Chapter 1 The Beginning

Filled with a sense of technology, the unmanned conference room had a peach-colored solid wood table reflecting the lights, clean and bright.

"Di Di~"

On the ceiling, black projectors lit up with yellow boot-up prompts. The soundproof formation activated automatically, and the high-tech floor-to-ceiling windows switched to frosted glass mode.

Life detectors scanned for mosquitoes and flying insects that might have entered the conference room, while the Bagua mirror hanging at the door could reveal resentful spirits, yang energies, and nascent souls.

After the yellow lights flashed for three seconds, they turned green, and slender probes extended from the equipment, casting beams of fluorescent blue light onto the conference table.

The projections of the nine elders from headquarters appeared simultaneously, their gazes all directed towards Fu Qingyang's designated position.

Fu Qingyang was the one who convened this meeting. When they received Qian Gongzi’s invitation, the nine elders had different mentalities: some were apprehensive, some were emotional, some were shocked, and some were helpless.

They knew that Fu Qingyang had entered a dungeon more than a month ago, and they also knew that Fu Qingyang was currently in an S-class dungeon, "Fighting Alone." Once he cleared the dungeon, coupled with his previous zero accumulation, he would inevitably become a level nine Ruler.

But they didn't expect him to be so fast. They didn't expect him to actually clear it.

Level nine Rulers could comprehend and control rules. Fu Qingyang's skill was almost Dao itself, and he would break through to a new level. Adding to that the cloak that even marshals coveted, Qian Gongzi, who had reached level nine, only needed to obtain a rule-based item that matched his level to be on equal footing with these old things who had lived for three centuries.

Compared to Yuanshi Tianzun, a Fu Qingyang with established momentum was even more daunting and vigilant.

Of course, there was also surprise. It was naturally beneficial for the Lawful faction to have one more level nine Ruler from a global perspective.

From the fluorescent blue light on Fu Qingyang's chair, a figure condensed, not the white-clad Qian Gongzi, but Yuanshi Tianzun, with his rebellious eyebrows!

The nine elders were stunned!

"Yuanshi Tianzun?" Miao Chang Lao, half-human and half-tree, with hair like snakes, looked at the young man in surprise and said, "Is Fu Qingyang now using a proxy even for meetings?"

"Boss is still in the dungeon. I'm convening the meeting," Zhang Yuanqing said, leaning lazily against the back of the chair.

The nine elders exchanged glances, their expressions merely displeased.

Fu Qingyang had actually granted all his account password permissions to Yuanshi Tianzun. It should be known that Fu Qingyang's permissions symbolized the pinnacle of power in the second district. A simple command could influence the situation.

Sharing such supreme authority with another was simply absurd, even more so than sharing a wife...

Zhang Yuanqing took the expressions of the nine elders into his eyes, still maintaining his lazy, undisciplined posture, and announced, "First, I'd like to inform everyone of one thing. I'm level eight."

The nine elders were not surprised, even calm. This was all within headquarters' expectations.

"Then, let's talk about the topic of this meeting," Zhang Yuanqing said, "I want to know, how do I enter the Sun dungeon?"

Hearing this, the nine elders silently looked at him with mockery, pity, and sympathy in their eyes, as if they were looking at a whimsical child.

Miao Chang Lao shook his head and chuckled. "Yuanshi Tianzun, the Lord of the Sun is too far away for you. Give up on unrealistic ideas!"

The Great Elder of the Scarlet Fire Gang, with his full head of red hair, spoke directly, "Your level is too low. You can't enter the demi-god's dungeon. Not to mention you, we can't enter either. Besides, even if you did enter, what could you do besides die?"

"Do you really think that with your level eight status, you can compete with the Lord of the Taiyin, the Lord of the Stars, and the Lord of the Sea for the Sun?"

"Your level, power, items, and experience are insignificant in front of a demi-god. The reason the Void Demi-god chose to compromise is precisely because they see no hope in you."

"Wait patiently. The day the Lord of the Sun is born will be the day the evil factions are wiped out."

In his words, he had great confidence in the Lord of the Stars. Di Hong Chang Lao's tone was the most gentle.

"In fact, the Sun dungeon only allows the Taiyin and Star demi-gods to enter. There is a peak Sun Wanderer who theoretically has the potential to become the Lord of the Sun, but in reality, the Lingjing hasn't granted them the qualification."

"Yuanshi Tianzun, it's truly unparalleled that you were able to become a level eight Ruler in one year, but your goal should be the peak Ruler. There's no need to aim too high."

Zhang Yuanqing looked around at the nine elders, then looked at the Sword Pavilion Great Elder with his white eyebrows and beard. This elder, like an old general on the battlefield, shook his head slightly.

Zhang Yuanqing was silent for a few seconds, not too disappointed, but merely verifying what he had thought in his heart, and said, "I understand. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to humor me."

The projection probe above his head went out and then retracted, leaving an empty high-backed chair.

At the Xiahou family, Zhang Yuanqing, stepping on a five-clawed golden dragon, landed in the residential building of this community. It wouldn't be accurate to describe the Xiahou Old Master's residence as a villa; it should be called a manor.

There were three gardens alone, a small parking lot, a super-large swimming pool, and more than six magnificent buildings.

The main building was as luxurious as a castle. Under the guidance of security personnel, he entered the four-story main building and met an old man with scholarly temperament in the underground refining room.

Xiahou Family Head stood in front of the forging table, holding a small black iron hammer, knocking on a piece of broken item. In the furnace next to him, he was firing various colored spar stones.

A Mo Yu Pixiu was lying on top of his head, occasionally turning its head to suck a mouthful of the overly strong Samadhi True Fire from the furnace, and sometimes swallowing a piece of "scrap metal" from the pile of miscellaneous items. When it spat it out, it became pure crystals and ironware, with no impurities.

Zhang Yuanqing stared intently at the vivid Pixiu. It looked like a fresh living thing, a pet of noble breed, rather than an item with a certain spirituality.

Seeing Yuanshi Tianzun enter, Xiahou Family Head smiled while forging, "It's a waste to use the Devouring Beast for combat. I've given it living characteristics. It now has the intelligence of a ten-year-old child and can help me refine item materials, improve quality, save the step of re-smelting materials, and even help me watch the heat. Yuanshi Tianzun, why don't you sell it to me!"

Zhang Yuanqing quickly took out the Jade Purification Bottle and threw it on the table, "Don't try to scam me! I didn't ask you to give it intelligence. You did it voluntarily."

After a pause, he added, "If you really want to buy it, you have to pay according to its current quality."

Xiahou Family Head thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay! What kind of item do you want?"

As a technician, a good auxiliary tool is more valuable than other items, at least that's what he thinks.

Zhang Yuanqing pondered, wanting an item that integrates offense and defense, with auxiliary functions such as armor-breaking, bleeding, poisoning, and paralysis. It would be best if it also had sealing, escape techniques, illusions, manipulation, and so on, the more functions the better.

Xiahou Family Head looked at him expressionlessly. Even that rebellious son of the family wouldn't dare to ask for so much.

"With your current level and item reserves, even a level eight peak Ruler is no match for you. The only ones who can pose a threat to you are level nine high-ranking Rulers. Do you need an item that can withstand level nine attacks, or an item that can damage level nine Rulers?"

Zhang Yuanqing tentatively asked, "Can I have both?"

Xiahou Family Head looked at him expressionlessly, "What do you think!"

Zhang Yuanqing thought for a while and said, "I choose something that can damage level nine Rulers!"

Xiahou Family Head immediately opened his inventory, took out a double-barreled shotgun, and handed it over, "This item was refined in my early years. It fires two bullets at once. The bullets have explosive and burning functions. If the target is hit by six bullets in a row, the seventh shot will detonate the fire energy of the previous six shots, causing a powerful explosion that can seriously injure a level nine early-stage high-ranking Ruler, lightly injure a level nine mid-stage, but the burn from the flames is continuous. As long as you keep shooting, you can turn the light injury into a serious injury. As for the late stage of level nine, it will naturally be unharmed."

"The cost of using it is the recoil. If you activate the Yuanyang War God state, you can fire three shots. After three shots, the bones in your arm will be shattered."

After briefly introducing the item's functions and cost, Xiahou Family Head added, "You need to buy the bullets from me. Each bullet costs 70 million, or a Transcendent item."

Zhang Yuanqing's mouth twitched, "You took my Devouring Beast and still want to fleece me."

Xiahou Family Head said indifferently, "I'll give you twenty bullets for free!"

Zhang Yuanqing said, "Uncle-Grandfather is wise and just. If that rebellious son of the family dares to offend you again, I'll take care of him for you."

After receiving the meter-long double-barreled shotgun and reading the item information,

Zhang Yuanqing also obtained twenty large-caliber bullets from Xiahou Family Head.

These bullets were made of red metal and filled with a Ruler-level material powder instead of gunpowder. The bullet heads were engraved with fine runes, densely packed. If you look at them under a magnifying glass, they are distinct, like carving dragons on a walnut.

There was a reason why Zhang Yuanqing chose an offensive item. In terms of defense, he had electromagnetic protection, the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Shield, and the Zijin Shield. The latter could also trigger rule-based defense, so even a level nine Ruler's attack could be resisted.

On the contrary, in terms of offense, currently, apart from the "Blessing of the God of Light" and the "Thunder God Set," he didn't have any extra means to subdue level nine Rulers. Moreover, the Blessing of the God of Light was a consumable, and the Thunder God Set had a limited duration.

"I want another twenty bullets, cash settlement," Zhang Yuanqing said.

Xiahou Family Head took out another two boxes of bullets, "After you go out, find my eldest son to pay."

After putting away the two boxes of bullets, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Uncle-Grandfather, do you have any way to enter the Sun dungeon?"

"Scholars are knowledgeable and talented, and must have more ways than low-IQ Lingjing Xingzhe."

Xiahou Family Head glanced at him, "If Xiahou Aotian had half your eloquence, he wouldn't be so hated by everyone. But entering the Sun dungeon has nothing to do with IQ; it's related to strength."

"The probability of you entering the Sun dungeon is virtually zero, but you can wait until the battle for the Lord of the Sun ends. If Taiyin and Xingchen are both severely injured and die in the dungeon, you'll have a chance."

"Or, if one of the Taiyin and Xingchen dies, the demi-gods will inevitably fight for the authority. At that time, you can ask them for a chance to become a demi-god."

Zhang Yuanqing was tempted. So, this was why his uncle asked him to act according to the plan and advance to level nine?

This was also why his uncle chose to enter the Sun dungeon to participate in the demi-god melee!

Just like the battle for the Compass of Light back then, his uncle spent all his savings, fought three enemies alone, and seized the Compass shards.

In case one of the Taiyin and Xingchen really died, he could seize a demi-god authority for his heir, thus revitalizing the dead end.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts suddenly became clear. After paying the final payment, he left the Xiahou family and crushed the teleportation jade talisman, arriving again in Wind City, Free Federation.

He arrived at Diana's office.

The Little Aunt was organizing a meeting with the cadres of the Goddess Association. He appeared out of thin air, and she wasn't surprised. She smiled and said, "You guys go out first."

The charming white women picked up their folders and went out one after another, frequently giving Yuanshi Tianzun meaningful glances along the way.

After they left, Zhang Yuanqing said, "I want to enter a gang dungeon again, an S-class one."

Diana's beautiful face bloomed with a smile, "Have you refined your Three Talents Pill?"

How does uncle tell you everything? He also said that he had nothing going on with Diana. Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "I evaluated it, and the Three Talents Pill is not enough for me to break through to level nine. I need a high-difficulty dungeon to cooperate with."

Diana thought for a few seconds and gave a suggestion, "My suggestion is to enter an A-class dungeon, which is relatively safe. If you insist on entering an S-class dungeon, then choose Smoker's Birth."

"That's the one!" Zhang Yuanqing said.

Diana got up and walked to the desk, sitting down in front of the computer, "Wait a moment, I'll notify the elders."

A few seconds later, the Lingjing prompt sounded in Zhang Yuanqing's ear: "The Lingjing map is opening, entering the Lingjing in 30 seconds. The Lingjing you are entering this time is 'Shu Mountain', number 21,

[Difficulty Level: S-Class

[Type: Solo (Death Type

[Main Quest: Eliminate the Yin energy covering the main peak of Shu Mountain]

[Note: Non-Lingjing items cannot be brought in]

[21st Lingjing Introduction: Since the Shu Mountain Sect brought back a coffin, Shu Mountain has been shrouded in strangeness. From then on, no one was seen in Shu Mountain, only ghosts crying]

"Huh?" Zhang Yuanqing looked dazed. The Goddess Association's gang dungeon was actually Shu Mountain?

In the next second, he suddenly realized that he had not opened the Goddess Association's dungeon.

His first solo dungeon as a Ruler, a Sun Wanderer, had arrived!