The night air was slightly cool. A projected moon hung in the starry curtain, casting a long, long shadow of the Ambrosial Arbor.
The pavilion, standing by the edge of the sea of clouds, was shrouded in this shadow, making it appear even more secluded.
A mature woman in a long green dress, graceful yet dignified, sat quietly within, gazing up at the Ambrosial Arbor.
Her eyes were vacant, as if lost in deep thought.
In reality, it was because these eyes could not see the light; she was a blind woman.
Dan Shu, the current Head Alchemist of the Alchemy Commission, and also the Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus on the Xianzhou.
"Soon, very soon, the people of the Xianzhou will remember the you of the past."
Dan Shu murmured, "Climbing to the dome of the sky, hanging among the stars."
Although Dan Shu had not lived through that era, she could still glimpse the splendor of millennia past from the ancient texts that survived the Seat of Divine Foresight's purge.
After first eating the fruit of the Ambrosial Arbor and gaining longevity, the entire Xianzhou nation reveled, holding celebrations, burning incense, and worshipping the Medicine King as a deity.
It was said that among the immortal people of that time, having ten generations living under one roof was not a rare sight. Some families had dozens of generations living together.
These historical facts were all buried by the Xianzhou, or downplayed, with discussions and explorations forbidden.
"The golden age will surely return."
Some time ago, a special individual had approached her, claiming they could make the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus great again, overthrow the Xianzhou regime, and make the Disciples the masters of this flagship.
Dan Shu believed in that Lord of Annihilation; she knew of their past achievements and methods.
Although the other party was likely using the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, the future they promised was simply too beautiful, and the benefits too tangible. Even if she suspected they had ulterior motives, Dan Shu had no reason to refuse.
Recently, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had been fully cooperating with their actions. Before long, they would achieve their first-stage objective.
At that time, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus would once again take to the stage of history.
"Are they here?"
Dan Shu, who had been sitting and gazing at the Ambrosial Arbor, rose. Specks of golden light appeared in her dim eyes, and as the light gathered, she seemed to regain her sight.
Standing at the edge of the pavilion, Dan Shu looked into the distance at the several figures gradually stepping onto the platform.
An unexpected development. Just as the Ambrosial Arbor was about to be revived according to the plan, two mysterious followers of the Medicine King appeared on the Xianzhou.
It was said their understanding of the Immortal Path of Longevity was incredibly profound and immeasurable. A simple illustration of the Immortal Path, sketched from their own enlightenment, could cause others to have an epiphany and grasp the true meaning of the Medicine King's Immortal Path.
Furthermore, they possessed an Immortal Force that was no less than her own. All this intelligence made it impossible for Dan Shu to ignore them.
To think that such a senior was hidden on the Xianzhou!
Dan Shu was overjoyed. She immediately had the messenger reply, stating she wanted to personally meet this Mr. Gin.
Taking a light sip of tea, Dan Shu watched the purple-robed woman talking with the two people in black. Her codename was Zi Gui, and she was Dan Shu's trusted subordinate.
Under Dan Shu's gaze, it wasn't long before a power brimming with surging life force erupted from the man in the black trench coat.
"This power..."
Sensing the energy not far away, Dan Shu raised an eyebrow, her expression slightly puzzled. "It's a bit strange, but he is undoubtedly a follower of the Medicus."
"That's enough, Zi Gui. Bring them over."
After receiving Dan Shu's approval, the purple-robed woman left Purple Rose behind and respectfully led the two figures in black towards the pavilion alone.
"Mr. Gin, I have been waiting for a long time."
Facing the two in black, the golden light in Dan Shu's eyes dissipated, returning her to a state of blindness. Her voice was gentle, calm, and unhurried.
"You are the Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
Caelus's tone was perfectly calm.
He didn't rashly use Jizo Mitama and Fenghuang Down. Against ordinary weaklings, he could control them instantly, but against the Head, it was almost impossible. A failed attempt would mean exposing his identity.
Having come this far, there was no need.
Stelle chuckled, her voice artificially high and sarcastic as she praised, "Beautiful, very beautiful~ The Head looks like she still has her charms~ Since you're not so ugly you can't show your face, why are you being so secretive? It's an honor for my big brother to meet you!"
Stelle perfectly portrayed Vodka's anger when outsiders showed disrespect to Gin; it was so convincing it didn't even seem like an act.
"You must be Mr. Vodka. Please, do not be angry. It was not my intention to be disrespectful."
Dan Shu's tone was soothing. Despite being offended by Stelle, she showed no anger or annoyance, fully displaying the demeanor of a leader.
"It's just that the organization's plan has reached its final stage."
"Generations of Heads have laid dormant for a millennium, waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I cannot afford the slightest mistake, so I must act with caution and confirm Mr. Gin's identity."
"So, have you confirmed it now?" Caelus's tone was flat.
"Naturally," Dan Shu nodded.
Although the nature of the energy was a bit strange, she could feel the vigorous and flourishing power of creation within it, the healing power of Abundance!
That could not be faked.
On top of that, according to the latest intelligence Zi Gui had received from Purple Rose, the members of the Exalting Sanctum branch had received Mr. Gin's guidance, and four of them had an on-the-spot epiphany, their mastery of the Form of the Medicus rising to a new level.
These two factors confirmed Gin's identity.
Hearing this, Caelus nodded with a blank expression, showing no signs of being flustered, nor did he try to hide anything.
He calmly turned his head to look at the withered tree in the center of the sea of clouds, its branches as wide as a city.
This was a good spot to view the Ambrosial Arbor.
"Mr. Gin, what are your thoughts on the Ambrosial Arbor?"
Seeing Gin staring intently at the withered tree, Dan Shu asked in a gentle tone.
"The Ambrosial Arbor is a divine gift from Lord Medicus. It will one day be revived."
Caelus wasn't clear on the detailed plot of the Xianzhou, but he knew about the storyline involving the revival of the Ambrosial Arbor.
"As expected of Mr. Gin."
Caelus's incredibly certain tone, as if he were stating a predetermined fact of the future, made Dan Shu's heart stir.
"One of the reasons I came to see you is to cooperate in awakening the Ambrosial Arbor and letting Lord Medicus's Immortal Traces return to this world!"
To get deep into the important intelligence within the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, he couldn't be hasty, and he certainly couldn't ask directly. He had to let Dan Shu speak first.
"Then Mr. Gin has come at just the right time."
Dan Shu now completely believed in Gin's identity.
Gin was already planning to revive the Ambrosial Arbor. What was there left to doubt?
"What do you mean?" Caelus feigned confusion.
"Mr. Gin, do you remember what I just said about why I was being so cautious?"
"Are you saying...?"
"That's right. Actually..."
Dan Shu felt a surge of secret delight. With this senior joining them, the plan would surely proceed more smoothly!
The Xianzhou is doomed!
Believing in Gin, Dan Shu held nothing back, revealing the organization's ongoing plan and her own identity, plotting with Mr. Gin the grand, ten-thousand-year scheme to revive the Ambrosial Arbor and spread the faith of the Medicine King.
With the mask adjusting his micro-expressions, Caelus's demeanor was flawless, but inwardly, he felt it was all very strange.
The Xianzhou is doomed!
Might as well rename it the Booze-zhou.
To think that the head of one of the Six Commissions, a legendary genius alchemist, was actually the leader of a cult that researched all kinds of forbidden arts and even lured others into the Mara-struck state—the Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus!
One could only imagine how many people in the Alchemy Commission had been persuaded by Dan Shu to join the organization.
According to Dan Shu, one of the main bases of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus was hidden in a secret grotto-heaven beneath the Alchemy Commission.
Holy cow! Caelus thought to himself.
Does that mean the higher-ups of the Artisanship Commission also have spies from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?
"Good! Very good!"
Caelus laughed and slapped his thigh. "I admit, I underestimated you before. You truly are the Head who has led the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus to this day."
"With this, we can definitely overthrow the Xianzhou and revive the Ambrosial Arbor!"
Dan Shu just smiled faintly at his words, raised her teacup for a sip, and said gently, "Mr. Gin, you flatter me. With your help, I believe the plan can be executed more easily. Afterwards, we will convert every person on this ship into a member of our organization!"
Caelus and Dan Shu exchanged pleasantries.
"Oh, right. I wonder if Mr. Gin would allow me to see the illustration of the Immortal Path?"
Dan Shu was very interested in the immortal illustration that allowed organization members to have an epiphany.
It was precisely because of the immortal illustration, and the intelligence about Mr. Gin obtaining things like the Immortal Spirit Fruit, that Dan Shu treated him as an equal. These things could greatly accelerate the organization's development.
"Of course, that's no problem."
Caelus pulled a classic collector's edition from inside his trench coat and handed it to Dan Shu.
And then.
"Pfft—!"
Opening the booklet, the image that met her eyes made Dan Shu, even with her state of mind, unable to hold back a spray of tea, her face a mask of disbelief.
What the hell is this!?
"Th-This is what!?"
Dan Shu, who had maintained her leader's composure from the very beginning, couldn't hold it together now. Her voice even started to crack.
"This is the material that contains the path to longevity and the great love of the Medicus. Even the members of the branch could achieve enlightenment through the booklet. You, the Head... surely you can't be unable to understand it?"
Caelus's expression turned strange, and the way he looked at Dan Shu became odd, suspicious and sharp, as if doubting whether she was truly the Head, whether she truly believed in the Medicine King with a sincere heart.
"..."
She had been the one to doubt Gin's identity, and now her own identity was being doubted by him. Dan Shu fell silent.
This whole thing was just too bizarre. She felt like her brain was short-circuiting.
How could this kind of erotic art be an immortal illustration?
However, even though Dan Shu doubted the authenticity of the immortal illustration, she did not doubt Gin's identity.
It was a joke. Even she, the Head of a cult, found these images heretical and extreme. If the hounds from the Seat of Divine Foresight got their hands on them, they could probably convict and execute him on the spot.
This was ten thousand times more serious than spreading slanderous rumors about the emperor in ancient Shenzhou on Earth!
But it was an undeniable fact that someone had achieved enlightenment through the immortal illustration. Dan Shu had already confirmed it through the organization's internal channels.
So, did these absurdly heretical and deviant erotic pictures truly hide an understanding of the path of Abundance that she had not perceived?
No, if that's the case, as the Head, I must find it and comprehend it!
Otherwise, how could I command respect!
But... this is so damn weird!
Taking another look, it was still so weird!
Taking a sip of tea to calm her long-undisturbed heart, Dan Shu turned to the first page and started reading the book from the very beginning of the story, enduring the bizarre feeling, looking at every single word and every strand of hair.
Caelus, meanwhile, leaned against the wooden railing of the pavilion, watching the Head read the book.
From the moment he learned from Purple Rose that the Alchemy Commission had the most undercover agents, Seele had already canceled auto-battle and was subtly guiding Little Duck and March 7th to direct their investigation towards the Alchemy Commission.
Right now, they were near the Alchemy Commission, but none of them were familiar with its internal environment, leaving them somewhat at a loss.
If that's the case...
Jade Knight Moonscar opened her almond-shaped eyes and looked at the little dragon-girl loli beside her, who was happily munching on a grilled skewer.
They just needed to find someone familiar with the internal environment of the Alchemy Commission, right?
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