"The sixty-seventh."
A crimson line of blood was drawn along the three-foot azure blade, condensing into a bright drop that splattered into a blood flower on the ground.
The woman on the ground, so thin she was almost skeletal, was covered in the filth and grime of a homeless person. In the final moments of her life, she looked at the woman who had ended her life with venomous hatred.
"Li... Sushang, you... are just a failure like us!"
Her bloodless lips stretched into a terrifying smile, her murky eyes seeming to have already seen Li Sushang's future.
"You have no family, no companions. Even if you have a moment of happiness now, you are just a failure destined to be like us."
Before the girl with the three-foot azure blade could speak, a gray-haired woman suddenly appeared out of thin air, stomped on the person's head, and began to curse.
"Hey! Why do you people always love to ramble on? Do you think a couple of trash-talk lines can change the power gap between you and my good grand-disciple and turn the tables?"
Pressing down with her foot, the great Herrscher of Sentience ground the person's head into the dirt.
"Wake up, Herrscher of Domination, the times have changed!"
The wretched woman chuckled softly without a word, but the mockery in her eyes grew stronger.
They... like herself, were all out-and-out failures!
This sentiment made the Herrscher of Sentience, who was already particularly sensitive to emotions, extremely impatient. With a single press of her foot, she nearly crushed this Herrscher's head into a watermelon pulp on the ground.
"Failures? You insects who only dare to cause trouble in the shadows, you really have the gall to say that!"
If this member of the Thousand-strong Herrscher were to mock Li Sushang, this unworthy grand-disciple, as a failure in matters of love, the Herrscher of Sentience would definitely give a thumbs-up in approval.
After all, this girl's thoughts were written all over her face. All that was missing was for her good grand-disciple-in-law to give her a good whack and forcibly send her to the bridal chamber.
But to say that she, the greatest Herrscher of Sentience of all time, was also a failure...
"Hah! Ridiculous! The current me is the complete me, the complete Fu Hua. I am destined to be omnipotent!"
With that, the unconventional Herrscher of Sentience, without a second thought, ignored this person's human rights and began to read her memories with her power.
Plaster, Titans, puppets, the theater...
And...
"Bronya?"
The Herrscher of Sentience let out a sound of astonishment. "This little one has also become a Herrscher, and a Herrscher of Domination at that?"
The Herrscher girl was in disbelief, lifting her foot to look at the person who was now breathing more out than in.
"She actually thinks Bronya is the same kind of person as her, both failures in this world?"
The Herrscher of Sentience was utterly perplexed.
This person on the ground had nothing, and even after becoming a Herrscher, she had accomplished nothing, a model of a good-for-nothing and a failure.
But Bronya, that Russian loli, was not only skilled in all sorts of martial arts, but she also had many friends accompanying her.
No matter how you looked at it, Bronya Zaychik and this person had nothing in common, right?
"I don't get it! I totally don't get it!"
Just as the Herrscher of Sentience couldn't understand why Bronya would become a Herrscher of Domination, she also couldn't understand why this person saw Bronya as one of her own kind.
It couldn't be because that Russian loli lost her sister and could only watch a well-fed Seele Vollerei every morning with tears about to fall from her eyes, could it?
Whoever believes that is an idiot!
That was just a little lovers' quirk. Could there really be an idiot who took it seriously?
The Herrscher of Sentience was full of doubt.
Li Sushang sheathed her three-foot azure blade and walked to the Herrscher of Sentience's side.
"Herrscher of Sentience, did you find anything in this one's mind?"
The Inner World Protagonist had humbled himself, calling her 'the great Herrscher of Sentience' an unknown number of times, coaxing her until she was floating on air, before the Herrscher of Sentience agreed to act with her.
It couldn't be helped, Anti-Entropy.
This trip was not only to clean up these Herrschers of Domination hiding in the dark corners of society, but also to see what these insects were planning.
Although Bronya had already successfully gained considerable influence among this group of failures, she ultimately lacked the Herrscher of Sentience's power to see into people's hearts. Anti-Entropy had to rely on this great Herrscher of Sentience.
Of course, how much of that was just humoring a child was a matter of opinion.
In any case, Li Sushang could see that this feeling of being valued and relied upon was very gratifying to the Herrscher of Sentience, and she enjoyed it immensely.
Herrscher of Sentience: "What this bunch of rabble wants to do isn't important. What's important is that Bronya has become a Herrscher of Domination."
The sudden shock made Li Sushang's eyes widen. The image of Bronya and those foul-mouthed puppets overlapped in the girl's mind.
"Bronya... is also a Herrscher of Domination?"
"Yeah."
The Herrscher of Sentience's expression was wistful. "And this little one is quite capable. She's been working diligently among this mob to plot the destruction of the world, and she's even showing signs of becoming the top dog."
To be honest, she wasn't surprised by this.
After all, it was common knowledge that only undercover agents worked selflessly and diligently without seeking any fame or fortune.
Proper workers would slack off whenever they could. Herrschers like them, who were supposed to be controlled by the Honkai, were, to a one, disobedient.
Except for the unlucky Herrscher of Stars and Herrscher of Rimestar, the remaining Herrschers had all surrendered to her grand-disciple-in-law's jeans.
If her guess was correct...
"This ignorant rabble will probably all end up as nourishment for Bronya to become stronger."
Although her own skills had reached the pinnacle of perfection, the Herrscher of Sentience also knew that in the face of absolute power, skill and wisdom were useless.
Just like how she, who currently proclaimed herself unrivaled under the heavens, could only fight to a fifty-fifty draw with that cold, emotionless man.
Five seconds, fifty percent power!
Obtaining a complete Herrscher Core and using the simplest and most brutal means to increase her strength was indeed Bronya's best choice at the moment.
Li Sushang: "In that case, we have nothing to worry about."
"True, let's just let these kids play by themselves."
As she spoke, the playful Herrscher of Sentience's figure faded away, disappearing from Li Sushang's sight in an instant, who knows where she ran off to.
Li Sushang sighed: "Ancestral Master Celestial, you've really given me a huge problem!"
She didn't want to, but she had no choice.
The martial artist, paired with the Herrscher of Sentience, had no choice but to follow in her footsteps, to prevent her from causing some major disaster.
Although a childish temperament was easy to coax, once this one threw a tantrum without a care in the world, there were few who could stop her.
Li Sushang felt like she was a brother-in-law who had inherited her husband from her sister, and even had to bear the responsibility of educating the Herrscher of Sentience.
"Herrscher of Sentience, wait for me!"
...
Dream World...
The gray-haired, blue-eyed girl came to this place after a long absence, with a complex mood.
Ever since she learned that those old acquaintances from the Elysian Realm had also entered this dream world, and confirmed that this was that man's territory, she had followed her intuition and never came here again.
But now that things had come to this, a point where she was just one step away from giving birth to an inner demon.
Fu Hua, unable to find anyone to talk to, could only come here to try her luck and see if her old friends could offer her some guidance.
It wasn't her, without her Shenyun Realm restored, that was terrifying. What was terrifying was that if she fell to her inner demon, she would unleash her power as a MANTIS.
To find her old obsession... once fallen to the demon, she must be executed!
And the Herrscher who lusted after her body was even more deserving of death!
Venturing deep into the dream, everything she saw was the same as in her memory, only with some added grotesque splendor and beauty.
Fu Hua entered the area of Elysian Realm 3RB, relying on her intuition to avoid the areas that felt threatening to her, and found the person she was looking for.
"Elysia..."
The pink-haired beauty turned at the sound of the voice and saw the somewhat disheveled girl.
"Hi ♪, Hua, long time no see."
The beautiful girl smiled sweetly, warmly greeting the scarred Fu Hua.
Her cheerful and generous demeanor was like a timely rain from the heavens, instantly moisturizing Fu Hua's battered heart.
"Elysia, long time no see."
A feeling of nostalgia arose. Looking at the girl's beautiful face, Fu Hua's heart was also filled with apology.
Even though she knew these friends had been here for a long time, she had never once thought of coming to visit them.
She really deserved to die!
The understanding girl saw through Fu Hua's thoughts, and a delicate smile appeared on her tender face.
"Hua, to stare so intently at your big sister Elysia at our long-awaited reunion, you've been corrupted by the outside world, you know ♪"
Her slender fingertip gently tapped between Fu Hua's brows, calming the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
Elysia loved everyone in this world, although she might have favorites due to their individual traits; but for a cute girl like Hua, she didn't mind giving a little more favor.
The pink beauty found a quiet and beautiful garden in this splendid world and pulled Fu Hua over to start an afternoon tea party between beautiful girls.
Her watery large eyes blinked, and the gray-haired, blue-eyed girl couldn't resist Elysia's kindness. She could only watch as one exquisite pastry after another disappeared into her mouth, leaving crumbs at the corners of her lips.
"Elysia, I... I'm full..."
The enthusiastic and generous attitude made Fu Hua feel very awkward.
Since the end of that era, she had not experienced the feeling of being cared for and treated so warmly.
It was truly a bit disorienting.
"Full?"
Elysia smiled, very gently. "But Hua, your heart is crying out to big sister Eli that it's hungry ♪"
Producing another plate of pastries from who knows where, Elysia offered it to Fu Hua's lips without taking no for an answer.
"Ah~~ open your mouth obediently ♪"
The helpless Fu Hua had no resistance against Elysia's enthusiasm, and could only be played with like a life-sized doll by this pink-haired fatso.
One after another, plate after plate...
Until Fu Hua's belly was bulging.
"That's... enough..."
Unable to be stuffed any further, Fu Hua had to push away Elysia's enthusiastic hand, a look of difficulty on her face.
Where there were pastries, there must be tea. A few cups of tea further added to her feeling of fullness. She really couldn't eat anymore.
But Elysia seemed completely unaware, her entire being exuding a 'big sister thinks you're hungry' vibe.
"No can do, Hua."
She was smiling, like a little devil in Fu Hua's eyes. "This 55,000 years' worth of affection, you must let big sister Eli make it all up to you at once ♪"
Fifty-five thousand years... at once...
Fu Hua's expression changed instantly.
When the two words appeared separately, it was nothing much, at most making one feel that Elysia's enthusiasm was overwhelming.
But when these two words were combined, it became a hell of enthusiasm that would make anyone's face pale.
Even if this was a dream world, even if she was a MANTIS, she couldn't stand this person stuffing 55,000 years' worth of enthusiasm into her belly!
Helpless, Fu Hua could only squeeze her brain, which was not good at thinking to begin with, and find a way out of this desperate situation.
"Elysia, I came to you because I need your help!"
The appearance of this sentence seemed to press the pause button on the pink beauty's enthusiasm. The smiling girl finally showed a relieved expression.
"Hua, you finally said it."
"You can't keep your troubles bottled up inside. Both you and Kevin are used to shouldering everything alone."
Elysia was a little sad.
"Sometimes, relying on us, your companions, a little, is actually better."
Shouldering everything alone doesn't get you far. More often than not, it only leads to you being overwhelmed until you are crushed by the weight of your responsibilities.
Elysia could see that the current Fu Hua did not have a mission that had to be completed, but there was another burden in her heart, constantly tormenting the girl's soul.
If she wasn't mistaken...
"It's all that bad guy's fault!"
To make such a beautiful girl worry, it must be the fault of the Inner World Protagonist!
"Elysia..."
Fu Hua's originally calm expression became somewhat complicated. She didn't know how to express the troubles in her heart.
So she could only say: "It's related to him, but it's not entirely his fault."
After some explanation, Fu Hua recounted everything she had experienced at the Far East Branch.
Elysia was shocked, Elysia was sad, Elysia was angry...
Elysia buried Fu Hua in her bottomless cleavage: "Hua, your life has been too bitter these years."
The emotional beauty almost shed tears.
Fu Hua had struggled alone in this unfamiliar era. It truly had not been easy.
Fu Hua, who managed to lift her head for a breath of fresh air from the pink beauty's Maiden-Embracing Kill, felt reborn, but was then immediately troubled by another of Elysia's questions.
"You came to find me this time, it must be because of that naughty boy, right?"
Fu Hua: "..."
"I said, yes and no."
Breaking free from the embrace, Fu Hua stood before Elysia, placing a hand on her chest, which was as flat as a plain: "A Herrscher Core was born here in my chest."
"The Herrscher of Sentience of this era appeared through my body and thoughts."
And...
"She thinks he and I are a match made in heaven and is always trying to harm me."
There are always treacherous subjects who want to harm the emperor. This was Fu Hua's current situation.
She had come to find Elysia because she couldn't find any sense of security in the real world, and could only come to her old friend to sort out her emotions.
However...
"Isn't that great?"
A seductive voice came from another direction. The mistress of the Elysian Realm looked at Fu Hua, who hadn't changed much from 50,000 years ago, her dark green vertical pupils filled with an indescribable depth.
"If you are concerned about your current identity, I don't mind providing you with an operating table as your sanctuary."
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