Stargazer Navalia.
Yanqing walked alone along the roadside, his gaze sweeping over the bustling streets filled with traffic, remaining silent for a long time.
"Kid Yanqing, have you made up your mind? With the power I grant you, you can help others achieve their dreams," Phantylia's illusory figure floated beside Yanqing, speaking with a tempting tone.
"No." Yanqing shook his head. "Even experimenting on one person is out of the question. It's too irresponsible."
"You have to trust me. I swear in the name of Idrila, there won't be any problems," Phantylia said. "This is the recognition you earned with three years of your talent. Do you want to let all that humiliation just pass like that?"
"If you can help others achieve everything they desire, forget just becoming the Sword Champion of the Luofu—even becoming a general or a marshal isn't out of the question!" Phantylia continued.
Yanqing: "…Still no. Until I'm sure I have a way to counter you, I won't agree."
"Tch." Phantylia felt a surge of frustration. This kid's so young—why's he so stubborn?!
Even if it had ulterior motives, wasn't he at least willing to give it a try?
I only drained your essence for three years. Why are you so wary of me?
I'm trying to create a paradise of pure joy, free of sorrow, where everyone is equal! Why can't this kid understand my dream?
"Kid, today I'm going to make you see!"
Phantylia let out a cold huff and abruptly emerged from Yanqing's body. After a quick glance around, it darted toward the end of an alley where a ragged beggar lay on a tattered quilt, comfortably napping.
"What are you doing?!" Yanqing's brows furrowed as he immediately pulled out his phone to call the Ten-Lords Commission.
A ghostly green flame hovered above the beggar's head, like a dandelion seed scattered by the breeze, ultimately seeping into the beggar's body.
"…"
Just as Yanqing was about to report it, the beggar suddenly jolted awake from his sleep. He brushed the dust off himself, tidied his appearance, and strode out of the alley with his head held high.
Yanqing's hand paused. Hesitating, he followed the beggar from a distance, observing cautiously.
The beggar walked up to a restaurant and approached the staff inside with neither arrogance nor deference. "Excuse me, are you hiring waiters? I can do any job, endure any hardship, as long as I can earn enough to get by."
"What are you talking about? We don't hire people who look unkempt. Get out."
The beggar didn't give up. He went to the restroom, cleaned himself up, and asked again, "How about now?"
"No, we're not hiring!"
The beggar left the restaurant and moved on to the next place. Yanqing trailed him for over an hour until he saw the beggar enter a construction site, pick up a hard hat, and start working diligently.
Yanqing was stunned. It… actually seemed pretty good? A man who'd been wasting his life had taken his first step toward a normal one.
Could it be that Phantylia was actually a good person? Had he misunderstood it?
"So, kid Yanqing, what do you think of my power?" Phantylia's voice suddenly appeared, chuckling.
"It's… remarkable," Yanqing said after a moment's thought. "So… you're truly an Emanator of [Beauty]?"
"Of course! If you help me reconstruct my physical body, I can bring a paradise of dreams to this world!"
Yanqing: "That… that sounds a bit too grandiose, doesn't it? Is it really necessary…?"
Phantylia: "Not necessary? Let me ask you this: Are the righteous equal to sinners? Is day equal to night? If a person is born weak, where can the weak find peace from any god?!"
Yanqing: …
It sounded somewhat reasonable. Even someone as composed as Yanqing couldn't immediately find fault with the words.
If someone could truly create a paradise where everyone was happy and fulfilled, shouldn't that be supported?
Yanqing's resolve began to waver as he questioned himself over and over.
Elsewhere.
"Big Sis Stelle, something's off. I'm, like, nine-tenths sure something's wrong," Bailu suddenly stopped, warily glancing behind her before whispering in Stelle's ear, "It feels like someone's…"
"Pfft—wait, that tickles."
Halfway through her sentence, Bailu's breath tickled Stelle's neck, causing her to shrink back. Completely unaware of the situation's gravity, Stelle giggled. "What were you saying?"
Bailu's cheeks puffed up. "Come here, it's a secret."
"Oh, alright, but lighter, I'm ticklish."
—"Big Sis Stelle, I feel like someone's following us!"
At those words, Stelle immediately grew serious. She looked around but didn't spot any suspicious figures, which only heightened her vigilance—she could tell Bailu wasn't joking.
Despite Bailu's childish nature, her skills were the real deal, and Stelle trusted her judgment.
But… where was this person?
"I can feel it. They're close," Bailu said, her eyes glinting. "They're getting closer… Wait, I know—it's Cloudhymn—"
Whoosh—
Stelle felt as if someone had brushed past her, but when she looked, there was no one, only a faint sound.
An invisible enemy?! Wait, this wasn't in the plot—
"I'll strike!"
Bailu threw a punch so fast it left an afterimage. The blow struck the air beside her, and a wail rang out as a figure appeared out of nowhere, sent flying backward.
"Holy—It really is invisible!" Stelle took a step back. "Bailu, be careful!"
"Don't worry! This lady's title as the Luofu's number one isn't just for show!" Bailu's eyes gleamed with intensity, her movements swift and agile like a dragon. She battled the air, throwing punches that revealed figures as if performing magic.
"Take my Black Tiger Heart Gouge!" Bailu curled her fingers into a claw and grabbed at the air in front of her, instantly taking down a masked figure.
"And this—Double Dragon Pearl Play!" (Two "arghs" came from the air as two masked figures were knocked out by her fists.)
Bailu did a backflip into the air, landing with a flying kick. "Crow on a Plane!"
As one figure after another was beaten out of thin air by Bailu, Stelle stood by, clapping enthusiastically. "Awesome, Bailu, you're the best!"
"Hmph, don't call me Bailu—call me Cold-Faced Little White Dragon!" Bailu grinned smugly, rubbing her fists as she faced the "air" before her. "I am White Dragon Bailu, and you're about to meet your end."
"Tornado—"
Bailu raised one small hand, and in an instant, the moisture in the air gathered in her palm, forming a cyclone.
"Destroys—!"
The moisture sustaining the attackers' Cloudhymn technique was gradually absorbed by the cyclone, forcing them to reveal themselves.
Nearby onlookers noticed the commotion, scattering while watching and recording videos.
Feeling the gaze of the crowd, Bailu smiled slightly, slipping into her "master persona." With one hand behind her back, a small water tornado swept forward as she shouted, continuing her earlier line:
"—Celestial Sky!"