"Wait, wait, wait... what the heck is this?!"
March 7th was still in brain-boot-up mode when Dan Heng already drew Cloud-Piercer and thrust it forward. Unfortunately, the Cloud-Piercer spear blessed by Eternity, though carrying a persistent bleed debuff, dealt negligible damage at this moment.
Seeing even the highest-damage Cloud-Piercer barely scratch it, March 7th shuddered, with only one thought in mind. "What... kind of monster is this?"
Dan Heng saw the tickle damage, stepped back to the group. "Abundance miracle—casually shaping life. This power is truly formidable..."
Originally, the Abundant Ebon Deer guarded the Ambrosial Arbor's roots and the Furnace of Creation. But now... a subtle change seemed to have occurred.
...
Fifteen minutes earlier, Artisanship Commission.
Freesna stared silently at Master Gongshu before her.
"Wah yah yah yah yah~ Artisanship Commission is a vital restricted area! Thieves, begone! What demon are you—quick~ quick~ retreat... don't come closer, or don't blame this old man for being rude!"
Looking closely, two mechanical constructs flanked him—models Freesna had never seen.
"Tch..." Freesna hadn't expected a master still guarding here in such a crisis. This never-surrender spirit was very Eternity!
"Want to consider..."
"No need for explanations! Just [passing by], [accidentally], [door was open]—those fooling excuses. Today the commission suddenly faces calamity; this old man knew someone was sabotaging! As expected~!"
"Security's useless—taste these mechanics' might!"
Freesna: ...
Three seconds later, staring at the heavily damaged, inoperable constructs, Master Gongshu knelt, face despairing. "In the end... couldn't protect them... [Dense Cloud Golden Toad]! [Lantern Day Dragonfish]! What happened to you... get up quick! This old man raised you like his own flesh and blood..."
"Fight if you fight—why smash my little companions to bits! Compensate me!" Though defeated, Master Gongshu's momentum never lost! Freesna remained silent, looking at the ruined constructs on the ground, falling into thought again. Compensation would cost a fortune, but considering she brought no money... Ah, if only magic existed to conjure lots of money.
"Then work it off."
Freesna turned—Blake, still wearing Mr. Xiyan's face, appeared behind her.
"This is... Master Gongshu, right?" Blake reflexively flicked open his folding fan; he was really into the role.
"Yo, the kid knows this old man's name?" Master Gongshu wasn't surprised by Blake's sudden appearance; hearing his name even made him a bit happy. Besides, the Ambrosial Arbor revived—what hadn't he seen? "This old man [Foremost Artisan in Smelting Gold and Forging Iron] Gongshu Liang's fame is that loud? Hahaha~"
Blake kept his professional smile, inwardly sighing at the master's simple personality. Good thing he did homework at the Divination Commission. He was working normally at the Sleepless Earl's tea house when a strange noise hit—he saw the long-dead Ambrosial Arbor mysteriously growing. Abundance miracle... originally unrelated to Eternity, so Blake planned no involvement. But... he saw Adrian exit the milk tea shop, then got assigned here by Adrian. An exciting Xianzhou trip—Blake couldn't limit to just one Lord Ravager, so to Artisanship Commission. Before leaving, he even rehearsed lines with Adrian.
"Ahem... Actually, we're entrusted by General Jing Yuan to head to the Alchemy Commission, passing here, asking Master Gongshu for directions."
"Oh? You're the general's people? A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" Master Gongshu flipped instantly. "Fine, fine—those toys, broken is broken!"
Freesna full of question marks—this guy just called constructs his flesh and blood; face change so fast?
"But this old man truly can't help—the commission's occupied by some unknown wood spirit evil! Even the treasure Furnace of Creation stolen by that wood medicine!"
"That monster's no joke! Makes commission mechanics suddenly act willful, circling it—whoever approaches dies in vain!"
"But this old man thought and thought—can't just leave; after all, that furnace seals..." Master Gongshu trailed off.
"Just lead the way." Freesna drew her staff. She had concerns, but seeing Blake eased her completely. Output from her, defense from Blake—don't underestimate that halo atop his head.
"Haha, this old man gets it. General Jing Yuan sending you two means deep intent—definitely to resolve the commission crisis."
"Uh... forgive this old man's nosy question—general really sent just you two?" Two people... might be a bit short...
Boom!
Seeing a portal stronger than Mirror-Painting Screen, Master Gongshu swallowed his words. Unknown teleport distance, zero energy cost! Such wonder—pity Artisanship Commission lacks it.
...
Guided by Master Gongshu (who didn't come), Freesna and Blake reached the Furnace of Creation entwined by the Ambrosial Arbor.
The Abundant Ebon Deer sat coiled, as if waiting for them.
"Earlier than expected..." Blake pulled out soap; he suddenly missed humanoid weapon Sampo. The eerie silence around, the unresponsive Abundant Ebon Deer—Freesna felt she'd seen this scene somewhere...
Adhering to strike-first combat, Freesna instantly charged an energy cannon, precisely hitting the closed-eye Abundant Ebon Deer.
Boom!
Sudden change—a familiar red wall blocked Freesna and Blake; the Abundant Ebon Deer was lifted by a third-party force, hurled toward the Divination Commission.
Perspective back to now—battle white-hot. Stelle and Welt attacked in succession, still no damage to the Abundant Ebon Deer. Fighting an unnerfed Abundant Ebon Deer—if they could repel it, wouldn't Yaoshi lose face?
Ultimately, only March 7th's ice spears and Welt's imaginary shackles temporarily controlled the Abundant Ebon Deer.
"Heals anywhere injured... this is ridiculous!" Stelle complained mid-fight.
"Momma mia, no wonder Xianzhou fears Abundance abominations—this recovery defies reason!"
Dan Heng explained: "This ebon deer is likely a spirit birthed by the Ambrosial Arbor to guard it, tightly linked to roots. Most Xianzhou beings lack such absurdity."
"Not necessarily. It seems to heal wounds instantly, but the truth may differ—perhaps drawing supplies from somewhere... that monster only active near the Ambrosial Arbor."
"Uncle Yang says that, but the Ambrosial Arbor's range is huge!" Trailblaze squad at Divination Commission, yet Abundant Ebon Deer jumps from Artisanship Commission here... unless other forces infiltrated, boosting the revived Ambrosial Arbor.
Stelle wiped face dust. "Then fight! Beat it to ashes." Anyway, she had flame spear and hourglass—defense and survival maxed! Abundant Ebon Deer, neither could hurt the other.