Seeing Fu Xuan's cheeks suddenly tint red, the group immediately understood what they were expected to do next.
"We get it, we get it. We're not from the Xianzhou, so we don't get mara-struck corruption. Nobody is more suited to shutting down the furnaces than us."
"Exactly. The Ambrosial Arbor is taboo in the Luofu. The Xianzhou Alliance has always remained independent — the followers of the sanctus mediscus would never expect the general to seek outside help. Naturally, they wouldn't prepare countermeasures against short-lived species."
And indeed, they didn't. This time Dan Shu hadn't even gotten the chance to approach Stelle before the entire disciples of sanctus mediscus was wiped out.
"And that earlier surprise attack already destroyed their foundation. Even if they realize the situation now, there is no time left to prepare."
"Please rest assured — the moment the mist clears, I'll come immediately. I won't leave you fighting alone!"
Fu Xuan's intentions were obvious enough. What could they do but continue?
After all — as the Xianzhou says: "Since we're here already…"
---
"Wait wait wait! Shut it off! Stelle, why did you open the furnace instead of closing it?!"
At the next furnace, Stelle flipped the switches with practiced confidence — which immediately resulted in a burst of thick smoke.
She hurried to shut it back down.
"Ahem— accident!"
March rolled her eyes at her, then looked at Tingyun, who had followed along.
"Miss Tingyun, how are you feeling? If anything feels wrong, please tell us, okay?"
Tingyun had insisted on joining them earlier with the excuses of "I cannot refuse the general's orders" and "I've only lived a decade or so."
"Thank you for your concern, Miss March. I'm perfectly fine."
Welt glanced at Tingyun, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Without a word, he moved toward Xun yu.
Sensing Welt's look, Xun yu gave a small nod — then a small shake of the head.
To anyone else, their tiny gestures looked like nothing more than natural body movement.
Phantylia was watching them but failed to realize one of them already knew her true identity, and the other had already guessed it.
"All done! No more smoke here!"
March and Stelle switched off the final furnace. The thick fog around the area gradually dissipated.
"Good… excellent. I'll lead the troops to you at once."
Fu Xuan's excited voice echoed over the comms, and moments later, her figure appeared.
---
"The furnace… is extinguished."
"No matter. What should come… has finally come."
Dan Shu murmured to herself as she stared at the darkened cauldron.
"So it's you… Dan Shu."
Hearing Fu Xuan's voice, Dan Shu turned.
"Dan Shu pays respects to the High Diviner… You don't seem surprised."
"I must thank our esteemed guests. Without them, I wouldn't have known the disciples of sanctus mediscus infiltrated the Luofu to such an extent."
"…You didn't know?"
Dan Shu gave a self-mocking smile.
She had planted agents everywhere — so of course the Six Commissions had embedded their own spies as well.
But she had been cautious for years, careful enough to avoid having her true identity exposed.
Even so, she knew she'd long been on the list of suspects.
And the only reason she wasn't eliminated earlier… was the lack of solid evidence.
Phantylia's arrival had given Dan Shu a shred of hope — a hope that shattered now.
"Our ideals cannot resonate, High Diviner. Allow me to show you what the 'Immortals' once achieved."
"Merciful sanctus mediscus— heed my call!"
Dan Shu attacked so suddenly that everyone froze.
Wait— wasn't there supposed to be a dramatic pre-battle speech first?
Well, a fight's a fight… and Stelle, little gray-fur baseball goblin that she was, immediately sprang into action.
Bat in hand, Heavenly Fire in the other, she didn't even need backup — she just started mowing down enemies like a lawnmower…
"Xun yu! Uncle Yang! Help me!!"
Okay— turns out even two fists can't beat four hands. The little gray menace got overwhelmed.
The difference in combat power was too big. The disciples of sanctus mediscus's side fell apart fast.
"Why… why?! She clearly said…"
"When the Ambrosial Arbor descends… we shall gain immortal bodies—"
"She who gifted us the Stellaron… so that means…"
Dan Shu, barely hanging on, muttered weakly.
She knew her end was approaching.
But—
"phantylia… the disciples of sanctus mediscus fulfilled its role…"
"The lord ravager should honor the pact… Do it! Now!"
Seeing the direction of Dan Shu's gaze, March instinctively looked over.
"…Miss Tingyun?"
"Tsk tsk… why force me to act personally? It goes against my 'aesthetic of Destruction,' little pawn."
"Forget it. It seems breaking the Xianzhou from within will require another method…"
"A pity… I wanted to observe a little longer…"
Tingyun's expression twisted unnaturally as she slowly stepped forward.
Welt, Xun yu, and Fu Xuan stood aside, arms folded — not surprised in the least.
Stelle and March, on the other hand, stared blankly.
"Since you received the grace of Abundance…"
Her fingers brushed a corrupted Cloud Knight, and a distorted flame ignited, engulfing Dan Shu and her remaining followers.
"You should be able to withstand the 'blessing' of Destruction… right?"
*Crack—*
Neck twist right ×1
Tingyun collapsed. A blue-yellow flame rose from her fallen body.
"Honored guests, allow me to reintroduce myself—"
"I am the lird ravager— phantylia."
"I've come to dismantle this Xianzhou, to let it collapse from within."
"The one hunting this ship isn't zephyro, nor celenova. Consider yourselves lucky."
"As for me, I dislike causing destruction with my own hands…"
"But that stubborn general insisted I take the stage — so phantylia must perform at least a little."
"I have a promise to keep. Allow me to take my leave. May you enjoy your time with these little actors."
Phantylia fled, leaving behind only scattered grunts who were swiftly cut down.
"This… this… so the Tingyun we traveled with all this time was actually a lord ravager?!"
"That flame… her body… where did they go?!"
"And why are none of you surprised?!"
"Alright, calm down."
Xun yu patted March on the shoulder.
"B-but, Miss Tingyun— that neck crack— you all heard it!"
Xunyu rubbed his chin, then turned his back to March.
"You mean… this?"
Crack—
Neck twist right ×2
"..."
March emitted a high-pitched explosion-like shriek.
---
"And that's basically what happened."
Xun yu now had a fresh red handprint on one cheek.
In front of him, March glared at him with murderous intensity.
"So from the very beginning, the one we saw wasn't the real Tingyun — but phantylia…"
Welt's gaze lingered on the place where Tingyun's body had vanished.