This guy is testing me. Zhang Yuanqing was no rookie—being a Demon Lord's successor wasn't obvious to outsiders.
The only suspicious point was his frequent ventures into high-difficulty spirit realms, but that was just suspicion. After all, newcomers from Night Wanderer had entered the She Ling Tunnel before. The trial missions were S-rank, but that alone wasn't proof he was a Demon Lord's heir.
As for Jinshui Amusement Park, spirit realms have matching mechanisms—the stronger you are, the harder the dungeon you get. That was perfectly reasonable.
So this Ling Jun was 100% testing him.
Taiyi Sect wouldn't easily give up searching for the Demon Lord's successor. There'd be more tests like this. Zhang Yuanqing scoffed with some pride, wanting to keep his genius image, dismissing disdainfully:
"Who's impressed? What's a Demon Lord's successor anyway?"
Ling Jun smiled broadly: "Looks like I guessed wrong. If you're the Demon Lord's successor, Elder Sun must be even more confused."
This guy had a thick skin. Zhang Yuanqing didn't continue the topic and curiously asked:
"You guys at Taiyi Sect really don't care making up a whole elder? Is that okay?"
"Of course not. But everyone says so, so it's like it doesn't matter. No matter how mad Elder Sun gets, he can only blame the culprit—the team captain Yuan Ting in charge of Kangyang District," Ling Jun said with glee.
"But Elder Sun is still stuck in the dungeon, hasn't come out yet."
Poor Captain Yuan Ting, Zhang Yuanqing silently offered a prayer for him.
At that moment, Fu Qingyang returned with a cold expression, followed by an annoyed Guan Ya.
After leaving some elite members to clear the scene, the group left. Li Dongze and others went back to rest, while the reinforcements headed to search for the real hideout of the rogue "Black Nocturne."
Zhang Yuanqing recognized the apartment's location from his memory.
In the business van on the way back, Guan Ya lazily lay on the leather seat, frowning:
"Don't know what Fu Qingyang ate today, he scolded me."
Zhang Yuanqing laughed: "Maybe he's just dumb but has lots of money?"
Guan Ya blinked suspiciously at him: "Did you say something to him?"
Zhang Yuanqing grinned: "Maybe I have desire but no courage?"
"Oh, you little bastard, if you betray me, prepare for a total mess."
"Arrogant old lady, how do you know who's humiliating who under whose crotch?"
"Come on!"
"Bring it on!"
Li Dongze silently glanced at the two fierce subordinates who were all bark and no bite.
Wolong and Fengchu.
Fu Qingyang returned to his luxurious villa, wordlessly went upstairs to his study, closed the doors and windows, then called Elder Teddy, who was responsible for the Black Nocturne case.
Elder Teddy wasn't really a teddy bear—the spirit realm ID was "Old Man and Dog." A respected senior, orphaned young, raised alongside a dog. He often possessed various dogs and rarely showed his true form.
Of course, it was also a way to conceal himself.
The call connected quickly. From the speaker came a dog bark, then a clearing throat, then Elder Teddy's voice:
"What's the matter?"
His tone was mild but carried authority.
"Tonight, my spirit realm team was ambushed while capturing Black Nocturne," Fu Qingyang calmly reported.
"Someone leaked information," Elder Teddy said slowly, "How bad are the losses?"
His tone was heavy.
"Three seriously wounded, others lightly hurt," Fu Qingyang deliberately emphasized, "They should have been wiped out."
"Hm?"
"The newly recruited Night Wanderer killed Black Nocturne and saved the whole team." Fu Qingyang stressed this to curry favor with Yuanshi Tianzun, increasing his weight in the elder's eyes.
This way, many troubles from Taiyi Sect elders would be deflected.
Elder Teddy was silent for a few seconds, then chuckled:
"Well done. Haven't seen such an interesting newcomer for a long time. Definitely can't let Taiyi Sect have him."
He sighed, seeming much more relaxed, and asked:
"Anything else?"
Fu Qingyang recounted all the intelligence obtained from the spirit inquiry.
No more words came from Elder Teddy; silence followed, even the faint dog barks vanished.
"Elder?" Fu Qingyang's eyes flickered, "Do you know anything about 'Dark Night Rose'?"
A sigh on the other end:
"The last time I heard of that group was over twenty years ago, linked to a spirit realm aristocratic family's turmoil."
"Turmoil involving spirit realm aristocrats?" Fu Qingyang pondered, seeming to recall something, "Among the three musician families, one was destroyed twenty-one years ago."
"That's not for you to know, or at least I can't reveal it. If you want to know, ask your clan yourself," Elder Teddy said lightly.
"The Marshal already approved my application. Soon, the Tiger Tally will be delivered to Songhai, and the annual 'physical exam' is coming. I plan to combine the two, haha, let's see how many black sheep are in the Five Elements Alliance."
At 2 a.m., Zhang Yuanqing took the elevator back home, circled to a blind spot in corridor cameras, and activated Night Wanderer skill.
He opened the corridor window, skillfully flipped out, used the air conditioner unit as a step, leapt up, grabbed his bedroom window ledge, and climbed in.
Before the mission, he had deliberately left the window open.
He changed out of torn clothes, turned the door handle, pretended to get up to use the bathroom, and took a shower.
Washing off dirt and blood wiped away fatigue and minor injuries. Thanks to Night Wanderer's strong vitality, unless wounds were fatal or limbs lost, no treatment was needed.
Back in his room, he sat by the desk, closed his eyes, and reviewed the day's battle.
"With my current skills, I can easily solo three Level-3 walkers. Hmm, Red Dance Shoes can handle one, Ghost Bride three, King Cat's audio control, and Little Joker provides support."
"Too bad Bloodthirsty Blade and Demon Subduing Pestle don't have self-awareness to deal with enemies themselves."
Opening his eyes, he logged into the official database on his laptop.
Typed in "Spirit Realm Origin."
Dozens of results, all speculations from official walkers. The more plausible guess: spirit realms are products of alien or prehistoric technology.
Less reliable theories claimed spirit realms are real parallel worlds, with detailed personal stories of emotional encounters and immersive experiences indistinguishable from reality.
"Damn, this is turning dirty halfway through. Why aren't these posts edited?" Zhang Yuanqing sighed and logged out.
All search results were fanciful guesses without official endorsement. No official stance was available.
Either the official had no research or he lacked clearance.
He'd have to wait for a promotion to dig deeper. For now, he had Taiyi Sect's questioning, Black Nocturne's capture, and revenge on that bastard Xiahou Tianyuan to handle.
Just as he left the desk to sleep, the King Cat speaker in his drawer crackled with static.
Was it about to sing or play some naughty audio?
Startled, Zhang Yuanqing opened the drawer. At the same time, a hoarse, low voice came from the speaker:
"Just finished a solo spirit realm run, background Ming Dynasty. I noticed something strange—they cultivate to gain supernatural power. Is that just background design or something else?"
"Never mind, I'm already Level 3. After the first killing dungeon, I'll advance to Saint. Still no way to break the restrictions. Hope to gain something at Saint level."
Zhang Yuanqing's pupils contracted. The Demon Lord's voice.
He held his breath and listened carefully.
"Not joining the official was my biggest mistake. Night Wanderer's solo dungeons are too hard. Lack of guides. Even A-rank realms give you chills; S-rank death rate hits 90%. No clue if there are harder levels. Whatever, I can't pass the official physical exam anyway."
"I heard the female marshal of the White Tiger Troops repeatedly cleared S-rank realms during transcendent and saint stages. Damn, that woman's badass—I want to sleep with her."
No, you won't. You later got your ass kicked by her. Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but snark internally.
So at the Demon Lord's transcendent stage, she was already marshal? How old is she now?
"The female marshal is the pinnacle of spirit realm walkers, too distant, an ambitious goal. Now I must stay grounded. Need to hunt evil professions. Without reputation points, can't attack lawful spirit realm walkers. Must kill ten lawful profession walkers monthly—that's my task."
"One more kill left this month. Today I captured a Wood Demon from the Hundred Flowers Society. So tender-skinned. She offered herself to survive, but I care more about my performance."
"The Wood Demon from Hundred Flowers Society is damn fine, a real beauty. As a trade, I didn't kill her. Heh, one must keep their word."
"Your word my ass!" Zhang Yuanqing's brow twitched.
Only now did he realize why Taiyi Sect's Yuan Ting said the Demon Lord was a fallen Night Wanderer—this guy's heart was crooked, definitely not righteous.
How the hell is Bing brother involved with such a character?
The speaker crackled again; the Demon Lord's voice faded.
Zhang Yuanqing waited a moment, then a second audio started.
This time, it wasn't the Demon Lord monologuing but talking with someone else:
Demon Lord: "Today I killed a Five Elements Alliance steward. Saw some interesting things from his spirit form."
A sharp voice: "Speak up if you got something."
"That guy's a Five Elements Alliance member but secretly loyal to Dark Night Rose."
"Dark Night Rose?"
"Oh, you never heard of them? Seems this group is deeply hidden. From current intel, their leader should be a Night Wanderer. Heh, someone at that spirit realm level wouldn't be called a Night Wanderer anymore. I can give you their contact info. You've always wanted to overthrow the Five Elements Alliance."
"Good! Don't lie or you'll pay."
"Then give me the strategy for dungeon 0029."
After several seconds of silence, the Demon Lord said, satisfied:
"Deal done. Black Nocturne, are you planning a solo spirit realm run soon?"
"None of your business."
"Don't die. I'm very interested in your head. One day I'll personally take it—along with your boss's."