Chapter 193: Father is a Spirit Realm Walker

Chapter 193: Father is a Spirit Realm Walker

Auditory hallucination?

Zhang Yuanqing stood frozen in place, his face rigid, his first reaction being that he had suffered an auditory hallucination—the whisper by his ear was not real, but a phantom sound produced by some power influencing him.

After all, his father's name could not possibly be known to outsiders, so the greatest likelihood was that the whisper by his ear originated from his own heart.

But why his father's name? If a power similar to illusion arts had affected me, then what it stirred must be the thing I desire most in the depths of my heart. I do not yearn for paternal love; for a father dead many years, only a vague impression remains...

While Zhang Yuanqing was baffled, Fu Qingyang ahead sensed his anomaly, his tone exceptionally grave, and said:

"Don't stop. Walk!"

The Centurion's voice contained a compelling power; Zhang Yuanqing's mind cleared instantly, all distracting thoughts vanishing.

He held his breath and focused his spirit, ignoring the whisper by his ear, striding after the white-suited figure's back toward the zoo gates.

"Zhang Zizhen, you're leaving again, you faithless, treacherous villain..."

The whisper by his ear suddenly turned piercing, resentful, like a spurned, vengeful woman.

Zhang Yuanqing tensed his nerves, silently reciting "If the heart is clear as ice, the sky falling brings no alarm," quickened his pace, and finally followed Fu Qingyang out of the zoo gates.

Instantly, the whisper by his ear vanished.

Zhang Yuanqing dared not linger, dared not look back, heading straight for the luxury sedan. Only when the car started and had driven far away did he dare glance back.

The night was heavy; the zoo's silhouette loomed faintly in the darkness, secluded and eerie.

"Phew!"

Zhang Yuanqing exhaled heavily, as if unburdened, thinking to himself: Dog Elder's zoo is just too damn creepy, isn't it?

Fu Qingyang sat upright in the spacious cushioned seat, his gaze holding a hint of surprise, a hint of gravity, and said:

"What did you hear?"

Zhang Yuanqing chose his words carefully. "A name that should not be spoken. Centurion, I suspect I fell under an illusion art. I just don't know who cast it on me."

Fu Qingyang pinched the half-smoked cigar, lit it himself, exhaled thick white smoke, and said:

"The foundation of illusion arts is detonating emotions, targeting the heart's weakest point. That name you heard—is it the flaw in your soul?"

An illusionist's core ability is actually the guidance and provocation of a target's emotions, able to see a target's inner weakness at a glance. Therefore, Saint-level illusionists (Dream Masters) are also called Heart Demons.

Zhang Yuanqing's expression froze for a moment, then he slowly shook his head.

Fu Qingyang puffed the white smoke: "Then it wasn't an illusion art."

Not an illusion art... The doubt in Zhang Yuanqing's heart was confirmed, yet he felt not the slightest joy, his voice low:

"If the voice I heard wasn't an illusion art, then... who was speaking to me? Could it be that zoo staff, or some animal, were hiding nearby just now?"

Fu Qingyang denied him again: "No. There was nothing around just now."

This was a Scout's judgment.

Zhang Yuanqing fell silent. Fu Qingyang drew hard on the cigar, the smoke harsh through his lungs, exhaling dense white plumes, and said:

“With the staff and animals ruled out, and the Dog Elder excluded, the identity of the speaker became painfully obvious.”

He looked at Zhang Yuanqing, his tone uncharacteristically low:

“The Zoo is a Rule-type artifact. An artifact possessed of its own consciousness.”

Spoken to this extent, it was impossible for Zhang Yuanqing not to understand.

The voice whispering in my ear… was the “Zoo” itself? It knows my father?

My father… was a Spirit Realm Walker?!

Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head, concealing an expression that had twisted slightly.

This conclusion dealt him a tremendous blow, one he could not accept all at once.

If my father was a Spirit Realm Walker, then he hadn't died in a car accident all those years ago. How could a Spirit Realm Walker die such a stifling, ignoble death… The Zoo knew him; there was a connection between them in life. Perhaps he was the previous owner of this Rule-type artifact?

If so, his rank must have been exceedingly high… The Zoo’s whisper in my ear clearly mistook me for my father. It recognized the wrong person? By what metric did it judge me to be Zhang Zhenzhen?

Appearance? Aura? Bloodline? Character Card?

Appearance is the first to be ruled out; my father and I couldn't possibly look exactly alike. The Character Card belongs to the Demon Lord; the Demon Lord and my father are not from the same era. Is it bloodline?

The Zoo is a Wood Demon profession artifact; Wood Demons govern proliferation and life-related abilities. Determining identity through bloodline would be perfectly logical…

Zhang Yuanqing’s thoughts grew clearer and clearer. Simultaneously, he thought of his own inexplicable headaches, the cause of which he only discovered after meeting Mr. Bill: trauma to the soul.

But the problem was, he was a mere mortal. His world and the world of Spirit Realm Walkers were two parallel lines that never intersected. How could he possibly suffer such an injury?

Now he understood.

Although he still didn't know the cause of the injury, it at least proved he wasn't entirely unrelated to the Spirit Realm. Within his family background, there existed a Spirit Realm Walker.

What about my mother? Was she a Spirit Realm Walker too?

Zhang Yuanqing recalled his mother’s anxious, helpless demeanor when his strange illness flared up. If she were a Spirit Realm Walker, she wouldn't have appeared so frantic and panicked.

But she quickly procured a pill to treat soul trauma, proving she had channels. So, while she wasn't a Spirit Realm Walker, she knew of their existence, and had even cultivated certain connections…

Zhang Yuanqing pieced together the context of the matter, bit by bit, by stringing together the details.

Additionally, it suddenly occurred to him: as the current owner of the Zoo, did the Dog Elder have some entanglement with his father?

“Centurion!” Zhang Yuanqing gathered his thoughts. “How did the Dog Elder obtain this Rule-type artifact? Is it one per Lord?”

Fu Qingyang flicked his cigar ash. He had always answered his trusted subordinate's questions without reserve:

“The Elder’s information is not something I can investigate. As for the one-per-person notion…”

Fu Qingyang glanced at him.

In that flat yet unordinary, kingly disdain from the Centurion, Zhang Yuanqing found his answer.

The luxury vehicle continued on. Halfway there, Zhang Yuanqing sent a message to Little Green Tea, arranging to meet the Palace Lord of Cessation at the usual spot.

Then he asked Fu Qingyang for a cigar. He didn't smoke it, just held it between his fingers, spacing out in silence. Only when the cigar was about to go out did he take a drag.

At four in the morning, the streets lay deserted. Zhang Yuanqing wore a mask and a duck-bill cap, his footsteps echoing in solitary resonance.

Across from the Public Security Bureau, the café's doors stood wide open. Bright light spilled through floor-to-ceiling windows onto the pavement, the sole establishment still doing business on this street.

Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the café door with practiced ease and spotted the crimson-clad figure behind the counter.

She was absorbed in brewing coffee, her voice soft: "Go sit over there. Wait a few minutes."

The words struck a familiar chord... Zhang Yuanqing muttered under his breath and picked a table at random.

Before long, the Palace Master of Cessation approached bearing two cups. She set them down, propped her chin on her hand, and gazed at him with a smile playing on her lips: "You've been seeking me out more and more often. Miss me?"

Why does she always have to flirt... Zhang Yuanqing lifted his cup, took a sip, and his brow furrowed instantly.

"Black?" He loathed black coffee—nothing but bitterness and sourness.

The Palace Master of Cessation revealed a crafty grin.

Zhang Yuanqing sighed: "Palace Master, you're just like this cup of coffee."

"Meaning?" Her eyes glittered, smile widening. "Bitter, yet irresistibly alluring?"

"No. Neither sweet nor creamy!"

Zhang Yuanqing had laid the groundwork, delivered the blow, seizing the chance for revenge.

The Palace Master's upturned lips froze. Beneath her mask, her eyes widened, glaring at him.

Zhang Yuanqing shifted gears, voice dropping low: "I'm meeting Demon Eye tonight. Elder Dog interrogated him about the Chu clan extermination case—he demanded to see me by name."

He dared mock a madwoman because he had the leverage.

Sure enough, the Palace Master of Cessation instantly forgot the coffee. Her breathing quickened, body lunging forward, bright eyes locking onto Zhang Yuanqing: "What did you learn?"

Rarely had he seen her so unguarded. His expression turned grave: "Ghost Blade Heavenly King and Annihilation Heavenly King led the slaughter. Asura gave the order personally."

"Asura..." The Palace Master pondered, then slowly shook her head. "The Chu clan and the War God Sect—one south, one north. No grievances, no ties. Mere factional opposition wouldn't drive Asura to order a clan's extermination."

Zhang Yuanqing immediately recounted Demon Eye Heavenly King's account in full.

The Palace Master of Cessation became a statue, unmoving for a long while. At last, a low murmur: "So that's how it is..."

She lifted her gaze to Zhang Yuanqing, her limpid eyes shimmering with an unfamiliar emotion, voice gentle: "Thank you. You've untangled a knot that's bound me for years."

The cause of the Chu family's extermination had always been a knot in her heart she could not untie; after twenty-odd years, she finally understood the whole truth.

Zhang Yuanqing said:

"If the Palace Master wants to find the Night Rose for revenge, she must know who the enemy is. Do you understand the attributes of that rule-type artifact?"

The Palace Master of Cessation lifted her teacup, crimson lips touching the pristine rim, taking a small sip. She set the cup down and recalled:

"I have never personally examined that artifact's attributes, but the clansman who brought me fleeing to Songhai told me it can bring the dead back to life—whether soul annihilated or body shattered to pieces, it can resurrect.

"Its name is the 'Womb of the Mother Goddess,' one of the most supreme rule-type artifacts of the Bard profession. Using it requires two conditions: first, one must prepare the resurrectee's blood in advance—blood brimming with vitality, with specific volume requirements, not merely a single drop, though exactly how much I do not know.

"Second, a descendant of the resurrectee, or a beloved, must serve as sacrifice—equivalent exchange.

"Once these two conditions are met, triggering the artifact's rule, the resurrectee will be reborn from the 'Womb of the Mother Goddess,' and none can stop it—not even the Spirit Realm.

"It also has a limitation: once resurrected from the 'Womb of the Mother Goddess,' one can never use it again. A person gets only one chance, just as no one can return to their mother's womb to begin anew."

Zhang Yuanqing listened silently to the end, then said:

"What does 'blood brimming with vitality' mean?"

The Palace Master of Cessation explained:

"When a Spirit Realm Walker dies, they return to the Spirit Realm—meaning all abilities are reclaimed by the Spirit Realm. Thus, blood before death and after death are not the same. Blood after death cannot resurrect the flesh of a Spirit Realm Walker.

"'Blood brimming with vitality'—you can understand it as blood from before death."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded: "Based on the artifact's usage rules, can we infer that the Night Rose's leader foresaw their own death and made preparations in advance?"

"It is inevitable." The Palace Master of Cessation frowned: "What are you getting at?"

Zhang Yuanqing spoke fluently:

"From the Bright Compass's prophecy, we can learn that Asura chose to invest in the Night Rose's leader—and that was twenty-one years ago.

"At that time, the Night Rose's leader must have possessed a certain rank and standing in the jianghu; Asura would not invest in trash. So we need only investigate: twenty years ago, even thirty years ago, which high-ranking Night Wanderers rose to prominence? Through elimination, can we not lock down the Night Rose leader's identity?"

The Palace Master of Cessation's eyes suddenly brightened, her tone quite excited as she added:

"As the world's largest Night Wanderer organization, the Taiyi Sect—whether in the civilian sphere or the official—would certainly notice and register any Night Walker of exceptional talent.

"Through this thread, we can further pinpoint the Night Rose leader's identity."

She suddenly frowned: "But the Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance, though both official organizations, are not of one mind. If you investigate through the Five Elements Alliance, they will notice..."

At that point, the Taiyi Sect might perfunctorily hand over some worthless records, then investigate secretly themselves.

That would be making a wedding dress for someone else.

Of course, having the Taiyi Sect investigate is fine too, but they likely won't share the intelligence.

Unless we can develop an agent inside the Taiyi Sect! Zhang Yuanqing had no good solution for the moment, and said:

"Let us discuss this matter at length."

The Palace Master of Cessation nodded slightly: "Right now, the arena tournament is most important for you; don't waste energy on these things."

She paused, then suddenly asked:

"The Demon-Eyed Heavenly King wouldn't seek you without purpose. You didn't mention that just now."

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes darted away, refusing to meet her gaze.

The Palace Master of Cessation felt her heart sink. She frowned and commanded, "Speak!"

Zhang Yuanqing wore an expression of helpless resignation.

"He did have a purpose in seeing me. He placed a curse upon me—one that would turn me into something like him. Elder Dog examined my body afterward, but couldn't discover where the curse lay hidden..."

The words had barely fallen when his shoulder was seized by the Palace Master's grip. A sharp sting pierced his skin. He turned his head to find countless writhing red threads crawling between her luminous white fingers, burrowing into his body like parasites.

Moments later, the red threads retracted into the Palace Master's form. She released his hand, grinding her teeth as she spoke:

"As expected, no anomaly can be found... That Demon Eye deserved death. You should never have met him."

Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned grave. "This concerns the Palace Master's heart-knot. I believe the risk was worth taking."

The Palace Master of Cessation froze for a moment.

Seeing her stunned into silence, Zhang Yuanqing knew when to stop. He rose to his feet.

"Don't worry about the curse. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Palace Master, I'll take my leave now."

Without waiting for a response, Zhang Yuanqing strode out of the café.

After walking some distance, he glanced back. The café lights still burned bright—unlike the previous times, when they would extinguish the moment he departed.

"That final maneuver wasn't bad. Earned me merit while knowing when to quit, leaving her to savor it slowly. Ling Jun may be trash, but his techniques for handling women are genuinely masterful."

"I can distinctly feel her attitude toward me has improved..."

Zhang Yuanqing's figure receded into the distance.

...

The next morning at nine o'clock sharp, he opened the official forum as scheduled to check for news.

Feng Laiyi had been right—today's arena matches were indeed cancelled. The officials had posted an announcement on the forum:

#Due to recent tournament adjustments, today's arena matches are cancelled#

It seems headquarters truly intends to change the competition format... Zhang Yuanqing felt not worry but quiet joy. For him, this was favorable.

One-on-one combat he wouldn't boast about, but when it came to clearing dungeons, Zhang Yuanqing's confidence ran deep.

[White Dragon: I heard from Yuan Ting that officials plan to throw the eight finalists into a dungeon. They're currently debating what difficulty level would be appropriate.]

[Call Me Queen: Ah, I heard that yesterday but couldn't confirm. If even Taichi Gate's megaphone says so, it's most likely true. This is perfect—Yuan Shi Tianzun will definitely take first place.]

[Days Ahead: @Call Me Queen, have you considered the possibility that the other seven contestants might unite to eliminate Yuan Shi Tianzun first?]

This Days Ahead always sings doom about me, yet every word carries uncomfortable logic. Everyone who reached the top eight is sharp. A dungeon isn't an arena—expecting fair play is impossible. I really do need to be on guard...

Zhang Yuanqing scrolled through comments for a while, then exited the forum. Since no arena matches today, he might as well find something productive to do.

He hesitated for a long time between two options: finding Xiao Yuan, or finding his mother.

If my father really was a Spirit Realm Walker, then she's kept a great deal from me. Understandable, really—Spirit Realm Walkers belong to supernatural phenomena, inherently difficult to explain.

Besides, I was just an ordinary university student before; what would be the point of telling her?

If I told her I've become a Spirit Realm Walker, she might open up about the past, tell me how this headache of mine came to be.

Better to wait until she returns and discuss it face to face. If a phone call turns sour and she simply hangs up, I'd have no recourse at all. And in person, I could use the Insight Spectacles to observe her... Zhang Yuanqing decided to go see Xiao Yuan.

Following his life mentor's advice, he would deepen his bond with Aunt Xiao Yuan while finding out just what trouble she'd run into.

……

At the Wuyan Hotel, a biting cold wind swept through.

Xiao Yuan stood ramrod straight at the front desk, her striking face devoid of expression, cold as ice, not a trace of the warm smiles meant for greeting and seeing off guests.

All morning, the hotel had received only two parties of guests, one of which had booked by the hour.

Business was bleak, to say the least.

A hotel's location hinges on two factors: the commercial nature of its district, and the convenience of transport.

Airports, high-speed rail stations, tourist attractions, commercial centers, areas near schools — these meet both criteria.

The Wuyan Hotel sat in the suburbs, a small establishment catering to low- and middle-income guests. Years ago, a few factories nearby had brought foot traffic.

Business had been decent enough.

Since last year, with the economy faltering, the surrounding factories had shut down one by one, and the area had gone quiet overnight.

With nothing to do, Xiao Yuan picked up her phone, opened Yuanshi Tianzun's avatar, and typed a message:

"Who's today's matched opponent?"

She hesitated, then deleted the message, shutting off her phone with a blank expression.

Just then, the hotel's glass door swung open, yet the doorway stood empty.

An unseen person had entered.