Chapter 51: My Master Died Because of Me…
You hurried back to the Divination Commission of Yuque.
You intended to tell Diviner Jing Tian that his position as Grand Diviner was likely coming to an end.
This invasion by the Abundance Followers was fierce. Although the Xianzhou Alliance had not been entirely unprepared over the past decades…
The Celestial Arks spanned a vast star field. The Abundance Followers' target might be only one of them.
Forced to respond in haste, the Alliance had no choice but to narrow the distance between the various Arks.
It did not take you long to reach Yuque.
You entered the Divination Commission of the Xianzhou Yuque. After many years, Diviner Jing Tian seemed unchanged.
Only that empty sleeve still hung desolately at his side.
"Greetings, Master…"
You bowed. Jing Tian stood motionless before the Cloud Mirror, like a Zen master in meditation.
"Long time no see, my convenient disciple."
His gaze, reflected in the mirror, slowly settled on you. Your head of white hair appeared to move him.
He sighed softly.
"Are you here to bid me farewell?"
"Yes… and no."
"I am here to assume the position of Xianzhou Diviner."
A golden light ignited between your brows, unfolding into a golden decree bearing the personal seal of Marshal Hua.
Not only that—the Marshal's voice echoed from within the radiance.
> "The sea of stars is vast; the Celestial Ark ascends.
Xianzhou Diviner Jing Tian has rendered great service, fulfilled his duties with courage, and sacrificed much…
After the loss of an arm, my heart aches deeply. Yet with war imminent, an impaired body may become a weakness. Therefore, he is temporarily relieved of the heavy responsibility of Grand Diviner and shall rest and recover in Yuque.
Su Xiaobai shall temporarily assume the role of Grand Diviner…"
The voice of Marshal Hua faded, but its echo lingered in Jing Tian's ears.
His eyes grew slightly moist as he bowed.
"Diviner Jing Tian… obeys the Marshal's decree…"
As his voice fell, the token symbolizing the Xianzhou Diviner rose into the air, converging into a radiant plaque engraved with your name—
Su Xiaobai.
Grand Diviner.
Why? Why you?
Confusion surfaced in Jing Tian's eyes.
"Cough… cough…"
You coughed several times, a tearing pain spreading across your chest.
I am about to die. Let me serve as Grand Diviner for a few days. Consider it the fulfillment of my dream…
You did not speak the truth. The truth was irrelevant.
What mattered was that in this way, Jing Tian would not have to die—and Fu Xuan would not have to bear that crushing burden for the rest of her life.
Let everything end with you, like a lamp running out of oil.
"Your little sister's idea?"
Jing Tian paused, a suspicion forming.
Perhaps his youngest disciple still wished to defy fate.
"She doesn't know."
You spoke aimlessly for a while.
"So I've become the Xianzhou Diviner. Where will Master go?"
You asked about his future. He shook his head, uncertain. His life had been bound to this responsibility for so long that sudden release brought not relief—but disorientation.
"I have property in Yuque. And a school…"
"You could live there as well."
"And you?"
If he took the estate and school, where would you live?
"Xianzhou Diviner Su Xiaobai, heed this order!"
"Take the Cloud Mirror and proceed to reinforce Xianzhou Fanghu. General Tianji awaits you at the Yuque realm gate…"
You smiled faintly. With a light tap of your finger, the enormous mirror shrank to palm-size and flew into your hand.
The authority of Grand Diviner was indeed convenient.
What use does a dying man have for property? Ah, right—there are some books beneath my bed. Burn them. And make sure my little sister never finds out…
Your voice faded into the distance, leaving behind only the solitary Xianzhou Diviner—
No.
The solitary former Diviner.
---
Time returned to the day Fu Xuan was first summoned to the Seat of Divine Foresight.
She was temporarily stationed at Xianzhou Luofu as an external member of the Divination Commission. During ordinary times, she had little to do.
There was no war. Jing Yuan was relatively idle.
But this war erupted suddenly. By the time the Alliance fully reacted, Xianzhou Fanghu was already surrounded.
Jing Yuan frowned at the incoming military reports. His mood sank into darkness.
The Abundance Followers' counterattack was exceptionally violent. It was said they had even brought the legendary living planet—
Ketu Mirage.
Jing Yuan clenched his fists. The memory returned—comrades twisted, torn apart, turned into monsters by that weapon in the previous war.
At that moment, Fu Xuan did not yet know you had left.
Looking at the battlefield projection, she too was shaken.
The Cloud Knights' forces were overly dispersed. By the time reinforcements gathered, it would likely be too late.
If that living planet descended upon Fanghu—
"Innumerable casualties" would not suffice to describe it.
Is this all a diviner can do?
Merely foresee the outcome—but be powerless to change it?
Jing Tian's teachings echoed in her mind. Amid fear, indignation ignited.
"The current plan is…"
"Mobilizing other Cloud Knights is nearly impossible…"
"Only…"
She murmured as a seemingly absurd idea formed.
"I want to see General Jing Yuan!"
Soon, she stood before him.
"Miss Fu…"
He began to speak, but she interrupted.
"General, given the current situation, reinforcement is no longer viable."
She inhaled deeply.
"The only turning point is to invoke the Divine Archer."
Jing Yuan rose slowly.
The Divine Archer's descent—
Lan.
Light would fall upon the mortal realm.
And it would not discriminate between friend and foe.
Fu Xuan's eyes hardened.
Bailu told me Big Brother may not survive this year. If that's so… I want to go with him.
Perhaps in the underworld, I can still keep him company…
"Yes," she said quietly. "As the proposer of this plan, I am willing to go to the battlefield and execute it."
But Jing Yuan shook his head.
"Thank you for your proposal. However, in times of crisis, the Six Charioteers must shoulder the burden. You do not possess the authority to operate that artifact. If matters spiral out of control, I will bear full responsibility."
He turned away. This decision required reporting to Marshal Hua.
Fu Xuan watched his retreating back.
[The Six Charioteers must shoulder the burden…]
Her face went pale.
Ancient texts recorded that to invoke the Divine Archer required the Cloud Observation Mirror—
And only the Xianzhou Diviner could fully control it.
Which meant—
Her Master.
Jing Tian.
The world swayed around her.
Master…
In the end—
Because of me…
He died…