Chapter 19: Call

***

"Damn it, scared the hell out of me..."

Zhang Yuanqing sat on the edge of the bed, heart pounding. He suspected that if he had returned a second later, he might have come back as a corpse.

Once he finally calmed down, he glanced at the red dancing shoes on his feet, and almost had another heart palpitation.

"Dispel, dispel..."

The red dancing shoes turned into red light and dissipated.

Phew, he almost stomped his feet! Zhang Yuanqing completely relaxed, got up, and walked to the window, gazing at the tall buildings outside, the green leaves reflecting iridescent colors, and listening to the chatter of the residents and the faint noise of vehicles passing by in the neighborhood.

During mealtime, a delivery guy in a blue uniform was speeding through the community on a small moped.

From the window of the neighboring building, came the explosive sound of vegetables hitting hot oil, and the clanging of a spatula stirring in a wok.

Life on Earth was still good, and the bustling metropolis was great...

He stood there for a few minutes until he felt completely rid of that creepy feeling.

Once he calmed down, he couldn't wait to go to the mirror and test his ability.

Settling his emotions and calming his mind, he silently communicated with the power of the lunar yin within him.

Soon, Zhang Yuanqing saw his body in the mirror being erased inch by inch, disappearing into thin air.

Being able to turn invisible, hehehe...

Nine seconds later, his body was reconstituted and presented in the mirror.

"Hmm, a bit tired, as if I ran a few laps on the playground..."

Then, he tried the strength of his physical body, easily denting the battery and cutting a small wound on the back of his hand with a craft knife, which healed and recovered in less than five minutes.

Putting aside the superpowers, his muscle strength alone had already transcended that of an ordinary person.

As for the other active skill "Soul Devour," he hadn't had a chance to use it yet, as there were no spirits around him.

"With my current physical strength, if I trigger an old illness, can my body withstand the overload for a longer period? No, what I should be thinking about is whether there's a doctor profession in the Spirit Realm. I should find someone to take a look at my strange illness."

Afterward, Zhang Yuanqing opened his inventory and admired his items but didn't take them out.

The Demon Subduing Staff was one thing, but what if he took out the red dancing shoes, and they demanded that he dance with them?

Staring at the Demon Subduing Staff, Zhang Yuanqing fell into contemplation.

"If I remember correctly, the Demon Subduing Staff is said to seal the souls of three Mountain Goddesses. Will they come looking for me?" The thought alone was frightening.

"NPCs from the Spirit Realm shouldn't be able to appear in the real world, right? The possibility of me re-entering the Mountain Temple is not that high either. The small mountain temple has already been fully explored, and it's unlikely to trigger another quest."

Although he said that out loud, he had no certainty in his heart, and the smiling faces of the three Mountain Goddesses kept flashing in his mind.

"I'll go to the unit later and consult with Old Siji and the weird-accented translator."

At this moment, someone tried to turn the doorknob a few times, but since Zhang Yuanqing had locked the door in advance, the person outside couldn't enter.

"Zhang Yuanqing, why did you lock the door? Are you doing something naughty?" A sweet and crisp voice of his cousin came through, humming, "It's time for dinner."

Only then did Zhang Yuanqing realize how hungry he was, and he responded with a series of acknowledgments. He quickly put away the Demon Subduing Staff, took off his clothes stained with dust and blood, changed into a spring baseball jersey and black sweatpants, and hid the dirty clothes.

He then walked to the door and unlocked it.

His cousin stood outside, her round and lovely face peeking into the room, with a skeptical tone, she asked, "Why did you lock the door?"

"Practicing divine skills."

"What kind of divine skills?"

"Those skilled in the art of the enemy will be victorious in battle."

"Brat, looking for trouble?"

His cousin glared at him ferociously, her eyes full of charm, round and large, bright and lively, without any bloodshot or cloudiness. The ancients used the term 'autumn water clear eyes' to describe such sparkling big eyes.

At the dining table, Zhang Yuanqing devoured the remaining food with a significantly increased appetite. His grandmother felt pleased with her culinary progress but lamented that she had cooked too little food today.

"Tomorrow is the first day of school. Go to bed early tonight so you won't oversleep when it's time to get up," Grandma advised.

"If my cousin doesn't come to my room to play games tonight, then I can sleep early," Zhang Yuanqing quickly shifted the blame.

He received a kick under the table.

"She has to work too," Grandma turned to her daughter and said, "If she has to work overtime tomorrow, let me know in advance."

His cousin was an intern in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at a public tertiary hospital. When she had free time, she was really free, but when busy, she was even more exhausted than a workaholic.

"Why don't you try getting to know some male colleagues? There should be many male doctors at the hospital who would pursue you," Grandma inquired.

"Mum, you underestimate me. Even men who come with their wives for prenatal check-ups secretly ask for my contact information," his cousin proudly said.

Grandma raised her hand, and her daughter's face shrank in response as she quietly continued eating her meal.

While the mother and daughter chatted, Zhang Yuanqing's mind wandered to the afternoon's tasks.

"After eating, I should contact Guan Ya and inform the authorities that I successfully cleared the level. I also need to write a report on the dungeon. I wonder if the 'First Clear' report is valuable and how many rewards it's worth."

"I must mention the awakening of the Mountain Goddess in that report; I mustn't forget. It feels like a hidden quest," he thought.

After finishing the meal and resolving the hunger problem, Zhang Yuanqing returned to his room and realized that his phone was out of battery.

Due to his involvement with the Spirit Realm, he had forgotten to charge his phone.

After charging it, he noticed that he had missed four or five calls. The caller ID displayed: Guan Ya.

Two of the calls were from an hour ago, back when he was still in the Spirit Realm, and the remaining three were from two minutes ago.

"Why so eager to confirm if I'm dead?" Zhang Yuanqing sarcastically thought. He used his finger to dial and called Guan Ya back.

.......

On the second floor of a small building, the glass walls reflected the sunlight. In a spacious and luxurious office, Li Dongze finished his lunch and glanced at his wristwatch. Leaning on a cane, he walked to the office area.

"Guan Ya, any news from Yuanshi?" This was the third time he asked the same question. Although he didn't hold too much hope, he couldn't help but keep worrying until everything was settled.

He had already prepared an apology letter to send if things turned out unfavorably. He would admit his carelessness and lack of scouting expertise.

As for that little brat Yuanshi Tianzun, although it was a pity, the trial task that opened up the character card was something beyond human ability.

"His phone is off," Guan Ya shook her head. "I've called him five or six times already."

Unable to reach him... Li Dongze seemed to have anticipated this. He sighed silently. "Let's wait a bit longer, just a little longer..."

"Alright, Commander," Guan Ya smiled, comfortingly saying, "Until the results come out, anything is possible. It's like Schrödinger's cat. Without opening the box, we'll never know if it's alive or dead."

Next to her, Wang Tai couldn't help but speak up, "Schrödinger's cat is not used like this... From a probability standpoint, without any special means or assistance, the possibility of him clearing the Sheling Tunnel is almost zero."

Li Dongze and Guan Ya's faces darkened, "Shut up!" they said in unison.

"Did I say something wrong again..." Wang Tai silently lowered his head. This guy was socially challenged! Li Dongze and Guan Ya silently criticized him in their hearts.

After working together for so long, they had given up on trying to improve Wang Tai's emotional intelligence.

Guan Ya felt that interesting souls and dull souls could be instantly distinguished. Just look at that little brat, Yuanshi Tianzun. He was handsome and articulate. If he could become a colleague, it wouldn't be so boring at work.

Unfortunately, luck was not on their side.

If they still couldn't contact him by the end of work, then there would be no hope left... Guan Ya sighed and lazily leaned back in her chair, making her white shirt look tight around her ample chest.

"Report to me immediately if there's any news," Li Dongze said before turning to leave. As he did, Guan Ya's phone on the desk suddenly rang.

Li Dongze halted his steps, his gaze fixed on Guan Ya's phone.

Caller ID: Yuanshi Tianzun.

Li Dongze's breath became rapid.

Guan Ya bounced up from her chair, knocking over items on the desk with a clang.

Wide-eyed, her face filled with astonishment and ecstatic joy, she picked up the phone while looking at Li Dongze.

"Speaker on!" Li Dongze's voice was low and serious.

The two of them looked solemn, as if they were handling a call from a kidnapper.

Guan Ya answered the call with anticipation and suppressed excitement. "Yuanshi?"

"I cleared the trial task and came out of the Mountain Temple," Zhang Yuanqing's voice came through the speaker.

Guan Ya and Li Dongze were both stunned.

Wang Tai, who had been oblivious to the world outside, suddenly raised his head. This obsessed scholar's face showed shock and amazement.

After a moment of daze, Li Dongze's mustache on his lips danced with visible speed, exclaiming, "Oh, my God! Did you hear my prayers? This is so unbelievable! Oh, my goodness, I can't believe it's true!"

He quickly noticed his loss of composure and tried to restrain himself, "Elegance, be elegant..."

Li Dongze knew what clearing the Sheling Tunnel meant. An S-level Spirit Realm that Taiyi Sect deemed impossible to conquer had been defeated. It would undoubtedly attract intense attention. Although Yuanshi was a newcomer, it was foreseeable that he would rise to fame and become a relatively well-known Spirit Realm practitioner.

Furthermore, the information and items contained within an S-level Spirit Realm were substantial rewards. Both official and non-official organizations were eager to conquer high-difficulty Spirit Realms, especially aiming for the "First Clear" because it was the fastest and most effective way to strengthen their organizations.

The last point, and the most crucial one, was that in the Songhai region, there were only a few night tour Spirit Realms. The existence of the Sheling Tunnel bug had caused the official organizations to lose a significant number of backup night tour spirits.

With a detailed strategy, the number of night tour spirits born each year would increase.

Although the rewards for clearing Spirit Realms after they were conquered couldn't match the "First Clear," the official organizations valued the increase in the number of night tour spirits.

This was enough to draw the attention of the Five Elements Alliance's Elder Council.

"How did you manage to do it?" Guan Ya muttered.

"It's not that difficult; I cleared it effortlessly. Heh, it's just a matter of having legs," Zhang Yuanqing said, speaking in a manner befitting his ID.

Guan Ya was speechless for a moment, unable to determine if he was joking or displaying the prowess of a top student. In her impression, Zhang Yuanqing was a clever university student with good social skills, but to say he was extraordinary was impossible.

Her liking for this new colleague was limited to his pleasant speech and witty humor, but it didn't mean she acknowledged his abilities.

Now, she needed to reassess this newly-promoted night tour spirit.

"Well done, very well done," Li Dongze excitedly tapped his cane and urged, "Hurry to the unit, come right away."

"Alright," Zhang Yuanqing agreed.

After ending the call, Wang Tai couldn't help but say, "He has abilities beyond ordinary people. We don't know in which aspect yet, but there's definitely something special about him. Commander, it seems like you've found a freak."

Upon hearing this, a smile uncontrollably spread across Li Dongze's face, and he coughed, sounding displeased, "Freak? No, he's a genius!"

After speaking, as if he had urgent matters, he hurried to his office.

Li Dongze felt that the title of the apology letter should be more elegant, such as "Apologies, Centurion, I Accidentally Found a Freak."

He couldn't wait any longer.