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"Stand up."
The majestic voice reverberated in all directions.
"Yes." Phantylia rose in response.
When she lifted her head, her surroundings had completely changed.
She stood upon a nameless starry void, where every celestial body in the surrounding galaxies burned violently. Yet Phantylia naturally understood—those were not stars, but worlds assimilated under the divine might of Destruction.
This place was where the Aeon of Destruction received THEIR closest followers.
And THEY THEMSELF now hung high above the cosmos, the scars upon THEIR body erupting from time to time with seething flames.
Looking down at the reverent subject below, Nanook offered no pleasantries or words of comfort, instead stating THEIR purpose directly.
"Since you accepted the task of targeting the Xianzhou, you have already expended a great deal of time. Have you achieved anything?"
"Well…" Phantylia lowered her head and eyes, unable to answer.
So, the Aeon has come to inspect performance.
That question truly struck at her sore spot.
Her meticulously planned Ambrosial Arbor incident had been undone by the arrival of Imbibitor Lunae, allowing the Xianzhou to reach the Arbor's roots and re-suppress the power of Abundance.
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, whom she had supported for so long, had finally seized control of the Alchemy Commission—only to be nearly wiped out in that same battle.
If one were to talk about actual casualties… did a single Sky-Faring Commission ferryman even count?
Phantylia was not foolish enough to use something like that to report to an Aeon.
"My lord, I have a plan…" She laid out in full her scheme of using Hoolay to incite internal chaos within the Xianzhou.
Strictly speaking, all the conditions for success still existed.
As long as Hoolay escaped the Xianzhou Luofu alive, the Foxians' resentment would be impossible to suppress. Jing Yuan would be unable to give a satisfactory explanation, and unrest could still erupt.
If she maneuvered correctly, the stronger the Xianzhou currently was, the more severe its internal losses would be after civil strife, and the greater its decline in combat power.
The plan was flawless—except that it had already failed at the very first step.
Under the present circumstances, if Hoolay wanted to break out of prison, he could only hope that the Aeon of Abundance might pity a race THEY once blessed and grant him supreme divine power once more.
Heh.
The Aeon of Abundance voluntarily going to the ancestral grounds of The Hunt—she had never heard a joke so ridiculous.
Lan was searching the universe for THEM. Would THEY really dare walk straight into a trap?
And even if Abundance truly did throw THEMSELF into the net, could Hoolay possibly withstand the edge of The Hunt Aeon's arrow? His death would only be more miserable than a failed prison break.
Even so, for the sake of not being deemed useless by the Aeon of Destruction, she had no choice but to present this desperate plan.
What if Nanook sees some room for adjustment and grants me more support? That's not impossible.
Sure enough, after hearing her explanation, Nanook first closed THEIR eyes and tilted THEIR head slightly upward.
The space around THEIR ears trembled continuously.
Phantylia knew that this was the Aeon searching for the information THEY wished to know.
Not long after, when Nanook opened THEIR eyes again, displeasure had crept onto THEIR expression.
"Difficult. Given the strength of the Xianzhou Luofu, this plan will be obstructed at every step. There is absolutely no possibility of success."
Hearing this, Phantylia's gaze dimmed as she lowered her head.
"My lord is wise and all-knowing. But the enemy's strength has grown too rapidly of late, leaving this subordinate at a loss."
"To force the Luofu to bow now, I fear that aside from having all seven Lord Ravagers strike together at great cost, only one path remains—my lord personally taking action."
Even in such dire circumstances, Phantylia did not give up, offering further suggestions.
Within them lay both devotion to the cause of Destruction and her own desire for vengeance.
"Heh."
Nanook let out a faintly mocking chuckle.
An Aeon might be aloof, but THEY are never foolish. THEY understood THEIR subordinate's thoughts perfectly—and simply did not care.
"No. There is no need for such drastic measures. Continue with this plan."
"I will bestow grace and grant you a chance at success."
Upon hearing this, the heavy despair that had clouded Phantylia vanished instantly, replaced by barely concealed joy.
Nanook had already grasped everything; the grace granted under such circumstances was surely foolproof.
She immediately floated forward and bowed deeply, saying with utmost sincerity, "Thank you, my lord! This subordinate will not fail divine grace and will devote all wisdom and loyalty to you."
But Nanook was unmoved by her loyalty.
Instead, THEY shook THEIR head.
"No. You are not yet qualified to receive it."
"Divine gifts are not bestowed upon the incompetent. You have already failed once."
"Now, you must prove that you possess greater resolve and perseverance than the other Emanators to see this through."
Hearing this, Phantylia hesitated not at all.
"Please grant me a trial, my lord."
As an Lord Ravager walking the forefront of the Path of Destruction, even death could only be considered the best possible ending.
Nanook's trials would never cause them to falter—in fact, quite the opposite. They would only excite them further.
"Very well." Nanook smiled for the first time, that smile carrying a hint of satisfaction.
If Phantylia had dared to look directly at the god above her, with her shrewdness she might have caught the fleeting trace of cunning in Nanook's eyes.
Unfortunately, from beginning to end, her gaze never rose higher than the tattered hem of the god's garment.
"The divine rewards loyal believers."
"And if you wish to demonstrate your loyalty, then drink it."
As the words fell, a glass bottle dropped before Phantylia. Inside was a viscous liquid—milky white, yet tinged with a putrid green.
If Huohuo were here, she would certainly recoil half a step and pinch her nose, fleeing far away from it.
It was none other than the [Fermented Stinky Tofu Drink (Power-Enhanced Edition)], a legendary delicacy that had once incapacitated one of Aha's avatars—a peerless flavor of the mortal world.
Nanook's lips twitched slightly, a sign of forcibly suppressing laughter.
"Come. This item is called as the 'Tastebud Obliterator.' It is the pinnacle creation of the Path of Destruction in beverage form. Drink it all in one go—not a single drop left."
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