Chapter 1 The Free Federation's Flight to Jing City

At dawn, on a Free Federation flight to Jing City.

In business class, Zhao Chenghuang was covered with a blanket, feigning sleep with his eyes closed. His sharply defined profile highlighted his handsome and aloof demeanor.

After a week's stay in New Covenant Shire, Diya International Airport had finally completed its repairs and resumed international flights. The Saints who had returned from the dead finally boarded a flight back to their homeland.

To Zhao Chenghuang's left was Sun Miaomiao, curled up and fast asleep, while to his right was Yuan Ting, engrossed in group chats and browsing forums.

Guan Ya and Tian Xia Gui Huo boarded a flight back to Songhai, while Hong Ji Ge returned to Soup Province. As for Asano Ryo, joining Tianfa was a job arranged by the Thousand Crane Group, and she could not yet return home.

It was said that the entire Thousand Crane Group held great expectations for her, believing that New Covenant Shire, seasoned by war, was in need of manpower. Ryo-chan's steadfast commitment to her post in New Covenant Shire would surely lead to her being valued and promoted, a rare opportunity.

"Damn it!"

Yuan Ting's sudden exclamation "awakened" Zhao Chenghuang and Sun Miaomiao, attracting the attention of the beautiful flight attendant in the distance.

Yuan Ting waved his hand, dismissing the flight attendant, and lowered his voice.

"Look at the forum..."

[Xiahou Aotian: Yo, Hong Ji Ge can say those words, has he become stupid?]

[This is food that is offered with contempt, Da Zhao. If he wants to be like you, he needs to ask for help, and weakening oneself is the path to peace.]

But we had just retreated to the underground chamber when Chang Wei stopped us. Grandfather knew before us and became furious, severely punishing Yuan Tinghuang with a bamboo stick.

"Finally, let me reiterate: Elder Sun is right!"

But if Grandfather is really a Fallen, how should I deal with myself?

[Hong Ji Ge: That's like a large company developing into a joint-stock company, and then taking a step further to go public, becoming an official organization. Awesome, awesome.]

Yuan Tinghuang arrived at Jing City International Airport in such inner turmoil.

Childhood memories flooded back, Yuan Tinghuang looked up at the tree roots, and decided to take advantage of Grandfather's absence to enter the underground chamber and explore.

The eight of them boarded a special car sent by the Taiyi School. Chang Weihuang said, "Go to the old headquarters."

Yuan Shijun, who had just been promoted to enforcer of the Surveillance Department, received a call from Chang Wei's group leader, Shinjiro Ichiro.

"According to information leaked from within the Seven Line Alliance, Yuan Shi Tianzun has established a force called 'Return of the Dead,' said to have more than ten Sovereigns within it. It can only be said that Yuan Shi Tianzun is not what he used to be. He has completely transformed from a genius with limited potential into a small figure in the Spirit Servant world, a truly small figure."

Yuan Tinghuang closed his phone screen, leaned back again, and said faintly, "Something's up."

Impossible. Grandfather is gentle and domineering, seemingly cool, and not well-liked, but for so many years, he has acted uprightly, not fond of women or power and wealth. I don't believe he is a Fallen... Yuan Tinghuang thought to himself.

Yuan Tinghuang was too lazy to watch the members banter and clicked on Yuan Shi Tianzun's avatar, sending a private message: Thank you.

In terms of character, Yuan Tinghuang couldn't find the slightest trace of a Fallen. If he had to nitpick, it would be his solitary nature, but his solitary nature was because Grandfather cultivated the Taiyin.

He came to the locust tree and asked:

"Ryo-chan, didn't you already know that Yuan Shi Tianzun wasn't dead?"

ps: Correct typos first, then edit.

Yuan Tinghuang was breaking out in a cold sweat listening to this. He understood Yuan Shi Tianzun's meaning. Although the Same Boat Association had disbanded, with the style of the Free Alliance, among the first batch of Chang Wei Xingzhe, there must be spies from the evil faction.

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: Self-reliance? Misappropriating company funds to be self-reliant?]

He began to recall his impressions of Grandfather, trying to find a clue.

[Sun Miaomiao: @Yuan Shi Tianzun, what's going on? Do we have so many Sovereigns in Return of the Dead? Does that mean we're a top-tier force?]

New Covenant Shire.

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: Indeed, there are more than ten. The Devil's Eye Heavenly King has also abandoned the darkness and joined us.]

Yuan Tinghuang typed a "thank you," and was about to send it when he saw Xiahou Aotian say:

He was already prepared to be stuck at Level 8 for a long time. Of course, there were also ways to quickly advance, such as Yuan Shi Tianzun actively sending him a few Level 8 Yin corpses that had been eliminated, supplemented by top-quality props from the gang's warehouse, and Grandfather's help.

Yuan Tinghuang turned into starlight and rose, looking around the courtyard, not seeing Grandfather. The house was quiet, and he didn't see anyone either.

A Level 6 Yin corpse was not very useful. As cannon fodder, Level 4, Level 5, and even Transcendent could do. But if he were to upgrade a Level 8 Yin corpse to Sovereign level, the cost would be too great. Even his uncle would shake his head, it would be better to kill a few Sovereigns.

At this time, he, leaning against the locust tree, suddenly remembered an incident from his childhood.

Yuan Shi Tianzun told him this matter to let him make his own choice.

"Could it be that you want to watch the hope of the Zhao City Group fall into the hands of outsiders?" Shinjiro Ichiro questioned.

Grandfather was one of the first Spirit Servant Xingzhe, rigid and gentle, with a solitary nature, so he was not well-liked. But he had always been fair in his dealings, and the elders in the sect all respected this senior.

[Yuan Tinghuang: The organization that assassinated Huo Zhengkui?]

......

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: Do you still remember Lu Yueshuang's diary in the Pan God's Labyrinth? It mentioned the Same Boat Association inside.]

[Hong Ji Ge: I'll have Dad beat you.]

But he wouldn't bring this up proactively. Young Master Zhao had his pride and dignity.

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: @Chang Weihuang, when you return to the country, come to Songhai, and I'll send you the Greedy God General and the Hundred-Man Slayer Yin corpses.]

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: There's no need to thank me between brothers. Between brothers, you shouldn't hide anything either, Da Zhao. I have a task to give you.]

Leaning against the tree, bathed in the morning light, his mind repeatedly considered Yuan Shi Tianzun's words.

He told Yuan Tinghuang all the information about the Same Boat Association and the secret that the eight leaders all came from the Same Boat Association.

The Taiyin governs secrets and is most suitable for the Fallen to lurk.

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: You cultivate Yin corpses. As for Thousand Crane, didn't she give you an Level 8 Ichikawa Mi?]

"What's wrong?" The two companions beside him simultaneously craned their necks to peek at the screen.

Pinned post: #Yuan Shi Tianzun Makes a Strong Return, Slaying Two Elders of the Southern Faction in One Night#

"He just left an hour ago. Recently, the outer world has been in great turmoil. The Great Elder's physical body has been destroyed, and a new body has not yet been made. The affairs of the sect have been entrusted to the master." Chang Wei replied.

[Hong Ji Ge: You misappropriating public funds is borrowing, but Chang Weihuang accepting Yuan Shi's gifts is food that is offered with contempt, shameless!]

Yuan Tinghuang's mind flashed back to the destruction suffered by New Covenant Shire, the string of casualties on the Seven Line Alliance's reports, and the devastation after the terrorist attacks in various places.

There were not a few people in the sect who cultivated the Taiyin. To believe that Grandfather was a Fallen based on this was too arbitrary... Chang Weihuang shook his head.

[Xiahou Aotian: The essence of a Sovereign lies in quality, not quantity. As long as I'm here, even if Return of the Dead only has one Sovereign, it's still a top-tier force.]

Yuan Tinghuang closed his phone screen and lay back down. He already had an answer in his heart.

How to choose between family affection and great righteousness?

If there was danger in the underground chamber, Grandfather would have said so directly. In addition, with Chang Wei guarding it, even if there was a barrier, children would not be able to enter. Grandfather's fury was somewhat unreasonable.

......

The underground chamber was dark and unlit. Except for Grandfather, no one was allowed to enter. It was the most ideal place for exploration.

The old headquarters was the siheyuan (courtyard house) where they grew up, while the new headquarters was the high-end residential area closer to the city.

Since then, the underground chamber had become a forbidden area in Yuan Tinghuang's heart. He dared not have any designs on it again, and gradually, as he grew older, he forgot about its existence.

[Xiahou Aotian: Below the Sovereign are all ants. A mere Saint dares to challenge this Sovereign.]

Yuan Tinghuang, seeing this, suddenly had a bad premonition.

Chang Weihuang "hmm" ed and sent a message to Sun Miaomiao, asking her to help him send his luggage back to the high-end residential area, while he sat cross-legged under the locust tree, waiting patiently.

After all, no matter how good the relationship with Yuan Shi Tianzun was, it couldn't compare to having a Sovereign-level item in his own hands. Moreover, if a major disaster really occurred, Yuan Shi Tianzun himself would be involved, and he might not have the time or energy to help the Zhao City Group.

"Ah that..." Yuan Shijun looked embarrassed.

[Sun Miaomiao: What about me, what about me? @Yuan Shi Tianzun]

Sun Miaomiao and Zhao Chenghuang immediately picked up their phones, logged into the Taiyi School forum, and then understood the reason for Yuan Ting's loss of composure.

"However, Asano Ryo is willing to share secrets with him, indicating that she treats him as one of her own." Shinjiro Ichiro gave him a blow and then a sweet date, comforting him a few words before finally revealing his purpose:

"According to confirmation from the Five Elements Alliance, between 11:00 and 11:30 last night, Yuan Shi Tianzun attacked the Third Elder and Ninth Elder of the Southern Faction in Yu Rong City, Fujian Province and Shun Tai County, Jiangnan Province, and successfully killed them.

[Yuan Shi Tianzun: What task?]

Chang Weihuang sighed, "That guy, he's conspicuous wherever he goes. Did he really just advance to Sovereign?"

Food offered with contempt, Da Zhao... Yuan Tinghuang's cheek muscles twitched, and he silently deleted "thank you."

The elders mostly still preside over the old headquarters, while the new headquarters are the residences favored by young people.

#Yuan Shi Tianzun recalled a message#

"Since Asano Ryo is not dead, then the Sizhi Mirror should be returned to the Zhao City Group. Ryo-chan, the Sizhi Mirror is an important property of the Chang Wei Group, a Sovereign-quality item that absolutely cannot be lost.

Chang Weihuang was slightly relieved in his heart. He knew that with Yuan Shi's righteousness and generosity, this was only a matter of time, but seeing him mention it proactively, he still had a sense of relief and gratitude.

"Where's Grandfather?"

Cultivating the Taiyin... Yuan Tinghuang's expression changed slightly.

A pale ghost face floated out of the locust tree, conveying mental fluctuations: "Master has gone out."

"When did he leave?" Yuan Tinghuang asked.

......

In addition, with my relationship, even if you want the Sizhi Mirror back, the group leader believes that as long as you come forward to request it, Asano Ryo will lend a helping hand.

"Absolutely not," Yuan Shijun said loudly, then lowered his voice: "Group leader, Asano Ryo is already a Sovereign, and has many allies of the same level. I believe that sending her the Sizhi Mirror as a congratulatory gift for her advancement to Night Tour God will further cement her relationship with the Zhao City Group."

Shinjiro Ichiro rejected her proposal: "With you here, Asano Ryo and the Zhao City Group's friendship will already last forever. There's no need to sacrifice the Sizhi Mirror again. It's an important asset of the Zhao City Group, Ryo-chan, this is an order from the organization."

Grandfather....... Yuan Tinghuang suddenly sat up, staring fixedly at the phone screen, his face extremely unsightly.

The high-level members of Taiyi School liked to use Chang Wei to look after their homes, so they would plant locust trees in the courtyard. Locust trees belonged to Yin, which could nourish ghosts and was an excellent residence for Qianhe.

The Fire Master always spoke directly and was very fair.

He told the old saints about merging the Palace Master of Stopping Slaughter and the Jishi Society into Return of the Dead, turning the Anti-White Alliance into an affiliated organization, and making the Merchant Guild and the Beauty God Association the backers.

"Are you two unaware?" Lingjing suspiciously scanned her two companions, "I was just about to accuse you of hiding such a big thing from me."

Siheyuan.

Multiple buffs added together, he had a chance to advance to Sovereign within a year.

"Everyone knows that Juman, who rose to fame in the New Covenant Shire faction war, was Yuan Shi Tianzun in disguise. In that case, it seems that he did make many Sovereign-level powerhouses during his time in the First District.

Yuan Shijun's thoughts turned, and he said respectfully: "I will convey the organization's request to Asano Ryo."

[Guan Ya: ???]

He didn't have the fighting spirit or interest to compete with Yuan Shi Tianzun anymore. How could mortals compete with evildoers? He was too young before.

Yuan Shijun kept bowing and saying: "Sumimasen."

"The organization hopes that he can come forward and demand it from Asano Ryo."

[Hong Ji Ge: The tone of his voice is very annoying.]

I closed my eyes and feigned sleep, but my heart was hard to calm down. There was a problem with the first batch of Spirit Servant Xingzhe, and Grandfather was also one of the first Spirit Servant Xingzhe.

[Yuan Tinghuang: What task?]

Chang Weihuang sighed, "That guy, he's conspicuous wherever he goes. Did he really just advance to Sovereign?"