"From the Ambrosial Arbor catastrophe onwards, all the upheavals experienced by the Xianzhou Luofu are closely related to the Lord Ravager [ Phantylia ]."
"She manipulated Borisin to infiltrate the Xianzhou and instigated Luofu Preceptor to join the rebel faction of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus Teachings... Although, judging from the results, her scheme has not yet succeeded."
"But I have a feeling... maybe she doesn't care whether her plan succeeds or not."
"Judging from his past actions, Phantylia prefers to sow discord and create seeds of chaos among his allies rather than achieve military victory."
"We must spare no expense to get our colleagues to finish this 'game.' If the Alliance cannot heal these rifts, it will eventually crumble into a disorganized mess."
" The Xianzhou Alliance's goal, unchanged for thousands of years, and the sharp blades we hold in our hands, should perhaps be directed towards a new enemy. After the ceremony concludes, I intend to report this matter to the Marshal."
"In Elder Yan's opinion, how would the Marshal respond?" Jing Yuan asked.
"At this point, the chessboard presents a game unlike any seen in the thousands of Amber Era. In such a game, even the players become pawns fighting on the battlefield, and victory or defeat hinges on the flickering of countless stars in the sky."
"This old man... cannot be certain of the Marshal's decision. But the Marshal is not unaware of all our concerns. She has ordered General Yaoguang to calculate day and night and devise a grand strategy."
"The reason I've gathered you all here today is not only to discuss the Love problem, but also because there's another matter that requires the three of us to be present—"
Huaiyan got straight to the point, " Yaoguang sent us her communication seal from the Jade Abacus Xianzhou. She wants to share with us the results of her calculations and research in the formation over the past few days."
Deep within the Jade Abacus Xianzhou, an ancient "bell" was struck, its ripples gliding across the gravitational ravines.
Then, light burst forth from the lines and creases of the chessboard, weaving into the seal representing General Rongtao.
"Gentlemen, it's been a long time!" Yaoguang's voice came from within the Seat of Divine Foresight [Chessboard]. "It's been over thirty years since I last attended this meeting, and I've missed you generals day and night during that time."
Was General Rongtao talking about us, or about the course of our fates?
"Haha~ Merlin's Claw is still as quick-witted as ever, not exactly endearing at all."
"He even said something to Mr. Jing Yuan earlier, saying, 'It's fortunate that I'm the one who came; if it were General Rongtao, the questioning might not have been so friendly.' -- I saw it all clearly. I wonder if that conversation has come to fruition?"
Jing Yuan smiled. "I've never heard anyone mention that [ Matrix of Abstruse Calculations ] can even calculate the details of gossiping spies."
"It seems the Marshal not only sent two generals to Luofu to attend the ceremony, but also several uninvited guests."
"Gentlemen... oh, after all, the Alliance always says that Mr. Jing Yuan [is wise and brilliant, no less than Rong Tao], and since Luofu has suffered this calamity, Yuque will naturally not sit idly by."
" General Rongtao, the Aurumaton system can only be maintained for a limited time. Let's get to the point," Huaiyan said.
"Very well. Thanks to Mr. Jing Yuan, the interrogation of those two prisoners has been completed at Yuque."
"Among their self-admitted crimes, the one about [sending the Stellaron into Luofu ] is consistent with Mr. Jing Yuan's speculation, but it is nothing more than a fabricated smokescreen."
"But the real goal... was to gain an audience with the marshal and present him with their 'strategy to contend with the gods'—that much is absolutely true."
Feixiao raised his head, "What strategy did Jingliu and that foreigner offer?"
"It was an indescribable, magnificent sight. The secret lay in the coffin of that blond foreigner..."
"... It's actually a remnant of [ Propagation ]."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three generals suddenly became solemn.
"The remains of the Swarm Author?"
"To be precise, it is part of its divine body. In the future depicted by the two prisoners, it is the nail that will firmly drive the [ The Plagues Author ] onto the path to doom."
"But before that—to contend with the gods, a greater [ The Alliance ] is indispensable. However, since it involves Aeon, the full picture is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people, especially the one residing in Luofu..."
Sizzle sizzle--sizzle sizzle--
Before he could finish speaking, Yaoguang's communication was interrupted by a series of complex electrical noises.
The three generals showed no surprise at this, and simultaneously turned around to look at the figure dressed in a pure white priest's robe at the entrance of the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Before Yaoguang could finish speaking, the communication seal suddenly flickered a few times, then was cut off by a piercing electrical sound, leaving only silence in the Seat of Divine Foresight.
However, the three generals showed no surprise or panic at the sudden interruption.
As if sensing their presence, they calmly turned around, their gazes all fixed on the entrance of the Seat of Divine Foresight, where a figure stood silently.
The pure white priest's robe was spotless, with pale gold patterns flowing along the hem of the sleeves, radiating a soft glow in the slightly dim hall.
"Cough cough..."
Seemingly unaccustomed to being the center of attention for the three Xianzhou Generals, Saileni coughed slightly, a barely perceptible blush rising on her fair cheeks.
She composed herself, trying to appear more dignified, and stepped into the hall.
When she was a few steps away from the three generals, Saileni stopped, placed her hands together in front of her lower abdomen, and made a prayer gesture with an elegant posture.
"On behalf of the Chair..." her voice was clear, "... to all the generals, I offer the Church's [strategy for contending with God]."
Saileni clapped her hands lightly, and with her movement, a completely different voice rang out from the core of the Aurumaton System, which had been silent due to the interruption of the Yaoguang communication:
"Ahem~ Regardless of whether your world has a concept of day and night... Ah, it's already recorded?"
The entire structure collapsed, and the tense atmosphere within the Seat of Divine Foresight instantly dissipated. Feixiao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Saileni was a little embarrassed, but this was the responsibility of the Acting Priest, and had nothing to do with her.
"Ahem~ The gods in the heavens are filled with dread, treating all living beings as mere playthings on a chessboard, sowing Calamity, leaving only grieving souls and fields strewn with white bones..." Blake's voice became serious again.
"The world is in turmoil, and countless lives are lost. In this chaos and disorder, the Lord of Equilibrium remains inactive; only His Eternity light can cleanse the world of all evil."
Blake paused, a hint of absolute conviction seemingly infused into his tone:
"The so-called ' War of the Aeons ' is seen by mortals as an apocalyptic catastrophe. But to Him, it is nothing more than the clamor of cosmic dust... insignificant."
"We live under His glory, and our sole mission is to practice the purest and most sublime [ Eternity ] way."
"If any foolish and base person attempts to obstruct the path to Eternity... he shall never return!"
The message ended, its chilling aftertaste echoing within the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Saileni took a deep breath, raised her head, and her azure eyes were filled only with the devotion and steadfastness of a believer.
She looked at the three generals, each with a different expression, and spoke clearly and solemnly, as if reciting an Eternity Prophecy:
"This is the Church's position, and an extension of Lord Yite's will."
"In the upcoming War of the Aeons, which will sweep across the universe, the Church of Eternity will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Xianzhou Alliance to help you fight against the Plagues Author who spreads endless suffering."
"The universe is full of dazzling stars, but within our field of vision—"
Saileni's voice unconsciously rose. "Of all the stars in the sky, there must be... and there will surely be one most brilliant star, surpassing all other brilliance!"