Amid the boundless sea of stars, nine Xianzhou ships drifted through the universe, enduring a long, bitter journey in search of the Compassionate Medicine King, who could grant eternal life.
Truly, the river of stars stretched ten thousand miles wide, while the lonely ships had no neighbors on any side.
Yet the universe was vast and fraught with danger. One of the nine Xianzhou ships, the mighty vessel named Daiyu, fell to an attack by the Abominations of Abundance.
"When I met the Xianzhou where illusion and reality converged, the children of humanity beseeched me for eternal life."
"Ah, how steadfast were the people of the Xianzhou? How fervent their longing? Thus, I bestowed a blessing befitting their toil."
An Ambrosial Arbor, the most bewitchingly beautiful in the universe, rose from the ground aboard the Luofu, its countless fruits and flourishing branches covering the entire Xianzhou.
Then, with an elder's help, the Xianzhou refined its fruit into an elixir of immortality and distributed it among its many citizens, elevating them into heavenly beings to feast upon limitless lifespans.
But the good times did not last. Birth, fire, and void-the Three Calamities descended, throwing the entire Xianzhou into turmoil.
The Reignbow Arbiter descended into the mortal realm and sheltered the Xianzhou as they drifted helplessly through the sea of stars. The Xianzhou then raced across the stars, hunting demons and sweeping away corruption.
For five thousand years, they followed The Hunt, obeying divine decree to wage war against the plague of immortality.
"The mind and will cannot control the blessed flesh. That is the origin of mara..."
After speaking, Yaoshi sighed, her eyes filled with bewilderment and regret.
Seeing her like this, Zhang Xiu knew that her humanity was prompting her to reflect on her past. This would also lead Yaoshi to change her course along the Path of [Abundance].
Her altruistic ideals would acquire limits. If this succeeded, whenever someone prayed to Yaoshi for a miracle, she would consider whether that miracle could truly benefit them.
After tossing the finished bag of chips into a nearby trash can, Zhang Xiu interrupted her thoughts:
"All right, honey. We can think it over slowly. There's no rush. Let's go wander around."
"...Very well."
This could not be rushed. If Yaoshi concluded that her blessings could never benefit others, her fate would likely be miserable.
The price of defying one's Path was no laughing matter.
They made their way past the panicked crowds and arrived atop a tall building beside Cloudford.
At that moment, Stelle, March 7th, and Welt had just helped Phantylia, who was impersonating Tingyun, deal with the mara-struck soldiers. They were discussing something.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiu and Yaoshi quietly watched everything unfold from a distant terrace, but their gazes drew Phantylia's attention.
She's... Yaoshi? No! How is that possible?! And who is that person holding her?!
Upon realizing that the person beside Zhang Xiu was Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance, Phantylia's eyes flew wide open. Yet even more shocking was the question of just who Zhang Xiu was, to hold Yaoshi in his arms.
Truthfully, if Phantylia had not been a Lord Ravager tasked with opposing [The Hunt], and thus had some connection to Abundance, she might not have recognized Yaoshi in Zhang Xiu's arms at all.
Train Tickets of the Nameless? Yaoshi and that person both have one... How am I supposed to carry out the plan?
"Hey? Miss Ting-Miss Tingyun! Are you all right?" Seeing Phantylia frozen in shock, March 7th waved a hand in front of her face.
"Ah, ahh, I'm fine, I'm fine. I was merely frightened by what happened just now..."
As she spoke, Phantylia opened her folding fan and fanned herself.
It's fine, it's fine. Since Yaoshi is here, I can ask her for a blessing too. The plan can still proceed.
But that person beside her... Is he a Pathstrider of Abundance? He actually dares to hold Yaoshi in his arms...
Phantylia felt as though her entire worldview had shattered into pieces, and even her original plan began to waver in her mind.
Watching from the distant terrace, Zhang Xiu chuckled. "Honey, that little pawn of Destruction has spotted you."
"A lackey of Destruction... Husband, kill her." Displeasure spread across Yaoshi's small face.
At those words, Zhang Xiu's eyes snapped wide open, and he looked at Yaoshi in disbelief.
"She will endanger the people of the Xianzhou, and even all living beings in the universe. She must be killed..." She stared fixedly at Phantylia, an unprecedented emotion revealing itself in her eyes:
Killing intent.
Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance, had actually developed the intent to kill another being? How was that possible?
But once Zhang Xiu calmed down, he realized this was precisely the crucial step toward changing her thinking. How could she kill someone without violating her altruistic ideals?
First, she could adopt the twisted belief that death was a blessing to others, and kill them on that basis.
Second, she could determine that someone would harm others, then kill that person preemptively to protect those potential victims.
Both conformed to the concept of altruism. However... what Zhang Xiu wanted was for Yaoshi to accept both choices.
"Honey, for evil people, death is the greatest blessing. After all, deep down, they surely don't want to be that way, but they can't turn back. Kill them, and atone for their sins..."
Those words instantly sparked Yaoshi's thoughts. Countless ideas surged through her mind as she continually reasoned and reflected, seeking a deeper understanding of her Path.
The two horns and four arms she had concealed began to faintly manifest, while countless crimson eyes opened across her pale flesh.
"Holy shit! Honey?!" Zhang Xiu cried out, hurriedly covering the petite Yaoshi in his arms with his clothes.
Fortunately, no one was nearby. Otherwise, if people discovered that Zhang Xiu was secretly harboring Yaoshi, they would probably pile on like hands gathering firewood to raise a roaring blaze.
Coming back to her senses, Yaoshi also realized something was wrong. To avoid implicating Zhang Xiu, she hurriedly reined in her ever-swelling thoughts.
Even if doing so would halt her further progress along her Path.
"Forgive me, husband. Thy words have granted me profound insight." Yaoshi lightly pressed a hand against her forehead, exhaling again and again.
"Hey, it's fine. Even if we're discovered, worst case, I'll quit the Nameless and we'll make a run for it."
"I just hope you can understand, honey. Altruism doesn't mean granting blessings without limits..."
"Compassionate Medicine King! Ah! After this long and bitter journey, I have finally beheld your majestic presence!"
Amid flowers and trees upheld by countless stars, Yaoshi slowly opened her eyes and looked down at the tiny person below.
"What dost thou beseech of me?"
"I! I yearn for you to grant me eternal life! To gain power!"
"Very well." Golden light gathered at the fingertip of one of Yaoshi's hands, giving birth to a crimson fruit.
But she did not immediately give it to the person below.
Instead, an illusory golden arm grew from Yaoshi's shoulder and lightly touched the red fruit.
In the next instant, the fruit's scarlet hue faded, replaced by gold.
"Consume this fruit, and thou shalt attain endless form of longevity." She cast it down, and the fruit slowly descended into the person's palm.
Just as the person was about to eat the fruit, Yaoshi spoke again. "However, in this life, thou shalt not harm others. Only to uphold justice or safeguard thine own life and the lives of others mayst thou act."
At those words, the person's eyes widened, utterly unable to understand why Yaoshi would impose such restrictions.
"Otherwise, thou shalt suffer endless punishment, thy body dissolving and scattering like shattered jade."
With that, the golden limb plucked a strand of restraint from the void and held it up before Yaoshi.
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