Realm Walker

After dismissing her female assistant, Xie Lingxi opened the chat app on her phone and sent a message to Yuanshi Tianzun.

Xie Lingxi: Bro Yuanshi, because of you, I've had a falling out with my mother.

Yuanshi Tianzun: What happened? Your mom didn't hand me a check and tell me to stay away from you, did she?

Xie Lingxi sent a shy, giggling emoji.

Xie Lingxi: But what if my mom really did give you a check to leave me? Would you agree?

Yuanshi Tianzun: Don't be ridiculous!

Lingxi was about to reply with a happy emoji when Bro Yuanshi's next message popped up.

Yuanshi Tianzun: Of course I'd agree. Why would I turn down free money? I'm not stupid.

Xie Lingxi: ...

She pursed her lips, then took her time explaining how her mother had demanded the invitation.

Every time she chatted with Bro Yuanshi, she liked to ramble on about random things so she could keep the conversation going a little longer.

In the beginning, he had been quite attentive, even seizing the opportunity to ask for photos of her in black stockings showing off her legs, or in a short skirt and a top that bared her shoulders. But Lingxi always hemmed and hawed, dodging every request. Over time, Bro Yuanshi simply stopped caring.

Her mother had once told her that men were like that. Give them what they wanted and you were a goddess. Hold back, and you were nothing to them. By all logic, she should have been throwing him the occasional treat to keep him on the hook. But Xie Lingxi had her own ideas.

From what she had gathered, Bro Yuanshi was the type who seemed frivolous on the surface but didn't actually pay much attention to women. A girl with a nice figure and a pretty face might catch his eye briefly, but anyone too forward would send him running in the other direction. Therefore, Lingxi was simply stringing him along in her own way.

Yuanshi Tianzun: Oh, well that's just being unfilial. If Auntie wants to watch the competition, how could you not give her a ticket? Is it true that the invitations sell for a hundred thousand? She can come to me directly. Money is no object. I'd do it mainly for your sake.

Bro Yuanshi really was shameless.

Xie Lingxi: Bro Yuanshi, you're the best.

***

Inside the tea room of Crab Lake Villa, in Jiangsu Province, a woman was preparing tea. The room was furnished with rattan chairs, a folding screen, a tea table and tea tray, and was fragrant with sandalwood incense. The plain-faced, middle-aged woman picked up a pair of small tongs and gently cracked apart a tea cake, her movements elegant and unhurried as she prepared the brew.

Beside the table, lounging in a rattan chair, was a beautiful woman in an apricot-colored dress. She set down her phone, wrinkled her dainty nose, and huffed.

"That wretched girl. She agreed too quickly. She's definitely planning to brush me off."

Her figure was voluptuous, but there was a refined air to her. Her stomach was as flat as a young girl's, but her chest boasted a fullness that younger women could only envy. Her hips were soft and generous, their supple curves clearly defined as they pressed themselves into the rattan chair.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, with a stunning, heart-shaped face. Black eyeliner traced the contours of her bright, captivating eyes. What truly set her apart was the girlish playfulness woven into her mature allure.

The woman turned to the middle-aged servant across the tea tray. "Aunt Wang, go make a trip to Songhai and bring the invitation back to me."

The servant sighed. "Madam, why pick a fight with the young miss?"

The woman smiled gently. "That little brat can't stop talking about Yuanshi Tianzun every chance she gets. 'Bro Yuanshi' this, 'Bro Yuanshi' that. She's clearly smitten. I need to go see him for myself."

Aunt Wang shook her head. "Is that really what this is about?"

The woman's demeanor shifted entirely. Hands on her hips, she snapped, "I'm going to remind that girl who's the mother and who's the child. If she won't give me the invitation, I'll take it myself. Does she think she can defy me?"

***

In the squad leader's office in the annex building behind Kangyang District Public Security Bureau, Zhang Yuanqing closed his lips around a straw and took a sip of iced cola.

"I've already asked Fu Qingyang about it. He doesn't know what the tournament dungeon will be like either. Since it's a newly created dungeon, there won't be any strategy guides for it."

Guan Ya sat on the edge of the sofa, her long, black-stockinged legs pressed neatly together. Li Dongze sat on the single seat sofa opposite her, a cigar between his fingers.

"No point looking for shortcuts," he mused aloud. "Since it's been personally created by the Five Elements Alliance Chiefs, no competitor will get any advance information before the dungeon opens."

The Vision Ward Squad Leader spoke with the gravity of a seasoned veteran.

"However," he continued, "we can make educated guesses about the type of dungeon based on external factors. First, it won't be a death type. I don't think that needs explaining."

Guan Ya and Zhang Yuanqing nodded. It would be of S-rank difficulty, but a non-death type. That combination was almost unheard of outside these special circumstances. In naturally-occurring Spirit Realm dungeons, even A-rank instances rarely came in non-death variants, and S-rank was almost always a death-type dungeon.

The Vision Ward Squad Leader continued, "Second, the core of the dungeon will revolve around combat and competition in order to determine the top three. That means the dungeon's quest line won't be overly complex. What I'm saying is that it won't be complicated, not that it won't be difficult."

If the quest line were too convoluted, victory would simply go to whoever excelled at solving puzzles. In Li Dongze's assessment, puzzle-solving wouldn't carry that much weight. In any dungeon, in any contest, martial prowess always ranked first, while intelligence came second. Though cleverness could sometimes let the weak overcome the strong, allowing them to turn the tide with surprise tactics, one should never forget that before absolute power, every stratagem was a paper tiger.

Guan Ya gave a slight nod and picked up the thread. "In the end, it all comes down to combat strength. In that case, Yuanshi, if you push yourself, making the top three is possible. But winning the championship is a long shot."

She offered Zhang Yuanqing a teasing smile. "Don't be offended. You saw Zhao Chenghuang's fight against Jingwei. She's extraordinarily talented, capable of erupting with power on par with a Walker at the early Saint tier. If Earth God had been the one facing her, even that old man would have come away seriously wounded.

"Sun Miaomiao would probably avoid a direct clash and stall for time, waiting for Jingwei's burst of power to fade. But Zhao Chenghuang fought her head on without using a single Yin corpse, spirit servant, or item, relying purely on his own strength, and still won."

Li Dongze let out a sigh. "I was there that day. That technique he used was something I've never seen or heard of before. It was overwhelmingly powerful. Yuanshi, you have to admit, if it had been you in her place, you wouldn't have survived it."

Zhang Yuanqing gave the scenario some thought. I could drag the fight out using the Yin Yang Spell Robe and the Red Dancing Shoes, but both items have time limits. The robe lasts ten minutes, the shoes, five. If I can't finish Zhao Chenghuang within that window, I lose for certain. And that's not even factoring in his items and spirit servants.

He sighed inwardly, but kept a smile on his face. "Squad Leader, don't you think the technique Zhao Chenghuang used was a bit... inelegant?"

Li Dongze blinked, then nodded vigorously. "Yes. Extremely inelegant!"

He was very pleased with Zhang Yuanqing's perspective.

Just then, Wang Tai shoved open the office door. His hair was a tangled mess, his eyes seemed glazed over, and there were dark circles hanging heavy beneath them.

"Yuanshi, the new rankings from our Scholars are out," he said in a listless drone. "You can check the official forum."

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "Great, thanks."

Wang Tai gave a nod. "Don't bother me unless it's important."

Zhang Yuanqing, Guan Ya, and Li Dongze all lowered their heads simultaneously to check their phones.

【#Top Eight Rankings, Fresh Off the Press#】

【1: Zhao Chenghuang.

【Past record: Cleared two A-rank and four B-rank dungeons.

【Note: We only record dungeon clears B-rank and above.】

【2: Earth God.

【Past record: Cleared one A-rank and six B-rank dungeons.】

【3: Sun Miaomiao.

【Past record: Cleared one A-rank and three B-rank dungeons.】

【4: Yuanshi Tianzun.

【Past record: Cleared two S-rank dungeons and one A-rank dungeon.

【Note: The A-rank dungeon was Yin Yang Town, where Yuanshi Tianzun reportedly unlocked a hidden mission no one had ever reached before.】

【5: World Ablaze.

【Past record: Cleared three A-rank and six B-rank dungeons.】

【6: Tone Deaf.

【Past record: Cleared nine B-rank dungeons.】

【7: Green Pine.

【Past record: Cleared one A-rank and three B-rank dungeons.】

【8: Yuan Ting.

【Past record: Cleared four B-rank dungeons.】

【Analysis: Zhao Chenghuang's position remains unshakable. From start to finish, we still have not seen him deploy any powerful items or formidable spirit servants. Before publishing these rankings, our team was divided over the placement of Sun Miaomiao and Yuanshi Tianzun, but ultimately decided to preserve the order of the existing top three. That said, the odds of Yuanshi Tianzun overtaking Sun Miaomiao are significant.

【As a tactician among Fire Sages, World Ablaze deserves his fifth place ranking...

【Yuan Ting is capable enough, but his dungeon record simply lacks any standout performances, so we've placed him at the bottom.】

Guan Ya finished reading the post and grinned. "Not bad, Yuanshi. You've climbed to fourth, with a real shot at overtaking Sun Miaomiao for third."

For me, anything other than first place is the same, Zhang Yuanqing thought. Third is actually worse than fourth. What am I supposed to do with an Adorable Hair Clip as a prize? Dress up in cute outfits?!

The ranking carried decent credibility. In the comments section, the only real debate was over Yuanshi Tianzun's placement. No one challenged the other rankings.

Queen led the charge in defending Yuanshi Tianzun's honor.

⤷ Call Me Queen: These bookworms only know how to crunch numbers. You'll never understand how terrifying Yuanshi Tianzun is inside an actual dungeon.

Guan Ya's crimson lips curled up into a smile. "Tsk tsk, Yuanshi, Queen is practically your fangirl at this point. Does that give you a sense of accomplishment? Any interest in doing something special for your biggest fan? Perhaps a certain activity that Scorpios are particularly fond of?"

Here we go again. She's testing me. This time, Zhang Yuanqing was fully prepared. He drew himself up with righteous conviction.

"Sis Guan Ya, please don't insult the pure friendship between me and Queen!"

Having first distanced himself from any other woman, he pivoted to a line of flattery carefully tailored to Guan Ya's sensibilities.

"You've looked after me so well at work, Sis Ya," he said earnestly. "I'm the kind of person who never forgets those who do him kindness."

Guan Ya paused for a moment, then her smile bloomed even brighter.

Long live the life coach! I'll burn incense in your honor every day from now on, Zhang Yuanqing exclaimed silently in celebration.

Li Dongze cleared his throat. "Ahem! I can grant you two a couple hours of leave. Now, please get out of my office."

***

That evening, Zhang Yuanqing shooed away his aunt, who had been trying to sneak into his room to play video games, and changed into his pajamas. He planned to turn in early so he would be in peak condition for the dungeon the next day.

As he tried to coax himself to sleep, he began running through battle plans.

Against the top three, the Transcendent-tier items in the White Tiger Guard's guild warehouse won't be of much use. And for anyone ranked below those three, my own items are more than enough, so there's no need to request any gear from Fu Qingyang tomorrow.

Actually, it's not bad that the Scholars ranked me fourth. As long as the top three stay where they are, the other competitors will still see those three as the biggest threats. That gives me room to maneuver, to form alliances and play the field.

Once I'm inside the dungeon, I need to find allies. Yuan Ting may be from the Taiyi Sect, but compared to everyone else, he's the one I know best. He could be useful as a partner. As for the others, I'll figure it out when the time comes.

He mulled over his plans in silence, but a restless agitation kept gnawing at him from somewhere deep inside. He searched his heart, and finally understood the source of his unease. It was Zhao Chenghuang's terrifying control over the Power of the Dark Moon.

He never brought it up voluntarily, but there was no denying it. As a fellow Nocturnal Specter, watching Zhao Chenghuang's display had left him deflated.

They were both at Level 3, yet Zhao Chenghuang's Spirit Talisman technique was flawless, refined to perfection. He had forged a Level 4 Yin corpse through sheer skill alone, and his mastery over the Power of the Dark Moon was staggering. Being outclassed in every dimension was not a pleasant feeling.

If only I could master that same control, he thought.

That would close the gap and give him a real chance to stand against Zhao Chenghuang.

But I can't. I don't have that kind of pinpoint precision.

Zhang Yuanqing pulled the blanket over his head in quiet resignation. Sleep. Just sleep.

The room fell silent save for the hum of the air conditioner blowing out cool air. A dozen seconds later, Zhang Yuanqing threw off the blanket and sat bolt upright.

"Maybe... I actually can."

An idea had just struck him. Zhao Chenghuang's eruption of power stemmed from supreme control over his body and the Power of the Dark Moon, a control so exact that it was akin to balancing on a knife's edge.

That kind of extreme, total body control? He could achieve it too. By triggering his old ailment. In that state, his brain operated in overdrive. Beyond the enhanced memory, his control over his own body would also sharpen dramatically.

What if he triggered the old ailment, deliberately pushed the Power of the Dark Moon into a frenzy, then used that heightened self control to wrestle it back, to find the balance? Could he replicate Zhao Chenghuang's burst of power?

Once the thought took root, sleep became impossible. Zhang Yuanqing abandoned the soft bed at once, pulled open the nightstand drawer, and shook out the remaining half-bottle of pills into his palm.

If the old ailment flares and the Power of the Dark Moon spirals out of control at the same time, it could kill me outright. I have to stay clearheaded. The moment it becomes too much, I have to stop immediately and take the pills. He stood beside the bed, drew a deep breath, then closed his eyes and began to visualize his father's face.

Several minutes passed. His brain jolted with a sharp buzz as fractured images came flooding in and meaningless noise roared through his ears.

His mind became a processor running at full tilt. Past memories, ambient stimuli, and every scrap of information possible crammed their way into every corner of his consciousness.

He ignored the sensory chaos, steadied his emotions, and reached inward to feel the Power of the Dark Moon slumbering inside him. Slowly, carefully, he began to commune with it.

The dark energy grew volatile, surging and crashing through his body like a caged beast. His will clamped down hard, forcing it back. His heart hammered in his chest like a war drum, each beat slamming against his ribcage. His chest heaved visibly with the strain.

Then, without warning, the skin beneath his pajamas flushed a mottled blue-black, and the discoloration rapidly began to spread. In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yuanqing's entire skin had turned the color of a bruise. At the same time, a tingling numbness crept up from his fingertips. He looked down to find ten pitch black, razor-sharp claws where his nails had been, each wreathed in wisps of dark, spectral vapor.

It hurts... it feels like my body is being ripped apart...

He staggered toward the full length mirror by the window. From within its depths, a creature with crimson pupils, a twisted, savage face, and skin the color of death stared out at him.

"Did I... actually do it?!"

A surge of elation shot through him, and the monster in the mirror bared its fangs in a wild grin.

Then, a spike of pain lanced through his skull. The Power of the Dark Moon flickered, on the verge of going out of control. He immediately swallowed the small blue pills clutched in his hand.

The pain in his head receded. Under the iron grip of his heightened willpower, the dark energy stabilized and settled.

He stood there staring at his reflection. Three or four minutes later, the stabbing headache returned. He popped several more pills, then released himself from that state entirely.

Zhang Yuanqing collapsed to the floor with a thud, gasping for air. Wave after wave of exhaustion crashed over him.

While he still had a shred of clarity left, he ran the numbers. Without the pills, this overdrive lasts about thirty seconds. Six or seven pills buys me around three minutes. If I ignore the increasing tolerance towards the pills' effects, the amount I have left at home should be enough to sustain that state for roughly ten minutes.

"I... I can unleash power beyond the Transcendent tier too..."

Zhang Yuanqing mouth split into a wide, triumphant grin, and he promptly passed out.