Chapter 370

"It seems the one truly responsible for asking the questions is General of the Skyfall of the Yaoging Xianzhou," Jing Yuan nodded, then asked, "However, is it appropriate to announce the Marshal's order in public...?"

"You arranged for me and General Feixiao to meet at different times, so you could introduce everyone on the train separately. Wasn't that just to test my attitude?" Huai Yan seemed to have known all along, clearly having guessed Jing Yuan's intentions. "Since Mr. Ai Yue wants everyone to be more straightforward, young people shouldn't hold back."

"As expected, nothing can hide from Elder Yan's eyes," Jing Yuan said with a smile, shaking his head. He then changed the subject, "So, regarding another matter I mentioned in the report, I wonder what Elder Yan's thoughts are?"

"You mean, Mr. Ai Yue can help us get rid of the Mara-struck?" Huai Yan asked, then shook his head slightly. "To be honest, this matter... hasn't received enough attention."

"How could this be?" Jing Yuan was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but show a surprised expression. "I reported the whole story in great detail. Didn't the Marshal see it?"

"Perhaps it's precisely because you wrote in such detail that people find it hard to believe," Huai Yan sighed. "Jing Yuan, put yourself in their shoes. If the generals of Fanghu Xianzhou or Xuling Xianzhou suddenly reported that they had encountered a great being who could solve the problem of the Mara-struck, how would you think?"

"I would first suspect this is a trap..." Jing Yuan answered subconsciously, then belatedly realized, "I see. It seems the Alliance still has doubts about the authenticity of this matter. But that's precisely why they should send someone to verify its truth, right?"

"Perhaps they were worried that if this were true, a written order would only anger the other party," Huai Yan guessed somewhat perfunctorily. "But now it seems that this worry was completely unnecessary. Mr. Ai Yue seems to be even more... *** than we imagined."

"Well, it's not really ****," Ai Yue waved his hand. "It seems Jing Yuan didn't include my request in the report, otherwise I suspect there would be more than just two generals here by now."

"Requirements?" Hearing this, Huai Yan looked puzzled. Ai Yue's guess was clearly correct. "What requirements?"

"Uh, this..." Jing Yuan looked at Ai Yue, then at Huai Yan, and hesitated for a moment. After a while, he replied in a low voice, "Mr. Ai Yue wants to use the favor of healing the Mara-struck in exchange for an opportunity to experience the Divine Miracle of the Emperor's Bow up close."

Jing Yuan's words were actually quite euphemistic, but the meaning was still very clear: in the Xianzhou Alliance, there are not many things that can be called the Divine Miracle of the Emperor's Bow. The most common thing is actually guiding the Emperor Bow to shoot an arrow in a designated direction.

In other words, Ai Yue is just asking for a beating.

"This is truly... something I never expected." Even Huai Yan, with his vast experience, was momentarily stunned by this remark. After regaining his composure, he looked at Ai Yue again. "Mr. Ai Yue, may I ask, what exactly is your reason for wanting such a reward?"

Before Ai Yue could reply, a slight commotion arose again at the entrance of the Divinity Manor.

Soon, a tall woman with long silver-white hair, fox ears, and a smart and capable appearance walked in.

"Oh, General Huai Yan, you've arrived quite early," the other party greeted casually, then glanced around and a subtle expression appeared on his face. "This atmosphere... could it be that I've arrived at the wrong time?"

"No, you've come at just the right time," Jing Yuan said with a smile. "General Feixiao, we've been waiting for you."

Chapter 58 Phantylia: You're just using me as a desktop decoration, aren't you?

The General of the Skyfall of the Yaoging Xianzhou, Feixiao.

As the legendary "General of Great Victory," leading the Yaoging Xianzhou in relentless pursuit of the abundant monsters, Feixiao did not appear to be the burly, fleshy woman of the rumors. On the contrary, she was a tall and beautiful woman. Judging from her appearance alone, it would be hard to imagine that she had such a flamboyant nickname as the "General of Great Victory."

But if anyone could sense the intense confidence emanating from her, they would have no doubt about the nickname—a confidence that was by no means arrogance, but rather built upon ironclad facts after countless trials of blood and fire.

Perhaps only a general who constantly pursued the bountiful beasts and returned in triumph with a "great victory" could possess such a natural and innate aura.

With Feixiao's arrival, the Divinity Manor now has three Generals, which also means that all the people sent by the alliance to hold them accountable are in place.

"Mr. Ai Yue and Miss Himeko, right?" After a brief greeting to her two colleagues, Fei Xiao quickly turned her attention to the two parents from the Stellar Train. She readily extended her hand, revealing a hearty smile, "I've heard so much about you two from the company. It's an honor to meet you both."

"General Feixiao, you're too kind," Himeko said, extending her hand in return. Then she looked at Ai Yue, who was standing to the side. "Most of the major daimyo are from Mr. Ai Yue, aren't they?"

"You can't say that. The Stellar Train's achievements are equally important; it's a magnificent feat that connected the Milky Way," Fei Xiao said politely at first, then looked directly at Ai Yue. "But to be honest, I'm actually more curious about Mr. Ai Yue."

"Judging from your expression, you don't actually want to fight me, do you?" Ai Yue didn't even need to look at him to feel the eagerness emanating from him, and couldn't help but feel a little helpless. "Let me make it clear beforehand, I'm just a researcher, not good at fighting."

Jing Yuan, standing to the side, immediately wore a subtle expression, as if he was trying his best to keep his facial muscles from bursting out laughing.

He suddenly remembered the Great Extinguisher Phantylia, who had almost turned the Luofu Xianzhou upside down. Although he hadn't chosen to report the matter, as long as Ai Yue hadn't let go, this Commander-level expert, who was considered to be among the top combatants below the Star God, should still be imprisoned in his hands.

It's worth noting that back then, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng, along with others, couldn't stop Phantylia, who was determined to escape, and were even tricked by her. Yet, Huan Long was quietly imprisoned by Ai Yue. The difference between them is truly unimaginable.

Such a powerful being, whose strength is unfathomable, actually claims to be unskilled in combat. It can only be said that Jing Yuan is too cunning. If the train kids were here, they would probably be laughing their heads off.

"Mr. Ai Yue is quite humorous," Fei Xiao said. Although he didn't know the reason behind it, he wasn't a brainless brute. "The fact that I can't see through your strength is enough to prove that I'm no match for you. Besides, my partners at the company have provided me with a lot of information."

She subtly withdrew her hand and quietly hid it behind her back—if someone could observe Feixiao's condition up close, they would notice that a thin layer of sweat had formed on her palms.

Clearly, her heart was not as calm as it appeared, because the moment Fei Xiao touched Ai Yue's palm, she glimpsed the powerful strength hidden beneath his human appearance.

Although her perception could only perceive a tiny fraction of it, it still made her feel as if she were facing a towering mountain, inspiring her to look up in awe.

However, despite the terrifying power within the other party, it did not bring a feeling of oppression or coldness. Instead, a warm feeling, like being bathed in sunlight, welled up in one's heart.

Perhaps, from this perspective, one can also discern the stance of the person before them; at the very least, someone possessing such power is certainly not the cruel and violent type.

"So, why are you suddenly silent?" Ai Yue looked at the general who had suddenly become dazed, his expression becoming subtle. "Are you frightened?"

With his perception, he could naturally deduce what she had just experienced from the changes in her aura.

"Haha, I wouldn't say I was scared, but I was definitely shocked," Fei Xiao said, having recovered his senses and revealing a bright smile. "Jing Yuan, you've really hit the jackpot this time! No wonder the Luofu Xianzhou was able to keep the damage to such a low level even after such a severe calamity!"

If Fei Xiao had some doubts about the contents of the report uploaded by the Luofu Xianzhou before arriving in Luofu, those doubts vanished after a quick tour of the Luofu Xianzhou and seeing Ai Yue's true form.

With such a powerful figure in charge, it's perfectly reasonable that the losses were so low.

"It seems General Feixiao still had some doubts about the report's contents," Jing Yuan naturally understood Feixiao's implication and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. "But that's not your fault. In fact, I also considered whether to exaggerate the extent of the damage slightly to make the report seem more credible."

"And you can also apply for more aid funds, right?" Huai Yan couldn't help but interject, "Jing Yuan, don't try any tricks like that."

"Haha, Elder Yan, you truly have keen insight. You can see right through my little schemes," Jing Yuan, showing no embarrassment at his tricks being exposed. "In short, now that you've seen the true situation in Luofu, you two should be able to rest assured, right?"

"I'm reassured, but we still need to follow the proper procedures," Fei Xiao smiled and continued, "After all, I'm not here on my own behalf, and besides, reports alone cannot provide all the details of this disaster. So I hope to take this opportunity to have a discussion with Mr. Ai Yue."

Feixiao's direct request to speak with Ai Yue also hinted at another layer of information—she had clearly gathered information and knew that Himeko was not involved in this calamity, so the only real witness present was Ai Yue.

"It doesn't matter, I'll tell you anything I know." Ai Yue shrugged, having already anticipated this development. "But can I make up things I don't know?"

"Then it's best not to. After all, what I ask may not be what I think, and the answer I get from you will have to be shown to the Marshal and the others when we get back." Fei Xiao showed a helpless expression. "In addition, precisely because of this, I hope Mr. Ai Yue will not mind if any of my questions are offensive."

"How offensive could it be?" Ai Yue asked, somewhat curious. "They can't possibly be going to check my household registration, can they?"

"...You really are a very unique person," Fei Xiao was also a little confused by Ai Yue's reaction. She paused for a moment before skipping over this messy topic, "Anyway, shall we begin?"

Ai Yue didn't say anything more, but simply nodded, indicating that Fei Xiao could begin asking questions.

"First, let's talk about why you all came to the Luofu Xianzhou," Fei Xiao quickly got into the swing of things and began to organize his questions. "I read in the report that you were guided here by the wanted criminal, the Stellaron Hunters, in an attempt to resolve the Star Core crisis?"

"Yes, that's it." Ai Yue nodded. "The Stellaron Hunters said that without the train, almost half of the people on the Luofu Xianzhou would have died, so we came."

"This is really..." Fei Xiao paused for a moment, then continued, "But what I want to ask is, you all should have heard of the Stellaron Hunters' notorious reputation. Is there some special reason why you believe their one-sided story so readily?"

"It's related, but not by much." Ai Yue shrugged. "The crucial point is that this matter is related to the star core, and we have no reason to stand idly by—if you've investigated the Stellar Train, you'll find that before the Luofu Xianzhou, we had just dealt with a star core crisis on another planet."

"Yaliluo-VI, huh? I have indeed heard of it," Fei Xiao nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "In that case, the purpose of the Stellar Train is to connect all realms. For a star core that severs the connection between realms, there is indeed reason to take such a countermeasure. It makes sense."

After a pause, Fei Xiao began his second question, "So, the next question concerns the Medicine Master's Legacy. The report mentions that Danshu, the leader of the Medicine Master's Legacy, colluded with the Great Extinguisher and used a star core to revive the Jianmu tree. But Danshu is merely a senior alchemist, not even a master alchemist. How could he possibly have done such a thing?"

"How would I know?" Ai Yue shrugged. "Danshu might have connections, there might be a traitor within the Dragon-Scythe Clan, or it might be Phantylia's doing. In short, I think you've chosen the wrong person to ask this question."

"Indeed, I also think this question is a bit unreasonable," Fei Xiao nodded with an expression of agreement. "In that case, let's move on to the last question—the report says that the Great Extinguisher, Phantylia, is the mastermind behind all the conspiracies, but her origins and whereabouts are shrouded in mystery. Isn't it a bit too convenient to use her as a scapegoat?"

"Oh, so Jing Yuan didn't write it down?" Ai Yue glanced at Jing Yuan, then took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table. "Why don't you interrogate me?"

The atmosphere inside the Divinity Manor instantly plummeted to freezing point, because everyone saw clearly what Ai Yue had pulled out—a transparent sphere slightly larger than a fist, inside which sat a woman dressed in fine clothes, strikingly similar to Huanlong, who had obtained a Phantylia body using the Jianmu tree as described in the report!

Oh no!

Jing Yuan's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously looked at Ai Yue— "Dad, can't you at least give me a heads-up before you take this?!"

If this happens, what about the cover-up I gave you in the report? Was I just putting on a one-man show?

"This is... Phantylia?!" Fei Xiao instantly drew her twin swords, assuming a defensive stance. Huai Yan, though slightly more composed than her, also instantly exuded a powerful aura, clearly wary of what was before her. "Phantylia... has it been with you all along?"

"Yes, her whereabouts aren't exactly a mystery, but I managed to capture her," Ai Yue said quite frankly. "However, I was afraid you didn't have the ability to imprison the Great Extinguisher, so I didn't give her to you. That should be alright, right?"

"Well, theoretically speaking, it shouldn't be a problem," Jing Yuan said, racking his brains. "After all, the Prison of Chains has limited capabilities, and Phantylia is the most bizarre energy life form. Even if Mr. Ai Yue handed her over to us, we wouldn't be able to detain her."

"Indeed, it's already troublesome to detain an ordinary Solaris, let alone an Envoy-level being," Feixiao said after observing for a while and realizing that Phantylia had no ability to break through the sphere's blockade, he gradually calmed down and put away his weapon. "However, this is truly an unexpected development... Jing Yuan, are you really unaware of this?"

"What do you think?" Jing Yuan countered. "You have to play dumb when you need to, right?"

"You're a cultured man, I can't argue with you," Fei Xiao chuckled, not intending to waste any more words on Jing Yuan. "But I will report the truth, you just wait and see how you end up arguing with the Marshal."

Seeing Fei Xiao's smile, Jing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Fei Xiao quite well, and after seeing her respond in a teasing manner, he knew she would help cover it up.

As for casual remarks... since they've already decided to help, a few casual remarks won't hurt, it's not like it'll cost them anything.

"In conclusion, it seems all the questions have been answered," Fei Xiao nodded to Ai Yue, returning to the topic. "With that, my questions end here."

"So, General Feixiao, what do you think?" Huai Yan spoke again at this moment, "Are these answers sufficient to explain the doubts in the report?"

"From my perspective, it's not a big problem," Fei Xiao said casually. "However, these questions I'm asking aren't just for Mr. Ai Yue; they're also to convey a certain message to General Jing Yuan— "

She looked at Jing Yuan and smiled slightly, "I think General Jing Yuan is so resourceful that I don't need to spell it out for him, do I?"

Jing Yuan nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Fei Xiao. He knew very well that what the other party was about to say was not a kind word, and that by glossing over it, he was really giving him face and preventing him from losing face in front of Huai Yan and the passengers of the Stellar Train.

"Very good, very good," Huai Yan with a smile, stroking his beard. "But General Feixiao, is this all the Marshal asked you to do when he ordered you to go to Luofu?"

"Elder Yan is indeed astute. The Marshal did indeed entrust me with something regarding Mr. Ai Yue's matter," Fei Xiao smiled. "However, I pondered this for a long time on the way here before realizing that it was less of an entrustment to me and more of a message for me to deliver to General Jing Yuan."

She looked at Jing Yuan, her expression turning serious. "The Marshal's order to me contained only one sentence: Produce results."

"General Jing Yuan, what are your thoughts on this statement?"

Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Big One Is Coming

Make a difference.

These five short characters, lacking a subject, offer a vast space for interpretation.

If this was said to Fei Xiao, it seems to imply that she should take down Jing Yuan, this radical and risky guy, and make his outrageous behavior an indisputable case, setting an "example" for others.

However, considering that Jing Yuan's appointment as a general was the result of the marshal's strong opposition, such speculation is clearly unreasonable.

If, as Fei Xiao says, this order was merely a message conveyed to Jing Yuan by the Marshal through her, then this so-called "achievement" becomes rather intriguing.

"I must say, the Marshal values you quite a bit, Jing Yuan." Seeing Jing Yuan's thoughtful expression, Feixiao patted him on the shoulder in a carefree manner. "Don't let the Marshal down."

"Jing Yuan will certainly not fail in his mission," Jing Yuan said, his expression turning serious as he came to his senses. "However, I think we need to confirm which specific matter this statement refers to."

"It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now?" Fei Xiao immediately became interested. "Tell me more about it, and I'll see if there's anything I can do to help."

"Indeed, now that the Marshal has chosen to support you, the three of us are naturally on the same side. If you need any help, just ask," Huai Yan added. "In any case, the crisis facing Luofu is not yet completely over, so we must proceed with caution in our next plan."

"Thank you both, Generals. Since that's the case, I have no reason to keep it a secret any longer," Jing Yuan smiled and then said, "Regarding the internal problems of Luofu, I actually have some clues. Cleaning up the internal chaos only requires a suitable opportunity. Before that, I think what the Marshal is really concerned about is something else."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Ai Yue.

Seeing Jing Yuan's reaction, Huai Yan and Fei Xiao also realized something. A strange light flashed in the old general's eyes, and he quickly remembered what Jing Yuan had said before, "Could it be that suggestion about curing the Mara-struck?"

"Heal the Mara-struck?" Fei Xiao's eyes widened, looking somewhat bewildered. "Wait, wasn't that a joke?"

"How could I joke about something like this in a report?" Jing Yuan asked helplessly, then sighed. "It seems that in order to conceal Mr. Ai Yue's existence, we had to hide many details, which led to everyone not taking this news seriously. It's a double-edged sword."

"That's understandable. There are quite a few people in the alliance who have opinions about you. If they find out about Mr. Ai Yue's existence, they might try to trip you up," Huai Yan was very familiar with the power struggles within the Xianzhou Alliance, so he agreed with Jing Yuan's approach. "However, is healing the Mara-struck really feasible?"

Even though he had already learned about Ai Yue's strength through Ai Yue's unintentional display of skill, Huai Yan still couldn't suppress his surprise and doubt when the matter was mentioned.

As the longest-lived member of the Xianzhou Alliance, he had witnessed far too many glimpses of "hope," all of which ended in utter devastation. He thus understood that the Blessing of Abundance could not be resolved simply by overwhelming power; otherwise, even the Lord of the Empyrean Bow, whom they followed and who was one of the most powerful beings in the universe, would have been unable to eradicate it.

But Huai Yan also knew that Jing Yuan, as a general known for his "wisdom and strategy," must have his reasons for making such a judgment. Therefore, he was eager to get a positive answer to soothe his confusion and his long-cherished desire.

"If it's Mr. Ai Yue, then maybe it really will work." Fei Xiao stroked his chin and made this judgment. "Although I don't know much about Mr. Ai Yue, judging from the reactions of our company's partners, their evaluation of Mr. Ai Yue is a bit too high."

"Why say so much?" Ai Yue waved his hand. "No matter how much you think about it, it's not as good as seeing it with your own eyes. My preparations are almost complete. If you want to see it, why don't we do it now?"

"Very well, this matter is of great importance. If both generals can witness it, then the resistance we encounter later will be much less." Jing Yuan made the decision without much hesitation, but then added, "However, generals, before this matter is settled, I hope you can help keep it a secret."

Throughout history, countless things have been ruined by leaked information. Although the example of Ren gave Jing Yuan a great deal of confidence in this matter, he still dared not overlook any detail.

"Don't worry, I understand," Fei Xiao patted Jing Yuan's shoulder, showing an empathetic expression. "As for my side... never mind, I won't say anything more. In short, I won't utter a single word to anyone until you tell me."

"I feel the same way," Huai Yan nodded. "I'm an old man nearing retirement, and if I can witness the completion of such a momentous event while I'm still in office, then I'll feel like I haven't lived in vain."

"Elder Yan, you're too kind. Your importance is evident to everyone in the alliance. There's no need to make such a big deal out of it." Seeing the two generals' expressions of support, Jing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and then nodded to Ai Yue. "I'll leave the rest to Mr. Ai Yue."

"It's alright, it's quite amusing to watch you all spout official jargon," Ai Yue snapped his fingers, and then a white light enveloped everyone. "Let's go—we've arrived."

Almost as soon as the word "left" was slightly drawn out, the white light dissipated from all around them. At the same time, Ai Yue's words "arrived" reached everyone's ears. Fei Xiao and Huai Yan subconsciously looked around, only to find that they had left Divinity Manor and arrived in an unfamiliar place.

The environment here is quite strange. Although it appears ethereal and surrounded by countless plant roots, giving it a fairy-like feel, a highly technological metal building stands in the very center. Its black and silver exterior occasionally flashes with light, making it stand out from its surroundings.

"This isn't..." Himeko recognized the true identity of the metal construct at a glance. She turned to look at Ai Yue, "You brought your section of the carriage down with you?"

Although Ai Yue wasn't the first person to do something like this, seeing how that otherwise ordinary train carriage had been transformed into this, Himeko couldn't help but wonder just how much Black Tech Ai Yue had packed into that carriage.

"Where am I...?" Sensing the abundant and rich power of destiny surrounding him, Fei Xiao instantly realized, "Is this the Jianmu's Mystic Root?"

"No wonder you wanted us to keep this a secret, Jing Yuan." Looking at the grand scene before him, even the Huai Yan couldn't help but sigh. "Just this one scene alone, if leaked out, would be enough to fill the Marshal's desk with complaints against you from those old-fashioned fellows."

What is the Jianmu's Mystic Root? It can be said to be the most core secret of the Luofu Xianzhou. It is not only a place that seals the Blessing of Abundance, but also the foundation of the Luofu Xianzhou. It is a place that needs to be strictly guarded. Even among the high-ranking management of the Luofu Xianzhou, very few people can easily access it.

But now, not only can guests from the Stellar Train be teleported here at will, but they have even built what looks like a base here. If this news leaks out, the accusation of "dereliction of duty" alone could cost Jing Yuan his position as general.

Of course, even if those people didn't know what was happening here, Jing Yuan's act of assigning responsibility for resolving the crisis to outsiders and easily coming into contact with the traces of the plague in his report was enough to label him as negligent.

From the series of questions Fei Xiao had asked Ai Yue, Huai Yan could easily tell that in addition to being "negligent," Jing Yuan was now also burdened with the labels of "dereliction of duty" and "loss of reason."