Huohuo blinked, still looking at Mr. Tail in confusion.
Mr. Tail had no choice but to explain further.
"A few days ago, there was that turbulence of Erudition power. All Six Commissions on the Xianzhou were affected. Chaos everywhere. There's a ninety percent chance these two are the ones you absolutely do not mess with."
Hearing this, Huohuo nearly fainted. Mr. Tail quickly steadied her.
"Huohuo, if you pass out now, we're both in trouble."
Huohuo felt like the sky was falling.
"I... am I going to get taken to the blue planet? Or the space station? Stelle said Madam Herta and the Simulated Universe are terrifying."
Herta raised an eyebrow, displeased.
"That's how that girl talks about me?! After all those Stellar Jades I gave her?"
Ruan Mei signaled Herta to stop. She stepped forward and spoke gently.
"Little Huohuo. Madam Herta and I are not bad people. We won't take you anywhere beyond the Luofu."
Huohuo nodded weakly. Even Mr. Tail understood: messing with Huohuo was like kicking cotton.
Ruan Mei stepped back and fell silent.
[Waiting for me to give you a hidden mission?] ♪
"There isn't one?"
[Probably not this time. Just catching a Heliobus? Too simple.] ♪
"Oh."
[Why so calm and distant? No reward, so you won't help this poor, helpless, familyless, floppy-eared fox?] ♪
"Herta already said she'd help."
This time, the ethereal voice in Ruan Mei's mind fell silent.
[If I were in this world, a girl like Huohuo wouldn't have to cry. Sigh. Still missing someone as beautiful as ■■.] ♪
Huohuo whispered.
"Mr. Tail, Madam Herta just said she could help us."
"Really? Then ask her."
Huohuo risked a glance at Herta. That unprecedented confidence, that self-assurance, that radiant Path power—it made her shrink back.
"I... Madam Herta and I live in completely different worlds. Mr. Tail, you ask."
Mr. Tail sighed helplessly. Truth be told, he was afraid too. But he couldn't lose face in front of Huohuo.
"Honestly. When it counts, you still need me."
He stepped forward and spoke solemnly.
"Honored ones, Huohuo and I are just on Ten-Lords Commission business."
"A few Heliobi were imprisoned in the Spirit-Suppression Tower. A few days ago, the tower was affected by... certain unspeakable Erudition powers. They escaped."
"So Huohuo and I have been working overtime tracking them down. We accidentally bumped into you. Our deepest apologies."
Huohuo's eyes went wide as she stared at Mr. Tail in disbelief.
All these years—first time I've seen Mr. Tail so polite. Is this even the same Mr. Tail I know?
Herta gave a casual "Oh."
"In other words, when I erased Hoolay a few days ago..."
"The Erudition power I used affected the Ten-Lords Commission. The Spirit-Suppression Tower collapsed. A few Heliobi escaped?"
Mr. Tail nodded frantically.
"Th-that's about right. But after much effort—well, after our effort—only one Heliobus, named Fuyan, is still at large."
Herta yawned. She casually summoned her magic key and began calculating. A sweep of the entire Luofu, except the Hall of Karma.
"Heliobi outside Suiyuan? Let's see. Hmm. They're hiding where they think is safest. Waiting for the right moment to escape the Luofu."
"Madam Herta, where is the safest place?"
"The Shackling Prison. Where Hoolay was held."
Mr. Tail and Huohuo exchanged glances. No wonder we couldn't find Fuyan. They were hiding there all along.
"Thank you, Madam Herta."
They turned to leave for the Shackling Prison. Herta stopped them.
"No need for all that trouble."
With a casual wave, a [Mirror] transported Fuyan right in front of them.
Fuyan blinked.
"Ah?! Wasn't I hiding in the Shackling Prison? Why am I in Starskiff Haven?"
Mr. Tail sneered.
"Quite the hider. Under the Ten-Lords Commission's nose, in the Shackling Prison itself."
Fuyan turned and stared at him.
"You again? Wait."
He looked at Ruan Mei and Herta in the distance. Such terrifying Path power. If I could get either of them to help me...
The great revival of the Heliobi could begin!! But if I fail...
Screw it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Fuyan lunged toward Herta and Ruan Mei.
In the mental realm, Fuyan beheld Herta—seated upon the Throne of Erudition, two steps from omniscience.
"Madam Herta, I pledge myself to you. Let us seek the truth of the universe together. Let me help you replace [■■]."
Herta didn't even glance at him.
"No thanks."
Fuyan blinked. Not playing by the rules.
"Madam Herta, perhaps you should reconsider."
Herta shot him a cold look and casually prepared to seal him forever.
Sensing the overwhelming power of the seal, Fuyan panicked.
He struggled desperately.
"Madam Herta! I can help you win Madam Ruan Mei!"
"Oh?"
Herta showed a flicker of interest.
Just as Fuyan thought he'd found leverage, the sealing power returned.
Herta dismissed him.
"Never mind. I don't need your help. Ruan Mei is mine. Not even Yu Qingtu can stop me."
Fuyan burned half his life force and power just to escape. He fled to Ruan Mei's mental realm.
"Matchless Madam Ruan Mei! I can help you win Madam Herta. Help you both ascend the Path to divinity together."
Before Ruan Mei could respond, a boundless flawless crystal spread. Fuyan froze, then was sealed for eternity.
[Sigh. How dare he enter your mental realm?] ♪
"Was that you?"
[If I hadn't stepped in, his consciousness would have been crushed by your mental power. Left to drift in this realm forever.] ♪
With a thought, Ruan Mei teleported the frozen Fuyan out.
Mr. Tail cautiously approached—and was immediately wounded by the flawless crystal.
He shot back.
"Unbelievable! Something in this world that can hurt a Heliobus? Aren't we supposed to be immortal?!"
Herta replied casually.
"The universe is vast. Anything is possible. I could erase you too. Believe me?"
Mr. Tail nodded frantically and quickly retreated.
"Huohuo. Talk to them. Just get Fuyan back so we can report in."
"Oh."
Huohuo stepped forward. Herta waved her hand and teleported herself and Ruan Mei away.