Engineer Li spoke while taking out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, shook it in front of Pei Yan, and then handed it to him. Pei Yan took the porcelain bottle, opened the stopper, and a strange smell hit him, causing a burst of coughing, making him shrink his neck back away from the peculiar-smelling bottle.

At this moment, Engineer Li, like a child who succeeded in a prank, laughed heartily, then took back the bottle from Pei Yan’s hand and said proudly: "The department has already obtained various supplements from various planes for us regular researchers and the department agents’ families, prolonging life, maintaining appearance, and beautifying are all included, and then there are these finished drugs; living four or fifty years longer than normal people doesn’t seem to be a problem, this is considered the benefit of entering the investigation department! We’re on this business trip, if only for these goods, it’s worth it."

Then Engineer Li leaned next to Pei Yan’s ear and spoke in a low voice: "Do you know a person named Zhou Yinnong?"

"Zhou Yinnong?" Pei Yan was stunned by this unfamiliar name. If it were anyone else, they might have forgotten. But Pei Yan, who possessed partial mechanical memory storage, quickly recalled who he was after searching this name and nodded: "Oh, I remembered! I’ve crossed paths with him before. When I captured Liu Xiantong, I encountered him. I remember Liu Xiantong mentioned he is a famous trader in the Daoist Realm, trading goods back and forth between planes—one of the few allowed to roam freely between planes by the investigation department. I hear he has quite a good relationship with the department."

"Yes, that’s him! You know, one of the hottest goods he sells is the Youthful Appearance Pill, which can delay aging in the Daoist Realm. It’s mostly used by low-level female cultivators and isn’t very costly. This item has become a hot commodity in the department. Some people even take it as a benefit and go to resell it."

"How is that possible?" Pei Yan said, surprised.

"Of course, it’s not allowed! The existence of alternate planes is still taboo. Several have been severely punished, but some still sell secretly. Actually, the department sells it upstairs as well, just through more confidential channels, and part of the money goes to allowances, and part counts as department bonuses." Engineer Li said as he tucked the porcelain bottle back into his pocket with a sly smile.

Pei Yan wasn’t interested in these deals. He turned instead to asking: "Engineer Li, you said this item can also be claimed by the department agents’ family?"

Engineer Li, naturally understanding what Pei Yan was concerned about, nodded: "I know what you want to ask. Your family and all your squad’s families are eligible to claim it! Besides, you and your sister are both Children of Origin, the pillars of the department, so how can you not have this benefit? However, you haven’t disclosed your identity to your family yet. If the department were to suddenly give items beyond the elders’ understanding, it could cause unnecessary trouble. So the department is closely monitoring your elders’ health. If there are problems, they’ll secretly administer drugs. Once you decide to inform your family of the situation, these items will be distributed monthly to them. According to your current position, you can explain your identity to them, but your family will need to sign a confidentiality agreement. You must remind them to be careful; there are legal consequences for leaking information."

"Thank you, Engineer Li, I will pay attention. Actually, last time I went home, I wanted to talk to my family, but then came the Sword Discussion Conference. I was afraid they’d worry, so I didn’t start the conversation. Now that I am able to say, it looks like after the competition, I need to find time to go home and discuss this with them thoroughly."

Engineer Li noticed Pei Yan’s somewhat expectant expression, knowing this issue had been weighing on his mind for a long time. He patted Pei Yan’s shoulder in comfort, and then the two shared a laugh and went back to enjoying their work meal.

Time swiftly passed, and it soon became the final day of the competition. The modifications to Pei Yan’s crucial parts were still a long way off, but this didn’t affect his participation. The design of these items didn’t depend on these one or two days. So, on the day before the competition, face mechanicians and alchemists from all planes bid farewell, after wishing the investigation department a great victory, preparing to head to the site to witness today’s unprecedented and thrilling showdown.

Arriving in the Daoist Realm, Engineer Li and others who dived into research also had a chance to get some fresh air first by spending a simple excursion within the city under Pei Yan and other agents’ protection. Later, they set off with the investigation department to arrive at the competition site, getting a chance to closely watch this feast of combat.

At the site, Pei Yan noticeably found that the number of spectators had increased significantly compared to before. The expanded circular building was still quite crowded. Except for the spacious-looking private rooms with open windows for high-level attendees, the stands of all other plane camps were bustling with people. Clearly, this final attracted many folks scrambling head over heels to qualify for a spot and attend on-site.

The appearance of the investigation department’s team immediately drew attention from the entire venue, eliciting cheers and applause wherever they went. Besides the Blood Sect, even the Magic Realm, which had the most conflict with theirs, occasionally had individuals stand up and greet the investigation department in salute.

"Have we reached such a high status now?" asked a female researcher new to the Daoist Realm, feeling both excited and curious as she whispered to Engineer Li who walked in front of her.

"They’re not cheering for us, but for the strong! This respect is brought back by those walking ahead through battles." Engineer Li added with a touch of pride: "We also deserve some credit in this."

Passing through the crowd, they reached the investigation department’s podium and sat down. There was still some time before the competition started, and the three responsible for participating had already walked by themselves to the arena edge, beginning their final discussion.

Meanwhile, in rooms of other Lords of the Plane, talks commenced with their respective subordinates. In a private room, Lin Ruxue gently pulled aside the beaded curtain by the window, looking intently through the gap at Pei Yan, who was seriously discussing with Gu Shenghui at the arena edge, and asked without turning her head: "How is your modification progressing?"

"Very smoothly!" Tian Feiming, current Sect Leader of Mo Sect, replied respectfully behind her.

"In your opinion, anyone in this competition can defeat him?" Lin Ruxue carelessly asked.

"To the Spirit Lord, I dare say, I do not believe anyone of the same level or even higher can defeat him one-on-one. Previously, rumors have spoken of Pei Yan as the most formidable below the Spirit Lord. I thought it was a bit exaggerated, but I believe if we complete the final step of modification for him and match him with a divine artifact tailor-made for him, he deserves this honor."

"Oh!" Lin Ruxue’s curiosity was piqued by Tian Feiming’s resolute tone. She turned to look at her subordinate, whose head was deeply bowed, then spun to sit next to the chair, casually pointed to the seat beside, and smiled: "Sit down and reply; it seems you hold him in high regard?"