"General Jing Yuan, do you... desire eternal life?"
"Miss Lumina, I don't understand what you mean." Jing Yuan's heart sank at these words, and he gradually grasped Lumina's true intentions.
Yet he maintained a facade of ignorance, shaking his head with feigned confusion, instantly appearing somewhat foolish.
Unfazed, Lumina calmly approached him, murmuring softly, "Eternal life... eternal life... Surely someone as wise as the Divine Foresight General understands the meaning of those words?"
"What the Xianzhou people consider longevity—a lifespan of several centuries—is but a fleeting moment in the eyes of true immortality."
"Of course, this 'eternal life' is merely relative to us."
"Even the Aeons themselves likely cannot attain true immortality," Lumina murmured, shaking her head with a wistful sigh.
"What is your true purpose?" Jing Yuan demanded.
Though he couldn't pinpoint Lumina's exact motives, these few words revealed her plan to use the Ambrosial Arbor for some unknown purpose.
To defile the Ambrosial Arbor—that was the Xianzhou's final red line. Jing Yuan abandoned his pretense of ignorance, his expression hardening, his voice sharp as he questioned Lumina.
"My goal? General Jing Yuan, haven't you realized it yet?" Lumina chuckled softly, spreading her arms slightly, her voice growing increasingly theatrical. "Of course, it's to free all Xianzhou people from the shackles of the Mara-Struck, thus realizing the eternal life Yaoshi bestowed upon you!"
Her smile was genuine, her expression sincere, as if she truly intended to help the Xianzhou people solve the Mara-Struck problem.
"Miss Lumina, you seem to have lost your mind. You need to calm down."
Though Lumina's words resonated with every Xianzhou person, including Jing Yuan himself...
The importance of the Ambrosial Arbor far outweighed her empty promise of Long-Life.
"Lost my mind?" Lumina murmured the words softly, then shook her head, raising her arms slightly and smiling. "General Jing Yuan, it seems you've misunderstood something. I'm perfectly clear-headed."
"This isn't just a theoretical idea. I have absolute certainty—a guarantee that no Xianzhou person will be harmed."
After holding her hand up for a moment, Lumina felt the gesture was a bit too villainous, not quite befitting her identity. She lowered her hand and turned to Jing Yuan, offering him a genuinely friendly smile.
Lumina wasn't lying. She genuinely wanted to help the Xianzhou people resolve the Mara-Struck condition. This wasn't mere lip service.
Therefore, it would be best if Jing Yuan lowered his guard and cooperated obediently.
However... judging by Jing Yuan's current demeanor, the chances of him willingly cooperating seemed utterly impossible.
"Hmph! No matter what, I won't let you lay a finger on the Ambrosial Arbor!"
Having lived on Xianzhou territory for centuries, Jing Yuan had seen countless examples of individuals like Lumina—those who started with grand promises, only to bungle things miserably and ultimately cause tragedy.
Take the Imbibitor Lunae Rebellion centuries ago, for example...
Let alone trusting such promises regarding the Ambrosial Arbor... Jing Yuan wouldn't dare take that risk.
He raised his Formation Blade, pointing it at Lumina, a clear declaration of his resolve.
"Sigh... General Jing Yuan, I mean no harm. Why won't you believe me?" Seeing this, Lumina shook her head, pressed her fingers to her forehead, and sighed, as if feeling utterly helpless.
Jing Yuan's title had shifted from "General Jing Yuan" to "Mr. Jing Yuan."
This change revealed the limits of Lumina's patience.
"..." Jing Yuan remained silent, the Formation Blade's edge pointed at Lumina. Despite his grievous injuries, he vowed to defend the Ambrosial Arbor to the death.
You're making me sound like the villain here, Lumina grumbled inwardly.
[ What do you mean "sound like the villain"? Aren't you the quintessential villain? ] the System chimed in.
[How is what you're doing any different from those deranged villains who say, "Give me X, and I'll give you a new world"?]
"Of course there's a difference!" Lumina retorted instantly, her annoyance flaring. "My process and plan are guaranteed to succeed—absolutely no chance of failure!"
First, she would erase the Yaoshi's Blessing from the Xianzhou people's bodies. Then, harnessing her Abundance power, she would activate the Ambrosial Arbor and bestow a new Abundance Blessing upon them.
Though this wouldn't grant true immortality—perhaps only a few thousand years of life—it was still far superior to the Xianzhou people's current lifespan of a few centuries. Moreover, the Blessing she would bestow through the Ambrosial Arbor wouldn't produce Mara-Struck.
At most, toward the end of their lives, the Xianzhou people would experience only "a slight" age-related memory loss.
Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that an Aeon might personally intervene in such matters...
But regardless, the ultimate outcome remains the same: the unconditional extension of the Xianzhou people's lifespans.
Lumina ceased her musings and turned her gaze to Jing Yuan, who stood before her with the solemn air of someone facing death.
Shaking her head, she waved her hand dismissively. "You're no match for Phantylia, Jing Yuan, so you're certainly no match for me either."
"You've faced an Emanator of Abundance before, Jing Yuan. You know the terror they embody."
"Raising your weapon and blocking my path won't change the outcome. It will only add another innocent life to this conflict."
Lumina's tone was utterly calm, as if she were simply stating a reality.
Well... perhaps we should remove the "as if." Lumina was indeed stating a reality.
Leaving aside Phantylia's current state, consider Shuhu from centuries ago. He alone nearly shattered the entire Luofu Xianzhou.
Not to mention Lumina herself... The Blessing bestowed upon Lumina far exceeded that of Shuhu. Coupled with the Ambrosial Arbor's battlefield, which heavily favored the Abundance, and Jing Yuan's battered condition after a recent major battle, he likely couldn't even withstand a single strike from her.
"Hmph! Enough chatter! Will you grant me a swift end, or shall I grant one to you?" Jing Yuan scoffed coldly, knowing he couldn't hold Lumina back for long.
Therefore, Jing Yuan never intended to stop Lumina. His sole aim was to create enough commotion during the battle.
He wanted Fu Xuan, who was in the Scalegorge Waterscape, to see, sense, and understand the message he was trying to convey.
Sending a signal to call for reinforcements from the other Xianzhou ships would take too long. By the time they arrived at the Luofu, they would likely only find a colossal wreckage.
Therefore, the only course of action currently available—and the only one he could take—was to summon the Reignbow Arbiter's arrow, sacrificing half of the Luofu to decisively eliminate Lumina!
Though it would devastate half the Luofu, it was far better than allowing Lumina to taint the Ambrosial Arbor, leading to its complete annihilation.
That's what Jing Yuan thought, utterly dismissive of Lumina's empty promises.
If even the Plagues Author himself couldn't achieve it, why should Jing Yuan believe an Emanator could?
Lumina: Wait, hold on, buddy?
Fortunately, Lumina remained unaware of Jing Yuan's true intentions. Otherwise, she would have slapped him across the face, grabbed his collar, and demanded fiercely:
I'm trying to help your Luofu out of the kindness of my heart, and you want to send me a rocket?
No wonder you're part of the Xianzhou Alliance—truly embodying the noble virtue of "returning kindness with kindness"!
I offer you immortality, and you repay me with rockets.
Wah-wah, so touched!
""