---o---
Upon recognizing Herta, Phantylia immediately became vigilant. Likewise, she also recognized Screwllum and Ruan Mei standing beside her. All three were geniuses renowned throughout the cosmos; it would be difficult for anyone not to recognize them.
Soon enough, however, Phantylia calmed down. A cold smile spread across her face as she was about to speak to Herta below, but Herta simply raised a finger.
"I don't like looking up at people when I speak. So, get down here."
A beam of light descended from the sky, forcing Phantylia to take it head-on. In an instant, the beam struck her, knocking her from the air.
Although Phantylia managed to block the attack, she was still pressed down to the ground by Herta.
Seeing Phantylia on the ground, Herta nodded in satisfaction. "Now, that's better~"
Phantylia's face was dark, and she couldn't help but curse inwardly. Just as the rumors said, the genius Herta was just as unpleasant as they claimed.
"Hmph. Herta, although you are an Emanator of Erudition, it would take a very long time for us to determine a victor. If I truly wish to leave, you can't stop me."
"Oh? Is that so?" Herta blinked, then gestured with a cheerful smile at the space behind Phantylia. "Why don't you take a look behind you?"
Phantylia's heart skipped a beat. Could it be an ambush?!
She whipped her head around, only to be met with the smiling face of Fu Zhu. She immediately let out a sigh of relief.
"What's this? It's just that painting I conjured... Fu Zhu?!"
Phantylia suddenly remembered that the portrait of Fu Zhu she had created was still in the Nether. How could it possibly appear behind her?!
She immediately coated her hand in a layer of flame, transforming her palm into a blade as she chopped toward Fu Zhu's head.
Although she had no idea why Fu Zhu was still alive, it was better to strike first and ask questions later!
A person who should have been long dead had no business coming back to life!
Fu Zhu casually tossed an Ender Pearl, teleporting out of the way of Phantylia's attack. He then crossed his arms and looked at her, clicking his tongue.
"I never expected this, Phantylia. We're truly bound by fate to meet again here. Although... I was somewhat prepared for the possibility that the Nether Portal on the Luofu and the one in the Simulated Universe might connect to the same place. But the Luofu is so far from Herta Space Station. Just how long did you have to run in the Nether to get here?"
Hearing Fu Zhu trying to reminisce with Phantylia, Herta spoke up impatiently, "Fu Zhu, cut the chitchat. Can you control her or not?"
Screwllum was also worried for Fu Zhu's safety and quickly reminded him, "Mr. Fu Zhu, Phantylia is a Lord of the Annihilation Gang. Please be careful. It would be best to retreat behind us."
"No need."
Fu Zhu waved his hand, his eyes fixed on Phantylia with utter confidence. "Out there, it would take me some effort to control her. But in here, she's the one who should be worried."
"Ha!"
Phantylia sneered, her icy eyes staring at Fu Zhu. "Fu Zhu, I don't know why you're still alive, but if I want to leave, none of you can stop me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Phantylia turned and flew into the distance.
Although she didn't know what trump card Fu Zhu had to make him speak with such arrogance, based on her understanding of him, he was definitely not bluffing. He absolutely had a way to defeat her.
Seeing Phantylia disappear into the distance in the blink of an eye, Silver Wolf grew anxious. She turned to Fu Zhu and the others and, seeing them still standing there with calm indifference, couldn't help but ask.
"Phantylia is getting away, aren't you going to stop her?"
Herta glanced at Silver Wolf as if she were looking at an idiot and said with a light laugh, "Fu Zhu hasn't even made a move. Why should I be in a hurry?"
"?"
Fu Zhu looked back at Herta with a puzzled expression. "I'm just helping you research the Simulated Universe. Dealing with Phantylia isn't part of my job description."
Herta froze, her voice dry. "What do you mean? You were waiting for me to act just now?"
Fu Zhu nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Of course. If you want me to do it, you'll have to pay extra."
"Extra...!"
Herta glared at Fu Zhu through gritted teeth. Phantylia was already far away, and it would take some effort for her to catch up. It was better to just let Fu Zhu handle it.
"Deal."
Fu Zhu replied with a cheerful grin. Although he was only joking, squeezing a little more out of her was always good. After all, Herta wasn't short on cash.
Fu Zhu immediately brought up the system console and typed in a string of commands.
"The same way she left is the same way she'll come back."
After the command was entered, the group watched as Phantylia, who had already vanished over the horizon, reappeared as if in reverse. She flew backward toward them, until she was once again standing before them with a look of terror on her face. Only then did the strange motion stop.
"What did you do?!"
---o---
Phantylia stared at Fu Zhu and the others in horror. A moment ago, she had felt an irresistible, great power exert itself upon her, and then she found herself flying backward uncontrollably.
Seeing that they had no intention of answering her, Phantylia immediately conjured a massive fire lotus in front of her.
If she couldn't deal with them, there was no way she was leaving this place today.
"All of you, die—"
Just as Phantylia was about to unleash the fire lotus, Fu Zhu lightly pointed a finger at her.
"You will never reach the reality of unleashing your attack, Phantylia."
In the next moment, the fire lotus she had just conjured vanished, and her posture reverted to what it had been a second ago.
This scene left Phantylia both bewildered and utterly stunned. It had only been a short while, yet Fu Zhu's power had become this terrifying?!
Refusing to believe it, Phantylia began to gather the fire lotus again, but every time she did, a single point from Fu Zhu's finger would render all her efforts futile.
After several attempts, Fu Zhu grew bored of the game. He casually pointed at Phantylia one more time.
"Freeze."
In the next second, Phantylia's entire body froze as if she were a still frame in a picture, her expression locked in a teeth-grinding grimace, her hands held up as if supporting a fire lotus.
"Done."
Fu Zhu clapped his hands together, turned to Herta, and made a money-rubbing gesture with his fingers. "Herta, remember to pay up. A few of your puppets will do."
Herta shot the money-grubbing Fu Zhu a disdainful look, then walked over to the frozen Phantylia with a curious expression. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing much. I just used a command to pause her time."
"For real?"
Herta walked up and tapped Phantylia's head with her staff. There was no reaction at all.
This sight astonished Herta and the others. Pausing time wasn't something just anyone could do, especially against an Emanator.
That was a feat that should, at the very least, require the power of an Aeon. This meant that within the Simulated Universe, Fu Zhu's power was at least on the level of an Aeon!
Seeing their amazed expressions, Fu Zhu just smiled and explained.
"After all, this is my world. So, it's perfectly normal for my control over it to be greater by a hundred-million-or-so points, right?"