suspected that if he had returned even a second later, he might have come back as a mangled corpse.
Just as he finally managed to calm down, his eyes landed on the Red Dancing Shoes on his feet, nearly sending him into another panic.
"Dispel, dispel!"
The Red Dancing Shoes dissolved into a crimson glow and vanished.
Phew, I almost stomped my foot! Zhang Yuanqing finally relaxed, stood up, and walked to the window. He gazed at the towering skyscrapers outside, at the lush green leaves reflecting iridescent light, and listened to the chatter of elderly residents in the courtyard and the distant hum of traffic.
It was dinnertime, and delivery drivers in blue uniforms zipped through the neighborhood on their electric scooters.
From the neighboring apartment building, he heard the sizzle of vegetables hitting hot oil and the clanging of a spatula stirring in a wok.
Humanity is so good... and big cities are even better.
After standing there for several minutes, he finally felt completely free of the lingering terror.
Once he had calmed down, he eagerly rushed to the mirror to test his new skill.
He stilled his emotions, calmed his mind, and silently channeled the Lunar Power within him.
Soon, Zhang Yuanqing saw his reflection in the mirror gradually fade away, vanishing into thin air.
It really works! Heh heh heh.
Nine seconds later, his body reappeared in the mirror, its outline reforming.
"Hmm, I feel a bit tired, like I've run a few laps around the track."
Next, he tested his physical strength, easily denting a battery with his grip. He then used a utility knife to make a small cut on the back of his hand, which healed completely in less than five minutes.
Even without his supernatural abilities, his increased muscle strength alone had already surpassed that of ordinary humans.
As for his other active skill, "Soul Devouring," he hadn't had a chance to use it yet, as there were no Spectral Entities nearby.
"Now that my physique is so much stronger, if my old illness flares up, could my body withstand the overload for longer? Wait, I should be wondering if there are any medical professions among the Spirit Realm Walkers. I need to find someone to examine my strange condition."
Zhang Yuanqing then opened his Inventory to admire his items, but he didn't take any out.
The Demon Subduing Pestle was fine, but if he took out the Red Dancing Shoes, what if they demanded he join them in an awkward dance?
Staring at the Demon Subduing Pestle, Zhang Yuanqing fell into deep thought.
"If I remember correctly, the Banyan Spirit said the Demon Subduing Pestle seals three strands of the Goddess of Sandaoshan's Yang Soul. Could she come looking for me?"
The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.
"The NPCs from the Spirit Realm shouldn't be able to manifest in the real world, right? And I'm unlikely to return to the Mountain God Temple. That tiny temple has already been fully explored; it couldn't possibly support another quest."
Though he voiced these assurances, doubt lingered in his heart. The three smiles of the Goddess of Sandaoshan flashed repeatedly through his mind.
"I'll head to the office later and ask Veteran Driver and Translation Tone Weirdo for confirmation."
Just then, the doorknob rattled as someone tried to turn it. But Zhang Yuanqing had locked the door from the inside, preventing entry.
"Zhang Yuanqing, why's the door locked? Are you up to something sneaky?" Aunt's sweet, melodious voice called out, followed by a playful hum. "Dinner's ready."
Only then did Zhang Yuanqing realize how hungry he was. He responded eagerly, quickly stowing the Demon Subduing Pestle, stripping off his blood- and dust-stained clothes, and changing into a spring baseball jacket and black sweatpants. He hid the dirty clothes before finally opening the door.
Aunt stood outside, her round, pretty face peering into the room with suspicion. "Why was the door locked?"
"Practicing divine arts."
"What kind of divine arts?"
"The Great Art of Mastering Foreign Techniques to Subdue the Barbarians."
"You little brat, looking for a beating?" Aunt glared fiercely, her eyes captivatingly round and large, bright and lively, without a hint of redness or cloudiness.
These were the kind of sparkling, wide eyes the ancients meant when they spoke of "autumn water-clear eyes."
At the dining table, Zhang Yuanqing devoured the food with gusto, his appetite having grown considerably. Grandmother beamed with pride at her improved cooking skills, yet fretted that she hadn't prepared enough dishes.
"School starts tomorrow. You should go to bed early tonight," Grandmother warned. "Don't complain when I have to wake you up."
"I'd go to bed early if Aunt didn't come to my room to play games every night," Zhang Yuanqing retorted, immediately shifting the blame.
A sharp kick landed on his shin under the table.
"She has work too," Grandmother said, turning to her daughter. "If you have to work overtime tomorrow, call me beforehand."
Aunt was an intern in obstetrics and gynecology at a top-tier public hospital. When she wasn't busy, she was utterly idle, but when work piled up, she was more exhausted than a corporate slave.
"You should socialize more with your male colleagues," Grandmother probed. "I bet plenty of doctors at the hospital are after you."
"Mom, think bigger," Aunt said, striking a confident pose with her hands on her hips. "Even men who bring their wives for prenatal checkups secretly ask for my number."
Grandmother raised her hand, and Aunt shrank back, silently shoveling rice into her mouth.
As the mother and daughter chatted, Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts drifted to his afternoon tasks.
"After lunch, I need to contact Guan Ya and inform the Official Organization that I successfully cleared the spirit realm. I also need to write a report about the instance. I wonder how valuable a First Kill report is—how much merit can I get for it?"
"I should also mention the Mountain Goddess's awakening. Can't forget that. I have a feeling it's a hidden quest."
After finishing his meal and satisfying his hunger, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room and discovered his phone was dead.
He'd been so preoccupied with the Spirit Realm's affairs and worries that he'd forgotten to charge it.
After plugging it in, he noticed four or five missed calls.
Caller ID: Guan Ya
Two of the calls were from an hour ago, when he was still inside the Spirit Realm, while the remaining three were from just two minutes ago.
"So eager to confirm I'm not dead?" Zhang Yuanqing thought wryly, tapping the screen to call Guan Ya back.
In a two-story building, sunlight glinted off the glass walls.
Inside a spacious, luxurious office, Li Dongze finished a quick lunch, glanced at his wristwatch, and leaned on his cane as he approached the work area.
"Guan Ya, any news from Primordial?"
This was the third time he had asked the same question.
Though he held little hope, the uncertainty gnawed at him until the matter was resolved.
Li Dongze had already drafted his apology letter, waiting only for the outcome before admitting his mistake to the Centurion. His carelessness and lack of professional Scout training had failed him this time.
As for that kid, Primordial Heavenly Venerable, Li Dongze felt a pang of regret. But the Trial Mission triggered by the Character Card was beyond human intervention.
"His phone is off," Guan Ya said, shaking her head. "I've called him five or six times already."
Li Dongze seemed to have anticipated this. He exhaled silently.
"Let's wait a little longer... just a little longer."
"Understood, Chief," Guan Ya replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and offering a reassuring smile. "Until the results are in, anything is possible. Like Schrödinger's cat—until we open the box, we'll never know if it's alive or dead."
Wang Tai, standing nearby, couldn't help but interject:
"That's not how Schrödinger's cat works. Statistically speaking, without special means or assistance, his chances of clearing the She Ling Tunnel are virtually zero."
Guan Ya and Li Dongze's faces darkened. "Shut up!"
Did I say something wrong again? Wang Tai silently lowered his head.
This socially inept idiot! Li Dongze and Guan Ya mentally scolded him.
After working with Wang Tai for so long, they had long given up on trying to improve his emotional intelligence.
Guan Ya thought the contrast between an interesting soul and a dull one had become starkly clear. Look at that Primordial kid—handsome and charming. If he were a colleague, work wouldn't be so tedious anymore.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side.
If we can't reach him by the end of the day, all hope is lost, Guan Ya sighed, leaning back languidly in her soft chair, her full breasts straining against her crisp white shirt.
"Report to me immediately if you hear anything," Li Dongze said, turning to leave.
Just then, Guan Ya's phone rang on the desk.
Li Dongze froze, his gaze fixed on the screen.
Caller ID: Primordial Heavenly Venerable.
Li Dongze's breathing quickened.
Guan Ya jolted up from her chair, slamming into the desk with a loud crash that sent its contents tumbling to the floor.
Her beautiful eyes widened, her face a mixture of shock and wild joy.
She grabbed her phone while glancing at Li Dongze.
Li Dongze's face was tense. "Speakerphone!" he ordered in a low, serious voice.
Their expressions grew grave, as if they were about to negotiate with kidnappers.
Guan Ya answered the call, her voice trembling with anticipation and suppressed elation. "Primordial?"
"I cleared the Trial Mission and escaped the Mountain God Temple," Zhang Yuanqing's voice boomed from the speaker.
Guan Ya and Li Dongze froze in unison.
Wang Tai, who had been engrossed in his data analysis, suddenly looked up, his face a mask of astonishment and disbelief.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Li Dongze's neatly trimmed mustache began to twitch visibly. "Oh, God!" he exclaimed. "Did you hear my prayers? This is unbelievable! Oh, heavens, I can't believe this is real!"
Realizing his outburst, he quickly composed himself. "Elegance, elegance," he muttered, forcing his expression back into its usual dignified composure.
Li Dongze knew what clearing the She Ling Tunnel meant. An S-rank spirit realm deemed impossible by the Taiyi Sect had been conquered, inevitably drawing intense scrutiny. Though Primordial was a newcomer, it was clear he would achieve instant fame, becoming a minor celebrity among Spirit Realm Walkers.
Moreover, the information and items within S-rank spirit realms were tangible and substantial rewards.
Whether official organizations or civilian groups, all were eager to conquer high-difficulty spirit realms, especially securing the First Kill, as it was the most rapid and effective way to strengthen their ranks.
Finally, and most importantly, the Songhai Region had only a handful of Nightwalker Trial Spirit Realms. The She Ling Tunnel's existence as a bug had cost official organizations countless potential Nightwalkers.
With a detailed guide, the annual number of Nightwalkers born would inevitably increase.
While the rewards for clearing a spirit realm after the First Kill wouldn't match the initial bounty, the official organizations valued the increased number of Nightwalkers above all else.
This was enough to capture the attention of the Five Elements Alliance's Council of Elders.
"How... how did you do it?" Guan Ya murmured.
"Nothing to it. I cleared it with ease. Heh, if you have legs, you can clear it."
Primordial Heavenly Venerable spoke words befitting his ID.
Guan Ya was momentarily speechless, unable to discern whether he was joking or simply indulging in a scholar's version of humblebragging. In her mind, Zhang Yuanqing was a clever college student, skilled at socializing, but nothing truly extraordinary.
Her fondness for this new colleague stemmed solely from his pleasant demeanor and witty humor, not from any genuine appreciation of his abilities.
Now, however, she needed to reassess this newly appointed Nightwalker.
"Excellent, you did a fantastic job!" Li Dongze excitedly tapped his cane, urging, "Come to the office immediately. Right now!"
"Understood," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
After ending the call, Wang Tai couldn't help but remark, "He possesses abilities beyond ordinary humans. We don't know the specifics yet, but there's definitely something there. Chief, it seems you've stumbled upon a prodigy."
Hearing this, Li Dongze's smile widened uncontrollably. He coughed, feigning displeasure, and retorted, "Prodigy, not prodigy! He's a genius!"
With that, he hurried toward his office as if a matter of utmost urgency demanded his attention.
Li Dongze mused that the title of the apology letter should be refined for greater elegance, perhaps something like: Centurion, I sincerely apologize for accidentally stumbling upon a prodigy.
He couldn't wait any longer.