"Master, what is your intention in returning to the Luofu this time?"
The smile on his face gradually disappeared as Jing Yuan stared tightly at Jingliu.
Reasonably speaking, as the General of the Xianzhou, upon encountering the criminal Jingliu who had once fallen into the Mara-struck state and slaughtered a large number of Cloud Knights, he should immediately arrest her.
But unless absolutely forced, Jing Yuan truly did not want to raise his hand against Jingliu.
The other party was not only his mentor who had passed down the Dao and instructed him in his studies, but also assumed a role akin to a parent for half his life.
Jing Yuan was to Jingliu what Yanqing was to him.
His original intention in sending Sushang to secretly watch Jingliu was that he didn't plan to make a big fanfare or let the matter of Jingliu's return to the Xianzhou become common knowledge.
As long as his master restrained herself slightly and didn't blow things up too much, Jing Yuan could completely understand her wanting to visit the Luofu after her Mara-struck condition had stabilized. He could turn a blind eye to it.
It wasn't entirely due to personal feelings; even standing from the perspective of the General, he would make a similar judgment.
First of all, regarding that past incident, Imbibitor Lunae and Yingxing had committed grave errors and could not escape blame.
But his master was different. She had no fault in slaying the Abomination Dragon; it could even be called a meritorious deed. It was only because she had fallen into the Mara and was too dangerous that she was suppressed into the Shackling Prison.
Secondly, the reason his master could become a fugitive was simply that, with her capabilities, there was fundamentally no one on the Luofu who could capture her and bring her to justice.
Unless he personally took action. But if his master resisted arrest with force, it would be another storm of blood.
Especially at this point in time when disaster was imminent for the Luofu, it was not suitable to create side issues.
But Jingliu had walked right in front of him; Jing Yuan couldn't just pretend he didn't see her, right?
Turning a blind eye didn't mean going completely blind!
"I returned to the Luofu this time originally to surrender myself to the Alliance and face my past sins directly."
Jingliu raised her head to meet Jing Yuan's gaze for a long time, speaking after a moment of silence.
This was a link in her and Luocha's plan; whether it happened sooner or later could be adjusted.
"Hmm?" Jing Yuan was stunned upon hearing this, his brows knitting together.
Surrender and admit guilt?
Why?
He didn't believe his master would return to face charges for no reason.
Wait.
"'Originally'? You mean, you don't intend to submit to the law now?"
Jing Yuan's expression was indifferent as his line of sight swept over Caelus.
He had previously suspected that his master and Caelus had met on another planet, and that the purpose of this visit to the Xianzhou was because the Astral Express had arrived. Although the probability of such a development was small, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Only, looking at it now, it didn't seem to have much to do with Caelus.
"Yes. My Mara-struck condition has now disappeared by nearly ninety percent."
Jingliu pondered for two seconds before speaking words in a calm tone that caused Jing Yuan's lion-like pupils to dilate abruptly.
"The Mara-struck state... cured?"
Jing Yuan couldn't help but take a step forward, staring tightly at the half-mask and the black blindfold on Jingliu's face.
Sensing that gaze, heavy as ten thousand jun, Jingliu took off the blindfold. Her eyes were still crimson, yet they no longer held that thorough madness.
"How did you do it?"
The Xianzhou had once visited the entire universe for the sake of the Mara-struck, trying all sorts of methods and seeking advice from the geniuses of the Genius Society, yet it was all in vain. No one could do anything.
Who had actually achieved what the Xianzhou Alliance failed to touch upon despite spending thousands of years?
Jingliu didn't answer directly, merely letting her gaze sweep over Caelus and Sushang.
That she could possess such a clear and lucid spiritual ocean right now... aside from the Honkai Impact 2 version of the Taixu Sword God, Caelus's Inner World modulation treatment course and the Persona Masks also played a not insignificant role.
It could be said that both were indispensable, though the Taixu Sword God claimed a bit more credit.
"This!"
Noticing his master's gaze, Jing Yuan revealed a look of astonishment. He knew that Bronya and Seele of the Express crew possessed the power to alleviate the Mara-struck condition.
But he hadn't expected that Caelus and Sushang could thoroughly cure a late-stage Mara-struck case like his master!
"Now isn't the time to talk about this, is it?"
Facing Jing Yuan's scrutiny, Caelus reached out and gestured toward the depths of the Ancient Sea.
There wasn't just Phantylia; there was an extra Ten-Tails Larva now too.
"Jingliu, do you want to come with us to chop down the Ambrosial Arbor and the Lord Ravager?"
Caelus invited her with great enthusiasm. "Given the Ambrosial Arbor's self-healing ability, it looks like it'll be very stress-relieving. You're currently in a recovery period; you need some rehabilitation training!"
Caelus originally intended to pick two people from Stelle, Bronya, March 7th, and Sushang to use the Potara Earrings for fusion.
Caelus's female bodies naturally counted as system owners, so using the earrings for fusion wouldn't be a one-time thing; they could be used repeatedly.
But if Caelus used Sushang, and the other fusion material selected was Jingliu, the resulting Super Warrior would be the strongest!
"Chop the Ambrosial Arbor..."
Jingliu murmured, her gaze thoughtful.
Although she had rebelled against the Xianzhou, the reasons were complex. her attitude toward the Denizens of Abundance was no different from that of the Xianzhou people—perhaps even more extreme.
With her Mara-struck condition nearly cured, and coinciding with the resurgence of the Luofu's Ambrosial Arbor, stretching her muscles a bit wouldn't be bad. But her status as a fugitive was a problem.
She wasn't particularly interested in the Lord Ravager.
"Jing Yuan, no problem, right?"
Caelus draped his arm around Jing Yuan's shoulder like a fair-weather friend, winking at him.
Jing Yuan felt his expression was a bit strained, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Considering the safety of the Luofu, letting his master, whose Mara was cured, participate in the upcoming battle would greatly increase their side's win rate. It was the optimal choice.
In comparison, Jingliu's crimes were important if you said they were, and unimportant if you said they weren't.
Even, it could allow his master to atone for her crimes to a certain extent.
With merit, and being the sole case of a cured Mara-struck, even if the Ten Lords, Seven Generals, and the Marshal held a joint trial, they would definitely take it into consideration.
For the Luofu, and for his master, it was a good thing!
"Master, let us take a trip to the Scalegorge Waterscape together."
"Mhm-hm~ Jingliu, the Ambrosial Arbor is indeed a very decent target for practice."
Amidst the expression of question marks popping out on Jing Yuan's forehead, Moonscar walked to the front and issued a trial mission in the capacity of a master.
"Master, are you serious?"
On the way here, Moonscar had corrected her three or four times. Although Jingliu hadn't yet formed the habit of addressing her as Master, having been successfully desensitized, it wasn't awkward to say it anymore.
What the hell is chopping the Ambrosial Arbor for practice!
"Heh, of course."
Moonscar snapped her fingers. Her jade-like fingers pressed together into a sword form, and the red feather tied at the tip of her hair glowed with crimson light.
"Focus!"
The young girl let out a crisp, delicate shout, pressing her sword-fingers against Jingliu's brow.
Jingliu saw feathers of gradient crimson falling from the sky, and obscure syllables rang in her ears.
"Pó... lú... jí dì... luō... léng..."
Jingliu instinctively recited along with the syllables in her heart.
The disturbances of the past, the resentment and anger of once upon a time, the regret of slaying her comrades, the helplessness of abandoning the alliance.
All these emotions, at the moment her state of mind was soothed by the strange syllables, surged forth uncontrollably like a tide.
"Yé... luō léng pó... nà luō..."
The chaotic emotions, heavy as mountains and deep as the abyss, gradually turned into water droplets, slowly gathering. Pushed by some mysterious force, they converged into a lake.
Sword Heart, achieved.
"Phew~ I can only help you with the first stage."
Moonscar let out a long breath. she had just utilized 0.1 seconds of her 'Feathering' state again to help Jingliu condense a Sword Heart and reach the 'Stop Water' realm.
According to the Honkai world's authentic Taixu Sword Art, the earlier one cultivated the Sword Heart, the better. Youth was the best period for tempering the Sword Heart; the earlier it was, the purer the Sword Heart.
For an adult to cultivate the Sword Heart, it was like trying to catch wind with one's palm—merely a futile effort.
But Jingliu's own realm was close to that of a Grandmaster of the Way of the Sword. The Heart Lake and Sword Heart were essentially a method of utilizing soul power.
Moreover, the current syllables were modified by Moonscar after she had a stroke of genius perceiving the Honkai Impact 2 Taixu; it wasn't the complete original version. Unknown how it functioned, but at least practicing it wouldn't kill anyone.
It was no problem for Jingliu to get a quick introduction. As for the subsequent few realms, Moonscar could offer no aid.
"Sword Heart... so that's how it is. Viewing heaven and earth as the elixir crucible, transforming the flesh into meridians, mobilizing the power of the Path, and then using the Sword Heart as a valve..."
With Jingliu's realm and insight, she very quickly discerned some of the profound mysteries.
As long as one upgraded the valve (Sword Heart), one could avoid Qigong deviation (falling into the Mara). It was indeed a mysterious and profound dharma gate!
"Thank you, Master."
Jingliu thanked her sincerely.
Regardless of anything else, this was the grace of passing down the Dao; she had to give thanks.
Moonscar nodded with a beaming smile. Jing Yuan, however, felt his whole person go unwell upon hearing this "Master". Are you guys for real?
Then wouldn't I have to call Sushang 'Grand-master'?
Hiss~ Just what did Sushang do to Master just now?
Sword Heart... could it actually teach Master sword techniques?
Who exactly is Sushang?
Curiosity rose in Jing Yuan's heart, but now was not the time to explore such matters.
"Let's go. Master Fu should have been waiting for a long time."
Jing Yuan hurriedly turned around, looking no further, and led everyone toward the depths of the Scalegorge Waterscape.
Along the way, they could occasionally see Voidrangers and Cloud Knights engaged in slaughter and combat.
The Voidrangers were the Antimatter Legion under Phantylia's command. They appeared to be Elite Voidrangers, far more powerful than the Mara-struck of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, but in the end, they couldn't withstand the Xianzhou, which had the upper hand in numbers.
"I guarded against the Denizens of Abundance, the Stellaron Hunters, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus... but after calculating everything, I ultimately didn't anticipate the appearance of the Antimatter Legion."
As the group effortlessly eliminated the Voidrangers, Jing Yuan sighed with emotion. "The Hunt has not ended, yet we must battle demons again... Hmph, after this campaign, regardless of whether the Luofu exists or not, the Alliance will fight the Legion until one of us dies."
They didn't walk for long before arriving beneath the Dragonvista Rain Hall. This area had been cleared out for the most part. Welt and Bronya were in front of the High Elder statue, listening to Fu Xuan explain something.
"Yahallo! Uncle Yang, Bronya, the reinforcements are here~!"
March 7th's voice was full of vitality as always. Her silly smile could always make tense people feel a trace of relaxation.
"Jing Yuan! You're finally here!"
Fu Xuan trotted over with an ashen face, speaking angrily.
"Haha, I am late. Thanks to Master Fu's support along the way; leave the rest to us."
"Dan Heng, you who once watched over the Ambrosial Arbor should be able to open the path to the Ambrosial Arbor for us, correct?"
Dan Heng nodded silently.
On the way here, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng had chatted a lot. Jing Yuan promised Dan Heng that if he helped one last time as Dan Feng, once this matter was concluded, the banishment order on Dan Heng would be revoked.
"Wait, you are...!?"
At this moment, Fu Xuan finally noticed the white-haired beauty in the crowd. As the Master Diviner, she naturally recognized Jingliu. Her small face filled with astonishment.
"The Master Diviner of the Divination Commission for this term is passable, just a bit young. However, that can also be considered an advantage."
Jingliu spoke indifferently.
Before Fu Xuan had time to respond, Dan Heng walked toward the surging Scalegorge Ancient Sea.
Due to the input of the Stellaron and the resuscitation of the Ambrosial Arbor, the formerly calm Ancient Sea had thoroughly whipped up an unending, terrifying storm.
Taking a step forward, a verdant ancient lotus spontaneously condensed, lifting Imbibitor Lunae as he rose above the vast Ancient Sea.
Dan Heng raised his hand, the Abyssal Pearl triggering the boundless tides.
Streaks of golden light blossomed impressively from the depths of the great hall. The power of the High Elder rushed from the center of the Ancient Sea toward the surroundings, parting the waterfall walls that were up to ten thousand meters high.
It revealed the ruins of the Ancient Sea Dragon Palace beneath the deep abyss, as well as the twisted, mutated root system of the Ambrosial Arbor.
Such a magnificent act, comparable to a miracle, stupefied many people present.
Even Caelus felt a surge of emotion in his heart, singing loudly: "Tearing apart~ Heart's ocean~ Shoulders~~~"
"Holy shit!"
Stelle cried out in disbelief.
"Beautiful girls aren't allowed to swear!"
March 7th instinctively lectured Stelle, but suddenly realized the other party didn't seem to be surprised solely by Dan Heng's feat of parting the sea. Instead, she was staring at the void in front of her with widened eyes. March tilted her head in confusion:
"What's wrong with you now? Why so excited all of a sudden?"
Caelus was also attracted by Stelle's strange behavior. He turned his head to look. When he saw the new product in the System Shop floating in front of Stelle, his expression also changed drastically.
"Holy shit! The King of Posturing!"
"Hehe! I can part the sea too!"
The gray-haired raccoon let out a cheer.
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