The mud, once soaked thick like paste with blood, seemed to have all its moisture drawn away by some mysterious force. Slowly, it began to dry out, turning into sand—until it became flowing quicksand.
The surrounding Honkai Beasts began to sink downward. Their massive bodies seemed utterly insignificant before the quicksand.
The waves of the ocean surge with unstoppable force, crashing against the sky, endlessly grinding everything into dust.
But when they reach the shore, the waves lose their momentum, eventually collapsing onto the ground, becoming calm and gentle.
The scene before Hua was exactly like that. The Honkai Beasts and zombies charged forward with overwhelming momentum, yet none could cross this quicksand abyss. After only a few steps, they sank into it, and no matter how much Honkai energy they expended, they could not break free.
This was a technology used by humanity in the Three-Body world to transform ecological environments. It could briefly bring life to barren lands, or turn fertile plains into jagged mountains.
And what Vill-V was doing now was desertifying the land. Among all forms of ecological transformation, this was one of the fastest—and also the most effective method against mindless Honkai Beasts and zombies.
They would only continue to throw themselves into the quicksand like lemmings committing suicide.
If there were flying Honkai Beasts, they might have been able to cross the quicksand. But strangely, there were none in the Seven-Day Tide.
Vill-V couldn't help but sigh, "The terrain modification devices from the Three-Body world really are convenient... too bad they only work against things that walk. If Herrschers only walked too, that'd be perfect."
At that thought, Vill-V suddenly remembered that she herself was a Herrscher... one that couldn't fly.
Vill-V suddenly felt a bit stifled.
Sorry for bringing shame to the Herrschers. I'll just kill the next one to prove myself.
Oh, the next one might be Seele. Never mind, never mind. I was just joking.
A faint glimmer of light gradually appeared on the horizon, shining across the golden sands.
Just like when the tide recedes, leaving behind seaweed and shells scattered across a smooth, flat beach.
Those motionless Honkai Beasts and zombies were like that seaweed and shells.
The Seven-Day Tide... was over.
The surviving members of the Treasure-Stealing Gang crawled out from their hiding places like crabs emerging from caves.
Their faces were filled with stunned disbelief. They looked at each other, their eyes full of fear and unease.
Someone swallowed hard and said in disbelief, "Th-this... is it really over? We... we're still alive!"
"This is definitely the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced. I can't believe we survived."
Some people had already dropped to their knees, worshipping Hua as she hovered in the air.
"Azure Empyrea has manifested!"
"Take me with you, Azure Empyrea!"
"I want to learn immortal arts too, to become as strong as Azure Empyrea!"
This display had completely surpassed their imagination. Even that guy who kept shouting "it's an ability" had fallen silent...
Well, actually, he had been knocked unconscious by the others.
With the Immortal present, how could they allow him to insult her again?
What, the person who knocked him out didn't believe in the Immortal before?
The past is the past, the present is the present. The Immortal is compassionate—she wouldn't hold it against them.
Azure Empyrea—though Hua had mentally prepared herself, seeing so many people kneeling before her still left her at a loss.
She secretly glanced toward Vill-V, her eyes full of pleading for help.
At this moment, Vill-V had already changed into another outfit.
Wearing small round black sunglasses and holding a fortune-telling banner that read Guidance from the Immortal, she began to shout:
"The Immortal Azure Empyrea imparts her teachings—seek treasure within the Taixu Gang!
"Immortal arts reach the heavens, wealth beyond measure awaits!
"Mystic power for you to learn—fear the Honkai tide no more!
"With treasures in hand, the Immortal holds all secrets of the world!"
Hua nearly stumbled upon hearing it and whispered, "Is that supposed to describe an Immortal? Why does it sound exactly like the Treasure-Stealing Gang's motto?"
"You've got to tailor your scams to the audience," Vill-V replied. "Since they're members of the Treasure-Stealing Gang, of course you attract them with what they want."
Vill-V picked up a gong and began banging it loudly: "Come, come! Look over here! The Taixu Gang under Azure Empyrea is recruiting~!"
Before Vill-V could even use her other promotional methods, she was already surrounded by a dense crowd of Treasure-Stealing Gang members.
Hua even saw a heavily wounded man, covered in blood and coughing, dragging a long trail of blood behind him as he came to sign up. She couldn't help but feel worried for them.
"Don't rush, don't rush! Line up, one at a time!" Vill-V raised her hands above the crowd, waving the registration forms. Unfortunately, she was too short—no one could see her, and the crowd kept pushing forward.
It wasn't until Hua pulled Vill-V out of the crowd that she finally saw daylight again. "Cough, cough... your fans are a bit too enthusiastic. At this rate, it won't take long to build up the Taixu Gang."
With Hua issuing orders, within just a few minutes, a long line formed in front of the registration point.
Everyone eagerly filled out forms, while those who heard the news from afar jogged over to join the queue.
The news spread rapidly. Soon, even the four major gangs stationed at other sections of the city wall had heard about it.
They sent scouts to investigate.
When the scouts arrived, they saw people with excited expressions lining up in long queues, receiving something.
They were so shocked they could hardly believe it.
After a normal Seven-Day Tide, shouldn't people be drowning in grief, silently collecting bodies in despair?
What kind of scene was this?
This wasn't the aftermath of a Seven-Day Tide at all.
It looked more like people lining up to claim a lottery jackpot.
So the scouts also joined the queue, wanting to see what was being handed out.
And somehow, without realizing it, they followed along and signed a "job transfer agreement."
Though they might still belong to their original gangs in reality, in the government personnel records, they had already been reassigned under the Taixu Gang.
In a way... that was pretty impressive.
...
In the darkness, a red ember flickered.
"The Treasure-Stealing Gang has become the Taixu Gang..." the man exhaled slowly.
Holding an expensive cigar, he seemed deep in thought.
Click. The door opened.
The burning cigar in the man's hand was immediately pinched out by the newcomer.
Clearly, the visitor did not like the smell of smoke.
The light pouring in from the doorway faintly illuminated the man's furrowed brows. "Minister Vill-V, disturbing someone's leisure is not a good habit."
Vill-V let out a cold laugh. "Heh. The arrangements inside the 'Mausoleum'—those were your backup plans, weren't they, Lord of the Stars? Oh... no, I suppose that's no longer your title?"
The man neither confirmed nor denied it. The cigar between his fingers reignited on its own.
"I forgot..."
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