"Phew… this is the end of the road. This is the deepest root of the Ambrosial Arbor, where the Abundance miracle lies."
"And Phantylia is inside, right at this very moment."
Dan Heng stared at the dragon-shaped seal before them, his expression heavy.
Facing a Lord Ravager head-on. Even with a Xianzhou general backing them up, saying you were not nervous would be a lie…
"Everyone," Jing Yuan said calmly, "are you ready?"
Even the usually laid-back general looked uncharacteristically solemn now.
A Lord Ravager was no easy opponent. For the current Luofu, this battle would be a strain, which was why Jing Yuan had no choice but to rely on the Astral Express crew's strength.
Of course, what he had told Clara earlier was not a lie. The Luofu did have a way to deal with Phantylia swiftly, but that method was a final line they would not cross unless absolutely forced to.
"We'll win for sure!" Seeing how tense everyone looked, March 7th clenched her fist and pumped herself up.
"Mhm." Jing Yuan nodded, saying nothing more as he turned his gaze toward Dan Heng.
Dan Heng understood immediately. He nodded back, stepped up to the seal, and placed his hand against it, releasing the power of the Vidyadhara High Elder.
The seal began to glow, light spilling out and engulfing everyone.
When they opened their eyes again, they were already inside the Ambrosial Arbor.
"So this is the inside of the Arbor… wow, it's huge." Upon entering an entirely new area, March 7th's first instinct as a Trailblazer was to look around and take in the surroundings.
Aside from endless clouds and massive roots stretching into the distance, there was nothing else to see.
No one answered her. Instead, everyone stared grimly at something ahead.
On a lotus flower not far away, a heliobus floated gently in the air.
"Oh my~ I didn't expect the Luofu's general himself to come. Are you here to welcome little old me?"
Sensing Jing Yuan's presence, a sultry voice echoed through the air.
"Come out already, Phantylia! What are you, a coward hiding in her shell?"
March 7th launched a verbal assault. As a heliobus, Phantylia was immune to physical damage, but verbal attacks were very real. The hit landed cleanly and did some actual damage.
"Hehe. So my benefactors are here too~ No rush. Let this lady take a moment to freshen up properly~"
Phantylia chuckled softly. March 7th's words had clearly affected her, if only a little.
"The Abundance miracle really is something else."
She sighed in admiration. The lotus rose into the air, and a colossal humanoid figure manifested before them.
"Th-this is… what exactly…"
Staring at Phantylia's enormous form, March 7th swallowed hard. It felt just like being back on Jarilo-VI…
Wait. They were not about to pull the whole "beat one boss and another one appears" routine again, were they?
"Everyone, feast your eyes on this beautiful body. The Abundance miracle truly lives up to its name."
After appearing, Phantylia did not attack right away. Instead, she took her time admiring her own form.
"Now then, let's see what this Abundance miracle can really do."
Only after that did she turn her gaze to the group, her eyes filled with disdain. She clearly did not think much of Jing Yuan, even as a general.
"Hmph. Phantylia, whatever you plan to do, think carefully about the consequences. Think about the price you'll have to pay," Jing Yuan said. At last, the aura of the Divine Foresight General fully emerged. He drew his weapon and pointed it at Phantylia without the slightest fear of her towering size.
"Consequences?" Phantylia laughed lightly.
"The Ambrosial Arbor of the Xianzhou Luofu revives, Mara spreads, and in the end everything falls into chaos. What does any of that have to do with me?"
"As long as I leave no traces behind, the other Xianzhou will only ever turn their blades toward Abundance."
"No one would ever imagine that this was the work of Destruction."
"Hmph. But whether it's Abundance or Destruction hardly matters."
"Because starting today, a Lord Ravager will be buried forever within the Luofu."
Jing Yuan narrowed his eyes. Lightning flickered around him, and in the next instant, a towering, majestic figure appeared behind him.
The General of the Celestial Thunder Court, Commander of Lightning, Vanquisher of Demons and Impurities.
In short, the Lightning Lord.
"Hahaha." Feeling the Emanator of The Hunt's power radiating from the Lightning Lord, Phantylia showed no fear at all. Instead, she raised her hand gracefully, summoning several lotus blossoms.
"Very well. Then let me use this Abundance power, the very thing that granted the Xianzhou immortality, to bring you Destruction."
Phantylia smiled softly, and the battle officially began.
…
"So… are we just standing here watching?" Firefly asked, looking at the two sides locked in combat, then turning to Clara, who was watching with great interest.
"What else would we do?" Clara rested her chin on her hand. "Go down there and learn from the Great Saint Mother, shouting 'Stop fighting, stop fighting'?"
"There is just one small regret, though."
"Regret about what?"
"That there's no melon." Clara sighed deeply. As a professional spectator, not having any snacks on hand was pure suffering.
Firefly: …
Firefly's mouth twitched, but she was already used to this and quickly recovered.
"And it's not like I don't want to help Phantylia. It's just that…"
"My deal with her was to step in only when she's about to collapse."
"Right now she clearly has the upper hand. If I went down there, she might even turn around and beat me up too…"
Clara explained calmly, glancing at Phantylia, who was dominating the fight.
"Oh, I see." Firefly nodded in understanding.
"So when the time comes, will you help her?"
Clara turned her head and smiled at Firefly.
"I'll give her a nasty surprise."
"Huh?" Firefly blinked, completely confused.
"Aren't you partners?"
"You're right," Clara nodded.
"But partners are meant to stab each other in the back, aren't they?"
Firefly: …
…
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