"General Jing Yuan, I truly mean no harm. Everything I've done is merely to verify my suspicions and help the Xianzhou people resolve the Mara-Struck problem."
Within the Ambrosial Arbor's spatial realm, Lumina sighed helplessly once more.
"Miss Lumina, the Xianzhou Luofu can grant you anything, but meddling with the Ambrosial Arbor is the one thing we cannot allow. I implore you to reconsider," Jing Yuan said, his expression unchanged as he slowly lowered the Formation Blade in his hand.
Since Lumina showed no immediate intent to fight, it suited Jing Yuan's purposes well. By stalling for time to recover his strength, he might yet stand a chance in battle.
"Hmm... General Jing Yuan, I regret to inform you that whether you're gravely wounded or at your peak, it makes no difference to me."
Observing Jing Yuan's gesture of sheathing his weapon, Lumina realized his intentions and spoke calmly, delivering a subtle blow to his confidence.
"Is that so?" Jing Yuan responded with a soft chuckle, offering no direct rebuttal.
"Even so, safeguarding the Xianzhou remains the destiny of every Cloud Knight."
"I will uphold this duty until my last breath..."
Lumina: ...
Seeing Jing Yuan's expression, Lumina nearly snapped.
When the hell did I ever say I wanted to destroy the Xianzhou? Can you please stop making things up in your head?!
No longer wanting to waste time, Lumina decided to skip the pleasantries and resort to more direct methods.
A "benevolent" smile spread across her face as she began to approach Jing Yuan, her steps deliberate and measured.
As she closed the distance, she spoke softly but firmly:
"General Jing Yuan, I'm not asking for your opinion—I'm giving you a notice."
"I'll say this one last time: I harbor no ill will toward the Luofu or the entire Xianzhou Alliance."
"Everything I've done has been to test a hypothesis I hold dear, and incidentally, to help you Luofu solve the Mara-Struck problem."
Lumina offered this final explanation to Jing Yuan.
"Ah... Miss Lumina, who wouldn't desire eternal life? Who wouldn't want to be rid of the Mara-Struck curse?" Jing Yuan sighed.
"But the Ambrosial Arbor is far too vital to the entire Luofu. No matter how slim the chances, I can't gamble with the fate of our entire people..."
Hearing this and seeing Lumina's earnest sincerity, with no hint of deception, Jing Yuan let out another sigh.
Helping the Xianzhou people overcome the Mara-Struck affliction and grant them "eternal life"—even Jing Yuan couldn't help but feel a flicker of temptation.
Jing Yuan genuinely trusted and admired Lumina. Her selfless devotion spanning countless Amber Eras had been witnessed by all, proving she was no malevolent fiend.
Yet her words just now were nothing more than empty promises, mere verbal assurances without concrete guarantees. If any mishap occurred while she activated the Ambrosial Arbor, the Luofu would likely face imminent destruction.
Though Lumina vowed a hundred percent certainty of success, Jing Yuan couldn't gamble on that sliver of probability beyond absolute certainty.
"I see. I understand," Lumina nodded, ceasing her futile arguments with Jing Yuan.
She slowly raised her palm and gently tapped Jing Yuan with a fingertip.
"!"
A surge of alarm jolted Jing Yuan's heart. A sense of imminent danger flashed through him. Before he could react and summon the Lightning-Lord's divine manifestation, tendrils of warm, verdant mist began to coil around him, locking his figure firmly in place.
"What is this?!" Jing Yuan's expression instantly turned grave as he felt his connection to the Lightning-Lord severed by the white-green mist.
He frantically shifted his body, trying to break free from the smoky cage.
Without his link to the Lightning-Lord, no matter what methods he employed, Jing Yuan couldn't budge the cage even an inch.
"Don't bother struggling," Lumina said with a shake of her head and a gentle smile. "This is an advanced control Skill. You can't break it."
This cage, only those with an Emanator physique could hope to unravel it—and even then, only if Lumina allowed it.
Had Jing Yuan summoned the Lightning-Lord from the start, this cage would have been useless against him. The moment it materialized, the Lightning-Lord would have torn it to shreds.
Perhaps Jing Yuan underestimated her? Or perhaps he thought she wouldn't dare attack him? Or maybe the wounds he sustained during the battle with Phantylia hadn't fully healed? Whatever the reason, he hadn't summoned the Lightning-Lord immediately.
Since Jing Yuan's power stemmed primarily from the Lightning-Lord, Lumina's first move after securing him was to infuse the cage with the Abundance Power from the Ambrosial Arbor, severing his connection to the Lightning-Lord.
Ultimately, Jing Yuan's body was completely restrained by the cage he himself had created, leaving him utterly unable to break free.
Alright, now that the dummy is secured, it's time for me to do as I please!
o( ̄▽ ̄*)ブ*
Lumina hummed softly as she approached Jing Yuan, her gaze sweeping over him from head to toe.
"What are you going to do?"
Realizing he couldn't escape the cage, Jing Yuan abandoned his struggle and silently prayed that Lumina's success rate truly was one hundred percent...
Hearing his question, Lumina smiled gently. "Don't worry," she said, her voice soothingly soft. "It won't hurt at all. In fact, you'll feel a sensation as blissful as ascending to paradise."
Jing Yuan: ?
Without giving Jing Yuan time to react, Lumina channeled the power within herself and the Ambrosial Arbor, extending a finger and gently tapping Jing Yuan's forehead.
In the next instant, the Ambrosial Arbor shuddered violently as countless streams of Abundance Power, guided by Lumina's touch, surged into Jing Yuan's body.