After receiving the message, Freesna and Blake didn't rush off. Instead, they sought out Tingyun, who was resting at the inn.
"Miss Tingyun, your chance for revenge has come."
Blake hadn't forgotten the main goal. They weren't just helping the Xianzhou Alliance take down the Lord Ravager—they wanted Tingyun, the victim, to strike the blow herself.
"This matter began because of this humble one, and it shall end because of this humble one. Thank you both for granting Tingyun this opportunity." Tingyun bowed deeply to the pair. Words alone couldn't express her gratitude.
"Then… Miss Tingyun, are you ready to set out?" Blake tossed the enigmatic soap into the air, just like that day in the church hall when deciding who would meet Adrian.
"Last time on Jarilo-VI, we failed to show the Astral Express the church's finest side. It was truly a loss of face." Blake couldn't forget how, on the front lines of the restricted zone, he'd gotten carried away, hoisting Sampo and charging into battle against the Fragmentum creatures.
Only for Adrian's group to arrive and see him, forcing an awkward retreat. He'd left a deep impression—wounding the enemy a thousand while losing eight hundred himself.
This time… not only would Miss Tingyun get her revenge, but Blake would wash away his shame!
...
After admiring the Vidyadhara murals, the group quickly unlocked the three seals in Scalegorge Waterscape.
"The three-claw kowtow is complete. Next, it's time to head to the mysterious root of the Ambrosial Arbor. I can feel… its roots keep growing."
"It's Phantylia… We need to hurry."
Speeding up, Dan Heng led them to the end of the dragon palace. "We've reached the end. This is the Ambrosial Arbor's mysterious root—the site of the Abundance miracle."
"'Kowtow to the three claws, pay homage to the foot-long tree' refers to here. Restrained by dragon power, the mysterious root has taken the form of a dragon-shaped woody gall."
"Now, I'll lift this final seal…" Dan Heng quietly circulated his power, awaiting Jing Yuan's command.
"Everyone ready?"
Stelle and March 7th drew their weapons ahead of time. After the battle with Cocolia on Jarilo-VI, they'd gained plenty of combat experience to guard against Phantylia's sneak attacks.
Especially March 7th—she clutched her chest, terrified of a hidden blade giving her a heart-piercing chill.
As Adrian erased his presence, they formally stepped into the Ambrosial Arbor's mysterious root.
"Hmm? Hehe, is the Luofu's general here?"
Phantylia's teasing laughter echoed around them. March 7th stayed vigilant, not forgetting to taunt:
"That bad thing! Of course she's waiting here. Come out, Phantylia!"
"Oh? My benefactors are here too? Don't rush—this little lady hasn't finished her makeup."
"You're addicted to imitating Miss Tingyun, huh!" Hearing Phantylia mimic Tingyun's speech quirk, March 7th fumed. She charged an ice arrow and fired it at her.
Unexpectedly, the arrow forged from six-phase ice didn't even graze Phantylia—it melted mid-flight under a mysterious force.
"Hehe~ Benefactor has quite the temper. There's an old Xianzhou saying: anger burns the heart—don't harm yourself over it."
"No wonder the Medicine King's Secret feels superior… This Ambrosial Arbor relic truly has the power of regeneration and rebirth."
"Everyone, be careful. Dan Heng, I'm counting on you to watch my back."
"Understood." Dan Heng nodded. The goal was clear: defeat Phantylia, who had hijacked the Ambrosial Arbor.
A muffled roar came from the earth's veins. The world darkened suddenly, as if a ground dragon turned over, kicking up dust.
Cracks bloomed across the blessed land's dome. Countless yellow leaves fell in the wind. In a blink, a colossal mountain-like silhouette appeared before them.
"Th-this… she got huge!"
"March, forgot about that Creation Engine at Neverwinter Ridge?" Stelle wasn't fazed—she'd seen bigger.
"Dear benefactors, see this beautiful body? The Abundance miracle lives up to its name."
Phantylia flaunted it nonstop: "Hmm~ Let me see what I can do with it."
"Perfect. I'll use this power that grants the Xianzhou immortality… to bring you Destruction!"
Seeing the sudden lotuses, Jing Yuan warned:
"Phantylia has claimed the Ambrosial Arbor's power for herself… Everyone, focus on eliminating these illusory flowers. I'll shatter her body."
"Leave it to us. If the general gets even a scratch… I'll eat the Ambrosial Arbor raw right here!" Stelle yanked off her necklace, shielding the group behind her.
"Haha, no need to go that far."
"Adrian, watch our show!" March 7th pulled out her water gun, loading it with six-phase ice before the fight so she wouldn't run dry mid-battle.
Dan Heng and Welt wasted no time, jumping straight into a righteous 2v1 against Phantylia.
"The general sure talks big, dreaming of destroying this precious body born from the Ambrosial Arbor." Phantylia easily parried their moves, still mocking:
"In Phantylia's eyes, you all look like tiny ants now."
With a snap, a gale whipped up inside the Arbor, nearly knocking March 7th off her feet.
At the same time, branches sprouted from the ground, binding Stelle and Jing Yuan.
"Hehe~ Benefactor, your general just said… he wanted a fair fight. Don't rush~" Having been baptized by Eternity, Phantylia knew she couldn't let Stelle grab the hourglass necklace.
"Now… try breaking free from this cage."
"Mere vines—one sword cuts them all."
"Stubborn." Phantylia's contemptuous laughter echoed through the blessed land.
"Hey, you treating us like air? Don't get distracted!"
Quickly, March 7th used her water gun to fire ice bullets, snapping the vines binding Stelle.
"Good chance!"
Stelle whipped out the reserved soap—way better than a bat. A Destruction treasure! Direct ranged attack!
Phantylia nearly fell over. When did that soap appear?!
Bad! Things have changed!
Staring at the incoming soap, Phantylia pondered countermeasures, but then thought… she now had double buffs from Abundance and Destruction. Why fear a measly soap?
So, after a few seconds of fuss, Master Illusionist gave up resisting and decided to tank it.
Yaoshi help me… no, Lord Nanook help me!
Boom!
The instant the soap collided, one of the ten milk teas she'd absorbed clearly vanished, canceling out the explosive imaginary energy from the soap.
Seeing herself unscathed—not even a speck of dust—Phantylia couldn't help covering her face and laughing.
Elation is actually honest!
...
Meanwhile, as Phantylia clashed with the Astral Express crew, the invisible Adrian hid somewhere, chatting with an equally invisible mask.
"You're saying… all ten special-effect milk teas were fed to Phantylia?" Adrian twitched his mouth. Are you kidding?
Drinking HIS Eternity milk tea to fight HIS people?
"Ah ha~ How's that, old friend? Surprised? You know… to crush ants, nothing beats dropping a star on them."