"A variable enough to change the entire Garden of Existence?"
Xianzhou Daiyu, Palace of Existence
Qingzhu, who had just freed herself from the handover of personnel between the Daiyu and Yuanqiao, rested her chin on her hand with a solemn expression.
The Garden of Existence... Qingzhu knew the deeds of this faction, which had always claimed to be the orthodox successor to the Path of Existence.
A faction that claimed to be the orthodox successor to Existence, constantly gathering Path of Existence Striders from across the universe. Other, smaller Existence factions were either destroyed or absorbed. It was a faction that had strayed far from the original purpose of the Path of Existence.
"Yes. That's what the Arbiter of Life said, and she asked me to pass it on to you."
Qingxin said. She had also been stunned when she heard Ayinai say this was a variable that could affect another major Existence faction, the Garden of Existence.
After all, it was an Existence faction that had been rooted in the universe for a thousand years, the greatest Existence faction in the universe, one they had heard of when the Xianzhou set sail.
Qingzhu rubbed her chin. The Yuanqiao had only just emerged from internal strife, and the aurumaton crisis had yet to be fully resolved. Everything needed rebuilding, to say nothing of the red giant now near the Yuanqiao.
The most pressing matter now should be getting the Xianzhou Yuanqiao away from the red giant. The Daiyu was far enough away that it did not need to worry about the red giant's threat. It would not be too late to go to the Garden of Existence after dealing with that threat.
Having sorted out her thoughts, Qingzhu had just opened her mouth to order them to help the Yuanqiao leave this region of space when an urgent signal arrived from the Xianzhou Yuanqiao.
Hearing the piercing alarm in the command room, Qingzhu demanded, "What's going on?!"
"Reporting to the Helmsman! A signal just came from the Yuanqiao. Hidden elements have destroyed the Xianzhou Yuanqiao's engines! It has lost power and is plummeting toward the red giant at high speed!"
"What?! Everyone, start up the Xianzhou Daiyu! Full speed ahead! Use towing cables to pull the Yuanqiao back!"
Qingzhu could not concern herself with anything else now. One Xianzhou was already about to fall into a red giant because of its engines. As a fellow Xianzhou native, she could not stand by and do nothing.
The Xianzhou Daiyu set off at full speed, racing toward the Xianzhou Yuanqiao.
Xianzhou Yuanqiao
"Mom, I'm scared."
The girl curled up in her mother's arms. Around them, people hung their heads, quietly sobbing as they resigned themselves to their fate.
Falling into a red giant was practically a death sentence. Only the Xianzhou Daiyu, with the combat strength of an Emanator, could resolve this situation. But it had just departed because of the Arbiter of True Existence's divine decree, so why should it turn back for them?
The situation had plunged everyone into despair. The girl's words were like a spark that lit a fuse. Sobs rose one after another in the shelter, gradually filling almost the entire place.
The mother held the girl tightly and murmured, "Honored Lord Yaoshi, please, save your believers."
As a believer in Abundance, she had been taught since childhood that Yaoshi of Abundance was the most compassionate and loving Aeon. Even in this life-or-death crisis, she still believed Yaoshi would descend.
"Mom, has Lord Yaoshi abandoned us?"
The girl's innocent voice abruptly interrupted her mother's prayer. The mother froze, then raised her head to look at the ceiling, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Lord Yaoshi, have you... really given up on your believers?"
"Ayinai of Existence? What brings you to me?"
In the Xianzhou's Herb Nursery, Yaoshi was tending to the branches and leaves of an Ambrosial Arbor sapling. Their eyes never left the sapling, but Ayinai could clearly sense that they were on guard against her.
"I didn't come here to steal your Ambrosial Arbor."
Yaoshi turned to look at her, then shook their head. "That's what you said last time."
The corner of Ayinai's mouth twitched. They really held a grudge. All she had done was distract them and make off with a sapling. Did they have to guard against her like she was a thief? She wasn't Aha.
"This time it's serious. I need to ask you something important."
Yaoshi looked at Ayinai's face and slowly said, "Go ahead."
"Voracity... where did you all put them?"
Yaoshi's gaze flickered as they looked at Ayinai, and Ayinai looked back. The two Aeons silently held each other's gaze for a long time before Yaoshi finally sighed.
"Voracity's divine remains were placed in the Ayinai System."
"The Ayinai System? You put Voracity's divine remains in my territory?"
Ayinai's gaze turned dangerous. Though she had not taken part in that battle of Aeons, she had heard about it. The Aeons had joined forces to suppress Voracity, and their divine remains had been split in two.
One half had been taken away by Aha of Elation, while the other Aeons had sought another region capable of suppressing the other half.
Clearly, the Ayinai System, the star system where Ayinai had been born, was an excellent location. As the birthplace of the Aeon of Existence, its planets had all been transformed by the power of Existence into divine wonders of Existence. It was a perfect place to suppress Voracity's divine remains.
If Aha had not stolen one half while the other Aeons were distracted, the whole of Voracity's divine remains would have been buried in the Ayinai System.
Yaoshi told her what had happened during the battle of Aeons. Preservation, naturally, had borne the brunt of the assault as the main force, while the other Aeons assisted from the sides. During the battle, Aha had been careless and gotten bitten by Voracity. Because wounds inflicted by Voracity were difficult to heal, Aha had stolen half the divine remains after the battle and suppressed them in his own region of space to keep his injury in check.
The other half had been placed in the Ayinai System according to the original plan. As for how Aha had taken the divine remains, he had, of course, created an event that would draw everyone's attention.
For example: Harmony's absorption of Order.
Clearly, Aha's plan had worked. Order had been absorbed by Harmony, its ideals incorporated into Harmony's own Path, and Aha had seized the opportunity to steal Voracity's divine remains.
"So the Aha who's still running around out there is actually just a clone to throw people off, while he himself is recovering from his injuries."
Yaoshi nodded, then looked at Ayinai silently. Their gaze seemed to say, You know what you wanted to know. You should leave. Don't even think about my sapling.
Ayinai was speechless. I have a sapling of my own. Why would I want yours? Isn't mine better than yours?
"All right, stop looking at me like that. I'll leave. Oh, right, the people on the Xianzhou Yuanqiao are praying to you. Can't you hear them?"
They shook their head. "I can hear them, but I cannot help."
Ayinai nodded in understanding. Because of the limitations of Abundance, Yaoshi was confined to their own Path, doing things related to Abundance.
But Ayinai was different. The breadth of her Path meant she did not have to concern herself with its limitations, because... only the weak were ruled by their Paths. The strong ruled their Paths.
Ayinai left. Yaoshi watched the direction she had gone and sighed. They wanted to intervene, but that went against Abundance.
"Ayinai of Existence, merciful and loving Aeon, please save these people."