After bidding farewell to Fu Xuan, Caelus walked into the smoke, while Fu Xuan resumed practicing her turtle-breathing technique.
After a few hundred meters, the outline of the alchemy furnace finally became visible.
March 7th glanced around. "Wow, it's like a fairyland from a fantasy drama! So beautiful!"
Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure smiling at her. "Wait, Miss Tingyun, why haven't you left yet? We're too close to the furnace!"
"Thank you for your concern, but this humble one is fine~ The General ordered me to accompany you all. How could I dare disobey military orders?"
Welt Yang adjusted his glasses. "Lives are at stake. Miss Tingyun, please return. We'll explain it to the General."
"No need, really. Hehe, this humble one has spent years traveling the cosmos. Though I may seem old, I've only lived for a little over a decade.
I'm sure you Benefactors have all lived longer than I have."
[This isn't right. Something's off. Tingyun was desperate to pawn this hot potato off before—why is she acting like this now?]
[I remember Tingyun didn't dare lift a finger earlier, hiding behind everyone and shouting 'Go, go!'—why would she suddenly risk her life to help the Express crew shut the furnace?]
[Yeah, Tingyun values her life. This feels different.]
[What the hell? Is Tingyun actually the mole?]
[Not just a mole—maybe she's been possessed.]
[Don't jump to conclusions. We won't know the truth until the end, but this does feel unnatural.]
Faced with Tingyun's insistence, the Express crew couldn't refuse. The sooner they shut the furnace, the sooner this would end.
Despite interference from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, they made quick progress, sealing three furnaces in no time.
As the smoke gradually dissipated, Caelus sent Fu Xuan a message.
Soon after,
Fu Xuan led a contingent of Cloud Knights to the Taizhen Alchemy Chamber—the greatest danger foretold by her divinations: the battle against the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
Then, a woman came into view, floating midair, her eyes covered by a black silk ribbon.
A subtitle at the bottom of the screen identified her:
"Leader of the 'Disciples of Sanctus Medicus'; Alchemy Commission's Chief Alchemist, Dan Shu."
[Holy shit? Cocolia?!]
[Dan Shu… is it too late for me to join the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus now?]
[Okay but—she's so pretty!]
[Dan Shu? Chief Alchemist? From the Alchemy Commission? What does this mean?]
[It means she's the mole who's been hiding in the Luofu.]
[Isn't this too sudden? Zero buildup, and now we get a random villain out of nowhere?]
[Remember? Back at the Divination Commission, that guy Da Hao asked Caelus for help investigating the Disciples—that's when we first learned about her.]
[??? Are we watching the same show? I didn't skip anything! How did it turn out like this?]
[Bilibili dropped an extra episode at the same time, basically a full side quest. Probably filmed together, but since the Stellaron crisis was the main plot, shoving in a mole subplot would've felt disjointed, so they split it.]
[Makes sense. The pacing's been tight so far—suddenly inserting another arc would've been jarring. miHoYo's flexing hard, just casually dropping extras on Bilibili.]
[Ahem… scary thought: the progress bar's almost empty.]
[HUH???]
Dan Shu watched the dissipating smoke and sighed. "The furnaces… are extinguished. No matter. What must come has come."
Fu Xuan stepped forward, unfazed when she saw the mastermind. "So it's you, Dan Shu…"
Dan Shu smirked coldly. "Chief Alchemist Dan Shu greets the Master Diviner… You don't seem surprised."
"Indeed. The 'Disciples of Sanctus Medicus' were bound to hide within the Alchemy Commission. The General and I knew this. But without proof, we couldn't indict the Six Charioteers—we had to wait for you to reveal yourself.
As for your crimes… the Ten-Lords Commission will settle them with you, one by one."
Dan Shu's lips curled into an exaggerated grin, her laughter growing shrill.
"Hahaha… hahaha…"
Then she began debating Fu Xuan, neither yielding an inch.
Words led nowhere. Countless Disciples and Abundance abominations emerged from the shadows.
In response, the Cloud Knights raised their blades.
The air grew thick with tension, deathly silent—
Until a single cry of "Charge!" shattered the stillness, and the two forces clashed.
Meanwhile,
The battlefield split into two zones. At the center, Caelus raised his bat.
Dan Shu looked at him, making a final plea. "Do you truly not understand me?"
"I do understand."
Hearing this, Dan Shu smiled genuinely, as if comforted.
Caelus exhaled and stepped forward, pointing his bat at her.
"Understanding doesn't mean I'll condone it. If suffering gives you the right to inflict malice on the world, then what of the pain you've caused? How many have suffered because of you? You're only creating more misery."
Even amidst the chaos, his words cut deeper than any blade. Dan Shu's smile faded, her voice icy again.
"You've never endured such pain. Those who have would never spout such hollow platitudes. Enough—let's fight! Hear my call, the Compassionate Medicus!"
Without another word, Dan Shu attacked.
Though her strikes were fierce, under Fu Xuan's protection, Dan Shu gradually faltered. Unlike the Abundant Ebon Deer, she lacked regenerative powers and soon weakened.
"Why… why? She promised… the Ambrosial Arbor's descent would grant us immortal bodies… The one who gave us the Stellaron said… Phantylia… the 'Disciples' fulfilled our part… the 'Emanator of Destruction' must honor the pact… Now! Do it now!"
Everyone was baffled.
Then, a voice—unseen but clear—reached them.
"Tsk tsk, must you force my hand? This goes against my 'Destruction' aesthetics… pawn.
Fine. If the Luofu won't crumble from within, I'll have to try another method…"
Tingyun sighed, spreading her hands as she approached the Mara-struck soldiers.
"A shame. I wanted to observe longer… But since you've embraced the Abundance's 'blessing'…"
With a flick of her finger, she transformed them into Voidrangers.
"Can you withstand the 'Destruction's' gift?"
Tingyun's eyes widened. Then, at an impossible angle, her neck twisted—
CRACK.
She collapsed, her body glowing before vanishing in golden flames.
[???]
[???]
[???]
[WHAT THE HELL?!]
[Holy shit, that scared me to death!]
[Pfft, amateurs. Meanwhile, I remain unshaken—someone fetch me a fresh pair of pants.]
[Tingyun was the traitor?! NOOO… MY WIFE!]
[Bruh, wasn't there a 'prophet' vouching for her earlier? SHOW YOURSELF, FAKE SEER!]
[That neck twist—can humans even DO that?]
[Look at that derpy head-tilt face—I've already screenshotted it.]
[Did she just kill herself? WTF?!]
[??? What's miHoYo doing? Killing characters ALREADY? And in THIS way?!]
[Note to self: Never watch this with your GF at midnight. The whole building heard her scream!]
[Welp, time for a hospital visit. Pretty sure I'm traumatized for life.]
[Same here…]
The shock of Tingyun's "head tilt kill" left everyone reeling.
Voidrangers surrounded Caelus and the others.
Then, a voice echoed clearly—unseen, yet heard by all:
"I am Phantylia, Emanator of Destruction. I am here to reduce this ship to ruin!"
March 7th hyperventilated. "Miss Tingyun is… a Emanator of the Antimatter Legion?! What's going on?!"
Fu Xuan remained calm. "Everyone, stay focused! The enemy is here—do not panic!"
As they fought, Phantylia's voice continued.
"The one targeting the Luofu isn't 'Huo Feng,' nor 'Xing Xiao'—how fortunate for you.
I've never liked getting my hands dirty…
But since your General insists on my performance, I'll oblige.
Now, if you'll excuse me… I do hope you enjoy the show."
"Damn it, stay here!" Caelus swung his bat, carving a path through the Legion—
But it was futile. Phantylia was already gone.
After a fierce battle, Caelus stood before the last Voidranger.
"Phantylia… just you wait."
With that, he swung at the camera—
BLACK SCREEN.
Text: ""SEASON 3, PART 1 – END""
[Wait, 'Part 1'?! You're gonna cliffhanger us LIKE THIS?!]
[I'm done. You scared me half to death, and THIS is the ending?!]
[How dare you?! REFUND! REFUND!]
[My wife Tingyun… WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?! miHoYo, EXPLAIN BEFORE CUTTING! Now we wait 42 days?!]
[Chill, there's still a post-credits scene.]
[Like that'll help! Whatever, let's see…]
The screen lit up again, showing Stelle. "Let me check how filming's going."
After a few steps, she put a finger to her lips. "Shh~" she whispered to the camera. "Look."
The angle shifted, revealing Tingyun and Dan Shu on set.
Crew members—lighting, sound—worked diligently.
In the director's chair sat Wise.
Though officially the production supervisor, Wise took over directing duties while Su Chen filmed.
The scene went flawlessly, shot in one take.
Meanwhile, Belle held a simulated joint sound effect device, ready for the "head tilt" moment.
"Can you withstand the 'Destruction's' gift?"
Tingyun delivered her line, then—
CRACK.
Her head jerked sideways before she collapsed.
"CUT!" Wise leapt up. "Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
He turned to Belle. "Little sister, your timing was impeccable!"
Even Su Chen praised, "Not only was Tingyun's acting stellar, but Belle's prop work was flawless!"
"Uh…" Belle blinked, staring at her device. "I… didn't press it yet."
Su Chen frowned. "Then where did the 'crack' come from?"
"OH NO! TINGYUN'S FOAMING AT THE MOUTH!" March 7th flailed in panic.
Su Chen immediately called Luocha, then scooped Tingyun up.
"Most actors pay with effort—you pay with your LIFE!"
…
After the incident, the screen cut to black, leaving viewers stunned.
[This is too absurd.]
[She really committed to the role—literally.]
[LMAO Tingyun, I can't—]
[No wonder the sound was so realistic—SHE DID IT FOR REAL!]
A few seconds later, Stelle's voice came through the darkness.
"Tingyun, how are you feeling? Oh—wait, I forgot to cut the camera."
The screen flickered back on, now filled with Stelle's face.
[She's so pretty!]
[Hehe, my favorite.]
[Galactic Succubus indeed—gorgeous from every angle!]
The camera panned to Tingyun in a wheelchair, wearing a neck brace. She glanced at Stelle, then looked away sulkily.
[I'm wheezing.]
[No wonder Star Rail feels so real—they're out here risking lives!]
[Tingyun, my wife… that head tilt was legendary, but please never do it again.]
Finally, a close-up of Tingyun's pout.
Stelle's voiceover chimed in:
"You get paid peanuts for this—why risk your neck?!"
Tingyun's face scrunched up in dismay.
The Express logo appeared, marking the true end.
Yet, this cruel cliffhanger left night-owl viewers—facing work the next day—seething.
During morning rush hour, the collective grumpiness was palpable.
Especially to a certain pink-haired loli skilled in behavioral analysis.
"So Season 3's cliffhanger has stirred quite the reaction.
Honestly, even I was shocked when Tingyun overdid the head tilt and nearly died for real."
She patted her cheeks. "Focus, Fu Xuan! Remember your mission. That slacker Qingque's 'slacking arts' have infected all of miHoYo—even our CEO's skipping work to laze around?!
No! I MUST drag them back!"
Lost in thought, she tripped—
Until a red-haired man caught her wrist, leaving her suspended at a 45-degree angle.
"Th-Thanks… almost ate pavement."
"No need, little miss. Since your parents aren't here, allow me to demonstrate beauty through action."
"???" Fu Xuan stared blankly. "Can you… pull me up?"
"Forgive my boldness, but first—answer me this: Do you know of the Aeon of Beauty, Idrila?"