"Then let me ask you: all the effort you've poured into begging Yaoshi—why not try pleading with Ite instead? Or drop your burdens as [leader], shake off the weight, and just visit the church as a tourist."
She hadn't mentioned [The Hunt] on the Xianzhou, but now she was stepping up, trading verbal blows with the Plague Author's remnants! Even Fu Xuan, the Grand Diviner, stayed silent—like tacit approval.
"Even in a moment like this, you're sneaking in church promo... I respect that hustle!" Adrian praised from the heart.
"Pity. I don't blame your ignorance. We weren't born in the era when the Ambrosial Arbor first descended, to witness those miracles. But now, we still have a chance to restore the old ways..."
Say what you will, Dan Shu had a quick temper reset—she calmed in seconds and even tried recruiting them.
Fu Xuan's face fell instantly. "I thought you had some profound argument, but it's just the same tired spiel about chasing power and abandoning humanity."
"The Xianzhou forebears fought alongside the Ichorflame Bow, felled the Ambrosial Arbor, and established the [Ten-Lords Commission] to redefine life and death—all to live as humans again."
"Immortals? There are no immortals on the Xianzhou. Your so-called [Abundance] miracles, meddling with life and death—it's nothing but demonic nonsense!" Fu Xuan snapped.
Persuasion failed. Dan Shu shook her head. "No point in half a conversation when we're at odds. Grand Diviner, you've made your choice. You rejected power... the dumbest move possible."
She raised her staff high, and countless Abundance spirit beasts poured out.
"Grand Diviner, allow me to show you what the [immortals] once achieved."
"Merciful Yaoshi, heed my call!"
March 7th dual-wielded ice bow and spear. "Bad news—she's charging a big one!"
Dan Heng was lightning-fast, whipping out Cloudhacker and interrupting Dan Shu's cast with a single thrust. That spear, infused with [eternity] divine power, made short work of a Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
Boom!
Dan Shu flew back, staff and all.
"Teacher Dan Heng, didn't you say Cloudhacker never leaves your side?!"
The next second, it was back in his grip.
Proof: poke fast enough, and it never truly leaves.
"Why... how? She promised..." Clutching her chest from the internal injury, Dan Shu gasped as her ultimate fizzled.
"The [Ambrosial Arbor] descends... granting undying immortal bodies! The one who gave us the Stellaron Core... so..."
"Phantylia... the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus succeeded..."
"The [Lord Ravager] must honor the deal... now! This is it!" Trembling, she looked up at her only hope—the [crick-necked Phantylia]!
"Tsk tsk, why force my hand? It clashes with my [Destruction] aesthetics... pawn." No point pretending anymore.
"Fine. Cracking the Xianzhou from within needs a different approach..."
"Uh, talking with her head tilted like that is so dramatic!" March 7th whispered, earning a bonk from Stelle.
"Idiot, she totally heard you!"
Phantylia: ...
Twitchy lips ignored—she flipped the table!
"Sigh~ Shame, I wanted to observe longer..." Phantylia strolled to the weakened Dan Shu and ended her with a finger snap.
"Since you've received [Abundance]'s gift... you should withstand [Destruction]'s... blessing, right?"
No neck-twist from the original script. A burst of flame hovered mid-air as Phantylia revealed her true form.
Staring at the rising flame, then her hourglass necklace, Stelle had a bold idea.
Could this necklace... suck it in...?
"Benefactors, allow a reintroduction: I am [Lord Ravager] Phantylia."
"I'm here to shatter this Xianzhou, let it self-destruct."
With the [Disciples of Sanctus Medicus] remnants down, Legion void rangers swarmed. The flame orbited once, eager for reactions.
But...
Huh? Why were they all so chill, like they knew?
"This must be what getting spoiled feels like. Not used to it." March 7th felt zero ripples inside and asked Adrian, "Should we act surprised or something?"
"Makes sense. She's our first face on the Luofu debut... Gotta give the Lord Ravager some face."
"True! Let me brew some emotion..."
Phantylia: ...
Was she even human? Wait, was she actually human?!
The Lord Ravager spiraled into self-doubt, casually swatting Cloud Knights battling void rangers.
To her, the real threat was this Astral Express crew—the Grand Diviner didn't even rate that high.
"The one eyeing the Xianzhou isn't [Emberwind], isn't [Starhowl]. You're lucky~ Me? I hate hands-on destruction..."
As an energy form, she was basically physical-immune, her tone brimming with confidence.
Dropping the Legion's two scariest Lord Ravagers got... nothing.
The flame twitched hard. No face at all?!
"Ah... two Emanators, so scary..." March 7th deadpanned. Unless you summon your boss, no emotional response.
"Like we don't have [Emanators]. Someone call General Jing Yuan."
"Oh? A puny Xianzhou general might not cut it~" Phantylia teased.
Fu Xuan wasn't having it. "Lord Ravager, you'll pay for your words and actions."
"What's to fear?" Phantylia laid it out—General wasn't here, and she could bail safely.
"Pity the General insisted on my stage time. Phantylia must perform."
"Appointment awaits. Excuse me—hope you enjoy the actors."
Void rangers encircled again. March 7th scowled. "Hey, can't win fair so you dogpile? Poor sports!"
"Calling reinforcements? Lord Ravagers play dirty!"
"Heh~" Phantylia ignored, turning to leave the mess.
"Teacher Adrian, lend a hand!"
Stelle shouted, her body lightening as she soared up, blocking Phantylia's escape. Bonus taunt:
"Trash talk then bolt? Why do you get all the good deals?"
"Oh? And how will this benefactor stop me? With that necklace?"
Phantylia thought she'd read it—seen the hourglass's terror, no way she'd fall for it.
But... that necklace held intriguing stuff. Add a Stellaron Core...
"Right, but not quite..."
Stelle smirked, activating the hourglass. Massive suction surged toward Phantylia.
She inhaled deep—lung capacity test time!
"Praise the great Lord of [eternity]! Calling Pontiff Blake!! Requesting soap nuclear strike on Lord Ravager!"