Any genius attempting to cross that boundary and explore mysteries beyond the "known" will ultimately face the merciless blade of that Silent Lord (Polka Kakamond).
That one is a terrifying existence specializing in hunting down transgressive geniuses. Countless members of the Genius Club have died by her hand. She is the sharpest, most cold-blooded blade wielded by Nous the Erudition, maintaining that despairing omniscience.
Although this chaotic situation is, at its root, partially Herta's responsibility, Lu Jingming is also definitely to blame.
Why didn't he think to restrict his memory database in the first place, causing all sorts of monstrous entities to be summoned by the Holy Grail and start popping up now?
Moreover, as an Emanator of Erudition, Herta has always adhered to the supreme principle that a gentleman doesn't stand under a collapsing wall. She prefers calling in people to team up for righteous gang-ups and efficient group assaults.
To make her, the esteemed Emanator, personally face a joint attack from two memory constructs of the Destruction Path?
That would be far too demeaning, completely unfitting her noble status and her 'dislikes trouble' style of doing things.
Fortunately, this time, she didn't need to personally step in and handle that mess.
In Mingdu, there were still two genuine Emanators of the Hunt, Feixiao and Jing Yuan, holding the line. Plus, Jingliu, the sword master with god-like skill and decisive killing intent, even if Celenova and Phantylia truly joined forces, they likely wouldn't gain much advantage. After all, the Hunt's arrows weren't just for show.
"But speaking of which, Phantylia is hiding so deeply. She can even bear not to make a move despite Celenova causing such a huge commotion. She must be planning something significant, with other motives," Herta mused, touching her smooth chin, a contemplative light of the wise flashing in her eyes.
"Given her nasty habit of playing with hearts and manipulating destiny, that Xu Tianran is probably just a chess piece she casually laid out, maybe even just a target to draw fire. Who knows, she might be lurking in the shadows, plotting something... even more interesting and dangerous..."
Beside her, Chang Li slowly closed her delicate parasol, a hint of worry in her gentle eyes. She softly said, "Regardless of what that Monarch of Annihilation is planning in the dark, the waters of the Douluo Continent, after this incident, are likely to be stirred up even muddier and deeper."
March 7th nodded vigorously nearby, her small face filled with apprehension.
The arrival of two Monarchs of Annihilation, even if they were only memory constructs with restricted power, was enough to turn an entire continent upside down and cause widespread chaos.
"Then... Lady Herta, Sister Robin... is she, Shangguan Wei'er, still saveable?"
Ye Guyi's voice held unconcealed urgency. Although she was equally shocked by the news that the perpetrator was another Monarch of Annihilation, the most important thing for her now was whether Shangguan Wei'er, lying on the ground with a rapidly weakening aura, could be saved.
The sequence of events flashed through her mind.
Initially, Shangguan Wei'er was taken away for study by Dr. Mobius, who had an obsessive interest in the mysteries of life, in an attempt to find a way to suppress or even reverse the Annihilation's erosion.
However, the sudden, large-scale raid by the Anti-Matter Legion on Mingdu created chaos. In the confusion, Mobius clearly found something more interesting and worthwhile to focus on than the sample in her hand, so she simply and decisively handed the rapidly deteriorating Shangguan Wei'er back to Ye Guyi.
Unfortunately, Mingdu was currently completely shrouded by the aura of slaughter and destruction from the Anti-Matter Legion.
The dense Destruction energy permeated the entire city like a poisonous mist. Strongly stimulated by this power of the same origin, the fragile consciousness within Shangguan Wei'er—which she had forcibly sealed at great cost, but was already tainted by the Power of Annihilation—began to frantically stir and clash, almost breaking through the shaky confinement entirely.
In desperation, Ye Guyi could only bring Shangguan Wei'er, whose mental and physical state was rapidly worsening and nearing collapse, back here through the spatial gate opened by Sea Abyss City, placing all her hope in Robin to bring a glimmer of change.
After all, Lu Jingming had previously mentioned that if Celenova were the culprit, Robin might be able to find a way to resolve it based on the shared nature of their powers.
But now, the culprit was shockingly not Celenova, but another, even more insidious Monarch of Annihilation, one skilled in mental erosion.
This news was like ice water being dumped over her, chilling Ye Guyi's heart completely.
She could only direct her last ray of hope toward the most knowledgeable Herta and the Servant with the most unique power, Robin, her eyes filled with pleading.
"I'm sorry..."
Robin gently shook her head, her stunning face showing clear apology and powerlessness.
"With my current ability, I can only temporarily suppress the rampaging Destruction consciousness within her and delay the time of complete collapse... but to fundamentally heal her and completely cleanse the mark of Annihilation, I'm afraid..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
The power of a Monarch of Annihilation is inherently overbearing, and furthermore, Phantylia's strength and rank are far above hers.
That Destruction mark, which has penetrated deep into her soul and bone marrow, is like the most stubborn bone maggot, having already intertwined inextricably with Shangguan Wei'er's soul origin and physical functions.
If the trace had been left by Celenova, she might have been able to find a way through the slight connection and characteristics of the Harmony Path. But facing Phantylia's pure and wicked Destruction mental power, she felt utterly helpless.
"She won't die yet."
Herta glanced at Shangguan Wei'er, whose aura was weak but stable on the ground, and tossed out a phrase in a flat tone. Her figure then began to gradually fade amidst subtle spatial fluctuations.
"Let this little bird, who is skilled in conciliation, help her reinforce the seal and keep her alive. We'll wait until that little guy Lu Jingming, who always manages to stir up surprises, gets back before we figure something else out."
If an entity of Phantylia's caliber had personally left a mark and implanted the Destruction imprint, and if the discovery had been made early before the imprint took deep root, Herta might have had a slim chance of attempting a cure.
But Shangguan Wei'er had been exposed to and suppressing this Destruction power for far too long—so long that the power had already infiltrated and eroded every inch of her flesh and every thread of her spirit, becoming a deep-seated part of her existence.
In this situation, even the knowledgeable Herta wasn't completely confident she could perfectly strip it away without harming her fundamental self.
After all, Phantylia held the same Emanator rank as her, and the insidious methods she left behind were far trickier than imaginable.
Moreover, Phantylia originated from the "Heliobus", making her a pure mental energy body and a generational master in manipulating souls and mental power. An Annihilation mark left by her isn't something that can be easily solved or cleansed.
Furthermore, precise operations and healing on the soul and mental level are not Herta's core area of expertise.
If Ruan Mei, who is obsessed with life creation, were here, she might have some ingenious ideas. As for Herta... she could only give the most realistic and rational judgment.
Not outright saying, "She's beyond saving, prepare for the worst," was the maximum extent of her consideration, given Ye Guyi's anxious state and out of respect for Lu Jingming.
"Don't worry, things haven't reached the worst point yet."
Robin reached out and gently patted Ye Guyi's slightly trembling shoulder. Her tone was as gentle as the spring sun, yet it contained a unique power that could directly soothe the soul and stabilize people's hearts.
"Ah Ming... he always manages to create miracles. Since he said he would find a way, we have to believe him. He definitely will."
As she spoke, the Harmony Power emanating from her became even softer and purer. Instead of trying to forcefully purify, it acted like a warm yet resilient trickle, carefully wrapping and reinforcing the spiritual seal within Shangguan Wei'er, which was on the verge of complete collapse.
A gentle light flowed quietly between the two of them, temporarily suppressing the restless Destruction aura trying to surge back. Shangguan Wei'er's pained brow seemed to relax slightly.
Ye Guyi carefully supported the unconscious Shangguan Wei'er. Under the dual comfort of Robin's words and power infused with Harmony, she finally managed to suppress the overwhelming anxiety in her heart.
Now, she truly had no better option than to place her last hope on Lu Jingming, wishing he could bring a turning point upon his return.
Otherwise... perhaps she could only sigh that it was Shangguan Wei'er's fate.
"Phantylia? It's actually her!"
Lu Jingming, situated on the Mingdu battlefield, received the information relayed by Robin almost immediately through a special communication method.
He instantly raised an eyebrow, showing a few signs of surprise, and subconsciously cast his gaze toward the core area of the energy storm at the Mingdu Imperial Palace.
That place was the most intense and chaotic area of the entire city's battle, bar none—Karna's dazzling brilliance, like the descent of the sun, was wildly interwoven and clashing with Long Xiaoyao's shadow of the thousand-meter Dark Holy Dragon.
The Death God Tower, shrouded in resentful spirits behind Ye Xishui, emitted a chilling aura of life-devouring death.
Dú Bùsĭ's transformation into a hundred-meter-tall dark green giant threw punches with terrifying, space-corroding poison.
Kong Deming's Silver Moon Divine Light Barrier fiercely flickered and wavered under the relentless energy impact...
Various incomparably powerful forces, easily capable of destroying a city, violently collided and annihilated each other here. The entire glorious Imperial Palace had already been reduced to a desolate, scorched ruin under this power's ravaging.
Yet, the Monarch of Annihilation, Xu Tianran's Servant Phantylia, had not shown any trace of herself throughout this melee.
Lu Jingming's thoughts raced like the highest-speed processor.
As fellow Monarchs of Annihilation under Nanook, Phantylia's existence was something Celenova had no reason not to know about—it was even highly likely that she knew from the very beginning.
This conveniently and perfectly explained why Celenova had been so readily cooperative with Xu Tianran earlier.
It was probable that these two Emissaries, representing Destruction, had already reached some unspoken understanding or agreement in the shadows from the start.
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