A question mark popped up over Fu Xuan's head.
She had just returned and immediately saw the Trailblazer beating someone up, even claiming to be a warm-hearted good citizen.
What exactly was going on?
"Ah… stop right now! You can't abuse prisoners!!"
Fu Xuan frowned: "Miss Stelle, that's enough."
"Master Diviner, this guy just now called you a pink little shorty." Stelle suddenly reminded.
Fu Xuan was stunned at first, then her small face darkened.
Without a word, her gaze shifted to the Cloud Knights restraining Red Spider.
The meaning was obvious.
True or false?
The several Cloud Knights nodded like pecking chicks.
"This seat has sand in its eyes and can't see what's happening here."
Fu Xuan expressionlessly raised her fingers to rub her eyes, making March 7th's eye twitch.
"(Master Diviner, your acting is way too bad…)"
Hearing March 7th's inner thoughts, the players all burst out laughing.
[Sexy Trailblazer beating people online.]
[Sexy Fu Xuan pretending to be confused online.]
[Sexy March 7th roasting online.]
[You guys have had enough!]
[Holding in laughter (dragon pic)]
[Two minutes later…]
Red Spider lay on the ground, one breath in and one breath out, looking half-dead.
Stelle stretched lazily.
"Waaah~~ Feeling refreshed."
The Cloud Knights silently agreed in their hearts: Indeed.
March 7th was a bit worried: "He's not going to die, right?"
Fu Xuan: "Xianzhou people have strong constitutions; he won't die."
"Then this girl can rest easy."
The dying Red Spider couldn't even spit blood, let alone say anything.
Especially upon discovering Fu Xuan had returned safe and sound, his face turned ashen.
Could it be that the Denizens of Abundance led by Zigui and the army of strange beasts had failed?
How was that possible?
The haze of the Cloud霞 Purple Palace hadn't cleared; the Cloud Knights were too busy to attend to themselves—how could they win?
Unless something unexpected happened on the Leader's side…
Fu Xuan's small face gradually turned serious.
"Everyone, apologies for the wait. This seat has uncovered the mysteries of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. This isn't the place to talk—follow me."
The Express crew followed Fu Xuan to a secluded spot. This time she didn't beat around the bush and laid out all the important intelligence on the organization.
Stelle pondered for a moment.
"You waiting for us probably isn't just to say this. Get to the point—what do you want us to do this time?"
Fu Xuan seemed not to catch the subtext, or perhaps she was pretending to be confused, and went along with it:
"It seems you're already prepared."
March 7th covered her forehead: "Sigh, the first time I met your Helm Master Yukong, she said something spot-on—"
Recalling Yukong's tone, she cleared her throat and imitated:
"Ahem… This is Xianzhou internal affairs; no need for you all to worry."
"Hey, how come in the blink of an eye, all the dirty work gets dumped on us? Even the Company isn't as good at ordering people around as you."
"Let me guess what you plan to have us do this time—charge into battle… together with the Cloud Knights?"
"Eek, no way no way! This girl gets dizzy in big scenes!"
March 7th shook her head repeatedly, her face full of refusal—it was clear she really wasn't good at frontline combat.
Fu Xuan showed a helpless expression.
"Who said anything about sending you all to the battlefield?"
"General Jing Yuan instructed that you are surprise troops who arrived by fate—the key is the 'surprise.'"
"The Cloud Knights' strong assault just now was to show the enemy the orthodox way; the time to use the surprise is now."
"Everyone, please follow this seat once more."
Fu Xuan led the group to the front of a high platform railing.
Looking far below, they could take in the massive cauldron standing at the end of their line of sight.
"Awakening bell rouses dreams within dreams; haze gathers and scatters beyond the body."
"Secret medicine sinks into the furnace, igniting the root of calamity; Cloud霞 Purple Palace transforms into rushing evil."
"Mist locks ten thousand souls in mara dance; only when the cauldron falls silent does the plague smoke arise…"
Fu Xuan recited the intelligence sent by the mysterious surprise troop and pointed at the cauldron.
"Everyone, see that over there?"
The players already knew the intelligence was provided by Leon; seeing this, a sense of security blanketed their hearts.
[Old father is old father—reliable!]
[Who understands the value in those words?]
[Which ones?]
[When the Iron Guards faced the Rift creatures and split up, he said no matter when, he'd always be by everyone's side.]
[Such heavy Leon, suki~~]
[Indeed max value—clearly not in the party, yet clearing risks and thorns for everyone in his own way.]
[Being a Leon chef is too blissful!!]
[Five-star hurry into the pool, 6+5 pull explode!]
Many players started sending barrages, generating electricity for Leon.
As for Ah Xian…
She was floating.
Her electricity-generating essay was finally caught by the super mod for a loophole—yellow card warning.
However, her power output showed no signs of weakening…
Tingyun observed the cauldron from afar, showing surprise: "Such a huge alchemy furnace, still smoking."
Fu Xuan: "That's where ancient alchemists meditated on the immortal path. They built the furnace here to draw power from the Ambrosial Arbor, turning whims into reality."
"Because the haze in the furnace never ceases, it's named Cloud霞 Purple Palace."
"Though the name is elegant, it's a death ground in military strategy."
"As long as the cauldron doesn't extinguish and the haze swirls, we can't advance an inch."
March 7th scratched her head.
"Master Diviner, every word in your poem can be translated by the synesthesia beacon."
"But put together, I can't understand it…"
Welt pondered for a moment and explained:
"The Master Diviner means that the Cloud Knights losing control and falling to mara is related to that smoking cauldron."
"Correct."
Fu Xuan nodded solemnly.
"The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus mixed mara-inducing elixir into the haze scattered across the grotto-heavens."
"Unless they can march while holding their breath, the Cloud Knight army will collapse without a fight."
"No one knows when the comrade beside them will fall to mara—what's more demoralizing than suspicion for disintegrating an army?"
Welt: "The Master Diviner wants the Cloud Knights to draw enemy attention while we extinguish the cauldron and stop the smoke?"
Fu Xuan: "Mm. No matter how prepared the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are, they're ultimately targeting the Cloud Knights."
"Even if they know of your abilities and existence, it's hard for them to counter."
Saying this, she took out a small incense burner and extended it.
A refreshing fragrance quickly spread nearby.
"This is… left by another surprise troop arranged by the General. Its scent calms the mind and focuses the spirit."
"With this protecting you, plus you all being short-life species, the haze absolutely won't affect you."
?
Welt's gaze fixed on the incense burner in Fu Xuan's palm.
Though the fragrance felt unfamiliar, the style of the burner seemed somewhat familiar.
Very similar to the style Leon had used.
But carefully recalling the past, he could be 100% sure the detail patterns were different.
Considering most incense burners in Leon's hands were produced by pharmaceutical companies under the IPC, Welt could only suppress his doubts.
Leon was injured; Himeko wouldn't easily agree to him risking himself on the Luofu Xianzhou and would patiently dissuade him.
He was steady, knew his limits, and wouldn't act rashly.
Perhaps this burner was just a coincidence.
But the players had different thoughts.