Fu Xuan: My hero

As Cloud-Washing Ink-Tracer rose and fell, and after noticing the unfavorable changes in Jidu Mirage, the Denizens of Abundance Allied Forces finally lost its composure.

The people on the pier and the pen were invisible to them. All they could see was their prized, vibrant planet disappearing piece by piece.

There was no explosion, no fire. Like a fruit being peeled with a knife, the Jidu Mirage shrank and disintegrated without any resistance.

The leading Borisin raised their weapons and roared at the sky, while several huge Houyhnhnms circled in place, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust. The Wingweavers tried to rush towards the Jidu Mirage to find out what was happening, but anyone who got too close would instantly vanish without a trace.

A furious roar exploded over the allied forces, as if questioning something. But Jingxing had no time to answer the question he couldn't understand.

The voice roared three times in a row, and the last time it became so angry that it choked and coughed repeatedly.

Finally, some Borisin stumbled and rushed up from under the pier, knocking over street decorations along the way, heading straight for Jingxing Station.

But they could only pass through Jingxing's body—the wielding of weapons with fierce force, the anger caused by disorientation, nothing could allow them to observe the superior who should not have been observed by them in the first place.

In the end, the group of Borisin could only crash into the railings and tumble and scramble off the pier.

Jingxing didn't even lift an eyelid at the "performance" of this Borisin. Unless Emanator from the Abundance Allied Forces appeared, he couldn't be bothered to deal with a bunch of guys he couldn't even see.

Compared to the chaos of the Denizens of Abundance, Jingxing, while painting on the Jidu Mirage, vaguely sensed a barrier.

It was a very strange feeling, like a drowning person suddenly understanding how to maneuver in the waves, or a blind person suddenly gaining sight.

Under the guidance of Xuzhao and through his internship with Priva II, Jingxing became convinced that he had become quite proficient in using Imaginary Energy and Path Energy.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt that his control over the Path Energy had silently taken another step forward. He even began to hear a voice in his ears. "A little further forward, take another step, faster, faster..."

"Why don't you give it a try?" Just then, a voice came from his right, accompanied by the smell of fruit candy.

Polka Kakamond stood atop a streetlamp by the pier, tilting her head to look at him, smiling broadly.

"You've already reached the threshold," she continued. "Idrila is no more; only the Mirror Holders cries out for her resurrection."

"Although I don't know why you have His approval, it's perfect. If you just take one more step now... you can be elevated to a level worthy of our service."

"So? Tempted? Want to give it a try?" Polka Kakamond's tone was full of enticement.

"That sounds good," Jingxing replied, pushing the ink line deeper into the mirage, "But I refuse."

"Why?" Polka Kakamond taken aback. She really hadn't expected anyone to refuse the temptation of becoming an Aeon.

"First, I don't believe you," he replied. "Second, if I take this step, will I still be able to return to Klimt to paint? Will I still be able to return to the Yuque? Will I still be able to travel freely among the stars?"

Although the Xuzhao, as part of the Aeon of Elation, appears to be very free, is that part of oneself truly still oneself?

Jingxing was unwilling to put this problem into practice.

Polka Kakamond silent, offering no answer to the question. After all, even her earlier persuasion had been done with the intention of deceiving her.

"And most importantly," Jingxing wrote sharply on the Jidu Mirage, "I still have an agreement with them."

"What a pity." Seeing that Jingxing had made up his mind, Polka Kakamond shook her head. "But it's alright, next time we meet, I hope we won't be standing on opposite sides again."

As soon as she finished speaking, her figure faded from the railing, and the sweet scent dissipated with her.

Jingxing couldn't help but think of Idrila had run off to outer space.

"If you were here," he muttered to himself, "You probably wouldn't interfere."

After all, how could mortals fathom the thoughts of Aeon? But mortals also have their own beliefs and connections.

Logically speaking, the history that Fu Xuan and Yaoguang wanted to change had nothing to do with Jingxing. He could have easily tried to forcibly bring them back to the "present." So why did he agree to participate in it back then?

Cloud-Washing Ink-Tracer's brush tip dipped to the ground. Jingxing looked at the Jidu Mirage in the sky, which was teetering on the verge of collapse but had completely lost its threat, and revealed a satisfied smile.

On one hand, that brief encounter at Vesna IV gave him a lot of confidence; on the other hand, although he really didn't want to admit it...

"But this is a knot in her heart that she can't get over."

Jingxing closed his eyes, pouring all the Path Energy of his destiny into this final stroke. With a flick of the brush, the outline of the Jidu Mirage began to crumble from its edges, like a piece of butter thrown onto a hot pan, gradually melting away from his sight and disappearing without a trace.

The Jidu Mirage, which was shattered and driven away by the "High-Cloud Quintet" hundreds of years ago, lost its chance to return this time and vanished in full view of everyone above the Fanghu Xianzhou.

The next second, it was dawn.

The sky above the outer harbor reappeared, a clear blue expanse without a single cloud. As the sunlight fell, the distant sea was pushed by the waves, carrying tattered flags, broken oars, and a few scraps of wood towards the shore.

The voice above the allied forces completely disappeared, and the remaining Abundance troops on the mudflats scattered in panic.

Inside the city, the Cloud Knights and the Pearl-Bearers huddled together, looking at each other in bewilderment.

One of the Cloud Knights, his voice cracking, asked, "Was it... was it the Reignbow Arbiter who made a move?"

Another veteran shook his head. "If it were the Reignbow Arbiter, it should be shooting arrows."

"It is the legacy of Idrila!" someone shouted, pointing to the newly lit Jade Abacus.

Every Jade Abacus in the city was simultaneously glowing. The light screen displayed only a short line of text, a proclamation personally issued by General Rongtao.

[Having endured countless hardships, I have received the blessings of the Idrila. All armies must immediately pursue and not allow any of these Abominations of Abundance to escape unscathed from Fanghu!]

Hearing the cheers and rallies coming from the city, Jingxing, holding onto the railing, slid down and sat on the ground.

He put the Cloud-Washing Ink-Tracer back into his sachet and looked up at the sky.

"So blue..."

Before Jingxing could catch his breath, he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

Fu Xuan ran from the other side of the pier, her hair completely disheveled, her hairpin nowhere to be seen. Halfway there, as if remembering something, she raised her hand to wipe her face, but couldn't get it clean. Still covered in dust, she ran to Jingxing, said nothing, and opened her arms to hug him. When the short Lord Diviner hugged her, Jingxing's chin rested right on the top of her head.

"You've worked hard," she said sullenly, "My hero."