The tightly shut door blocked out every sound from outside.
At last, Hoshigaki Sora felt his mortified heart ease slightly.
He never imagined his chuunibyo persona would pull something like that.
It never showed up for anything good—only emerged in moments like this, leaving him to shoulder the blame.
That wasn't him at all!
Either way, he owed Robin his thanks.
But just as he opened his mouth, he noticed her hesitation—as though she wanted to speak but couldn't quite get the words out.
Clearly, she had something on her mind.
"Are you running into trouble? Or do you need me to step in?"
Robin shook her head. "No, I just…"
Midway through speaking, she looked at Sora. The complexity in her eyes was unmistakable.
It was worry.
"I get it. You're worried about the undercover infiltration, right?"
What else could possibly concern her so deeply?
Robin genuinely couldn't understand why Sora had chosen this solution again.
Going undercover alone among the Abominations of Abundance—no matter how you looked at it, the plan was a minefield.
One slip, and he could provoke a swarm of abominations to descend on him.
Those were the Denizens of the Abundance—ranked alongside the Antimatter Legion and the Swarm as one of the three great plagues of the cosmos.
Their deeds were whispered and retold across the entire universe.
Because compared to the other two interstellar calamities, the Denizens of the Abundance were fundamentally different.
The Antimatter Legion and the Swarm didn't possess true individual intelligence, at least not in any meaningful sense.
They acted solely on the orders of their commander.
But the Denizens of the Abundance were nothing like that. Every one of them possessed intelligence equal to an ordinary person's.
Precisely because of that, the Denizens of the Abundance might not be the swiftest to strike… but they were unquestionably the cruelest.
Their torture methods were unmatched, refined through experiments on beings who couldn't die.
Yet Sora had decided to go alone—straight into the enemy's nest.
How could Robin not worry?
"Why did you choose this again?"
She feared seeing him treated that way.
But on this, Sora had his reasons. "I can't just sit here and do nothing."
The Luofu was sealed. They couldn't simply leave at will—one misstep, and they'd share the same fate.
Should they just sit and wait for the Xianzhou Alliance to resolve everything?
Relying on others was something Sora had stopped believing in long ago.
Besides…
"Why do I have power at all, if not to drive away those who shatter peace?"
This power hadn't been passed down to him for justice.
It had been passed down for freedom.
And only through peace could people truly have freedom.
"But why do you always leave yourself out of the equation?"
That one incident with the Swarm—losing him, then getting him back—had already made it impossible for her to ignore the problem.
This man claimed he acted for freedom, but every time, he excluded himself from the calculation.
"You can stand to be a little selfish."
Especially for a mission like this—there was no reason he had to go alone.
Was there really no one else on the Luofu who could participate in such an infiltration?
Yet, in the end, Sora still chose to go alone.
After hearing her words, Sora fell silent for a moment.
He knew this decision would make plenty of people uneasy—but he hadn't expected Robin would be the first to confront him.
—Heh heh heh. The simplest way is to shut her up!
His inner voice kept stirring the pot.
—Once you plug her mouth, she won't be able to question you anymore.
And by "plug her mouth," that bastard meant the simplest, most brute-force method possible: mouth-to-mouth.
So you're just here to enjoy the show, huh—fanning the flames?
If Sora actually did that, Robin would only become even more determined to prevent him from risking his life.
She might seem scatterbrained, but when it came to certain matters, she was as stubborn as he was.
Having been with her this long, how could he not know that?
As for persuading Robin, Sora had his own logic.
"Mainly… this really is something no one else can do."
He laid out everything he'd discussed with Jing Yuan, explaining why he alone was uniquely suited to this plan.
You couldn't just replace Taoran with any ordinary Vidyadhara.
Sure, you could force it—but it would be a dangerously risky gamble. One misstep, and the Luofu would plunge into internal chaos.
Pressure externally, turmoil internally—that was a recipe for total ruin.
"Robin. Could you really stand by and watch innocent people die because of this?"
Robin didn't answer.
Sora knew her temperament—that's precisely why he chose words that could completely silence her.
In truth, she and Sora were the same.
She went to Planet Promia because she cherished life. She stayed by Sora's side as he repeatedly ventured into the Swarm because she cherished life.
No one understood life's weight better than she did. Her musical awakening wasn't rooted in piano keys or recorder notes—but in the wails, sighs, and prayers of the people after a Stellaron fell upon her homeland.
It sounded ironic, but that was the truth.
The girl who sang of life across the galaxy, who sang tomorrow into existence, did so precisely because she knew the value of life.
She would never forget that cold star plunging down behind her mother—death's breath.
Nor the charred marks it left behind—also death's breath.
Sora met her gaze, watching her wings cycle through shifting colors. From those hues, he saw worry, anger, fleeting joy…
Clearly, the turmoil in her heart ran even deeper than his.
So Sora was willing to wait. Robin was worth slowing down for, even if only briefly.
Until the colors on her wings shifted less frequently, the changes gradually slowing.
Sora knew she'd found her answer.
"I…"
When Robin finally spoke, her voice was low. "I've come close to death twice…"
"And each time, someone beside me—someone protecting me—was lost."
The first was her mother.
The second clawed his way back out of sheer stubbornness.
And now that man was about to risk everything again.
She didn't want to accept it, yet she couldn't seem to pull him back from the brink.
Someone dying twice—she'd never imagined it.
But…
"On the Xianzhou, there's an old saying: things don't happen a third time."
Her body relaxed. A smile returned. "So I choose to believe."
"Don't worry," Sora said. "I'll take good care of this life of mine."
They smiled at each other—then both turned to the door beside them.
Sora knew plenty of people were crowded outside, eavesdropping closely.
Robin knew it too.
They shared a tacit understanding, revealed in moments like these.
Unfortunately for the listeners, nothing happened inside that would satisfy their curiosity.
Sora reached for the door, ready to throw it open and send the crowd outside crashing down.
At that moment, a hand caught his—so lightly it made no sound.
Sora turned back, confused. He didn't understand what Robin wanted now.
But facing her, he realized it was simple.
The necklace he'd once bought for her had already been removed.
She softly approached, stood in front of him, then rose onto her toes to slip the necklace over his neck.
Then she carefully adjusted it, tucking it beneath his clothes so it rested snugly against his skin.
Sora could even feel the necklace's warmth.
When finished, she tilted her head and examined him. Only after confirming it couldn't be seen did she nod in satisfaction.
"Remember to give it back to me when you return."
She leaned in and whispered softly in his ear—then opened the door.
Outside, the eavesdroppers toppled forward at once, crashing down with a collective yelp.
"You two were being all sneaky—what secret were you talking about?!"
"No secret," Sora replied. "Didn't you hear everything just now? Just discussing the infiltration."
Sora didn't pay much attention to the ruckus at the door. He simply watched Robin and Titania talk.
—Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look at you…
"Shut up."
He lightly patted his chest, the touch leaving him oddly at ease.
...
With Fu Xuan's continual additions, the plan was finally complete.
Ultimately, the most crucial—and most complicated—part was distilled into something no larger than a chip.
"As soon as you reach the vicinity of the Xianzhou Yuque, insert this chip into your phone. The Yuque will handle coordination from that point forward," Jing Yuan instructed Sora.
Sora nodded.
In other words, after infiltrating, his job was to get close to the Yuque, establish contact, and rebuild the communication network.
"Don't you think this is way too complicated?" Titania complained, already dizzy from just listening.
Running around like this was a real hassle.
"We don't have a choice. The Luofu doesn't have the equipment necessary to build a complete communications network," Jing Yuan explained helplessly. "Only the Yuque—where Jade Abacuses are plentiful—can provide what we need."
Sora understood.
He reminded Fenille to watch Titania closely and prevent her from causing trouble.
Fenille opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to say something—
But Titania moved faster, grabbing Fenille and dragging her away.
Meanwhile, Jin Xing looked at Sora with a complicated expression. "I wish I could go with you…"
But it was impossible. Even if she went all-out to change her appearance, she still wouldn't pass inspection.
Sora could only pat her shoulder, signaling her to stay calm.
After a brief round of farewells, it was finally time for Sora to depart.
He took out the Rolling Vistamp and summoned the persona hidden within himself.
As crimson scales spread across his body, it signaled the moment of his departure.
But just before he left, Jing Yuan stopped him—one important detail remained.
"What alias will you use?"
Sora was infiltrating under the pretense of "Taoran's defection," but he couldn't actually use the name "Taoran."
It belonged to a criminal—Jing Yuan wouldn't saddle Sora with such infamy.
So Sora needed an alias.
An alias…
Instantly, countless cringe-worthy names flooded his mind, each worse than the last.
He dismissed them one by one.
In the end, only a few remained.
"Call me 'Longzhang.'"
It had no special meaning; it just sounded closest to a normal person's actual name.
He couldn't exactly show up calling himself "Crimson Blood Dragon," "Xialan Xingde Long," or "Red Dragon Hero."
His chuunibyo self might think those were cool, but the real him would die of embarrassment.
A title like that wouldn't vanish when the mission ended.
He didn't want to return to the Luofu afterward and be haunted by those humiliating names.
So he settled on a plain-sounding alias.
"Just wait—my name will thunder through the ranks of the abominations! Hahahahahaha!"
With one final burst of wild laughter, Sora shot into the sky, becoming a streak of crimson as he entered the cosmos.
Watching the red meteor against the darkness, Jing Yuan felt deeply moved.
Too bad he couldn't make a spectacle of it—otherwise he'd have had the Cloud Knights wave banners in salute for three-quarters of an hour.
But that was impossible. A single leak could doom Sora's mission.
All Jing Yuan's gratitude condensed into a few silent words:
May you have a smooth journey.
After silently offering his respects, Jing Yuan immediately gave the command:
"Rally the Cloud Knights—move out with me! We'll capture the vile wyrm 'Taoran' and bring him back!"
If you were going to act, you had to play your part fully—otherwise, who would buy it?
...
The vast sea of stars was pitch-black, as if devoid of all life.
Far ahead, a single shining world glimmered.
That was the Xianzhou Luofu.
From here, the Luofu was scarcely bigger than a marble.
Imagine just how far away that truly was.
Precisely because of the distance, a massive group of half-bird, half-human creatures could hide undetected.
They were Gudiao, part of the Denizens of the Abundance, sent on one mission:
To discover why their scouts, sent to rendezvous with an insider, had vanished without a trace.
"Commander—traces of battle were discovered over there."
"But they're minimal. We can't tell who wiped out our brothers."
Several Gudiao gathered before the commander, reporting their findings.
The site bore signs of combat, but nothing confirmed whether the Xianzhou had done it or if someone else was involved.
"Keep searching, then. Our brothers didn't die for nothing."
The commander dismissed them, gaze fixed on the distant Luofu.
Around him, countless Gudiao stood ready to act at any moment.
At a glance, they nearly occupied an entire small asteroid belt.
They waited here for a single command—to tear that distant world apart.
There were six ambushes like this.
Together, they blocked every possible retreat.
If the Luofu moved even slightly, the ambushes would strike instantly.
The Matrix of Prescience Ultima hadn't lied. This starfield was filled with traps.
Thankfully, the Luofu hadn't yet made a move rash enough to alert them.
Not until the scouts returned once more.
"Commander—we detected movement!"
"Hm?"
The commander pressed at once. "What movement? Did you find our brothers?"
"No—it's someone being chased by the Cloud Knights!"
Moments earlier, Gudiao scouts had spotted a red meteor shooting from the Luofu, racing away.
Behind it, countless Cloud Knights pursued—as if chasing down a major criminal.
"They dropped papers from their starskiffs, sir. Take a look."
The scout handed over a crumpled paper.
Unfolded, three large words stood out sharply:
[WANTED NOTICE]
The commander studied every line.
The sketch showed an ordinary-looking man covered in red dragon scales.
Below, the notice detailed his crimes:
[Invoking traces of the Plague's Author; abducting Vidyadhara dragon eggs; damaging Luofu structures; harassing respectable women…]
Every single accusation was monstrous.
But the Gudiao leader didn't care about the details. His eyes locked onto the name.
[Wanted criminal: Longzhang.]
[Original name: Taoran.]
"This name… isn't this the one the Master of Immortality ordered us to pick up?"
The leader lowered the notice, mind spinning.
The brothers sent earlier had disappeared, and now this guy conveniently fled the Luofu.
It was impossible not to connect the two events.
After brief consideration, he made a decision.
"All units—advance the line three light-years on my command."
He would see if this man was real… or an imposter.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Lasers poured from starskiffs, lancing toward the figure streaking through space.
"Vile wyrm, return to the Shackling Prison immediately—I'll spare your life!"
Even as the starskiffs shouted, they fired relentlessly.
Their target didn't even bother dodging.
"With attacks like that, you think you can drag me back? Don't make me laugh!"
He twisted midair, deflecting the lasers, then struck back against the starskiffs.
"That frantic escape earlier was just to leave the Luofu behind. You've chased me this far—don't push your luck!"
The red meteor suddenly halted in the void. The sinister grin on his face resembled a hunter eyeing prey.
"Let me show you power that can paint the cosmos red with blood!"
The Rolling Vistamp slid along his scaled arm. This wasn't a mere persona shift—it was unleashing his true strength!
'[BANE UP]!'
His own blood-red hue bled into the black starfield.
A colossal crimson dragon coiled through space, eyes blazing with murderous intent—as if preparing to slaughter everything.
'[CRIMSON UP]!'
As the stamp landed on his chest, the crimson dragon layered countless components onto his body.
When the final piece locked into place, immense energy erupted!
Starskiffs pursuing him were hurled into violent chaos by the shockwave.
A deep crimson body etched with irregular patterns—one glance was enough to sense its raw, unrestrained brutality.
Spikes and claws on his limbs looked like blades made flesh.
He stared at the starskiffs, rolled his neck twice, and delivered the perfect line:
"Listen… to EXTINCTION—!"
'[CRIMSON VAIL]!'
"Starskiff propulsion compromised—halt pursuit!" the lead Cloud Knight shouted, sensing danger.
They stopped, faces taut with vigilance as they stared into the starfield stained blood-red.
"This guy…"
This oppressive force. This heavy, suffocating feeling—even their thoughts slowed.
Was this… his true power?
Watching from afar, the Gudiao leader widened his eyes.
Even from this distance, he felt the oppressive aura radiating from that figure.
It was like confronting a top-tier immortal dragonkin.
Those dragonkin weren't fragile like the Vidyadhara—they were beings truly deserving the name dragon.
Their coils could encircle entire star systems as casually as resting places.
Their mere presence made Gudiao avoid their path.
The leader thought he'd never feel such power again.
Yet today, he did.
"This man truly is a Vidyadhara…"
In an instant, the Gudiao leader made up his mind. He was certain now—this dragonkin was the one the Master of Immortality sought.
But one crucial detail remained unclear:
Just how strong was he?
The Denizens of the Abundance had united, preparing to strike the weakened Xianzhou Alliance.
And to maintain that unity, following the Master of Immortality alone wasn't enough—they needed an internal hierarchy.
That hierarchy was simple: might makes right.
The strongest voice carried the greatest weight; the weakest simply obeyed.
Crude—but undeniably effective.
It was what made the Abundance coalition so solid.
Now that the Gudiao leader believed this was indeed the man Phantylia wanted, he had to judge the man's strength himself.
As for Sora's strength… was there even a question?
"Let blood… grant us… sacred baptism!"
With a roar, the crimson meteor—already nearly clear of the encirclement—turned and charged straight back toward his pursuers.
"Is he trying to get himself killed?!" the Gudiao leader exclaimed in shock.
The Xianzhou Alliance might be pinned down by multiple Abundance clans, but even a single Xianzhou ship was nothing a random species could easily challenge.
If any clan could handle them alone, there would've been no need for an alliance in the first place.
That alone demonstrated how fearsome each ship still was, even under siege.
Yet now someone was charging headlong into the Xianzhou fleet.
Whether Sora lived or died wasn't the issue—but right now, Sora was someone the Master of Immortality had ordered them to retrieve.
If the Gudiao failed here, the leader would bear responsibility.
He initially thought Sora had thrown himself into his grave.
But quickly, he realized he'd made a mistake.
Because the Xianzhou starskiffs ahead of Sora had no chance to retaliate at all!
The red meteor flashed through their formation—and in an instant, every starskiff went dead in space.
At the same time, crimson liquid seeped from those ships.
It looked like, in that brief pass, Sora had slaughtered all the Cloud Knights aboard.
The Gudiao leader felt his soul shake. He never imagined he'd witness a sight like this.
It defied belief!
Power on this scale surpassed ordinary species entirely.
Sora alone could carry out genocide.
Such strength was more than enough to earn the Gudiao leader's respect.
In the future coalition of Abundance clans, the Gudiao would absolutely need to maintain good relations with him.
But a new problem now faced them:
"How exactly are we supposed to bring him back?"
The Gudiao leader nearly wanted to cry. They were here to pick someone up...
But now their target had rushed back into the enemy ranks. What were they supposed to do?
Follow him in?
Ridiculous.
If the Gudiao had that kind of courage, they wouldn't have relied on ambush tactics in the first place.
Wasn't it precisely because they couldn't match the Xianzhou head-on that they resorted to stealth?
What could they do now?
As the Gudiao leader desperately considered his options, the target suddenly surged backward again.
This time, though, an enormous, overwhelming Lightning-Lord chased after him!
"O mighty divine spirit—drive out evil, dispel calamity!"
The Cloud Knights parted ranks. The white-haired man wielding a formation saber froze the entire battlefield.
Denizens of the Abundance and Cloud Knights alike fell silent, eyes fixed upon him.
Because his identity was already etched deep into their consciousness.
The Divine Foresight General, Jing Yuan.
Behind him, a golden giant—towering as if ten thousand zhang tall—manifested from nothing.
It wielded a colossal blade, perfectly mirroring Jing Yuan's movements.
And now, Sora alone faced Jing Yuan and the Lightning-Lord!
"Vile wyrm! You invoked traces of the Plague's Author and damaged Vidyadhara dragon eggs—violating Xianzhou law. Prepare to die!"
With that, Jing Yuan swung the formation saber, and the Lightning-Lord's massive blade cleaved toward Sora!
A strike like that looked strong enough to split planets.
The Gudiao leader saw his mission slipping away.
Yet, at the instant of contact, Sora's figure abruptly shot backward!
"Old Jing! You think I'll just stand here and take your attack? Bwahahahaha!"
Faced with a scene like this, anyone else might have dropped to their knees. The pressure of the enormous Lightning-Lord was suffocating.
But Sora didn't flinch—he laughed defiantly.
"One lock can't bind me! The Shackling Prison can't hold me! Let the old body die—let the new live forever!"
"I've shed my old name. Now I am the storm closing in on the Xianzhou—Longzhang!"
His brazen, arrogant words matched him perfectly.
Only he was qualified to taunt the Xianzhou openly.
After surviving a strike from the Lightning-Lord, no one would doubt his strength.
"The Luofu is nothing but a toy in my hand! Once I've nursed my wounds, I'll show you my 'Great Wilderness Heaven-Imprisoning Kick'!"
Great Wilderness Heaven-Imprisoning Kick?!
Just hearing the name alone was intimidating—who knew what it actually entailed?
The Gudiao leader watched, anticipation quietly rising as he awaited Sora's next move.
Sora's next move was simple:
He'd made a show. He'd shouted. Now there was only one option left—
Run!
"Damn you, Luofu! I'll be back!"
With those parting words, Sora transformed into a blood-colored dragon shadow and tore into the distance.
He fled stylishly—fierce, swift, and completely unexpected.
Only after he'd gained a significant lead did the Cloud Knights finally react and chase after him.
"After him!"
One starskiff after another surged forward, racing to intercept Sora.
Jing Yuan remained behind, able only to silently pray for Sora's safety.
In that moment, the Gudiao leader finally understood—
it was his turn to enter.
"Cloud Knights. The way ahead is barred."
As the Cloud Knight starskiffs entered their ambush zone, Gudiao swarmed from all directions, instantly trapping them.
Malicious smiles curled the edges of their beaks as they stared gleefully at the surrounded Cloud Knights.
They'd been prey long enough.
Now that the tables had turned, they wouldn't miss the chance to strike back.
"You're… Gudiao?!" the Cloud Knights shouted warily.
"You dare approach the Luofu—aren't you afraid the Xianzhou Alliance will wipe out your kind?"
"The Alliance can't even spare the attention for itself," the Gudiao sneered. "Do you really think your Luofu alone can turn things around?"
Gudiao who'd already received the signal emerged from every direction, tightening the siege.
"When did you sneak in?!" the Cloud Knights shouted.
The Gudiao erupted into laughter.
They'd suffered humiliation long enough—now it was their turn.
"They say the Luofu's Divine Foresight General predicts all things like a god. Did he predict this siege?"
"It seems the Luofu isn't so special after all."
The Cloud Knights could only grip their weapons tighter, preparing to break through.
The Gudiao leader knew this wasn't the time to linger.
"Kill them!"
Jing Yuan was still watching. The Gudiao had appeared only to stall pursuit.
Killing these Cloud Knights swiftly, then retreating to the blockade, was the correct move.
Gudiao surged from all sides, hunger visible in their eyes—
'[CRIMSON IMPACT]!'
BOOM!
A blood-red streak blasted in from afar!
An enormous wave of energy engulfed the Luofu starskiffs, simultaneously tearing open a hole in the Gudiao's formation.
Seeing that familiar crimson, the Gudiao leader whipped his gaze toward the distant stars.
There, Sora slowly withdrew his fist.
"You helped stall my pursuers," he said, "but these ones are my prey."
Leaving behind a streak of scarlet, he appeared directly before the Gudiao. "I won't let their blood go to waste."
He clenched his fist, knuckles cracking audibly beside the Gudiao leader's ear.
"I'll personally exact my revenge… I'll drown this world in blood!"
A cold gleam flashed in his eyes as he scanned the Gudiao—as if they, too, were potential prey.
The Gudiao leader very much wished not to become prey.
"Stop, stop, stop! We're here to pick you up! We're under orders from the Master of Immortality—we're on the same side!"
He didn't dare provoke Sora.
After all, this was someone who'd taken a hit from the Lightning-Lord and survived.
With just one attack earlier, he'd annihilated countless Cloud Knights—fighting him would mean suicide.
"Oh? You're the ones the Master of Immortality sent?"
Sora eyed them up and down, voice dripping with disdain.
"Yes, yes. But this isn't the place to talk. Mr. Taoran, please follow me somewhere safe—then we can speak at length."
"Hahahaha—'Taoran' is merely my old name!"
Sora seized the Gudiao leader and yanked him close. "My name now is Longzhang! Remember it!"
This was the first time the Gudiao leader had gotten so close. The thick scent of blood radiating from Sora nearly suffocated him.
That pressure… that presence…
No wonder the Master of Immortality had specifically instructed them to retrieve this man.
"Understood. After you, sir."
Only then did Sora nod, agreeing to leave with them.
Before departing, he deliberately turned back and stuck his thumb down—a gesture brimming with disdain for the Luofu.
As soon as the two vanished from the Cloud Knights' view, the Gudiao that had emerged from every corner of space melted back into hiding.
No one would mistake this black starfield for empty ever again. The brief revelation of danger was enough to trigger every alarm.
Only after ensuring they had left did Jing Yuan lead the Cloud Knights back to the Luofu.
Inside the ship, Titania was busy pulling several Cloud Knights back in from the void of space.
They were the ones who'd been swallowed by Sora's Crimson Impact.
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Titania."
The reason these knights survived was because Titania had helped.
Titania was a Memoria being—she could disperse into nothingness and attach herself to others.
Faced with a lethal strike, she could condense her power into crystalline pincer-spines to block damage.
She could also render those crystals completely transparent, reflecting the surrounding starfield.
This had allowed them to create the illusion that Sora had eradicated countless Cloud Knights with one punch.
As for the Gudiao…
They really were erased—instantly and without trace.
"Ah, it's no big deal, no big deal. It was actually quite fun!"
Titania clapped her hands together.
Then, abruptly switching topics, she asked Jing Yuan, "So in a few days, am I going to have to do this too?"
Sora was heading somewhere exciting—how could she stay behind?
Besides, Robin had specifically asked her. As a god, she naturally had to be generous to her believers.
Jing Yuan chuckled and shook his head. "No need to make it so complicated."
He'd already prepared a role for Titania.
Since Taoran had "escaped," it was only natural that a few Disciples of Sanctus Medicus would slip away as well.
As for how to place Titania undercover… that would be even simpler.
"Rest well for now, Miss Titania. When the time comes, I'll ensure you get inside."
The prisoners in the Shackling Prison were about to prove their worth.
Jing Yuan turned toward the distant stars, his gaze as calm and deep as an ancient sea—seemingly incapable of being disturbed.
...
After returning with the Cloud Knights, Jing Yuan immediately raised the Luofu's defenses, sealing off the threats outside.
The Gudiao monitoring the Luofu saw this immediately and rushed to inform their leader.
Seeing this, the Gudiao leader felt exhilaration unlike anything before.
Their clan wasn't particularly strong among the Denizens of the Abundance, yet today they'd forced the Luofu to raise its defenses.
It felt incredible.
Even better, the Master of Immortality's mission was complete.
Completing a mission meant earning a reward.
Just thinking of that reward made the Gudiao leader restless.
"Lord Longzhang—we'll take you to meet the Master of Immortality immediately!"
Sora barely had time to settle before they rushed him onto an enormous roc-shaped ship.
The speed of the transfer made him praise the Gudiao's efficiency.
I like this—no nonsense, just action.
After a long wait, Sora finally saw the gathering place of the Denizens of the Abundance.
It was a planet.
Under the nearby star's illumination, its vivid green sheen was striking to behold.
He could hardly believe such a beautiful place was home to the Denizens of the Abundance.
What a waste.
But upon descending into the planet's interior, Sora quickly realized he'd judged too soon.
The world was indeed lush—but towering at its center stood an enormous tree.
Its green canopy seemed to support the blue sky, yet its branches and trunk were… wrong.
The grooves in its bark formed outlines of countless twisted bodies.
Knotted and entwined, they composed the tree itself—and Sora could even see faces clearly.
Those expressions were of supreme bliss… and simultaneously, of calm enlightenment, as if they'd grasped universal truths.
"What the hell… is that?"
For the first time since arriving, Sora felt his scalp crawl.
"They're just a minor Abundance clan," the Gudiao leader explained to him casually.
"They're weak—so weak they're useless. Once they fuse together, they can reproduce the next generation."
And the purpose of that reproduction was clearly visible.
Fruit, shaped like infants, hung from every branch, slowly gestating.
"These fruits are excellent tonics. That's their only value," the leader continued, smiling as he patted Sora's shoulder. "And they're also my reward for completing the Master of Immortality's tasks. Every time I pick someone up, I receive ten of them."
He flew upward and picked several fruits.
"Here, brother—try one!"
He tossed one to Sora and popped another into his own mouth.
Squelch.
With a wet burst—fresh red blood dripped from the Gudiao leader's beak onto the ground, releasing a faint scent.
That smell…
Unmistakably blood.
Meaning the "fruit" in Sora's hand was actually…
Sora stared blankly at it.
A chilling dread rose within him, as if he'd been dragged back into some ancient age in a heartbeat.
The traits the leader described stirred a realization—
This was a minor Abundance clan with no ability to defend itself. Once their planet was captured, this became their fate.
If the Denizens of the Abundance were powerless… would this be their destiny?
"This is…"
Without witnessing it himself, Sora never would've imagined this reality.
"Brother, aren't you going to take a bite and see how it tastes?"
The Gudiao leader leaned in eagerly, urging him to try it.
He'd eaten countless of these fruits and still craved more. He was certain Sora's first experience would be unforgettable.
Eat?
Sora stared at the thing in his hand and held his breath.
Fine.
He threw it into his mouth.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed—so much that it even splattered the Gudiao leader.
"Brother, that's such a waste," the leader lamented.
"Waste?" Sora threw his head back and laughed. "Bwahahahaha! From now on, all of these are mine."
His laughter was wild.
His gaze was icy cold.
Later, I'll bury you properly.
Inside the System Space, the infant-like fruit lay quietly intact.
After "eating," Sora followed the Gudiao leader onward.
Along the way, Sora caught glimpses indicating this planet must once have been stunningly beautiful.
He saw the ruins of many homes—now piled aside like garbage.
The people who'd once lived here had been forcibly merged into that grotesque tree.
Forced to endlessly reproduce, bearing fruit after fruit.
And those fruits became rewards for the "meritorious."
Had he not seen it himself, Sora never would've believed such a place could exist.
This journey truly expanded his horizons.
As Sora surveyed his surroundings, the Gudiao leader brought him to a certain place.
"Master of Immortality—I've brought the one you requested."
He spoke with deep respect.
At those words, the figure lounging before them finally showed interest.
"Oh?"
---
T/N: phew long ass chapter again, anyway hmm i think what author was describing was the demon form...? but there's no transformation sequence for that but its okie ill just post both pictures!
maybe he can like choose which armor he gets :p
bonus chaps
200 stones -> 1 chapter
400 stones -> 2 chapters
600 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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